“Just give me something. A crumb, a barest smidgen. Tell me...maybe, someday, there's a chance.” Spike said, practically begging Buffy.
She looked into his eyes and was about to tell him that he had no chance, when something powerful suddenly went through her. She didn’t know what was wrong and closed her eyes at the bright light that seemed to be clouding her vision. It was like she was watching her whole life flash before her eyes. Well, her life after she became the Slayer anyway. Buffy saw her first meeting with Spike. She saw all the times they fought together, neither one being able to get the upper hand. It’s like they were perfect equals. She wondered why she never noticed that before. She then saw memories that didn’t make any sense to her. She saw her death and Spike grieving for her. She saw Spike taking care of Dawn. She saw herself being brought back to life and Spike being the only one she could talk to. She saw how she used him and how he took it. He never stopped loving her even after that. She saw what he went through to get his soul back, for her. Buffy couldn’t believe that any vampire would do that, but she was finally starting to realize that Spike wasn’t like any other vampire. She then saw herself guiding a lot of young girls and getting them prepared for battle. She saw how Spike was by her side through everything. He was the only one that stuck by her when everyone else kicked her out of her house, including her own sister. She saw the fight with the First and all the lives that were lost. She saw Spike’s sacrifice as he gave up his life to save the world. She saw him get engulfed by the flames, until there was nothing left. She could feel everything that he felt at that moment. Buffy shut her eyes harder as the light grew brighter. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed that things were different.
Spike was no longer standing in front of her. He was now in a battle with Harmony, while Drusilla was trying to break free.
Buffy came back to reality and pulled at the chains harder, trying to break free herself. It was no use.
Drusilla then broke out of the ropes and attacked her.
Buffy tried to kick her away.
Drusilla had the advantage and lowered her fangs to Buffy’s neck.
Buffy closed her eyes and waited for the piercing sting, but it never came. Instead, she saw Spike push Drusilla away and then unchain her. She rubbed her wrists when she was finally free.
They both stared at Drusilla, who had a pained expression on her face.
Buffy wasn’t even paying attention to what the vampiress said after that. She just watched her walk away. She noticed that Harmony did the same. She gazed at the soft expression on Spike’s face, thinking back to everything she saw. Buffy didn’t know how, but she knew that she just relived what would happen in her future. She had a lot to think about. She gave Spike one more look before walking out of the crypt.
Spike sighed and then took off after her. “Buffy!” he yelled once they were outside.
Buffy stopped and turned around to look at him, still not sure what to say.
“Please, let’s just talk about this. Everything that I said to you was true. I know I may have gone about it the wrong way, but you have to believe that I love you. Please, Buffy. Don’t shut me out.”
She heard the pleading tone in his voice and took a deep breath before she finally spoke. “Would you have really done it?”
Spike raised his eyebrows, clearly not expecting that. “Done what?” he wondered.
“Would you have really killed Drusilla for me?”
Spike didn’t hesitate before he answered. “In a heartbeat.” He graced her with a small smile. “Well, obviously not mine.”
Buffy couldn’t help the smile that formed on her face as well, but she quickly took on a more serious expression. “I don’t approve of the chains.”
Spike shook his head. “Never going to happen again, love. That is, unless you tell me otherwise,” he commented with a wink, then got back to the point. “I just didn’t know how else to get you to listen. I know you can never love me because I don’t have a soul, but all I’m asking right now is for you to let me love you. Let me show you how much I’ve changed, Buffy. I can prove to you that I don’t need a soul to love.”
Buffy took a step closer to him. “You have a soul, Spike. It’s right in here,” she claimed, placing her hand over his heart. “I don’t think it ever left when you were turned. You’ve always been different from other vampires. I’m finally starting to see that. I know that you can be a good man. I feel it.”
Spike looked at her in awe at what she said. He couldn’t believe that this was really Buffy speaking to him. “Did you hit your head or something? Since when do you have anything nice to say about me?”
Buffy smiled. “Since I took a look into the future. Into our future.”
