There was one bed. It was gigantic, but there was still only the one. Buffy took a deep breath. She was really trying, but she'd figured they would dip their toes in, not cannonball into the deep end.

"I want the side closest to the patio. I'll keep my cooler out there. More room in that little fridge for your goodies then." His hand rested on her shoulder for a second and then the cool comfort of his touch was gone. She glanced around the cabin, but he wasn't in the room. She could feel him, that tingle that was unique to him. She moved toward it.

Spike was showering. She could hear the water sluicing off his body. He was humming. God, he was happy. no one hummed when they were sad. This didn't bother him.

"He's lived with a woman before. Sharing a bed isn't new to him." She grumbled. "What am I supposed to wear?"

Rubbing her sweaty palms on her denim clad thighs, she looked longingly at her weapons chest. It would be so nice to go kill something. She grabbed her cooler and shoved the blood bags back behind the tiny bottles of booze. He wouldn't find them there. he didn,t need to know she'd brought more. She dumped her candy bars and yogurts at the front. The more camouflage, the better.

The water shut off. She stood up and turned toward the bathroom door. Her heart was racing. She made sure all the curtains were drawn. He would be coming out soon. The room seemed to shrink around her. She gulped, her eyes darting about.

She needed to finish unpacking. She opened her first bag and started putting her jeans and sweats in the bottom drawer.

The creak of the bathroom door drew her eyes. He stood, framed by the swirling steam. Her mouth went dry and her heart beat like an angry fyarl was chasing her. She had never seen him like this. Flushed and warm from his shower, he paused and stared at her.

"We are going to get over all this weirdness, right?" Buffy tried to keep her eyes from trailing over all that beautiful, alabaster skin. Why was the towel so big? She forced her eyes up.

His knowing smile made her blush.

"There's weirdness?" He walked over to her and stroked her cheek with his free hand. "We don't have to rush into a physical relationship. Sharing a bed is intimate, but it doesn't mean I have expectations, great or otherwise."

"Oh," she sighed and fussed with the hem of her sweater. All the doubts Angel and Parker had left her with flitted through her mind. "Is it me?"

Spike pulled her close and hugged her with one arm. The bare skin of his chest was warm against her cheek, an effect of the hot shower. It was strange, but not stranger than standing in their one room cabin, next to their giant bed. She cuddled into him.

"Luv, I want you. I have since that first night watching you dance with your little friends. It was all mixed up with hating you, but the desire was there. I wanted you. The poof and that git that hurt you earlier this year are fools. I was yours for a few hours, loved you for a few hours, but those hours were amazing. Made losing you that much worse. Even missed you humming the crap music." He led her to the bed, sat, and pulled her into his lap. "I won't toy with you, Buffy. I'm evil. Can't miss that, but I don't hurt the women I care about."

Buffy nodded and stroked his chest with her fingers. Being so wimpy bothered her. Spike knew about her doubts because she had confessed them to him during the spell. He never made her feel weak or silly even when they went back to their hating each other riff. He'd teased her about the music but never hurt her with the real ammunition he'd acquired. She pulled back and stared into his eyes, resting her hands on his shoulders.

"You care about me." It wasn't a question. She smiled as he nodded. The world around them went still. Buffy stroked her fingers along his cheek. She shifted her body on his lap and felt the towel shift a bit before he caught it. "You care about me. It's not some spell."

"Spent a lot of time just thinking about you after Red twisted us up and ripped us apart." He traced her lower lip with the pad of his thumb. "Realized I didn't want you dead. Made me feel real low, even tried to dust myself, but then I had myself some time to think. You're human, but more so. Might be I could be a vamp, but less so."

"So, you're done with evil?"

"Can't be done with what I am, but I'm not practicing now." Spike shrugged one shoulder. "Doesn't mean I won't steal the watcher's hooch."

"Riley gave me this whole speech about how hiding from getting hurt was wrong, how much he liked me, and wanted a chance for us. He wanted it until we fought those demons with the valiant amulet thingy. He said I wasn't human." Buffy blinked rapidly. She was so not going to cry right now. "Apparently, I am a non hostile subterranean."

"Those sadists have labeled you?" Spike looked in her eyes. She could see the flash of fear. "They'd best keep their hands off. Won't have you locked up in their cells."

"I don't think they want to lock me up. They invited me to show them my methods, but I couldn't do it. I thought of you, and I couldn't do it. You've never been afraid of anything before they showed up."

"Are you saying you trust my judgement?" Spike's scarred brow rose.

"I trust your survival instinct." She pushed his nose with one finger. Spike playfully bit at it. She watched his eyes light as they played. This was easy. Being with him was easy.

"Go, get the road washed off of you. Then we can settle in. Need some kip before we head off to kill the snow beasts." He smiled, and she dropped a quick kiss against his curved lips.

He was reaching for her even as she moved away. She trailed her fingers down his arm. The bed didn't seem so intimidating now.

"There's a hot tub outside with a privacy awning that we can crank out over it. Lots of wintery fun for all. We should give it a whirl while we're here." Buffy grabbed her pajamas and stepped toward the bathroom.

"I didn't bring any swim trunks." Spike shrugged.

"That's okay." Buffy laughed. "Neither did I."