CH 5



Spike groaned, his clouded vision slowly evaporating into clarity as he opened his eyes to take in his bleak surroundings.

"I'm in chains........and naked," he realized groggily, a violent shiver trembling down his spine as he continued to stand within the hollow, concrete-walled room. "Where the hell am I......how did I get here?!"

Suddenly, a metal, bolted door swung open from behind, which was immediately followed by the sound of heavy boots slapping against the concrete floor until they came to an abrupt stop.

"Hello, Spike.....fancy meeting YOU here."

Spike cringed, recognizing that haunting monotone anywhere. "Vicious."

"Correct," he acknowledged, smirking as he came face-to-face with his nemesis. "I am not, however, here for formalities."

"Oh, well then DO tell," Spike urged sarcastically, causing Vicious' smirk to instantly drop like a limp worm.

"Silence, you repulsive rat!," he bellowed, the iciness of his cold, hard-set gaze intensifying until his irises appeared to have frosted over. "I have a proposition to make, so I highly suggest that you LISTEN!!!"

Spike smirked, despite the intense situation. "Well, I'm listening NOW......go on."

Vicious nodded with approval, replying, "I would like to know the whereabouts of your comrade, Faye Valentine."

"What? Why?!," Spike demanded, suddenly growing deathly pale.

"Because she is as beautiful as twilight on a summer's day, and anything that possesses such radiant beauty should be mine," Vicious replied as if it were obvious. "Surely you have no objections."

"Actually, I do," Spike retorted, standing tall. "I refuse to tell you where she is."

"Hmmm.....is that so?"

He nodded defiantly. "Yes, it is."

"Very well," Vicious agreed coldly, his lips curling up into a devious, formidable sneer. "Kostian! Bring in the woman!"

Spike watched on in pure astonishment as the "apple merchant" dragged a young, kicking and screaming woman into the room; a black sack tied securely over her head so that her identity remained clandestine for the moment.

Kostian then immediately removed it, revealing Veronica's tear-stained face as she continued to struggle about in a wild, frantic manner.

"Get off! GET OFF!!!," she shrieked, trying to aim one of her kicks towards Mr. Van Chlokavich's more sensitive area. "I swear sir, I WILL bite you, and my bites hurt like hell! One time I gave my sister a bruise!"

"Frankly, Miss Stiles, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!!!," Kostian spat, his grip only tightening about her slender frame. "If you don't cooperate I'll hafta sedate you!"

"Kostian, PLEASE shut up!," Vicious thundered, immediately silencing the bickering couple. Once all was once more restored to silence, he continued gruffly, "Tell me where she is, Spike. If you refuse, Kostian will cut off the fair damsel's earlobe."

Spike shrugged. "Do what you wish. That woman means nothing to me."

"What?!," Veronica demanded shrilly, about to go hysterical. "How DARE you!!!"

"As you wish," Vicious acknowledged, a cruel sneer curling upon his lips as he motioned to Kostian as an indication to carry out his task.

Kostian nodded in acknowledgement, retrieving an X-acto knife from his pocket as Veronica began to frantically kick and scream.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!!!," she pleaded, hot tears streaming down her cheeks like burning candle wax. "PLEASE! I-I'll give you money!!!"

Kostian ignored her desperate pleas and miraculously grabbed a hold of her earlobe; placing the knife above the supple skin in a formidable fashion.

Within moments, the sharp, slanted blade had torn through the tender flesh of Veronica's ear, leaving her screaming madly as thick torrents of scarlet streamed forth from the painful amputation.

Spike blanched, suddenly feeling slightly remorseful for not standing up for the young woman like he should have.

Vicious turned to him with an incredibly smug look upon his face, asking, "Will you kindly tell me where Miss Valentine is, now?"

Spike's gaze hardened, beads of perspiration upon his brow dipping profusely like tiny, individual rivers as he managed to choke, "Never."

Vicious scowled, bellowing, "FINE! You leave me with NO choice! Kostian.....KILL THE GIRL!!!"

"What? NO!," Spike pleaded, suddenly regretting having such a big mouth and haughty manner. "Don't do it, Vicious....it's ME you want!"

It was too late. Kostian had already withdrawn his Raptor Magnum from his hip holster and had fired it; the shot ringing throughout the dim room like a chorus of bells in discord; the angel of death casting the copper bullet towards the fair maiden in distress without mercy.

"NO!!!," Spike exclaimed, giving a strenuous tug on his chains as the bullet bored into Veronica's chest cavity, crimson blood bursting forth from the deep puncture wound as a hint of blood dribbled down from the corner of her mouth.

