Disclaimer: As usual, don't own 'em....
Author's Note: Glad to hear you guys all like this...here's the next chapter and please review once again.
Spike slowly opened his eyes before everything that happened the night before came flowing back to him. The pain suddenly hit him like a bag of bricks, and he was about to sit up when he noticed Buffy. She was sleeping soundly, still kneeling next to the bed, her head almost next to his and her arm across his chest. Spike smiled at the sight of this, but was wondering why she was here. He breathed deeply taking in her scent, and knew that he still loved her as much as ever. He also knew that she would probably never love him, but he had more of a chance now than he had ever before.
Spike listened closely, hearing noises from upstairs. "Buffy, luv." He said quietly, as not to startle her. "I think you should be getting up now." He hated to wake her up, but knew that she should be probably be getting Dawn to school.
"Hmm?" Buffy mumbled, still half a sleep before all of a sudden raising her head as quickly as possible. "Spike, what are you doing here?" She asked, before remembering that she came down here last night and must have fallen asleep.
"I was wondering the same thing about you."
Buffy blushed slightly and stood up. "You were um..having a nightmare last night. And I came to...you know..uh..check on you." She stuttered. "I must have....fallen asleep."
"I didn't know you cared, Slayer." Spike said, a sly smile crossing his face.
"I don't!" She replied quickly. "I just uh..didn't want you waking up Dawn. Speaking of Dawn, I have to get her to school and me to work."
"Don't worry, its still early." Then Spike realized something. "You have another job?"
"Uh..yeah. I'm sort of a councelor at the new Sunnydale High."
"Thats great," Spike replied before grimicing. A sudden pain went through his body and the 'voices' began again. "No...not again..please." He begged.
"Spike? What is it?" Buffy asked, actual concern showing on her face.
"Nothing," he said shaking his head. "Just the side affects of having a soul coming back."
Buffy nodded, understanding. "I have to go get ready to leave. I want you to stay here for the rest of the day...not that you really have much of a choice. Get some more rest. When I get off work I'll head over to the butcher and get some blood for you. Its looks like you haven't eaten in awhile."
Spike nodded thankfully and Buffy started to make her way up the stairs. She stopped before she reached the top and turned back to face Spike, "We'll decide where your going to stay later when I get back. I'm also going to try to explain things to Xander," she sighed, "I'm sure he'll take this all real well."
"Alright," he replied not really knowing what else to say. Buffy then made her way out of the basement, and immediately ran into Dawn.
"So thats where you've been, huh?" Dawn asked, grinning.
"I have to go shower," she replied, ignoring Dawn's comment. "Go make yourself some cereal or something. Oh, and if Xander gets here while I'm showering...don't tell him about Spike. I'll tell him later."
Dawn shrugged, "alright"
***
Buffy got out of the shower and made her way into her room to get dressed. She didn't know how she could have fallen asleep and have Spike catch her there. She sighed, also not knowing where Spike was going to go after today. The affects of his soul..the voices seemed to still be haunting him, so she couldn't just put him in some crypt and let the demon community find out that not only does he have a chip, but now he has a soul as well.
Buffy's mind kept on wandering as she got dressed in a pair of black pants and a tan tank top. She decided that she would talk to Xander in the car, after Dawn went off to class. She had to admit though, she wasn't sure what she would say to him, everyone knew that Xander hated Spike more than anyone.
After putting her hair up in a black clip and keeping her make-up to a minimal, she made her way back downstairs into the kitchen where Dawn and Xander were sitting.
"Morning Buff," Xander said, looking up from the comics he was reading in the newspaper.
"Morning," she replied, pouring herself some orange juice and making toast. She had to smile at Xander sitting there dressed all sophisticated and reading the comics. Some things never change.
"So, where did you run off to last night?" Xander asked suspiciously.
"Um...nowhere, I just forgot about something." Buffy said hoping Xander would keep quiet for now, and just ask questions later. She didn't want to get into this right now, not with Spike sleeping in the basement.
Xander didn't believe her, but he did keep quiet vowing that he would talk to her about whatever was happening later. "We should probably get going."
***
"Bye Dawn, I'll see you after school," Buffy said to her sister as she left the car to make her way into the school.
Dawn looked at her with curious eyes, and Buffy nodded at her unspoken question. She was going to talk to Xander. "Alright, bye you guys. Thanks for the ride, Xander."
