Buffy slammed into his crypt, looking around wildly. He wasn't there.
She opened the door to the bottom level, raced down the ladder. Not on
the bed, or the couch. Oh, god... where was he?? She stalked the length
of the crypt, and whimpered at what she saw crumbled in the corner.
Spike, fully vamped, not breathing, with empty bags of blood scattered
around him. There was wood, everywhere around him, a chair was broken,
and.... She stilled her gag reflex, but there was a piece of wood,
looked like a broken piece of the chair leg, shoved into his breastbone.
Maybe he had stumbled on it. She knew, from her VAST experience, that
two inches to the left and she'd be staring at dust. She took in the
grisly scene, and noticed his ribs, showing through the tight shirt that
she recognized from the night before. He needed blood. That was clear.
She pushed up her left sleeve, worked his fangs over the vein, and shoved
her wrist upwards with a wince, letting his fangs piece her flesh.
Drinking was a reflex motion... she knew he didn't have to be conscious
to do it.
It was indeed a reflex, but it was slowed by his bad state of health. But he was drinking. After a few moments, his gold eyes opened and waved around for an instant, before locking on Buffy. The taste... He knew that taste... Oh God. He pulled back quickly, but carefully enough not to rip a hunk of her skin off, and crab-walked backwards until he hit a wall. Shit. He'd done it now. He'd attacked her again. And actually BIT her this time. He was terrified, and the piece of wood sticking out of his chest didn't help it at all. He'd attacked her, and she'd tried to kill him again, and she'd missed. He huddled against the wall, eyes flashing from gold to blue and back again, waiting for her to come over and finish the job.
She followed him to the wall, knelt in his lap, using her weight to keep him at the wall. She put her wrist to his mouth again. "Drink."
Eyes continued to flash as he tried to gain control. He clamped his jaws shut, nicking his tongue on a fang in the process, and shook his head.
Her other hand reached up, clamped on his jaw. She jerked his face so he would look into her eyes. "There is -no- time, Spike. Do it."
"Mm-mm." 'I won't hurt you anymore. If I die, I die. I deserve it.'
She wouldn't use her bond. "Well I don't! I don't deserve to lose someone again!" Her eyes were flashing, and they were suspiciously wet. She pulled down on his jaw, her fingers tightening painfully on the hinge, forcing them apart.
He closed his eyes. Allowed her to force his mouth open. To insert his fangs back into the holes in her arm. But he didn't suck half as hard as he could.
Her free hand hit his cheek, hard, trying to anger his demon as she had with Angel. "DRINK, Spike!"
Spike flinched, but sucked harder. Not out of anger, or pain. Out of love. He didn't want her any madder at him than she already was. His eyes opened, locked on hers. 'Why help me?'
"Because some things aren't meant to happen."
His eyes grew wider. 'Your mum said the same thing...'
She smiled sadly, swept her right hand down the cheek she had struck. "I know."
'She went to you.' Statement. Not question. He would have smiled if it hadn't meant removing his fangs from her arm. He was feeling stronger already.
Her vision was dimming at the very corners of her eyes, but she smiled. "She did. Helped me do laundry, too."
He felt her weakness. Slowed his sucking again. 'I don't want you to pass out. You should stop. I can seal the wound.'
She shook her head slowly, drew herself up, she'd be strong for this. "Take more."
'I don't want to.' Same old stubborn Spike again.
Stubborn Buffy. "I don't give a damn."
'I do...' Tried to retract his fangs.
Her hand found the back of his head, pressed him hard against her wrist. He could drink or choke. It was up to him.
Growled quietly, but did as she forced him to. He just slowed, to give her Slayer's body time to catch up with him. He was pretty sure her body could manufacture more blood almost as fast as he could suck, as long as he kept slow.
She met his eyes. "Drink, Spike."
'I am.'
"More. I'll be fine."
'No you won't. Let yourself catch up first. I'll keep going. Speed doesn't matter.'
It mattered to her. More, faster, better Spike. The equation made sense in her head.
A different equation went through Spike's head. Less, slower, Buffy not lose consciousness.
She knew he thought she manufactured blood fast, but in that area, she was disgustingly human. Her back was still straight, her eyes trained on his, but she had to fight back the greying at the edges of her vision viciously.
He was beginning to feel full. His eyelids drooped like a kid after Thanksgiving dinner. Fought the urge to yawn.
She swallowed, wavered a bit, steadied herself again. "Any better?"
Retracted his fangs, yawned. "Yeah.. Sleepy..."
"Gotta go... see Giles."
Looked at her sadly. "Oh. Ok. Buffy?"
She blinked fuzzily. "Come on. We have to go."
"Not yet. I want you to know... I was wrong... Last night. So very wrong... I'm sorry..." He stood up slowly, wincing at the pain in his chest. "Ooh. I'd better get rid of this first."
She stood with him, her balance off. She laid both hands over the wood imbedded in his chest. "Me."
Trust in his blue eyes, he nodded, bracing himself against the wall.
She took a deep breath, pulled it out, straight at the angle it had come in at.
He bit his lip to keep from screaming in pain, and clapped a hand over the hole in his chest to stop the bleeding.
Buffy tossed the piece of wood aside dismissively, and grabbed his first- aid kit. She pulled up on the hem of his shirt, intending to help him out of it. He let her pull it off him, wincing when the shirt stuck to the wound. "Buffy? What did your mum tell you?"
She began cleaning the hole, putting gauze in it, around it. "She loves me. She knows I love her. That I like to complicate things."
"I'm glad you got to see her. I hope you feel better, now." He was watching her bandage him, not meeting her eyes.
She was taping it carefully, said quietly, "She said that you asked her to come to me."
"Yeah. Well... You told me you wanted her to visit you... I remembered to ask." It was barely a whisper.
She bit softly at her bottom lip. "Because you thought you were dying."
"I was. Sickle Cell Anemia. Bad blood. It was the only thing I could think of to do for you."
She nodded, said without ire, "The human blood was tainted."
"Yeah. I should have read the bin that I was digging in. Rejects. I'm an idiot."
Buffy nodded, her eyes intent on the bandage, smoothing the edges, her fingers playing over it, making it perfect.
He stared at the wall, the bed, anywhere but in her eyes. "Buffy... Can you... I know you can't forgive me for what I did. I just want you to know how sorry I am."
Her mothers words echoed at her. Sometimes it IS as simple as... "I forgive you."
His head snapped up, making his neck pop painfully. "Ow. You do?"
It was quiet, almost a whisper. Her eyes were still on the bandage. "Yes."
He knew that she was expecting him to ask for yet another invitation. He would surprise her. "Thank you." He sat on the bed, fishing through his nightstand for something.
She stood, hands restless at her sides. "Did you try to stake yourself?"
"I thought about it. Da- I changed my mind." Pulled out his leather bound book, set it aside, continued digging around.
She was getting antsy, and her head still felt too light for her body. Her body felt very heavy. Too heavy for her head. Whoah. With the weird thoughts. "What are you looking for?"
"Peppermints..."
She just nodded, then stumbled to the right, braced her hand on the wall by the night stand. Sank slowly to the floor, to sit Indian style. "I think it'd be best for me to sit."
He pulled out a box of Altoids, handed it down to her. "Want one? Helps keep you awake. Works for me, anyway."
She took one from the tin, sucked on it.
He did the same. "Want to come up here? It's more comfortable than the floor. I can go to the couch."
She stood slowly, but it felt fast to her. What blood she had rushed to her head. Walked slowly to the bed, sat, then laid on her back. He elevated her head slightly, and put the soft pillows under it, then laid a light blanket over her, and headed for the couch.
"No."
Stopped, turned. "Beg your pardon?" Cocked his head. 'Since when do I talk like Rupert?'
She lazily flipped one hand over, palm up. It happened to be the one he fed off. It was as much of an invitation as she could muster. "Sit."
He obeyed. Sitting on the side of the bed, his back stiff, not wanting to jostle her.
Her speech was slow, but she got it out. "So... you know what's wrong with you, so we don't have to go ask Giles?"
He nodded. "In fact, it's gone now. Mostly. I'm gonna have to feed a lot for a few days, though. To purge what's left of the bad blood." Gave her a gentle smile. "You should eat something. I'll find something for you."
Slow, small, tired smile. "'Kay. I have to go home tonight."
He nodded, heading for the 'kitchen'. "I'll carry you, if you want me to."
Her words didn't carry the life and pep they usually did. They were duller, slower, but she was sure she was rallying. "Dawn cancelled a date tonight."
He started to say, 'I know', but stopped. Didn't want to get the Bit in trouble. "Oh, really?" Dug around in the fridge.
"Mm. So she might be upset if you carry me to the porch."
"Oh. How about the front walk?" Pulled half a sub sandwich out of the fridge. Held it up. "Is this ok? It's only been in there since yesterday. Xander left it."
She lolled her head back to look at it. "Yum. Food."
He smiled, putting it on a paper plate, on a tray, and setting a glass of milk beside it. Carried it to the bed. "Here you go, luv."
She sat up only long enough to take the sandwich, and laid back down again, breaking off bits of it to nibble on.
He sat on the side of the bed again, watching her eat in silence. God, how he'd missed her. He never thought he'd see her again, let alone have her forgive him, but here she was. He blinked back tears.
She sighed suddenly, and set the sub on her stomach. She had eaten maybe three small bites. "I'm not hungry anymore."
Concern filled his eyes. He pushed the sub toward her again. "You need to eat. You eat, you make more blood. You make more blood, you feel better. Scientific facts."
Slightly vacant smile. "Ok." She pulled off a corner of a piece of cheese from the sandwich, ate it.
"Slayer. Don't make me open your mouth and shove it in."
Lolled her head again to give him as good a 'look' as she could, under the circumstances.
He hid a small grin at the ghost of her usual piercing 'look'. "You did it for me, and I'll do it for you."
