Confrontation and Miracle Found

          Willow was torn between rage and tears. She couldn't decide if she wanted to hit Spike or kiss him; scream at him or tell him how much she loved him. Starring at him Willow hated that Spike refused to meet her eyes but silently thanked him because she wasn't sure if she could bare his gaze. Swallowing the hacker/witch looked over at her friends. Angel was all but growling; Gunn and Wesley were starring daggers at the blonde; Fred and Cordelia looked ready to tear him to pieces. Despite the circumstances Willow smiled.

          "So," the redhead finally spoke forcing her tone to be calm. "How was Brazil Spikey?"

          Spike's head lifted immediately. "How did you know?"

          Willow smirked, the look in her eyes making Spike shudder. "You walk out on me, abandon me with no notice, no heads up and you actually think I'm not going to track sorry dead-ass down?"

          Sighing, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, Spike responded, "I didn't mean to make you worry."

          Motioning with her fingers the cigarettes flew out of Spike's hand in into Willow's, who promptly through them across the room, her eyes flaring. "Bullshit, Spike," she hissed. "You were gone for three weeks without so much as sending a damn postcard. You knew what you were doing and you knew I was going out of my mind trying to find you so don't play the Innocent-I-Didn't-Know-What-I-Was-Doing vampire because what you did was intentional and far more malicious then I thought you were capable of being."

          "Fine," Spike returned. "I did know that you were worrying and I know it was cruel not to call but, but I wanted to give you some time. Some space."

          Letting her arms drop to her side Willow sighed. "For what?"

          The blonde vampire looked confused. "You, you were angry and hurt and, and I just thought – "

          Willow almost laughed. "Yes, Spike I was angry and hurt that you broke your promise but up and leaving was no way to settle that. I needed some time, sure but I never wanted you to flee the country." The redhead did laugh at the look Spike's face. "God, blondie sometimes I forget you've never had a real relationship. Couples fight and scream and curse and slam doors and then they get over it and talk about it. When I get upset at you just take a step back and give me time to cool down. Don't run off to Brazil."

          "Bloody hell," Spike mumbled. "You probably hate me."

          Willow shook her head. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. But I did imagine at least twenty ways to remove your head from your body."

          Lifting an eyebrow Spike's lips quirked. "Really? Which one looked the best?"

          "Hedge clippers," Willow answered. "Really dull hedge clippers."

          The blonde laughed. "That's my girl."

          Stepping into his embrace Willow hugged Spike tightly, resting her head against his shoulder. "Don't ever leave me again."

          Running his hands down her back Spike pressed Willow's body against him. "I promise, Willow. I'll never leave you."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

          "I've missed this," Willow murmured snuggling into Spike's arms.

          Tucking the slight redhead against his chest, resting his hand against her arm, Spike kissed her brow. "Me too, red. Me too."

          Around them the sounds of LA rose and echoed but the blonde and the redhead were aware of only each other. Starring up at the night sky and lying in Spike's arms Willow felt complete again. She had all but forgotten her heartache and anger and settled, instead, to lose herself to the stars.

          "That one there," Willow pointed to the constellation. "Is Dorado, the swordfish and the one beside it there is called Mensa, the table. And do you see that cluster there? That's the Large Magellanic Cloud which is actually one of the eleven dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. It's over 160,000 light years away and barely retains a spiral structure but it is still the brightest galaxy next to the Milky Way and the second closest. Do you see that area there, just above the cloud? The bright red patch? Well, that's known as the Tarantula Nebula and within it the brightest supernova of modern times, code named SN1987A, occurred."

          Spike brushed his fingers across Willow's cheek. "I forgot how beautiful you look beneath the stars."

          Turning her head Willow felt her cheeks flush. "Spike."

          "Like an angel fallen from heaven. Skin as pure as silk and hair like fire. Eyes so gentle and knowing. A heart so giving and loving. You're a miracle, red. My miracle."

          Lifting her head Willow pressed her lips to Spike, her hands twining behind his neck. For a time existence stopped and only the love between Spike and Willow was real as they laid beneath a black sky and silver stars.