Paradise
By
Natalie Elizabeth
Chapter 3
Buffy woke around midday to silence, then it hit, her Dawn wasn't home. Buffy was usually woken up around 7:30, 8 o'clock by Dawns blaring music but now there was just silence. Buffy couldn't believe it, Dawn was gone, and now she had nothing to do, she was actually bored and alone. Buffy suddenly remembered that Spike was staying with her. She quickly got out of her bed and ran down the hallway and peeked in his room. The room was completely dark and the only thing lighting the room was the light from the rest of the house. Buffy walked into the room and watched Spike sleep. He looked so peaceful sleeping there on his stomach holding on to the pillow. Buffy jumped on Spikes bed as if she were 12 and began jumping up and down.
"Come on Spike, wake up I am bored," Buffy finally stopped jumping when Spike rolled onto his back and gave her a weird look.
"Sorry to spoil your relationship with the pillow but wake up come on I'm bored."
Spike rolled over and closed his eyes "Were you always this annoying"
"Yep" she replied in a child like voice "Now get up" she cried pulling the blanket off him.
Spike looked at her for a second then got up and chased her out of the room. Buffy screamed and ran down the stairs and into the kitchen when she got there she turned around and looked at him dodging the suns rays.
"Ok truce, now your up," she said pulling the blinds closed so he could move around the kitchen.
Spike looked at her and shook his head.
"You know, your crazy right" he said going towards the fridge
"Well duh I was bored," she said taking a seat "Hey could you get me the orange juice while your there."
Spike opened the fridge and took out the orange juice then looked in the freezer and found the blood. Opening a cupboard and pulling out a glass and a mug placing them on the breakfast bar, he then pored Buffy a glass of orange juice.
"Ok if I use this mug"
Buffy grabbed her orange juice and nodded "Yeah sure just don't leave it sitting there with blood in it."
Spike put the blood bag in the microwave then poured it into his mug and began to drink.
"So is the gang coming over today"
"Yep they stayed with their parents for the night but they said they would be by in the afternoon".
"They moved Little Bit didn't tell me that".
"Oh well not really they are still in Sunnydale sorta, Xander and Anya live just outside of it, not exactly the place to raise a little one is it, Will and Tara aren't exactly close either"
Spike laughed "Oh so you really are in need of company huh"
Buffy nodded "So what do you wanna do today"
"Oh nothing really, I'll wait till it gets dark before I walk down memory lane"
Buffy nodded "Well I am going to go take a shower, I must look shocking I didn't take off my make up last night".
You look as beautiful as even he thought then quickly mentally kicked himself; he wasn't going to get into that again. Buffy walked off while Spike sat in the kitchen finishing off his blood. He washed his mug just like she told him to then went into the lounge room. He sat down in the lounge room and looked around. Here he was again sitting in Buffys house, five years since he had been there. He never thought he would be there again, he hadn't planned on coming back, but the Little Bit insisted. He couldn't miss her wedding; she was his little girl. He had watched her grow up in photos, every now and then she would send one of her or one of her and Buffy, he would enjoy those the most. Spike made his way up to his room and grabbed a photo out of the drawer. It was one of Buffy and Dawn, Dawn was pulling a face, but Buffy was looking around, not at the camera. Dawn wrote to him telling him the picture was from Buffys birthday. Every year before her birthday, Dawn would write and ask him to come but every year he stayed away. He just couldn't bear being rejected again, walking away was hard but coming back was harder. He expected Buffy to be harsh, hate him, start a fight, but she was civil. She acted as if nothing had happened, he had always thought she was heartless, but this was different.
"Hey Spike what ya doing"
Spike turned around to see Buffy standing in the doorway in a dressing gown her hair dripping wet.
"Umm nothing just thinking"
Buffy walked over to Spike and looked at the picture "Hey I was wondering what happened to that one"
"Umm yeah Dawn sent it to me" he said embarrassed. "You can have it back if you want"
"No no keep it, I am glad you guys kept in touch" she said rather sadly.
