*********************************TRApPeD************************************
*
Thirty-Three: Just a Little Bit Of
By Annie
2003-05-21
**************************************************************************** **
Day Twenty-Seven.
9.35 a.m.
Buffy stretched and yawned, her head resting on his arm and she turned it as she relaxed again, opening her eyes to look at him. She watched him for a minute, a small smile playing with the corners of her mouth and then she sat up straight.
"Darn!" she exclaimed, getting off the sarcophagus and beginning to gather up her clothes. "Damn it!"
Spike shot up into a seated position as well, blinking sleep out of his eyes and looking around the room until his gaze found her form as she jumped into her pants. He rested back on his hands as he watched her, cocking an eyebrow.
"I had hoped that we sorta moved passed this last night," he grumbled as she pulled her boots on and then got her hair out from under the hem of her sweater.
"What - the whole me-rushing-out, leaving-you-high-and-dry, see-if-I-care deal?" she inquired and he nodded, still watching her as he swung his legs over the edge of the sarcophagus and ran one hand through his short curls. "Well," she added, looking around to see if she had forgotten something; concluding that she hadn't she hurried up to him, eased herself in to stand between his thighs and then finished: "Here's a new clause."
She kissed him deeply and he returned it, wrapping his arms around her. She smiled hesitantly as she pulled away. He kept his hold on her, his head tilted back slightly as he looked up at her.
"I'm late for class," she stated and he smirked.
"Think I care?" he asked and her smile broadened.
"I have to go," she murmured, her face sinking closer to his and he smiled back before he moved his head up to catch her lips with his.
Leaning back he pulled her with him and then rolled her over, making her suppress the giggles as she shook her head.
"Spike," she tried, meeting his gaze with one beginning to fill with silent desire. "I can't miss this class... Willow said we're having an exam next week and..." His left hand trailed down her neck and over her shoulder, making her close her eyes. "And I have to... take notes and..." She once more lost track as he kissed her jaw line tenderly. "And would you stop?!" she exclaimed, pushing him off her and getting to her feet.
He merely smiled devilishly as he sat himself up again. She glared at him without anger, crossing her arms over her chest in an attempt at a firm expression. It didn't stick.
"I'll come back," she said as he got to his feet. "I will," she added, looking into his eyes as he came closer.
"You'd bleeding well better," he mumbled, stepping into her and she ran her hands up his torso as she once more smiled a little.
He leaned her back against the wall behind her and joined their lips again.
***
10.33 a.m.
"...with the following three years taking him all over the world. There was really no way of telling..."
Professor Johnson's voice drifted out of her mind again, like a cloud in the sky simply gliding by. She stared at the blackboard with her chin resting in her left hand, her right hand drawing circle upon circle in her notebook without her eyes watching the procedure.
She was crazy. It was official. She was completely and utterly deranged.
But it had had her smiling to herself every five minutes. Remembering his words... The way he touched her... The way he looked at her... His kisses...
She cleared her throat, blinking as she pushed those thoughts out of her head. She had to stay away from him for the rest of the day; otherwise he would know exactly how much she wanted to be near him and how much she actually longed for the slow hours of school to be over.
Every time she admitted that, she jerked with the self-consciousness spreading through her. One minute she couldn't believe she was actually indulging herself further in something that couldn't possibly be going anywhere! The next she wanted to sigh, happily... which was even stranger.
Spike. Happy. Somehow those two words still didn't quite fit. And there was an underlying fright mixed in with the allure of him, of this - whatever it was turning into. Slayer and relationship were two words that seemed to fit together even worse.
Oh, good grief, girl! she muttered in her mind. It's not like that... Is it?
The confusion wasn't exactly dying away simply because she had come to some sort of a decision. Her head was as mixed up as ever. But she knew one thing for certain - she felt better, in spite of everything going on, than she had in quite some time. And Spike was the cause of that.
He harbored such immense strength. He was such a powerful, charismatic being. And yet he had made love to her the night before in a way that had been caring; and it had been soft; it had been...
