Bargains

I had a great idea. I really didn’t like the way the scoobies interrupted the Spuffy living room scene in After Life. So here’s my SPUFFY version. Hope you like it.

I own NOTHING in the BuffyVerse. Obviously. Joss is god.

Although I do own my Godiva chocolate covered Muse.

Bargains

Buffy heard the door slam open downstairs. She looked around anxiously. “What was that?”

“It’s Ok. It’s Ok.” She tried to reassure her sister. Dawn placed a gentle hand on Buffy’s shoulder.

“Dawn? Dawn? Are you there?” Buffy shivered as she heard his voice. She closed her eyes for a second to focus. ~ Spike? Ohgodohgod. ~

“It’s just Spike.” Dawn shrugged and offered a small smile. “He’s upset with me.” She whispered. Dawn walked calmly to the door and yelled down to him. “I’m here.”

Dawn glanced at Buffy. She turned and left the room. Buffy followed silently behind.

Spike was shaking he was so angry. He glared up menacingly at the only girl who ever truly lovim. im. ~ My charge. The Bit I’m supposed to protect. ~ Spike stared straight into her eyes. “Thank god. You scared me half to death. Or more to death. You. I could kill you.” He growled softly.

Dawn walked slowly down the stairs, wide terrified eyes pinning her vampire protector in place. “Spike…” It was barley more than a whisper.

“I mean it Bit. I could rip your head off one handed and drink from your brain stem.” He growled viciously. Spike glared at her finally getting control over his fear for his charge.

“Look.” She whispered glancing back over her shoulder with wide eyes.

Spike looked up. Not all the way up, not into her eyes. Just the basic shape of her legs and stomach. He knew who it was. He didn’t have to look into those eyes that looked so much like hers. “Yeah? I’ve seen the bloody bot before. Didn’t think she’d patch up so…” Spike lost his voice as he caught her scent. Buffy. With the underlying scent of fresh earth. ~ Buffy? ~ He thought incredulously.

Buffy continued to walk down the stairs, her eyes never leaving his. ~ Spike. ~ It was almost a sigh.

“She’s kind of, um…she’s been through a lot…with the…death. But I think she’s okay.” Dawn murmured as she watched Buffy watching Spike.

Buffy looked down at herself and noticed her shirt was still half unbuttoned. She lifted her hands automatically and started buttoning.

Dawn glanced at Spike and saw the utter incredulity on his face as he stared at his slayer. “Spike? Are you okay?”

“I’m…What did you do?” he flashed his eyes upon her, glittering with yellow fire.

“Me? Nothing!” Dawn was indignant. She wasn’t scared. This was Spike! Spike who’d saved her life many times, taken beating after beating for her and lastly Spike who was in love with her sister. Still. Even after death. Even after her laying in the ground for almost five months.

Buffy clutched the top of her shirt closed and glanced fearfully at Spike. Green eyes widening.

“Her hands.” Spike growled softly.

Buffy lowered her hands and hid them behind her back.

“Um. I was gonna fix em. Don’t know how they got like that.” Dawn grimaced.

“I do. Clawed her way out of her coffin, that’s how.” He turned to look at Buffy and captured her eyes with his piercing gaze. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah. That’s …what I had to do.” She said softly.

“Done it myself.” He said softly. His heart ripping to pi at at her having to do that. He stared at her. Buffy blinked and seemed to snap Spike out of his daze. “Come here Luv. Big Bad’ll take care of you.” He held his hand out to her.

Buffy almost ran down the remaining steps. She wanted to touch him. She’d know if this was really real then. She placed her hand gently in his palm. Spike twined his fingers slightly with hers being careful not to touch her open sor

~ It’s real. Ohmygod. How did I get back here? ~ Tears threatened to overwhelm her.

“Dawn. Get some stuff, uh, mecherichome, bandages.” Spike said softly pulling Buffy along behind him he walked towards the living room.

Dawn nodded and walked towards the kitchen.

Spike sat her gently on the sofa. He took her hands in his, and sat facing her. He perched on the edge of the coffee table. ~ I can’t believe she’s here. ~ The thought terrified him. Spike glanced down at her hands.

