Buffy and Spike slowly made thier way through the cemetery. Neither speaking, though alot wanted and needed to be said.

Since freeing Spike from being held captive by the First, they had spent most of their time together. They always found a reason to touch each other.

When sparring, helping the other to thier feet, but not releasing hands right away. Tending Spikes wounds, her hand would linger on his chest. Helping Buffy on with her jacket his hand would brush her hair from her face, all which did not go unnoticed by everyone.

After building up her courage, she decided it was time to open up and tell him how she felt. She quickly turned to Spike and came to a complete stop. Spike stopped abruptly. When Buffy stood there saying nothing, he started to worry. "Buffy, you alright luv?" he asked putting his hand gently on her shoulder. Buffy felt her determination start to fade, until she looked into his eyes. "Yeah, I'm okay Spike. I just..........we have to talk." Buffy replied nervously. Spike nodded. "Alright luv , where would you like to start?" he asked quietly.

"The beginning seems as good a place as any." Buffy replied a little more confident.

"Right, the beginning it is." Spike said trying to brace himself for whatever direction this was going to go.

They stood there for a few minutes while Buffy pulled her thoughts together. She tilted her face to look directly into Spikes eyes, drawing determination and courage from him as she began to speak. "Okay, the first thing I have to say................" v"AHHHHHHHHHHH."

Buffy was interupted by Spikes widening , pain filled eyes and gut wrenching screams and as she looked down she noticed Spike had a sword protruding from his chest.

The sword was violently yanked out as Spike crumpled to the ground, clutching his chest.

Standing in front of Buffy was a deamon no taller than her, resembling a human, other than it had spikes on his elbows, black eyes and clawed feet.

Buffy quickly ducked to avoid the deadly swing of the deamons sword as she spun bringing her foot around, taking his feet out from under him. When the deamon landed on his back, Buffy quickly jumped up and grabbed his sword, then thrust the sword deeply into his chest.

Buffy ran back to Spike and as she turned him over, she heard a rustling of leaves. When she looked up, she saw the deamon rising unsteadily to his feet. He started pulling the sword from his chest as Buffy ran, jumped and delivered a roundhouse kick to the head, spinning him around and knocking him to his knees. Buffy grabbed hold of the sword and ripped it out of his chest and took a final and deady swing, severing the deamons head from his body.

Dropping the sword to the ground Buffy went to Spikes side. She lifted his blood soaked shirt to check his wound. His blood was pouring out the four inch gash in his chest, showing no signs of slowing, and when she looked into his eyes she could see the pain he was feeling.

"You're gonna be okay. Let's get you home." she said soothingly as tears fell from her eyes.

Spike tried to give a reassuring smile, but was in too much pain to speak.

Slowly Buffy got him to his feet, putting most of his wieght on her, the made thier way back to Buffys.

The walk was long and painful, with having to stop several times when they were attacked by vampires. Buffy would stake them as quickly as posiable, then resume the walk home.

They made it to the front steps before Spike collapsed, no longer able to stay consious as exhaustion overcame him.

"Oh god! Spike! Stay with me." She said as fear pounded in her chest getting no reply from the fallen vampire.

"GILES." Buffy screamed. "GILES, HELP ME." she yelled through tears.

At hearing Buffys anguished scream, Giles came running out to the porch.

"Buffy, are you alright?" he asked quickly, the looked down to where Spike lay.

"Y-you have to help him. He's hurt pretty bad. H-help me get him inside." Buffy said between sobs.

Giles picked up Spike as gently as posible and brought him into the house.

Buffy led them to the bathroom and Giled laid him on the floor as Buffy grabbed the first aid kit. Giles started to lift the shirt, but Buffy grabbed it and ripped it down the front. Buffy then continued to pull the shirt gently out from under him, and up his arms removing it altogether.

Giles filled the sink with water and took some face cloths and dropped them in soaking them, then wringing them out, before coming to Spikes side.

