CATCH ME IF I FALL

Summary: This happens somewhere between Season 6. Buffy decides she has had enough of life. Good thing Spike came along...

NOTE: Spike is a bit OOC, and the fic switches POVs in between, hope you're not too confused. Thoughts are in italics.

Disclaimer: I don't own squat.

Chapter 5

--- Buffy's POV ---

Eew. That was the word on my mind as I opened the beaten up fridge at Spike's crypt. Nothing but packets of blood, and some moldy old cheese that has been there for who knows how long. I sighed. Men. Alive, dead, or undead they're all the same. "Hey, don't you have anything good to eat --- ."

I stopped talking when I saw Spike. He had taken off his shirt and duster. It's not really the first time I've seen him, hell, I've seen him many times, yet I always get so... drawn to him. He's just so... perfect... Why, oh why of all people to be so painstakingly hot it had to be him...

His voice brought me back to reality. "Ey, slayer! Do you mind?" he said, gesturing for me to turn around.

I felt myself go scarlet, and turned around quickly. "Oh, sorry! I didn't really mean..."

"S' alright, no harm done." Spike answered. "Ok, all done, though I think you actually enjoyed that."

I turned to him, giving him the death glare. How cheeky can he get?! But I did feel slightly disappointed to see that he was now wearing a shirt again, and boxers for that matter. Spike wears boxers?!

I was still trying to convince myself that I wasn't dreaming, when Spike tossed some clothes over to me. "Here, was all I could find. You don't want to spend the night in those dirty clothes."

I smiled at him. How thoughtful. My outfit wasn't really in the best condition. Then I stared at the clothes he gave me. A white shirt and a pair of shorts.

I held the shorts up and snorted. "Mickey Mouse?"

"Ey, it's all I have!" he said defensively. "You gonna wear them or not?"

I smirked. "Yeah, well... at least it's better than sleeping naked."

"That could be arranged," he grinned at me and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Spike, you're such a pig!" I shrieked. "Now turn around now, I'm gonna change."

He didn't budge. I raised my eyebrow. "No peeking! You seem to have forgotten Mr. Pointy here..."

"Hmph," he grumbled and half-heartedly faced away. "Like you didn't drool all over me when I was changing..."

--- Spike's POV ---

Okay, so I still peeked. Well, what did she expect?! Just because I'm being so nice to her doesn't mean I've turned into Peaches, resident nancy boy. I was just returning the favor! 'Sides, not like she has anything to be ashamed about. Bloody hell. She is just so beautiful... perfect... my Slayer... Buffy...

She turned around to look at me, and I quickly averted my eyes to the floor. Phew, she almost caught me there.

--- Buffy's POV---

"Here," Spike said handing me a cereal box.

I looked at it. Trix? I looked at him questioningly.

"Oh, the Nibblet brought this during one of here visits here. Must have left them," he said, grabbing a handful of it and shoving it into his mouth.

"I see..." I picked up a kernel and nibbled on it. "So,"I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Dawn came her a lot?"

Spike nodded. "Well, used to. She used to come her maybe once or twice a week. Mostly to talk. We'd tell each other stories. Help us pass the time. It was hard on her you know, you being... gone. It was hard for me too..." he said, ending nearly in a whisper.

I looked him disbelievingly. Part of me wanted to believe him, yet I was holding back. "It was?"

It was only then that he realized what he just said. He fidgeted uncomfortably. "At first, it was ok with me. I thought my problems were over... But... things didn't seem right anymore. Like something was missing..." He stopped talking.

I didn't speak either. I felt uncomfortable. Spike actually missed me when I was in heaven... or wherever I was...He missed me...

After an eternity of deafening silence, Spike finally spoke up. "Well, I'm beat. Usually sleep during the day, but today's events tired me out." He started for the bed, then stopped. "You coming, luv?"

"What? You mean sleep? With you?" I said nervously.

"Uh, yeah," he said. "Yes, I'll be good. No funny business. 'Sides, no point ruining your beauty sleep. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I actually want you to sleep with me, I mean beside me, just that your friends might accuse me of not treating you right," he said hastily.

I snickered at his discomfort. "Yeah, whatever," I said and followed him.

--- Spike's POV ---

I can't believe it. Here she is, the love of my life, sleeping beside me, and I haven't done a thing. Usually, I would have found some way. Get her drunk or something. But I couldn't. It didn't feel right. I would be betraying the trust that she had given to me that night. And for me, Buffy's trust is the most important thing in the world. She doesn't have to love me. It's ok for me as long as she knows I will always be there for her...

"Spike?" Buffy said sleepily, interrupting my thoughts.

"Yeah, luv?"

She fidgeted a bit. "Um... I'm a bit cold... do you think..."

"Yeah, ok," I said and tossed her the rest of the sheets.

"Uh... well... That's not really what I meant," she said, and bit her lip. "Um... do you think you could um... well... just hold me? You know, not really hug me or anything, just you know. I just need to feel... safe... But that's if you don't want to. Because if you don't it's perfectly fine, we could just sleep again, not with each other... I mean... yeah... I don't know what I mean..." She cringed.

I just stared at her. At first I thought she was joking. But why would she joke about something like that?! But I was shocked. The Slayer, Buffy, who has dealt with every possible thing that comes in her way, asked me to hold her. Me, Spike, her supposed enemy. It seemed ridiculous.

But the second I put my arms around her, it just felt right. Like I was the one person who was destined to do that.

"Hey, Spike?" she said again.

"What is it?"

"Uh... thanks," she smiled at me, a genuine smile. Then she finally drifted off to sleep.

I looked at her again. My Slayer. She is the One. And I love her...

END OF CHAPTER

Author's note: No that's not the end yet! There's still more! Buffy hasn't gone home yet, right? But it was sweet, don't you think? Please read and review!!! Thanks guys!