Buffy looked at Spike and followed his glance to her hands. ~ I can’t believe he’s being so gentle. Would he have been like this if I hadn’t died? Could he haven? Wn? Why do I really want him too be gentle? ~ Buffy was freaked. She glanced at the top of his head and suddenly his eyes were upon her once again.

They both gasped at the things they saw in one another’s eyes.

“How long was I gone?” She whispered.

“Hundred and forty seven days yesterday. Hundred and forty eight today.” Spike smiled and Buffy could see the hope shining in his eyes. “‘Cept today doesn’t count, does it?”

Buffy continued to stare into his eyes, afraid of what she saw there. It was raw and it was real. And she believed it. For the very first time she believed he was in love with her. That Terrified Buffy.

“How long was it for you? Where you were?” Spike questioned resting his gaze on her bruised and bloodied knuckles once again. He wanted to sob and pull her into his arms and never let her go. He wanted to hold her so badly, it was tearing him up inside.

“Longer.” She murmured closing her eyes, to stop the litany of feelings for a second.

Dawn ran back into the room. “Got the stuff…”

She set the first aid kit down beside Spike. They heard a crash as the scoobies flung the door open and ran into the living room.

“Is she here?” Willow questioned. Buffy and Spike stood up and Spilarelared at the scoobies as they talked. ~ That’s how she came back. Red used her mojo. Damn them! ~

“She’s here!” Anya cried happily.

“You’re here!” Willow smiled brightly at Buffy.

“We didn’t know where you were.” Xander murmured.

“You ran away.” Anya said.

“Buffy!” Willow said happily.

“Are you Okay?” Tara asked

“You guys knew she was back?” Dawn gasped.

Spike walked out of the house, he was too angry to stay. He was so incensed he wanted to rip their heads off. He shut the door silently behind him.

The instant he left the room, hot tears washed down Buffy’s cheeks.

“ How did you know?” Dawn asked angrily hands on her hips.

“You’re not a zombie are you?” Anya asked.

“Anya!” Xander reprimanded.

“Are you in pain?” Willow asked.

“What do you remember?” Xander questioned.

“What do you know about what happened?” Tara said softly.

Buffy sat back down, staring at the floor. ~ He left me. ~

“Hey! Back off!” Dawn growled viciously stepping between her sister and her friends. ~ Spike taught me well. ~ She thought proudly when they all flinched.

All of them stared at Dawn, mouths hanging open.

“You did this. What did you do?” Dawn asked glaring at them.

“A spell. We did a spell.” Willow said softly.

“We didn’t think it worked but…” Anya said softly.

“Is she going to be Ok?” Dawn asked so.
.

“I am Ok.” Suddenly Buffy Spoke. She stood and squeezed Dawn’s shoulder slightly. “I’m fine. I remember. You brought me back.”

“What was it like?” Anya asked.

“I…I can’t…” Buffy closed her eyes.

“It’s ok. You don’t have to talk about this Buff. Hey, do you want something? Anything? Pizza? I’ll get you pizza.” Xander blubbered.

~ All I want is Spike to take care of my hands. But you guys made him leave. Just like it was you guys brought me back. From heaven ~fy cfy closed her eyes and sighed. “I just want to go to my room.” without looking at anyone in the room she walked silently upstairs.
~~~~~`

Spike stalked all the way back to his crypt, looking for something to take his feelings out on. He growled ferally when he reached his destination without so much as a fledgling to dust.

He growled again. Spike slammed his door open angrily and whipped it shut behind him. He stalked to the hole that led to the lower level and dropped silently down.
~~~~~`

