Disclaimer: I do not own the Buffy-verse...Joss Whedon is the lucky guy.Sigh.Dialogue borrowed from 7.22!

I hope you enjoy my first Spuffy story ever and if you want I will continue this
story with a sequel.

A huge thanks to my fast and dilligent Beta Every Last Drop! Smoochies ;)!

And now, have fun and pleeease leave a review :)!

BloodyHell

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"Honey, you're home." Spike entered the Summer's house just as Buffy descended the stairs.

"Yeah." She spoke softly as she lowered her head, which didn't go unnoticed by him. He steered his attention towards the weapon Buffy held in her hands.

"And you did it. Fulfilled your mission, found the Holy Grail, or the holy hand grenade, or whatever the hell that is."

"Right now we're going with scythe." Buffy hefted the weapon. "You like?"

"Well, pointy and wooden is not exactly a look I want to know better, but it does have flair." Spike glanced toward the living room to see if anyone was nearby. Lowering his voice, he returned his attention to Buffy... or more to the scythe.


"I can see why a girl would ditch a fella for one of these." He seemed shy saying that, not his usual cocky self... and it stirred something inside of Buffy, something she had become familiar with in the last few weeks.

"I'm sorry about that." Her voice was even softer than before and the look she gave him was sincere. Spike tried not to read into it. He'd learned his lesson during the years he spent as her enemy, kinda-friend, and lover - Buffy would never feel for him in the same way he felt for her, and he accepted that.


At least, he tried to.

Just play it cool. Don't look like a bloody puppy waiting for his bone.


"It doesn't matter. You're back in the bosom. All's forgiven. And last night? It was just a glitch. A bit of cold comfort from the cellar dweller. Let's don't make a thing of it." He said his lines with played nonchalance, but the look of pure sadness and hurt that crossed Spike's face was clear.


Although his reaction hurt Buffy more than she would have admitted, she decided to play it cool herself. Don't let him see what you feel. Don't give him the crumb if you can't deliver the bread in time.


"Great. I have work to do."


Spike nodded in understanding and defeat, his last hidden hopes destroyed - he was a fool to have still held onto them. Love's bitch.
"Oh, yeah. Another solo mission, of course."

"Yeah, it is," Buffy replied with a snappish note in her voice.


"That's fine. You don't have to get shirty about it."

He still doesn't get it! "I'm not shirty. And what is shirty? That's not even a word." Now I'm getting pissed!


"All right, all right. Big secret mission," Spike said. "It's fine."


"It's not a secret. Well, I mean, it is, but that's the point of the mission. Find out the secret. This thing was forged by ... I don't even know. I mean, something about a tomb on unconsecrated ground. That's what I have to do. I need to find out what this is and why I have it." She took a deep breath as she ended her little speech about the scythe, her anger at Spike slowly decreasing.


"And that's the thing the preacher man was so anxious to keep out of your mitts?"


"That it is." It sounded like the end of the conversation, and Spike noticed it.


"Well, maybe I'll swing by the vineyard when you go, make sure he's sitting tight."


"Great."


"Okay."


Spike waited a second, not quite willing to leave like that. Maybe she'd say something, maybe she'd stop him, maybe ... Bollocks. As if. He turned to leave and just as he reached the back door, Buffy did chase after him to stop him. Just not in the way he'd hoped she would.


"You're a dope!"


What the...? "I'm a what?"


"You're a dope and a bonehead and you're shirty!"


Now she's losing it. "Have you gone completely Carrot-Top?"


"Do you see this?" Buffy lifted the arm holding the scythe. "This may actually help me fight my war. This might be the key to everything. And the reason I'm holding it is because of you." Buffy's eyes shone with tears and she had to swallow hard to hide her feelings.


Spike couldn't have looked more baffled.


"Because of the strength that you gave me last night."


Okay, maybe he could.


"I am tired of defensiveness and weird mixed signals. You know what? I have Faith for that," Buffy exploded in a hushed voice, nearly forgetting the house full of sleeping people around them. "Let's just get to the truth here, okay? I don't know how you felt about last night, but I will not..."


"Terrified." He looked away, his usual Spike-manner completely gone, his voice husky.


"Of what?" The smallest whisper. She wanted to reach out and touch his cheek, he looked so sad.


"Last night was..." He paused and jerked his head up. "God, I'm such a jerk. I can't do this," he exclaimed.


Come on, you prat, say it!


"Spike?" And there it was. The sound of the voice he loved the most, the tender whisper of his name, a sound that caught his soul. Literally speaking.


"It was the best night of my life." There. It was out. He seemed embarrassed for a moment and got defensive right away. "If you poke fun at me, you bloody well better use that," pointing at the scythe, "cause I couldn't bear it. It may not mean that much to you, but..."


"I just told you it did." The urge to touch him became stronger. Get a grip, Summers.


"Yeah, I hear you say it, but..." Spike looked at her and saw the tears brimming in her eyes. It was almost too much, he couldn't start hoping again. But he did. Because, there she was, in front of him, giving him the biggest crumb of his life.


"I've lived for soddin' ever, Buffy. I've done everything. I've done things with you I can't spell, but I've never been close..."

Pause.

"...to anyone. Least of all you."

Another pause.

"'Til last night."

The third pause.

The crackling atmosphere around them wrapped them in a cocoon of warmth and speculation.


"All I did was hold you, watch you sleep, and it was the best night of my life. So yeah, I'm... terrified." He took an unneeded breath. His next breath, though, was taken in anticipation of her reaction. Crumbs, bloody crumbs.


"You don't have to be." Buffy smiled a heartfelt smile. For a moment, Spike thought he was dreaming.


"Were you there with me?" he asked. He tilted his head and a hint of a smile slipped across his face.


"I was." Still the smile on her face, and now Spike returned it completely.


"What does that mean?"


"I don't know." Buffy sighed and lowered her head as the smile faded a little. "But I think I figured something out." And then she realized it for real; she knew what she wanted, she knew how she felt, she just had to tell him. Buffy lifted her head, her eyes big with realization - but no fear, no doubt was visible. I figured it out... she realized with a sigh of contentment.


"Yea?" Spike was in no condition to form a rational thought because one sentence was repeatedly screaming inside his head: She'll leave you for good, mate! But he saved face and asked with too much casualness: "Found somethin' 'bout the First?"


Buffy saw the trouble in his eyes. She saw that he was not grasping the train of her thoughts - or didn't believe the train of her thoughts- and finally gave in.


She slowly raised her shaking left hand and touched his cheek. Her warm hand met his cool skin and Spike gasped quietly. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to etch the feeling into his memory.


She'd never touched him like that before. It had always been about rough sex, hard fights, or some sort of anger management. It had never been tender or sweet or loving - at least not on Buffy's side.


"No. It's not about the First. It's about me... and you." Her words and the feeling of her hand leaving his face ripped him out of his thoughts.


"What about you and me, pet?" His voice was hoarse, sexy, and oh so shy. It made Buffy's knees go weak and her heart flutter. If Spike hadn't been so concentrated on memorising that moment, he would have heard her heart beating wildly in her chest.