"Buffy I would have written to you but I didn't think you would read it"
Buffy looked up at him and shrugged "Your probably right, I was pretty grouchy the first couple of months"
Spike looked up at her surprised "Really why"
"Cause you left, like I know I told you plenty of times to leave but you didn't. I didn't think you would really do it, but you did, it really shocked me but it taught me a lesson"
"I just thought you would be happy, without me bugging you"
Buffy laughed and began to walk out of the room "I thought I would be too but when you left it was like Xander or Willow left, you know I never said it but you were a great friend".
Spike was once again shocked, if he had know she had felt like that he would have come back sooner, he wouldn't have left,
"Umm thank you I guess, it really meant a lot, but I wasn't a great friend I mean how many times did I try to kill you"
Buffy smiled "Yeah but I hey I tried to kill you to, by the way the showers free if you wanna use it. The gang will be here soon so I am going get changed ok"
Spike smiled as she walked out. Wow she had changed. He never thought she thought about him that way. Spike shook his head as he made his way to the shower. Don't let yourself get mixed up in her again, you're here for a few days that's all, no need for all the heartbreak again.
Spike walked off to the shower while Buffy went into her room to change. It felt good having him back in her life again. Sure this was a little bit closer than he was before but it was still good. Hopefully he could stay awhile till she got used to Dawn not being there. Buffy looked in the mirror and sighed at her self and made her way down stairs. She was cleaning up the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door. Realising it must be her friends she ran to the door and flung it open.
"Hey guys come in"
"Hey Buffy" Xander said looking around "Where's the evil dead can I go downstairs and give him a nice wake up call"
Buffy smiled and shook her head at Xander. "Nope hes upstairs taking a shower and hes staying in mums old room."
"That's nice Buffy I thought you would have made him stay in the basement," Willow said surprised.
"Yeah well I figured." Buffy looked around Xander who was fidgeting "You know hes been in there for a while so he should be getting out soon if you wanna go up"
Xander gave her a mischievous grin "Umm I just kinda wanna scare him this once, like he always did to us" with that Xander quickly tip toed his way up the stairs.
Buffy, Willow, Anya, and Tara walked in to the lounge and sat down.
"So is it nice having Spike back" Tara asked.
Buffy looked over at her and smiled. "Yeah it is actually, at first I thought I would hate it, you saw how I was Will, I was really annoyed that he was coming but then I saw him and I dunno I didn't feel hostile anymore"
"Yeah it's hard to think of him as Spike you know he looks so different, as if he really has changed"
"Hes still a vampire Will don't forget that"
"Yes but a very sexy vampire" Anya pipped up.
Buffy Willow and Tara looked over at her shocked.
"What I may be a married woman but I am not blind".
"Bloody hell Harris"
Buffy, Willow Tara, and Anya looked up towards the stairs and began laughing.
"What the bloody hell do you think your doing"
Xander came running down the stairs covering his eyes and yelling, "I didn't see that I didn't see that"
Buffy started laughing then suddenly stopped "What didn't you see"
Xander separated his fingers a little so he could look at them. "I didn't see Spike drop his towel when I scared him" Xander covered his eyes again and shudder.
"Its ok honey" Anya said guiding him to a seat "We can all imagine what you saw"
Tara and Willow looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Spike came down the stairs looking rather annoyed. He walked over to Buffy and sat down beside her "I suppose that was your idea"
"What, I didn't do nothing"
"I bet you didn't," he said crossing his arms not looking up at Xander.
Over the next few hours the gang reminisced about old times and talked about their encounters with new and strange demons.
"I am serious," Spike said "This thing like slithered out of this hole like a snake but he was fully human, then he had the nerve to call me a freak."
"Geez I hope he wasn't as big as the mayor" Willow said shocked.
