Coming Together

Spike sat down next to Buffy, automatically taking hold of her hand.

"Funny story," he began, "Last thing I know, was recovering from heavy burns sustained from a dragon of all things, when this bloke – some kind of musician, or singer he said he was – comes t' tell me I need to get some place to recover. Now, normally I wouldn't let just anyone take me home, but I could feel there was more going on with me than just really bad battle wounds – felt all drowsy and out of it like – and he seemed to understand what was happening, so I let him pull my ass outta the way of the rising sun. And that's where things get weird, right? Because the next thing I'm aware of is you, in – get this – Victorian London. And time is shifting and I'm warm all over. Falling in and out of consciousness; picking up bits and pieces of dialogue from the other room that make no bloody sense. Then the burning in my chest stops, my head clears but your voice remains. I get to my feet, come out here and see you flailing around, looking distressed… saying my name. I'd certainly appreciate someone filling in the blanks, unless this is another dream; in which case just let me enjoy it without the analysis."

Buffy was dumbfounded. She looked him in the eyes, with her jaw still slightly dropped in shock from all that was happening.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked her then. "I know everything's strange and that, but I have this strong desire to-"

Cutting him off mid sentence she pressed her lips to his with such force and passion that he reeled back a bit saying "Woah!" before jumping back into the moment himself.

They kissed for a long time. He cupped her face and she ran her hands through his hair before letting them move further down his body, to his chest and arms. He pulled her closer and kissed her neck and she couldn't keep it in any longer.

"I love you," she blurted out, and he stopped, suddenly, to look her dead in the eye.

"What did you say?"

"I love you. I mean it. I meant it before. I love you."

He was silent, so she continued speaking. "Do you still-"

"Oh, Buffy. Of course I do. I've never stopped."

"Can we do this? Can we be together – all the way?"

"Can we? Is this happening? Have I died?!"

She smiled a little at this and quoted Whistler, "Couldn't be more wrong."

"Okay," he said. Letting go of her and standing up. "Tell me what's happening."

Buffy didn't know where to start. 'How do you tell someone who's died twice and been a supernatural being for over a century that they're human again?' she thought.

She stammered; began trying to speak a couple of times before taking a deep breath to start again. Just then her cell phone rang and Buffy answered it immediately, thankful for the break in tension.

"Dawn," she said, looking at the caller ID. "Where are you?"

"Food court at the mall. Whistler's feeding me up. Why do you sound shocked? I left a note. By the toaster? Doesn't matter, I'm cool. All's good here. Did he come to? Is he there? Can I speak to him? Am I interrupting? Whis thought it was almost time, so we made ourselves scarce. Is everything okay?"

"Too much," she said. "Too many questions."

"Should I talk to you later?"

"Uh huh."

"Right. We'll be back by night fall. You've got like five hours. And, Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Make the most of it."

Buffy hung up without responding to that last part. She looked up to see Spike going through the bags in the kitchen. "You moving in?" he said. "Found Niblet's note. And, uh, some other things." Holding up a new pair of fancy panties, he raised an eyebrow at her. "What have I done to deserve all this?"

"Spike. Don't you know what happened to you?"

"Well," he said. "I'm aware that I'm breathing. And that my heart is pumping. But I'm trying not to think about it too much, because it reinforces the whole idea that this is all a dream and I really don't want to let myself believe that."

"This is real," she said. "You're real."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"The prophecy," she confirmed.

"No," he shook his head. "It couldn't be. This is… me? I'm…"

"Human."

"Wow," was all he could say.

"You hungry?"

Moving Forward

Buffy knocked on the bathroom door and it opened. Spike was stood there, just staring at himself in the mirror.

"Handsome devil, aren't I?" he said, without looking away from his reflection.

Buffy laughed, "Yes. Also very humble."

"Only have this thing here because it came with the place."

"Could you possibly pull yourself away for one minute? How are you feeling?"

