Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Buffy…or any related characters…Why? Because Joss is too selfish to share, watch, when I create my own hit show, I won't share with him either. Man, I don't really own the plot either because it's largely based off of the drama, Stairway to Heaven.

Chapter 33

If love was meant to be between two people,

Then they will always find each other,

No matter how long it takes,

No matter how far,

No matter how many obstacles stand in the way,

In the end, they will always end up in each other's arms.

And the voting so far goes like this:

By Moonlight: 3

Caught: 1

Thanks for reviewing: Brittany, scruffybunny, Mita427, spuffyfan-1, spikezbaybeegurl, buffyfan101, chazza, mistress, Freak Goddess of the Crypt, kait, hotspike7 and naiya-isis.

A/N: I'm so sorry you guys…for making you guys wait so long! I just haven't had a lot of time…please don't hate me…or wish to kill me!

Despite his efforts not to, he couldn't help but check if she was gone or not. His steps were slow, for his mind told him not to, but his body wouldn't listen. He stopped a ways from the door that led to the numerous cubicles, including Buffy's. He would always check up on her this way because he could always see her from this angle, but she could never see him. Her desk was unoccupied.

He let out a sigh, not sure if it was out of relief or misery. Either way, it didn't matter. He had sent Buffy away…but it was the best thing to do. The wisest choice, he had to forget her. He looked back at her desk again; he could still see her. Her soft blonde hair shining from the light, the wastebasket full and overflowing…

"William!"

Spike blinked.

"I can't believe you sent Buffy away! The office is so quiet without her," the voice came again.

"Hey Glory," Spike replied as he recomposed himself.

Glory eyed him. She wasn't stupid; she knew who Spike was thinking about. She didn't care, life had given her another opportunity, and she was going to use it. "And work isn't going as smoothly without her," she continued as she latched herself onto his arm.

"Are you free tonight?" Spike interrupted rather quickly as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'm not sure, why?" Glory asked, smiling inside.

Spike hesitated before replying. "I'm going to a party tonight luv, problem is, it's only for couples."

Glory grinned. "Of course I'll go!"

Blue…that's all she could see. Two pools of blue, the color of glaciers, the colors of water, the color of the sky…

"Miss,"

"Miss…we're here…miss?"

"Miss…miss?" Buffy's eyes shot open. That was a weird dream…she'd have to stop having those.

"Yes?" she replied rather groggily.

"We've arrived," the driver told her.

"Oh right…! Sorry," Buffy muttered as she grabbed her bags. "Thank you!" she told the driver. She then quickly got out of the car. She looked around, and hugged herself. The air seemed colder, and there were trees everywhere. Was she up in the mountains?

A large two story contemporary cabin stood in front of her. What seemed to be the living room had large glass windows, and there was a large sketch of a girl's face inside. Her breath coming out in puffs, she walked inside. She dropped her bags near the door, and inspected the drawing.

Angel rolled his neck a bit as he brought more firewood to the house. He breathed in the fresh mountain air, and then he stopped, dead in his tracks a few yards away from the cabin.

He blinked.

He watched her look at the sketch, and then around the living room. 'Why is she here? How did she get here?!' he thought frantically. In his surprise he dropped his armload of firewood.

Buffy turned suddenly at the loud clattering noise. There he was.

Her emerald eyes stared into his dark ones. Then he began to walk away. Buffy ran out of the cabin. "Angel!" she yelled.

"I thought I told you to stay away!" he yelled back. Buffy began to walk after him. "GO AWAY!"

Buffy caught up with him. "Go?!" she demanded. "If anyone is going to 'go' that person is going to be, understand?"

"How did you get here?" Angel asked, his voice urgent.

Buffy paused. "S…Spike sent me." she said quietly.

"WHAT?! Why did he do that? Why would he do that?" Angel began ranting.

"Everything's fine. Besides, we're just friends now." Buffy explained.

"That dumb bastard," Angel muttered to himself. "Then what about us Buffy?" Angel asked as he stopped walking, and faced her. "What about us? We're siblings!"

Buffy looked up at him. Finally her weariness showed, her emerald eyes dull, and her pale skin. "You're all I have left Angel, you can't tell me to leave…I don't have anywhere else to go…" Buffy threw herself at Angel, and began sobbing. Angel didn't say anything, too shocked and surprised. He merely hugged her, and held her close, trying to remember this feeling, of having her in his arms, and of hearing her say that she needed him…

"Buffy Summers!" Angel shouted with a wide grin on his face.

