A/N Thanks for the reviews and your support of my story. A big thanks to those of you who reminded me of the invite issue, I have corrected that in the previous chapter.
Chapter 3Buffy ran up the stairs of her apartment building. Her breathing came fast and heavy in her exertion to reach her sister. Damn, why did we have to be on the top floor? Buffy thought in desperation.
As she reached the last step, she noted that the door to the apartment was flung wide. A soft glow emanated through the open door. She edged nearer the entrance, daring to peek around the corner. Her eyes widened in alarm, as she saw her sisters sneakers peeking from behind a dark coated form who was leaning over her.
Buffy went into slayer mode and she ran at the assailant and flung him across the room, not stopping to see where he fell. Buffy checked her sister all over, looking at her neck for puncture wounds. Satisfied that her sister was breathing, she grabbed a stake from the pot of kitchen utensils. Turning off the burnt remains of their dinner as she went.
Buffy advanced on the heap in darkened corner, it moaned and rolled over. She frowned, something was wrong. Her heart beat picked up speed as her brain went into overdrive. She shook her head in disbelief.
The figure sat up, the lamplight flooding his face. Buffy gasped, and the stake slipped from her hand and clattered loudly onto the terracotta flooring.
"Hello Buffy love," Spike drawled as he wiped a trickle of blood from his lip.
"You can't be him, you can't," said Buffy, as she sank to her knees, shaking her head as if to clear it.
"Why can't I be me? Angel said…" he smiled ruefully.
"Angel?" she interrupted him.
"Yeah, that's where I've been these past three and a half months, and the nineteen days before that, well I was trapped in that bloody amulet,"
"No, you died. I know you did. I barely got out myself," said Buffy in denial.
Spike got up from the floor and walked towards her.
"You're right I did die. I burnt up from the inside out," sighed Spike.
Buffy paled at his words. A solitary tear fell down her cheek. She wiped it quickly away. Afraid that if she gave into tears now, they might never stop.
"Sorry to put it so bluntly, but there was no Disney version of my demise," he apologised.
"You're not real," she persisted.
"Did I feel real enough when you flung me against the wall. Just like old times wouldn't you say?" asked Spike.
He walked towards her, she wanted to run, but was frozen to the spot. Her stupid legs still refused to work. Spike extended a hand towards her. It was then that she noticed the red welts on his arms, just above the wrists. She stared at the hand, knowing that she couldn't sit on the cold floor all evening; Buffy warily placed her hand in his. It felt cool to the touch. He closed his fingers around hers and pulled her up from the floor.
"Better check on the little bit, I gave her quite a scare," said Spike.
"She's not the only one," mumbled Buffy.
Buffy glanced at her sister briefly. Fearful to take her eyes off Spike, in case he dissolved as a figment of her imagination. Dawn began to stir; she rolled over and looked at her sister.
"Buffy! I had some sort of fit or something, because I imagined that Spike was standing in our doorway. Then I think I kinda passed out or…hey how did I get on the sofa?" asked Dawn.
"That would be because of me," said Spike softly.
"Spike! Oh, my God! Is it really you?" asked Dawn, as she shot up from the couch.
"Yes, as I keep saying it's really me,"
Spike reared back in surprise, as a pair of arms enveloped him. Dawn held him tightly. Spike felt tears well in his eyes at her evident joy. It was more than he had hoped for; he blinked back the threatening tears and looked at Buffy. Her expression was unreadable. The colour that had been earlier lacking was slowly returning to her cheeks.
"How? Actually I don't care how, just that you're here now. Where have you been all this time, did you get out of Sunnydale?" questioned Dawn.
"Dawnie, those kind of questions can wait for later. Dammit I left my purse outside the café, I have to go get it, if its still there," said Buffy.
"Would you like me to come with you?" asked Spike.
"No-no, that's okay, I won't be a moment. Someone needs to stay with Dawn,"
Buffy knew the words sounded false, even to her ears, but she needed the time it would take to walk across the square to gather her thoughts.
Dawn walked to the door with Buffy; she put her hand on her sister's arm.
"You know I don't get you. These past four months you've been acting like a walking corpse and don't think that I don't know why either. Then the reason for your zombie like behaviour comes back from the dead and you're acting like he's died all over again!" hissed Dawn under her breath.
