Chapter 13- Sleeping Together

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update, I've just been really busy lately. Next week is going to be insane for me, so probably no updates then.

Thanks again to those who reviewed!!! I'm glad some people are liking the characters interacting, there's probably gonna be a lot more of that.

Anyway, enjoy, read, and review!

********************** Summary: ***************************

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.

Chapter 7: Coming Home: Buffy and Spike head home. Halfway there, Spike asks Buffy if she really thinks he can be a better man. She replies that he already is a better man. They arrive home, unexpectedly finding Riley sitting in Buffy's living room.

Chapter 8: Leading to a Talk: Spike accuses Buffy of not telling him about Riley, then realizes she really didn't know. Xander offers to help Spike (gasp!). Dawn, Anya, and Andrew leave Riley and Buffy to talk.

Chapter 9: Catching up with the Ex: Riley informs Buffy that Spike's chip may not be working, so he needs to be staked. She refuses, informing Riley that Spike has a soul. Riley goes to stake Spike. Spike figures out that Sam was turned and Riley had to kill her. Then the three hear Xander scream.

Chapter 10: Old Friends: Angel appears, with Xander explaining that last he heard, he was Angelus. Faith and a mystery boy (Connor) show up. Lots of confusion as to whether or not people are to be trusted. An insane Riley fights Spike till Buffy rescues him. Spike looks at Angel, says he has a soul. Angel realizes Spike has a soul. Angel vouches for Faith's trustworthiness. Buffy calls a Scooby meeting.

Chapter 11: Scooby Snacks: Willow returns. At the Scooby meeting, General Buffy concludes that, thanks to the extra muscle, they can branch out, send some people over to Xander's. Angel says he's not staying. Buffy decides that Xander will take Riley, Faith, Anya, and Andrew, plus some SIT's. Angel takes Spike upstairs, while Buffy and Faith go outside to talk.

Chapter 12: Popping Like Warm Champagne: Faith apologizes, saying she knows she can never be forgiven for what she did. Buffy tells her the same thing she told Spike, also listing all of the Scoobies who have killed in the past, but have changed now.
Faith and Buffy fight some vamps. Faith asks Buffy about Spike, and Buffy asks Faith about Angel. Buffy ends up explaining the whole ripped out of heaven' thing.

*****************************

Buffy walked Faith over to Xander's, and made sure everything was OK (Riley was still out). Wearily, she headed home.

Mmm... sleep... oh, damn, Spike's in my bed... mmmm... sleeping with Spike... argh! No! Bad Buffy! No sleeping with Spike!

Her interior monologue continued as she headed towards her room, checking along the way to see if there was anywhere else she could sleep.

Nope... well... better change into my pajamas first, checkup on the English Undead Patient, then figure out where I'll sleep.

She opened her door softly, not wanting to wake the sleeping vamp, again hoping she could watch him sleeping peacefully. Instead, she once more found Spike moaning quietly, fighting some nightmare.

Buffy walked quickly towards him, seating herself gently on the edge of the bed. Spike had began settling down as she approached. Almost unintentionally, her hand caressed his face. Spike turned his face into her hand, nuzzling it in his sleep. He was even calmer now, deeply asleep.

Gently withdrawing her hand from his face, she went to change into her pajamas. As she went to the bathroom to get ready for bed, she could her Spike becoming restless again.

It's not like there's anywhere else to sleep anyways. Besides, I think I have a right to sleep in my own bed! But most importantly, Spike needs to sleep well if he's ever going to heal.

Telling herself she was doing this for Spike, she headed back to her room. She got in to bed beside him, first making certain the blinds were closed so the vamp wouldn't be burned in the morning.

As Buffy had expected, he'd quieted with her near. But what she didn't expect was him rolling over closer to her.

Feeling his body cuddled up close to hers was almost more than she could handle. As irrational as it was, Buffy felt safe with him near, despite the fact that she was presently the stronger of the two.

Tears fell as she whispered softly, I could get used to this.

Buffy was about to allow herself to drift off into badly needed sleep, when she thought about what she'd just said. Yes, she could get used to this. She probably could allow herself to get emotionally closer to Spike, now that he was souled and sane.

But what would happen if he ever left again?

If? Try more like when. They all leave... Ok, so maybe Spike wouldn't leave of his own volition, but someday he'd either be captured again or killed... and then where would I be? Where would I be if something happened to any of my friends? Probably I'd go all catatonic, like I did back when Glory took Dawn, and I just can't do that again. Like it or not, I do have an army to lead.

Buffy was still pondering the dangers of allowing herself to be emotionally attached as she fell asleep.