Spike took on a look of confusion. “Care to elaborate on that, pet?”
“Let’s just say that I had a wake up call while I was chained up. I don’t know how it happened, but I saw everything. I saw everything that happened with us in the past and what’s going to happen with us in the future.”
He thought about what she said. “So, I’m still around in the near future then?”
She nodded. “Things are going to happen, Spike. Things that I can’t let happen. Now that I know what’s in store, there’s a lot we have to change. We have to change them for the better. I know that we can make that happen.”
Spike still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re saying you would still want me around?” he asked, wanting to be sure.
Buffy took his hand in hers. “I’m saying that I need you around. I can’t do this without you.”
Spike gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m with you, Buffy. You know that. I’ll never leave your side.”
Buffy felt tears in her eyes, knowing that he would die only a few years from now. She couldn’t let that happen. She moved even closer to him and planted a kiss on his lips.
Spike was beyond surprised and started to kiss her back.
She pulled away after a few seconds, noticing the surprise written all over his face. “I’m willing to give you that crumb, Spike. More than a crumb, if that’s okay with you.”
He had a huge smile on his face now. “God, yes. That’s bloody okay with me. Better than okay.”
Buffy smiled in return. “First, we’re going to tell my friends about us. I’m not keeping you a secret. You’re in my world completely now and they need to know.”
Spike nodded and was still in awe at everything that was happening, but he remained quiet.
“Also, no kitten poker. Nothing good can come out of that.”
Spike looked embarrassed that she knew about that, but he just nodded again.
Buffy thought about what else she needed to say, when something else suddenly occurred to her. She grabbed Spike’s hand and rushed home.
Spike wondered why she was in such a hurry, but he just let her pull him away. He would follow her anywhere.
She stopped when they finally reached her house and turned to Spike. “We’ll talk more later. I need you to stay with Dawn tonight. I have to get my mother to the hospital.”
Spike was worried now. He thought everything was better with Joyce.
“Just don’t ask any questions right now. I’ll explain everything later, okay?”
He nodded, not able to think of anything else to say.
Buffy gave him a quick peck on the lips. She then thought of something else that needed to be done. “When we get the chance, I need you to claim me. We need to claim each other actually, so we’ll always be able to feel one another. We may be a lot stronger then. And with what I saw coming, we’ll need all the help we can get.”
Spike was beyond shocked now. That was the last thing he ever expected to hear from Buffy. He gave her the biggest smile that she has ever seen. “I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.” He knew that he would never really get to see Heaven, but this was as close as he would ever get.
“No, but I might be able to tell you what Heaven’s like,” she replied.
Spike didn’t say anything else after that.
Buffy just pulled him into the house. She had a lot to explain to her friends, but right now, she had to worry about her mother. Things would be different this time. Buffy would make sure of that. She promised herself that they would have a better future. One way or another.
This is your life
Are you who you want to be?
This is your life
Is it everything you've dreamed it would be?
When the world was younger
and you had everything to lose,
Don't close your eyes.
The End
The song was “This is Your Life” by Switchfoot. Just felt like putting a little of it in there. I know it sounds like there could be a sequel, but I have no ideas at the moment. You never know when something would come to me. Okay, the hands are seriously cramping up on me right now. Typing is a bad thing for me, but I do it anyway. I suppose I’ll just have to pay the price, damn carpal tunnel syndrome is a bitch though. It really sucks to deal with that at my age, but type I must. Okay, channeling Yoda now. This is a sign that I am very tired. Episode 3 was an awesome movie by the way and I definitely recommend it. Well, I hope ya’ll liked this and would let me know how it was. Thanks ever so=)
Author's Chapter Notes:
I was just bored sitting at the computer and I thought of this little ficlet to write. It’s just me really changing the end of “Crush.” I really couldn’t say where this came from. Sorry for the huge paragraph in the beginning. I hate those myself, but I wasn’t sure how to break it up. Hope you guys would like it and leave me a review when you’re done. Now, let’s take a trip down memory lane=)