‘To Know The Human Heart’


Summary & Prologue:


Summary:


William ‘Spike’ Giles is a top-notch heart surgeon, even at the age of thirty-one. He has come to Sunnydale, California to distance himself from his life in New York and his ex-fiance, Drusilla Masterson. Spike Giles, number one heart surgeon with a bullet, is going to beef up the cardiac ward at Sunnydale General.

Elizabeth ‘Buffy’ Summers is a young woman who volunteers at Sunnydale General. She is reeling from a bad break-up with her ex-fiancé, Riley Finn.

Although Spike is a brilliant heart surgeon, he has yet to discover the true workings of the human heart and the love that can go along with it. However, he truly wants to know that kind of genuine love.

Although Buffy is a wonderful, giving young woman; one that may truly understand the workings and compassion of the human heart? She has yet to discover true love and the joy it can bring to her lonely life.

Will Buffy’s influence guide Spike Giles in his quest to understand the true human heart and the real meaning behind it?

Will Spike be able to convince Buffy that she is worthy of true love and that ‘he’ is the one to bring it to her?


A little disclaimer:


The character of Buffy Summers, in this fiction, is based on an article I read some years ago in a magazine. Although Buffy’s character is based on this real earth angel, her background plot and history is not.

The real person, a wonderful elderly African-American woman, has forever found a place in my own heart. God willing, she has found a place in Heaven. This is my tribute to her and everyone like her who give of themselves so selflessly..

During the course of the story, and early on, I will reveal the magnificent, loving personality of Buffy’s character as based on this true life saint of a woman.



Prologue:


“So, you’ve wandered out here to California, eh Spike?” Tara McClay, psychiatrist extraordinaire, was chuckling softly.

“So it seems,” William ‘Spike’ Giles grumbled, wishing to God he could light a smoke up and take a deep, long drag.

“What’s the draw, Spikey,” Tara giggled girlishly. “The beaches and sunshine? Or is it the bikini clad girls and the…..”

“None of that,” Spike spat harshly. “Don’t fuck with me Glinda,” he continued with a scowl. “You know I’m goin’ through a rough patch right now and all. I caught my fiancé, Drusilla, in a compromising position with some lousy medical tech, back in New York. I’m not in the mood to…..”

“To what? Face the facts, William?” Tara asked with a raised brow. “And when are you going to stop calling me Glinda, Willie? I gave up the Wicca group, back at NYU, okay?”

“Okay, Glinda, I mean Tara,” Spike grunted, really trying to not pull a cigarette out of his pocket.

“Let’s be honest, Spike,” Tara scowled again, “just how broken up are you about Drusilla? I mean really?” The tall blond psychiatrist grinned wickedly at her friend from college.

Spike sighed heavily and looked into his good friend’s honest eyes. “Really?” He asked with a somewhat indifferent shrug.

“Really,” Tara asked again, tossing her good friend a pack of Wrigly spearmint gum. “Here, chew on this Spike. It beats craving a smoke, I know,” she chuckled again.

“Not too much,” Spike grunted, honestly enough. “I mean about the break-up with Dru. Drusilla is beautiful, sexy and well, rich, but? She’s also self-absorbed, selfish and more then a little off in her head,” he finished with a derisive laugh.

“That’s what I thought,” Tara laughed smugly, proud that she had read her good friend so well. “She was never good enough for you, William. Drusilla is a parasite of the worst kind, sweetie. At least all of your real friends have always thought so. She’s not near good enough for you. Especially now, with your quest to find out about the true human heart and how it really works. Let’s be honest, William. Drusilla hasn’t got a clue as to what makes the human heart really work.”

“Maybe I just want the kind of romantic relationship that you have with Red, eh? You know, the perfect kind of love affair that….” His voice trailed off weakly. The truth was, William Giles did want a romantic relationship like Tara had with Willow Rosenberg. A real loving one; a give and take love affair that just might make him realize that there was more to life then money, status and well, fame.

“Spike,” Tara began carefully, “my relationship with Red as you call my Willow, is anything but perfect. It’s taken work, hard work and a commitment to make it through the tough times together.”

“You know,” Tara rose from her chair and began to pace about her office. “You’ve always been the brightest, best heart surgeon I’ve ever known, William,” she grumbled under her breath. “Yet, you have never really understood the human heart; not in the spiritual sense that is. I think it’s time you truly got to know the human heart; or the soul part of it anyway,” she finished with a smirk.

“Come on,” she grabbed her friend’s strong arm and pulled him towards her office door. “I’ve a way to teach you the path to the heart and soul of humanity, William Giles. And, I know just where I’m going to start.”


A/N: That’s the start folks. Not much, to begin with, but I promise it will get meatier as we go along. This is a journey for all of us, myself included, I hope.

Please give it a read and let me know what you think. I’m not going to be able to update, quickly, on this one, like I said. I need to complete some other fics of mine.

Thanks, spuf

Chapter 1: ‘Buffy’s Gift’


Summary: Buffy is introduced in this chapter, but in an unusual way. I hope you’ll read this and understand what I’m trying for here.
Thanks, spufette.


“You know, one thing that’s always bothered me about you, sweetie,” Tara McClay chuckled as she and Spike ambled along the hospital corridor.

“Only one thing?” Spike mumbled in reply, his left scarred brow was raised in smug surprise.

“Well, the really important thing,” Tara giggled, slapping his arm gently. “Seriously,” she continued with a worried brow, “you’ve never ever struck me as a man who truly participated in life much. I guess what I’m saying is that you’ve always struck me as a guy who sees the human drama as a kind of play on a stage.” This seemed to make Tara rather sad Spike noted.

“Everyone else in the world is acting in that play, William, but not you. You are watching it, from the loge section of the audience, the only one in that audience,” she sighed deeply. “You’re the only one not truly participating in the play, Spike. Or should I call you William for now?”

“So now I’ve had this epiphany,” Spike mumbled under his breath, sarcastically. “I now wish to know the human drama, from the inside out. Only you, Miss McClay can lead me to the self-discovery I so need. Just like that bloody goof of an angel, from that sappy movie. You know the one ‘It’s A Great Life’ or whatever,” he snorted, still wishing for a smoke.

“That’s ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ you idiot,” Tara chided him good-naturedly. “Oh, here we are,” she exclaimed as she pointed to the glass window before them.

Spike realized, right off of course, that they were in front of the newborn nursery. Various little hospital cribs and bassinets spread out in the sterile room behind the glass enclosure. Cute little babies lay, sleeping, stretching or crying forlornly, just begging for lots of attention. They certainly were getting plenty of that, Spike noticed. If a nurse wasn’t making over one of the babies? Another newborn’s parent or grandparent was cooing like a bunch of bloody idiots over the tiny tots.

“I know about babies, Glinda,” Spike quipped. “I even know ‘where’ they come from,” he smirked. Cute little buggers, for sure, but Drusilla never wanted any, for some reason. I on the other hand wanted a half-dozen. For some reason, they all seem to resemble Winston Churchill but….”

“Stop it Spike,” Tara shushed the bleached blond surgeon, as she scanned the immediate area, embarrassed, suddenly. There were new fathers; grandparents and siblings everywhere. Tara did not want them to hear her good friend’s cynicism over this miracle in front of them.

“We’re not here to discuss the merits of having a child or how precious they are. This is just the first stop on our little trip tonight. A kind of ‘comparison’ trip for you, mister,” she grumbled impatiently.

“Come on,” Tara pulled at Spike who followed along, somewhat reluctantly.

“You wanted to understand the human heart, buddy,” Tara muttered in exasperation. “I’m going to give you a crash course this evening. You’d better take notes, Spike Giles,” she continued evenly. “The place, or should I say the ‘person’ I’m about to show you? You’ll need cliff notes to keep up with her.”

“It’s a her?” Spike asked eagerly. “What kind of her,” he added with a chuckle. “Hey, if I’d of known that you were setting’ me up on date of sorts, I’d of...”

“I’m doing no such thing, you moron,” Tara growled, quickly losing the last of her patience with Spike. “If you think I’m some female escort service pimp? Think again. This girl, or should I say real woman that you’re about to see? She’s so far removed from what you’ve ever know in your spoiled little brat society world, that I doubt you’ll even recognize what a ‘real woman’ she is. Too bad for you,” Tara finished with another snort and a scowl.

“Ahh, don’t be cross with me Glinda, luv,” Spike sighed in response. “I don’t mean to be a bad, rude man. You’re right though,” he frowned momentarily. “I’ve become so used to bints like Drusilla; real cold-blooded, self-centered shrews who cry foul at breaking a nail that…..”

“We’re here,” Tara interrupted Spike’s rambling. She stopped right in front of another glass enclosure and pointed at the scene in front of them.

Spike stood, frozen in front of the sad, pathetic sight before him, through the glass window. He knew of these places, of course, the baby nursery’s that people tried not to talk or think about.

This was the ‘other’ baby nursery that every hospital had but no one usually bothered to stop by and visit. Oh, doctors and nurses, of course, and a well meaning minister, rabbi or priest would drop by to pray, but…..

There were no beaming, overwhelmed with love and hovering new parents at this nursery. No proud grandpa or grandma; aunts or uncles or well meaning friends. Only row after row of tiny incubators and one or two stark white cribs occupied this hopeless place.

“This is the ‘other’ nursery, but of course, you know that right?” Tara whispered reverently to Spike.

“Yeah,” Spike choked a bit. “The babies with HIV; full on AIDs and…..”

“Yeah,” Tara mumbled sadly. “Some of the babies were born as crack addicts and had to go through withdrawals. They were so devastated by the time that they made it through that, well,” she trailed off.

“They’re not going to make it, are they? Any of them?” Spike asked in a harsh tone. “They’re doomed, every last one of them and abandoned in here like…..” his own voice trailed off weakly.

“Most of them,” Tara sighed, “most of them will not make it out of here, but some have a bit of hope.”

Suddenly, Spike noticed a small door inside of the nursery opened up. In a breath’s moment, a young woman stepped out of the door and into the room. Spike gasped when he saw the vision of loveliness that glided into the nursery, almost eagerly, he noted.

The woman had golden hair that flowed about her shoulders and glistened in the hospital lights. Spike could tell she was beautiful, even with the tiny face mask she wore over her mouth. He’d bet his last inheritance that this vision’s mouth was as lovely as the rest of her.

‘Probably full, pouty lips,’ he thought longingly, ‘pink, soft and kissable.’

If the young woman even saw Spike and Tara, she gave no notice. She went about her duties in the nursery, stepping from one tiny incubator and crib to another.

“She’s got green eyes,” Spike murmured, mesmerized by the way the woman moved, angelically about the unhappy place inside. “I can see them,” he cried eagerly. “Her eyes are emerald green and….who is she?” Spike turned to Tara as he asked about the woman’s identity.

“That, Spike,” Tara began carefully, “is Elizabeth Summers. Well, she actually goes by Buffy, but….”

“Buffy,” Spike repeated her name with a slight smile. He was pleased with the melodic sound of it from his lips.

“Is she one of the babies’ mothers?” He blurted anxiously, almost afraid of Tara’s answer.

“No,” Tara murmured softly, “not a mother. In fact, Buffy doesn’t have any children, nor has she ever been married. She’s not a nurse, or even a tech here,” the psychologist offered. “Buffy’s more of a volunteer here at Sunnydale General,” Tara continued. “Although she ‘is’ a special volunteer, that’s for sure.”

“Not married?” Spike inquired, hopefully. “That’s good,” he added with a grin.

“Look Giles, don’t get any ideas about Buffy Summers. Not just yet, at least. When I say she’s special? That’s what I mean. Buffy is a wonderful, good-hearted woman who is very well thought of. By Willow and myself and most of the staff at this hospital, and by most of Sunnydale. She’s been hurt, William, like you. So quit thinking about your dick for just a moment and try to ‘see’ what’s really going on here, okay?”

“Okay, pet,” Spike sighed with a blush. “So, what ‘is’ going on with Buffy Summers?” He gazed back at the young woman who now held a small, undersized baby in her arms and his heart skipped a beat. Spike watched as the little blond angel rocked the poor sick newborn, lovingly.

“Buffy showed up here, at the hospital about a year or so ago. Her then fiancé, Riley Finn, was a paramedic who interned here. He had Buffy meet him here one night before he went off duty,” Tara explained carefully.

“I thought you said she wasn’t taken?” Spike felt a jealous stab at his heart for some reason. “You said…..”

“I said she’d never married,” Tara snapped back at him. “She ‘was’ engaged to Riley, but like the fool he was? He let her slip away. You’ve got a lot in common with Buffy Summers, Spike,” Tara muttered, “but I’m not going to spill all of the dirt here, in this place. Just shut the hell up and listen to me, for once, huh?”

“Okay,” Spike nodded as his gaze returned to Buffy.

“Now, Willow already knew Buffy, quite well, from Sunnydale. As you know, Willow’s from Sunnydale and I met her here. Anyway,” Tara continued, “I had met Buffy before; she owns and manages the little coffee bistro down the street from here. ‘Buffy’s Beverages and Bistro’ belongs to Buffy now, since her mother passed away.”

“Her mum is gone?” Spike asked sympathetically. His own mother had died years before, leaving him and his dad alone in the world and missing her terribly.

“Yes, a couple of years ago,” Tara shook her head sadly. “That’s one of the things Buffy and you have in common,” she finished with a sigh.

“Back to the here and now,” Tara began again, pulling Spike behind a tiny wall outside of the glass window. “People on the inside can’t see us here,” she whispered with a nod at Buffy. “I don’t want to distract Buffy from her work; her gift,” she continued somberly.

“So, what ‘does’ she do here?” Spike asked, getting a bit frustrated by all this. “Why are you being so bloody cryptic Glinda?” He always reverted to her college nickname when he was being a smart ass or he was just plain nervous.

“I am not being cryptic, Giles,” Tara grunted, “just trying to explain this to you, the best way I can. Buffy is a volunteer, yes, but a very special one here. She shows up, at least three times a week, to this ward only. These babies Spike,” Tara stuttered (something she always did when she was nervous or upset) “like I said, they’re mostly doomed; for the most part abandoned. Buffy comes here and holds them; sings to them and becomes desperately attached, emotionally, to each one of them.”

“She….” Tara choked on her words and had to take a deep breath before she could continue. “Buffy, she even names some of the babies; the little ones that no one else bothered to stick around to even name properly. She, Buffy, started off with the letter ‘A’ of the alphabet. He was a boy that she named, first, his name was Adam and….”

Tara found she couldn’t finish the sentence, she was too choked up. Tiny tears formed in her eyes and spilled down her face,

Spike just stood, frozen in place as he watched the golden goddess place a tiny baby girl back in her crib and then pick up another little boy. He knew it was a boy because the blanket the child was swathed in was blue.

“How many?” Spike finally got up the courage to ask Tara. “How many babies has she named,” he asked softly as he stared at Buffy from his hiding place in the shadows of the hallway.

“I believe Buffy has gone through the alphabet nearly twice now,” Tara murmured unsteadily.

“There’s more,” Tara whispered from her place next to Spike. “Buffy’s cell phone number and home number, and yes, even her business number is on the hospital speed dial. When it’s time, for one of the babies to…..”

Spike turned and stared at Tara, his heart racing in his chest and his throat constricting on him. “Time for what,” he asked quietly, although he knew what his friend meant.

“When it’s time for the baby to pass on, to the next world,” Tara began cautiously, “we call Buffy. The hospital does, I mean,” she added quickly. “No matter what time it is, day or night,” Tara continued as she now also gazed at Buffy through the glass window.

“No matter what time it is, day or night? Buffy comes to the hospital, to this ward; she insists on it. She comes for the baby that’s never going to see the outside of this place, Spike. Buffy comes for the baby that is going to another world, a better one,” Tara rasped.

“I’m a believer, you know that, right,” she asked her best male friend. “I do believe in a higher power and I do believe that when any of these little angels pass on, that they go to a better place then this. Buffy believes that too,” Tara whispered.

“When the little baby passes on,” Tara continued softly, her firm hand gently resting on Spike’s arm. “When the baby passes on and closes his or her eyes for the last time? The last thing they’ll see in this world is Buffy Summers’ loving, smiling face gazing down at them. Buffy believes that every human who comes into this world should leave it knowing that they were loved by someone. That’s Buffy’s gift, Spike. To love these lost little angels, so unconditionally.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ,” Spike rasped as he gazed through the glass window, his forehead pressed up against it. He had slipped from behind the tiny wall and stood right up against the glass window, in full view of Buffy.

Wiping quickly at the traitorous tears that slipped from his blue eyes, Spike swallowed hard and continued to stare at Buffy. He realized that the young beauty still had not seen Tara or him on the other side of the glass enclosure.

“And you wonder why I’ve always lived on the outskirts of human emotion, McClay? Why I’ve never done anything but hide in the shadows, outside the realm of real live humanity?” Spike rasped even as he gazed, mesmerized in at Buffy and the lost babies in her loving care.

He could tell that his own blue eyes were filled with sadness and raw pain for the young woman behind the glass. This angel on earth was so much stronger then he ever hoped to be, but still….

“It’s a sense of self-preservation; a human weakness in me, Glinda,” he stated sorrowfully. “It’s always enabled me to never allow myself to enjoy, or suffer the real life emotions that actually being truly alive can bring you? Only until recently, have I even wanted to ‘know’ what the human heart is really made of, spiritually, emotionally. Everything but the mechanical part of the muscle that I do understand, all too well,” he finished with a frown.

“Maybe it’s because I never felt strong enough, emotionally, or alive enough before this to…..” Spike’s rough, emotion-filled voice trailed off before he could finish his admission.

“You wanted to know what makes the human heart tick, spiritually, emotionally and in every way except mechanically, Spike. I could not think of a better example then Buffy Summers,” Tara murmured evenly as she gazed at the blond woman in the little face mask.

“Introduce us,” Spike ordered his friend, in a reverent tone. His forehead was still pressed up against the glass window and his gaze was still focused on Buffy, in awe.


A/N: Well that’s my Halloween chapter (not very Halloweenish I’m afraid) for tonight anyway. I hope I introduced Buffy well enough in this one. Most of the story will be from Spike’s POV, but some will be from Buffy’s too.

Thank you for reading and please review. It’s the reviews that inspire me to write more, thanks again, spufette.

Chapter 2: ‘Why Put Off Until Tomorrow…..’


Summary: Spike insists on a formal indtroduction to Buffy, but his friend is reluctant. Tara gives Spike a little more insight to Buffy’s personal life.

A/N: I want to thank you all, so much, for the lovely reviews you have given me for this story.

Chapter 2:


“Introduce us,” Spike repeated, his forehead still pressed against the glass window.

“No,” Tara replied, simply.

“What?” Spike turned around and stared at his friend, a little stunned. “I thought…..”

“You thought,” Tara interjected coolly, “that I’d hand Buffy Summers over to you, just like that. Especially if you took the bait and saw what a truly beautiful human being she is, right?”

Before he could respond, Tara answered her own question for him:

“Well, my friend, you thought wrong. I know you, Spike and I read you, like a book. You’ve been struck, hard, instantly, by Buffy’s powerful personality and her beauty. That’s just dandy, but I believe I told you that Willow and I don’t want her hurt anymore.”

“I would not hurt that wonderful girl,” Spike rasped staring back into the window. It was not in Spike’s nature to hurt someone, intentionally, and especially not someone as completely beautiful as Buffy Summers.

“No, not intentionally, I know that,” Tara scowled impatiently. “You are not the cruel type, of course you're not. However, Buffy has been hurt, dreadfully, by her ex. Riley Finn devastated her, less then a year ago and even if ‘you’ have recovered from your romantic fiasco? Buffy has not.”

“What did the fuck do to her?” Spike asked hoarsely, turning once again to face Tara.

“It’s not my place to say,” Tara shrugged in reply. “I will tell you that Buffy and you have more in common then the loss of your mothers, however.”

Also,” she continued, her brows scrunched together in thought, “aren’t you a little afraid of Buffy being on the rebound, emotionally that is? I can also assure you, she’s not a love em’ and leave em’ kind of woman and even though she’s dated, once or twice since Riley? Well….” She stopped mid sentence.

" That’s all they were, friendly dates that is. One was with Xander Harris, I believe, an old friend of hers and my Willow’s. I suppose she felt he’d be ‘safe’ to date, as a friend,” Tara frowned, slightly.

“I know she went out with Parker Abrams, he’s a tech on the 6th floor here, but nothing really came of any of her attempts to move one with them. Buffy has put walls up, around her heart, Spike, and I’m not sure you should even try to knock them down. Not tonight that is anyway.”

Tara shook her blond head and sighed, “I’m not sure if Buffy is ‘ready’ for someone like you Spike. You know what you want and you’ll go after her, though, won’t you? Okay,” Tara sighed in defeat, “I have a feeling this is useless, for me to try and dissuade you, though, right?” She looked at Spike out of the corner of her left eye, seemingly studying him, somehow.

Spike felt a little more then a stab of jealousy when he’d heard about these two wankers that Buffy had tried to move on with. He was much more then a little scared that he cared so much, so fast, about this young woman that he’d not even said a simple ‘hello’ to, face-to-face.

“You’re right Glinda,” Spike whispered, still gazing at the blond woman behind the glass. “You’re not going to dissuade me, so just introduce me to her, yeah?”

He watched Buffy lay the baby boy down in the little crib, gently. His heart beat even faster and his throat constricted slightly, when she immediately picked up another little boy and cuddled him.

“Okay,” Tara sighed again, “despite my misgivings, for Buffy’s sake? I’ll introduce you to her, but, not tonight, not here.”

“Oh bloody hell, Glinda,” Spike hissed, facing Tara again. “Why won't you just introduce us and..." I won’t sweep the girl off her feet, literally, and carry her off to ravish her!”

‘At least not tonight,’ Spike thought to himself, getting a pleasant visual of doing just that with the golden Buffy Summers.

“Oh for God’s sake, Spike,” Tara muttered, finally joining him at the window. “I’m not going to introduce you tonight and that’s that. Let’s just say that I have my reasons. However,” she brightened up a bit, “I will introduce you to her tomorrow, at Buffy’s Bistro. Willow and I go there, every Tuesday morning to have coffee and bagels with Buffy. You can join my Wills and me, there at the Bistro. I’ll introduce you then, on Buffy’s turf so to speak. It might be a little less overwhelming for her and all.”

“It would be less overwhelming for her?” Spike asked with a raised brow. “I’m a little confused here, Glinda,” he shook his bleached blond head. “Why would Buffy be overwhelmed by me and why…..”

“All right, quite down and I’ll give you a little head’s up,” Tara whispered again.

“The fact of the matter is? Buffy Summers is exactly what ‘you’ need in your life, Spike Giles. The reverse is true, also,” the blond woman continued matter-of-factly.

“Buffy needs a man like you, someone aggressive; with a ‘knows what he wants’ attitude. She is going to need persuading, our Buffy is,” Tara chuckled lightly, “to come back and join the human race that is. Since you need to finally join the human race? I can’t think of two people that are more suited for each other.”

“You planned this!” Spike gasped in delighted shock at his friend’s admission.

“Well, let’s just say I ‘thought it up’ to try,” Tara giggled happily. “I’m always so smugly pleased when my plots turn out,” she added with a sly wink.

“We should go,” Tara whispered up at him, “Buffy doesn’t need to be distracted, okay?”

“Okay Tara,” Spike replied with a tender smile at Buffy.

Suddenly, Buffy looked up and seemed to notice Tara and Spike for the first time. Spike could see her huge green eyes widen even more in surprise, but he just knew she was smiling under that little mouth mask of hers.

Buffy waved, at Tara presumably, but Spike couldn’t help but wave back at her, almost boyishly.

‘Is she laughing under there?’ He wondered as he noticed her beautiful eyes light up even more. Spike smiled widely, directly at Buffy and started to wave again.

“Time to go,” Tara grabbed Spike with one hand and waved at Buffy with the other. “You’ll meet the ‘girl wonder’ tomorrow, I promise,” she laughed, pulling her reluctant male friend away from the nursery and down the hall.

Spike allowed Tara to drag him away from the nursery, but he continued to stare back at it, longingly, all the way to the elevator. Now, all’s he had to do was be able to sleep tonight, anticipating meeting the mysterious beauty behind the little face mask tomorrow.

Buffy Summers sat on the little chair next to baby Quentin’s crib. She had just picked her little ‘charge’ up and began to sing his favorite song to him. That is when she noticed her friend Tara and a strange blond man standing next to her, outside the looking glass of the nursery.

Before Buffy could think too much about ‘it’ she waved at Tara and was a little surprised when the blond man waved back at her. This man, obviously some kind of hospital staff member, waved at her almost shyly and this made Buffy giggle for some reason. She, Buffy, had not giggled, fully, in so long and it felt so good.

After Tara acknowledged her, Buffy noticed her friend pull the man away from the window and head off down the hall. Buffy could have sworn the handsome blond man was reluctant to leave and this made her feel almost giddy or light-headed. She had a feeling Buffy did, that this mysterious man might be that hot shot surgeon from back east. Tara’s best friend from college wasn’t it?

‘What’s his name again?’ Buffy wondered briefly, rocking Quentin in her arms. ‘I know his real name is William Giles,’ she reasoned, ‘but he goes by some ridiculous nickname, right?’

Right then, Willow Rosenberg, Buffy’s like best friend in the entire universe, entered the nursery and took a chair beside her.

“Hey, Buff,” Willow whispered, eyeing Quentin thoughtfully.

“Hey Wills,” Buffy replied softly, her eyes never leaving the tiny bundle in her arms.

“How’s are little guy tonight?” Willow asked carefully, gazing into Quentin’s brown eyes.

“He’s better, Wills,” Buffy whispered excitedly. “His color is much better tonight, don’t you think?” The blond volunteer glanced at the red-headed nurse, searching her friend’s gray eyes for the right answer. Buffy tried not to notice the painful expression of sympathy in Willow’s pretty face.

“Sure, honey,” Willow sighed heavily, “he does ‘seem’ brighter-eyed today and…..” she tried not to look Buffy in the eyes as her voice trailed off slowly.

“He smiled at me,” Buffy whispered, determined to find some ray of hope in the eyes of little Quentin. “He smiled at me, just a moment ago, Wills,” she repeated stubbornly.

“I know, sweetie,” Willow sighed and rested her hand on Buffy’s arm. “That’s something, Buff, it is,” the red-haired young woman murmured with a nod of her head.

“Willow,” Buffy paused, deciding to change the subject. “Who was that blond man, with the intense blue eyes that was with Tara at the nursery window, just a moment ago?”

“Oh,” Willow smiled, seemingly relieved that her best friend had changed the unhappy subject of little Quentin’s health.

“That’s Spike Giles, surgeon extraordinaire, from back east. You know about him; the one that my Tara went to college with? He’s an incredibly brilliant surgeon, Buff,” Willow rambled on and on, noticing her little friend’s bright red blush on her pretty face.

“You like him, don’t you?” Willow muttered giddily, hugging Buffy around her shoulders.

“Willow I don’t even know the man, how could I like him as you call it?” Buffy quipped in exasperation. She tried to scowl at her friend’s silliness, but ended up grinning instead.

“Because,” Willow replied smugly, “I can tell when you really ‘notice’ a guy Buffy Summers. You ‘noticed’ Dr. Giles, big time,” Willow giggled in delight. “Ooohhh, I can’t wait to tell Tara tonight that you ‘noticed’ her friend! This is gonna’ be great!”

Willow actually clapped her hands together in obvious excitement. This caused Buffy to wonder if her best friend had temporarily lost her freakin' mind.


A/N: I typed this out to post this morning because I’m in a rut and wanted to do something a little more fun. Of course, the angst is in there, because of the poor little baby, Quentin, who will be appearing in the story off and on.

Buffy may have ‘noticed’ Spike, big time, but he’s perusal of her, romantically, is not going to go smoothly, at first. Yes, Spike is smitten with Buffy, but, this ‘is’ Buffy we’re talking about here and she does have the Great Wall of China built up around her heart.

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

Chapter 3: ‘When Spike Met Buffy’


Summary: Spike and Buffy meet. However, there is always a glitch in the perfect plans, right?

A/N: Okay, I wanted to wait to finish some of my WIP’s before I continued with this story, but I just have a writer’s block where the others are concerned. I am hoping that submitting this chapter helps me work out of it.


Spike stood in front of Buffy’s Beverages and Bistro, impatiently waiting for Tara and Willow to arrive. He was early, of course, he knew that, but how could he not be?

All night, the night before, Spike had tossed and turned in his lonely bed, thinking of the beautiful green-eyed Buffy. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, Spike realized something. He was fucked; beyond fucked, actually and that was all there was to it.

The black jeans and black tee shirt he wore seemed out of place on him right now. Especially since he was due at the hospital in a couple of hours and usually wore at least Dockers and a nice button down under his doctor uniform.

However, since Tara and Willow had insisted that Buffy would be more comfortable on her own turf; he decided to go with the relaxed look all the way. Maybe the golden goddess wouldn’t be too overwhelmed by him if he tried for more easy going approach to getting to know her?

She was an angelic vision; Buffy was, and he had the good luck to see that vision up close and personal. After last night and that incredible moment when Buffy smiled up at him, Spike knew he was lost in her, instantly. So, he, Spike Giles was completely, absolutely and totally bloody fucked from the minute he’d laid eyes on Buffy Summers!

Ahhh, but being fucked, completely, never seemed so bloody appealing! Even if his old alter ego ‘William the Poet’ was rearing his poncey head again. Something that hadn’t happened since he was about sixteen-years-old.

Spike sighed in frustration and checked his Rolex for the tenth time in a minute. “Bloody hell,” he muttered again, wearily.

“Why can’t Tara be early, just once,” he asked himself in frustration. “I can’t believe that she’d not be early today? Here and now? I waited all night to meet Buffy and…..”

Spike paused in his inner musings when he saw Tara pull up in her black Mercedes. Willow Rosenberg, Tara’s significant other, hopped out of the passenger side and scurried up to Spike.

Tara had barely turned off the car’s engine by the time Willow caught up to Spike and cried excitedly, “Buffy noticed you last night!”

“Uhm, yeah,” Spike mumbled with wide eyes. “And?” He stammered, a little confused by Red’s (his nickname for Willow) animated behavior. The poor woman was nearly doing a jig, right there in front of the Bistro.

“You don’t get it, Spike!” Willow squealed happily, “Buffy ‘never’ notices guys like she did you! She ‘asked’ me who you were! That is so big, Spike, I mean really, really majorly big!”

“That’s good, then, right?” Spike asked excitedly, getting caught up Willow’s optimism. Truthfully, he felt like a school boy and a ponce.

‘Christ, I’m worse then I was on my first date; way back when I was only fifteen and…’ his inner musings were interrupted by Willow’s excited chatter.

“Yes! Like I said,” Willow continued even more animated then before. “Buffy ‘never’ notices guys, in ‘that’ way I mean! She even asked who you were!!!”

“Okay,” Spike exhaled loudly, “so let’s get this show on the road, eh? I’ve been waiting all night to…..”

“One thing, Spike,” Willow began, suddenly not so animated or giddy as before.

“Yeah?” Spike asked quietly, a confused look on his face.

Willow glanced over at Tara who had just joined them at the Bistro’s door. “Tell him baby,” Willow ordered her girlfriend gently.

“Well, Spike,” Tara began in a very sober tone, “Wills and I need to get something straight with you; right from the get go. If this immediate overwhelming ‘attraction’ you have for Buffy is just that? A quick lightening-strike jolt of pure lust? Then we’d prefer that you just turn around and leave now.”

“Wha..what?” Spike rasped in shock. “Where the fuck did that come from Glinda?” He immediately felt bad about the obscenity he spewed, but that statement by Tara had come completely out of left-field.

“Just what I said,” Tara replied evenly, “Wills and I do not want Buffy hurt anymore, so….”

“And I told you, Glinda; Red, that I have no intention of hurting that beautiful woman in there. You know me Glinda,” he sighed and shot Tara a disgruntled look.

“I know sweetie,” Tara patted his left arm, gently, “but I just wanted to make sure you remind yourself of what a great guy you really are. I know you are not cruel, or a user. You never would in any way try and use anyone. Just be patient with Buffy; take it slow with her Spike. Buffy has been wounded, deeply. That’s all Willow and me are trying to say to you.” The tall blond woman smiled, warmly at Spike then nodded at front door of Buffy’s place.

“No time like the present,” she murmured, taking Willow’s arm in hers. “Let’s go in!”

Spike held the door to Buffy’s Beverages and Bistro open for Tara and Willow then followed them inside. He quickly scanned the entire floor of the building, looking for the object of his desire.

With a huge grin of anticipation, Spike spied Buffy, sitting at a tiny table in the corner of the shop. His smile faded quickly however when he noticed the big, hulking man that shared the little table with her. The huge, dark-haired man wore a cop’s uniform and leaned over the tiny table, face-to-face with Buffy.

‘Who the bloody hell is that,’ he wondered silently as he watched the ‘couple’ at the table. If the look of this intimate conversation between Buffy and the Incredible Hulk was any indication? This huge brunette cop might just pose a problem for Spike and he did not like it one bloody bit!

“What’s Xander doing here?” Spike heard Tara ask Willow nervously.

“Heck if I know,” Red stammered in reply. “He’s supposed to be on duty this morning and I don’t understand what…”

‘Xander!’ Spike repeated that name in his head. ‘He’s the bloke that went out with Buffy after that fucking moron Finn broke up with her!’ Suddenly, Spike felt very jealous and extremely territorial where Buffy was concerned.

“Tara! Willow!” Buffy cried happily when she noticed the two women staring at her table. She, of course, could not miss the handsome bleached blond man with them. This was the mystery man behind the nursery window from last night.

‘Thank God,’ Buffy nearly sighed out loud in relief, which would have been just awful. That little slip of Buffy’s tongue would have just devastated Xander Harris. Xander was her friend, but God, he could be so damned persistent and all.

