Okay, there was a missing chapter (thanks for the heads up about that!) and so now that is fixed. Go back to chapter 8 if you were confused with the last couple updates. I'm really sorry bout this mess!

The air was tense and quiet while Spike waited for Buffy to freshen up. His jaw was clenched as he thought of what might have happened at the crypt. How far did Buffy go? Spike had known that Xander had always thought of Buffy as more than a friend, and the way he heard it the whelp once had some sort of crush on her. How far did Xander let it go? His terrifying thoughts had ended as soon as Buffy walked out of the bathroom.

They walked down the stairs in silence and headed for the door. Dawn was still watching tv and Willow was in there with her glancing at the tv once and a while until returning to newspaper in her lap. Spike grabbed Buffy's arm before she got to the door and wheeled her around the corner out of the view of the others.

"You need to spend more time with your friends and sister," he whispered.

Buffy's only response was staring at Spike, a little hurt but mostly confused. She spent time with them all day. Willow lived in the house and there wasn't a day that went by without a visit to the Magick Shop.

"They think you're acting strange and they're gettin' ideas bout us in their heads."

Both a little embarrased and troubled that her friends may have actually found out about her and Spike, she looked in thier direction. If Dawn knew anything she would have deffinatly told her, but Willow. . . ? Buffy looked back at Spike who only gave her a shrug of his shoulders.

Buffy ventured into the family room and was greeted with a warm smile from Willow.

"Hey! Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Yeah," Buffy replied. She could feel Spike come up from behind her and silently supporting her by leaning up against the door frame. "Me and um, Xander have to go out and take care of a problem, but are you gonna be busy later?"

"Uh, I don't think so. No classed today so, I'm free. Watcha need?"

"I was thinking we could hang out. You know, you, me, Dawn and a whole day of girly stuff with no interruptions. The stuff normal people do." This got Dawn's attention who before was completly ignoring her.

"You really mean it?" Dawn asked, simple words attached with such heavy baggage.

"Yeah Dawnie, what-do-ya think?"

"Cool," she replied with a smile.

"Sounds fun," said Willow with a wink.

Buffy turned around and was met with a smirk on Spike's face. She blushed slightly but continued on to the door. She had it slightly open and was about to say 'see you later' to Willow and Dawn but Spike's hand slammed the door closed.

"Wait, luv."

Tara had sent Anya home in hopes that she could clean herself up, change clothes and come back to the Magick Shop around 11. It wasn't an easy task, to get Anya to willingly leave the store. In the meanwhile, Tara had kept herself busy by cleaning up the alter and spell ingrediants while waiting for the early morning customers.

By now she had accomplished every item that needed to be done and stood behind the counter waiting anxiously. She needed to get ahold of the spell book that Anya had used to see if there was a reversal spell included in the text. Tara also needed to get ahold of Buffy, to tell her what was going on. That was what she was most nervous about. Buffy never ment for her words to come out as they did, but now that they were the two girls had more of a special bond. But how would she take it if she knew that not only Tara, but Anya and Xander also knew her secret? And most likely within a few days, all of the Scoobie gang would know? Not well probably since Buffy had practically broken down in Tara's arms the other night.

It would be better if she could get ahold of her first rather than Xander. Who knew what kind of rediculous statements he would throw at Buffy. He would probably just push her away from them (unintentionally, of course) instead of bringing her closer like she needed. She needed support, not judgement.

Tara walked over to the phone, dialed the numbers to the Summer's house and waited for someone to pickup.

Without another word Spike slipped back into the kitchen leaving Buffy waiting at the front door. When he returned he carried a big wooly blanket that he wrapped around his shoulders. As realization struck, Buffy burst into giggles. Spike didn't think this was amusing at all, but the expression of the face of Xander kept the laughter going.

"You don't need that," she managed to say before Spike got really annoyed. He only responded in confusion which was normal. It made Buffy feel better though, maybe because for once their positions were switched; he was the vulnerable one and she was the one that could make the pain go away.

"You're human, remember?" she said softly. "There's no vampire left in you anymore, so you can go out in the sun."

Buffy opened the door slowly, letting the sunlight filter in at small increments. Spike didn't say a word, it was like he was hypnotized by the brightness of the morning sky. The blanket casually dropped from his shoulders as he took tiny steps out of the house. When Spike left the safety of the front porch his body was enveloped in warmth from the sun.

She watched patiently as Spike took his first steps into sunlight, banished from the rays for the past 140 years. Buffy felt a pang in her chest while watching him. If she closed her eyes she could see him, see his movement and the way his real body would react to the first glimpse of light. She wished, just for a second that whatever had caused this to happen to Spike, would have made him human in his own body. She would have been truly happy then.