Quickly cleaning the blood from his chest and stomach, Giles was able to see and clean the wound more thoroughly.

"Some stiches and rest. He'll be fine Buffy." Giles said as he grabbed the needle.



"The other side too." Buffy said, her eyes never leaving Spike.

"The other....." Giles looked down and saw the blood slowly seeping out from under Spikes still form. "Oh dear. Well , we'll patch this side, then we'll start on the other side." Giles said as he started sewing up the wound.

After the bandage was applied, Buffy and Giles gently rolled Spike onto his stomach.

Giles repeated the process on his back. When finished they rolled him gently on to his back.

"You sit with him for awhile. I'll go get the sofa made up." Giles said as he started to leave.

"No. My room. He'll stay in my room." Buffy said as she caressed Spikes face.

"Buffy. I really think the sofa is a..."Giles began.

"No. He stays in my room."Buffy replied , ending the discussion.

"Very well." Giles replied, not agreeing with her decision, but complying with her wishes as he helped carry Spike to her room.

"He's going to need blood when he wakes. Not pigs blood. Human." Buffy said pulling back the covers as Giles laid him on the bed.

"I'll call Willow and see if she can get some and bring it over." Buffy said as she removed Spikes belt, then started undoing his jeans.

"Buffy, what are you doing?" Giles asked.

"Making him comfortable. Unless you want an eyefull, I suggest you turn around, if I remember correctly, Spike isn't one for underwear." Buffy said as she started pulling off his jeans.

"Right. Well, I'll be in the livingroom." Giles said turning quickly and leaving.

After removing his jeans, Buffy pulled the blanket over and covered him.

She sat on the bed beside him, resting her hand on the side of his face, caressing his bottom lip with the pad of her thumb.

When she looked up she noticed her reflection in the mirror on top of her dresser. Her clother were covered in his blood. Slowly she got up and moved to the dresser and pulled out a fresh change of clothes. Closing the door quietly behind her as she left the room, she went down the hall to the bathroom.

She quickly stripped her cothing and stepped into the shower. As the hot water poured over her, she let her tears fall, as she leaned against the shower wall for support.

After her cries subsided, she cleaned herself then stepped out of the shower, dried off, then dressed.

She checked on Spike before going downstairs to use the phone. He had lost so much blood, his complexion was visibly paler than usual. She closed the door and went downstairs.

Buffy picked up the receiver as Giles stopped her.

"I already called Willow. She's not got her phone with her. So I tried Xander, then Anya. Neither of them answered." Giles said.

"I'll go. Could you please sit with him. I don't think he should be alone." Buffy said as she grabbed her jacket.

Giles closed his eyes, knowing what was happening. But not knowing what to do.

"Buffy. Give me the address, I'll go. You stay." Giles said deciding to be supportive on what he knew was coming.

"Thank you." Buffy said as she handed him the address.

Giles slipped the address into his pocket and left.

Buffy went into the kitchen and poured a glass of water. After drinking it, she put the glass in the sink and headed back upstairs. She watched his still form as she walked into the room. Slowly she moved to the other side of the bed, she sat down moving closer to the middle of the bed. She leaned back against the headboard and closed her eyes, resting one hand on his shoulder, gently caressing it. Images of Spikes face, when he was scewered with the sword, twisted in pain. Hearing his tortured scream over and over. She raised her head as she blinked back the tears and fixed her gaze on Spikes face. Taking in every detail ,his defined cheekbones, his sensual full lips, the small scar on his eyebrow, memorizing every line. She watched him so intently, moving her hand up to caress his brow. After awhile she laid beside him. Moving onto her side and laying her head on his shoulder and placing her arm across his abdomen, her legs leaned against his and her feet were tucked under his. She slowly closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Giles came into the house and hung his jacket over the back of a chair as he walked through to the kitchen. He opened the refridgerater and put the bags of blood on the door.

