Paris, 1 year after the destruction of the Circle of the Black Thorn.

Buffy gazed at the stars above, wondering if his star was up there and if hers had ever been. She'd read of a legend where when a warrior gave his life for the good, his soul became a star in the heavens. She glanced down at the streets of Paris from her vantage point in the Eiffel Tower. In the crowds below her, she caught a glimpse of bright, almost white hair.

Couldn’t be. Could it?

Buffy raced down the steps, using all of her slayer speed and hunted through the crowd, but the person with the hair was gone.

“I’m seeing things. One too many late nights.”

Buffy turned and headed back to her hotel.

*


Three days later, Spike sat in a very crowded bar, nursing his fifth pint of foreign beer, and not enjoying it.

Bloody frogs can’t even get something as simple as beer right; why in the hell did I come here anyway? Ah, I know. To remind myself that I’m Love’s Bitch. What better place than Paris: the city of love. Bloody hell! I’m a glutton for punishment.

He glanced around the dimly lit pub and was very surprised when he caught a familiar scent. He looked in the direction it was coming from, nearly spilling his beer.

Buffy!

He shot to his feet and began pushing his way across the bar, but the patrons were not moving easily.

“Out the way, you bloody frogs.”

Next thing he knew, he was set upon by the nearest men.

Nice move there, Spike. Insult them. That’ll help your cause!

He swiftly incapacitated them and then headed towards the spot where he had seen her, but she was no longer there. He rushed out the door, but he couldn’t see her or smell her.

“Bloody Hell! Either she drives now or she got a taxi. Bugger! Only one thing to do now then.”

The next night, Buffy wandered the halls of the Louvre, browsing the paintings and muttering to herself, “Uncultured? She calls me uncultured? I’ll show her. Mona Lisa? Who’s that?”

Spike enjoyed looking at art; it reminded him of his human days. He glanced at his brochure and headed towards one of the more famous paintings: The Mona Lisa. He was so busy reading the facts that he walked into a young woman, standing in front of it.

“Sorry. I didn’t see-- Buffy?”

Spike couldn’t believe his eyes. There was his Buffy, looking as beautiful as ever in a pale blue shirt and a pastel yellow skirt.

Buffy was peering at the painting, trying to see what was so special about it when someone bumped into her. She turned and nearly had a heart attack.

“Spike?! How--what--when--huh?”

For a long moment, they just stared at each other then spoke simultaneously.

“When did you come to Paris?”

“How long have you been alive?”

Spike faced the situation first. “A while, luv. Since before Andrew came to get Dana and before you got friendly with The Immortal--although I wasn’t exactly all here at first.”

“What? Why the hell didn't you let me know? Why the hell didn't Andrew let me know?””

Spike took hold of Buffy’s elbow and began to lead her out the Louvre.

“Quiet, pet. Don’t you know not to make noise in a gallery?”

Buffy replied by boxing him on the nose.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Do you know what I’ve been through? How I’ve felt? I told you I loved you and all you said to me is: I don’t. And you don’t let me know you are back. After all the promises of never leaving me, you do, then come back and not tell me!”

Spike was mildly taken back at Buffy’s outburst. There was the bitch he knew and still loved.

“I didn’t let you know at first cos as I said, I wasn’t all here, kinda non-corporeal. Then when I was brought back to living colour, we had some stuff to deal with in L.A. Then I found out about you and The Immortal and figured that you’d moved on to worse and smaller things.” He leaned against the wall. “Least that's what it looked like when I saw you in Italy.”

Spike glanced at Buffy’s face. Oops, maybe not a good thing to bring up.

Buffy was set to explode.

“You were in Italy? Rome? And you didn't come to see me? What the hell is your problem? If I had the slightest idea that you were in L.A., I would have come to see you, corporeal or not.” She took a breath to calm down. “Why, Spike? Why didn’t you come for me?”

Spike’s heart broke at the look on Buffy’s face; a look that asked the unspoken question, ‘don’t you love me anymore?’

“Because according to Andrew, you were quite happy with your new bed warmer and because I was letting you move on or bake whatever it is.”

“Bake? What do you mean? Damn him! Angel told you about the cookie thing, huh? Did you even stop to think that I just wanted to get him off my back? Get him to stop the whipped puppy routine. And when did you start to listen to him anyway? Did you lose what brains cells you had, coming back?”

Spike looked to the sky and groaned.

