Without You

"I'd rather die alone than never having to speak your name."

Chapter Three - Starry-Eyed Suprise

AN: I havn't updated this in YEARS, and for that I apologize. I hope my upcoming chapters can make up for the loss.

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Faye sat down on the old, dusted, and dreary couch. She patted the seat next to her watching as the dust flew in the air like dancing sprites. Just as she removed her hand, Ein jumped onto the couch sitting joyously, begging for attention. "You're still here too, eh? Hrn..", she murmured to the Corgie and looked around the area. Dead silence she noted, for once. All except for the soft vibrations of the Bebop and an occasional beep and whir from Ed's computer, for once it was silent. By now Ein had gotten used to the inattentiveness Faye gave her and just simply lowered his head comfortably. She was just sitting here catching up with Jet and Ed when, before she even realized, everyone had gone off to bed. Jet was in his room, and Ed was sound asleep curled up into a little ball where it seemed Ein was supposed to sleep.

She rested her head on the back of the couch so that her head was forced to look up at the dark, bleak ceiling. Faye took in a long breath and slowly relaxed into the couch. "Everything the same. Same people. Same view. Same air. Same crap," she said to no one in particular. "But is shouldn't be.. everything's changed," she said at last after reconciling her thoughts. "God! What am I doing here?"

"That was my thoughts exactly," said a soft but deeper voice than her own.

Faye's eyes immediately popped open. She looked around frantically searching for something or anything - anyone in particular. "Oh. my. God. I must be hallucinating! I mean.. I am here. But still why am I - am I? - or was it my imagination! I mean! HE'S DE--"

The same voice from before chuckled. "You havn't changed one bit, Faye."

This time Faye stood quickly and up and turned around.

As if everything had been in slow motion, the room slowly turned as did her eyes and 'lo and behold stood the lanky and tall man that everyone had grown to love and frankly, miss. His arm seemed to be slung unprofessionally and was clinging to his stomach. His other arm seemed perfectly fine except for the fact that his hand seemed to be grasping the bar handle of the stairs so tightly that the white of his knuckles shone, and his body was leaning quite dependantly onto the guard-rail. But his hair. Yes his hair, was still frazzled and messy and best of all, that poofy black-green.

"If I didn't think that I was so damn stunning, I'd be alarmed that you're staring me with that fish-like, gaped expression. Close your mouth already," said Spike with humour glittering his eyes.

She quickly closed her mouth and shook her head, but still couldn't quite get the wide-eyed expression off of her face. "Is it really you? Oh my God, Spike! I mean, I-i thought, we thou-- E-everyone thought that you were d-d-dead!"

"On the contrary, I was about to rid myself of this horrible pain - until that is, I heard we had a special guest. And look who it was. Faye Valentine herself. Who mysteriously dissappeared from the Bebop and her position after the quite huge events that took place," he said, smirking all the while.

"What happened? Where did you go after? Why didn't you tell any of us that you were still alive," she said quite loudly taking a step.

"Shhhh.. First of all, I'd rather not talk about that now. We'll save it for a rainy, or asterioditic day. Secondly, don't wake up Ed! You know the trouble she'll stir up the moment she's awake. And third of all, help me by walking me to my room so that she can sleep without you yelling all over the place."

Faye blinked for a bit, nodded, and slowly walked up the steps. As she ascended the stairs she began to notice how tired Spike looked, and even with all the clothes he had on, she knew he was bruised and broken all over. Maybe especially, within. She grabbed the arm that was clutching the rail and softly placed it over shoulders.

Together they took a very slow trip into the long, frosty hallway towards the rooms. All the while Faye still couldn't believe what was happening in this exact moment. Spike grunted a bit while they slowly ventured but managed to keep his machismo. "Ditched the yellow attire did we now," he asked while his eyes roamed at her. Faye noticed and couldn't help to blush. Damn him! Since Spike had last seen her, Faye had disbanded her usual attire and went for something more versatile in terms of job-hunting, and her normally chin lengthed hair had now reached a bit past her shoulders cutting even. She was wearing a charcoal grey - and quite stylish - vest with painted fake gold button, no shirt under of course, and jeans that wrapped around her bottom and legs, making her look feminine without the less clothing - but still, kept the darned red sweater wrapped safely across her waist.

"Yeah, you could say that. I was tired of these old men trying to pick me up. So I went for something cheap, but something that will find me more jobs," she explained. "So, you're quitting the bounty hunting business," Spike inquired. "Yes and no. Yes, until a big hit comes around. Then I'm all in." Spike grinned, "Figured."

Finally at the end of the short conversation, together they had reached Spike's room. "Thanks Faye," he muttered, "it's uh, nice to see the whole gang around again. Like old times, hm?" "Yeah, definately. Just like.. old time," she replied stoically. Spike stepped inside his room, looking more tired than ever, but smiled. "Thanks again. You're room is still there you know. Same as you left it."

"How long have you been here, Spike? When did you come back," Faye asked. "Not long. Good night Faye," he replied, and with that the door slowly drew shut and so did the conversation.

Night.., she said to herself. Faye quickly walked back, almost robotically, to her room. As the door shut behind her, and the lights automatically came on, Spike was right. It was exactly has she left it. A mess. Faye rummaged around the room and fell face first into bed. Her hand came up and punched the empty space next to her. Once again the sprites came out dancing from the linen. "Damn you Spike. One day you're here. The next you're not. Thats how it's always going to be isn't it," she yelled into her pillow.

A single line of tears slowly made its way down the pillow and seeped slowly down the linen.

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That's it for now! Sorry so short, but I'm having major writers block from not keeping up with this. AND it's 4:30 in the morning. Buuutt. it's the 23rd of December, so I hope everyone reading this has a great Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Chant as you can see, I changed my pen name!