Chapter 1

Buffy just barely finished getting dressed after getting out of the shower after pulling yet another disgusting double shift at Double Meat Palace, when she heard her sister's voice from downstairs.

“Buffy, I'm home! I got the mail!” Dawn yelled from the front hall.

“Hey Dawnie, thanks. Anything good in there?” Buffy asked coming down the stairs.

“Lets see,” Dawn said skimming through the pile in her hands, “Typical stuff, a magazine, a few fliers, the light bill, and ooh, a letter from Giles in England!!” she exclaimed, dropping the rest of the mail on the floor.

“Give it to me!” Buffy said as she dove for the letter. It was first letter in a long time they had received from Giles.

“No way! It's addressed to BOTH of us. I got the mail, so I get to read it first, and then you can read it.”

“But I'm the one in charge and I say that I get to read it first!”
“HA! Not a chance! My name comes first, I got the mail, and I saw it first, so I'm opening it and reading it first! NOT YOU!” with that Dawn took off up the stairs to her room with the letter in hand leaving her sister standing in the front hall.

A few short seconds later, she too was bounding up the stairs to Dawn's room. When she got to the door and went to open it, she discovered it was locked!

"Brat", Buffy thought to herself. Then she had an idea, "Dawnie," she said sweetly, "please unlock the door, I promise I won't take the letter from you. Just unlock the door and we read it together."

"Nice try Buff, but it won't work." came the reply from the other side.

"Dawn Margaret Summers open this door right now or I'll break the lock and come in myself!" threatened Buffy.

"I already told you, No way! But here! This is for you, it was in the envelope." Dawn slipped another envelope under her door with Buffy's name written on it. Buffy picked it up and went downstairs to read it and pick up the rest of the discarded mail from the front hall.

She walked into the kitchen, placed the rest of the mail on the counter by the phone, and sat down at the table to read her letter.

Chapter 2

Dearest Buffy,
Hope all things are well in Sunnydale. Things here in England are just fine. I know I haven't written in quite a while, and I'm sorry for that, but things around here have been quite hectic lately. Nothing to be concerned about though. I trust that you all have been keeping the demon and vampire population under control.

How's Willow doing with her magical abstinence? Have Xander and Anya made up yet? She hasn't fallen for D'Hoffryn's tricks has she? I hope not. All right, enough with the chitchat. There are more important matters to discuss.

Between the Council and I, we have something of great importance and concern to you. We will need you to come out here in order to go over these things with you. I have enclosed 3 airline tickets for you, Dawn and one other. The flight will leave from LA airport approximately 7:30 pm (your time), on Monday evening, with a stopover in New York City, then onto England. As of this moment, I have not been informed as to when you shall be returning and that the Council intends to supply your tickets home AFTER you arrive, settled in and all things have been settled.

The council also informs me that they have arranged for your ride and accommodations here in England. Well, that is all I have for now. I shall call before you leave if I find out any more information.

All My Love and Best Wishes,

Giles

Chapter 3

Buffy sat at the kitchen table in shock! She wasn't sure what all this was about, but she knew it must be major important if she and Dawn had to go to England to find out. Well, she thought to herself, we were in need for some time away soon anyway.

“Dawn," she yelled upstairs, "please come down here, I need to talk to you. It's important! and No, you aren't in trouble."

Hardly even a step was heard from upstairs, when Dawn appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Yeah?" she asked. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm not exactly sure yet." Buffy said.

"Why what is it?" Dawn asked with growing concern.

"Well," Buffy started. "Remember how just yesterday we were talking about maybe going on some type of vacation when you have your next school break?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, ummm, looks like it's going to happen a bit sooner than we thought."

"Really?!" she exclaimed. "What's so bad about that? Well...besides the fact that we probably don't have the money."

"It's England, we have to go to England to the Watchers Council."

"Ugh! I really don't like them! Wait, will Giles be there?"

"Of course! He is part of the Council! I don't like them much either, but we HAVE to go."

"Oh yeah! Duh! So what's up?"

"I'm not sure. Giles didn't really say. All he said was that it was a big deal and important. He said that's all they would tell him."

"Oh," Dawn said, her face showing her great concern about the situation. "So, when do we leave? In a few weeks?"

"Umm, not exactly, try a bit sooner."

"Okay, a couple weeks then."

"Nope. Sooner."

"Hmmm...."

Dawn was thinking hard, when Buffy cut in. "Try a couple days."

"WHAT! No way! How am I supposed to tell all my friends and get all my assignments together by then?” Dawn whined.

