Lost in the Smoke
Chapter 5
(Disclaimer in part one)
She was sitting on her back porch steps, her back to the house watching the yard. She had been like that for the past hour and a half since she quit patrolling. The two fledglings and the eight-foot demon she had slayed had been no trouble, but the joy had gone out of killing since there was no one to watch. She quickly lost interest and headed home, stopping where she was now instead of going in. Buffy could here Dawn moving around downstairs and knew that if she went in her sister would go back up to her room and Dawn had spent enough time in there recently. Dawn still hadn't spoken to her sister since Buffy had told her.
The Slayer looked up at the stars dotting the sky above her. Surely, they understood what she was going through since no one else seemed to. The stars had been there forever, watching as countless people lost people they had loved. But sometimes, even they burned out like everything else in life. But the funny thing is, it takes millions of years for the light to reach us. The stars we see might not really exist anymore, the end happens before you even see it. Kind of like all relationships, Buffy thought.
She hung her head in defeat and starred instead at the ground. Too much reflecting can be bad for a girls mind and emotions. She felt so alone. She lifted her head and looked around. That feeling she got when he was around had swept over her, but then she remember that that wasn't possible and that she had been making herself feel like for the past two days to calm herself. Suddenly the grass was consuming all of her attention again. She didn't even notice the presence in the yard with her.
"Hello pet," Spike greeted her not knowing what reaction to expect, but definitely not expecting the sobs that escaped her. Not knowing what to do or say, he stood where he was and asked, "What's wrong luv? Not like somebody died, least I hope not."
She knew he wasn't really there, but she didn't want the daydream to end so she decided to play along. Without looking up she replied, "You did."
"That's true pet, but it's been awhile. Hasn't really bothered me in a long time."
"No, you went poof. The crypt, it went boom, and you went poof with it."
"I don't know about all that, but I'm right here in the undead flesh."
"You're not right here. You're not going to be right here again. You're not real. Every time you come and talk to me as soon as I start to think it's real you vanish."
"Look at me pet. I'm real. I haven't gone poof yet." Spike walked up to her, reached out, and touched her on the shoulder.
Buffy tensed. Never in her dreams had he touched her, she always woke up before then. She slowly raised her head and actually looked. He didn't disappear when she moved like in her dreams. Nothing jumped out and took him from her. Nothing exploded and he didn't go poof in front of her. He only looked at her, his piercing blue eyes filled with concern, concern for her and her happiness. The moonlight glowed off of his bleached hair and his had on his trademark all black clothing. She leaped up, threw her arms around his neck, and starred behind him. She soaked up the emotions raging through her body; happiness, safety, and rightness such as she had never experienced.
An eternity passed before either of them moved from the other's embrace. He held her close and stroked her hair while she held onto him for dear life and wept. Eventually, Buffy eased away from the circle of his arms and placed her hands on his cheeks and looked him square in the eye. God, how she just wanted to get lost in those eyes and never come back to reality. With tears glistening in both of their eyes, she asked, "You're really here. You're really alive, well sort of alive, aren't you?"
It amazed Spike that he meant that much to her. He had thought the blonde in front of him had felt for him, but the fact that his 'death' had effected like it had dumbfounded the vampire. He nodded while he said, "Yes, I am. It's getting kind of late. Slayers need their beauty sleep."
Buffy nodded her agreement and started to turn toward the house when she realized something. "You don't have a place to go anymore. The crypt was blown up. Come with me." She grabbed his hand and led him into her home.
She paused at the top of the stairs to see if Dawn was in her room since she hadn't been downstairs. Buffy could hear her moving around in her bed so she guided Spike on into her room. Sure, Dawn would be ecstatic when she found out, but for the night, Buffy wanted him being alive to be her own personal secret. She shut her bedroom door behind them and turned to look at him.
"You are staying right here tonight. Buffy is going to have a good night sleep. Now strip."
"I knew you were happy to see me, but this is a surprise."
"Very funny. I didn't mean it like that. I haven't slept without nightmares since I saw the ruble that used to be your crypt. I'm going to get a good night sleep because I'm going to spend it simply curled up against you." She would no doubt regret her openness in the morning, but at the moment, Buffy was on an emotional high and really didn't care.
They both prepared for sleep, she donning her soft pajamas and he clad only in his boxers. They lay down and true to her word; Buffy scooted into the curve formed by his body. Spike draped his arm protectively around her waist. Just when he thought she had fallen asleep, he heard her say, "Don't think this gets you off the hook. Tomorrow you're going to tell me where you ran off to."
"Alright pet. It'll be the first thing I do."
"You bet it will."
It didn't take long for them both to relax and fall into dreams, smiles plastered on both their faces.
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See, I told ya it wouldn't take long to get this chapter out. I really like it, course that's probably cause 1) I wrote it and 2) it's shippery. I had planned to stop in a couple chapters more, but I know how I want to go with this and it may take a little while. School is starting up again soon, so chapters may be slower coming out, but this is still a major priority.
Thanks again for all the reviews, keep 'em coming everybody.
