Day Two (Part One)


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The morning brought with it a subdued feeling after the tensions of the night before and Buffy wondered idly if it was depression at the ever-present floodwaters, or if maybe her friends had found comfort in the embrace of their respective partners too.

Part of her shrank away from the idea of Spike as her partner but she knew it to be true: they were not partners in the intimate sense, but equals, confidantes. She had found in his tight embrace the solace she had been desperately seeking in the long weeks since her resurrection – but more than that, she had found understanding, security and something else. Something that scared her.

She woke, however, bereft of his touch and had forced herself into another day of a life she had been torn back to. A life that seemed to throw challenges, tests, at her with every step she took.



Upon waking, she received the annoying, unsettling news that her bed was broken. Not even wanting to imagine what feats Xander and Anya had performed to break her bed, she had taken one look and clenched her fists tightly together. Xander – abashed and slightly flushed – had promised to fix it as best he could and, much to everyone’s surprise, Spike had offered to lend a hand. Buffy hadn’t been the only one looking at him in bewilderment after his offer.

“What?!” he protested, raising an eyebrow, “Makes me feel all manly.”

She rolled her eyes and they shared a soft smile before he followed Xander up the stairs, leaving the females alone. They settled down to wait quietly – the television still decommissioned – but Buffy quickly grew impatient and went to make herself a drink.

As she returned, the room quickly fell silent and she looked at her friends suspiciously as they shared a quick look and started up a fake conversation. She let them continue for a few minutes before she interrupted.

“What were you talking about?” she asked abruptly and several wide eyes turned to her, expressions of innocence on every face.

“When?” Willow asked.

“Just before I came in. You got all sneakily quiet.”

“We weren’t talking about anything.”

Thankfully, Anya’s ever-lacking tact prevented her from joining in the careful charade of the others.

“We were talking about you and Spike and your sudden closeness. I think you are having a great deal of superhuman sex but the others disagreed.”



A silence fell over them – the others out of embarrassment, while she was stunned, shocked. She forced a shaky smile and tried to brush away the faint feeling of something that churned in her stomach at the thought. A feeling by no means one of disgust.

“Why would you think that?” she asked, her voice wobbling slightly, her smile wide with half-genuine amusement.

The girls shared another look and Willow turned to her, silently designated spokeswoman.

“Well, we were just, you know, noticing that you’d been spending a lot of time together. Private time.”

“Yeah, like every five minutes you’re going off together,” Dawn added with a smug smile.

“And?!” she countered somewhat defensively, only increasing the breadth of her sister’s smile.

“We just wondered what… I mean, you two weren’t that close before and…” Willow trailed off uncertainly, sharing a look with a girlfriend.

“We’re friends,” she answered after a pause, “And last time I checked, speaking to someone didn’t constitute a sexual relationship.”

“It is a very good step towards one though,” Anya pointed out cheerfully, “Better communication means better sex.”

“Dawnie, cover your ears,” she got out almost automatically.

“A bit late, Buffy.”

“Okay, well, just… I don’t know, wipe that last sentence from your mind. And, Anya, please stop trying to corrupt my sister.”

Anya shrugged and she couldn’t help but smile at the ex-demon’s attitude – it made for entertaining viewing at least. Luckily, her defence of the other charges was prevented by the return of the two males, bickering in an almost friendly way, and was promptly forgotten.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


When later she found refuge in the dim light of the basement for the umpteenth time – and was joined moments later by Spike – she thought of her friends’ words though. She had been spending a lot of time with Spike lately: a lot more than they knew about. She had sensed that faint hint of displeasure in their words but she shrugged it off. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what she was doing and there was absolutely no way she was going to stop. Spike’s mere presence bestowed a calm upon her that had been impossible for a long time now. And, whatever the implications, she enjoyed his company.

“How long do you think this flood can possibly last?” she asked him, breaking the comfortable silence that had surrounded them since his arrival.

“Hard to say. Maybe it’s biblical,” he joked with a half-smile and she slapped his arm lightly.

“I really hope not.”

They fell silent for a moment, but she soon spoke up again, unable to meet his gaze as she did so.

“I’m, err, I’m sorry about last night. I don’t know what happened.”

“I do,” he answered and she turned to him in surprise, “You bottled everything up. You always have done. M’just surprised it didn’t come out sooner.”

His voice and his expression softened as he spoke, blue eyes watching her with slight concern.

“I know,” she admitted, “I just… you know I don’t do feelings well.”

“Doesn’t mean you should hide them all away and suffer in silence.”

He paused and then reached out a hand, placing it lightly – hesitantly - on her shoulder.

