Here Without You

The next morning was frantic and hurried. Xander and William arrived promptly at nine and the move had begun. The men were busy unloading the last piece of furniture from Xander's uncle's pick up truck, while the girls were inside swapping ideas and plans for decor.

"Answer me this," Xander grunted as he and William lifted a recliner and made their way to the entrance of the dormitory. "How is it that we have girlfriends who are all about the woo, and might I add a big hoo, when it comes to the pants wearing part of our relationships, but someone says ‘manual labor’ and it's fingernails and muscle spasms."

"It's the cross we bear, mate," William replied concentrating on his grip; "for being this athletic and good looking."

Xander smiled at his former roommate as they carried the chair down the hall and into William and Buffy's room. When they entered they were slightly surprised at what they saw. Buffy was asleep on her bed with her head on her pillow and her lower body angled so that her legs were dangling over the side touching the floor. Anya was laying in the top bunk with her head positioned at the foot of the bed, one arm dangling over the side as well as one leg. A brochure for the "Loft Guys" was sitting opened on Buffy's lap as she slept. William and Xander exchanged devilish grins and dropped the recliner with a loud thwack. The noise startled Buffy who sat straight up from the bed with a sheepish grin.

"Trying to hurt the chair?" Buffy asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry Pet, did we wake you?" William replied sarcastically.

"I guess we kinda dozed off," Buffy yawned as she lifted herself off of the bed stretching her tired muscles. "Sleepy," she added wrapping her arms around William's waist and laying her head on his shoulder.

"I can see how you would be." Xander replied, his voice dripping with derision. "I mean what with all the talking and planning."

"Sorry Xand," Buffy replied. "I'm a firm believer that men move the furniture and women have the babies."

Xander rolled his eyes at her, trying to keep himself from laughing. "Spike, are you listening to this, because if you are a little help would be appreciated?"

"Spike?" Buffy questioned looking around the room for the aforementioned party.

"You're on your own mate," William answered, silently noting Buffy's confused look. "At least Anya hasn't started in on you yet. "’Xander, don't you care about me?’" William mocked Anya, raising the pitch in his voice. "’We never talk.’"

"Shut up!" Xander answered as he sat down in the recliner.

"Xaaaander," William continued sing-songing in his mocking tone.

"What about Xander?" Anya asked in a drowsy voice as she sat up on the bunk bed.

"Nothing," Xander replied. "Spike here is just trying to get me into trouble."

"A real challenge, that," William mumbled.

"I'm hungry, what time is it?" Anya asked rubbing her eyes.

"Half past four," William replied looking at his watch.

"Are we finished?" Anya questioned, looking at Xander.

"Yeah," Xander nodded. "We are finished." He added gesturing madly at himself and William.

"Yay!" Anya exclaimed climbing off of the bed. "I don't know why people hate moving so much. I didn't even break a sweat." She noticed the aggravated look on Xander's face. "What?" she asked placing her hands on her hips.

Xander bowed his head in defeat and shook it slightly. "You are attractive and have many good qualities," he reminded himself.

William leaned over and whispered to his friend, "Are you trying to convince yourself of that mate?"

"Shut up!" Xander replied.

"Xaaander." William began teasing again in the same way that he had earlier.

Xander leaned over and lightly punched William’s arm. "Are you ready to go, baby?" he then asked turning to Anya.

"Oh yes," she replied. "We still have time for at least one orgasm before we have dinner." She then turned to Buffy giving her friend a goodbye hug and waved quickly to William.

Xander nodded to Buffy and William as he joined Anya's side scolding her for her overly blunt observation. "You remember that talk we had about private conversations? " He asked as they left the room, closing the door behind them. "How they are less private when they're in front of my friends."

"Sometimes I don't get those two." William commented, shaking his head. "They don't seem to have anything in common at all."

"Sure they do," Buffy replied looking over at the door and then back to William. "They both really like his penis."

William chuckled slightly at his girlfriend’s observation. "That they do, pet."

The couple shared a comfortable silence for a few moments as the realization set in: they were officially living together. This was their room, their bathroom, their closet, their...bed. This thought excited William and he immediately felt his jeans getting tighter as he moved closer to Buffy.

"Alone at last," he breathed as he reached out to take her into his arms. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and began to place feather light kisses down her neckline to her collarbone. "Whatever shall we do now?" He asked his voice deep with desire.

"Well," Buffy replied leaning into his touch. "You should go take a quick shower and then get dressed because we are going out to dinner with Xander and Anya and Willow and Tara."

"Bloody Hell!" William exclaimed as his shoulders slumped and his head bowed in a pout. "Am I ever going to get you all to myself?" He asked, giving her his best puppy dog look.

