Title: Is This Tree Taken? - Chapter 5 of Maybe When...
Author: Xionin
Rating: R (soon)
Pairing: Buffy/Spike.
Feedback: Pretty please?
Disclaimer: ME dropped the ball. I picked it up.
Distribution: Anywhere, just let me know.
Summary: This a medium series based on Buffy's line to Spike
from 'End of Days'. She begins to say 'maybe when [this is all
over,] but Spike interrupts her. It's an AU approach to the series
finale [because you know how much I loved that] and then moves into
the 'what ifs'.

And oh yeah, it's a total piece of fluff. Enjoy!

Is This Tree Taken?

Spike had purposely left the heavy hotel-room curtains open so that the morning sun would greet him.
So when he sat up at 7:15 AM, muttering curses under his breath against the idiot who had turned on the lights, it took a moment to realize exactly who the 'idiot' was.

A slow smile spread across his lips as he watched tiny particles twirl in the shafts of golden light streaming across the bed. He reached out shaky fingers towards them, disturbing the air that made the dust dance, and watched the sun illuminate his thin fingers. He tilted his head as his mouth fell open and he didn't even notice the tear gently falling down his cheek as he stared in wonder.

He was touching sunlight.
Buffy should see this!

After a few moments, he glanced at the clock.

"S' early." He said aloud. "But I have to share this with her."

The phone rang three times before a groggy voice answered.

"This" she mumbled. "-had better be about another apocalypse."

"Mornin' to you too, luv." Spike's smile showed in his voice. Buffy's eyes popped open.

"Spike?" She glanced at the clock. 7:18 flashed in bright red letters. "Oh God! I'm so sorry!" Buffy sat straight up in her bed. Spike frowned into the phone.

"Uhm, for what, pet?"

"I'm late for our date!" She threw the covers off and jumped out of bed, sending the base of the phone crashing to the floor. "Oops, sorry. You still there?"

"YeahBuffy, luv, calm down. You've got twelve hours." He couldn't help but chuckle. She was just so cute, even over the phone. Buffy looked around, blinking the sleep from her eyes, and then it clicked in her head that it was still morning. She stopped her frantic movement and frowned.

"It'sin the morning?" Spike nodded, knowing she couldn't see him. "Then why are you calling me?" Her eyes went wide. "Is something wrong? Are you alright?" Thoughts of Spike in danger suddenly raced through her mind.

What if he woke up a vampire again?
What if he was hurt or he and Giles had fought and
Giles had tried to kill him again?
What had she been thinking letting him out of her sight?

As if hearing her thoughts, Spike smiled to himself. "I'm fine, kitten, I just-"
He suddenly felt awkward. Why had he called her? Because he wanted to share this moment with her. It feltnot having her there for this. Just as it had felt wrong last evening when she wasn't there at sunset.

He wanted to share all of this with her. Everything.
With her.

Always.

Oh God, and he could! He actually could, if she

"You just what?"

"I sun's up." He didn't know what else to say. How much should he say?
That he wanted to share every facet of his new life with her?
Did she know how he still felt? How he loved her, even after everything?
The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her away. Again.

Coming on too strong could certainly do that. He'd learned that lesson once before and the hard way.

Buffy drew back her curtain a bit and peeked outside. She smiled, imagining the look on his face as he saw his first sunrise in

"How long has it been?" She asked softly, gazing out of the window. Spike blinked for a moment and smiled. She knew him so very well.

"Dunno." He climbed out of bed and walked over to the window. He inhaled slowly when he felt the warmth on his face, his arms, and his chest. He could smell it. Taste it. He looked out the window at this strange, new world open before him.

A large tree stood to one side; it's leaves in the full bloom of summer. He'd known before that leaves were green, but the color infused in these was sovibrant. So alive. Everything: the dandelions poking through the unkempt sidewalks, the yellow newspaper box on the corner, the blue sky and white, cottony clouds; it was all so full of color. Full of life!

"Too long." He whispered. She understood perfectly and closed her eyes to imagine his face as he saw all of this for the first time in forever.