"Sweet mercy," she breathed, closing her eyes as she collapsed into a heap on the floor, her own blood blanketing her within a pool of death and destruction as the room suddenly grew cold as ice.

Spike shivered and shook, his deep ire rocketing with each emission of blood from the fair Veronica's chest; his hands growing numb due to clenching them so tightly as he tried his best to calm his nerves.

"Since you have refused to reveal to me Miss Valentine's whereabouts, you shall perish, as well," Vicious announced, sending his adversary a cold, derisive smirk. "There is, however, still time to make amends. You can escape death by telling me what I need to know."

"No," Spike replied firmly, shaking his head. "I will never tell you where she is....especially since you have just destroyed the life of an innocent young woman!"

Vicious reared back and struck him clear across the face with the back of his hand, bellowing maliciously, "FINE, you gutless bastard! Perish amongst your own abundance of senselessness!!!"

Spike grunted, blood dripping like a steadfast river from his nose as he replied dryly, "I am not afraid to die, Vicious.....I've ALREADY been dead for years."

Vicious smirked. "We shall see, my opponent.......we shall see."

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

"Any last requests?"

Spike snorted, struggling about within the sack that he was tied up in, replying, "Yeah.....LET ME GO!!!"

Vicious smirked. "I'm afraid that I can't do that, Spike. I gave you your clothes back, after all......isn't that good enough?"

"Not really, no, but I guess that I'm just lucky," Spike grumbled scathingly, rotating his wrists about due to the fact that they were growing numb from the tightly bound rope.

Vicious smirked, peering off into the horizon from the cliffside that they were standing upon, then immediately directed his gaze down towards the ocean below.

"Good-bye, Spike," he murmured, a small smirk forming along his pale, thin lips as he slowly withdrew his katana from its sheath. "We shall meet again......in Hell."

Spike gasped, exclaiming, "No, Vicious.....WAIT! I-"

SLISH!

The rope which suspended Spike and the sack immediately snapped in half due to the cleansing blow of Vicious' katana, leaving Spike breathless as he felt his stomach perform several somersaults as he continued to descent like a rock to his alleged doom.

Within moments, he made contact with the icy-cold ocean, his body plunging into the cerulean blue depths like a slender spear as he watched his life pass before him in the form of tiny air bubbles from his lips that drifted up slowly towards the ocean's foamy surface.

"Good-bye, world," Spike heard himself think pessimistically as he continued to sink like a stone into the briny depths. "I will finally, at long last, perish due to my perilous escipades. I have officially met my match, and Kostian was right. I AM going to die under the wrath of Vicious."

As this thought began to sink in, Spike suddenly found a desire to live that was so strong that he found himself desperately trying to free his wrists of the tightly bound rope.

"Come on, damn you.....come off!," Spike thought frantically, yanking his wrists about in different directions in hopes of freeing himself. "Get loose, dammit! GET LOOSE!!!"

In one last desperate attempt, Spike brought his wrists up to his lips and began to pull on the rope knot with his teeth, excitement welling up within his soul as the knot began to slowly give way.

"At last!," he thought jubilantly as he deftly removed the loose rope from his sore wrists. "I have defied that silvery-haired bastard once more.......now I can proudly say that Kostian was WRONG!"

With this thought nestled snugly within the corner of his mind, Spike immediately swam up towards the surface, his lungs burning as he struggled to move without breathing.

"Come on, just a little further," he told himself, feeling his lack of oxygen beginning to take a severe toll on his strength. "Come on, COME ON!!!"

SWOOSH!

Spike broke through the blue, foamy surface, his lips parting instinctively as he gasped for air; his lungs greedily inhaling the precious, life-bearing gas.

"I've won," he realized, treading water as he let out a victorious chuckle. "I've really made it! I've........got one HELL of a swim ahead of me."

With this demoralizing thought bearing down on his mind like a heavy suppressant, Spike began to cut through the water like a bullet, home being the only source of solace that kept him going.

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

"Faye? Where are you, Miss Valentine? I-"

Tracey stopped speaking abruptly as she entered the living room and laid her eyes upon Faye's weary body, her limbs sprawled out across the couch like limp noodles.

Tracey let out a gasp of alarm, exclaiming, "Miss Valentine.....are you alright?!"

Faye miserably forced herself to sit up, her eyes welling up with tears as she hissed bitterly, "No, I have NEVER been alright! Just.....just leave me alone!!!"

"It's because of Spike....isn't it?," Tracey asked solemnly, gazing into her friend's pained eyes.

Faye snorted. "And what makes you say THAT? I'm a strong, independent woman, Tracey....I do NOT need a man to get me through life!"

