Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon and his ilk.
Thanks again reviewers! Enjoy.
 
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Buffy turned her mom’s car back into the driveway. She had managed by careful shopping to get a fair amount of food for a minimum amount of money. She had done her best to make sure it was healthy stuff for the most part. Make the social services people happy if they inspect, even if Dawn won’t touch a vegetable with a ten foot pole. As she got the bags out she noticed that Xander’s car was on the street. As she slammed the car door, Willow and Xander came around the corner of the house, carrying boxes. They stopped when they saw Buffy.
 
“Hi,” said Willow awkwardly. “We… um, came to get our stuff.”
 
“Great,” Buffy said shortly. “Have at it then.” With that she brushed by them and went in the house. Willow bit her lip, trying to keep back the hurt tears that threatened to spill down her face.
 
Xander was hurt as well, but he also found himself a bit annoyed. “Don’t know why she can’t at least talk to us,” he mumbled as they put things in the car. Tara came up with a box as well, catching Xander as he said, “I know she didn’t want to be back here, but she could at least give us a chance to make things up to her.”
 
Tara put down her box and said as gently as she could, “Xander, she’s hurting. Spike told me she’s in physical pain from what we did. She’s angry, she’s worried about Dawn, and she’s dealing with being yanked out of Heaven. She just needs time and space. We can’t expect her to get over everything in a day.”
 
“I wish she’d let me help her,” Willow said. “There are spells that can help with this sort of thing.”
 
“No!” Tara said sharply. “You’ve got to stop thinking that way. You can’t do an instant fix with this, Willow. If you try to fix her all you’ll do is drive her away for good. Just give her time, ok baby?”
 
Willow was torn between wanting to help Buffy and trying to listen to Tara’s advice. She sighed, “I guess I need to step back for a while.” But I know I could help, if she’d just let me…
 
Tara wasn’t sure she trusted Willow’s statement. She knew Willow was coming from a genuine love for her friend, but she placed far too much faith in magic. Tara silently vowed to keep extra close tabs on her girlfriend for the immediate future.
 
The three of them continued hauling the rest of the boxes. Buffy and Spike were in the kitchen putting groceries away, keeping an eye out to see when the Scoobies left. Spike was finding things rather awkward with only one eye. In place of his usual preternatural grace, he found he was bumping into Buffy, misjudging exactly where the shelves were, and whacking his elbows on things. He growled a bit the last time this happened, and noticed Xander looking in the window at him simultaneously. His good eye flashed yellow briefly. Fucking git. This is all your fault. Had to go barging in like a goddamn fullback instead of getting the whole story.
 
Buffy noticed Spike’s irritation and asked, “What’s wrong?”
 
“Just irritated,” Spike muttered. “This lack of depth perception is annoying as all get out.”
 
“I’m sure having Xander gawking at you isn’t helping either,” Buffy noted. She scowled at Xander as well as he came back for the last box. Xander ducked his head and hurried to the car, deciding that having two supernatural beings pissed at him was probably a sign to leave. Buffy put the last of the cereal away, then started cutting up some vegetables to make a salad for herself for dinner. Spike poured himself another mug of blood and drank it, watching her. By the time she finished her dinner, mostly in thoughtful silence, it was dark. Spike put his mug in the sink and said, “I need to make a quick run to my crypt. Will you be ok for a while?”
 
“I should probably patrol,” said Buffy. “I’ll walk with you.” She didn't want to admit that she still really hated being alone. She found herself enjoying the security she felt in Spike's presence. Giles would probably freak if he found me depending on a vampire. Too bad. 
 
“You could probably take a night off if you wanted to, you know,” Spike chided. “The vampires wouldn’t mind.”
 
“Nah, gotta keep you vamps in line,” Buffy responded. Spike was pleased to see her cracking a joke, even if it was a small one.
 
They walked through the town, seeing very little activity. A few fledges rose and were rapidly dispatched by Buffy, who did not seem to have lost any of her skills during her sojourn in the afterlife. Spike tried to join in, but had a difficult time judging punches, and after one fledge got him square in his wounded eye, making him howl with pain, he reluctantly stepped back and let Buffy handle it.
 
When they got to Spike’s crypt, he told Buffy, “I’ve just got to get a few things. I’ll be right back.” Buffy sat down on his TV chair and waited.
 
Spike found a duffle bag and filled it with a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts. Then he picked up the picture of him and Drusilla from all those years ago. Opening the back of the frame, he took out the picture. Yes! I knew I had written it down. He jotted down the number on the back of the picture and stuffed the paper in his pocket. He grabbed a few more odds and ends and then rejoined Buffy.
 
“All set?” she asked.
 
“Lead on, MacDuff,” Spike answered. They made the rest of the rounds, took out a few more fledges, then ended up back at Buffy’s house.
 
They flopped down on the couch when they got inside. Spike’s face was clearly still hurting. Buffy noticed him wincing when he moved. She moved over closer to him and said, “Spike? You could probably use a bit more of the good stuff, couldn’t you?”
 
Spike took her proffered arm and stroked her wrist gently. “I’ll heal without it, love. You don’t have to do this. Don’t owe me anything, remember?”
 
Buffy stroked the undamaged part of his face and his hair with her other hand. “I want to give you this, Spike,” she said softly. She leaned over and kissed him tenderly. His eyes widened for a moment. She can’t really mean that, can she? Then she deepened the kiss and Spike lost all reservations. Don’t care if she means it, thank you very much. He brought his hand up to cup the back of her head, burying his fingers in her long, vanilla scented hair. Their tongues met and began to tease one another gently as they took their time exploring each other’s mouths.
 