She brought the sub up for a half-normal sized bite. He put two fingers on the end and pushed it into her mouth for a normal bite. Used his other hand to close her jaw and bite the piece off. Sat back, grinning at her. She gave a small cough, not ready for that. She chewed slowly.
Now that he was satisfied that she was at least going to make an attempt, he yawned and stood up, heading for the couch.
She swallowed hastily. "Where y'going?"
"To lie down."
"Will you keep me awake for a little bit? Till I can walk home?"
Turned to look at her. "Ok. How?"
"Come sit and lay down, and talk to me."
He slowly walked back over and laid down next to her. "What do you want to talk about?"
She shrugged, took another medium sized bite.
He thought. "Ok. Uh... Topic.. topic.. Oh! What's the last movie you saw in the theaters?"
She blinked. Honestly couldn't remember. "I... I dunno."
He snorted. "Never mind. Stupid topic, anyway." Tried to think of a new topic.
"I told him no."
"Who?"
"The... the guy." She didn't even remember his name. Maybe Josh. "Told him I just went there to enjoy the atmosphere. Just wanted to sit, and soak in the Buffy-ness. But he asked again, and I was lonely. So I said yes." She wasn't apologizing. There was none of it in her tone, but she was letting him know. Facts.
"Oh. You could have called me... Unless you really were avoiding me last week." Held up a hand. "Before you say anything, I don't really think you were avoiding me. I just was having a bad week."
She nodded. "I just wanted... a Buffy night. A me night. I was going to call you in the morning and see what you wanted to do Sunday, because it's my first day off in... man... weeks."
"That's tomorrow."
The sub was back to sitting on her stomach, almost a fifth gone. "Is it?" It seemed longer than that. That the last two days themselves had been weeks.
Slow nod. A hand reached toward her hair, but pulled back. "Sorry." Rolled onto his back, stared at the ceiling.
Buffy said slowly, "I know... you were sick, that's why you fought like you did."
"It's part of it, but not all. I was mad. Furious. Kept thinking about how I lost Dru... Did you know that I was just out for a walk, went into a bar for a drink, and caught her making out with a chaos demon? It was... Too similar... Like when you... Never mind."
She turned her head to look at him. "I meant physically, the way you fought. Nevermind, what?"
"Somethin' you said. Awhile back. Brought up a different memory. It doesn't matter now." Kept staring at the ceiling.
"Everything matters. Everything everyone says matters on some level."
Very quiet, almost not said. " 'You're beneath me...' "
Buffy winced. "I'm sorry."
He shrugged slightly. "S'ok. I'm fine." In the back of his mind, the two scenes played side by side... Cecily... Buffy... A dropped poetry book... Thrown cash.. 'You're beneath me.' He continued to stare at the ceiling through watery eyes.
Her hand reached over slowly, to touch the back of his. "You're not."
Turned his head slightly. "Yes I am. You're like a goddess, and I'm... A lowly peasant, come to worship. I don't deserve all the leeway you give me. All the times you've over looked my failures. And I know you don't agree with me, but that's how I feel. How I've always felt."
"Then why do you think I'm a whore?" It was quiet, pained, confused.
"I don't. It was the anger talking. I'm sorry, luv. I was so wrong... Again. And again you've forgiven me." Shaky smile. "Can I do anything to make you hate me again? Just in case I ever want you to stake me, or something like that. Humor me."
Her reply was instant, honest. "Leave me. And... I don't think even then."
He stared at her, chewing on his lip absently. "You... really mean that?"
She nodded. "I think so." She reached across herself, tugged at his lip. "Bad habit."
He laughed quietly. "I wonder where I got that, hmm?"
She gave a half smile. "No idea."
Tapped her on the nose. "Guess."
A grin quirked her lips.
Tapped her nose again, chuckling quietly. "I said guess."
"Dawn."
He did a respectable impression of a game show buzzer. Another nose tap. "Try again."
She gave a soft laugh, swatted at his hand. "Ok."
He, now in a totally playful mood, started humming the Jeopardy theme song. "I'm waaaiting."
"Me." She sat up slowly. "I've got to get going."
The mood faded. "Oh. Ok." He stood to help her to her feet. "I'm going to... I don't know what. Call the others. Apologize."
"For what?"
"For everything. I was short with Xander when he came over yesterday. I told Rupert I was busy when he invited me over to practice. I told Willow that I was too tired to drive her to the store. The list goes on. I had a bad week."
She nodded. "I'm sure it's not a big deal to them. We've all had days. Mine was no better."
He smiled at her. "I know. My fault again. Sorry."
Buffy shrugged. "I was thinking about the double shifts. But, forgive."
"Ah." He sat back down on the bed. "Ok. Do you need a ride home? Xander borrowed the DeSoto yesterday, but I've still got the bike."
She shrugged. "I can walk."
He stood up, shaking his head. "Wrong answer. What if you run into some nasty out there? You're in no condition to fight, luv." He chuckled. "I doubt you could even fend off one of those blue laughing demons. By the way. It woke up."
She gave him a slightly reproachful look. "Nothing wakes up from it's neck being broken at that angle."
He grinned. "THEY do. I can even prove it. I knew it wouldn't kill it, because I read up on it at the meeting awhile back."
Buffy gave him a small smile. "So... You're driving me home?"
He nodded, motioned to the ladder. "After you, M'lady."
She went up to go up the ladder, and paused by the couch, knelt down.
He followed her and paused. "What are you doin', luv?"
She picked up the sterling cross off the floor. "Get religious on me?"
He blanched. "Uh... Maybe some kids came in during the day..."
Buffy nodded. "Kids these days. Doing stupid things, just because people tell them not to."
He chewed on his lip, stayed silent.
She put the cross in her pocket and went up the ladder.
He trotted after. Dawn owed him one, now.
-========================================================
Dawn was dozing on the couch, the remote held lightly in her hand. Bored. Frustrated. Missed Andrew. Should be solving equations. Sleep. A loud roar coming down the street had her jerking awake, to peer out the window. She gave an excited squeal as a motorcycle halted in their driveway, the driver distinctly bleached blonde, with a petite, slightly stumbling slayer behind him. She knew it! Hadn't she told him? Yes!!!! She was right! She KNEW she was right! Yes! The smile faded slightly as she noticed they weren't holding hands or touching. But they were talking. Tension was expected. Well, she didn't really know what happened, but... whatever it was, tension was expected. It would be ok.
Outside, Spike steadied Buffy by resting a hand on her shoulder. Was pleasantly surprised when she took his hand, and draped it across her shoulders, slightly leaning on him.
Dawn's eyes lit up. YAY! Slightly louder squeal. Ok! Touching! That was touching! That was invited, ENCOURAGED TOUCHING!!!! She bounced on her knees on the couch cushions.
The couple made it up the front walk, and Buffy leaned on Spike a little more to get up the steps. Then they pulled apart. He stood at the edge of the porch, ready to leave as soon as she got inside. She opened the door, looked back at him. He turned to go back down the steps.
"H.. Spike?"
Paused, for the third time that night. Turned. "Yeah, luv?"
She held up one finger. Gave a tiny nod to accompany it. Asking him to wait, just a minute. He nodded and sat on the steps.
Buffy went inside, found her sister on the couch, looking FAR too interested in the TV for what was being advertised. A spray for balding men. "Dawn."
She jerked her head to Buffy in that, 'Oh-wow-I-didn't-even-hear-you-pull- in-on-a-loud-motorcycle' look. "Oh. Hey. What's up?"
She knew Dawn had been watching. "Spike... he was sick, but he's better now. And... we're better now."
The grin kept spreading across Dawn's face.
"I... Do you want to invite him back in with me?"
Dawn gave a laughing squeal and hugged her sister. Buffy hugged back for a minute, then took her hand and led her to the front door.
Spike was still sitting on the stairs, crumbling something up in his hands. He glanced up when the door opened. Gave a half grin at the sisters, and chucked the wadded up pack of cigarettes into the garbage can at the junction of sidewalk and street. Nothin' but can.
The sister's stood united, twin smiles on their faces. They glanced at eachother, then at Spike, and said in unison, "Welcome."
His eyes lit up. He stood slowly, walking toward the door as if he thought it was going to disappear. "You mean it?"
Dawn nodded enthusiastically, while Buffy said to him silently, 'Always, forever.'
His eyes teared up and he shot through the door, wrapping up both sisters in a bear hug. "Thank you... Both of you. I.. love you both.." Nuzzled both Summers alternately.
The girls returned the embrace, both feeling a lot happier, less sick in the pits of their stomachs. 'I love you.'
"I love you, too, Spike." Dawn hugged him tightly, glad to feel that he wasn't so thin.
Spike, still holding both girls, half carried them over and plopped on the couch with them. "I don't ever want to let go." He was purring. Half a familial purr for Dawn, and half the deeper purr that was for Buffy alone.
The girls basked in their purring glow for a moment, before Buffy pulled up to say, "What're you doing for the next couple weeks, Dawn?"
Her sister shrugged. "Dunno... gonna go out with Andrew, probably, see a few movies, go to Mindy's... Why?"
Buffy shrugged. She still wasn't feeling 100 percent, but she was dealing with this now. "Because I'd cancel all of that if I was you, because you're grounded."
Spike's eyes popped open, and his purring skipped a beat. Oops. He hadn't been as convincing as he thought.
Dawn fishmouthed a moment. "What?" And the Oscar goes to... She stood, a quivering righteous fury over her sister. "I'm -grounded-? I haven't DONE anything in FOREVER! And-"
Buffy stood to face off to Dawn. "When I tell you something, I expect you to respect me enough to do it, because I wouldn't SAY it, if I wasn't looking out for you. I told you to not go to Spike's. I didn't want you to get hurt, and you just... PRANCE over there, like it's a damned LARK!"
The relaxed feeling that Spike had been cultivating evaporated, and he started to get up and leave.
