After fifteen movies, 21 CD's, and thirteen hours of shopping, Spike had arrived, prepared.  He was finally ready.  Ready to sweep Buffy off her feet.  Spike had felt the past day gathering supplies and ideas for how to surprise Buffy.  She had given him a gift, and he wasn't just talking about the book of poetry.  The slayer had given Spike a gift that he couldn't even name.  A gift more powerful than anything he had ever experienced.  And now it was her turn to be romanced.

            After Buffy had left the mansion last night Spike had gone to Sunnydale's one and only video rental store, where he had picked out 15 chick flicks, movies that he was sure would have great ideas for pleasing the slayer.  However, most of the movies led him in circle's.  It seemed that all the men in them, had ideas for romancing their girlfriends that were simply impossible to actualize.  However, Spike was not a vampire known for giving up.  So his next stop was a CD store, where he purchased all the CD's that he thought might contain romantic, mood setting songs.  Then Spike compiled a mix.  His work didn't stop there, though.  Spike went shopping, and purchased candles, and red silk sheets.  Roses and a beautiful necklace also filled his shopping bag.  Then, Spike waited.  That was probably his least favorite part of the plan.  As tiring and embarrassing as the day had been, he'd been occupied.  However, in the short amount of time when he was waiting, Spike managed to become sufficiently worried.  Would the slayer like his idea?  Would she laugh at him?  Would she somehow come down with chicken pox at the last moment (even though he knew she'd already had them), he'd contract them, (even though he was a vampire), and they'd both die?

            The bleached blonde vampire shook his head to clear those thoughts from his head.  He didn't have time to worry.  Buffy had just left her house to patrol, she was going to meet Spike back in the house in an hour.  That didn't leave much time.  Not to prepare what Spike had planned.

Timehaspassedtimehaspassedtimehaspassedtimehaspassed

            Buffy opened the door to her house tentatively.  For some reason she couldn't shake the feeling that her mother would jump out of nowhere.  However, when Buffy saw that the living room was deserted she breathed a sigh of relief, and headed up to her bedroom, planning to take a short shower and then pace in front of the door waiting impatiently for Spike.  However, Buffy stopped, her mouth open and eyes wide when she entered her bedroom.

            It was perfect, more than perfect.  Prince Charming and Cinderella had nothing on them.  Spike had gone all out, that much was obvious, and it had been well worth, the hour and three quarters of patrolling.  Definitely worth it if Spike had used that time to do this.  The bed was covered, not in Buffy's usual girlish sheets, but in red silk.  And the floor was covered in rose petals.  Completely covered.  Buffy slipped her shoes of and tentatively stepped onto the rose petals, closing her eyes in pleasure as the feel of the soft petals came in contact with her tender skin.  Walking slowly, she headed closer and closer to the bed, where Spike sat.

            The vampire looked better than ever, if that was even possible.  He wore tight, black leather pants, and no shirt.  With the light of the many candles that were lit, surrounding the room, his pale chest looked like moonlight was reflecting upon it.  His bleached blonde hair appeared a magical white and the look of pure lust on his alone, was enough to drive Buffy wild.

            "What are you staring at slayer?"  Spike drawled sexily, not moving from where he lay.

"You."  Buffy answered, unashamed, her gaze not wandering from Spike's tight abs.  Spike smirked.  Buffy was usually fairly shy at time like this, time when Spike confronted her.  Her normally outgoing personality faded away to reveal a shy, young high school girl.  But not tonight.  Tonight Buffy was confident, and strong, and Spike could see the predatory glint in her eyes that told him without words that the slayer would be taking what she wanted.

            Buffy had paused at the foot of the bed, so Spike motioned with one finger for her to come join him on the bed.  Buffy obliged willingly, crawling up onto the silken sheets and leaning toward Spike, who pulled her impatiently toward him.  The vampire then flipped the petite blonde.  Pulling off the straps of the slayer's tank top, slowly, Spike began speaking to Buffy in a hushed, sexy voice.

"Last night you gave me a gift"  Spike whispered, motioning for Buffy to raise her arms in the air so Spike could remove her tank top.  The slayer obliged.  "Tonight.  I'll give you a gift."  Spike whispered, leaving the slayer's skimpy black bra on, and instead, concentrating on her lower body.  Removing her jeans slowly and tenderly Spike continued talking.  "You gave me a poetry book, so that I could read of love and devotion, or pain and sorrow, happiness and pleasure."  Spike stared at Buffy, who was now naked except for her black bra and black underwear.  Turning Buffy on her back Spike took in his breath sharply as Buffy's hair fell from the loose bun it was in and cascaded down her back, shining with the light of the vanilla scented candles.  Silent for a moment, Spike leaned in toward Buffy and nipped lightly at her shoulder blades, causing the slayer to suppress a moan.  Then, the vampire gently unbuckled Buffy's bra, and placed it in the back pocket of his jeans.  Minutes later the feeling of Spike's cool hands on the slayer's back let Buffy know that she was being given a back massage.

"Nice."  Buffy moaned.  Spike growled slightly.

"Just nice?"  He asked, offended.

"Very nice."  Buffy reassured him.  However, Spike was not satisfied.  The evening was supposed to be perfect, and Buffy was supposed to be left incapable of speech, and if not, defiantly saying more than just, "very nice."

            Spike flipped the slayer onto her back and removed her black underwear.  Taking a moment to stare at her, Spike admired her figure.  So beautiful, but so deadly.  He finally understood the lure of the tree of knowledge, in the Garden of Eden.  The idea of something forbidden was enticing, but his love for Buffy was so much more than that.  Because in this case, the forbidden fruit happened to be the most perfect goddess he'd ever met in his entire un-life.

Spike kissed Buffy's lips deeply before lying her flat onto the bed and making love to her, bringing them both to heights of pleasure neither had experienced before.  And as they drifted off to sleep, Spike spooned against the slayer he had one coherent thought.  I'll tell her tomorrow, he assured himself.  I'll tell her tomorrow.  However, Spike had the sinking suspicion that he wouldn't be able to bring himself to tell her anytime soon.

"Being in love is what makes working all week bearable. It makes cruising with your windows rolled down feel like you're riding in a convertible. It makes you dance to the rythm of the copy machine and makes Friday night really feel like THE WEEKEND."
Julie Hintz

*Next chapter Buffy finds out….finally! (Don't worry people, it's not THAT terrible.)  Also, I just re-watched the episode before the Buffy season finale, whatever it was called.  Was anyone else completely freaked out when Willow said "Bored now."  Sorry, I just had to share that with someone.  That's all I could think about tonight!*