"What do want Angel Summers?!" Buffy yelled back light heartedly.

"Elizabeth Johnson!" he called jokingly.

"Aidan Giles!" she replied.

Holding hands they ran up higher into the mountains where Buffy jumped around like a child for joy. There was snow! They immediately, at the insistence of Buffy, began making a snowman, with a few snowball fights in between. "Let's go to the hospital tomorrow." Buffy suggested casually as she shaved the sides of the snowman to make him 'rounder.'

"Oh, and I still want to be your sister…Angel…" she added as she felt out her hand.

Angel quirked an eyebrow as Buffy turned her hand over, and opened her palm. It was the necklace. The necklace with the ring from when he was still Aidan and she was still Elizabeth. After he put the necklace on, Buffy handed him an envelope. "It's from Spike," she told him. Buffy quickly turned away as he opened the letter, and let out a light sigh. "From Spike…" she repeated.

Angel opened the letter, not knowing what to expect, and totally clueless.

"I'm sorry.

But I can't keep my promise to you.

Things have changed Angel, and she and I have decided to remain friends...

Everyone clapped their hands as Spike announced that he was going to sing a song. "Slow dancing with me my guuuuuurl," he sang, obviously drunk and off key.

"Sing another!" Glory told him, and people hooted in agreement.

"L is for the way you look at meeee, Ooooooo is foooooor the only one I seeeee, V is very very extraooooordinary, Eeeee is eeven more than anyyyyyy one that youuu adore can…" Spike then fell off the table. As people rushed to help him, he could've sworn that he saw Buffy's face on every single one of them…

"I thought I could make her happy,

Do a better job than you,

But I guess I was wrong. I can't make her happy.

Guess you were right peaches.

So I'm sending her back to you.

You better take good care of her,

She's my best mate,

-Spike"

Glory and Spike stood in the elevator, both not saying a word. So the party hadn't exactly gone as planned…starting off with him getting slightly drunk.

Angel glanced at Buffy's face again. She seemed better. Her cheeks were pink from all the excitement, and her lips curved slightly upward as she slumbered on. He continued his sketch of her sleeping again, and couldn't help but smile. Right now, he felt like he could do anything, so he took a chance, and decided to try and draw with his right hand. But he ended up crying out in pain, and dropping the pencil. He looked at Buffy again, and sighed.

Spike brought the car to a stop, and Glory quietly got out of the car. A surly look was on his face, and he sped away. As he drove he popped in a cassette tape, and listened. ((A/N: Remember the tape everyone?))

"Hey Buffy, I'm in your room right now. I came to say good bye, but your mom said that you were out…"

Spike snorted.

"I'm only 14 Buffy, and I don't know a lot…but I think that I love you. I think I love you…you have to wait for me to come back Buffy. I'll wait for you, and you have to wait for me."

A strange and strangled noise erupted from Spike's throat. A tear coursed down his face even though he tried not to cry. Even though he believed that tears were only for poofters, he couldn't help it.

"I don't want to leave you, but I have to, but when I come back, I promise to make up for it. I'll even have a mural at the park for you…just for you. I'll call you and write you, and you have to write back."

Spike began to smile sadly as he listened. How stupid and naïve he had been…how simple life had been…why couldn't it be the same now?

"Please come to the airport tomorrow. I have to see you before I go Buffy. I have something to give you. See you tomorrow, and I love you."

The tape made a soft whirring noise, and then a young girl's voice came on.

"I'm here Spike…I'll wait for you, I promise. And Spike?..."

Tears continued to fall from his blue eyes. He held his breath as he waited to hear what came next.

"I love you too."

Spike couldn't take it any longer. He pulled over to the side of the road. "BUFFY!"

"…I can't see you…where I are you?"

Angel stopped drawing, and setting his things down, went over to Buffy's sleeping form on the couch. "I'm here," he whispered.

"Spike…"

Angel's heart fell.

"Spike!" she said again, but louder and more urgently. "Spike! Where are you? I can't see you! Spike!!"

Angel right now didn't care whose name she was yelling. Her temperature was high…again.