"I..." Come on, now don't back off. You had enough of defensiveness and weird mixed singals, remember? "I care about you and-"


Spike's shoulders drooped and pain flickered across his face. He knew what she was going to say next. 'I need you as a warrior, I need you as my pick-me-up.' I'm her soddin' comfy blanket. Bloody woman. "It's alright, love. You know I'll fight by your side, you don't need to..."


Buffy furrowed her brow and anger filled her. Honestly, he could be so dense.


"What, Spike?" she demanded. "I don't need to thank you for taking care of Dawn and me? Or for being my friend and comforter when I was not willing to live on this earth? Or thank you for loving me all the way through our disastrous 'relationship'?"


Buffy turned her head away and wiped away a single tear that escaped her eye. Her hand was still shaking, her breathing was rapid, and her heart was still hammering in her chest.

She turned back to Spike and looked directly into the ocean blue eyes that were so filled with wonder. He didn't dare say anything, and neither did he move or breath - Spike was speechless and awestruck.


Buffy's voice returned to a whisper. "What do you think, Spike? Should I really not thank you for being here? I don't think so."


Buffy went to the counter and dropped the scythe before turning back to Spike and taking both of his hands. As she looked down on their intertwined hands she spoke so quietly that only Spike's enhanced vampire hearing could grasp the words: "But that's not what I figured out, because I saw those things long before, I just didn't want to believe in them."


Buffy took a deep breath and Spike lost his hold on her right hand to put a finger under her chin. She lifted her head and looked into his kind and warm face. How could I have not seen it?


"Don't worry, Buffy. I understand and I'm glad you said it. It means a lot to me." He stroked her cheek with his thumb.


"No, Spike. It wasn't what I wanted to say."


"Oh?" He removed his finger from her face and took a little step back, but he still held onto her left hand.

"Again, no, Spike. Argh, you haven't understood what I've been trying to say for 5 minutes now!"


"Well, maybe you should make it clearer, then." Spike replied, getting frustrated with her. Buffy shot him a glare and took a step closer, only inches separating them now.


"Well, since you're very thick today, maybe you're right." Buffy closed the gap between them and pressed her mouth softly to his. The first seconds passed before Spike reciprocated the kiss. Slow, soft, and tender - they shared something that had never been experienced during their time together.


With a low moan Buffy opened her mouth and let her tongue slide over his bottom lip. Spike opened his mouth at her demand and their tongues met in a slow, sensual dance which made them both groan and whimper. Buffy slipped her arms around Spike's neck and he put his arms around her waist, letting his hands wander under the hem of her shirt.


Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! A chant of excitement and joy filled their minds.


After a few minutes, when breathing became an issue for Buffy, they broke apart, but kept their foreheads resting against each other's.


"I...you...Buffy." Spike was mumbling incoherently, his mind clouded by love and desire.


"Spike, listen to me." Spike didn't respond in any way. "Look at me." Buffy was nudging his nose with hers, which made him open his eyes.


"Yeah, love?" They were both whispering as if any loud noise would destroy their moment.


"I don't want you to think that I'm kissing you because I'm thankful or because I might feel like I have to. That's not the reason at all. Well, I am thankful, but...What I'm trying to say is..." One last pause and then there's no return. Buffy felt amazed at how she didn't feel frightened or 'wrong' - far from it. A warm fuzzy feeling in her stomach told her just how right it was.


"You are in my heart." As if to prove her point she laid their joined hands over her heart.


Spike laughed shakily and his legs started to wobble. He almost started crying and his voice was thick with emotion, "An' you're sure about this? Because I don' think I can have you and lose you again. Not anymore."


She leaned into him, the right side of her face brushing against his as her lips moved to his ear. With a whisper she made him the happiest dead man in the world. "Yes, I'm sure."


They kissed again, this time more demanding and passionately. Buffy's hands roamed through his platinum blond curls in the nape of his neck and Spike was busy drawing lines on her back, softly stroking her sides and the underside of her bra.


With a gasp, Buffy broke the kiss, panting. "Spike, we..." He trailed kissed down her face and neck, every now and then scraping over the skin with his human teeth.


Buffy shoved him gently away in order to get his attention, which earned her a big pout from Spike. She laughed - a warm, comfortable laugh that she didn't laugh very often.


"Spike, don't look at me like that. I just wanna go slow, okay?"


Spike tilted his head again and furrowed his brow as if to say 'Never knew we both could go slow.'


"I have to concentrate on Caleb and the First. I need to have an open mind for our ultimate fight and of course I have to be there for the Potentials."


"So you want first the First, then us. Not my kind of dream scenario...But does 'slow' exclude snogging sessions?"


She laughed again as he curled his tongue behind his teeth with a leer. The old Spike was back again in full gear.


"No, but I draw a line there." As he leaned in again, she stopped him with a finger on his lips. "No sex, okay?" Another pout was present on Spike's face before he kissed her finger.


"Why not?"


She answered instantly, "Because I want to have something to look forward to after the fight. Something that is worth hoping for, that will get us through the apocalypse." He nuzzled her finger with his lips and looked deep into her eyes.


"Okay, we'll wait. Whatever you want, goldilocks. You know you've got a love slave here."


As he leaned in again, Buffy didn't stop him and they sealed their promise with a long kiss, forgetting the world and its evil for a few more minutes.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own ANYTHING! It all belongs to Joss Whedon. Dialogue borrowed from 7.22!
A/N: Thanks to my great Beta EveryLastDrop! *cheers*

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"Hate to say this, but I really need to go now." For the second time, Buffy tried to remind Spike what her mission was.

But her lack of enthusiasm and conviction said What the hell, let's keep making out! . She remained in his embrace, her own arms wrapped around his neck despite her protests.

And who was Spike to disobey her body language? He nibbled her up her neck to her earlobe, holding her tightly.

With a moan and a miniscule struggle, Buffy attempted to pull away again.

"Spike, please."

"Buffy, please," he repeated with a smirk, not letting go of her.

Mission. Think about the mission. Think about non-sexuaaaa...Oh my god.

Spike had to chuckle as Buffy leaned into him again, all thoughts of leaving gone. He kissed her hard on the mouth and took her face in his hands.

"Now you can go, pet." After I got you all hot and bothered.

Spike chuckled again and looked down on her with amused eyes. Hers in contrast were shaded with lust and her mouth stood ajar.

"You're so mean. First you make me all jelly-y, though I told you to stop, and then you go like 'Yeah well, 's been nice, see ya'. Not fair!" Buffy's lower lip jutted out in a pout.

A growl escaped Spike's lips before he captured her lip between his human teeth.

" 'S not that easy, love. YOU said you had to go, not me."

"Yeah, well. The mission and all that stuff." A sigh. "I should go then." Another sigh.

Slowly the two of them separated, but Spike's right hand held onto Buffy's right.

It was all still too unreal, too new. The knowledge that Buffy reciprocated his feelings, that they were on the same page - finally.

The butterflies in his stomach swirled and jumped happily and Spike had to hold onto her hand to make sure that he wasn't dreaming... or on a trip.

"Why so smile-y, Mr. Cheshire Cat?" Buffy asked with an equal smile as she grabbed the scythe from the counter.