Buffy had assumed she’d made it perfectly clear that she was not interested in ‘dating’ him; Xander that is. Not after that disastrous series of dates they had attempted before. Earlier in the year when.....

“I didn’t think you guys were gonna’ show today,” Buffy stated, a little too eagerly she feared. She tried not to notice the disappointed expression on Xander’s face as she leapt up to greet Tara, Willow and the mystery doctor with them.

“What are you doing here?” Willow asked Xander, pointedly. The red headed stood on no false politeness. Xander was her friend also and Willow had made it clear, numerous times, that Buffy was not interested in him romantically.

Xander stood up from his chair and gave Willow and Tara a weak smile. “I’m trying to convince Buffy here to go with me, to the Policeman’s Ball next week. She’s being stubborn, Wills,” he mumbled.

“Maybe you can talk some sense into Buff, huh,” he nearly whimpered and his dark eyes pleaded with his old friend, Willow Rosenberg.

Xander’s brown eyes fell upon this usurp of a stranger; this blond Billy Idol wannabe and he frowned quickly. He was no naïve fool, Xander wasn't, no matter what everyone thought and he could smell a rival for Buffy from a hundred yards away. This bleached blond man was definitely here in Buffy’s place for one thing. Buffy Summers.

“Uhm, Buffy,” Willow stammered unsurely, glancing from Buffy to Spike; to Xander and back at her girlfriend, Tara. “This, this is William Giles,” she blurted out, suddenly. “Spike,” Willow continued nervously, “this is Buffy Summers.” The red haired woman smiled, reassuringly at Spike.

“Nice to meet you, luv,” Spike stammered anxiously, his gaze never broke form Buffy’s. He reached out his left hand to take her tiny right one in it.

“Likewise,” Buffy murmured shyly as she took his hand with her’s. “I saw you, last night at the nursery window and…..”

Buffy’s sentence was cut short when Spike’s hand and her’s entwined. Even before he, Spike, lifted her tiny hand up to place a chaste kiss on it, Buffy felt the ‘it’ that struck them both. So apparently, did Mr. Spike Giles because he nearly jumped back at the shock of electricity that jolted between them.

Spike felt the lightening-like shock that coursed through his body when he took Buffy’s little hand in his. Before he could even place a light, chaste kiss on the back of her hand, he nearly jumped at the immediate jolt when he and Buffy touched. Just by looking in her emerald green eyes; Spike could tell that Buffy had felt the electric shock between them.

Apparently, the three other people nearest to Buffy and Spike could ‘feel’ the chemistry between the couple also. Xander Harris cleared his throat, with weak menace and breaking the magic moment between Spike and Buffy.

“I’m Xander Harris, Sunnydale Police Department,” he almost barked his introduction. “I understand you’re in Sunnydale to help with the cardiac ward at General? Willow told me about you,” Xander continued unsmiling and through clenched teeth.

“Yeah, that’d be me, mate,” Spike smiled amicably at the taller man. He hadn’t felt insecure about his height, or wiry build in ages, Spike hadn’t, but now? Standing next to this huge, hulking police officer suddenly made him self-conscious of his own, shorter stature. Especially not now, in front of Buffy.

“According to Tara and Willow, you’re not going to be here long, then? So you’ll be leaving for back home again, soon?” Xander asked hopefully, ignoring Tara and Willow’s stunned glares at him.

“I doubt it,” Spike replied casually, glancing at Buffy again. “I’ve found something more of interest, here in old Sunnydale to keep me around a while.” He couldn’t help himself; Spike gave Buffy a mischievous wink which in turn elicited a blush and a slight smile from her.

“I see,” Harris practically growled in response. Xander studied Buffy, carefully, annoyed to see a spark of interest in her lovely green eyes. Buffy’s attention was completely on this bleached blond newcomer and Xander was overcome with jealousy.

“So,” Xander muttered gruffly successfully interrupting Spike and Buffy’s mutual gaze at each other. “What do you say, Buff? Go with? To the Ball I mean and…..” His voice trailed off in disappointment when he noticed Buffy shake her golden head, no.

“I’ve been trying to tell Xander here,” Buffy murmured at Willow, “that I wouldn’t be much fun at the Policeman’s Ball. It’s just not my thing, Xand, you know that,” she added with an apologetic glance at the policeman.

“I know someone that would just love to go with you, though,” Buffy continued quickly. “You know my friend, Anya Jenkins, Willow, right?”

“Sure I do,” Willow nodded and smiled brightly. “Anya’s just crazy about you Xander; thinks you’re really neat and all. Buffy’s right, Anya would love to go with you to the Ball; she’s a lovely girl.”

Xander frowned, momentarily and shook his head. “I guess,” he whined in a child’s voice. “Anya’s a looker but she’s not you, Buff and I wanted….”

“Please, Xander,” Buffy whispered kindly, patting the big man’s arm gently. “I really would rather not go and Anya and you would have such a great time together. Call her, okay?”

“Oh, okay,” Xander sighed in defeat. “I guess I better shove off then,” he added reluctantly. “I’ll talk to you later, Buff, Willow, Tara. Nice to have met you Giles,” he grunted at Spike. “I guess,” he finished with another frown before he shuffled out of the Bistro’s front door.

“Bye,” they called to Xander’s big back as he disappeared out the front door. Willow, Tara and Buffy were completely stunned into silence by Xander’s rude behavior.

“Seems like a nice enough bloke,” Spike finally stated amicably, breaking the silence in the room. “Harris seems a bit obsessed, eh luv,” he noted the obvious, with another wink at Buffy. He was rewarded with another bright pink blush on her pretty face.

“Don’t blame him, though,” Spike mumbled as he followed the three women to the coffee bar of the Bistro. Willow giggled nervously; Tara laughed outright and Buffy just rolled her eyes dramatically.

‘You are a special beauty, especially when you blush, sweetheart.’ Spike mused with a smirk as he watched Buffy pour his coffee into a huge mug. ‘From now on, Miss Summers, I’ll see to it that I’m the reason behind every one of those pretty blushes of yours.’

While Buffy made small talk with Tara and Willow, Spike scanned the little Bistro’s walls and décor. There were several intimate photographs, placed strategically about the walls of the building.

Spike noticed several pictures of Buffy, an older woman, presumably her mother, Joyce Summers and a young dark-haired girl scattered here and there. There were even photos of Tara, Willow and other people placed here and there. All in all, it gave the Bistro a comfortable, homey look that reminded Spike of Buffy’s mysterious aura of love and tenderness.

‘Christ,’ Spike muttered under his breath, ‘personal aura? I’m beginning to sound like Glinda and Red. Buffy’s special, that’s for sure, but I need to get this in perspective,’ he reasoned with himself.

“Oh!” Willow suddenly blurted out as if she’d just been pinched. “Tara, honey,” she sputtered, “we need to scoot, ASAP! Remember? You have that ‘thing’ to do and I’m on early shift and…..”

“Right!” Tara squealed in response as she leapt from bar stool and grabbed Willow’s arm. “That ‘thing’ I have and you’re late for duty! We’ve got to go,” the blond woman declared to Buffy. “Sorry, but…..”

“You just got here,” Buffy whimpered in confusion. “It’s Tuesday and I thought…..”

“Sorry, honey,” Willow chimed in, grabbing her purse from the counter. She glanced at Spike with a guilty expression, “you’re not due at the hospital for what, Spike? Another hour or so?”

“Right,” Spike drawled with a non-chalant shrug as he sipped his delicious coffee. “Not for another hour, at least,” he added with a contented smile at Buffy.

Buffy watched, helplessly, as Tara and Willow said their goodbyes and headed out of the Bistro. With a nervous sigh, she glanced about the shop and then settled her gaze on Spike.

“Well,” Buffy stammered, anxiously, “this is certainly awkward, isn’t it?”

“Not for me,” Spike replied in a raspy whisper, reaching out to steady Buffy’s shaking hand with his. Buffy had tried to refill his mug, carefully, but her petite hand trembled, slightly, even as she poured.

“Why does ‘this’ have to be awkward, sweet?” Spike asked in a syrupy voice. “I’m here, with you, a new customer. You are a beautiful, wonderful woman who just happens to run a coffee shop/bistro.” He gave Buffy his most genuine smile and continued to sip at his coffee; his blue eyes directed at her.

“I just,” Buffy began, nervously glancing about her bistro. “Oh,” she squeaked eagerly, “more customers!”

Spike turned around on his stool to see a number of potential customers enter the shop.

‘Oh fuck,’ he grumbled to himself. ‘I’ll never be able to get to know her if…..’

Two young men hurried from in back of the shop and joined Buffy and Spike at the counter.

“We’ll take care of them,’ the fair-haired young man offered with a nod at the newest customers. “You go on and talk to your friend, Buffy,” he added with a warm smile.

“This is Andrew,” Buffy murmured her introduction to the elfin looking youngster. “That’s Johnathan,” she added with a nod to the other, shorter dark-haired man. “This is Dr. William Giles,” Buffy whispered, pointing at Spike.

“Hi Doc!” Andrew greeted Spike warmly. “We’ll just take over here and let Buffy chat with you. Right John?” He finished with a grin at his shorter companion.

“Right Drew,” Johnathan replied in a business-like tone. “Go on, Buffy,” the little man urged his employer, “have a sit and chat with the doctor here.”

Buffy, Spike noted happily, looked like a hooked fish on the line. She glanced about the bistro and then finally nodded her head in resignation at her two employees.

“Kay,” Buffy whispered, stepping out from behind the counter. “Uhm, should we sit over here,” she asked Spike shyly, pointing to a small table by the window.

“Sure,” Spike retorted happily. “I’d be glad to sit there with you Buffy,” he added. “But I wonder,” He continued carefully, “May I ask just how you got the name of Buffy, luv?”

Buffy spun about and almost glared at this Spike with resentment. “I don’t think that’s any of your business ‘Spike’ Giles,” she sputtered.

Spike began to laugh, gleefully, “Now don’t be cross with me, Buffy Summers. I think the moniker of ‘Buffy’ fits you just fine, luv. As for my nickname of Spike? I’ll be glad to enlighten you on it. In fact,” he pursed his lips and smirked wickedly. “I will tell you how I got my nickname, first, if you promise to tell me about yours, after that is?”

“Hmmm,” Buffy purred coyly, glancing behind her at this handsome blond man. Have a sit, then,” she giggled saucily, “and give me the FYI on how a brilliant heart surgeon gets the nickname of Spike. Then,” she added with a grin, “I might just explain how my mother came to call me ‘Buffy’ instead of Elizabeth!”


A/N: Okay, this fiction is going to be a lot longer then I originally planned. I just can’t write Spuffy without going on and on I’m afraid.

Xander may prove to be a problem later on. Even though Spike and Buffy seem to have hit it off right away? There will be bumps in the road of their romance. I promise more angst and bittersweet romance to come.

Thank you for reading this and please review, spufette.

Chapter 4: ‘Nick Name Confessions’


Summary: The title pretty much sums up this chapter. Spike and Buffy reveal their nick name origins to each other.

A/N: I hope, really, that you readers find this chapter a little amusing. I really tried to make our Spuffy couple’s ‘stories’ somewhat original.

Thanks, spuf


“So, Miss Buffy Summers, just how did you get the nickname?” Spike asked with a raised brow and a slight smirk on his mouth.

They, Buffy and he, had sat at a small, intimate table, right by the large front window of the shop. As he sipped his very delicious coffee, Spike watched Buffy scrunch up her nose and actually blush again.

‘There it is, again,’ Spike thought happily, totally enthralled by Buffy’s endearing, but obviously guiles gestures. ‘That adorable blush,’ he nearly sighed out loud, but caught himself at the last second.

“Like I said ‘Spike’ Giles,” Buffy replied evenly, “you have to tell your nickname secrets first. Then I’ll spill everything,” she began to giggle girlishly, causing Spike to get even more caught up in her.

“Well,” Spike stammered a bit, “it’s really no big deal,” he continued. However, the flush on his own face told Buffy something different.

“Do I even want to know?” Buffy asked saucily. “I mean if you really don’t ‘want’ to tell me or you think it might offend…..” Spike cut her off, quickly.

“No, not offensive, really,” he chuckled, “just a little bizarre. Okay, maybe a bit ridiculous?” Again, Spike felt a warm, hot blush rise from his neck to his face.

“So?” Buffy began; her fair left eye brow was raised in question. Obviously, she was not going to let this drop and since Spike was truly interested in how Miss Summers had received her moniker?

“My first year in college,” Spike began off-handedly, “I was just a snot nosed kid, really. Only barely seventeen and just full of piss and vinegar,” he smiled at the memory.

“You began college at barely seventeen?” Buffy gasped in near disbelief. “I mean that’s major Spike, really!”

“Yeah,” Spike blushed once again, “it’s true, luv.” He took another sip of his delicious coffee and then favored Buffy with a proud grin.

“I was ahead of my class, in academics, but not so much in maturity I’m afraid.” His grin fell into a small scowl, Buffy noticed and she decided to move the discussion elsewhere.

“So, you went to college as William and became ‘Spike’ Giles instead?” She grinned herself when she noticed that her question had brought another smile to Spike’s handsome mouth.

“Somethin’ like that,” he replied quietly. “I had these two mates, friends you Americans call them, in college. My best mates, they were. We did everything together and went everywhere together. It was them that encouraged my ‘punk’ phase,” he added bashfully.

“Believe it or not, luv? I was ‘really’ punk back then. Even wore a kind of dog collar around my neck,” he smiled widely when Buffy laughed outright.

“A dog collar!” Buffy squealed with glee. “Oh, that’s rich, Spike really!”

“Okay, okay,” Spike mumbled, “I know, pretty childish, but it was my way then. Anyway, you should have seen my friends, Thomas and Jerald, they……”

“Your friends' names were Tom and Jerry?” Buffy gasped again and tried very hard not to laugh. “Like the cartoon,” she asked with wide, innocent green eyes.

“Yes ‘Buffy’ emphasis on the Buffy, part,” Spike snorted. “Exactly like you Yanks’ inane cartoon ‘Tom and Jerry’ okay.” A pout formed on his mouth no matter how hard he tried to control it.

“So, let me guess,” Buffy muttered, trying her best not to rudely laugh. “Your friends were ‘Tom and Jerry’ so you, the dog collar wearing punk friend went by ‘Spike?’ Like the dog in the toon? Is that it,” she couldn’t stop herself, Buffy burst out into great peals of laughter.

Spike noticed that Buffy was turning red, from laughing so hard. There were actually tears of glee trickling down her pretty pink cheeks!

“Okay, go ahead, Summers,” Spike muttered good-naturedly, “yuck it up all you want. I’m still dying to find out how you got a nickname of Buffy, from a name like Elizabeth?” He gave Buffy a challenging smirk and noted, happily, that this shut her up quite quick.

“Oh, that,” Buffy mumbled; suddenly very serious. She did not laugh anymore at all. Not even a slight chuckle emitted from the lovely Buffy Summers lush little mouth.

“Well,” Buffy began hesitantly as she wiped the tiny tears from her flushed face. “I guess I should start by telling you that we, as in you and I have something in common.”

“And that would be?” Spike inquired evenly as he sipped his cooling coffee and watched her over the rim of his mug.

“We both got our nick names from American television shows,” she sighed with a shake of her golden head. “You got yours, kind of, from a cartoon and I got mine from a sitcom that played on American TV. It was called ‘Family Affair’ and ran in the late 60’s early 70’s. My mother loved that show,” Buffy added wistfully, staring out the front window of her shop.

“Don’t think I’ve heard of it, luv,” Spike chuckled, delighted to see the wistful, childlike gaze on his lovely companion.

“I’m not sure if it ever ran in England,” Buffy stated, her brows furrowed in thought. “But my mom loved it and watched it all the time when she was a child. It was really hokey, truly it was,” she giggled mischievously, “but in a good kind of way, you know,” she finished hopefully.

“I’m sure it was,” Spike murmured as he set his mug down on the table and boldly took Buffy’s tiny hand in his. “So, tell me about it, eh?”

“Well,” Buffy glanced at her hand in his and blushed profusely, but did not remove it. “My mom loved the show and let me think, there was an odd cast of characters on it. A bachelor named Uncle Bill who took in his late sister’s kids. The sister and her husband were killed or something….”

“And this is a sitcom, kitten?” Spike asked in confusion. “I thought sits were supposed to be uhm, funny?” He raised his scarred left brow and frowned slightly.

“Oh, it was funny, at times,” Buffy chuckled in reply, “sometimes it was funny,” she added. “It was mostly rather sappy I think, no, I know it was because I’ve seen reruns on Nick at Nite. They still run that show from time to time,” Buffy giggled again.

“Anyway, just listen,” she ordered Spike gently. “My mom loved the show and loved all the characters. “There was Uncle Bill and his butler or valet, who was British by the way, named oddly enough, Mr. Giles French!” Buffy began to laugh at the irony of this and Spike couldn’t help but join her.

“The three orphans showed up in the first episode and moved in on Uncle Bill. Here’s where the ‘punch’ line comes in,” Buffy continued with another giggle.

“The three kids' names were Cissy; real name ‘Catherine’ and then the two twins. A boy, Jody; a nickname for ‘Jonathan' and his twin sister, Buffy. Can you guess what the name Buffy was a nickname for?” She smiled coyly at Spike and slipped her hand from his to grasp her mug.

While she took another sip of the good coffee, Buffy watched Spike from over the rim of the mug. He was handsome, oh yeah, Spike Giles was that. Spike was definitely interested in her, Buffy was sure of that! Too bad Buffy was such a coward that she just couldn’t…..

“I’ll go out on a limb here, Princess,” Spike murmured, taking Buffy’s other hand in his. “Elizabeth?” He grinned knowingly at her, a twinkle in his blue eyes.

“Yup,” Buffy nodded firmly. “Buffy was the name, I mean the real name my mother wanted to give me, but my dad….” She frowned here and shook her head, “he demanded that mom at least name me something traditional. So, that’s how I got my real given name of Elizabeth, but no one calls me that, ever,” she scrunched her nose up again.

Spike laughed warmly, “well, both of your names suit you, Princess. You are definitely a ‘princess’ and Elizabeth is definitely a royal name. Buffy suits your shiny little personality though,” he added thoughtfully.

Buffy felt another hot blush seep up her neck into her face and she took another sip of her coffee. “Thank you,” she whispered soflty, after she replaced her mug on the table.

“I guess ‘Spike’ suits you too, or I think it does,” she giggled. “Although I see you as a William also. Tell, me, William Giles, do you ever write anything? Novels, novellas or even poetry?” Buffy tilted her head to one side and studied her male companion, carefully.

“Oh, well, that,” Spike muttered, embarrassed. “I have written a book, believe it or not, but it’s really dry, purely medical.”

It almost sounded like the man was apologizing for writing a book and this confused Buffy, greatly. Before she could say anything, however, Spike added, shyly:

“Yes, I’ve even written some poetry. Really bloody awful poetry, when I was young, naïve and mistakenly thought I was in love with our neighbor girl.” Spike blushed, bright red again and hung his head, briefly.

“I’m sure it was not awful, William,” Buffy murmured softly, taking ‘his’ hand in hers this time. “I am very sure it was wonderful and heartfelt. You seem like a very soulful person to me, William Giles,” she finished quickly, maneuvering her hand from his, yet again.

Spike felt the immediate loss of Buffy’s gentle soft touch and quickly reclaimed her small hand in his. He looked, soulfully into her deep green eyes and smiled affectionately.

“Me? Not so much, the soulful part that is,” he sighed sadly. “Now, you on the other hand? I don’t think I’ve ever met a more ‘soulful’ person, much less woman, in my entire life, Buffy Summers.”

This comment brought a smile to both their faces and Buffy even forgot to take politely remove her hand from his strong hold. For some reason, being a coward or not? Buffy found comfort from the touch of this virtual stranger she had just met.

The couple sat, gazing into each others’ open, honest eyes.
“I was wondering,” Spike began, finding his voice again, “if maybe you would, I mean,” he paused, suddenly very unsure of himself. “I mean would you, could you maybe go out with me, sometime? On a like a date,” he blurted out.

‘Oh, God!’ Spike cursed himself, ‘you bloody idiot! You’re worse then a fucking poncy school boy, you…..’

“Oh,” Buffy whispered quietly, tearing her gaze away from his. “I, I don’t know,” she stammered nervously. “I’m not very good at ‘dating’ Spike,” she continued sorrowfully. “I guess I’m not what you’d really call a ‘fun’ date and…..”

“Buffy,” Spike interrupted her, gently and took her hand tenderly. “I’m sure you’re a very ‘fun’ date as you call it and wonderful companionship. If you mean ‘fun’ as in well,” he paused, clearly uncomfortable with this topic.

“I just, you know, tried to date a few times, after I broke up with my ex-fiancé. They didn’t go too well,” she finished with a sigh.

“Maybe ‘the dates’ didn’t go too well because ‘they’ weren’t the right guys to go on them with?” Spike murmured. He studied her, carefully, with a tender smile. “Maybe if you give me a chance? Go out with me, get to know me better? Let me get to know you better? Maybe our dates together would go just great, yeah?”


A/N: Well, I’m ending this chapter here. I was going to go into Buffy’s answer, but truthfully? I’m not even sure what it’s going to be yet!!!

Oh, I have to wonder if a lot of BTVS fans think that maybe this is indeed where Joss came up with Buffy? I know a lot of us writers have Elizabeth be Buffy’s real name, but the truth is; I don’t think that was ever the case in the show?

I will tell you this much; Buffy is very, very unsure of herself and in a way, so is Spike. Spuffy is going to happen, eventually, I promise.

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

Chapter 5: ‘You Know The Concept?’


Summary: Buffy gives Spike an answer, kind of……okay so I’m being ambiguous! Please just read the chapter and keep in mind that Spike has an uphill battle in winning over Buffy’s trust and her heart!


Chapter 5:


Spike studied Buffy’s reaction to his words of just a few moments earlier, somewhat wistfully. He watched, carefully, his hope began to wane as he noted the emotions that played out in Buffy’s emerald green eyes.

At first, the little blond angel had seemed just mildly surprised at his request for a date with her. Then, Spike had gained an ounce of hope when Buffy’s expression changed from surprised to slightly confused, to well, rather excited, or so he thought.

However, after what seemed like at least an hour of silence on her part (actually, it was really mere moments) he realized she was going to turn him down. Spike felt his heart sink down to the pit of his gut when Buffy shook her golden head just slightly enough to register a sound ‘no’ to him.

“Oh Buffy,” Spike whispered sadly as he took her tiny hand in his once again. He felt somewhat vindicated when she did not pull it away.

“Let me explain, please Spike,” Buffy murmured softly in reply, her huge green eyes were focused on their entwined hands. Her mouth was twisted into an almost childish pout and Spike could swear she looked only seventeen-years-old if that at the moment.

“I, well, we…..you and I? We don’t really know each other very well, if at all, Spike,” Buffy stammered almost apologetically. “I have just met you and frankly, although you don’t seem like a serial killer or anything,” she paused briefly, a slight smirk played on her lips.

“I can assure I’m no serial killer, Princess,” Spike interjected quickly with a small chuckle. At least Buffy’s unintentional humor had broken the sudden tension between them.

“I’m sure you’re not,” Buffy giggled, giving Spike a reason to smile again and some cause for hope. Her green eyes danced in merriment and he felt even more hopeful.

“See,” Buffy began again carefully, “after Riley and I broke up. Riley, that’s my ex-fiancé,” she added with a frown. “We broke up a while back, but I guess I have just kind of found it hard to move on.” Buffy’s eyes turned sad suddenly and she stared outside the window, almost forgetting the kind man who still held her hand.

“I have been on a few dates since then,” she continued thoughtfully. “They were guys I’ve known for years though and more friends then potential boyfriends, I guess. I’m afraid the whole dating scene has been a real fiasco for me, since……” Buffy’s voice trailed off meekly.

“It’s tough to move on, after a big break up like that, eh? I should know,” Spike mumbled in a hushed tone. “I broke up with my fiancé, ‘bout a year ago,” he added almost casually. “Turned out to the best thing in the world for me as it were. But, at the time it hurt like bloody hell,” he finished with a shrug.

“I’m sorry,” Buffy whispered in a genuinely sympathetic tone. She returned Spike’s squeeze of her hand with her own. They sat, quietly for a moment or two, gazing into each others’ eyes.

“Maybe,” Buffy began softly, “maybe we could kind of start out as friends?” She blushed hotly when Spike smiled at her and tightened the hold on her hand.

“Friends?” He asked with a pleasant grin that just melted Buffy for some reason.

“Yeah, you know,” she smiled in return, “the concept of friends first? Or is that foreign to you Mr. Giles?” Buffy began to giggle merrily and Spike couldn’t help but join in the laughter.

“I’m familiar with the term friends, sweet,” he finally responded with another light chuckle. “I just would rather be more then a friend to you, okay? But, if that’s how it has to be, for now anyway? Then I can live with it,” he finished with a half grin.

“Okay,” Buffy sighed in relief, quite unsure just what she was relieved about. “Tell you what,” she continued suddenly very animated again.

“I have some great friends, a couple who own a start up winery outside of Sunnydale. Wesley and Fred Pryce,” she continued excitedly. “I don’t know if you’d even want to, but maybe you’d like to join us, this Friday night. At their winery. It’s not far from here and…..”

“This sounds like a double date, luv,” Spike interjected kindly, pretty well pleased with the sound of this. “Not that I’m complainin’ but I thought you said……”

“No,” Buffy blurted out quickly. “Wesley and Fred have this Friday night tradition,” she went on to explain patiently. “Wes is a marvelous cook, as well as a vintner and Fred is an avid film collector. They both love old movies, like me,” she continued, quite animated again.

“On most Friday nights, Wes and Fred ask me and some of our other friends over to the winery. They have an amazing collection of old movies, mostly from the 30’s and 40’s! Fred hangs a huge white cloth on the house wall, outside of course, and shows a vintage film on it! We all meet over there about 7:00 PM and Wes lays out a simple but great meal. Usually the food is matched, in theme with the film in some way.”

“Sounds interesting,” Spike intoned sincerely. It really did sound interesting to him. Especially since it seemed that Buffy was willing to include him in her group of friends. That had to be a good sign, right? Besides, he really enjoyed old-time cinema flicks and this was a good start to something in common with Buffy.

“Well, like I was saying,” she continued, “this Friday, Fred is showing ‘Barbary Coast’ on the wall! It’s an old Edward G. Robinson movie, with Joel McCrea and Miriam Hopkins. I don’t suppose you know any of those oldies but goodies, huh?” Buffy looked almost worried when she asked Spike this, but he beat her to the punch.

“Oh, I’ve heard of them a bit,” he replied evenly, thought his smile probably gave him away. “Especially Robinson, tough guy, wasn’t he? Always played the baddies in the films?”

“Yes!” Buffy cried, apparently thrilled by Spike’s recognition of the old movie actor. “He’s a bad guy in this one too,” she added happily. “Oh, it’s a great old movie, Spike! I think you’d like it. I could give you directions to the winery and we could meet there! Willow and Tara will be there, so will my friends Clem and Sophie! Wes and Fred are always trying to get me to bring a ‘friend’ with me, but….”

Buffy’s voice became very soft and Spike could barely understand her words. He noticed she blushed brightly again and seemed almost shy.

“If you don’t want to go, I’ll understand. It’s not like it’s a date and….” Buffy began quietly, her eyes focused on the coffee cup before her.

“I’d love to go, sweetheart,” Spike murmured softly. “I’d rather go there, be with you in some capacity, then not see you at all Friday, Princess. I have to ask though; shouldn’t I bring something for the movie party? I guess wine is out since it’s a winery and all, but maybe some beer? Dessert or……”

“Beer is good,” Buffy giggled with a bright smile. “Wes and Fred will like that. Since the movie is pretty much about San Francisco in the 1800’s? We’re having a kind of west coast themed cuisine; popcorn shrimp; probably some homemade clam chowder; good sourdough bread, of course; and veges, California style,” she giggled girlishly. “Wes always pops corn and puts it in little theatre type bags to munch on for dessert!”

‘Her smile lights up her whole lovely little face and her emerald eyes,’ Spike told himself, a little awe struck. The girl before him looked so happy that it was hard to imagine she still hung on to the painful memories of her broken engagement.

‘I’ll help her forget that stupid wanker that hurt her,’ Spike promised himself silently. ‘When I finally break through her walls, I’ll make her forget every painful thing that’s happened to her.’


Spike sauntered down the hallowed halls of Sunnydale General, his clipboard in hand. He had a very important patient to see to and he was a man on a mission.

‘I’ve got to talk to Tara about Buffy,’ Spike reasoned silently as he opened the patient, one Ethan Rayne’s, hospital room door. Rayne was an important man in Sunnydale, California and he was one of the main reasons that Spike had been summoned here.

Ethan’s case was not a rare one, but neither was it very common in the medical community. Spike knew he could help Rayne with his condition, just by the simple use of his scalpel.

If he was sure of anything, Spike was sure of his surgical skills. After all, he was only thirty-one and already a top notch surgeon. Wasn’t he? So why did Buffy Summers, a mere slip of a girl, make him so unsure of himself?

“Hello Doc,” Ethan Rayne greeted Spike jovially from his nice hospital bed. “Jesus man,” the fellow Brit chuckled wickedly, “you look like shit! Maybe you should be in this bed and I…..” The patient’s voice trailed off to silence when he saw his doctor’s somber scowl.

“Sorry, Doc,” Rayne mumbled, suddenly quite serious. “You look as if you’ve lost your best friend. What’s up?”

Spike sighed heavily and flopped down on the chair next to the prone man. He ran his hand through his blond hair, nervously, and sighed again dramatically.

“Oh, you don’t have to say a word, mate,” Rayne chuckled once again. “This is about a girl, that’s for sure! Some bird’s got you all mopey and soulful, eh Dr. Giles?”

“Yeah, you could say that,” Spike muttered under his breath as he checked Rayne’s chart. “Her name is Buffy and……”

“Buffy!” Rayne crowed gleefully. “You mean the Angel of Sunnydale General, ‘the’ Buffy Summers!”

“You know her?” Spike asked suspiciously as he eyed his animated patient.

“Who doesn’t!” Ethan guffawed heartily in reply. “She’s just about the most sought after woman in Sunnydale. No, make that the ‘most’ sought after woman in Sunnydale!” Rayne laughed lustily.

“Every man, and some women,” he winked at Spike, “from here to LA wants a bite of Buffy Summers! She’s like the fuckin’ Marilyn Monroe of Sunnydale General!”

“Uhm, Mr. Rayne,” Spike mumbled nervously, “I don’t think you should be talking about Buffy that way.”

“I meant no disrespect,” Ethan chuckled with a shake of his handsome head. “But, Buffy Summers? She’s like this icon of beauty; physical, spiritual and well, let’s face it man. She’s got an arse on her that you could bounce a quarter off of!”

“Just how do ‘you’ know Buffy Summers?” Spike grumbled the question to Rayne. He wasn’t sure if he liked the direction this conversation with his patient was going.

“I don’t. I mean, not really,” Ethan replied with a smirk. “But a man can dream, can’t he?

Look,” he continued evenly, “I’m a happily married man; pillar of the community and all; my family is first and foremost with me, then my position at the City Council. However, Buffy is a bloody angel of the community and I can’t count the young and older gits that have chased after her. Word gets around town and especially around this sterile meat house,” he grinned and glanced about the hospital room.

“She was all set to marry that stupid sod, Riley Finn, I think his name was. Word has it that the asshole stepped out on her and she caught him. Just as well I suppose,” Ethan frowned, thoughtfully, “from what I gathered, Finn wasn’t good enough to kiss our Buffy’s feet!”

“Buffy caught her fiancé with another woman?” Spike asked incredulously. “I can’t believe that,” he added with a frown.

“Yup,” Ethan sighed in exasperation. “Some blokes don’t know a great thing when they have it, eh? You know,” the older man continued steadily, “your friend, Dr. Liam O’Connor was sniffin’ around Buffy; some time back. He could probably give you the head’s up more then I can,” he finished with a wicked smile.

“Angelus O’Connor was ‘sniffing’ around Buffy at one time,” Spike nearly gasped. He could feel the jealousy rise up in him, but he pushed it back down long enough to get some more answers from Rayne.

“So I heard,” Ethan shrugged non-chalantly. “It was afore Buffy and that nimrod Finn split up. Then O’Connor met up with his present fiancée, Miss Cordelia Chase; good family the Chases,” Ethan grunted as he shifted to a more comfortable position.

“I believe by the time Buffy had split with Finn, Dr. ‘O’ and Lady Chase had become an item. I guess you could say that Liam was off the market when Buffy was back on it. It was Buffy that introduced O’Connor to Cordelia Chase; basically made their match. There’s irony, eh?” Rayne chuckled merrily and sipped a glass of water.

“Really,” Spike muttered, his mind elsewhere then on his patient before him. At the moment, Buffy was first and foremost on Spike’s mind, everything else had suddenly taken a back seat to her.


“Oh, you’ve got it bad for Summers, eh Doc!” Rayne burst out into laughter. “She’s a hard nut to crack from what I understand,” he added mischievously. “But if anyone can crack her? I’ll lay my bets with you, Dr. William Giles!”

Spike practically ran down the hall of the hospital, again, a man with a mission. Liam O’Connor was in his hospital office at this very moment, Spike was sure of that.

‘I need to talk to my old mate, Angelus,’ Spike mumbled to himself as he stopped in front of said doctor’s office door. ‘I’ve a feeling that old Angel knows a lot about Buffy and is more willing then Tara to fill me in on her.’


A/N: I know the ‘movie night’ at Wesley and Fred’s is a little corny, but actually it’s a big fad in the wine country and elsewhere in California. Movie theme nights are getting more and more popular and the big wide ranch houses and buildings at wineries are perfect for showing films.

Buffy is actually allowing Spike more access to her lonely heart then he realizes at this time. Angel just might give our blond hero some more insight into what makes Buffy tick.

Don’t worry I am ‘not’ going to make Angel a rival with Spike for Buffy’s affection. The Bangel ship (as in the show!) has sailed away for good.

