Sensual Goodbyes

“So there I am trying harder then hell not to laugh as the bartender sets the liquor on fire then screams as the rest of the bar does the same!” Spike chuckled, along with Buffy and Willow. Xander on the other hand had a confused dull look on his face. The group was sitting by the dance floor of their new haunt in Cleveland called Denial.

“But how did the fire go from the glass to the bar?” he wondered aloud. Spike turned to look at him,

“The arse had filled the cup to the brim, so whose fault would it be if I say bumped into the bar causing it to spill a smidge?” he grinned as the two ladies beside him started to punctuate their giggles with hiccups.

“Well I may just be the new girl, but I don’t see what’s so funny about destroying public property.” Said Beth, Xander’s date for the night.

“Me neither, hun, lets leave these three to their gaffs and go dance,” Xander muttered, leading Beth to the dance floor.

“Aww, look at them.” Sighed Buffy. “They’re fallin’ in love.”

“Yeah. Bloody sick if you ask me.” Muttered Spike “Don’t see why cupid decided to waste a round on them.”

“Well look who’s Mr. Mood Swingy.” Giggled Buffy

“Aww, Buffy go easy on Spike. I think he’s lonely!” Cooed Willow in what was meant to be Spike’s defense.

“Bloody am not!” Spike arose and stomped off to the bar muttering “I’ll bloody be damned if I’m all bloody Emotional like some bloody grand poofer!”

“Ever notice how his bloody quota increases when he’s angry?” Mused Buffy, watching the bleach blond swagger off.

“And Denial is a very angry sport I’ve heard.” Willow agreed. The shorter girl hmm’d her response. After a few moments Buffy piped up again.

thinthink we should apologize? I really want to hear what happened to the bar.”

“Yeah” Willow half sighed standing up.

**********

The group was ecstatic over Spike’s new existence. Three months ago he was presumed dead. And now Ta Da! Like one of Will’s spells-gone-right, he was here, and there and everywhere that was possible for him to be. They were all happy for him, and not just in the new backup against the baddies type of way. Buffy had been in the dumps ever since the left the pit formerly known as Sunnydale.

“Spike! That wasn’t the last one was it? Gah! You know those are my favorites!” Buffy slapped Spike’s bicep as he popped the last of the hard candies in his mouth.

“Relax Slayer I’ll get you some more.” Spike chuckled at her flop down and pout act.

“Damn right you will! And I hope it takes you months! Werther’s Original’s don’t exactly grow on trees ya know! I hope you search for years!” She ground out the last word with the hatred only pms knew of.

“But if it took me years luv, you’d never get your sweets now would you?” Spike spoke smugly before the stated grin was bonked off by a flying throw pillow. “‘Ay! Wot was that for?” He looked up on the hovering form of Dawn.

“Just a hello,” She smirked as she slid into the armchair with the grace that only a smug 16-year-old girl could possess.

“See what you did!” Melodramatic Buffy pointed to the younger girl. “You made her mini-she Spike! Undo! Undo!”

“God Buffy, freak much?” Dawn rolled her eyes right before she collapsed into giggles at the tickling fingers of Buffy. After a few shrieks she managed to face Spike as she giggling called for assistance.

“Sorry, Nibblet. You got yourself into it and I don’t fancy my jewels being smashed in a rescue mission.” Spike slumped down biting hard into the candy, making Buffy stop her task and turn on him instead.

“You’re chewing it? Your not supposed ta chew on it! It’s a hard candy! You chew chewy candies!” Giving up Buffy stomped up the stairs of the apartment.

The two in the slightly unfurnished front room watched her retreating form then turned to each other. Spike was human now. No one under stood why or how. Two weeks ago he had just appeared in the summers front room in the middle of the afternoon. Dawn and Buffy were about to settle down to a chick-flick and cookie dough on the couch. The bang that accompanied his arrival made them jump off the couch both immediately taking defensive stances. Buffy in fighting stance in front of the couch and Dawn behind it, ready to scream and cower as she saw fit to do so. At the sight of the brightly bleached’s nude form both woman froze not realizing that the curtains were still open. After a few moments of staring at Spike’s crumpled form Buffy had shouted the commands and laid the ma her her own couch, staring as the fresh sunlight did him no damage. Now Two weeks later Dawn watched Spike with a keen interest. She had been ordered not to pester until he was well. Now he’s in tit-for-tats with Buffy and ranting over his balls, how much more well can he get?
“So do you still love her?” Dawn broke the silence

“Nibblet, even after I died I was still in existence. I don’t know how or why I’m here or why I was still existing there but I did have a bloody large amount of time ta think about some things including big sis there.” Spike sat back into the comfy second-hand couch thinking through the wisdom of having this conversation right now.

“And?” Dawn decided on it for him.

“And I came to quite a realization. I love your sis there and I’m right down to believin’ I always will, but I’ve gone to the end of the earth and back for her and it just hasn’t been right. I don’t see what else I can do, and honestly I’m not right sure if I’d want to do it if I could. Yer sis is a big girl an’ she can obviously take care of herself mos’ the time. I’ll always be there for you two but I’m givin’ up romantically nib.” During this pint-sized speech Spike had been feeling an almost ominous presences but now that it was out he didn’t feel much at all. Giving up on Buffy was giving up on everything he knew. He couldn’t easily just go back to being the scourge of Europe, though he still had a good amount of seemingly inhuman strength. But now what was he to do? Spike ran his hand through his hair, an uncommon gesture of thoughtfulness for the ex-vampire. He knew Red was behind him. And Xander as well, though he might not be the first to admit it, they’ve grown closer. The Nibblet was defiantly supportive if there was ever a sky that was blue. And even Giles had taken a liking to him. Not to mention Faith and maybe even Robin, though they were out and about gracing the fifty states and beyond right now on their honeymoon. But all the supportiveness and backing Spike had it still didn’t do him jack. Those shaky resemblances of morals Spike had shown as a vampire were now back at full force as a human. Right now Spike was doing all he could to pay Buffy back for letting him sleep on the couch. Spike Devlin did not take advantage of anyone’s good graces, let that be known.