Spike just shrugged and kissed her hand in a noble manner. "'M just happy, is all."

"I'm glad to hear that." She winked and added with a kiss on his cheek "Me too."

"Okay, 'nough with the sappy. Let's get to work. You want me to go with you, pet?"

Buffy considered it for a second and shook her head. "No, I should do it alone. Slayer prophecy kinda thing."

Spike nodded and let go of her hand, instantly missing her warmth. "Okay, I'll check out the vineyard then. We'll go be heroes."

And with that they both left the house, splitting up into different directions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the tomb....

"I was kind of hoping it'd go this way," Caleb said as he reared back with the scythe, staring at Buffy.

A man from behind called out a "Hey!" and knocked Caleb down. Of course that caught Buffy's attention. She looked up and saw the dark-haired ally.

"I was never much for preachers," he stated with a wry smile.

"Angel."

"You look good."

"You look timely. And also good." Buffy smiled a friendly smile.

Always glad to see me. "Heard maybe you needed a hand. "

Caleb got to his feet again and Angel moved to finish what he started. But Buffy stopped him.

"Ah, one of those things you have to finish yourself." Tsk.

"Really kinda is."

Angel backed toward a pillar so he could see the show ... and come into action as her 'knight in black armor' if needed.

He crossed his arms and licked his lips.

"You are so gonna lose." He smiled a cocky smile, thinking of how his little Buffy couldn't possibly defeat Caleb alone.

Buffy and Caleb fought. He grabbed the scythe away from Buffy and punched her, sending her stumbling across the room. Caleb pointed the stake-end of the scythe at Buffy and charged toward her, with her back against the wall, but she dodged out of the way and he missed, lodging the scythe in the stone wall. Buffy pulled the scythe out of the wall and kicked Caleb away from her.

"God, I missed watching this," Angel remarked. God, I missed her.

Buffy swung the scythe at Caleb, slicing his stomach. He stumbled back, laughed heartily, wagged his finger at her, and fell to the floor.

"See? Under control," Buffy said, out of breath.

"Well...at least you could tell me you're glad to see me." Angel swaggered toward Buffy.

Buffy dropped the scythe to the floor and walked up to Angel, pressing herself against his body and kissing him on the lips.

No bloody way! Spike looked over his shoulder behind a pillar, watching the 'romantic reunion' with clenched teeth.

I'm in her heart, my ass! I'm suitable until the great poof comes around. I...

Unable to watch them any longer, Spike turned around and left the tomb, heading for the punching bag in Buffy's cellar.

Angel pulled back from the kiss, the arrogant smile still present on his face.

"Well, I guess that qualifies as 'happy to see me'."

Buffy looked into Angel's dark eyes - not the ocean blue ones she loved so much - and her face fell. I just kissed Angel.

"Angel, what are you doing- " She shook her head I told Spike I kinda love him and first chance I get I kiss Angel... I am seriously messed up.

Unaware of Buffy's change of facial expression and inner turmoil, Angel answered with a slight raise of his brows.

"Not saving the damsel in distress, that's for sure."

"Oh, you know me." Buffy picked up the scythe, not wanting to look into his eyes."Not much with the damseling."

"Got your share of distress, though." He walked to the wall.

Buffy need help. Must come. Must be hero. That's so typical of him. Buffy frowned, more because of her thoughts than his knowing. "You heard?"

Angel picked up a file folder from a bench by the wall. "I got coverage on the whole thing. It's very gripping. It needs a third act." Ha-ha.

Buffy shook her head at him."You have to leave L.A." And how about Sunnydale,too?

"It's the First, right? The First Evil. The power that tried to convince me to kill myself."

"Yeah. It's gotten a little more ambitious since then. It's raising an army."

"Yeah, well, it failed once, and I'm here to tell you-"

Caleb stood up behind Angel and knocked him down by hitting him with a cat statue, sending him sliding across the floor. Caleb swayed on the spot, staring at Buffy, black blood streaming from his eyes and nose.

Uh oh.

"Are you ready to finish this, bitch?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Stupid girl. You'll never stop me. You don't have the ba-"

While Caleb got to his feet, Buffy twirled the scythe and swung it up between his legs. That made his eyes go wide.

"Who does nowadays?" And with a strong yank she sliced Caleb into two. Was he going to say 'balls?!

Angel regained consciousness and leapt to his feet. "OK, now I'm pissed. Where is he?"

"He had to split." Buffy giggled devilishly.

Angel picked up the folder again and gave it to Buffy.

"I'll have the guys go through that. See if there's anything new. Reliable source?"

"Not remotely."

Great. "Hm, any port in an apocalypse."

"I, uh, brought something else as well."

Angel took an amulet out of his pocket and held it up for Buffy to see. It was a 2-inch diameter round crystal pendant in a silver starburst setting hung from a coarse silver chain.

Now he comes with jewelry. Buffy shook her head. "I can already tell you, I have nothing that goes with that."

"It's not for you."

"Splainy?"

"I don't know everything. It's very powerful and probably very dangerous. It has a purifying power, a cleansing power, possibly scrubbing bubbles. The translation is, uh-anyway, it bestows strength to the right person who wears it."

"And the right person is?" Me?

"Someone ensouled, but stronger than human. A champion. As in me."

Of course he wants to be it. Buffy rolled her eyes. "Or me."

"No. I don't know nearly enough about this to risk you wearing it. Besides, you got that real cool axe-thing going for you."

"So you're gonna be with me in this."

"Shoulder to shoulder. I'm yours." I'm yours forever.

Yeah, 'yours'. You and Spike. That sounds like fun. "No."

"No, what?"

"No. You're not gonna be in this fight." Buffy started to walk away, hoping to set an end to this topic.

What?! "Why the hell not?"

"'Cause I can't risk you."

"You need me in this."

Tsk, yeah."No, I need you gone."

"Why?"

"If I lose, if this thing gets past Sunnydale, then it's days-maybe hours-before the rest of the world goes. I need a second front, and I need you to run it." Hey, that even sounded reasonable.

"OK..." Angel crossed his arms. "That's one reason. What's the other?"

Buffy walked out of the tomb without even a glance in his direction. "There is no other."

Angel followed her. "Is it Spike?"

Buffy stopped in her tracks and turned to Angel.

"You're not telling me something. And his scent, I remember it pretty well."

"You vampires. Did anybody ever tell you the whole smelling people thing's a little gross?" Buffy walked away again.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

Buffy sighed."Is that your business?"

"You in love with him? OK, maybe I'm outta line, but this is kind of a curve ball for me. I mean, we are talking about Spike here." Maybe a spell, maybe he made her a slave or something.

"It's different. He's different. He has a soul now."

Angel stopped his train of thought."Oh. Well."

"What?" She was getting more and more exhausted by this.

"That's great. Everyone's got a soul now."

"He'll make a difference."

"You know, I started it. The whole having a soul. Before it was all the cool new thing."

Another deep, annoyed sigh. "Oh, my God. Are you 12? And besides, it's not like you wanted the soul."

Angel ignored the comment about the soul and yammered on."I'm getting the brush off for Captain Peroxide. It doesn't necessarily bring out the champion in me."