"Perfect," she mumbled.
"Ms. Summers?"
She looked up, meeting Professor Johnson's questioning gaze and she swallowed.
"What?" she asked and he furrowed his brow slightly as he eyed her.
"Did you have something else to say about the exam next week? Or will 'perfect' be your final comment on the matter?" the teacher asked, low giggling being heard from the assembled students of the class and Buffy smiled meekly, shaking her head.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I don't know where my head went off to."
"Oh?" Professor Johnson wondered at that. "Having an exam isn't worth being labeled as 'perfect' to you, Ms. Summers?"
"Well... it's not that it's not 'worth' being labeled...per say, but I..."
"Ms. Summers," he interrupted and she swallowed, cocking an eyebrow. "I'm pulling your leg."
The bell rang and she let out a sigh of relief as the entire class rose as one, gathering up their trinkets and belongings. She gave the professor a small glare for 'pulling her leg' in front of her peers, for a second wishing that he'd be turned into a vamp so that she could pull HIS leg good and hard. Then she shook her head at herself, picking up her bag and slinging it over one shoulder before she scraped together her notes and collected them.
"You know, Mrs. Auberry in math would probably be rather impressed by those circles there," the professor's voice said behind her and she rolled her eyes before she turned around. "They seem very... accurate dimension wise," he added with a calming smile and she returned it.
"I'm sorry if I seemed a bit distracted during class," she said. "I've just got a lotta balls in the air right now and I can't afford to drop one 'cause then another's really sure to follow and if I drop all of them, just 'cause I dropped that first one then... that would be bad," she finished as she noticed the rising eyebrows of her teacher.
"It's okay," he assured. "I just haven't been able to ignore the fact that you've been absent - both in mind AND in body - quite a bit for the past few weeks or so. I hope everything's all right with you; you were doing very well in the beginning of the semester."
She swallowed, then plastered on another smile.
"Oh, everything's just fine with me... There's just some stuff - personal stuff - that's needed my... attention," she answered and he smiled. "But, when you say 'WERE doing'... Does that mean that I'm not doing it anymore?" she then wondered and he grew slightly more serious.
"I think it would be important for you to do well on the exam next week," he stated. "I just wanted to let you know that."
She nodded slowly.
"Thank you," she said.
"And..." he stopped her as she was turning to leave. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you just now. I merely strived to wake you up a little," he added and she smiled again, giving him a nod.
Leaving the classroom she headed for the dorm, wanting to see if she could get a hold on Willow and ask her for the bliss of her company as a study- buddy later.
***
4.15 p.m.
Spike leaned back in the armchair.
He was climbing the walls and had been doing so since about fifteen minutes after she left. Telling her how he felt had just about been the most dumb- smart thing he had ever done. He wasn't sure how many other dumb-smart things he actually HAD on his list, but there were a few.
Where was she? Why wasn't she there yet? How long did the sodding classes last? He could've gone to campus, he supposed. But he had wanted to wait. To trust her statement that she would return. To be there and not somewhere else once she came...
But where was she?! What was taking so bloody long?
The door slid open and he got to his feet, then quickly flopped himself back down, directing his gaze as lazily as he could manage on the TV-screen as she entered the room.
Buffy looked at him, closing the door again and letting her bag slide off her shoulder to thump against the floor. She moaned tiredly as she dragged her feet up to him.
"Rough day?" he asked, the nonchalance he forced into his manner made her arch one eyebrow, stopping to his right and looking down at him.
"Yeah," she replied. "And it has yet to get to the kind I like," she added, making him give her a sideway glance and as his eyes met hers the attempt at acting cool slipped off him like water off a goose and he reached out a hand to grab her right wrist, pulling her onto his lap.
"Let's see if I can help," he mumbled and she smiled as their lips locked together, the kiss deepening as she slid her arms around his neck.
They broke it slowly and she curled herself up, resting her head by the side of his throat and turning her gaze on the TV.
