A/N : Hey, sorry I've taken longer than usual in updating this but I got caught up in 'Innocence' and then a Season 6 ficlet idea popped into my head, but finally here is a new chapter! Thanx to everyone who reviewed; spuffyfan4eva, Rachel, aphelant, SouthernRain, SinisterChis Heather Martin, Malfeus, SlayGal, Turn Off The Tide.

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 7

"Morning sweetheart" Wesley greeted the woman beside him as she opened her eyes and yawned. He'd lain awake most of the night just watching her sleep. It still amazed him the way things had worked out, how he now had what he most wanted in the world. There were days when he felt he really didn't deserve this wonderful woman and the life he had, but as the old phrase said 'love conquers all'. He only hoped things could work out so well for others...

"Hey" Fred stretched out her body beside him, before leaning over for a quick kiss, "I kinda had a nightmare" she frowned slightly, "there was screaming..."

"That wasn't a nightmare, it was Buffy" Wesley explained, reaching over to push his girlfriends hair from her face, "But not to worry, Spike went to her"

Fred nodded slightly, still sleepy. She noticed though, despite her half-asleep-ness that Wesley's hand was still stroking her hair and he was looking at her with troubled eyes.

"What is it?" she asked him, always knowing when something was wrong.

"I was just thinking" he practically whispered, and Fred was sure she saw tears forming in his eyes, "I can't imagine my life without you in it...everyday we fight and the war is never over, there are passings, people we love...but to lose the one person that you..." his voice completely disappeared and she knew precisely what he was trying to say. She didn't know how she'd cope if she lost him either, and she also knew why he was saying these things today. She pulled him to her and hugged him close, thinking about all that had happened and was happening beyond the relative safety of their room.

Angel, and how he'd been cruelly snatched away from them. How it had hit each one of them, but surprisingly how hard it had hit Spike. Now Buffy was here, and it seemed that tears and screams had been her way of coping, if you could call it coping. Her relationship with Angel had always been a little bit mysterious, something not to be mentioned for fear of the pain it might cause. Now all they could do was hope for a happy ending, but could real life really work out that way for everyone, or anyone?

* * * * *

Spike had not slept all night as he knew he would not. There was no telling how things would play out beyond this one night and he wanted to savour every moment he could be close to his precious Slayer. She might wake up this morning and decide to go straight back home, to England. There were no guarantees anymore, except for that one promise he made last night, that he'd be there as long as she needed him. Would she need him now? That was a question that had spun around in his mind for many hours as he held her close and watched her sleep.

The sun started to rise, he'd felt it coming of course, always did, but the warmth it brought was nothing compared to the glow he felt just lying there with Buffy curled up beside him. They'd done this twice before, the only two nights before this one when he remembered being truly at peace and content with his existence. He hated that it had to end, but it did, and evidentially very soon as he watched Buffy's eyes flutter open.

"Mornin' pet" he smiled down at her, "How're you feeling?"

Blinking hard and stretching her body slightly against him the Slayer considered her answer.

"I dunno" she said after a while, "kinda numb" she shrugged, looking up at him, "you?"

"Glad you're here" he admitted, unable to keep the smile from his lips as he said it, "but other than that, I don't rightly know either"

"I missed you, Spike" she said so quietly he almost didn't here her, as she reached over and hugged him close. Less startled than he might have been before, Spike hugged her back, constantly wondering if her next word would be goodbye and knowing his un-beating heart would break all over again if it was.

"I missed you too, luv, you'll never know how much"

It was a few moments later when they realised they should probably get up and Buffy thought now was as good a time as any to face the rest of the gang. It was little wonder that they hadn't wanted to be there when she was told of Angel's passing. No doubt they knew how upset she would be and likely wondered if she would 'shoot the messenger' as it were. She considered this as Spike went to investigate where her luggage was and also to get himself cleaned up, whilst she herself took a much needed shower.

Spike had been the one to tell her of Angel's death, and the more she thought about that, the more Buffy realised he was the only one who really could. There were others from whom she might not have believed the news, others she probably would have tried to kill for telling her such things...but Spike did what he had always done, he'd told her the truth and adopted crash positions, waiting for whatever reaction might come. Buffy admitted to herself a long time ago that she was not exactly reasonable and rational when it came to those she loved.

It was as she was drying herself off from her shower that Buffy heard someone tapping on the door. She pulled on a towelling robe she found in the bathroom and went to investigate.