Buffy stopped...again.Could this please end? "You're not getting the brush off. Are you just gonna come here and go all Dawson on me every time I have a boyfriend?"

"Aha!" He pointed at her. "Boyfriend!"

"Okay, you got me." Buffy held her arms up in mock surrender. "He is my boyfriend."

Oh yeah, probably a spell... "Do you love him?"

"It's really none of your business, but yeah, he's in my heart." She smiled a little, happy that she could say it so easily...especially to Angel, who raised his brow and pursed his lips.

"That'll end well."

"It's not like we had the greatest thing going on." Buffy started to walk away from the tomb, heading toward home.

"I bet it was still better than what you'll get from him. But, hey, I'm cool with it." I just have to punch him a little harder next time I see him.

"Great. Can I go home now?"

"To him?" Buffy rolled her eyes and stemmed her hand to her hip."Okay, okay. I won't say anything any more...for now."

Angel handed the amulet to Buffy. "I'll go start working on the second front. Make sure I don't have to use it," he said. Then he walked away.

Buffy looked at the amulet, tucked it in her pocket, and headed home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike had been punching the punching bag in Buffy's basement, when Buffy walked down the stairs.

"So...where's tall, dark, and forehead?" He asked outright.

Buffy rolled her eyes. Here goes round number two."Let me guess. You can smell him."

"Yeah, that and I also used my enhanced vampire eyeballs to watch you kissing him." Spike pointed at his eyes with two fingers, to prove the point.

Buffy stared at the floor, a little awkard. "It was...a hello."

Spike huffed."Most people don't use their tongues to say hello. Or I guess they do, but-"

"There were no tongues. Besides, he's gone," she said softer than before.

"Oh, just popped by for a quickie, then?" I wonder if he got lucky....probably.

Buffy walked further into the basement and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Good, good. I haven't had quite enough jealous vampire crap for one night."

"He wears lifts, you know."

Buffy looked over at the punching bag that Spike was hitting and saw something had been taped to it: a sketch drawn in black marker on white paper, showed hair that sticks straight up, X's for eyes and fangs on the frowny face. Buffy rolled her eyes at the representation of Angel.

"You know, one of these days I'm just gonna put you two in a room and let you wrestle it out."

Spike rifled through an empty cigarette package."No problem at this end." He threw the package away.

Buffy's eyes widened with excitement."There could be oil of some kind involved."

"You'd like that, wouldn' you?" Spike walked up to Buffy. They stood close to each other, so close that Spike could feel the heat radiating from her. She had to concentrate on her next words, ignoring the flutter in her stomach.

"Angel gave me something."

"Yeah, I saw the 'hello'," Spike said with a chuckle as he quoted the hello with his fingers.

"Will you stop yammering about it. And, if it makes you happy or, I don't know, feel manlier, I told Angel about us."

Spike eyes lit up and his mouth stood open in awe. Finally, he was speechless and Buffy could finally tell him about the amulet.

"He gave me an amulet, something powerful but with unknown origins. It's supposed to be worn by someone with a soul, but more than human."

Spike regained his speech, but the silly happy face was still present. "So, that someone's supposed to be me?"

Buffy had considered it of course, but she was still not sure. She bit her lower lip.
"It's volatile. We don't know-"

"You'll be needing someone strong to bear it, then. You planning on giving it to Andrew?"

Buffy looked at the amulet, then at Spike. "Angel said the amulet was meant to be worn by a champion."

Spike looked down, disappointed. "Oh."

Buffy walked forward and handed it to him with a smile.

A shaky laugh escaped Spike's lips as he took the amulet into his palm.

"Been called a lot of things in my time."

Buffy still smiled, but lifted one corner of her mouth in a shy way.

"Faith still has my room."

"Well, you're not staying here. You can't buy me off with shiny beads and sweet talk. You got Angel breath. I'm not gonna just let you whack me back and forth like a rubber ball. I've got my pride, you know." Damn right!

"I understand." Buffy lowered her head and turned to walk away.

Or not.Spike caught up with her and took hold of her right hand.

"Clearly you don't, 'cause the whole 'having my pride' thing was just a smokescreen."

Buffy sighed with relief and gave him a heartfelt smile."Oh, thank God."

"I don't know what I would have done if you'd have gone up those stairs," he said with a husky voice that sent shivers down her spine.

She lifted her left hand and stroked his cheek in a comfortable way. She leaned into his body and slowly captured his lips with hers. Their lips melted together and their breaths mingled. Buffy's tongue sought entrance and Spike granted it immediately. As Buffy's fingers were tangled in his platinum blond curls, she pulled back a little.

"See, a 'hello' is sooo trivial." She whispered with a smile. "Let's go to bed and make out some more, shall we?"

Spike followed her obediently with an extra swing to his step. "We shall, love."

Disclaimer: I do NOT own ANYTHING! It all belongs to Joss Whedon - I just borrowed some stuff :)!
A/N: Thanks to my great Beta EveryLastDrop! *cheers*

And, warning, it's a little OC and cheesy. Not like Buffy (or Spike) would act with Joss writing the show.But it's my story, so I decide!:)

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The necklace dangled from his left hand. Sunbeams trickled through the heavy gem and cast little reflections on Spike’s face. He blinked as they met his eyes and took a deep breath.

He’s been sitting on ‘his’ cot in Buffy’s basement for quite some time, pondering over the day to come. He knew he was the right choice for the amulet, he knew he had to wear it to win the battle, he knew … that it would kill him. Spike sighed and shook his head at his premonition.

Why now? Why do I have to play the soddin’ hero now?

Last night, when Buffy lay snuggled up in his arms, content and warm, he'd felt so happy and delirious that he wasn’t able to grasp every detail of their first night ‘together’. His un-beating heart tightened at that fact. Time is precious - No, time was precious. The final hours were heralded and there was no way to escape his destiny.
A hundred plus year were about to come to an end, he would leave the planet Earth for good. He would spend his after-unlife in a demon world, maybe even hell, Spike knew that. His last years where he helped the Scoobies and fell in love with a human girl, for whom he got his soul back, wouldn’t stand a chance against a century of bloodshed and destruction. Not even his possibly key role in the last lesson of ‘Apocalypse-Prevention 101’ would get him out of his doom and torture.

But Spike didn’t fear his fate, he merely smiled at that. He loved his life as a vampire pre-Buffy and he didn’t want to deny his past because it made him the man he was now. No ponce, no bad poem-writing virgin, but a bleached blond, cocky, and good-looking vamp with attitude and strength. What’s not to like?

Plus, Spike loved his life post-Buffy even more. His dead heart almost started to beat whenever he saw, touched, or sensed her, his mind started composing poets again and above all things, he loved her so much that he got his soul back…for her.

And that made him feel uneasy, almost afraid. Spike was going to die to save the world, to save her, and he would have to leave her for ever. No bravado, no cockiness any more. His heart and soul feared the end as much as his inner ‘vampire’ eagerly anticipated the fight. And he was aware that the vampire would win his inner turmoil, he wouldn’t wimp out only for the sake of being with her. He would do the right thing and save the world to give her a normal life with a husband, kids, and a white picket fence.

