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Chapter 15


Spike stood in his office the next day, staring out the window. It was
Christmas Day, and he was standing alone with a drink in his hand. He
would be leaving later for dinner with Cordy and her mother, but now he was
content to just be alone.

“Spike?”

Spike spun around at the softly spoken word and stared at the doorway
in disbelief. There stood Buffy, in a red shirt with a scooped neck and
dark blue jeans. Her hair was left falling loosely down her back, and Spike
blinked hard to make sure she was real.

“Buffy?”

“The, uh, the doorman, he let me in,” she said, gesturing toward the
front of the building with one hand.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“I didn’t…just decided to take a shot.”

“Why are you here?”

“Um, I-I brought you something,” she said, taking a step forward and
holding out a box with red wrapping paper and a green ribbon.

“Buffy-“

“I didn’t really have anyone else to buy for…it wouldn’t be Christmas
if I didn’t give someone a gift.”

Spike smiled despondently at the sorrow in her voice and set his drink
down to accept the box. Gesturing over to the couch, they both sat down as
Spike ripped open the paper and pulled off the top of the box. Seeing what was
inside, he took a deep breath. “Buffy, this is too much.”

“I know you already have a similar one,” she said as he pulled out a leather duster. “That one was getting pretty worn, so I thought you could use a new
one. I hope you like it.”

“It’s wonderful, luv, but it really is too much to spend.”

Buffy shrugged as she stood up. “Don’t worry about it. It’s really not
a problem.”

Spike noticed she was heading toward the door and bolted out of his
seat after her. “Wait!”

Buffy spun around, alarmed at the tone of his voice.

“I have something for you.”

Buffy looked at him quizzically as he walked to his desk. Pulling out
a small box from one of the drawers, Spike smiled slightly. “Sorry it’s
not gift-wrapped, I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

Buffy took the box and opened it to reveal a beautiful diamond bracelet.
“Spike, no. I-I can’t accept this.”

“It’s yours, Buffy. I saw it and knew you had to have it.”

Buffy simply stared at the jewelry in shock as Spike took it out of the
box and slipped it around her wrist.

“Spike, you really-“ Buffy was silenced as Spike put a finger over her lips.

“It’s yours, luv.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“I mean, it’s an awfully expensive gift to give an ex-fling.”

Spike cringed at the description of their relationship. “You were never a
fling, Buffy,” he said quietly.

“No offense, Spike, but you could have fooled me.”

“You weren’t,” he said, more forcefully than he intended.

Buffy looked up at him in alarm before backing toward the door. “Thank
you…for the gift. I should be going.”

“No, pet, don’t leave.”

“It’s okay, I should let you get back to what you were doing,” she
said, turning and reaching for the doorknob.

“Please stay.”

Buffy paused but didn’t turn to face him. “Why?”

“I’m sorry.” Buffy turned at the soft admission and looked at Spike, who was
staring down at the floor, biting his lip.

“For what?”

Spike looked up and met her eyes. “For everything. For hurting you.
For not being man enough to admit how much I need you.”

Buffy swallowed hard. “You need me?”

“Yes…I do.”

“And you just realized this now?”

“What can I say? Always the last to know.”

Taking a deep breath, Buffy took a step toward him. “To know what?”

Spike closed the distance between them as he looked deep into her eyes.
“That I love you.”

Before either knew what happened, his lips were on hers. His hands
held her arms as he dragged her upward to meet his lips. Though the kiss was
intense and passionate at first, soon it tapered off to gentle caresses. “Buffy, I
love you so much,” he whispered against her lips.





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