"You've got me there. All I know is that we leave around 7:30 Monday night from LA airport. And that we can take one other person with us." Buffy told her.

"Who are we gonna take? Ooh!!! I know!! Lets take Janice, I'll go call her right now and see if she can go!"

"NO WAY!! Absolutely NOT!! I will not be responsible for your friend missing school too. Besides that, I don't know how long we'll be gone. It could only be a few days, or we could end up there for quite a while. You never know with them." Buffy argued.

"I hope you don't expect me to do all my missing assignments when we get back then! I'll never be able to catch up. It was hard enough with Glory around, then I was even going to school!! There's no way I can keep up!" Dawn whined at her sister.

"I'm sure we'll figure something out. 'Till then, why don't you go upstairs and start packing. Be sure to pack some warm clothes, Giles always says how cold it gets sometimes out there." Buffy told her, then added, "and while your packing, think of who else you want to go with us that can be away for an undetermined amount of time."

"Alright, but I don't think I have very many warm clothes, considering this is Sunnydale, California!!"

"I'll be up in a minute, maybe you can borrow some of my stuff. But I'll choose!!"

"Oh!! Thank-You, Thank-You, Thank-You, Thank-You, Thank-You!! I love you Buffy!" Dawn squealed and hugged her sister so tightly she nearly knocked her off her feet then bounded up the stairs.

Buffy then went over to the counter and picked up the rest of the mail and was just about to turn around when she felt a very familiar cool hand cover her eyes and it's opposite strong arm encircle her waist. It sent an annoying, yet comforting at the same time, chill down her spine and made her un-wantingly blush a deep crimson color.

As much as Buffy kept trying to protest it, that voice in the back of her mind still told her that she did like Spike and it would just be a matter of time before it would take over her mind completely and eventually she'd have to face the truth. She wanted to squirm away, but somehow she lost her will to. That voice seemed to be taking over her muscles now too. He took that opportunity to lean in and whisper seductively in her ear.

"Guess who, luv?"

Buffy couldn't speak, she was afraid if she opened her mouth that the annoying voice in her head would speak up, and she didn't want that to happen. Well...not yet anyway. So she just sighed and leaned back into him.

"Give up?" he asked teasingly.

"Uh-huh." was all she managed to get out, barely audible enough for Spike to hear.

"Guess I'll just have to give you a hint then won't I?!" so he started to place a trail of kisses running from her earlobe down to the hollow of her neck and back up, all the while nibbling slightly.

"MMMMMM, Spike, mmmmmm, feels good." Buffy mumbled.

Spike then twirled her around to face him and wrapped both arms around her waist and kissed her passionately on the mouth. They battled tongues for a few moments when Dawn walked in about to ask Buffy if she was going to go on patrol tonight. She opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it and turned and walked out smiling happily!

"I knew it!" she said aloud to herself after she was out of the room. "I knew they were together!! Now I know who to suggest inviting on the trip! Who better!?! I hope Tara can find a daylight spell for him, so he can go out with us!" Dawn decided to wait on the steps for a few more minutes before interrupting her sister and Spike.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen Buffy and Spike were still making out like crazy! "Mmmmmm, god Spike, I missed this! I missed it soo much!" Buffy moaned into Spike's mouth.

"Mmmmmm, I've missed you too, Goldilocks. Cor how I've missed you!" he moaned back. They were really into this by now, to the average person it would've looked like they were hurting each other by the grip they had, or they were going to swallow each other whole, but for Buffy and Spike this was perfectly normal.

After about five or more long agonizing minutes of waiting, Dawn decided that she'd better make her presence known before things got out of hand. "Ahem" Dawn cleared her throat after stepping into the kitchen behind the couple. No reaction, so she tried louder "AHEM, Cough, cough" Dawn tried, but still same reaction, zip! "AHEM, AHEM, COUGH, COUGH" well at least they flinched, she thought. Okay last resort now.
"AHEM, AHEM, AHEM, COUGH, COUGH," then she tapped them on the shoulder and said, "Earth to Buffy and Spike!! Enough is enough already! You can come up for air any day now. Sometime within the next few seconds preferably!" That seemed to get their attention.

Slowly, Buffy managed to open her eyes and look at Dawn, but was still lip-locked with Spike. A few moments later, her groggy brain seemed to realize what was going on! She was making out with Spike, in her kitchen and her kid sister was standing there smirking at her with her arms crossed. Quickly, she shoved Spike off of her, started wiping at her mouth and rambling incoherent words at Dawn. Spike took note of Dawn and started doing the same things as Buffy.

