Authors note: I have a different version of this chapter posted at my site, I'm never really sure about the ratings and would rather be safe then sorry, so the version here is pg13 while the site version is probably more R rated. My site url is in my profile.

Disclaimer: The poem excerpts in this chapter are Love's Philosophy by Percy Blysshe Shelley and She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron.

Their kisses became more fervent and Buffy pulled back for a moment to start unbuttoning Spike's shirt. He let her remove the shirt and then reached for her dress, she lifted her arms and he pulled it over her head tossing it on the chair with his shirt. "The rest of them." She nodded towards his pants, he grinned as he stood and pulled them off leaving them to lie in the floor.

He stood before her in his naked glory and she began to laugh, his expression turned to confusion, "Whats so funny?"

"I guess in your case, the answer is still 'none of the above' to that boxers or brief's question."

He pulled her close to him then, enjoying the feel of her against his chest, they sat on the edge of the bed like that for several moments just enjoying the embrace. "I really missed you." He whispered into her hair.

"I missed you too." She whispered back against his chest.

Hands roamed over familiar bodies and sighs became moans. Whispered 'I love you's' filled the rooms and after several hours passed they lay in the big bed cocooned under the quilt tightly wrapped in each other's arms. She lazily traced random circles on his chest with her fingertip as he quoted poetry to her from Byron, "She walks in beauty like the night. Of cloudless chimes and starry skies. And all that's best of dark and bright. Meets in her aspect and her eyes" Which Buffy proclaimed as lovely - to Shelley's "Love's Philosophy" He quoted the last verse in his strong voice.

"See! the mountains kiss high heaven,

And the waves clasp one another;

No sister flower would be forgiven

If it disdained it's brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth,

and the moonbeams kiss the sea:-

What are all these kissings worth,

If thou kiss not me?"

Buffy rolled on top of him and kissed his soundly. Another hour later finally exhausted they fell asleep still in each other's arms. Buffy slept more contentedly then she had in the last two years.

Spike woke first smiling down at her in the crook of his arm. He looked at he clock and saw three o'clock glaring back at him, as much as he hated to leave this little bit of heaven, he shook her softly to wake her, "Buffy, luv. Wake up."

"Hmmm." She opened one eye, "Hey....." She opened both eyes and smiled her hair tousled from lovemaking.

"I need to get you home before daylight. I think it's probably a good idea if you're there when the girls wake up." He kissed her lightly as he got out of the bed.

"You're probably right. Thank you...for thinking about them." She stood and kissed him as she began to look for her clothes.

"We have a little time though, are you hungry?" He asked as he pulled on his pants.

"Well, now that you mention it, I guess I have worked up an appetite."

He watched as she ran his hairbrush through her tangled locks the simple act filled his heart with happiness. She caught him staring, "I'm sorry, I didn't think." She sat the brush down suddenly shy again.

"No, use it. I'm just happy you felt comfortable using it. You're welcome to anything here, Buffy." He smiled at her, "I'm going to cook you some eggs and toast and then I'll get you home."

"Thanks." She finished dressing and joined him in the kitchen where he had two plates sat at the counter, "Smells yummy."

"Have a seat and we'll eat." He motioned towards the barstool and poured her some juice.

"You keep lots of food for someone who really doesn't need it." She told him as she took a bite of eggs.

"Never know when I might have company." He smiled back at her as he bit into his slice of toast.

"Ah, so you have breakfast company frequently?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Actually you're the first."

"And I better be the only." She flashed a grin at him.

"A jealous girl.....I think I like that." He laughed softly.

She rolled her eyes at him, "This is nice." She took a sip of her orange juice.

"Well, it's nothing fancy just a bit of breakfast." Spike shrugged/

"No, not the breakfast," She shook her head and continued, "Yes - the breakfast is nice, but the just sitting here together, just 'being' it's nice."

"It is. Think I could get used to it." He happily agreed.

They finished breakfast and she insisted on helping him wash the few dishes, "I'm not ready to leave you yet, lets get the dishes done and then I'll go."

"Alright, Luv, not really wanting you to leave either, but it's for the best." He kissed the top of her head as she began to wash the dishes.

After she had put the last dish away she sighed, "It's getting close to sunrise, I guess I better go."

"Yeah, but there will be other nights." He leaned his forehead against hers.

"Promise?" She leaned against him.

"I do." He smiled to himself, he really liked the sound of those words.

Spike drove her home and watched as she let herself into the house before driving back to his apartment feeling lighter and happier then he had in years.

*****

Two months later

****

Buffy and Spike sat on a bench watching Brenna and Tierney play in the sandbox. It was a warm night and there were a couple of other families enjoying the park too. Spike patted his pocket repeatedly, he had three special gifts inside and was just waiting for the right moment to talk to Buffy.