“Bloody hell! I’m been a right prat; almost as bad as the Whelp”

Buffy giggled. “I’d say more of one, considering he is actually quite grown up now.”

“The Whelp? Guess I have missed a lot. So you forgive me yet?”

“Hmm, not yet. After all, you haven’t even given me a hello kiss.”

Spike couldn’t believe his ears and looked at Buffy to see if she was serious. God help him! She was. He leaned over and gave her a swift kiss on the check. Buffy cocked her head to the side.

“And you think after over a year, that is gonna be good enough for me? You’re seriously insane you know that.”

Buffy pulled Spike in and gave him a long, slow kiss.

“Now that is a hello kiss. Wanna come back with me? So you can see Dawn. Who I know for a fact is gonna kick your ass. She won’t be persuaded by your good looks and charm. Least I hope not, or I’d worry there’s some weird vampire loving gene in the family.”

Spike was still dazed from Buffy’s swift move, and let her lead him away from the Louvre towards her hotel.

Buffy led the way through the hotel to her suite on the second floor.

“I’ve a feeling you are going to get a real ear bending from Dawn. You may have thought she was scary last year, but now… she’s one of the only ones who can out argue Giles.”

Spike nodded dumbly, still trying to process the last hour. One minute he was browsing fine art and the next, he was being kissed by even finer art. Life was so strange. Buffy opened the door and waved him in.

“Hey, Buff, I was just about to--Spike!” Dawn bounded over to Spike and encircled him in a big hug before pulling back and playfully slapping his arm. “What time do you call this? Angel takes a month or so to come back and you take a year. What’s up with that? Letting Captain Forehead beat you; I’m so ashamed of you.”

Spike smiled at Dawn and ruffled her hair. “Long story, Niblet, but I’ve missed you.”

“I’ll have to hear all about it later. I’ve got to split. I’ve been invited to give a speech at the local night school on American culture, and I can’t miss it and then I’m meeting a friend to see a show. Be good you guys, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” And with that, Dawn breezed out the door.

Buffy shut the door and flopped down on the nearest sofa, patting the space next to her and smiling as Spike shrugged out of his duster and joined her. “OK, so you got off easily there, but wait ‘til she finds out the whole story.”

“Yeah, maybe. Then again maybe my devilish good looks distracted her. Have to say, luv, I’m glad to see you’re letting her roam a bit more now. What show is she going to see?”

“I didn’t get much choice. As I said, she can be scary. Les Miserables, though why, I have no idea.”

“Maybe ‘cause she appreciates culture, or thinks that the lead guy is cute?”

“Hey! I like culture too, especially the Moaning Lisa.”

Spike rolled his eyes. Americans, not a clue. “The Mona Lisa.” He sighed dramatically.

”I know its name!” Buffy grinned and cuffed him on the arm. “Mom showed me a photo of it when I was little. I thought the woman looked grouchy and so I called her Moaning Lisa. It sort of became a family joke.”

Spike was enjoying this. They were chatting like they used to before things got messy. Unfortunately, certain parts of his anatomy where paying a little too much attention to Buffy. He had a quick glance round the room and was relieved to spot a drinks cabinet.

“Want a drink, luv?”

“Trying to get me drunk? Sure, I’ll have a glass. There should be some champagne in there. After all, it is a special occasion. Not every day do you come back from the dead. Well, maybe not in the normal world anyway.”

Spike stood and walked over to the cabinet, bringing back two glasses and the bottle, setting them on the table and pouring them before handing one to Buffy.

“So spill, Spike, I want the full story, maybe not blow by blow but the main bits.”

Spike took a sip of his drink while considering how to start. “Well, not long after the grand finale, that amulet thing ended up back on the desk of Wolfram and Hart’s new CEO, Angel...”

Buffy spluttered, “Andrew had told us, but I couldn’t believe Angel would do it? Head of evil lawyers? Sure it wasn’t Angelus?”

“Yeah, I’m sure; he had his reasons.”

Buffy pouted and took a sip of her champagne. “Keep going.”

“Where was I? Ah, I kinda popped out of it all non-corporeal and sorta faded in and out until this strange box arrived in the mail for me which made me solid again.

Spike glanced at Buffy trying to gauge her reaction, but she didn’t appear to be too bothered, so he continued, “That then led to a ruckus between me and Angel, which I came out on top of.”

“Whoa! Be kind, rewind. You kicked Angel‘s butt? Looks like dying did you a favour.”

