A/N: Wow and wow again. The response to the last chapter was so good! I got nine reviews in less than 24 hours! I don't know if that's alot to any of you but it is to me! Anywhoo, I wasn't going to post this chap for another couple of days, but I figure if all of you went to the trouble or reviewing, the least I can do is give you another chapter... so here it is! Hope you like!

Disclaimer: If I owned Buffy, Bangel would not exsist.

Buffy lay in the snow enjoying the cold feeling on her skin. She was trying to catch her breath after a particularly fast paced snow fight with Spike. At first they had all been playing nicely but Dawn soon got out of the way when Buffy and Spike started using their speed to full advantage. She knew that Spike was close and probably waiting for the perfect moment to bombard her with snowballs. Sure enough Buffy felt a snow ball narrowly miss her, and she went to do a back flip to get up and surprise Spike. However, she forgot that with snow come ice and ice is not good for doing back flips in heeled boots. Therefore she ended up on her back, wincing in pain.

"If you wanted to be on your back luv, all you had to do was ask"

Buffy lifted her head to see Spike crouched down in front of her smirking.

"I would punch you for that, but I think my hands have frozen solid"

"Good thing I don't feel the cold then ain't it?"

Spike scooped Buffy up in his arms and Buffy didn't protest. He carried her over to where Dawn was sitting on the porch exhausted and placed her down.

"You guy's are lucky you stopped, it will be light soon"

"Have we been playing for that long?" Buffy asked shivering.

Spike took off his duster and placed it round Buffy's shoulders. She pulled it around her inhaling Spike's scent. Spike smiled at the sight of her and Buffy smiled shyly back. Dawn noticed this.

"Did you guy's make up? Because you shouldn't listen to Xander, just wait till Anya get's here she'll get him to shut up"

Spike didn't know what to think. Up until Dawn had thrown the snowball at them he had been ready to leave Sunnydale completely. He couldn't take it any more, the lies and the secrecy. As much as he loved Buffy more then anything else in existence, he didn't know if his heart handle her breaking up with him. But now, seeing her wrapped up in his coat all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her body, watch her fall asleep, and never ever let hergo.

"Dawn could you go inside? Help Tara with the turkey?" Buffy asked her sister hoping she got the message.

Dawn received it loud and clear. "Sure" she shrugged and went inside but went straight to the window.

"Don't think I don't know your there" Buffy said loudly without turning round, knowing full well that Dawn was at the window.

Dawn grumbled and stomped off to the kitchen mumbling about how unfair it was to have a slayer as a sister.

Buffy started to play with the sleeves of Spike's jacket unsure of what to say.

"Look I'm gonna take off, probably best not to have me and the whelp in the same house for Christmas"

Buffy didn't look at Spike.

"OK" She mumbled.

Spike just looked at her blankly, turned around and walked away.

"Spike wait" Buffy was up and at his side in a second.

"You can't go yet, the sun's almost up"

"I'll be fine, there a sewer entrance just up the road, should be able to make it without getting all crispy"

Buffy looked into his eyes and immediately she knew didn't want him to go.

"Stay"

"What for?"

"Because I need you"

Spike tried hard to cover the hurt in his eyes as he spoke bitterly. "You got your friends, and I'm sure you can find some other guy to get your kicks out of. You'll do just fine without me"

Buffy didn't answer, she just took his hand. Spike looked down at her hand as she interlocked their fingers. Spike looked up at her confused and slightly hopeful.

"I'm asking you to stay"

Spike tried hard to figure out what she meant by that, but all he could see in her eyes was determination.

"What about Xander? Your friends? I doubt they'll be happy with your ex sleeping in the basement"

"They'll deal. Anyway it's not about them, it's about us."

Spike's heart leapt at the word 'us'. He didn't want to think too much about anything else, he just wanted to bask in the knowledge that she had basically called them a couple.

Buffy led Spike to the front door still holding his hand, she opened it and led Spikeinside. She turned round andleaned past him to close itand took that moment to stare at him, inches away from his face, and his lips.

"Oh and by the way, you're not my ex"

With that, she left Spike still standing in the hallway mouth open. Slowly, a grin came across his face. Well, he thought. Guess we'll have to test that out won't we?

Willow was busy icing cookies with Tara in the kitchen. Dawn came in with her hair still wet from the snowball fight.

