A/N : This fic has finally come to an end - here is the last chapter and the epilogue. I want to thank everyone who has reviewed this fic, not just the previous chapter but all or any of the chapters right through. You guys leave this great little messages encouraging me to write these stories and for that I am grateful to you all. Thanks also to everyone who voted in the poll on my site. Details on my next fic will be at the end of this one. Happy reading, and please leave a final review cos I'd love to hear your opinions on the ending! :-)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 24 : I Will Remember You

It's been two days since Spike was released from the hospital. I hate the fact that I have been avoiding him but I don't know what else to do. It seems that he still doesn't remember those two weeks that should mean so much. Our parents and Willow have been basically re-telling him everything he's missed, conveniently missing out the relationship he and I had. It's all so painful, especially sometimes when he looks at me and I think he's just going to say it, say 'I remember and I love you' but he never does and sometimes I think he never ever will. The clock says 8.30am on a Sunday so I don't have to get up for hours, but I know I will, because there's no way I can sleep with Spike in the next room. I've barely slept since he came home and thankfully I haven't had to go to school. It was Friday when he came home and there was no way Willow or I were going to not be here for that. I guess I'll have to go Monday. I think maybe that'll be a good thing since I'll have more chances to avoid Spike. I guess I will get up now, and face another day of the same, but I really don't know how much more of this I can take...

Spike's arm was around Buffy's shoulders as they sat on the back porch steps together and she smiled wiping tears from her eyes as she told him he was sweet. He playfully threatened punishment if she ever told anyone else that. She asked what he could ever do to her and thats when he did it, leaned forward and kissed her, wanting her so much...the scene dissolved to a club, dark beneath the balcony with loud pulsating music all around, as the kissing continued, growing more and more heated...again the picture shifted and Spike lowered Buffy onto a bed, kissing, touching, feeling things he'd never felt before as time ticked past and the world melted away so that all that was left was him and her and the feeling of pure ecstasy as they came together as one...

Spike sat bolt up-right in bed, breathing heavily and eyes wide. What he'd just witnessed had all been a dream, that much was obvious to him from the fact he was in bed alone and also that the events had been so muddled, but the feelings, they seemed to be so real. He wanted an explanation for all that had happened in his mind while he slept. The only person who might be able to explain was Buffy, and given her reluctance to be around him lately, maybe there really was something to that dream of his. When he'd calmed down, he decided, it was time to get up and confront his step-sister about what seemed to have happened between them.

She'd spent two days seemingly avoiding him, and as the rest of the family had explained to him all that he'd forgotten she was barely even mentioned. He'd tried to get her on her own to ask her about it all but he hadn't had the oppurtunity. Today he would make sure he got his answers, before he went completely crazy from speculation.

* * * * *

Buffy was alone in the kitchen making some toast for herself and worrying about the fact she was alone in the house with Spike. Her mother had gone to the gallery to set up for an exhibition and Giles had gone with her to help with the heavy lifting. Willow had spent the night with Oz and so that left just the young blonde, and her step-brother who was asleep upstairs. At least, he was asleep before, now he was standing right behind her.

"Buffy" his voice suddenly in the room made her almost physically jump out of her skin, "There's something I need to talk to you about..." Spike told her as she turned around to face him.

"What is it?" she asked nervously, turning back to the counter top and concentrating on buttering her toast.

"I had a dream" he explained "It was intense, like it was real, and I think it felt that way because it was real"

"What do you mean?" Buffy frowned, glancing back at him as he paced the room, also frowning.

"I think it was memories trying to get through Buffy" he said, finally coming to a halt just inches from her "memories of me and you" he added uncertainly and Buffy found it so hard not to grab him and hold him and kiss him, but she forced back her feelings for a while longer, she had to make sure he meant what she hoped before she did anything stupid.

"What kind of memories?" she asked with a shake in her voice.

"Well..." Spike looked thoughtful, as he wondered how best to put what he had to say "and don't slap me round the face if I'm wrong cos I'm kinda going out on a limb here" he told her and watched as she put her hands behind her back and clasped them together there.

"I won't hit you" she promised solemnly and he nodded as he began to explain.

"Well, first there was kissing, on some steps, maybe the porch, and then again somewhere dark, with music, after that it got a little more..." he was afraid of saying this part in case she was disgusted or laughed at him or broke that promise she made and hit him "well, it got physical I s'pose you could say..." he trailed off as he noticed tears forming in Buffy's eyes.

"You know what I'm talking about" he guessed and she nodded making the water from her eyes roll down her cheeks.

"I do" she admitted, almost laughing, "I wish you remembered everything but at least the important stuff is coming back" she stepped toward him and put a hand to his face, "I guess now I get to say what I've wanted to since you first woke up. I love you Spike, so much that it's killing me"

"And I love you too" he promised her as he moved to wipe her tears away, "I know that much is true, and I think I said it before but I can't even remember that" he shook his head frustratedley but Buffy told him it was okay.

