AT LAST
PROLOGUE
It had taken almost sixty years. Sixty years of watching and waiting. He didn’t want her to die, but it was the only way they could be together. The Powers had been kind to him, allowing him to watch over her through a portal, but he wanted her with him. Not long now, he could almost feel her approach.
Soon she would be here.
The Powers had warned him over a year before that her time was near. Patience had never been his strong point, and he had fretted over how she would receive him. He had every intention of meeting her when she arrived; in fact he planned to be the only one to meet her.
Whispering through the portal, Spike uttered the words he knew she would never hear. “I’m waiting, Goldilocks. Come back to me.”
Soon she would be here.
##
THE ENDING
Surrounded by noisy monitors, the old woman lay still on the bed. Her breathing was laboured, and each breath seemed to rattle in her chest. At her bedside sat her sister, silent tears rolling down her withered cheeks.
Buffy had lasted eighty years on the Earth plane; sixty-five of them as the Slayer. For the last sixty years she had not been alone in her calling, and each new generation brought more slayers to the Council. She had worked hard to ensure the Council grew from the ashes of The First, but now her work was complete. The mantel of ‘Head Slayer’ had passed to another long ago, now she could rest.
Dawn held tightly to Buffy’s hand as she waited for her to pass away. She had lost consciousness over a week ago, but Dawn was not ready to let go. Praying to the Powers to allow her sister to live, she had called on every power the Council possessed to try and prolong Buffy’s life, but it was all a waste of time.
Buffy’s time had come.
Wondering why she was allowing her sister to live this half-life, Dawn stared down at their closed hands. She had moved Buffy’s fingers around her own to give herself comfort from her sister’s touch. Buffy did not know she was there, but Dawn could not leave.
Maybe it was time now to let her go. Let her go back to the Heaven Buffy had missed so much. Apart from Dawn, Buffy had no one. She had never married, never had children and for more years than Dawn cared to remember, she had never had a man.
Carrying her grief from the destruction of Sunnydale, Buffy had tried to move on. She had dated a few times in the last sixty years, but she had never gone beyond a few dates. When Dawn had questioned her about her unsuccessful love life, Buffy had just smiled and told her that she was waiting for Mr Right, but he never appeared.
Buffy’s grief over Spike’s death had been all-consuming. When Andrew had finally told her that Spike was back from the hellmouth and living with Angel in L.A., she had jumped on the first plane bound for the States out of Rome.
But she had arrived too late. The battle was over, and the Angel team had won, but at the cost of all their lives. All she had found were two piles of dust. Not knowing which belonged to Spike and which belonged to Angel, she had gathered both piles and took them back to Rome. Xander had made her an elaborate casket to hold them. The casket had been partitioned into two because even in death she doubted they would want to be together. It had brought a smile to her lips to think that her two loves still shared her life, even if they did not know it.
Behind papery eye-lids, Buffy’s eyes stared to move from side to side. Noticing the change Dawn stood up from her chair, her hand gripping Buffy’s tighter. Slowly Buffy’s eyes started to open, and for the first time in over a month they seemed clear and bright. Turning her head slightly to the side, Buffy looked up at her sister and smiled.
“He’s waiting for me, Dawnie” she croaked. “He’s been waiting a long time, and now I’m ready to see him again.”
Dawn stared down at her sister, the tears still pouring down her cheeks. “Who’s waiting, Buffy?”
“Spike,” Buffy smiled.
Taken aback at her sister’s statement, Dawn just stared at her.
“I know you don’t believe me Dawn, but he told me he was waiting for me.” Smiling again, Buffy looked so happy. “He called me Goldilocks.” As she spoke the last word, her eyes closed.
Dawn knew what she had to do. In all her time on this planet, she had seen more than most. If her sister said that Spike was waiting, did she have the right to stop them being together? The decision had been made for her; she must let her sister go.
Taking a deep breath to try and stop her tears, Dawn slowly let Buffy’s hand drop to the bed. Turning quickly she made for the door to inform the staff that they could finally switch off life-support.
One hour later, Buffy Summers was declared dead.
##
THE BEGINNING
The house was spic and span. He had spent a long time making sure that everything was ready for her. Each piece of furniture had been picked with care, and he hoped she would be happy. Every room looked exactly the same as her house in Sunnydale, even down to the pictures on the wall and the crockery in the cupboards. Clothes bulged in every closet, and Mr Gordo was propped up on the sofa waiting for his long lost owner.