Spike walked up the driveway, and stood in the shadows, and watched. And so he just stood there, trying to get a glimpse of Buffy's face. Everything seemed to be going well. "So bloody cold," Spike muttered to himself, and found himself thinking of the warmth a certain petite blonde could bring him with a single smile. His blissful thoughts were interrupted when he almost jumped in surprise as he saw Angel run out of the house.

When he was sure that Angel was gone, he stepped out from the shadows, and just stood out there in the frigid cold, and stared at her through the big glass windows of the living room. She was sleeping on the couch, and she seemed so peaceful, so ethereal, she didn't seem to belong here on earth. Then he ran into the house. He knew that what he was doing wasn't helping himself, but he couldn't bear it…he had to see his angel again.

Angel let out a roar of frustration as the door of the last pharmacy in the town wouldn't open. He began to beat and kick at it, but it wouldn't open. "OPEN DAMN IT!" he roared. He gave up and slammed his back onto the wall, and slumped down onto the sidewalk. Sure, she just had a fever…she could wait, but something told Angel it was more. Buffy was always having fevers, fevers with extremely high temperatures. And it worried him.

As he began to head back to the cabin, he remembered the first time Buffy had a high fever. No one cared…except him, and he had carried her all the way. The doctors said that she had an abnormally high temperature. Then there was that time when they were driving to that beach in Florida. And now this time…each time her core temperature was high…always too high.

Spike heard Angel coming, and as quietly as he could, he dashed out the back door. He knew it was stupid to try and pretend that he didn't care. Of course there was the letter, but then again, he was here too. Spike listened to Angel yell Buffy's name. "Buffy! Buffy! Buffy, can you hear me? You have to wake up Buffy! Buffy!"

Spike couldn't help but worry. What was wrong with her? He then felt his cell phone vibrate. He quickly pulled it out of his coat pocket, and flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Spike! This is Angel, I need you to come and pick up Buffy. Now!"

"I thought I made it bloody clear that you were the one who was going to take care of her from now on," Spike said.

"You should listen to yourself! You sound so selfish! Buffy's sick, and she needs you! She's sick and she still calls for you! She's not even awake and she looks for you! I'm leaving, I don't care if Buffy freezes to death or not, so if you care, come and get her because I'm going."

Spike was speechless.

"It's up to you Spike." And he hung up. Angel put the phone back into Buffy's purse, and gave her one long wistful look. "I'm going to go now Buffy…you've got to stop being sick. It makes me worried."

Then he left. He took several duffel bags, and all of his art supplies. He looked back at the cabin, and disappeared down the road.

As soon as he was sure that Angel was gone, he slowly entered the house. He stood in the shadows of the unlit kitchen, and watched her in her fitful sleep. He heard her murmur. Out of curiosity he moved closer and closer, wondering what she was saying. It was then he heard her call his name…it sounded more like a plea. Spike slowly moved his hand out to touch her cheek. Her skin was so soft…

"I'm so sorry Buff," he murmured as he sat on the ground next to the couch. "So sorry luv….so sorry…"

"Spike?" Buffy whispered, her eyes still closed.

"I'm never going to send you away ever again Buffy. I promise, I'll never let you go, not for the rest of my bloody life luv, I promise….never…ever…"

"Sorry for making you stay late doc," Spike apologized to the middle aged doctor. Spike had brought Buffy just as the small local medical center was about to close. It was late, past midnight, but the kind doctor had let them in.

Spike carried Buffy in, and set her gently down onto the bed. Maybe he was overreacting by asking for a room for Buffy, 'But,' he thought, brushing a few tendrils of her hair from her face, 'She deserves the best.' A few minutes later, the doctor came in. Spike stood up. "So what's the matter with her?" he asked, trying to keep calm.

The doctor smiled. "She has an extremely high core temperature. Almost too high for a normal fever, but she should be alright after the shot I give her. This is the first time she's had a fever like this, isn't it?" the doctor asked.

Spike wasn't sure how to answer. Ever since he knew Buffy as a kid, she had almost never been sick, while he on the other hand was always catching a cold and what not. She had never missed a day of work due to sickness either. "No," he told the doctor.

The doctor nodded as he checked the needle of the syringe. "That's good news because if this sort of fever has happened more than once, I'd be worried." He told Spike good naturedly as he injected the needle into Buffy's arm. Spike wanted to ask why it wouldn't be good, but held his tongue. "I'll come back tomorrow early in the morning," he continued as he washed his hands, "But my colleague will be here even earlier, so I'll allow you two to stay here."

