Rated: PG-13
Summary: Spike leaves after "Dead Things," wanting nothing more than to get Buffy out of his head. Wesley's still an independent contractor after the events of "Loyalty." And the Slayer's still living in the land of denial.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters featured
below except for Nika. She's all mine. And I'm not making any money off
of her either, so please don't sue.
Chapter 24: February 2006
Wesley hefted another box and reminded himself that he was present as Spike's proxy and not to punch Xander in the nose, no matter how tempted he might be. He passed Nika as he went inside, and she leaned in close to him. "If that boy makes one more comment about the 'Evil Undead,' I'm going to do something he'll regret."
He bit back a chuckle. "But you wouldn't regret it?"
Nika raised an eyebrow. "No, I can honestly say I wouldn't." She shot the box he held a look. "Better get that inside before you drop it, cariad."
Wesley walked inside, heading towards the kitchen since that was the label on the box. It had been pretty quiet the last couple of weeks. Enid had left to return to Wales shortly after he and Nika had made their engagement official. She'd taken an evening flight, so they had all gone to take her to the airport.
They'd put the farewells off for as long as possible, but finally it was time to say goodbye at the security check. Of all of them, Enid had probably been the one with the most composure. Even Spike's eyes had looked suspiciously moist.
"Nain," Nika had mumured as her grandmother enveloped her in her arms.
"Danika," Enid replied. In Welsh, she'd spoken in the younger woman's ear. "You take care of that man of yours, cariad, and you let him take care of you too. I'm so proud of you."
"Dw i'n dy garu di," Nika said, tears choking her voice. "I love you."
Enid patted her on the cheek, and then gave her a kiss. It was Wesley's turn next, and Enid pulled him down for a hug, his lean form dwarfing her diminutive frame. "You're a good man, Wesley. You take care of her, you hear?"
"Always," he replied, smiling at her fondly. "Hurry back, Nain."
She smiled in return, kissing him on both cheeks. She looked over at Spike, who was hanging back slightly from the others. "William." She pulled him into a hug as well, whispering in a low voice so the others would not hear. "You go after that Slayer of yours and—" She offered a suggestion that would have had Spike turning bright red had he still been able to blush.
"Nain!" he protested, a delighted grin spreading out over his face. "'ve been a terrible influence on you!"
"Nonsense," she replied with a small smile. "I think you'll find it's a bit of the other way around. You take care of her, William. She needs a good man."
Spike's expression turned sheepish, and he gave her a shy peck on the cheek. "You're a bit of alright, luv."
"You're not so bad yourself, William," she returned. There was one last hug for Wesley and Nika, and then she disappeared into the crowd.
They all missed her, of course. Enid had filled a place in their hearts that had been empty for a long time for all of them. As Nika had said soon after she left, "You never know how much you need a mother until she's gone." In Wesley's case, at least, he hadn't known how much he needed a mother until he had one. He hadn't known that kind of warmth ever before, and its sudden absence was painful.
Life went on, however, and they had settled back down into their respective routines. Nika had begun working more hours as a paramedic, taking a friend's place while she was on maternity leave. Spike was much more relaxed and less broody than he had been about his relationship with Buffy, and the Slayer's house had sold much faster than anyone had expected.
So now it was moving day, and Spike had sent Nika and Wesley in his place to help, at least until after dark. As Buffy hadn't had the opportunity to get window coverings yet, the vampire couldn't help until the sun went down.
Wesley headed out for another box, doing his best to ignore Xander. The younger man had apparently found out about Spike and Buffy's burgeoning relationship, and he was making frequent loud comments on the danger of vampires and rogue Watchers. So far Wesley had been able to bite his tongue, but his restraint wasn't going to hold out for much longer. "I would just think someone who's been trained to kill vampires wouldn't be working for one," Xander said as Wesley passed.
Willow grabbed his arm and tugged him out the door before he could say anything. "Just ignore him," she advised wisely. "I know he's being stupid, but he's just upset that Buffy decided to move to L.A. instead of staying in Sunnydale."
"I suppose I can understand that," Wesley said carefully. "What are your plans, Willow?" He had found over the course of several hours of moving boxes that he quite liked the young witch. Wesley remembered her being an engaging young girl, but he was more than impressed with the mature, centered woman in front of him.
"I start teaching at the high school next fall," Willow replied. "But until then I'm just doing some free-lance computer work and getting the Sunnydale coven off the ground. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that."
