Buffy looked over Spike’s wounds as soon as she woke up. She wanted to check on the progress of healing. She frowned when she saw they were still very raw and bruised; the wounds looked horrible still.
“Just a moment,” she said after she heard a soft knock at the door. After she slipped out of the covers, she pulled them back up over the sleeping Spike. Buffy pulled her nightgown over her head as she plopped Dusty and Fuzzball in their makeshift bed on the floor.
Excitement filled her when she opened the door to find Dawn. Her sister looked past her to get a view of Spike.
“He still looks bad,“ the younger Summers whispered, noticing his injuries. “If I promise to be quiet, can I stay here and read this book.”
Buffy shrugged. “I’m probably heading back to sleep but you can keep Fuzzball and Dusty company. Spike had to take a lot of blood last night so I’m still groggy.”
Dawn nodded and walked into the room with a blanket she brought and a water jug. She made her way to a comfortable chair that sat near the table. She helped herself to some of the eggs and meat from the breakfast tray that was prepared for her sister. Buffy grabbed a small piece of meat and plopped it into her mouth.
“Fuzzball is under the bed and I’m sure Dusty is close by. They seem to really be attached to each other. Have fun! Don’t worry Dawnie, I’m thinking we will stay an extra day if you don’t mind to give him the day to rest and then still our day of fun, if that’s ok with you.”
Dawn beamed a smile and sat down, reading her book and snuggling into her blanket. Buffy went to lie down, snuggling in Spike’s arms as Dawn looked over at the two of them and smiled. She opened her book to where she left off last night. The former Key was just getting to the good part of the romance novel that Titana gave her as a ’thank you’ for being her friend. She was glad that she was able to quickly learn the language so she was able to enjoy most of the book.
Two hours later, Spike woke up and noticed the Nibblet sitting in a chair, at the table, munching on crackers and reading a novel that she was very engrossed in. He reached over to the chair that sat beside the bed and grabbed his trousers. He pulled them up his legs from under the covers, accidentally waking Buffy in the process because she was sleeping on his other arm. He reached over to the chair and snagged his pants to slip them on under the blankets waking up Buffy who had been sleeping on his other arm. She blinked and rubbed her eyes as she noticed Spike was getting dressed but was still groaning in pain. She put her hand on his stomach, as she opened the claim, and felt his pain overpower her.
“Stop doing that you stupid, bloody bint. I told you not to do that and what do you do: Wait until after I hurt myself getting dressed and open the damn bleeding thing up, flooding you with my pain. I love you, but damn it, Buffy. I want to protect you, not flood you with my feelings of pain.”
Buffy opened her eyes and placed her hand in his. “I was only going to tell you that I told Dawn we’d stay an extra day for you to heal. You can heal today, and then tomorrow we’d have the day of adventure, and then leave by nightfall, if that’s ok with you,” she whispered, too exhausted from the pain.
Spike nodded and said nothing. He was tempted to apologize but she was the one who had made the mistake. Instead, he merely closed his eyes and fell back on the bed, too exhausted with injury to say anything even if he wanted to. Buffy lay back down and fell asleep.
“You alright, Nibblet?”
Dawn smiled and held her book in the air for Spike to see. “I have a few romance novels that Titana gave me.”
“Who’s Titana?”
Dawn laughed. “The girl you helped yesterday. You saved the boy and that was Titana’s guy, Ogie. Did you know the story behind them?”
Spike shook his head and Dawn put her book down on the table, flipping it upside down until a growl from Spike reminded her of his pickiness when dealing with books. She opened the book up and put a strip of cloth in it before closing it. Spike nodded at her, giving her a proud smirk as she started her story.