Spike was proud of Buffy. She figured out how the slayerettes could be as strong as her and thus have a greater chance at defeating the First. And then…then she could have the life she’s always dreamt of. Finally…

Spike sighed and swallowed his emotions before they had a chance to emerge. This fight would be his hardest and most intense, he was sure. He had to say goodbye to Buffy before…

The door of the basement opened and the small blonde woman descended the stairs. Out of reflex (or good manners) Spike stood up from his cot and faced Buffy with a small smile.
Buffy returned the smile and walked towards him.

“Getting accustomed to each other?” Buffy asked and stopped inches before him.

“Huh?”

Buffy nodded towards the necklace. “You and the amulet.”

“Oh, well, yeah. Fighting buddies and all.”

Buffy saw the distress on Spike’s face and reached her hand out to take his right.
“You okay?”

Spike shrugged and shuffled his foot through the dust of the floor. “I’m good. Big day tomorrow, you know. Fighting the Big Bad and being a ‘champion’ doing it. A lot to process.”

“You don’t have to do it, you know? We are strong …and prepared and … we have a good chance at winning.” Buffy squeezed his hand and tilted her head, in order to make him look up from the floor. He did almost immediately and returned the squeeze.

“I know. But I want to do it. If the trinket is as powerful as Peaches says, we should use it. It’s gonna be a soddin’ hard fight and I don’t wanna be the one responsible for casualties or a defeat, luv.”

Buffy nodded and chewed her bottom lip at the word ‘casualties’ and ‘defeat’. She knew there was a possible chance to lose and it was needed to grasp every straw - just not a straw that could imply losing her new boyfriend and longtime ally. She feared the day to come with every fiber of her being and she felt that Spike had the same emotions swirling inside him.

On the other hand, Buffy looked forward to tomorrow. Not because she loved the fight – although she enjoyed some skirmishes with an opponent – but rather because the fight would be final, an end to the uncertainty of the last weeks. Death or life, it would be closure either way.

“I can’t talk you out of it now, even if I wanted to, can I?” She smiled as Spike leaned in and brushed a soft kiss over her lips.

“No you can’t, pet. I’ve been announced the champion of the day and my ego won’t give that back any more.” He smiled too, and tugged at her hand, motioning her to sit with him on the cot.

“How are the slayers-to-be?” Spike asked as he leaned against the wall and pulled Buffy close to him. With a sigh, she nuzzled her face in the crook of his shoulder.

“They are okay-ish. Frightened of course, but also thrilled because tomorrow they're gonna be real slayers with all the super strength and stuff.”

Spike nodded in understanding and kissed the top of her head. “And Red and Niblet?”

“Willow is wigging out, naturally. We don’t know for sure that she’s not gonna pull a Carrie again. But Kennedy is encouraging her as we speak and I’m pretty sure she’ll find a way to distract her from the boatload of responsibility.”

They chuckled at that.

“And Dawn’s fine, too. She’s spending some time with Xander and Anya. I think she’s less afraid than I am right now.”

Another sigh from her as she tightened her grip around Spike’s waist.

“What are you afraid of, luv? That we'll lose?”

“I don’t know. I mean, yeah, of course there’s the fear of losing the slayers, Dawn, Giles, Willow, Xander … and you.” Buffy looked up from her comfy place on his chest and smiled shyly at him. He rewarded her with a long and gentle kiss and nuzzled her nose with his.

“You’re not afraid of losing yourself? Of dying?” Spike asked in a whisper.

“If it means that the world’s still standing and you’re all still there, then no.”

“But a world without you is-“

“Still a good world. Please, promise me, if I die, don’t do the hopeless romantic thing and die with me. I need someone who’s there for Dawn, who’ll look out for her and help her cope with everything to come. I trust you to do just that.” A moment of silence. “Promise me?”

Although it ripped his heart in two, listening to her talking about her death, he swallowed his emotions and nodded.

“I gave you that promise once before and I won’t take it back. But that doesn’t mean that my world wouldn’t be the same any more if you’re gone, pet. It’d break me, it’d destroy me and I guess I would grieve for you 'til the day I dust … but I would take care of Niblet. I promise.”

Buffy hid her head in his chest again and started sobbing. The physical and emotional stress of the last week took hold of her and his soothing, loving words did the rest. She let her guard down and her walls crumbled. With Spike she didn’t need to hide her feelings, with him she could be the fragile one, letting go of the weight on her shoulders for a few precious minutes. So she did.

Spike held her while she cried, stroking her back and whispering soothing words in her ear, trying to ease the pain. He knew Buffy needed his strong shoulder to cry on right now and he willingly provided it for her. He felt like crying himself, because he knew that they wouldn’t come out of the fight together. One of them was going to die to save the world and he hoped it would be him instead of her.

“I’m sorry,” Buffy said a few minutes later, wiping her nose with the back of her left hand. “It all just came down on me.”

Spike hugged her closer to him and closed his eyes as he listened to the steady beat of her heart. “You don’t have to apologize, pet. It’s perfectly normal to let go of some steam. And besides, you’re not going to die.”

“You don’t know that. It could be me, it could be Dawn, it could be you.” At her last words, Buffy sobbed again but pressed her fingers into her eyes to stop the tears from escaping.

Spike cleared his throat. “Could you promise me something, too?” he asked quietly.

Buffy lifted her head again and blinked twice, “Everything.”

It took Spike everything he had not to break down and cry like a baby after hearing her soft words.

“Don’t grieve, don’t be sad. Live your life, find a nice guy to marry and have sprogs with and be the great woman you are. Just … please, don’t forget me. I know it’s a lot to ask-“

Buffy silenced him with a deep kiss, holding his face in both of her hands. The soft lips and demanding tongues met in a slow but passionate rhythm and Buffy didn’t break the kiss until it was very necessary to breathe. After two deep gulps of air, she attacked his mouth again and her hands wandered to the back of Spike’s head, playing with the loose curls.
After another minute of low moans and quiet smacking noises, they separated their lips but rested their foreheads together.

“You’re daft. You really are,” Buffy said, breathing hard.

Spike’s brows narrowed in confusion. “Just because I asked for a tiny thing?”

“No, because you asked for a promise you don’t need to ask for.”

Still no understanding on Spike’s face.

He really can be dense. “As if I could forget you. Ever.” Buffy smiled past her wet lashes and planted a kiss on the tip of his nose.

“Because I was the best foe you ever fought against?” He said it with a shy smirk.

“Because you were the best ally, friend, and lover a girl could have.” She stroked his cheek with her right hand and caressed his bottom lip with her thumb. “Because you loved me enough to look after Dawn and get your soul back. No man will ever do that for me … at least the soul-getting-back-part.”

Spike lowered his head a little and tilted it to the right. “Yeah?”

Buffy chuckled and kissed his left temple. “Now you’re suddenly shy?”

He returned the chuckle and his hands found the way under her shirt. “Well, yeah. I never thought you’d say something like that to me of all people. I was always the evil vamp who wanted to kill you … and later on shag you. And you didn’t like either one.”

She slapped his chest playfully. “It was my job not to like any of it. I’m just glad I never staked you.”