Meanwhile Dawn just stood there looking at the two of them rambling, and then she burst out into a fit of giggles! That shocked Buffy back into reality!

"It's not what it looks like! I swear! I was just trying to, ummm, uhhhhh. Spike! Help me out here would ya!" Buffy was saying to her sister who was now giggling so hard she was hunched over holding her stomach and trying to breath.

"Yeah bit, what your sis over there said! Not what it looked like! Really it wasn't! She was helping me out with something. Yeah that's it! She was helpin' me out!" Spike was saying.
But Dawn was too busy laughing to hear any of it! She wished she had a camera to capture the looks on their faces when they realized she was standing there! It was priceless! Breathe she told herself Breathe. "Okay..."she said breathlessly, trying hard not to start laughing again. "So what you two were doing in here WAS NOT making out, am I correct?" Dawn asked the blonde couple standing in front of her.

"Ummm, yeah" the two said unconvincingly at once.

"Right," Dawn drawled sarcastically. "And Giles didn't just send us three plane tickets to England, for a Monday night flight! Oh yeah and blue monkeys really can fly!" she retorted.

"BLOODY HELL!!! ENGLAND?!?! Monday night?!?! That's only two and a half days from now!!! When were you going to tell me this, luv?!?!" Spike yelled at Buffy.

"Whoa! Back off fang face. I just found out, right before you came in and well...you know..." Buffy told him, blush creeping up her face.

"Oh, Sorry." Spike said immediately apologetic.

"Yeah, I thought so. Anyway, I was going to tell you tonight after patrol. I was going to stop by, but now I dunno...." she told him teasingly.

"WE are going to go on patrol tonight and then WE are going to go back to my place and talk about this little trip MY two girls are taking." He told her, going over to nuzzle her neck.

"Ummm, still in the room guys!" Dawn said.

"Not now Spike, later.", Buffy whispered to him.

"Yeah, later." he agreed.

"Whoa! Wait a minute here, Spike" Dawn said.

"Yeah bit, what is it??"

"Did you or did you not just call us YOUR two girls?"

"Yeah. I did. What of it?"

"Well, first off, you and Buffy just claimed not even three minutes ago that you two WERE NOT making out, yet you obviously were and now your claiming Buffy and I as YOURS."

"Oh...ummm..."Spike stammered not sure how to proceed. He tried looking to Buffy to help back him up but she just shook her head, as though to say, You got us into this, you get us out! "Well...as you both know, I love Buffy here with all my being and entire existence. Whether she loves me back or not, that's yet to be determined.
I love you too, sweet bit, you're like a sister to me and my promise still stands that 'I'll protect you 'till the end of the world ’ I'd never let your sis down or you. You both are so very special to me!" He told her sincerely.

"Aww Spike. That's the kindest thing you've ever said!!" Buffy told him and turned and kissed him on the lips without even thinking.

"Ha! I knew it!!" Dawn proclaimed out loud, "I knew you two were together!!"

"No" weakly protested Buffy, but she couldn't even convince herself with that one.

"Okay, I give up! You're right lil' bit. We are together," Spike said wrapping his arms around Buffy's waist and pulling her in front of him so she could tell just what she did to him. "But NO ONE, I repeat NO ONE, not a single other someone demon or human, or anything in between knows or can know yet." he told her. "Isn't that right sweetheart?" he asked Buffy.

"Well..." she hesitated, ignoring his sweetheart comment. Spike just looked at her. "I kinda told someone,” she said meekly.

"BLOODY HELL! What do you mean kinda?? Who?? Why?? I thought you wanted to keep this quiet??" He questioned.

"Stop yelling Spike. Calm down. I HAD to tell her. I didn't say it was you, she figured that out on her own, but I needed some answers to questions. You made me think about them."

"Oh. sorry pet. My bad. Go on. I'm sorry. Whom did you tell?" he asked nicely.

"It was Tara. About a week or so afterit...err...we happened."

"Oh.... I see. Only her then? Not Red, or anyone else?? Right?"

"Right."

"Alrighty then," Dawn said. "So I can talk to Tara ONLY about you two and only when no one else is around correct??"

"Well..." Spike said. "I did kinda mention it to someone myself, but he's not gonna tell anyone either."

"SPIKE!!! You yelled at me for talking with Tara and you talked to someone too? WHO???" Buffy demanded.

"Clem, ya know the guy with the skin condition."

