A/N: I own nothing of the Whedonverse nor any fairytales and I am not profiting from this work.

Chapter 24

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The coven can see you now.

The celebratory cocoa was drained. The movies had been watched. Yet, the group didn't want to disburse. Joyce could have died. Spike would never tell but he could have too. The surgeon had removed similar devices in World War II from the brain dead demons they had malfunctioned in. The vampires had dusted. He just kept looking at them. The Summers and their little family. He was part of it. He knew it. He wanted it. He could see himself spending the rest of his nights patrolling with and for his Slayer. Spending the rest of his days living with them. With Buffy.

Willow and Tara were talking low in the corner. Spike had begun to think...Nah, let them figure it out on their own. That was one of the best parts of fallin' in love. The actual being in it. The lovin'. He looked at Buffy. He wanted to say something. He knew it wasn't right. It'd be best to just be friends. Not get her hopes up. It wasn't like she…

"We have a surprise." Willow was holding a small foiled paper gift bag. "It was supposed to be ready by Christmas, but, the ingredients ended up being stale and we had needed to use fresh not powdered, plus the moon was all out of phase," she paused when Tara put a hand on her arm. Willow smiled sheepishly. "Right. Anyway, here. It's enough for both of you."

Buffy looked at the contents. "Wait, is this?" Willow nodded. "Oh my god! Thank you!" Buffy wrapped both witches in a hug. Tara blushed at the attention and Willow smiled.

"Is it?" Spike leaned toward the bag.

"It can let us walk in the sunlight. It works right?" The last was directed to Willow.

"We're pretty sure but you should try it close to cover."

"Will do."

The party broke up after that. Spike sat out on the back porch once everyone else had gone to bed. At least he had thought everyone else had gone to bed.

"You wanna try it first thing?" Buffy sat herself down next to him.

"Hmm?" Spike had been caught out lost in his thoughts. It had been close with Joyce. Too close. He had been smoking when she came out but put the cigarette out. His Slayer didn't like smoke.

"The sunlight repellent." She thrust the bag at him.

"Well, Red and Glinda went through so much trouble. It'd be rude not to." They were both smiling. "Probably should get some rest though. I'll come up and wake you when it's close."

"Thanks." Buffy touched his shoulder as she went inside.

Five minutes before sunrise Spike and Buffy stood in the backyard. They took a serving each from one of the vials in the bag and waited. As the first rays of sunlight crept toward them Buffy felt more like a vampire than she had since her hunger hit that first night. She looked at Spike. He was tight, not tense but, keyed up. He didn't seem scared. She so wasn't worried.

The sun was inching toward her toes, running up her thighs, clasping her fingers, caressing her shoulders and dancing on her hair. She was glorious in the sunlight and the warmth suffusing him was not only from the early morning rays. He was going to tell her. He couldn't keep it in any longer.

"Buffy...ahhh!" He was on his knees and clutching his head. But the chip was gone. What happened? Then she felt it. Faint, but there.

"Drusilla." Spike looked at her. Buffy had said the name like it heralded the end of some halcyon era. As though these three syllables were the apocalypse they had been dreading. Knowing what he had to say he was loathe to disagree. He stood and took his slayer's hands.

"Buffy, I…" He didn't want to.

"Go to her." The words were quiet but firm.

"What?" Spike looked into her eyes.

"Leave. You can protect yourself from anyone now. You're free. Go. Help her." She pulled a hand from his and bent to pick up the sun potion. "Take these. To remember me by."

"As though I could forget you. You're the first person I've walked, and danced, in the sunlight with in over a century."

"Danced?" Buffy cocked her head in thought. She couldn't remember them dancing.

"'S all we've ever done." Spike smiled, bittersweet, as he lifted her hand to his lips. He turned away then and started making his way to the demon garage downtown where he had kept his DeSoto.

"Promise me something." He stopped at her words and turned to face her again. Just glad to not have let go of the tears he felt itching at his eyes. She looked so earnest.

"Anything." He was ready to swear off killing, theft, running red lights. Anything.

"Tell me if you freckle." Her smile was watery but sincere.

"Course." He smiled broadly but had to inhale fully to fight the urge to crumple at her feet. He walked away with his key dangling from his finger. A golden spike glinting.