Soon she would be here.
Taking a final look around the house to make sure everything was perfect, Spike eagerly made for the door. His smile was wide on his face as he opened the door to the daylight lighting his way. Closing the door carefully behind him, he looked up at the clear blue sky.
For the first time since the battle, he felt almost alive.
His heart felt like it was bursting inside his chest, but he knew it was just excitement, and his eyes closed in silent prayer. Lifting his head towards the sky, he quickly said the words that would take him to ‘The Meeting Place’. She was due at any moment, and he didn’t want to be late.
Soon she would be here.
The Meeting Place was full. Many were due to arrive, and their loved ones were waiting. Each held a white rose of welcome, the sign of love. Spike’s arms were full of the beautiful blooms; he wanted her to have no doubts about his love for her. It had transcended time, and now it would be rewarded.
Soon she would be here.
His eyes were trained on the gates. They would open soon, and the righteous would be allowed to enter. Already the mists were rising, and the throng started to move forward in greeting. Pushing his way to the front, he was only feet from the gates when they started to open.
Thousands passed through, each one greeted by their kin. Some had not seen each other in years, and others had been greeted by friends who had known them in life. Finally she walked towards the gates, her hair golden in the light. The ravages of time had been eradicated from her face and once again she was the Buffy he knew. Young, beautiful and the bravest person he had ever met. Her green eyes sparkled with life, and her smile was glorious.
She was finally here.
Walking purposefully towards her, he noticed that she started to run. She was running away from him, and his head turned to scan the crowd. Where could she be running to, whom had she seen.
It was then he saw them. Joyce stood with her arms wide waiting to greet her daughter. Buffy ran into her mother’s arms and hugged her tight. In his pleasure at her arrival, he had forgotten that Joyce would be here too. They had not spoken much over the last sixty years as Joyce had been happy in the bosom of her own family. His golden goddess deserved to be with her mother right now, and he slowly turned to leave. He knew where to find her, and would seek her out in a few days.
He would let her be with her mother.
Turning his back on mother and daughter, he let the bouquet drop from his hands. There was no point in keeping it now; he would get another once she was ready to meet him. Honour rose like a beacon in his breast, and he knew he was doing the right thing.
As he walked slowly away, he heard her call his name. Stopping still, he was afraid to turn around. Slowly his courage returned, and he turned towards her. She was standing in front of him, her smile lighting up her face.
“And just where do you think you’re going, Spike?” she asked, her head tilting to the side.
He could not find the words to answer her immediately he stared down at her up-turned face. Now that she was standing so close, her unique vanilla scent washing over him, he returned her smile as his voice returned.
“Not a lot of places to go here, luv. Was just heading home.”
“Why?” she asked. “Didn’t you come to meet me?”
Spike continued to smile at her as his hand rose to stroke her soft cheek. “Yes sweetheart, I did come to meet you. Just forgot that Joyce would be here that’s all, and I thought you would want to spend some time with your mum.”
Without warning, she jumped into his arms. “Oh God, Spike,” she whispered in his ear. “Have you any idea just how much I’ve missed you.”
His arms clamped around her like a vice. He had his woman in his arms for the first time in over sixty years, and he didn’t want to let her go. Spike’s mouth was buried against her soft throat, his tears of joy running down his face.
“Missed you every day, Buffy. Every single day felt like a lifetime without you.”
Buffy moved her hands to either side of his face, and moved his head back from her neck to look him in the eye.
“Do you still love me, Spike?”
“Always, pet.”
Smiling up at him, she drew his mouth to hers for a soft kiss. “I’ve missed you every day too, Spike. I love you too.”
Crying in earnest, Spike crushed her in his embrace. His goddess had said she loved him, and this time he believed her.
“Let’s go home, pet” he whispered against her lips. “I want you all to myself for the next hundred years or so.”
Silently he held her in the circle of his arms as he said the words that would take them home.
##
WHO DESERVES THE COOKIES
Buffy looked round their home, and smiled. His attention to detail was amazing. Even after sixty years she remembered every piece of furniture, every picture, every ornament that had graced 1630 Revello Drive. He had even managed to get hold of Mr Gordo. If she needed any further proof of his love, it would be hard to find one.
“It’s perfect, Spike”
Standing with his hands in the pockets of his duster, he smiled at her. He had been shifting uneasily from side to side while she had explored the house. He had deliberately left her alone to look around their home, and he had wondered if she would be pleased. His heart swelled in his breast as she threw her arms around his neck to kiss him.
