Chapter 22: The Long Kiss Goodbye

3 Years ago, Sunnydale:

The tree house was silent and dark as Buffy pushed herself further into a corner, desperately trying to hide herself from her worried parents as they ran out of the house with her little sister, quickly climbing into their green SUV. The engine roared to live, and the vehicle pulled out of the driveway, and rushing down the street. They never noticed the tiny form of said missing daughter huddled against the wooden wall of the tree house high above the Giles' backyard.

Buffy had been hiding out up here for the last four hours, having stormed out of the house right after dinner and a huge blow up between everyone in the Summers' household. She had originally had planned to just climb into Spike's bedroom window and wait there for him to get home from wherever it was he had accompanied his father to. Having found his window locked for the first time in well, forever, she had decided to hang out in the old tree house in his yard, realizing that if her parents were to notice she was missing and decide to look for her, that the last place they would look was right next door up here. Common sense just really didn't apply to her parents for some reason.

The ultimate plan had been based on the simple idea that if her parents couldn't find her then they couldn't make her good to New York with her mother and Dawn tomorrow morning. Both young girls had been informed just two days ago that their parents' divorce had gone through and that Joyce had went and accepted a job offering in New York. They had literally come out of nowhere for the two Summers daughters and neither had taken it very well. Dawn had locked herself in her room for the rest of the day, and Buffy had taken off next door to be with Spike.

The bleach blonde hadn't taken it so well either, and Buffy had to end up comforting him instead. Her parents and Giles had even let her spend the night with him, having come to check on her long after she and Spike had fallen asleep in each other's arms. Thank God that they missed his marriage proposal.

The next day Buffy and Dawn were withdrawn from school, and both made with the tear jerking goodbyes. The Scoobies had even played hooky that day to stay home with her. Even Anya and Tara came over, and they had a semi-party. Each and everyone one of her friends had promised to write, and call, and fly out for the occasional visit. But Buffy was very aware of the inevitable break off a long distance friendship usually had, and understood that although the letters and phone calls would last for a while, they wouldn't continue forever, and all her Sunnydale relationships were in danger of failing in the long run.

The one she was most worried about though, was her relationship with Spike. They had finally moved past the just friends line, and things were getting very heated between them. Just the other day the carnival had pushed them into a huge step towards seriousness, and now it would all be for nothing. And this was just awful because Buffy was finally realizing what being in love felt like, and she would never get the chance to hear Spike say those words to her.

Of course he had promised to call everyday, write her just as much, and come to see her as soon as he graduated in less than a year. He had even clamed he would get an apartment close to hers, made even in the same building, so that they could see each other everyday. If only everything was promised to work out the way the dreamed it would…

One thing was very sure, Buffy's relationship with her father would never be the same after all this was through. How was she supposed to ever forgive him for ruining her life, taking away everything she'd ever known.

"Buffy?"

Her blonde head turned sharply to the direction in which Spike's voice had come from, an anxious expression clouding her features. "Spike."

"Buffy what the 'ell are you doing up here. We've 'ad a whole damn search party out there looking' for you." He breathed, like he had just came back from running a marathon. He came toward her, kneeling in front of her hunched form, concerned. "You alright, pet?"

"Search party?" She asked confused, her brows knitting together in a frown.

"Yeah, you're 'rents called me and my da' at the store, and said that you ran away. I called the gang and now there all out there looking' for you." He told her, frowning.

"Then why are you here?"

"Had a hunch you'd be here. Told m'dad I had to take a piss." He chuckled softly.

Buffy laughed too, and offered him a loving smile. "You were really out there looking for me?"

"Yeah. I was worried sick when your mum said that you were missing." He said sincerely, reaching out to run the back of his hand across her cheek lovingly.

Buffy smiled and pushed her face toward the warmth of his hand. She thought that fact that he was that worried about her was very endearing, and only made her want him more. "Spike?"

"Yeah?" His voice was husky, and full of longing.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, and I might never see you again." When she saw Spike about to protest, she held up her hand to stop him. "Wait, just let me say this."

He nodded.

"If that is true. If we really never will get the chance to see each other again. I need you to do something for me." She told him, voice calm and level, even though on the inside she her heart was slamming against her chest.

"Anything, pet." He whispered, voice full of conviction.

"I want you to make love to me." She said softly, eyes looking everywhere but at him.

Spike swallowed hard as his eyes widened, not sure if he heard her right. "Buffy…are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." She whispered, raising her eyes to his as she nodded. Then she suddenly looked very nervous. "I-I mean, if you want to. But if you don't, I'll understand. We haven't been together for very long, and you may not want to-"

She was immediately silenced as his lips fused with hers, pulling her body fully against his, and tangling his fingers in her hair. Swiftly turning them around, he removed his duster and spread it out on the old wooden floor, before laying her down gently beneath him. The passion of the kiss escalated as his hands worked their way under her top, feeling the soft, warm skin underneath.

They continued kissing for several minutes until they were both out of breath and then he began kissing his way slowly down her neck onto her chest. Spike's lips left a trail of wet kisses down the soft, salty skin of her neck, tongue coming out to taste the hollow of her throat, teeth nipping lightly in every place in between. He began slowly unbuttoning the front of her top, growing painfully hard at the knowledge that he was finally about to make love to his best friend.

The rest of this chapter is cut due to the rating restrictions at this site. If you wish to read the full version of it go to The Spuffy Realm at http/ Please review;)