Next chapter ‘The Undate’!

Thank you for reading, please review, spufette.

Chapter 6: ‘You’re Beautiful’


“You’re Beautiful”

(James Blunt Lyrics)


‘My life is brilliant.

My life is brilliant,
My love is pure.
I saw an angel,
Of that I’m sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won’t lose no sleep on that,
Cause, (hey hehehe) I’ve got a plan.

You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don’t know what to do,
Cause…..I’ll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Flying high……(obscenity follows!)
Fucking high!
And I don’t think that I’ll ever see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don’t know what to do,
Cause I’ll never be with you.

You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don’t know what to do,
Cause I’ll never be with you.

You’re beautiful, you’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it’s time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.



A/N: This was a little prologue to Chapter 6 because I just heard this song for the first time. Oh God, it made me cry like a baby and I thought it fit with Spike and Buffy. But don’t worry my little Spuffy lovers, even beautiful songs can be ‘off key’ and wrong.

I promise, ‘most’ of the words in this mournful tune will apply to Spike’s desire for Buffy. However, I’ve a few tricks up my sleeve and the song may not necessarily remain the same! Let’s face it…..Spike is tenacious to say the least!


Summary: Spike finds out more information about Buffy’s past. The movie ‘undate’ begins and everything looks like it’s going to work out fine.



Chapter 6:


“What’s up Spike?” Angel O’Connor greeted his old friend amicably. The older doctor watched William Giles as he strode through his office door. Angel noticed that old Spike didn’t seem as sure of himself as usual.

‘Something’s wrong with old Willie,’ Angel surmised with a sly smirk. ‘Even his cocky swagger is a little less, well cocky?’ This new and more humble version of Spike Giles amused Angel O’Connor, no doubt about that.

“Angelus,” Spike grunted in reply as he flopped down in an empty chair across from the big man’s desk.

“What brings ‘you’ in here,” Angel asked with a slight chuckle. “And don’t tell me it’s old man Ethan Rayne’s case because I know you can handle that yourself. This is something different Willie boy that I’m sure of. So, fess up what’s got your knickers in a twist, as you’d say, huh?”

Spike eyed his old ‘friend’ nervously, then, with a shrug of his shoulders, began to explain.

“You know Buffy Summers, right?” Spike asked his friend and one-time rival cautiously.

“Oh, I get it!” Angel burst out into hearty, loud laughter and actually slammed his meaty fist onto his desk. “You’ve been hit by the Buffy Summers’ arrow of love, right?”

Angel managed to choke out the question between boisterous guffaws of laughter. He continued, rather loudly for Spike’s taste, “Buffy’s managed to it again, eh? Shot you right through the heart with her magic arrow and now you’re a dead man! I don’t know how that girl manages to ‘do that’ and not even have an inkling in her pretty head? That she’s 'done it' that is! So, Spike, how long did it take for you to fall for Buffy? A day? A night? Or maybe an hour or minutes…..” Angel continued, his words trailing off into a wicked chuckle.

“This is hardly funny mate,” Spike grumbled, frowning at the older doctor.

“Oh, shit, but it’s really hysterical!” Angel replied with a shake of his dark head. “You? Stone cold Spike Giles? Taken down by a mere slip of a girl, and a little California doll, too? It’s fucking priceless!”

Angel began to laugh again and Spike stood to leave. “Well if you’re going to sit there, braying like a bloody jackass? I’ll just take my questions elsewhere and…..” he stopped when Angel motioned for him to sit back down.

“Oh, sit the fuck down and shut the hell up,” Angel muttered trying to compose himself. “I’ll tell you everything I know about Buffy Summers and well, it’s a lot I guess. The truth is, Willie, my personal feelings aside? I think you and Miss Summers just might make the perfect couple together.”


Spike sat in his borrowed office, the one the Sunnydale General had provided for him to use. At least while he was practicing there anyway.

The blond doctor sat, mulling over the last hour he had spent with his old pal, Angel O’Connor. Not only had Angel given Spike all the current 411 on Buffy Summers personal love life, at least as ‘he’ knew it? Angel had explained some things about just how and why Buffy ended up volunteering at the nursery for terminally ill babies.

‘Not a very pretty story,’ Spike reminded himself as he thought about just what Angel had told him earlier.

Apparently, Hank Summers, Buffy’s dad had left her mother, Joyce for another woman, in LA. This had been some years before when Buffy was still quite young and in school. The woman in LA, the new Mrs. Summers, had brought a daughter and a son to the marriage.

The boy, Andrew was his name, now worked for Buffy at the coffee shop. He was younger then Buffy and had grown quite close to his Sunnydale step-sister through the years. The daughter, Faith had been her name, was older then Buffy and completely out-of-control. However, Buffy had taken an intense liking to Faith and stayed close to the older girl, even though she lived in LA with her mother, Alice and Hank.

This Faith, about seven years before this, had taken up with another loser by the name of Ford something or other. Even though Hank, Alice and yes, even Joyce and Buffy had tried to help Faith, they failed miserably. Ford and Faith both soon became immersed in the street drug life of LA and were lost to everyone that loved them.

Not only had both Ford and Faith contracted HIV/AIDS virus from tainted needles; they had unfortunately been careless in other ways. Faith gave birth to a heroin addicted little girl who sadly had contracted HIV from her.

Soon after little their daughter’s birth, both Faith and Ford shot up with a hot speedball and overdosed together. They left the child, Lizzy was her name, parentless and doomed to a horrible death sentence.

Buffy had been devastated, literally, when she lost her tragic step-sister Faith. To console herself, she took up the cause of caring for little Lizzy, who was named after her, and helping her step-mother in any way she could. The poor child had not lived to see her second birthday, even though she did successfully withdraw from the addiction her parents had caused her.

Spike frowned and sighed deeply, remembering how Angel had shook his head sadly as he related Buffy’s tragic tale. Because of Buffy’s sad family history, she had dedicated herself to helping sick children.

When her ex-fiancé had brought her to Sunnydale G. almost two years ago and she had found the special nursery? Buffy became a permanent fixture at the hospital, almost addicted to the nursery and those poor babies herself.

“That explains Buffy’s determination to see to it that those poor tots get the attention they need,” Spike reasoned with another heavy sigh. Spike himself had always detached his own personal feelings from his patients, at least pretty well anyway.


He was a heart surgeon first and foremost and even though he had lost a patient or two? He had succeeded in covering his personal feelings of loss and failure. It was like Angel had said earlier…..Spike Giles had a stone-cold heart in all aspects of his life. Or, at least he had, until he had met Buffy Summers.

Spike went over the conversations he had had with Angel just a while earlier. The one about Buffy’s personal love life. He could remember the reluctance in Angel’s dark eyes as he explained a few things to Spike:


“Buffy was engaged to that stupid moron, Riley Finn, for about three years I guess. Not that it was the best decision the girl has ever made, but that was that,” Angel rambled on in his usual monotone.

“I think it was about two years ago that I met Buffy and took an interest in her,” Angel continued, deep in thought. He made it a point not to look Spike in the eye. Angel was well aware of his good buddy, Spike’s, temperamental personality and apparently, Buffy had deeply rooted herself into his heart and soul. Angel was sure that Spike had already laid claim to Buffy’s affections and would be pretty pissed at any other man who showed an interest in her.

“Buffy is loyal, Spike,” Angel explained quickly, “and her feelings for her fiancé was no exception. She made it clear to me that she wasn’t interested in any type of romantic relationship with me. A while later; Buffy introduced me to Cordelia Chase and well, the rest is history.” He grinned, benevolently at his friend, Spike.

“When Buffy and Riley split up? I was already wrapped up in Cordy and there was never a question of any relationship with Buffy. She, on the other hand, tried to move on by dating a couple of guys that she had known for years; Parker Abrams, a tech here in the hospital; and Xander Harris, a local cop and……”

“I met Harris,” Spike grumbled lowly. “He’s a bit of a wanker, huh?”

“Yeah, poor Harris is more boy then man and that’s the problem. Buffy needs a man, not a boy in her life. Anyone that knows her knows that,” Angel finished with a slight frown.

“So Buffy’s made it bloody clear she’s not interested in this Harris or Abrams?” Spike asked hopefully.

“Yup,” Angel grunted with a shrug. “The thing is,” he continued, “is that it’s not like Riley Finn was her soul mate either. At least that’s not the drift I caught from anyone that’s known her. Actually, Buffy caught Riley with another woman; a gal that Buffy, Cordelia and even Riley grew up with. Here in Sunnydale. Her name’s Harmony Kendall and from what I hear, they’re engaged now. Finn and Kendall that is. I’ve met Harmony, she’s a real bimbo with a capital ‘B’ and that’s no lie.”

“Maybe Finn and this chit deserve each other then, huh?” Spike scowled at the thought of this idiot Finn throwing Buffy over for a seemingly vapid tramp like this Kendall woman.

‘What man in his right mind would give up Buffy for someone like this ignorant trollop,’ he asked himself ruefully. ‘The man must be a complete idiot.’

“Yes, and to think they were all supposed friends once? That’s the real stake in the heart, isn’t it?” Angel muttered under his breath; his right brow was raised in mockery.

“Anyway,” Angel continued with a frustrated sigh, “Buffy has really built some walls up around herself. They’ll be hard to break down, Spike. I’m thinking that if anyone can do it, though, you can.”


Spike fiddled with his pen, trying to write up some kind of notes on his patient, Ethan Rayne. His mind kept going back to his conversation with Angel and everything they talked about. There was more, much more that Angel had disclosed to him, but Spike was just too damned tired to think about ‘that’ now.

Right now, Spike was more interested in the fact that Wednesday, tonight that is, was one of the nights that Buffy showed at the hospital. He had every intention of being there, in the hallowed halls of Sunnydale General when the little angel, Miss Summers, showed her lovely face.


Thursday morning dawned bright and clear; another early call for Spike, at the hospital. He stumbled into Sunnydale General, his doctor’s coat half pulled about him.

After only a few minutes, Spike ran smack into Tara McClay and Willow.

“You look like crap,” Tara blurted out, not too very tactfully. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

“Not much,” Spike yawned in reply. “I had a lot on my mind,” he muttered lowly. “Let me ask you something,” he continued slowly. “I thought I’d drop by Buffy’s coffee place tonight, after my stint here. What do you think?”

“I think you’d better slow down cowboy,” Willow piped up with a bright blush. “Buffy doesn’t like to be pushed and…..”

“Did Buffy ‘tell’ you to drop by?” Tara asked quietly. She watched her old friend warily, fully aware of his votile nature.

“No,” Spike muttered gruffly. “But I’m supposed to meet her, at your friends’ house. The Pryces; Wesley and Fred? Buffy asked me to join you guys tomorrow night and……”

Willow gasped, audibly, “no way! If Buffy asked you to be a part of the traditional Friday movie night! Well, that’s big, Spike, really big!”

“It is a big step, especially for Buffy,” Tara nodded in agreement with her girlfriend. “It’s really saying something that she’d let you in, even that much,” she finished with a warm smile.

“So,” Spike began again, impatiently, “should I stop by Buffy’s shop tonight or not?”

“Yes,” both Tara and Willow cried in unison. “But only for one cup of coffee and a quick chat,” Tara added firmly. “Don’t push her, William,” she warned her friend. “Buffy will only be pushed so far then she’ll push back. I don’t think you want that, do you?”


Friday night came quickly enough for Buffy, kind of that is. Clem and Sophie, her good friends, had picked her up and driven her to Wesley and Fred’s winery for the movie night. Buffy rarely drove her own car, as she and driving had always proved to be very unmixy things.

Spike had informed Buffy that he would drive himself, following Tara and Willow out to the winery so he wouldn’t get lost. Sophie and Clem had picked up Buffy a tad late, as the baby sitter for their two children had been late to their house. By the time the trio arrived at the Pryce’s winery, the other guest were already there.

Spike was sitting in a seat outside in the front yard, chatting amicably with Wesley Pryce when Clem pulled the car up to park. Buffy watched as her ‘undate’ nearly leapt out of his chair to meet open her side of the door.

“You look amazing, sweet,” Spike purred to Buffy, eyeing her simple but pretty outfit. He held out his hand to help her from the car.

“You look pretty good yourself,” Buffy quipped coyly in reply as she took his offered hand in hers.

“I see you’re getting along, famously already with your fellow countryman?” Buffy smiled at Wesley who had now joined them and hugged her warmly.

“We’ve already discovered that Spike here and I were born quite close to each other, in London. Almost neighbors really,” Wesley chimed in eagerly.

“I’m going to go help out in the kitchen,” Buffy offered quickly, suddenly shy again. “You two talk away and I’ll see what I can do to help out Tara, Fred and Willow.”

She hurried into the Pryce house in search of her female friends, just a bit unnerved by Spike’s presence here. A part of her was truly happy that Spike seemed to be fitting in, immediately with her group, though.

“Well, I think it’s great,” Buffy could hear Fred’s soft southern drawl through the kitchen door. “It’s about damn time Buffy dropped those ‘walls’ of hers Tara here is always talking about,” Mrs. Pryce continued, unaware that Buffy was now in the room with them.

“This Spike guy seems to have made a chip in the one of Buffy’s walls and……” Fred’s voice trailed off quickly when Willow elbowed her gently. Tara smiled in affection at her friend Buffy and waved her further into the kitchen.

“Uhm, we were just talking about your ‘friend’ Spike,” Willow stammered somewhat defensively. “Fred was just saying that he seems nice and all and……”

“It’s okay guys,” Buffy giggled mischievously, “everyone would have to be blind to not see that I ‘am’ interested in the guy, right?”


When the four women went outside with the food for the movie viewing, they were met by a surprise. Xander Harris and his best friend, Jesse, were sitting in chairs by Wesley, Spike, Clem and Sophie.

Buffy could see that there was an uncomfortable tension surrounding the group and cursed Xander under her breath.

‘Why the hell is ‘he’ here,’ she wondered angrily.

As if he heard her, Xander stood up and grinned boyishly at Buffy. “Thought I’d finally take old Wes here up on an invitation and bring a ‘friend’ of my own, Buff,” he chuckled defensively. Xander gave Spike a nasty frown when he finished explaining his presence.

“Oh,” Buffy mumbled, glancing at Spike who looked anything but pleased with this.

Fred saved the moment by suggesting they dig into the delicious looking food and start the movie. The hostess quickly bade Buffy to sit next to Spike and Wesley showed the others their proper seats.

Spike politely ignored Xander Harris’ ugly scowl he shot his way. He was too busy watching the little blond next to him.

‘She looks like a kid at a Sunday matinee,’ Spike told himself. The thought brought a slight smile to his mouth.

“What?” Buffy whispered when she noticed how Spike was looking at her. The movie was starting and she didn’t want to miss any of it, but his adoring stare was unnerving her once again.

“Nothin’ Princess,” Spike murmured tenderly, brushing a lock of hair from her face, gently. “I was just thinking.”

“You’re really beautiful Buffy,” Spike whispered sincerely; never breaking his gaze from her incredible green eyes.




To be continued…..


(You’re Beautiful: Reprise)

‘You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful,
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it’s time you faced the truth……
Yes, I ‘will’ be with you.


A/N: Okay, I changed the James Blunt lyrics with a few of my own!

The next chapter will start with the continuation of the undate and a surprise ending to the evening!

Thank you for reading and please review. I love those reviews, spufette!

Chapter 7: ‘Do Right Man’


Summary: The movie night continues and the whole evening ends up in a surprising way for our duo.


Spike sat quietly watching the movie that played out on the big white cloth screen. Okay, so most of the time he was watching Buffy’s reactions to the movie scenes that were playing out on the big white cloth screen.

Actually, Spike found it much more entertaining to study Buffy’s emotions and expressions play out on her lovely face. More so then the ‘B’ grade black and white flick that they were watching that particularly lovely California night.

“Oh,” Buffy sighed dreamily when Joel McCrea’s character sweet-talked Miriam Hopkins’ alter, but truer ego, Mary. Of course, poor old McCrea had no idea that he was also speaking to ‘The Swan’ who was Hopkin’s jaded counterpart in the movie.

Spike smiled softly and resisted the urge to wrap his left arm about Buffy’s slim shoulders. Especially when Buffy sighed again, her eyes glued to the movie in front of her. Instead, he casually took her little hand in his and gently ‘played’ with it.

If Buffy was put off or offended by this maneuver of his, Spike didn’t notice. Buffy seemed completely mesmerized by the plot line of the movie on the screen. Spike did notice, however, that the object of his desires seemed to smile, slightly, as he ‘pet’ her hand with his fingers. She did not, he noted, pull her hand away from his and this made him feel quite bold indeed.

‘Quite bold indeed!’ Spike thought ruefully. ‘For God’s sake I sound like that idiot ponce ‘William’ I used to be,’ he derided himself in disgust.

The movie did not last too long, but when it was finally over, Spike saw that Buffy was weeping softly. He found the movie to be pretty melodramatic, in a kind of sweet, quaint sort of way. It figured that Buffy would find it heart wrenching; something that endeared her even more to him.

“What’s wrong, luv?” Spike asked, tenderly brushing Buffy’s golden hair from her cheek.

“Nothing,” Buffy replied in a tear-stained, muffled voice. “Well…..” she whispered.

“You’re sad because the baddie, Robinson’s character, got dragged off by the vigilantes and apparently hung in the end?” Spike murmured somewhat sympathetically to Buffy who was trying to be unobvious with her soft sobs.

“No, not really,” Buffy sniffed. “Well, not so much that, the fact that the bad guy got hung in the end. Just that no matter how much power Edward G’s character had, or how much he ran San Francisco? He still couldn’t get the one thing he wanted; for the Swan to love him like he loved her.”

“Yeah,” Spike stammered, a little confused, “but at least Swan and the good guy got together in the end. Isn’t the bad guy supposed to lose, luv? McCrea’s character was the good guy, right?” Spike seemed a little unsure at the moment; an emotion that Buffy seemed to bring out in him, constantly.

“Yeah,” Buffy muttered under her breath. “It’s just that when someone loves someone else so much? Like Louis (Robinson’s character) loved the Swan? It’s kind of sad that……”



“Hey!” She cried in mock indignation. Before Spike could fathom what was going on, Buffy grabbed ‘his’ bag of corn and pulled out a handful of the cooled down treat. Without a by-your-leave, Buffy threw her handful of popcorn at both Wesley and Fred; the remnants hitting Clem and Sophie.

“Oh, it’s on now!” Sophie screamed in delight as she hurled her handful of popped corn at Buffy and Spike.

“Direct hit baby!” Clem encouraged his wife, even while he tossed a handful of his bag of corn at Xander, Willow and Tara.

“Dibs on Buffy!” Xander squealed roughly, throwing his whole corn bag of contents at Buffy.

“Hardly,” Spike growled in defiance, pulling Buffy behind his body and catapulting the entire remains of his bag of corn at Harris and his pal, Jesse.

Buffy screamed in childish delight as she took shelter behind her ‘undate’s’ sturdy body.

‘I think I could get used to this,’ Buffy thought contently to herself. It was then that Wesley Pryce cried for a truce to the popcorn wars.

“I should have warned you about that,” Buffy giggled girlishly from behind Spike’s back. “Wesley spent summers at his cousin’s winery in Italy, when he was a youngster. I guess in Italy, at the cinema, it’s kind of tradition to throw popcorn and candy at other theatre goers. Fred and Wes make sure we end every Friday movie night with a popcorn battle.”

Buffy finished with another giggle, causing Spike to wish she’d let him just take her in his arms and…..


The shrill ring of Spike’s cell phone interrupted his thoughts and desires. He reluctantly checked the caller ID and realized that it was the hospital.

“I’m afraid I have to take this, sweet,” Spike murmured to Buffy in an apologetic tone.

“Of course,” Buffy replied with a nod. For some reason, Buffy hoped that Spike wasn’t being called in on an emergency. The evening was really just getting started and…..

After Spike spoke to the faceless phone caller, he clicked off the cell and looked at Buffy with disappointment.

“I’m sorry, I have to go to the hospital, Princess,” he sighed heavily. “It’s the Rayne case. Not an emergency,” he assured Buffy who had turned pale at his words.

“Just a little pre-op paperwork that I need to clear up and all,” Spike grumbled. “I am really sorry,” he added sincerely.

“That’s okay,” Buffy replied evenly. “I’ve been called the hospital numerous times, to check on the babies,” she continued somberly. “I don’t even work there, officially, but they have called me, at weird times and…..” her voice trailed of weakly; her expression had become almost melancholy.

“Hey, you want to come with? To the hospital I mean?” Spike interjected quickly even as he attempted to keep the pathetic hope out of his voice. “I mean I know it’s not the end all Friday night ‘thing’ but…..”



“Well, okay,” Buffy stammered slowly. “I could drop in and check on the little ones tonight,” she finished with a soft smile. “If it’s not putting you out that is.”

“Putting ‘me’ out?” Spike asked incredulously. “Hell no,” he quipped happily. “Let’s say our good nights to everyone and we’ll head out, eh?”

“Uh huh,” Buffy murmured quietly. She dared a glance at Xander, who looked as if he was ready to commit murder.

‘I can’t believe Xander listened in to Spike and my conversation,’ Buffy sighed inwardly. ‘He really needs to get a grip,’ she reasoned silently.

“I’m afraid ‘we’ need to head over to Sunnydale General,” Buffy offered quickly to Fred and Wesley. “Spike needs to check on Mr. Rayne and I should really spend a little time with my babies,” she added seriously.

“Of course honey,” Fred spoke up first. “Thanks for showing up, both of you,” she continued with a nod at Buffy and Spike.

“Do drop by anytime,” Wesley added warmly. “We do this most Friday nights.”

“I’ll take you to the hospital, Buff,” Xander blurted out of turn. “You don’t ‘have’ to go with the doc here. Besides, someone will need to take you home afterwards and…..”

“I want to go with William,” Buffy mumbled shyly, allowing Spike to take her hand in his. “Will you take me home, after you’re done, Spike?” She asked the blond doctor hopefully.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, sweetling,” Spike whispered tenderly, ignoring the death looks that the hulking Harris was giving him.

“Thanks,” Buffy called behind her as she allowed Spike to escort her into his car.

Spike echoed the sentiment and slipped into the driver’s seat. Before long, the couple was headed down the empty highway, back into Sunnydale.

As they drove along, Buffy stared out at the dark, eerie country scenery.

“Is it pretty, in England I mean?” She finally broke the awkward silence between them with her question. “Is it empty in places, like here,” she continued evenly. “But pretty, in a vacant, lonely sort of way?”

Buffy glanced at her companion quickly, a little embarrassed by her mournful musings.


“Well, yeah, I 'spose,” Spike murmured, keeping his eyes trained on the dark road ahead of them. “There’s so much history in England; this place is still new Buffy, compared to home that is.”

“Yeah, I suppose,” Buffy whispered distantly as she kept watch on the scenery that passed them by.

“So, you and the whelp? What’s that about?” Spike asked carefully, leaving Harris’ name out of the question.

Buffy knew exactly who Spike was talking about and it did cause her to smile, just a tad.

“The whelp?” She asked with a quick, mischievous chuckle. “What’s a whelp, Spike, and exactly how does it pertain to Xander Harris?” Buffy glanced at him out of her left eye, her smirk still plastered on her mouth.

“He’s an okay bloke, I guess,” Spike mumbled in a dubious tone. “I just think he’s barkin’ up the wrong tree, where you’re concerned and……”

“Barking up the wrong tree!” Buffy burst out into peals of laughter, eliciting a similar response from Spike.

“Okay, so that was kind of poorly put,” Spike snorted between laughs. “I meant, Harris is not your type, that’s all,” he finished with a shrug.

“And you are?” Buffy finished for him, her own mouth twisted into a pouty sort of smirk.

“Yup,” Spike replied with a determined nod of his blond head. “I believe that I am,” he added with conviction.

They rode the rest of the way to the hospital in comfortable silence. Both Spike and Buffy wore the most oddest, yet contented smiles on their faces.


At the hospital, Spike and Buffy split up, temporarily that is. Buffy headed down to the nursery and her ‘charges’ while Spike went to his makeshift office to go over some paperwork on the Rayne case. Ethan’s special operation was in two days and things were not going to be as easy or simple as Spike suspected at first.

Finally, after about an hour of scouring the various papers and documents, Spike yawned, stretched and set the casework down on his desk. His mind wandered to the magical little blond that had already captured his heart.

‘She’s really trying to push any bloke away,’ Spike reminded himself. ‘Well, Buffy won’t be pushin’ me away, that’s for certain,’ he finished with a self-assured grin.

Spike found Buffy, exactly where he expected to, in the hospital hallway, in front of ‘her’ nursery window. He noted that the young woman had a faraway, almost sad look in her green eyes when she turned to greet him.

“They all tucked in for the night, luv,” Spike murmured tenderly as he took his place next to Buffy.

“Yeah, I guess,” Buffy replied in her soft, hushed tone he had come to love. His tiny companion continued to gaze at ‘her’ babies as they snuggled into their various sleeping compartments.

“Is Mr. Rayne going to be all right Spike?” Buffy asked suddenly without really looking at him.

“I believe so, pet,” Spike replied off-handedly. “The surgery is not so difficult and I’ve done it plenty of times before. Ethan should be good as new soon and home with his family where he belongs,” he finished with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

“Good,” Buffy murmured under her breath, still gazing at the mostly sleeping babies in the nursery before them. “I just wish you had a miracle or two up your sleeve for them,” she sighed wistfully.

“I do too, sweetheart,” Spike mumbled sincerely, placing his long arm around Buffy’s slim little shoulders.

“I’m afraid I’m merely a good heart surgeon, Buffy,” he went on to explain in an apologetic tone. “My miracles I perform are due to an excellent education and a gift from God, sweet,” he continued. “I do believe that my surgical skills are a gift, from God, Buffy, always have. However, I seem to be good at the physical practice of heart medicine only; not the spiritual understanding of the heart. It’s a curse, really, not to be able to know the human heart; not like I wish I could truly do.”

“But you do ‘know’ the human heart, Will,” Buffy gasped a little in surprise as she looked up at him. “I can see what a good, caring man you truly are, deep inside of you. I ‘feel’ how much you know and understand the human heart, even if ‘you’ don’t William Giles!”

Buffy was looking at him as if he’d grown two heads and Spike was quite taken aback for a moment or two. He wondered, not for the first time since meeting Buffy Summers, if this little dynamo of a girl had him figured out, even more then he himself did.

“I am trying to learn to understand the essence of the heart, that’s true enough Buffy,” he whispered tenderly as he brushed a blond lock from her face, gently.

She rewarded him with a sweet smile and a short, abrupt giggle. It truly made Spike’s heart sing, right at that moment and he again realized that he had completely fallen in love with Buffy; lock, stock and smoking scalpel.

“We best get you home, sweetheart,” Spike finally stated gently. “It’s late and all. Do you go to your shop tomorrow then?” He asked rather hopefully, deciding right then and there to ‘drop’ by the coffee bistro if the lovely owner would be there.

“No, I’m off tomorrow,” Buffy sighed happily in response. Her smile lit up her little face, causing Spike to have to catch his breath again at the lovely sight.

“I take Saturday’s off,” she continued brightly as they strode down the nearly empty hallway. “I enjoy going in on Sunday’s though, it’s very busy and so many Sunnydale folks drop in after church and all!”


Spike pulled up in front of Buffy’s condo; a small but pleasant enough looking abode. The condo was bright white and a peach colored trim, causing a kind of cottage looking over all affect.

“Nice place,” Spike stated the obvious, a little embarrassed by his sudden nervous tone. “Uhm, I think I should at least walk you to your door then?” He felt like an utter fool at the sound of his own suddenly boyish voice.

“Thanks,” Buffy murmured in response, her own voice suddenly a bit nervous and unsure.

“What kind of car is this,” Buffy asked quickly trying to ease the sudden tenseness in the car.

“A 1956 DeSoto,” Spike replied proudly. “I’ve had it for years; fixed it up and refurbished it. Drove it from back east when I came out here; can’t afford to be parted by my baby here,” he chuckled as he patted the dashboard lovingly.

“I like it,” Buffy said sincerely with a gentle, slight smile on her pink lips. “It’s, I don’t know, comfy I guess,” she giggled softly, also running her tiny right hand over the dashboard.

“Thanks,” Spike replied quickly, sincerely pleased that Buffy liked his old, but classic vehicle.

“Uhm, Spike,” Buffy stammered quietly, “would you like to come in for a while? Have a cup of coffee, or tea perhaps?”

Spike noticed that his companion had again become quite nervous and shy. Poor girl didn’t even look at him when she invited him in for an innocent cuppa’.


“I’d love it, Buffy,” he replied, genuinely pleased that she had asked him. “I’ll take the coffee,” he added quickly, “for being British and all? Not much of a tea drinker I’m afraid,” he finished with a wry smile.

Buffy led Spike into her medium sized condominium, somewhat hesitantly. She seemed almost apologetic for the smallness of the abode, Spike thought. The truth was, Buffy’s flat was rather large for just one person; neat as a pin and decorated very well.

Spike could see ‘Buffy’ in every aspect of the front living area and suspected that the rest of the flat was somewhat the same. He liked the cozy place immediately and felt very comfortable in taking a seat on the plush mauve hued sofa in the living room.

Buffy hurried off to prepare coffee, although for some reason, Spike would have preferred a beer or wine. Although he felt a sense of rightness in being in Buffy’s home, he still felt a little nervous around her. She was a paradox, that was for certain, but Spike had every intention of finding out all about Buffy Summers.

When Buffy returned to the living room with the coffee items, Spike pointed out a large ‘family’ portrait of the Summers women.

“That must be your mum and little sis, Dawn is it?” Spike asked with a nod at the huge picture over the inviting fireplace.

“Yes, that’s Mom and Dawn and me,” Buffy sighed wistfully eyeing the portrait. “Did Tara tell you about Dawnie,” she asked suddenly, a little confused that Spike would even know about her family at all.

“Yes,” Spike admitted sheepishly, “Tara told me about your mum, your little sister and well, some other things,” he added quickly taking a sip of coffee.

“That’s good,” he blurted out, trying to steer the conversation to something a little less personal. The coffee was truly delicious and very hot.

“It should be,” Buffy giggled girlishly, “it’s what I ‘do’ for a living!” Her tone became suddenly serious as she gazed at the Summers’ portrait.

“Dawn attends USC you know,” Buffy sighed again, but smiled warmly at the picture of the dark-haired Summers’ sibling. “I’m so proud of her,” she gave Spike a genuine grin.

“Mom insisted that at least one of her daughters get a four year degree and Dawn’s the one! She’s going for her business degree, but I know she’ll go on; maybe be the first Summers lawyer!” Buffy just beamed by now as she sipped her coffee and gushed over her younger sister.

“Well, she should be proud of you too, Buffy,” Spike interjected. “Angel O’Connor told me how you took over for your mum when she passed on. Made sure your little sis got off to college and made something of herself. It’s bloody hard to give up your own dreams for others, Buffy, even I know that. Even though I’ve never really had to give up anything for anyone,” he finished with a scowl.

“Tara told me you lost your own mother some years ago, Spike,” Buffy said softly, setting her coffee mug down on the coaster she’d provided. “Cancer wasn’t it,” she asked quietly, her sad gaze was directed at Joyce Summers’ picture on the mantel.


“Yes, like your own mum,” Spike murmured in reply. “She was a wonderful woman, my mum,” he added wistfully. “I understand your mother was a wonderful woman too, Buffy,” he finished with a sympathetic half-smile.

“She was,” Buffy stated evenly, but smiled brightly. “My mother was a strong, wonderful woman and a great mom. Dawn and I were lucky to have her for a mother, even if our dad wasn’t the most stellar father figure.”

She shrugged slightly, signaling the end of this particular conversation. Spike quickly changed the subject, dismissing the idea, silently, of discussing his own father with Buffy. There would be time for that in the future, of that he was certain.

“How about some music?” Buffy asked suddenly, hopping up to turn on the CD player without waiting for Spike’s answer.

“I don’t suppose you have any Sex Pistols, eh?” Spike asked with a half joking chuckle.

“Sex Pistols?” Buffy asked with a raised brow as she shuffled through some CDs quickly. “Really,” she asked with a confused look on her face.

“No, I’m kidding you, Buffy, well, kind of,” Spike laughed. “Anything is fine, really,” he finished happily.

“Good,” Buffy giggled as she slipped a CD into the player and adjusted the volume. “Because I’m going with Aretha Franklin here, you know ‘the Queen of Soul’ and all. I just love this first song, so bear with me, kay?”

Buffy looked at Spike with that ‘wide-eyed’ innocent expression of hers and he felt his heart skip three beats.

‘Oh, she’s the one, that’s for sure,’ he thought to himself. ‘This girl is who I’ve been waiting for my whole life.’

“That’s fine, luv,” he reassured her in his softest tone of voice.

The soft strains of a bluesy number filtered into the living room as Buffy rejoined Spike on the sofa.


‘Do Right Man’ (by Aretha Franklin)


“Take me to heart
And I’ll always love you
And nobody can make me do wrong
Take me for granted
Leaving love unshown
Makes will power weak
And temptation strong.


A woman’s only human
You should understand
She’s not just a plaything
She’s flesh and blood
Just like her man!

If you want a do right
All days woman…
You’ve got to be a do right
All night man.

Yeah, yeah
They say that it’s a man’s world
But you can’t prove that by me
And as long as we’re together, baby
Show some respect for me.

If you want a do right
All days’ woman?
You’ve got to be a do right
All night man.

A woman’s only human,
This you should understand
She’s not just a plaything,
She’s flesh and blood
Just like her man.

If you want a do right
All days woman
You’ve got to be a do right
All nights man.

You’ve got to be a do right
All nights man.



“You met Tara in some summer program, right?” Buffy asked Spike when the song had finished; she had adjusted the volume a little lower with the remote control.

