A/N: Re: Part 7 - the ring that Buffy gave to Spike is the Gem of Amarra ;)

Part 8: After a Long Day's Work

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As soon as work was over, and after she let Giles know she had talked to the new slayer in training, Buffy made a mad beeline to her car. She wanted to get to the supermarket and pick up some chocolate ice-cream, along with a few other sundries and then finally hurry home.

While at the supermarket, she couldn't help but feel the nagging, eerie feeling that she had felt earlier. She felt like something was missing or something was out of place.

As she walked the isle of frozen peas and fishsticks, Buffy stopped in her tracks as she recalled that she was in such a hurry to leave work that she forgot to call home before she left.

'Damn.'Buffy screwed her eyes shut, when she also remembered that she also forgot her cell phone at work. With a mental slap to her head, she wondered why she was only remembering these things now.

After she paid for her items, she made it to her car and back on the road again in record time.

Unfortunately, driving is no easy task for Buffy, and nonetheless when she can't control her mind from wandering to images of dreadful scenarios. Going from point 'a' to point 'b' is difficult, but doable. And when she can't control her mind from wandering, making it from point 'a' to point 'b' alive is next to impossible.

As she rounded the corner of her house, she let out an audible sigh, but not before swerving out of the way of a bicyclist and knocking over the trashcan as she parked into the driveway.

When she got to the doorstep with bags in her arms, and finally opening the door, she laughed at herself. 'This is ridiculous. Everything is fine. It's probably nothing. Everything is-'Her last thought was cut short as she stumbled into the house.

The first thing she heard upon entering, was the staggering silence. 'Everything is fine, everything is in its place... except, where's Spike? Why isn't he here greeting me? He always opens the door for me-Oh God, Alex. Where's Alex?. Buffy leaned on the wall closest to her as she drew in a shuddering breath, and laughed. "Buffy, get it together." She said to herself. She took in another breath to relax her nerves. "Honey, I'm home," she called out, hoping that she didn't just set herself up. When she didn't get a response, she figured that perhaps they were ou in the backyard and didn't hear her.

She walked into the kitchen and placed the groceries on the kitchen island. She threw the cartons of ice-cream into the freezer. "Spike? Alex?" She called out, a bit louder this time. She waited for them to respond. When no answer came, she called out again. She desperately hoped that an answer would come, and dreaded if there wasn't.

No response. 'No.'Buffy bolted up the stairs, a mantra at her lips with each step: "Ohgodohgodohgod" When she finally got to the threshold of Alex's door and peeked in, the sight in front of her rendered her speechless.

Alex was tucked in, and sleeping like, well, like a baby.

Spike, not to be outdone, was also a sight to behold. His arm was draped protectively around Alex, his other arm was splayed out, and falling over the side of the bed, and his leg seemed to have fallen off the bed so his bare foot was planted on the floor.

Smiling at the scene, Buffy entered the room and sat on the rocking chair by the window. She tried to move as slowly and as quietly as she could, but her efforts were futile.

Spike stirred from his sleep at her presence.

"Sweetness, you're home." Spike said, in a dry, sleep induced whisper, and giving Buffy one of his best smiles.

"Yeah, got home a bit early. Sorry for waking you."

"Nahh. Wasn't really sleeping."

"Right," Buffy whispered back, "since when do you snore when you're awake?" Buffy raised her eyebrow, and smiled knowingly. "How's Alex, feeling better?"

Spike rolled his eyes, but grinned. "I think he got through the worst of it. I took his temp. in the middle of storytime, he's back to normal." Spike said, as he got up from the bed, "But he zonked out as I got to the end." Spike stretched just before he pulled Buffy up from the chair. "How was work?" Spike asked as he kissed her temple, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"It was fine. I would rather have stayed here with you guys though," Buffy said as she wrapped an arm around spike's waist, and before wrapping her other arm to join her other, she bent down to run a hand over Alex's forehead, brushing the soft brown curls from his eyes. "I've been feeling a bit off all day. All I wanted to do was get home. I mean, Alex hasn't been sick since...well since our little voyage to L.A."

Spike sighed, "Yeah, I know... come on." Spike nodded towards the door. "Let him sleep."

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"So he fell asleep on you, huh?" Buffy stated, as she spooned out a glob of chocolate ice-cream.

They were sitting on the porch waiting for the sunset. And they had a good hour or so to talk until then.

"Yeah," Spike replied, as he grabbed the spoon from Buffy's hand after she licked off the ice-cream.

"How far didja get?"

"Up to the 'I do,' and when I noticed his eyes start to droop... I brought it to the 'happily ever after.'" Spike took in a spoonful of ice-cream. He then quickly dipped it back into the carton to get another spoonful for Buffy.

"So… no reception?"

Spike smiled, enjoying the sight of Buffy lick off every trace of ice-cream, as he fed her. "No reception," Spike confirmed.

"So this explains the drifting off to sleep part. I'm sure if you…" Buffy paused for a moment to take another bite of ice-cream, "told him about the after party he'd be giggling to no end, and sleep would be the last thing on his mind."

"Yeah, but lucky for him, he understood that rest was needed to fight the fight. So being the smart boy he is, he went ahead and saved me from going on, and having to explain the sordid details."

"Sordid?" Buffy asked, surprised at his choice of words. Then giggled when it came to her, at what he was referring to. "But baby, that was your finest hour."

"Haha.." Spike said, dryly. "Which probably explains why you all won't let me live it down? And tell it every chance you get?"

"Exactly." Buffy playfully nudged his arm.

"Well, I don't see a reason for Alex to know."

"Why not?"

"Well, for obvious reasons," Spike said, trying to keep a straight face. He had to admit, if the tables were turned he wouldn't want to forget, and would have already told Alex the story. "For one, telling it would be a bad example for the boy."

"Why?"

"You know why."

"Is it because you don't want him to think of you as anything but the burly champion, or the passionate, sweet, romancer that swept his mother off her feet? Or see you as any less than the wonderful father you are?" Buffy listed, as if ticking it off from a checklist. "Don't you want him to know about your irresistible charm?"

"Charm? Charm." Spike let out a chuckle at that. "Is that how you put it?"

"Well, I don't know how to put it in any other way."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Well, how 'bout making an ass out of myself."

"Hey, now," Buffy stopped him with a look that told him to not go any further. "I fell in love with you all over again because of that irresistible charm of yours."

Spike looked at her as if she had grown a second head. "You have got to be kidding me. That was not at all what I describe as charming, and if it is, then, that's not why you fell in love with me."

"No? Then please do tell me. Why did I fall in love with you?" Buffy asked, as if she were asking him why the clouds were white.

"Well, because of my sinister—"

"Mom, you're home?" Alex asked, inadvertently interrupting, as he stretched the sleep away from his body.

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TBC...