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Epilogue

Spike knew before he even opened his eyes that someone was staring at him. Could actually feel the person’s intense gaze boring into his face. And he knew instinctively that it was the Slayer. Especially given that he knew she wasn’t lying down in front of him, his arms not holding her close to his chest. Then there was the fact that if anyone else had slipped around the curtain and into the room, he would have been awake in an instant. No matter how exhausted he might have been.

His eyes opened, his blue gaze taking in her fixed stare. She was thinking hard, her intense expression something he’d witnessed often enough these past weeks.  

Now that they’d accomplished what they set out to do, he was worried that she was thinking about going home. To Sunnydale. Forgetting him and their developing relationship.

He didn’t know what he’d do if she tried to walk away. He’d like to think that she’d choose to stay with him. Especially after all they’d been through.

But as she sat there unmoving, lost in her own thoughts, the more concerned he became.

His nervousness manifested itself into anger, until he was practically seething as he waited for her to finally notice him watching her. He could feel himself about to erupt, tear into her for wanting to go her separate way – not that she’d even remotely voiced that that was what she wanted. His own mind had taken his worst-case scenario, his worst fear, and magnified it to the nth degree.  

Spike was all set to sit up and tear into her when she seemed to come to some sort of decision. He watched as she blinked repeatedly for a moment, as if unaware that she’d zoned out. Her gaze shifted slightly, and then she was looking down at him – really looking.

And what he saw reflected in her eyes?

Well, let’s just say that he was familiar with the look. Knew for a certainty that if he could see his reflection, his own eyes would be mirroring the same emotion.

She loved him.

His slayer loved him, and she didn’t seem like she was opposed to the idea. In fact, if the smile she was now gifting him with was any indication, she seemed rather happy about it.

His own lips quirked upward of their own accord, and a second later, he let out an oomph as she launched herself at him. She was laughing and crying and he held her through it all, marveling that the Slayer wasn’t averse to having him in her life.

A few minutes later she wound down and pushed against his shoulders so that she could sit up.  

“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” She gave him a half-smile, sniffing loudly while wiping a stray tear from her cheek.

“That we are, luv. That we are.”

~*~*~*~*~

“So... where to, pet?” Spike asked some time later. He wasn’t sure how long they sat there in comfortable silence as the Slayer nestled against his side.

“I don’t know. You seem to be the expert. Anyplace that sticks out in your mind?”

“Not really. We can stay here for a bit if you want. Daniel seems like a nice enough bloke, even with his bad habit of fadin’ into the background.”

“Yeah…”

Spike couldn’t help hearing the wistful note in her voice. It killed him to say it, but the words were out of his mouth before he could take them back. “We… we could go back… to Sunnydale if you want.”

“Maybe someday… but…”

“But what, luv?”

Buffy leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Spike’s lips.

“I kinda like this. Just you and me. And if we go back, I know I’m gonna get sucked into slaying and stuff. And I’ll have to listen to Giles whine, and my mom giving me ‘the talk’.”

Spike shuddered. He was leery of the Slayer’s mum. Axe to the head notwithstanding, she was a formidable woman in her own right.  

“That’s not what’s botherin’ you though, is it?”

“I just…”

“Just what, pet. Come on now, out with it.”

“I can’t die, Spike. What would happen if the Council found out? They’d…” She shook her head, denying her need to see her mother again, her friends. “As much as I might want to… I can’t go back.”

Spike pulled the Slayer down to lie next to him.

“Never happen, pet,” he told her as he held her close. “Won’t let anyone take you from me. You see what we did to the Order. Wankers would meet the same fate if they so much as tried.”

Buffy smiled at the conviction in his voice. He almost made her believe.  

But she had no illusions as to the evil nature of the Council. If they could subject their slayers to the Cruciamentum, a task only a handful of slayers had survived, there was nothing to prevent them from taking advantage of having an immortal slayer in their possession. And she shuddered to think what they might do to her, do to Spike in order to get to her.

“Let’s stay here for a while,” Buffy told him, her hand lifting to caress his cheek.

“If that’s what you really want to do. But you shouldn’t stay away from your mum, just because you’re worried about what might happen.”

“I’m not.”

Spike quirked his brow.

“Really… well, maybe just a little. But I did mean what I said though. Just you and me… it’s kinda nice. Maybe in a little while, once news of the Order’s demise dies down and our trail runs cold.”

“Alright, pet.”

Spike pressed a kiss to the Slayer’s upturned nose then reluctantly climbed to his feet.

“Now, show me where the shower is,” he commanded as he reached his hand out to help the Slayer to her feet.

Buffy blushed, imagining all kinds of fun they could have, but grabbed his hand anyway.

The End

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