Catching Up: Spike brought his lips down to Buffy's cheek, "Welcome back love."

A/N: Ready for chapter nine? Well, ready or not, here it comes! R&R PLEASE!

Black and White Movies.

"Here you are love," Spike handed Buffy a sandwich which she took thankfully, and he watched her with a solemn expression. He hadn't thought about how long it would take for her to bounce back, he had thought to long and hard about seeing her alive again that he'd completely ridded his mind of the thought. But now that he could see her, nervous and expecting in front of him, he realized just how difficult the task might be. She needed a calm and comforting setting so that she could come to her senses. Back at her home with the gang they would be questioning and worried. They would make things very hard for her.

Buffy glanced up at Spike who was still watching her unblinking. She put her sandwich down and questioned him with her eyes. Then she self consciously glanced down at her body to make sure it was as she left it. Her eyes widened when she realized she was in different clothes since she… Died? Had Spike changed her?

"You can stay here as long as you like Buffy." Spike used a soothing voice, cooing her gently.

Buffy ignored his statement. "Why are my clothes different?" She questioned nervously. Did she really want to know the answer? Probably not.

Spike looked dumbstruck for a moment, and then understanding smoothed his brow. "You were gone for a long time Buffy. We weren't going to leave you in your muddy clothes." Then he realized the real reason for her discomfort and quickly added, "Tara brought some clothes for you and helped you into them while I was getting some blood. From a pig. Pig's blood. Not human." He gestured his hands trying to make sure she didn't misunderstand and hit him.

To his surprise though, she smiled down into her glass of juice and took a short sip. "So tell me then Spike, what did I miss?" She smiled up at him, almost convinced of being in her real world.

"Everybody to the living room!" Willow called from the Summer's front door. The first ones to oblige were Giles and Anya. Dawn took her sweet time, and Xander was somewhere unknown.

"What is it? Is everything alright?" Giles' constant concern touched Willow; Giles' was like a second father to her.

"Everything's fine." Tara chirped before Willow could answer it in some sort of 'Buffy was in hell and now she's back and she's crazy' sort of way. Willow gave her a curious look.

Finally, Xander came in the room and sat himself down on the arm of the chair that Anya was seated in. Anya raised an eyebrow to Tara, guessing at where this was going. Anya knowing best of all what was happening (having many years of experience in the tortures of hell trade), was gestured to to speak by Tara.

"Right," she nodded firmly with a tight smile colouring her cheeks. "So, as you all know Buffy's been missing." The way she said it sounded more like a question. The ones in the 'unknown' stared at her in a shocked sort of sadness. "Well… She's back from hell and she'll be home any minute." She nodded to herself pleased at her explaining.

"Wait what?" Xander stared at her like she'd gone insane. Giles mumbled a few unintelligible words and took off his glasses to clean them.

"See, Tara, Spike and I died right? Well Buffy wanted us back to help her fight crazy demons, so she made a deal with the devil and she brought us back." She grew frustrated at the ever growing confusion on the faces of her peers and so she sighed and continued. "Buffy made a deal with a hell god."

"Like Glory you mean?" Dawn asked nervously.

"No, like a devil I mean." Anya snapped, annoyed at the interruption. "Our lives in exchange for her time in hell. And she would have stayed there forever had Willow not done a spell to take Spike into her mind, where he told the devil to 'let her go'," she said the 'let her go' part in a deepness mocking Spike's voice. "And now she's back and Spike's going to bring her home as soon as she's ready."

Waiting for the others to grasp what she'd been saying – and believe it – felt like an eternity to Anya. Tara seemed more patient, but the time was wearing at her patients as well.

"I'm hearing this all for the first time too," Willow broke the silence. "Well, except for the part where I cast the spell, that part I was there for." She said a little uneasily.

Xander's mouth hung open in disbelief. "Why didn't anyone tell me?" He choked out.

"We couldn't," Tara pleaded him not to be angry. "Buffy left Spike a note saying that he had to protect her body, and she didn't want us to tell you because she didn't know if it was going to work, or how long she'd be gone. And also Anya said that it would probably be dangerous for you to know, because the hell god…" She guessed by the look on the crowd's faces, that they didn't want to hear any more. And that was fine with her; she didn't really have the heart to say it.

"So when will she be back?" Dawn whispered tearing up.

"The witches have probably told everyone about you by now." Spike had his arm around Buffy, and they were lying on the couch, watching an old black and white film. Buffy looked up at him, sensing another meaning in his words. "They'll probably be wanting you back." He didn't look at her when he spoke.

"Do you want me to leave?" She sat up slightly hurt. She hadn't considered that she might be intruding. She didn't really know how long she had been there with him taking care of her.

"No!" He jumped up and grab her arm farthest from him. "No, I just… Niblet's been crushed I hear. I haven't really seen her since…" He paused. "Thank you." Buffy looked at him shocked. "Thank you for bringing me back." His words were half hearted, she knew that. Had he not wanted to come back? He raised his eyebrows a bit and pressed his lips together.

It was getting dark outside, he could tell. He thought about taking her home, but decided it'd be best if she stayed at his crypt. At least until he knew she'd be alright.

Buffy looked down at her hands which she had folded in her lap. "Thank you for saving me." She whispered. Spike didn't answer. She looked up, and he was closer to her than she'd realized. His face was only inches from her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her cheeks got warm. She stared at his lips, and barely realized herself pulling herself closer to him. There lips met for barely a second before she remembered that it wasn't real. Something bad would be happening soon. Something really bad.

The way Buffy suddenly pulled away from Spike, hurt him more than he let show. He leaned back against the couch and pressed his finger tips to her forehead, covering his eyes with his palm. He noticed the air's suddenly salty smell, and guessed that Buffy was crying. But he wouldn't dare look at her. Why had she even brought him back? She didn't love him, never had and probably never would. Did she bring him back to torture him more? Make him think she felt something, and then cut him down and left her nearly dead until she decided to come back to him again. But she had said she loved him… She told him right before he died. Was it a parting gift? Make him think she loves him, just so he can die in peace. Did he really believe it though? He hadn't wanted to then. If he had let himself believe it, he could never have done what he'd done. But now…

At war with herself, Buffy decided that if something bad would happen, she'd take it. But for now, she would take whatever comfort she could get in this hell. She leaned against Spike's side, and wrapped her hand around his torso, pressing her tear stained face into his shoulder. Spike responded immediately, pulling her into an embrace unlike any other they'd shared. Other's had been painful (like when she'd beat him up beside the police station), wild (like the night they'd totaled a house), but never like this. This was passionate, filled with a need for each other which wasn't completely lustful as it had always been. Buffy just wanted Spike close to her, and Spike was happy to grant her that wish.

A/N: Anyone eager to find out how the scoobies respond to Buffy/is this the hell Buffy thinks it is? KEEP READING TO FIND OUT! :D And review. Please. Review? :)