Walking by His Side

Spike's leg was draped lazily over the cot in the basement as his mind wandered back to a few months ago. It had been one hell of a ride, that was for sure. 'That damned guide was right' he thought. From the time he woke up in the basement, to the time that he found himself taken out of it by Buffy, it was a blur. After his rescue by his sweet Slayer, things made more and more sense. Every confusing the the guide and the First said began to filter out of his mind, letting him breathe once again with an ounce of sanity.

His mind went back to the Slayer's birthday...

***************
"Happy Birthday dear Buffy,
Happy birthday to you!"

Buffy smiled to the big group of Potentials, friends, and demons singing to her. She took one big breath, then blew out all the candles, giggling like a six-year-old girl would on her birthday.

"Okay, time for presents!" Dawn shrieked into Xander's ear unknowingly. Xander jumped back and moaned, covering his ears. Dawn giggled, waiting until Xander stoo back upright, then shrieked, "get out, Get Out, GET OUT!!!"

Xander fell back, tripping over something invisible and onto the ground.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Slayers have strength. Demons have powers. 16-year-old girls who watch TRL: The Shriek."

Anya interjected, "Presents, people, presents!" She pointed to the large stack of gifts next to the Slayer.

S wal waltzed in, and smiled weakly down at Buffy. "Got the slaying for the night done, luv." His hands went into his pockets to hide the blood on his hands.

Buffy grinned. "Thanks. It feels good to actually have a night off."


An hour later, the presents were unwrapped, and the entire gang was feeling a sugar rush from the cake. A truth or dare game was going on in one corner, and a poker game in another. Buffy Summers spent most of the evening thus far wearing her patented smile. Spike was next to her, rolling his eyes to a potential's story of walking in on him taking a shower. Choa-Ann just raised a brow to the conversation, but her face spread out in giggles when she figured out what they were talking about. Spike's face blushed even more as the young teen raised her hands to measure a foot, then pointed at Spike.

'Someone rescue me...' Buffy's voice pierced through his thoughts. "Spike did you ever get those wounds washed up?"- he heard her ask. He shook his head no, and she nodded.

"Well, I'll help you with those, if you don't mind." She smiled and got up from her spot onthe couch, then gently nudged on his arm. She led him to the kitchen, and grabbed the sponge to wipe off the wound. She quickly got to work on his hands.

"Thanks, pet." He looked at her intensely, unable to believe to took the time to notice his hands.

Buffy swallowed a lump in her throat. "You did the same for me. When I came back- you washed my hands clean."

Spike almost choked with emotion. "I was in heaven. Well, actually, it was a 'waiting dimension'. But...you were there. So to me, it was- Heaven."

They shared a look for a long moment, before dawm cleared her throat at the doorway, bringing the two back from Heaven and back down to Earth.


*******************

The door opened from the basement above, and small feet stepped down to the base of the stairs and then stopped. Green-hazel eyes looked into dark, mysterious blue orbs. Each person's eyes reflected the fear, questions, and lust they felt.


"Cor, Buffy. You're so beautiful when you look at me like that". His smile broadened, and he stepped towards her at the base of the stairs from his stance by the cot. "Luv, you look strong." with each step he added, "Golden. Heroic. Determined. Sexy." When he reached her, he looked down with a thoughtful look of his face, "And maybe tall?".

Buffy laughed. Yes, laughed. Her genuine smile light up her sparkling eyes, and her shoulder shook with the joyful rumbling that tembled through her body. "Tall? Spike, if it's one thing I am NOT, that would be tall, -and did you say I was sexy?" Her lips curved into a grin.

Spike smiled down at her, reaching a hand to her hair to push back a stray lock of her golden-spun hair. "Yes luv, sexy. Sexy as hell." He lowered his hand, letting it fall down to his side. His face warmed at the touch of her small hands slipping inside of his. Her feet shifted her weight from one to the other as she nervously looked up at him, and eyes he looked into her eyes, he felt a sense of pride. This was HIS slayer. His love.

"Spike, I don't think there's any way I'm getting any taller, unless...", she mused jokingly as she stepped onto his feet, gaining two inches and almost evening their height. "Unless I used you for assistance!"

"Ow, bloody- Ow!- not the big toe!" Spike cried, then looked at her with micheavious cobalt eyes. "Oh, assistance did you say?" In one quick movement, his arms wrapped around her mid-section, and he lifted her up and slung her light weight over his shoulder Tarzan-style. "Me help. Now Buffy Tall. -Ish."

Buffy shrieked and giggled, pounding on his back in mock exasperation. "Let me down Spike!Help! Spike! I'm not kidding! I will so-" Her legs kicked frantically, and her face was red from laughing at her ridiculous position.

"Oh Spike, put me down! I'm not kidding, although I'm laughing my ass off!" Spike mocked, using a falsetto to mock her much higher tone. "Just put me down and have your wicked way with me!" He huskily laughed with her, then hoisted her up by grasping her lower waist, swinging her around in the air and spinning. They both spun around and around until they collasped onto cot, giggling and dizzy in a heap of snickering fits.