“I’m here, whenever you need to talk.”

“I know,” she whispered, reaching up to cover his hand with hers, smiling a tiny smile, “I really do.”



They sat there unmoving for a long few minutes, her hand clasping his against her shoulder, her eyes fixed on his. She really looked at him, taking in every little emotion that flittered through his eyes, wondering just how a vampire could feel so much. Especially when she still felt half dead.

“I… I really am… grateful,” she got out quietly, flicking her eyes to his and then away again nervously.

“For what?” he whispered.

“Just… I don’t know, everything,” she whispered in return, raising her head and giving him a shy smile, “You… I never… I don’t know what I’m trying to say.”

She laughed helplessly and he smiled, reaching out with his free hand to brush her hair from her face. The brush of his fingers sent tingles over her skin and her eyes locked on his once again. She froze and she felt him falter, hand falling from her face but hovering close by.

“You’ve changed,” she found herself saying, “And I wish I’d been there to see it.”

“If I’ve changed, it’s because of you,” he murmured, eyes holding hers, “Because of what I feel for you.”

He had never come this close to declaring his feelings for her since she had been back and she found herself wishing he would go on. She squeezed his hand where it still lay trapped under hers, eyes almost pleading him.

“Do you still… love me?” she asked in a whisper.

“Always,” he replied without a moment’s pause, “Can’t help myself.”

He smiled wryly, perhaps in a bid to lighten the mood, but all she could do was stare at him.



“Buffy?” he called uncertainly and she raised her gaze from where it had dropped – to his lips. He was watching her carefully, confusion and hope blending in his eyes. She held his gaze for a long moment, before leaning forward ever so slightly and touching her lips to his. He barely moved but she felt his surprise, quickly followed by his own hesitant response.

His hand slipped from under hers to rest against her neck, holding her close but in no way restraining her as they shared a sweet, soft kiss. She remembered their last kiss in a flash – but this was so different, tinged with more than just gratitude. She pulled back from him slowly and opened her eyes to find him staring at her, joy warring with anxiety in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak – and never had the chance to say anything.

Moments later, the door to the basement opened and she just had time to snatch her hand back before Dawn was staring down at them.

“Willow said I wasn’t allowed to read the magic books,” she complained, pouting as she crossed her arms.

Trying hard not to lose her temper, and trying to summon that hard layer of self-control, she clenched her jaw and rose to her feet, her eyes just flicking to Spike’s.

“Well, you really shouldn’t.”

“I’m not stupid, you know. I wasn’t going to read them out loud. I just wanted to look.”

“You can’t.”

Dawn just huffed in reply and stormed off. A second later, she sagged against the doorframe, her energy sapped.



She felt Spike’s hand on her arm and she tensed, then relaxed again with his touch.

“Buffy?” he murmured, his voice filled with worry.

“I’m fine,” she whispered shakily.

“Liar,” he accused and, hearing the smile in his voice, she smiled too.

She could feel him just behind her – could sense every tiny movement of his body – and she tensed again, wanting to lean back into him. Or even better, to turn and wrap her arms around him and forget about everything else. The idea scared her so much that she quickly stumbled forwards into the kitchen.

“I should start getting lunch ready.”

She fumbled her way around the kitchen nervously, clumsy as anything as she felt Spike’s heated gaze following her every movement. She glanced at him a few times but it made her blush so fervently that she quickly looked away again. With the bustle of the next few hours, she soon pushed all thoughts of the kiss they had shared to the back of her mind.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Despite the hours of forgetfulness, the memory of their kiss quickly pushed its way to the forefront of her mind the minute they were alone together. Whilst the gang were playing what must have been their tenth game of Monopoly, she escaped to the kitchen with a pile of papers – all unpaid bills. She made no invitation to the vampire but sure enough he joined her a minute later and she was glad of the company as she tried to make sense of her finances.

It didn’t take her too long to be distracted from the dreaded task by the vampire at her side though and already after a few minutes, she was attuned to every move he made, could feel him watching her – and her heart was racing. The vivid remembrance of their kiss made her blush and duck her head so he would not see but she had a feeling he knew anyway. Eyes fixed on the numbers before her, all she could think about was the softness of his lips and the way he had cupped her face so gently, so tenderly. It was one of the sweetest kisses she had ever experienced – and to think, it had been shared with her one-time nemesis.



She shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his gaze and struggled to find something to say – anything to break the tense silence that stretched on and on.

“I don’t understand this. Do you?” she got out, thrusting a water bill at him.

He looked a bit bewildered but then he took it from her and looked at her, his brow crinkling in concentration as he puzzled out the figures. After a few minutes, he frowned and placed the paper down beside her on the counter.