“Tsk, yeah. But just because you never could stake me.”

“And you could never kill me, so we’re both incapable.”

Spike captured her bottom lip between his human teeth and sucked on it playfully. “God, I’m happy we were incapable.”

“Me, too. Besides, I did like something.” She inched closer to his ear and nibbled at his earlobe.

“What’s that?,” Spike asked with closed eyes and a soft moan.

“Hmm, the ‘shagging’ part, maybe?”

With a playful growl Spike had Buffy on her back on the cot. He hovered over her body and stared into her amused hazel-eyes.

“Slayer, I warn you.” He was humming as he started to lick and kiss her neck.

“What? I didn’t do anything.” She chuckled but gasped as he reached a sensitive spot below her pulsing vein.

“Yeah, and driving a man in love crazy with dirty talk is ‘doing nothing’. You’ll see how I do ‘nothing’ now.” He trailed a wet path down her collarbone, between her breasts where he took a deep breath.

“No, Spike. Please …” A pant, a gasp.

“Please what? Please stop? Please don’t stop?” He smirked as he opened the top button of her shirt.
Buffy’s hands clutched his head as hers rolled to the side, her mouth standing slightly ajar.

“Oh, don’t stop. But stop.”

“Huh? That’s not how it goes, darlin'.”

“You remember the …uh…no-sex-rule?”

“No. Not at all.”

They chuckled together and Spike crawled back up, so that he was facing Buffy again. He leaned on his right elbow as his left index finger traced the outline of her body.

“You’re making it very hard to keep to that rule, Spike.”

“That’s exactly what I’m aiming for, Buffy.” He smiled at her with affection and desire.
She bit her bottom lip in return as she scanned his face.

“I really do need something to look forward to after the fight,” she said quietly.

“And that has to be the sex with me?” His voice made it clear that he didn’t believe in it.

Buffy lowered her eyes. “Well, yes. It has to be something good.”

“No, luv. You already have something to look forward to. A nice life without the whole world’s responsibility on your shoulders. A life you always wished you had. You’ll see Niblet grow up into a wonderful woman, you’ll get old and wrinkly…” Buffy scowled. “…and be more than beautiful getting so.”

They gazed at each other with warm smiles.

“How could I ever think that you were an evil monster, when it’s highly visible that you’re kind and gentle and loving.” Buffy swallowed.

“Maybe because I was evil… until I met you. Afterwards I only wanted to please you … in every possible way, and make you feel what I feel. It’s sad that it took me more than three years to achieve parts of it.”

Buffy reached up and touched his cheek. “Because I was dumb and bitchy and … well, I was Buffy.”

Spike laughed and kissed the palm of her hand. “I fell in love with the bitchy part, too.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“For loving me.” She kissed him again and tugged his black t-shirt out of his jeans. “For loving me although you’ve seen the worst of me.”

She pulled the shirt over his head as she kissed him hungrily. When she reached for his belt, Spike paused and pulled away from her lips.

“What are you doing?”

“Thanking you.”

Spike frowned. “You don’t have to. We can wait.”

“I want to. I don’t want to wait any more because we don’t know what’s going to happen. I want to be with you … in every possible way. I want to make love to you, for the very first time. Don’t you?”

“I always made love to you, you know?” he whispered.

“I know. We’re on the same page now.” She put her hand over his heart. “I feel what you feel.”

Spike didn’t answer, just looked at her in amazement. He didn’t know if she really felt it, if she meant all of it or if she just wanted to ‘thank you’ and have one last good memory. He didn’t care, he just wanted to float in the moment. It was more she’s ever given him, it was more than enough.

And then there were only two people in the world, kissing, feeling and loving each other.In this moment nothing was in their way - no fear, no doubt.

Only Buffy and William.

After long weeks of BVS-abstinence, we finally meet again!Gosh, I'm happy.

But, I have to say, that this is my final chapter of 'Coming Home'. I hope you liked it and maybe I'll write a sequel if you want me to (I have some thoughts lurking around in the back of my mind...)!

Hugs and Kisses to EveryLastDrop again!

And, of course I STILL don't own anything, I borrowed the characters and two or three verses from 7.22!

So, I hope you enjoy my kinda cheesy, kinda sad last piece of Spuffy-cake.

Thanks for all your reviews!You guys rock!

BloodyHell

P.S. Pleeeeeaaase leave a review!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was dark. Dark and cold. She was standing in a small cave, hearing nothing but her own heart pounding in her chest and feeling the panic gnawing at her stomach. The humid air made her shiver and she slung her arms around her.

Where am I?

Buffy didn’t recognize her surroundings, although it seemed familiar. It would have definitely helped if there was any light around her – but, well, there wasn’t.

She reached out her arms and carefully started walking. The ground was crunching under her feet, it was solid but not concrete. Dirty soil, maybe. Buffy’s hand came in contact with a wet and cold wall and she withdrew it, startled – she didn’t stop walking, though.

Some steps later, the atmosphere changed. Warmth filled the cave and light started seeping through some cracks in the wall right in front of her. She touched the clefts and the wall collapsed with a loud roar, making Buffy jump back in fright.

Gee, how about a warning?

With the wall gone, the cave was no longer dark. A beaming light shone into Buffy’s face and she had to squint to adjust to the change. As her vision became clearer, she could see a huge cave in front of her. Stalactites were hanging from the sand-brown ceiling, stalagmites were standing scattered on the floor.

Buffy took a step forward and her mouth fell open; right in front of her was an 80 foot deep crater whose bottom was filled with thousands of Turok-Hans, growling and snarling.

Uh-oh.

Her heart was hammering in her chest, her lungs working fast and loudly.

An echo from the vampires below, a bone-chilling sound that made Buffy shudder in fear:

“You cannot defeat us, Slayer! You and your friends will all die!”

She felt helpless and scared, not like a slayer like her should feel. It was like all her strength and courage was taken away from her – a feeling similar to the one she'd had when she was thrown out of her own house two nights ago. Before a special person sought her out and gave her all her inner strength back. Him.

“No worry, luv. They’re just talking big.”

Buffy turned around and almost cried in relief as she saw Spike standing a few feet away from her, clad only in his black jeans. His white skin illuminated the semi-dark corner and his mien was calm and friendly. He looked like an angel.

“Oh, Spike, I’m so glad that you’re here. There are thousands of these Uber-“

Spike held up his hand to stop her from continuing. “I told you, pet. Don’t worry,” he said, his voice soft.

Buffy’s eyes were huge and her mouth stood ajar. “How can you be so calm? We’re outnumbered.” She turned her face towards the crater. “Look, they’re thousands, we’re two.”

Spike just smiled and nodded, as Buffy looked at him again. “Yes.”

She was getting more and more frightened and nervous – one because of the enemy and two because of Spike, who didn’t seem unsettled at all.

“That’s all you have to say? Why are you so calm? We. Are. Going. To. Die,” Buffy screamed at him, tears filled her eyes.

Again no other movement other than a smile from Spike. “No, you’re not. Believe me.”

Buffy closed the distance between them and stared at him, her face contorted in anger and disbelief.

“Why are you so sure?”

“Just because.” His voice was still calm and tender.