"What are you watching?" she asked. "Is this...? I know what this is - my mom watches this soap! Oh my God!" she then giggled, squirming as he grabbed her.
"Enough of the teasing, love," he warned and she calmed down, though the smile was still wide on her face as she looked up at him - her head now on the left armrest.
"I can't believe you watch that," she stated, not able to hold back the chuckles and he smiled before he bent forward and kissed her harshly.
She kissed him back as the passion tore loose from its restraints and rushed through her, making her groan and bury her fingers in his hair. She moved herself to straddle him, her mouth still planted against his, and he let his hands glide inside her sweater and up her back. His caresses got her all the more hot and she pulled the sweater over her head before she grabbed the red shirt he was in and ripped it open.
"Hey," he grumbled. "I went through a lotta bother breaking the window and picking this out," he added and she gave him a look before she leaned forward and began to trace the taut muscles of his abs with her tongue.
His mouth dropped open as he closed his eyes, the sensations taking him over. Then the sound of soft giggling reached his ears and he opened his eyes again, looking down at her and she moved her head to meet his gaze - the wide smile again on her lips and her green orbs sparkling with humor as she said:
"I just can't BELIEVE you watch that soap!"
"You're gonna pay for that one," he stated, grabbing her and getting to his feet; her wrapping her legs around his waist with the smile turning mischievous as she asked:
"Promise?"
He smirked, kissing the tip of her nose before he answered:
"I'll promise you anything... Just name it."
She smiled sweetly before she moved her head to place her mouth by his right ear, whispering softly and making his eyes widen.
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" he asked as she pulled back again.
"Not like I kiss you," she murmured before she crashed her lips against his.
"I'd hope not," he grumbled, mouth still to hers, and she giggled once more as they sunk down on the sarcophagus.
***
9.49 p.m.
"What's it like?" she asked and he blinked, turning his head to look down at her and she met his gaze; her cheek resting against his chest. "To be alive and still... not," she elaborated hesitantly and he thought about it for a short while before he answered:
"I'm not sure anymore... remember?"
She couldn't help but blush slightly at that and then she pulled up, kissing him gently.
"You need to stop doing that," she mumbled, making a smile grace his lips as he cocked one eyebrow.
"It's getting to you, eh?" he wondered and she smiled back, kissing him again before moving to lie on top of him as he added: "Well, don't bloody blame me - blame yourself! You're the inspiration for this sudden honesty, and frankly - I blame you entirely! And what is this?" he then wondered, looking down at her as she moved her arms and placed them on either side of his head, pulling up so that she could have her face right above his and he finished his question with: "You going into attack-mode, darling?"
She laughed quietly, shaking her head.
"I think it's too early for you to 'darling' me, sugar-lumps," she teased and he slid his hands up her buttocks and further up her back, making her bite her lower lip before she added: "And I didn't think you had to ASK me when I'm on 'attack-mode'?"
"Ohh," he cooed, smirking.
She returned it.
"I don't know anything about you," she said silently, resting her forehead against his. "Except that your greatest fear is to be alone forever, and that you look absolutely incredible without one piece of clothing on... and that you kick ass" she added and he laughed at that.
"What do you wanna know?" he asked and she gave a small shrug before she kissed him on his right cheek.
"Well... What's more important? Making with the Big Bad or..."
"Making with you?" he filled in and she smiled a little, kissing his left cheek as she nodded slowly. "Which is a sugarcoated way of bloody asking me how badly I wanna...bite?" he added and she moved her head back slightly to meet his gaze. "I wanna bite, Slayer. A part of me misses it and still feels the craving for it... I'm sorry if you can't understand it," he grumbled as she looked slightly disappointed.
She shook her head then, giving him one of those small smiles as she said:
"It's like an addiction."
"It's a lifestyle that's been mine for a century," he corrected glumly. "It's my bloody instincts haunting me, love," he added, reaching up a hand and softly letting it slide down her locks. "It's not something I can just get passed."
She swallowed, leaning her cheek into his touch and then she shook her head a little, holding his gaze.