Tongues duelled and hands wandered as they lost themselves in the kiss. So deep in each other, they never heard the knock on the door. Suddenly another voice broke into their reverie, and they slowly drew apart.
Buffy’s mouth opened wide in surprise at their guest, but Spike just rolled his eyes.
“What do you want, Peaches?”
Angel looked at Spike and Buffy, and smiled. “I’ve come for Buffy, Spike.”
“Have you now,” Spike sneered. “Don’t you think that’s up to Buffy, Angel?”
Proud that Spike had included her in this little pissing contest, Buffy smiled at Angel. “Have to agree with Spike here, Angel. It is up to me just who I want to be with for eternity.”
Taking her smile as acquiescence, Angel held out his hand. “Then let’s go, Buffy.”
“Just a minute, Angel” Buffy’s eyes narrowed at his attitude. “What makes you think I want to go anywhere with you?”
Spike’s laughter filled the room, as Angel just stared at Buffy.
“But you’re in heaven now, Buffy. You can’t seriously tell me that you want to stay with Spike for eternity.”
Slayer instincts, almost forgotten, rose inside her. Standing before her was the vampire who had hidden Spike’s return from her. The vampire who had left her ‘for her own good’ and broken her heart.
“Are you still a vampire?” she asked out of the blue.
Angel stared at her for a few seconds before slowly nodding his head. “Both Spike and I are still vampires, but here we don’t need blood to survive. No one needs sustenance here.”
Turning quickly to Spike, Buffy smiled. “Would I get sent to hell if I staked him?”
Again Spike broke into gales of laughter, his hands clutching his stomach. It took almost a minute before he could answer her. “Not sure luv, but I wouldn’t risk it. Don’t wanna spend eternity trying to get you out of there.”
“OK” she smiled. “I won’t stake him. Can I give him a piece of my mind?”
“Be my guest, pet. Be my guest.”
Gesturing towards the sofa, Buffy bid Angel to sit. Giving a small squeal of annoyance, she ran towards him to remove Mr Gordo before he sat on him. Hugging her childhood comfort to her breast, she turned a beaming smile on Spike.
“Gonna thank you later for this,” she whispered, clutching the toy.
He could hardly wait. Moving to the comfort on an armchair, he waited patiently for his goddess to shut Peaches up forever.
Handing the precious Mr Gordo to Spike, Buffy turned on Angel. Hand on hips, her legs apart she looked magnificent as she lifted her proud head to speak.
“You will leave this house, Angel and never return.”
Straight to the point, his Slayer’s cookies had finally finished baking.
“I don’t want to see your face for the rest of eternity, unless it’s to say ‘Goodbye’. I have no interest in spending ANY time with you at all.” Taking a deep breath, Buffy continued her tirade. “When Spike came back you chose to keep it from me, even though you knew how much he meant to me. I can’t forgive you for that, and I’m sorry if my words hurt you, but your actions hurt me more than you will ever know.”
Both vampires stared at the woman standing before them. Tears were in her eyes, and Spike moved to rise from the chair ready to comfort the woman he loved. Her words were for Spike, but her eyes never left Angel. “Stay there Spike, I need to say this.” Slowly, Spike sat back in the chair.
“By the time Andrew told us Spike was back, it was too late. I arrived in that alleyway minutes after the battle. All that was left of both of you was two piles of dust.”
She was crying in earnest now, her face blotchy with tears.
“I was too late to save him Angel, and that nearly killed me. I’ve never let another man touch me for sixty years. My heart died in that alley that night, and I thought I was going to die too.”
Angel stared up at her from his place on the sofa. In his mind he had done what he thought was best. Surely she couldn’t love the blonde menace, not the way she said she did.
“Sixty years without love, Angel. I live sixty years without love. Oh I had the love of Dawn, Giles and all my friends, but I didn’t have his love.” Her tears were still streaming down her face as she spoke. “He was my love, my life, my everything; and YOU decided that you knew what was best for me.”
Finally moving from her place in front of Angel, she gently set herself in Spike’s lap and stared up at him in wonder.
“He waited for me, Angel. All these years, he waited for me.”
Turning her head, she stared at her former love, tears drying on her cheeks. “When I was lying on that hospital bed, I heard him. I heard him tell me he was waiting for me, and I heard him call me ‘Goldilocks’.” Buffy turned back to Spike, and smiled a watery smile. “He doesn’t know I heard him, but I did. I knew he would meet me when I passed, and I was so happy.”