"That's mine." Brenna called out as a boy took her sand bucket from her and started to walk away.

"It's mine now." The little boy shouted back.

"No, it's mine." Brenna stood and pulled on the bucket, the little boy fell into the sand on his bottom.

"I'm gonna tell my daddy, you pushed me down." The bully smirked at Brenna, still holding her bucket.

"I didn't push you, you took my bucket." Brenna frowned.

Spike and Buffy had witnessed part of the scuffle and were now headed towards the sandbox.

The little boy noticed them coming towards them, "Is that your dad? Cause my dad's much bigger, he could beat him up."

Before Brenna could answer, Spike stepped in, "Here now, give her back her bucket."

"He said his dad could beat you up." Brenna offered as the boy grudgingly handed her the bucket.

"He did. Well I don't think it's gonna come to that." Spike leaned over and picked Tierney up from the sandbox then took Brenna's hand in his.

"Your dad's a chicken." The little boy laughed behind them.

Brenna pulled her hand free and ran back to the little boy kicking him in the shin before Spike or Buffy could stop her. "He's not a chicken!"

The little boys father had heard the last part of the conversation and was approaching them, "I'm sorry she shouldn't have kicked him." Buffy took Brenna's hand firmly in hers, "We don't kick."

"He'll be fine, he shouldn't have been teasing her, I'm sorry." The man apologized and took the little boys hand leading him away.

"Got to admit she did have good aim, she's her mother's daughter." Spike whispered on the way out of the park. Buffy shook her head at him.

"Why did you kick him, Brenna?" Buffy asked as they loaded into the car.

"He said my dad......Mr. Spike was a chicken. I know he's not my daddy but.....that made me mad." Brenna crossed her arms across her chest.

"Well, hitting people isn't a good way to deal with things when you're unhappy." Buffy told her seriously.

"Like I said she's her mother's daughter." Spike mumbled under his breath earning a glare from Buffy.

When they arrived home, Buffy bathed the girls and let Spike read them a book before tucking them in. He sat down on the couch and dug into his pocket, now was as good as time as any he supposed. "Buffy, can you come here. I need to ask you something."

She came into the livingroom with an armful of towels, "Just a minute I want to put these in the laundry room."

"This will only take a minute." He grinned at her.

She sat down the dirty laundry on her lap.

He took a very deep breath, "I know we said we didn't want to rush, but I think things are going well and I can't find a reason to put this off. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opened his hand and revealed a diamond engagement ring sitting in his palm.

Buffy stared at the ring for a moment, "You're asking me to marry you?"

"Yes. I love you, people in love get married." He gave her a worried smile, she hadn't answered yet.

"After you've implied my daughter gets violent tendencies from me and I'm sitting her in sweat pants and my hair tied up, dirty laundry in my lap and this is when you propose?" She giggled nervously.

"I thought about a nice romantic dinner, but earlier at the park, I realized that this is our life, the kids and baths and reading time and laundry and." He took her hand in his, 'You haven't answered and I'm not being pushy but....."

She pushed the laundry into the floor and crawled into his lap, "Yes, I will marry you." She peppered his face with kisses. He took her hand in his and slid the ring on her left hand.

"Do you think the girls are awake still?" Spike asked between kisses.

"Probably, why?" Buffy still sat on his lap.

"I have something for them and I want to make sure this is okay with them." He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out two small charm bracelets with silver hearts hanging on them.

"They'll love them and they love you, it's going to be okay. Let's go check on them." He followed her to the girls room.

"Brenna, Tierney. " Buffy could hear them whispering.

"We're going to sleep, mommy." Brenna assured her mom as Buffy turned on the light.

"It's okay, we need to talk to you." Buffy and Spike sat on the end of Tierney's bed, Buffy offered her hand to Brenna who joined them.

"See this pretty ring on mommy's hand?" Spike showed the girls the engagement ring, "I gave that to mommy because I love her and I want to be a family with her and you. We're going to get married. Is that okay?"

"You're going to be my daddy?" Brenna asked a hopeful expression on her face.

"If that's okay with you." Spike nodded at her, "In fact I got one of these for you and Tierney. It's like your mommy's ring." He fastened the small bracelet around Brenna's wrist, "This is a gift to you to show you how much I love you. Thats what the heart stands for."

Brenna stared at the bracelet and smiled. "Thank you." She crawled over Buffy and put her arms around his neck, "I knew you were going to be my daddy, I knew it." She whispered as she hugged him tightly.

He put Tierney's bracelet on her arm and she grinned at him . After many hugs, they tucked the girls back into the bed and turned out the light, "Night mommy, night Mr. Sp......daddy." Brenna called out as they left the room.

Spike wiped at his eyes as they left the room, Buffy smiled at him, "Something in your eye, honey?" She teased softly.

"Yeah, must be dust or something." He smiled as he pulled her close to him.

TBC