Part 7:


Spike and Buffy arrived at their destination as the sun was beginning to set. Buffy found herself in a small clearing on the edge of the woods. A clearing that allowed the pair a clear and beautiful view of the sun as it set.

"I don't understand." Buffy said, referring to where they were, and what it had to do with poetry. Spike took a seat on a large rock, and Buffy did the same.

"The thing about poetry, is it allows you to go somewhere, to experience something that you wouldn't have known you were missing otherwise." Spike explained. "Until you get the hang of reading poetry, of experiencing that amazing feeling, you can read it here, so that way you get an amazing feeling."

"What amazing feeling?" Buffy asked.

"Of being outside, of watching the sunset." Spike said, arms flailing and expression animated as he said all of this. Buffy smiled widly as she watched Spike. He was filled with so much life. Whatever he felt, he felt it fully. When he was happy, his entire soul smiled, and when he was disappointed, his entire body slumped.

"So are you going to read to me?" Buffy asked.

"No." Spike said, surprising Buffy. "Your going to read to me." Spike pulled the poetry book out from his duster pocket and handed it to Buffy. The slayer raised an eyebrow skeptically. Then, tentatively opened the book to a random page. She cleared her throat and began to read.

"If you kissed me, I may cry, because your kiss would move me so

And laughter just wouldn't be enough, wouldn't express all I feel.

So I'm going to cry now, and you don't need to worry about the tears

Because my tears are streaks of silver, and I'm not crying silver because I'm upset

I'm crying because you kissed me, and I hope I cry again tomorrow" Buffy finished reading. She looked over at Spike whose eyes were closed softly and she thought she saw a tear sliding down his cheek. Buffy sighed. "I don't get it."

"None of it?" Spike asked, incredulously.

"I just don't understand how someone could get that worked up over a kiss." Buffy said, shrugging. Without another word, Spike leaned in and captured Buffy's lips with his own. He slid his tongue along her bottom lip before biting down gently. Buffy moaned softly. When Spike ended the kiss Buffy kept her eyes closed for a moment, savoring the memory of the soft, passionate kiss. Spike spoke, breaking the kiss. "You get it now?" He asked. Buffy nodded dumbly, committing the kiss to memory.

"You're a sap." Buffy said, slapping Spike playfully when she finally opened her eyes. The slayer took a deep breath before speaking again. "Look at the sun." She said. "No matter how many times I've seen it, each time it's like I'm seeing it's beauty for the first time. Isn't it amazing how you can look at something and never appreciate it's beauty?" Buffy asked.

"I know exactly what you mean." Spike replied. However, when Buffy turned to look at him she saw that he wasn't watching the sunset, he was watching her.

The next day Buffy woke smiling. The first thought that had entered her mind was of Spike, of the kiss they had shared, and of the day to come. A day that Buffy hoped they would spend together. However, reality soon set in, and Buffy realized, with a sigh, that school started tomorrow. Rolling her eyes and God and whoever else happened to see, Buffy got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. When Buffy got downstairs she was surprised to find not only her mother, but Spike. The two sat, sipping cocoa, and chatting like old friends.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Buffy." Joyce said, turning to smile up at her daughter. "Your friend William just dropped by to see you. He didn't think I'd be home, and I thought that it would be a good time to get to know him." Buffy smiled weakly. A million thoughts of what her mother might have said flashed through her mind.

"Well Joyce, it was nice to meet you." Spike said, getting up and pushing in his chair, trying to act like a gentlemen.

"Your going?" Joyce asked, surprised.

"Buffy and I had a special day planned." Spike lied, eyeing Buffy and begging her not to disagree.

"Yeah." Buffy said. "We want to spend the day together, it being my last day out of school, and all" Joyce smiled knowingly and allowed the pair to go on their way.

Spike put a hand up to his lips, signaling silence. Without a word, he helped Buffy into the front seat of his car and drove off. Every a few minutes of silence Buffy spoke. "Are we going somewhere?" She asked.

"Yes." Spike replied tersely.

"Where." Buffy asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Somewhere." Spike replied, receiving a roll of the eyes and playful slap from Buffy.

"I'm serious." Buffy said.

"So am I." Spike countered, receiving a frustrated glare from Buffy.

"Well, how long is the drive?" Buffy asked.

"Not long." Spike said. And, before Buffy could speak again, he continued. "I promise it'll be worth it. I want out last full day together to be special." Buffy smiled at that comment and stopped talking.

"We're here." Spike said, tapping Buffy lightly but insistently on the shoulder.

"Huh?" Buffy asked, groggily. The slayer had fallen asleep, leaning against the window, and was not pleased about being disrupted from her nap.