“Right,” Spike said easily, taking another sip of his coffee. “Glinda was a counselor’s aide and kind of adopted me and my mates, Tom and Jerry.” He smiled warmly at Buffy when she giggled at the memory of his friends’ names and his own silly nickname.

“You call her Glinda sometimes; is it because she was a Wiccan for a while?” Buffy asked, although she knew the answer to that. For some reason, she found it necessary to keep the conversation going; almost as if she didn’t want the evening to end.

They talked on; about everything either of them could think of. If only to prolong the evening and their time together. Spike could see the strain of weariness in Buffy’s emerald eyes, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to say goodnight.

For her own part, Buffy realized that Spike must be exhausted, but she made no move to usher him out, politely of course. They just continued to chat, amicably; Buffy even offering Spike a glass of wine, which he accepted quickly.

The last thing either of them remembered that night was having a glass of wine together. Buffy was rambling on, quietly about ‘do right men’ while Spike listened intently, sympathetically nodding at the right moments.

When Spike woke up, he was prone on the couch; Buffy was curled up in his arms. The first rays of morning were streaming in through Buffy’s front window.

Spike’s first thought was ‘I could get used to this’ just before he felt Buffy begin to stir in his arms.

‘Oh bloody hell,’ Spike thought anxiously right as Buffy opened her huge green eyes. ‘She’s going to think I took advantage of her! Though I don’t figure how she could really. After all, we’re right here, on the sofa, fully clothed and…..’

“Well, good morning Spike,” Buffy greeted him softly, her plump little mouth was formed into a shy smile.

‘Look at that pouty lush little bottom lip,’ Spike thought, admiring Buffy’s early morning expression. ‘I’m gonna’ get that lip,’ he promised himself just before he leaned in to take said lip between his own.

If the front door bell hadn’t of rang, there was no telling where Spike’s little maneuver would have led to. But, the front door bell rang, only to be followed by a loud, insistent pounding on the front door itself.

“Who the heck could that be?” Buffy wondered out loud, glancing at the huge clock on the wall behind the dining room table.

All thoughts of the odd situation that she had woken up to fled from Buffy’s sleep addled mind as she slipped off the couch and out of Spike’s warm arms. She stumbled, numbly to her front door and looked through the peep hole.

“Oh good Christ!” Buffy swore under her breath as she unlocked the door and yanked it open abruptly.

Spike could see Xander Harris, in full policeman’s attire, hovering about Buffy’s open door. Harris, Spike noted, looked as if he was ready to kill someone. Spike pretty much figured out ‘who’ Officer Harris probably wanted to kill.

Buffy didn’t ask Xander in; she just crossed her arms over her ample chest and cocked her head to one side.

“Xander, what the hell are you doing here? At this time?” Buffy asked the angry policeman in a petulant tone.

“What’s ‘he’ doing here? That’d be a better question, Buff,” Xander shot back as he pushed past Buffy and stormed over to the sofa.

Spike had just enough time to stand up and face up to Harris before the cop doubled up his meaty fist and punched him in the jaw. No one was more surprised then Spike when he found himself flat on his back, once again, on the sofa.

“Xander!” Buffy screamed, right after she slammed the front door. She ran to the sofa and got in between it and Xander.

“Why would you do that?” She cried, incredulously, up at the hulking policeman.

“He comes over here and takes advantage of you Buffy!” Xander screeched in response. “I drove past your place, to make sure you were okay and I see that piece of shit car of his out there! At 6:30 AM! I figured he’d done something bad to you, Buff and…..”

“OUT!” Buffy screamed at the top of lungs while she pointed to the front door. “Get out Xander and don’t you dare come back! I’ve just about had it with you and your possessive crap! I told you before; I am not interested in you as anything but a friend. Nothing more and…..”

By this time, Spike had stood up, gently pushed Buffy aside and started to go on the defensive attack on Harris. Buffy had to shove herself between the two men, once again, to keep Spike from belting Xander on the chops.

“I don’t have to explain anything to you Xander,” Buffy finally spoke, much more calmly now. “I will tell you this though; Spike is here with me because I want him here. Nothing happened and…..”

“Nothing ‘did’ happen did it,” she looked at Spike imploringly before frowning at Xander again.

“Nothing happened, sweet,” Spike growled, his angry glare directed at Xander. “Not that it’s any of this moron’s business but…..”

“Out Xander,” Buffy ordered the bewildered cop again. “Spike’s right, it’s none of your business and you have no right to come here and beat on my guests. Go!” She pointed at the door again and watched as Xander skulked over to it.

“You better watch yourself asshole,” Xander spat at Spike before he stormed out of the front door.

Buffy stood, somewhat stunned by the whole bizarre scene that had just taken place in her living room. She turned to look at Spike, her face twisted in a look of utter confusion.

“Can you believe that?” She gasped at Spike, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Yeah, I can,” Spike mumbled through an already swelling lip. “I think you tend to make men revert to cave man play, sweetheart,” he chuckled, then hissed in slight pain.

“Oh, let me get you some ice for that,” Buffy murmured, her face red with embarrassment.

When she returned, Spike was sitting on the sofa, chuckling softly. This confused Buffy even more and she told him so, between placing her icy cold compress on his swollen mouth.

“What’s so funny?” Buffy asked Spike as she dabbed his lip again, tenderly. Her mouth was once again twisted into a confused sort of pout, something Spike found oddly endearing.

“Well,” he began, “I have to hand it to Harris. He’s an idiot, that’s for sure, but I can’t fault a man for trying to ‘protect’ what he thinks is his.”

“It’s ridiculous!” Buffy squealed, adding pressure to her compress this time. She was oddly pleased when Spike flinched a little at her touch.

“Yeah, it might be, but I’m thinkin’ that it works out for me,” Spike chuckled softly.

“How’s that?” Buffy asked suspiciously, setting the compress on an unused coaster on the table.

“Well don’t you think that now you kind of ‘owe’ me a date Buffy?” Spike smirked just a bit as he asked the question. “I mean a real date? Where I pick you up; take you to dinner and a movie and try to steal a kiss in the theatre?”

Buffy looked dumbfounded, momentarily, and this endeared her even more to Spike.

“I mean, if you think about it,” he began, quite self-assured suddenly and almost cocky. “If you think about it, the least you can do is come out with me on a real date. I did ‘try’ and defend your honor and…..”

“Oh shut the hell up, William,” Buffy mumbled in exasperation, though her smile betrayed her pleasure. “But you do have a point,” she continued sweetly. “The least I can do is let you buy me an expensive supper; at the best place in Sunnydale, of course. There is a movie I’ve wanted to see, playing at the Sunnydale Cinema Complex.”

Spike grinned, confidently, at the object of his affection. “I’ll pick you up, tonight,” he stated, rather then asked. “At 7:00 sharp.”


A/N: Well, that was certainly a turn around for our girl! I’m just really tired of angst lately (especially in real life) and thought I’d start off the New Year with a nice, kind of fluffy Spuffy chapter or two!

The song in this chapter is ‘Do Right Man’ by Aretha Franklin. It kind of describes what Buffy is looking for and of course I think Spike fits the bill!

Happy New Year everyone!

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Summary: Buffy thinks about her past, then decides to give her present a new chance.

Spike has a little chat with an old ‘friend’ of Buffy’s.

Spike and Buffy go on their date (fluffy chapter here).


Chapter 8: ‘La Mezzanotte In Milano’ (Midnight In Milan)


Buffy sat on the patio of her condo, slowly sipping her second cup of coffee of the morning. No, make that the afternoon.

After Spike had left her home, earlier that day, Buffy had washed up; brushed her teeth and slipped into her round, queen sized bed. Buffy adored that bed of hers; round, which was rather eccentric in itself. The bed stood over three feet off the ground; from bottom to top of the mattress.

One innate talent Buffy had; just like her mother, was a keen eye for color and interior decorating. She had always enjoyed the more avant-garde type of design; therefore, the round, massive bed with its deep red satin comforter and snow white satin sheets.

For some reason, where many might feel the colors were too much contrast; almost harsh and gaudy. Buffy merely found them inviting and comforting. She truly enjoyed sleeping in her huge round bed, even if she slept there alone.

Her three stark white bedroom walls were adorned with black and white print pictures of children in various scenes. Usual and unusual; by anyone’s standards that is.

There was a saucy little print: the cute little boy on the Harley; a little light haired girl on the back of the bike. Their original pictures were snapped as they giggled about something childish one would suppose. The caption read ‘Young Hearts; Be Free’ and it was one of Buffy’s favorites.

Another print showed a small, dark haired girl leaning over and kissing a little boy’s plump little cheek. His mouth was twisted in a wicked little grin and his eyes were half closed.

The caption on this print read: ‘Wild Love Sustained; Can’t Be Contained’

Heck, there was even a black and white print of Elvis, probably taken sometime before he left for the army back in 1961 or so. His soulful eyes seemed to be focused on some distant horizon; the famous wisp of black bangs hung well below his thick brows. Those were only a few of the prints that adorned Buffy’s stark white walls.

The one wall that was painted passionate red held one large picture; a print of Buffy herself, her only real narcissistic failing. She happened to have had that picture taken when she bought the very all black little dress she was going to wear tonight, on her date.

However, in the picture, her skin was pale, as if it had never been kissed by the sun. She actually loved the sun and her skin tone was usually just slightly golden. Buffy wore a huge, Saturn ringed black hat and her eyes were made up, dramatically, with purely black liner and Smokey gray shadows. The gloss on her lips was whore red and the photographer had posed her like a vamp; mysterious, seductive and a little eerie looking.

The frame was made of expensive black cherry wood that gave the whole room a sense of contrasting feelings and colors. It was Buffy’s one true guilty pleasure; this avant-garde print of herself and hardly anyone else in the world had seen it.

As she finished her coffee, a special Columbian blend, Buffy thought about her date that night with Spike. This was a big, big step for her and she knew it as well as anyone.

The last time she had gone out on an actual date, it had been with Xander. That was mostly at his insistence and her dear friend Willow’s. Buffy supposed that the red head had thought it would do her some good to get out and ‘look’ attached to someone again. Even if that someone was her best friend from way back when.

Buffy had assumed at the time, of course, that Xander would have realized that their date was just a friendly affair. Nothing more.

However, at the end of the disastrous evening out, when Xander had clumsily made an attempt to kiss Buffy? She had actually cringed away from the poor guy and hurried into her doorway, slamming it behind her; in his face.

Still, after months and months of rejection, Xander continued to pursue Buffy romantically. Something she could not understand at all. The truth was, Buffy hated to continually be the bitch in the matter, but Xander was persistent. However, after their last date, Buffy had made it clear on numerous occasions that she was not interested in Xander Harris.

Right now, sitting on her patio, Buffy realized how much she truly enjoyed the quiet and serenity of the place. Even if she now experienced it all by herself at these peaceful moments.

At one time, Riley would have been here with her, sipping coffee and laughing about something or other. Buffy missed ‘that’ part of her relationship with Riley. Even if she did not necessarily miss the man himself.

Riley had been her friend, then lover and finally fiancé and Buffy had grown accustomed to his presence. She found the stability of a committed relationship to be comfortable; even if Riley had turned out not to be quite so committed as Buffy had hoped him to be.

Since Spike Giles had burst into her life, just days before, Buffy had caught herself experiencing that remembered hopefulness she once held so dear. There was something about Spike, or William as she preferred to call him; that pleasantly touched her icy, fearful heart.

It was she herself who had built the frozen walls about her own heart, especially after she had caught Riley with another woman. It was that experience that had changed Buffy’s outlook on relationships and caused her to build the cold emotional walls about her.

Part of her wished that someone, perhaps Spike, could ride in on his white steed and be her true champion. Perhaps fight the evil dragon of mistrust Buffy had created in her mind and destroy the icy walls she had built around her emotions.

With a deep sigh, Buffy finished her second cup of coffee and stood up from the comfy patio chair. She padded through the sliding glass door and entered her living room.

After rinsing out her cup, she checked the time on the kitchen clock and noted that it was almost 3:30 PM. Buffy furrowed her brows together and made a mental trip through her extensive wardrobe.

Spike was to pick her up at 7:00 that evening and he had mentioned a nice restaurant that they would be going to. Buffy wanted, for some unusual reason on her part, to pick out just the perfect dress to wear for the date. She had her favorite dress in mind; a particularly stunning little number. However, she worried that it might just be a little too suggestive, especially for a first date?

Buffy thought a moment or two more, then shrugged her shoulders and giggled at the thought of the short, slinky little bold black dress she had in mind. ‘Why not?’ She asked herself saucily. ‘It’s revealing but classy enough; eye-catching and well…devastating.’


Spike Giles was just leaving Ethan Rayne’s hospital room. The older man, Spike’s only real patient here, was getting pretty obstinate. Something that didn’t necessarily surprise Spike of course, especially after the fairly active man had been cooped up here for weeks.

While he checked over Rayne’s extensive chart, Spike neglected to watch where he was going. He collided with someone, in the meantime dropping his chart and papers.

When Spike looked up, he noted that the young man he’d collided with looked very familiar. The tech was tallish, well taller then Spike anyway, and had dark hair and eyes. Within a split second, Spike recognized the tech, Parker Abrams that Buffy had gone out with some months earlier. His friend Tara had pointed him out one day while they strolled the hospital hallways.

“Excuse me,” Spike muttered half-heartedly. For some reason he really didn’t like this bloke, Abrams, even if he had never met him.

“Hey, you’re Doctor Giles, right?” Parker asked with a contemptuous smirk. Or at least that’s what Spike saw on the boy’s cruel mouth.

“Well, yes,” Spike replied reluctantly as he straightened his paperwork and looked at the good-looking younger man, a frown on his own mouth. Spike did not care for the look of this tech, but he supposed that he resented the whelp for daring to take Buffy out; at any time.

Parker suddenly got very animated, almost as if he was on amps and Spike’s frowned deepened. “Can I help you with something?” Spike asked the kid suspiciously.

“Nah,” Parker chuckled, “just thought maybe I should give you a head’s up, friend. I hear you’re sniffing around Buffy Summers and I thought I should warn you. She’s a fucking ice queen, so don’t expect ‘any’ at least anytime soon and…..”

“Don’t talk about Buffy that way,” Spike hissed, dropping his just reorganized chart back onto the floor. He had to control himself, just to keep from belting this fucking little snot in the nose and…..”

“Hey, I’m just trying to save you some trouble friend,” Parker snapped as he eyed Dr. Giles’ clenched fists. “If you’re in the Buffy market for a quick lay then forget it. She’s glued together at the knees. You know what I meant? Just tryin’ to be friendly and all; man to man,” Parker ended with a kind of whine that Spike found pathetic.

“Well, for the record ‘friend’ which by the way, I’m not your friend. I have better taste then that,” Spike growled lowly. “For the record, I find Miss Summers to be an exceptional young woman, however I can’t fathom what ‘she’ saw in ‘you’ at all. Before you say another word, let’s get something straight, shall we?” Spike leaned in and glared up into Parker’s wide brown eyes.

Parker nodded slowly, a little confused as to how the conversation had gotten to this point.

“Real men, with some innate brains, like me,” Spike began evenly, “are not looking for quick lays or one night stands, Abrams. Not from a real woman like Buffy Summers. I know you’re probably too bloody stupid to fathom this, but maybe ‘I’ am lookin’ for a woman who is more then just one step up from a hooker. If I wanted a slut to date, Abrams? I’d go find on; but I want a lady, a lady like Buffy. If you’re too much of a fucking moron to notice a real lady like Buffy when she comes along? Your loss; my gain and certainly none of your bloody business, now is it?”

“Look friend,” Parker stammered, stunned by this Brit wonderkind’s hostile demeanor.

“First off, Abrams,” Spike hissed at the shocked younger man. “I’m not your bloody friend and doubt if I could ever be. Secondly, let me clear some things up for you.” He gave this Parker a murderous glare and continued evenly.

“If I ever, in my duties here at good old Sunnydale G, find out that you have said anything out of line, to anyone, about Buffy Summers? I promise you that I’ll make your life a fucking nightmare. No, don’t interrupt, mate,” he growled the emphasis on the mate part.

“Oh, and if I ever, ever find out that you’ve cornered Buffy and said anything at all to her….. out of line or not? I’ll not only make your miserable life a fucking nightmare; I’ll wait for you, until your duty is over, and then wipe up Sunnydale with your sorry arse. Don’t think I can’t, because I can, I assure you.”

“Get this clear Abrams,” he continued harshly. “I don’t want Buffy upset or bothered, especially when she’s here, seein’ to her special babies. If I find out you’ve come within a hundred feet of her? I’ll rip your head off and shove it down your worthless throat. We got that clear now, Abrams?”

Spike glared into the tech’s fearful dark eyes, impatiently waiting for the moron to answer him.

“Are you threatening me, Dr. Giles?” Parker asked in disbelief, his dark eyes were wide with fear.

“Nah,” Spike mimicked Abrams’ response from earlier. “Let’s just say I’m warning you, friend (snarky emphasis on the friend part).”

“Let’s just say that I don’t want Buffy’s reputation; her feelings or her pride hurt in any way. Know what I meant Abrams?” Spike grinned evilly at the nervous younger man, not at all sorry that the wanker looked as if he was about to piss his pants.

It was 6:40 PM, Buffy noted anxiously; twenty minutes to go until Spike arrived for their official date. Buffy was sure that a guy like Spike would be right on time, so that meant 7:00 Sharpe.

Buffy eyed her ‘look’ with just a tad of skeptics. Her makeup was perfect, true; Smokey silver-gray shadow and dark kohl eye liner. Her lip gloss was dark blood red, to match her finger nail polish and the Obsession perfume she wore was just the right essence.

Something however was definitely off. The problem was not her makeup, or nail polish or even her perfume. No, to Buffy, the problem was her hair style.

For some reason, Buffy felt it was a good idea to pin her hair up, albeit loosely, on top of her head. Golden tendrils were left to loosely fall about her face and cheekbones; nice, but, something was truly off. The hairstyle, no matter how good it looked on her, was just not right for this outfit or this date.

“My dress is fun and flirty,” Buffy surmised out loud as she scanned her look in the full length mirror of her bedroom. “My hair should be fun and flirty too,” she decided quickly. This bun-like hair do was pretty but just too damned serious for tonight.

Buffy reached up and yanked the pins that secured her hair up and allowed her locks to fall, naturally down her neck and shoulders. She ran a quick, haphazard brush through her hair, making sure that the natural curls and waves stayed true.

“There,” Buffy sighed in contentment as she surveyed the finished affect. “That’s much better!”

At exactly 6:55 PM, Buffy’s front door bell rang, persistently, alerting her to the fact that she had judged Spike correctly.

“Should have known,” Buffy giggled softly as she grabbed her slip of a black silk wrap from the bedroom coat rack. “Spike would just ‘have’ to be early.” A part of her truly appreciated a man that was early; almost as if he couldn’t wait to see her again!


Buffy knew she had outdone herself, well, her ‘look’ when she opened the door to Spike. The look on his face made all of her pre-date jitters and preparation well worth it!

“Jesus Princess!” Spike gasped hoarsely, “You look amazing!”

“So do you William,” Buffy managed to blurt out between light giggles. He really did look great.

Spike wore black trousers instead of his usual jeans; his blue button down silk shirt was expensive and made for him. His bleached blond hair was still slicked back, somewhat, but here and there, tiny blond spikes stuck up. Overall, it gave him a contrasting, good boy meets bad boy, kind of look.

Buffy loved it!

Spike loved Buffy! Although she had no idea yet, his true feelings that is. She would soon, however, he would make sure of that. Maybe even tonight!

The couple arrived at their restaurant destination quickly. Buffy was stunned, delightedly so, when she saw where they would be dining tonight!

“Oh, Spike,” she exclaimed happily, “I love this place! ‘La Mezzanotte In Milano’ is so exquisite, but so expensive! It’s the best place in Sunnydale and…..”

He cut her off by reaching over to her and taking her little hand in his. After barely kissing the back of her hand, he chuckled softly.

“Only the best for my lady, sweetheart,” he whispered lowly and caught her gaze with his own.

“Oh,” Buffy murmured quietly as she blushed profusely.

‘Love that blush,’ Spike thought to silently. ‘Gonna’ make her blush every chance I get,’ he promised himself.

The maitre d’, Signor Antonino, gushed over the beautiful couple, calling Buffy ‘bella’ every second he could. He then made it a point to lead the stunning pair, through the entire dining area. It was as if Spike and Buffy were his personal guests and he wanted to display them, proudly, to all of the other customers.

After they had been promenaded, appropriately, through the main dining area, Spike and Buffy were sat at a very private booth. It was in a dimly lit corner, by the scenic window, with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

“This is so, well it’s just ‘wow’ Spike,” Buffy whispered in awe as she watched Signor Antonino scurry off to place their wine and meal orders. “I thought the maitre d’ just sat us at the table, not waited on us,” Buffy mumbled in confusion.

“Well, to tell you the truth, luv,” Spike began sheepishly. “I asked old Angel where, what and how to get reservations as the best place in town. He’s the one that worked the magic and got all this special treatment for us. I 'spose it helps when you’re engaged to a Chase, too, huh?”

Buffy giggled again, “yes, that’s Cordelia Chase and Angel for you. Best thing I ever did was set those two up. I have to tell you,” she whispered conspiratorially, “it’s one of my proudest accomplishments!”

They both laughed quietly and Spike reached over to take Buffy’s hand in his again. She didn’t pull away, which made caused him to relax completely.

‘This is going to be okay,’ Buffy thought to herself as she allowed her nervousness to fade away.

Spike smiled warmly at his little treasure, confident that things were going to go quite smoothly tonight.

‘This is going to be fantastic,’ Spike assured himself, rather proudly, as he squeezed Buffy’s tiny, soft hand with his.


However, fate had a plan to step in and make sure that this night would be far from smooth!




A/N: Well, that’s the next chapter. It ‘was’ a fluffy one and I promise that in the next chapter rain clouds are forming.


Thank you for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Chapter 9: ‘Go On; Kiss The Girl!’


Summary: Spike and Buffy’s date continues to go well. Buffy reveals an old fantasy of hers. Will Spike kiss ‘his’ girl by chapters end?

Chapter 9:


Spike poured Buffy another glass of wine, while she gleefully munched down another fork of her huge salad. He took a delight in seeing how Buffy seemed to savor every bite of her food.

Buffy paused, mid-bite, when she noticed Spike watching her intently. She blushed and set her salad fork back down on her plate, then cleared her throat.

“Am I making a pig of myself?” She asked shyly, another of those delicious blushes graced her pretty face and neck.

“Not at all,” Spike chuckled in response, delighted at Buffy’s pink tinged flesh. “I like to see you enjoy your food. You’re such a tiny little thing; I was afraid maybe you didn’t eat enough to keep a bird alive and…..”

“Oh, no worries there,” Buffy giggled happily as she picked up her fork and continued on her salad. “Mama practically raised me on pasta; she had to, it’s a good budget food and…..” She trailed off, embarrassed by her rambling.

Then, Buffy took a deep breath and continued bravely; “my mom always said ‘I’ ate like a truck driver, while Dawn always had to watch her food intake. I’ve got a fast metabolism, I guess,” she added. “God’s little jest on the female population, in my favor, I suppose,” she finished with another quick giggle.

The dinner had gone wonderfully, with Buffy not the least bit tempted to speak of Riley and all. This in itself was something new for her; on her dates with Parker and Xander, Buffy had made that mistake of speaking the name that should not be spoken!

Spike had been a perfect gentleman throughout the whole evening. He held her tiny hand and pet it from time to time; taking a moment or two to place a chaste kiss on the back of it.

Spike laughed at Buffy’s silly jokes; asked the right questions and in general, made her feel like a freaking queen. Buffy never felt so comfortable on a first date; or on any date for that matter, even with Riley!

When their supper was over, Spike paid the tab; tipped the maitre d’ very well; took Buffy by the arm and led her out of the posh restaurant. He held her arm, all the way to his classic DeSoto, parked in the valet section.

Once they were on the road again, Spike asked Buffy is she minded for him to have a quick smoke before the movie. He rolled down the window when she shrugged and told him that she really didn’t mind at all.

“I do wonder, though,” Buffy stammered in confusion. “Why a heart surgeon would even think of smoking,” she asked shyly.

“Because I’m a human heart surgeon, not a God, Princess,” Spike chuckled softly as he lit the cigarette and blew the smoke out the window. “I’m not perfect, sweet, just talented with a scalpel.”



If it’s any consolation, sweetheart,” Spike began quietly. “I ‘have’ cut down since coming to good old Sunnydale. Your hometown has a calming affect on me for some reason,” he finished with a slight smirk on his mouth.

“Yeah,” Buffy giggled softly, “that’s good old Sunnydale. It has a tranquilizer type affect on most people!” She burst out into laughter at the funny look on her companion’s face. Buffy then settled down in her seat to watch the passing scenery.

Suddenly, Buffy blurted out, excitedly, “let’s not go to the movie, okay Spike? Let’s go for a walk on the beach instead. Please!”

Buffy directed Spike to a nice little parking area, right next to the sandy beach. She leapt from the car in excitement, like a kid at the circus and scampered onto the sand. This is itself was a little difficult, since she was wearing heeled sandals.

‘Problem solved,’ Buffy thought smugly to herself as she leaned over and slipped her shoes off.

“Won’t you be a bit chilly then, sweetling?” Spike asked dubiously as he followed her onto the sandy beach. “I mean, your dress is lovely but…..”

“I know,” Buffy giggled gleefully, kicking some sand up in front of her. “I’ll probably freeze my ass of off, but who cares, right?” She laughed loudly as she watched the sand fall back down to the ground, like tiny shiny diamonds in the moonlight.

Spike had wisely slipped his leather duster into the back seat of his DeSoto that evening. It looked like it just might come in handy, especially since his date appeared to be a ‘nature’ girl at heart. Still, he had no complaints about that little discovery. No, this spontaneous side of Miss Buffy Summers just made her all that more appealing to him.

Buffy scurried to find a huge, rock for two, just at the water’s edge. The tide was still low, so there was no danger, yet, of any waves hitting the couple where they sat.

Without waiting for permission, Spike wrapped his duster around Buffy’s slim, uncovered shoulders. She said a polite thank you and seemed to snuggle into the soft, worn leather of his unique coat.

They sat, for a few moments together, their silence speaking volumes. The Pacific Ocean seemed to be there, this evening, just for their pleasure alone. As the waves beat against the shore before them, Spike, encouraged by Buffy’s obvious contentment, took her hand in his.

Buffy did not pull her hand from Spike’s, even if the move made her just a tad anxious. Instead, she glanced over at her companion, not surprised to find his blue-eyed gaze focused on her. His eyes were filled with desire; that much was clear. However, Buffy, for some reason, didn’t find this quite as nerve racking as she might have before.

“Do you believe in fairy tales?” Buffy asked Spike with a most serious tone. “I mean, like stories that have witches, warlocks, ogres and such in them? Especially fairy tales about mermaids and…..”

“Mermaids?” Spike asked with a quick smirk and a quirk of his left scarred eyebrow.

‘I have got to ask him just how he got that little scar,’ Buffy promised herself in her mind. She fought the sly smile that came to her own mouth.

“Yes,” Buffy replied with conviction, “mermaids. I wanted to be a mermaid princess once,” she sighed wistfully. “You know, when Ariel, Disney’s Little Mermaid heroine first came out. I suppose all little girls wanted to be Ariel the Mermaid. I would have swam around, free and happy in under the sea.”

“Now,” she continued soberly, “I’m not sure about witches, warlocks, ogres or even werewolves and vampires. They…..”

Again, Spike cut Buffy off at the pass. “ The Little Mermaid is it?” He asked with a twinkle in his indigo blue eyes. “Who’s that?”

“Oh come on,” Buffy chuckled in disbelief. “You can’t tell me that you don’t remember the Little Mermaid! Ariel? Eric her human prince? Oh, wait let me guess…..you were more of a Terminator fan or maybe Francis Ford C's Dracula genre?”

“Well, yeah,” Spike huffed in reply. “If the Mermaid bint is a cartoon? Of course I was off watching manly flicks like Arnold’s ‘Terminator’ and Bruce Willis ‘Die Hard’ movies! As for ‘real’ fairy tales? Well, you know that witches exist, right? I mean you know that Tara was in a Wiccan group in college. Horror flick monsters might be make- believe but I’ve known some human vampires that could suck the life blood right out of a bloke!”

“Okay,” Buffy laughed loudly, a great belly laugh that delighted Spike in its heartiness.

“I give,” she continued merrily. “You’ve known some real life monsters, but your nightmare ones are only in movies. Too bad,” she added mischievously, “I think you could use a couple of fairy tale dreams in your life, Spike.”

“Maybe I’ve found my fairy tale dream in you, eh?” He asked, rewarding her with a genuinely affectionate grin.

Buffy blushed bright red and settled back on the big rock they shared. She became suddenly quiet as she stared out at the massive, dark ocean before them. Spike watched her, intently, happy in the thought that she did not once try to remove her petite, warm hand from his.





They sat, in comfortable silence; hands entwined and stared out at the moonlit water of the Pacific Ocean. At least Buffy seemed content to just stare out at the breathtaking view, lost in hazy fantasy Spike supposed.

However, he himself was quite antsy, at least on the inside of his mind. He may not have admitted it, or showed it, but Spike remembered all too well the story of Ariel and Eric in Disney’s Little Mermaid.

When he had been a mere snot nosed teen himself, Spike had watched the damned animated movie; singing fish, birds, humans, crustaceans and all, more then once. In fact, as a counselor at a London coop day care program? Spike, or William actually at the time, had been stuck watching the little mermaid’s adventure. He’d seen the flick so many times that he could nearly recite the entire bloody screenplay.

Of course, he would never admit this to the beautiful woman of his own fairy tale dreams. Especially as she sat next to him on a huge rock, seemingly mesmerized by the eternal waves as they broke against the endless shore.

Spike could not, however, get that insipid; okay, admittedly sweet little tune from the movie out of his mind. As he gazed at the beauty that was Buffy Summers; the song played out, over and over in his love addled mind.



‘Kiss The Girl’ (from Disney’s Little Mermaid)


“There you see her
Sitting there across the way
She don’t got a lot to say
But there’s something about her
And you don’t know why
But you’re dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl”


“Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
Possible she wants you too?
There is one way to ask her…
It don’t take a word…
Not a single word…
Go on, and kiss the girl”


“Sha la la la la la
My, oh my;
Look like the boy too shy
Ain’t gonna kiss the girl
Ain’t that sad?
Ain’t it a shame?
Too bad, he gonna miss the girl”

“Now’s your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
Boy you better do it soon
No time will be better
She don’t say a word
And she won’t say a word
Until you kiss the girl”

“Don’t be scared
You got the mood prepared
Go on and kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Don’t try to hide it, how,
You want to kiss the girl”

“Float along
And listen to the song
The song say…kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
The music play
Do what the music say…

You got to kiss the girl
You’ve got to kiss the girl
You wanna kiss the girl
Go on, kiss the girl!”


‘Fear be buggered,’ Spike told himself, bravely. ‘Get your courage up you ponce,’ he added, at least in his head.

Buffy glanced at Spike, coyly, out of the right side of her emerald green eyes.

‘Oh, he is so going to try and kiss me,’ she surmised with a heady, almost giddy feeling she hadn’t felt in years. ‘Oh, I am so going to let him kiss me,’ she decided just as quickly.


Spike took a deep breath; fought the feeling of being a silly, nervous school boy and leaned over, closer to Buffy. Without waiting for any kind of reaction from Buffy; he went ahead and kissed ‘his’ girl!

His left hand cupped Buffy’s soft cheek, tenderly, as Spike kissed her sweet lips. The kiss was gentle; he was very careful not to make it too aggressive, yet.

Buffy surprised him by placing her two hands, gently, about his neck. Spike took this as a sign to deepen the kiss was pleasantly surprised when she returned his ministrations.

When the couple came up for air, they both exclaimed ‘wow’ in hushed, awe-like tones. Their mutual gaze into each other’s eyes was intense, in a warm, sweet way.

Spike attempted to go in for another successful try, but Buffy took that moment to place her hand in between their mouths. He reared back in hurt confusion, but immediately relaxed when he spied the affection in Buffy’s emerald eyes.

“Don’t be mad, or hurt,” Buffy whispered kindly, “the kiss was awesome. I just don’t feel ready, yet, to escalate this, here and now. Okay?” Her green eyes were full of tenderness and honestly, causing Spike’s heart to skip another beat. That certainly had been happening a lot lately around this amazing bird.

“Okay,” he sighed reluctant to actually accept her protest. He had a feeling that after this, things might just progress quite nicely with them. So, he relented and settled for just holding her hand, tightly in his.

After a few more minutes, Buffy stood up, her hand still in his. “We’d better get me home,” she murmured, “I’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”

Spike sighed heavily, disappointed that the magic moment would soon be over. He reluctantly stood up and hand in hand, the couple made their way across the sand to his car.

They had driven, only a mile or so back towards Buffy’s condo in compatible silence. Buffy sat right next to Spike, this time, as he drove the old DeSoto back the way they had come.

This pleased Spike to no end; the fact that Buffy slid right into the passenger side of the front seat. She then slipped over to the middle of the seat, to be next to him. Again, he took this as another ‘good’ sign that things were going well with them.

Buffy, who had not said anything so far, suddenly looked up at Spike and asked him, casually, “would you like to come in for a nightcap? When we get to my place that is?”

Spike jumped in anticipation at the question and exclaimed, “bloody hell yes!”

Before he could say another word, Buffy burst out into a wicked giggle. “I mean a ‘nightcap’ mister, not much more, okay?”

“Yeah,” Spike replied sheepishly, “I knew what you meant, Princess. But you never know,” he smirked, “could mean some more snoggin’ and….”

“Snoggin?” Buffy stopped giggling and gave Spike a most dubious stare.

“Yeah, you know, snoggin,” he chuckled pretty wickedly himself. “Tis Brit slang for kissing, sweetheart.” Spike grinned down at her and gave ‘her’ a roguish wink.