"Damn sexy," he replied with a grin.

"Spike, I'm serious."

Finally he turned to face her. "I'm good," he admitted. "Really, I am. Better than good."

"So, you don't mind being human?"

"Don't mind it? Buffy, I love it. It's what I wanted; it's why I stayed here as long as I did. Don't you know what it means, for us? Doesn't it give us a chance of that normal relationship you've always craved?"

"I was hoping you'd say that."

"Really? You meant what you said, about wanting to be together?"

"Yes, I want to be together. I so much want to. How many times do I have to tell you I love you before you'll believe me? I came here not knowing anything about you becoming human. I came here to tell you that I wanted to give us a shot – even if you had still been a vamp, I wanted to try. Losing you made me realize that I don't ever want to live without you."

He smiled so wide she thought his face was in danger of splitting in half. "Tell me again," he said. "Just say it just one more time."

Rolling her eyes at him she moved in closer to him. "I love you, Spike. But if you keep teasing me I might just stop saying it all together."

Putting his arms around her he said, "Come on. It's only fair. After how hard you made me work for it."

"Fine," she sighed. "I deserved that. God, this is so surreal. How we still bicker. You don't seem any different at all."

"I feel different."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Kinda weak. Fragile. Not sure I like that part."

"Spike, honey. You've died and been resurrected how many times now? And you're still standing. You're the strongest person I know."

"Look who's talking," he said, playfully nudging her.

"Okay, okay, walked into that one. But, think about it, I may be a slayer but I'm still human. There's no need for you to feel insecure."

"Insecurity's not really a rational thing, Buffy."

"True, but I beg of you to have some control over it. I don't want it tearing you apart like it did Riley."

"He was a fool to think his mortality mattered to you."

She looked at him, waiting for his words to sink into his own head.

"Oh," he said at last.

She couldn't help put find his occasional dense-ness endearing. Gently she cupped his face and waited for his eyes to lock with hers. She spoke softly, yet her words had a firmness to them: "You have nothing to be insecure about. Not a single thing."

"But what about-"

"Not a single thing, do you hear me?"

He still looked somewhat unconvinced.

"Come on! Don't you know? Do I have to spell it out? I don't care if you're human or demon - you're the best I've ever had, dummy."

"Yeah? What about the Immortal."

"Oh, him."

Spike's eyes narrowed a little and he tilted his head at her.

"Close," she said, smiling - in awe of how handsome he truly was - "But no cigar."

"You're lying."

"I don't know why you're so eager to believe you need to be more, or that he was better than you."

"Not eager, just…"

"What?"

"I'm really the best you've ever had?"

Her smile widened. "Yes, Spike, you're my number one lover."

Unable to stop himself he punched the air with his fist.

"I really need to stop going for the jealous types."

He was looking at her intently again.

"What now?" she said, exasperated.

"Did you tell him what you just told me? Did you make him jealous of me?"

She sighed. "I didn't need to tell him. It was obvious my heart wasn't in it as far as he was concerned."

"What was it - that you two had?"

"I was alone, and I couldn't stand it. Conveniently, he wouldn't leave me alone. So I spent some time with him, to try and get my mind off you. And he was nice and, don't get me wrong, he was great in the sack. But he didn't compare to you. He was a happy distraction, but that was it."

"So, what, you ended it when you heard I was here?"

"Nah," she said. "He got bored of me eventually and started chasing after someone else."

Spike was incredulous. "No," he said. "There's no way he's that stupid. Really? He let you go?"

"In fairness, he never really had me. You know that thing I do? Where I build up emotional walls? Well I broke them down for you, because you earned it. But there was no way I was gonna be doing that for him."

It was Spike's turn to gaze at Buffy in awe. "You're amazing," he said.

"I know, right?" she mocked.

"Buffy, seriously, I mean it."

"I know you do. And thank you. As we've covered, you're pretty amazing yourself."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Care to re-live some amazement?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

To be continued…