“ Yeah, anyway, then our friend Andrew appeared on his ‘save a Slayer’ mission. The slayer who, incidentally, decided that my hands offended her and took great pleasure in removing them.”

Buffy put her drink down, took hold of the hand nearest to her and felt it. “Still feels like your hand.”

“Well yeah, that’s ‘cause it is. One thing good 'bout those lawyers, they know how to fix things. Anyway, not long after, we had some diplomatic trouble in Italy, and we got word that you and The Immortal were...friendly, so we had to come over, sort the trouble out, I ending up losing my old duster, too. Back in L.A., we had a rough ol’ time taking down the Circle of the Black Thorn, and then had a huge fight in the streets against all manner of beasties including a dragon; unfortunately Tall Dark and Brooding got that.” Spike pouted a little. “We lost Wesley and another fighter, Gunn. Angel’s still kicking, mores the pity, and a demon god who was resurrected called Illyria is still around too. After that I just sorta drifted and ended up here and the rest you know.”

Buffy blinked back a couple of tears at the news of Wesley‘s death. He may not have been the best watcher, but he had tried his best and by all accounts, he’d been doing well in L.A. with Angel and his gang.

“I’m sad for his loss but proud that he went out fighting. That's all any of us good guys want. The Immortal thing was your entire fault, you know.”

“How? By dying? By saving the world?”

“Shut up and listen bleach brain. Remember you telling me you had ruined me for normal guys? As much as it pains me to further inflate that universe called your ego, you were right. Not even hot-blooded Latin boys could satisfy me, and taking a random vamp to my bed was so not gonna happen, so I went with The Immortal. Well, when I say went with, I mean dated him. Partly for me and partly for Giles, because he wanted to know all about the legend.”

“So you and him …”

“Oh please, Spike, you think I’m that shallow? It was work with an iota of pleasure thrown in when on the ‘dates’, but there was nothing; no spark. Besides, he wasn’t you and I wasn’t in love with him.”

Spike felt guilty. He had seen what he had seen and then put two and two together and arrived at five.

“So you meant it then? What you said in Sunnydale; it wasn’t just a ‘make Spike feel better for dying thing’?”

Buffy interlaced her fingers with Spike’s right hand. “I told you I love you. I did then and I do now. I just kinda realised that it was a bit late to do anything about it. No that’s not true. - I realised it a long time before then. I just didn’t want to acknowledge it. Forgive me?”

Spike twisted their hands round and kissed the back of hers. “Always, luv.”

“Do you?”

“Still love you? Always. And I’m not leaving you again. Didn’t want to this time, but I figured since you sacrificed yourself for love to save the world and me, it was time to repay the favour. Besides, couldn’t let Peaches have one over on me.”

Buffy pulled Spike in close and looked into his eyes. “When will you learn? Angel has nothing on you. You’ve done more than he has, saved the world more, you didn’t abandon me, didn’t succeed in killing anyone I care about and my mom liked you. She had no time for Angel. She always felt that you were the good one.”

“Take that back! I’m not the good one! I’m The Big Bad.”

“Nu huh. Couldn’t fool me or my mom. Face it, Spike, you’re just a big ol’ puppy dog.”

“Take that back!”

“Or what?”

Spike tackled Buffy to the sofa and began to tickle her. “Who am I Slayer?”

“My Spike. My little growly puppy.”

Spike grinned at the ‘my’ but kept tickling. “Half right, Slayer, but not quite. Do I need to resort to under-foot measures?” Spike ran his hand down her leg and began to unfasten her boots, knowing how ticklish she was. Buffy giggled helplessly.

“You’re my Spike; the biggest Big Bad.” She wriggled to try to get away but only succeeded in trapping Spike's lower body between her legs as they fell off the sofa. Spike gulped and leapt up, with memories of the last time he tried getting in between her legs floating in his head.

“Sorry, luv, didn’t mean…”

From her place on the floor, Buffy shushed him. “You didn’t do anything; I did. And I wanted to.” Buffy stood, walked over to Spike and put her hand on his cheek. “It wasn’t all your fault then either. It was mine, too. I played around with you too long, used you, threw you away and picked you up again when I wanted to and that wasn’t fair to you. How were you to know when I was serious and when I wasn’t? It took me a while to work it out, to accept what I had done. Now I have and I came to a decision. If the Powers found a way to bring you back to me, the only game I would play would be for keeps. Only question left in my mind, Spike, is: do I get to win?”

