Author: Bitten And Staked

Title: City of Angels - Chapter 24 - Falling.

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Summary: Spike sets about cheering Buffy up and suddenly she isn't just standing on the brink of wanting to be with him she's falling right over it.

Timeline: set in between season 5 and 6, in my alternate world where Buffy didn't die. Spike's crypt is trashed during the final showdown and Dawn convinces Buffy to let him stay since he protected them both.

Series: Part 24 of ?

Pairing: Buffy and Spike. Romance, love and nooky.

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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"Hank." Spike took a deep breath as he watched her father making breakfast.

"Yes William? Did you want some breakfast, plenty to go around." He smiled at Dawn who had walked in and affixed herself to Spike with a hug.

"It's about Buffy."

"Oh, nothing wrong is there?"

"Ran into her ex last night, she's a little worse for wear. Bit miserable. I want to cheer her up so I was just wondering… if there was anywhere you and… um, Joyce used to take her as a kid?" Spike tripped and stumbled along his speech.

"There's the amusement park on the pier. She loved it there when she was little. Her and Dawnie as little kids playing around, lots of fun for my little tear aways." Hank was pleased that William was obviously concerned for his daughter's welfare.

"Thanks Mr Summers, I appreciate it." Spike flicked the kettle switch down and grabbed a mug from the cupboard.

"No problem William, didn't actually catch your last name."

Spike realised he was sounding him out, what would Buffy sound like attached to this guys name? "Thornton."

Dawn snorted and then looked apologetic at Spike. He turned his concentration back on the matter at hand, making toast for Buffy. She would be starving by now and he wanted her to feel better.

"Well William, let's make an evening of it. We can all go down. Give you some time to try and cheer her up. You look like you need some fun too, you're a little paler than usual."

"Thanks." Spike actually didn't have a problem thanking him with sincerity, anything to make Buffy happy again.

"It's pier 17 amusement park." Hank smiled and Spike flinched at the number 17, he was never getting over that.

Turning on his heel Spike gathered up the plate of toast and the mug of tea and took it back to the annex. On opening the door he heard small sobs coming from the bedroom, he headed straight for it and pushed the door open. The sight of Buffy curled up into a ball hit Spike hard in the stomach, the woman he knew and loved for being so strong, looked so small and hurt.

She froze on his entering the room and remained curled up as he sat down on her side of the bed and turned the lamp on.

"Buffy." His voice was soft and soothing to her ears, she uncurled slightly so she could see his face. "Got you some tea and toast, make you feel better love. You need to eat something, I can't have you like this it's killing me."

Buffy felt like she was falling, no longer teetering on the edge of something she had dived right into it. On seeing his face so gentle and tender she found herself swearing off everything if he could only remain with her. His words were like needles sticking into her heart and she was choking on the rush of emotion.

Spike ran his fingers through her hair, she looked so pale and worn down.

"Buffy, love. We're going out tonight. Fun at pier number… something. Apparently you used to love going there with your mum." He continued stroking her hair in an effort to soothe her.

"17, it's pier 17." She spoke at last and it made him feel marginally better that she was still on planet earth.

"I know pet but I can't bring myself…"

"I know Spike. Painful memories." She bought her hand to rest on his where it lay on her hair. "I miss her."

"I miss Joyce too Buffy, she was a great woman. Always had a cuppa for me." Spike saw the tide of emotion welling up again in her face.

"Spike, William. She really liked you too. Was concerned I led you on, gave me a big mom lecture about it. Did I mention she liked you?"

"Yeah love, you did." Spike saw that she was justifying something to herself by what she was saying. That her mother liked him, her father liked him and her sister liked him.

"Did I mention I like you?" Her voice was quiet and just on the edge of his hearing.

It was like a bombshell. Spikes head filled with blood and emotion that he struggled hard with to control. This was a frail admission that she liked him, not what he ultimately wanted but it was a grand start.

"Buffy, I…"

"Shh…" She pressed her finger to Spikes lips. "Don't say anything."

All he could do was offer her the food and drink he'd made her. She smiled warmly at the sight of it, and at the thought of him discovering that she liked the pier, he had probably asked Dawn.

"Did Dawn tell you about the pier? You two are thick as thieves." Buffy sat up and smiled weakly at him as she tried to sound like she was back to normal.

"Little bit? No, I asked your old man what he and your mum used to do to cheer you up." Spike answered honestly.

"You asked my dad? God, he'll probably be waiting for wedding bells." Buffy felt intense heat in her stomach at the thought that Spike had actually asked her dad about where they used to go with her mother.

"Well, about that. How's Friday night, before we go back to Sunny-D, I'm not big on churches but anything for daddy's little girl." He pinched her cheek.

Buffys mouth dropped open and she dropped her plate onto the bed, the warmth in her stomach blew up into white-hot flames.

"Joking Buffy. Did ask me my last name though. Got the feeling he was sizing me up for a wedding suit or possibly a coffin." Spike arched a brow at her, she didn't seem that disgusted by it but maybe it was just her tiredness.

"Oh. Okay." She busied herself with her toast and drank her tea down quickly. "Spike?"

"Hmm?" He had been staring at the sheets that covered her apparent lack of clothing, she'd been naked all night, if he'd come to bed she would've been naked.

Spike lifted a brow at the thought. She was waiting here, naked, waiting for me to come to bed?

"Come here." She gave him a flirtatious look and heard him swallow hard as he inched across the bed.