A/N: I put this at the start of every chapter i know bt please review. That way i know i'm doing this story justice.

Chapter 10: Surprise

Buffy sat on the side of her bed looking out the window at the hospital grounds and the people going in and out, patients walking around. It wasn't the nicest scenery, mostly just other buildings and cars driving around. But there was a small fenced off garden area, with grass and trees and a few benches. It wasn't anything special, but she had gotten used to it in the time she had been there. But on days like this, when the sun was shining, she wanted to be anywhere but the hospital. Sure, she was allowed to walk in the grounds, but only sometimes and usually only with visitors. She was desperate for a change, especially now she was with Spike. She had thought of him constantly. He had visited her most days. Although two days he had only seen her for ten minutes, he did still have to visit Dru after all.

The doctors had been pleased with her progress, it had been almost a week and they had managed to get her to eat one large meal and two small meals, for the past three days. The doctors were amazed at how quickly it was happening, one day they had to fight to get her to eat, the next she was determined to get better. Of course, there were days she really couldn't face it, but she forced herself to try. She knew she had to if she had any chance at getting fully better. She was still seeing her counsellor and had explained about Spike and that he made her want to get better. That hadn't gone down too well

"Buffy, you have to want to get better for you. Not for someone else. Not because a man tells you he loves you" her counsellor told her sternly

"I know that, and that's not what I'm doing" Buffy insisted "Spike only made me want to get better but not for him. He just made me realise that I am worth something. Since I met him he makes me feel like me again. He made me see that I deserve to be happy. But I realise that I can't be happy with him, or anybody else, unless I get better. Spike loves me anyway. I want to be better. Spike is just responsible for making me see that"

A wide smile spread over Tara's face, it sounded to her like Buffy knew what she wanted. She believed her words. She had to admit that Buffy seemed much better than the she had in the whole time she had been in the hospital

"Well, Buffy, if you're sure. But we are gong to keep having these regular sessions. And I want you to keep getting your feelings out. But I think you should stop doing it in the form of a diary. Be more creative. Unless, the diary works, but being creative with it can be more fun" the other woman smiled

"Well I have been doing it in other ways than a diary" Buffy admitted "but I'm not ready to tell you about it yet"

"that's fine. If it helps keep doing it" Tara looked down at her watch and then back at Buffy "well that's it for today. See you next day. And Buffy, you're looking really well. I'm proud of you" she smiled. Buffy beamed. She liked Tara, she was the closest thing Buffy had to a friend since she had been there.

"Thanks Tara" she said as she left the room.

That had been two days after her talk with Spike and Buffy was still feeling great. She looked down at the notepad in her hand with a small grin. She was proud of what was held inside. This was her other way of getting her feelings out, but she wasn't ready to share it yet. She looked at the clock on the wall, and the time told her Spike and Dawn should be there any time.

Spike and Dawn stood outside the door talking between themselves. They had been planning all week, and only had to finalise everything now.

"Do you think she'll be happy?" Dawn asked excitedly

"She'll love it bit" he assured her

"I hope so, I mean it'll probably be a bit of a shock. Have you goy everything?" she questioned him, the look in her eyes implying that he was bound to have forgotten something. He simply smirked snugly back at her

"I have everything"

"You better" she huffed jokingly "I'll go finalise everything, you go on in" she ordered taking the bag he was holding in his hand.

While Dawn headed towards the nurses station, Spike turned the door handle to Buffy's room quietly so she wouldn't hear him enter. He stood by the door watching her, she was looking down and writing furiously in a book. She had a look of total concentration on her face. He felt he could stand and watch her all day, but he wanted to kiss her more

"Hey there gorgeous, what you got there?" he drawled sexily from his place by the door. Buffy's head shot up as soon as she heard his voice. Taken aback for a moment to see Dawn wasn't there as he was supposed to pick her up. She wasn't like that for long though before she jumped up and ran to him. Throwing herself in his arms. Their tongues were locked in a fierce battle, both trying to devour each other. Spike's hands tangled in her blonde hair, while Buffy played with the small curls at the bottom of Spike's neck. She was always amazed at how soft his hair was and loved to run her fingers through his hair, as much as he did hers. The kiss was never ending, breaking apart only to catch their breath before joining together again

"Eww" came a female voice from just outside the open door making the two jump apart. When they turned to see who was there they saw Dawn with a smirk on her face "get a room you two"

"We had one until you came in" Spike said in a joking tone. Dawn laughed at this and came right inside the room, wrapping her sister in a hug and sharing a look and a small smile with Spike, confirmation that it was fine to go ahead with their plan.

Dawn walked over and sat on the bed, picking up the abandoned notebook, Buffy noticed and flew to her taking the book from her hands. When she saw the strange looks she received from both her boyfriend and her sister she hurried to explain

"It's something extra I do for my counselling, I'm just not ready to show you yet"

Spike nodded and went to her, wrapping his arms around her waist while standing behind her

"That's okay luv, you don't have to tell us. Only if you want to"

"Thank you" she said as she turned around in his arms and stood on her toes to kiss him again. Before she got the chance Dawn cleared her throat and they turned back to her.

"Oops, sorry" she false sweet tone. Buffy and Spike glared at her, while Dawn continued to smile sweetly

"So, Buff" Dawn broke the silence "how do you like surprises?"

Buffy answered her warily, looking unsure "depends on the surprise" she felt Spike move to go to the door and Dawn's smile widen and wondered what was going on. She had a feeling they were up to something. Dawn went home the day after tomorrow and she figured they planned something, but had no idea what it could be. After all, the hospital had rules. Spike walked back towards her holding a bag in his hands. Buffy eyed it suspiciously

"What are you two up to?"

Spike grinned and held the bag out to her

"Open it up and see"

She took the bag from him and saw inside was a couple of boxes, she took out the largest and lay it on the bed, opening it. Inside was a beautiful black, one shoulder dress. It went to just below her knee. It had a beautiful asymmetric hem, and looked amazing. Buffy was shocked. It was a dress she would have picked herself. She was too shocked to speak so she took out the next box and opened it. This box held shoes to go with the dress. They were black satin, high heeled sandals. The next box held jewellery to go with the outfit.

"What is this for?" she asked breathily, still shocked at the contents of the bag

"Well" Spike started "we thought you deserved something nice, you've been doing great this week, you deserve something special" he told her, bending to place a soft and swift kiss across her lips

"This is amazing but I can't wear it. I can't go anywhere"

Dawn looked at Spike with a happy gleam in her eye and he nodded, indicating that she could share the next surprise

"Surprise" the teen squealed excitedly "we're taking you out"

"Dawn, the hospital has rules" her sister reminded her

"We know that dummy, we've been planning this all week. We just explained that my coming here was a spur of the moment thing and that I leave in two days. I'm staying at mom's apartment and Spike is staying there with me as my guardian, so you can go home for the weekend" she squealed. Buffy was soon squealing right along with her and hugging the breath out of her younger sister

"Oh my god, you two, I can't believe you two would do this for me" suddenly she was bleary eyed and looking at them through teary eyes

"of course we would, we love you dummy" Dawn scolded playfully. Spike turned her to face him wrapping his arms around her

"She's right we love you" he paused "I love you" he leaned down and kissed her, and this time Dawn didn't say a word or make a sound. She could see how happy the two were together. Spike was great. She couldn't protest.

Now" Spike said when the pulled apart "get your stuff, we have to get you home. Busy night ahead" he let her go and watched her move around excitedly, looking very happy.