Spike leaned in and kissed her softly on her lips before speaking. “You always win and this time, so do I.”

Buffy smiled at him and taking his hand, led him into her room, the crowning glory being a large, king sized four-poster bed. Buffy turned to Spike. “You also spoiled me for beds; I hate having a small bed.”

“Bigger is best, pet,” Spike replied with his trademark smirk.

“Pig.”

“Oink, oink.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Good to know some things don’t change.”

She walked backwards towards the bed, and sat on the edge and smiled coyly at Spike. “It’s an awful big bed for little me, Spikey; wanna make me feel less alone?”

Spike looked at his Slayer, so small yet so much power contained in her slight shell, and what a shell! She had grown her hair long again, had a nice healthy Italian tan and her eyes where as green as ever. They were sparkling with life once again, unlike the last time he’d seen her, full of tears and fears. He walked over and knelt at her feet, putting his hands on her knees.

“You’re never gonna be alone again, Buffy, I promise you that.”

“I’ll hold you to that, William.” She ran her hand down his button-down shirt. “You went back to buttons. I prefer you with buttons. It’s like unwrapping all my Christmas presents at once.”

“Sure you don’t just enjoy pushing my buttons?”

Buffy’s face fell.

“I did at one time, but not any more. That was the old bitchy, holier-than-thou Buffy. This is the new improved Buffy; no bitchiness, no holiness, no self-righteous bullshit. No more hiding from my feelings and no more pushing the ones I love and the ones that love me, away. And the last person I wanna push away is you.”

Spike looked into her eyes. “Still haven’t lost your love of speeches when three words will do.”

“Take me now?”

“Hmm, not the three words I was thinking of, but good enough.”

“Hmm, let me think. How ‘bout: I love you, William.”

Spike nearly fainted from shock, his eyes widened dramatically and he was lost for words. Buffy waved her hand in front of his face. “Hello? Anyone home? Hello? Do I need to punch your nose?”

Spike shook his head. “Sorry ‘bout that, luv, you threw me for six.”

“And that’s all you have to say?”

“I love you, Buffy Anne Summers.”

Buffy playfully tapped his shoulder. “Less of the formality if you don’t mind.”

“Never satisfied are you? I love you, Buffy.”

Buffy leaned back and pulled Spike with her, nestling him between her legs. “Now about my first request.”

Spike leaned in and kissed her passionately. “And what would that be, Slayer?”

“Take me, Big Bad.”

Spike growled and ran his hands up her sides. “Your wish is my command.”

Spike released her to take off his shirt, but Buffy put her hands on his arms.

“Let me, Spike. I wanna see if you’re the same as I remember.” Buffy started to slowly undo Spike’s buttons, smiling softly. “It’s not sex tonight, it’s making love.” When she was finished, she ran her hand over her chest.

“Still the same?”

“No, it’s much better than I remember.” She lightly traced her finger over his heart and wrote her name on his skin. “All that love in there for me. The Powers are as messed up as they could be, but they finally got something right. They brought the right one back to me. So… Still going commando?”

Spike’s head spun at the sudden jump from love talk to underwear talk. “Only three things in this life are certain, Buffy: I love you, I’m never leaving you and I always go commando.”

She giggled. “And here I was thinking that you hated all things Commando.”

Spike scowled. “Only that one and now that I think about it, I kinda owe him one.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, if it weren’t for them, I never would have got chipped, never have fallen in love with you and would have probably met the pointy end of your stake and never saved the world.”

“You’re not gonna let that one drop are you?”

“Nope, not in this lifetime. Or any other.”

“Guess I’m gonna have to find other ways to shut you up.” Buffy laced her fingers behind Spike’s neck and pulled him down for a kiss.

Spike growled, “How fond of your shirt are you, Buffy?”

“Why?”

Spike took hold of the collar of her shirt and ripped it down the front, eliciting a gasp from Buffy and a grin from Spike “Nice to see you finally came round to my way of thinking.”

When he lightly ran his hand over her bare breasts, Buffy moaned with pleasure at his touch. “Uh-huh.”

Spike leaned down and ran his tongue up her neck and round the shell of her ear, causing her to shiver. “I know just how to play you; how to stroke you right.”

As he spoke, he ran one hand up her inner thigh.

“Need you now, Spike. Now.”

Spike nibbled on her ear lobe. “No magic word? Maybe I need to re-teach you some manners, my girl.”

