Author's Note: Sorry everyone for the delay. I was in Detroit all last week and I didn't bring my computer with me (haha hence the little plot point in the story that Willow goes to Detroit). Most of this chapter was done before I left, but I just didn't have time to upload it before my trip. Hope you all like it :) thanks again for all of the reviews!
[Scene: Buffy's bedroom. It's morning and Buffy is lying with her head resting on Spike's bare chest and her hand draped across his stomach. She begins to wake up, batting her eyes a few times.)
(Spike, who's been watching her sleep, notices her beginning to stir)
Spike: (kisses the top of her head and strokes her hair) Morning.
(Buffy lifts her head upward to look at Spike, she smiles)
Buffy: Morning.
(The two exchange a deep kiss. Then Buffy lies back down on his chest, sighing pleasantly)
Buffy: So. Did you have any plans for the day?
Spike: Was thinking about staying in bed.
Buffy: Right…the whole sleep during the day thing.
Spike: (smiles devilishly) Not quite what I had in mind (his arms move around under the covers…and Buffy moans quietly)
(Buffy smiles sinisterly and climbs on top of Spike. She leans in to face him and hovers above him for a moment before leaning down and kissing him. Spike gets excited and turns her over onto her back…he begins to kiss her neck)
[Scene: Willow is talking on a cell phone in the hallway of a large meeting space.]
Willow: It'll be like a Scoobie Gang reunion. Uh, what time should I get there?
(response from Xander)
Willow: Oh, okay. Just, um, you might have to bear with me—even with the magicks on my side I got pretty lost on the way here.
(another response)
Willow: Yeah, Buffy's going to be totally happy to see you. With everything that's happened I think the more familiar faces she sees, the better.
[Scene: Buffy and Spike are still in her room…though it is now the late afternoon.]
(Buffy is lying flat on her back and her tank top is pulled up, exposing her midriff…one of Spike's hands is resting on the edge of the shirt, while the other is gently holding the side of Buffy's hip. He very gently kisses her, moving slowly up from her belly button. Buffy bites her lip, smiling and looks down at him. Her hand is resting on top of his head, moving through his disheveled hair as he continues to gently tickle her stomach with his lips. Spike finally looks up at her and moves up in the bed to lie next to her. Buffy continues to play with his hair and stares into his eyes, smiling. Spike happily returns her gaze.)
Buffy: (regretfully) I guess we should get up.
(Spike sticks out his lower lip like he did in As You Were when Buffy wouldn't invite him inside her house.)
Spike: Why?
(Buffy gives him a look to indicate she's serious)
Spike: (sighs, looks upward) All right…
(After a moment he sits up on the edge of the bed and puts on his pants. Buffy looks on)
Spike: Guess you have to get up sometime.
(Buffy sits up in bed and wraps her arms around him from behind. She kisses his ear and nibbles on it suggestively)
Buffy: Want to get something to eat?
(Spike frowns back at her)
Spike: Unless you keep a fresh supply of pig's blood, not much in the mood.
Buffy: Okay, first of all, ew. I meant real food.
(Spike gives her a look)
Buffy: Second of all, what about the blood you left here?
(Spike frowns back at her, confused)
Buffy: …Remember? …Yesterday? (Spike stares back at her blankly) That's why you came over...
Spike: (sighs in frustration) don't think I put it back in the fridge after I saw you…wasn't exactly planning to stay the night.
(Buffy smiles coyly)
Buffy: (after a moment) So?
(Spike looks confused)
Buffy: I mean, why do you need to refrigerate it anyway? To protect it from bacteria? You're a vampire…does that stuff even affect you guys?
Spike: Never tested it out…but let's not start now. I don't fancy getting deathly ill.
(Buffy playfully rolls her eyes as Spike stands up from the bed)
Spike: (putting on his black shirt) Say, shouldn't Willow be up by now?
Buffy: (frowns) She's not here…
(Spike looks back with mild surprise)
Buffy: (getting up out of bed and walking over to him) You're telling me you didn't notice?
(Spike looks at her blankly)
Buffy: (crossing her arms) Don't you think she would have like, heard the serious noise disturbances coming from my room in the last 18 hours?
Spike: (walks right up to her and gently strokes her arms) Sorry love, I was a little distracted.