"I don't believe you," Tracey admitted softly, her hard-set gaze intensifying as she stared her down. "You've been drunk and depressed ever since he and Veronica disappeared."

"Well are you trying to tell me that I should be HAPPY about all of this?! I don't need someone telling me how I am when I know that I'm just the opposite, dammit!!!," Faye retorted, hot tears streaming down her cheeks as she buried her face into her hands, her shoulders shaking as a low moan of pain and misery escaped her throat like an injured animal.

Tracey fell silent, her eyes brimming with tears of sympathy for the confused, misled young woman before her as she mumbled, "I can understand your actions perfectly, fore I, too, was in love once."

Faye lifted her tear-stained face up from her hands in astonishment, her bottom lip trembling as she ventured, "R-really? You've been hurt, too?"

Tracey nodded bitterly. "Of course....all women do sooner or later. I, too, was trampled on by the cruel and heartless darkness of love. It doesn't care how hard you fall for another being, and I, being a total sucker for romance, was a prime target for one of Cupid's arrows. The moment that I met Travis I just....fell into his arms, I guess you could say. We dated steadily and were thought of as the cutest couple until......one day, a spirit overtook his soul and-and he went insane. Travis eventually drove his car off of a cliff and I....I fell into a bottomless pit of depression. I drank, smoked, took aspirin constantly.....I tried ANYTHING that people said would make the pain go away, even if it just meant for a brief while. The sad and bitter truth is that all of those drugs DIDN'T make the pain go away, fore when I awoke each morning my loss would weigh down on my heart fresh and anew. I-I guess you could say that I joined the Spirit Squad for Travis and my undying love for him that will never know any bounds."

"Wow," Faye murmured, casting her gaze down towards her folded hands in her lap. "I-I'm really sorry for blowing up in your face earlier....I honestly am. It's just that....well....I was apparently in love with this guy named Whitney, and....he-he's gone now, too. He's either still out there alive and well, or long dead. I feel as if I should be dead, instead, because that's how I feel inside. Especially since the only man who can ever truly understand me hates my guts and will never return my heartfelt feelings for him!"

"Don't say that....anyone can be changed," Tracey insisted gently. "Just give him some time."

"I've given him plenty of time," Faye grumbled, her eyes glistening over with a glossy veil of tears. "Does five years sound like enough time to you?!"

"Faye-Faye! Faye-Faye! An unidentified zip craft with Spike-person inside wants to board!," Edward exclaimed, bursting in on their conversation rudely. "Should Ed let him in?"

"Yes, go!," Faye urged, giving her comrade a frantic push towards the docking bay. "Let him in...and hurry!"

The adolescent immediately did as she was told, pressing the button that opened up the hangar door so that Spike could board.

The unidentified zip craft rolled swiftly into the docking bay and came to a complete stop, its tires screeching as the engine cut off, thus causing the rocket boosters to slowly die down, its fiery glow resembling the last spark of a used cigarette.

Faye and Tracey came rushing into the docking bay at top speed, clearly eager to see what had become of their comrade.

The zip craft's top lifted up, then a weary, bruised Spike laggardly raised himself up out of the cock pit and hopped down to the ground with a pained grunt.

"Spike!," Faye exclaimed, immediately rushing over to him with pure concern. "Are you alright?!"

Spike looked into her eyes with such solemnity and pain that she was suddenly lost for words, her heart going out to him as she lifted up a shaking hand and placed it on the smoothness of his cheek.

"I'm fine," Spike insisted gruffly, immediately removing her hand from his cheek as if it were a poisonous tentacle. "Just-just keep doing what you were doing.....I'm gonna go lie down for a while. High-jacking zip crafts isn't an easy job, after all."

"But-but Veronica......"

"Dead," Spike replied sharply, the solemnity in his eyes intensifying as he gave a remorseful grimace.

"Oh, my God," Tracey mumbled, her bottom lip quivering as tears of bewilderment began to form along her lashes. "Oh, my GOD!!!"

Spike and Faye watched on with austerity as Tracey took off towards the exit of the docking bay, her honey-blonde hair whipping behind her as her sobs of pain and woe echoed throughout the Bebop like a mournful ballad.

"Poor girl," Faye mumbled, tearfully shaking her head. "I-I just don't understand.....HOW could this have happened?!"

"I let her down," Spike replied simply, pushing past her as he began to slowly trudge after Tracey. "I wasn't there for her when she needed me."

Faye watched after his slow, lumbering form in astonishment, wondering, "What does he mean? Oh, Spike....what on earth happened to you out there to make you feel so responsible?!"