Buffy put out a hand, a silent signal to stay, without even looking away from her sister.
Dawn squawked, then let out a banshee wail. "You SO don't even have any PROOF that I was OVER THERE!"
Spike stopped, and leaned against the same wall he had occupied during Buffy's 21st birthday party nearly a year before.
Buffy shoved her hand into her pocket, the sleeve pushing up while she dug, and found the chain, jerking it out, to dangle in front of Dawn. "Jewelry's expensive, Dawn. Might not want to be so careless with it."
Dawn got red when she saw the cross, but she blanched, pale, dead white when she saw Buffy's wrist. The bite marks hadn't healed, and the skin around it was raised and bruised, dark brown and purple and blue in the center, but a sickly green and yellow at the edges. She grabbed Buffy's wrist, jerking it up to her eye level. Swung her eyes to meet Spike's.
Spike looked at the floor.
"You bit-" Her eyes went back to drill into Buffy's. "He BIT you. It's..." It hit her. "That's why you're stumbly. He SUCKED your BLOOD. And not just a little! A LOT! You're... pale... and... wobbly..." She tossed Buffy's wrist back. "And -I'm- grounded for doing the obviously more dangerous of our two actions?"
Spike began inching toward the door again.
"SO do not even think you're going anywhere." Dawn's voice was crisp, brightly angry.
"None of that matters, Dawn," Buffy began. "What matters is that I told you to NOT do something, and you-"
"I did it. Well, shoot. I should just join the club. 'Don't date vampires.' 'Don't let anyone bite you.' Do you sit on the toilet seats in public, too, Buffy??"
Spike was at the door, reaching for the knob.
Dawn rounded on him. "And you! What? Did you TELL her?"
Spike looked back as he pulled the door open. "No."
She was hurt. "Had a good laugh over it? After all, came in, white hat firmly in place, stake at the ready, sad and confused and hurt, thinking I could take on a Master?" She threw her hands in the air, made for her stairs. "Fine. I'm grounded. But you two are screwed up."
He closed the door, wincing at her verbal onslaught. He sat on the stairs again. Outside.
Buffy sat heavily on the couch. That didn't go the way she wanted it to. She didn't know HOW it was supposed to go, but she was sure that wasn't it.
Ten minutes later, the sound of wood being pushed on wood fell on Spike's ears, as well as a VERY well rounded string of obscenities. Slowly, he stood up and walked to the base of the tree, on the street side. Waited.
Dawn dropped nimbly to her feet from the tree, and set out for the road.
"Not so fast, Bit."
To her credit, she spun, fists raised in a ready fighting position, and a stake in her pocket.
He chuckled. "Haven't we done this already?" Stepped from the shadows. "Where're you going?"
She sighed. "Out. Anywhere. Anywhere but in that house with that stupid, hypocritical little girl."
Spike just looked at her.
She gave him her best, Yeah?-What?-look. "I don't hear any denials pouring from your lips." She started down the sidewalk.
He followed her. "I was dying, Bit. Unconscious. Buffy saved my life."
She stalled a moment, then kept walking. "I offered you mine."
"I didn't take her's voluntarily, either. And I pulled away as soon as I knew what I was doing." He caught up with her, walking side by side.
She was pouting, good and proper. "She wouldn't even tell me why I had to stay away. Just said... to do it. Because she said so."
He stopped. Held her by the shoulders. Made her face him. "If you have any questions, now is the time to ask."
She jerked her shoulder back. "You hit her, I know."
He kept a firm grip with the other hand. "No. You don't know. I didn't hit her, Dawn. The demon did. I lost control. I attacked her. I would have killed her if she hadn't knocked some sense into me."
She closed her eyes. "I don't wanna hear this."
"You need to. To hear it from her side. I scared her. I terrified her. And I did the same to me." He released her and started walking toward his crypt. "Now you know."
She followed after him, tugged at his hand, turned him in the opposite direction. "I want an icecream. Did you tell Buffy on me?"
"I'll tell you if you'll answer me something first." He allowed her to lead him to the icecream parlor.
"Ok." She went to stand in line.
He stood with her, waited until they'd gotten their icecreams and sat down in a secluded corner. "Where did you get the blood?", Spike asked around a mouthful of chocolate icecream.
Vague. Vague was good. "There's blood at the house." True enough. There was... She was pretty sure, anyway.
Buzzer impression. He wasn't being mean. Wasn't asking so that he could tell. He was just a big brother, curious about his little sis. "Try again." Put a dot of icecream on her nose.
She gave an embarrassed sputter, wiped it off quickly. "I stole it from the butcher shop."
He hid a grin. Managed a semi-stern look. "Not nice, Bit."
She shrugged. "It wasn't hard. And technically, in a roundabout way, I DID pay for it."
He leaned forward. "How'd you do it?"
"Well, everyone knows he's the only guy working the counter. And they have that stupid cardboard cow cut-out. So I paid this kid five bucks to grab it, run five blocks with it, and drop it. I went in the store, kinda yelling that this kid was stealing the cutout, he went kinda crazy, started chasing after him, and I went in the back, filled a couple grocery bags with blood, and took a different route home." She shrugged at the simplicity of it. "Piece of cake."
Spike tried to be the 'stern, serious big brother', but it wasn't working. He laughed hard. "God, Bit... You're some sort of genius." Laughed again. "And if you tell your sister that I just complimented you for stealing, I'll kill you. You know that, right?"
She smiled proudly. "Yeah. I know." She wagged a finger at Spike. "And really, he's lucky that all I wanted was blood. He should lock up if he's gonna run off like that."
Spike chuckled, taking a bite of icecream. "I'll drop that in the suggestion box next time I'm in there."
She grinned. "You do that." She nodded. "I was doing... a civic duty to him. I'm sure he learned a lesson."
He grinned back. "And, now, to answer your question. No. I did not tell on you. Buffy found your cross when we were leaving to go back to your place."
She winced. "Oh."
He chuckled. "But it was worth the price of this icecream for that story." He stood. "Come on. Let's get you home and back up that tree before your sis realizes that you're gone."
Dawn sighed. "Ohhhhkaaaay. Do you think you can talk her out of grounding me?"
Spike looked up at the ceiling, thinking. "I dunno... Maybe... If I feel like it.."
She stood next to him, giving him adoring doe eyes. "I know you could."
Gave her a lopsided grin. "Yeah. I know. I just don't know if I reallllly want to..." Trotted out the door.
She followed behind him, then scuttled to be in front of him, walking backwards, big, sad, eyes. Like... the size of saucers. With a light sheen of tears. "Me and Andrew were supposed to go out to celebrate our one month."
"Welll... Maybe. If."
Her oh-so-expressive eyes brightened. "If?"
"Remove all strikes against me."
"For how long?"
"Two months. Strike free."
Dawn snorted. "Two weeks."
"Month and a half."
She considered. "Month."
He chuckled. "Month and a week. Why're you so eager to get me up to three again, anyway?"
She shrugged. "S'fun. Ok. Deal."
He grinned. He could bother her for a month and a week without consequences. How fun. They were at the base of the tree. She began to climb up. He called after her, "Oh, and Bit?"
She turned from her expert climbing to grin down at him.
"If I hear or see or even have cause to think that you've climbed out the window again, ever, I am pushing you right up to three strikes and keeping you there for three months."
Her mouth dropped open. "B-but-"
"No buts. And I won't tell Buffy. But I think I've given you enough incentive. Don't you?" Evil grin.
Small pout. "Yes." She pulled herself into the window with WAY too much ease for Spike's well-being.
He shook his head, grinning to himself. He was probably going to wind up nailing the window shut in there. Walked back up onto the porch. Knocked lightly. If Buffy was asleep, he would leave.
She swung the door open. Buffy looked at Spike from where she was leaning against the door. Sighed. "Hey."
Gave a half bow. "Luv. I would like to invite you out for awhile. An impromptu date, as it were."
Her eyes lit, and she gave a slow, half-shy smile. "Yeah?"
Dashing grin. "Yeah."
The smile got bigger, and nodded. "Ok. What should I change into?"
He looked down at his old button up the front purple and black shirt and black jeans. "You don't have to change. I'm not. Besides, we're gonna be on the bike, and you don't want to get cold or anything."
She nodded again. "Ok. Be right back." She went up the stairs quickly to knock on Dawn's door. "Dawnie?"
"What?" Less than patient.
"Um... I'm.... going out for a little bit. I don't know when I'll be home, but Willow will be back in about an hour, if you need something, ok?"
From in her room, Dawn rolled her eyes with a half grin. And SHE runs off to be with Spike, while she's GROUNDED. "Yeah. Fine."
Buffy grinned, and said softly, "I love you."
Dawn sighed. "I love you, too. Run along now."
She went back down the stairs to smile at Spike. "Ok. Had to tell Dawn I was leaving."
He grinned and got up off the couch. "Fine with me." Opened the door for her.
She walked out in front of him, walking down the porch stairs. He shut the door behind her, grinning when he heard Dawn lock it. He flashed her the thumbs up when he saw her looking out the window and then followed Buffy, climbing onto the bike, waiting for her to climb on behind him. She got on behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist. He purred, pressing back against her as he started the bike. They took off, heading out of Sunnydale and off to who knows where.
Buffy loved the speed, and the wind tossing her hair. She moved closer, shouted, "Where are we going??"
'Speak mentally, luv. It's easier. Just to a little place I know.'
'Mmm... Lots better. Do I know where it is?'
'Maybe. I'm not telling.'
She laughed, then just decided to enjoy the ride.
After about thirty minutes on the road, Spike pulled the bike off the main highway and followed a back road into the mountains. 'Getting closer...', he teased.
She gave a mental pout. 'Not fair.'
He chuckled, his back vibrating against her. There was a little cabin up ahead, and a small lake to the back. 'We're here.'
She was confused. 'Here where? It's... in the middle of nowhere.'
