Author: Bitten And Staked

Title: Star Crossed - Chapter Four - Poetic justice.

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Summary: Spike picks Buffy up for patrol and can see she needs a quiet night, but it turns out there isn't going to be a peaceful start to the evening.

Timeline: set in season 6 shortly after Buffy has come back from the dead. Buffy and Spike head out on patrol and it all starts turning a little romantic.

Series: Part 4 of 4

Pairing: Buffy and Spike. Romance, I love you.

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: everyone else owns Buffy and all associated with her.

Feedback: always welcome so email me - webmaster@talesoftheslayer.com

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They fell silent again and watched the stars spinning overhead. Buffy had returned her hands to her abdomen but had remained with her head by his shoulder. She kept looking at the Andromeda galaxy, afraid she might lose it again if she took her eyes off it. It was silly really, something that far away could have such a profound effect on her but it was like Spike had said to her 'see that - that's a totally different dimension, people are more intelligent than you suppose them to be and the world there is a totally different place free from judgement' she longed for that world. She bit her lip and suddenly felt very alone, she wrapped her arm about Spikes and pulled him closer.

"What's up pet?"

"You know so much about everything, the stars and poetry…" She trailed off.

"It's just a way to pass the night pet, vampire remember - long nights with nothing better to do."

Buffy knew it wasn't wholly true, he had used his time as a vampire to hone his knowledge of stars and poetry but she knew it went back to when he was human. She couldn't push him to admit it came from William and not the demon inside as he would never tell her anything about his time as a person not a vampire. The only thing she could get out of him about William was that he was a prude, a fool and wrote bad poetry.

Buffy knew that he was more in tune with his human side that he would care to admit, she had seen the fragments of poetry down in the crypts basement all torn into shreds as though he hadn't been pleased with them. She knew he kept scores of books on poetry and some classical literature in the chest at the end of his bed.

There were times she wished that he would read her some when she stopped by there after patrol to watch the TV with him, she was certain he knew some off by heart.

"William." She sighed out.

He started at hearing his real name spoken on her lips. "Yes?"

"It's so beautiful up there, makes me feel small and insignificant."

"Don't, you are small but very significant Buffy."

"I want to speak pretty words about it but I don't know any." She sounded ashamed.

He turned to face her, eyes narrowing as he tried to read her face. He took the hint and ran with it. "I'm sure I can think of some that fits the occasion, if you promise not to interrupt."

She smiled at him warmly and nodded, they both returned their concentration to the stars. Spike lay with his hands behind his head, his thought running rapidly as he tried to think of something suitable. One kept coming to mind but he didn't even want to think about what her reaction to it would be. He heaved a deep sigh knowing it was now or never.

When he had been silent for a few minutes Buffy had turned to face him again, she saw him staring into the heavens with a slight pensive look on his face that she knew meant he was thinking. Does he really have that many stored up? She went to open her mouth to speak but he beat her to it.

She walks in Beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

Buffy watched his face as he enunciated every word to perfection, reciting it at a slow almost cruel speed. She never realised that it would be like this, a feeling in her stirred and she felt she could stay there always listening to his voice. No thought to panic or lashing out to avoid his emotion, he was laying his heart before her on a silver platter and she was moved by it.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

Buffy smiled as she let his words wash over her trying to absorb this moment into her memory. She found herself wishing she knew something equally as beautiful that she could say to him but she could only sigh as he turned to face her. The deep blue of his eyes penetrating her green orbs as he brushed her cheek softly with one finger.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

His lips closed but broadened into a smile as he felt her small hand come to rest on his and their fingers intertwine. She felt like she couldn't breathe, she never wanted this night to end, but to lay here under the star spun sky forever with him. He looked pensive, as though expecting a reaction in words.

"Wow that's wow." Was all she could offer to him.

He slipped his hand from hers and pressed his finger to her lips gently.

"No need for words pet you always communicate everything with a single look."

She wondered then why he looked so pensive maybe she had conveyed everything she felt in one look and he was confused by it all. She kissed his finger where it rested against her mouth then bought her hand up and took hold of his. She moved closer to him where he lay on his back bringing her head to rest on his chest.

Spike heaved a sigh and smiled, he had recited Byron to her and she hadn't bolted.

"I love you Buffy." He said quietly.

He felt content and not in wanting of an answer, her look had given him that tiny ray of hope that they were moving forward and becoming closer. Suddenly she was tense and holding his hand a little tighter, he wondered if she might bolt but then felt her relax against him. He closed his eyes and just as he thought the night would pass quietly into dawn he heard her softly speak.

"I love you too."
~*~ End ~*~