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

"How could I have been so blind about Vicious' murderous nature?," Spike wondered, miserably gazing up at his bedroom's cracked ceiling in dismay as he continued to lay dazedly on top of his bed. "Thanks to me, an innocent life is lost and Aurora is still out there...needing my help."

With this heavy, painful onus bearing down on his mind, Spike rolled over in bed and sighed, his stomach growling like a ravaging beast.

"There's no food left," he reminded himself aloud, groaning as he curled up into the fetal position. "This is the first time that I'm actually missing Jet's shitty cooking."

Brrring!

Spike grunted, reaching down into his jacket pocket and retrieving his cell phone. "Hello?"

"Spike.....this is Vicious-"

"What the hell do you want?!," Spike cut in, shooting up into a sitting position as a few beads of sweat began to prickle upon his brow.

"All I want is the girl," Vicious replied simply, trying his best to suppress a derisive chuckle. "I'll leave you in peace for as long as you live, but this deal will ONLY come into play if you deliver Miss Valentine to me immediately."

"How many times do I have to say NO?!," Spike demanded hotly, clenching his free hand by his side until it grew numb.

"Only once," Vicious assured him gruffly, clearly tiring of his nemesis' vigilant protection for his female comrade. "I will, however, only ask you ONE more time....will you deliver Miss Valentine to me in exchange for your lovely daughter?"

Spike gasped, his eyes widening as he began to absorb what had just been spoken to him. He figured that Vicious knew that he would give in to this, and he was absolutely right. Spike found that he could not refuse the offer, so he acknowledged grudgingly, "Uh, yeah......you've got yourself a deal."

"Good," Vicious replied smugly, this time not able to suppress a chuckle. "Make sure that you bring her to me tonight at Granbury Castle by no later than midnight."

"How will I convince her to come with me?," Spike demanded, suddenly not convinced that the plan would work. "Don't you think that Faye would find the whole scenario to be a bit suspicious?"

Vicious smirked. "It's quite simple, really. Just invite Miss Valentine out to dinner for a nice night on the town, then, after the meal is through, convince her to take the scenic route home and bring her to me."

"I hope you're not suggesting that I take "Madame-Pain-In-the-Ass" out for a romantic evening," Spike grumbled, suddenly finding himself completely opposed to the frivolous idea.

"No, of course not.....just as comrades," Vicious replied, his dark and sinister monotone reflecting slight amusement due to his adversary's discomfort. "Go on and get going......I'll be waiting."

"No, Vicious.....wait a sec! I-"

Click. Beeeep.

Spike snorted as soon as he heard the dial tone buzzing in his ear, causing him to toss his cell phone aside within a mass of wild, untamed rage.

"How could that bastard do this to me?!," he wondered, scratching his head in disgust. "It's bad enough that he's stolen my daughter from my clutches, but now that he wants me to take Faye out to dinner.....UGH!!!"

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

"There she is.....make your move," Spike instructed himself silently, watching on with slight unease as his tawdrily-dressed comrade drew near. "Just ask her out....as incredibly nauseating as that sounds....then leave in the car that you just rented a few hours before."

"Hey, Spike," Faye greeted, taking him completely off-guard. "Something wrong?"

He shook his head, stuffing his hands into his pants' pockets as he replied stiffly, "No, I'm alright. Stop askin'."

"Oh......alright," Faye agreed, slightly hurt. "If you do ever need anything, all you have to do is ask, ok?"

Spike grunted, shifting his feet in discomfort as he mumbled, "Well, there is one thing, actually."

"Oh?," Faye asked, interested. "What might that be?"

Spike swallowed, then ventured coolly, "I really need some air and some time out from it all, so.....well.....I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna come with me to the Lunar Eclipse restaurant?"

Faye gave him a questioning look, so he added quickly, "Um....I mean.....would you go out with me as a comrade?"

Faye appeared to be rather disappointed, but, nonetheless, she replied softly, "Sure, Spike...that sounds....lovely."

"Well good, then.....hurry up and get ready," Spike ordered, immediately pushing past her as if nothing had just happened. "I'll be waiting for you in the car that I rented earlier, ok?"

"Oh.......alright," Faye acknowledged softly, watching after his retreating figure in astonishment.

"What's going on, here?," she wondered, raising an eye brow as her heart continued to pound with excitement. "Does Spike REALLY want to be in my company tonight?!"

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

She was stunningly beautiful and all of the red-blooded men within the vicinity knew it. She could feel their ogling eyes feasting upon her shapely body as she continued to cling to the arm of her comrade, who had been gracious enough to offer it.

