Much appreciation to my wonderful betas, Dawnofme, Marilyn, and Tanit.

The poems used in this chapter are by E.E. Cummings, "somewhere i have never travelled" and "i like your body when it is with your" . I'm very fond of both.

The warm spray of water from the shower relaxed Buffy as she scrubbed away the grime and stink which had built up from a long shift at the Doublemeat Palace. Two more weeks and she would be free of it! Her smile widened as she thought of the conversation she and Spike had last night at the beach. They'd talked about their future. This was a new and exciting concept for them. Just days before, their relationship seemed doomed. Now, they were talking about weaving their lives together, with Spike even offering to help them financially. At first, Buffy had been reticent to have him do so much for her and Dawn, but then she understood. He loved them and wanted to do what was in their best interests. How could she not love a man like that?

Buffy wrung the excess water from her hair and turned off the taps. She reached for a towel and began to dry her hair and body. Once she was done, she applied some fragrant lotion to her body. Dawn would be home from school any minute now and she couldn't wait to share some good news with her little sister for once. Just as she was putting on her last boot, the front door slammed. Cupboards being opened and shut led Buffy to the kitchen, where Dawn was in the process of making an afterschool snack.

"Hey, Dawnie. How was school?" Buffy asked as she leaned on the island counter and grabbed a cookie off her sister's overflowing plate.

"Oh no, not so fast, missy! I think my boring day can wait." Dawn slid the plate closer to her side of the island to prevent Buffy from taking anything else from it. "You have some major spillage to do!"

Buffy couldn't help herself. She knew she was blushing and grinning from ear to ear. "Well, there's a lot to tell, so don't interrupt. Okay?"

"I'll try my best."

"First, he took me to Vermillion. Oh, Dawnie the food was to die for!"Buffy thought it had been a dramatic improvement over the diet of Doublemeat and pizza she'd eaten of late. "He opened up and told me all about the real him, human and vampire. I was happy for the opportunity to see the real Spike. Then we took a drive to the beach for dessert, and we talked about our future." Buffy hesitated a moment before saying, "I told him I loved him."

"Oh, my God! That sounds like the most amazing date ever, Buffy." Dawn took a bite of her sandwich and chewed while listening intently to Buffy, her eyes shining with happiness for her big sister.

"Hey, wait a second. Don't you remember? No interruptions. Next time, you might have to pay for my forgiveness in cookies." Buffy reached over, grabbing a cookie in mock seriousness.

"I'm sorry. My lips are sealed, on with your story." Dawn mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key.

"That's not all. He wants to take care of us. He's not really poor. He asked me to quit working at the Doublemeat and go back to school. He's willing to take care of the household expenses and pay for my school as well." Buffy prepared herself for Dawn's reaction; she knew it was going to be over the top.

Dawn's ecstatic squeals could probably be heard down the street. "I can't believe it! This is amazing! I'm so happy for you! When are you going to see him again?"

"Tonight, after I do a quick sweep. Do you think you'll be okay with Will and Tara? I may spend the night." Buffy blushed and bit her lip, smiling a bit hesitantly.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. We'd already planned on going to the movies. I just can't get over it. Spike has money."

"Yep, and he wants to spend it on us. You know how much he loves both of us. There's nothing he wouldn't do for you or me. This is just one more way showing how much he cares."

Picking up her backpack off the floor and hooking it over one shoulder, Dawn grabbed her plate and headed for the stairs. "I'm gonna get started on my homework so I'll be ready to go to the movies."

"Okay, I'm gonna grab a snack and then lie down for a while. I'll see you before I leave," Buffy said, walking to the fridge to grab a yogurt.

Buffy tucked her stake away and approached Spike's door. There hadn't been much action on patrol, which had been fine by Buffy, because she'd thought about Spike all day and couldn't wait to see him again. Arriving early and suddenly feeling nervous, Buffy didn't know if she should knock or just go straight she could make her decision, the door swung open, startling her.

"Evenin', pet. You planning on standing out there all night?" Leaning against the doorjamb, looking sexy as hell, he tilted his head and gave her his best smirk, making her all the more embarrassingly uncomfortable.

