Buffy woke to something licking her ear. "Spike?" When she opened her eyes
and saw it was Summer, she chuckled. "Didn't think Spike's tongue was that
rough! From what I remember of last night.." She sighed and let the
memories wash over her of the things they had done. It was then that she
actually noticed Spike was nowhere to be seen. Before she had a chance to
get panicky or self-conscious, Spike nudged the door open slightly. When
he saw she was awake, he opened it all the way and slid in, bearing a tray
of food.
"Hey, cutie. Finally awake, I see? Thought I had worn you out for the day!"
"Oh, please. Slayer here. I have more stamina and endurance than that!"
"I may test that theory later, luv." Spike set the tray down between them and laid down on his side. Summer came up immediately and began sniffing the fare. "Tut, tut, luv, this isn't for you. You'll get something later." He picked her up and set her away from the food. She came right back. "Come on, bit, you're ruining my attempt at a romantic gesture here."
Buffy giggled. "It's the thought that counts, Spike. She can have some of my eggs."
Spike frowned. "No, she cannot." He got up and put Summer outside the room, closing the door on her efforts to rejoin them. He got a few angry 'meow's for that. "We may have to go check on your furniture soon...Anyway..." Spike laid back down on the pallet.
"Well, now, the picnic was one thing. I didn't know you could really cook!"
"Lots you don't know about me, luv." Buffy frowned, suddenly remembering their exchange from the night before. Spike mistook her frown. "Don't worry. Plenty of time to learn all about me. Did you read my journal?"
Buffy blushed. "No, I just couldn't. It felt so private...I felt like I was intruding. I know, I read it when I didn't have permission, but now you say it's ok...I don't know..are you sure you want me reading that?"
"It's fine, luv. I want you to know what I felt then."
Buffy smiled. She sat up and crawled to her nightstand. Spike enjoyed the view. She crawled back with the journal. "Here. Will you read some of it to me?"
Spike looked a bit taken aback. "Uh, well, I don't know. I mean, it's one thing to let you read it, it's another to read it to you...some of it's kinda embarrassing."
"Oh, please, Spike. It would mean a lot." Buffy pouted a bit.
Spike sighed, "Maybe after breakfast. We'll see...first you eat."
"You didn't make any for yourself?" Buffy said as she dug in heartily to the eggs and toast he had prepared.
"Nah, I like food, but not when I'm really hungry."
"Well, silly, isn't that when you're supposed to eat?" She poked him in the chest playfully.
Spike looked a little uncomfortable. "Uh, not really hungry for food, luv."
Then it hit Buffy. "Oh....right. Sorry I don't have any blood here."
"Well, you wouldn't, would you?"
"Maybe I should. I mean, you're here a lot. You come over almost every night. It's silly that I don't keep some of my boyfriend's favorite 'beverage' in stock."
"Boyfriend?" Spike shot an eyebrow up.
"Well, you *are* aren't you?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I am. Just sounds so bleedin' proper, is all."
"Well, what would you rather I call you? 'Creature of the night that I have hot, steamy sex with'? Or 'He of the mesmerizing cheekbones,' or 'Vampire with abs I could grate cheese on.' Oh, I got it! 'Spike, my lover that has a very bitable butt!" She waggled her eyebrows.
Spike grinned widely at her efforts. "Yeah, I like that."
"Really? Which one, the bitable butt or the cheekbones. Because, really, they all apply here."
Spike reached out a finger to trace her jaw. "The 'lover' bit. Call me whatever you want, pet. Boyfriend, significant other, whatever. But I'll always be your lover."
Buffy slowly shoved the tray off the pallet. "Can't argue with logic." She leaned in to kiss Spike, as he put his arm around her waist to pull her closer.
**
Once they finally decided to actually get up for the day, it was nearly 1pm. Buffy had insisted that while she took a shower, Spike try to fix her bed. He argued that they could conserve water if they showered together, but she was in fear of destroying the plumbing, so she put him on bed duty.
After renovating a crypt to livable style, Spike had become pretty handy with tools. He almost chuckled at the idea of Xander coming over to fix this mess. Of course, he'd do it if Buffy asked. Spike envisioned just sitting on the chair with Buffy in his lap as they watched Xander fixing what their lovemaking broke. Oh, how the boy would fume. But he decided he'd do his best to get along with Xander for the time being. All the Scoobies had tried to be decent to Spike whenever Buffy brought him along on group activities. Spike did his best to follow suit. Sometimes it was hard though. He preferred going out with Buffy alone. Always patrolling first, then other stuff after. And after last night, he was sure the 'other stuff' would only be getting sweeter.