"You've said it now, that's all that matters" she assured him, "And maybe the rest of your memories will come back in time"

"I don't even fully remember what it was like to kiss you" he whispered, their faces just inches apart.

"Then maybe we should make you some new memories" she said just as softly as they both leaned forward and pressed their lips together.

To Spike the sensation was only slightly familiar but definitely mind-blowing as he kissed her like he never wanted to stop. Buffy was in heaven all over again, being able to be so close to him like she'd dreamt of every time her eyes had closed. This was reality now, and it was even better than the dreams.

* * * * *

Things needed to be put right, Riley knew that for sure. When he'd found Buffy and Spike in bed together he'd been so disgusted and terribly hurt, but afterwards his anger shifted and landed solely on the other man. How could he blame his girlfriend for her so-called brother taking advantage of her? He knew it was the only explanation. He and Buffy had been dating for months and because Buffy had said she wasn't ready he'd been a gentleman about it and not rushed her when it came to the physical side of things. Spike had only been in the country for just over two weeks and suddenly Buffy's innocence had been lost. The bleached blond had to be to blame.

The young Mr Finn was out for revenge on Spike. He'd heard about the bus crash from Oz since Willow had told her boyfriend everything and he'd passed on the info to their group of friends. He'd waited til he knew he was out of hospital but now justice would be done. No-one was going to use Buffy like that, or make a fool out of him.

Getting no answer at the front door, Riley went round to the back of the house. The sight that met his eyes as he peered through the glass pane of the back door put his anger into overload.

Both Buffy and Spike were oblivious to their audience as they revelled in the feeling of holding and kissing each other. The first thing they knew of Riley's arrival was when the door flew open and the younger man's fist connected with Spike's chin as he turned to see what was happening. The punch knocked the bleached blond against the counter and Buffy screamed.

"What the bloody hell are you on mate?!" Spike yelled as he stood up straight to face Riley, still clutching his head that began to throb like crazy.

"You're disgusting" the younger man sneered, "Taking advantage of Buffy like this and when you're supposed to be her brother too"

"Riley that's enough!" Buffy yelled, rushing to Spike's side as he gripped his head and staggered back. He'd been hit before and by bigger men than Riley bleedin' Finn, and he'd not even flinched, but this slight knock to his jaw had made his entire head spin. Buffy settled him on a stool by the counter before whipping around to face her ex-boyfriend, eyes flashing thunder.

"Let's get a couple of things straight Riley" she said angrily, "First of all, Spike is not my brother. My parents and his parents are completely different people. Second, despite what I might have said afterwards, I stopped being your girlfriend the day you decided that feeling up Faith Wilkins was a good plan. And last but by no means least, I willingly went into Spike's bed that night, and I'd do it again, because I love him more than I've ever loved anyone and he loves me too"

"You two are freaks" Riley said bitterly, realising he was fighting a losing battle.

Buffy was about to answer when suddenly he was reeling backwards clutching a bloody nose.

"You say what you like about me" Spike said nastily, still gripping his head and having to lean against the counter so he didn't fall down, "But you keep your gob shut about this lady" he said, as Buffy put an arm around him.

Riley left without a word and Buffy couldn't help but cry. All the emotion, all the pain and fighting, would it never end?

"It's okay sweetheart" Spike held her close and stroked her hair as she sobbed, "It's all over now" he blinked hard and breathed deeply as he tried to clear the strange feeling in his head, the pain subsiding and a strange fog taking it's place. After a few minutes, just standing there holding his girl, that fog started to lift...

"Buffy" he said slowly and she looked up into his eyes, "You were crying because your bloke kissed some slut at the Bronze, and I followed you home...we kissed on the back porch and then you went all weird on me. I yelled when you had a date with that wanker again and then I followed you to the club and there was some crazy girl there...you were jealous and you kissed me...when we got home, that night, I made love to you...and in the morning..."

"Sshh" Buffy smiled as she brought her finger to his lips, "That part you can forget" she told him, "it should never have happened, the morning I mean. I was an idiot and you ended up so hurt...I'm so sorry for that"

"That doesn't matter now" he assured her, taking her fingers away from his face with his own hand, "all that matters is I remember, and I love you so much"

Buffy smiled more genuinely then than she had in weeks.

"I love you too" she told him sincerely, right before he kissed her again.

You have no idea how good I feel right now. The only place I ever want to be is here, in Spike's arms, whilst he kisses me like this forever. I know the magic will break soon, our parents will come home and we'll have to face the reality that they are not all one hundred percent comfortable with what Spike and I feel for each other, I know that depsite what thet tell me. But I know they will learn to accept it in time, just as everyone else will. Something that feels this right cannot be wrong. I don't have a care in the world right now, and that is a great way to feel.

Almost, ~The End~ but there is still an epilogue...