Buffy pulled her boots on and climbed out her window. ~ Just what the hell am I doing? ~ She wondered silently. Yet she continued on to her destination, clutching the small white box in her still bloodied hands.
~~~~~`

Spike paced back and forth restlessly. He stopped suddenly and slammed his fist into the concrete and earth that made up his walls. He cringed as he felt flesh ripping from bone.

He pulled his fist from the wall and glanced down at it, laughing hysterically at the sight of his blood. Suddenly Spike heard a noise and stiffened. He grasped his dagger and pulled it from its sheath. Spike silently stalked to the upper level.

He caught her scent half way up. ~ Buffy ~

He climbed the rest of the way up. “You should be careful Luv. Never know what kind of villain’s got a knife at you’re back.”

She turned her luminescent green eyes on him. “Your hand is hurt.”

“Ummhm.” He nodded towards her. “Same with you.”

She nodded still looking into his eyes. Suddenly she held the small first aide kit out to him. “You said you’d help.” Her lip trembled slightly.

~ Don’t cry luv. Couldn’t take that. ~ Spike was at her side instantly. He sat her down gently on his couch and sat in front of her on the coffee table. “That I will luv. Then you can do mine. Yeah?”

Buffy nodded and smiled slightly.

“I’m sorry Buffy.” Spike looked into her eyes. “If I would have done what you asked…kept my promise, protected her…you wouldn’t have had to jump.”

Buffy sat silently looking into his eyes.

“I want you to know, I did save you. Not that night, not when it counted of course but...after that. Every night after that. I’d see it all again…do something different. Faster more clever, you know? Dozens of times, lots of different ways.” Spike closed his eyes. “Every night I save you.” He whispered softly.

“Why’d you leave?” She whispered. He was almost done with the first hand.

“Had to. Couldn’t take it Buffy…I wanted to rip their heads off. I swear it was the happiest moment and the worst moment in my entire life and un-life when I realized…I swear my heart beat for a second.” Spike looked into her eyes and she saw the unshed tears behind his eyes.

“Will you come back with me?” She pleaded. Spike saw the need in her eyes. The need to be comforted.

“ Anything You ask of me Luv.”
~~~~~`

They climbed back in through her window. “I have to change…will you wait?”

Spike nodded. He didn’t trust himself with words. ~ Can’t believe she wants me here. I must be dreaming. If I am I don’t want to wake up. ~

She returned a few minutes later and glanced nervously at the vampire in her bed. “Are you sure this is ok?” She whispered.

“There is nothing I want more than to hold you while you sleep luv. Offer everything I have to hold you.” Spike murmured softly holding out his arms to her.

Buffy crawled under the covers and snuggled up next to him. Spike pulled her tight against his side. She could feel him breathing.

“Spike? Why?” Buffy felt the tears threatening again.

“Get some sleep Luv. Promise we’ll find out in the morning.”

Buffy lay her head against his shoulder and let his soothing song was over her.

“So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
And nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never care for what they do
Never care for what they know
And I know

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
And nothing else matters

Never care for what they do
Never care for what they know
But I know


Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never care for what they say
Never care for games they play
I never care for what they do
I never care for what they know
And I know

So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
No, nothing else matters”


His low rumbling voice stirred something in Buffy. She knew it. She was falling for him before she jumped. That is why she wanted him here, why she wanted the comfort of his embrace. He Loved her so much, that even though he had no ties to this town that had done so much to him, caused him so much pain and suffering, he stayed to watch over her sister. The sister she died for because she loved her so much. He stayed with no promise nor pretense of ever seeing Buffy again. It overwhelmed her and she felt tears sliding down her cheeks.

Spike simply stoked her back and let her cry. Gut wrenching harsh sobs, making her pant and sniffle. He didn’t ask her if she was ok. He knew she wasn’t. He didn’t ask her if she needed anything. He knew she just needed time. She wasn’t an invalid for Christ sake. So she’ d come back from hell. He knew she was a fighter. Down to her core. He knew she’d get through it.

All he could do was be there for her. Be anything she needed. And he was. In the weeks and months to come, he was her Everything.

Buffy’s tears slowly stopped and she sighed. “Sorry.”

“No problem Luv.” Spike said softly, still calmly taking breaths and stroking her back. Buffy let herself be lulled by his rhythmic breathing and fell into a deep calm sleep.


He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head softly. Spike followed her into peaceful slumber. The first one he has had in one hundred and forty seven nights.
~~~~~`

What do you think? Please let me know. ;) Az