"Hey guy's what you making?"

"Some little Christmas men, we were thinking a little sugar might brighten up everyone's mood" Willow said.

"How are things with Spike and Buffy? Did they work it out?" Tara was anxious to know.

"When I left them they were still big with the goo goo eyes, so they're probably of having wild sex all over the house now" Dawn said casually.

Willow and Tara both looked at Dawn with matching shocked looks.

"I'm kidding!"

Willow hit Dawn with an oven glove and Tara let out a little laugh.

"Well at least I hope I am, never can tell with those two. Hey do you think they've done it in here?" Dawn asked curiously.

"OK Dawn do you want to help me with the punch, I made a special non-alcoholic one for you" Tara said trying desperately to change the subject.

"So not fair! Buffy get's to drink and she's under age!"

"Buffy didn't do the hula on the front lawn last time she had a glass of wine" Buffy said coming into the kitchen.

Dawn blushed slightly. "That was like two years ago! I'm waayyy more mature now"

Buffy just rolled her eyes. Willow frowned.

"Hey is that Spike's jacket?"

Buffy looked down and noticed she was still wearing it. Her first thought was to take it off but something stopped her.

"Yeah" was all she said as she started playing with one of the carrots.

"Buffy I hate to ask and I don't want to pressure you but are you and Spike together now? Like a proper couple?" Willow said tentatively.

Buffy continued playing with the carrots.

"I don't know, it's complicated"

Dawn let out a frustrated cry. "Will you stop with the complicated?? What is so complicated about you and Spike together? You love him, he loves you its pretty simple"

Buffy looked up sharply at Dawn "I do NOT love Spike"

"Oh please I've seen the way you look at him, even before I knew there was anything going on, you love him! Why are you trying so hard to deny it?"

"Dawnie maybe you shouldn't push so hard" Willow said putting an arm on her to try and calm her down.

"I don't know what I have with Spike but it's not love. Right now we are just in a really confusing place and I don't want to push it. Just give us some time."

"Fine, but if you hurt him, then don't ever expect for me to talk to you" Dawn stalked out of the room.

Buffy just looked at her sister's retreating form. Willow and Tara both looked uncomfortable.

"Just give her some space, Spike means a lot to her, she just doesn't want to see him get hurt that's all" Tara said softly.

Buffy sighed and turned round "I know, I know" She looked at the couple in front of her. "At least one good thing came out of the damm mistletoe, its nice somebody enjoyed it" Buffy looked at the two blushing girls with a small smile on her face.

"And I'm sorry Will, I know I should have told you but at the time I was just so all over the place, I didn't think I could handle anyone else knowing." Buffy looked apologetically at Willow.

Willow gave her a reassuring smile "It's OK Buffy, I get why you did it, and I respect Tara's decision not to tell me" She squeezed Tara's hand for the last part. Tara grinned and then looked outside at the gradually lightning sky and a shocked look came over her face.

"I can't believe it! I've been cooking all night! We are sogonna end up having this stuff for breakfast"

"Eww! Turkey for breakfast?? Soo not nice" Buffy screwed up her nose and Tara laughed.

"Can't we just like freeze all this stuff?" Willow asked.

"I guess so, I just didn't expect it to take so long, but then again I have never cooked for this many people before"

"We should all just have cookies for Christmas" Buffy said as she stole a cookie

"Hey!" Willow protested

"Sorry but I think that I have more then earned my sugar fix for today" Buffy said with her mouth full.

"Speaking off Xander" Tara said with a sly grin. "He left a little while ago; gone to check out where Anya's got to"

"Which translates as, I've gone to moan to my girlfriend because big bad Spike has stolen his best friend" Willow muttered dryly.

Buffy giggled "Spike would be so happy if he heard you call him the big bad"

"Bloody right I would, glad to see someone's remembered who I am" They all turned round to see Spike leaning on the doorway. Spike's heart leapt as he realised that Buffy was still wearing his coat.

There was a small silence, broken by Buffy trying to get the coat off.

"You probably want this back"

"Not at all" Spike walked over and gently placed the coat back on her shoulders. "It looks better on you anyway, but don't tell anyone I said so" He winked at the girls and then looked down at Buffy who was staring up at him. He allowed himself a few minutes before he dragged his body away from her.