Buffy leaned back against his chest, feeling comfortable with his arms wrapped around her, and lips pressed against her neck. "You know, last night, I got scared. The First is right- I am alone in my destiny. It doesn't matter how many friends and potentials I have by my side- in essence, I am alone to do my work.

But it's not going to be that way anymore. I don't know exactly how everything will work out tomorrow, but whatever happens, I want you to know that I felt you. You have been here, even when I wished you weren't. Last year, you stayed with me in the darkness while I trodded there- we were both there then. I started to redeem myself from what I did to you- You left to get your soul and do the same. For me. It boogles my mind. I don't understand how you can love me so much, even after what you told me in that house a couple of days ago.

You made me the hero I am. I learned it from you- you've come a long way from where you used to be- you're on a steady yet difficult path to redemption. But Spike, no...William." Quiet tears streaked down her cheeks, "I-I lo-. I- Man and monster. All of you I-." She shifted her weight, leaning on her side to look up at his face as she spoke. "But if something happens tomorrow...be the hero. Finish that path- not for me, but for yourself. No matter how bad it gets, promise me this. I love you- I- promise me..."

Spike was at a loss for words. He looked down at her pleading eyes, and moved his face foward to brush his lips with hers. "I love you, pet. I promise." He heard Buffy sigh with relief, and spoon her back against his chest once more. He held her as she cried, stroking her hair, arms, and cheeks. He wiped her warm tears gently, yet blindly, for his own eyes were clouded over with his tears. His mind wandered back to his first memory since he got his soul back.

~~~~~~~~*First day of school, Fall 2002*~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike was in utter shock. He was in a basement. His mind was barely connected sturdily. His movements were incredibly shaky, and his legs threatened to give way from beneath him.

"From beneath you, it devours."

Spike turned around slowly at hearing her voice. "B-B-Buff- no! No no no no no! Cut it out! Stop! Not here, not here, not here!"

The First clicked her tounge. "Tsk, tsk. I may not be her yet, but I think I wear her look better anyways."

"Spike, look at me! Don't look at her! She's messing with your mind!" the Guide urged. She knew that her image would only confuse him more, but it was the only one she could take...

"Bloody Fuck! No no no no no, I'm not seeing you, you're not there, not there! There's two of you! Why does it sting! Get it out! It's the soul, the two of you! L-l-l-leave!" He tore at his chest, scratching harshly like an animal deranged, intent on taking out the soul, the spark. He lunged away from the two images of Buffy, and reached the door only to have it kicked open. His mind almost went catatonic from the vision before him.

There, standing before him, was Buffy. Out of the corner of his eye he almost saw the three ghouls disappear, but his mind only registered Buffy.

His Buffy. The one and only. The one he did this hell for.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback End~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


He sighed contently, leaning his chin on the top of her head and knowing the night was far from over. Buffy's crying had stopped, and her breathing was even. He felt her hand slide down to his thigh, and her fingers run down to his knee, rubbing circles and scratching lightly through his jeans.

"William?"

"Yes, pet?" he replied.

"I can't sleep yet...will you dance with me?"

Spike swallowed the lump in his throat, then gained a delicious twinkle in his eyes. "A rough 'n' tumble? Yeah, I could do that." He slid out from beneath her before she had the chance to get up, and offered his hand to help her up. She took it, but as she leaned her weight on his hand as got pulled up, he let go, letting her tumble comically to the floor. "Oldest trick in the book, SLAYER"

"Oh, you are SOOO dead, VAMPIRE!" She mocked his words and got up quickly, lunging at him. Her expression was half joking, half seroius and she pounced at him.

"Sorry, luv. Already there!" He dodged her attack, and reached behind to grab her wrist. He hissed in pain as she turned her arm quickly, twisting his wrist back painfully. He kicked at the back of her knees, sending her crashing to the floor.

She quickly rebounded, and swung her body to the side as she kicked high at his chest. She growled in distain as he grabbed her foot, and spun her leg around trying to make her lose her balance. She tipped over, and quickly yanked the foot back. She suprized him by stiching back to the other foot, and knocking him over.

Spike barely caught the small yet powerful foot in time before it hit his chest- he stumbled back and let go of her foot. However, the slayer also lost her balance, tipping over with him and landing on the floor with him. They both got up, groaning inwardly at each other for their silly fighting mistakes.

In the corner, the guide stood watchign the happy, sparring couple. A couple of tears streaked each of her cheeks as she saw his face. She knew what tomorrow would bring, and it wasn't pretty. She was scarred to death, praying that her adored would chose to honor Buffy's promise.

Tomorrow in battle, William would have to choose redemption, or love.

His inner peace, or Buffy.


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This chapter has been edited for length and clarity.