Buffy opened her mouth in protest, but then closed it. Her eyes were huge again, but not because of fear, rather because something had dawned on her.

“You didn’t say ‘we aren’t going to die’.” Buffy paused and continued with a small whisper: “You said ‘you’.”

Now, Spike lifted his right hand and reached out to stroke Buffy’s cheek. A single tear escaped his eye as he slowly nodded.

“Why? Why did you say ‘you’?” Buffy trembled under his touch and she put her left hand on top of his.

“I have to go.”

“Now?” Buffy’s voice was shrill.

He shook his head, he didn’t mean ‘right now’.

“Why? Please, tell me. I need to know why. I have to save you.” Tears were running down her cheeks and a sob escaped her lips.

“Sorry, luv, can’t tell you.” He wiped away her tears. “And you can’t save me. Just take care of yourself and the others. I will be fine.”

“How is ‘going to die’ be fine?” A squeak, a sob. No worry on Spike’s face, though.

“I have to go.”

And before Buffy could protest or react in any way, Spike was covered in flames, a satisfied smile on his face.

“I love you, Buffy.” With a sizzle, he was gone.

“NOOOOOOOO!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Buffy!”

“NOOOOOOOO!”

“Buffy, please! Wake up, luv.”

“Oh god, no!” Buffy was shaking and thrashing about, and Spike was having trouble holding her.

“It’s alright. Everything’s okay. Just wake up,” he whispered softly in her ear.

Slowly, Buffy calmed down, her sobs and cries subsided but her eyes remained closed.

“Ssh. It’s okay, pet,” Spike repeated, holding Buffy close and stroking her back with his left hand. “You had a bad dream, is all.”

“No,” she said with a quiet and hoarse voice filled with sadness and tears. “It wasn’t a bad dream.”

Spike looked up from his position on her shoulder and a frown appeared on his face. “Well, it didn’t strike me as good, either.” He put his left hand on her right cheek and stroked her lip with his thumb.

“No,” Buffy rasped and shook her head as new tears filled her eyes. “It was horrible.”

Spike brushed a soft kiss over her lips and smiled a shy smile. “So, it was a bad dream.”

Buffy scowled at him. “No, I told you it was not.”

“But you said” Spike noticed the shiver in her body and turned his soft blue eyes towards her troubled hazel ones. “Want to talk about it?”

Buffy shifted in his arms and put her head on his chest, pulling him close. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t have to.” He put his arms around her and nuzzled his face in her hair. “You just seem shaken.”

“I think it was a slayer dream,” she huffed.

Spike’s head snapped up. A slayer dream that vivid and emotionally painful was nothing of the good.

“What happened?”

Buffy looked at him and saw the angel-like dream Spike in her mind. The calm face he’d worn, the smile that had never left his face while he burned and died. She couldn’t tell him, she couldn’t look into his tender eyes and tell him he was going to die. But she had to. No more lies, no more not-telling.

She took a deep breath. “I was in a cave or something, it was dark and cold. Then, suddenly, it got warm and bright. And then there was a crater filled with thousands of uber-vamps and they screamed at me ‘You’re all going to die!’ and then…” Buffy paused and rubbed her eye with her right hand, preventing the tears to escape. With a quiet, broken voice she continued.

“And then, there was you. Looking like an angel.”

Spike chuckled. “You sure it was me? I’m nothing like that poofter.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Looking like an angel, not like Angel with the capital letter.”

“Phew, thank god. So, there was me, looking fantastic as ever…” He prodded her to continue with a tentative smile, which she returned.

“Yes, there were you, standing at the cave’s wall, totally calm. I was shaking in my boots and you… you just stood there, smiling at me like you’ve never been worried at all.”

He smiled at her then with the same smile. “And then?”

“I was freaking out of course, because they told me that we’re going to die and you… you said ‘You’re not going to die. Don’t worry.’ And it hit me, that you said ‘you’ instead of ‘we’. You knew you were going to die and you were calm, at peace.”

Buffy paused as the fear crept up her spine again and she started to shiver again, her usual strong and fierce demeanor gone for good.

“And then you burst into flames and you were gone, “she whispered with a sniff.

Spike held her close but tensed at her last words. She'd had a dream, a slayer dream, where he died, just like he thought he would. It was set in stone, then.

Oh no. His bravery from the day before was gone now, he didn’t look forward to the final end of his unlife. Not any more. Not after last night.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured into her ear, pressing his eyes tightly together to prevent the tears from falling. “It was just a dream, don’t worry.” Oh, his heart was breaking.

A single tear escaped his left eye, just like in the dream, and he burrowed his head further into her shoulder to hide his deep sadness.

“It felt so real,” Buffy mumbled more to herself than Spike. “It felt too real.”

Spike sniffed once and took a deep breath to regain his composure. “We’ll fight, we’ll win. Positive thinking and all that rot, okay?”

Buffy smiled tentatively. “Okay.” God, how I want to believe him. ”Sorry I woke you up.”

Spike returned her smile and caressed her face with his hand. “Nah, I wasn’t sleeping anyway. The sun’s almost up, you know.”

Buffy looked away from his eyes, past his head and through the small window. The sky was filled with yellow and orange beams, announcing another day. It could be the last for them.

She returned her gaze back to his and bit her bottom lip. “I just wanted to tell you… before we face the First… that I, uh, really enjoyed last night.”

Spike face lit up and his eyes sparkled with joy. “Me, too. It was a great night. Not only because we, you know, had sex, but…”

“I know. Because we had each other – as cheesy as it sounds,” she chuckled. Buffy was still badly shaken by the dream, but she had to listen to Spike once more and think positive. Think about what they’ll have when it’s all over.

Just a dream, based on my fears. Nothing to get worked up for.

“It’s not sappy. We just enjoyed everything, without insulting the other. I call it progress.”

Progress towards the end, he thought sadly but kept the smile on his face.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Buffy paused and bit her bottom lip again. “In my dream you said that you loved me-“

Spike brows shut up. “I do.”

Taking in a shaky breath, Buffy continued with a nod. “Yes, I know you do. I just wanted to tell you that-“

“BUFFY!” Dawn was hammering at the door of the basement. “SPIKE! Please stop smooching and get up, we have to go soon.”

The couple rolled their eyes and grumbled. “Since when is Dawn the head of apocalypse-prevention?” Buffy asked as she tried to get up from the cot. Spike wouldn’t let her, though.

“Spike!” She squealed with glee, as Spike started tickling her at her sides. “Stop.”

He laughed and attacked her anew. “No, you were saying something and I want to know what or I’m not letting you out of the bed.”

“That would be a great plan if there wasn’t the nasty chore of saving the world.”

She was still giggling when he released her but she didn’t get up right away. She looked into his amused eyes and smiled with affection.

“I just wanted to tell you that I-“

“Buffy! Spike! The girls are shifting from one foot to the other, Anya and Xander are making out like there’s no tomorrow – well, there could be – and Willow is wigging out about her spell. Could you please come up?” Dawn called from above, clearly agitated.

Spike and Buffy sighed in unison and the former let her out of his grasp.

“Niblet sounds serious. We should go.”

Buffy nodded. “Okay. We’ll talk later?”