"Oh...yeah...him...ok...he's alright I guess. Better than the other guys that were there for the game." Buffy said calmly.

“Okay so there's only Clem and Tara that I can talk to no one else! Correct now?!” Dawn asked.

"Yep" they both said.

"Good! I'm so happy for you two!!" and she hugged them both tightly, giving each a quick kiss on the cheek, making Spike blush, then went upstairs to continue packing. Halfway up the stairs she paused and called to Buffy to bring up the suitcases when she finished her make out session with her Boyfriend.

"Okay Dawnie, be up in a few." she called back.

"Oh!! So now I'm the boyfriend now, huh?? Seems like I'm moving up the ladder here!" he told Buffy before they started making out again. They stood there in the middle of the kitchen for at least a good fifteen to twenty minutes more before Buffy decided that she'd better bring up the suitcases, before she got too sidetracked.

"Mmmmmm, Spike...gotta go get the...mmmmmm...suitcases.... Mmmmmm. Still... mmmmmm... gotta... mmmmmm.... patrol...mmmmmm...too. God you're such a good kisser, I was beginning to forget!" she told him.

"That'll teach you to break up with me! And by the way luv.... I’m good at a lot more than just kissing, if you remember!" he said seductively and took her hand and put it on his jean-clad leg.

"Oh god Spike!! Not now, Dawn's here. But, I remember, god do I ever! But we still have to patrol, before we get out of hand and Dawn walks in on us, again." With that she kissed him one more time, and dashed off down the basement stairs to retrieve the suitcases leaving Spike by himself in the kitchen.

He walked over to the fridge to retrieve a pint of blood, and found none. So he opened up the cabinet and got out the hot cocoa mix and put on a pot of water to boil. While he waited for the kettle to whistle, he decided to thumb through the mail. Hmmm lets see here, junk, junk, magazine, light bill (set it aside), and more junk. He then walked over to the table with the light bill in his hand, and sat down where his girlfriend, was sitting a mere hour or so ago. He opened up the bill, glanced at the number making a mental note of it and placed it down on the table.

He then decided to read the letter. As he read, he realized how serious this must be if the Bloody Council of Wankers were going to pay for the trip and needed them there so soon.

He opened up the second envelope containing the tickets. Three in all. First class seating too!! Ooh boy! This must be big!! I wonder who they'll take with them?? Maybe Glenda, nah.... She can't miss classes. Red??.... No... classes again. The Whelp?! no, he's got the construction boys to look after. Ex-demon girl...hmmm...maybe.... Nah, not close enough, not like she‘d leave the shop and the Whelp anyhow. Who's left?? Perhaps me?? I doubt that...I don't really think that the Council will be happy to see me. Not to mention Buffy actually bringing me.

Just then, the kettle whistled reminding Spike of his Cocoa. He poured the mix into a mug with the water and stirred thoroughly. "Hey Luv, or Bit.... You guys have any of those little marshmallows I like?" he called upstairs.

"Ummm...yeah I think so Spike.... Try the cabinet above the fridge!" came Dawn's reply.

"I'll be down in a few for patrol.... Hun...k??" Buffy called down to him.

"Alright. I'll be in the kitchen."

Spike downed about four cups of cocoa in the few short minutes it took Buffy to come back down the stairs with her patrol bag already packed. Spike heard her start down the stairs and decided that he was going to play a bit of a joke on her, so he hid on just the other side of the wall in the dining room, when she came downstairs.

"Okay, all ready to go. You ready? Spike?......Spike?? Spike??? Where are you??" she called.

Spike snuck out from his place behind the wall and stood directly behind her knowing she wouldn't sense him because she wasn't concentrating.

"Spike c'mon it's not funny anymore. Where are you?? Spike? Spiiiiiiikeeeeee!!" she squealed as he picked her up and spun her around the room.

"Gotcha!" he said as he gracefully set his dizzy slayer back down on the floor and kissed her on the forehead. While Dawn, watching from the staircase, after hearing Buffy calling for him, burst into a new set of giggle fits. Buffy glared at her and Spike tried his best not to laugh as well.

Soon enough though, Dawn regained her composure and was calm enough to tell Buffy and Spike to be careful, that she'd lock the door behind them, and said "See you in the morning".

With that, the happy couple walked out the door into the night.

Chapter 4: Aiming For the Bed

Buffy and Spike walked to Sunnydale Memorial Cemetery in comfortable silence together, just enjoying each other’s company for the first time in quite a while. Suddenly, Spike stops mid stride causing Buffy, who was too busy gawking at him to notice, to crash directly into the back of him.

