Building Bridges and Beds

In the weeks that followed the return of Buffy's soul - albeit returned to Spike, rather than the Slayer herself - everyone was on damage control. Willow and Kennedy had their follow up closure talk by phone, and Xander and Caitlin began take some very small steps in the right direction.

Buffy called Riley to apologize for snapping at him. Spike had told her not to bother, of course, but she reasoned with him, saying the commando was a useful ally, and good for information. He couldn't deny that they'd still have no clue about the whereabouts of the Slayer's soul, had it not been for him, and that his mate was also feeling heavy guilt over the situation, so he let the subject drop without further argument.

After that was done Buffy called Faith, to update her on the situation, and the other slayer ended the call by saying, "Tell little sis I owe her five bucks," with no further explanation.

Upon relaying the message to her younger sister it was met with much excited screeching.

"Calm," demanded Buffy, "Breathe. Explain."

"I bet Faith five dollars she would totally end up with Gunn."

"Huh?" said Buffy - more confused than before. "Gunn?"

"Yeah. I knew it'd happen. Bet they're super cute together," the teenager beamed at her sister.

"Faith is dating Gunn? That's one of Angel's guys, right? What happened to Principal Wood?"

Dawn was incredulous at Buffy's lack of knowledge. "God, do you even read the newsletter?"

"There's a newsletter? Who even-" she stopped mid-sentence, as realization dawned on her, and she said his name with contempt. "Andrew."

"Yup. Totally his brain child."

"Right. Update me."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Robin got offered a job back in New York, so he and Faith went their separate ways. It was totally amicable, apparently."

"Faith went to the hellmouth in Cleveland," said Buffy; she knew that much. "Gunn went to help her out?"

The younger girl nodded, still giddy with excitement.

Buffy thought it over, then her eyes widened in horror. "What does Andrew write about me and Spike?!"

"Oh, umm…" Dawn blushed, and then made a speedy exit. If the Slayer hadn't of been so heavily pregnant she would have been able to catch up with the girl but, as it was, she couldn't. And, so, she lifted the phone again – demanding an apology, an explanation, and a web address, in that order. She got all three, of course, and set about reading all the past issues.

"Honey?" Buffy called out, some time later, when she heard her mate come in from work. "It says here that someone called Illyria transcended to a higher plane. You know who she is?"

"Blue?" replied Spike, "Sure. She's one of the old ones. Was hanging out in Fred's body."

Buffy looked confused for a moment before shrugging it off saying, "We've led some weird lives."

"Can say that again," he agreed, with a grin.

It was then the Slayer noticed that excitement was rolling off him in waves. She eyed him, curiously, before asking what he was hiding.

"Might have something for you…" he teased.

"A present?" she said, suddenly taking on the air of a five year old who'd just been told they're visiting Disney Land.

"Yeah, luv. It's outside. You're gonna go in the kitchen while I bring it in and get it all set up. Hey, you can even make me a sandwich while you're there."

The Slayer's smile turned into a glare, and she swatted his hands away from her saying, "Whatever it is better make up for that so not funny comment."

"I know, I know," he said. "You're a terrible cook."

"Spike," she said, with more than a hint of warning in her voice. "Go out there and get me my present right now or so help me."

"Don't mean it, pet," he soothed.

"Now," she reiterated, before going to the kitchen and shutting the door.

Spike smiled in triumph, hoping his plan of pissing her off would mean she wouldn't peek.

It took him longer to set his gift up that expected, though. It was a tight fit getting it through the door, and then he decided to bolt it to the floor, which was a bit awkward. By the time he was halfway through putting on the covers Buffy's patience ran out. She walked into the room and gasped at the sight of the impressive bed.

"You made this?" she asked, running her hand across the polished steel.

"Had to focus my energies someplace," he said, by way of explanation. "Lest I'd have murdered one of your precious friends or associates by now. 'an as we've discovered, a normal bed can't quite cut it. Comes in handy, since we're at it again."

"Yeah," Buffy finally looked up from his incredible gift to look him in the eye. "I noticed that. So wasn't gonna question it, because it felt so right, y'know? But what's with the change?"

"Oh, right, you missed some of the details. Rupes said you passing out was to do with that Wanker trying to hurt you. Nothing to do with overexertion after all."

"Oh." She held back the desire to say, 'I told you so,' and instead smiled and thanked him for the present. "So, are we gonna try this thing out or not?"

The grin he gave her could have blocked out the sun, in that moment.

"Will probably have to be a bit more inventive with the positions," he said, "With you getting bigger by the bloody hour, but that's never been a problem for us before."

Buffy slapped playfully at his arm for making fun of her size. If she didn't know he loved it so much she'd be self conscious about the impressive baby bump.

"Do me already," she told him, bluntly, with a pout. "Had enough waiting."

"Yes, my love," he said.

To be continued...