“Titana’s father wanted her to be one of the King’s girls because the King gives money to anyone who gives him a female. Titana fell in love with Ogie and had been seeing him secretly. They grew up together. They were neighbors for years and he really loved her and had planned to marry her the day she turned fourteen. Well, her father refused the marriage so it was not able to take place. Instead he made arrangements with the King to have his daughter taken in to the fortress for a grand amount of money. Titana was crushed and Ogie promised he’d fight for her so they could marry by the King’s order. You helped make that possible. They got wed this morning before I arrived and thanks to you they are happily married. You did a good thing, Spike. I hope you know that.” She smiled at Spike who smiled back with heavy eyes; he was starting to fall asleep.
She whispered ‘sweet dreams’ as she offered Fuzzball a leaf and giggled as Dusty took it instead. Dawn then picked up her book to continue reading letting them sleep. Spike closed his eyes and returned to sleep.
Buffy woke up and felt rested. She woke Spike up to see how he was feeling and to see if he wanted to come watch the sunset with her and Dawn. He agreed and Dawn left the room, as the two of them got dressed. Spike was almost healed and finally felt energetic. He wanted to make love to Buffy but knew he had to wait until Dawn left. He kissed his mate’s claim mark enough to turn her on so he could softly bite into her neck. Spike took a few pulls of blood to keep in sated until the evening.
Buffy put on a flowing white skirt with a tan shirt and Spike smiled at how beautiful she looked. He was wearing tan pants and a white shirt, complete opposites of each other.
“Second to the last time we will be wearing these outfits,” Buffy said while twirling.
Spike nodded. “I kind of liked them to be honest and you look gorgeous in them. Don’t see you in frilly skirts often in Sunnydale.“ She blushed and he nibbled on her neck. She slapped him on the chest to get him to stop. He regretfully pulled away and grabbed her hand. After he opened the door he reached for Dawn’s hand. Together they exited the fortress.
Buffy led them to the garden she admired and sat down in her favorite spot under the trees. The three of them lay, side by side, on the grass to watch the sun set. It was silent as they admired the beauty of the sky. Dawn watched, in amazement, at how many colors the sky turned before finally settling to a dark black. She was more amazed when three moons appeared.
“I saw them a few times while sitting and looking outside my bedroom window. Do you think they are made of fire?” Dawn asked.
“I reckon so, Platelet. See the way their edges glow and shimmer as though they are made of fire,” Spike waved a hand across the sky.
Dawn nodded. “Yeah that’s what I was noticing. It’s amazing,” a short pause and then she continued. “Can we eat dinner together? What are we doing tomorrow?”
Spike grinned. “I guess that would be fine. Tomorrow I think Buffy and I are going to take you to the beach and show you where we…” he trailed off, almost letting her know about them making love.
“…Where the beast like thing attacked us and you can swim with us if you want. It’s beautiful there but a tad chilly,“ The Slayer said, thinking fast. Both, Spike and Buffy, looked embarrassed as they realized they wouldn’t be able to make love on the beach this time.
“Can I invite Titana and Ogie to say goodbye to them?”
“Sure. Then I think Buffy and I decided we’d go for a picnic in the garden and then take a walk. We have to get together with Engina sometime to see if she can offer any assistance in getting us back.”
Dawn frowned. “Who’s Engina?”
“The King’s personal witch,” Buffy replied.
Dawn clapped excitingly. “Ogie’s mother! I saw her and she was so beautiful. She had a sparkling blue dress on and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, besides Spike, and the longest white hair I’ve ever seen. She was simply beautiful but back then I didn’t know how to say beautiful in this language.”
Spike chuckled and said the word for her.
“I’ll tell her that then tomorrow if you will let me come along,” she grinned.
Spike’s voice got quiet as he said, “You opened the portal, pigeon, so you have to reopen it to bring us home, which means you will have to be there.”
“I figured. I just don’t know how I did it,” the younger sister pouted.
Spike patted her on the back. “We will figure it out I’m sure. Ready for some grub” Both girls nodded then raced each other to the fortress. Spike didn’t want to re-injure himself so he followed behind at a slow pace. He grinned at how happy the two girls looked as he made his way to the fortress.