"No problem, bye Dawn."
When Dawn was out of sight Buffy turned to Xander and took a deep breath, "we need to talk." She paused before continuing, "I didn't exactly tell the truth when I told you why I ran off last night."
"Yeah, I kind of figured."
"I was really going after Spike," Buffy paused, seeing Xander's expression. "Now before you say anything let me explain. Why I went after him isn't as important as what I found out when I did. He has a soul, Xander."
Xander just stared at her, shocked and speechless before he burst out laughing.
"I'm serious."
"No, you can't be," he said convinced that it wasn't true. "He was acting pretty soulness last night."
"Acting being the key word there. Just trust me on this...I know what I saw and I know what I heard. Spike has a soul."
"But why, how?" Xander asked still in disbelief.
"I can tell you why, but I can't tell you how." Buffy replied, "the reason he got it is because of me."
At hearing this Xander started laughing again. "What, does he think that he comes back with a soul and you'll all of a sudden forgive him for all he's done and fall in love with him?"
"I don't know what he thought, but I don't think it was that. I really believe he just wants to help."
"Right, just like he just wanted to help before." Xander said sarcastically. "Why don't you just stake him? I mean you DO still hate him....right?"
Buffy shook her head. "I don't know how I feel about him...but I just can't hate him."
"But he tried to rape you!" Xander exlaimed angrily.
"And he didn't succeed. I don't think that will be happening again anyways. The guilt is eating away at him, Xander. He hears voices almost all the time. And he just drapped himself over a cross last night. You weren't there, but I was. I saw his pain..."
Xander sighed and took a deep breath to calm himself down. "What do you expect me to do?"
"Nothing. I'm not expecting you to do anything. I'm not going to all of a sudden expect you to be nice to him, or to accept him. I just want you to be mature about this. Please, Xander. Do it for me?" Buffy asked, really hoping Xander would do this for her.
"Alright, Buffy...but I'm only doing this for you and no other reason. But if he ever does hurt you again I swear I'll kill him."
Buffy nodded. "Fair enough."
A/N: Tell me what you think once again. Also, I promise the next chapter will have a bit more Buffy/Spike interaction and will most likely be a bit longer. I just wanted to get this chapter posted.
Author's Note: Glad to hear you guys all like this...here's the next chapter and please review once again.
Spike slowly opened his eyes before everything that happened the night before came flowing back to him. The pain suddenly hit him like a bag of bricks, and he was about to sit up when he noticed Buffy. She was sleeping soundly, still kneeling next to the bed, her head almost next to his and her arm across his chest. Spike smiled at the sight of this, but was wondering why she was here. He breathed deeply taking in her scent, and knew that he still loved her as much as ever. He also knew that she would probably never love him, but he had more of a chance now than he had ever before.
Spike listened closely, hearing noises from upstairs. "Buffy, luv." He said quietly, as not to startle her. "I think you should be getting up now." He hated to wake her up, but knew that she should be probably be getting Dawn to school.
"Hmm?" Buffy mumbled, still half a sleep before all of a sudden raising her head as quickly as possible. "Spike, what are you doing here?" She asked, before remembering that she came down here last night and must have fallen asleep.
"I was wondering the same thing about you."
Buffy blushed slightly and stood up. "You were um..having a nightmare last night. And I came to...you know..uh..check on you." She stuttered. "I must have....fallen asleep."
"I didn't know you cared, Slayer." Spike said, a sly smile crossing his face.
"I don't!" She replied quickly. "I just uh..didn't want you waking up Dawn. Speaking of Dawn, I have to get her to school and me to work."
"Don't worry, its still early." Then Spike realized something. "You have another job?"
"Uh..yeah. I'm sort of a councelor at the new Sunnydale High."
"Thats great," Spike replied before grimicing. A sudden pain went through his body and the 'voices' began again. "No...not again..please." He begged.
"Spike? What is it?" Buffy asked, actual concern showing on her face.
"Nothing," he said shaking his head. "Just the side affects of having a soul coming back."
Buffy nodded, understanding. "I have to go get ready to leave. I want you to stay here for the rest of the day...not that you really have much of a choice. Get some more rest. When I get off work I'll head over to the butcher and get some blood for you. Its looks like you haven't eaten in awhile."