“I’m sorry, love. I don’t understand.”

She smiled weakly and rested her elbows on the counter, letting out a sigh as she buried her head in her hands.

“What am I going to do?” she whispered helplessly, “I don’t understand half of these things. But I know enough to know that I can’t afford anything.”

She could feel the emotions that had broken free last night threatening to return and she forced them down, swallowing hard. She brushed her hair from her face with a shaking hand and stared at the scattered letters blindly.

“I don’t know what to do,” she choked out, careful to keep her voice low.

Spike said nothing, but seconds later, she felt his hand, heavy yet reassuring, on her back.

“We’ll figure it out,” he murmured huskily, his hand smoothing up her back and just rubbing the tense muscles of her neck.



The action reminded her of the night she had told him of her mother’s illness, out on the back porch. Back then though, he had rested his hand on her back tentatively, almost afraid to move it – but now, his hand rubbed over her back and shoulders, stroking her hair. She did not move at first but soon relaxed into his touch, slumping against the counter as his caress soothed her. His fingers trailed over her neck and she arched into his touch, brushing her cheek against his hand.

“You’re not alone,” he whispered, his voice hypnotically soft, “You don’t always have to be strong.”

“Don’t I?”

She raised her eyes to his, leaning into his touch as he stroked his thumb over her cheek.

“No,” he murmured, shaking his head.

She could feel the barriers breaking down and she reluctantly withdrew from his touch and pushed herself to her feet.

“I need some air.”

She moved to the back door and peeked out at the porch - which remained thus far safe from the flood. Rain was falling again, rippling on the water, moving it ever so gently. She turned and looked back at Spike.

“Some company would be good too,” she whispered, smiling shyly.

Eyes dark with emotion, he got to his feet and followed her silently out onto the porch.



They stood there side by side in silence, watching the patterns the rain made on the water, both seemingly content to stay quiet and enjoy the tranquillity. She leant back against the house and he did the same, eyes fixed on the water. Slowly, she shifted closer to him, until her arm brushed against his. When she glanced up at him, the hint of a smile was on his lips and she smiled too, letting her fingers brush against his.

It was a ridiculously romantic scene and it made her smile even more. When his hand trailed up her arm and he leaned in, his breath stirring her hair, she felt every nerve tingle in anticipation.

“If you don’t want this, stop me now,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear and sending a tremor through her.

In reply, she turned swiftly and drew his mouth to hers, leaning into him as he returned her kiss passionately. She stumbled back and hit the wall, letting out a gasp and breaking their kiss for a few short seconds before he was kissing her again, his lips cool against hers. Both hands rested on her shoulders, pinning her gently against the wall and she sank against him, succumbing to his caresses.

He was still carefully tender – as if afraid she might break, or maybe that she might bolt – and she savoured every moment of it. Only when she grew short of breath did she pull away, breathing heavily as his hands brushed over her arms, her shoulders, her hair.

“Buffy,” he murmured, his voice husky and rough, his eyes closed, “I love you.”



She caught his lips with hers once more, leaning into him and wrapping her arms around him tightly. He let out a throaty groan and pressed her against the wall, deepening their kiss and sending her pulse skyrocketing. Their kiss grew hungry and she gasped when he broke from her, his mouth landing with vampiric precision on the pulse point at her neck. She arched against him, letting herself be swept away by the feelings he was rousing in her – feelings she had been suppressing for too long.

“Spike,” she breathed, hands gripping his arms tightly.

He pulled back and dark, hungry eyes met hers. She sank back against the wall, holding his gaze with heavy-lidded eyes, feeling weak with desire.

“Buffy?! Buffy?”

Once again, Dawn found a way to break into a perfect moment and she had to force her anger down quickly. When she quickly went back into the house and found her sister genuinely worried though, her anger was quickly replaced with guilt and self-loathing.

“I couldn’t find you,” Dawn got out, obviously trying hard not to get worked up, “I thought you’d gone.”

Instantly, her sisterly instinct kicked in and she moved over to Dawn, brushing her fingers through her long hair.

“Of course I’m not gone. I’d have to swim if I wanted to go anywhere and you know I can’t swim,” she said with a smile and she saw Dawn relax, returning her smile with a shaky one of her own. Her sister studied her worriedly for a few more moments before she nodded briskly.

“Do you guys wanna play Monopoly? Someone really needs to beat Anya.”

She paused, glanced at Spike, and then turned back to her sister with a smile.

“Sure. Let’s go. No-one can take the Summers sisters.”

She looped her arm through her sister’s and with a wide smile, moved into the living room with her.