"We're here." Spike repeated, before leaning down to kiss the slayer lightly on the lips. Buffy smiled. Then she quickly opened the door and took a look around. The sun was high in the sky and Buffy guessed it was almost noon. She spun in a circle and saw a large, grass area, covered with food stands, oversized stuff animals, and rides. Farther back a Ferris Wheel rose up to meet the sky.

"You brought me to a carnival!" Buffy shrieked excitedly. She turned toward Spike, who stood, leaning casually against the car, his black duster blowing gently in the warm breeze. Buffy lunged at him, jumping into his arms and kissing him all over his face. When she reached his lips she paused, kissing him more deeply. When she had felt she had properly thanked him, Buffy took Spike's hand and pulled him toward the carnival entrance.

"Are you sure you're sixteen?" Spike asked, when he spotted Buffy eyeing the cotton candy stand, a devilish glint in her hazel eyes. Buffy looked down, embarrassed.

"I can't help it. Going to the carnival, I can't help but get wrapped up in the spirit." Buffy explained.

"I get excited about eating poetry, giant teddies bears tickle your fancy." Spike said with a good-natured smirk. He shook his head fondly and allowed Buffy to drag him off to the cotton candy stand.

Night had begun to settle over the carnival, and the rides had just lit up, the Christmas lights attached to them causing the fair to look magical. "So why do you like the carnival so much?" Spike asked. "I mean, I thought you'd like it, but I didn't expect this much enthusiasm." The bleached blonde added.

"I don't know." Buffy admitted. The pair sat atop a picnic table, Buffy's head resting on Spike's chest as they watched the stars and fed each other ice cream. "When I was little I used to beg my father to take me to the carnival. My old school in LA had one every year." Buffy explained. "And every year I would beg my dad until he gave in. It was a ritual. I knew he would give in, and he knew I would beg. But the year mom and dad divorced, it was all different. I begged him to take me for two weeks, and the last day the carnival was open he finally said yes. He told me to meet him outside the entrance. I waited there half the night. Even after it started to rain I didn't go in. Dad never showed. Mom had called the police when she found out I was missing, a cop found me and they had to drag me from the entrance. I was afraid that if I left, Dad might show up and think I didn't wait for him." Spike kissed the top of Buffy's head protectively, hoping that the small gesture would help him to take away some of her pain. She continued. "Going to the fair is something that I associate with being little, and naïve. I've only gone a few times since that year Dad didn't show. I guess, every year I kind of hope that I'll find my dad, waiting for me by a ride."

"I know I'm not your dad, but would it be OK if I take you on some more rides?" Spike asked, as he fed Buffy the last spoonful of vanilla ice cream. Buffy smiled and nodded. Spike helped her down from the picnic table and took her hand, leading her towards the Ferris Wheel.

Buffy and Spike waited in line for almost an hour before a cart was open on the Ferris Wheel. However, the smile that lit up Buffy's face when they got on the cart was worth the wait. It was a truly addictive smile. One that lit up her entire face. Spike really liked seeing it on her. He liked being the one that put it there. The cart climbed up the Ferris Wheel stopping at the very top. Something that delighted both Spike and Buffy.

"It's like a scene in a movie." Buffy said. Spike looked at her, confused. "Where the fireworks go off, and the main characters share their first kiss."

"But we've already kissed." Spike said.

"We can pretend." Buffy suggested. Spike smiled at that idea, his eyes glittering in the moonlight.

"But what about fireworks?" Buffy asked after a moment.

"Boom!" Spike said loudly. Buffy laughed softly before leaning in and capturing Spike's mouth with hers. Buffy rested her hand on Spike's cheek and moaned as the hand that Spike had on her back began massaging her tense muscles. Spike smiled as he felt all the tension in the slayer's body slip away. For a moment, he wondered how Buffy managed to be so tense. However, he banished that train of thought from his head when he realized it led to thoughts of vampire slaying, and guilt related to his betrayal.

Guilt was a new feeling for Spike, one that he was beginning to hate. The only guilt he had ever felt had been when he was human. Now, however, he was feeling guilty for lying to Buffy. That was one of the things he loved most about Buffy, she made him feel human, made him want to be different. The charmed necklace was wonderful, it allowed him to go through human actions. However, it was the petite slayer who made Spike feel like he belonged in the human world. Often times he would forget that he didn't belong in the human world. When Buffy was around he found himself forgetting that he was sent to kill her, not to find companionship with her.

These thoughts were also banished from Spike's head as Buffy ended the kiss and smiled at Spike.

"There's something I have to show you." The slayer said. Spike looked at her, confusion written across his face.

"Where?" Spike asked.

"In the graveyard." Buffy responded. "I need you to know who I am."



"Gravitation can not be held responsible for people falling in love…

How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics

so important a biological phenomenon as first love?

Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour.

Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute.

THAT'S relativity."

…Albert Einstein