"I don't want to talk about this right now," said Buffy as she walked off down the hall.
"Well what's new?" Dawn asked the retreating form.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn turned back to face Spike.
"I'm sorry, but you know what she's like," said Dawn in appeal.
Spike laughed, but it sounded harsh, even to his ears.
"Don't I just. Maybe I shouldn't have come," he sighed as he took a seat on one of the armchairs.
"No, don't say that! She's missed you, she really has," said Dawn in desperation. "No one mourned you more than Buffy, except for Andrew maybe," she shrugged.
Spike pulled a face.
"Yeah, already seen the boy, he was in LA a couple of weeks ago," said Spike.
"He didn't say anything when he phoned. So, you've been in LA all this time? Why didn't you come sooner?" asked Dawn.
"Because I'm an idiot. Nearly did last month, and then I talked myself out of it. Did Buffy really have no idea that I was back?" asked Spike.
"Neither of us did, it's been tough for her these last few months, she was grieving for you and for Anya. Then everyone moved to the far corners of the world," said Dawn.
"Anya?" asked Spike.
"Yeah, she didn't make it. She died protecting Andrew," said Dawn sadly.
"Any one else I should know about?" asked Spike, as he spared a moment for Anya's memory.
"Nope can't think of anyone else," said Dawn.
Dawn blushed as she realised that she had been caught staring at him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Sorry, just can't believe that your really here," said Dawn.
· * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy hurried across the square, surprised to find her purse still laying where she'd dropped it. After a quick check that her money was still safely tucked inside it, she started in the direction of the apartment. She stopped mid stride and turned and walked back towards the shuttered café.
She opened the café door and closed it behind her. Buffy made her way over to the counter and took the phone out from under it. She perched herself atop the counter while she dialled the number.
"Wolfram and Hart, how may I help you?" asked the cheerful voice at the other end.
"Harmony?" asked Buffy in disbelief.
"Yeah, who's this?" asked Harmony.
"Never mind is Angel there?" asked Buffy.
"Yes, er no, I'll have to check, is that Buffy?" asked Harmony.
"Just put me through okay," said Buffy impatiently.
Buffy sighed as the seconds stretched out.
"Hello Buffy, I take it the package arrived safely?" drawled Angel.
"So, when were you gonna tell me?" asked Buffy angrily.
"Didn't think you'd want to talk to me, Andrew made it clear that you have trust issues where I am concerned," Angel replied.
"And you wonder why? Spike was part of my team, more than that, he was my friend," Buffy accused.
"From what Spike has been telling me it was a little more than that," drawled Angel.
"Which is no one's business, but mine!" said Buffy.
"Spike was a ghost when he came back Buffy, he couldn't leave LA if he'd wanted to. Believe me he tried it repeatedly," said Angel.
"A ghost? What do you mean?" asked Buffy.
"I mean, he was the walk through walls, bump in the night variety phantom. Then there was the nasty incident with your rogue slayer Dana, she sawed his hands off," sighed Angel.
Buffy tried to stifle the gasp that escaped her lips.
"If you're trying to calm my fears, I have to tell you it's not working. Look, I have to go, he's waiting at my apartment with Dawn," said Buffy.
"Fine, call me when you've decided I'm trust worthy again," said Angel bitterly.
"Angel, I er…"
"Never mind, just tell me one thing," said Angel.
"Depends what it is," Buffy replied.
"Good surprise or bad surprise?" asked Angel.
"If you mean Spike, then good surprise," Buffy admitted.
She heard Angel's heavy sigh down the other end of the line.
"Thought as much, Buffy I am a realist if nothing else. I've had a lot of time to think since I last saw you. Those words "he is in my heart" have kinda stuck with me,"
Buffy would never know how much it had cost him emotionally, to put Spike on that plane, but he realised that he and Buffy were on different roads. Both of them still living the ideal of a first love that had long since turned into comfortable affection. He had decided that it was time to let her go.
"Bye Buffy," said Angel.
Buffy heard the faint click as the phone line went dead.
· * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn glanced at her watch, as Spike got up from the sofa and started to pace restlessly up and down the room.