(Buffy smiles back and Spike leans in to kiss her)
(After a moment they stop, and Spike takes Buffy's hand)
Spike: Well then, let's get you something to eat.
(Spike leads her out of the room)
(cut to Spike and Buffy walking down the stairs to the front hall)
Spike: So where did red run off to anyway? Some big witch convention or something?
Buffy: Umm, actually…yeah.
Spike: (Spike raises one eyebrow) Hm.
(They walk into the kitchen. The packet of blood is lying on the counter. Buffy stands on one side of the counter, Spike faces her from the other. They both stare at the packet)
Buffy: Maybe if you just stick it back in the fridge?
Spike: (sarcastically) yeah, that'll do it…(sighs) It's fine, not that hungry anyway. (after a beat) Sun'll be down soon…(vulnerably) we, uh, could go out...
Buffy: (frowns) Where?
Spike: (walks back toward the entrance to the kitchen) You tell me. I'm the one who wanted to stay in bed, remember?
(Buffy smiles coyly and walks past him, exiting the scene)
[Scene: Xander on the plane ride to Cleveland]
(Xander dials Buffy's number on the airplane phone but no one answers. Cut back to Buffy's house where no one is home. Cut back to Xander who hangs up and tries again...)
[Scene: Spike and Buffy walking through the graveyard—it's now dark out and they are patrolling]
(Spike and Buffy are walking arm and arm)
Spike: So is it official?
(Buffy looks back at him, mildly freaked out)
Buffy: What?
Spike: You doing the slaying again.
Buffy: Oh. Uh, yeah.
Spike: Sure you're up for it? Patrolling I mean. Didn't look like you were quite ready for it before.
Buffy: Nah, I'm fine. Just need some practice…(trying to be nonchalant) If you want we could spar later…
Spike: (smiles) uh huh. Well, til then, just take it easy okay? Don't want you to be taking on vamps if you're not 100 percent.
(Buffy smiles and begins to say something, but she's interrupted by the sound of two vampires jumping out from the bushes)
Buffy: Well, here's to hoping I'm 100 percent (Buffy swings a punch at the first vampire. Spike starts fighting the second)
(What ensues is a full on brawl between the two vamps and Buffy and Spike. At first Buffy has the upper hand, but the first vamp eventually throws Buffy at a mausoleum wall, and her back slams hard against the marble. She slides down to the ground and sits there, injured. Spike turns to see what's happened, pushes the vamp he's fighting off of him, stakes him, and rushes over to attack the other vamp that hurt Buffy. The remaining vamp is sauntering over to Buffy, ready to bite her, when Spike hurls himself at the vamp, pinning him to the ground and promptly staking him. Spike gets up, dusts himself off, and walks over to Buffy. He holds out his hand and lifts her up off the ground.)
Buffy: (in pain) thanks.
(Spike nods silently)
(Buffy starts to walk, but immediately cringes in pain)
Buffy: Ow! (rubs the back of her neck)
Spike: (looking extremely concerned and putting his arm around her) Come on. Let's get you home.
[Scene: Spike carries Buffy through the threshold of the front door, closes it with his shoulder and foot, and carries her up the stairs to her room.
(He gently lays her down on the bed and she squirms in pain.)
Spike: You rest. I'll be back. (Spike bolts from the room and Buffy looks on, still in pain)
(cut to a few minutes later, Spike is coming back in the room with a plastic bag full of ice (makeshift ice pack)
Buffy: You know we do have an actual ice pack in the house…
Spike: Oh. Uh.
Buffy: It's fine. Thanks.
Spike: Need to turn you over. Think you can…
Buffy: (nods) Yeah.
(Buffy turns herself over onto her stomach and groans a little)
(Spike sits down on the bed and gently places the bag of ice down on Buffy's neck. She flinches when she feels the cold)
Spike: Feel any better?
Buffy: (still in pain) A little…
(Spike removes the ice pack, placing it on her nightstand. He takes out an individual piece of ice and places it on her neck. Spike slides it up and down her skin, the ice slowly melting along the way. Spike leans down and gently kisses her neck.)
Spike: How bout now?
Buffy: (smiles) Better.
(Spike kisses her softly at the bottom of her neck and slowly moves his lips down her back)