THE NEARNESS OF YOU
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-----The Reason-----
FIVE YEARS LATER
"Holy Shit," Spike exclaimed as he saw Buffy in a little art shop. She couldn't see him and that was probably for the best. Spike hadn't seen her since Angelus tried to end the world. He had gone back to Sunnydale to visit a couple of times, but she had left. The slayer had abandoned Sunnydale and no one knew where she was.
Manchester, New Hampshire as far away from Sunnydale as anyone could possibly get. Spike only had one question. Why? Why was the slayer, protector of all things wholesome and warm, on the East Coast? He continued to watch her as she left the quaint little store and walked for 12 blocks in the July heat to a small ranch style home. Buffy turned up the walkway when he called to her.
"Hello cutie," Spike greeted, leaning up against her fence. Spike ducked his head to light up a cigarette like the first time they met. Slowly he inhaled and flashed one of his many charming smiles.
"Spike..." that was all Buffy managed to say, she was too surprised to think of what to else to say or do. How had he found her after all these years?
Looking at her again as she stood there bags discarded on the ground. Spike quickly closed the distance between them. He took Buffy into his arms and into a deep longing kiss like the ones they had shared five years ago in the park. As Spike pressed his hard body into hers a moan escaped her lips. It had been so long since she had touched a man. He nibbled on her lower lip. Then moved to the side of her neck where he nibbled and kissed and Buffy was helpless as passion flooded all of her senses leaving her prone to Spike's kisses.
"Slayer, unless you want me to make love to you here in your walkway, where all your neighbors can watch, I suggest we go inside," Spike said in a desire-laden voice.
"No," Buffy said, snapping out of her daze suddenly and pushing back from him as she tried to cool herself off.
"Wh-what? What do you mean, no?" Spike asked stunned and confused. She can't just say no like that. She wants me too.
"I mean no, you can't come inside. It was nice seeing you again, now leave," Buffy replied as she rushed into her house leaving a dazed Spike standing in her walkway.
"Least you could do is provide a cold shower then! Bugger! That woman is not right!" Spike ranted as he tried his best to walk away.
o8o8o8o
Spike stood outside waiting the next night. When she came out of the house finally, she rolled her eyes and hurried her pace.
"Talk with me," Spike demanded. He would not just let her disappear like five years ago.
"No, not after last night. All you want is a tumble in the sheets and I really don't feel like wasting my time in that kind of relationship," Buffy said, as she walked faster. Spike grabbed her and turned her to face him.
"First off, you started that. Second, what relationship? It was a good time that was it. Thirdly, about last night, seeing you after all this time. I wanted you; I thought you felt the same. But I want to talk about other stuff that doesn't even involve last night," Spike said defensively. He was pissed off at Buffy accusing him of a one-night-stand. The little bint needed to get her facts straight, since she was the one who started the whole bloody thing.
"I know a place, the Ninety-nines, it's a cool bar and grill, the people are awesome." Buffy said as the two walked down the road together.
"What brought you to the east coast, slayer?" Spike asked as he studied her. Buffy's hair was longer and she was too thin for it to be considered healthy. Her clothes were darker then those damned pastels she used to always wear. Buffy looked older.
"I had never been here. I stopped at a lot of places before deciding on this one: San Francisco, Nome, Seattle, Boston, and Atlanta. I guess I finally needed to settle down somewhere, why not New Hampshire?" Buffy explained as they strolled along.
"Why not Sunnydale?" Spike asked.
"Wow, you waste no time jumping strait to the hard questions. I just wasn't wanted. That simple," Buffy said sadly, looking away.
"What about your mates, the stupid blokes who followed you into every danger?" Spike asked genuinely curious.
"They are better off without me getting them killed," Buffy answered sullenly.
"I don't think you had much choice, they'd follow you anyways. I'm surprised they aren't here." Spike said. "So that it, just abandoned your friends on top of a hell mouth cause your afraid they'll get hurt? That's deeply stupid."
"I don't have to justify my actions to you. There were other reasons, serious ones," Buffy snapped at him. Since when did Spike care where she lived?
"Like..." Spike prodded.
"My mom kicked me out when she found out I was the slayer. I got expelled from school. The police wanted me for the murder of Kendra. Willow and Xander were in the hospital, because I failed to protect them. And to top it all off, I sent the love of my life to hell. I think those are good enough reasons to leave," Buffy explained as the entered the bar and ordered drinks.
"I agree, so what made you stay away?" Spike asked.
"That's why we came to the bar. I need a shot of whiskey to help tell the second half," Buffy said drinking the whiskey.
"Hey Buffy! Where's Ms. Emma tonight?" their waitress asked.
"She's at home," Buffy said quickly waving the waitress away.
"Emma? She your roommate?" Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, something like that." Buffy said taking another shot of whiskey.
"Tell me what you've been doing the last five years, Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Dru left me shortly after the whole Acathla thing. She became even battier then ever, she was obsessed with being pregnant, insisted she wanted to have my child. Then she would go out with these other men and they were gross! It was clear she didn't love me anymore," Spike said drinking his beer.
"I just traveled around, went to Sunnyhell several time searching for you," Spike said looking seriously at her while he took a long swig of his beer.