“It’s been so long, please.”

Spike smiled into her ear. “All I wanted to hear.” He slipped his hand under her skirt and was surprised to find that she was not wearing any panties.

“My naughty little Slayer. Are you sure that you didn’t know that you were going to meet me tonight”

“I’m sure, though maybe some part of me did.”

Spike slipped a finger inside her and gently rotated it making Buffy groan softly.

“Spike… Need you…inside me…now!”

“You don’t know how much I’ve missed hearing you say that.”

Spike pulled back from Buffy and slid out of his regulation black jeans before ripping her skirt off.

“There goes my wardrobe...again.”

Spike leaned down to her, resting just before her entrance.

“If I had my way, Slayer, you would have no wardrobe whatsoever.”

“What? You’d have me walking around nak…ahhhhhhhh.”

Spike slipped into her slowly.

“You were saying, luv?”

“N...n…never mind.”

Spike started a slow and steady thrusting rhythm, pulling gasps and moans from Buffy. She swallowed, trying to gather enough breath to speak. “Make me yours, Spike.”

Spike paused. Does she really mean what I think she means? “Do you know what you’re asking, Buffy?”

She nodded. “Uh-huh.”

Spike restarted his rhythm, leaned down to Buffy’s neck and gave it a quick lick. “You sure 'bout this, luv?”

Buffy put her hand under his chin and guided his eyes to hers. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Spike kissed her softly on the lips. “I’ve been waiting all of my life and un-life for you to tell me that.” He moved his head to her neck and before kissing it softly, he smiled at his choice of the left side of her neck, untouched by his grandsire or that ponce, Dracula. He shifted but hesitated, wanting to be certain that it was what she wanted. “You ready for this, pet?”

Buffy responded by squeezing her inner muscles, the sensation making Spike groan.
“I’ll take that as a yes, luv.” He bent his head to her neck and gently slid his fangs in, causing Buffy to buck up and release a strangled scream. Spike was struggling to keep his head on straight.

‘Slayer blood…wow!’

He pulled his fangs out and worried the wound to make it scar. “Mine,” he growled.

“Yours,” Buffy breathlessly replied.

And with that one word, Spike lost what little control he had and came hard and fast before collapsing against Buffy’s neck. She then proceeded to giggle uncontrollably. Spike lifted his head and look at her.

“And what is so funny?”

She took a couple of breaths to calm down.

“Your feet.”

“My feet? What about them?”

“They’re tickling mine.”

Spike moved his feet. “Happy, luv?”

Buffy pulled Spike in and gave him a sweet kiss.

“Never been happier.”

He rolled off her and pulled her against his chest, spooning her.

“Sleep well, my Buffy.”'

“Sleep well, my William.”

Spike woke the next morning, to the sound of a phone ringing and Dawn calling, “I’ll get it, Buff.”

Spike looked down at the girl snuggled in his arm--his love and sunlight--and smiled. She always looked so innocent when she slept. The next second the door was flung open by Dawn, who walked in with the phone to her ear.

“Hey, Buffy, it’s Gi—Spike! Um what? No, Giles, I didn’t say Spike, I said…um… OK, I said Spike. Don’t yell in my ear….um… OK leaving the room now.” Dawn left the room still trying to calm Giles down. Spike felt Buffy trying to hide a fit of the giggles.

“Your face! Oh, God! I so wish I had a camera. Please tell me you were fully covered up.”

“Glad you think it’s funny, pet, but that was Giles she was talking to. I doubt he’ll be too happy ‘bout me and you.”

“Do you think that matters to me anymore? I did my job for over seven years, I died twice and he still gets to decide what’s best for me? No way and no more. He can be happy with it or not. All that matters is that we are happy. Now I’m gonna shower...on my own, then I’ll book tickets to go to London to the training school. I think the gang needs to be formally re-introduced to my lover.”

Spike gave her a quick kiss and grinned. “What did I say about big speeches?”

“Make breakfast now. Simple enough, Spike?”

“Very simple.”

Buffy slipped out of the bed and headed to the en suite. “Oh, and put some clothes on first. I don’t want you to scare Dawn.” She shut the door behind her.

Spike quickly dressed and headed into the main room where Dawn was sitting patiently by the breakfast bar.

She smiled at him and asked, “Still know how to cook Spike special pancakes with hot chocolate marshmallow sauce?”

He grinned at her. “Surprised a young woman like you still wants my pancakes.”