"I wish I was there with you." She spoke before she thought. Her heart began to race as she thought of the implications of those words.

She knew that there was somethingbetween them. Friendship. Desire. Maybe even love.

Love?

Did he still love her, the way he did before?
And how did she feel about him, exactly, especially now.
There were no barriers, no demons, onlylife.

She smiled.

"Me too, luv." His voice was hushed, tentative. He smiled at her confession, his eyes closing.
She wanted the same thing there, at least. He decided to push it a little further.
"I miss you."

And there she had her answer in a simple phrase.

His love for her was still there, still strong and hers for the taking.
So how should she respond? Was there any reason to hold back?
To not feel what she knew she was feeling?
To deny it any longer?

She was falling in love with him.

She had been for months, perhaps longer.
The last few days before the battle, she'd been tested in more ways than one.
Angel stopping by: now that was a doozy.

But she'd sent him away, and why?
To protect him? Or to choose someone else?
And she had, hadn't she? Angel was no longer her champion.
Spike was.

And still is.

"I miss you too." She closed her eyes again, taking a shuddering breath. Her body shivered from the connection they shared, even when they were apart. The floodgates were opening and she had no desire to close them.

Spike stared at the phone a moment and a frown creased his brow. Oh God. She missed him.
Life couldn't get any better. 'But oh it sure as hell could!' he thought to himself.

He was a new man!

"Twelve hours, huh?" She said wistfully, twirling the cord of the phone in her fingers. Spike glanced back at the clock.

"Eh, more like eleven, luv." He clenched his jaw. Eleven hours!

Eleven hours before his golden goddess allowed him to make the first move.
To woo her, win her, enchant her and make her his. Forever?

"Forever." He voiced the thought without realizing it.

"Hmmm?" Buffy frowned in confusion.

"Uhhh" he mentally kicked himself. "Seemsforever, pet." Not a bad cover story.
"Eleven hours seems like a long time, is all."

She sighed and began grinning like a schoolgirl.

"Impatient much?" She laughed lightly and he couldn't help but join her.

"I s'pose. Can you blame me? Been waitin a long time, luv."

"For what?"

"You."

"Oh" she said, thinking 'Not much longer.' She chewed her lower lip and Spike could almost see her doing it through the phone. He smiled, knowing that he'd made her blush with his honesty. He smiled even more when he realized he was blushing too.

"Sorry to wake you, sweetness." He purred into the phone and her knees turned to goo. How did he do that? A voice like that should be illegal. Must be in some states.

"Oh that's alright." She whispered back. "I'll just lie in bed for a while longer." She stretched audibly, like a cat and slipped back into the covers, moaning at the feel of the cool sheets against her skin. She knew that drove him crazy and grinned imagining what he must look like - lustrated.

He had to stop the groan that formed in the back of his throat. What a tease!
He loved it. Loved her.

"You do that, luv." He resisted the urge to run over there, scoop her up, and ravage her. That would come later. But not too much later. "I have someto arrange." That got her attention.

"About this date."

"Uh huh?" He grinned wickedly to himself.

"Where are we going?"

"I told you it was a surprise, didn't I?"

"Yeah huh."

"So? It would kinda defeat the purpose if I told you about it, now wouldn' it?"

"I guess," she pouted.

"Right. So you rest those gorgeous green eyes of yours and I'll see you a bit later."

Gorgeous? He thought her eyes were gorgeous? She smiled brightly.
'OK, I'm reverting to high school here. Get a grip, Buffy!'
She chided herself, but the smile didn't go anywhere.

"Ok, I guess."

"That's a good girl. Nighty night, luv. Sweet dreams."

"G'night baby." She hung up the phone before he could respond.
Did she just call him 'baby'?

---------

How was he expected to sleep on such a glorious morning?

'Sing little birdies!'

'Oh look at the little squirrels, how cute.'

He stopped walking down the deserted sidewalk and frowned.

"If livin' an' breathin's gonna turn you into a big, sodding wanker, you were better off dead."

He marched on, determinedly, trying not to stop and smell the roses.

No, really.