He started up the stairs to let Buffy know he was back when the phone rang.

He went back down to the livingroom and picked up the phone.

"Hello, Summers residence." Giles said matter of factly.

"Rupert. We need to talk." Wesley replied in the same manner.

"Wesley." Giles said a little suprised.

"Rupert, you need to hear this." Wesley said as he went on to explain the situation with Giles.

Giles' eyes widened, then closed as he listened. He moved and sat in the chair, feeling the intense need to sit before his knees buckled. After the call ended, he sat there with his elbows on his knees and cradling his head in his hands.

"Oh dear god." He said to himself quietly.

Slowly Giles got to his feet and headed upstairs. Quietly opening the bedroom door, he looked upon the bed. As he moved closer, he took in the scene of Buffy curled up on the bed with Spike. Spikes position hadn't changed since Giles laid him on the bed.

As he looked at Buffy, he saw the exhaustion and worry she carried, even in her sleep.

He slowly and quietly turned around and left the room.

He was going to give her this time, if nothing else. Let her rest now. When she wakes, she's going to be in for the fight of her life.

They all were. Only god willing will they survive.

Giles went back to the livingroom and picked up the phone and dialed. "Xander. Pack some clothes and come to Buffys. Call Willow and Anya, tell them the same thing." Giles said quietly, but with authority when Xander answered the phone.

"You wanna tell me why?" Xander asked.

"I'll tell you when you all get here." Giles said as he hung up. Giles picked up the phone and dialed another number. After six rings, it was answered.

"Quinten, this is Rupert. We have to talk." Giles said calmly, but demanding Quintens attention.

* * *

Spike slowly opened his eyes and took in his surroundings, wondering how long he's been out of it. His eyes shifted to the arm wrapped around him and the vision of beauty laying on his shoulder. He brought his hand up and lightly caressed her arm as he tilted his head to lay against hers.

At his slight movement Buffy stirred.

"You're awake." She said quietly as she shifted to face him, so she could see his blue eyes.

He smiled slightly as he stared into her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Buffy said as a tear slid down.

Spikes brow wrinkled. "For what luv?"

"By wanting to talk, it distracted us. You ended up getting hurt. I picked a lousy time to wanna talk." Buffy said as a few more tears fell.

Spike smiled and brushed away her tears.

"Buffy. I always want to hear what you have to say. It doesn't matter where we are, or what's happening around us. I'll always stop everything, even if you just wanted to say hello. It wasn't your fault luv. It just happened. I'll be alright Buffy." He said smiling at the beautiful woman he was holding in his arms.

Buffy put her hand on his cheek and brought her lips to his, kissing him softly and thoroughly.

When they broke apart, she looked directly into his eyes. "I love you." she said softly.

Spike sucked in an uneeded breath.

"That's what I wanted to talk about. I was going to tell you, I was tired of trying to be what I thought they wanted me to be, or expected of me. I want to be happy. You make me happy." Buffy said running her finger along his bottom lip.

Spike looked at her in awe. "Say it again." He replied whispering.

"I love you." Buffy said smiling and leaning closer.

"I love you Buffy." Spike said huskily.

Buffy leaned into another kiss. The kiss was gentle at first, but became hungry with need as thier tongues wrestled with dominence. Spike wrapped his arms around her and started to roll her onto her back, but broke the kiss gasping in pain.

"Oh god. Lay back. You need to rest, this can wait 'til you're better." Buffy said starting to rise from the bed.

"Bloody hell. No it can't." Spike said , wincing as he grabbed her and brought her down to straddle him. "Waited long enough." He said huskily as he pulled her down gently and captured her lips in a soft, but searing kiss.

He broke the kiss long enough to pull her top over her head and discard it on the floor. Her bra landed on the floor a minute later. Buffy got up and stood by the side of the bed to remove her pants and underwear. In a minute she was back on his lap and grinding into him. Spike closed his eyes , feeling her soft skin against his was pure ecstasy.