Wesley was a little surprised. "I'm hardly qualified to become part of a coven."
"No," she replied, sounding amused. "But you have a lot of connections here in L.A. I was hoping you could direct me to some reputable people in the area, suppliers, that sort of thing. Plus, both Buffy and Dawn seem to think you're a walking occult encyclopedia."
Wesley blinked, feeling absurdly honored. "I'd be happy to give you any help you need," he said sincerely.
"Great!" Willow replied enthusiastically. "It will be nice to have a connection here in L.A., other than Buffy, and to know that she's got people looking out for her." At Wesley's expression, the witch hastened to clarify. "I know that Spike will take care of her, but you can fight with your significant other, you know, and then it's nice to have someone else around."
Wesley supposed that was true, although he and Nika had yet to have their first fight. They'd had a few disagreements over little things, but they were well-enough matched that they hadn't blown up. Wesley couldn't help but hope they never would, although it was probably inevitable.
"Hey, Wesley!" Connor came outside. "I've been looking for you."
Willow gave him a parting smile and then went to get another box. "Something I can help you with, Connor?"
The boy shrugged. "It's not real important, but I'm finishing up my entrance essays for UCLA, and I was hoping you'd look over them for me."
Wesley nodded. He'd been a bit surprised that only Connor was present out of Angel's gang. He'd thought that Gunn or Fred might show up, but he had to admit that he was relieved when they didn't. He wondered if they weren't present because they hadn't thought to come or because Buffy had said they didn't need to be there. Wesley only wished she could have made certain that Xander was gone as well.
"Of course," Wesley replied. "Just let me know when and we'll work something out."
Connor beamed. "Thanks, Wesley. I really appreciate that."
Wesley watched him go and wondered how it was that he could have such a good relationship with Angel's son and not Angel. He sighed and went to pick up another box, checking the sun's position in the sky. Only a couple hours now until Spike would be over, and Wesley found that he was relieved. He would feel more comfortable with Spike present.
And who would have ever thought he'd feel more comfortable in the presence of a soulless vampire?
~~~~~
Spike was looking forward to seeing Buffy again, more than he really wanted to admit. Having her here in L.A., close by, was more than he'd ever hoped for. The fact that at least part of the reason she was moving to town was because of him gave him warm fuzzies, as Dawn might say.
What Spike was displeased about was the presence of the Scoobies. Before, when Buffy came up to see Dawn—and him—she had come by herself. Now that she had her own place, Willow and Xander would most assuredly be underfoot all the time, constantly getting in the way and causing problems because he dared to come around the Slayer.
He sighed as he pulled off his helmet. It might not be quite that bad; Giles was back in England, though the Watcher had been almost cordial at New Years. Willow had been nice too, and hadn't seemed as though she were terribly upset by his presence. Xander was a different story, however, and Spike hadn't any hope at all that they might actually learn to get along. It hadn't been so bad the summer that Buffy had been gone. They hadn't fought—much—and had even played pool together a few times. After the Slayer's resurrection everything had changed, and Spike still remembered the look on the boy's face when Spike had confronted him outside her house.
They hadn't told him, and he had fought side-by-side with them that summer. They had kicked him to the curb when Buffy was back, so sure he'd "start up his little obsession again," so sure that she didn't need him.
Well, she had needed him. Buffy had needed him for all the wrong things, and he'd given her everything because he was convinced he could pull her out of it, bring her up to him.
It was Wesley who'd finally convinced Spike that people didn't have to come down to him; he could go up to them—Wesley and Nika.
But that didn't mean he was going back to being a punching bag for the Slayer's Superfriends. If either Red or the Whelp tried anything, he'd show them what it was like to mess with an unchipped Master Vampire, Slayer be damned. That was just one of the things that had to change if things were to be different this time around.
Spike had thought he knew what it was like to belong to a group; he now knew what it was like to belong to a family.
Buffy came out to meet him, looking several years younger than she was. She wore only a touch of make-up, jeans, and an old Sunnydale High t-shirt that had seen better days, and her bright hair was bound up in a bandanna. "Hey there," she greeted him. "Thought I heard your bike."
"You mean you don't have another motorcycle-ridin' boyfriend?" he asked teasingly.
She grinned. "Nope. Just you."
Spike blinked. Somehow it was one thing to hear the Slayer say she loved him, another to have her admit that there was something between them, but having her call him her boyfriend was definitely icing on the cake. He smiled, the expression almost shy. "'s good to see you, luv."
