-The Next Night.-

"Ok, plan time everyone. Those blind black-robed guys just got Lindsey. I am not putting up with this anymore. The First is going to get it and bad. Anya and Giles say it is my still being here, is what's wrong, and well if the First wants my life so be it. I can not risk getting you all killed at a hopeless attempt in making a happy ending." Buffy ranted on in front of everyone in the Dining room.

"You can't be serious? You're going to get yourself killed!" Willow exclaimed.

"Yea, Kind of the point. I figure if I die, again, then the First will just have to go back into hibernation." Buffy answered sounding a bit too enthused for someone putting their life upon the piñata stand.

"You want to go back, don't you," Dawn whispered sadly. She meant back to heaven.

"Oh, Dawn. I don't want to leave you, I never did. But like last time, this is the only way. If I don't do this then all of these girls won't have a chance."

Dawn looked up at her sister, nodding in understanding a tear rolled down her cheek. Buffy tried to comfort her but, a potential slayer interrupted, "So what are you going to do? Just waltz right up in there and say 'Ok, kill me?'"

"I will fight, I can't allow myself to just give in. But in the end, I know that evil will win, it is completely immortal. Nothing I can do other than the previously stated plan will work in a way so all of you survive."

"I think it is bloody stupid, slayer. Ways change, we will find another way." Spike said fighting her willingness to die for her friends.

Buffy looked to Spike in a sad manner. She had grown accustomed to him looking out for her well being. Even admitted to herself alone that she "kind of" likes him around.

"I realize you don't want me to do this, I know you will fight my decision. But if nothing else presents itself this will have to be." Buffy stated looking into Spikes shattered eyes. He gave a polite nod and walked out of the room.

"Listen, I haven't known you all for a long time, but death doesn't sound fun to you does it?" The British girl asked looking at Buffy then at the other girls. The slayer-to-be's all shook their heads.

Looking back to Buffy, "What are we going to do? I mean we are all sitting here, us," Motioning to the rest of the girls, "We haven't done a damn thing but eat your food and practice at skills we are bad at. So I say we help more. Researching definitely not fun, but dead is worse right?"

"Here! HERE!" Cried Xander throwing up his right arm in compliance and then smiling embarrassed when the room was silent.

"Yea, she's right, just tell us what to do." The blonde girl replied to Buffy after Xander's outburst.

Buffy smiled, this wasn't really turning out the way she expected but she definitely liked helpful roommates. The Scoobies split up, each a small group of research-ready girls. Willow was still a bit shaken from the protective wall she formed the other day and was excused from said research.

Kara sat in front of Willow's laptop, ready with bookmarks to the most inquiry friendly sites. Apt with some computer knowledge, Kara fought away at the mystery of the First.

Buffy had found Spike alone sitting on her back porch step.

"I remember that time when I found out mom was sick, you came that night, talked to me," Buffy said.

Spike wasn't startled he knew her scent was coming way before she even was outside.

"That was before the chip." Spike nodded at her as she sat next to him.

"I came to kill you, with a shotgun." He snorted in laughter as she smiled, "The fact that I ever thought a gun would work was sheer stupidity."

Buffy smiled in remembrance, he didn't need to comfort her when she was down, but he had.

"I didn't mean to scare you back there." Spike looked up at her face, his face now handsomely solemn.
"I was scared, I am scared, I don't want to lose you again. Sure as hell the others feel the same way." He said turning to the ground for a response.

Buffy didn't know what to say, she usually took his affections harshly, but now she took them to the heart. Her hand found its way to the arch of his back. She petted him slightly, gently as he looked up again. A questioning look on his face.

"I want to make the most of what I have left. The others want what I have left to be a long while, but I want to live it up, just in case."

"Buffy...?" Spike whispered as she leaned into him.

He found himself with the slayer wrapped around him, hot arms entwined under his. She sighed as her head felt the chill of his smooth chest through his shirt.

This is nice, she thought, I feel so safe.

This is nice, too bad it won't last. No, don't think in the future. Think now, safe, loved, comfortable. Spike's mind filtered through his thoughts.

"Talk to me," Buffy whispered not moving.

"What would you like me to say?" Spike whispered back with a smile.

"Anything other than the important stuff."

"There was once a girl named Buffy, she was an odd one, everyone said it. Beautiful to say the least. She had a bad choice in men until her knight in shining armor rode upon a black steed. He picked her up, loved her forever and they both lived happily ever after." He started sarcastically but got lost in his fairy tale.

"Spike? Who's the knight?" She asked quietly.

The temptation to say Spike was too much, but,
"Anyone you want it to be, luv." He responded politely.

"Can it be you?" She picked herself up from him and looked into his blue eyes.

Spike was shocked at this statement, she was finally admitting her attraction? Her face came forward. Vampire and Slayer shared a sweet, short, gentle kiss. They both smiled at each other for the same reason: That was amazing.

Buffy leaned in for another, Spike happily obliged but pulled away.

"This is what you want?"

"Yes, but only so far, Slowly, ok?"

"I would wait till the end of the world for you." Again they kissed both mesmerized in each other's glow.

Buffy yawned a little while into it,
"That bad?" Spike said humorously, hoping to god that it wasn't bad for her.

Buffy shook her head and smiled widely. Stood, held her hand out to her new allowed man. He took it and stood next to her, she wrapped her little muscled arms around his waist and rested her head against the side of his chest.

He in return hugged her in tightly at first then loosening. She was tired, he could see it in her eyes.

"Let's get you to bed, pet."

"Ok." Buffy yawned out covering it with her loose hand. They walked through the kitchen and up the stairs, hand in hand. Reaching Buffy's bedroom she tugged off her shoes and headed straight onto the bed. Spike moved up to her and positioned the cover over her snuggly, tucking her in.

They kissed one last sweet kiss.

"Sleep well, Princess."

"Good night, my knight." Buffy giggled sarcastically but comforted by him, as she fitted her tiny body down under the sheets. Lost in the white comforter, Spike looked on as her breathing became steady, already sleeping.

He smiled once more, nodded to himself, and closed her door quietly. Downstairs everyone was sleeping peacefully for once. Darkness all over, but there was a blue glow coming from the dining room.

He walked in expecting to see Giles reading. Instead, it is Kara sitting behind the laptop, brow furrowed in concentration, an unlit cigarette dangling from between her tanned lips. Seeing his duster laid on the chair next to her where he left it and his pack of cigarettes lying in front of her, he reasoned it was one of his. She looked up, plucking the cig from her mouth.

Sorry, I quit last year. Habit. She answered, their mental connection still working.

He waved it off, he wasn't at all mad, how could he possibly be mad after what had just occurred with Buffy. Taking a seat next to her looking at what she was doing, still searching. Obviously finding absolutely nothing.

You should get some sleep, big day for research tomorrow. Spike informed silently. He had grown close to Kara, she was like him, like Buffy actually. Stubborn, comely, had a wit about her.

Sure thing, Dad. She replied sarcastically, shutting down the machine. He grinned at her before darkness enveloped them. She hugged her new father figure from the side, he patted her back gently. She released and walked off into the living room.