"I know that," she stated.
"No, you don't," he disagreed gently. "If you did you wouldn't have asked me," he added and she closed her eyes before she bent her neck and kissed him on the lips.
"It's just... hard," she grumbled and he nodded, his eyes closed as well.
"But you're soft," he mumbled, lips brushing against hers and she smiled slightly.
"So are you," she said silently and he smiled as well, their mouths joining in a by now very familiar game.
***
11.25 p.m.
She watched him as he slept. She had been watching him for nearly half an hour. Fascinated by how peaceful he looked, and it reminded her of that moment in the basement when she had glimpsed him - as he had been - as a human. He looked kind, gentle... Quite the opposite to the master vampire who had come into her life like a fist in the face. What bruises hadn't he given her?
And now?
Now he was trying to soothe them.
No.
He wasn't trying; he was succeeding. It seemed half the time she completely forgot that she had ever wanted to have him away from her. Far away. Way away. Well, a small reason might be that all she really did want right now was to be close to him. This close. The way she was.
It was astounding.
How in one second the perception she had had for so long, of her life and of how it seemed to be panning out, had changed.
He made her feel in a way that had her close to petrified, because when she thought of what he was, how he should stand for absolutely everything that she truly loathed - but now really didn't, and the fact of her actually sensing the truth of the words that he spoke to her... It was unbelievable.
Still...
She moved her head and gently slid her nose up his cheek before granting it a kiss.
Where was this leading? Where was this taking her?
There was only one way to find out.
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************
Hello, the rest of you heart broken, depressed and utterly shocked out of your minds Spuffy lovers out there. I'll get to the rest of that later. For now - thank you so much for your never ending compassion for this story and the way it is going. I think we all need the balm right now.
Special thanks this time to thechosen (I know what you mean with the unsatisfied bit. *shudders* Oh, and the over-reacting seemes just a tad short of how I freaked! So, no harm. Hey, "I wanna be sedated", right?) ;), Xionin (thank you a lot for that, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.) :), Pine (*smiles* thank you, my friend. Again with the so pleased you liked!) :), Renee' (I hate to know exactly what you mean by this being what you needed. I'd rather just be in complete denial over the whole finale. But I'm still glad that I was able to lend some ease, girl! Thanks!) :), charisma1525 (*smiles widely* Thanks so much for that. I'm so happy you approve! Just thanks for all the wonderful compliments and I hope this chapter was no disappointment!) :), c_fleurbleue (Thanks for that, I'm really glad you do and I hope you liked this as well!) ;), Rachel (*lol* I luved the cookiemonster bit. *grin* I'm so happy that got you happy, my friend. And here was a little bit of that...More.) ;), qattaca (I see the puddle, I just stepped in the puddle and I am very apologetic now that I realize that puddle was YOU! ;) Rather gooey, girl. *shudders* Hehe. And I still can't believe the finale! Can you?! Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter too!) Mel (Aw, wow, thanks for that compliment, I'm flattered. And AW about New Horizons. *smiles* That's nice to read. Very welcome, the happiness is just too important to overlook! *Take the bloody hint, JOSS!*) ;), Alyssa (Kisses and hugs back. I'm happy you liked! And that it sotthed if ever so slightly!) :), LizDarcy (Great, great that you liked that - then what Spuffy girl wouldn't - *tihi*, nah, seriously I'm glad you did and that...well, that it might've softened the blow just a bit... *sigh* Thanks!) :), vuks (Oh, my, I'm glad I could do that for you then. Not only save you from the numbing pain with what I wrote, but also from a numbing headache in the morning. ;) Happy to read that and I'm so happy to have helped!) :), Heather (Oh, take me with you on your journey, please!!! I can't, just can't believe that it ended like that! And I'm glad that this chapter was to your liking!) :) and Charlie (*smiles* I'm very happy you approve of the chappy and I hope to see ya soon!) :) - and to all THANK YOU for everything!
And I really do hope you liked this last chapter!