"Come on, Faye....let's request a seat in the back room," Spike suggested coolly as they approached the 'Please Wait To Be Seated' sign. "These guys are really starting to get on my nerves."

"Alright," Faye agreed, trying her best to ignore all of the suggestive glances that she was receiving.

"Two?" an annoyingly peppy blonde waitress asked, revealing her pearly whites as she flashed them a brilliant smile.

Spike nodded, replying, "Yeah....in the back room, please."

"Sure! Come with me!" she agreed cheerfully, leading the way past many tables and drunks until she showed them to a seat by a broad stage.

"Who's playing tonight," Faye asked curiously, showing forth some interest.

"Its karaoke night," the waitress replied, beaming as she tossed back one of her long, blonde whips of hair. "Now I hope you two will enjoy yourselves.....I'll be back momentarily with your menus, but there are glasses of water on the table to tide you over."

"Water? Is she kidding me?!" Spike hissed, watching the waitress saunter away as he sourly slumped down into a seat. "My GOD, I need a whiskey!"

Faye forced a small smile as she sat down across from him, murmuring, "It could be worse."

Spike looked up into her sparkling jade eyes, then immediately shifted his gaze back down to his glass of water. "Don't say that, Faye.....this whole week has been hell for us. We don't need for things to get any worse by this point."

"You're right......I'm sorry," Faye apologized softly, her eyes misting over as she began to ring her napkin in her lap. "It's just that.....well.....I really miss Aurora, Spike. I miss reading her stories, playing hide-and-go-seek with her, tickling, watching TV, and just caring for her in general. Do you have ANY idea of what it's like to wake up each morning to realize that you shouldn't even bother getting up since you've got no one and nothing to live for?!!"

Something deep within Spike's heart softened as he suddenly received the urge to comfort the woman before him so that he could tell her that everything was going to be alright. Deep-down, however, they both knew inwardly that it would never be alright, so Spike held his tongue in order to prevent himself from saying something foolish that might further discourage his comrade.

Faye sniffed as she dabbed at her eyes, mumbling miserably, "I'm so sorry, Spike.....I'm afraid that I'm not a very fun dinner partner."

Before Spike could argue in hopes of cheering her up, a loud, booming voice from onstage startled everyone to attention as it announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for our weekly karaoke night! I am now officially opening up the floor to anyone who would like to 'wow' us with their musical talent!"

There were hushed murmurs of interest and slight excitement building up within the air as everyone craned their necks to look behind them to see if there were any daring volunteers.

Spike rolled his eyes, grumbling, "This is stupid......who the hell would wanna sing somethin' in front of a buncha strangers?"

"I would," Faye retorted, proudly raising her hand before he could stop her.

"Faye, NO!," Spike hissed, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed. "C'mon, you sing off-key....DON'T DO IT!!!"

"Ah, yes....the young woman in the sparkly gold negligee," the man onstage acknowledged, beaming. "Come on up, sweetheart!"

Faye shot Spike a defiant smirk as she got up from her seat and proudly strode on over towards the stage, an aura of confidence enveloping her body like a blanket of security as she began to feel butterflies fluttering about within her stomach.

The man onstage greeted her by giving her a much more than perfunctory kiss on the cheek as he asked, "What is your name and what will you be singing for us tonight, darling?"

Faye took the microphone from his hand, and then replied, "My name is Faye Valentine and I will be singing an oldie for you from my time. I won't bother to explain my most previous remark, so all I will further state is that the song is Vanessa Carlton's "Paradise"."
(Vanessa Carlton's "Paradise" plays)With that, the lights dimmed, etching Faye's features like a gorgeous pen and ink drawing, the band behind her playing the lulling, opening beat to the song that she had chosen.

Spike watched on with interest as Faye slightly nodded her head to the beat, her taut bun keeping all but two elegant, silky violent strands of hair from caressing her cheeks as she opened up her mouth and sang:

"Once upon a year gone by
she saw herself give in
Every time she closed her eyes
she saw what could have been
Well nothing hurts and nothing bleeds
when covers tucked in tight
Funny when the bottom drops
how she forgets to fight.....to fight
And it's one more day in paradise
one more day in paradise
As darkness quickly steals the light
that shined within her eyes
She slowly swallows all her fear
and soothes her mind with lies
Well all she wants and all she needs
are reasons to survive
A day in which the sun will take
her artificial light....her light
And it's one more day in paradise
one more day in paradise, it's one more day in paradise
One last chance to feel alright....alright
Don't pretend to hold it in just let it out
Don't pretend to hold it in just push it out
Don't you try to hold it in just let it out and
Don't you try to hold it in you hold it in
And it's one more day in paradise
one more day in paradise, one last chance to be alright
Once upon a year gone by
she saw herself give in
Every time she closed her eyes
she saw what could have been."