“God, I’ve become a bloody poofer.” He moaned out loud, and then looked up when he realized he still had company.

Dawn had watched him during and after this speech. She knew despite his show, Spike was having a hard time adjusting to life as a human. Luckily he hadn’t gotten addicted to smoking because of his vampiric state. Only the feel of a cigarette did he miss. So he often carried around an unlit one behind his ear, ready to be slobbered on incase of a nervous break down, which he seemed to be near now.

“So what are you gonna do?” She asked with what seemed like the sincerity and depth of the wisest of humans.

Spike looked up again and saw nothing but acceptance in her eyes. “I don’t know,” and he didn’t but there was a tiny bud of an idea in his head and he was liking the way it looked, “but I will soon.”


The next morning the girls stumbled down stairs to the sound of sizzles and clatter. Facing the kitchenette the found one fresh and chipper blond flipping and frying to his beating heart’s content.

“There’s my two favorite girls! Common in, I made you something to gnaw on.” Spike was a human whirlwind. Before they could say nice apron they were seated and being served. “Scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits with gravy for Nibblet here. And for sis we have ham, eggs sunny side up and pancakes. All meals come with complementary Orange Juice,”

“Ooh! Juice!” Said Groggy Buffy who in the presence of fresh squeezed delights became Happy, Thirsty Buffy.

Smirking at this Spike continued with his routine “Water and Milk, also your hefty dose of midol milady,” Spike handed Buffy two oval pills, “And your teen midol my mini lady,” Spike swung around and exposed his pill-ed palm to the younger Summers girl.

“Thank you Spike,” mumbled the younger girl. If there was one thing Spike missed least of all was smelling the girls’ monthlies. That was a vampire’s sensual buffet and just the smell had driven Spike insane with greed. Now they were seemingly scent free and even human Spike was happy. Now drugged the girls should be content for a while.

“Spike,” Buffy managed between shovels of her chocolate chip pancakes. “Why is there a backpack on my kitchen counter?” She eyed the cloth item as though it were the devil it’s self.

“’Cause luv, I’m going on a trip.”

“A trip.”

“Yup, off to go see a few ol’ friends of mine if ya will.”

“What kind of friends.”

“The perfectly friendly kind of friends”

“And what’s the occasion?”

Dawn was watching the exchange with the avid interest of a ping pong fan. Eyes bouncing back in forth in an almost cartoonish sense she couldn’t wait to hear this one. Mentally she wondered what day it was so to see if she won the bet with Faith on how soon Spike would piss Buffy off.

“No Occasion, luv, just thought I’d stop in and say hullo, you know, let them know I still exist and all that.”

“Right.”

“Mm-hmm”

Dawn covered her grin with a sip of her milk, this was getting good, and she thought it might be her day! Between the joys 20 dollars could bring, and the display of Buffy’s rising temper, Dawn completely forgot about the moustache her sip left behind.

“So,” Buffy was now at the coffee machine filling her glass, she paused to take a sip. “Where did you say these friends were?”

Laying down his fork Spike looked up at her. “I didn’t.” He paused putting down his fork, “Why are you being so protective, Buffy? I’m more then a grown man who is more then able to take the train to a simple destination.”

“You most definitely are grown, Spike, but only as a vampire and barely as a man. And I’m not being protective I asked a simple question that’s all.”

“Fine then I’m taking the train to New York to say ‘ello to a few friends from back in the day. They’re holding on to something of mine and I’d really like it back.”

“And what’s that Spike, your immortality?”

“God Damn Slayer I’m starting to think it’s not just the pms talking there.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Buffy knew she was getting bitchy but she didn’t trust him to leave, and didn’t trust herself to let him.

“Nothing, nothing at all. All right? I’m leaving at 2 this afternoon, Xander is driving me to the station.”

Dawn decided this wasn’t the time to be here, besides Buffy had already broken out the sarcasm with the immortality line, and then moments later gone shrill over Spike’s snappy reply. If this didn’t qualify as pissed off, Dawn herself didn’t know what would. She started to rush out of the room to call Faith, at the door Spike called out to her.

“Dawn will you please clear you space… Oh and you got a little something on yer lip.”

Blushing Dawn did as she was told then rushed back upstairs and to the waiting phone.

“Why is this so important to you?” Whispered Buffy drawing all attention back to where it belonged.

Spike understood Buffy was afraid of losing a friend. As crazy as it seems that’s what they were now. Sighing he opened his arms pulling her into a hug. Even as a human he was strong, but she was still afraid.

“Luv, I’m tired of being a freeloader, once I collect from my connection I’ll have enough money to settle for awhile on my own.”

“Money? Is that what this is about? Cause I can give you money, we all can! Giles and Xander and… and… Faith! Oh and Robin! Cause ya know he kinda got over that whole you killed my mother thing when you saved the world. Oh granted he still kinda hates you but he’s not gonna kill. I . I promise. We talked.”

Spike put on his class act smirk. “I’m sure luv. But please I have to do this for more reasons then one. And I’d like to leave with yer blessing. But it’s not a must.”

Against his chest Buffy’s chin wobbled. “How do I know you’ll come back?”

Sighing Spike put his chin on the top of her head comfortably. “Don’t I always pet?”

**********


[A/N- Kay no smut yet but next chapter I promise various parrings. Please review this, it's my first fanfiction ever! nofrickinnumbers@yahoo.com
Next chapter should be up by tomarrow. We'll see.]