“Hmmm, snoggin is it?” Buffy mumbled softly. “Well, yes, maybe there ‘will’ be some more of that.” She grinned up at him, happy to see the wide smile on his handsome mouth.


A/N: Okay so I cut this chapter in half, about anyway. The next chapter will be in a day. It will begin where we left off here, the ride home to Buffy’s condo. I promise, it will not be a smooth ride, thanks to some intruders…

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


A/N: Well, here’s the next chapter, I hope you all like it. It’s kind of supposed to be funny in places. I hope it is. Heavenly Dreams is kicking my boofy so I needed to post this ‘happy’ chappie of this fiction now. Thanks.


Summary: Spike and Buffy have their lovely date interrupted by a very persistent person and his lacky. Will this ruin the entire evening? (Now, come on, this is Spuffy we’re talking about here, tee hee)!


Chapter 10: ‘General Purposes’


Spike was pretty stoked by the time that he pulled off of the highway and onto a Sunnydale city street. Buffy’s condo was only about a mile or so away now, and Spike couldn’t help but feel somewhat like a giddy schoolboy again.

He understood that the girl sitting next to him was not going to ‘give in’ tonight, but that was okay. For now anyway. Spike just wanted to spend time with Buffy, talking and laughing; which was something that seemed to come pleasantly easy to them. At least with each other.

Once again, they had driven for the last few miles in comfortable silence as Buffy stared out the window of the DeSoto. There was a small, almost secret smile that graced her lips and Spike couldn’t help but be curious at her inner thoughts.

‘Wonder if she’s re-thinkin’ her stance on that slap and tickle idea or…..’ His very pleasant thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of police lights, right behind them. The annoying sound of the siren also alerted Spike to the fact that he was being pulled over.

But, what the bloody hell for!

“Was I speeding?” Spike asked Buffy, seriously, as he slowed down and pulled over the car.

“No, I don’t think so,” Buffy replied with a slight confused frown on her pretty mouth. She turned and looked back at the ‘police’ cruiser that had pulled them over.

“Oh Jesus!” Buffy cried, or actually groaned very loudly.

“Oh, Spike,” she continued, visibly upset, “that’s Xander’s damned Mustang! That’s not a police car! Oh, dammit,” she growled, very visibly angry by this time. “Xander’s off duty! He’s just…..”

Xander Harris strode up to the ugly DeSoto, his chest puffed out proudly. Even if he wasn’t on duty; or dressed in his official Sunnydale PD uniform.

It was his obligation, as an off duty policeman, to pull over this shady looking piece of junk. Well, wasn’t it? Just to make sure that this British pest understood who he was dealing with? Xander pulled out his police badge and pinned it on the pocket of his polo shirt.

The hulking dark-haired man turned to make sure that his best friend, Jesse, had followed him from his Mustang. Sure enough, Jesse was there, albeit hovering around the passenger side of the car. Jesse seemed pretty reluctant to join Xander at the driver’s seat of the car he knew belonged to Spike Giles.

Spike took a deep breath and rolled down the window of the DeSoto, carefully to take out the registration and his license. He glanced at Buffy, who looked as if she was about ready to leap from the car and at Harris’ throat. Her face was bright red, with anger, and her little hands were clenched tightly into fists.

Xander tapped, heavily on Spike’s car window. Before Spike could even say a word, the off duty cop ordered him to hand over the registration and his driver’s license.

Since Spike had already gotten everything he needed ready, he simply handed the items out to Harris, never saying a word. His teeth were gritted, however, just as his jaw was clenched tightly.

“This better be good, Harris!” Buffy bellowed from her position next to Spike.

Xander nearly dropped the items in his hands when he heard that beloved voice. “Oh shit!” he gasped in shock (though he shouldn’t have been surprised. “Buff! What the hell are you doing…..”

“We’re on a date, mate,” Spike hissed in reply as he waved for Buffy to calm down. “Now, if you’ve no more use for my license, etc., I’d be ever so grateful if…..”

“Are you giving me a hard time, Giles,” Xander asked the Brit evenly, although his dark eyes burned with jealous anger.

“No, just anxious to be on our way. You know, mate, to continue our interrupted date and all.” Spike flashed Buffy his most charming, angelic smile. He did however, glare back at the wanker, Harris, and blessed him with a sarcastic smirk.

“Now look Giles,” Xander began, the rage in his voice escalated with each word. “I’m an officer of the law and…..”

“Of for God’s sake, Xander,” Buffy growled as she leaned over Spike and glared up at her very soon to be ex-friend. “You know he’s not giving you a damned hard time! You’re just…..”

“Now don’t you get belligerent on me, Buff,” Xander whined, a hurt look in his eyes.

“Gee Princess,” Spike interrupted, “the big bad cop can actually use a word like belligerent! That gives me more hope for the law and….”

“All right, out!” Xander screamed at Spike, losing all of his patience by this time. “Get the fuck out of the car, Giles. Buffy, go back with Jesse, to my car and….”

“You mean to tell me that Jesse is actually in on this nonsense?” Buffy seemed shocked, as if Jesse had any more sense then Xander ever did!

“You’ve got to the count of five, Giles, then; I’m arresting you for resisting an officer. I may be off duty and all, but I’m still the law around here!” Xander was bright red by now; his hand was clenched around Spike’s door handle.

“You want resisting an officer, whelp!” Spike roared in retaliation. “I’ll give you fucking resistance and…..”

Spike leapt out of the car, followed by Buffy who had hold of his arm. After shaking Buffy’s hand off, gently, Spike turned to tear into Xander.

Buffy flung herself between Spike and Xander, just before Spike could take his first punch.

“Oh, no, let me at em’ Princess!” Spike snarled angrily. He did however, pull back, after all, his Buffy was in the way and he couldn’t have that now, could he?

“Do I have to arrest the both of you?” Xander bellowed at the top of his lungs. “Jesus Buffy, I’m just trying to protect you from this, this smooth talking snake. What if he tries to take advantage of you or somethin’ and…..”

“He is not going to take advantage of me, Xander!” Buffy roared back, completely losing it by now. “Even he did, which he won’t, I might just take advantage of him. You know for general purposes and to just piss you off!!!” By the time she’d finished her sentence with a scream. Her voice had hit an octave that could alert dogs ten miles away.

“Really?” Spike asked hopefully from behind her. He was thankful that Buffy couldn’t see the vindictive smirk on his mouth. That or the wicked gleam in his eyes that he was so sure was quite obvious.

“That’s it,” Xander grunted harshly, “I’m going to kick your ass all over Sunnydale, Giles!

“Don’t you dare, Xander Harris!” Buffy screamed at her now, very ex-friend. “Don’t you dare hit him, or arrest him! Jesse! Get your ass up here, now!” Buffy bellowed at Xander’s best friend and police partner.

Jesse did as he was told, sheepishly stumbling up to the enraged trio by the old car. “Buffy, look…..” the younger man began, obviously embarrassed by Xander’s behavior.

“I cannot believe that ‘you’ would go along with harebrained idea of Xander’s here!” Buffy cut him off his lame excuses with a murderous glare. There was fire in her eyes and all three of the men suddenly felt rather ‘afraid’ for a moment or two.

“He comes over here,” Xander stammered nervously, “the smooth and slick Brit. With his Sean Connery accent and lines and…..”

“Connery’s a Scot,” Spike spat at Xander with contempt in his deep voice.

“Well, whatever,” Xander growled back. “Look Buff,” he began again, “it’s just that I’ve been here, waiting patiently and…..”

“I have never given you any false hope, have I? Did I ever once string you along?” Buffy asked seriously, sighing wearily. Xander hung his head in frustration and shook it slowly from left to right.

“Look, Xander,” Buffy began again, maybe just a little calmer now.
“We have always been friends, you and I. I care for you, but only as a friend. This following me around, causing upheaval in my every day life just isn't cutting it. Besides,” she continued with a wry little smile, “I don’t think you want to mess with Spike, really.”

Xander shot his head up to glare at the blond Brit. He started to say something, but Buffy cut him off again.

“Xander,” she sighed in exasperation, “Spike could probably kick your ass to LA and back. That’s no exaggeration, is it?” Buffy turned and winked at Spike as she asked.

Spike grinned widely and nodded his fair head, “nope, not at all,” he stated proudly. “I boxed, in college.”

“I know,” Buffy giggled, she couldn’t help herself. It was one of the things Spike had told her about himself, just earlier tonight.

Buffy turned back and gave Xander a sympathetic frown. “I’m warning you, Xander,” she began coolly, “if you bother me anymore, or Spike? I’ll press charges on you myself; for stalking and police brutality. You don’t want that, do you?”

Xander looked at Buffy, swallowed hard and shook his head. Even Spike had to feel a bit sorry for the bloke. However, he would still have liked to kick the bloke’s arse and all. He felt a bit let down by not having a spot of violence with the obnoxious git.

“Xander, bro, let’s go home,” Jesse mumbled quietly as he motioned for Xander to follow him.

“I’m so sorry, Buffy,” Jesse continued with a sigh. “I told Harris that this was a crappy idea. Sorry we ruined your date and all,” he finished sadly.

Spike and Buffy watched as Jess and Xander got to the car, then drove off slowly. Buffy slumped against the DeSoto and sighed heavily herself.

“I’m sorry, Spike,” she murmured sincerely. “I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to see me again. All this work on your part; just to take me on a nice date and…..”

“Hold up, Princess,” Spike chuckled as he placed himself in front of her and wrapped his arms about her tiny body. “You aren’t getting rid of me that easy, sweetling. You are not ‘work’ of any kind and the date was, make that is, very nice indeed.”

Buffy grinned up at the handsome man holding her, impulsively giving him a quick peck on his mouth with hers.

“So, you still want to see me?” She asked with a trembling voice, her eyes wide and unsure.

“Course I do,” Spike murmured softly just before he placed a small, soft kiss on the end of her funny little nose.

“Oh,” Buffy gasped slightly, her grin became even wider. “Okay then,” she giggled happily. “So, you still want to come in, for the nightcap? Maybe I can try and explain the inner workings of Xander Harris’ demented mind.”

“I do,” Spike replied with an easy smile. “Does that mean that your offer to take advantage of me, for general purposes still stands or…..”

“Oh, you,” Buffy grumbled good-naturedly, slapping his chest playfully with her free hand. “Let’s go,” she ordered him gently, “a nightcap awaits…..and maybe some of that snoggin’ you were talking about.”


They sat on Buffy’s beloved patio, together on the wicker love seat for two. Buffy had opened a lovely bottle of Chardonnay and poured a glass for each of them. She was glad that the little wicker and glass coffee table would come in handy tonight.

Buffy felt a little bad about Xander, deep inside. The guy had looked so defeated when Jesse had led him away to his car. She quickly shook off her sympathetic feelings and focused on Spike who sat next to her.

“Well, here’s to almost being cell mates together,” Buffy giggled as she made the toast.

“Can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend the night in jail with, sweet,” Spike chuckled as they clinked their glasses together.



“Thanks again, Spike,” she murmured sweetly after she took another sip of the cold liquid. “For agreeing to sit out here, on the patio for our nightcap. I love my patio,” Buffy sighed wistfully as she stared up at the starry sky.

“Tis fine with me,” Spike replied silkily. “Besides, the cool night air makes it necessary to huddle for warmth,” he chuckled mischievously. On that note, he sat his wine glass down on the little table and took Buffy by the hand.

“The view is beautiful,” he purred seductively, never taking his loving gaze from her face.

Buffy gave him a knowing look out of the corner of her right eye. “Makes it convenient, for the snogging, eh,” she giggled saucily.

“Sure does,” he chuckled in response, pulling her warm little body closer to his. “Makes it a little easier for me to make my smooth move. And for you to take that advantage of me.” He smirked slightly before he leaned in to place a soft kiss on her lush little mouth.

When she pulled back, quickly, Spike assumed he’d done something wrong. “I’m sorry, Princess,” eh mumbled nervously, “I didn’t mean to…..”

“No, it’s okay, silly,” Buffy whispered, her cheeks were tinged pink every so slightly. “I just was thinking,” she continued in a hushed tone. “One of the things I like about you, Spike, is that you’re honest and forthright. I know where you’re coming from,” she added, bashfully and averted her eyes from his.

“Well you make it easy to be honest and forthright, sweetheart,” he replied sincerely. “I’ve a feeling you’re quite honest and forthright yourself, and I certainly like that about you.” Spike snuggled her little body into his and rested his head on the top of hers.

Their hands were entwined, affectionately, together and Spike couldn’t help but stroke hers tenderly. He felt her body shiver and wondered if she was cold.

“Thank you again, Spike,” she hummed, sleepily, apparently not a bit cold at all. “For the lovely dinner; the walk on the beach and well, just for understanding that I’m not ready, yet. For, you know,” she finished with a dreamy little sigh.

Spike felt his heart skip a beat again and reached under her chin with his left hand. He gently pulled her head up so their eyes could meet and smiled at her warmly.

“Buffy,” he began tenderly, “I know, deep in my very soul that you and I already have something together. When we ‘do’ make love together; it’ll be amazing. I want what you what, sweet, even if it means waiting to make love with you. It will happen, darling, when you’re ready and while I wish it were now? I can wait for you.”

Buffy felt the tiny tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She could feel her chin trembling, just a little from the intensity and honesty in this man’s beautiful blue eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered raspily unable to pull her eyes from his.

“Thank you,” Spike murmured huskily as he leaned in to kiss pink, lush lips yet again.


A/N: Hmmmm, I wonder. Do you suppose that Spike and Buffy ended the night with just a bit of snogging? We’ll see in the next chapter.

Thank you for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Chapter 11: ‘The Morning After The Night Before’


Summary: Spike and Buffy continue their ‘night’ together. Will they do more then ‘snog’ and such? Hmmmm…
More surprise visitors at Buffy’s the next morning. Who could they be?


Buffy realized something as she and Spike worked their way (make that kissed their way) from her patio to her living room:

You could give into temptation and do something you weren’t ‘ready’ for; or, you could use willpower and reason. Therefore, you didn’t do something you weren’t ready for; you didn’t do something you ‘wanted’ desperately to do.

What puzzlement!

Somehow, Buffy and Spike had made (?) their way to the living room couch. Spike wasn’t exactly rough, per say, but he wasn’t what you’d call exactly gentle, either; when he practically shoved Buffy on the couch and pounced on her.

After successfully pinning Buffy to said couch, Spike continued his onslaught of kisses, smooches and the ever classic ‘snogs’ that he’ had promised her. Not that this wasn’t quite pleasant to Buffy, on the contrary; she found all of this passion with him very pleasant indeed.

It was just that…..

“Spike, I think we need to kind of tone this down a little. Maybe take it down a notch or two?” Buffy squeaked in a kiss muffled voice.

“Yeah,” Spike murmured in reply, doing anything but toning down his affectionate kisses. The fact that he ground his very obvious erection into her dress covered mound didn’t help the situation at all. At least not to Buffy’s way of clear thinking; which was another thing that she was definitely not doing much of right now.

“Maybe,” Buffy was finally able to stammer out between kisses. “You had better go now?” She hated the reluctant whine in her voice, but there it was.

“I know,” Spike whispered huskily, “maybe I should go.” He pulled back from her and gazed into her emerald green eyes with something akin to remorse?

“I don’t want to go, Buffy,” he mumbled half-heartedly, “I want to stay with you. All night and make love to you until we both pass out, but…I know you’re not ready for ‘that’ yet.” He sighed heavily and flopped back against the couch, careful to pull Buffy into his arms as he did.

“What say I stay?” Spike suddenly asked in a quiet, reverent tone. “I could stay here, with you. All night. Sleep on the couch?” He offered with wide-eyed honesty.

“I’d prefer sleeping in your bed, with you sweet,” he continued with a self-derisive laugh. “But I’ll take contentment in just being with you, here in your home; waking up to the knowledge that you’re just mere feet away in the next room. Hey, I’ll even make you breakfast and we can have a cuppa on your little patio. What do you say, Princess? Let me stay and spend time with you; just for the night; all innocent and….”

Buffy caught the true affectionate honesty in Spike’s deep, melodic voice. She felt her heart skip a beat and mentally envisioned tomorrow morning. She and Spike, sipping coffee on her patio, talking quietly and listening to the world wake up.

“I say yes,” Buffy giggled merrily, surprising herself most of all.

Spike watched the adorable little pink blush that began in her neck and worked its way up to her cheeks.

“As long as you sleep on the couch,” she echoed his words, her right brow raised in question and a pout on her pink lips.

“I will stay on the couch. Scout’s honor,” Spike mumbled as he crossed his heart with his left hand, his patent smirk in place.

“Somehow, I can’t see you as a Scout!” Buffy burst out into laughter at the thought. That this handsome, sexy Brit was ever a Boy Scout or whatever the English called them.

“You’d be surprised,” Spike snorted in reply, his expression was one of mock hurt.

“Probably,” Buffy giggled good-naturedly. “Well,” she continued evenly, “if you’re staying on the couch? I’ll need to get you sheets and a blankie,” she stood to do just that.

“Blankie?” Spike asked her suspiciously; that cute scarred left brow raised in question.

‘I have ‘got’ to find out how Spike received that little momento,’ Buffy told herself once again. Instead of asking him, she grinned at him widely.

“No, not something along the lines of Sesame Street or Disney sleepwear,” Buffy giggled again. “I just have hold-over baby talk from the hospital. It’s actually a lovely velour number,” she shrugged and strode into the hallway.

When she came back, Spike had already stripped most of his clothing off, except for his boxers. Buffy tried ‘not’ to stare at his obvious hard on; instead she quickly tossed him the sheets and blanket.

“I, uhm,” she stuttered nervously, trying to avert her stare from Spike’s very impressive form.

“Oh come on now, sweetling,” Spike laughed heartily, “you’ve seen a man in his knickers before. If you like,” he continued mischievously, “I’ll sleep in my trousers and…..”

“No, no,” Buffy assured him quickly, another blush graced her neck and face. “That’s fine. I’ll just go get ready for bed and you can hit the bathroom after, kay?”

“Okay,” Spike replied warmly. “But after, can you come out and join me on the couch? Just to watch some late night telly together? I promise to ‘cover’ my manly’s with the blankie,” he finished with a quick, affectionate smile.

“Sure,” Buffy giggled in response, “I can do that. I’d like that,” she added over her shoulder as she sashayed into the bathroom.

Once Buffy had finished in the bathroom, she dressed in a pretty satin pjs and a matching robe.

‘Nothing seductive about this,’ she assured herself with a quick look in her bedroom’s full-length mirror.

Apparently, Buffy was still too naïve to realize that ‘more’ didn’t necessarily have to mean ‘less’ attention from a man in love. While the satin robe covered the somewhat modest pjs, it still clung to Buffy’s feminine curves. The color of the ensemble; a pale cotton candy pink, might prove to be quite mouth watering to Spike.

Spike washed up, quickly, in the small, purely feminine loo of Buffy’s condo. While he had more of a spartan, masculine taste in home furnishings; Spike could appreciate the decorations in Buffy’s place. The entire condo (well the parts he’d seen so far that is) just reflected the young, amazing woman that Buffy Summers truly was.

After brushing his teeth, as best he could without a brush, Spike flipped off the light and headed to the couch. He was delighted to see that Buffy had beat him to it; having even set out two more glasses of wine for them on the table.

When Spike sat down next to Buffy, he discreetly covered his lower half, just to make her more comfortable. It also helped to cover his rapidly re-hardening cock that had jumped to attention when he saw Buffy’s evening wear.

Spike had to cover the smirk on his face, also. He supposed that Buffy, when she had chosen this particular nightie combo, had thought it was the epitome of modesty. The problem was; something this satiny, chic and slinky just tended to add even more allure to her.

It just reaffirmed the first impressions that Spike had gotten from Buffy. She was completely guiles, although not completely innocent or naïve. Buffy still had no idea the kind of power she held over men, without even trying at all.

“You look beautiful, Princess.” Spike whispered into Buffy’s warm little ear, delighted when she had automatically snuggled into him.

“Thanks,” she replied matter-of-factly and continued to flip through the telly stations with the remote.

“Ooooh, let’s watch the rest of Saturday Night Live!” Buffy squealed excitedly.

“Fine by me,” Spike replied with a huge grin as he relaxed into the back of the couch. He kept his left arm tightly wrapped about Buffy’s silky little body and smiled in contentment.

The show, that night, was funny, if not particularly original, or so Spike felt. Buffy was enjoying it so much, that he could have cared less who the host or musical guests were.

“I just love this show!” Buffy giggled and pointed at the telly screen. “Don’t you just love this show?” She turned and gave Spike a questioning look.

“It’s okay,” Spike shrugged. “Can’t hold a candle to Monty Python, in the glory days,” he added matter-of-factly.

“You mean the Holy Grail guys?” Buffy asked in confusion. “Sorry, I just don’t get them,” she grumbled and went back to watching the show; a slight pout on her pretty mouth.

Spike chuckled out loud and pulled her even tighter to him; he planted a quick kiss on her right cheek.

“Now don’t get all up into it, Princess,” he murmured tenderly. “I like this show enough; just prefer Brit humor is all. Understandable, right?”

Buffy spared him a glance, pout in place, but then broke into a wide smile. Especially when she noticed his left brow raised, out of habit she supposed, in question.

“It’s fine,” Buffy giggled, “just being a little arrogant about an American show, I suppose. It’s silly of me, forget it,” she added sincerely.

“Can I ask you something, though?” Buffy asked as clicked off the TV and set the remote on the coffee table.

“Ask away,” Spike replied good-naturedly, pleased that the distracting telly was off and he had all of Buffy’s attention again.

Buffy scrunched up her face; peered into Spike’s blue eyes and asked, somberly…..”How ‘did’ you get that cute little scar on your left brow?”


Immediately, Buffy feared that she’d overstepped her bounds by the question. “Never mind,” she stammered quickly before Spike could reply. Her face felt like it was going to burst out in flame, she was blushing so profusely.

“That was rude, I’m sorry, Spike, I…..” she stuttered nervously as she turned her face away from him.

“Buffy,” Spike murmured lowly, reaching out to place a finger under her chin. He pulled her face, tenderly, about so their eyes could meet again.

“Its fine, Princess,” he whispered softly, “honestly. I’ve no problem with telling you the and wherefore of my little ‘war’ momento.”

“War momento? You were in a war?” Buffy asked in a girlish voice.

“No,” Spike chuckled deeply. “Not a war, like Iraq or something. Let’s just say I ‘went’ to war, when I was not quite fifteen. Just after my mum died,” he sighed.

Buffy watched the gleam in Spike’s eyes turn to a quick flash of pain. “Spike,” she stammered, “please, if you don’t want to talk about it…..”

“Nah, I’ll talk of it,” Spike grunted in a hushed tone. “It’ll do me good and cure your curiosity,” he snorted. “I’m not sad about it, Buffy,” he added quickly, “just a little embarrassed about it.

“Okay,” Buffy whispered as she snuggled back down into Spike’s strong, warm arms. “I’ll listen,” she murmured.

“I wasn’t quite fifteen,” Spike began slowly, “my mum had just died and my dad was havin’ fits about me. Well he should have since I was runnin’ with a bad bunch of blokes. Well, we got into a fray with some of our so called mortal enemies; me and the boys. Took on the toughest gang in London, really and won, but I came out on the short end of the stick.”

Buffy scrunched up her brows again and reached out to gingerly touch the scar. Spike didn’t pull away when she asked if it hurt, still.

“Nope, doesn’t hurt at all,” he responded honestly with a smirk. “Maybe my pride was a bit damaged, but it doesn’t hurt anymore. I just went to the hospital, that night, and had the cut sewed up neat and tidy. Worked out for the best, really,” he scowled momentarily before he finished.

“My dad had a job offer, over here in the States at the time. When I stumbled home from the emergency room, he made up his mind to take the job. It got me away from London and my wayward mates and brought me here, to America. Like I said, it worked out for the best and hey, after all? If that turf war hadn’t of happened; I’d might of not come here and ever eventually met you. Right?”

“Right,” Buffy murmured softly as she gently ran her fingers across the scar. “I guess we have those mortal enemies of yours to thank for your being here, huh?”

“I guess,” Spike mumbled under his breath. He brushed a stray lock of Buffy’s golden locks away from her cheek and smiled at her affectionately.

“I should probably get to bed,” Buffy offered almost reluctantly. “I’ve got an early day at the shop tomorrow,” she explained yet again.

“Okay, pet,” Spike sighed in obvious disappointment. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Right, the morning,” Buffy repeated his words with a look of disappointment of her own.

They sat; in silence for a moment or two before Buffy whispered cautiously, “do you think, if you join me in my bed,” she left the sentence unfinished and look up at Spike, hopefully.

“I’ll be the epitome of chivalry,” Spike replied evenly, his blue-eyed gaze bore into Buffy like a laser.

“Okay, then,” Buffy sighed dreamily, “maybe we should hit the sack and get some sleep? Sleep, only, right?” She stood up and reached out her tiny little hand to her new friend.

“Sleep only,” Spike replied reluctantly, “but don’t be surprised if things pop up and….”

Buffy twisted up her mouth and gave Spike a dubious look. “I’ll trust you on this one,” she mumbled under her breath.

Spike took Buffy’s hand and allowed her to lead him into her bedroom. He took in the décor; the red satin covered round bed; the bold, stark prints on the walls. Even the huge, golden statuette of the Chinese royal horse in the corner of the room.

‘This is going to be a long, long night,’ Spike realized with a heavy sigh.

“I’ll be on my best behavior,” he reassured Buffy once again as he lay down next to her in the red satin sheets. “But don’t think I’m going to like it,” he grumbled good-naturedly as he took her in his arms.

The next morning, Buffy awoke to the pleasant feel of Spike’s arms wrapped around her body. Sometime during the night, he had places his muscled leg over hers and nuzzled his face into her neck.

‘I could get used to this,’ Buffy thought to herself, contently. She disentangled herself from Spike, careful not to wake him.

Buffy padded into the bathroom and washed up, quickly, then headed into the kitchen. She flipped on the automatic coffee maker and began to search through the fridge for something for breakfast.

“Hey, you got up without me,” Spike called from the kitchen door. He had a boyish look of hurt on his face and it made Buffy’s heart lurch in her chest.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” she mumbled in explanation. “It’s kind of late, but I wanted to make you breakfast, before I go to the coffee shop and….”

“Can I go with?” Spike asked wistfully, his blue eyes full of childish hope.

“Sure,” Buffy stammered in reply. “If you want,” she added quickly. “I, I would like that,” she finished with a warm, welcoming smile.

“Okay then,” Spike grunted, all manly like. “I’m going to take a shower, Princess. Okay? I’ll be out in a jiff.”

Buffy began the coffee; heated up the toaster and started the fry pan. She was going to make some eggs, bacon and toast for them and hopefully, this would be to Spike’s liking.

A knock at her front door distracted Buffy and she flipped off the stove to go and check the peep hole.

“If that’s Xander,” Buffy muttered under her breath as she scurried to the front door.

“I’m going to kill him this time,” she finished with a low growl.

When she peered through the peep- hole, Buffy was nearly blown away by who stood out on her front porch. However, she threw the door wide and welcomed the two people there with open arms.

“Dawn, Connor!” Buffy squealed in obvious delight as she hugged her little sister and her boyfriend.

“Why are you here?” Buffy finally asked after she’d caught her breath. “I wasn’t expecting…..”

Spike took that opportune moment to saunter out into the living room, a damp towel wrapped strategically about his hips.

“Apparently you weren’t expecting ‘anyone’ Buffy,” Dawn giggled mischievously when she noticed the stunned blond Brit in her sister’s living room.

“Oh, shit,” Connor, Dawn’s fiancé cried in delighted disbelief. “You’re ‘him’ aren’t you? You ‘are’ freakin’ Dr. William Giles!”


A/N: Well, I was going for fun and fancy here and I hope I succeeded! The next chapter will reveal some facts about Dawn and Connor.

More Spuffy UST, of course, but never fear, something will eventually bring our Spike and Buffy together. Carnally that is….

Thank you for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Chapter 12: ‘They’re The Ones!’


Summary: Buffy tries to explain Spike to Connor and Dawn. Sometimes explanations are not ‘that’ necessary.




Buffy watched the real life dark comedy play out in her living room. It was almost as if she watched it transpiring in slow motion.

“Dawn; Connor,” Buffy rasped, “this is uhm, well, this is…..”

“Doctor William Giles!” Connor finished the sentence for his future sister-in-law. “We know,” the young man cried happily. “Dawn got a call from…..”

Dawn Summers elbowed her boyfriend, quite effectively, in his ribs.

“Can it,” Dawn ordered Connor; then turned to admire the bright red blush on her older sister’s face. “I’m enjoying this uncomfortable tension way too much!”

Buffy blushed bright red, even as she glared at Spike. ‘Get the hell back in the bathroom,’ she silently ordered her house guest.

Spike mumbled something about being cold and hurried back into the loo. He glanced in the mirror and sighed at his reflection. “Christ, but Buffy’ll be pissed now, that’s for sure,” he muttered.

“Oh Buff,” Dawn gushed, “He is just adorable! Willow said that…..”

“Willow!” Buffy gasped in shock. “Willow called you up and told you about Spike?”

“Well, yeah,” Dawn mumbled, suddenly much less animated then she had been.

“I’d know Dr. William Giles anywhere,” Connor blurted out. “His book on heart surgery is like a must read for….”

“Wait a minute,” Connor’s conversation took a quick turn. “You think Dr. Giles is adorable?” The young med student gave his fiancé a pout.

“For my sister?” Dawn grunted, “yeah, he’s adorable. For me? You’re the only adorable man sweetie.” Dawn leaned over and bussed Connor’s pale cheek with her pink glossed lips.

“Better be,” Connor grumbled good-naturedly.

“What’s for breakfast?” Dawn asked non-chalantly. “We’re starved, that’s for sure, right baby?” The brunette woman batted her baby blues at her future husband.

“I could eat,” Connor replied evenly. “In fact, I’ll go whip something up for all of us, okay? Send Dr. Giles into the kitchen when he gets out of the bathroom. We’ll give you two a chance to chat!” Connor gave Buffy a cheeky smile and winked at Dawn.

“How does Connor know Spike?” Buffy asked her sister, suspiciously.

“Oh, Connor just blabbed, all the way up here from LA, about Dr. William Giles this and Dr. Giles that and…..” Dawn grinned at her older sister and giggled.

“I guess that Dr. William, did you just call him Spike, Giles wrote some great end all book or something. Connor’s a med student, Buff, you know that. Seems that Dr. WG’s book is some kind of Bible for med students.” Dawn shrugged and sidled up to her older sister, a ‘cat ate the canary’ grin on her mouth.

“So, you two? You did the nasty, right?” Dawn whispered conspiratorially.

“No!” Buffy screeched in indignation. “We did not do the…..”

“Am I interrupting something?” Spike asked as he exited the bathroom, now fully dressed. “I can go back in and…..”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Buffy rambled nervously. “Who don’t you go in and help Connor with breakfast. Conn’s a med student, Spike and he seems to be very familiar with you and some book you wrote.”

“Really?” Spike asked incredulously. “Well, that’s bloody great; I’ll just go help the boy with eggs and bacon, eh?”

Spike hurried into the kitchen, leaving Buffy and Dawn behind. To chat, as it were.

“So, you didn’t do the nasty?” Dawn asked with a confused frown on her pixie face.

“No, uhm, we, well we didn’t do it and….” Buffy stammered nervously. The blond looked at the mussed up couch, as if it would confirm her virtue to her younger sister.

“Oh,” Dawn sighed with a hint of disappointment. “I guess I thought that you’d actually…..”

“Dawn, please,” Buffy huffed, her self-righteous indignation reared up in waves. “As if ‘I’ would sleep with a guy, I hardly know!”

“Yeah, guess that’s too much to be hoped for, huh?” Dawn grunted sarcastically. “The great pillar of Sunnydale virtue that is Buffy Summers. She walks; she talks and breathes but she doesn’t fu**…..”

“Stop it!” Buffy barked in a harsh tone. “They’ll hear you Dawnie!” She glanced at the closed kitchen door, anxiously.

“Oh, yeah, cos’ Connor doesn’t know about screwing, right? I mean we only live together and plan to marry and well…..Buffy. I, uhm may have something terribly important to tell you,” Dawn mumbled sheepishly.

“Oh no,” Buffy groaned, more then sure of what her little sister might have to confess. “Oh, God, Dawnie! You can’t be, right? I mean you’re a smart, hip young woman of the 21st century. Connor is a med student for God’s sake, you can’t…..”

Buffy was unable to finish her rant, Dawn cut her off with a wave of her well manicured hands.

“If you’re alluding to my being pregnant? Forget it, sis; no way!” Dawn rolled her eyes and waved her right hand at Buffy.

“I’m not pregnant, promise,” the dark haired girl sighed as she crossed her heart with her hand. “It’s just,” Dawn paused for a moment to collect her thoughts, “it’s just that Connor and I have decided to elope; to Vegas. Sometime next month, and I didn’t want you going ballistic over it, alright!”

Buffy stared at her sister, in complete shock, unable to quite take in what she had just been told. To say that the older Summers woman was stunned was and understatement. To say that Buffy was pissed? That was really an understatement.

“You can’t!” Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs; causing someone in the kitchen to drop something on the floor. Connor’s tenor voice was heard cursing as he the item in question hit the floor and bounced, apparently.

“You’d best stay in here mate,” Buffy heard Spike tell the prospective groom. “I don’t think either of the girls need or want us in there right now,” the Brit added carefully.

“I can, and I’m going to,” Dawn spat, her arms crossed across her chest and that mulish look on her face.

“You’re too young! You’re both too young and too broke to…..” Buffy began, only to be cut off by Dawn once again.

“Mom’s dream of one of us, getting an education and degree! Making something of themselves!” Buffy whimpered, but her green eyes were alit with a fire Dawn hadn’t seen in years.