Spike cupped the back of head, and drew her face to his shoulder. Kissing the top of her hair softly, he looked at Angel’s stricken face.
“Leave us now, Angel” he spoke gently, all anger hidden. “Please.”
Angel stared at the couple snuggled close together on the chair. Their love shone from across the room, and he knew he had lost. She would never be with him, she had made her choice.
Spike deserved the cookies.
##
FOREVER
As the door closed behind Angel, Buffy again broke into tears. Gently Spike rocked her in his arms, desperate to comfort her. Tightly she clung to him, her arms banding around his neck. Her tears were drenching his tee, but he didn’t care. This should be a happy time for her, but Angel had ruined everything.
Finally the sobbing subsided into hiccups, and her small hands relaxed their grip.
“Are you really still a vampire, Spike?” she hiccupped in his ear.
Nodding his head, he was scared to speak. Worried that she would still have that prejudice against him, he just didn’t know what to say.
“Thank God,” she proclaimed, as her sobs turned into giggles.
Now he was really confused. Why did the fact he was still a vampire make her laugh?
“Why do you want to know that, luv?” he asked, the trepidation making his voice tight.
Gently she lifted her head from his shoulder, and kissed him.
“Well,” she shyly spoke. “If you’re still a vampire, you can claim me.” Suddenly remembering where they were, she frowned. “Can you still do that here?”
She had uttered the four words he had always wanted to hear next to ‘I Love You’. Again he was struck dumb for something to say, and he simply stared at her.
Misinterpreting his silence, Buffy tried to back track. “A…after the way I treated you in the past, Spike, I can understand if you don’t want to. It’s okay” she quickly added, “if you don’t want to claim me, I won’t force you.”
Quickly realising that he had taken too long to answer, he pulled her tight into his arms.
“I want nothing more than to claim you forever, Buffy. It’s just that I don’t know if I can.”
At her confused look, he smiled as he spoke. “To complete a claim Buffy, we have to exchange blood through a bite. I don’t think we have any blood anymore, sweetheart. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
Nodding her head against his chest, she cuddled closer.
“Do you think we could try?”
Nuzzling his cheek against her hair, Spike replied. “I think we can arrange that, pet.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear, Spike. Now take me to bed.”
Without hesitation, Spike rose from the chair and carried his goddess upstairs.
##
In the quiet of the main bedroom, Spike was sure he could feel his heart beating. Impossible, he knew, but it felt like that to him. Gently he placed her on the bed before lying beside her. This was not to be a rushed rut like they had had in the past; this had to be special to both of them.
It had taken so many years for him to be able to hold her with the love he had always felt for her. So many years they had been apart, and he was still in awe that she had loved him for all that time. When Angel had appeared earlier, he was almost convinced that she would go with him, but she had made her feelings plain.
She loved him, and that was all he needed to know.
Pulling her into his arms, his mouth closed over hers. Her mouth opened at once to accept the welcome invasion of his tongue, and she parried hers with his. The kiss deepened from wonder to lust as their passion took over. Hands moved over writhing bodies removing clothes; their lips only separating to pull garments over heads. Like magnets, their lips found each other again and again.
Within moments they lay next to each other, naked and aroused. Suddenly they drew back from one another to stare into each other’s eyes.
“I love you, Buffy Summers.”
“I love you, Spike”
Kissing her gently, Spike whispered against her lips. “I know sweetheart, and I will treasure your love forever.”
Slowly his hands started to shape her body. It may have been sixty years, but he remembered every inch of her skin. The smell of her, the texture of the skin near her breasts; the softness of her thighs near her core; the little giggles she couldn’t suppress when he kissed her feet.
She was his love.
Buffy’s hands were not idle. She had never showed him any affection in their couplings, and she was determined that he feel her love through her touch. Gently she stroked her hands through his hair, as his head moved down her body to worship her breasts. When he moved his head lower, his intention clear, she gently pulled him up to kiss his mouth.
“This time Spike, I’m going to make love to you. I want you to lie back and just enjoy what I’m going to do to you.”
Without hesitation, Spike lay back against the pillows and placed his hands behind his head.
“I’m all yours, luv” he whispered up at her.
“I know, Spike” she smiled as she bent her head to kiss him.