Spike nodded thankfully and Buffy started to make her way up the stairs. She stopped before she reached the top and turned back to face Spike, "We'll decide where your going to stay later when I get back. I'm also going to try to explain things to Xander," she sighed, "I'm sure he'll take this all real well."
"Alright," he replied not really knowing what else to say. Buffy then made her way out of the basement, and immediately ran into Dawn.
"So thats where you've been, huh?" Dawn asked, grinning.
"I have to go shower," she replied, ignoring Dawn's comment. "Go make yourself some cereal or something. Oh, and if Xander gets here while I'm showering...don't tell him about Spike. I'll tell him later."
Dawn shrugged, "alright"
***
Buffy got out of the shower and made her way into her room to get dressed. She didn't know how she could have fallen asleep and have Spike catch her there. She sighed, also not knowing where Spike was going to go after today. The affects of his soul..the voices seemed to still be haunting him, so she couldn't just put him in some crypt and let the demon community find out that not only does he have a chip, but now he has a soul as well.
Buffy's mind kept on wandering as she got dressed in a pair of black pants and a tan tank top. She decided that she would talk to Xander in the car, after Dawn went off to class. She had to admit though, she wasn't sure what she would say to him, everyone knew that Xander hated Spike more than anyone.
After putting her hair up in a black clip and keeping her make-up to a minimal, she made her way back downstairs into the kitchen where Dawn and Xander were sitting.
"Morning Buff," Xander said, looking up from the comics he was reading in the newspaper.
"Morning," she replied, pouring herself some orange juice and making toast. She had to smile at Xander sitting there dressed all sophisticated and reading the comics. Some things never change.
"So, where did you run off to last night?" Xander asked suspiciously.
"Um...nowhere, I just forgot about something." Buffy said hoping Xander would keep quiet for now, and just ask questions later. She didn't want to get into this right now, not with Spike sleeping in the basement.
Xander didn't believe her, but he did keep quiet vowing that he would talk to her about whatever was happening later. "We should probably get going."
***
"Bye Dawn, I'll see you after school," Buffy said to her sister as she left the car to make her way into the school.
Dawn looked at her with curious eyes, and Buffy nodded at her unspoken question. She was going to talk to Xander. "Alright, bye you guys. Thanks for the ride, Xander."
"No problem, bye Dawn."
When Dawn was out of sight Buffy turned to Xander and took a deep breath, "we need to talk." She paused before continuing, "I didn't exactly tell the truth when I told you why I ran off last night."
"Yeah, I kind of figured."
"I was really going after Spike," Buffy paused, seeing Xander's expression. "Now before you say anything let me explain. Why I went after him isn't as important as what I found out when I did. He has a soul, Xander."
Xander just stared at her, shocked and speechless before he burst out laughing.
"I'm serious."
"No, you can't be," he said convinced that it wasn't true. "He was acting pretty soulness last night."
"Acting being the key word there. Just trust me on this...I know what I saw and I know what I heard. Spike has a soul."
"But why, how?" Xander asked still in disbelief.
"I can tell you why, but I can't tell you how." Buffy replied, "the reason he got it is because of me."
At hearing this Xander started laughing again. "What, does he think that he comes back with a soul and you'll all of a sudden forgive him for all he's done and fall in love with him?"
"I don't know what he thought, but I don't think it was that. I really believe he just wants to help."
"Right, just like he just wanted to help before." Xander said sarcastically. "Why don't you just stake him? I mean you DO still hate him....right?"
Buffy shook her head. "I don't know how I feel about him...but I just can't hate him."
"But he tried to rape you!" Xander exlaimed angrily.
"And he didn't succeed. I don't think that will be happening again anyways. The guilt is eating away at him, Xander. He hears voices almost all the time. And he just drapped himself over a cross last night. You weren't there, but I was. I saw his pain..."
Xander sighed and took a deep breath to calm himself down. "What do you expect me to do?"
"Nothing. I'm not expecting you to do anything. I'm not going to all of a sudden expect you to be nice to him, or to accept him. I just want you to be mature about this. Please, Xander. Do it for me?" Buffy asked, really hoping Xander would do this for her.
"Alright, Buffy...but I'm only doing this for you and no other reason. But if he ever does hurt you again I swear I'll kill him."
Buffy nodded. "Fair enough."
A/N: Tell me what you think once again. Also, I promise the next chapter will have a bit more Buffy/Spike interaction and will most likely be a bit longer. I just wanted to get this chapter posted.