He had finally finished making the bed sturdy again when Buffy walked in wearing a robe, her hair up in a towel. He smiled at her. She absolutely glowed sometimes. She glowed even brighter when she looked at him. He was proud to be the one that did that for her. He thought for a moment that maybe he could forgo hearing her admissions of love if she would just glow like this every time they were near. But he knew better than that. But this wasn't the time for his brooding thoughts, not when his princess was so close. He glided up to her, sliding a finger down the opening of her robe. She slapped his hand away.
"Now you go shower. I think we were both so covered in each other that my friends would smell us from their houses!"
Spike frowned. "What's this got to do with your mates?"
"Hehe, oh, you noticed my smooth segue? Well, I was kind of thinking that maybe I'd invite them over tonight. It's been a while since they all came over here, had pizza and talked, ya know?"
"Right. Well, soon as the sun goes down, me and Summer will leave you to your Scooby fun."
"I was kind of hoping you'd stay. I mean, you are kind of a Scooby by association."
Spike's eyebrows shot up. "I bloody well am not! Just because I shag the Slayer doesn't make me part of the group, luv. Ask any of them, I'm sure they'll agree."
"'Shag the Slayer'? Geez, I'm glad this all meant so much to you..." She pouted. He sighed and reached up a hand to caress her face.
"Luv, you know I didn't mean it like that. If you want me to stay, I'll stay. I just don't think your friends fancy having me around all the time. And that's fine. I'm only here to be with you anyway."
Buffy shrugged. "I know, but I was just hoping that if we all spent more time together, they'd start to get used to you. And they have, but I mean...I want everyone to get along without all the weirdness that there seems to be sometimes..."
Spike kissed her forehead. "Buffy, there is going to be weirdness. It's a fact. Maybe there will be less in a while, but right now, you've just got to accept that they don't like me being with you."
"I know...I just wish everyone could be friends."
"Hey, all I care about is that you deem it proper to let me in your life. And in your bed, when it's not broken. I don't give a lot of thought to the Scoobs, but if you want me to spend more time with them, that's what I'll do. You know I can't deny you anything."
Buffy nodded. "I know. It's going to come in handy in the future, I'm sure." She gave him a little grin.
"Uh huh. I'll just bet. Ok, I'm going to shower. Alone... You mind giving Summer a bit of something to eat? She'll do with anything, leftovers, milk, whatever you got. She's not too picky. I won't be long."
Buffy stood on her toes to give Spike a quick kiss. "Sure. And I'm going to call everyone about tonight. You sure you're ok with it?"
"Of course, pet. Maybe I'll even be able to go a night without insulting the whelp." Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Ok, maybe an hour. I'll start with an hour...."
Buffy grinned as he left her room, already peeling off his clothes for the shower. She picked up the pieces of her phone and decided calling her friends from downstairs would be better. She was going to make everyone like each other no matter how long it took.
**
TBC
"Hey, cutie. Finally awake, I see? Thought I had worn you out for the day!"
"Oh, please. Slayer here. I have more stamina and endurance than that!"
"I may test that theory later, luv." Spike set the tray down between them and laid down on his side. Summer came up immediately and began sniffing the fare. "Tut, tut, luv, this isn't for you. You'll get something later." He picked her up and set her away from the food. She came right back. "Come on, bit, you're ruining my attempt at a romantic gesture here."
Buffy giggled. "It's the thought that counts, Spike. She can have some of my eggs."
Spike frowned. "No, she cannot." He got up and put Summer outside the room, closing the door on her efforts to rejoin them. He got a few angry 'meow's for that. "We may have to go check on your furniture soon...Anyway..." Spike laid back down on the pallet.
"Well, now, the picnic was one thing. I didn't know you could really cook!"
"Lots you don't know about me, luv." Buffy frowned, suddenly remembering their exchange from the night before. Spike mistook her frown. "Don't worry. Plenty of time to learn all about me. Did you read my journal?"
Buffy blushed. "No, I just couldn't. It felt so private...I felt like I was intruding. I know, I read it when I didn't have permission, but now you say it's ok...I don't know..are you sure you want me reading that?"
"It's fine, luv. I want you to know what I felt then."
Buffy smiled. She sat up and crawled to her nightstand. Spike enjoyed the view. She crawled back with the journal. "Here. Will you read some of it to me?"
Spike looked a bit taken aback. "Uh, well, I don't know. I mean, it's one thing to let you read it, it's another to read it to you...some of it's kinda embarrassing."
"Oh, please, Spike. It would mean a lot." Buffy pouted a bit.
Spike sighed, "Maybe after breakfast. We'll see...first you eat."
"You didn't make any for yourself?" Buffy said as she dug in heartily to the eggs and toast he had prepared.
"Nah, I like food, but not when I'm really hungry."
"Well, silly, isn't that when you're supposed to eat?" She poked him in the chest playfully.
Spike looked a little uncomfortable. "Uh, not really hungry for food, luv."
Then it hit Buffy. "Oh....right. Sorry I don't have any blood here."
"Well, you wouldn't, would you?"