Spike shrugged "Just looked like a human that slithered, so I let him go who am I to judge right"
Buffy sat there gazing at Spike listening to him talk about the last few years. Getting into trouble, trying to steal, explaining why he needed blood to a butcher. It wasn't that fascinating but she was in aw over the person he became, hold on VAMPIRE she thought.
Just before dark the gang left, wanting to be on the road before too many nasties came out to play. Buffy sadly said goodbye to them and walked back into the lounge where Spike was still sitting. Buffy smiled at him and he looked up and gave her a questioning look.
"What"
"Nothing"
"Then why are you smiling"
"Nothing its just like you guys were all talking like old friends, it was kinda weird don't you think"
Spike laughed "Yeah I know, I guess I didn't realise over time we had become friends"
Buffy thought for a minute then sighed "So you gonna check out Sunnydale on you own or do you wanna follow me to work"
Spike raised his eyebrows "You work, oh slaying you mean"
Buffy gave him a sideways smile "You'll see," she said running up to her room.
"Oh bye the way" she yelled from her room "You may wanna change into your black threads, wouldn't wanna get your nice clothes dirty"
Spike looked confused but did as he was told and headed up to his room. He quickly changed into his favourite clothes and walked out of the room to Buffys.
"So Slayer what's up where are we going"
Buffy walked out of her room wearing black leather pants a black skintight shirt with a black duster over her arm. Spike looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"You copying my fashion slayer"
"Maybe" she said running down the stairs.
Spike looked at the back of Buffy shirt.
Little Bit's Termination We deal with the weird and wacky
"Hey what's with the shirt?" he said running down the stairs
"Do you like it" she said smiling while sliding on her black leather duster
"So what you're an exterminator, what's with the name anyway that's Dawn"
"Yeah well I had to come up with some way to support Dawn and myself, she came up with the name and uniform, I guess she liked to pretend you were still here"
"Look Buffy" he began
"Hey stop talking and lets go, I only get paid if I kill the little buggers, come on I'll spilt it with you."
"Oh well when you put it that way," he said making his way to the door and opening it "Shall we."
* * * * *
"Wow slayer are they all like that"
"No" puff "not usually" puff "it's a good" puff "thing you" puff puff "were here."
"You're not kidding"
"Ok wait here, I'll go see if the scumbag who hired me is going to pay up" Buffy ran off in the direction of one of the shops close to where they had just killed the beast. A few minutes later Buffy came out smiling.
"I guess I misjudged the scumbag, he came through, which is good I hate getting violent with them," she said half smiling. "Here" Buffy placed half of the notes in his hand "heres your half."
Spike took the money and began walking back to Buffys house when he suddenly stoped.
"Hold on slayer how much did you give me."
"What I didn't rip you off, that's half."
"That's the problem, half of what this WEEKS pay."
Buffy looked over at him and smiled "No Spike that's half of what I got paid. See Spikey half of $800 is $400 and that's what I got paid this time. You wont believe how much they are willing to pay when they do pay up."
Spike looked over at her shocked "And how often do you work"
"Oh it depends during the summer they all come out to play, so it's like every night and day and more than one job, where as in the winter it's like every couple you know"
Spike nodded and they continued to walk home.
"So umm how long are you planing on staying in Sunnydale"
Spike looked over at Buffy hurt "What you trying to get rid of me already"
Buffy looked up at him quickly "No, I was just wondering, you know I don't wanna wake up in the middle of the night to find you gone. It would be nice to say a proper goodbye"
"Well I dunno, it depends on where I am going next, I was thinking of going and terrorising my poncy grandsire for awhile but I dunno"
Buffy looked over at him and smiled "Yeah I guess you could do that"
Spike stopped in the middle of the road and looked at Buffy "Ok now I am scared, I called Angel my poncy sire and you didn't stake me"
Buffy laughed "I am just surprised you wanna listen to Cordy carry on"
"Your not bitter over him, I mean I heard what happened and how he hooked up with the cheerleader"
"Why would I be bitter, I got over him, I am happy for them"
"Sure you are pet" Spike stopped outside Buffys house "Here we are then, look I think I might take the trip down memory lane ok, see you tomorrow morning I guess"
Spike walked away from the house as Buffy walked in. Buffy looked up the stairs then around the hall, it was completely empty, and Buffy felt alone.