Walking through the campus of UC Sunnydale, he came upon the most incredible rose garden he'd ever seen. Of course, it probably had a lot to do with the bright, nourishing sunshine falling all over the hungry little buds, but it didn't matter.

He plucked one pale, pink flower and twirled it in his fingers.

"These could come in handy."

Walking on, he found what he had been looking for.

UC Sunnydale, although a fairly new school, had a number of old trees. One in particular was an enormous Oak that stood in the middle of the quad. Probably 200 years old, its massive branches spread out proudly, shading the very center of the plot from the harsh noonday sun.

During the semester, it was a favorite meeting place for students during the day and predators during the night. Today, it was to serve a different purpose. Spike was planning a romantic liaison and this was the perfect spot.

He set down the bag of goodies he'dprocured during the morning.
[What would he do when the shop owners all came back and insisted on collecting money for their goods?]

Plopping down on the lush grass, he began to take inventory:

Pillar candles - check
Soft blanket - check
Bottle of French red - check
Crystal goblets - check
CD player - check
Batteries - oops, would have to go back for those.
Box of chocolates - check
Jar of Nutella - check

He pulled out a piece of poster board and a Sharpie and wrote in huge letters:
This tree is reserved for today. Touch anything here and die a slow and painful death.

Not subtle, but it got the point across. He propped the warning sign up against the tree and admired his handiwork. Glancing up at the clock tower, he took note of the time.

12:45

Hours and hours to go, yet. He sighed. How would he ever survive?
It wouldn't take him very long to shower and get dressed. And then what?

Shit.

What was he going to wear? He couldn't go in the raggedy old black t-shirt and jeans she'd always seen him in. And knowing her, she'd looking stunning and he'd look like a tired old sod.

He could go 'shopping' but for what? He needed help.

He needed Dawn.

----------------

OK, going to Revello Drive without running up to see her wouldn't be as difficult as the trials in Africa, but damned near close. Still, he was determined not to see Buffy until he came back to pick her up for their date. All he wanted to do was find Dawn and get her to take him shopping.

"Ugh." He groaned, trying to think of something he wouldn't do to please the Slayer. Shopping with a teenage girl.

He began to extend his senses to find out where Buffy was when he realized he didn't have them anymore.

"No more vamp." Right. "Time to getconventional then."

He pulled out the cell phone Buffy had given him for emergencies a while back. This was an emergency, wasn't it?

"O' course."

He heard the phone ring inside the house as he hid behind his other favorite tree.
Watching the window he saw Buffy going for the phone.

"Bugger!"

He hung up and watched as she tried to talk to the phantom on the other end and then put the receiver down in disgust.

"This tree taken?"

He jumped at the sound of the voice behind. He turned around only to find an amused Willow grinning at him.

"I don't think you need to stalk her anymore, Spike."

He smirked. "Wasn't."

"Then what are you doing back in your old spot?" She teased. "By the way, sunlight looks good on ya."

He smiled. "Thanks, Red. No, I was trying to call Dawn. I need her help with somethin', but Buffy picked up the phone."

"Oh, well, I don't think Dawnie's home?" He looked dejected. "Anything I can help with?"

Spike's melancholy brightened. "Hey, you're a girl!"

"Last time I checked." Willow laughed.

"No, I mean I need help. Shopping. Girls shop."

"Yes, we do." She said with mock-seriousness.

"I don't know what to wear tonight."

"Oh! The big date!" She smiled and then chuckled.

"What's funny?"

"Oh, sorry, I just never pictured you as the 'I don't have a thing to wear' type."

"Ah, well, I don't. And I want it to bespecial. For Buffy."

"Awww, aren't you sweet?" She smiled and patted him on the arm. "Almost makes me jealous." He arched an eyebrow. "I said almost. Okay, let's go."

"You'll do it?" He was beaming and it gave Willow's heart a happy.

"Sure, yeah! It'll be fun playing dress up. I bet you clean up nicely."

"Thanks Red."

"Besides, I have a feeling about you two." They began walking away from the house.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She said, smiling to herself.

TBC Chapter 6: Dance With Me