“Spike! What the hemph!” she yelled, mumbling the last part into Spike’s palm.

“Shhh, luv, listen.” Sure enough a fight could be heard just ahead.

“Can you see who or what it is?”

“No, it’s too far into the trees to tell. But, it sounds like a Chiroglak demon.”

“Well…let’s go then.”

“No! Wait! You can’t just go in there swinging and expect to…” he said trailing off, seeing Buffy was already off and running towards it, battle axe in hand. Spike reached her just in time to see her axe go flying into the trees and her into him, knocking him to the ground.

“Oomph!”

“Like I was saying, you can’t just come running at it with a battle axe and expect to chop off it’s head in one swipe!”

“Well, why not? I can with any other demon I’ve fought so far.”

“True luv, but this one actually has some brains that it uses. And it’s not gonna let some little Slayer just waltz in and chop off it’s head.”

“Oh. Then how the hell DO you expect me to kill it, then? Huh?”

“Watch and learn my little Slayer. Just watch and learn.” he said jumping up, leaving Buffy sitting on the ground. Then he used the nearby headstone to vault onto the demon’s back, put his hands on either side of it’s head and gave it a quick twist causing it’s neck to snap with a sickening POP and fall to the ground dead.

“Oh. Show-off!”

Soon the two of them were once again walking along peacefully. A short while later Buffy turned to Spike and said, “You know…. This is nice.”

“What’s that luv?”

“Just this, us, walking, just being…DUCK!”

“Huh? Oh!” he said, doing as instructed after seeing the vamp coming up behind him.

Swish

“Now, as I was saying, just being together. Not having to be physical or anything. Not that I don’t like that part too, but this spending time thing is nice. We should do it more often.”

“Yes luv, I agree completely. Just one thing though…”

“What’s that?”

“It’s your turn to duck!” he tells her jokingly, and dusts the oncoming vamp quickly. Just as the dust is settling from in front of him he sees that Buffy has picked up a fight of her own. It was five against one, but they all were fledglings.

Three of which, were an easy kill, even for Xander, the others looked to be ex-football players. The first three were done away with quickly and then it was just two on one, not much of a challenge really, but a good fight none the less. Spike took a seat on a nearby headstone to watch the action, but his amusement didn’t last too long, ‘cause he too was attacked by a group of vamps. Seven in all, none were fledglings, and three of which are at least a foot taller than him.

He took down the two that are holding him quickly, and then moves onto the bigger guys. He gets one beat and is working on the next when Buffy notices his struggle, quickly dusts her last vamp and goes to help out Spike. Before long they have dusted all of their attackers.

“Wonder what that was all about?” Buffy asked Spike while dusting herself off.

“Dunno pet. Guess some blokes are still sore that I‘m fighting the good fight now.”

“Or maybe they’re jealous of you. That you get to spend “quality time” with me and they don’t!” she quipped.

“Cute, Slayer, real cute!”

“Yeah, I know I am! You tell me enough!”

With that, Spike planted another one of his melting kisses on her.

“Mmmmmm…Spike…mmmmmm…not now, it’s patrol time. Not…mmmmmm…make out with your mortal enemy time!” and she playfully shoved him off of her.

“Oh, all right. But promise me it will be later, alright?”

“LATER! Now help me patrol! The sooner we get done, the sooner we can start. Remember that!”

So they continue on their patrol, stopping every so often to steal a kiss or two from each other. Eventually about an hour and a half later they’ve finished a surprisingly quiet patrol and are standing in front of Spike’s place talking.

“Do you realize that we only came across twelve vamps at the most the entire time we were out patrolling tonight? Is there some big, collective, demon population holiday that I’m forgetting about or you, (she pokes him in the chest), forgot to tell me about?”

“Hey watch that finger! And no, not that I can remember. Maybe they’re saving up for when you, Lil’ Bit, and whomever else are gone.”

“I hope not! But that reminds me, who am I going to get to do patrol for me while we’re gone?”

“Just what do I look like, chopped liver?”

“Well…I was thinking that you’d come with us. Dawn would really like it, she already considers you part of the family, as well as my significant other, in case you missed her comment back at the house earlier. Actually, she put you into that category even before either one of us realized we had any kind of real feelings for each other.”

“Hmmm, kinda sounds like Dru. She told me that she could see you all around me. I just put it off to her bein’ crazy like she was, but now I realize that she was right. I couldn’t and still can’t stop thinking about you!”