As soon as the last note of the song ceased in playing, the small audience roared, standing up and clapping enthusiastically.

Faye smiled, her cheeks growing a delicate, rosy hue as she lifted the microphone up to her lips and murmured humbly, "Thank you very much......thank you."

Spike gazed at the woman before him in awe, realizing, "She truly IS a strong woman. She has changed so much that I believe that she has, at long last, FINALLY found happiness amongst her soul."

"Excuse me.....are you Spike Spiegel?"

He gasped due to hearing his name, then whirled around in surprise, only to find himself gazing into the mesmerizing, roguish eyes of a stunningly beautiful brunette.

"Uh, yes.......yes, I am," he finally managed to admit. "Who-who are you, and what the hell do you want?"

The young woman smiled despite his rude remark, replying, "My name is Neko Olivarez. I am very pleased to finally meet you."

"What are you talking about?!," Spike demanded, his eyes narrowing with suspicion as he looked the dubious woman over from head to toe.

"I'm here to warn you of a danger that you will soon face," Neko replied, turning completely serious. "A friend of mine urged for me to tell you that one of the new members of your crew is plotting against you. I didn't actually plan on meeting you here tonight, I must admit, but the situation has been favorable, if I do say so, myself."

Spike blanched. "So you mean......Tracey or Ayame......"

"Yes," Neko cut in, nodding. "That is exactly what I mean."

Before Spike could reply, a big, burly man stormed on over and seized Neko by the arm, bellowing, "C'mon, doll....I paid you 100 woolongs earlier, so I expect to get my money's worth.......NOW!!!"

"Very well," Neko agreed softly, roughly removing her arm from his firm grip. She then turned her attention back to Spike, urging, "Take care, Mr. Spiegel.....I pray that you will find the perpetrator."

"Wait.....where are you going?," Spike demanded, raising an eyebrow.

"Work awaits," Neko replied, giving him a bittersweet smile before sauntering seductively away after the big, burly man.

"Who was that?," Faye demanded from behind, taking him completely off-guard.

"Just a ho," Spike replied softly, shaking his head as he reached into his pocket to retrieve a desperately needed cigarette. "Just a poor, confused, misled ho."

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

A cool veil of darkness enveloped the Stardust Hotel within its comforting embrace, its red neon sign flickering on and off like dancing fire flies as Spike and Faye pulled into the hotel parking lot.

"What are we doing here?," Faye demanded, sending Spike a questioning look. "The Bebop is only about 20 miles away.....we can still make it!"

Spike didn't look at her, keeping his guarded gaze directed firmly ahead of him as he urged softly, "Don't worry about it......just get out of the car."

"What?! But I-"

"GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!," Spike bellowed, sending her a fiery look that meant business.

Faye cringed due to his harshness, then reluctantly opened up her car door and stepped out into the cool night air, Spike immediately following her example.

Once they were both side-by-side, he took her arm, urging softly, "Come with me."

Faye felt as if she were in a daze as she allowed him to pull her along, not quite sure of what to think about the whole situation at hand.

"What the hell is going on?!," she wondered as Spike held the lobby door open for her so that she could step inside. "Why is Spike acting so strangely....WHY are we staying at a freakin' hotel in the first place?!"

"Two?," the desk clerk asked, taking Faye abruptly out of her turbulent train of thought.

"Yeah," Spike acknowledged, pulling out some woolongs and placing them down onto the counter. "We just want a room for the night......if that's alright."

"Certainly!," the desk clerk acknowledged, nodding vigorously as a big smile spread across his face. "You both are in luck....we just happen to have a few vacancies left open!"

Spike nodded in approval. "Great, that'll be fine. Just give us the key and we'll be outta your hair."

"Why, it's no trouble at all!," the desk clerk assured him cheerily as he retrieved a key from one of the many hooks on the back wall. "You both are in room 115, floor two. Have a nice sleep!"

"Thanks," Spike grumbled, swiping the dangling keys from his outstretched palm as he trudged on over towards the elevator.

Faye followed in his shadow, suddenly feeling a bit frightened. She had never been all alone with him before, let alone have gone out to dinner with him all by herself.

"You coming, Faye?"

She looked up to see Spike standing impatiently within the elevator, every once in a while pressing the 'open door' button so that it wouldn't close on her.

"Yes, I'm coming," Faye agreed numbly, lumbering in after him.