"Hey sweetie pie" said the green demon on the other side of the door and the Slayer couldn't help but smile as she reached to hug him.

"Hi Lorne, it's great to see you" she told him as she eventually let go and he came into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Circumstances could've been better, I know" he nodded sadly, before forcing his smile back on his face, "but hey, you're looking incredible girlfriend!"

"Thanks" she laughed, half-heartedly at his enthusiasm. She knew he was just trying to cheer her up as always, weird thing was she knew it would probably work too, despite the terrible news she'd received just hours ago.

"I met Spikey in the corridor, he said he was off to find the luggage of the sweet Slay-Gal that we all know and adore, and the thought occurred that he'd left ya in here all on your lonesome, and we just couldn't let that happen" Lorne grinned taking a seat on the sofa and dragged Buffy down with him.

"I'm grateful that you wanted to see me Lorne" she smiled, "and I know you're trying to cheer me up, I think it might even have worked...but he was your friend too, and it's okay to not be one-hundred percent happy y'know" she spoke of course of Angel as the friend he'd lost and the smile fell from Lorne's face.

"And here was me thinking *I* was the empath in the room" he sighed, looking down at his shoes.

"Hey" Buffy managed a small smile, putting her hand over his, "It doesn't take demon mind reading sensor stuff to know that it hurts when people die, when those you love have to go away..." the end of her sentence disappeared into thin air as she swallowed hard and fought back tears, thinking not just of Angel but of others whom she had lost. Her mother, Tara, Anya, a couple of young Slayers she'd trained and been fond of that hadn't made it to any kind of respectable age, and Spike whom she was just trying to get used to having back...

"Hey" a voice called from the door, as the vampire himself dragged in a pair of suitcases and a couple of other bags, Gunn following with almost as much baggage, "how many outfits does a Slayer need?"

"I didn't know what I was coming here for" she defended herself, "or how long I'd be staying"

"Well" Gunn sighed as he dropped all the bags and cases on the floor in a pile with those Spike had brought, "I think I can skip the gym today"

Buffy managed a smile at his joke, and Spike was glad to see she hadn't lost the total inability to do that. He wanted her to have a life of laughter and sun and joy, she shouldn't be crying over vampires and fighting apocalypses, she was too special for that. His thoughts ran away with him and he suddenly realised he'd missed half the conversation.

It seemed after a greeting and a hug with Gunn, Buffy had been persuaded that as soon as she was dressed, she really ought to eat something, even if she protested and said she wasn't in the least bit hungry. Lorne and Gunn left the room and it was only then that Spike snapped out of his daze. Buffy noticed his lost expression.

"You zone out there or what?" she asked him.

"Reckon I must've" he agreed, "I should go, let you get changed and stuff..." he realised, "I'll see you downstairs" he made for the door and she called behind him.

"They seem okay" she realised, "like they're getting over it" he turned back to look at her without saying a word, "how long has he been gone?"

"Ten days, luv" Spike said sadly, "and we would have called you sooner 'cept...well, we kind of had to deal ourselves first before..."

"Before you could cope with a manic Slayers scrambled-emotions?" she attempted humour but found it didn't come out quite how she meant it to.

"Partly" he admitted with a nod, "Mostly though...it's my fault"

She looked at him questioningly and he knew he couldn't get away without explaining. His hand went to the door and he pulled it half closed as he exited, answering her question only when he knew he could make a quick escape straight after.

"Before I let them ask you to come here...I had to make sure I was strong enough to watch you walk away from me again"

Buffy eyes filled with new tears as the door clicked shut and it really hit her how much she still meant to Spike. It seemed he loved her as much as he ever had and the thought of seeing her again only to have her leave soon after was an awful concept in his mind. Right now, Buffy wasn't thinking about if and when she might be leaving here, only about what was happening at this moment and what had happened before.

The past she could not change, the future was looking decidedly hazy, it seemed the present was all she had to focus on. Angel would not want her to sit and mope on his behalf, and she found that although it hurt so much to know he was gone, she could bear to face the world, albeit one step at a time.

With a deep breath she went to pick up her suitcase, opening it up and selecting an outfit to wear. She would get dressed, fix her hair and make-up and face the people who had requested her presence here. She would be strong but at the same time share their grief and sadness. She was not alone, not here or anywhere, and despite the pain, she had plenty to thank the Powers for. Friends, loved ones, those who she had been fortunate enough to find again...as usual her thoughts had gone full circle, and here she was again with her mind half on Angel and half on Spike...

To Be Continued...