*****

Buffy awoke early. She'd never been an early riser, to say the least, but she'd come to depend on this time of being alone in a house full of people.

Turning, she saw Spike, still sleeping peacefully. She slipped quietly out of bed and headed to shower. Thankfully, they didn't have too much of a problem with hot water, so she could take a nice, long, scorching shower. She desperately needed the relaxation that gave her to handle the day ahead.

***

Xander and Anya came to the house first thing in the morning, before Xander had to go to work. Xander wanted to ask Buffy what training she had in mind for the potentials. Riley wanted to know, and decided it'd probably be better if he stayed away from Buffy's house for a while.

Xander and Riley had a long talk after Riley awoke. The soldier seemed OK now, but Xander wouldn't trust him near Spike or Buffy.

Anya stayed downstairs, helping Willow make breakfast for the potentials, while Xander went up to get Buffy. Willow had said she was probably asleep. While her friend hated to wake her, he really needed to get to his job.

He knocked on her door quietly, then opened it as he got no response. Xander crept in and leaned over the bed to wake the Slayer. To his shock, Spike lay there, sleeping.

Oh! He mentally slapped himself. Right, I forgot Buffy had Spike sleep in her room... guess I'd better go figure out where she slept.

He exited Buffy's bedroom. Turning, he nearly bumped into Buffy, swathed in her robe after her shower.

Seeing him, Buffy immediately assumed there was a problem. Xander! What's wrong?

No, nothing's wrong, just needed to talk to you real quick.

Uh, can it wait till I've got some clothes on? Buffy said, indicating her state of undress.

Actually, I kinda gotta get going. Riley just wanted to know specifically what training he was to give the girls.

All right, I'll give him a call. How's he doing? she asked hesitantly

He's... well, he's dealing, I guess. Seems saner than last night. Xander knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't resist. Just out of curiosity, where did ya sleep last night, Buff?

She glared at him, knowing why he was asking. In my room. Do you have a problem with that?

You slept with him?! Geez, Buff, I mean, I was trying to be a bit more accepting of the Evil Undead, but you're already back to where you were last year-

Buffy interjected, Yes, I did sleep with him, but-

Having heard her declaration, Xander didn't let her finish. He began ranting and raving, incensed at the thought of his friend sleeping with the bleached vamp.

Buffy tried unsuccessfully to interrupt his torrent of words.

Just as Xander was going on about how disgusting it was that she would do such a thing, a new voice piped up.

Xander, when she said they slept together, she means they slept together. Not that they had sex.

Buffy and Xander swung around to face Anya, who was standing there, hands on her hips.

What- what makes you say that, Ahn?

Oh, just look at Buffy. She's got some serious unrelieved sexual tension going on there. You know, Anya turned to Buffy, I've heard that's really very unhealthy, and a healthy Slayer is a Slayer who can keep me alive so I can have orgasms, that's what I always say, so maybe you should do something about that.

Buffy looked at the ex-demon in amusement. Thanks Anya.

Anytime. I'll just be heading back downstairs now. Oh, Xander, I think this is one a time for one of those apologies you've explained to me about.

Having said her fill, Anya went back downstairs, leaving Xander and Buffy to face off in the hallway.

Xander looked away from his friend, ashamed. Was... was Anya right?

Buffy sighed. Yeah, Xander, she was. But it shouldn't matter even if she wasn't. I've told you before, my life is my life. And Spike is a good man.

Spike blearily stuck his head out her door just in time to catch her declaration. He grinned. Glad you still think so.

Buffy grinned back at him. Hey sleepyhead, wanna clear out of my room so I can get dressed?

Oh, but I wanna watch! Spike mock leered at Buffy.

She swatted at him, laughing. Go get yourself some blood, then make yourself useful and train some of the girls in the basement. I have to go to work, I'll see you later.

Spike nodded his agreement, and moved aside to give the petite blonde room to enter. Her door shut, leaving the two men alone.

Xander looked at Spike. How much of that did you hear?

Most of it. You really have that much of a problem with me, huh. Know somethin', Whelp? I don't care. But Buffy doesn't need your shit.

Xander nodded, accepting the vamp's words. Yeah, I know... and I am trying to be OK with you, for her sake. But it's hard. I've got quite a habit of hating you. Sorry.

Spike looked at the boy in surprise. First Buffy apologized to him, then Xander. He was afraid something so unnatural really must herald the end of the world.

He continued to be surprised as Xander added, Maybe we could talk. Later. About.... I don't know, stuff.

Spike agreed, and Xander headed off, thankful to be away from the complicated house on Revello Drive.