He parked the bike, turned it off. "I know. Isn't it great? Rupert told me about it awhile ago. I've been waiting for the right time to show it to you."
She smiled. Spotted a bunny scampering off. "Aww! It's a bunny!" They both thought of Anya jokes, but decided to not share. Buffy sighed, looking around. "It's beautiful here."
He got off the bike, pulled her with him. "Come on. You haven't even seen the best part."
She smiled and followed him. He went up to the cabin, and used a small gold key that he'd had in his pocket to unlock the door. Went in, motioning for Buffy to follow.
Buffy drew in a breath, and took it all in. There were candles, everywhere. Unlit, but there. And a fireplace. Which Spike was lighting with the kind of long matches that you use for such a thing. The room was filling with a soft glow, and the smell of differently scented candles, all blending prettily. Spike sat back on the couch that dominated the middle of the room in front of the fire place. It seemed to be made out of velvet. He patted the seat beside him. She relaxed into the softness of the couch, and smiled at him.
He grinned proudly at her. "Well? What do you think?"
"It's beautiful."
He smiled, enjoying the softness of the couch, and the nearness of Buffy. Looked around. "We could have brought swim suits. There's a great little lake out back."
She looked up at him. "Maybe next time."
He chuckled. "Yeah. I guess November isn't a good swimming month, anyway."
She laughed. "Probably not."
He looked around. "Want something to eat? There's plenty of food here. Anything you want to do. Think of me as your servant for tonight."
She smiled slowly. "My servant, huh?"
He nodded and gave a half bow. "At your service."
She leaned forward, touched her lips to his briefly.
He smiled when she pulled back. "Any orders?"
She smiled at him. "I never finished that sub... What have you got?"
He hopped up and walked to the fridge. Looked in it curiously. "Um... Everything... OH! Here.." He pulled out half a pizza. "Is this good?"
Her mouth almost watered. "Oh yeah."
He heated it up in the microwave on the counter and brought it to her with a flourish. "Here you are, My Lady. Anything else?"
"Well, if there's anyone here to share it with..."
He sat down. "Like me?"
She sighed. "I guess you'll do."
He snorted at her. "Strike two and a half. Just because I don't feel like three right now."
She smiled, took a bite, and said around her swallow, "Ya know... I'm really looking for a guy... all bad-ass on the outside, and nice and sweet, and caring on the inside. Blue eyes, too. Must have. You know anyone like that?"
He swallowed a bite of pizza. Thought for a moment. "Well... I did know a guy like that. I can't quite remember the chap's name."
She frowned. "Mmm. Well, you can give him my number, but my boyfriend's the jealous type."
Spike grinned, took another bite. "What'll he do if he finds out?"
She picked off a piece of pepperoni, ate it. "Probably kick his ass. Yell at me. Cry a little."
Spike made an amused sound. "Thought you said you liked the bad ass type. Crying? What else does this wanker do?"
Buffy considered. "He whispers the best poetry. And he watches Passions. And he can purr."
Spike hid a grin. "And you like that?"
She leaned her head back, making a satisfied noise in the back of her throat. "A world of yes."
He smiled, letting a quiet purr start. "Tell me more about this guy. What do you do together?"
She smiled. "We play on swings. And have picnics. And cuddle. He's a great kisser."
Nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm. An impressive list. What do you like about him? Things he does, I mean."
Deep, contemplative sigh. "He has an accent. He talks to my kid sister. He has this... way, that he touches me, and he lets me know, without saying a word, that I'm his. And he's arrogant and humbled by it at the same time."
"And what do you do that he likes? From your point of view."
Slow, female smile. "His back and ribs are sensitive. So is his collarbone and neck. I make sure that they're never neglected. And his earlobes."
Spike gave a slight shiver. God, just the mention... Bad vampire. He smiled at her. "So.. Why'd you want me to give your number to the guy I know?"
"Because, I've never seen him out and out jealous before. But maybe you shouldn't. I think I'm gonna keep him."
Spike nodded playfully. "Good idea. I think he needs you. More than either of you know or care to admit."
She felt a slow, warm tug of pleasure. "Probably."
He grinned. Finished his last slice of pizza. "Now. Anymore requests, my lady?"
She thought. "Mmm... Nope."
Nodded. "Ok then." Got up, and headed into another room. A glow slowly began to come from in there.
Her curiosity got the best of her, and she followed him. The room was a bedroom, complete with satin sheets. There were more candles, and Spike was on the bed, flat on his stomach, no shirt, seemingly asleep.
She smiled, crawled up the bed to nip at his back till she reached the back of his neck.
Oh no. Not again. He was going to stay still this time. Fake snore, but slightly more believable than his previous ones.
She licked a slow trail up to his hairline, blew on it.
Slight shiver, nuzzled deeper into the pillow.
She dipped her head, found his earlobe, ran her tongue along the edge of it, accompanied by a tiny nibble.
Shit... Ok. Be strong. Be strong.
She continued to do things to his earlobe, while trailing fingers up and down his spine, applying just the right kind of pressure.
Oh god. Nononono. Hold on, vampire. You can do it...
She pulled away from his ear, blew cold air it.
Closed eyes crossed. Think fast. Very shaky fake snore.
She ran one leg up his, and continued her very tender assault on his ear and spine.
Can't... hold on... much.. longer...
She reached her other hand between where he lay, and where she did, rubbing gently at his ribs, while increasing the pressure of her teeth on his ear slightly, her leg still on his, and one hand streaking down his spine.
That did it. He rolled with incredible speed and began quickly on her neck. Kissing, licking, sucking slightly, and anything else he could think of.
Her head tilted back, offering more of her neck, and she let out a small whimper. He moved against her, using his knowledge of this particular Slayer's weak points to his advantage as she had been doing with him. A noisy sigh caught in her throat, and she arched against him. He continued with the single-mindedness that was indicative of vampires. Finding the spot beneath her ear with his mouth, and the spot on her side with a hand. Her hands were on him, his ribs, his back, his shoulders, his hair. Spike was very close to going into a frenzy, and that was why he had to pull back. Rule one. The big rule. The only one left, really.
She felt his pause, used it and her pelvis to push up, twist, reversing their positions. Spike let out a surprised yip as he found the Slayer suddenly on top of him. Also, what she had done to get them that way was having a slight effect as well. Her knees on either side of his hips, she leaned down, kissed him hard. It wasn't warmth, it was heat. He growled slightly into her mouth, returning the kiss. His hands roamed over her back, found their way beneath her shirt, and continued to roam. She pushed forward into his hands. One hand held her up, another wandered his torso, between them to touch his belt fleetingly, then moved back over his chest, she angled her head slightly, deepening the kiss. Spike moaned into her mouth, one of his hands found her bra clasp, and pulled away from it. Rule one. Big rule. Bad vampire. 'Luv.. Gotta stop now.'
She rolled her hips into his in response.
She knew what she was doing. Hell, there was no way to miss it. He pulled back slightly, panting. "Luv.. What...?"
She pulled in a breath of her own, her lips swollen. "Remember... how we said... When we were ready?"
He looked in her eyes, his blue orbs meeting her hazel ones. "Yeah. Are you.. feeling ready?"
She rocked her hips against his again, leaning down to capture his lips again, another searing kiss. "God, yes," she mumbled against his mouth.
Spike nuzzled their foreheads together, then began to plant a trail of soft kisses down her throat. "Well... We're not.. going anywhere... soon." Pulled back, looked her in the eyes again. "And I've been ready...", said softly, an unspoken question passing between them.
Buffy took a deep breath. This time would be different. They had worked hard to ensure that it would be. She ran her hands down his chest slowly, exhaling the whole time. She pulled back far enough to place another kiss, softer, lingering, more questioning. She looked into his eyes. The words were harder to get out than she had thought. "Make love to me."
He saw it in her eyes when she said it. Knew that they were ready. But one more thing had to be said. He rested their foreheads together. Purred softly, "*Me in you...*"
"You in me."
"*Always...*" Meant it. With all his heart. All his SOUL, he meant it more now than ever.
Her heart felt full, like this was what she was waiting for. "*Forever*."
Two minds.. Two hearts... Two souls... Two bodies... Two worlds... One love.
Always and forever.
END
Author's Notes 1: Tigerwolf: Well folks, this is it. The official end of the never ending fic. Sorry to everyone who wanted a graphic sex scene. We tried, but this was the best we could do without offending our morals. Also, for those people who don't like my style of Spike, I'd like to say three things. A: No one knows as of yet how James is gonna play Souled!Spike, so I might be closer or further than any of us know. B:If you don't like the way I write Spike, why are you still reading this? lol. Go read someone who writes him the way you like him. And C: In our next collaboration, Sunrise and I are going back in time and answering a challenge that I thought up one night on too much caffeine. We will change one thing near the end of season five and then rewrite all of season six from that new point. As for what the change is? I'm not telling. You'll have to read it. lol
Now, I'd like to thank some people in the peanut gallery. lol. First and foremost, Tequila Sunrise, my writing partner and best online friend. Who cares if I live in Texas and you in Ohio? Thank god for MSN. To Sunrise's RL Dawnie, thanks for your idea, the cheese guy is so funny!! lol. And finally, all our reviewers. Whether you liked it or not. Now, in the words of Spike's favorite cartoon character (in my world, anyway, lol): T T F N, Ta Ta For Now!
Tiger
Author's Notes 2, Tequila Sunrise: Well, guys, wasn't this one hell of a long story?? lol I hope you enjoyed it. We put our hearts, souls and the spare time we didn't have to begin with in here. Thank you so much for all your constructive criticism, your praise, and just reading it this far with us, period. It means more than you know, and I hope none of you are disappointed by it. We've decided we're just no good apart, so we're writing another one!!!! lol (jk about us being bad apart, you know) It's called Ohana, and it takes place in our own Alternate Universe stemming from "Intervention". I hope you'll all read that one as well. I'd like to thank Tigerwolf, for working with me, around me, and being a great friend besides being the best Spike ever. And to my RL Dawnie. We'd have been screwed without your idea. Thanks so much for reading, all the time, and being so great. And to my own sleep-deprived body: thank you for still functioning. : ) I greatly appreciate it. Tigerwolf, What have we gotten ourselves into??
