A/N : Well, here we are, at the end of this fic. I'm glad to see some people are still reading right to the end and I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed any or all of the chapters - I really do appreciate all the kind comments. Here is the final chapter and the epilogue, and I hope you all approve of how it turns out. If you like it you could be very nice to me and leave a final review ;-) For those that are interested the final chapter and epilogue of The Guy Next Door should be up by the end of the week, for now here's the end of this story...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 21 - Forever
"Buffy!" Spike all but screamed, his illness all forgotten as he dived to the floor beside his love, the rest of the Scooby gang quickly following by example and tending to their friends.
"I'm okay" the blonde breathed, pulling herself up to a sitting position with the help of Spike who knelt beside her, "I'm okay" she repeated, almost trying to convince herself. She felt dizzy and disorientated by the whole ordeal.
"Dawn?" was her next word, "Dawn?!" she repeated reaching for the girl who was slowly sitting up with the assistance of Xander.
"I'm fine" the younger girl gasped, "I just...I...need air" she choked, fanning herself with her hand and gulping lungfuls of oxygen.
"Did it work?" were Willows first word as she and Tara pulled themselves from the floor too, Giles and Anya doing their best to support the Wiccas.
"Well, I feel...sort of...strange" Buffy admitted, getting to her feet with Spike always by her side, an arm around her.
"Me too" Dawn coughed, her breath finally coming back to her as Xander helped her up off the floor and over to a chair.
"Guess there's only one way to know for sure..." said Spike, "I would offer to test it myself but given my current status as a diseased being, maybe you could kick someone else's ass to prove your power, Slayer" he smiled, "any volunteers?" he asked, looking pointedly at Xander. The brunette looked a little offended but he knew it was just a joke on the bleach blonds part.
"Given the time of day" said Giles cleaning his glasses as he often did, "perhaps we might test your strength on the demon population"
The gang were a little surprised to see through the windows that the sun was going down and darkness was falling over Sunnydale at some considerable speed. Everyone was eager to hit the nearest graveyard and see if the spell had done it's job, but Buffy was adamant that Spike was not going out in the cold night 'in his condition'.
"I'm not pregnant, luv" he smiled, "just kind of wobbly is all"
"I don't care Spike" Buffy said sternly, "actually" she considered, "I do care and that's why you're not coming. Whether I'm the Slayer or not, I need you and preferably in a non-sick way as soon as possible"
"I know you care, baby" he said, hugging her, "and I love it that you do but..."
On the word 'but' Buffy pulled out of his arms and looked daggers at him.
"No buts Spike" she told him in the manner a mother would tell a child, "please, just stay here...for me"
Spike sighed in defeat.
"Y'know I'd do anything for you, pet"
"I know" she nodded before kissing him briefly, "and when you're feeling better I might do a few things for you too" she whispered in his ear, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she pulled away again.
"Now there's an incentive to rest up and feel better" Spike grinned, kissing her back before they were interrupted by the presence of the rest of the Scoobies in the room. They were all ready to leave, except for Xander, who for some bizarre reason that no-one could fathom had volunteered to stay behind with Spike in case the ex-vamp needed anything.
Spike got up from the couch shortly after Buffy, Dawn and the others had left for the cemetery.
"I guess I should get back to bed" he said more to himself than to Xander who was pushing the final piece of furniture back where it belonged after having cleared up the candles and lasts of the sand.
As the bleach blond reached the stairs he turned to the brunette.
"You don't have to stay here" he told him, "I'm a little old to be tucked in with a glass of milk and a bedtime story"
Xander smiled at the joke, but didn't reply as Spike headed up the stairs.
"Scary, wasn't it?" the bleach blond heard as he reached the top and turned back to see the young man he'd once referred to as the Whelp, standing at the foot of the stairs and staring up at him, "You were scared for them" he stated.
"Yeah" Spike admitted quietly, "What of it?"
"Nothing" Xander shrugged and shook his head, but Spike stared on waiting for a real answer, an explanation for why it mattered whether he was scared or not. "I never thought..." the young man on the bottom step began, not sure how to say what he meant, "You really do...you love them and...I don't know, I..."
"You didn't think I could?" Spike guessed the end of the sentence that his 'friend' was too...scared, perhaps, to actually say.
Xander looked at his feet, almost ashamed that he hadn't truly believed in the love this man had for the Summers women until now.
"I'll tell you something, Xander" the ex-vampire said suddenly, shocking the young man below into looking up suddenly, "I never knew I could love anyone the way I love Buffy, or the Bit for that matter" he admitted, "but I do, and I'll live for them, and support them, and continue to love them, until the day I die for them" he said sincerely, before adding "again" with a smile, causing a smile on Xander's face too.
"I believe you" the young carpenter told the man he could now call a friend, "but now I think you should get your germ-y self into bed cos whichever one of those Summers' sisters is the Slayer now, they are so gonna kick my ass if they find out I didn't make you rest"
"Personally I wouldn't mind seeing that" the bleach blond grinned as he headed for the bedroom, Xander barely heard him but he smiled as the words reached his ears. He was human and he loved Buffy, and Dawn, but Spike would always be Spike, bleached hair, snarky comments and all.
The dusted body count was an uneven seven as the Scoobies, minus two, headed back to the house on Revello Drive. Anya was pleased to be back at Xander's side and eager to get him home for unmentionable reasons. Giles offered to give them a ride as it was late and he really needed to get to his bed too, for different reasons of course.
Willow and Tara said goodnight and went to their room, leaving just Buffy and Dawn in the kitchen together.
"So, now we know" one girl nodded, "guess this is the way it's supposed to be"
"Guess so" the other agreed, "To be honest, I'm glad it worked out this way"
"You are?" her sister smiled, "Good, cos I am too"
The Summers girls embraced each other, both yawning as they did so and deciding it was time they were both in bed, since it was almost one in the morning, and a combination of the research, the spell and the slayage had really taken it out of them.
"Hi honey, I'm home" Buffy quipped as she entered her bedroom, smiling as she received no answer, Spike was completely asleep as she half expected he would be. Slipping out of her clothes, she climbed under the covers and snuggled up beside her man whom instinctively, even in sleep, wrapped a protective arm around her.
"Slayer?" he whispered, half asleep.
"Yes Spike, I am" she replied with a smile.
A/N2 : The epilogue is already up...