"Maybe I should. I mean, you're here a lot. You come over almost every night. It's silly that I don't keep some of my boyfriend's favorite 'beverage' in stock."
"Boyfriend?" Spike shot an eyebrow up.
"Well, you *are* aren't you?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I am. Just sounds so bleedin' proper, is all."
"Well, what would you rather I call you? 'Creature of the night that I have hot, steamy sex with'? Or 'He of the mesmerizing cheekbones,' or 'Vampire with abs I could grate cheese on.' Oh, I got it! 'Spike, my lover that has a very bitable butt!" She waggled her eyebrows.
Spike grinned widely at her efforts. "Yeah, I like that."
"Really? Which one, the bitable butt or the cheekbones. Because, really, they all apply here."
Spike reached out a finger to trace her jaw. "The 'lover' bit. Call me whatever you want, pet. Boyfriend, significant other, whatever. But I'll always be your lover."
Buffy slowly shoved the tray off the pallet. "Can't argue with logic." She leaned in to kiss Spike, as he put his arm around her waist to pull her closer.
**
Once they finally decided to actually get up for the day, it was nearly 1pm. Buffy had insisted that while she took a shower, Spike try to fix her bed. He argued that they could conserve water if they showered together, but she was in fear of destroying the plumbing, so she put him on bed duty.
After renovating a crypt to livable style, Spike had become pretty handy with tools. He almost chuckled at the idea of Xander coming over to fix this mess. Of course, he'd do it if Buffy asked. Spike envisioned just sitting on the chair with Buffy in his lap as they watched Xander fixing what their lovemaking broke. Oh, how the boy would fume. But he decided he'd do his best to get along with Xander for the time being. All the Scoobies had tried to be decent to Spike whenever Buffy brought him along on group activities. Spike did his best to follow suit. Sometimes it was hard though. He preferred going out with Buffy alone. Always patrolling first, then other stuff after. And after last night, he was sure the 'other stuff' would only be getting sweeter.
He had finally finished making the bed sturdy again when Buffy walked in wearing a robe, her hair up in a towel. He smiled at her. She absolutely glowed sometimes. She glowed even brighter when she looked at him. He was proud to be the one that did that for her. He thought for a moment that maybe he could forgo hearing her admissions of love if she would just glow like this every time they were near. But he knew better than that. But this wasn't the time for his brooding thoughts, not when his princess was so close. He glided up to her, sliding a finger down the opening of her robe. She slapped his hand away.
"Now you go shower. I think we were both so covered in each other that my friends would smell us from their houses!"
Spike frowned. "What's this got to do with your mates?"
"Hehe, oh, you noticed my smooth segue? Well, I was kind of thinking that maybe I'd invite them over tonight. It's been a while since they all came over here, had pizza and talked, ya know?"
"Right. Well, soon as the sun goes down, me and Summer will leave you to your Scooby fun."
"I was kind of hoping you'd stay. I mean, you are kind of a Scooby by association."
Spike's eyebrows shot up. "I bloody well am not! Just because I shag the Slayer doesn't make me part of the group, luv. Ask any of them, I'm sure they'll agree."
"'Shag the Slayer'? Geez, I'm glad this all meant so much to you..." She pouted. He sighed and reached up a hand to caress her face.
"Luv, you know I didn't mean it like that. If you want me to stay, I'll stay. I just don't think your friends fancy having me around all the time. And that's fine. I'm only here to be with you anyway."
Buffy shrugged. "I know, but I was just hoping that if we all spent more time together, they'd start to get used to you. And they have, but I mean...I want everyone to get along without all the weirdness that there seems to be sometimes..."
Spike kissed her forehead. "Buffy, there is going to be weirdness. It's a fact. Maybe there will be less in a while, but right now, you've just got to accept that they don't like me being with you."
"I know...I just wish everyone could be friends."
"Hey, all I care about is that you deem it proper to let me in your life. And in your bed, when it's not broken. I don't give a lot of thought to the Scoobs, but if you want me to spend more time with them, that's what I'll do. You know I can't deny you anything."
Buffy nodded. "I know. It's going to come in handy in the future, I'm sure." She gave him a little grin.
"Uh huh. I'll just bet. Ok, I'm going to shower. Alone... You mind giving Summer a bit of something to eat? She'll do with anything, leftovers, milk, whatever you got. She's not too picky. I won't be long."
Buffy stood on her toes to give Spike a quick kiss. "Sure. And I'm going to call everyone about tonight. You sure you're ok with it?"
"Of course, pet. Maybe I'll even be able to go a night without insulting the whelp." Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Ok, maybe an hour. I'll start with an hour...."
Buffy grinned as he left her room, already peeling off his clothes for the shower. She picked up the pieces of her phone and decided calling her friends from downstairs would be better. She was going to make everyone like each other no matter how long it took.
**
TBC