Always your... Tequila Sunrise
PS~ and thanks to Joss, that bastard, for torturing us, and knowing we love every minute of it. And giving us Nakee Spike, too... Mrawr....
It was indeed a reflex, but it was slowed by his bad state of health. But he was drinking. After a few moments, his gold eyes opened and waved around for an instant, before locking on Buffy. The taste... He knew that taste... Oh God. He pulled back quickly, but carefully enough not to rip a hunk of her skin off, and crab-walked backwards until he hit a wall. Shit. He'd done it now. He'd attacked her again. And actually BIT her this time. He was terrified, and the piece of wood sticking out of his chest didn't help it at all. He'd attacked her, and she'd tried to kill him again, and she'd missed. He huddled against the wall, eyes flashing from gold to blue and back again, waiting for her to come over and finish the job.
She followed him to the wall, knelt in his lap, using her weight to keep him at the wall. She put her wrist to his mouth again. "Drink."
Eyes continued to flash as he tried to gain control. He clamped his jaws shut, nicking his tongue on a fang in the process, and shook his head.
Her other hand reached up, clamped on his jaw. She jerked his face so he would look into her eyes. "There is -no- time, Spike. Do it."
"Mm-mm." 'I won't hurt you anymore. If I die, I die. I deserve it.'
She wouldn't use her bond. "Well I don't! I don't deserve to lose someone again!" Her eyes were flashing, and they were suspiciously wet. She pulled down on his jaw, her fingers tightening painfully on the hinge, forcing them apart.
He closed his eyes. Allowed her to force his mouth open. To insert his fangs back into the holes in her arm. But he didn't suck half as hard as he could.
Her free hand hit his cheek, hard, trying to anger his demon as she had with Angel. "DRINK, Spike!"
Spike flinched, but sucked harder. Not out of anger, or pain. Out of love. He didn't want her any madder at him than she already was. His eyes opened, locked on hers. 'Why help me?'
"Because some things aren't meant to happen."
His eyes grew wider. 'Your mum said the same thing...'
She smiled sadly, swept her right hand down the cheek she had struck. "I know."
'She went to you.' Statement. Not question. He would have smiled if it hadn't meant removing his fangs from her arm. He was feeling stronger already.
Her vision was dimming at the very corners of her eyes, but she smiled. "She did. Helped me do laundry, too."
He felt her weakness. Slowed his sucking again. 'I don't want you to pass out. You should stop. I can seal the wound.'
She shook her head slowly, drew herself up, she'd be strong for this. "Take more."
'I don't want to.' Same old stubborn Spike again.
Stubborn Buffy. "I don't give a damn."
'I do...' Tried to retract his fangs.
Her hand found the back of his head, pressed him hard against her wrist. He could drink or choke. It was up to him.
Growled quietly, but did as she forced him to. He just slowed, to give her Slayer's body time to catch up with him. He was pretty sure her body could manufacture more blood almost as fast as he could suck, as long as he kept slow.
She met his eyes. "Drink, Spike."
'I am.'
"More. I'll be fine."
'No you won't. Let yourself catch up first. I'll keep going. Speed doesn't matter.'
It mattered to her. More, faster, better Spike. The equation made sense in her head.
A different equation went through Spike's head. Less, slower, Buffy not lose consciousness.
She knew he thought she manufactured blood fast, but in that area, she was disgustingly human. Her back was still straight, her eyes trained on his, but she had to fight back the greying at the edges of her vision viciously.
He was beginning to feel full. His eyelids drooped like a kid after Thanksgiving dinner. Fought the urge to yawn.
She swallowed, wavered a bit, steadied herself again. "Any better?"
Retracted his fangs, yawned. "Yeah.. Sleepy..."
"Gotta go... see Giles."
Looked at her sadly. "Oh. Ok. Buffy?"
She blinked fuzzily. "Come on. We have to go."
"Not yet. I want you to know... I was wrong... Last night. So very wrong... I'm sorry..." He stood up slowly, wincing at the pain in his chest. "Ooh. I'd better get rid of this first."
She stood with him, her balance off. She laid both hands over the wood imbedded in his chest. "Me."
Trust in his blue eyes, he nodded, bracing himself against the wall.
She took a deep breath, pulled it out, straight at the angle it had come in at.
He bit his lip to keep from screaming in pain, and clapped a hand over the hole in his chest to stop the bleeding.
Buffy tossed the piece of wood aside dismissively, and grabbed his first- aid kit. She pulled up on the hem of his shirt, intending to help him out of it. He let her pull it off him, wincing when the shirt stuck to the wound. "Buffy? What did your mum tell you?"
She began cleaning the hole, putting gauze in it, around it. "She loves me. She knows I love her. That I like to complicate things."
"I'm glad you got to see her. I hope you feel better, now." He was watching her bandage him, not meeting her eyes.
She was taping it carefully, said quietly, "She said that you asked her to come to me."
"Yeah. Well... You told me you wanted her to visit you... I remembered to ask." It was barely a whisper.
She bit softly at her bottom lip. "Because you thought you were dying."
"I was. Sickle Cell Anemia. Bad blood. It was the only thing I could think of to do for you."
She nodded, said without ire, "The human blood was tainted."
"Yeah. I should have read the bin that I was digging in. Rejects. I'm an idiot."
Buffy nodded, her eyes intent on the bandage, smoothing the edges, her fingers playing over it, making it perfect.
He stared at the wall, the bed, anywhere but in her eyes. "Buffy... Can you... I know you can't forgive me for what I did. I just want you to know how sorry I am."
Her mothers words echoed at her. Sometimes it IS as simple as... "I forgive you."
His head snapped up, making his neck pop painfully. "Ow. You do?"
It was quiet, almost a whisper. Her eyes were still on the bandage. "Yes."
He knew that she was expecting him to ask for yet another invitation. He would surprise her. "Thank you." He sat on the bed, fishing through his nightstand for something.
She stood, hands restless at her sides. "Did you try to stake yourself?"
"I thought about it. Da- I changed my mind." Pulled out his leather bound book, set it aside, continued digging around.
She was getting antsy, and her head still felt too light for her body. Her body felt very heavy. Too heavy for her head. Whoah. With the weird thoughts. "What are you looking for?"
"Peppermints..."
She just nodded, then stumbled to the right, braced her hand on the wall by the night stand. Sank slowly to the floor, to sit Indian style. "I think it'd be best for me to sit."
He pulled out a box of Altoids, handed it down to her. "Want one? Helps keep you awake. Works for me, anyway."
She took one from the tin, sucked on it.
He did the same. "Want to come up here? It's more comfortable than the floor. I can go to the couch."
She stood slowly, but it felt fast to her. What blood she had rushed to her head. Walked slowly to the bed, sat, then laid on her back. He elevated her head slightly, and put the soft pillows under it, then laid a light blanket over her, and headed for the couch.
"No."
Stopped, turned. "Beg your pardon?" Cocked his head. 'Since when do I talk like Rupert?'
She lazily flipped one hand over, palm up. It happened to be the one he fed off. It was as much of an invitation as she could muster. "Sit."
He obeyed. Sitting on the side of the bed, his back stiff, not wanting to jostle her.
Her speech was slow, but she got it out. "So... you know what's wrong with you, so we don't have to go ask Giles?"
He nodded. "In fact, it's gone now. Mostly. I'm gonna have to feed a lot for a few days, though. To purge what's left of the bad blood." Gave her a gentle smile. "You should eat something. I'll find something for you."
Slow, small, tired smile. "'Kay. I have to go home tonight."
He nodded, heading for the 'kitchen'. "I'll carry you, if you want me to."
Her words didn't carry the life and pep they usually did. They were duller, slower, but she was sure she was rallying. "Dawn cancelled a date tonight."
He started to say, 'I know', but stopped. Didn't want to get the Bit in trouble. "Oh, really?" Dug around in the fridge.
"Mm. So she might be upset if you carry me to the porch."
"Oh. How about the front walk?" Pulled half a sub sandwich out of the fridge. Held it up. "Is this ok? It's only been in there since yesterday. Xander left it."
She lolled her head back to look at it. "Yum. Food."
He smiled, putting it on a paper plate, on a tray, and setting a glass of milk beside it. Carried it to the bed. "Here you go, luv."
She sat up only long enough to take the sandwich, and laid back down again, breaking off bits of it to nibble on.
He sat on the side of the bed again, watching her eat in silence. God, how he'd missed her. He never thought he'd see her again, let alone have her forgive him, but here she was. He blinked back tears.
She sighed suddenly, and set the sub on her stomach. She had eaten maybe three small bites. "I'm not hungry anymore."
Concern filled his eyes. He pushed the sub toward her again. "You need to eat. You eat, you make more blood. You make more blood, you feel better. Scientific facts."
Slightly vacant smile. "Ok." She pulled off a corner of a piece of cheese from the sandwich, ate it.
"Slayer. Don't make me open your mouth and shove it in."
Lolled her head again to give him as good a 'look' as she could, under the circumstances.
He hid a small grin at the ghost of her usual piercing 'look'. "You did it for me, and I'll do it for you."
She brought the sub up for a half-normal sized bite. He put two fingers on the end and pushed it into her mouth for a normal bite. Used his other hand to close her jaw and bite the piece off. Sat back, grinning at her. She gave a small cough, not ready for that. She chewed slowly.
Now that he was satisfied that she was at least going to make an attempt, he yawned and stood up, heading for the couch.
She swallowed hastily. "Where y'going?"
"To lie down."
"Will you keep me awake for a little bit? Till I can walk home?"
Turned to look at her. "Ok. How?"