“Yeah, Dawn was like that too. She kept trying to tell me to take a chance with you, but I wouldn’t listen to her. She is my kid sister after all, I chalked it up to being her messed up thinking. I fought all that I was feeling back and kept trying to convince myself that they weren’t there. I did this until I came back and I couldn’t seem to hold them in anymore, and they slowly leaked out. Now I’m very happy my friends gave me a second chance here.” Buffy gazed at him for a moment before planting a hard and bruising kiss on him, which he accepts with surprise, but gratefully. After a few minutes she pulled away from him panting heavily.

He then said to her while he too is trying to catch his un-needed breath, “Uh…luv…maybe we should go on inside now.”

“Yeah, might be a good idea. Don’t want to give anyone any ideas now do we?!”

“No, not at all,” and he gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.

Once they were both inside, he shut and locked the door behind them. Buffy looked at him with an odd look on her face as if it say, what’s with the locks? Off her look he explained. “What?! Clem helped me install them just last night. Actually he’s the one who suggested the idea. ‘for privacy reasons’ he said. Sounded like a good idea, that way they’ll be no more uninvited guests,” referring to both Xander and Riley’s walking in on them.

“I think we’ve had enough of that!” she says strolling over to the fridge.

“Whatcha’ looking’ for pet?”

“Bottle of water, got any?”

“’Course! Second shelf down on the left. Have a seat on the sofa o’er there when you’ve finished raiding my fridge. I’ll be right back.”

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!”

“Just downstairs for a minute luv. Now, go sit down and wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

“Ugh! Fine! Whatever!” she said out loud as he disappeared downstairs. As she sat there waiting she started thinking…wonder what he’s up to. He’s acting all weird all of a sudden. Why am I actually listening to him and staying put instead of following him? But before she had time to answer her own questions he was already back and sitting down next to her. As he sat down, she noticed that he’s holding a small rectangular shaped, deep crimson colored velveteen box with an indigo blue ribbon tied in a careful bow around it.

“Whatcha got there, Spike?”

“Oh…ummm…well this is for you.” he tells her while handing her the box with shaking hands. “I know i-it’s a lil’ late, b-but we weren’t exactly together th-then. I hope you like it. I-if y-you don’t, I can take it back. But if y-you do then…”

“Spike,” she starts sweetly, “shut up and let me open it already!”

“Oh, ok. Go on then.”

She slipped the ribbon off the box, and then opened it up carefully revealing a small silver heart shaped locket. It has a rose wrapped around a gothic style cross, on the inside are two beautifully etched portraits, one side is herself and the other is him. On the back is an inscription reading:

You’ve scorched my heart with a flame that will forever burn. I am yours eternally, Spike

“Before you say anything, please read the card too. It’s in the box.” so she picked up the card and read with blurry vision through the tears in her eyes threatening to spill.

To the one and only Slayer in all of history to slay my heart. Exactly one year ago on this day, the 24th of April, 2001, was our very first real kiss. I shall treasure and celebrate this moment forever, along with every other milestone we have together. You will forever be in my heart, you’ve shown me what it feels to love and live again! Chip or none, I can guarantee you that my feelings shall forever remain the same.
I love you Buffy.

Love, Spike a.k.a. William James Walthrop

With tears now streaming down her face Buffy looked up at Spike and smiled sweetly with the biggest, brightest smile he’d ever seen and kissed him gently, like the time mentioned, but with just a hint more passion. After breaking apart, he said, “So I take it those are happy tears then, pet?”

“Oh Spike! Of course they are! It’s beautiful! I absolutely love it! I can’t believe you remembered that kiss! You know, at that time, I wasn’t even planning on kissing you, it just kinda happened. But, I have to tell you, I didn’t and still don’t regret that kiss for even one second. Nor, do I regret that night in the abandoned house with you. Actually, I don’t really regret anything with you, except for one thing.”

“What’s that, then?”

“Not taking a chance with you sooner.” She leans in again and they kiss like before. After a minute or two they break apart and she says to him, “Now will you please put this on me?”

“Of course my love.” he tells her with a smile and puts it on her. After it is fastened, he turns her back around to face him and he moves back on the couch to admire it on her. It sits right at the hollow of her throat. “It looks perfectly stunning on you! I was so afraid you wouldn’t like it!”

“Of course I do,” she told him fresh tears coming to her eyes. “Again, thank you so much, I love it! I love the card too!” Again they kiss gently passionately.

“So, How long shall we be in England? Oh, and how do you expect to keep us a secret from the Bloody Council of Wankers the whole time we’re over there? Especially when we can’t even get through an hour and a halves patrol with out keeping our hands and mouths to ourselves?”