A.M.L, Annie.
Thirty-Three: Just a Little Bit Of
By Annie
2003-05-21
**************************************************************************** **
Day Twenty-Seven.
9.35 a.m.
Buffy stretched and yawned, her head resting on his arm and she turned it as she relaxed again, opening her eyes to look at him. She watched him for a minute, a small smile playing with the corners of her mouth and then she sat up straight.
"Darn!" she exclaimed, getting off the sarcophagus and beginning to gather up her clothes. "Damn it!"
Spike shot up into a seated position as well, blinking sleep out of his eyes and looking around the room until his gaze found her form as she jumped into her pants. He rested back on his hands as he watched her, cocking an eyebrow.
"I had hoped that we sorta moved passed this last night," he grumbled as she pulled her boots on and then got her hair out from under the hem of her sweater.
"What - the whole me-rushing-out, leaving-you-high-and-dry, see-if-I-care deal?" she inquired and he nodded, still watching her as he swung his legs over the edge of the sarcophagus and ran one hand through his short curls. "Well," she added, looking around to see if she had forgotten something; concluding that she hadn't she hurried up to him, eased herself in to stand between his thighs and then finished: "Here's a new clause."
She kissed him deeply and he returned it, wrapping his arms around her. She smiled hesitantly as she pulled away. He kept his hold on her, his head tilted back slightly as he looked up at her.
"I'm late for class," she stated and he smirked.
"Think I care?" he asked and her smile broadened.
"I have to go," she murmured, her face sinking closer to his and he smiled back before he moved his head up to catch her lips with his.
Leaning back he pulled her with him and then rolled her over, making her suppress the giggles as she shook her head.
"Spike," she tried, meeting his gaze with one beginning to fill with silent desire. "I can't miss this class... Willow said we're having an exam next week and..." His left hand trailed down her neck and over her shoulder, making her close her eyes. "And I have to... take notes and..." She once more lost track as he kissed her jaw line tenderly. "And would you stop?!" she exclaimed, pushing him off her and getting to her feet.
He merely smiled devilishly as he sat himself up again. She glared at him without anger, crossing her arms over her chest in an attempt at a firm expression. It didn't stick.
"I'll come back," she said as he got to his feet. "I will," she added, looking into his eyes as he came closer.
"You'd bleeding well better," he mumbled, stepping into her and she ran her hands up his torso as she once more smiled a little.
He leaned her back against the wall behind her and joined their lips again.
***
10.33 a.m.
"...with the following three years taking him all over the world. There was really no way of telling..."
Professor Johnson's voice drifted out of her mind again, like a cloud in the sky simply gliding by. She stared at the blackboard with her chin resting in her left hand, her right hand drawing circle upon circle in her notebook without her eyes watching the procedure.
She was crazy. It was official. She was completely and utterly deranged.
But it had had her smiling to herself every five minutes. Remembering his words... The way he touched her... The way he looked at her... His kisses...
She cleared her throat, blinking as she pushed those thoughts out of her head. She had to stay away from him for the rest of the day; otherwise he would know exactly how much she wanted to be near him and how much she actually longed for the slow hours of school to be over.
Every time she admitted that, she jerked with the self-consciousness spreading through her. One minute she couldn't believe she was actually indulging herself further in something that couldn't possibly be going anywhere! The next she wanted to sigh, happily... which was even stranger.
Spike. Happy. Somehow those two words still didn't quite fit. And there was an underlying fright mixed in with the allure of him, of this - whatever it was turning into. Slayer and relationship were two words that seemed to fit together even worse.
Oh, good grief, girl! she muttered in her mind. It's not like that... Is it?
The confusion wasn't exactly dying away simply because she had come to some sort of a decision. Her head was as mixed up as ever. But she knew one thing for certain - she felt better, in spite of everything going on, than she had in quite some time. And Spike was the cause of that.
He harbored such immense strength. He was such a powerful, charismatic being. And yet he had made love to her the night before in a way that had been caring; and it had been soft; it had been...