"It's good to see you too." Buffy leaned in, her face turned up for a kiss, with which he obliged her. "Mmm. Lips of Spike."
A wry smile tugged at his mouth. "Don't think that was quite the tone you used last time, Buffy."
"I'm older," she said, her tone fake-haughty. "I'm allowed to be wiser too."
His tongue curled up behind his teeth, he raised an eyebrow and grinned. "That right? You wise up then, Slayer?"
"I certainly hope so," she replied. Buffy looked over at the empty U-Haul. "I hope you don't mind, but we didn't leave you anything. Connor and I got most everything heavy, with some help from Wesley and company."
"Gang's all here, then," Spike murmured, not much wanting to go inside.
Buffy nodded, not looking all that happy about it herself. "Look, Spike, all I'm going to ask of you is that you don't kill anybody, okay? I put down a deposit and blood's a bitch to get out of the carpet."
She was trying for humor, and Spike found himself feeling a surge of affection for her acknowledging that this meeting could get difficult. "Promise I won't eat anybody."
"Thanks." His word was good as gold, as Buffy well knew. "Pizza's on its way, so we should be eating soon. Dawn and I have some blood for you in a cooler if you get really hungry, and the microwave is working."
"Thanks, luv," Spike said. "You didn't have to, though. Ate before I came."
Buffy tucked her hand through his elbow. "I wanted you to feel at home. You know you have an open invitation, anytime you want to come over." She made sure she said it before they reached the door so that Spike never felt the barrier—she wanted no barriers to come between them.
He recognized the gesture for what it was and gave her hand an affectionate squeeze in reply. "I need to go find kitchen-stuff so we can eat," she told him. "I think Wesley's helping Connor and Xander set up beds and all."
She left him to his own devices, heading off in the direction of what could only be the kitchen. Spike could hear Nika and Dawn's voices, and he took a half-step in that direction, not wanting to meet up with the Scoobies. Willow's voice came through clearly then, from up the stairs, and she and Xander wandered into sight moments later.
"Well, if it isn't Deadboy Jr.," Xander said snidely. "Kill any good demons lately? Or are you starting to work on people yet?"
Spike opened his mouth to say something, but Wesley's hand clamped down over his arm. "I need Spike's help in the master suite," he said politely. "I need his strength to set up the bed."
The vampire took the hint and allowed Wesley to pull him up the stairs. "Xander's been making an arse of himself all day," Wesley muttered in a low voice. "He keeps making comments about unchipped vampires, rogue Watchers, and traitors." His grim smile held no humor. "I'm fairly certain he didn't mean what I might have first thought he meant by that, as it was followed by another statement about how Watchers should know to stake a vampire and not let hormones get in the way."
"I'll kill him," Spike muttered, knowing how much the comment on traitors must have stung, even if Xander wasn't referring to the Connor fiasco.
Wesley chuckled darkly. "No, it was quite funny really, seeing as how his next comment was about how perhaps we were letting our hormones get the best of us—or rather that I was letting my hormones get the best of me."
Spike stopped in the hallway, processing that comment, letting out a snort of laughter when Xander's meaning finally sunk in. "You mean—you an' me?" He started laughing in earnest, leaning up against the wall. "Oh, bloody hell," he muttered. "What a git. Not that you wouldn't be my type if I swung that way, mate, but—"
"Point taken," Wesley said, a smile lighting up his own expression, making it a bit less grim. He shook his head, starting to laugh as well. "As if he didn't know Nika and I are together."
"Maybe he thinks we have orgies or some such," Spike said, standing upright and heading back down the hallway to the master bedroom. "Wanker's probably jealous."
"I think you're right, though not about that," Wesley half-agreed. "Willow said she thought he might be upset that Buffy is moving to L.A., instead of staying in Sunnydale."
Spike nodded. "Thought that might be it," he admitted. "Knew I was going to have trouble with 'im. Be interestin' to see how the Slayer handles it."
"Did she say anythin' to you about it?"
Spike shrugged. "Told me not to kill anybody, 'cause it's too hard to get blood out of the carpet, an' she has a deposit down."
Wesley smiled. "Well, that's promising."
"Maybe," Spike replied, looking glum. "You haven't seen 'em when they really get goin' though."