“I’m still surprised that Big Bad Spike knows how to cook them.”

“OK, OK, you win, Niblet. I’ll make ‘em.” He took a quick glance round the bar. “Um… Where is--ah there, bit premature, Little Bit?”

Dawn had everything sitting out ready. “Nah, not really. We tend to make them most days…well when I say we I mean me, Buffy always burns the pancakes.”

“Do not.” Buffy entered the room with her wet hair trailing down her back and her bathrobe on. Dawn grinned when she saw Spike gaping at her sister – she leaned over and pushed his chin, shutting his mouth with a snap. “Ouch! That wath my tongue.”

“Maybe you’ll learn to hold your own jaw up then. Now, please make the pancakes.”

“Aww, don’t you look just adorable in your pink fluffyslippers and puppy dog eyes, Niblet.”

“Do not.”

Buffy shook her head. “Now, now kiddies, play nice or do I need to start kicking butts?”

“Ah, Buff, you know what it’s like with family, always fighting about something. Right, Spike?”

Spike was lost for words. He had Buffy, he had claimed Buffy and now he had a family; talk about a whirlwind ride.

“Um...Spike?”

“Don’t bother, Dawnie, he’s got that look on his face; the million miles away from here look. There’s only two ways to bring him out of it.”

“What?”

“Either a punch on the nose or a kiss.”

“Eww. So not kissing him. Don’t know where he’s been.”

“So punch him.”

Dawn punched him on the nose.

“Ouch! That hurts! Have you been getting tips from big sis?”

“Yep. And doing some minor patrolling, well supervised.”

Spike smiled at Buffy. “Nice to see the family kick-vampire-butt trait is carrying on.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever, Spike, but I want pancakes!”

“Coming right up, Bit.”

Spike turned and set about making the pancakes while Buffy sat next to Dawn with a whimsical smile on her face as she watched him work. Well, Angel, you wanted me to have a normal life. This is about as normal as I’m gonna get. Bet you never thought I’d have a normal life with another vampire, least of all Spike.

Spike set a plate down in front of his girls and waved a hand at Buffy. “There you go, girls – pancakes in need of major slayage,” he announced with a grin.

She playfully swatted him. “Jerk.” Then she tucked into her pancakes.

Dawn was already halfway through hers when she said, “Oh yeah, you know how Giles called earlier. Well, he’s booked all three of us tickets back to England tonight.”

Buffy choked, causing Spike to whack her on the back. “Oh he has, has he? Trying to organise me again? Well, I’m fed up! I’ll decide if I want to go anywhere and I’ll be the one to decide if I wanna go. Not him!”

“But, luv, you wanted--”

“He assumed, yet again, that as soon as something unusual happens I’d go running to him about it. I’m not sixteen anymore! Change happens and I deal! Why won’t he learn that! That’s it! I’m calling him right now.”

“Sure that’s wise, pet? After all, you’re all het up an--”

“Now don’t you start!”

Spike recoiled and let Buffy pick up the phone.


*


Over the channel in England, Giles was sitting in his office reading a file on Sarah, one of the new intake of Slayers at the school when his phone rang. He reached out to the corner of his desk to pick it up.

“Hello, Rupert Giles here. How may I help?”

“You can start by not trying to run my life…again.”

“Ah, Buffy, I thought it would be easier if I arranged it and wrote it off as expenses.”

“Do you think I’m completely incapable? I can do things myself you know! ”

“I never said you couldn’t. I just thought I’d make it easier on you; give you more time for you and um…Spike to catch up.”

“Don’t bring him into this! If you think bringing me over there is a way to try to convince me how bad Spike is for me, well you’re wrong. He’s the best thing to ever happen to me. Sure, he’s made mistakes. We all have. What does he have to do to prove to you that he is good for me? He’s died once. Does he have to again? Then you’ll accept him?”

Spike slipped his arms round Buffy trying to calm her a little.

“Buffy, believe me, we all know what he’s done and what he tried to do--”

“What? Kill me? You? My friends? Spike’s not Angel, Giles. Stop acting as if he is. He’s never killed anyone close to us or tried to end the world. In fact, if memory serves, he helped me stop it! More than once. So tell me again how he’s bad for me.”

“I wasn’t going to say he was bad for you. I was going to try to tell you to be careful and to remember that he’s still a vampire. Soul or no soul.”

“He loves me and I love him!. I’m gonna have to go. I need to pack for my flight. We’ll continue this when I’m in England.”