Spike worked his way gently down her face and neck, planting kisses all the way. His cool lips were soothing and enticing. When he reached her neck, she whispered, “Go ahead, Spike. I want you to.” Spike hesitated for a moment longer, until Buffy started to kiss his jaw line and move down his neck toward his shoulder, causing him to moan softly. Playing with fire, pet, kissing a vampire there. He slowly brought his vampire face to the fore, never ceasing his loving attentions to her beautiful neck. Gently as he could, he sank his fangs into her.
 
After the initial sting, Buffy was astonished at how completely sensual it felt. Oh my God. Who knew it could feel like this? When Angel had bitten her, it had hurt, but she had felt some of this sexual heat toward the end. Spike didn’t hurt her at all, and the heat was slow, sweet and all-consuming. He took several long, slow pulls of her blood, then tenderly licked the wounds closed.
 
They separated, both breathing hard. Spike had never wanted anyone as much as he wanted this girl, this moment. Summoning up his courage, he said softly, “Where do you want this to go, love?”
 
Buffy didn’t know what to say. I want him. Is it right? I don’t know how I feel. So mixed up right now… But as she looked into his one bright blue eye, and took in once more the evidence of the pain he had suffered on her behalf, she realized that she did feel something for him. Might not be love yet, but it was trust, and friendship. After the days of feeling nothing, then feeling pain and overload, she needed to feel something tender, something good.
 
Making up her mind, she stood up, and took his hand. She led him silently up the stairs to her room. She turned to him and kissed him again. “I need you, Spike,” she whispered.
 
Spike’s heart leaped to hear those words. Don’t blow this, Spike, he told himself. He rested his hands on her hips and drew her close, kissing her with every ounce of skill and passion he had learned in a century. One hand made its way slowly around to her back while the other cupped her breast, eliciting a soft moan of pleasure from the Slayer. She responded in kind, running her hands under his shirt and exploring his back and chest. Their hands roamed over each other’s bodies, growing bolder and more insistent every moment.
 
Breaking the kiss, Spike slid his hands up her sides, relieving her of her shirt and casting it aside. He nibbled his way down her neck, hands busily divesting her of her bra to clear the way for his tongue. She gasped with pleasure as he reached her nipple, licking and teasing it while his hands kept up their explorations.
 
Buffy reached down and pulled his shirt up, causing him to let go of her breasts long enough for her to ease it over his head, mindful of his ravaged face. She took her turn working her way down his chest with hands and lips and tongue, causing him to groan as he grew painfully hard. He stepped back a bit, causing Buffy a moment of confusion. Then she saw that he was slowly, enticingly removing his jeans, revealing his fine, sculpted body and his jutting erection. My God, he’s a Greek statue, Buffy thought. She couldn’t keep her tongue from licking her lower lip as she unzipped her jeans and let them drop to the floor as well.
 
For a moment they faced each other, appreciating each other’s nakedness. My fantasies didn’t do you justice, Slayer, Spike thought as he took her hand and pulled her down on the bed beside him. Their kissing became more and more energetic as their hands roamed further. Spike gasped as Buffy’s hand stroked him, her soft skin like fire against him. He slid his fingers down her body, grazing her clit and then dipping into her molten core. She writhed with pleasure at his touch. Spike smiled wickedly, then kissed his way down her body to settle between her legs.
 
Buffy nearly came from the first touch of his cool tongue on her clit. God, that feels incredible. His fingers pumped into her center, teasing and arousing her even more. It didn’t take long before she felt the climax building to a shuddering finish. “Spike!” she cried as she crashed over the edge, her whole body convulsing with pleasure. Panting, she said, “Need you inside me. Please.”
 
“Yes,” he sighed, sliding up her body. He entered her slowly and smoothly, moaning, “Oh God, Buffy. So tight, so hot…” He buried himself completely inside her and stilled for a moment, closing his eyes to drink in the sensation.
 
She reached up to pull him into another kiss, and his good eye met her green ones. They began moving together, falling naturally into each other’s rhythm, as if they were old lovers rather than new ones. She wrapped her legs tight around him, driving him deeper inside. Spike gasped as she gripped him with her Slayer muscles. Christ, I didn’t know a woman could do that.
 
He rolled them over and Buffy took control, writhing and working herself onto him as they both put forth endless streams of pleasured words. “So deep, yes, oh, yes.” “There Slayer, that’s my girl…” Buffy thought she could never get enough of his hands, his voice, his gorgeous body. He reached down and started rubbing circles around her clit, causing her to cry out in ecstasy as she spiraled into another orgasm, pulling Spike along with her as he screamed her name and came.
 
She sunk down onto his chest, into his arms, his cock still locked inside her. They both shuddered with dozens of little aftershocks. Spike rolled them again so they were side by side, still joined, limbs entwined, still kissing like there was no tomorrow. Finally, they rested their heads on the pillows, gazing into each other’s faces. “Spike,” Buffy breathed. “That was…” She had no words.
 
“Yeah,” Spike agreed, smiling. “You’re incredible, Buffy. Your body…” He gazed in open admiration at her hair, her smooth skin, her perfect little breasts.
 
“I admit, I had a sneak peak at your goods while I was a ghost,” Buffy said slyly.
 
Spike raised an amused eyebrow. “Oh really? Do tell.”
 
“After you saw me at my house that first time, I went to see if you could see me again. Got quite an eyeful.”
 
“Like what you see?” Spike leered.
 
“Most definitely,” Buffy grinned. Then she tackled him onto his back and the dance began again.
 
TBC