TITLE: "Stone by Stone" Chapter Five - Turning Back the Tide.
AUTHOR: Elise D.
FEEDBACK: Gimme gimme. Just be gentle.
SUMMARY: Season Seven, Buffy and Spike exploration. Building up stone by stone.
SPOILERS: Spoiler free, do I get a cookie?
RATING: PG-13.
DISCLAIMER: Nobody buys me good presents, so I steal other peoples.
NOTE: Thanks to everybody who sent in such wonderful feedback. It was great experience writing this, and you managed to make it even better for me.

---

By the time the overly infectious smiling Buffy arrived home with her vampire escort, the house was in full swing. Dawn was the first to notice the looks the pair kept sharing. They were "we've got a secret, and we're not ready to spill" glances, and it was driving her nuts. Oh she and her sister were going to have a nice sit down chat today, if she had to tie her up to get it. She looked over at Spike who seemed to be positively glowing, the joyous tension evident in his body language. Hmm. Maybe her sister was the wrong mark. Maybe a little needling of Spike would be a better route. He could not keep a secret, unless of course, it was about boinking her sister. Dawn paused and watched the pair again. The looks…the way Buffy seemed to be all happy and stuff…the gentle and subtle way that she kept touching Spike…oh! Oh crap, maybe she didn't want the talk after all. Some things were better left without the details.

---

Giles studied his surrogate daughter with interest. She appeared in rather high spirits, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Well, it's about bloody time, he thought. He glanced towards the vampire who seemed eager to get the morning routine wrapped up. He was inches away from flying; his whole body was vibrating with some unknown anticipation. Of course, Giles was no idiot. He had a pretty good idea as to what the pair had been up to. At least, he assumed all they did was talk. No, that was something he'd rather not consider at this juncture. If the pair were to resume their relationship, he'd hold his tongue. He wasn't as narrow-minded as Buffy would assume, and if she were happy, he'd be buggared if he'd be the cause of any pain for her. No, let her work through this herself. She's a grown woman, and Spike could be considered mature when he put his mind to it. He rubbed his eyes and sighed. They were going to cause him many sleepless nights, weren't they?

---

Spike kept glancing at Buffy, and couldn't hold back the smiles. His whole body felt as if it were aglow, and he couldn't be happier. Well he could, if his dreams of loving declarations and nudity would ensue, but he'd be happy if they just stayed in this moment forever. She said she loved him, and he didn't even get a punch in the nose. This was a very good sign.

---

Buffy knew he kept looking at her, and she refused to rise to the bait and peek. If she did, she wouldn't be able to hold back any longer. Just a few more people to say good morning to, and then she'd drag him into the basement. To talk, just to talk. He wouldn't want to rush it, would he? They still needed to talk after all. She risked a look at her vampire, and immediately regretted it. He was watching her, with that awe-filled smiling face of his. It was enough to make a girl want to drag him in the basement for anything but talking. Oh great, now look where her mind was. This was going to make the just talking a whole lot harder.

---

By the time Dawn and the potentials had cleared out of the house for a mall trip, only the Slayer, Watcher, Witch and vampire were left. Willow took one look at the subtle gestures Buffy was making with her eyes, and decided a trip to the mall was an excellent idea. She grabbed her coat and rushed to catch up with Kennedy. Her best friend was starting so smarten up. About time!

---

Giles watched as Buffy washed the last of the dishes, and Spike dried them off for her. It was an odd sight indeed, yet based on his experience with the pair he wasn't horribly surprised. It would be his Slayer and Spike who could make a basic domestic act seem so natural. Finishing off the last of his tea, he silently made his exit. He'd perhaps pay a visit to the new library, he was curious to see how that had turned out.

---

Buffy smiled nervously at Spike when Giles left. It was show time, and she wasn't as scared as she thought she'd be. He silently took her hand and they made their way to the basement, and sat on Spike's cot. Never letting go of her hand, Spike decided that maybe he should make the start this time. After all, she'd made hell of a leap herself, just a few hours ago.

"Look, Buffy. I know what you said, and you know how much it means to me, but if you want to wait, or not even wait and just stay…"

Well balls. How's a fella supposed to make a noble speech about staying friends, when the girl shoves her tongue down his throat? Buffy pulled away, gasping for breath.

"Sorry," she smiled, "I just had this crazy urge to do that."

"Not really complaining here, love. Just want to make sure that..."

"Oh! I am, sure that is. Totally. 110% even. Sure as sure can be," she babbled, earning a skeptical look for Spike. "No, I am. Just terrified is all. But I am, sure that is. I mean, if you want to. Oh God, I didn't even ask you! I just barged right in there with a kiss, not that it was a bad kiss, and you kissed back, but still! I'm supposed to be thinking of your feelings, and I just went and kissed you without even asking, and my God, I am such a bitch."

The sound of Spike laughing broke up her little self-pity party.

"You are, without a doubt, completely insane," he said with a smile. "It's one of the things I adore about you."

Dammit. Buffy blushed. She was trying to be level-headed Buffy, and he was making it damn near impossible.

"Buffy. If I'd wanted to stay just friends, I wouldn't have kissed you back. I certainly wouldn't have copped a feel. You know I love you, and you know I want to be with you. All I want is a promise."

Buffy tensed. This wasn't expected. This was kind of unnerving. She doubted it would be a kinky request, but her brain was functioning with so little blood right now, she couldn't really envision another scenario. Stupid brain.

"Okay, shoot. What's the deal breaker?"

Spike took a deep breath. He had to work this right. Not just jump in as usual, and then regret it as soon as the words fly. He had to try a little bit of tact, Heaven help his sorry soul.

"You have to promise me that you'll try. If things get tough, you'll stick them out, yeah? Dump on me all you want, but I am begging you now, don't shut me out and beat me down. Let me in. Let your mates in. Don't just bottle it up and take out your frustrations on whoever's handy. Last time you said it was killing you, and if I have to see you go through all that again, it will kill me."

With that off his chest, Spike just watched his feet and waited for the explosion. After a beat, he realized nothing was happening, and looked up to find Buffy staring at him with tears in her eyes.

"Buffy? Love?" Buffy simply shook her head, and hugged him, the tears running freely onto his shoulder.

"Oh God. I am so sorry. So very sorry, Spike," she sobbed, as Spike gently rubbed her back, and kissed the top of her head. "I know how I was, I know I was wrong. I don't want that again, either. I want better, for both of us."

She began to calm, and pulled away to look Spike in the face.

"So I want a promise from you, as well."

"Anything."

"If you see me…falling…tell me. I don't mean just tell me, I mean stop me. Don't let me. I'll try, I swear I will, but I need to know you'll slap some sense in me, if I get too stubborn. I've been told it's a thing with me," she finished with a smile.

"You have my word, Buffy. Bitchy Buffy is hereby banned."

"Well..."

"Apart from a few days a month, during which I will keep my distance like any sane man, and send you boxes of chocolates instead."

They both laughed, the tension finally broken between the pair.

"So, this is it then?" asked Buffy hopefully.

"Looks that way," agreed Spike with a smirk. "Are you going to be okay breaking the news to everyone."

"Yeah," Buffy decided. "I will, as long as I have you by my side."

"What? And miss the look on Rupert's face? Of course I'll be there," said Spike, causing Buffy to laugh again. "Care to seal the deal?"

They shared a kiss. Sweet, and innocent, and full of love of potential. Pulling away, Buffy looked at Spike, and knew that this time things were going to be good. No, they were going to be great. She had a man by her side that knew the true meaning of love and loyalty. A man who would fight by her side, keep her safe at night, and never let her down. She'd never take advantage of that fact again.