AN: Yay! Only one day left of school! After that, I'll be writing all day and posting all night (with the exception of my job, that is). Please, I'm debating whether or not to carry out this story in Buffy fashion. Should I stop at chapter 22 and start a new story for season "9" or just keep going? As always, your reviews are much appreciated.

Disclaimer: All characters (w/exceptions that you already know by now) belong to UPN, Mutant Enemy, and the all-powerful Joss.

Start Again

Spike jumped up and down in the water, waving his arms frantically. "Boat!" Realizing this wasn't doing him any good, he got back in his own boat and started rowing towards the lumber craft. Luckily enough, it had stopped to pickup a load.

He drew nearer to the vessel. He imagined the expression on everyone's faces when they saw him. Yes, he could see it now.

***Willow's jaw dropped open as she sputtered a few words. Xander looked at him as if he was some sort of ghost. Giles dropped his glasses, raising his eyebrows and smiling a little. The girls all gasped, swooning. Dawn ran up to him, squealing. Andrew waved frantically. And Buffy stood back against the wall, just staring at him in that really creepy no-blinking sort of way. She opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words to fill it. He walked up to her, never tearing his eyes from hers. "Miss me, love?"***

He could barely contain his grin as he pulled up next to the boat. I'm going home.

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            "And it's a gorgeous day here in sunny Nevada, with temperatures reaching-" Buffy slapped the snooze button on her alarm, rolling over sleepily. Just a few more minutes. She tried to forget about having to go to work that day. It's too much of a sleeping day to be a working day. Damn. She was wide away now. Angrily, she untangled herself from the sheets and stomped out to the bathroom.

            After showering, she padded around her bedroom getting her stuff together. Stuffing her tank top and pants into her gym bag, she looked around for socks. She pulled on an oversized black T-shirt and jeans, grabbing a breakfast bar as she hurried out the door. Can't be late today.

            Hopping into the car, she tore out of the drive way while shifting through the morning radio shows.

            "Hi, I'm Docter Bertha-"

            "Grrrrrrreat new music, coming-"

            "If ya wanna know, if he-"

            "Nothing else can fix me even though-"

            "Fake plastic trees are dead-"

            "Hey little sister what have you done…"

            Buffy scrambled to turn of the radio. Cocking her head, she noted this was actually a good song. She started bopping her head, murmuring the lyrics. "Who's the only one…" Amidst traffic, she started pounding on the wheel and thrashing her still damp hair. Turning up the volume, she belted, "IT'S A NICE DAY TO START AGAIN!" She caught the irony in that, smiling to herself. She let her eyes drift out to the clouds, wishing things had been different. Nice day to start again.

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            "How the hell did you get all the way out here?"

            "Ah. Yes. Right." Spike nodded seriously. "Horribly lost. I was camping. And a….bear…ate my….stuff." He looked around uncomfortably. "I'd really appreciate the lift.

            The captain looked him up and down suspiciously. Sighing, he turned to his crew. "Get this man some clothes, please." Shaking his head, he went back to his cabin.

            Spike smiled smugly. The smile quickly disappeared when he looked down at his new digs. Well, at least their clothes. Spike went off to the bathroom to change into his orange cargo pants and white muscle T. Someone, remind me how this is better than a blanket 'round the waist.

            He quickly noticed that this boat went a lot faster than his. Granted, there was an engine instead of one cracked oar, and it was a lot bigger… "'Scuse me…" He tapped one of the workmen on the shoulder. "Where are we going, exactly?"

            "Fort Rupert." The man said, never looking up from his job.

            Spike suppressed the odd urge to giggle. Fort Rupert. Heh. "Right then." He nodded several times to himself. "…Where is that, exactly?"

            "'Bout five hundred miles south of here."

            "Bloody." Spike shuffled his feet on the deck. "Anywhere besides that?"

            "All the ports in between."

             "Ah." Spike nodded again, walking away. He watched the water stream past them. The clouds overhead drifted by slowly. Always slowly. He sighed, momentarily content to be going back where he belonged.

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            Buffy finished up with her last client just as the sun was setting. As she changed back into her street clothes, she sized up the other female trainers. I bet I could take her. Even a day of coaching didn't make her miss the challenge any less. Eyeing the woman one last time, she headed out into the main hallway.

            "Buffy!" A man turned, waving at her. She walked over, desperetly trying to remember his name. "Hi…."

            "Kevin." He grinned at her, shifting his bag to his other arm.

            "Kevin. Right. Sorry." She winced a little. "I have a problem with names."

            He laughed. It was deep, but not deep-evil-seductive-chuckle deep. Focus, Buff. She shook her head, looking back up at him. He grinned again. "I was wondering…I know you're sort of new to the area, new to the job, maybe you don't know all the best eating establishments in town." He nodded seriously, his eyes glittering with wit. "I feel, as a fellow worker, it is my obligation to, perhaps, take you to one?" He raised his eyebrows, waiting for her response.

            Buffy had one thought in her mind just then, and she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at it. What a sodding poof. She heard someone saying, "I think I'll have to pass, Kevin." Wait…was that me?

            He nodded, shrugging. "Maybe another time." He winked. "See ya."

            She blinked as he went out the door. What the hell is wrong with me?

            ["She needs a little monster in her man."]

            Buffy closed her eyes, trying to forget everything that had happened to her. "So much for starting again."

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            He lay on his back, watching the stars. Soon, he'd be with her again. Soon.

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