For a while, it looked as though Wesley might not get an opportunity to see a full-on game of "Kick the Spike." Someone had obviously given Xander a good talking-to, since the young man was quiet, though sullen, all through the meal. The others talked around him, trying valiantly to ignore his bad mood and worse manners, but the storm was bound to break at some point.
Xander finally broke when Spike reached teasingly for the last slice of pizza, snatching it right out from under Connor's questing hand. "Sorry, Hell-Boy," Spike teased good-naturedly. "Looks like you lost out."
"Like you're one to be talking, Spike," Xander burst out.
All eyes swung to stare at him. "What are you talking about?" Spike asked, his tone dangerous. It looked like Xander had forgotten the practical implications of the vampire's chip being gone.
"Calling him 'Hell-Boy.' You're the demon." Xander's words were snarled out, his face twisted in an ugly glare. Buffy opened her mouth to reprimand him, but Dawn put her hand over her sister's, giving a quick shake of her head. She knew that Spike needed to handle this himself, and he needed for Buffy not to take any sides at all.
Spike gazed at him evenly. "'s a term of endearment, Harris," he finally said as politely as he could manage. "I happen to be fond of the lad."
"Sure, you are," Xander challenged, standing. "I'll bet you're just waiting for a chance to eat Angel's son. We all know the chip is out, Spike. It's just a matter of time before you start hunting humans again. Buffy might have issues staking vampires, but I don't, and I won't."
"You've never liked me," Spike acknowledged. "I get that. I even get why. But I have never hurt somebody I cared about, Whelp. You should know that, seein' as how I babysat the Niblet all that summer Buffy was gone. You didn't seem to mind me stayin' with her while you lot figured out how to rip the Slayer out of heaven."
Xander turned purple with rage. Spike was standing to face him now, while the others remained in their spots. Wesley readied himself to leap to Spike's defense if necessary, as did Buffy, but neither actually moved. Everyone seemed rooted to their spots.
"We didn't know!" he ground out. "We needed the Slayer."
Spike stared at him. "Yeah, so what? Doesn't matter, Harris. Can we just agree that we hate each other an' be done with it?"
"You're a vampire!" Xander said, looking around at the faces that surrounded him. "We're talking about a bleached bloodsucker that tried to kill us all more than once. Why can't anybody else see that he needs to be taken down? Put out of all our misery?"
Spike's face hardened, his gaze flinty. He went still, as though he'd been carved from a single block of marble. "Why don't you try it?" he asked softly. When Xander turned to stare at him, Spike continued. "I'm not quite the 'Chipless Wonder,' anymore. Why don't you try to stake me? I'll rip your throat out, an' I'll call it self-defense." His demon came to the fore, amber eyes glowing maliciously. "An' I've got witnesses."
Xander looked almost manic. "Why don't you bite me, Spike? Show everyone what an animal you really are?"
Spike's demon visage changed almost imperceptibly, and then he shook it off, returning to his human guise. "You're not worth it," he said coldly. "An' you probably taste like sawdust." He started patting his pockets, feeling for his pack of cigarettes. Dawn handed him a pack, his lighter tucked inside the cellophane. "Thanks, Bit," he muttered, turning to go out through the sliding doors to the back patio.
Wesley stood to go to him, but Willow put a hand on his shoulder. "This is a Scooby mess," she said quietly, sharing a look with Buffy, who nodded silently.
The witch headed out after Spike, and the Slayer turned to face one of her oldest friends. "You couldn't let it go, could you, Xander?" she asked. "You had to try and goad Spike into biting you so I'd have to stake him. Do you have something against me being happy or what?"
Xander got a sick expression on his face as he realized that the plan had majorly backfired. He'd really believed that he could force Spike into taking action that would require Buffy to stake him. Not only had Spike kept his cool, but he'd wound up looking like an idiot.
And Buffy looked like she might hate him.
"Buffy—"
"Spike is welcome in this house," Buffy said quietly. "I asked you to be nice. I asked you to treat him just like you would treat any human guy I was interested in. It would have been fine if you'd teased him, Xander. I would have put up with the two of you sniping each other because you always do that. However, trying to get me to kill a friend is beyond the pale. I think you have an apology to make."
"Buffy, I'm sorry," Xander managed. "But Spike—"
"Not to me," Buffy replied coldly. "I'm angry, and I don't think Willow's very happy with you right now, either, but in case you haven't noticed everyone else here is more Spike's friend than mine or yours."
