Tara put the bath on for Nicole, 'you still know how to use this, right?'

Nicole nodded her head eagerly.

She was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed 'are you going to get undressed?'

Nicole shook her head, 'do you want me to leave?' Nicole nodded.

Tara quickly trotted down stairs 'I don't think she can talk?'

Spike stopped pacing the room 'where is she!' Tara stepped back surprised 'in the bath, relax' spike rolled his eyes 'don't leave her alone!' he ran upstairs,

'uh spike I don't think you shou…' he obviously couldn't hear her.

Spike let himself in 'Nicole?' he looked down at the floor.

She was still sitting there 'aren't you going to have a bath?'

She nodded 'are you going to get in?' he said trying not to sound like a pervert; he was only trying to help. Nicole shook her head 'I see… you want me to leave' spike turned the door knob 'n, n, no' Nicole managed to stutter out.

She held her arms up in the air, she was asking spike for help to undress her.

He slid off her ripped clothes and examined her body,

Her back was covered in slash marks; it pained him to look at her this way.

She slid in to the water grunting and trying to muffle her screams when the hot water hit her wounds.

Spike locked the door and sat on the outside of the bath.

He washed her hair and rinsed it carefully trying to keep the soap from hitting her back,

She splashed a spot in the water 'yeah nice and warm isn't it' spike said smiling.

Nicole shook her head 'n, n, no' he looked confused at her,

She pulled off his black shirt; she wanted him in with her.

Spike took his shoes and his shirt off and slipped in.

He looked in to her eyes 'do you remember me, Nicole…' Nicole smiled and placed a kiss on his lips; she turned him around and started washing his hair like he had washed hers. Spike chuckled 'oh I see, it's your turn.'

Nicole wore one of spikes black shirt's it was a lot bigger on her petite figure,

It was still only afternoon but you could tell she hadn't slept in centuries,

She lay on spikes bed holding the blankets trying to create warmth.

Spike slid under the cover's and faced Nicole, even though he wasn't tired, he didn't want to leave her alone 'comfortable?' Nicole nodded.

She smiled at spike and held on to his chest, his eyes filled with tears, he never thought he could hold her like this again.

She wiped away his tears spike drew her in to a passionate kiss.

She snuggled up to him as he held her, knowing tomorrow would be a new beginning.