"Come sit and lay down, and talk to me."
He slowly walked back over and laid down next to her. "What do you want to talk about?"
She shrugged, took another medium sized bite.
He thought. "Ok. Uh... Topic.. topic.. Oh! What's the last movie you saw in the theaters?"
She blinked. Honestly couldn't remember. "I... I dunno."
He snorted. "Never mind. Stupid topic, anyway." Tried to think of a new topic.
"I told him no."
"Who?"
"The... the guy." She didn't even remember his name. Maybe Josh. "Told him I just went there to enjoy the atmosphere. Just wanted to sit, and soak in the Buffy-ness. But he asked again, and I was lonely. So I said yes." She wasn't apologizing. There was none of it in her tone, but she was letting him know. Facts.
"Oh. You could have called me... Unless you really were avoiding me last week." Held up a hand. "Before you say anything, I don't really think you were avoiding me. I just was having a bad week."
She nodded. "I just wanted... a Buffy night. A me night. I was going to call you in the morning and see what you wanted to do Sunday, because it's my first day off in... man... weeks."
"That's tomorrow."
The sub was back to sitting on her stomach, almost a fifth gone. "Is it?" It seemed longer than that. That the last two days themselves had been weeks.
Slow nod. A hand reached toward her hair, but pulled back. "Sorry." Rolled onto his back, stared at the ceiling.
Buffy said slowly, "I know... you were sick, that's why you fought like you did."
"It's part of it, but not all. I was mad. Furious. Kept thinking about how I lost Dru... Did you know that I was just out for a walk, went into a bar for a drink, and caught her making out with a chaos demon? It was... Too similar... Like when you... Never mind."
She turned her head to look at him. "I meant physically, the way you fought. Nevermind, what?"
"Somethin' you said. Awhile back. Brought up a different memory. It doesn't matter now." Kept staring at the ceiling.
"Everything matters. Everything everyone says matters on some level."
Very quiet, almost not said. " 'You're beneath me...' "
Buffy winced. "I'm sorry."
He shrugged slightly. "S'ok. I'm fine." In the back of his mind, the two scenes played side by side... Cecily... Buffy... A dropped poetry book... Thrown cash.. 'You're beneath me.' He continued to stare at the ceiling through watery eyes.
Her hand reached over slowly, to touch the back of his. "You're not."
Turned his head slightly. "Yes I am. You're like a goddess, and I'm... A lowly peasant, come to worship. I don't deserve all the leeway you give me. All the times you've over looked my failures. And I know you don't agree with me, but that's how I feel. How I've always felt."
"Then why do you think I'm a whore?" It was quiet, pained, confused.
"I don't. It was the anger talking. I'm sorry, luv. I was so wrong... Again. And again you've forgiven me." Shaky smile. "Can I do anything to make you hate me again? Just in case I ever want you to stake me, or something like that. Humor me."
Her reply was instant, honest. "Leave me. And... I don't think even then."
He stared at her, chewing on his lip absently. "You... really mean that?"
She nodded. "I think so." She reached across herself, tugged at his lip. "Bad habit."
He laughed quietly. "I wonder where I got that, hmm?"
She gave a half smile. "No idea."
Tapped her on the nose. "Guess."
A grin quirked her lips.
Tapped her nose again, chuckling quietly. "I said guess."
"Dawn."
He did a respectable impression of a game show buzzer. Another nose tap. "Try again."
She gave a soft laugh, swatted at his hand. "Ok."
He, now in a totally playful mood, started humming the Jeopardy theme song. "I'm waaaiting."
"Me." She sat up slowly. "I've got to get going."
The mood faded. "Oh. Ok." He stood to help her to her feet. "I'm going to... I don't know what. Call the others. Apologize."
"For what?"
"For everything. I was short with Xander when he came over yesterday. I told Rupert I was busy when he invited me over to practice. I told Willow that I was too tired to drive her to the store. The list goes on. I had a bad week."
She nodded. "I'm sure it's not a big deal to them. We've all had days. Mine was no better."
He smiled at her. "I know. My fault again. Sorry."
Buffy shrugged. "I was thinking about the double shifts. But, forgive."
"Ah." He sat back down on the bed. "Ok. Do you need a ride home? Xander borrowed the DeSoto yesterday, but I've still got the bike."
She shrugged. "I can walk."
He stood up, shaking his head. "Wrong answer. What if you run into some nasty out there? You're in no condition to fight, luv." He chuckled. "I doubt you could even fend off one of those blue laughing demons. By the way. It woke up."
She gave him a slightly reproachful look. "Nothing wakes up from it's neck being broken at that angle."
He grinned. "THEY do. I can even prove it. I knew it wouldn't kill it, because I read up on it at the meeting awhile back."
Buffy gave him a small smile. "So... You're driving me home?"
He nodded, motioned to the ladder. "After you, M'lady."
She went up to go up the ladder, and paused by the couch, knelt down.
He followed her and paused. "What are you doin', luv?"
She picked up the sterling cross off the floor. "Get religious on me?"
He blanched. "Uh... Maybe some kids came in during the day..."
Buffy nodded. "Kids these days. Doing stupid things, just because people tell them not to."
He chewed on his lip, stayed silent.
She put the cross in her pocket and went up the ladder.
He trotted after. Dawn owed him one, now.
-========================================================
Dawn was dozing on the couch, the remote held lightly in her hand. Bored. Frustrated. Missed Andrew. Should be solving equations. Sleep. A loud roar coming down the street had her jerking awake, to peer out the window. She gave an excited squeal as a motorcycle halted in their driveway, the driver distinctly bleached blonde, with a petite, slightly stumbling slayer behind him. She knew it! Hadn't she told him? Yes!!!! She was right! She KNEW she was right! Yes! The smile faded slightly as she noticed they weren't holding hands or touching. But they were talking. Tension was expected. Well, she didn't really know what happened, but... whatever it was, tension was expected. It would be ok.
Outside, Spike steadied Buffy by resting a hand on her shoulder. Was pleasantly surprised when she took his hand, and draped it across her shoulders, slightly leaning on him.
Dawn's eyes lit up. YAY! Slightly louder squeal. Ok! Touching! That was touching! That was invited, ENCOURAGED TOUCHING!!!! She bounced on her knees on the couch cushions.
The couple made it up the front walk, and Buffy leaned on Spike a little more to get up the steps. Then they pulled apart. He stood at the edge of the porch, ready to leave as soon as she got inside. She opened the door, looked back at him. He turned to go back down the steps.
"H.. Spike?"
Paused, for the third time that night. Turned. "Yeah, luv?"
She held up one finger. Gave a tiny nod to accompany it. Asking him to wait, just a minute. He nodded and sat on the steps.
Buffy went inside, found her sister on the couch, looking FAR too interested in the TV for what was being advertised. A spray for balding men. "Dawn."
She jerked her head to Buffy in that, 'Oh-wow-I-didn't-even-hear-you-pull- in-on-a-loud-motorcycle' look. "Oh. Hey. What's up?"
She knew Dawn had been watching. "Spike... he was sick, but he's better now. And... we're better now."
The grin kept spreading across Dawn's face.
"I... Do you want to invite him back in with me?"
Dawn gave a laughing squeal and hugged her sister. Buffy hugged back for a minute, then took her hand and led her to the front door.
Spike was still sitting on the stairs, crumbling something up in his hands. He glanced up when the door opened. Gave a half grin at the sisters, and chucked the wadded up pack of cigarettes into the garbage can at the junction of sidewalk and street. Nothin' but can.
The sister's stood united, twin smiles on their faces. They glanced at eachother, then at Spike, and said in unison, "Welcome."
His eyes lit up. He stood slowly, walking toward the door as if he thought it was going to disappear. "You mean it?"
Dawn nodded enthusiastically, while Buffy said to him silently, 'Always, forever.'
His eyes teared up and he shot through the door, wrapping up both sisters in a bear hug. "Thank you... Both of you. I.. love you both.." Nuzzled both Summers alternately.
The girls returned the embrace, both feeling a lot happier, less sick in the pits of their stomachs. 'I love you.'
"I love you, too, Spike." Dawn hugged him tightly, glad to feel that he wasn't so thin.
Spike, still holding both girls, half carried them over and plopped on the couch with them. "I don't ever want to let go." He was purring. Half a familial purr for Dawn, and half the deeper purr that was for Buffy alone.
The girls basked in their purring glow for a moment, before Buffy pulled up to say, "What're you doing for the next couple weeks, Dawn?"
Her sister shrugged. "Dunno... gonna go out with Andrew, probably, see a few movies, go to Mindy's... Why?"
Buffy shrugged. She still wasn't feeling 100 percent, but she was dealing with this now. "Because I'd cancel all of that if I was you, because you're grounded."
Spike's eyes popped open, and his purring skipped a beat. Oops. He hadn't been as convincing as he thought.
Dawn fishmouthed a moment. "What?" And the Oscar goes to... She stood, a quivering righteous fury over her sister. "I'm -grounded-? I haven't DONE anything in FOREVER! And-"
Buffy stood to face off to Dawn. "When I tell you something, I expect you to respect me enough to do it, because I wouldn't SAY it, if I wasn't looking out for you. I told you to not go to Spike's. I didn't want you to get hurt, and you just... PRANCE over there, like it's a damned LARK!"
The relaxed feeling that Spike had been cultivating evaporated, and he started to get up and leave.
Buffy put out a hand, a silent signal to stay, without even looking away from her sister.
Dawn squawked, then let out a banshee wail. "You SO don't even have any PROOF that I was OVER THERE!"
Spike stopped, and leaned against the same wall he had occupied during Buffy's 21st birthday party nearly a year before.
Buffy shoved her hand into her pocket, the sleeve pushing up while she dug, and found the chain, jerking it out, to dangle in front of Dawn. "Jewelry's expensive, Dawn. Might not want to be so careless with it."