Spike thanked the doctor, and took his seat in the chair next to the bed. The doctor had offered Spike the couch in the doctor's lounge, but he had declined. He wasn't going to leave Buffy. "Never…ever, bloody demons, the FBI, not even the blastin' devil himself can make me leave your side Buffy. I promise."

Spike managed to stay awake for a few more hours, and Buffy still hadn't woken up yet., and Spike grew extremely worried and anxious. "Come on Buffy, wake up luv. Wake up…we're not just friends Buffy! We're not just friends! I swear! Please…wake up!"

Angel thanked the woman in the ticket booth, and pocketed the pass. A one way ticket to leaving this place behind, and to never come back, he would never interfere again. As much as it pained him, he knew Buffy and Spike belonged together. He had to do this, for himself….and for Buffy. If he stayed, Buffy would continue using him as a blanket, and she would never be happy, and Buffy of all people deserved happiness.

Of course he'd keep an eye on her. It wouldn't be helping him at all, but he'd have to, he was her big brother after all. He glanced at the big clock above the ticket booth. He didn't have too long to wait now.

Buffy's eyes opened. Her vision was slightly fuzzy, and her cheeks felt hot, but she didn't have the headache she had when she had first fallen asleep. She frowned as she groggily sat up, what was that annoying noise? It was then she noticed the blonde head of hair resting of the edge of the bed. Where was she? She looked around, and figured it was a hospital. Buffy wrinkled her nose, where was the noise coming from? She looked at Spike, and realized it was his cell phone.

The ringing soon stopped, and Spike moved, but still slept on. A sad smile lit Buffy's face as she saw that he had a tight grip on her hand. "You're in pain aren't you Spike?" she said softly. "You're tired of all this, and tired of getting hurt…like me. But if you keep coming back to Spike, it'll be harder for me to forget you," Buffy said, choking on her own words. "I have to do this for you Spike," Buffy said as she eased her hand out of his. She slid off the bed, and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you."

Buffy ran into the train, and sat down in the nearest empty seat. Her vision had cleared up, and she felt better, but she hurt…inside. Her heart felt like it was going to burst. But she had to do this! She couldn't stand in the way between Spike and…his mother, his future, his career. She was just a girl, some child hood crush, who was she to him anyways? He would forget her soon, and move on; he'd have to.

Angel felt someone sit in the seat against him. He looked over his shoulder, and once he saw the hair, he knew who it was. He quickly turned back around, and faced forward. 'What was she doing here?' he thought frantically. Then the train started moving.

Spike woke up to find the bed empty. His heart dropped, and his began to panic. He ran out of the room, and almost ran into a doctor. He supposed it was the kind doctor's colleague. "Where is she?!" he demanded from the surprised doctor.

"Who?" the doctor inquired, rather alarmed.

"Buffy! She has blonde hair, emerald eyes-"

"Oh so that's the girls name!" the doctor exclaimed. He shrugged. "I don't know. She left here a bit ago."

Spike clenched the collar of the doctor's white coat. "Where did she go? Did she tell you?!"

The doctor looked at Spike in surprise. "I'm not sure, but she did ask me where the train station-" And Spike was gone.

"Why are you doing this Buffy?!" Spike yelled as he quickly switched lanes, and swerved. He drove like a mad man, but he was mad. Madly in love, and he realized that nothing he did would change that. He was in love with Buffy, and that was it. All those years, and all those miles apart hadn't changed his feelings for her; they only made him long to see her more. He saw her for a few seconds, and then she was gone…only to reappear into his life as Elizabeth Johnson.

He had fallen in love with Elizabeth Johnson too. He was a blooming idiot. To think he could ever stop loving Buffy. He didn't care where she had been those few years, all that mattered was that she was back now. But he was a soddin' idiot, and kept screwing everything up. He kept letting her go, but last night, when he kept seeing her everywhere…it was a he knew that it couldn't go on like that. He was going to be with Buffy…no matter what.

Spike parked his car right at the entrance of the train station, and ran inside. He looked around, and saw a train slowly moving. He saw her. She was sitting right by the window. He ran to the train. He ran beside it, and pounding on the window. "BUFFY!" he yelled. "BUFFY! BUFFY SUMMERS!"

