Day Three (Part Two)


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She couldn’t remember ever feeling so at ease with someone else, so comfortable sharing all her thoughts and feelings. Curled up with Spike on her sofa though, she realised she had found a haven. It felt so natural to just sit and talk, voices low, sharing the odd caress – neither quite able to keep from touching the other. This was what had brought them so close though, she knew that: without his patience and his understanding and his simple ability to listen, she would still be suffering through every day.

Thanks to him though, there was some ray of hope in the darkness of her fears. She only wished she had the strength to share her pain with her friends, who loved her so much they had brought her back to this world without hesitation.

“I know I should tell them,” she whispered, head tucked under Spike’s chin as she fiddled with the fabric of his T-shirt nervously, “I want to tell them. But I don’t know if I can.”

“You’re worried about hurting them.”

“Yes,” she breathed with a sigh, moving into the gentle stroke of his hand, “I don’t think I could bear it. Maybe… maybe I should just try to forget it… move on.”

“You’re never going to move on properly unless you tell them,” Spike murmured, coaxing her gaze to his, “They have a right to know. They should know that they did wrong by you.”

She frowned at his choice of words but she knew he was right.

“You really don’t like what they did.”

“I like the end result,” he answered sincerely, “How could I not? Having you back Buffy…”

His voice grew husky and he cut himself off, clearing his throat before he continued.

“But they were selfish… and reckless… and I could wring the witch’s bloody neck… Thinking you were in Hell… you, of all people.”



They fell silent after that and she tucked her head under his chin, wrapping her arms around him tightly, as if she might absorb the pain he was so obviously feeling.

“You can’t imagine what I went through, Buffy,” he whispered into her hair, “I hated myself for not saving you.”

He took a sharp breath and held her tighter, his voice trembling as he continued.

“I knew I had to make my peace with what happened… but whenever I closed my eyes, all I could see was you… how peaceful you looked after…”

He locked his arms around her even tighter and she clung to him just as tightly, her heart torn at the pain in his voice.

“I don’t know what god brought you to me but I… God, I never thought I might get this close to you.”

She pulled back to look at him and touched her fingers to his jaw, amazed at the strength of the emotions in his eyes.

“Sure you did,” she whispered with a smile to lighten the mood, “Didn’t you always tell me there was something between us?”

“Wishful thinking.”

“Or you saw what I was too afraid to,” she admitted, running her thumb along his jaw line, “You always have done… and it’s really annoying sometimes.”

She smiled widely and he chuckled, running his hand down her arm in a soft caress.

“What can I do to make it up to you?” he purred.



She smiled coquettishly and, as if reading her thoughts, he tackled her to the sofa a moment later, pinning her to the cushions and looking down at her with hungry eyes. His expression softened seconds later though and he seemed to be drinking in every line of her, setting her alight with his gaze, making her squirm uncomfortably under him.

“Are you going to stare all day or are you going to get to the kissing?” she prompted sulkily and he smiled widely, eyes bright with amusement.

“I could do both quite easily.”

She frowned and managed to wriggle one arm free of his grip, reaching up and grabbing the back of his neck to force his mouth to hers. He groaned against her mouth and soon set about kissing her thoroughly, his tongue teasing hers and making her squirm even more. She hooked a leg around his and held him close, running her free hand over his back, slipping her hand under his T-shirt and tracing every contour.

He broke away from her and his mouth fell to her neck, teeth scraping her skin and causing her to let out a small moan. She could almost feel his smile against her and she twined her hand in his hair, tugging his mouth back to hers and kissing him passionately.



Faint sounds in the background now grew more prominent and with the same quick reactions, they parted, sat up, and straightened their clothes only seconds before the door burst open and Dawn, Willow and Tara came in, voices bubbling in conversation. They rounded the doorway a moment later and stopped as they spotted the pair.

“Hey guys!” Buffy called out with forced cheer, subtly straightening her skirt as she sat up a bit straighter. They greeted her back but she could see their curious looks passing between her and the vampire and she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. She jumped to her feet and moved towards them, hoping to distract them.