“Look Buff,” Dawn began sweetly. “You may have given up on love; romance and marriage? But Conn and I haven’t. Besides, it’s cheaper in California, tax wise, for us to be married and we’re doing it. Next month on the 15th. You’re invited, if you want to come. Bring the bleached blond Brit if you want. We’re getting married and that’s that!”

Dawn unfolded her arms and began to stalk off into the kitchen. “I don’t want to piss you off; make you hate me or drag up some crap about the sacrifices everyone has made. Connor and I have made sacrifices too, Buffy. Lots of them. Connor’s family is going to help us and there’s Mom’s trust fund for me and…..”

Buffy reached out and grasped Dawn’s slim arm with her hand, gently. She looked up into her younger sister’s lovely blue eyes and smiled tenderly.

“Dawnie,” Buffy whispered from behind the younger woman.

“Yeah?” Dawn turned to face down her idol.

“I will be there,” Buffy murmured, her green eyes focused on the diamond ring on Dawn’s finger. “Maybe Spike will be there too?”

“Hope so,” Dawn giggled lightly before she skipped back over to Buffy and threw her long arms about her.

“You feel it, don’t you?” Dawn leaned down and whispered into Buffy’s right ear.

“Wha…what?” Buffy asked, her own insecurities were bubbling up again.

“William, well, Spike? He’s the one for you, isn’t he Buff?” Dawn clasped her sister to her tightly. “I know you feel it, right? Just like I know that Connor is the one for me!”

“I, I don’t know…..for sure,” Buffy stammered in a childish, unsure voice. “I would like him to be,” she added shyly.

“Dawn! Breakfast is ready,” Connor bellowed from the kitchen.

“Let’s go,” Dawn chuckled good-naturedly as she took her sister’s hand and led her into her own kitchen. “I’m starved,” Dawn continued with a sigh.

“I’m famished,” Buffy added sincerely.

“Famished, huh?” Dawn giggled, as she opened the kitchen door and followed the delicious aroma from in there. “Are you sure you and Spike didn’t do the nasty?”

“Get your ass in the kitchen!” Buffy growled as she slapped her younger sister on her bottom. But she smiled, Buffy did; she actually grinned in anticipation.


Spike and Buffy sat at ‘their’ table in Buffy’s coffee bistro. They held hands, across the little table and gazed into each others’ eyes, affectionately.

“Is Dawn going to come by and say ‘hi’ to us?” Andrew asked wistfully. “She…..”

“She’s stopping by later, Andy,” Buffy murmured out of the side of her mouth. She and Spike never broke their gaze from each other. Spike smiled, with his eyes even, as he gazed into Buffy’s emerald eyes.

“Thanks for coming to the bistro with me,” Buffy murmured bashfully, her face tinged in a pink flush.

“Just try to keep me away,” Spike replied huskily as he gently stroked her tiny hand with fingers.

“Hmmm,” Buffy purred at the nice sensation Spike was creating on her hand.

“Buffy,” Spike began in a hushed tone, “I was wondering. Have you ever thought of fostering or adopting one your special babies?”

Buffy snapped out of her pleasurable daze and gave Spike a wide-eyed stunned look. This statement had taken her completely by surprise.

“Well, yeah, I guess so,” Buffy stuttered as she groped for the right words to say. “I, I don’t really qualify,” she continued with a sad sigh. “So ‘they’ tell me and…..”

“Why not?” Spike asked with sincere confusion. “You’d make a great mum, Princess.”

“You think?” Buffy asked, suddenly brightening at his kind words.

“I know,” he stated honestly. “You’d be the best mum in the world,” he nodded with true conviction.

“Well, I would have liked to adopt, at least, but the rules are pretty strict. I’m not married; I’m not rich or well stationed in life. My job is…..” She was pleasantly cut off by Spike, who smiled at her lovingly.

“What makes you happy. Your job I mean; and the babies. I think you’d make a great mum, especially to Quentin, the baby boy I saw you holding. He means a lot to you, right?” Spike clasped Buffy’s petite hand, tightly and looked soulfully into her eyes.

“He does,” Buffy replied with a soft, shy smile. “I don’t play favorites, but if I did? Quentin would be my favorite,” she finished with grin.

“Maybe I could put in a good word for you, Princess,” Spike murmured. “If I say a good thing or two; Tara and Willow could add to it and maybe ‘they’ would reconsider?”

‘Besides,’ Spike reasoned to himself. ‘Once I’ve swept you off of your feet; carried you off to Las Vegas and made you my wife? They can’t say a word against ‘us’ adopting a little one; now can they?’


“Maybe,” Buffy murmured wistfully. She smiled at this handsome man who had just come into her life and wondered, briefly, if she would be able ‘not’ to screw this up.


A/N: Short chapter, I know, but I just had to keep the flow going in this story.

Thank you for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Chapter 14: ‘Broken Hearts’


Summary: Buffy continues to keep Spike at somewhat of an arm’s length, both physically and emotionally that is. Some broken hearts and spirits in this one.

Something that occurs, a tragedy, may just open Buffy’s eyes. She might realize that life is truly too short to not take risks on true love.

Warnings: Much angst in this chapter and character death (original character to this fiction). I am trying to keep this realistic, unfortunately. Therefore, there will be great sorrow involved.


Chapter 14: ‘Broken Hearts’



Spike watched Buffy sashay about the cozy little coffee shop she owned and ran. While Buffy chatted up familiar customers, he sat contentedly following her every movement with his affectionate gaze.

Finally, Buffy made her way to Spike’s table and reluctantly poured him another cup of coffee.

“That blend will keep you up all night you know,” she giggled coyly.

“That’s the plan,” Spike chuckled in response; he waggled his dark brows at her suggestively.

“Oh, I see,” she mumbled through pursed lips. Pursed pouty lips to be exact; one of the very things that Spike was unable to resist about her.

Well, okay, so he couldn’t resist a lot of things about her and….

“Drive you home?” Spike asked quickly as he sipped the delicious hot liquid in his mug.

“Okay,” Buffy stammered a little too nervously for his taste.

It was now Thursday night and after the events of last weekend, Spike and assumed that Buffy would be more relaxed around him.

“I mean ‘drive’ you home to your place, Princess,” Spike sighed ruefully. “You don’t have to ask me in and…..”

“I’m sorry,” Buffy whispered softly; he noticed her hand shook slightly as she spoke.

“Of course I want you to come in for a quick visit,” she murmured shyly. “I just don’t want you to think that….”

“I don’t think,” Spike interrupted abruptly. “You’ve made it clear that we’re not even close to ‘that’ part of a relationship yet, Buffy.”

Buffy heard what Spike was saying of course, but he did look a bit disappointed, still. She felt bad, for many reasons.

William ‘Spike’ Giles was not only handsome, brilliant and extremely sexy; but he appeared to be a true gentleman. A decent, caring human being and yet, Buffy still felt skittish about him.

Why the heck couldn’t she just let go of the pain that Riley’s betrayal had caused her? Why couldn’t she just open up, completely to this seemingly wonderful, brilliant man?

Buffy chose to change the subject, rather discreetly. “I’m so glad Mr. Rayne is going to be okay,” she stammered as she plopped down in the chair next to Spike’s.

“He’s right as rain,” Spike replied almost non-chalantly. “The bloke’s heart is better then ever now,” he added with a smug grin.

“That’s good,” Buffy sighed wistfully. Her mind seemed to be a million miles away. Spike did have inkling as to where her thoughts just might be.

“Have you thought any more about my suggestion from the other day then? About perhaps adopting the little boy,” he asked casually. He made sure he had positioned his face in a way that would capture her line of vision.

“Well, yeah,” Buffy murmured quietly, nervously brushing off the spotless table between them. “I even mentioned it to Willow and Tara,” she added with hesitation.

Spike noticed that her pretty mouth had turned into a bit of a frown and he quirked his left eyebrow at her. “Red and Glinda aren’t too keen on it then?”

His own mouth formed a scowl and Buffy suddenly felt quite warm in her little shop. She dropped her eyes from his and shook her blond head slowly.

“Tara isn’t so sure,” she mumbled softly; her tone had become wistful again and Spike realized something.

He had not really considered this before; but it suddenly came to him that perhaps Buffy should not adopt a child. Tara was the degreed psychiatrist of the bunch and she was a top notch one at that.

Angel had revealed a lot of Buffy’s past history; especially the horror of her stepsister’s life and death. The little girl, Lizzy, the sister’s child had been paramount in Buffy’s decision to help her special babies at the hospital.

‘Tara’s worried that Buffy will be in for more heartbreak if she adopts a sick baby,’ Spike surmised. ‘I’ll have to have a talk with Glinda and get more info before I encourage my poor Buffy to take that kind of a chance again.’

“There’s a show at the Cineplex we want to see!” Andrew exclaimed wildly at his stepsister and boss. “Johnathan and me want to see the movie and it starts in just a ‘mo’ Buff. Can we leave early and…..”

Buffy eyed her stepbrother and his friend Johnathan Levy. She sighed deeply and nodded her golden head. “Go on,” she grumbled good- naturedly.

Spike had dubbed the two young men the ‘Bobsey Twins’ from the first time he’d seen them work together at the coffee shop. If he didn’t know better, he could swear that maybe these guys were more then just friends. However, it had been apparent when Buffy’s little sis, Dawn was in Sunnydale that Andrew had more then step-brotherly feelings for her.


In the end, Spike did drive Buffy home to her condo; after she closed the shop up.

“I should go,” Spike panted breathily as he pulled his lips away from Buffy’s delicious little mouth.

They were sitting on her rather comfy sofa in the living room; taking up where they’d left off last weekend.

Spike was reluctant to leave of course, but he knew that at this time, Buffy was not ready for more then some snogging. For some reason, being with Buffy reminded Spike of being back in high school; he didn’t mind it though. In fact it kind of added to the excitement of his perusal of her.

Buffy did a rather sneaky thing when he offered to leave now instead of staying and trying to get to at least third base. She pouted; that lovely little mesmerizing pout of hers that just melted him like butter in a hot pan.

“Look, Princess,” Spike murmured huskily as he pressed his warm lips to her even warmer forehead. “I don’t want to leave tonight; or ever for that matter,” he added with a wry chuckle.

He felt her tense in his arms and knew he was right for pursuing this course he was on. Even if it killed him to have to leave tonight.

“Buffy,” he whispered; he gently pulled her little chin up so their eyes could meet. Spike felt suddenly sad at the look of trepidation in her beautiful green eyes.

“Listen, pet,” he began again, “you’ve made it perfectly clear that you’re not ready for more then some kisses. I on the other hand would love nothing more then to sweep you up and carry you into your very lovely bedroom. I want to make love to you Buffy. You know that, but….”

“I’m not ready yet,” she finished the sentence for him; her voice was barely a sorrowful whisper.

Buffy pulled completely away from Spike and stood up from the sofa. She meandered (that’s what they called what she did ‘meandered’ that is) her way across her living room and into her kitchen. Of course, Spike followed her.

“I’m sorry Spike,” she mumbled, her back turned to him as she pretended to be doing something at her kitchen sink.

“I really do like you Spike, a lot, and I do know you like and care about me,” she whispered miserably, her back still turned to him.

“I can’t say why I’m such a coward about ‘this’ I mean about us. Oh shit, I don’t know what the hell I mean,” she spat in frustration. There was a definite tremble in her voice, or a sniffle; or something to that affect.

Spike clasped her gently and tenderly spun her around to face him once again. The sad, lost look in her eyes broke his usually semi-hard heart. Not to mention what it did for his hard cock.

“Buffy, sweet, it’s alright. I know you’re scared and you have every right to be. Someone’s hurt you, terribly, just like I’ve been hurt. I’m beginning to think that I never cared all that much for my ex, however,” he muttered with a scowl. “She really wasn’t terrible likeable, much less loveable,” he finished with a shrug.

“Perhaps that’s why I don’t miss her in the least and feel ready to move on. With you that is,” he added softly. He snuggled her deeper into his arms and nuzzled the side of her face with his lips.

Buffy looked up at him; her green eyes were damp with unshed tears. Spike realized that all of his professions were probably simply making her feel a bit worse; not better.

“Look,” he began hesitantly, “I’ll be by, tomorrow night at 7:00. We’ll go to your friends' winery and watch some old sappy movie and eat great food. Just like we planned, yeah? Hell, I’ll even bring some fattening outrageous dessert; something chocolate for you. What do you say, sweetling?”

“Kay, Spike,” Buffy murmured just before she buried her golden head into his chest. Spike swore he could feel her petite body shake slightly in his arms.

He tightened his embrace about her and kissed the top of her soft, warm head.

“Someday and I don’t doubt it’ll be soon, sweet,” he whispered tenderly. “You won’t be so afraid of ‘us’ anymore and I will be there, waiting for you.”

After Spike had placed a chaste, tender kiss on Buffy’s swollen lips, he quietly slipped out her front door. The heavy oak door barely made a sound as it clicked shut.

Buffy stood at her front window silently peering out of it. When Spike’s DeSoto pulled away from the curb in front of her house she felt completely empty inside. She had never felt so utterly alone in her entire life.


Spike chatted amicably with his star patient, Ethan Rayne. Ethan had completely stunned everyone, including his doctor, by coming out of the common but still risky surgery with flying colors.

“So, Doc,” Rayne chuckled good-naturedly, “things moving along nicely with Miss Summers?”

“None of your bloody business Ethan,” Spike replied with a smirk despite the mock gruffness in his voice.

“I’d bet you and the delectable Miss Buffy Summers are doing just fine, Doctor.”
Ethan laughed heartily; his right brow was quirked at Spike. say they are,” the patient laughed heartily

“Maybe,” Spike replied in a very neutral tone. He continued to check Rayne’s chart; hoping to put an end to this discussion about Buffy.

Willow Rosenberg was on duty today and she stuck her head into Ethan’s private room. Spike noticed that the red-haired girlfriend of his good buddy, Tara, seemed distraught. She had an unhappy, almost worried look on her face.

“Spike,” Willow began timidly, “there’s someone here, to see you. He came in and asked for ‘you’ specifically,” she mumbled nervously. “I thought, well, I felt it best to steer him into your office and…..”

“Who is it Red?” Spike asked the stuttering young woman. He was confused, especially since Willow seemed so upset by whoever this mystery man was.

“Riley Finn,” Willow blurted out in a high pitched voice.

“Finn,” Spike muttered, even more confused then ever. “What the blood hell does that moron want with me?” He bellowed through his clenched jaw.

“Go kick his arse Doc!” Ethan guffawed loudly. “Except bring him in here, so I can see it! It’ll do me some good to…..”

“Settle down Ethan,” Spike ordered his patient; his exasperation was apparent. “I’m not going to kick Finn’s arse. Yet,” he finished in a mumble.

“I’ll go talk to the wanker,” Spike muttered, flipping Ethan’s chart shut and waving good day to the bedridden man. “Red will you stick around here with our star patient and try to settle him down?”

“Uh, sure,” Willow stammered. She was still nervous about Spike’s visitor.

Spike strode to his borrowed office, stopping at the closed door to take a deep breath.

‘What the fuck does Buffy’s ex want with me?’ He wondered silently yet again. ‘Wonder if the whelp sent him by to…..’

He did not finish the thought; instead he opened the door and stepped inside. To say he wasn’t surprised by Riley’s appearance would be an understatement. Spike had pretty much pictured exactly what a moron like Finn would look like. He had been right on about it.

Riley Finn stood to greet Spike; this is when the doctor was made painfully aware of just how ‘large’ Buffy’s ex was. Finn must have been 6’3” or so and with the paramedic uniform on, it was obvious he kept in shape.

Spike suddenly felt very short, even though he worked out and probably was in as good or even better shape then Finn. For some reason, Spike was feeling somewhat inadequate being in the same room as this bloody big oaf.

‘Alright, pull yourself together,’ Spike order red himself silently. ‘So the guy’s a fucking oak tree; I’ll wager he’s got a brain to match it. After all, who’d leave Buffy for anyone else and….’

“Hi,” the oak tree spoke.

“Hello,” Spike replied coolly, accepting Finn’s extended hand in a shake.

“You must be wondering why I’m here, right?” Riley asked evenly as he took in the famous Dr. William Giles.

Spike’s blue eyes narrowed into slits, “crossed my mind,” muttered. “Sit down,” he commanded the larger man as he himself took a seat in his desk chair.

“I’m gonna’ get right to the point, Dr. Giles,” Riley began confidently.

“Go on,” Spike motioned at the man before him.

“I’ve heard that you’re seeing my ex-girlfriend,” Riley stammered, suddenly a little unsure of him.

“Yeah, what of it?” Spike countered evenly.

“Well, I came to ask you something, man-to-man,” Riley replied. Spike noticed a slight nervous edge to the man’s deep voice.

“Are you serious about Buffy, I mean really serious?” Riley asked quietly, his dark eyes stared intently into Spike’s blue ones.

“Do you really think that’s any of your bloody business?” Spike asked in a raised voice. ‘Jesus Christ! How could this fucking arse come in here and actually ask about the woman he had nearly destroyed by…..


“No, it isn’t my bloody business,” Riley sighed heavily and hung his big head down. “I just, well, I guess I just felt like I should find out about you. You’ve gotta’ know about our past history, Buffy’s and mine,” he shook his head sadly.

“I really fucked up with Buffy,” Riley continued and Spike could hear the remorse in his voice.

“I hurt her, badly and made a big, big mistake. I just, well, I wanted to know if you were serious about her because…..” Riley’s sentence trailed off as he looked at Spike with sad eyes.

‘Oh, fuck, he wants Buffy back!’ Spike surmised when he noted the pleading look in Finn’s dark, sorrowful eyes.

“You want her back, don’t you?” Spike asked quietly as he tried to quash the raising panic from anger and fear that threatened to overtake him.

Riley responded with a simple ‘yes’ and a shake of his dark haired head.

“What makes you think she’d take you back?” Spike asked evenly; he had successfully quelled the panic in his tone. At least for now.

“She loves me, I believe, still,” Riley mumbled in reply. It was obvious that the man was feeling embarrassed at what he felt was a show of weakness to Spike.

“I think if you might step aside,” Riley glanced up at Spike with a hopeful expression in his eyes. “I mean, after all, Buffy and I have a history; you’re just here for a while and….”

It was apparent to Spike that this fucking loser had done his homework. Spike was sure, more then ever that the whelp, Harris, had filled in Finn on as much as he could figure out.

Spike knew he should feel sorry for this pathetic bloke, Riley Finn, but he couldn’t bring himself to. The man had hurt his Buffy, terribly, and now he thought he could just waltz in and take up where they left off?

Well, Spike Giles felt no pity for this bloody idiot! He felt contempt for Riley, nothing more.

‘What a fucking wanker! His arrogance cracks me up! Buffy no more loves him any longer then…..’ Spike halted this train of thought and decided to vocalize at this time.

“Buffy doesn’t love you any longer, mate,” Spike stated evenly. His tone was cold; his words truthful, Spike knew it in the bottom of his heart.

“But,” Riley began, however Spike cut him off with a wave of his left hand.

Riley’s tone had become sickeningly begging and his pleading dog eyes were beginning to piss Spike off!

“Look mate,” Spike began, a little less harshly this time; his blue eyes met Finn’s glare defiantly.

“Buffy does not love you any longer; how could she? You took her heart and tore it into pieces by what you did.” Spike was beginning to get angry again, but he kept his temper in check.

“As far as Buffy and I, well that is none of your bloody business. However,” Spike continued coolly, “I’m going to give you a little information, then some sound advice.

“I love Buffy, Finn,” Spike declared; his words sounded almost reverent, even to himself. “I love her and I hope someday she’ll love me. Buffy deserves to be loved by a real man; a faithful, adoring man and that’s me mate.”

Riley looked incredulous; something Spike was enjoying immensely. He grinned widely at the shocked looking paramedic and stood up.

“I plan to marry Buffy, Mr. Finn,” Spike added for good measure. “You had your chance and as you put it; you fucked up, royally. Thanks for that much, friend,” Spike chuckled, “the part where you blew it, not how you did,” he finished with a scowl.

Spike remembered how Tara and Willow had told her Riley’s betrayal had broken Buffy’s poor heart. It rankled Spike that this asshole had hurt his girl so and he hated Finn for it.


“Just because you finally came to your senses about how much you fucked up, doesn’t mean Buffy’s going to allow you back into her life. I’m in her life now, Finn, get used to it.”

Spike set on the edge of his desk, right in front of Finn and stared down at the defeated man in the chair.

“But, you, you barely know each other and…..” Riley stuttered anxiously. Obviously, this conversation had not turned out the way Finn had expected and he was beginning to panic.

“My advice is to get over Buffy, like she has you,” Spike continued harshly. “Oh, and stay the fuck away from her,” he commanded gruffly.

“Goodbye Finn,” Spike spat. “I hope I have the pleasure of not laying eyes on you again,” he finished with a chuckle.

Riley stood up and shuffled out of the office door without another word. He didn’t even look back at Spike.

“Fucking ponce!” Spike grumbled in disgust as Finn closed the door behind him.

A thought occurred to Spike and he hurried to his desk. After he checked the telephone book for what he was looking for, he called the listed number of the florist shop.

Spike ordered three dozen of the best red roses to be sent to Miss Buffy Summers. He gave the flower shop employee Buffy’s business address because he knew she’d be at the coffee house today working.

“Write these words on the card, please,” Spike asked the shop employee politely.

“Say,” he continued: ‘Even these beautiful roses could never compare to the beauty that you are, Buffy. Inside and out; your beauty puts all others to shame…..Yours, William’


“Wow! That’s really too cool dude,” the young male employee gasped audibly.

“Thanks….dude,” Spike replied jovially.


Buffy scurried about the coffee bistro; pouring coffee here, chatting up customers there. Even though things had ended on a slightly sour note last night with Spike, she felt somewhat hopeful this morning. She had no idea why, but she felt as if she may just be coming out of a foggy dream and read to face…..

“Wow!” Andrew gasped from behind the counter.

Buffy glanced up and followed the direction her stepbrother was looking in.

“Wow!” Buffy gasped from her position at the cash register.

A flower shop delivery guy, obviously, was heading towards Buffy. In the young man’s arms was a hugest, most beautiful coquette of roses that she had ever seen.

“Are you Miss Buffy Summers?” The young florist asked hopefully when he stood in front of her.

“Yes, I am,” Buffy mumbled shyly. “Are those….”

“For you,” the florist replied proudly, as he had actually ordered and sent the bouquets himself.

Buffy tipped the kid and nervously fumbled about with the large card attached to the flowers. She knew, even before she read the card Buffy knew who the bouquets had to be from.

When she read the lovely words William had had written on it, Buffy felt tears threaten to spill from her eyes. She felt such a rush of affection for William, right at that moment; that she wished he were here, with her, right now.

Her joy at the wonderful surprise was cut short by her cell phone’s ringtone. Buffy scowled slightly and picked up the offending piece of modern technology.

“Oh God,” Buffy murmured fearfully when she saw the familiar phone number on the caller ID. Her heart nearly stopped beating and she felt her tummy sink. It was the emergency ‘911’ phone line from Sunnydale Hospital.



It was nearly 3:30 PM and Spike was not only tired; he was rather hungry. He had eaten only a salad at lunch, in the hospital commissary. Even Tara and Willow, who had joined him for lunch, had eaten more.

Spike was still at odds about the meeting with Riley Finn and he’d not had much of an appetite after that. He was looking forward to watching a movie, on the winery wall, with Buffy that night. A delicious looking cake the bakery had dubbed ‘Death By Chocolate’ was in his fridge at his leased flat.

There was an odd niggling feeling that nudged the back of Spike’s mind. He thought it was bloody odd that Buffy had not called and thanked him for the roses this morning.

After waiting an appropriate time, Spike had called the florist to make sure the roses had been delivered to Buffy’s shop. They had, the same young bloke that had taken his order had assured him.

When he checked his cell phone yet again, at precisely 3:35 PM and didn’t see a message from Buffy; Spike decided to call it a day. He’d stop by the coffee bistro and make sure that their date for tonight was still on and…..

Tara and Willow’s arrival into his office broke into Spike’s inner thoughts. Both of the women, it appeared to Spike, had been crying?

“Oh, Spike,” Willow cried desperately before she flopped down into the chair that Finn had occupied earlier.

“What is it Red?” Spike asked, suddenly terrified by the horrible look on both Tara and Willow’s faces.

“Spike, it’s Buffy,” Tara began sympathetically.

“What!” Spike roared, momentarily forgetting just where he was. “What’s wrong with Buffy? Where is she? Jesus Tara what’s wrong with Buffy?”

Spike practically flew across his desk and in front of the two women. He resisted the urge to grab Tara and shake some kind of information from her.

“It’s not Buffy, really,” Tara sighed sadly, “it’s one of her babies, Spike.” She sounded so anguished and looked so miserable that Spike felt like a shit for being angry with her just moments earlier.

“The little boy, Quentin,” Willow spoke, finally, although her own tone was as miserable as her girlfriend’s.

“Quentin? What happened to…..” Spike began tentatively.

“He passed away, Spike, just over an hour ago and….” Willow began to cry again; pain ridden, pitiful sobs emitted from her. Tara wrapped her arms about her lover and held her as tight as she could.

“Where’s Buffy now?” Spike asked; his own voice crackled with anguish and pain. His hand was clenched in a vice-like grip that it was a miracle that his nails didn’t draw his own blood.

“We last saw her, in the hospital Atrium,” Tara offered helplessly. “She’s wounded Spike, and torn apart. That’s why we came here, to you,” the woman said softly. “Buffy needs you.”

Spike found Buffy; in the otherwise empty Atrium located in the middle of Sunnydale Hospital. His heart broke, all over again for his love. Her already tiny frame seemed smaller then usual and the poor girl seemed so very broken to him.

Buffy had her head bowed; buried in her tiny hands and Spike could hear her soft, low whimpers from where he stood at the entrance.

Slowly and sadly, Spike stumbled up to the woman he loved and kneeled in front of her. He doubted if Buffy had even noticed he’d arrived. It turned out, however, that she had.

“Quentin,” Buffy mumbled through her tears. “He’s gone,” she whispered in disbelief.

Spike placed his hands on Buffy’s hips and laid his head onto her lap as if it were he that needed the comfort. For some reason, it seemed like the proper thing to do right now.

“I know,” he whispered into Buffy’s skirt covered lap as he stroked her hips tenderly with his hands.

“He was so little, and soft and I thought he was stronger and….” Buffy burst into more desperate sobs and threw her arms about Spike’s neck; wrapped her small hands about his golden head.

“I’m sorry baby,” Spike murmured. Each of their words to each other was filled with pain and Spike didn’t even try and hide his own tears. In fact, in just a few seconds, Buffy’s little skirt was soaked with the salty fluid from his tired blue eyes.

“Oh, Jesus Buffy, sweetheart. I am so sorry,” Spike rasped as he pulled her from the little bench she sat on. He tried to be gentle and comforting, but he hurt so bad; for her, with her, that he feared he might have hurt her.

“Spike,” Buffy whispered mournfully, allowing him to pull her into his strong, comforting embrace. “I need you,” she whimpered.

He began to pepper her neck and face with little loving kisses. Buffy yanked his face up so that his lips could meet hers and she kissed him with all of the pent up passion she could.

Spike pulled back, briefly from her; his eyes were wide with surprise and some doubt.

“Buffy,” he murmured quietly as he gazed into her wide, needful green eyes. “I want you; need you, but I don’t want you to confuse this, now, with the pain and your need for comfort. When we make love, I want it to be…..”

“I want you,” Buffy interrupted him with a stubborn whine. “I do want you and I do need you. Not just because of ‘just’ comfort, Will,” she continued huskily.

“I want you and need you because I just do. In the last few hours I learned something. Something real and important,” Buffy paused and gazed soulfully into Spike’s intense blue eyes.

“What?” He asked; his voice was husky with emotion; passion, lust and love for this tiny woman he held.

“I learned that life is too short, Will, too short to waste one second of it. If my precious Quentin’s life taught me nothing else, it taught me that.”


A/N: Well, I ended this chapter here for a couple of reasons. I felt the chapter was a bit long and I thought it would be a nice lead in to the next chapter. That one is going to be Spuffy loving completely.

Thank you for sticking with this story and please review. I love reviews! Spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Chapter 15: ‘Life Is A Banquette!’
(and most poor suckers are starving to death)


A/N: The title and sub-note is a quote by Rosalind Russell (my fave classic/classy actress) as Mame Dennison from the wonderful movie Auntie Mame. It was also the title of Ms. Russell’s autobiography. I feel that no truer words may have ever been said!


Summary: Spike takes Buffy to her home and continues to help her cope with her loss. Buffy comes to an amazing realization about Spike, and herself.


Chapter 15:


He had literally picked Buffy’s tiny shaking body up from the atrium floor; Spike had. After that, he had carried her to his car and placed her gently into the front passenger side of the seat.

They drove towards her condo, silently, except for an occasional whimper from Buffy. As Spike’s DeSoto neared an Albertsons, he pulled the car over and eyed Buffy carefully.

“You need to eat something,” he stated simply and she did not deny it.

“You’re right of course,” Buffy replied in a whisper. “I could use something to eat and I know you could too,” she added mechanically.

“Go in with me, sweetheart,” Spike ordered gently. “I’m okay in the kitchen but a complete wanker in the market.”

Buffy shrugged and allowed him to open her door and lead her inside the brightly lit market. She held onto his secure arm as Spike pushed the shopping cart about the Albertsons. He seemed more then capable of shopping, but Buffy resisted the urge to say so.

They bought simple food; eggs, cheese and ham for an omelette and some bread for toasting. Spike picked out a California chardonnay; surprising Buffy with the choice. It was one of the better vintages and a gold medal winner. Apparently the British blond had a nose for good American wine; just as Buffy did.

“We both could use this, yeah?” Spike asked her as he placed the wine on the cashier’s conveyer belt.

“Yeah,” Buffy responded simply. For some reason, she did not feel the need to chatter on and on with Spike. This did not confuse her so much as it comforted her in some way.

Spike watched Buffy with concern, but careful not to stare too much; afraid she would become even more uncomfortable.

They had made the simple supper in silence, in Buffy’s bright, cheery kitchen. However, the silence wasn’t so much uncomfortable, only somewhat sad.

Buffy was sad; Buffy was hurting and Spike hated it that he could not really ease this kind of hurt. This hurt was from the loss of an innocent child who his girl had grown to love dearly.

“Sorry the supper isn’t quite the feast that….” Spike began apologetically.

“No, Will, no,” Buffy stammered quickly. She reached over and took Spike’s strong, masculine hand in her tiny feminine one.

“Your delicious supper ‘is’ a feast; a banquette, at least to me,” she stated with great resolve. “I’m afraid that I’m just out of sorts and all,” Buffy offered shyly. “I just wish I could have helped my poor little Quentin more,” she sighed as fresh tears slipped down her flushed cheeks.

“You did all you could Princess,” Spike murmured softly as he tenderly stroked the back of Buffy’s petite hand. “The little bloke didn’t have much of a start and all,” he mumbled. “I know you gave him the only true affection he’d ever have and…..”

Buffy whimpered softly and slipped off of her chair onto Spike’s welcoming lap. When he wrapped his arms about her, Buffy embraced his shoulders with her own arms and hugged him tightly.

“I want Quentin to be buried properly,” she sobbed quietly into his hard yet somehow soft chest. “I want him to be buried next to my mama, in Sunnydale Cemetery. There’s a spot, right next to Mama, but I’m afraid the hospital won’t let me…..” Her teary voice trailed off into silence.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Spike murmured soothingly into Buffy’s warm little ear. “Maybe I can have Tara and Red use some of their own clout and get the poor little bloke released to you and me, yeah?”

Spike gently raised Buffy’s tear-stained face up and gazed lovingly into her damp green eyes. He smiled softly at the look of affection and hope that reflected back at him from her gorgeous green orbs.

“You’re so good to me William,” Buffy murmured almost shyly. She leaned up and placed a sweet, chaste kiss on the man’s beautiful mouth.

Before Spike could deepen the kiss, he pulled away from Buffy and began to stroke her face tenderly. “I’m thinking that you’re exhausted sweetheart,” he whispered. “Let me take care of you, Buffy. I’m going to run you a nice warm bath, yes? I’ll take care of everything; draw the water and find some girly sweet smelling bubble concoction to pour in.”

Buffy tilted her head to one side in surprise; this wonderful man never ceased to amaze her. It suddenly dawned on her that perhaps she had been too cautious this time; with her heart that is. Maybe William ‘Spike’ Giles was the man for her; not some ghost of an ex-fiancé who had betrayed her in the worst way possible.

In fact, Buffy realized, in that very moment, that she had been literally starving, emotionally, for months. No, make that for years and that this marvelous man; this gift perhaps from God, had come into her life when she needed him the most.

William Giles could read Buffy’s heart and soul; she knew that now. He was here, with her, on his own accord and because he wanted to be and ‘she’ wanted him to be here with her.

This wonderful, wonderful man had told her, not so long ago, that he was unsure if he understood the human heart. Buffy realized that he did not need to be confused or unsure, at least where she was concerned. William understood her and knew exactly what she needed in her heart and soul. In a moment of extreme lucidity; Buffy realized that she may never be emotionally starved again.

Spike ran a tub of warm water; up to the brim in Buffy’s rather large bathtub. He had found a nice cache of vanilla scented bubbles and gels. Once he had filled the tub to half full, he added the rich, fragrant oils and soaps to the water.

Buffy stood, silently amazed as she watched Spike fill her tub and add the soothing oils to it. When he motioned for her to come to the tub, she shyly obeyed.

This incredibly amazing man; a man so obviously worthy of being loved, had changed Buffy’s whole life in the course of merely a few weeks time. For the first time in months or perhaps even years, Buffy felt as if she too was worthy of love.

It was William who had given Buffy this wonderful gift of a realization. She now knew what she needed, no wanted to give him.

“You just take off your dress and….” Spike’s gentle command filtered off as he realized how inappropriate that had sounded.