"I'm sure she'll be back in a moment," Dawn assured him.
"Or maybe she just doesn't want to see me," said Spike
She was beginning to get alarmed. Spike looked as if he was ready to do a runner. She opened the balcony doors to see if Buffy was anywhere in sight. She breathed a huge sigh of relief as she spied Buffy hurrying across the square.
Spike stood next to Dawn and watched Buffy's progress until she disappeared under them and into the entrance of the apartment.
"See, told you she'd be back," said Dawn.
Buffy entered the apartment a few moments later.
"So, you came back then," said Spike.
"Why wouldn't I?" asked Buffy, sounding a little more defensive than she had meant to.
"How did it go then?" asked Spike.
Buffy held up her purse.
"Found it, it was still there, money and all," said Buffy.
"I wasn't talking about that. I meant the phone call that you just made to Angel," said Spike.
"How did you know, you didn't use your…."
"My vampiric hearing?" Spike interrupted. "Nah, even I can't hear from that far away, I just know Buffy. Well, according to Dawn I do," he finished dryly.
Dawn giggled and Buffy turned to look at her sister, laughter was an alien noise in their home. Spike had been here for all of half an hour and he had achieved something Buffy had been unable to do in all of four months, put a genuine smile on her sister's face.
To her surprise, she realised that the constant ache in her chest was no longer there; it had been replaced by a new one… fear. She looked at Spike; flustered to find him watching her with a strange expression on his face, and those eyes damn him still had the power to reach into her very soul. It was easier to look away from that unwavering gaze.
"It's getting late, maybe I should go," said Spike.
"Go where exactly, and at this time of night?" asked Dawn; she looked at her sister appealingly.
"Okay, I can take the hint Dawnie! Spike, you're welcome to stay here, that's if you don't mind sleeping on the sofa?" Buffy asked.
"Thanks," he smiled at her warmly.
Buffy's breath caught in her throat, and Spike heard the accelerated beating of her heart. She wasn't as unreceptive to him as she was pretending. It gave him hope that maybe she still felt something towards him after all.
"Talking of time of night, its time you thought about going to bed. It is a school night," said Buffy.
Dawn looked ready to commit murder.
"Like I need reminding! Spike has just come back from the dead; it's a special occasion," whined Dawn.
"Dawn, do as your sister says. We have plenty of time to catch up on things," said Spike.
"Fine! Not only do I have a mom, but now I have a dad into the bargain too. I haven't had dinner yet, just in case you've been too busy devouring Spike with your eyes to notice!" snapped Dawn.
Buffy felt her face suffuse with heat at her sister's ill chosen words. Had she really been doing that? She wondered with embarrassment.
"I'll bring you in a sandwich," said Buffy.
Dawn marched off to the bedroom, her head held high. Buffy excused herself and went to the kitchen. Earlier she had felt hungry, but now she couldn't force herself to eat so much as a bite. As she cut her sisters sandwich in half, she felt Spike behind her as he reached for the plate. She closed her eyes, savouring his nearness.
"I'll take it in for her, where's her room?" asked Spike.
"Third door on the left," said Buffy.
Spike was gone for, but a few moments. In his absence, Buffy had settled on the sofa. Spike seated himself next to her. Her mouth dried up. Just being this close to him made her feel as gauche as a teen and she hated it.
"Spike…I er," she turned to face him.
"Buffy, why are you here? Working your ass off for the Italian equivalent of Double Meat?" asked Spike.
Buffy felt her hackles rise at his question.
"So you've come all this way to question my career choices?" asked Buffy.
"No, I came here to…."
"You really wanna know why I bust my ass at the café?" She continued at his rapt silence. "I do get a salary for the work I do for the council, but it barely covers Dawn's school fees. So that's why there's the need for a second job and the fact that I happen to like it," huffed Buffy defensively.
"Dawn's listening," said Spike.
"Dammit, I didn't want her to know that. We can't talk here, feel up to a walk?" sighed Buffy.
"After nearly twenty-four hours in a plane, I think I can manage it, but what about the nibblet?" asked Spike.
"She is seventeen years old, or so she keeps reminding me! Besides I can take my cell phone with me," said Buffy wryly.
TBC