"Just came out to check out the basement, suns up" Spike forced out.

Buffy pointed towards the basement and Spike went over and opened the door, shot a quick glance at Buffy, before he went down and closed the door behind him.

"Wow I feel like I should crack a window open or something" Willow said mockingly.

Buffy just threw some chocolate chips at her.

Just over three hours later Buffy found herself outside the basement door again. She had done pretty much everything that needed to be done for Christmas eve tonight, she had everyone's present including Spike's which was currently at the top of her closet away from Dawn's prying eyes. Now her boredom was getting the best of her, and she was itching to go down and talk to him, but she didn't know how. Finally after much inner turmoil Buffy opened the door and crept downstairs.

She saw him sprawled out in the cot fast asleep with absolutely nothing but a sheet to cover him. She was just about to start drifting off into daydreams over how cute he looked with his hair ruffled when she remembered the last time she had seen him sleeping. She quickly settled her gaze on his face. Almost as if he were reading her mind Spike's eyelids fluttered and he awoke. When he saw her he broke into a lazy grin.

"Is it just me? Or do you feel a bit of déjà vu?"

Buffy blushed "I thought you might like some blood, Dawn got some in for you" Buffy revealed the mug she had behind her back.

Spike sat up. "Didn't sign up for room service"

"It's kind of my way of saying sorry, for before"

"No need luv, seeing you still in my jacket is more then enough" Spike indicated towards her and Buffy realised for the second time today that she still hadn't taken off the jacket.

"I think I'm finally realising why you never take it off, it's really comfortable. Plus I look cool" Spike chuckled at hearing Buffy say that.

"Well I think it's safe to say that after you've worn it for so long I am never taking it off again. It'll be nice to have your smell on my stuff" Buffy smiled slightly at this and walked over to sit down next to him. She handed him the mug.

"Drink up, don't want a cranky vampire on my hands"

Spike took the mug off her and downed it in quickly. He shook off his vamp face which had slipped on. Buffy watched him.

"Do you not like looking like that in front of me?"

Spike lowered his head. He didn't know quite how to answer that.

"Don't mind I guess, but then again it's not like your gonna forget what I am"

Buffy felt slightly ashamed but her slayer voice kicked in. Why are you feeling guilty, he's right! You should remember what he is! They sat in silence each lost in there thoughts. For something to do, Buffy took the mug off of Spike, but the contact set them both alight. Spike looked hungrily at Buffy and all of a sudden she found it extremely difficult to breathe. Spike's finger's traced soft patterns on her hands before trailing up her arm making all of Buffy's nerve endings explode. He leaned forward so that his lips were inches away from hers.

"Buffy!" Dawn shouted.

Buffy took a deep breath and pulled apart from him. "Down here!" she squealed.

"Oh! I didn't realise you were down there, it's OK! Take as much time as you need!" Dawn said hurriedly

Buffy got up and walked over to the staircase but Spike was behind her and turned her round so she was backed up against the staircase. She breathed hard. He leaned down and started kissing her neck, Buffy moaned and pulled him closer.

"You" he said between kisses "are not going anywhere"

She pulled his face up and kissed him so hard it was as if she was trying to devour him. There hands roamed freely and soon clothes were discarded in the heat of passion. They tried to keep quiet, but the feelings they awoke in each other were just too explosive to keep the volume down.

Spike collapsed on top of Buffy, grateful that he didn't need to breathe because if he did, he would probably be dead. Well, at least deader then he was now. Buffy gripped his cool body with all of her slayer strength, desperate to hold on to him, breathing heavily. Spike lifted his upper body and rested an elbow on the floor beside her. He smiled at her.

"Aren't you gonna scamper off?"

"I would, but I can't feel my leg's" Buffy managed to gasp out.

Spike just grinned and kissed her on the head.

"God I love you so much" he whispered.

Buffy heard and felt her heart clench, she was so scared, how could someone love her that much? She searched his face as if trying to find an answer there. When she couldn't, she snuggled into his chest, already missing the feeling of her skin on his.

Spike was surprised at this, since when did she snuggle after sex? However he wasn't stupid enough to pass up this opportunity and he wrapped his arms around her tightly. They lay there just content with the afterglow surrounding them.

Suddenly a scream could be heard followed by a large crash. "Buffy! Spike! Demon!"

He he he oh I'm so evil....