A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! Last chapter (and maybe an epilogue).

Disclaimers: Not mine.

Rating: PG-13 for language and minor violence. You have been warned ...

Pairings: B/S eventually. W/T, X/A

Distribution: Yeah, sure, take it. Tell me first, though.

Reviews: Yup, please.

Summary: Hank is truly dead. Buffy and Spike are recovering in the hospital. We're on our way to a happy ending …

Friday night found the gang crowded into the Summers' kitchen and living room getting ready for a movie-fest.

"Buffy, do you and Spike really have to take up the whole couch?" Dawn asked in annoyance.

The blonde barely glanced up from where she was sprawled over the couch, held by her boyfriend. She gestured to her arm that was in a sling. "Invalid, here," Buffy pointed out. "Be nice."

Dawn rolled her eyes. Since the two had been released from the hospital a few days previous, they had been milking their injuries for all it was worth. Willow and Xander were the easiest to trick into doing things for them.

"Yeah, Bit, be nice," Spike chimed in. Buffy giggled and poked him the stomach. "Ow. Watch the wound, luv."

"Aww, sorry, baby. Kiss and make better?" Buffy asked coyly. The two began another make-out fest, forgetting Dawn and her complaint. The couple had also been joined at the hip, ever since that first day in the hospital.

With another eye roll, Dawn unceremoniously pushed the pair's feet off the couch – snickering when they broke apart with surprise and Buffy grabbed for the coffee table to keep her balance – and plopped down.

Before the two blondes could retaliate much beyond jabbing the teen with their toes, Willow walked in. "That's it! We're changing our phone number," she announced.

Buffy winced. "Another reporter? Sorry Wills." Tabloids and newspapers were still beating down their door, trying to find a way to spin a dramatic story on what had happened to the semi-famous actress.

"At least they're not camped out on the front lawn anymore," Spike shuddered.

"I dunno," Buffy said mock-contemplatively, "I still say it was sorta funny how that one guy – Andrew? – got the impression that you were our gay roommate and tried to asked you out on a date."

Spike growled and buried his face into her hair. "'S not funny," he mumbled.

Buffy giggled until he lifted his head up with a pout firmly fixed in place. She stared at his lower lip, transfixed, then dove in to attack it.

Dawn stared in morbid fascination, wrinkling her nose 'eewww' before Willow dragged her off to help with the popcorn in the kitchen.

Anya wandered in, talking about book deals on her headset, pausing only long enough to tell Spike and Buffy to 'get a room' before going off again.

"Hey, guys, ready to start – oh, god, scarred for life!" Xander squished his eyes shut and tried to pretend that he hadn't seen his two best friends all but have sex on the couch.

"Hey! It's not like you and Anyanka don't do the same thing!" Spike snarked back.

"Don't call me that!" Anya yell distantly. Every since Spike discovered her dislike for her given name, he'd been teasing her about it.

"Ok, this time, we come bearing popcorn," Dawn proclaimed, holding the bowl in front of her face in case her sister and surrogate brother were stilly being 'mushy and icky.'

"Ooo, buttery goodness." Xander was easily distracted. He eagerly took the bowl from dawn and sat on the opposite couch, away from the two in case they decided to become fused at the lips again.

Willow and Tara came back in with more popcorn and cans of beer and soda.

Buffy got up to get a bowl, leaving Spike pouting before she sat back down on his lap and whispered something in his ear. Grinning insanely, he pulled her closer and they shared an Eskimo kiss before turning their attentions to the television screen.

Will and Tara settled next to Dawn on the floor with an afghan. Anya wandered in and let Xander take the headset away from her before snuggling next to him.

"Shhh, we're starting," Dawn shushed.

They settled in happily to watch the show.

OOoOo

"Buffy! You've got to get your luggage checked in now!" Anya bossed.

"Huh? Wha?" The blonde said dazedly, pulling away from Spike.

"Mmm, don't go, luv," Spike muttered, holding her.

"Have to."

"Buffy, we have to get settled in L.A. by this afternoon! I have a vital meeting I can't miss! Look at that line; we're going to miss our flight!" Anya worried.

"Xander, get in here and distract her," Spike groused, glancing around for his wayward friend.

"He can't, hon, he's parking the car," Buffy reminded. "Besides, we might never leave if he does."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Spike's eyes turned huge and puppy-like.

Buffy worried her lower lip. "No…" she conceded, "But we've" – she look at Anya, who was talking on her cell phone again – "ok, I've really ignored all my work for the last few weeks. I promise, I'll be back in Sunnydale by next week and I'll find a way to spend more time here."

"Buffy! Get in line! Now!"

"I'll be back in just a minute," she promised. Buffy ran off towards Anya and her luggage.

"Hey, Spike. What happened?" Willow asked by way of greeting. Everyone else followed closely behind her.

"They're checking in luggage," he said dourly.

"Cheer up, William, it's not the end of the world," Giles put a hand on his son's shoulder.

Spike didn't answer.

"Hey, guys," Buffy bounced towards them.

Anya followed and announced, "We're supposed to wait at the gates in case something happens or they board early."

Spike snorted. "When has that ever happened?"

Anya shrugged, unfazed and determined not to miss this flight. "We'd better go in, Buffy."

She exchanged hugs with everyone before going to say good-bye to Xander.

"Oh, I'll miss you guys," Buffy said to Willow, Dawn and Tara. "I know I'll see you next week, but you all have to come up to L.A. over the summer."

"Will do," Dawn answered, slightly teary.

"Bye, Giles," Buffy hugged him.

She then went to Spike, who was looking sulky. "Don't look like that, I'll see you next week," she protested.

She threw herself into his arms. "I'll miss you and I'll call you every night and …" she babbled on.

"It's ok, luv," Spike smiled a little, looking at her. "Just come back soon. I love you."

She nodded. "I love you, too."

They separated and Buffy hugged Xander, then turned with Anya to go through the security.

Both groups said good-bye again when the girls got through. They made faces and blew kisses at each other through the Plexiglass window until the guards began to look at them in a 'I'm considering if you're crazy and I should call for back-up' kind of way. With a last wave, the two girls disappeared down the hall to find their boarding gate.

"Aw, cheer up you two, they'll be back soon," Willow reasoned, looking at Spike and Xander.

"It'll be a long week," Spike said, depressed.

"I'm sure we can find something for you to do," Giles added, "You could help me at the shop."

"Th-here's a load of laundry and dishes that's growing mold," Tara said with an uncharacteristically wicked grin.

"And you could write my essay for me!" Dawn said, feeling chipper at the thought of ducking out on work. "Or not …" she retracted as the last suggestion earned a particularly evil glare.

"Do you think they're ok?" Xander mused. "We should called them, just to check."

Spike brightened at this suggestion. "First brilliant idea you've had in a while, mate."

"Guy's they're still in the airport," Willow reminded.

Unhindered by this fact, the two whipped out their cell phones and called their significant others.

"If we run fast enough, maybe we can leave them here and we won't have to listen to their mushy chatter all the way home," Dawn whispered loudly.

Exchanging glances, the four of them took off sprinting, giggling as their love-sick friends chased after them.

The End (except for the epilogue).

le faye