"I guess this is what its going to be like when Spike leaves, unless I can come up with a reason for him to stay" Buffy said to herself trudging up the stairs. She went into her room and quickly changed into her pyjamas. Buffy slumped down on her bed she was bored. Walking out of her room she found her self standing outside Spikes room, she thought for a moment before entering. Instantly she smelt Spikes familiar scent, cigarettes, alcohol and just a hint of leather, usually the smell of them on there own would repulse her but all of them together was nice. Deciding on waiting for Spike to come home Buffy sat down on Spikes bed and the scent got stronger. Laying her head on his pillow Buffy drank in his scent and slowly fell asleep.
* * * * *
Spike quietly sneaked into the house at 4 o'clock in the morning. Taking off his boots and tip toeing his way up the stairs he quietly made his way to his room. Slipping into his room and taking off his jacket Spike suddenly felt someone in his room. He turned around quickly
"Who's there"
Spikes eyes scanned his room when he saw a figure laying on his bed. He took a few steps towards his bed.
"Buffy" he knelt down beside his bed and lightly shook her.
"Buffy, Buffy wake up"
"Nnnnnwwwwhat" she grumbled not opening her eyes.
"Umm sorry to wake you pet but your sleeping in my bed"
Buffys eyes suddenly flew open "Huh what, oh god I'm sorry Spike I didn't mean to fall asleep, I was waiting up for you"
"Oh sorry I guess I was a little long I was just enjoying seeing the old haunts"
"No that's ok I was just bored, I hoped you would be home soon so we could talk but I guess I drifted off"
"That's ok, so what did you wanna talk about" he said hanging up his jacket
"Oh nothing really just to talk you know, so umm you liked looking around Sunnydale I guess"
"Yeah I cant believe I actually missed this place, it will be sad to go"
Buffy looked down at her hands "Why do you have to go, I mean why do you never stay in one place for very long, I've seen the letters there is always a different address"
"I dunno there is no reason to stay in one place for long"
"So I am guessing you'll be leaving Sunnydale soon you have no reason to stay right"
"Right"
"So what if you had a reason to stay"
Spike looked at Buffy shocked and went and sat beside her.
"What are you saying luv."
Buffy looked up at Spike and saw his closeness and quickly got up "What I mean was, umm what if you had a job here then that would be a reason right."
"Yeah I guess so, but who is going to give me a job."
Buffy walked over to him and punched him in the arm "Me silly, so what do you think."
"Your gonna give me a job."
"Well yeah, I mean we work great as a team and don't tell me you didn't have fun tonight, cause I know you did."
"Your right I did, but I dunno pet don't you need the money and where would I stay, my old crypt is kinda dank I haven't slept in one for years."
"Well Spike you could stay here, we could split everything down the middle, bills, expenses, whatever"
Spike stared at Buffy for almost a minute before he finally spoke "Are you serious"
"Well sure I mean I need a room mate and we could do more jobs and you wouldn't have to leave Sunnydale"
"Wow I can't believe your asking me this"
"Come on how hard is it, yes or no, sleep on it and tell me tomorrow ok"
Buffy ran out of the room and into the bathroom. She quickly splashed water on her face. Ok Buffy keep yourself together, you just asked the guy who used to have a major crush on you to move in, spend all your time with, work with. Are you crazy girl? Buffy looked up at herself in the mirror and smiled. Oh yeah.
