Author's Note: Hey guys. Thanks again for the reviews. I really, really appreciate all the feedback, it's what encourages me to keep going with the story. I hate to admit it, but since I've been back from Detroit I've suffered a bit of writer's block. I guess I was on such a roll before that getting away from the story for a week threw me off...that and the fact that my brother got me hooked on True Blood (which I definitely recommend as another great vampire tv show :). Sorry if my updates are kind of sporadic. I'll try to get new chapters out as often as possible, but at this point I'm still trying to figure out where I want to go with the plot. I spent a lot of energy initially figuring out how to get Spike and Buffy back together, that now I'm feeling a bit of "where do we go from here?" I know there's lots more to do with the story, I just need to figure out exactly where I'm going...
[Scene: Willow is stopped outside the front of the airport, waiting for Xander. She looks through the front windows, squinting, to see if she can find him]
(From behind, Xander walks up to the passenger side of the car and opens the door—startling Willow)
Xander: (lowering his head to look at Willow from the passenger door) Hey, got room for a one-eyed, jet-lagged demon magnet?
Willow: Xander!
(Willow jumps out of the driver's side of the car, walks over and hugs Xander exuberantly. He's somewhat startled, but smiles and hugs her back)
Faith (off camera): I hate to break up this Kodak moment…but could we move it along? Was kind of hoping to get going before you two broke down in tears.
(Willow stops hugging Xander to look over in surprise to see Faith standing with her stuff. She glances back at Xander who gives her an apologetic look)
Willow: Uh, Faith..hi….. Xander didn't tell me—
Faith: The kid didn't know before we got on the flight together. Didn't really plan on this little slayer reunion either, but Giles wanted me to let you all know what was going on.
(Xander and Willow look at her confused)
Willow: Going on?
Faith: Yeah. Seems there's a new big bad looking to stir up the Hellmouth.
("dun, dun, dun")
[Scene: Buffy wakes up—she's lying on her side, wrapped in Spike's arms from behind…like in Chosen when they're sleeping in the basement]
(Buffy looks around, reorienting herself, before she turns to see Spike holding her from behind. She smiles and kisses him lightly on the cheek while caressing the side of his face)
Spike: (groans, eyes still closed) sleep well?
Buffy: (smiles, says quietly) Yeah…
Spike: (opening his eyes, breathes heavily) and your back?
Buffy: Not sure it's good as new, but I'm definitely feeling better.
(Spike smiles—they shift position, now she's lying with her head on his chest. They lie there in silence for a moment, she strokes his chest listlessly with her hand)
Buffy: Can I ask you something?
Spike: Mm?
Buffy: (sounding nervous now) Did you um—When you were gone, did you…
(Spike raises his eyebrow)
Buffy: …happen to…go out with anyone?
(Spike smiles immediately)
Spike: Would you be jealous if I had?
Buffy: What? No. I just, uh, was wondering, you know…
Spike: (incredulously) Uh huh…
Buffy: (looks up at him) Hey!
(Spike looks back at her dubiously)
Buffy: Like you're any better? You've been jealous of like every guy I've ever gone out with.
Spike: There've only been three!
Buffy: No…there was that guy at my 21st birthday—don't forget him.
Spike: Yeah, well, they just seemed bloody ill-suited is all…(shrugs, trying to be nonchalant) thought you could do better.
Buffy: And you're "better"?
(Spike gives an evil smile and leans in to kiss her)
Spike: (As Buffy rests back on his chest) My turn
(Buffy looks up at him in confusion)
Spike: What? You asked me a question, now I get to ask something about you.
Buffy: You didn't even answer!
Spike: (rolls eyes) What do you think?
(Buffy looks into his eyes…and then backs down, humbled)
Spike: Right then, my turn.
Buffy: Let me guess—how many people have I dated? I thought we already went over this.
Spike: Did we now?
Buffy: My wonderful luck with guys in the past few months? Yeah, we did.
Spike: And before that…?
Buffy: (sighs) After Sunnydale, I did try to…get on with my life. While I was in Europe I went out…with guys—but never anything serious.
Spike: Getting back to my question…
Buffy: What? I told you—
Spike: You volunteered the information love, didn't actually ask a question though, did I?
Buffy: (pouts) cheater
Spike: Right then. (Spike frowns, thinking of what to ask—then it comes to him; he smiles) When did you first have a thing for me?
Buffy: A thing for you?
Spike: You know…(bites lip) when'd I first get you all hot and bothered.
Buffy: Well, I hated you a lot, does that count?
(Spike gives her a look)
Buffy: Fine. (sighs) I mean, I don't really know. Guess it depends on how you look at it.
Spike: How's that?
Buffy: Well, normally I'd say after I came back…
Spike: But?
Buffy: But, um, okay, I've never told anyone this, but…you know that spell Willow did on us…the happily ever after marriage one?
(Spike looks back at her in acknowledgement)
Buffy: Well—I mean I still totally hated you—but (embarrassed) I kind of thought….you were a good kisser
Spike: (smugly) Is that right?
Buffy: Hey, I still wanted to stake you…I just, uh, thought, you know—
(Spike smiles, pins her down to the bed and kisses her passionately)
[Scene: Willow is driving her car back to Cleveland. Xander is in the front passenger seat and Faith is sitting in the back]
Willow: So, uh, Xander, when do you have to be back?
Xander: Oh, well, I'm thinking after my last round of annoy-the-hell-out-of-each-other with Giles, he won't be missing me for a while. Besides, he has Frodo to look after things while I'm gone. (after a beat) I was getting tired of Europe anyway—being around so many young impressionable girls…it gets old after a while—
Faith: He wasn't getting any.
Xander: Is it the eye patch? You would think at least one of them would see it as a…a manly accessory…Andrew said it made me look like powerful, like a colonel—
Faith: The nerd was talking about Battlestar Galactica
(awkward silence…Xander looks down)
Willow: So, um, how about you Faith?
Faith: Eh, Scottish guys didn't quite cut it. Heavy on the drinking but light on the fu—
Willow: Okay! Um, I meant when, when you needed to be back.
Faith: (shrugs) Figured I might stay in the states. Visit some old friends.
Willow: Uh, okay. But you should probably know that, uh, Buffy doesn't know you're coming, and—
Faith: What else is new? Might as well surprise the girl, heard there isn't much else going on in her life.
(Willow frowns at Faith and then Xander…who looks apologetic again)
Xander: But, uh, it'll be nice to see Buffy again…you know, minus the slayage and the usual vampire entourage.
(Willow's eyes widen in alarm)
Willow: (frowning in distress) Yeah…I've kind of been meaning to talk to you about that…
[Scene: Willow is guiding Xander and Faith through the front door of Buffy's house and carrying some of their luggage]
Willow: (looking around) Buffy! Are you home? Xander's here…and um (looks at Faith) Xander's here!
(Faith rolls her eyes)
Willow: Hmm, uh, she must be out. Well, we've got one guest room upstairs and the couch. You guys can—
(At the same time)
Faith: Couch Xander: Bed please
Willow: Wow…that was…easier than I thought.
Xander: (all self-conscious) What? I need the lumbar support
Willow: Uh, okay, well let me show you where the bedroom is.
(Xander and Willow walk upstairs. Faith looks around)