Banner by Selene

Chapter 4

Rome
Buffy’s Room

Buffy lay in Spike’s arms. Every so often, her body would shudder from a delayed half-sob. Spike continued to hold her, running his hand from the top of her head down the length of Buffy’s hair. The soothing touch eventually lulled her into a light sleep.

When he felt her breathing even out, he carefully eased out of bed and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. He'd not bothered with luggage when he left, so had to content himself with wearing the clothes he'd worn earlier; he'd use the cash in his pocket to go out later and buy a few things. Hearing a door open down the hall, he quietly unlocked Buffy’s bedroom door and slipped silently into the hall, pulling the door shut behind him.

‘Better talk to Niblet before she wakes up Buffy.’

Dawn was walking down the hall on the way to wake up her sister before she started to get ready school. Various thoughts were running through her mind, so at first she didn’t see the blond-haired vampire walking towards her. Suddenly, she glanced up. Just as she was about to let out a blood-curling scream, Spike’s hand settled over her mouth.

“Smii—!” Dawn shrieked behind his hand, her eyes going wide.

He nodded at her, grinning slightly at the expression on her face. When Spike was sure that Dawn wasn’t going to start yelling, he removed his hand from her mouth.

“Spike? It’s really you? How—?” Dawn questioned as she launched herself at him, tears starting to form in her eyes.

“Hey, 'Bit. It’s a long story. Once Buffy wakes up we’ll talk, yeah?”

He awkwardly patted her back until she released him.

“Er, okay. I have to get ready for school anyway. Oh, and there’s about ten other girls staying with us right now. Feels like a sorority house at times! Good thing they’re out patrolling late so I can get into the bathroom first. Otherwise, I’d never make it to school on time!” Dawn said. With a smile on her face, she turned around and headed back to her room. Halfway down the hall, she stopped and turned around.

“You’re gonna be here when I get home, right?” Dawn questioned, concern clouding her features.

“You bet. I just got here. I’m not going anywhere. Promise”

“Okay, then,” and she continued back down the hallway to her room, a little skip in her walk.

Spike turned around and slipped back inside Buffy’s room. Seeing her still asleep, he went and sat in the chair, his eyes never leaving her still form. Eventually, he dozed off.

~*~*~*~*~

Buffy woke feeling slightly disoriented. Suddenly, everything from this morning came rushing back her, and she glanced to the spot beside her. Nothing. ‘Don’t tell me it was a dream. I couldn’t take it.’ She quickly sat up in bed, pulling the covers to her chest. Frantically, her eyes darted around her bedroom. She let out a breath when she spotted Spike sprawled in the chair across the room. His feet were resting up on the matching ottoman. His elbow was propped on the armrest, his head in his upturned palm. He was fast asleep.

‘I wasn’t dreaming.’

Shoving the covers off her, Buffy bounded out of bed, gasping when she realized she wore not a stitch of clothing. Remedying that with a quick trip to her dresser to pull out underwear, a pair of shorts and one of Spike’s black t-shirts, remnants from the duffle she'd refused to part with.

When she was feeling especially despondent, she’d go to her bottom drawer and pull out something of his to look at or wear. In those times, she felt a little closer to him. She didn’t really need to wear it now, but she wanted him to know that she had thought about him. That she’d not forgotten him.

Padding quietly across the floor, she slipped into the bathroom to take care of a few necessities. After using the bathroom, she made quick work of brushing her teeth and washing her face. Gathered her long hair into one hand and tied her hair back into a ponytail. Looking in the mirror for the first time in what had probably been ages, she thought, ‘Wow. I guess I need to get a haircut.’

Quietly, she walked out of the bathroom. Spike was still dozing on the chair, so she slipped soundlessly out of her bedroom and went in search of Dawn. Her sister was singing along to some song playing on the radio in her bedroom. The door was ajar, so Buffy pushed it open. As usual, Dawn’s room was a mess. Looking at Dawn’s reflection in the mirror, Buffy could see that she was unusually happy. Just then, Dawn looked up and made eye contact in the mirror. Twirling around in her chair, she bounded up and over to Buffy.