Dawn got red when she saw the cross, but she blanched, pale, dead white when she saw Buffy's wrist. The bite marks hadn't healed, and the skin around it was raised and bruised, dark brown and purple and blue in the center, but a sickly green and yellow at the edges. She grabbed Buffy's wrist, jerking it up to her eye level. Swung her eyes to meet Spike's.
Spike looked at the floor.
"You bit-" Her eyes went back to drill into Buffy's. "He BIT you. It's..." It hit her. "That's why you're stumbly. He SUCKED your BLOOD. And not just a little! A LOT! You're... pale... and... wobbly..." She tossed Buffy's wrist back. "And -I'm- grounded for doing the obviously more dangerous of our two actions?"
Spike began inching toward the door again.
"SO do not even think you're going anywhere." Dawn's voice was crisp, brightly angry.
"None of that matters, Dawn," Buffy began. "What matters is that I told you to NOT do something, and you-"
"I did it. Well, shoot. I should just join the club. 'Don't date vampires.' 'Don't let anyone bite you.' Do you sit on the toilet seats in public, too, Buffy??"
Spike was at the door, reaching for the knob.
Dawn rounded on him. "And you! What? Did you TELL her?"
Spike looked back as he pulled the door open. "No."
She was hurt. "Had a good laugh over it? After all, came in, white hat firmly in place, stake at the ready, sad and confused and hurt, thinking I could take on a Master?" She threw her hands in the air, made for her stairs. "Fine. I'm grounded. But you two are screwed up."
He closed the door, wincing at her verbal onslaught. He sat on the stairs again. Outside.
Buffy sat heavily on the couch. That didn't go the way she wanted it to. She didn't know HOW it was supposed to go, but she was sure that wasn't it.
Ten minutes later, the sound of wood being pushed on wood fell on Spike's ears, as well as a VERY well rounded string of obscenities. Slowly, he stood up and walked to the base of the tree, on the street side. Waited.
Dawn dropped nimbly to her feet from the tree, and set out for the road.
"Not so fast, Bit."
To her credit, she spun, fists raised in a ready fighting position, and a stake in her pocket.
He chuckled. "Haven't we done this already?" Stepped from the shadows. "Where're you going?"
She sighed. "Out. Anywhere. Anywhere but in that house with that stupid, hypocritical little girl."
Spike just looked at her.
She gave him her best, Yeah?-What?-look. "I don't hear any denials pouring from your lips." She started down the sidewalk.
He followed her. "I was dying, Bit. Unconscious. Buffy saved my life."
She stalled a moment, then kept walking. "I offered you mine."
"I didn't take her's voluntarily, either. And I pulled away as soon as I knew what I was doing." He caught up with her, walking side by side.
She was pouting, good and proper. "She wouldn't even tell me why I had to stay away. Just said... to do it. Because she said so."
He stopped. Held her by the shoulders. Made her face him. "If you have any questions, now is the time to ask."
She jerked her shoulder back. "You hit her, I know."
He kept a firm grip with the other hand. "No. You don't know. I didn't hit her, Dawn. The demon did. I lost control. I attacked her. I would have killed her if she hadn't knocked some sense into me."
She closed her eyes. "I don't wanna hear this."
"You need to. To hear it from her side. I scared her. I terrified her. And I did the same to me." He released her and started walking toward his crypt. "Now you know."
She followed after him, tugged at his hand, turned him in the opposite direction. "I want an icecream. Did you tell Buffy on me?"
"I'll tell you if you'll answer me something first." He allowed her to lead him to the icecream parlor.
"Ok." She went to stand in line.
He stood with her, waited until they'd gotten their icecreams and sat down in a secluded corner. "Where did you get the blood?", Spike asked around a mouthful of chocolate icecream.
Vague. Vague was good. "There's blood at the house." True enough. There was... She was pretty sure, anyway.
Buzzer impression. He wasn't being mean. Wasn't asking so that he could tell. He was just a big brother, curious about his little sis. "Try again." Put a dot of icecream on her nose.
She gave an embarrassed sputter, wiped it off quickly. "I stole it from the butcher shop."
He hid a grin. Managed a semi-stern look. "Not nice, Bit."
She shrugged. "It wasn't hard. And technically, in a roundabout way, I DID pay for it."
He leaned forward. "How'd you do it?"
"Well, everyone knows he's the only guy working the counter. And they have that stupid cardboard cow cut-out. So I paid this kid five bucks to grab it, run five blocks with it, and drop it. I went in the store, kinda yelling that this kid was stealing the cutout, he went kinda crazy, started chasing after him, and I went in the back, filled a couple grocery bags with blood, and took a different route home." She shrugged at the simplicity of it. "Piece of cake."
Spike tried to be the 'stern, serious big brother', but it wasn't working. He laughed hard. "God, Bit... You're some sort of genius." Laughed again. "And if you tell your sister that I just complimented you for stealing, I'll kill you. You know that, right?"
She smiled proudly. "Yeah. I know." She wagged a finger at Spike. "And really, he's lucky that all I wanted was blood. He should lock up if he's gonna run off like that."
Spike chuckled, taking a bite of icecream. "I'll drop that in the suggestion box next time I'm in there."
She grinned. "You do that." She nodded. "I was doing... a civic duty to him. I'm sure he learned a lesson."
He grinned back. "And, now, to answer your question. No. I did not tell on you. Buffy found your cross when we were leaving to go back to your place."
She winced. "Oh."
He chuckled. "But it was worth the price of this icecream for that story." He stood. "Come on. Let's get you home and back up that tree before your sis realizes that you're gone."
Dawn sighed. "Ohhhhkaaaay. Do you think you can talk her out of grounding me?"
Spike looked up at the ceiling, thinking. "I dunno... Maybe... If I feel like it.."
She stood next to him, giving him adoring doe eyes. "I know you could."
Gave her a lopsided grin. "Yeah. I know. I just don't know if I reallllly want to..." Trotted out the door.
She followed behind him, then scuttled to be in front of him, walking backwards, big, sad, eyes. Like... the size of saucers. With a light sheen of tears. "Me and Andrew were supposed to go out to celebrate our one month."
"Welll... Maybe. If."
Her oh-so-expressive eyes brightened. "If?"
"Remove all strikes against me."
"For how long?"
"Two months. Strike free."
Dawn snorted. "Two weeks."
"Month and a half."
She considered. "Month."
He chuckled. "Month and a week. Why're you so eager to get me up to three again, anyway?"
She shrugged. "S'fun. Ok. Deal."
He grinned. He could bother her for a month and a week without consequences. How fun. They were at the base of the tree. She began to climb up. He called after her, "Oh, and Bit?"
She turned from her expert climbing to grin down at him.
"If I hear or see or even have cause to think that you've climbed out the window again, ever, I am pushing you right up to three strikes and keeping you there for three months."
Her mouth dropped open. "B-but-"
"No buts. And I won't tell Buffy. But I think I've given you enough incentive. Don't you?" Evil grin.
Small pout. "Yes." She pulled herself into the window with WAY too much ease for Spike's well-being.
He shook his head, grinning to himself. He was probably going to wind up nailing the window shut in there. Walked back up onto the porch. Knocked lightly. If Buffy was asleep, he would leave.
She swung the door open. Buffy looked at Spike from where she was leaning against the door. Sighed. "Hey."
Gave a half bow. "Luv. I would like to invite you out for awhile. An impromptu date, as it were."
Her eyes lit, and she gave a slow, half-shy smile. "Yeah?"
Dashing grin. "Yeah."
The smile got bigger, and nodded. "Ok. What should I change into?"
He looked down at his old button up the front purple and black shirt and black jeans. "You don't have to change. I'm not. Besides, we're gonna be on the bike, and you don't want to get cold or anything."
She nodded again. "Ok. Be right back." She went up the stairs quickly to knock on Dawn's door. "Dawnie?"
"What?" Less than patient.
"Um... I'm.... going out for a little bit. I don't know when I'll be home, but Willow will be back in about an hour, if you need something, ok?"
From in her room, Dawn rolled her eyes with a half grin. And SHE runs off to be with Spike, while she's GROUNDED. "Yeah. Fine."
Buffy grinned, and said softly, "I love you."
Dawn sighed. "I love you, too. Run along now."
She went back down the stairs to smile at Spike. "Ok. Had to tell Dawn I was leaving."
He grinned and got up off the couch. "Fine with me." Opened the door for her.
She walked out in front of him, walking down the porch stairs. He shut the door behind her, grinning when he heard Dawn lock it. He flashed her the thumbs up when he saw her looking out the window and then followed Buffy, climbing onto the bike, waiting for her to climb on behind him. She got on behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist. He purred, pressing back against her as he started the bike. They took off, heading out of Sunnydale and off to who knows where.
Buffy loved the speed, and the wind tossing her hair. She moved closer, shouted, "Where are we going??"
'Speak mentally, luv. It's easier. Just to a little place I know.'
'Mmm... Lots better. Do I know where it is?'
'Maybe. I'm not telling.'
She laughed, then just decided to enjoy the ride.
After about thirty minutes on the road, Spike pulled the bike off the main highway and followed a back road into the mountains. 'Getting closer...', he teased.
She gave a mental pout. 'Not fair.'
He chuckled, his back vibrating against her. There was a little cabin up ahead, and a small lake to the back. 'We're here.'
She was confused. 'Here where? It's... in the middle of nowhere.'
He parked the bike, turned it off. "I know. Isn't it great? Rupert told me about it awhile ago. I've been waiting for the right time to show it to you."
She smiled. Spotted a bunny scampering off. "Aww! It's a bunny!" They both thought of Anya jokes, but decided to not share. Buffy sighed, looking around. "It's beautiful here."
He got off the bike, pulled her with him. "Come on. You haven't even seen the best part."
She smiled and followed him. He went up to the cabin, and used a small gold key that he'd had in his pocket to unlock the door. Went in, motioning for Buffy to follow.