As Spike pressed the floor "2" button, Faye leaned back against the elevator wall, wondering miserably, "Why is he doing this? Can't he ever just cut it out and tell me something like it is?! I've had it! Doesn't he know that I'm here for him.....that I'll listen?!"

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

(Evanescence's "My Immortal" plays)Faye exited the small hotel bathroom in her robe, frowning as she swept her eyes across the seedy interior with distaste.

"Boy, Spike sure knows how to pick 'em," she thought sarcastically, folding her arms as she shook her head in disgust. "Why we just didn't go back to the Bebop is BEYOND me!!!"

Suddenly, a soft, subtle footstep was heard from behind, causing Faye to cry out in surprise as a hand came down roughly onto her shoulder.

She blushed, however, when she heard a familiar low chuckle caress her ears.

"Scared?"

Faye frowned, immediately pulling away from the strong grasp as she turned around to see none other than Spike Spiegel, himself. Regaining her composure, she spat, "Of course I'm not scared, lunkhead! You-you just startled me....that's all."

Spike laughed something that he hadn't done in quite a long time. His smile faded, however, when his gaze locked with Faye's, his eyes reflecting an eerily beautiful amber glow as he ventured softly, "Faye.....I-I couldn't help but notice how the song that you chose to sing tonight seemed a lot like you in many perspectives. Is there a certain reason for that?"

Faye's features immediately lost their charming womanly glow, her eyes welling up with tears as she averted her gaze from his and pushed back a single strand of violet hair. Biting her lip, she mumbled feebly, "There was no reason....I.....I just really like the song and wanted to share a bit of my past with everybody."

Spike frowned as he gazed into her brilliant jade eyes, realizing that they contained an artificial light, forever doomed to reflect only somberness and despair.

"Don't lie to me," he urged, the gruffness of his voice containing a slight hint of concern. "Tell me the truth, Faye....it's not because of what I've done to you in the past.............is it?"

Faye didn't respond.

To her great surprise, Spike's eyes suddenly flashed over with a look of pure, genuine remorse, his heart constricting within his chest due to awkward feelings that he was receiving as his gaze locked upon the one woman whom he had single-handedly destroyed.

"Um......I should go," Faye announced softly after a brief moment, abruptly pulling away from him due to the fact that she feared that if she continued to gaze into his eyes, she would no longer be able to hold back the tears which threatened to escape. She truly, deeply loved him, and it hurt like hell just to even look at him due to the simple fact that she knew that he would never return her heartfelt feelings.

"I-I'll sleep on the couch in the front of the room," she continued, gradually moving away from him. "You keep the bed in the back......um.......goodnight, Spike."

Without bothering to wait for a reply, Faye began to stride on over towards the front end of the room, leaving Spike standing there with his feet firmly planted to the floor, his soul bubbling over with unexplainable feelings that he had never felt for her before....feelings that he would've normally spat on or ground his heel upon.

Spike now knew what his heart truly desired and, for once in his life, he wasn't appalled by the fact.

Before he could contemplate his striking revelation a moment longer, he urged breathlessly, "Faye, wait............please don't go."

Something in his voice caused her to stop in mid-step, her body now frozen in place as she reluctantly turned to face him, her voice quivering with slight unease as she asked, "Y-yes?"

Spike's breath caught in his throat as a jumble of words juggled about within his cluttered mind, leaving him tongue-tied and completely unsure of how to proceed.

"Well?," Faye demanded, hotly placing her hands on her hips. "What do you want?"

Spike's gaze suddenly softened, a small smile forming upon his lips as he ventured daringly, "I'm no longer afraid, Faye. The very thought of loving another being struck fear into the epitome of my soul, leaving me to drown in endless masses of nicotine and depressants that had all been inspired by falling in love with Julia, and then, the final straw....Kelly. I told myself repeatedly that I could never love again until I almost believed it....that is....until my heart proved me wrong. It is my heart alone that knows my true wants and desires, and it has finally pointed me in the right direction. I'm ready, Faye........I want to love again and be loved in return."

Faye felt as if her knees had turned to gel as she began to shake, a thrilling sensation of pure excitement swelling between her hips as Spike ever so slowly approached her.

Then, he was there, reaching down and taking her long, slender ivory-colored fingers in his hands and placing them gently over his heart as the fluctuating warmth in his mismatched, chocolate-brown eyes only deepened.

Gaining courage, he then reached out a shaking hand and touched the smoothness of her soft cheek, her gleaming, roughish eyes captivating him and putting him under their enchanting spell as she sent him plunging like a rock into the unexplained world of mystery and desire.

Spike swallowed as he felt the undeniable sensation of longing fluctuating throughout his body as he continued to gaze into the two incredible jade pools of the one woman whom had finally tamed his wild, gallivanting heart.