Spike made his way over to the lawn, still staring up to the sky. Buffy was hot on his heels, like an invisible leash was attached between them. When he looked back down they were only a few inches apart and Buffy was looking up at him with those deep soulful eyes. He scooped her up in his arms, taking her by surprise as she wrapped her arms around him. He twirled them around, their foreheads touching as a feeling of bliss passed between them.

"Hello?"

The phone picked up on the third ring. Willow was on the other line.

"Um, h-hi."

"Tara? Oh, hey!" responded Willow, as butterflies surged into her stomach. "W-what can I do for you? I mean, assuming there's something I can do . . . " she trailed off.

"Actually, uh. . . is Buffy there?" Tara hated that Willow was the one person that had to pick up the phone this morning. She knew that if they were to get back together, she would have to be the one to make the first move. And Willow was doing so well too, but she needed to get all the magick stuff washed out of her system. It took time, and hopefully that time was almost over.

"She, uh, just left with Xander. She should be back later though." The dissapointment was evident in her voice.

"Oh . . . Can you tell her to c-call me as soon as she gets back? I'm at the Magick Shop. I-it's really important."

Tara had hung up the phone after that which was going to leave Willow in a sappy mood for the rest of the day. As she was hanging the phone up to the reciever, Dawn walked in.

"So?" Dawn asked, hopeful that the two older girls would get back together again.

Willow only shook her head. "She was looking for Buffy."

"Buffy? Well, she shouldn't be gone too far yet. Do you want me to go tell her that Tara called?" suggested Dawn.

"Yeah, why don't you," the red head replied. "She said it was important."

Spinning like they were, Buffy never looked more beautiful. Her short hair was loose and flying about her face, her eyes were closed as she smiled in excitement. He slowed them down, careful not to drop her or tumble over while he attacked her lips. They were so soft, yet power hungry. Even in a different body, her kisses still tasted the same.

Spike broke off first, gasping for breath, this new feeling unusual to him. Buffy didn't want to open her eyes, all she would see was Xander. She just wanted to stay in the comfort of Spike's arms. They weren't spinning anymore but he was still holding her up, his hands on her ass while she hung her legs tightly around his waist.

Spike whispered in her ear before he nipped it, "I want to make love to you under the sun."

The proposal wasn't exactly surprising due to the bulge in his pants. He was hard, she was wet, and the feeling was mutual.

Buffy sighed, "I can't." Not that she didn't want to, he noted.

Their little 'vacation' was interrupted by a wide eyed and open mouthed little sister. Buffy immediately jumped down from what looked like Xander's arms to the ground and set at least three feet between them.

"Dawn!"

The 15 year old didn't know what to say. Her sister, her role model, the Slayer was making out with her own best friend, a man about to get married in the next few weeks. This just wasn't right. She opened her mouth to speak but at that moment nothing came out, and Buffy just stood there looking guilty as charged.

"If this isn't the work of the Hellmouth, I am so gonna be sick," she said.

"It it! It is," exclaimed Buffy. "Look, I can explain. . . "

"You know," Dawn said as she starting backing away. "I don't think I wanna know." Buffy's explanation would probably only include too many details that would freak her out. It was best if she just pretended she never saw any of this.

"Nibblet," coaxed Spike, trying to get the girl to turn around and listen to whatever Buffy might tell.

His voice actually did stop her, but it was more of what he called her. Nibblet was her name, it was the name Spike called her, and no one was allowed to call her that besides him. She walked back over to the two, the whole time keeping her eyes glued on Xander. She then turned her attention to Buffy and glared at her with peircing eyes.

At first Buffy wasn't sure of what she would actually inform her sister to. But the thought that Dawn was probably the only one who would not only understand, but also be happy for her, comforted Buffy.

"It's not what you think. This, um, this isn't Xander," she stated slowly. "It's Spike."

"Spike . . ."

"Yeah. We've . . . um, you know. We're together," she sputtered out.

"So you guys have been like, going out?!"

"I wouldn't use that term. Besides, its . . . it's complicated," replied Spike as he filled the space between him and Buffy and placed his arm on her lower back. It wasn't just to reassure her, but also to show how proud and honored he was.

Dawn smiled slightly. "How long?"

"Um, about a month or so I guess." said Buffy, unsure of the answer herself.

"A month! And you didn't tell me?!

"It's a secret! Please, Dawn don't tell anyone. They wouldn't understand." That was true of course and so was the emotion Buffy held inside her. She thought that no one could see, that she hid it so well but what are little sisters for if not to know everything that's going on in their older siblings lives?

"I wish you would have told me," Dawn said softly.

"I know."

"And Xander?" she asked.

"In Spike's body. We're going over there now. Hopefully he hasn't hurt himself too bad by now."

"Not bloody likely," Spike muttered under his breath, just loud enough for the girls to hear.

"Good luck with that. Oh! Tara called, I think it was important." Dawn said as she began going back to the house. Buffy only nodded in acknowledgement as she and Spike began their walk to the cemetary, hand in hand.