"Perfect," she mumbled.
"Ms. Summers?"
She looked up, meeting Professor Johnson's questioning gaze and she swallowed.
"What?" she asked and he furrowed his brow slightly as he eyed her.
"Did you have something else to say about the exam next week? Or will 'perfect' be your final comment on the matter?" the teacher asked, low giggling being heard from the assembled students of the class and Buffy smiled meekly, shaking her head.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I don't know where my head went off to."
"Oh?" Professor Johnson wondered at that. "Having an exam isn't worth being labeled as 'perfect' to you, Ms. Summers?"
"Well... it's not that it's not 'worth' being labeled...per say, but I..."
"Ms. Summers," he interrupted and she swallowed, cocking an eyebrow. "I'm pulling your leg."
The bell rang and she let out a sigh of relief as the entire class rose as one, gathering up their trinkets and belongings. She gave the professor a small glare for 'pulling her leg' in front of her peers, for a second wishing that he'd be turned into a vamp so that she could pull HIS leg good and hard. Then she shook her head at herself, picking up her bag and slinging it over one shoulder before she scraped together her notes and collected them.
"You know, Mrs. Auberry in math would probably be rather impressed by those circles there," the professor's voice said behind her and she rolled her eyes before she turned around. "They seem very... accurate dimension wise," he added with a calming smile and she returned it.
"I'm sorry if I seemed a bit distracted during class," she said. "I've just got a lotta balls in the air right now and I can't afford to drop one 'cause then another's really sure to follow and if I drop all of them, just 'cause I dropped that first one then... that would be bad," she finished as she noticed the rising eyebrows of her teacher.
"It's okay," he assured. "I just haven't been able to ignore the fact that you've been absent - both in mind AND in body - quite a bit for the past few weeks or so. I hope everything's all right with you; you were doing very well in the beginning of the semester."
She swallowed, then plastered on another smile.
"Oh, everything's just fine with me... There's just some stuff - personal stuff - that's needed my... attention," she answered and he smiled. "But, when you say 'WERE doing'... Does that mean that I'm not doing it anymore?" she then wondered and he grew slightly more serious.
"I think it would be important for you to do well on the exam next week," he stated. "I just wanted to let you know that."
She nodded slowly.
"Thank you," she said.
"And..." he stopped her as she was turning to leave. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you just now. I merely strived to wake you up a little," he added and she smiled again, giving him a nod.
Leaving the classroom she headed for the dorm, wanting to see if she could get a hold on Willow and ask her for the bliss of her company as a study- buddy later.
***
4.15 p.m.
Spike leaned back in the armchair.
He was climbing the walls and had been doing so since about fifteen minutes after she left. Telling her how he felt had just about been the most dumb- smart thing he had ever done. He wasn't sure how many other dumb-smart things he actually HAD on his list, but there were a few.
Where was she? Why wasn't she there yet? How long did the sodding classes last? He could've gone to campus, he supposed. But he had wanted to wait. To trust her statement that she would return. To be there and not somewhere else once she came...
But where was she?! What was taking so bloody long?
The door slid open and he got to his feet, then quickly flopped himself back down, directing his gaze as lazily as he could manage on the TV-screen as she entered the room.
Buffy looked at him, closing the door again and letting her bag slide off her shoulder to thump against the floor. She moaned tiredly as she dragged her feet up to him.
"Rough day?" he asked, the nonchalance he forced into his manner made her arch one eyebrow, stopping to his right and looking down at him.
"Yeah," she replied. "And it has yet to get to the kind I like," she added, making him give her a sideway glance and as his eyes met hers the attempt at acting cool slipped off him like water off a goose and he reached out a hand to grab her right wrist, pulling her onto his lap.
"Let's see if I can help," he mumbled and she smiled as their lips locked together, the kiss deepening as she slid her arms around his neck.
They broke it slowly and she curled herself up, resting her head by the side of his throat and turning her gaze on the TV.