“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet” she pouted at him.

“Oh, pouty! Look at that lip…gonna get it…gonna get it…”

She giggled and they kissed passionately. Soon, they were groping and trying desperately to rid each other of their now extremely restrictive clothing. Between kisses and touches, Spike managed to gasp out… “Mmph! Downstairs. Now! Mmph!”

Buffy just nodded her head in agreement and jumped up into Spike’s arm wrapping her legs around his waste. Once finally downstairs, Buffy finally managed to get Spike’s pants down far enough to implant herself slowly onto him.

“Cor, you’re still so bleedin’ tight and hot! I swear every time with you is like it’s the first! I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this feeling! It’s as though I’m on fire here!”

“Guess it’s just my Slayer muscles. God Spike, I’d swear you get bigger every tiiime!” she said squealing the last part since he had just thrust complexly into her in one quick stroke causing his pelvis to hit her In just the right spot. “….Oh god! Right there! Wow!” she said gasping. “If you keep that up, I really don’t think I can hold on much longer.”

“Mmm, shall we aim for the bed this time, luv?”

“Shhh,” she told him pressing a finger to his cool lips, “don’t care…just kiss me.”

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.” Then they continued their dance.

A few hours later they were lying on the floor next to the bed, both covered in a fine film of sweat and breathing heavily, but cuddled in each others embrace just the same.

“Wow! That was even better than I remembered it!”

“You’ve got that right! Hey…look at that!!”

“Hmm?”

“We actually kept the damage minimal this time!”

“Oh yeah! And it seem we’ve missed the bed….AGAIN” she told him, both saying the last part at the same time causing them to start laughing.

Once their laughter had died down, Spike turned to his love and told her “I think we’ve beat our time record as well, pet.”

“Is that so? What’s our new record then, five an a half?”

“Ummm…nope…it’s almost 4:30 am now Buffy, think that’d make…oh…about seven hours strait now!”

“Wow!” was all she could mange to think of to say in response.

“Agreed completely. Went fast though.”

“Mmhmm.” she replied sleepily. Then they lapsed into comfortable drowsy silence together for a few minutes until Buffy broke the silence. “Hey Spike?” she drowsily asked.

“Hmm?”

“Well…a couple things actually.”

“Go on.”

“Well…would you mind helping me into bed please? My legs don’t seem to be functioning that well right now.” she added playfully.

“Sure thing pet! You know I’d do anything to help you out!” then he scooped her up into his arms and placed her on the bed. After he got her settled, he himself climbed into bed beside her and threw the sheets over them. Almost instinctively, she cuddled up into him and he wrapped his arms around her and placed a gentle loving kiss on her lips which she returned equally. He knew now that it was only a matter of time before she would finally admit to him that she really did love him, but he would be patient about it and let her have the time she needed. “Now then pet, what was that second thing you needed me to do?” he asked with a smile.

“Oh…I just need you to set the alarm for eight. We’ve both got to get up, promised Dawn” she told him with a yawn.

“Already got it covered. Fixed it when I came down earlier. That all then?” he asked, but she was already fast asleep cuddled into his chest.

So he smiled to himself and watched her sleep for a few moments, just enjoying the scene in front of him. He then placed a soft kiss on her forehead, whispered in her ear that he loved her and watched, with newfound awe, as her cheeks pinked and a bright smile spread across her face. He too then smiled and drifted off into a happy peaceful sleep, knowing that one day soon he’d finally get to hear the three little words he’d been waiting years to hear her say to him, honestly come out of her mouth.

TBC…

Chapter 5: Consider Me Gone



“Morning Willow”, said Dawn from the kitchen counter with a mouthful of cereal.

“Morning to you too Dawnie, don’t talk with your mouthful. Do you happen to know if Buffy has a morning shift today? I didn’t see her upstairs and she’s not down here either.”

“Oh, well that’s ‘cause she’s not even home yet. She told me she was spending the night at a friend’s place last night. She should be home soon though, she promised to help me finish packing. Anything I can help you with?”

“Oh, No, that’s ok. It’s nothing major, just wanted to ask her about something.”

“Ok. Whatever. I’m going to go watch TV in the living room while waiting for Buffy. Feel like joining me?”

“Nah, that’s alright, I’ve got laundry to fold upstairs. Could you please tell Buffy to come up when she does get in?”