Xander gaped, and looked around him, suddenly realizing the truth behind Buffy's statement. Spike didn't have friends; he didn't have people who stood up for him or cared if others were a little mean to him. He suddenly realized that he was outnumbered, and it gave him a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Spike's a vampire!" Xander protested, unwilling to let go of that point—vampires were evil. End of story.
"I think I speak for everyone here when I say I don't care," Wesley said coldly. He'd perfected that facial expression over the last few years. It felt rather good to use it to protect someone else rather than his own hurt feelings. "It's not what a person is, it's what he does. I don't particularly want to see you again, Xander. I'm sorry."
The ex-Watcher turned to go outside after Spike, and Xander looked over at Buffy and Dawn, both of whom had identical expressions on their faces. "Buffy—"
"I'm sorry, Xander," Buffy said quietly. "You're one of my best friends, and you always will be. If you're trying to make me choose between you and Spike, then congratulations, you've won."
As an expression of relief passed over Xander's face, Buffy hastened on. "I choose Spike. He's welcome in this house, and you will be again just as soon as you can treat him like a person. Maybe you won't ever like him, but he's due a little respect. Until you can give him that, I think it's best that you leave."
Xander realized that Willow was perhaps the only person who might have taken his side at that point, to plead his case for him with Buffy, and she had deliberately gone after Spike. "I—I'm sorry, Buffy. I just—I can't."
Buffy's nod was oddly compassionate. "I know, Xander. I wish it could be different."
There was nothing more to be said.
~~~~~
"Come out here to turn me into a toad, Red?" Spike asked sardonically as Willow came through the sliding glass door.
She seated herself gingerly next to him. "Nope, I've sworn off toad-turning. You end up with way too many toads way too fast."
Spike rewarded her with a small smile. "Then you've come to tell me to back off the Slayer, I don't deserve her, all that?"
"Nope," Willow replied cheerfully. "I've sworn off trying to control other people's lives. I've managed to screw up my own badly enough that I don't want to be in charge of anybody else's."
"Been there," Spike said softly. "What did you come out here for, pet?"
Willow thought about that question. "Well, I have to admit it was partly to avoid seeing Xander making an even bigger idiot out of himself. But the other part was to let you know that not all of Buffy's friends hate you or want you dead—" She made a face. "—er."
"I 'preciate the sentiment," Spike said honestly. "Didn't think any of you lot would ever—" He broke off abruptly.
Willow sighed. "Spike, I came pretty damn close to ending the world. I'm hardly going to be casting blame or throwing stones or, well, anything else remotely metaphor-y. I think it's pretty amazing that you've been able to go from cold-blooded killer to a decent guy, even if you won't ever be going to the beach with us."
Spike thought about that. "You know, Red, 'm sorry 'bout all that—with the kidnappin' and the threats with the bottle." He looked over at her, and Willow could read the truth in his eyes. He really did feel bad about it, though not the sort of guilt Angel might feel with his soul. Spike would never feel true guilt about his past wrongs. He would never feel the general sort of empathy for the whole human race that she or Buffy might—but he would fight for the people he cared about, and he would avoid doing harm to those who didn't harm him.
Willow had to admit that Spike was doing a lot better in the area of morality than most humans she knew. (Peter-the-jerk kept springing to mind.)
"It's okay," she said airily, waving a hand as though it were all too far in the past for her to remember. "Though, I'll warn you, if you hurt Buffy I will turn you into a—a—fluffy kitten."
Spike gasped in mock horror, his hand over his unbeating heart. "Red! Thought you said you were swearin' off that kind of thing!"
She gave him a coy smile, standing and looking down at him as Wesley came outside. "I said I'd sworn off the toad-turning, because it's really easy to have too many toads. You can never have too many kitties, though." Willow turned back towards Wesley, who gallantly held the door open for her.
He folded his long frame down next to Spike and waited for the vampire to speak. "Is he still inside?"
Wesley hesitated, and then shook his head. "I don't think so. At least, the Slayer was getting ready to kick him out when I left."
"I really wanted to bite him," Spike admitted. "Or punch him or somethin'."
Wesley smiled. "I did too."
"Buffy—" Spike hesitated. "She's not mad at me for that little display in there, is she?"
"I can honestly say that I don't believe that any of Buffy's anger is directed your way. No one is very happy with Xander at the moment." Wesley looked over at the smaller man, and he realized that the vampire looked terribly vulnerable. "Are you alright, Spike?"