She hung up and turned to hug Spike


*


In his office, Giles returned the phone to its rest and sighed deeply, taking his glasses off and cleaning them. “This is going to get very interesting.”


*


Spike was unwilling to let go of Buffy; he didn’t want her wrecking the place.

“Stupid tweed man. Needs to get that stake outta his--”

“Dawn! Wherever did you hear that?” Buffy turned around and regarded Dawn with a slight smile on her face. “From our other resident Englishman. In fact, I learned a lot from him, that summer.”

Buffy turned and regarded Spike with a mock serious expression. “Leading my little sister astray, Spike?”

“Well, luv, I am the Big Bad.”

“Don’t we know it? Now you and Dawn finish up eating, then Dawn can go and get you a couple of pints of blood from the butchers and if you give her your hotel key, she can go get your stuff.”

“And what will you be doing?”

“Packing of course,” Dawn answered for her. “You know, for someone who had to leave all her clothes in Sunnydale, she’s got a load more.”

“Pot, kettle, black. Look into it, Dawn.”

Dawn stuck her tongue out at Buffy. “Hey, I’m a teenager. I’m built to shop.”

“Ok ladies, break it up. Dawn here’s the keys. I’m staying at Au Sourire de Montmartre B&B a couple of minutes walk from the tower. . I’ve got a mini fridge stocked up, so if you bring that along, you’ll be fine. Get a taxi back. Here’s the cash.”

Dawn caught the keys and the money. “Got it, now you two behave. Make sure you pack, Buffy. See you later guys.”

“After you get dressed,” Buffy said with a chuckle.

Dawn look down at herself. “Oh yeah, that would be a good idea.”

Dawn headed to her room and Buffy went to the sink. She turned the water on and added the dishes. Then she turned to Spike.

“I know he means well; they all do. I can’t really blame them after what happened with Angel. I know you’re not him, but they’re cautious for themselves and me. After all you’ve done for them, for Dawn, and for me, they still don’t trust you. If anyone is insane around here it’s them.” She dazzled him with one of her genuine smiles. “We’ll just have to show them when we over there just how un-Angel like you are. A blind man could see that.” She turned back to sink to switch off the tap and start washing the dishes.

Dawn came out dressed in a short red summer dress, causing Spike to gape a little.

“You’re going out like that? In Paris? Do you want all the Frogs tripping over their tongues?”

“Frogs?”

“Frenchies. The locals. They’ll be over you like dogs on a bone.”

Dawn spun around. “You really think so? I mean there’s this really cute baker’s boy.”

She started to giggle at the look on Spike’s face as he turned to Buffy. “You’re letting her? This from the same big sis who wouldn’t let her stay home alone?”

Buffy finished the dishes, dried her hands and faced Spike with a smile on her face. “Nope this is the new and improved Buffy. If Dawn wants to make friends that’s her choice; the only rule is no parking with vampires. Been there done that. Not forgetting we aren’t on a Hellmouth anymore.”

“See, Spike, it’s cool. Anyway, gotta go. See you.” And then Dawn breezed out the door.

Buffy stepped away from the sink and headed to her room. “Make yourself comfy, Spike. There’s a TV in the corner. I think it has an English channel. Give me about thirty minutes to pack my stuff and change.”

Spike sat in front of the TV and settled down for a long wait.


*


Two hours later Buffy emerged pulling a suitcase behind her. “Sorry, I have more stuff than I thought. There’s another case in the room. Isn’t Dawn back yet?”

Spike rolled his eyes and hung his head over the back of the seat. “Not yet. You ever heard of travelling light, luv?”

“I’ve only bought what I needed to replace the stuff in Sunnydale, plus a few extras.”

Just then, Dawn walked in the door followed by a bus boy, struggling under the weight of Spike’s bags and fridge. “Just put them over by the bar. Hey guys, I got us some chocolate croissants.”

Spike shook his head. “You ate half your weight in pancakes and you still want more?”

“It’s chocolate. You can never have enough chocolate. All packed, Buffy?” asked Dawn.

“Finally. She spent two hours in there. I was going to send in a search party,” said Spike with a sigh.

“Hey! I resent that. Hurry up and pack Dawn. Then we can get our passports and stuff sorted, you do have a passport, Spike?”

“Yeah, how else did I get here? I hope Giles had the presence of mind to book us flights that land at night.”