“Yep! Sure thing Willow.” Dawn said as Willow went upstairs and she sat down on the couch to watch TV. A few minutes later Buffy came in the front door. “Morning Buffy.”

Dawn sing-songed to her sister. “I take it you had a good night?” she then asked enthusiastically.

“Hi Dawn and yeah, how’d ya know?” Buffy asked with a huge smile plastered across her face.

“Well…for starters you have that Cheshire cat smile on your face again, and second of all you have a giant hickey on your neck!” she proclaimed.

“Oh,” Buffy said shyly. “Whoa! Wait! I have a hickey from him?! Where?! How bad is it?!”

“Uh, yeah! It’s down near your collar bone on your right side, it’s pretty big and a really deep purple too.”

“Oh crap! Is it cover-upable?” Buffy asked fearfully.

“Probably not makeup wise, but I bet you could probably pass it off as a bruise from patrol if no one looks too closely.”

“Oh. Whew! That’s good, I’m not ready to have everyone finding out yet.”

“Yeah, yeah. I heard you guys last night.”

“What! When? Why were you out that late?” Buffy ranted, her face turning bright red.

“Buffy! Relax! Eww! I didn‘t mean that ! Eww! God! Way too much information! I just meant when you two were explaining how I can’t tell anyone. Did I mention Eww gross much!?!!”

“Oh.” she replied sheepishly with a bright red face. “So…whatcha watchin’?” she then asked, desperate to chance the subject and taking a seat on the couch next to her sister.

“Why? Are you gonna stay and watch with me?”

“Maybe, depends on what’s on.”

“Right now I’m watching Scooby Doo .”

“Really?! I love that cartoon!”

“I know! So do I! Now will you stay?”

“Okay, but only ‘till the first commercial break, then I really gotta get in the shower.”

“Okay…but can we please do something together, just the two of us, for once today?”

“Sure Dawnie, that sounds great to me! How ‘bout you decide where to go and what to do?”

“Anything and anywhere I want?!” she asked Buffy excitedly.

“Of course! It was your idea! I’ll go along with whatever you plan.”

“Cool! You’re the best sister ever!!” Dawn told her then gave her a giant hug.

“Thanks! Now I’m gonna go jump in the shower, then we can get going.” she told her walking over to the stairs.

“Awesome! Be careful though, Willow’s home and looking for you. Which reminds me…don’t you think you should call a meeting today, so you can let the others know about England?”

“Ugh, crap! You’re right! I completely forgot! Can you please do me a huge favor and call everyone over for it?”

“Alright, but only ‘cause you promised we could hang out today. What time do you want them over? Do you want me to call Spike too?”

“Umm…what time is it now? I forgot my watch at his place.”

“Around ten I think.”

“Okay. Umm…how ‘bout twelve-ish then? That way we can have all afternoon and tonight together. Spike already said he’d take patrol with Clem tonight anyway.”

“Alright, cool! Twelve it is then. You didn’t answer me if I should call Spike too though.”

“Oh, no don’t bother calling him. He said he’d be coming over in a little while anyway. Just call everyone else, ok?”

“Ok.”

“I’m gonna jump in the shower now, ok?”

“Ok. I’ll start calling then.” Dawn said reaching for the phone, while Buffy started up the stairs. “Buffy, don’t forget Willow’s looking for you.”

“Ugh, that’s right! Any idea what she wants?” Buffy asked, pausing halfway up the stairs.

“Not really, she just said that she wanted to ask you something and to send you up when you got home.”

“Oh, alright. You didn’t tell her where I was or who with, did you?”

“No, of course not! I already told you, I heard what you two told me last night.”

“Okay, you’re right. I’ll go get in the shower and talk to Will. Make sure you get all the calls done. You should probably remind Spike while you’re at it, he was pretty out of it this morning when I left.” Buffy told her with a hint of seductiveness in her voice. “Twelve-ish remember.” she then added quickly.

“Eww, again Buffy! Stop saying stuff that way…I really don’t need to know for a fact, I try very hard to not think about what happens between you two. Now I have to go rinse my ears out, thank you very much!” Dawn complained.

“Sorry, I’ll try to stop.”

“You’d better stop, or the others are going to pick up on it. You complain about Spike doing it, but you’re just as bad sometimes. I picked up on you two a long time ago, like I told you. If you aren’t careful the others will figure it out before you are anywhere near ready for them to know. Now go get in the shower already.”

“Consider me gone,” Buffy told her, then raced up the stairs. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Again, please don't forget to review! & Again I apologize for the slow updates! I will try to do better now that I have found a good HTML converter!