"You were looking for me?" Buffy asked with genuine surprise.
"Of coarse, pet. You made my life interesting and to top it off, you were the best shag ever. You disappeared; finally I decided to look you up. That and the Scooby gang is paying for me to deliver you to them," Spike mumbled the last bit into his bottle.
But Buffy caught it and quick as she could she was running outside and jumping into a taxi and fleeing Spike. He hailed down the next taxi and headed strait for her home just hoping she would be there.
Buffy's taxi couldn't pull up quick enough to her house, tossing money at the driver she ran towards her house, but Spike had caught up to her.
"Where are you going?" Spike demanded as he grabbed onto her arm.
"I'm not going back!" Buffy yelled as she wrestled free of his grip.
"Why not, for god's sake they miss you so badly," Spike tried to reason.
"I've done too many bad things! They would never understand!" Buffy insisted near tears.
"Give them a chance. At least come back with me, you don't have to stay," Spike explained.
"You swear you won't abandon me?" Buffy asked quietly, looking into his eyes.
"Of coarse I won't just leave you with them," Spike assured her with a small kiss.
"That's not good enough, promise no matter what, you will never leave me." Buffy demanded.
"I promise, you won't be able to lose me if you tried. Now let's go inside and pack. There is sort of a time thing," Spike said pulling Buffy into a tender kiss. Cor, he loved to have this woman in his arms.
"Let go inside," Buffy said inviting him in. As Buffy opened up the front door to her home she held her breath and waited allowing Spike to go in first.
"Momma!" yelled an excited little girl. She had long dirty-blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
Spike saw her and his world stopped. This was why Buffy had left Sunnydale. This is why she had made him promise not to abandon her. Buffy was ashamed that she had a daughter.
The little girl studied Spike with the same intensity. She had never been around strangers before and couldn't understand why her Momma was bringing him here.
"Spike, this is my daughter, Emma. Emma, this is a friend of mommy's and his name is Spike." After about a minute of careful consideration both decided it would be best if they just shook hands.
"What happened to his hair?" Emma asked.
"Emma!" Buffy scolded.
"It's called bleach, lil' bit. Makes me stand out," Spike said with a smile.
"Emma be a good girl and watch a movie while I pack our clothes for a vacation." Buffy asked and Emma plopped down onto the couch and did as told.
"Where we goin', Momma?" Emma asked, jumping on the sofa.
"We are going to Sunnydale to visit some old friends of mine," Buffy explained.
"Do the look as funny as him," Emma asked pointing at Spike.
"Emma Summers! You know better then to call people names," Buffy lectured. Spike could not help but laugh at this bold mini-Buffy.
"Who's the lucky bloke and does he need to go to Sunnyhell with us?" Spike asked as Buffy walked to one of the back rooms of the house.
"It was a one time thing, he never even knew he was a father," Buffy said as she stuffed her closet of clothes into her suitcase.
"You can't be serious! There's some bloke wandering around who doesn't even know he's a father. Why'd you never tell him?" Spike asked in amazement.
"He made it clear he didn't want to be with me and he wasn't about to take on any responsibilities that being with me might create." Buffy said zipping her bag and heading into Emma's room.
"The fellow sounds like he wasn't good enough to have you then," Spike said. He was in complete awe upon entering Emma's room.
"I've never been near a little girl like this before. Y'know, without just killing, feeding, and leaving. She is adorable, just like her mum," Spike playing with various items around the room.
"Go talk with her, I'm almost done here." Buffy suggested as she hurried around the room.
o8o8o8o
"What are you watching there, bit?" Spike asked as he entered the living room and sat down next to Emma.
"Lethal Weapon 4." She responded
"Does your mum know your watching this? It's got a lot of violence in it." Spike asked with surprise.
"Yeah, but they are just pretending," Emma explained
"When were you born Emma Summers?" Spike asked casually
"December 2, 1999 in L.A." Emma said, "What's your real name?"
"William the Bl-. I mean William Devlin," Spike replied as he looked over the little girl, he was completely charmed by her. Emma was definitely like her mum.
Studying Emma he took in her appearance, light brown hair with natural blonde streaks, blue eyes with green swirled into them and golden skin. She was almost unnaturally beautiful. Why would any man not be proud to have this little angel as their daughter? As Emma cuddled up to Spike he thought his cold undead heart might come back to life. Emma was truly amazing. Spike couldn't get over it.
"Alright our bags are packed. You two enjoy your time together?" Buffy asked she received two of the same cheesy smiles.
"Well pet let's get going," Spike said grabbing the bags from Buffy.
"I have to get her car seat," Buffy said as she picked up Emma.
"Pet, I have seats in my car," Spike responded feeling slightly insulted.
"It's Emma's booster seat, Spike. She's too small for seat belts," Buffy explained.
When everyone was safely belted in Buffy leaned back ready to nap the whole time.
"Slayer, you are not planning on sleeping on our road trip, are you?" Spike asked as he turned on a Billy Idol cd. Buffy looked behind her to see Emma enjoying the rebellious loud music.
"Great, I'm on a road trip with a four year old and a two hundred four year old, just what I always wanted." Buffy said trying hard not to notice the similarities between the father and his daughter.