“Yeah, he did,” replied Dawn. “I checked this morning when he rang. OK I’m off to pack. You two behave now and keep the noise down.”

“Sure thing, Niblet.”

“Spike!”

Dawn shook her head and headed to her room, while Buffy settled in Spike’s lap.

“What you watching?”

“What looks like French Passions.”

“Trust you to find that.”

“I haven’t changed my tastes. And nor it appears have you.” Spike rolled his hips and smiled at Buffy’s squeak.

“Pig.”

“Shush, Dawn said to keep it down.”

“I’m not the one who is up,” Buffy replied with a fair attempt at Spike’s smirk.

“Ahem, can I go now?”

Buffy looked over the back of the chair at the bus boy. “Oops, yeah sure. Thanks.”

After he left, Buffy collapsed in a fit of giggles against Spike. “Did you see his face? I think we scarred him for life.”

“Not half as much as you’ve scarred me,” Dawn said from her bedroom door.

“Dawn, packed already?” Spike asked surprise in his voice

“Yeah. I didn’t unpack completely. Want some croissants?”

“Sure thing, Dawnie,” said Buffy. “You want some, Spike?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Knew I’d get you to say it someday.” Buffy replied through a fit of giggles

“Huh?” Spike glanced at her quizzically.

Dawn laughed at the bemused look on Spike’s face. “You, the Big Bad, just said that you are good.”

“Oh, bollocks.”

Buffy just shook her head and started to get the croissants plated and turned the coffee maker on. “Anyone want a coffee? Tea? Blood chaser?”

“Eww, Buffy, I’m just about to eat.”

“I’ll have a coffee, with a splash of the red stuff. Hey, you haven’t got any weetabix have you?”

“No, but one coffee special coming up.”

“I’ll just have a straight up coffee, sugar and milk please, Buff,” said Dawn.

She sat on the sofa next to Spike, nabbed the remote, and flipped the TV to a music channel.

“Hey! I was watching that!”

“Operative word being was.”

“Buffy, tell her,” complained Spike.

“Dawn, turn it up will you? I like this song.”

Spike threw his hands in the air. “I give up with you two. Buffy, luv, you do know that the New Kids on the Block are now the Old Men on the Dole, right?”

Buffy walked over carrying a tray bearing the coffee and croissants. “Sure I do. Yours is the red mug, Dawn yours is the blue.” Buffy set the tray down on the coffee table and was promptly pulled onto Spike’s lap. “Grabby much?”

“Can you blame me? I’ve missed you.”

“Eww, too much mushy stuff.” Dawn rolled her eyes. “Last time I checked you two were adults, over and above the teenage make out constantly thing.”

Buffy laughed. “Spike? Grown up? Are we talking about the same vampire here?”

“I take offence at that. I am grown up thank you very much.”

“Sure we believe you, Spike.” Dawn said, hiding a smirk behind her hand

Spike leaned forward to pick his mug up, wrapping one hand around Buffy’s waist and letting his hand rest on her upper thigh, causing Dawn to lead to another bout of eye rolling. “If you guys wanna be alone, I can go out for a bit.”

“Nah, it’s OK, Dawn. Spike needs to sleep.” Buffy answered with shake of her head

“I do?”

“Yeah, can’t have you looking all…dead when we get back to England,” said Buffy.

“So you only love me for my looks?”

“That’s just one of many things I love about you.”

Dawn coughed and spluttered. “Do you two mind? I like my breakfast in my tummy not for open view.”

“OK,OK.” Spike downed his coffee. “I’ll go hit the sack for a few hours.” He stood lifting Buffy off his lap and putting her in the seat, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t miss me too much now.”

As Spike headed to Buffy’s room, Buffy turned to her sister. “You let him off pretty easy last night. Considering that you were really angry the last time you and him were around each other. Apparently you really scared him.”

“I did? Cool. Yeah, I was pretty cross with what he tried to do to you. I was pretty much with Xander and the whole ‘let’s stake Spike camp’ but he proved himself all over again in the build up to the big fight. Plus, the whole dying to save us thing. So I’m firmly back in the ‘lets not stake Spike camp’ now. Unless he leaves his icky blood mugs everywhere, then I may change my mind”

“I know what you mean, Dawn. Now that he’s gone, put that show back on.”

On the other side of the bedroom door, Spike smiled. His girls hadn’t changed a bit. He decided to keep his jeans on just in case he forgot about Dawn. He slid under the covers and soon fell asleep.