Author's note: Yes, yes, yes I know it's been a very very long time since I updated but I was doing some extremely important exams which decide my future, so for the last month or so I've only been revising and haven't had time for anything else. Also I have had a major writer's block and it had been taking me an hour to write a couple of sentences. Anyway I don't even know if anyone is reading this story anymore, but if you are please review so that I know if this is still in demand and if you're still enjoying it, personally I think I'm going a bit down hill and need some encouragement. Thank you for taking the time to read this and to everyone who had left me reviews so far, you are all stars!

Chapter 9 – Love

The next morning Buffy came bounding down the stairs, ready for a new day, she felt alive! And couldn't wait for tonight when she would get to see Spike. She walked into the living room and almost fell down of shock when she saw who was sitting on the sofa next to Willow.

"Amy?"

"Oh, hey Buffy, how have you been?" Amy replied.

"Um, good thanks, you?"

"I've been a rat for three years so I'm still kinda adjusting." She said looking quite perplexed as she turned back to Willow, "So the whole school was destroyed when this giant snake thing tried to kill everyone?"

"Yep."

"O.k." Amy said slowly trying to get her head around everything that had happened.

"Well, it's great that you're you again!" Buffy said smiling.

"Thanks."

Buffy turned walking out to the kitchen to get breakfast, she was soon joined by Willow who obviously wanted to talk about Spike but didn't know how to, so they both fetched food in an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds until Willow decided to take a leap. She stepped in front of Buffy stopping her from what she was doing and tried to sound casual, but confident, not like she was trying to judge.

"Buffy." She said flatly.

"Willow." Buffy said in the same serious way when Willow didn't continue.

"I just wanted to talk about last night and what happened."

"What did happen?" Buffy asked innocently. She was starting to enjoy playing around with her friend, forcing her to face up to what she had to face up to herself just a few hours ago.

"You and Spike."

"What about us?"

"Buffy!" Willow said exasperated.

"O.k. o.k. I'm sorry." She said smiling. "Yes, we're together now, at least I think we are, we haven't really talked about our relationship status. We're both in love with each other though."

"Wow." Willow said sighing. "I mean I'm really happy for you, cause you look really happy! But this was all like a really big shock for me, I had no idea that you even liked Spike! I just don't know how this happened."

"Well…" Buffy started saying uncertainly, not sure how to put into words what had happened between her and Spike, it was hard to explain to your best friend how you'd suddenly fallen in love with anyone, let alone someone you used to hate. "Since I've been back, he's been the only person I could talk too and I don't even know how it happened myself, I never thought I'd fall for another vampire, especially Spike, but it happened and I am really happy."

"This is nice."

"What?" Buffy said.

"Us, talking again, like we used."

"Yeah, it is." Buffy paused. "I want you to know you can tell me anything Will, anytime, I'll always be here for you, I know you must be going through a lot with Tara gone."

"Thanks, I'm really lost without her." Their moment was suddenly interrupted with Amy calling from the lounge.

"Hey guys, you gotta come see this!"

Willow and Buffy both went back to where Amy was sitting, "Look!" she said pointing to the TV, "Some guy has been frozen, things are getting weirder and weirder, please tell me this doesn't happen all the time!"

Buffy went to the museum where the frozen security guard had been found, but he had already been taken away the night before and there wasn't much information she could get from the single police officer who was still patrolling the area. So since she had nothing else to do she started to make her way to Spike's crypt, she'd been dying to see him since the moment she walked away from him last night and she'd hardly got any sleep, well she had got some but it was just filled with highly x-rated material of her and Spike and had therefore made her want to see him even more.

She finally got to his crypt door and slowly pushed it open, trying to be quiet so that she could surprise him. Looking around she couldn't see him so she made her way down to the lower level of his crypt where his nice big bed was, which she'd remembered seeing at some occasion previously. She climbed down the ladder as silently as she could and then having stepped to the floor turned around to be face to face with Spike, his nose almost touching hers. Buffy gasped in surprise.

"How did you know I was here?" she breathed.

"I could smell you." He said as he leaned forward and took in the scent of her hair. Buffy then realised that he was standing there in just his jeans, his perfect bare chest exposed, and looked very sexy, well he always looked sexy, damn him! She suddenly seemed frozen, like he had her in some kind of trance and she just didn't have the will power to get out of it. That's how it always felt with him; his piecing blue eyes transfixed her, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame and what's more she loved it. His hold over her was exciting, adrenaline pumped through her blood and she could feel her heart beat quicken in pace.

