Authors note: Ah, there! Pretty good update speed this time. Thanks as always for the reviews, and hope you enjoy this latest chapter, which is, unfortunately, very short. Next one will be extra long to make up for it. Looking forward to hearing what you think! My original review number goal was 50, and even though I'm nowhere near, every single one is appreciated and read and reread.
There should have been fireworks. Some explosions, maybe. Something grand or loud or unusual. But there was nothing. Just the same sounds of the tavern, and the faint but steady swish of waves lapping at the shore.
But something extraordinary had happened. Buffy Summers had fallen in love. If you wanted to get technical, of course, she hadn't actually fallen in love as much as admitted her love for someone. Namely, a vampire.
Jack thought that warranted a few natural disasters as celebration.
"Congratulations, Miss. Summers," he told her. "You've completed your therapy."
No response.
"Miss. Summers?" One hand waved diligently in front of her face. "No time to fall asleep on me, girl! Time for celebration, this is. Time for…rum. And I'll even get it for ya."
As the over energetic pirate bounded away, Buffy shook her head slowly, trying to clear her mind. She was in love…with Spike. Something that should have been terrifying, yet for some reason, wasn't. Something that was unnatural, but so right at the same time. Something that was, inexplicably, her. It was her, and it was Spike, and that was good.
And she needed to tell him.
Needed to stand before him and look him in the eye, and tell him honestly what she felt. Because he deserved that. And because they deserved it. Calling him to come to her would be too easy, besides, it was her turn to come to him and lay down her pride for the sake of what they might have.
It was terrifying. But it would be worth it.