author's note: I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAAAACK!

and yeah, this is a waaaaaaay fluffier, spuffier version of Older And Far Away.

if you don't like Spuffy, stay the hell away from me.


Buffy rolled her eyes at Spike as he sidled closer to her and tried to hold back a smile.

"Ohhhh, Buffy!" he taunted. "Can I get you a soda-pop? I think I'm in looooooooove."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "Just a soda? That's all I'm going to get from you? The last guy who told me he loved m attached me with a cattle prod, chained me up, and threatened to sic his crazy ex on me. So, you're going to have to top a soda."

Spike forwned, wrapping his armsaround her waist and pulling her into a corner. Leaning close to her face, he whispered, "But what if I make it...a Pepsi?"

"Make it a Sierra Mist and you've got yourself a deal."

He pulled back, lines of frustration marring his forehead. "Wait a tick. If this bloke Retard-"

"Richard."

"-Richard gives you a soda, he'll 'ave earned your undying love?" He furrowed his eyebrows further. "Damn it," he grumbled. "Should've tried that years ago."

"Hmm," she said, twining her arms around his nck. "Would've worked better than a flask of...what was it? Whiskey?"

"Hey!" he protested, offended. "I'd appreciate it if you'd remember what form of alchohol I stocked up on our psuedo date. And it was bourban, thank you very much."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "Point is, you don't take a girl to a stakeout. You gotta wine and dine her."

"Oh really? Well, what would have happened if I had told you that I wanted to take you out to a lovely, fancy restaurant so that I could 'woo' you as I pleased?"

"I would have staked you probably."

Burrowing his face into her neck, he said in a muffled voice, "Told ya."

"Wait...so you're saying if I had acknowledged itlast year, we'd be doing then what we're doing now?"

He nodded and she smiled. "Well...guess we've go to make up for lost time, don't we?"

Spike lifted his head, shocked, and she used the moment to lean up and capture his lips. They stood there, exchanging soft, wet kisses, until they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Buffy pulled away and turned to her left. "Dawn!"

The teenager, barely able to control her ecstatic grin, said, "Am I interrupting something?"

"Uhm...I, um...I can explaiOOMPH!" Buffy was cut off as the girl rushed at her and Spike, engulfing them in a hug.

"Oh, my god!" she squealed, pulling away. "I'm so happy!"

"Really?" Buffy asked, anxiously. "You're not...upset or anything?"

"No!" Dawn scoffed. "Why would I be?"

"Because...because it's Spike?" Sh felt her lover flinch, stiffen, and step away. It was only a small movement, but it was enough to let her know that she had hurt him.

"You've been talking with Xander waaaaaaay too much. Listen, Buffy...I don't care! I love Spike, and you know I'm aboard the Buffy and Spike wagon. So...I hope you two are happy!"

As the teenager bounced off into the kitchen, Buffy turned her attention to the hard gaze of Spike. "I...I'm sorry for what I said. I...I'm going to go..." She turned to go,wrapping her arms around herself. His hand caught her upper arm and turned her back around and drew her to him. Tears were in her eyes, and his hand came up to cup her cheek. She closed her eyes as his thumb brushed away her tears. He kissed her forehead.

"Shh, now. No tears. They're forbidden in this house."

She burrowed her face against his shirt, smiling. "Since when do you make the rules?"

"Well, I figure I'm the man of the house..."

She grinned, looking up at him. "I like the sound of that." She kissed him slowly. "So when do you think we should tell Xander?"

The sound of shattering glass drew their attention to the doorway where Xander stood, the bottom of his pants wet from whatever he had been drinking.

"Xand!" she said, smiling a bit too brightly. "You won't believe what I have to tell you..."

THE END