“I mean, er, uhm,” he stammered in complete embarrassment.

“I know what you meant, Will,” Buffy murmured softly as she began to peel off her clothes.

“I’ll just step out and make myself useful in the kitchen,” he mumbled. The bright red blush on his face caused Buffy to giggle, which caused Spike to blush even more.

“Maybe you should stay, huh?” Buffy asked with a sly little wink; amazed at herself for this new found boldness of hers.

“Buffy,” Spike murmured softly as he turned and walked slowly to her.

After he took her in his arms, Spike nuzzled her soft, golden hair with his lips. Buffy wrapped her slim arms about his waist and Spike began to purr at the tender feelings the simple act invoked inside of him.

“Please stay?” Buffy whispered shyly as she looked deeply into William’s warm, loving blue eyes.

“Of course,” Spike murmured lovingly, gently stroking her right cheek.


A/N: Okay, I was pretty darned sneaky here, I know. I ended the chapter before the really good Spuffy stuff. Actually, I am trying to find out if readers are still interested in this fiction, or any of my other WIP’s.

I’ve been so out of the loop, writing wise, lately, that I’m afraid I may have lost some readers and reviewers. So, next time, promise, there will be lots of Spuffy bath time fun (and bedroom fun too)!

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Summary: Spike and Buffy loving…..at last!


Chapter 16: ‘At Last!’


Spike stood in silent shock as he digested what Buffy had just said to him. He couldn’t be wrong; could he? Did Buffy just ask him to join her in the tub?

Without further question, Spike began to divest of his clothing as quickly as possible. There was no way he wanted to give Buffy a chance to change her mind.

Buffy giggled wickedly as she watched Spike tear his clothing off of his body. She did blush, of course, something that she was sure her mother would approve of.

‘Don’t think of Mama right now,’ she derided herself with a shake of her damp blond hair. ‘I’m not sure Mama would approve of this at all and…..’

All thoughts of her mother and any disapproval disappeared when Spike pulled off his boxers and allowed them to pool at his feet.

‘Damn! This man is fine,’ Buffy gasped silently, her wide eyes surveyed the beautiful male being in front of her.

‘God, she’s bloody gorgeous,’ Spike thought to himself as he admired the woman he already loved in the tub before him.

Buffy tried to scooch her bare bottom up in the tub to make room for Spike behind her. He looked a bit flushed, she felt, and it made her feel suddenly very feminine and powerful. She didn’t let up on him; bravely watching him cautiously slide into the large spa-tub, a mischievous little grin on her mouth.

“I, uhm,” Spike stammered under his breath as he slipped into the tub behind Buffy. He carefully sat his bare arse down into the warm steamy water, sure that both he and Buffy were making it even hotter and steamier.

“I, uhm,” he began again in an unusual tongue-tied manner; at least for him. “I’m not used to bathing with anyone, Princess,” he mumbled shyly.

“Me either,” Buffy giggled in reply. “Isn’t it nice to try something new…together?” She winked at him mischievously, immediately calming him and causing him to relax.

Suddenly Buffy felt extremely naked (which she was) and very, very unsure of herself.

‘What if I’m not good enough?’ She asked herself fearfully even as she lay her head back against Spike’s strong, damp chest. ‘What if he doesn’t like me once…..’

“You’re bloody gorgeous,” Spike murmured lovingly as he wrapped his arms about her chest. It was almost as if he had read her very thoughts.

Spike’s cock had become hard, immediately, when Buffy suggested he join her in the tub. Now, his manly bits were as hard as steel and he was sure she felt his cock pressing against her wet, soft back.

‘Okay,’ Buffy sighed silently in relief, ‘the not good enough factor isn’t going to even enter into this.’

“Wanna’ wash my back?” Buffy asked saucily, amazed at her own bravado.

“My pleasure,” Spike murmured as he grabbed a loofa and soaped it up with some delicious smelling body wash in a white bottle.

“Mmmm, that feels wonderful,” Buffy purred as Spike gently washed her back with the vanilla scented loofa sponge. “It’s like heaven,” she sighed in contentment.

Spike tried ever so hard not to let Buffy feel his erection that was diligently plowing into her back. He was as hard as iron, that was for sure, but he wanted to make sure that Buffy was ready for any kind of sex. Physically and emotionally.

“That doesn’t feel so bad either,” Buffy giggled as she rubbed her lower back against Spike’s manly parts.

Apparently, Spike immediately surmised, Buffy was more then ready for any and all sexual play with him. This made Spike a very happy bloke indeed.

After he had rinsed her sleek little back; Spike gently pulled her petite body to his and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“I want to tell you something, sweetheart,” he murmured softly as he stroked her bare, damp arm. “Been wantin’ to say this from the first day I laid eyes on you, but just didn’t have the nerve,” he finished shyly.

“Say it,” Buffy commanded him gently after she reached back and placed her tiny hand on his left cheek.

“You have got to believe me about this Buffy. Since the first night I saw you,” he began carefully; somewhat nervous about his admission, no matter how truthful it was. “Since then, I’ve felt different somehow. More in touch with my human side I guess you’d say,” he stammered.

Buffy didn’t say anything, just calmly lay back in his arms and let him speak. She felt oddly safe and secure at this moment; like this was something that was meant to happen to her and this man was definitely meant to be here, with her.

“I guess you could say I’ve come to understand some things about myself and people in general,” he continued evenly. Hesitating, briefly, Spike allowed some warm bath water to trickle from his left hand; down Buffy’s sweet shoulder and across her ample breast.

“I’ve been a right prick, in the past,” he explained in a harsh whisper. “Made money and fame my God I did,” he added with a derisive snort.

“I find that hard to believe,” Buffy offered quickly, but he cut her off just as fast.

“No, I was; always have been a right selfish bloke. Pretty much into my profession for the glory and fame, and the money,” he repeated sadly.

“Then I came here; saw you and how you give of yourself so bloody selflessly. It touched me Buffy. Made me realize what a wonderful, beautiful woman you are, right from the start. It made me know that there are human angels on earth and you are one of them.” Spike felt like he was waxing poetic, but he couldn’t stop now, no way.

"I wanted you for mine, Buffy, from that very first night. It's not only because I want you because you’re beautiful, inside and out. It’s because I saw in you as my own salvation and it’s a pretty fucking awesome thing, sweet, to see your own salvation standing right in front of you. Well, behind a plexi-glass window in a baby nursery and…” his sentence trailed off momentarily.

“I guess it’s just that I want you to know that I think; no, I know that you ‘are’ the one for me, Buffy. The real deal and everything I’ve ever wanted, at least finally realized I’ve wanted and needed. I’m not just saying this to get into your bed or any such simple rot as that,” he added quickly. His hand seemed to act on it’s own as it stroked her right plump breast tenderly.

“I love you Buffy; have from that first night and even if you don’t love me, yet? I can hang around and wait, hopin’ that you will someday. That’s all I can tell you Buffy; it’s been in me since the first day I saw you and…..”

“Spike,” Buffy whispered hoarsely, turning to face him and wrapping her arms about him.

“I do believe you,” she murmured before she kissed his mouth, chastely. “I do,” she repeated desperately just before he passionately kissed her again.

If both Spike and Buffy could have died, right this moment, they would have died blissfully happy. To be together at last; totally in sync with one another? It was the epitome of happiness for them both.

“Let’s get dried up, sweetling,” Spike gasped between sweet kisses from Buffy’s lush mouth. “I want to make love to you on your plush bed, Buffy. I want to lay you out and worship every inch of her beautiful body while I love you.”

Buffy pulled back from him, slightly surprised that he didn’t want to do the deed right this moment, but happy that he wanted her in a more conventional setting. If Spike wanted to ‘make with the happy’ in her comfy bed; then so be it and amen to that.

Spike gently wiped Buffy down with her soft, plush white towel, careful to treat her plump breast with the utmost tenderness. He was less cautious with his own body when he dried himself off. Frankly, he was in a hurry to carry his treasure off to bed and make sweet, tender love to her.

When he had finished drying off, Spike caught the sudden look of apprehension in Buffy’s luminous green eyes. She was standing there; somewhat shell-shocked he felt, a look of wariness in her eyes that tugged at his heart.

“Buffy, sweetheart, if you don’t want to…..” he stammered, trying to mask his disappointment that she had perhaps changed her mind.

“No,” she murmured with a shake of her damp blond head, “I do want to. It’s just, you’re so beautiful Spike,” she nearly whimpered her admission.

“Oh Buffy,” Spike whispered hoarsely as he reached for her trembling little body. He pulled her to him once again and placed a sweet kiss on the top of her head. Then he swept her up into his arms and strode out of the bathroom and straight to her bedroom; ecstatic that he knew where it was from memory.

After he had laid Buffy down, as gently as he could, on her bed, Spike covered her with his naked body. He was very careful not to lay his full weight on her and he began to stroke her body with whispy, tender caresses.

They kissed, gently, almost chastely at first; then passionately with kisses full of fire, need and want. As Spike trailed kisses and sensual licks down Buffy’s neck, shoulders and breasts, she felt as if she was in heaven.

“You taste like heaven,” Spike murmured huskily when he ran his tongue across her sweet, soft little tummy.

Buffy burst out laughing, temporarily stunning Spike who thought he’d said something stupidly poetic and all poncy and such.

“No, Spike,” Buffy giggled hysterically when she saw the crestfallen look in his intense blue eyes. “It’s just that I’m ticklish there,” she chuckled merrily, pointing at her tummy where his chin now rested.

“Oh,” he muttered with an actual blush on his handsome face. “I see,” he finished with a sigh of relief. “Then you won’t mind when I do this,” he rasped as he placed little kitten kisses on Buffy’s tummy, hips and finally found his target; the apex between Buffy’s thighs.

“Oh God,” Buffy moaned in pleasure when Spike began his tender assault on her nether lips.

“I love your smile,” she blurted out, quite unnecessarily, but unable to help herself.

“I love your smile, your gorgeous green eyes and every inch of you,” Spike chuckled. Buffy thought he looked like a gleeful boy at the moment. Like he’d just opened his first present from under the Christmas Tree and it pleased her greatly.

In a way, it was weird, really, that Buffy had never particularly enjoyed this act of intimacy before. This particular sexual act had always squeeked her somehow, however, with Spike at the helm, she felt like it was the most natural thing in the world to experience with him.

“Did you like that?” Spike asked wickedly when he had finished bringing Buffy to climax with his mouth and tongue. Of course he knew she liked it; she’d cum quickly and intensely against his wet mouth.

“You know I did,” Buffy replied with a breathy pant when she found herself face-to-face with her lover once again.

“I want; I need to be in you,” Spike whispered hoarsely, positioning his rigid cock between Buffy’s soaked cunny.

“I need you to be in me,” Buffy sighed dreamily as she clasped his slim hips with her hands. “I’m protected, you know ‘that way’ Spike,” Buffy muttered shyly.

“Oh Buffy, I know its okay,” Spike hissed his reply even as he slipped his cock inside of her. He began to thrust slowly in and out of her wet folds, careful not to go to fast or hard…..this first time.

‘Not that I would mind you havin’ my little baby,’ Spike thought to himself as he thrust in and out of Buffy, agonizingly slowly that is. They had plenty of time to explore all kinds of sexual pleasures with each other and Spike had every intention of doing just that. In fact, Spike had come to the conclusion, several days ago, that he was going to marry this wonderful woman and as soon as possible. Now if he could just convince Buffy that she should marry him…..

“Buffy,” Spike whispered harshly, realizing he was so very close to cumming and wanting her to cum first. “I’m not going to last this go, Princess,” he muttered apologetically.

“That’s okay,” Buffy gasped just as harshly, “I’m not either,” she tried to giggle, but only succeeded in panting raspily.

“Buffy, I want to tell you something; something I suspected, but now I know for sure,” Spike mumbled between hot kisses to her face and mouth.

“I told you; I love you and I do. There’s more,” he continued desperately thrusting harder into her, trying to draw this first, wonderful time together out as long as he could.

“I feel like, like I’m home, Buffy. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m finally home,” he cried his confession out as he came inside of her. “You’re mine,” he added quietly placing tender kisses on Buffy’s kiss swollen lips.

“I believe I am and Spike,” she continued dreamily…..

“Me too,” Buffy murmured softly into his slick neck. “I feel like I’m home…..at last.”




*At Last * by Etta James


‘At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song

Ooh yea, yea,
At last
The skies above are blue
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 can call my own
I found a thrill
To press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known

Oooh yea…

You smile
You smile
Oh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine at last’


A/N: Ahhhggg! Another sappy sex scene by spufette! Oh well, I do try!

The next chapter will probably be entitled ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ and I think it gives you a pretty good idea of what it will be about.

Thank you for reading and please review…spuf

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


A/N: I wanted to add a note and point out that I am going off canon with this chapter a bit. Father Caleb Montgomery is a good guy in this story and he is a Catholic priest. I hope the references to the religious aspects of this chapter do not offend or drive off any readers. I felt this was necessary to develop the plotline of the story and draw Spike and Buffy even closer together. Hopefully, the story line in this chapter will be self-explanatory.


Summary: Buffy says goodbye to Quentin. Spike tells Buffy how much he loves her.


Chapter 17: ‘Unto Us…’


Spike held onto Buffy’s petite body, tightly. His strong arm wrapped about her trembling little shoulders; the essence of protectiveness.

They were there, in droves, the bunch of them he noted. For the poor little bloke’s memoriam. Little Quentin’s final farewell to the cold, harsh world that he had been born into.

Or, at least it would have been a completely cold and harsh world for little Quentin; not for one person, Spike knew this. Buffy Summers.

Somehow, miraculously, Tara, Willow and yes, even he himself had pulled it off. They had gotten the hospital to release Quentin’s mortal body to Buffy. She had quickly arranged for a proper burial in the Sunnydale Cemetery where her own mum, Joyce Summers, had been laid to rest a few years ago.


Buffy stood next to Spike, her head rested on his shoulder and her right hand placed tenderly on his. This man; this wonderful, wonderful man from across the ocean had come just in time to help her. She saw that now, Buffy did.

Father Caleb Montgomery, the priest from Joyce Summers’ parish, was saying the ‘words’ over Quentin’s little white casket.

The priest, Father Caleb, had spoken the words over Buffy’s beloved mother years before. Although they were pretty much non-practicing Catholics, Buffy and Dawn had insisted that their mother be buried in the tradition of the church.

No one had any idea what poor Quentin’s mother or father had believed, or had not believed. However, Buffy had made sure that Quentin would be buried next to her own mother, Joyce, in the quiet, beautiful green part of the cemetery. Somehow, it had all come together.

They were all there, Buffy noted. Spike, of course, and Dawn with her Connor. Wesley and Fred had driven out along with Tara and Willow, who was crying, quietly at the priest’s words. Even Xander had shown up, surprisingly along with Anya Jenkins?

Buffy had to smile to herself, satisfied that her subtle matchmaking had perhaps finally paid off for her two good friends, Xander and Anya. She found it almost ironic that a new relationship had possibly begun even in the midst of a sorrowful event such as this.

Angel and Cordelia stood side-by-side, their hands entwined together as they solemnly listened to Father Caleb’s comforting words. Buffy had closed the coffee bistro for the day, so Andrew and Johnathan were also in attendance. The two young men stood next to each other, silent tears streamed down their pale faces.

Buffy felt Spike squeeze her hand, tenderly in comfort and she squeezed it back. When she looked into his beautiful blue eyes, she saw pure love and adoration shining back at her.


Yes, Buffy thought to herself in relief, it was an amazing thought that William ‘Spike’ Giles had come to Sunnydale at just the right time. The time that Buffy needed him most.

Father Montgomery began to speak the words Buffy had requested:


{The 23rd Psalm of David}


‘The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in the green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’
sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
Enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
My life;
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.


When Father Caleb had finished his words, Buffy again began to cry, quietly and Spike clutched her dear body to his, tenderly. He nestled her golden head into his chest and snuggled her to him lovingly.

“Buffy has asked that her good friend, Daniel Osbourne, play his guitar and sing a special song for little Quentin,” Father Caleb announced in his soothing, hushed voice.

Daniel Osbourne, or Oz as his friends called him strode up to the front of the solemn group and began to strum his acoustic guitar.


“This is dedicated to Quentin,” Oz mumbled in his usual shy, humble voice before he started to sing:


{You’ll Never Walk Alone; Rodgers and Hammerstein}

‘When you walk thought a storm,
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark.

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain.
Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on,
With hope in your heart.
And you’ll never walk along.
You’ll never walk alone.’


“Thank you Daniel,” Father Caleb smiled at the young red-haired man benevolently.

Buffy half-smiled at her friend, Oz, as he slowly walked back to his place next to his girl friend, Amy. She nodded at the couple affectionately and returned her attention to the priest.

“Life is fragile,” Father Montgomery said with a heavy sigh. “It is precious and fragile and few of us realize this until something like this occurs.”

The priest looked at Buffy, sympathetically, then continued:

“This child; this beautiful, sweet boy, was brought into this world and too quickly was taken from it,” Caleb murmured.

“Thank you God for giving the world little Quentin and giving him Buffy Summers to love him,” he mumbled reverently.

“Quentin Summers, we mere mortals release your soul from this world into the next one. May God bless you and keep and may his face and love shine upon you and give you your much deserved peace.” Father Caleb glanced at Buffy.

Buffy’s heart skipped several beats when the priest had called her beloved Quentin by her own last name. It sounded right and good to her; for that she was grateful.


“Unto us, a child was born,” Father Caleb continued solemnly. “Unto Heaven, an angel is given.”


Later as Buffy hugged and thanked the attendees at the service, Spike cornered Father Caleb Montgomery and thanked him for the lovely service.

“I wanted to thank you Father,” Spike stated respectfully. “For the wonderful service you gave for the little bloke,” he finished with a catch in his voice.

“I wouldn’t have had it any other way, William,” the priest replied as he studied the Brit carefully.

“You love her, don’t you?” Caleb asked the blond man, almost casually, although it was more like a statement then a question.

“Yes, completely,” Spike replied quickly with a smile.

“Good, Buffy deserves the love of a good man,” the priest retorted just as quickly. “God knows she’s earned it,” he added with a shake of his dark head.

“I’ve known the Summers women for a while,” the priest continued quietly as he watched Buffy acknowledge each guest.

“Buffy’s is a rare beauty, inside and out,” Caleb murmured. “Her mother was an exceptional woman as I believe young Dawn is. I can’t pray or hope enough for Joyce Summers’ daughters to find happiness in this life,” he finished quietly.

“I just hope that Buffy will return my love,” Spike whispered, even as he watched his Buffy continue to thank the guests for coming to the service.

“I believe she will, if she doesn’t already,” the priest almost smirked in reply.


The ‘wake’ supper had been held at Willow and Tara’s flat. It was a reserved, respectful affair. Simple yet elegant at the same time.

Spike drove Buffy home to her condo afterwards. It was nearly silently agreed that he should spend the night with her.

As he held Buffy in his arms, in her bed, Spike thought about what Father Caleb had said earlier that day. He felt a strange sense of pride that the priest had realized that he, Spike, was a good man. Father Montgomery had even gone on to say that he felt that William Giles was the ‘one’ for Buffy; her soul mate.

Of course, Spike whole-heartedly agreed with the priest. Now the problem was, to have Buffy acknowledge this and eventually reciprocate his feelings for her.

“Buffy, Princess,” Spike murmured while he clutched her naked little body to his own. “I want to talk to you, sweet. Might not be the best time but…..”

“It’s okay Will,” Buffy whispered in her hushed tone. “I want to talk to you too,” she added shyly.

Spike flipped over on his side, his arm still wrapped about Buffy’s shoulder and chest. His hand was cupped over her warm, soft breast.

“I love you Buffy,” Spike stated simply, even though his words were profound in their simplicity. His head was cocked to one side as he studied Buffy’s pixie face.

“I know,” Buffy murmured in reply. She gazed up at him from under dark lashes, her green eyes shining.

“Do you think you could ever truly love me, Buffy? I mean enough to marry me and have a family of our own?” Spike asked carefully. His usual cocky bravado had fled, like it had from the first time he’d laid eyes on his Buffy.

“I think I already do love you Will,” Buffy whispered huskily. “In fact,” she continued bashfully, “I know I love you,” she finished with the girlish giggle that Spike had come to love so.


He watched her; took in the shy, feminine look in her luminous green eyes and the slight pink blush on her cheeks. The way she ducked her head into her pillow, to avoid his intense gaze no doubt, made his heart leap up to his throat.

“Buffy,” he rasped when he placed his left hand under her proud chin. He gently pulled said chin up so her lovely green eyes met his blues ones once again.

“Marry me Buffy,” he blurted out suddenly, desperately. “Marry me and make me the happiest man in the world!”


A/N: Hope that was worth the wait. Some angst and Spuffy smoosh together?!

‘The 23rd Psalm’ is one of my favorites because it has always comforted me so. That is why I chose it.

‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is another fave of mine from the musical ‘Carousel’ (I just know I spelled some things wrong!)

Thank you for reading and please review. It means so much to me, spufette.












‘

Summary: Buffy gets a visit from her ex and some questions may just be answered in this chapter!

Spike gets a surprise visit from ‘someone’ at the end of this chapter. Its almost finished now so please keep with it and enjoy!


Chapter 18: ‘Whoever Said Revenge Was Sweet? (okay so they knew what they were bloody well talking about!)


Buffy scoured over her accounting books, her blond head bowed over the ledgers. She was behind the oaken counter of her coffee bistro; her eyes eagerly scanning the debits and credits in the carefully tended books.

It was early on a Monday morning; the cool crisp air outside had invited Buffy to rise from her bed and hurry into her beloved coffee bistro. The birds had been singing; local little squirrels in local trees were making more little squirrels. Yes, things were looking ‘up’ in old Sunnydale, California.

There wasn’t a lot of folks in the bistro that morning; just a couple of senior citizens, regulars seated in their usual spots. One or two college students had dropped by to grab a latte and muffin to go. Things were normal for an early Monday morning and Buffy felt good; relaxed and happier then she’d been in ages.

“These figures actually look pretty good,” Buffy muttered happily to herself as she tapped her right foot to a happy tune playing on her radio. Things really were looking up in good old Sunnydale!

The front door of the bistro opened; this was signaled by the little bell atop the door frame. Buffy didn’t even bother to look up; she continued to go over her accounts, hoping that Andrew would see to the newest customer.

“Buffy?” Riley Finn’s deep voice interrupted Buffy’s thoughts and she glanced up, stunned momentarily.

“Riley?” Buffy whispered in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“I, I need to talk to you,” Riley mumbled almost shyly, reminding Buffy of the innocent farm boy she once knew.

“Kay,” Buffy muttered quickly, trying to keep the impatience from her voice. “Let’s sit here,” she motioned to a nearby empty table.

They sat, silently for a few minutes as Riley sipped his coffee on the house and stole glances at Buffy. Finally, he spoke up:

“I goofed up Buffy; I know that,” Riley murmured apologetically. “I came here today to maybe talk to you and…..”

“And?” Buffy asked evenly as she took a long, satisfying drink from her own coffee mug. She shot Riley an inquiring look which did nothing to boost the man’s self-confidence.

“I don’t see Harmony anymore,” he offered quietly. “We broke off our engagement and…”

“And this affects me how?” Buffy asked with a raised left brow; something she had learned from William.

“Well, I thought maybe you and me could kind of start over and…..” Riley began, but his abrupt words trailed off when he saw the look of disbelief in Buffy’s beautiful green eyes.

“Riley,” Buffy sighed in exasperation, setting down her mug with a thump. “I have to tell you,” she continued with a shake of her golden head. “I’m really not interested in a 'you and me' or a starting over.”

Riley dropped his dark head and stared at his coffee mug, sadly. He should not be surprised by Buffy’s reaction, but he had hoped that she might reconsider.

“But Buffy,” he whined…..

“No, Riley listen,” Buffy sighed in determination; her right hand was up in a ‘stop’ motion and she shook her head again.

“Not only am I not interested in a ‘you and me’ but I’ve totally moved on,” Buffy stated. A slight, victorious smile came to her mouth.

“It’s that Brit, huh?” Riley growled; his dark eyes were alit with jealousy.

“It is,” Buffy replied happily. “In fact,” she continued almost matter-of-factly, “we’re planning on getting married. Soon,” she added with a smirk. “I thought maybe I’d have a simple wedding; you know, Dawn as a maid of honor. The color theme might be cream and mauve and….”

“So you’re going to just go off and marry this fuck, right?” Riley hissed. “After all of the history that you and I have together, you’re going to marry some flashy guy that blows into town. A hot shot doctor with….”

“Excuse me!” Buffy gasped in disbelief. “You have the nerve to waltz in here and ask me to ‘reconsider’ our relationship? After you fucked me over with a dimwitted little bimbo like Harmony Kendall and all? Oh Riley, just get the bloody hell out of here. I don’t want to see you again, understand? Not unless you’re at my wedding to William Giles; gift in hand and dressed appropriately!”

“Buffy I can’t believe what I’m hearing!” Riley gasped in shock. “You don’t talk like that, ever. Oh, this is some great influence by your so called fiancé,” he added with contempt. “I’ve never seen this side of you Buffy and…..”

“Oh, I imagine ‘this’ side of Buffy has always been here,” Buffy interrupted her ex; a wicked glint in her eye. “This Buffy side has probably been lurking under her door mat exterior that you’ve stepped all over for so.”

Riley sat in stunned silence, briefly, then stood and began to walk slowly away from the table.

“Bye Buffy,” he called back to her, never turning around to see if she was even watching him go.

“Bye bye Riley and I meant it about the wedding. Of course you’re invited! Feel free to bring a date and William and I are registered at Macy’s in the Sunnydale Mall!” Buffy offered merrily as Riley disappeared out the door of the bistro.

“Asshole,” Buffy muttered under her breath as she went back to her accounting ledgers. ‘I hope the door hit him in the ass on his way out!’


Spike sat in his makeshift office at the hospital, his thoughts on his golden goddess. Buffy had really shocked him, pleasantly, when she had agreed to marry him. Of course, she had made it clear that they would need to ‘wait’ a while before the actual ceremony and all.

While he would have married Buffy tomorrow, Spike agreed to be patient and let her take charge regarding the preparations. He was just so bloody thrilled that she had said yes, and so soon. Stunned he was to have Buffy agree to become his wife forever; thrilled, yet stunned somewhat.

Buffy was at her coffee bistro that morning, Spike knew; especially since he had seen her off bright and early. They had stopped any pretense of Spike staying at a nearby hotel; not when Buffy’s condo made a perfect place for the two of them. Of course Spike insisted that he cover the mortgage from there on in and Buffy relented on this matter.

They had fallen into a blissfully sweet domestic routine over the past weeks; Spike at the hospital and Buffy at her bistro. Nights when Buffy occupied the ‘special’ nursery, Spike would join her and sit with her and the babies.

Spike had been thinking, long and hard for the past few weeks; making some decisions that at once scared him and yet…..


He hardly noticed his office door open, quietly, Spike was so deep in thought at the moment. Thoughts of Buffy; their future together and such.

“Son?” Rupert Giles called from the office door, an unsure look in the older man’s blue eyes.

“Dad!” Spike gasped in surprise when he saw his formidable father standing in his office doorway. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?”


A/N: Okay, so I shortened this one up, immensely from its original chapter. So, sue me!!!

No, seriously, I wanted to keep this flowing so I updated it like this tonight. The next chapter will answer some questions, hopefully. I really need to update Redemption and High School Drama also. I’m going on vacation in a week and wanted to wrap up at least Redemption if not this one.

Thank you for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Summary: Spike and his dad have a heart-to-heart. Rupert Giles is just full of surprises!


Chapter 19: ‘Heart To Heart’



“Dad? What the hell are ‘you’ doing here?” Spike repeated his confused question once again.

While Spike loved and admired his father, Rupert Giles, truly he did, but… The truth was Spike had always been a bit intimidated by his ‘old’ man and such.

“I have come to uhm, well, to meet your intended and well,” Rupert Giles stammered a bit, something he did not do often.

“Well?” Spike asked dubiously, his left brow quirked upwards in a suspicious manner.

“It’s Drusilla and her old man, son,” Rupert mumbled almost apologetically. “I guess Miss Masterson has gotten wind of your upcoming nuptials and has well, let’s see how was it that Drusilla put it? Come to her senses and feels you should come to yours?”

Spike was stunned beyond words, completely, by what his father had just stated.

“What exactly does that mean?” Spike asked, again suspiciously.

“Well, Drusilla insisted on accompanying me, along with her father, Rafe Masterson, out here to Sunnydale. I cannot really relate her exact words but apparently, Drusilla feels that you are on the rebound from her and has decided to ‘take you back’ as it were?” Rupert nervously cleared his throat and focused his stare on Spike’s oak desk.

“You have got to be fucking joking!” Spike burst out into near peals of laughter. He almost forgot he had just used a profanity in front of the icon that was Rupert Giles.

“I do not think obscenities are called for, William,” Rupert grunted gruffly. “I understand how you would be ‘confused’ by Drusilla’s message. That is why I convinced her to allow me to come ahead and speak with you,” he finished in a quiet tone.

“Drusilla feels that this intended of yours; Buffy is it?” Rupert gave his son a curious glance then continued. “She feels that you would be throwing your life and career away on let me think, how did Drusilla put it?”

Rupert scrunched up his brows and thought for a moment. “Yes, Drusilla said and I somewhat quote,” he continued carefully:

“I cannot let a genius like my Spike throw his life and career away for a little nothing like this Summers person. A blithering nitwit I suppose that makes her way by coddling the cast off brats of God knows who and…..”

“That’s enough Dad!” Spike roared as he slammed his fist down on his desk.

Spike felt the bile rise in his throat as he pictured his ex, Drusilla, in all of her jaded glory and self-righteous babbling. For it was only insipid babbling that Dru knew how to do, Spike finally had realized this. His ex-fiancé was, had been and always would be a self-absorbed, bent bitch who thought only of herself and her status.

‘Thank God I got away from the bloody loon,’ Spike muttered under his breath. Then he turned his wrath upon his own father; who looked very pensive at that moment.

Spike glared at his old man with wide-eyed disbelief and shook his blond head sharply. “You ‘came’ ahead here to speak with me alone? Jesus dad, are you joking? Let me clear some things up for you, Rupert,” he growled impatiently.

“I am in no way on the rebound from that bloody bitch, Drusilla Masterson. When I came to Sunnydale, I had long since realized that I never loved her, Drusilla, in the way I should have. Once I met Elizabeth ‘Buffy’ Summers, it was then that truly realized what true love was and should be.”

“My Buffy is anything but a nitwit or a nothing, Dad,” Spike continued, his protective mode of Buffy overwhelming him completely.

“Buffy is an angel; an earth angel,” Spike explained through gritted teeth. “She’s everything to me; my heart and my very soul. Jesus, Dad, Buffy has been my salvation. It’s Buffy that ‘is’ my calling Dad. I love Buffy Summers and I am going to marry her. On the Saturday after the next one, Da, in full wedding pomp and circumstance! That’s that and well if you don’t like it or anyone else ever says anything negative about my Buffy again, I’ll…..”





Rupert studied his son, carefully then interrupted him, cautiously:

“Drusilla and Rafe Masterson have made it clear that if you go through with this marriage to your Miss Summers; that your position in New Hampshire General will no longer be available to you. Are you willing to risk that, son?”

The older Giles looked somewhat smug, Spike felt at least. Spike decided to call everyone of their bluff and stated simply:

“I could give a flying fuck what Drusilla or her old reprobate of a father say, threaten or do to me. I’m going to marry Buffy Summers, my one true love, and if I have to hang a private physician’s sign in some unobvious little building or even ‘our’ home? I bloody well will!”

Spike emphasized his remarks by slamming his fist down again on his oaken desk. His blue eyes were fiery with righteous fury and he glared at his father with indignation; and love of course.

Rupert stared at his son, stoically and then did something quite unexpected to Spike. The old man smiled; no, he grinned widely. Not just any old grin, no way. Rupert Giles grinned gleefully and proudly at his only child.

“Dad? You okay?” Spike asked timidly. His lion of a father’s loony grin had somewhat unnerved him and…..


“I am more then okay William,” Rupert sighed in relief and plopped down, finally, on the chair across from his son’s desk. “I am stupendous,” the father beamed happily.

“I don’t think I’m on the same page as you, Dad,” Spike muttered in confusion; he too sat on his chair and gazed at his father, dubiously.

“Then I’ll enlighten you Will,” Rupert mumbled affectionately to his beloved son. “I’ve never trusted or liked Rafe and/or Drusilla Masterson. The bloody bint was never good enough for you; nor was her idiot of a father,” Rupert grumbled harshly.

“I feared that if you indeed shackled yourself to the Masterson family that you would be doomed for life,” the older man added evenly.

“And let me be even more honest,” Rupert continued, “if you had answered me, here and today, in any other way then you did? I would have been deeply disappointed in you boy. As it is, you have made me quite proud today. Very proud indeed and I know that your mother ‘God rest her soul’ would be equally as proud of you as I am.”

Spike stared at his father in disbelief, yet again. He couldn’t believe what his old man was saying and yet…..

“I see you have finally found yourself William,” Rupert went on kindly. “You have become the man your mother and I always felt you could be. You have seemingly found your heart and soul here, Will and I have never been prouder of you. If Buffy Summers is the cause of this miracle; then so be it and I cannot wait to meet her.”

“Then, then I have your blessing Dad?” Spike asked quietly.

“Of course you do William and I give you more then that,” Rupert murmured. “I give my good wishes and love son.”

“Oh, Dad, I…..” Spike choked out emotionally.

“There is another reason I have come here to Sunnydale William,” Rupert stammered insecurely. “An even more personal reason; about myself I’m afraid,” he finished in a hushed tone.

“What is it Dad?” Spike asked, worriedly. His father looked healthy enough but…..

“Well, about a year or so ago,” Rupert began cautiously, “I was at this big ‘do’ at the Embassy in London. Same old boring affair I fear, except,” he paused and studied his son yet again.