"Of course." Buffy replied with a flirtatious smile.

"When luv? When is it going to just be you and me, and furthermore for how long?" He continued to pout crossing his arms in front of him.

Buffy pretended to ponder his question for moment and then wrapped her arms around Williams’s neck. "How about forever, does forever work for you?" she asked kissing him lightly on the nose.

William grabbed Buffy and pulled her closer to him. He cupped the back of her head with his hand and crushed his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss. When he finally released her he rested his forehead against hers and whispered his reply "Till the end of the world."

Buffy groaned as William released her and grabbed a towel from a box marked BATHROOM and began to head to the shower. Just as he was about to close the bathroom door behind him Buffy called out, "William."

"Yes luv?

"Why did Xander call you Spike?" * * *

It was late when William and Buffy returned to their dorm room. He opened the door for her and allowed her to step inside before closing it behind him.

"Let me get this straight," she said turning around to face William. "Your fraternity brothers gave you the nickname ‘Spike’ because of a pledge class dare?"

"Yup," he answered.

"And you can't give me details because the brothers would so kick your ass."

"Yup."

"But what you can tell me is that it involves a fraternity house, some super glue and a few unmentionables purchased from Lolita's House of Pleasure?"

"Yup."

Buffy was shaking her head trying to stifle a laugh. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"I think that's about it," William told her, grinning.

"I'm not going to pretend to try to understand." Buffy shook her head and looked over at William and smiled lovingly at him. "I think I'm going to go take a shower," she told him. "Why don't you unpack the TV and pop in a DVD and we can watch it when I get out?"

"What ever you want pet," William replied

"Be right back," Buffy told him as she disappeared into the bathroom.

As soon as the door to the bathroom clicked shut William got to work. He pulled out all the Pillar candles he could find, placing them strategically around the room. He then lifted his boom box stereo out of the box that it was packed in and placed it on the dresser and plugged it in. He took a CD case from his jacket pocket and popped the CD into his stereo. Next, he turned off the main light and turned on the bedside lamp, covering the hood of the lamp with a red scarf, casting a romantic glow around the room. He heard the water to Buffy's shower turn off and quickly lit the candles around the room. He then hit the play button on his stereo and soft music began to play.

Buffy stepped out of the shower carefully and began to dry herself off. When she was satisfied she slipped into her blue silk pajamas and began to towel dry her golden hair. When her hair was no longer dripping, Buffy took her long-tooth comb and began to brush her locks. She gathered the long mass of hair into a ponytail and secured it with a rubber band. Buffy couldn't help but smile at her reflection. Just knowing that her William was in the other room waiting to hold her filled her with anticipation. There would be no tearful goodbye over the telephone tonight, as there had been every night for the past year. Buffy sighed and turned to open the door. When she stepped out into the main room her breath caught in her chest at the sight before her. The room was glowing with candlelight and a dim pink glow came from the bedside lamp reflecting the red satin scarf that was placed on top of it. Soft music was playing in the background. In the center of the room stood William. Buffy had never seen him look more beautiful than he did right now.

"I wanted to share something with you pet," he said taking a step toward her. "Give me your hand." William extended his hand to her and she eagerly took it. He then pulled her into his embrace and began to sway slightly to the music that was playing.

A hundred days had made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face A thousand lights had made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same But all the miles had separate They disappeared now when I’m dreaming of your face

"Every night before I would go to bed," William whispered. "I would listen to this song and it would comfort me."

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams And tonight it’s only you and me

The miles just keep rolling as the people either way to say hello I hear this life is overrated but I hope it gets better as we go

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams And tonight girl it’s only you and me

"Even when I was here and you were back in Sunnydale I could feel you, here." He told her bringing her hand to his chest directly over his heart. "You surround me Buffy. You're in my gut, my throat. I'm drowning in you Summers, I'm drowning in you."

Everything I know, and anywhere I go It gets hard but it won’t take away my love And when the last one falls, when it’s all said and done It gets hard but it won’t take away my love

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams And tonight girl it’s only you and me

I’m here without you baby but you’re still on my lonely mind I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time I’m here without you baby but you’re still with me in my dreams But tonight girl it’s only you and me

Buffy could feel the tears as they welled in her eyes. She looked up at her William and felt a burning that she had never felt for another person before. Sure, she had had other boyfriends, however, none ignited the fire within her the way William did.

"Tell me you want me," she whispered to him.

"I always want you." he breathed and then looked her up and down. When he finally met her gaze his blue eyes looked almost black with lust "Point of fact..."

"Shut up," she interrupted him with a searing kiss. Leading him over to their bed, she whispered into his mouth, "Too much talking." With that, she pushed him onto the mattress, not breaking their passionate embrace.