Chapter 10

Buffy dashed through the cemetery, the afternoon sun shining in her eyes. She finally made it to Spike's crypt and kicked the door in. After checking for any sight of dust, she sprinted down to the lower level. She breathed out a sigh of relief at the sight of her sleeping angel.

She walked towards the bed when his eyes suddenly darted open. "Buffy."

She smiled slightly. "The one and only…"

"What gives me the pleasure of your company, luv?" He waited for an answer. "'Cause it's the second time you've come to disturb my beauty sleep…"

He saw the pained look in her eyes and stood up, sheet around his hips.

"What's wrong, pet?"

She held out her hand to him, and he took the wrinkled paper from her hand. He began to read it and he became, if possible, paler then before.

He sat down on the bed. "It's alright, pet. I won't leave you. It'll be okay. Do you hear me?"

Then her dam burst. Tears began to flow fast down her cheeks and she began to leave. Nevertheless, Spike was faster then her and stood in front of the ladder with a small smile on his lips. "It's okay, pet. Come 'ere."

She sniffed and put her arms around his neck, her tears soaking his chest. "Shh…" He whispered in her ear. "It'll be alright… "

He carried her to the bed when he felt her body relax. He watched her sleep for a while, mesmerized by the way her whole being calmed when she slept. He saw that she wore the necklace he'd given her last night. He sighed quietly, he truly loved her. 'That soddin' soldier boy is going to pay.'


Willow came into the room where the rest of the Scooby gang sat.

"The blood isn't Buffy's. It's human, though…"

Tara bit her lip. ´What should I do…? I can't tell them about Riley, Buffy would be… I would fail her.'

Willow watched while her lover seemed to be deep in thought. "Tara?" Tara looked up at Willow. "Do you know something?"

Tara shook her head furiously. "N-n-no. I don't."

Willow frowned but decided not to press Tara about it. 'She will probably tell us if it's something important…'

Xander stood up from his seat in the sofa. "That's it! We don't know anything about what has happened to Buffy, we have to go out and look for her!"

Tara looked up at Xander. "Do we know anything has happened to her at all?"

Tara shifted uncomfortably when all eyes were on her. "I mean maybe she's just out for a walk…"

Xander shrugged. "I still think we should find her, and ask her what she did yesterday, if she wasn't with Riley."

"Okay…" Tara said. "I'll stay here with Dawn and Joyce; maybe put a magical barrier on the house to keep any demons from getting in without an invitation…"

Willow smiled at her lover and gave her a kiss on the cheek before heading out the door with Xander and Giles.


Buffy woke up, darkness surrounding her. She panicked and blindly reached out for something to hold on to. She felt a cold hand and she grasped it.

"There, there, luv… No need to panic…I'm here." Spike's voice was heard next to her. "The candles must have burned out. I'll fix it."

She felt a pair of cold lips pressed to her forehead and she relaxed and fell back onto the soft pillows.

She heard Spike move around and soon she could see his features in the soft candlelight. She smiled at the sight that he still didn't wear a shirt.

She smiled shyly at him. "…I had a great time last night…"

Spike returned her smile and sat down at the edge of the bed.

"So did I, pet… But you probably figured that out by now…"

Spike thought it was amazing how this girl could make him feel just like a schoolboy again.

He heard Buffy take a deep breath and then say;

"Come lay down beside me…Please?"

Spike turned to look at Buffy, his eyes full of disbelief. Buffy met his eyes.

"I just need to be near you. You make me feel…" She smiled and took a moment to find the right words. "I'm safe… I know that when I'm in your arms, I'm safe."

The joy and love that showed in Spike's deep blue eyes was indescribable.


Tara looked out through the living room window, watching as the trees' branches moved in the increasing wind. 'It looks like there's a storm on the way…I hope that Joyce makes it back from the gallery in time…' She thought, but went back to the book she was reading.

Then the doorbell rang.

Tara got up to answer it, but Dawn came crashing down the stairs and swung the front door open.

"Oh, Hi Riley!"

"Shut, up, brat."

Tara quickly got up from the couch and went to stand next to Dawn, who had pain written all over her face.

"Oh, if isn't the white witch… Always so nice and kind to everybody." He snorted. Tara felt the disgusting smell of alcohol coming from Riley.

"Is she home?" He snorted again. "Oh, I remember, she isn't home. Home is where I am!" Tara flinched but remained calm.

"You can tell that cheating whore this;"

He lifted his hand, and before any of the girls could react. He had hit Tara across the face, and she fell unconscious to the ground.


Buffy cuddled closer to Spike and looked up at him. His eyes were full of adoration, and Buffy felt a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and smiled at her. He propped up on his elbow. He tilted his head.

"I love your hair," he said simply and looked into her eyes. "And I love your eyes… You've really got beautiful eyes…"

She smiled at him, he looked as he was trying to remember something. And when he spoke his accent had changed.

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love you to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death. "

He smiled at her, "And maybe even more than that."

"I know…" She whispered, her eyes full with tears as she had watched him declare his love to her. She sniffed. "I think…" She looked him deep in the eyes. "I think that maybe… Maybe I could love you too."

Spike felt his whole un-dead being thaw from her words.

"Thank you, Buffy…" He whispered, and their lips met in a soft kiss while their tears mingled on his white satin sheets.


A/N …Aaaw… I just love writing Spuffy.. Thanks for your reviews! I loooove getting reviews.. (Hint, hint…) /Anna

(The poem is called "How do I love thee?" By Elisabeth Barret Browning.)