The evening winds were rusting the trees around them and the sky was slowly darkening, clouds rolling in from the left as the far away brightness of the crisp blue sky dissolved into a flooded grey indicating darkness would be upon them soon and the snow would begin again.

Spike stopped under a gap in the thick forest brush to look up and take in a few cold breaths to see what fate would hand them. More snow?

Bugger.

He looked down at the precious cargo in his arms and bit his lip wondering whether to stop for the evening and give both of them a break or carry on just a bit closer to safety. It was obvious what he wanted to do but the exhaustion setting in over him was almost frightening. Physical, emotional and mental exhaustion plagued him and had done ever since he'd pulled the girl he cared so deeply about out of the iced over waters of the small reservoir.

She had slept nearly all day as he had carried her through the trees, slipped on ice and snagged his sore knee on everything they seemed to pass. Spike had had to stop once or twice to rest his aching leg for a few minutes and in that time he'd set her down, take her pulse and try to get her to talk to him for awhile. There had been many futile attempts to wake her which scared him more than anything and he'd had to shake her just to make her groan and open her eyes. He was sure she'd developed hypothermia after falling through the ice from the sickly tint to her usually rosy glowing skin and looking at her now told him all he needed to know. It would be much harder to keep waking her up. She was slipping away slowly and was tempted to give up himself if it were not for the drive in him to save them and see them both well and happy again.

Idly he wondered if anyone had noticed they were missing. He remembered Buffy telling him she was staying at the lodge for quite awhile so her family wouldn't know and he had no family himself in the country. They had only been gone for days but it felt like weeks, a huge weight on tired, worried shoulders. He'd been trying to hold the impending doom off but now it was coming to him in waves. He was too tired, Buffy was too sick and they were both too cold to go on like this for much longer.

The choice came back to him. Rest or fight?

Rest or fight?

He desperately wished to sag against one of the trees what would give them some shelter and sleep away the aches and pains hurting his whole body. To sleep away the freezing weather and pretend it was all a dream and he would have done if it were not for the tiny moan from Buffy. She shifted ever so slightly in his arms, her eyes screwing shut tight and then relaxing again repeating the action while her eyes fluttered under her eyelids. She sighed and moved her face against his chest unconsciously trying to create some warmth while shivers trembled her whole body.

Spike lowered his head down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead reassuring them both she was still there and he was still there and they were together. He wanted her to wake up. Look at him. Smile at him. Caress his face and tell him everything would be all right but he knew what the chances of that were. Not high at all is what they were and he knew it all to well. He was surprised however to hear he responding. It wasn't a response he could really work with but it gave him at least some peace of mind that she was still with him.

She was dreaming.

Small mutters and quiet mumbled and an occasional recognizable word would slip from her pale, drawn lips.

"Cold…. Spike…Gonna be ok…Don't…So cold…."

He listened to her, tilting his ear to her mouth to hear what she was saying and he just had to smile when he heard his name o her lips. She was dreaming about him. Fancy that. Near death and freezing and it was him she was dreaming about.

The dream trailed off and he knew what he had to do. He heaved her up to his chest again letting her head rest on his shoulder, having let her slip partially to the ground while he rested. He took one long look at her face and felt a surge of pride and love for her. Love. After just a few days?

That scared him most but he was happy to accept it.

His lips were drawn to hers and he left a soft meaning full kiss on them feeling how cold they were realizing they were both shivering he shook his head defiantly.

"Don't you worry pet, we're gettin' out of this. I promise you. We will have that warm room. We'll have the huge bathroom with the gold and marble taps and bath and all the room service we want. We'll be warm and cozy and lazy all day and most importantly'. He let a small smile hover on his lips enjoying the imagery." Most importantly luv, we'll be together. I promise you now Buffy. If it takes years to get there, we'll get out of this".

Satisfied he'd made a promise in worth of gold, one he intended to keep and fully play out, he flexed the muscles in his shoulders and feet and began walking once more in what he thought would be a good direction. Since they stopped the daylight remaining had decreased quickly and the sky was now very dull with fluffy cotton grey clouds. The shadows increased and it was hard to tell in some places were to step and where not to step. He didn't want to fall and hurt his girl after all.

The wind picked up and rustled the trees and snow covered bushes around them and Spike held Buffy tighter pulling her closer as if trying to shelter her from the cruel temperature. The rustling also became louder and a series of cracks and rumbles emerged from behind a huge fallen tree covered in shrubbery and leaves and snow.

Holy hell all frozen over could it be help? A person? A hare hunter or something? ANYONE who could help them at all… No such luck!

All hope full thoughts disappeared and were instantly replaced with terror as the snow and leaves caved over the top on the fallen tree, disturbed by the roaring grizzly bear that now stood there.

Oh.My.Gosh. How long has it been? I really need to start typing out all my stories before I post them but this one I was excited about. To everyone who reviewed all I can say is a HUGE "I'm Sorry". I did promise to continue after my operation but I didn't say when. As soon as it was over I planned to write more but I was very sick after. As soon as I went back to school I had piles of work to catch up on and after that all my mock exams. I also had to put in my college application and not to mention Christmas. With my explanations over with I really do want to give a shout out to all who reviewed. I'm sorry I can't do it individually t the moment because I'm unorganized but just let me say this…

I love to serve you. I write to please you and sometimes displease you. It means so much to have your reviews, good or bad and I appreciate your ideas and suggestions although I do already have my stories laid out I'm glad to have more ideas. You guys rock and this story is all for you.

Thank you.