AN: First off, I want to send a big THANK YOU to everyone who's been reading and reviewing my story. I really appreciate it. And to all of you who come and read and then wander off again….please, tell me what you think! I know last chapter there was a lot of plot revealing, so expect the next few to run a bit more calmly. I also apologize for horribly bad knowledge of Canada…Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters (with exceptions to the ones I create…you'll know who they are) belong to UPN, Mutant Enemy, and the all-powerful Joss.
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Buffy and Dawn carefully examined the linen closet. After all, those sorts of things were very important. Satisfied, they turned back to the real estate agent.
"Now, it's just you two girls, correct?" She looked back and forth between the two sisters.
"Yes." Buffy nodded. "But we have lots of company."
"Ah." The agent smiled happily. "Perfect. This house has one bathroom, a spacious living room, two large closets, an immense kitchen, and three bedrooms. Two of those are upstairs, but this one…" She led the way into a medium sized bedroom.
Buffy looked around thoughtfully. This place was certainly a fixer-upper. The paint on the walls was peeling, and the tiles in the kitchen were stained. Besides those few setbacks, it was a fairly nice place. Plus, it was in their price range, making it perfect. She turned her gaze towards Dawn, searching for the girl's approval before she said anything. Dawn grinned and nodded.
"We'll take it."
"Wonderful!" The woman broke into a wide smile, reaching forward to shake Buffy and Dawn's hands. "Now, if you would like to come with me to the kitchen to sign a few papers…."
Buffy followed her, took a deep breath, signed the papers, and consequently started their lives over once more.
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Spike muttered unhappily to himself for several minutes before sitting down to think about what the girl had said. He had to prove that Buffy needed him. That she couldn't survive without him.
Of course she can survive without me. She's a strong bird. Doesn't need anyone watching her back. Besides, he frowned a little; I didn't even know she liked me until after I was dead.
He closed his eyes. He tried to imagine what would happen when they met again.
*** He saw her, standing in line for coffee. She was just there, before him, suddenly back in his life. "Buffy?"
She turned around, a confused look on her face. Then she saw him. Her eyes popped open, her jaw dropped, and she dropped her cup of coffee.
He rushed over, grabbing some napkins and bending down to help her. He looked into her eyes. "Hi."
"Spike…" She cocked her head, looking totally amazed. She broke into a grin.
"Who are you?" A tall, muscular man with dark hair stood over them, watching Spike.
Buffy finished whipping up her drink and stood, grabbing the man's hand. "Honey, this is Spike."
"Spike?"
"Yeah…we used to work together." She smiled a little at Spike as the man put his arm around her. "Good to see you, Spike." They walked out.***
He whipped his eyes open in horror. No. That wouldn't happen. She wasn't like that. Or is she… No. She loved him. How do I know that? He sighed, and stood up again. The sooner he found her, the sooner he'd know.
What if I don't want to know?
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knock knock knock.
Buffy jumped over the various boxes in her path to open the door to the apartment. She squealed as Xander and Willow suffocated her in a series of bear hugs.
"Oh wow, this is going to be so fun!" Willow grinned excitedly, looking around at all the stuff.
"Yeah. Fun. It's always fun moving Buffy." Xander rolled his eyes, accepting the gentle pummeling from Buffy.
"Come on. You know you love it." She turned back to Willow. "Where's Kennedy?"
"Waiting with Giles down at the truck." She picked up the box closest to her, readjusting herself underneath its weight. "Let's go!"
"Wait for me!" Dawn scurried out of her room, carrying two bags as she tried to catch up with the group.
They spent the rest of the afternoon loading the truck, and then unloading it at the new Summers' residence. The house was small, but definitely cozy. It smelled of fresh paint, most probably explained by the fact they had spent all of the previous day repainting all of the walls. The hardwood floors were covered in scuffs, something that probably wouldn't change, considering the inhabitants.
Everyone was pitching in, until Buffy could repay them. Her job at the Diner just didn't pay the big bucks. However, she was looking into working at a local gym as a trainer. They had already bought the large, comfy beds that were a trademark of a Scooby residence, and the pull out sofa. After doing some counting, Buffy figured they could comfortably house eight people, if necessary.
Still, something was missing. She kept telling herself she didn't know. She didn't notice the lack of that certain something. Or someone. God, can't I just get over it already? She sighed to herself. Fine. I know exactly what's missing. It's the cloud of cigarette smoke. It's the shadow in the corner. It's that god-awful sound of Doc Martins clomping down the hallway. After this little confession, she felt better. She went back to unpacking. But now that she had that in her head, it was hard to let go. She tried to imagine him in this situation.
*** "Oh for the sake of…" Spike stood up from his unpacking box, swatting at the packing peanuts that were sticking to his hands and clothing. Buffy looked over, giggling. He growled at her, smirking as he stalked across the floor.***
The rest of the Scoobies watched with bewilderment as Buffy unpacked the kitchenware, snickering to herself.
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He had been walking all day today. And the day before that. And the day before that. He was absolutely starving, and not just for the blood. He would have been happy with a Twinkie at this point. He stumbled around another bend, peering up over the horizon. There was something there. It was a….sign?!?
Spike sprinted up the incline to where the sign stood. Upon getting close enough to read it, he slowed his pace.
BIENVENUE A POVUNGNITUK
"Pov-ooh-n what?" Spike squinted at the signed. He pulled out his map. "Oh…blast." He seemed to be, literally, in the middle of nowhere. There wasn't even a bloody railway within a hundred miles. "Great. Brilliant." He looked up at the sky, still squinting slightly. "You tell me to find Buffy, and you drop me in the middle of a bloody forest!" His voice echoed off the nearby canyon walls.
It was hopeless. He collapsed on a rock, crossing his arms stubbornly. If they wanted him to go to her, they'd have to move him themselves. He wasn't taking another step.
There were some flowers a few feet from him. Daisies. He reached out, grabbing one by the stem. He looked at the pedals, remembering what so many children had done with such flowers. He plucked off the first pedal.
"She loves me."
A second.
"She loves me not."
A small pile of pedals formed in Spike's lap. "She loves me….she loves me not…she loves me…..she loves me not….she loves me….she loves me not…."
He fingered the last pedal conscientiously. "She loves me."
He slid the pedal behind his ear, and started his hike to Hudson Bay.