Spike sat in his room for quite awhile before he finally got up and changed out of his clothes. He went and layed down and thought about what had just happened. Buffy asked him to work with her, to move in with her, to stay in Sunnydale. What was he going to say? Hell yes. She gave him a reason to stay; she stopped him from going. Wow
~TBC~
Chapter 3
Buffy woke around midday to silence, then it hit, her Dawn wasn't home. Buffy was usually woken up around 7:30, 8 o'clock by Dawns blaring music but now there was just silence. Buffy couldn't believe it, Dawn was gone, and now she had nothing to do, she was actually bored and alone. Buffy suddenly remembered that Spike was staying with her. She quickly got out of her bed and ran down the hallway and peeked in his room. The room was completely dark and the only thing lighting the room was the light from the rest of the house. Buffy walked into the room and watched Spike sleep. He looked so peaceful sleeping there on his stomach holding on to the pillow. Buffy jumped on Spikes bed as if she were 12 and began jumping up and down.
"Come on Spike, wake up I am bored," Buffy finally stopped jumping when Spike rolled onto his back and gave her a weird look.
"Sorry to spoil your relationship with the pillow but wake up come on I'm bored."
Spike rolled over and closed his eyes "Were you always this annoying"
"Yep" she replied in a child like voice "Now get up" she cried pulling the blanket off him.
Spike looked at her for a second then got up and chased her out of the room. Buffy screamed and ran down the stairs and into the kitchen when she got there she turned around and looked at him dodging the suns rays.
"Ok truce, now your up," she said pulling the blinds closed so he could move around the kitchen.
Spike looked at her and shook his head.
"You know, your crazy right" he said going towards the fridge
"Well duh I was bored," she said taking a seat "Hey could you get me the orange juice while your there."
Spike opened the fridge and took out the orange juice then looked in the freezer and found the blood. Opening a cupboard and pulling out a glass and a mug placing them on the breakfast bar, he then pored Buffy a glass of orange juice.
"Ok if I use this mug"
Buffy grabbed her orange juice and nodded "Yeah sure just don't leave it sitting there with blood in it."
Spike put the blood bag in the microwave then poured it into his mug and began to drink.
"So is the gang coming over today"
"Yep they stayed with their parents for the night but they said they would be by in the afternoon".
"They moved Little Bit didn't tell me that".
"Oh well not really they are still in Sunnydale sorta, Xander and Anya live just outside of it, not exactly the place to raise a little one is it, Will and Tara aren't exactly close either"
Spike laughed "Oh so you really are in need of company huh"
Buffy nodded "So what do you wanna do today"
"Oh nothing really, I'll wait till it gets dark before I walk down memory lane"
Buffy nodded "Well I am going to go take a shower, I must look shocking I didn't take off my make up last night".
You look as beautiful as even he thought then quickly mentally kicked himself; he wasn't going to get into that again. Buffy walked off while Spike sat in the kitchen finishing off his blood. He washed his mug just like she told him to then went into the lounge room. He sat down in the lounge room and looked around. Here he was again sitting in Buffys house, five years since he had been there. He never thought he would be there again, he hadn't planned on coming back, but the Little Bit insisted. He couldn't miss her wedding; she was his little girl. He had watched her grow up in photos, every now and then she would send one of her or one of her and Buffy, he would enjoy those the most. Spike made his way up to his room and grabbed a photo out of the drawer. It was one of Buffy and Dawn, Dawn was pulling a face, but Buffy was looking around, not at the camera. Dawn wrote to him telling him the picture was from Buffys birthday. Every year before her birthday, Dawn would write and ask him to come but every year he stayed away. He just couldn't bear being rejected again, walking away was hard but coming back was harder. He expected Buffy to be harsh, hate him, start a fight, but she was civil. She acted as if nothing had happened, he had always thought she was heartless, but this was different.
"Hey Spike what ya doing"
Spike turned around to see Buffy standing in the doorway in a dressing gown her hair dripping wet.
"Umm nothing just thinking"
Buffy walked over to Spike and looked at the picture "Hey I was wondering what happened to that one"
"Umm yeah Dawn sent it to me" he said embarrassed. "You can have it back if you want"
"No no keep it, I am glad you guys kept in touch" she said rather sadly.