“So, how was the shop? I guess you want some dinner? Let’s do dinner.”

It was only as she turned to head for the kitchen that she realised they were looking at her strangely and she came to an abrupt halt.

“What?” she got out uncertainly.

The three girls shared a look and then Willow met her gaze, blushing ever so slightly – but at the same time, the hint of a smile playing about her lips.

“Your, um, your top’s inside out.”

Mortified, she quickly excused herself and dashed upstairs to her room to rectify the problem. When she dared to show her face again, all four were happily watching the television and she slipped onto the sofa between her sister and Spike, her face flushed red.


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The day passed quickly after that and before she knew it, it was sunset and she could see Spike fidgeting, anxious for his freedom. When he caught her eye though, he stilled and smiled softly, seemingly content. A moment later though, she saw him bouncing his leg and she knew she would have to prompt him to leave, much as she wished he could stay.

“I wonder how your crypt’s holding up,” she spoke up, drawing his attention along with the attention of the others.

“I’m not sure. It might have been alright.”

He paused for a second but then he continued, eyes on hers.

“Guess I should really get going and check it out.”

“Yeah,” she answered hesitantly, “I guess you should.”

A minute of silence passed and then he forced himself to his feet.

“Well, it was nice and all…” he started, turning to the others.

She jumped to her feet then, surprising them, and he turned his bright gaze on her, making her stall for just a moment.

“Maybe I should come with you,” she suggested, unable to look at her friends in embarrassment, “I mean, you might need some help… and there might be demons.”

She heard a distinctly Dawn-sounding snicker and her eyes flew to her sister, who was struggling to hold back her laughter.

“Dawnie,” she hissed.



It was no good and Dawn burst out laughing an instant later.

“You guys are too funny!” she exclaimed, “Why don’t you just say you want some alone time?”

“Dawn!”

“Oh, come on. I may be fourteen but I’m not stupid. It’s pretty obvious to everyone what’s going on.”

“And what is that?” she countered, folding her arms across her chest as she stared down at her sister.

“You’re totally doing it with Spike,” Dawn answered nonchalantly.

For once, she did not blush and she glanced at the silent vampire before turning back to her sister, some of her defensiveness softening into amusement.

“I’m not,” she said calmly, holding up a hand when her sister went to protest, “I’m not just doing it with Spike.”

She turned to him and smiled warmly, her heat beating faster at the love in his eyes.

“I’m with Spike. I’m… I’m in love with Spike.”

She barely heard her sister’s whispered ‘wow’ – too caught up in the look of awe on Spike’s face, on the way his eyes lit up like she had never seen before. It only struck her now just how much it might mean to him to hear his feelings were returned – and in front of her friends.



“I’m really happy for you, Buffy… and Spike.”

Tara’s hesitant voice drew her out of her daze and she quickly turned to give the witch a grateful smile.

“Thank you.”

When she spotted a warm smile on her oldest friend’s face, she smiled widely and let out a little sigh of relief. She turned back to Spike and then quickly moved to his side, reaching out and linking her fingers through his.

“We come as a pair now,” she murmured – more for his ears than anyone else’s – and squeezed his hand in hers.

“Okay, if you guys are going to be all soppy can you go somewhere else and do it,” Dawn remarked, making a gagging gesture.

“Sounds like a plan,” Buffy joked, sending the vampire a soft smile before turning and grinning at her sister. “I guess I really should patrol…”

“Oh, please,” Dawn got out, “As if you’re going to get any patrolling done.”

She just smiled widely at her sister and gripped Spike’s hand even tighter in hers.

“Ready to go?” she asked him quietly.

“Always,” he murmured with a smirk and she rolled her eyes affectionately before turning to her friends to ensure that they would keep an eye on her sister.

Finally, with Dawn making remarks behind them (although none filtered through to their consciousness), they left the house hand-in-hand and made their way out into the darkness together.