“Can you believe it? He’s really back!” she gushed.

A slow smile came to Buffy’s face. ‘I guess he already ran into Dawn.’

“I know! Dawn, you can skip school today if you want. Hang out here with us,” Buffy said.

“I thought about it, believe me, but I have a huge history test today. Can’t miss it. It’s okay. He said he’d be here when I got back. You’ll make sure he is, right?”

“Count on it. Well, let me get you some breakfast before you go.”

“Uh, Buff. Thanks, but no. I know how you are with food and cooking. Very non-mixy. I’ll just grab a pastry.” Seeing the crushed look on Buffy’s face, she added, “But, if you’re making coffee….”

Buffy perking up at that.

“Right, coffee. Coming right up.”

She left Dawn’s room and headed towards the kitchen. It was while she was waiting for the coffee to brew, that she realized Spike was going to need blood. After letting her sister know where she was going, Buffy grabbed money from the desk near the front door and darted out of her house. The butcher shop wasn't far away, only a few blocks, in fact. She could be there and back before Dawn left for school.

“What can I get you, miss?” the man asked once it was her turn.

“A couple liters of pig’s blood.”

The butcher gave her a weird look, but didn’t comment. Buffy paid for her purchase, took the brown bag, and walked back home. Dawn was just heading out the front door when she got there.

“I’m off. I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“’kay. Have a good day.”

Buffy headed inside and pulled all but one of the bags in the refrigerator. The last she placed in a mug and heated briefly in the microwave. She was surprised at how much she wasn't grossed out as she carried the mug upstairs with her to her room.

Spike came awake as Buffy quietly shut and locked the bedroom door.

“Morning. I've got breakfast,” she told him as she joined him on the chair. “Pig’s blood... Best I could do on such short notice.”

“It’s fine, luv. I’ve had worse.” Spike then proceeded to down the contents. Finished, he set the empty mug on the floor beside the chair. “Thanks.”

Spike looked up once he set the mug on the floor. Buffy was eying him nervously, unsure what to say. Silently, he reached out his hand to her.

“Com ‘ere, luv.”

Buffy allowed him to pull her towards him so that she could sit on his lap and lay her head on his shoulder. She had so many questions that she wanted to ask. In the end, all she could get out was: “How?”

Spike proceeded to tell her about how he was brought back by the amulet that Buffy had given him to use, how at first he was non-corporeal. He told her about everything that happened right up until he got on a plane to come see her. Throughout his explanation, she said nothing, although she had unshed tears shining in her eyes.

“Why didn’t you come back to me sooner?”

“Hate to say it, luv. But, I was just plain scared. And I was tryin’ to be noble, tryin’ to do the right thing. Just couldn’t. I missed you too damn much. I know I’m no good for you, but I couldn’t stay away.”

“I’m glad. Glad you finally came back to me.”

Picking her head up from his shoulder, she looked into those blue eyes that seemed to haunt her dream. Placing a hand on either side of his face, she ever so slowly lowered her lips to his. She lightly brushed her lips back and forth across his own, driving him wild with the gentleness of the kiss. His cock hardened, the pressure of his jeans against his hardened length becoming unbearable. Spike’s hands tightened into fists in the waistband of her shorts, he started to moan, “Buff…”

That was the opening Buffy was waiting for. His mouth open for the taking, she left her gentleness behind and thrust her tongue inside his mouth, as she reacquainted herself with him, claiming him. Spike couldn’t hold back any longer, and his tongue started its own exploration. When he could stand it no longer, his grip tightened on Buffy as he pushed himself to his feet; Buffy locked her legs around his waist to hold herself in place. Never breaking their frenzied kiss, he headed to the bed across the room.

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