"What are you watching?" she asked. "Is this...? I know what this is - my mom watches this soap! Oh my God!" she then giggled, squirming as he grabbed her.
"Enough of the teasing, love," he warned and she calmed down, though the smile was still wide on her face as she looked up at him - her head now on the left armrest.
"I can't believe you watch that," she stated, not able to hold back the chuckles and he smiled before he bent forward and kissed her harshly.
She kissed him back as the passion tore loose from its restraints and rushed through her, making her groan and bury her fingers in his hair. She moved herself to straddle him, her mouth still planted against his, and he let his hands glide inside her sweater and up her back. His caresses got her all the more hot and she pulled the sweater over her head before she grabbed the red shirt he was in and ripped it open.
"Hey," he grumbled. "I went through a lotta bother breaking the window and picking this out," he added and she gave him a look before she leaned forward and began to trace the taut muscles of his abs with her tongue.
His mouth dropped open as he closed his eyes, the sensations taking him over. Then the sound of soft giggling reached his ears and he opened his eyes again, looking down at her and she moved her head to meet his gaze - the wide smile again on her lips and her green orbs sparkling with humor as she said:
"I just can't BELIEVE you watch that soap!"
"You're gonna pay for that one," he stated, grabbing her and getting to his feet; her wrapping her legs around his waist with the smile turning mischievous as she asked:
"Promise?"
He smirked, kissing the tip of her nose before he answered:
"I'll promise you anything... Just name it."
She smiled sweetly before she moved her head to place her mouth by his right ear, whispering softly and making his eyes widen.
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" he asked as she pulled back again.
"Not like I kiss you," she murmured before she crashed her lips against his.
"I'd hope not," he grumbled, mouth still to hers, and she giggled once more as they sunk down on the sarcophagus.
***
9.49 p.m.
"What's it like?" she asked and he blinked, turning his head to look down at her and she met his gaze; her cheek resting against his chest. "To be alive and still... not," she elaborated hesitantly and he thought about it for a short while before he answered:
"I'm not sure anymore... remember?"
She couldn't help but blush slightly at that and then she pulled up, kissing him gently.
"You need to stop doing that," she mumbled, making a smile grace his lips as he cocked one eyebrow.
"It's getting to you, eh?" he wondered and she smiled back, kissing him again before moving to lie on top of him as he added: "Well, don't bloody blame me - blame yourself! You're the inspiration for this sudden honesty, and frankly - I blame you entirely! And what is this?" he then wondered, looking down at her as she moved her arms and placed them on either side of his head, pulling up so that she could have her face right above his and he finished his question with: "You going into attack-mode, darling?"
She laughed quietly, shaking her head.
"I think it's too early for you to 'darling' me, sugar-lumps," she teased and he slid his hands up her buttocks and further up her back, making her bite her lower lip before she added: "And I didn't think you had to ASK me when I'm on 'attack-mode'?"
"Ohh," he cooed, smirking.
She returned it.
"I don't know anything about you," she said silently, resting her forehead against his. "Except that your greatest fear is to be alone forever, and that you look absolutely incredible without one piece of clothing on... and that you kick ass" she added and he laughed at that.
"What do you wanna know?" he asked and she gave a small shrug before she kissed him on his right cheek.
"Well... What's more important? Making with the Big Bad or..."
"Making with you?" he filled in and she smiled a little, kissing his left cheek as she nodded slowly. "Which is a sugarcoated way of bloody asking me how badly I wanna...bite?" he added and she moved her head back slightly to meet his gaze. "I wanna bite, Slayer. A part of me misses it and still feels the craving for it... I'm sorry if you can't understand it," he grumbled as she looked slightly disappointed.
She shook her head then, giving him one of those small smiles as she said:
"It's like an addiction."
"It's a lifestyle that's been mine for a century," he corrected glumly. "It's my bloody instincts haunting me, love," he added, reaching up a hand and softly letting it slide down her locks. "It's not something I can just get passed."
She swallowed, leaning her cheek into his touch and then she shook her head a little, holding his gaze.
