Takes place directly after the last chapter

            "I like this."  Buffy announced, lifting her head from Spike's shoulder and staring straight into his eyes.

"What?"  Spike asked, tilting his head slightly as Buffy studied his face.  The slayer didn't reply for a moment.  Her breathing became light and a small sigh escaped her lips.  Buffy brushed a lock of hair back onto Spike's head and then rest her head against his shoulder once more.

"I like this part where we get to sit together."  Buffy said.

"Really?"  Spike asked, smiling at Buffy.  "Because I was under the impression that you liked another part best."  Spike continued, whispering the last sentence in Buffy's ear and watching as she shivered slightly and her face turned bright pink in embarrassment.

            Spike savored moments like these.  Moments when Buffy was just a girl, and he, just a man.  Not a vampire, or slayer, but a man and a women that he loved.  He could almost pretend that all the lies he had told the slayer were true.  Sometimes he would catch himself thinking about what it would be like to honestly be 19.  To work for the mayor, and pick Buffy up after school.  Not to feel his eyes widen with fear at the thought of Buffy going to find him at work, only to find out he didn't work there.  Spike knew the slayer would get suspicious if anything else happened that she was unprepared for.  As a slayer, she was prone to think the natural was supernatural.  And though Spike knew that's what kept her alive.  He was also afraid it would lead her to discover the truth.  A truth of blood, violence and death.  No, that couldn't happen.  Besides, Spike much preferred this truth.  A truth where Buffy lay her head on his shoulder in complete trust, and where Spike was nothing more, and nothing less, than the man she blessed with her trust.

"Read me a poem."  Buffy requested with a yawn.  Spike nodded, reaching over to where the gift Buffy had given him lay on the ground.  Spike flipped randomly to a page and skimmed it.  Recognizing a poem he liked, the vampire cleared his throat and began to recite.

Buffy smiled, more at the sound of Spike's voice than the words of the poem.  His calming, often sensual British accent rolled of his tongue, and it was as if every word of the poem was meant for Buffy.  Everything about Spike was perfect.  He could make her feel everything and anything with only a glance.  One look was all it took to make Buffy's body burn with embaressment.  And another look, at it made for her body to burn with desire.  Every touch, every accidental brush of the hand made her forget her inhibitions and feel like a women, strong and powerful.  Not a young girl, struggling with life's problems.  The only other thing that had ever made her feel as confident as Spike did was slaying.  When she was slaying she felt like she belonged.  Like she was doing what she was created for.  And with Spike, it was an even stronger sense of belonging.  Like wherever she was, whatever she was doing was exactly what she was supposed to be doing, and where she was supposed to be doing it.  With Spike, everything was exactly right.

Spike finished reading the poem he had picked out and watched Buffy as she began to drift off into sleep.  Slipping into game face for a moment Spike sighed in disappointment.  He could almost have sworn that he was no longer a demon.  Feeling the ridges on his forehead Spike sliped back into his human face, kissing the slayer's head softly, and dreading the time when she would have to leave him and go back home.

A few minutes passed and Spike gently shook Buffy from her slumber.

"What?"  Buffy groaned.

"You have to go home pet."  Spike cooed softly, wishing that he could come up with some reason for her to stay, make night last just a bit longer.  Fingering the magic necklace he wore Spike sighed as Buffy stood and stretched.  The necklace was supposed to keep him safe in the sun.  So why did Spike find himself only walking in once world, the world of the night?

            "Wanna' come over tomorrow night?"  Buffy asked, shaking Spike from his thoughts.

"Your mom probably won't like it."  Spike reminded Buffy, though inside he was jumping up and down with glee.

"Mom's leaving town for a few days tomorrow morning."  Buffy said, biting her lip to keep from laughing as she watched Spike's eyes light up.  "I thought you could come over.  And maybe in the morning you could come to school with me.  Our school lets visitors spend a day."  Buffy explained.  Spike leapt from the ground where he was sitting and pulled Buffy into a kiss.

            The slayer leaned into the kiss, moaning softly as Spike's kisses made their way down her neck.  When he reached the base of her neck Spike stopped at the small scar that was their.  Spike had noticed it before.  However, he had always been too preoccupied with……other things, to ask about it.  It looked like a vampire bite.  Spike thought to himself.  However, he shook that thought from his head when Buffy moaned at the feel of his cool breath against her neck.  Spike licked the rim of her ear.  "Tomorrow night."  He whispered.  Buffy moaned in excitement and placed a firm kiss on Spike's lips before turning and leaving the mansion, heading back to her house.

            Spike slipped into game face once more as he watched her go.

"Yup.  Still a demon."  He whispered softly.  "Still a demon."

"You know you're in love when you feel like your heart's been ripped out and stepped on……and you don't care."

-Tuesday Girl