The Nearness of You
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-----How Do I Live?-----
"Are you sure you won't stay just a little longer?" Marie asked the pair of blondes once more hoping they would change their minds. She truly enjoyed the company, especially little Emma.
"I'd love to Marie, but the slayer is getting more and more antsy the closer we get to Sunnyhell and for all I know she could try to bolt again. I'm pretty sure she has no clue what's causing her mood swings. But I know she's real scared going back home. She hasn't been home for a real long time," Spike explained to the older looking woman once more as he put the last of their bags into the trunk of his DeSoto.
"I'm going to miss you, William," Marie said trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. She did not want Spike to remember her crying.
"Hey, don't worry I'll be back. And who knows, maybe next time there will be a little army of children behind me," Spike said with a devilish grin.
"Yeah right," Buffy said sarcastically, as she walked up to the two carrying a sleepy Emma. Buffy placed the little girl in the back seat and walked to Spike's side. "Next time you get to be the pregnant one," Buffy stated as she leaned onto Spike.
"C'mon slayer, we make beautiful babies together," Spike said as he started to nip lightly on her neck. He knew she couldn't resist his charms.
"I agree, but three hours in labor, convinced me no more babies," Buffy stated firmly attempting to convince him that she meant what she said. Although, Spike was not listening to any of her protests on the subject.
"That means, I'll just have to work on convincing you," Spike explained as though that was the only obvious answer. His mischievous fingers danced along her panty line. Spike already knew he was going to win the argument.
"It was nice to meet you," Buffy said smacking away Spike's hands as she got into the car. Spike gave Marie a hug and then they were off on the road again.
o8o8o8o
"How much longer? Buffy asked looking out the window at the passing world. Most families were at home in bed sleeping. She smiled when Spike's cold hand reached for her warmer hand. Buffy had not been feeling well lately and Spike had been taking care of her.
"Until what?" Spike asked playfully. Spike knew he shouldn't toy with a cranky slayer, but Buffy made it fun. He enjoyed fighting with her and making up was even better.
"You know what," Buffy said giving him an evil look.
"A few days, a week at the most," Spike answered as he caressed her face and then went back to holding her hand.
"That close?" Buffy asked nervously. She began to get a sickening feeling in her stomach. It still felt too soon to return. What if…
"I love you Buffy. They all love you and they will love Emma," Spike soothed as he kissed the tips of Buffy's fingers.
"It's too soon," Buffy insisted trying to convince Spike.
"And when would be a good time? When our daughter is in college?" Spike asked sarcastically
"That sounds good to me," Buffy said smiling. She felt delighted that Spike thought about sending Emma to college. She hadn't really much thought about Emma's future.
"Slayer, you gotta face them sometime," Spike said kissing her knuckles.
"I hate when you make sense," Buffy said pouting.
"Look pet, try to get some sleep. I guarantee we have a bit of time 'til we arrive in good ol' Sunnyhell," Spike assured her as he leaned over and kissed her warm forehead.
o8o8o8o
"Emma, sit down," Spike commanded while trying to pay attention to the road ahead of them.
"No! You can't make me. You can't make me," Emma chanted, jumping up and down on the back seat.
"Emma, put your seatbelt back on," Spike demanded, but the four-year-old was tired of sitting. Spike looked over to see Buffy stirring awake.
"Where are we?" Buffy asked her voice still groggy sounding.
"Just outside of Sunnyvale, about another hour," Spike ground out, as he tried to grab Emma with one arm and drive with the other.
"Em, get back into your seat," Buffy asked.
"No!" Emma shouted, as she continued to dance around the back seat.
"She was so much more fun, before she learned to talk," Buffy sighed looking at Spike in amusement. He was trying not to lose his temper with Emma, but the little girl continued to play with him.
"Don't make me pull this car over," Spike warned.
"Spike, look there is a playground up the road. Let's pull in and let her burn off some energy," Buffy suggested.
"Right then," Spike said.
It had been nice when the females were both sleeping due to the tranquilizers he had slipped then in their breakfast. It had given him three days of non-stop driving. But now they were awake and energetic.