"I know that," she stated.
"No, you don't," he disagreed gently. "If you did you wouldn't have asked me," he added and she closed her eyes before she bent her neck and kissed him on the lips.
"It's just... hard," she grumbled and he nodded, his eyes closed as well.
"But you're soft," he mumbled, lips brushing against hers and she smiled slightly.
"So are you," she said silently and he smiled as well, their mouths joining in a by now very familiar game.
***
11.25 p.m.
She watched him as he slept. She had been watching him for nearly half an hour. Fascinated by how peaceful he looked, and it reminded her of that moment in the basement when she had glimpsed him - as he had been - as a human. He looked kind, gentle... Quite the opposite to the master vampire who had come into her life like a fist in the face. What bruises hadn't he given her?
And now?
Now he was trying to soothe them.
No.
He wasn't trying; he was succeeding. It seemed half the time she completely forgot that she had ever wanted to have him away from her. Far away. Way away. Well, a small reason might be that all she really did want right now was to be close to him. This close. The way she was.
It was astounding.
How in one second the perception she had had for so long, of her life and of how it seemed to be panning out, had changed.
He made her feel in a way that had her close to petrified, because when she thought of what he was, how he should stand for absolutely everything that she truly loathed - but now really didn't, and the fact of her actually sensing the truth of the words that he spoke to her... It was unbelievable.
Still...
She moved her head and gently slid her nose up his cheek before granting it a kiss.
Where was this leading? Where was this taking her?
There was only one way to find out.
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Hello, the rest of you heart broken, depressed and utterly shocked out of your minds Spuffy lovers out there. I'll get to the rest of that later. For now - thank you so much for your never ending compassion for this story and the way it is going. I think we all need the balm right now.
Special thanks this time to thechosen (I know what you mean with the unsatisfied bit. *shudders* Oh, and the over-reacting seemes just a tad short of how I freaked! So, no harm. Hey, "I wanna be sedated", right?) ;), Xionin (thank you a lot for that, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.) :), Pine (*smiles* thank you, my friend. Again with the so pleased you liked!) :), Renee' (I hate to know exactly what you mean by this being what you needed. I'd rather just be in complete denial over the whole finale. But I'm still glad that I was able to lend some ease, girl! Thanks!) :), charisma1525 (*smiles widely* Thanks so much for that. I'm so happy you approve! Just thanks for all the wonderful compliments and I hope this chapter was no disappointment!) :), c_fleurbleue (Thanks for that, I'm really glad you do and I hope you liked this as well!) ;), Rachel (*lol* I luved the cookiemonster bit. *grin* I'm so happy that got you happy, my friend. And here was a little bit of that...More.) ;), qattaca (I see the puddle, I just stepped in the puddle and I am very apologetic now that I realize that puddle was YOU! ;) Rather gooey, girl. *shudders* Hehe. And I still can't believe the finale! Can you?! Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter too!) Mel (Aw, wow, thanks for that compliment, I'm flattered. And AW about New Horizons. *smiles* That's nice to read. Very welcome, the happiness is just too important to overlook! *Take the bloody hint, JOSS!*) ;), Alyssa (Kisses and hugs back. I'm happy you liked! And that it sotthed if ever so slightly!) :), LizDarcy (Great, great that you liked that - then what Spuffy girl wouldn't - *tihi*, nah, seriously I'm glad you did and that...well, that it might've softened the blow just a bit... *sigh* Thanks!) :), vuks (Oh, my, I'm glad I could do that for you then. Not only save you from the numbing pain with what I wrote, but also from a numbing headache in the morning. ;) Happy to read that and I'm so happy to have helped!) :), Heather (Oh, take me with you on your journey, please!!! I can't, just can't believe that it ended like that! And I'm glad that this chapter was to your liking!) :) and Charlie (*smiles* I'm very happy you approve of the chappy and I hope to see ya soon!) :) - and to all THANK YOU for everything!
And I really do hope you liked this last chapter!
A.M.L, Annie.