Therapy

Chapter 11/Therapy
Disclaimer in chapter 1


Later that night after the movie, when Dawn was safely in bed, Buffy and Spike were out on patrol. " Pet are you sure you're ready to face us, to find out wht ist is between us?"

Buffy sighed deeply, "I don't know. I only know I can't go on in this limbo of feeling nothing except when I'm with you. I know there is something there, I just don't know if it's ... dependence, caring or what?"

He spun her to face him, holding on to her shoulders, " Please don't run off when I say this, but last night, what I felt from you, what we shared, I've never felt before in almost 150 years of life or unlife. I still feel as tho' we're connected. I've felt it all day. I can even tell what time they called you; I got all giddy and lightheaded, at about 12:30. That's when they called right?" He looked into her face, gathering his courage to continue. Buffy nodded in agreement.

"Last night when I said 'I know we can make love' you didn't flinch, you didn't disagree, you just accepted it. Then this is the scary part luv, maybe we should sit?" He nodded toward a bench.

She took his hand and they both walked over and sat.

"Did the poof or your watcher ever explain any of the vampire rituals, about mating?" He asked softly.

She gently shook her head no, staring into his eyes solemnly like a lost child.

"I didn't think so." He murmured.

He took a deep and unneeded breath, then swallowed before continuing, "When two shall exchange blood and make their claim and accept them whilst in consummation, they are mated well and truly for all times, even beyond this earthly plane." He stopped his shoulders sagging.

"That's the way it's worded. Last night I didn't bite you back because I didn't believe you knew what was happening, but I think that because you fulfilled your part of the ritual, and I accepted it, even tho' you are a human, I have been claimed. And now I am bound to you."

He slumped on the bench, head down, afraid to meet her eyes, both taking deep steadying breaths.

Slowly, softly Buffy reached over and stroked his face, turning him to look in his eyes. She leaned forward and brushed his lips with a chaste kiss.

Drawing back she stared deep into the eyes of this being, that was so honest with her it hurt him. She could see the pain in his eyes.

"Have you ever claimed anyone?" timidly the question slipped out.

"No" he almost sighed.

"Has anyone ever claimed you?"

"No, and if you want you can deny the claim, cause you didn't know. I 'd understand if it makes you uncomfortable..." he trailed off.

"Dru never..."

"She thought it was rot. Said 'the pixies whisper it to the stars' whatever the bloody hell that means."

"You know Angel drank from me."

"It's not the drinking, Hell pet. I know you've been bit, but if it's not a claim, ...it doesn't matter."

"It does I want you to know, the first was the Master, part of his ascension, the second was Angel, to cure a poison, only the 'blood of a slayer' would do, and the other one was Dracula, I think he was trying to thrall me, ...didn't work."

"Like I said, you can deny it, I respect your choice." He stared at his feet.

Buffy grasp his face turning him to look at her once again, " Spike look at me. I don't know, I know that last night was more intense, it moved me more deeply and more profoundly than any time we've been together. More than anyone every has. I think we need to wait and see. But I do want you to come home with me tonight."

Spike damn near fell off the bench, she wanted to make love to him in her bed in her home. She had claimed him and not denied the claim. He was floating, happy he didn't have a beating heart. It would have stopped by now if he did. She clasped his hand and walked off to her home, leading him with her. He followed in a daze.

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