Faye felt herself experiencing the same pure emotion of longing that Spike had, leaving her breathless as her heart fluttered in her chest like a light feather. A deep, livid shade of scarlet spread rapidly across her cheeks, thus leaving her ravishingly beautiful in the pale moonlight as she felt herself experiencing shortness of breath due to the limited amount of space between herself and the man whom she loved with her entire being.

"Thank you, God," Faye praised as she breathlessly parted her lips and closed her eyes, awaiting Spike's kiss as if the very moment that they would share a gesture of true love she would be reborn again. "Thank you SO very much for this amazing moment.....for Aurora.................for my dear, beloved Spike."

It seemed as if all time were standing still as Spike's warm, satin lips gently brushed over hers, his hand caressing her soft cheek as he confessed breathlessly into her mouth, "I love you, Faye."

"I love you, too," she returned fervently, completely their kiss as she closed her eyes and let out a soft whimper, an intense warmth coursing through her veins as Spike cradled her lovingly in his arms, absolutely refusing to let her go.

Their kiss only deepened, a lightning bolt streaking across the satin gray sky and illuminating their entwined figures as a tempestuous crash of thunder was heard overhead.

"Don't ever leave me again," Faye pleaded breathlessly into Spike's ear, sighing in ecstasy as he gently left a trail of heated kisses along her throat. "I need you........don't go."

"I won't," Spike promised, pressing his mouth passionately against her own as she entwined her fingers within the soft strands of his unruly hair, her heart pounding in her chest as she moaned into his open mouth, her head slightly tilting back as Spike leaned into their kiss and drew her body closer to his own.

Faye felt short, electrical sensations of passion crash through her veins like a raging sea, a delighted moan escaping her throat as she welcomed the warmth of Spike's finger tips as they managed to find their way beneath her robe and trace along her curves and most private places.

Before she knew it, they were both staggering through the darkness of the hotel room in a mad shuffle of lust and desire, their storm of deep passion continuing to rage out of control as their kisses became more frantic and more demanding.

"Hold me," Faye breathed, nibbling on Spike's ear as he moaned into the nape of her neck; gripping the soft fabric of her terry cloth robe tightly as he felt her hands begin to daringly unfasten the button to his pants.

Spike responded to this by pulling her closer, pressing his mouth passionately against the nape of her neck as he gently maneuvered her body beneath his own onto the silky white sheets of the bed, immediately laying down beside her and cradling her against his chest as if she were more precious than gold.

"Don't leave me," Faye begged again, closing her eyes as she felt her robe gently slip off of her shoulders and drop down to the carpeted floor with a soft 'thud'.

"I won't," Spike promised once more, gently caressing her soft lips with his tongue as he lovingly interlocked his fingers within her own. "Wait a sec," he added breathlessly, moving away from her with reluctance.

"I'd wait for all an eternity for you," Faye breathed, closing her eyes due to the warmth and security that she felt against her pillow, laying there listening to the sounds of Spike hurriedly undressing himself as the pale moonlight bathed them within its bright luminescence from the bedside window.

Within moments, two strong arms wrapped about Faye's hips and pulled her through the sheets towards Spike's muscular form had Faye moaning as soon as their bare bodies came in contact.

She honestly could have died right then and there and wouldn't have cared, for she had finally been given the chance to be held and loved by the one man whom she so deeply adored.

Faye let out a delighted whimper as Spike passionately rolled his mouth over the small valley between her breasts and down to her milky-white stomach, his lips burning trails of fervent, heated kisses along her torso, thus leaving her body screaming for more as their storm of lust and desire continued to rage on like a strong fire within them.

Suddenly, Spike entered her, leaving Faye breathless and moaning as she clung to his well-built frame, the pain and discomfort gently subsiding as thrilling sensations gradually began to take over her body with each tender touch and caress.

Spike hovered over her, passionately pressing his warm lips against her own as their bodies partook in a heated, rhythmic dance, their souls feeling as if they had been reborn again as they continued to find a sweet medley of love and harmony for one another within their pounding hearts.

Faye began to meet with Spike's gentle thrusts, moaning as the sweet flavor of his tongue gently caressed her own.

She realized inwardly that their love-making was nearing a closing as soon as she felt Spike's muscular body relax against her own, sighing peacefully as he kissed her cheek and held her close.

"I love you," he whispered fervently, burying his face into the nape of her neck.

Faye smiled, sighing as she closed her eyes and held him close, allowing the incredible feeling of loving and being loved in return absorb within her being as she returned breathlessly, "I love you, too."

+ PLEASE R+R! +