"Um, no, never mind. I was just being crazy Buffy," she said, a blush tinting her cheeks.

"Well, come here and give us a kiss then," he said, taking her in his arms and kissing her as though he hadn't seen her in days.

"Wow! That was some hello kiss. A girl could get used to that sort of thing. You might spoil me." Buffy smiled, looking into his gorgeous blue eyes.

"I aim to please. Get used to it. Now, come in." Spike took her hand, guiding her to the tattered sofa, and they sat down. "How was your day?"

"I missed you more than I can say, and I gave my notice at work. God, I'll be so glad when I'll never have to smell that stench again! Lorraine was disappointed , but she wished me well. I also spoke with Dawn.

"I'm glad you won't be working in that hellhole anymore. Thrills me to no end. How'd the Nibblet take the news?" Spike gazed at her hopefully.

"You should have heard her, or maybe not. I don't think your delicate vampire ears could have taken her ear piercing squeals. She was thrilled about everything, to say the least. I just finished up a quick patrol, and now I'm right where I want to be, with you. How was yours?" she asked.

"I missed you, counted the hours till I could see you again. Went out and got you some treats, so you'd have something to eat and drink when you're here."

"Oh, Spike, that's really thoughtful, but I'm good right now, thanks." Buffy cupped his cheek giving him a sweet kiss.

"It was nothing. Couldn't have my girl going hungry and thirsty when she came over. 'Sides, it's just a few things, nothing special." Spike glanced around the crypt nervously. "So, you wanna see what's on the telly or we could…I don't know… do whatever you want."

Spying the book the book of poetry she'd seen on her last visit, she shyly said, "I noticed the book of poetry over there. We studied E.E. Cummings in a poetry class I was taking before Mom got sick and I had to drop out. I really enjoyed the class. I'm definitely taking it again when I go back next semester. Maybe you could read me a couple of your favorites of his, if you wouldn't mind." Buffy didn't want to embarrass him. He already seemed nervous. "You don't have to if don't want to."

"I don't mind at all. I don't have to read them, I know quite a few them by heart," Spike said.

"I'm ready," Buffy said, waiting excitedly. Her skin tingled with anticipation. The thought of him reciting poetry to her gave her a little thrill up and down her spine.

"This is one of my favorites." Taking her hands in his, he began to recite,

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond

any experience, your eyes have their silence:

in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,

or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look will easily unclose me

though i have closed myself as fingers,

you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens

(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and

my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,

as when the heart of this flower imagines

the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals

the power of your intense fragility:whose texture

compels me with the color of its countries,

rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes

and opens;only something in me understands

the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)

nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands



Spike's tone was soft, the words seeming to brush against Buffy as he spoke them.

"I remember that poem from my class. It's beautiful. What's another favorite?" Buffy asked.

"This one is a bit of fun and a mite sexy. I think you'll like it too."

Buffy leaned against him, putting her feet up on the sofa. Spike was surprised by change in position, but pleasantly so. He moved his arm to put around her. This time there was a playful edge to his voice as he spoke.


i like my body when it is with your

body. It is so quite a new thing.

Muscles better and nerves more.

i like your body. i like what it does,

i like its hows. i like to feel the spine

of your body and its bones, and the trembling

-firm-smooth ness and which i will

again and again and again

kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,

i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz

of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes

over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big love-crumbs,

and possibly i like the thrill

of under me you quite so new



Buffy felt hearing him recite that poem was quite possibly the sexiest thing she'd ever experienced. She'd never imagined poetry could be such a turn-on. Hearing the words, her brain was on overload, and her body wasn't far behind. Sitting up, she straddled him, but not before noticing how the poem had affected him as well. Gazing directly into his beautiful eyes, she took his hands and placed them on her breasts, so he would have no misconceptions as to her intent. She tenderly took his face in her hands and nipped at his bottom lip, begging for entrance to his mouth. He responded with a deep moan, kissing her hungrily, softly caressing each breast and tweaking her nipples through the fabric of her shirt. Buffy ground down on his erection as the kiss became more passionate, stopping only to catch her breath and regain some semblance of control. Resting her forehead against his, she was barely able to speak.

"Spike, I want you to take me downstairs. I want to make love to you."