Chapter 15: Sunday Morning Confessions

Willow had been the first to rise and after disentangling herself from Cordelia's vice-like grip, she had sneaked across the corridor to grab some clean clothes. She couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. Spike and Buffy were sparked out on the bed, snuggled up like two sleeping otters. She was so pleased they had made up, even though she had always known they would. As quite as mouse, she grabbed hers and Cordelia's clothes; she wasn't going to risk hurricane hangover trampling in and disturbing the exhausted pair. It was only 6am and they didn't have to check out until midday. Willow scurried back out of the room. Just as she was about to open the door she heard a faint but high pitched, girlish squeal.

Upon entering she could barely contain her laughter. Cordelia was still snoring peacefully, with one hand dangling off the edge of the bed. Xander on the other hand was standing in the centre of the twin bed opposite. His eyes were transfixed on the floor, his face was as white as a sheet. Willow looked up at him, "What's the matter with you?" she asked through stifled giggles.

Xander stammered as he pointed towards a black, straggly shape on the floor, "Sp…sp…spider!" he managed, his voice still high and shaken. Willow took a step towards it, "it's ok, I'll save you," she said rolling her eyes. Xander shook his head, "Careful, Will… it might bite you," he said shuffling as close to the edge of the bed as he dared. He tried to peer round his friend as she stooped down to pick it up. "It's harmless," Willow said as she realised what it was, she flung it at Xander, who instinctively ducked for cover. "It's Cordelia's hair extensions," she explained as her laughter finally erupted from her as if it were a volcano. Xander lifted his head and looked at it, "Oh," he managed, with a sheepish, apologetic grin.

"Dumbass," Willow muttered good-naturedly as she wandered off into the bathroom for a shower.

The first rays of sunshine flickered through the venetian blinds and Buffy's eyes began to flutter open. She groaned softly and rolled slightly to avoid the glare. Her right arm swung over what she first thought was a pillow, but it was firm and warm. As she lay there, letting her eyes adjust to her surroundings, her fingers connected with a hand. Buffy froze, her breath caught for a brief second as her eyes travelled upwards to locate the owner. Spike. A strange tingling sensation came over her as her hand connected with his.

Slowly, the events of last night started to come back and Buffy's mind flooded with painful visions of Angel in bed with another girl. Tears glistened in her eyes as they threatened to fall. She blinked them back and subconsciously nestled closer to Spike. He murmured slightly in his sleep, as his body automatically shifted to accommodate her. His muscular arms providing much needed comfort as they draped around over her.

In that brief moment, Angel faded away and Buffy felt safe and wanted. She lay very still so as not to wake him. Her head rested beneath his shoulder and she was soothed by his strong steady heartbeat as she watched the rise and fall of his broad chest. His fitted black T-shirt must have twisted during the night as the lower half of his torso lay bare, exposing his well-toned abs.

Without thinking, Buffy's fingers trailed lightly across the width of his skin and was surprised at how smooth it felt. Spike let out a low, peaceful moan at the contact. Buffy stopped immediately, raising her eyes to look at him, hoping that he wouldn't wake. He'd stayed up most of the night just listening to her and supporting her, which Buffy felt both guilty and grateful for. She couldn't even imagine how she would have coped without him.

He was still sleeping peacefully and Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. She gazed at his face, taking in every little detail from his high cheek bones to the little faded scar above his left eye. His blonde hair had lost some of its hold and a few loose curls strayed down his forehead. She felt his hand start to trail up and down her arm as if he was stroking her. It was then that Buffy realised why she didn't want him to wake. She didn't want this moment to end. Being here in his arms felt right somehow. Buffy lay perfectly still, just looking, he really was perfection personified. "How could Dru have let you go?" she mused aloud, her voice barely a whisper, "if you were my boyf…" she stopped before her thought finished. 'Oh my God Buffy' she scolded herself, 'are you crushing on your best friend?' The very notion of something romantic between her and Spike brought butterflies to her stomach and her heart started to race. Her breath caught in her throat as she remembered their almost kiss. Is he crushing on me? No he can't be, can he? He was just relieved and being supportive like he always is. He was just being…'

"Spike," she sighed dreamily.

"Mmm" Spike mumbled as he stirred, his eyes opened slowly, "morning goldilocks" he yawned sleepily as he stretched, allowing Buffy a better view.

"M…morning," Buffy stammered, she could feel her face flooding red and quickly hid behind the covers. "What are you doing?" Spike asked a thin, curious smile creeping onto his face. She looked so cute, with just her eyes peering over the bed sheet.

Buffy rapidly tried to think of a good excuse, "saving you from my morning breath," she lied. Spike's grin widened. He could tell when she was covering, under normal circumstances he would have teased her mercilessly but this morning he decided to play along, "I've got just the tonic for that," he said as he carefully and reluctantly extracted his arms from Buffy and rose from the bed.

From her hiding place, Buffy could hear the kettle boiling and forced herself to calm down. After a few moments, she felt a gentle hand shaking her shoulder. She sat up and smiled as Spike handed her a piping hot mug of chocolate. The hotel only offered tea and coffee. Buffy inwardly grinned at how well he knew her, he must have brought it with him and he'd even put cream and little marshmallows. Spike sat back down beside her, but not as close as he had been before. The pair sat nursing their drinks for a few moments in silence, steeling alternating sideways glances. Neither ready to address the slight awkwardness.