“I did meet a most interesting person,” Rupert began again. “A lovely woman, not quite middle aged and…..”

“You have a girlfriend Dad?” Spike inquired, trying to stifle the chuckle that threatened to escape his throat. He could not suppress the smirk on his mouth though.

“Well, yes,” Rupert stated bluntly, just a bit put out that his only child thought this humorous in any way. “I thought, well I know that I wish to marry Jennifer and…..”

“You want ‘my’ blessing,” Spike finished for his father. “You want me to give my okay on your girl and give you my blessing?” He repeated quietly.

“Yes William. I want your blessing for my Jenny and me. I assure you that Jennifer will never completely replace your mother’s place in my heart; nor do I think she could replace your mother in your memory. However, I feel that Jennifer Calendar is my second chance as it were. My chance at an old age of contentment and companionship,” Rupert dropped his gaze from William’s and looked at the pen set on the desk before him.

“I give you my blessing Dad,” Spike murmured sincerely as he rounded the desk and stood by his father’s chair. “More then that,” he added, “I give you my good wishes.”

Spike leaned over and did something he had not done in years. He hugged his father.


A/N: The next chapter is attentively entitled ‘The Weddings’ which should give you a hint at the plot line!

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Summary: It is the ‘big day’ and is seen through a number of different POV’s!


A/N: My daughter felt ‘odd’ about posting a picture with this, so I let her off the hook. I hope this chapter was worth the wait.



Chapter 20: ‘Weddings’



Andrew looked like a mannequin from a bridal shop in his rented tux. The proper black tux, with the peach colored cumber bun, had been altered to fit his slight frame. He was nervous, of course, as nervous as a young man could be who was in charge of walking the bride down the aisle and giving her away.

Buffy, Andrew’s step- sister, was the bride in question and it was up to him to say those traditional words at the right time.

Buffy was as cool as a cucumber in her white sheath dress, surrounded by her younger sister, Dawn as maid of honor. Dawn wore an off the shoulder peach taffeta concoction; as did Willow and Cordelia, Buffy’s other bridesmaids.

Jennifer Calendar, Rupert Giles’ bride to be was attired in a simple peach colored sheath dress; shaded to match the hue of Buffy’s bridesmaids. There would be no escort to walk Jennifer down the aisle to her awaiting groom, Rupert Giles. She had been married before and felt it was unnecessary to go through that impractical tradition.

William Giles and his father, Rupert, waited for their respective brides at the end of the somewhat long aisle. The bridesmaids and groomsmen had decorated the aisle and the entire surrounding courtyard earlier that morning.

Wesley and Fred’s lovely winery arbor and courtyard had been transformed into a beautiful floral masterpiece. Complete with white and peach roses and carnations that adorned the wedding aisle and courtyard; along with streamers of the same colors.

A beautiful buffet had been assembled in the courtyard, next to the where the weddings would take place. Rupert and his son had hired the best caterers in Sunnydale to complete their wedding feast.

Buffy had hired the foremost wedding planner and caterer in Sunnydale; one Lorne Deprieve. Lorne and his younger sister, Amelia, were the best at what they did, in Sunnydale that is.

“You want peach roses?” Lorne had gushed excitedly when Buffy and Spike had stopped by his office some weeks before.

“I can do peach roses!” Lorne squealed in delight. “I can’t wait to do peach roses for you, cupcake!”

Lorne had gone to school with Buffy; just two years ahead of her and her friends. He was always a bit avant-garde in the students’ eyes, but this would prove to be a coup for Buffy in the end. She got her ‘peach’ roses thanks to Lorne’s ingenuity and talent!

Dawn stood foray of Fred and Wesley’s home, nervously pulling the peach dress over her slightly protruding tummy. Buffy’s younger sister thanked God silently that she was not ‘showing’ yet, at least not so much. The twice altered bridesmaid dress she wore still managed to fit; mostly hiding the growing child within her.

Connor and Dawn had celebrated their own marriage, just a few weeks before in Las Vegas. Dawn had insisted that they marry, with close family and friends only in attendance in Vegas.

The ceremony had been simple but sweet; Buffy giving away her sister in lieu of their absent father, Hank. Connor and Dawn had insisted that they do the whole wedding thing in a very low key manner. Mainly, it would seem, so that Buffy’s own wedding would not be overshadowed by theirs.

Now, Dawn continued to readjust her dress and Buffy’s simple, yet elegant head piece. Buffy’s ‘veil’ consisted of a headband of white and peach baby roses with a very short, sweet delicate lace material that dipped over her face. The blond bride wore her hair down, slightly curled at the ends, just like her groom loved it.

Buffy peeped out of the Wes and Fred’s front room vestibule and surveyed the medium sized gathering of extended family and friends. The guests at the double wedding were seated randomly in the rented chairs; there were no separated sections for the wedding couples’ guests.

Buffy giggled outright when she spied her ‘guest book’ attendee, Anya Jenkins double checking the big white book she was in charge of. Apparently Anya was making sure she had all the guests’ names properly entered in the fancy embroidered tome.

Anya’s duties as guest book attendee had turned out to be a bit more of an undertaking then anyone could have guessed. Xander Harris, Anya’s date, had hovered about her and the book the entire time before the wedding, apparently unable to leave his date’s side for a moment. It turned out that once Xander had started dating Anya, the couple had become nearly inseparable.

It did Buffy’s heart good to know she had initiated the Harris/Jenkins budding romance. She had always known that Xander and Anya would hit it off famously and it delighted her to know her little plan had worked.

Buffy was so incredibly happy that she had nearly forgotten all about her ‘talk’ she’d had with Cordelia Chase only a week earlier.





Buffy, still being the somewhat insecure young woman she was, had began to feel some cold feet symptoms a couple of weeks before her wedding. Fortunately, it was Cordelia Chase that came to the rescue and straightened her one time high school nemesis out.


{Flashback to a week earlier}


“I guess I’m just worried that even if we marry,” Buffy began cautiously shooting a dubious glance at ‘the’ Cordelia Chase. “I’m afraid that I won’t match up. You know with William and his whole background,” Buffy added dramatically. “I mean, I don’t want William to regret marrying beneath him and…..”

“Oh for God’s sake,” Cordelia grunted in an unusually unladylike manner. “Sit down Miss Buffy Summers and let me, Cordelia Chase give you the ‘411’ on a few things!”

Buffy frowned in confusion but allowed her friend to settle her down into a plush lounge chair. The ‘girl’s were at the Chase house, planning Buffy’s upcoming wedding, and the Rupert/Jennifer Calendar wedding. For some reason, Buffy had become a bit skittish about the whole thing.

Jennifer Calendar was there, with Buffy and Cordelia, keeping tactfully quiet in this situation. However, Cordelia was anything but quiet and silent on the matter.

“First off,” Cordy began abruptly, “you are anything but beneath William Giles!”

Buffy shrunk back from her friend, a bit stunned by Cordy’s vehement demeanor.

“Look,” Cordelia continued with a weary sigh. “I’m not even supposed to tell you this,” she shot a quick frown at Jenny and focused back onto Buffy.

“Angel will kill me if he knows I told you this, Buffy, so you have to promise not to spill, right?” Cordy asked Buffy with a slight scowl on her pretty mouth.

“Ri..right,” Buffy stammered shyly in reply.

“Okay, it’s like this. You know all about that skank of an ex-fiancé that Spike was shackled to, right?” Cordelia couldn’t keep the hint of disgust from her tone.

“Yes, Drusilla Masters, back in New Hampshire. She…” Buffy began nervously, her green eyes staring at the Rembrandt on Cordelia’s parlour wall.

“Well that bitch showed up here with her ‘daddy’ and tried to blackmail Spike into coming back to her and….” Cordy began, but Buffy interrupted.

“She what!” Buffy nearly screamed in instant jealous rage. “What’s this about Cordelia? Jenny,” the little blond turned to glare at her soon to be mother-in-law.

“It’s true,” Jenny responded in her low, calm voice that Buffy had instantly found soothing and motherly. “Rupert told me, but William asked us not to tell you. The ‘boys’ didn’t want your special day ruined and you upset at all, Buffy. They had your best interests at heart.”

“They did, but they told my Angel all about it. Mainly because that skanky loony tune, Drusilla and her smarmy father told Spike that if he didn’t return to New Hampshire, without you, I might add,” Cordy snorted at this ridiculous thought. “Anyway,” she continued matter-of-factly, “the gist is that Spike told his father to tell that ‘ho’ and her daddy to ‘ef’ off. Sorry Jenny,” Cordelia shrugged at the cool, collected older woman.

“That’s okay Cordelia,” Jenny giggled like a young girl, turning to face Buffy again. “William never even allowed Drusilla or Rafe Masters to speak to him personally. Rupert was sent with the uhm, er message to deliver himself. Oh, Buffy, honey, Rupert was so proud of William!”

“Proud?” Buffy asked in confusion. “Why? That William gave up his most promising career to marry me and….,” she halted her question for a moment, allowing this information to really sink in.

“Look,” Cordelia interrupted Buffy’s silent musings. “Spike’s obviously so much in love with you, knucklehead that you are, that he doesn’t see this as giving up his career. Besides,” the brunette chuckled, “Angel snapped Spike right up and offered him that position as head of the cardiac ward. Buffy, please understand, Spike loves you more then anything and he doesn’t see this as a sacrifice.”

“That’s right,” Jenny gushed, “you’ve had such a wonderful influence on William. Rupert said so. My Rupert says that William has finally found his heart and his soul in ‘you’ Buffy. William told his father that you are twenty times the woman Drusilla is or ever will be,” she finished sincerely.

“That sleaze, Drusilla and her father left straight back to New Hampshire, the next day,” Cordelia continued with another hearty chuckle. “Tails tucked between their legs no doubt,” she added with a smirk. “Can’t stand the little bitch. Did you know that when Spike was still engaged to the little tramp; that Drusilla tried to seduce my Angel!”

Buffy stared at Cordelia in shock, and then her whole demeanor changed in an instant.

“That conniving little bitch!” Buffy exclaimed as she stood up and began to pace back and forth in the Cordelia’s parlour. “I can’t believe she’d try and take ‘my man’ away from me by…..”

“I wish I’d have known this sooner,” Buffy muttered harshly. “I’d have gone over and kicked the skank’s lily white ass and….”

“Wow!” Cordelia cried gleefully. “I’m glad I told you this,” she laughed heartily. “I like this ‘slayer’ mode Buffy!”




{Back to the big day!}

Spike watched, in awe, as his bride marched down the aisle to his waiting arms. His heart raced a mile a minute and he felt his throat tighten up in anticipation of the vows he and his bride were about to take together. Buffy was a vision in a white sheathed dress made of silk and lace. The peach and white rose veil piece glowed like jewels in her golden hair.

He had to smile, widely, when he saw that his Buffy had worn her hair down, just for him on this special day. Spike had been so nervous, but his own father had alleviated his fears; making sure his son would be able to calm down and actually enjoy his own wedding day. Spike had nervously fidgeted for what seemed like hours in his rented black tux. All of ‘that’ however, seemed to fall away when he finally had Buffy in his arms.


“You look amazing baby,” Spike whispered to Buffy after young Andrew had finally had his fifteen seconds and said the words he had practiced so diligently.

“Her family and friends give our Buffy to this man,” Andrew had squeaked nervously. The whelp had pulled it off, however, like a pro, Spike felt. Spike was touched when Andrew kissed Buffy’s cheek lightly, and then placed her slim arm into his own. Andrew then affectionately patted Buffy’s arm that lay on top of Spike’s and sat in the seat next to Jennifer’s mother.

“You look pretty amazing yourself,” Buffy grinned up lovingly at her groom.

Reverend Caleb Montgomery considered himself to be a lucky man indeed. He was a well respected member of the Sunnydale community with a loving wife and three beautiful children. The icing on the cake, for him, was that he was asked to perform the wedding ceremony for Elizabeth ‘Buffy’ Summers and her William Giles. Add to that, the fact that Dr. Giles’ own well respected father had asked him to perform his own wedding ceremony? Life was good; that was for sure.


After Reverend Montgomery had performed Rupert and Jennifer Giles’ simple, traditional wedding ceremony, he prepared to say the words for Buffy and William.

William and Buffy had planned to recite their own wedding vows, after Caleb said the short version of the traditional ceremony.

“Buffy and William have asked to recite their own vows,” Caleb boomed in his best church voice.

Buffy handed her white and peach bouquet to Dawn, her matron of honor, and allowed Will to take her hands in his. She felt the emotional strength just sing within her when he squeezed her small hands with his large strong ones.

“William,” Buffy began softly, “I love you so much. You came into my life and made me feel things that I truly have never felt before. I never thought I would find this happiness that I have today. I’m not sure if I ever thought I truly deserved this much joy in my life.”

“You do, always,” Spike whispered as he gazed into Buffy’s lovely green eyes.

Buffy smiled and continued her memorized vows. “You came into my life, William, and made me truly believe that I ‘do’ deserve this joy. That I truly do deserve the real happily ever after that I so wanted for myself. Thank you Will; you ‘are’ my heart.”

Spike leaned down and gave his bride a chaste, gentle kiss on her soft warm cheek.

“Buffy,” he began, trying to cover the emotional hitch in his voice. “You are everything to me,” he continued. “I was a lost man before that night I saw you, caring for you babies. The moment our eyes met, I knew you were the one for me. I want you with me always Buffy; for all eternity. You are my heart and my soul forever.”

A tear slipped down Buffy’s cheek and Spike immediately reached out to tenderly wipe it off. He kissed her again, causing the Reverend to clear his throat and remind the couple that the ‘kiss’ came at the end of the ceremony; not the middle.

This elicited polite laughs and chuckles from the guests in attendance.

“Right then,” Spike mumbled shyly, a red blush on his handsome face. “There’s more, Buffy sweet,” he continued evenly. “Even though I’ve fancied myself a poet,” he grimaced briefly, “I didn’t think I could actually put my true feelings into a right appropriate poem for you. I….” his sentenced trailed off momentarily.

“I know you wanted a special song for our wedding day; one that it turns out, isn’t available on recording,” Spike murmured as he watched his bride’s reaction. “Turns out my dad here knows some interesting people and all. Well, Princess, I’ve called in a favor and asked this bloke to come and sing the song for you in my place.”


“This is for Buffy, from William,” came a strong, almost tender voice from the back of the aisle.

“David Grohl!” Dawn gasped in delighted shock when she saw the long haired man with an acoustic guitar.

“Oh my God!” Buffy joined in with her sister as the man began to strum his guitar and sing the verse she had longed to have played at their reception.


“Everlong” by the Foo Fighters


‘Hello
I’ve waited here for you
Everlong

Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red out of her head she sang

Come down and waste away with me
Down with me
Slow out you wanted it to be
Over my head, out of my head she sang

And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I’ll ever ask of you
You’ve got to promise not to stop when I say when

She said.

Breathe out
So I can breathe you in,
Hold you in.

And now,
I know you’ve always been
Out of your head, out of my head I sang.


“Oh Will!” Buffy exclaimed and burst into tears when David had finished his song. She threw herself into Spike’s arms and wept for joy while the ‘audience’ clapped and cheered.


A/N: Ah, the sap runneth over! I wanted to make this chapter mostly about Spuffy and I hoped it succeeded. Just another chapter or so and this fiction will be finished.

Thank you for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Summary: This is the last official chapter of this fiction. I hope you have all read and enjoyed it.

Wedding presents come in many forms and Buffy will receive some real wonderful ones!


Chapter 21: ‘Gifts’


“It’s time to open presents!” Dawn squealed like a young child as she dragged her bride sister, Buffy, who dragged her groom, Spike to the mountain of presents in set in the corner of the arbor.


“Oh Dawnie,” Buffy mumbled in obvious discomfort, “I don’t think we should…..”

Buffy’s younger sister seemed especially animated today; even for being pregnant.

“Oh go on Buff,” Andrew cried eagerly, almost as if all of the beautifully wrapped gifts were for him.

Rupert and Jennifer Giles had insisted that their guests’ presence was all of the presents they needed.

However, Buffy and Spike were technically a new married couple, just beginning together in life so their guests insisted on bringing the more traditional wedding gifts. Therefore, a huge table was set up in the winery arbor; the gifts for Buffy and Spike strategically mounted on that table.


“Open ours first!” Dawn squealed again as she pulled her husband to her side.

“Right,” Buffy murmured her face red and hot with embarrassment. She had always hated being the center of attention; even on her wedding day.

“Okay, this is from Dawn and Connor,” Buffy stated cheerfully.

“Oh!” The bride exclaimed in delight when had opened the elegantly wrapped box.

Inside the huge box was an assortment of towels; linens and some gorgeous crystal wine goblets. Dawn must have spent hours wrapping the treasures just right and….

“Dawnie, Connor, I love them,” Buffy whispered sincerely; her bottom lip trembling with emotion.

“See, the linens are red, Buff,” Dawn babbled excitedly, “just like the colors you like best. I thought they’d go lovely in your new place and…..”

“What new place?” Buffy asked innocently; confused when she saw her sister’s blue eyes fly open and her brother-in-law scowl.

“What new place?” The bride repeated to her groom who looked suspiciously guilty of keeping a major secret.

“Well,” Spike sighed slowly, taking Buffy’s tiny hand in his again. “The cat’s out of the bag so I might as well tell you,” he offered carefully.

“For my present, to you,” Spike began quietly, ignoring the silence that had seemed to fallen on the wedding guests. “I put a down payment, on a big house, outside the Sunnydale city limits. Now, it’s only contingent on you wantin’ it Princess. If you don’t like it, we’ll…..”

“Oh, honey! I’m sure I’ll love it, but we’ll go check it out together,” she added, her brows were quirked up. “As soon as we’re back from our honeymoon that is,” she giggled, "where ever that is."

After placing a very great amount of kisses on her groom’s face and mouth, Buffy remembered their audience and slipped out of Spike’s embrace; kind of.

“Of course I’ll want it,” Buffy purred into Spike’s ear. “I can’t wait to see it. I know it’ll be perfect baby.”

“Open ours next, Buff,” Cordelia ordered evenly as she held out a huge white envelope.

“Kay,” Buffy murmured, just a tad unsure herself. Hard to tell what Cordelia Chase had come up with for a wedding present but…..

“I wanted to get you some new china. You know, that avant garde black, red and white series?” Cordelia whispered conspiratorially, leaning into Buffy. “Angel and Daddy, they said this was better,” she sighed with a pout.

“Well, I do have my mom’s family china,” Buffy murmured hopefully. She had no idea what this envelope contained, but somehow, she felt as if it just might life-altering for herself and a lot of people.

Buffy looked down at the huge white envelope and took a deep breath, then opened it carefully.

“It’s a certificate, really,” Cordelia explained unnecessarily. “Angel decided to open a new wing, at the hospital and Daddy paid for it,” Cordy crowed triumphantly.

Buffy scanned the piece of paper in her hands in disbelief. The ‘certificate’ as Cordelia had so innocently put it was really a document. An official document to boot Buffy!

“I, I don’t understand,” Buffy stammered in confusion as she read the words on the paper.

“It’s a kind of deed, baby,” Spike whispered into her ear as he held her close. “Mr. Chase and Angel here, they’re kind of deeding a wing of Sunnydale Hospital to you. It’s for your babies and…..”

“We thought we’d call it Elizabeth’s House; or Buffy’s House,” Cordelia scrunched up her pretty brow. “For your charges Buffy,” she explained matter-of-factly. “A whole wing for your special babies,” she Ms. Chase repeated patiently, as if she were speaking to a five-year-old.

“Oh, I knew it,” Cordy hmphhhed in exasperation, “we should have gone with the new china and…..”

“No,” Buffy stuttered incredulously; tiny tears threatened to spill from her green eyes. “It’s perfect; perfect and overwhelming Cordy. It’s…..”

Buffy broke down and began to sob quietly into her William’s tux covered chest. She was so amazed by the gift that she couldn’t even speak anymore.

“Isn’t it wonderful, baby,” Spike murmured soothingly to his bride. “A whole new wing for your babies and there’s more too,” he added happily.

“We’re putting you in charge of the whole operation Buffy,” Angel declared proudly. “You’ll be running the wing, from 9 to 5; so you can be home, at night, with your family. I’ve asked Tara and Willow to help you find matches for the different babies. To find families to sponsor the babies until….”

Angel’s voice trailed off briefly. “We thought it was time to put our money where our mouths were, Buffy,” Angel offered meekly.

“A whole wing; for them?” Buffy asked softly, her green eyes still scanning the miraculous documents in her hands.

“Yes honey,” Cordelia sighed, “and I guess this was a much better gift then any old avant garde china, huh Buffy?”

“Yes, much better Cordy,” Buffy whimpered as she grabbed Ms. Chase and embraced her in a vice-like hug.

Cordelia sniffed dramatically, “well, I guess the new wing is much better then some old stinky china.”

“Mom’s here, you know?” Dawn whispered to her sister, the bride. “She’s watching over us, even now,” she added in contentment.

“I know,” Buffy murmured happily. Suddenly, Buffy got an epiphany and blurted in excitement: “What do you think Dawnie? Should we name the new hospital wing ‘Joyce’s House’ instead?”


“Let’s cut the cake!” Andrew squealed in anticipation; his blue eyes danced merrily as he hurried to the brides and grooms with a huge knife.

Buffy, Spike and Rupert and Jenny posed for pictures before they cut into their shared three-tiered cake. The white cake, covered in butter cream whipped frosting and peach colored flowers, was perfection, thanks to Lorne.


“Here’s our wedding present to you two kids,” Rupert mumbled proudly, handing Buffy a white envelope of his own while he grinned at his son.

“Oh, this isn’t necessary,” Buffy began humbly, but she tore into the paper in anticipation.

“Oh, Rupert, Jenny,” Buffy choked out as she read the airline information in her hands.

Enclosed in the wedding card were two tickets to Maui, Hawaii and then an extended set of tickets on a jumper plane to the south beach of Lanai.

“There’s this out of use old sugar plantation, on Lanai’s south beach,” Jenny began to explain. “The house is in rent for guests and we thought it would be great for your honeymoon, your’s and William’s” she finished happily.

“They say the giant turtles swim up and crawl onto the shore,” Rupert sighed in envy. “Practically say ‘hello’ to the guests!”

“Oh, Rupert! Jenny!” Buffy squealed in delight as she pulled out of Cordy’s embrace and threw herself into Rupert and Jenny’s warm embraces.


“Have you ever seen ‘From Here To Eternity’ sweetling?” Spike murmured from above his bride’s tiny form.

They were wrapped up together on the wet, warm sand of Lanai’s secluded south beach; completely alone and loving it.

“Of course I have,” Buffy replied almost indignantly. “In fact,” she continued smugly, “I saw it at Wes and Fred’s, on movie night. They served SOS and sea rations for a supper in honor of WWII.”

Spike laughed outright and cuddled his Buffy even closer to his wet body.

“Well, thought we might relive the whole beach scene, eh baby?” He purred into Buffy’s damp, albeit somewhat salty little ear.

“I should say so,” Buffy purred in reply, pulling Will’s trunks from his slim hips in a very surprising move on her part.

“I love you Buffy,” Spike whispered huskily as he thrust into Buffy’s sweet little canny.

“I love you too,” Buffy moaned in delight, thrusting up to meet her husband’s body.


A/N: Last official chapter of this fiction, however, there will be an epilogue. I hope this wasn’t too hokey of an ending???

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.

TO KNOW THE HUMAN HEART


Epilogue: ‘Ten Years After’


Summary: Literally; ten years after the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this.


Joshua William Giles, or J.W. which is what most people called him, ran up the brick walkway of his family home.

He was a real firecracker of a boy; J.W. was and everyone that knew him said so.

Especially to his parents, William and Buffy Giles, thought so.

“Da’s home, just now!” The seven-year-old Joshua squealed in delight as he burst through the front door of the two-story brick house.

“Calm down,” Buffy Giles gently ordered her second child. “We don’t want daddy to second-guess his surprise, do we?”

“No mum,” J.W. replied in his most serious tone. “I’ll be good,” he offered evenly as he grabbed a washed apple from the fruit bin in the kitchen.

Buffy’s heart skipped a beat in her chest when her son looked up at her with her husband’s indigo blue eyes. He was so much like his father, Joshua was, and Buffy loved him so much the more for it.

“Mama!” Little Lorianne, Spike and Buffy’s five-year-old daughter called from the living room.

“Everybody’s ready,” Lorrianne Giles exclaimed in anticipation; even as her Aunt Dawnie shushed her again. Her green eyes danced merrily as Aunt Dawnie pulled her into the dining room, just behind the massive table.

“She’s such a child,” nine-year-old Cameron commented with a weary sigh.

Cameron was J.W. and Lorianne’s cousin, Dawn and Conner’s son and oldest child.

“Shush,” Dawn scolded her eldest carefully. “We’re supposed to all be hiding, for Uncle Spike’s birthday surprise,” she reminded her unusually sedate son.

“I think this is all a bit ridiculous,” Cameron began haughtily. “After all, Uncle Spike is so old and he’s a freakin’ doctor for…..”

“Cameron!” Dawn, Connor and Buffy hissed at the boy; successfully shushing him into silence. “Watch your mouth!”

“My daddy is so not old,” Lorianne growled at her unbearable older cousin. “He is a young man and really quite handsome for his age and…..”

“Lori, please,” Buffy cooed at her middle child.

“Come over here Lori,” Cordelia Crawford whispered as she waved her good friend, Buffy’s child, over to where she and her husband Angel were hiding in the Giles’ front room.

“You hide with Uncle Angel and I,” Cordelia assured the lovely blond child.

Angel and Cordy had not been blessed with children of their own, so they had taken in Buffy and Spike’s children; Joshua, Quentin, Lorianne and little Joy as their kind of godchildren.

Of course, with Cordelia’s work at ‘Quentin’s House’ the wing of the hospital that Buffy had founded; the ex-society queen’s hands were certainly full, happily, with the needs of the babies. Cordelia would not have given up her work at Buffy’s project for the world and had proved to be quite a boon to her husband and his work at Sunnydale General.

Buffy had thrown herself into Quentin’s House; the wing of the hospital that had been built specifically for her babies and their needs. The first thing she and Spike did was foster a baby girl named Amelia into their new home.

After that; the powers that be at Sunnydale General organized the program for children to be matched with parents who were not afraid to take on special babies. All in all, Quentin’s House had become a sort of a pilot program for many hospitals and clinics throughout Southern California.

Connor and Dawn had adopted a special baby girl, Lizzy, right after Cameron turned two. Then Willow and Tara took up the gauntlet and fostered a baby boy, little Samual, as their child together.

So many families in Sunnydale; mostly strangers until now, had stepped up to the plate and began to foster or adopt the children of Quentin’s House. It was the wing that Buffy had named for her special little boy from years before.

Wesley and Fred sponsored a charity drive every year, at their winery, to aid in the support of Quentin’s House and the children that so desperately needed their help.

The wing itself became almost a stopping off place for the babies before they found foster homes and permanent ones to boot.

Spike had given up his surgeon practice to concentrate on a private family practice in a spacious office of Sunnydale’s business district.

When he and Buffy were not concentrating on Quentin’s House and sponsoring an organization to fight HIV/AIDS; they were busy raising their boisterous little family. Which included an amazing little boy that they had adopted by the name of Quentin. Buffy had named him herself.

Quentin II was a bright, happy little boy of eight-years-old. Yes, he had made it, miraculously, to that well earned age. If Spike and Buffy had anything to say about it, their adopted son would live to be a happy, healthy old man; father and grandfather.

“Is Daddy going to be surprised?” Quentin asked his mother excitedly. “We’ve worked so hard to surprise him and…..”

“He’ll be stunned beyond words,” Buffy assured her precious child as she patted his dark head.

“Hide!” Lorianne screeched like a banshee as she dove behind the living room sofa.

“Everyone! Spike’s almost to the door!” Xander Harris yipped like a puppy chasing a fire engine. He ducked into the hallway closet, dragging his wife, Anya with him.

“Where is Alex?” Xander demanded of Anya.

“Oh, around,” his wife replied casually. “For God’s sake Harris, he’s hiding over there, in the unlit fireplace!”

Xander glanced over at the Giles’ fireplace and smiled; his only child, a son named Alex, was crouched down in the spotless nook of the brick and mortar.

After six years of marriage to Anya, Xander had finally learned to chill out a bit. His wife had given him so much; love and a beautiful son; not to mention a newfound sense of a laid back life style.

In the meantime, Xander had come to understand Spike Giles and the happiness that the Brit had brought to Buffy. Xander counted himself high among Spike’s list of friends and he was quite proud of that.

Willow and Tara had adopted a young son together, from Buffy’s clinic, that they had named Samual.

At the moment, Tara and Willow stood in the Giles’ kitchen watching the little ‘war’ that was going on between Andrew and Johnathan.

After Buffy and Spike married; Buffy turned the coffee bistro over to Andrew and Johnathan to run completely. Since that time, Andrew had met a wonderful girl by the name of Amy who patiently put up with her man’s silly nonsense.

“I did make the cupcakes,” Andrew insisted to Joy Giles as he put the finishing touches on the cakes.

“It was my idea,” groused Johnathan with a near pout. “You just…..”

“Oh for Pete’s sake,” Amy groaned in exasperation. “You two get out of here so I can set up the real food!”

“Aunt Willow,” little Joy looked up at her idol, “how did my daddy get his nickname of Spike?”

Willow blushed and Tara began to giggle. “I think I should field that one,” the blond McClay woman chuckled. She shot a glance at Tom and Jerry with their respective spouses.

Spike’s two college friends had flown all the way to Sunnydale to be at Spike’s special birthday party. It was they that had dubbed William Giles Spike and all, so Tara felt they should tell his youngest just how he got that name.

“Well, you see honey,” Tom began warily, his dark brows scrunched up in thought.

“Mama says that daddy wore a dog collar around in college and…..” Joy began carefully.

Rupert Giles smiled down at his youngest grandchild, benevolently. He considered himself a lucky man indeed to have such a son; daughter-in-law and four fine grandchildren.

“Grandpa,” Joy Giles smiled up, adoringly, at her grandfather. “How old is Daddy?” She asked sweetly; apparently contented with her own answer regarding her daddy’s nickname.

“Oh, not so very old as your Grandpa my sweet,” Rupert replied tenderly to the three-year-old.

“Your daddy is as young as he feels,” Jenny Giles chimed in as she picked up her stepson’s youngest in her arms.

“Indeed,” Rupert intoned most seriously wiping his glasses. “Why, your daddy is…..”

“Here,” Buffy whispered hoarsely, her finger up against her lips to shush the chucking masses.

Dr. William Giles hurried up the brick front walk of his family home. The one he had put a down payment on, even before he and Buffy were married.

Luckily, Buffy had fallen in love with the big, two-story brick house the minute she laid eyes on it. After their honeymoon, Spike and Buffy went to work on transforming the huge, proper house into a real country-like home to raise their future family in.

It was a good thing too, actually, since Spike and Buffy had adopted Quentin II soon after they were married. Then along came J.W., Lorianne and little Joy, named after Buffy’s mum.

Spike was tired this evening and wanted nothing more then a good long, hot shower and a whisky before supper. He was well aware it was his birthday, of course, August 20th as always. However, it seemed his beloved family had forgotten it and really, that was fine with him. At forty-three, Spike was more then forgiving about forgetting his own birthday and…..

Just before he opened the front door, Spike leaned down and picked up the evening newspaper.

“Really got to talk to Buffy about havin’ the news delivered in the AM from now on,” he muttered to himself. “Can’t see having it at night before supper and bed. Too much bloody bad news and…..”

The moment he opened his front door, Spike was barraged with screams of ‘happy birthday’ and ‘good shows’ (from his dad) and all.

Suddenly, every bit of weariness that Spike had felt all day and afternoon seemed to disappear from his body and mind. Especially when his four children leapt at him all at once.

“We’ve got food and cupcakes Daddy!” Lori squealed in delight as she hugged her daddy’s leg tightly.

“Grandpa brought some good Irish whisky Da!” Quentin laughed deeply, causing Spike’s throat to tighten up in emotion.

For Spike loved this special boy of his as much as the three children he had sired naturally. Every day that Quentin survived was another successful, blessed day for his Buffy and himself.

As best as he could, Spike tightly clasped all of his children and his wife to his body. How had he ever begun to deserve all of this happiness in his life? He asked himself that question on a daily basis.

As recent as twelve years ago, Spike would never have dreamed of obtaining the blessed life he had now. It had not even been on his radar screen.

To think that he might have missed out on all of this blissfulness just left him in awe. Spike knew he had one person only to thank for all of this. His wife; his beloved Buffy.

“Thank you sweetheart,” Spike whispered to Buffy, his voice choked with emotion.

“It’s a simple surprise party, baby,” Buffy giggled softly in response. “Not a big gala and…..”

“No, I mean for everything,” he murmured sincerely before kissing Buffy’s soft, sleek neck.

“For you; our kids and life together. I’d ‘ave been lost without you Buffy Giles and…..” his sentence trailed off; leaving his blue eyes to finish it, silently.

“I love you,” Spike added tenderly before he swept his youngest child up in his arms. “You’re my heart and soul, Buffy.”

“Well, I love you too and thank you,” Buffy laughed; reminding Spike how sweetly melodic his wife’s laugh truly was.

“Happy Birthday!” All of the guests screamed again as Buffy led Spike into their living room.

“I guess I’ll have to save ‘my’ birthday gift for you until later, huh?” Buffy whispered wickedly; her arm entwined with Spike’s.
She gave her husband a saucy little wink to let him know just what that gift might be.

“Yeah, I guess,” he mumbled in reply, his smile was wide as a mile.

“Will,” Buffy turned to embrace him and their daughter who he still carried. “You ‘are’ my heart, always,” she added in her quiet voice as she ran her fingers gently down the side of his face.

“Happy Birthday Will,” Buffy added tenderly before turning to greet their guests, the birthday boy and their children close behind her.


The End