Spike pulled into the playground and Emma was practically out of the car before it stopped moving. Buffy was a step behind her daughter. Playgrounds at night were not the safest place to bring children, but Emma was no ordinary child, nor did she have ordinary parents. Spike watched his girls play and for the first time in three days felt really drained. He had no energy to chase Emma any longer.
o8o8o8o
"What's Grandma like?" Emma asked as she climbed up the slide.
"Grandma Joyce is one of the nicest people in the world," Buffy said as she played with Emma.
"Then why don't you talk to her?" Emma asked.
"Oh hell. A perceptive four-year-old, the world isn't ready," Buffy, grumbled, "Grandma didn't like your mommy's job," Buffy tried to explain as simply as possible.
"Painting?" Emma asked, as she reached the top of the slide, only to let go and slide back down.
"No, I didn't paint back then. Joyce, didn't like the fact that I fought monsters," Buffy explained as simply as possible.
"But you have to," Emma said as she began to climb a tall tire wall.
"Well your grandma didn't understand that back then. And there were other people who didn't understand your mommy and wanted to hurt her. Besides I had my precious gift," Buffy said grabbing Emma and throwing her into a fireman's carry.
"Did daddy understand?" Emma asked giggling as Buffy tickled her.
"That's what makes your daddy so special. Even though we were mortal enemies, he understood me better then anyone," Buffy said wistfully.
'How
do I,
Get through one night without you?
If I had to live
without you,
What kind of life would that be?'
At that moment Buffy heard music poor out from the bar across the street and proceeded to dance with Emma on her hip.
'Oh,
I need...
I need you in my arms, need you to hold,
You're my
world, my heart, my soul,
If you ever leave,
Baby you would
take away everything good in my life,'
Buffy twirled Emma around in her arms. Emma just giggled.
'And
tell me now
How do I live without you?
I want to know,
How
do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever
survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?'
"May I cut in?" Spike asked. Emma gave a cute curtsey and went back to playing as Spike took Buffy into his arms and proceeded to hold her close and dance with her.
'Without
you,
There'd be no sun in my sky,
There would be no love in my
life,
There'd be no world left for me.'
Buffy looked into Spike's eyes, so loving. She placed a sweet kiss on his lips as they continued to sway to the music.
'And
I,
Baby I don't know what I would do,
I'd be lost if I lost
you,
If you ever leave,
Baby you would take away everything
good in my life,'
Spike dips Buffy and then twirls her in his arms.
'And
tell me now,
How do I live without you?
I want to know,
How
do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever
survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?'
Buffy feels lost in the moment, lost in his arms. She has never felt so complete until Spike entered into Emma and her life.
'Please
tell me baby,
How do I go on?
If you ever leave,
Baby you
would take away everything,
I need you with me,
Baby don't you
know that you're everything,
Good in my life?'
"I love you, Slayer."
"I love you, Vampire."
'And
tell me now,
How do I live without you,
I want to know,
How
do I breathe without you?
If you ever go,
How do I ever, ever
survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?
How do I live
without you?
How do I live without you baby?'
As the song faded into the night the two continued to hold each other, not wanting to let go. But finally Emma caught their attention as she climbed dangerously high on the tire wall.
"Emma, get down from there. You shouldn't be climbing up that high, you could fall," Buffy said placing her hands on her hips.
"Will not!" Emma replied.
"Emma Joyce Summers," Buffy bellowed.
"Fine," Emma huffed, as she began to climb down, her tiny shoe caught in one of the tires, causing the little girl to lose her grip. Buffy gasped in horror as Emma fell, but Spike did not waste a second as he moved in to catch Emma. He planned on catching her, but it was more like Emma landed on him.
"Emma!" Buffy shouted, as she raced over. "Spike, is she alright?"
"Right as rain," Spike said, as he cradled Emma in his arms.
"Right as rain, mummy," Emma repeated, as Spike held both his women in his arms.
"We need to be leaving soon. Sun's coming up and I'm kinda anxious to get to Sunnyhell," Spike finally stated after over a minute of silence passed by.
"I still don't think I'm ready to face the firing squad, at least not alone," Buffy sighed as she shuffled reluctantly back to the car.