"Buffy I would have written to you but I didn't think you would read it"
Buffy looked up at him and shrugged "Your probably right, I was pretty grouchy the first couple of months"
Spike looked up at her surprised "Really why"
"Cause you left, like I know I told you plenty of times to leave but you didn't. I didn't think you would really do it, but you did, it really shocked me but it taught me a lesson"
"I just thought you would be happy, without me bugging you"
Buffy laughed and began to walk out of the room "I thought I would be too but when you left it was like Xander or Willow left, you know I never said it but you were a great friend".
Spike was once again shocked, if he had know she had felt like that he would have come back sooner, he wouldn't have left,
"Umm thank you I guess, it really meant a lot, but I wasn't a great friend I mean how many times did I try to kill you"
Buffy smiled "Yeah but I hey I tried to kill you to, by the way the showers free if you wanna use it. The gang will be here soon so I am going get changed ok"
Spike smiled as she walked out. Wow she had changed. He never thought she thought about him that way. Spike shook his head as he made his way to the shower. Don't let yourself get mixed up in her again, you're here for a few days that's all, no need for all the heartbreak again.
Spike walked off to the shower while Buffy went into her room to change. It felt good having him back in her life again. Sure this was a little bit closer than he was before but it was still good. Hopefully he could stay awhile till she got used to Dawn not being there. Buffy looked in the mirror and sighed at her self and made her way down stairs. She was cleaning up the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door. Realising it must be her friends she ran to the door and flung it open.
"Hey guys come in"
"Hey Buffy" Xander said looking around "Where's the evil dead can I go downstairs and give him a nice wake up call"
Buffy smiled and shook her head at Xander. "Nope hes upstairs taking a shower and hes staying in mums old room."
"That's nice Buffy I thought you would have made him stay in the basement," Willow said surprised.
"Yeah well I figured." Buffy looked around Xander who was fidgeting "You know hes been in there for a while so he should be getting out soon if you wanna go up"
Xander gave her a mischievous grin "Umm I just kinda wanna scare him this once, like he always did to us" with that Xander quickly tip toed his way up the stairs.
Buffy, Willow, Anya, and Tara walked in to the lounge and sat down.
"So is it nice having Spike back" Tara asked.
Buffy looked over at her and smiled. "Yeah it is actually, at first I thought I would hate it, you saw how I was Will, I was really annoyed that he was coming but then I saw him and I dunno I didn't feel hostile anymore"
"Yeah it's hard to think of him as Spike you know he looks so different, as if he really has changed"
"Hes still a vampire Will don't forget that"
"Yes but a very sexy vampire" Anya pipped up.
Buffy Willow and Tara looked over at her shocked.
"What I may be a married woman but I am not blind".
"Bloody hell Harris"
Buffy, Willow Tara, and Anya looked up towards the stairs and began laughing.
"What the bloody hell do you think your doing"
Xander came running down the stairs covering his eyes and yelling, "I didn't see that I didn't see that"
Buffy started laughing then suddenly stopped "What didn't you see"
Xander separated his fingers a little so he could look at them. "I didn't see Spike drop his towel when I scared him" Xander covered his eyes again and shudder.
"Its ok honey" Anya said guiding him to a seat "We can all imagine what you saw"
Tara and Willow looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Spike came down the stairs looking rather annoyed. He walked over to Buffy and sat down beside her "I suppose that was your idea"
"What, I didn't do nothing"
"I bet you didn't," he said crossing his arms not looking up at Xander.
Over the next few hours the gang reminisced about old times and talked about their encounters with new and strange demons.
"I am serious," Spike said "This thing like slithered out of this hole like a snake but he was fully human, then he had the nerve to call me a freak."
"Geez I hope he wasn't as big as the mayor" Willow said shocked.