"She really does love me, doesn't she?" Spike asked in a very small voice. "I never thought—if it came down to me or her friends..." he trailed off. "I never thought she'd pick me."
Wesley knew that Spike was more than old enough to be his grandfather, but in that moment he felt very much towards Spike like one would towards a younger brother. Tentatively, because their relationship was not a physically demonstrative one, he put his arm around Spike's shoulders. "I really think she does care for you, Spike," Wesley agreed.
He pretended to ignore it when Spike made a swipe at his face with the back of his hand. "'m turnin' into a bloody poof."
"Should I fear for my virtue, then?" Wesley joked, earning a mock-glare from the vampire.
The vampire suddenly laughed. "Not while that girl of yours could take me out, mate."
Wesley chuckled. "Personally, I would be more concerned about your girl."
Spike threw an involuntary look over his shoulder. "She is my girl."
Wesley stood, holding out a hand. Spike looked at him for a moment, and then accepted his help. "Thanks, Wesley." It was about more than the hand up, and Wesley knew it.
"You're quite welcome."
~~~~~
It was late before everyone else left, leaving Buffy and Spike by themselves, leaning against each other on the couch. "You could stay," Buffy suggested softly. "I've already put blankets up over the windows in my room."
"Don't think so, luv," Spike said regretfully. "None of your other windows are covered, an' as nice as it sounds, don't think we're ready to spend an entire day in bed."
"No," Buffy agreed, biting back a sigh. Spike had said he wanted to go slow, but she'd hoped that her little display with Xander would get him moving in the right direction. She took another drink from her bottle of water as Spike took another sip of his beer. "Though, maybe you've had too many beers to drive," she suggested hopefully.
"That's the nice thing 'bout vampire constitutions," he replied with a soft smile. "Take a lot more than a couple of bottles to impair me."
Buffy had used the last of her ammunition, and out of habit, she rested her hand on her steadily growing pooch. The doctor had told her that it wasn't abnormal for someone of her size not to start really showing until the fifth or sixth month, though Buffy had thought she'd be huge long before then. Her OB/GYN had assured her that she would soon be much bigger than she probably wanted, though.
A cautious excitement was beginning to build surrounding the pregnancy. There was also a deep sense of sadness that her mom wouldn't be there for the birth of her first grandchild. Even the sadness was being eclipsed by the anticipation and sheer terror of being a mother herself. As though her thoughts had stimulated the growing baby, she felt a movement. "Oh."
"What's that, luv?" Spike asked, raising his head and looking over at her with drowsy concern. He was just content to be with Buffy, appreciating her presence with no hurry to leave.
"Here." She grabbed his hand and placed it over the slight bulge in her abdomen.
Spike's eyebrows went straight up. "Buffy? What—Are you okay? Is—" He stopped as he felt the movement against his hand. His blue eyes widened in delight, and he looked up at the Slayer. "Is that—?"
"That's it," she said, watching the look on his face with the same delight he was showing at the movement within her. He was as excited to feel the baby move as she hoped he might be.
Spike grinned. "That's just...neat." He moved his hand slightly. "Does it do that a lot?"
"Not much yet, but I have every confidence that it'll get really old by the due date," Buffy replied.
Spike's hand stayed where it was. "Why anyone would want to miss this..." he murmured.
Buffy put her hand over his. "Thank you for being here."
"Why would I want to be anywhere else?" Spike asked softly. For a moment, Buffy thought he might kiss her, but instead he leaned down and pressed his lips to the back of her hand where it rested over his on her stomach. "I should go, luv."
"Yeah, it's late," she agreed, not moving.
Gently, Spike tugged his hand away. "Good night, Buffy." This time he did kiss her, a long slow kiss that rapidly grew in intensity. When he finally pulled back, the Slayer knew her eyes were probably glazed over. "Better lock up behind me," he suggested. Kissing her cheek, he whispered in her ear, "If I haven't already told you, Summers, pregnancy agrees with you. You're beautiful."
Buffy walked him to the door, resisting the urge to grab him and jump his bones right there on the living room floor. She wanted to take down a house again and do a retake of the next morning. "I love you, Spike," Buffy sighed as he left.
"Love you, Slayer."
Buffy closed and locked the door after he'd left,
leaning back against the wood and listening for the sound of his bike roaring
to life and heading off into the distance. "Well, Buf," she said wryly,
talking to herself and wishing that Spike's self-control hadn't improved
so dramatically over the last three years. "They do say that abstinence
makes the heart grow fonder."