The voices in Spike's head were arguing once more, 'I nearly kissed her last night, I wanted to, did she want me to? She looked like she did…no you prat, she was in shock it could have been anyone that offered her some comfort, best just carry on like nothing happened.'

"Spike," said Buffy, "about last night…"

"Yeah?" Spike asked hopefully as he looked up a little too quickly.

"Thank you," Buffy said, "for everything."

"You're welcome," Spike replied with a nod, "what are friends for?" he asked somewhat dejectedly as he stood, "I better go and check on the others," he said making his excuse and exiting the room in a swift stride.

Buffy starred at the closed door. "Right," she sighed, fidgeting with her necklace, "friends, just friends."

About an hour and a half later, Willow, Xander and Cordelia sat outside on the hotel veranda as the early morning sun danced around the breakfast table. Willow was feeling rather perky after two coffees and waved madly when she saw Buffy and Spike arrive.

"What happened to you lot?" Buffy asked but Willow just giggled at her. Spike reached over and grabbed her coffee cup, ignoring her protests, "that's it I'm cutting you off!" he said as they sat opposite. Buffy looked at her friends; they really were a sight. Willow was ridiculously wide awake, Xander was slumped over the table, communicating in grunts alone and Cordelia was the only one who looked normal. She was leaning back in her chair soaking in the rays, wearing a large white hat and designer sun glasses.

Buffy laughed at Willow and Xander and spoke to Cordelia, "looks like you guys had a better night than me, what happened? How were the Dingo's? Cordy…Cordy?"

Spike laughed, "You won't get an answer out of her; she's the worst of the lot!" Buffy looked at him baffled and so he explained starting with Willow, who waved happily at the mention of her name, "meet Willow, the completely sober, up past her bedtime coffee addict," Spike said. He then pointed to Xander, "meet Xander, pretend to handle his drink, suffer in the morning caveman," Buffy giggled as Xander grunted in response and Spike continued with his introductions, "and finally Cordelia, Queen of pretence, she is in fact…" Spike walked round and removed her hat and glasses, "unconscious!"

At this point Cordelia let out a huge snore and everyone fell about laughing; except for Xander who merely grunted.

At quarter past two that same afternoon, Spike's car rolled past the welcome to Sunnydale sign. Buffy gazed out of the passenger window, taking in the familiar surroundings. It felt good to be home. The road trip to LA had not exactly gone as planned. Her father wanted nothing to do with her and her boyfriend had lied and cheated. It hurt more than she ever thought possible. Whispered voices in the back of the car, caused her to look round. Xander was sleeping, his head lolling back and forth with the motion of the car, the girls were chatting excitedly over him as Willow filled them in on the attack of the killer hair extensions. Buffy enjoyed the grin that came unbidden to her face. She thought, not for the first time, how lucky she was to have friends like hers, even Cordelia.

Then she heard Spike tapping his fingers on the wheel in time to the music emitting from his headphones. His eyes were fixed completely on the road, but his head was bopping like an over enthusiastic pigeon. Her smile had reached her eyes and she drank him all in. He'd been her best friend for so long and to think she'd nearly ruined that because she hadn't seen the warning signs, hadn't been prepared to listen. He smiled over at her at that moment and started singing loudly and off key. Buffy laughed along with everyone else.

After they had dropped Willow and Xander off at their respective houses, Cordelia headed into Spike's house, while he helped carry Buffy's stuff to her front porch. He then hugged her goodbye and she nestled in remembering the words he had spoken last night. He thought she was special. As they parted, she watched him swagger across the lawn and hoped he knew how special she thought he was too.

Buffy was grateful to find the house empty as she went up to her bedroom, the last thing she wanted right now was an interrogation from Dawn. She put her cd on and stated to unpack.

Meanwhile, Spike stared out of his window, watching as his best friend swayed around her room, and he flashed back to the first time he saw her in those adorable sushi pyjamas. The way she moved, how she'd made him smile when he didn't think it possible. The way she made him feel. She'd been his sunshine amid his darkest times.

Cordelia was reading in her bedroom just down the hall from Spike's. She jumped to attention when the door crashed open.

"Cordy, you were right." Spike said looking slightly pale.

"Well of course I was!" Cordelia stated and then tilted her head, "what about?" she asked.

"I think I have feelings for Buffy," Spike stated.

Cordelia just rolled her eyes, "Oh ya think!" she said sarcastically, "well it certainly took you long enough," she waved her hand as if dismissing him, "Go and ask her out."

"I can't," Spike said sadly, "she's my best friend Cordy, she's always been there for me, I don't know what I'd do without her, I can't lose that and she just broke up with Angel."

"Aww," said Cordelia, "that's really sweat…but completely stupid!" she chided, "If you like the girl just tell her! The worst she'll say is no."

Spike threw his head back in frustration, "if she said no our friendship wouldn't recover, I don't think I could take that, she's everything I…she fell asleep in my arms last night Cordy and I didn't want to let her go, I don't want to be the rebound guy…I want to be the guy," he emphasised.

Cordelia was transfixed and for once in her life she was completely speechless. She slowly stood and walked over to Spike and placed her hand on his shoulder to calm him, "you know," she said softly, "I've seen you with girls, you're sweet and protective with Willow, romantic and loyal with Drusilla; loyal to a fault I might add, but…I never thought I'd see this!"

"See what?" Spike asked confused.

"I never thought I'd see you fall in love!" Cordelia said.