Buffy let out a strangled cry as she diverted her eyes from the window. "You don't understand Spike," she whispered, "I'm doing this for you."

Spike let out a cry of frustration, the train was going too fast for him. He ran back to his car, and sped out of the parking lot. He quickly pulled out into the street, and headed for the exit to the freeway.

He spotted the train.

He switched over into the right lane; he could see her, by the window. He yelled her name even though he knew his efforts were futile. It didn't matter, he was going to follow that train and bring Buffy back home.

Angel looked behind him again. Buffy had nodded off, and was asleep again, her head leaning against the cold window. He sighed, and moved into the seat next to her. He leaned her head the other way so that it was resting on his shoulder. He almost jumped in surprise when he heard her speak. "Is that you Angel?" she said quietly.

Angel didn't say anything.

"Did you call Spike?" Buffy asked.

"No." He said flatly.

"You can't leave me Angel," Buffy told him, "You can't. I don't have anywhere else to go, you know that…right?" A frightened tone filled Buffy's voice.

"BUFFY!" Spike screamed again. He felt nothing but panic and worry. He wasn't going to let her get away. He'd be damned if he was going to let her go again.

Spike parked his car in the front again, not caring if it was allowed or not. It didn't matter, nothing else mattered when it came to Buffy. He ran into the train station, and looked around. 'Where's the bloody train?' his crazed mind yelled. He saw a train, and ran towards it. He ran down the stairs, and milled through the crowd of people. He didn't see her anywhere. He then headed in the other direction.

"Excuse me ma'am…"

Buffy opened her eyes, and found the train conductor shaking her.

"We've arrived ma'am," the conductor said.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized, as she quickly exited the train. She stepped off the train, and stood there. She had forgotten about Angel, and half expected Spike to be waiting for her. But who was she kidding? She had probably hurt him more than anyone else had. Spike had even come running after the train…that was more than she expected anyways. She sighed, and slowly began to walk. She didn't know where she was going. She felt heavy…and empty.

Despite her resolve not to, all she could think about was him.

She could see his blue eyes…his outrageously bright platinum blonde hair, but it was rather nice when it wasn't spiked or gelled back. His chiseled cheek bones…Buffy stopped in her tracks. There in front of her, was Spike, he seemed to be looking for something…or someone.

He had followed the train the whole way, looking for her…she realized she didn't feel that strange hollowness anymore. Just seeing him made her smile slightly. Fate obviously knew what they wanted for her, and she could take the hint now. She didn't care anymore; she loved Spike, and that was all there was to it.

"SPIKE!" she yelled as she began running towards him.

Spike spun around at the sound of his name. There…his angel was running towards him. "BUFFY!" he cried in reply. He ran towards her too. He caught her in his arms, and spun her around. He gripped her in a tight hug, never wanting to let go. He buried his face into her soft hair, and inhaled…he loved that smell…that unique smell that only Buffy had.

"I'm sorry," Buffy said, tears streaming down her face. She embraced Spike just as hard, and felt comforted by the feeling of his arms around her.

"Ssh, no it's my fault pet. I never should have sent you away. I never should have let you go…it's my fault," Spike repeated as he kissed the top of her head. "From now on, I'm not even going to let you out of my sight Buffy."

"Spike....?"

"I love you Buffy!" Spike exclaimed. "I love you so much that it hurts Buffy. I love you, I love you, I love you!"

Buffy looked up at Spike, her emerald eyes searching his blue ones. She seemed to be searching for something… "I love you too Spike." Buffy had found it, that look in his eyes…that was love; unconditional love.

"I love you Buffy Anne Summers. I truly do." He then tiled her chin up, and caught her lips in a long overdue and passionate kiss.

At the top of the stairway, another watched. He knew they belonged together, but he could still feel his heart break…again. "Be happy Buffy!" he yelled before disappearing into the crowd.

As she kissed the soft lips of the man she knew she loved, she couldn't help but smile as she heard someone yell, 'Be happy Buffy.' She sighed as they continued kissing, this was what it was like to be loved…she could only hope that someday Angel would find it too.

((A/N: There! I finally updated!!! NO, THIS FIC IS NOT OVER. I just thought that there should be some fluff now…and now Buffy and Spike realize and ADMIT that they TRULY love each other...did you guys like it? Next chapter: Telling Glory and Darla…!!!))