Slowly she moved her mouth over his body, learning him for the first time. Nibbling at his neck, she could feel him quiver at her touch. Soon she would nip his neck for real, but at the moment she was enjoying the taste of him. Her body was stretched over his, skin against skin, and she could feel his desire for her press against her stomach.
When she was sure she had him in her power, she moved lower and lower. Her mouth found his flat nipples, and she moved her lips over them sucking gently. Spike cried out and his body arched from the bed at her ministrations, and she smiled gently against his stomach.
Sliding down his body, she gently rimmed his navel with her tongue. As she continued to kiss her way down him, she took his rigid cock in her hand. His ass flew from the bed as she held him. Gently stroking, she continued her voyage of discovery by taking him deep in her mouth.
In all the time they had been together, she had only done this for him once, and even then she had been invisible. Now she relished in the flavour of him, and the sounds of pleasure pouring from his mouth. His hands were deep in her hair holding her mouth over him as he thrust deep into her mouth. Rubbing one hand gently over his sac, she used the other hand stroke his shaft. With an animalistic roar, Spike poured himself down her throat.
She swallowed everything he had to give. His taste was wonderful to her, and she was determined not to waste a drop. When he calmed down, she gently licked him clean before placing her head on his thigh.
“Get up here, Buffy” Spike growled from the depth of the pillows on the bed.
With a huge grin, she climbed up his body to kiss his lips. He could taste himself on her tongue, and he relished it. He loved this woman and he could deny her nothing.
“Well, sweetheart” he smiled down at her as she nestled against him. “That was just fantastic, but you’ll need to give me a few minutes to recover before I return the favour.”
Buffy giggled against his chest. “You’re a vampire, Spike. You don’t need time to recover.”
Pulling her closer against him, he kissed the top of her head. “I need time to recover for the first time ever. Have you any idea how long it’s been since anyone has made me come.”
Jealousy, strong and fierce, rose within her and she lifted her body up to look down at him. “Just how long, Spike?”
Pleased at her reaction, Spike could not be cruel and lie. Raising his head, he kissed her pursed lips and smiled. “Since that last time you and I were together, Buffy.”
“Honest?” she asked in wonder.
“Honest,” he replied, happy to make her smile.
“Now, my sweet, I think I’ve recovered enough to return the favour.” Spike nuzzled at her neck as he spoke, and revelled in the soft giggles emanating from her mouth.
Quickly moving her under him, he moved down her body with his mouth until he could claim his prize. Pushing her legs apart, he dove at her with his tongue and lips until she was writhing beneath his hands and mouth. When he felt how he close she was to the edge, he stopped and moved up her body to claim her mouth.
“I want this to be slow, Buffy. I want to feel everything you have to give.”
Nodding her acceptance, she opened her legs wider to allow him entrance. Gently he pushed into the honeyed welcome he had prepared so well. It had been so long for both of them, and they knew they could not last. They had eternity to make love, now they needed to try the claim.
As Buffy’s walls fluttered around him, Spike let his demon come through. It had been so long that he wondered if the demon was still there at all, but eventually his game face appeared. Stroking her small hand over the ridges in his brow, Buffy drew him down to her throat.
“Claim me, Spike”
He didn’t need further encouragement. Pointed fangs pierced the butter soft skin of her neck, and Spike was surprised to feel blood pour down his throat. He had hardly taken one mouthful when he whispered around the bite.
“Mine”
Buffy had never felt sensations as intense as this in her life. She could feel all his love pour into her soul from his, and she knew she had to return the claim. Biting hard into his neck until she felt the skin break, she too was surprised as his blood poured into her mouth.
“Yours”
As one they climaxed around each other. Their pleasure intensified by the claim, and the love pouring through it.
Finally they lay replete, content to hold each other tightly.
They were together now forever.
##
At last
my love has come along
my lonely days over
and life is like a song
Ooh At last
the skies above are blue
well my heart was wrapped up in clover
the night I looked at you
I found a dream
that I could speak to
a dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill
to press my cheek to
a thrill that I have never known
well
You smile
you smile
oh and then the spell was cast
and here we are in heaven
for you are mine at last
I found a dream
that I could speak to
a dream that I
could call my own
I found a thrill
to press my cheek to
a thrill that I have never known
well
You smile
you smile
oh and then the spell was cast
and here we are in heaven
for you are mine at last
ooo yea
you are mine
you are mine
at last
Etta James.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!