A/N: I alwayshated author's notes at the beginning of crucial chapters-I never thought I'd write one myself, lol! This chapter has major fluff in it, V. OTT in places! Sorry, but, enjoy!
Spike didn't say anything. He looked at the floor and didn't move. Buffy was scared that she had upset him-her heart was hammering three times faster than normal and all she wanted was for the Earth to swallow her up whole.
You've blown it now. He doesn't love you at all, you just thought he did, and now you've ruined everything. A niggling voice in the back of her head told her.
"I-I'm sorry. Maybe I should just...Dawnie's..."She babbled, standing up.
Spike stood up too, and turned to face her. There were tears in his eyes, but he was smiling. In spite of herself, Buffy felt the familiar shaking feeling in her stomach.
"Where are you going, luv?" He asked softly, brushing the hair away from her face gently.
"I-I...they're waiting for me." Buffy said lamely, unable to break his gaze. She was falling into those amazing eyes, so hot she knew she had to be melting. Spike had reduced her to a puddle of incoherent gloop.
His eyes searched her face. There was such a look of longing on his face that Buffy herself was surprised.
"Love you too, pet," He said. They were so close now that his eyes had merged into a blue blur, she could barely see, hardly dared to breathe. She was paralysed to the spot, unable to move.
In a second the space between them was gone, Spike kissed her passionately for what seemed like an eternity, and then he held her tightly in his arms, her scent making him almost delirious. She kissed his neck, before resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh.
"What are we going to do?" Buffy mumbled into his shoulder.
"I've got a few ideas," Spike said, grinning.
Buffy slapped him gently around the head and rested herself into his arms again.
"Not that. Not now." She said,even though desireseemed to have replaced all her common sense.
He gave a mock sigh of exasperation. Buffy laughed, nuzzling into him.
" 'S weird," Spike commented, rocking her gently forwards and backwards.
"What's weird?" Buffy said peacefully. Nothing Spike said could ruin this moment.
"One minute you're rejectin' me, the next, this."
Buffy lifted her head to look into his eyes. She knew exactly what he was talking about, but decided to pretend not to.
"Rejecting you?" She repeated.
"'S'nothin', pet. Got out of it with a few bruises, is all." Spike smiled at the memory.
Buffy thought back to all the times she had hurt Spike, laughed and taunted him, and told him he was worthless. Tears of shame prickled her eyes.
"I'm sorry." She said, feeling terrible. Spike looked down at her with a warmth he never thought he would experience.
"It's ok, Buffy, like I said." He tilted his head to one side and looked at her witha smile.
Buffy felt so happy that she knew she would cry again, and laughed inwardlyat the strangeness of it all.
"I could just take that, put it in my pocket and it'd keep me warm all winter." She told him, tracing the lines of his face with a single finger.
"What?" Spike trapped her hand in his.
"Your smile."
Spike smiled again and kissed her fingers while they were still twined with his.
Buffy used her free hand to pull his head closer to hers, and kissed him gently, happier than she could ever remember.
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Spike kissed her again at the door of the crypt, his hand tracing her stomach through her shirt.
"Don't," Buffy moaned, melting into his touch.
"Best get going, pet." He broke touch reluctantly. "Dawnie'll be getting worried." He added.
"Oh God, they all will," Buffy groaned again, this time more out of frustration.
Spike pulled her to him one last time, whispering into her ear:
"I'll come to get my coat later."
Buffy kissed his forehead finallyand pointed at the crypt.
"Get inside, before someone sees you!"
Spike growled, touched her hand one final time, and closed the crypt door, separating them.
Buffy stared at the blank door for a few minutes, then walked slowly across the cemetary, dreading what everyone would say about how late she was.
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"Heyguys!" She called as soon as she had let herself in.
No one answered.
"Dawn? Will? Tara?"
Still nothing. Buffy checked the answer machine, and found a pink post-it note pinned to the reciever of the phone:
Hey, Buff!
We took Dawnie to the Magic Box-Giles says there's a new evil that needs searching out.
How was you interview?Dawnie says she's found some other jobs you might on over whatever time you want!
love,
Willowx
'Come over whatever time you want'...Buffy decided that that was a great idea, and decided to have a shower.
The hot water made her feel clean, and she took the time to think about what to do.
I could tell Dawn...And I don't think Tara would mind so much...It's just...Giles'd freak, and Will and Xander'd probably think I was joking...
She had just finished rinsing her hair when the phone rang.
"I'm coming!" She called to nobody in particular, putting on her favourite black bathrobe and letting her hair drip all the way down the stairs.
"Hello?"
"Hey Buff, thank God you're back! We were all getting worried."
"Xander! Oh, I just stopped to have a shower, y'know...Me Time." Buffy couldn't help feeling disappointed-For a second she had hoped that it would be Spike.
"That's ok. Listen, could you come over here? We've found the demony evil...He seems pretty easy-"
She could hear Anya calling from somewhere: "Tell her he's cute and fluffy!"
"Not now, An. Er...Buff?"
"Yuh-huh." Buffy played with a strand of her wet hair, waiting, all ready to make an excuse that meant she didn't have to go over there and fight this demony fluffy evil thing.
"Spike's here. He says he owes you something? Can you just come so you can chuck him out?"
"I'm on my way!" Buffy said quickly, slamming the phone down.