Spike shrugged "Just looked like a human that slithered, so I let him go who am I to judge right"
Buffy sat there gazing at Spike listening to him talk about the last few years. Getting into trouble, trying to steal, explaining why he needed blood to a butcher. It wasn't that fascinating but she was in aw over the person he became, hold on VAMPIRE she thought.
Just before dark the gang left, wanting to be on the road before too many nasties came out to play. Buffy sadly said goodbye to them and walked back into the lounge where Spike was still sitting. Buffy smiled at him and he looked up and gave her a questioning look.
"What"
"Nothing"
"Then why are you smiling"
"Nothing its just like you guys were all talking like old friends, it was kinda weird don't you think"
Spike laughed "Yeah I know, I guess I didn't realise over time we had become friends"
Buffy thought for a minute then sighed "So you gonna check out Sunnydale on you own or do you wanna follow me to work"
Spike raised his eyebrows "You work, oh slaying you mean"
Buffy gave him a sideways smile "You'll see," she said running up to her room.
"Oh bye the way" she yelled from her room "You may wanna change into your black threads, wouldn't wanna get your nice clothes dirty"
Spike looked confused but did as he was told and headed up to his room. He quickly changed into his favourite clothes and walked out of the room to Buffys.
"So Slayer what's up where are we going"
Buffy walked out of her room wearing black leather pants a black skintight shirt with a black duster over her arm. Spike looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"You copying my fashion slayer"
"Maybe" she said running down the stairs.
Spike looked at the back of Buffy shirt.
Little Bit's Termination We deal with the weird and wacky
"Hey what's with the shirt?" he said running down the stairs
"Do you like it" she said smiling while sliding on her black leather duster
"So what you're an exterminator, what's with the name anyway that's Dawn"
"Yeah well I had to come up with some way to support Dawn and myself, she came up with the name and uniform, I guess she liked to pretend you were still here"
"Look Buffy" he began
"Hey stop talking and lets go, I only get paid if I kill the little buggers, come on I'll spilt it with you."
"Oh well when you put it that way," he said making his way to the door and opening it "Shall we."
* * * * *
"Wow slayer are they all like that"
"No" puff "not usually" puff "it's a good" puff "thing you" puff puff "were here."
"You're not kidding"
"Ok wait here, I'll go see if the scumbag who hired me is going to pay up" Buffy ran off in the direction of one of the shops close to where they had just killed the beast. A few minutes later Buffy came out smiling.
"I guess I misjudged the scumbag, he came through, which is good I hate getting violent with them," she said half smiling. "Here" Buffy placed half of the notes in his hand "heres your half."
Spike took the money and began walking back to Buffys house when he suddenly stoped.
"Hold on slayer how much did you give me."
"What I didn't rip you off, that's half."
"That's the problem, half of what this WEEKS pay."
Buffy looked over at him and smiled "No Spike that's half of what I got paid. See Spikey half of $800 is $400 and that's what I got paid this time. You wont believe how much they are willing to pay when they do pay up."
Spike looked over at her shocked "And how often do you work"
"Oh it depends during the summer they all come out to play, so it's like every night and day and more than one job, where as in the winter it's like every couple you know"
Spike nodded and they continued to walk home.
"So umm how long are you planing on staying in Sunnydale"
Spike looked over at Buffy hurt "What you trying to get rid of me already"
Buffy looked up at him quickly "No, I was just wondering, you know I don't wanna wake up in the middle of the night to find you gone. It would be nice to say a proper goodbye"
"Well I dunno, it depends on where I am going next, I was thinking of going and terrorising my poncy grandsire for awhile but I dunno"
Buffy looked over at him and smiled "Yeah I guess you could do that"
Spike stopped in the middle of the road and looked at Buffy "Ok now I am scared, I called Angel my poncy sire and you didn't stake me"
Buffy laughed "I am just surprised you wanna listen to Cordy carry on"
"Your not bitter over him, I mean I heard what happened and how he hooked up with the cheerleader"
"Why would I be bitter, I got over him, I am happy for them"
"Sure you are pet" Spike stopped outside Buffys house "Here we are then, look I think I might take the trip down memory lane ok, see you tomorrow morning I guess"
Spike walked away from the house as Buffy walked in. Buffy looked up the stairs then around the hall, it was completely empty, and Buffy felt alone.