Spike pressed a kiss on her lips and let his mouth linger a little longer than usual. “We will.”

As Buffy put on her clothes, he let his fingers trail down her spine. She turned her head and smiled at him. She stood up and headed for the stairs. “You coming?”

“Of course, pet. I don’t want to miss out on some action,” he answered with a wink and got up.

What was she going to say?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunnydale High, moments before the battle

Buffy and Spike walked towards the door leading to the cave, holding hands. Their movements were slow and cautious, both of them knowing that the big battle was going to start in a few moments and then they wouldn’t have time for comforting gestures and togetherness.

“So, ready?” Buffy asked sorrowfully.

Spike kissed the top of her head, her forehead, her nose. “Always,” he said with a kiss on her lips. “And you?”

Buffy bit her lower lip and glanced towards the door. “I’m not sure.”

Spike chuckled, released her hand and hugged her instead. “You’ll do great,” he whispered in her ear. “And now I want to see some enthusiasm and optimism, darling.”

Buffy chuckled a little and smiled at him. “Okay.” A sigh. “What would I do without you?”

“You’d cry like a baby, I’m sure,” Spike mocked with a smirk. “And now off to see the Wizard.”

Buffy nodded and walked through the door Spike opened. “He’s using ‘The wizard of Oz’-references while facing the death,” she mumbled, which earned her a leer from Spike.

“Yeah, let’s just follow the yellow brick road, shall we.”

“Ha ha,” Buffy deadpanned as the door behind swung close and the enemy welcomed them ahead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the cave, the battle is in full swing

Spike stopped fighting the Turok-Hans and grabbed the amulet on his chest.

“Buffy! Whatever this thing does, I think it’s-,” He moaned in pain and staggered backwards.

Buffy didn’t hear him and addressed the girls. “Keep the line together! Drive them to the edge! We can’t let them-“

She stopped mid-sentence as a sharp pain ran through her abdomen. She looked down and saw that the enemy had driven a knife through her.

Ow!

Buffy fell to the floor with a grunt and lay there motionless. “Ow!” she repeated out loud with a moan. She lifted her head and turned it towards Spike, who stood in the corner of the cave, clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain.

Oh no! The cave, Spike. I can’t let him die! Get up, Summers.

With trembling arms and muttered curses, Buffy lifted herself up from the ground, trying to blank out the horrible pain.

As soon as she stood and gathered herself, the Turok-Hans started attacking her again and her way to Spike was blocked.
Ten or more uber-vampires were dusted before she could lay her eyes on Spike again. But what she saw made her mouth stand open and heart beat painfully in her chest.

Spike was in the furthest corner of the cave, his arms stretched out beside his body, his chest heaving with unneeded breaths. But Buffy didn’t notice all of that – her gaze was on the gigantic ray coming out of the amulet on his chest.

It’s the fire. Oh no,please no.

Buffy ran towards him, dusting some vampires along the way, but not really caring about the biggest fight of her life going on around her.

“Spike! You’re burning!” she half screamed, half gasped as she reached him.

He turned his gaze towards Buffy and smiled a soft smile. “Buffy, yes, I can feel it!”

Buffy’s panic-filled eyes blinked and her open-standing mouth closed for a second. “What? What do you mean?” she asked in confusion.

“My soul. I feel it. It itches like hell,” he chuckled.

“What? It’s not funny! There’s sun coming out of your chest!” Buffy screamed at him, clearly panicked and frightened.

“I’m doing it so you can win, luv. Don’t worry, it’s gonna be fine.”

Buffy gaped at him, not panicked anymore, but devastated and sad. “So it was a slayer dream,” she whispered.

Spike looked at her with a sad smile. “Seems so, pet.”

“No! This can’t be...”

“Buffy! We have to leave! Now!,” Faith shouted from the stairs leading upstairs.

Buffy realized that the three of them were the last people –minus the fallen slayers- in the cave, which was shaking and crumbling dangerously.

“Yeah, we’re coming. Go ahead,” Buffy answered automatically, but too quietly for Faith to hear.

“Buffy! Move, dammit!” Faith repeated with more force, her mien afraid.

Now Buffy replied angrily and loudly, though never leaving Spike’s eyes. “Yes, I heard you! GO AHEAD!”

Faith obeyed. With curses under her breath.

“Spike, we have to leave. You’ve done enough.”

“No, Buffy. I have to clean it up. Make it a good victory.”

Tears filled Buffy’s eyes. “No, Spike. Please come with me. You did good, we can run now.”

But Spike shook his head, a heart-warming smile on his face. “No. I’m staying. You run. Fast.”

He took her hand and put it against his lips, kissing her fingers softly. Little flames erupted between his lips and her hand, but they didn’t hurt. They just felt warm and tingly – it made Buffy cry.

“I can’t go without you. I need you,” she sobbed, and moved her hand to stroke Spike’s cheek. “I love you.”

Spike eyes lit up and his smile widened a tad more. “No, you don’t but thanks for saying it.”

He had to say it. Although he tried to believe in it, in the exceptional circumstances his mind wasn’t able to grasp that Buffy really did love him. His thoughts just screamed “Get her out of there!”... and that’s what Spike hoped he did when he told her she didn’t love him.

But, his still heart was the only part of his body that didn’t think, just felt – it fluttered with happiness and joy, it ached in pain.

“But I do! I do!” Buffy sobbed and clung to him, interrupting the ray of sunshine flooding into the cave.

Spike hugged her back with all his strength and pressed his eyes tightly shut. “Go! Now!”

He pushed her away and Buffy stumbled backwards. She gaped at him but Spike kept his gaze lowered to the ground, pain clearly written on his face and his chin and lower lip were trembling slightly.

“Please,” he begged her, his voice hoarse.

Buffy blinked once and twice, tears running down her cheeks but she nodded a little. She took a step forward, pressed a kiss on his forehead and sobbed.

“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

Then she turned around and sprinted for the stairs.

“I love you, too,” Spike whispered, choking back tears, no smile on his face, the feel of her lips still burning on his forehead.

Buffy reached the stairs just as the cave collapsed behind her and she ran with all her power left, not thinking, not feeling, just running. The slayer in her took over.

From the roof of the school, she jumped onto the yellow bus, reaching it just in time.

As the group of survivors stopped a few meters behind the enormous crater that once had been Sunnydale, Buffy slid down from the roof of the bus and landed smoothly on her feet. Her face was twisted in sorrow and grief and her hand covered her mouth which stood ajar.

With slow movements, she neared the crater, blocking out all the voices around her, asking her if she was alright and what happened.

She couldn’t understand the words, her ears were buzzing so loud that she didn't even hear herself sobbing and crying, as she fell to her knees in front of the abyss.

Dawn, Giles, Xander, and Willow were at her side right away, but she didn’t notice them.
Buffy just saw one face in front of her, heard just one voice in her head.

“Spike,” she whispered.

And then she felt it, a burning sensation on her chest. Buffy opened her blouse with trembling fingers and gasped with shock.

Right over her heart, where the sun beam had stroked her, was a thumb-wide red mark ... in shape of a heart.

“Oh god, Spike.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The end