Taking opportunity of Buffy's stillness, Spike moved his hands to her shoulders, pushed her jacket off them and gently slid it down her arms until it landed on the floor with a soft thud. She now stood there in a simple camisole and jeans. Spike brushed one hand down her bare arm, caressing every inch with his fingertips. The he leant down kissing her shoulder then moving slowly along her collarbone and up her neck, Buffy moved her head to one side giving him better access, moaning as his lips trailed over the very sensitive place where the neck meets the collarbone and you can feel a pulse. Brought out of her trance slightly, Buffy found her arms shifting; she placed them lightly on Spike's lower back, just touching him like this was amazing, his cool skin felt smooth and flawless under her caress. Soon she had to hold on to him tighter, digging her nails into his back as he moved up her jaw kissing every inch and then found her mouth and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Buffy's knees felt weak as they kissed and Spike's hands roamed around her body finally settling on her hips after they'd brushed past her arse.

It seemed like the world was spinning, Spike's hands on her felt incredible, they were cool and supple and touched her in all the right places then suddenly the world tipped upside down and she found herself flat on her back with Spike's soft bed beneath her and a hard Spike above her. She ran her hands over his chest which was made up of perfect planes, like they had been chiselled out of marble and then buffed so that they were amazingly smooth. Then she reached up bringing her arms to rest round Spike's neck and pulled him in for another mind-blowing kiss. One of Spike's hands was tangled in her hair while the other one was fumbling with her jeans. Suddenly Buffy realised what they were about to do and a fear flooded over her, it almost felt like this was her first time again and she might wake up afterwards and he would be gone, leaving her in a terrible nightmare which she would never recover from.

"mmm…Spike wait.." Buffy said in between kisses pulling away from him.

Spike stopped and also pulled back to look at her. "What is it?" He asked concerned. Buffy sat up resting her back against the headboard of the bed and sighed, not knowing how to voice her fears to Spike.

"After we do this… I mean… you are… going to be here when I wake up aren't you?" she said hesitantly. A mixture of emotions ran over Spike's face and through his eyes which Buffy tried to identify. First he looked surprised and taken aback by her question, then slightly angry but also amused like the question was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard; finally there was understanding and love as he slowly leaned forward and pressed a feather light kiss to Buffy's forehead. When he pulled back there was a slight smile tugging at his lips. "I will always be right by your side when you wake up, I'll never leave you Buffy." His voice was thick, deep and honest and it melted Buffy, relaxing and bringing her to a state of calm. She trusted him with her life, but unfortunate past experiences had made her anxious and she just needed some spoken reinforcement from Spike, now only anticipation filled her thoughts, it felt like she had been waiting a very long time for this moment with Spike and now it was finally here. She smiled back at him and leaned forward wrapping her arms around his back and returning kisses to his neck which he had only moments ago gave to her. Spike began to run his hands though her hair again and then moved down her back till he reached her waist, he pulled her tightly to him so that they were pressed firmly together, then went back to her jeans, he removed them quickly pushing then down her legs and she kicked them off along with her shoes. Buffy found his lips again and they joined in a familiar battle of tongues.

It was all one elaborate dance, soon Spike's jeans were gone and he was left naked, the rest of Buffy's clothes disappeared as well with Spike's hands brushing over her body leaving cool invisible trails on her scorching skin. Then he entered her and it was exquisite, he moved into her slowly and their eyes locked, the passion flowing between them. They gradually started to move together, but soon the pace increased, Spike's hands moved down her body and Buffy was calling his name, she held on tightly to him never wanting this moment to end and Spike was pulled over the edge with her.

"Oh god, I love you." He whispered muffled into her ear, trying to regain composure after what was the most amazing sex he'd ever had. Buffy's breathing became loud as she took long steady intakes of oxygen into her lungs; she had just had the best orgasm of her life, at this moment she couldn't even form words or move any part of her body, that was how hard she had climaxed. Spike's head was now resting in the crook of her neck and Buffy felt some energy return to her limbs, she ran her hand through his hair which had become tussled during their escapades and then down his back, caressing him in random patterns. Spike began to stir and rolled himself to the side of Buffy so that he wasn't crushing her causing them both to moan in slight protest as he slipped out of her. They were facing each other now and Buffy smiled shyly at him, Spike wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his chest, one hand absently stroking his shoulder as he rubbed her back.

"That was… wow." She said still unable to think or form words.

"Yeah." He agreed, still in a daze of his own.

They were both exhausted, the obvious reason being because of what they had just done and because they had both been awake most of the night thinking about the other. Now they were finally content, peacefulness settled over them, making neither Buffy nor Spike ever want to move. Buffy sighed, snuggling as close as possible to Spike, hearing a murmur of appreciation from him. As she drifted off to sleep with Spike by her side, who already had his eyes closed, his arms around her and her cheek resting on his chest, there was only one word for it.

Perfect.

TBC…