Chapter Twenty-Two: Good Bye and I Love You
Buffy climbed the ladder to the roof of the building. There, in the corner, overlooking the city, was Angel. She went over to him. "Are you okay?" Buffy asked Angel.
"She's gone," he said after a few minutes
"I know. Willow told me."
"Willow," he scoffed. "She should have told me."
"She thought it was best not to. You know how it is, we always think we know what's best for our friends."
"But I would've..."
"What? Stopped it?" Buffy shook her head. "You couldn't have anyway. Willow wouldn't have let you."
Angel growled, "It's not fair."
Buffy laughed, "It's never fair. You told me that once. But it is what's right."
"Doing our part to save the world. One body at a time," Angel said.
"It'll be okay."
"Spike's blood," he said. "It was human blood."
"I know."
"It was strange, because I tasted it and I could taste everyone. Spike, Darla, Drusilla, You." Angel said.
"Angel, I..."
He didn't let her interrupt. "I felt his pain, his anger, his hope. I saw his memories. I didn't like that too much."
Buffy looked down. "Sorry."
"It's okay. He really loves you. Even when he was a demon. And I realized that's why you love him. I'll never love you when I'm Angelus, I can't. I love you now and that's it. But with or without a soul Spike loves you, and you do too," Angel said turning to Buffy.
Buffy leaned in and kissed Angel softly. It wasn't a passionate kiss. Just a friendly kiss. "No matter what I love you. You're my first love and nothing can change that."
"I know." They kissed again. Buffy didn't feel anything. Well, she felt something, but it wasn't as strong as it once was. She didn't mind. "Promise me something, okay?"
"What?"
"Call me when you're a cookie."
Buffy laughed, "Okay." She was quiet for a moment. Do me a favor?"
"Depends."
"Don't kill Spike."
He sighed, "I'll try not to. I might have to tie him up, sometimes."
"Go for it," She leaned back into his arms and Angel held Buffy until the stars started to dim.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spike stood arm's length away from Buffy. He didn't want to let her go. He couldn't let her go. Every fiber in his being was telling him to grab her and run. Keep running, forget their responsibilities, forget that she was the... a slayer, and he was a vampire. Just run away together, never looking back. He knew he wouldn't have lasted long in Heaven or wherever he was. In fact, he would've busted out of there sooner if his damned conscience would've let him. That short time he was away from her had already too much. Now, they were parting again. And he didn't want to. At least this time he wasn't in danger of bursting into flames. Though he could feel Angel's broody glare boring into the back of his head.
They hadn't said anything to each other, it felt like if they did, it'd feel too much like good-bye. Staring into her, he couldn't think of something, anything eloquent, witty, snarky, or loving. Basically, all he felt was emotions and all he thought was her. He did what he did best. Act on instinct, take some action. He reached over and took a lock of her hair between his two fingers, running them down to where the end met her bosom.
Buffy couldn't take it any more. She took him by the shoulders, pulling him to her, and kissing him. He was surprised at first. He always was, every time she made the first move. He moved his hands around her small waist, pressing the small of her back. She had wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers up his hair. Caught up in passion and desire, they failed to notice everyone uncomfortably trying not to watch the lovers.
Giles reverted to clearing his throat and cleaning his glasses as he boarded the bus and settled in the driver's seat. Xander scowled, more out of habit than actual disgust. He turned to join Giles and smacked Andrew, who had a dreamy smile on his face. Willow and Faith exchanged knowing looks and raised eyebrows. Willow put her arm around Dawn's shoulders, guiding her away from the Make-out session.
"Do you think it's weird I think of Spike as my brother and Buffy's my sister and they are making-out?" Dawn asked Willow.
"When you put it that way. Yes. You're a disturbed kid, Dawnie." Xander replied and Faith elbowed him hard.
"Shut up, Harris." She said but was smiling.
Wes and Fred looked at each other and Gunn clapped the two of them on the back and the three shared a long overdue smile.
"It's so beautiful," Lorne said wiping the corners of his eyes. Fred patted him on the arm. And the Fang Gang went inside.
Finally, the two lovers disengaged. Buffy, breathing heavily, Spike, of course, not. "Spike..."
He silenced her by tracing his finger down her face, to her bottom lip. He touched his forehead to hers. "Don't go." He whispered.
"Okay."
He smirked. "You have to. If it were that bloody easy to get you to stay, I wouldn't get to use the cuffs again."
"You're a pig, Spike."
"I'm your pig."
She squeezed her eyes shut and let out a long shaking sigh. "I don't wanna go."
"Where do you wanna go?"
"Anywhere."
"Then we'll go together."
"What if..."
He scoffed, "Piss on 'what if'. We'll go together, soon."
She opened her mouth to say something but he kissed her again. This one wasn't as lusty as before. More of a tender, loving, 'I don't want to say good-bye, but I have to, so I'll just kiss you instead' kiss. He pulled away from her, turning and walking away quickly. She watched him, knowing that if he didn't walk away fast she would've run after him. She let a solitary tear roll down her cheek, wiped it away and climbed onto the bus. Giles just nodded at her. Robin patted her on the back, Willow gave her an encouraging smile, and Dawn squeezed her leg. Andrew handed Buffy a tissue even though he was the one crying. And Xander sighed, but smiled at her anyway. It was his way of telling her it'd be okay. She sat next to Faith, who nudged her and she nudged back. Giles closed the bus doors and the drove off.
"Was that hard?" Angel asked from the shadows as Spike was walked past.
"You should know."
"I don't. Not the way you do."
"How could you ever let her get away?"
"How could you?"
Spike smirked. "I didn't." He walked into the building.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
" Did they translate the papers I left on my desk? Lilah asked her assistant Janet.
"Yes, Ma'am." Janet replied.
"And the vampires?"
"Mr. Angel re-sired Spike."
A wide smile spread across Lilah's face, "Two Champions. Perfect."
The End
(Whew! Twenty-two chapters later and it's done. To be honest, I didn't want to stop but I'm kinda glad it's over. I may do a continuation. I have a couple of other How Spike Comes Back ideas brewing in my warped brain. And some Buffy/Spike scenes. Even one about Angel and his POV about some stuff. I also may want to continue the Faith/Robin pregnancy story line. It all depends. But I did want to say thank you again to everyone who followed the story and everyone who reviewed. Those of you who loved it, I'm so glad you did. And those of you who didn't, I'm glad too. I appreciate all kinds of feedback, good or bad. I know some of you wanted a B/A fic, but that's not where I had planned it heading towards. I thought the season finale was great, I was in a crazed rage when it ended, but I liked it just the same. Anyway, thank you again and hopefully I'll write more stuff that you'll enjoy.
- D.L. Federico