"I guess this is what its going to be like when Spike leaves, unless I can come up with a reason for him to stay" Buffy said to herself trudging up the stairs. She went into her room and quickly changed into her pyjamas. Buffy slumped down on her bed she was bored. Walking out of her room she found her self standing outside Spikes room, she thought for a moment before entering. Instantly she smelt Spikes familiar scent, cigarettes, alcohol and just a hint of leather, usually the smell of them on there own would repulse her but all of them together was nice. Deciding on waiting for Spike to come home Buffy sat down on Spikes bed and the scent got stronger. Laying her head on his pillow Buffy drank in his scent and slowly fell asleep.
* * * * *
Spike quietly sneaked into the house at 4 o'clock in the morning. Taking off his boots and tip toeing his way up the stairs he quietly made his way to his room. Slipping into his room and taking off his jacket Spike suddenly felt someone in his room. He turned around quickly
"Who's there"
Spikes eyes scanned his room when he saw a figure laying on his bed. He took a few steps towards his bed.
"Buffy" he knelt down beside his bed and lightly shook her.
"Buffy, Buffy wake up"
"Nnnnnwwwwhat" she grumbled not opening her eyes.
"Umm sorry to wake you pet but your sleeping in my bed"
Buffys eyes suddenly flew open "Huh what, oh god I'm sorry Spike I didn't mean to fall asleep, I was waiting up for you"
"Oh sorry I guess I was a little long I was just enjoying seeing the old haunts"
"No that's ok I was just bored, I hoped you would be home soon so we could talk but I guess I drifted off"
"That's ok, so what did you wanna talk about" he said hanging up his jacket
"Oh nothing really just to talk you know, so umm you liked looking around Sunnydale I guess"
"Yeah I cant believe I actually missed this place, it will be sad to go"
Buffy looked down at her hands "Why do you have to go, I mean why do you never stay in one place for very long, I've seen the letters there is always a different address"
"I dunno there is no reason to stay in one place for long"
"So I am guessing you'll be leaving Sunnydale soon you have no reason to stay right"
"Right"
"So what if you had a reason to stay"
Spike looked at Buffy shocked and went and sat beside her.
"What are you saying luv."
Buffy looked up at Spike and saw his closeness and quickly got up "What I mean was, umm what if you had a job here then that would be a reason right."
"Yeah I guess so, but who is going to give me a job."
Buffy walked over to him and punched him in the arm "Me silly, so what do you think."
"Your gonna give me a job."
"Well yeah, I mean we work great as a team and don't tell me you didn't have fun tonight, cause I know you did."
"Your right I did, but I dunno pet don't you need the money and where would I stay, my old crypt is kinda dank I haven't slept in one for years."
"Well Spike you could stay here, we could split everything down the middle, bills, expenses, whatever"
Spike stared at Buffy for almost a minute before he finally spoke "Are you serious"
"Well sure I mean I need a room mate and we could do more jobs and you wouldn't have to leave Sunnydale"
"Wow I can't believe your asking me this"
"Come on how hard is it, yes or no, sleep on it and tell me tomorrow ok"
Buffy ran out of the room and into the bathroom. She quickly splashed water on her face. Ok Buffy keep yourself together, you just asked the guy who used to have a major crush on you to move in, spend all your time with, work with. Are you crazy girl? Buffy looked up at herself in the mirror and smiled. Oh yeah.
Spike sat in his room for quite awhile before he finally got up and changed out of his clothes. He went and layed down and thought about what had just happened. Buffy asked him to work with her, to move in with her, to stay in Sunnydale. What was he going to say? Hell yes. She gave him a reason to stay; she stopped him from going. Wow
~TBC~