PART 8: FEELINGS
"Hey Spike", Buffy said softly, as she walked completely into the room, standing before him.
Unhurt. Alive.
Spike just looked up at her in awe. With her blonde her loose and flowing around her shoulders, she looked like an angel – to him.
Opening and closing his mouth several times, trying to speak.
"But..what?…He ki-…pushed…"
He gave up talking, and reached out a hand.
Buffy stepped closer, right beside the bed, and he placed a hand on her cheek. Running it down her face and then through her hair, a look of pure wonder and happiness appeared on the face of one of the worlds most notorious and terrifying murderers.
"Buffy. You're, you're alive," he sighed, hand dropping back onto the bed.
"Yes Spike. I'm fine. And I have you to thank for that," Buffy replied, placing a hand over his as she perched herself on the edge of the bed.
"I had to. I'm a White Knight now – by choice. I may be a monster, but you – all you scoobies, treat me like a man. An evil man possibly. But a man nonetheless. And that? Means a lot to me. There's more to me than fangs and snark, and all of you, in your own unique way, have noticed that." Spike explained, pointedly looking at Willow several times.
Spike slowly got out of bed, and, after looking out the window to ensure that it was night, started to get dressed – slowly, as he continued.
"I know I'm meant to hate you all, and I know you don't all like me that much, but to me? You're family"
He started to walk towards the door, grabbing his duster on the way.
As he reached the door back into the shop, he slipped on his duster. Taking a step forward, he stopped and turned back to Buffy. "And you Buffy? I had to save you. Because, because I love you."
At that, duster billowing, he walked determinedly towards the front door.
However, he had barely made it halfway across the shop floor before his way was blocked, by the last person he expected.
A well-calloused hand on his arm, a determined gaze stared through dark bangs and lashes, directly at Spike.
"Look Spike, you've done evil things – you're a demon, a vampire. You get that – I do to. But we all know that there's more to you than just that – even me. Willow baked cookies for you man! You're part of the family now. A misshapen, confusing, dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless. Now, there's a tiny little blonde thing in there who deserves more than to have you walk out on her after you saved her life – and she saved yours"
At that, Xander gave him a little push back in the direction of the workroom. "Go on then"
Spike stumbled back into the room, and a blonde tornado dashed into his arms.
Xander walked over to Willow and Giles, standing in the corner, their very presence already forgotten by the 2 blondes, both totally focused on each other.
Giles placed an arm around the two children on either side of him, his son and daughter, as he watched his Slayer, happier than he had seen her for a long time.
His Family.
Safe. Happy. Together.