Buffy drew in a breath, and took it all in. There were candles, everywhere. Unlit, but there. And a fireplace. Which Spike was lighting with the kind of long matches that you use for such a thing. The room was filling with a soft glow, and the smell of differently scented candles, all blending prettily. Spike sat back on the couch that dominated the middle of the room in front of the fire place. It seemed to be made out of velvet. He patted the seat beside him. She relaxed into the softness of the couch, and smiled at him.
He grinned proudly at her. "Well? What do you think?"
"It's beautiful."
He smiled, enjoying the softness of the couch, and the nearness of Buffy. Looked around. "We could have brought swim suits. There's a great little lake out back."
She looked up at him. "Maybe next time."
He chuckled. "Yeah. I guess November isn't a good swimming month, anyway."
She laughed. "Probably not."
He looked around. "Want something to eat? There's plenty of food here. Anything you want to do. Think of me as your servant for tonight."
She smiled slowly. "My servant, huh?"
He nodded and gave a half bow. "At your service."
She leaned forward, touched her lips to his briefly.
He smiled when she pulled back. "Any orders?"
She smiled at him. "I never finished that sub... What have you got?"
He hopped up and walked to the fridge. Looked in it curiously. "Um... Everything... OH! Here.." He pulled out half a pizza. "Is this good?"
Her mouth almost watered. "Oh yeah."
He heated it up in the microwave on the counter and brought it to her with a flourish. "Here you are, My Lady. Anything else?"
"Well, if there's anyone here to share it with..."
He sat down. "Like me?"
She sighed. "I guess you'll do."
He snorted at her. "Strike two and a half. Just because I don't feel like three right now."
She smiled, took a bite, and said around her swallow, "Ya know... I'm really looking for a guy... all bad-ass on the outside, and nice and sweet, and caring on the inside. Blue eyes, too. Must have. You know anyone like that?"
He swallowed a bite of pizza. Thought for a moment. "Well... I did know a guy like that. I can't quite remember the chap's name."
She frowned. "Mmm. Well, you can give him my number, but my boyfriend's the jealous type."
Spike grinned, took another bite. "What'll he do if he finds out?"
She picked off a piece of pepperoni, ate it. "Probably kick his ass. Yell at me. Cry a little."
Spike made an amused sound. "Thought you said you liked the bad ass type. Crying? What else does this wanker do?"
Buffy considered. "He whispers the best poetry. And he watches Passions. And he can purr."
Spike hid a grin. "And you like that?"
She leaned her head back, making a satisfied noise in the back of her throat. "A world of yes."
He smiled, letting a quiet purr start. "Tell me more about this guy. What do you do together?"
She smiled. "We play on swings. And have picnics. And cuddle. He's a great kisser."
Nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm. An impressive list. What do you like about him? Things he does, I mean."
Deep, contemplative sigh. "He has an accent. He talks to my kid sister. He has this... way, that he touches me, and he lets me know, without saying a word, that I'm his. And he's arrogant and humbled by it at the same time."
"And what do you do that he likes? From your point of view."
Slow, female smile. "His back and ribs are sensitive. So is his collarbone and neck. I make sure that they're never neglected. And his earlobes."
Spike gave a slight shiver. God, just the mention... Bad vampire. He smiled at her. "So.. Why'd you want me to give your number to the guy I know?"
"Because, I've never seen him out and out jealous before. But maybe you shouldn't. I think I'm gonna keep him."
Spike nodded playfully. "Good idea. I think he needs you. More than either of you know or care to admit."
She felt a slow, warm tug of pleasure. "Probably."
He grinned. Finished his last slice of pizza. "Now. Anymore requests, my lady?"
She thought. "Mmm... Nope."
Nodded. "Ok then." Got up, and headed into another room. A glow slowly began to come from in there.
Her curiosity got the best of her, and she followed him. The room was a bedroom, complete with satin sheets. There were more candles, and Spike was on the bed, flat on his stomach, no shirt, seemingly asleep.
She smiled, crawled up the bed to nip at his back till she reached the back of his neck.
Oh no. Not again. He was going to stay still this time. Fake snore, but slightly more believable than his previous ones.
She licked a slow trail up to his hairline, blew on it.
Slight shiver, nuzzled deeper into the pillow.
She dipped her head, found his earlobe, ran her tongue along the edge of it, accompanied by a tiny nibble.
Shit... Ok. Be strong. Be strong.
She continued to do things to his earlobe, while trailing fingers up and down his spine, applying just the right kind of pressure.
Oh god. Nononono. Hold on, vampire. You can do it...
She pulled away from his ear, blew cold air it.
Closed eyes crossed. Think fast. Very shaky fake snore.
She ran one leg up his, and continued her very tender assault on his ear and spine.
Can't... hold on... much.. longer...
She reached her other hand between where he lay, and where she did, rubbing gently at his ribs, while increasing the pressure of her teeth on his ear slightly, her leg still on his, and one hand streaking down his spine.
That did it. He rolled with incredible speed and began quickly on her neck. Kissing, licking, sucking slightly, and anything else he could think of.
Her head tilted back, offering more of her neck, and she let out a small whimper. He moved against her, using his knowledge of this particular Slayer's weak points to his advantage as she had been doing with him. A noisy sigh caught in her throat, and she arched against him. He continued with the single-mindedness that was indicative of vampires. Finding the spot beneath her ear with his mouth, and the spot on her side with a hand. Her hands were on him, his ribs, his back, his shoulders, his hair. Spike was very close to going into a frenzy, and that was why he had to pull back. Rule one. The big rule. The only one left, really.
She felt his pause, used it and her pelvis to push up, twist, reversing their positions. Spike let out a surprised yip as he found the Slayer suddenly on top of him. Also, what she had done to get them that way was having a slight effect as well. Her knees on either side of his hips, she leaned down, kissed him hard. It wasn't warmth, it was heat. He growled slightly into her mouth, returning the kiss. His hands roamed over her back, found their way beneath her shirt, and continued to roam. She pushed forward into his hands. One hand held her up, another wandered his torso, between them to touch his belt fleetingly, then moved back over his chest, she angled her head slightly, deepening the kiss. Spike moaned into her mouth, one of his hands found her bra clasp, and pulled away from it. Rule one. Big rule. Bad vampire. 'Luv.. Gotta stop now.'
She rolled her hips into his in response.
She knew what she was doing. Hell, there was no way to miss it. He pulled back slightly, panting. "Luv.. What...?"
She pulled in a breath of her own, her lips swollen. "Remember... how we said... When we were ready?"
He looked in her eyes, his blue orbs meeting her hazel ones. "Yeah. Are you.. feeling ready?"
She rocked her hips against his again, leaning down to capture his lips again, another searing kiss. "God, yes," she mumbled against his mouth.
Spike nuzzled their foreheads together, then began to plant a trail of soft kisses down her throat. "Well... We're not.. going anywhere... soon." Pulled back, looked her in the eyes again. "And I've been ready...", said softly, an unspoken question passing between them.
Buffy took a deep breath. This time would be different. They had worked hard to ensure that it would be. She ran her hands down his chest slowly, exhaling the whole time. She pulled back far enough to place another kiss, softer, lingering, more questioning. She looked into his eyes. The words were harder to get out than she had thought. "Make love to me."
He saw it in her eyes when she said it. Knew that they were ready. But one more thing had to be said. He rested their foreheads together. Purred softly, "*Me in you...*"
"You in me."
"*Always...*" Meant it. With all his heart. All his SOUL, he meant it more now than ever.
Her heart felt full, like this was what she was waiting for. "*Forever*."
Two minds.. Two hearts... Two souls... Two bodies... Two worlds... One love.
Always and forever.
END
Author's Notes 1: Tigerwolf: Well folks, this is it. The official end of the never ending fic. Sorry to everyone who wanted a graphic sex scene. We tried, but this was the best we could do without offending our morals. Also, for those people who don't like my style of Spike, I'd like to say three things. A: No one knows as of yet how James is gonna play Souled!Spike, so I might be closer or further than any of us know. B:If you don't like the way I write Spike, why are you still reading this? lol. Go read someone who writes him the way you like him. And C: In our next collaboration, Sunrise and I are going back in time and answering a challenge that I thought up one night on too much caffeine. We will change one thing near the end of season five and then rewrite all of season six from that new point. As for what the change is? I'm not telling. You'll have to read it. lol
Now, I'd like to thank some people in the peanut gallery. lol. First and foremost, Tequila Sunrise, my writing partner and best online friend. Who cares if I live in Texas and you in Ohio? Thank god for MSN. To Sunrise's RL Dawnie, thanks for your idea, the cheese guy is so funny!! lol. And finally, all our reviewers. Whether you liked it or not. Now, in the words of Spike's favorite cartoon character (in my world, anyway, lol): T T F N, Ta Ta For Now!
Tiger
Author's Notes 2, Tequila Sunrise: Well, guys, wasn't this one hell of a long story?? lol I hope you enjoyed it. We put our hearts, souls and the spare time we didn't have to begin with in here. Thank you so much for all your constructive criticism, your praise, and just reading it this far with us, period. It means more than you know, and I hope none of you are disappointed by it. We've decided we're just no good apart, so we're writing another one!!!! lol (jk about us being bad apart, you know) It's called Ohana, and it takes place in our own Alternate Universe stemming from "Intervention". I hope you'll all read that one as well. I'd like to thank Tigerwolf, for working with me, around me, and being a great friend besides being the best Spike ever. And to my RL Dawnie. We'd have been screwed without your idea. Thanks so much for reading, all the time, and being so great. And to my own sleep-deprived body: thank you for still functioning. : ) I greatly appreciate it. Tigerwolf, What have we gotten ourselves into??
Always your... Tequila Sunrise
PS~ and thanks to Joss, that bastard, for torturing us, and knowing we love every minute of it. And giving us Nakee Spike, too... Mrawr....