Chapter 7- Coming Home

A/N- I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but I read so many stories that I get confused about what has happened previously when I read the latest update. I'm gonna try and write a summary at the beginning of each chapter for what's happened so far. I may be the only one this happens to, in which case I'm doing this for nothing, but oh well ;o) Hope my readers (if I have any) find this helpful (please let me know if you do, cause if so I'll continue doing it):

Chapter 1: Sunrise: Buffy rescues Spike. It's sunrise, so he'll have to remain there for the day. As she leaves the cave and heads home, Buffy ponders life without Spike.

Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home: Buffy returns to her home only to be attacked by the Potentials. Somehow, the First, in Buffy's form, has convinced them that the real Buffy is the First in corporeal form. Buffy is, naturally, upset that the Potentials and her friends could believe that. The First leaves after a bit of taunting.

Chapter 3: Wheatabix, Blood and a Blanket: Buffy searches for these things (plus a first aid-kit) so she can go help Spike. She talks with Xander, who tells her that Willow was called to LA. As she leaves, she tells him that Spike is a good man, and that he should try and realize this.

Chapter 4: Nightmares and Memories: Buffy returns to the cave, bag o' supplies in hand, to find Spike having a nightmare, and nearly hurting himself in his thrashing about. She wakes him. Despite his protests, she bandages him and gives him blood. Inadvertently, her thoughts lead her to Willow's Let my will be done spell' (Something Blue). She (finally!) realizes that Willow's spell was only that she and Spike should marry, not that they should be in love. Unfortunately, she says some of this out loud and Spike hears her.

Chapter 5: Rain Check: Buffy tells Spike she doesn't know what her feelings are for him exactly, and asks for a rain check on the heavy, serious stuff till after they defeat the First. He agrees. Buffy fills him in on what's been going on while he's been gone. They then fall asleep, side by side (Awww! ;o)

Chapter 6: A Long Talk in a Damp Cave: Basically, a big long talk between Buffy and Spike about forgiveness. She says that she needs his forgiveness for what she did to him last year, which of course surprises him. Buffy admits that he did some good things even when soulless, like taking care of Dawn. By now it's sundown, so they set out for home.

*****************A/N- lemme know if the summary helped!

Buffy and Spike headed home in complete silence- for the most part. About halfway there, Spike told Buffy he needed to rest for a bit. She gently let him down to sit on a gravestone (they were taking a shortcut through one of the many cemeteries).

As Spike was resting there, catching his breath,' he realized there was one more very important thing he needed to ask the Slayer. He just had to make sure. It was the reason he'd been able to remain sane and not give in to the First. Then, he had to believe it. Now, he needed to know if it were true.



She was instantly at his side. What's wrong?

No, no. It's just... I have one more question that I hafta ask.

Buffy sighed nervously. What is he gonna ask now? Go ahead, shoot.

Right, well then. Spike began to speak very fast, as he was rather nervous himself. Before... before I got taken, you said some things to me and, well, I just wanted to know if you meant them. He paused. And... I'll understand if you didn't, I mean, I know I don't deserve-

Spike, shut up already, I think we've been through the deserving thing. And in answer to your question Spike, I do believe in you. You can be a better man.

Spike breathed a sigh of relief.

No, I take that back, Buffy said.

He looked up at her, disbelieving, confused.

She saw his hurt expression and knelt down so she was level with him, eye-to-eye. Spike, you are a good man. In fact, I just told Xander that earlier today, and that's what I tried to tell you before.... she trailed off, watching for his reaction.

Spike asked, his voice embarrassingly high-pitched with relief.

She nodded. Really really.

A smile appeared momentarily on his bruised and battered face.

A matching smile appeared on Buffy's less bruised face. Let's get you home.

*******

She carefully helped him up the steps to her house. Opening the door with the hand unoccupied with holding the increasingly weakening Spike up, she led him in.

Buffy was too busy watching him and making certain he wouldn't fall to look ahead into the living room. Spike, however, glanced up to make sure he wouldn't stumble over one of these SIT's. From what Buffy had said, it sounded like they were everywhere, always underfoot.

He stopped abruptly with a muttered curse.

Buffy looked at him worriedly. Spike? You all right?

No, I am not bloody all right! You bleedin' forgot to tell me that soddin' Captain Cardboard was back! Spike yelled with all his strength.

What the hell are you.... she started to say. Turning, she saw one of those many men who'd said they loved her, whom she had loved, and who had left her.