When he opened his eyes, he slowly slid his hand down her chest, then her stomach, until his hand rested between her thighs.

Buffy gasped and moaned as his fingers slid into her.

Buffy was riding his hand as his talented fingers caressed her inside.

Buffy began moaning when his fingers found her G- Spot, hitting it, as his fingers slid in and out , as his thumb rubbed her nubbin. After only a couple of minutes, Buffy cried out as she orgasmed.

When her body stopped shaking, she looked deeply into Spikes eyes as she shifted and impaled herself on him.

Spike inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, as he gently grabbed her hips. When she began to rock gently, Spikes hands moved up and began softly kneading her breasts.

Their eyes locked on one anothers. Buffy lowered herself until her forehead reasted against his.

His hands slid around caressing her legs, making thier way up to caress her ass. Then slowly up her back, down her arms, then up, resting on her rosy cheeks.

She slowly and steadily moved her hips, enveloping him. She started to tighten around him, when she felt him throbbing.

She lowered her lips to his in a long, slow, penetrating kiss.

The kiss was broken as she started to orgasm, quickly followed by Spike.

In the midst of the orgasm, Buffy moved her mouth to Spikes ear. "I love you." She whispered as she lowered her mouth to his neck and bit down until she tasted copper, drinking from him.

She turned her head and looked into his eyes.

He was looking at her lovingly and in amazement.

She brought her hand up and brushed her hair aside, baring her neck for him.

She lowered her herself, she placed her hand on the back of his head, raising his head to her neck.

His fangs slowly descended and penetrated into her tender flesh.

After drinking from her, he retracted his fangs and licked the wound.

He laid his head back and sought out her eyes.

"I love you." He said as he gave her a loving kiss and wrapped his arms around her.

"You're mine." She whispered.

"Always been yours." He whispered back.

They layed together for awhile until Buffy begrudgingly began to rise. "I would love to stay here, but." She said, not finishing her sentence as she slowly began to dress. After she dressed she sat on the bed and caressed his cheek.

Spike threw the covers off and painfully started to rise. "No. You have to rest." Buffy said trying to gently push him back down.

"No. What I need is something to eat and to be with you." Spike said sitting on the edge of the bed. "Where are my clothes?" Spike asked looking around the room.

"Your pants were full of blood and your shirt was trashed. You can wear these." She said moving to her dresser. She pulled out a pair of sweat pants and an oversized t-shirt.

Spike put them on, with a little help from Buffy.

They left the bedroom and went down to the kitchen. She grabbed a bag of blood from the fridge, put it in a mug and warmed it in the microwave.

She handed Spike the mug and he drank it hungrily. As he set the mug on the counter he looked at Buffy.

"It's human." He said quietly.

"You heal faster." She replied moving in for a kiss.

After breaking the kiss they wrapped thier arms around each other.

Spike nuzzled her neck and placed a kiss on his mark. Are you ready luv?" He said quietly.

"Always." She replied by grinding her hips into his.

Spike chuckled quietly.

"Yeah.......well..........that will have to wait. What I meant was, everyone is here. In the livingroom, I can hear them." He said rubbing the small of her back.

"Oh." Buffy said disappointedly, wishing they had a little more time alone.

Spike placed a kiss on her forehead and left her embrace.

"Shall we?" He said moving toward the doorway. Buffy walked over and held his hand as Spike looked at her.

"Are you sure?" He asked quietly.

"Let's go." She replied placing a kiss on his lips and moving towards the livingroom, her grasp tightening around his hand.

When they entered the livingroom the first thing they noticed was all the suitcases and bags.

"Okay. What's going on?" Buffy asked as she helped ease Spike into the chair, and then sat on the side of the chair with her arm around his shoulders, and his hand resting on her leg, caressing her knee.

Everyone looked at Buffy and Spike, but said nothing.

Giles eyed the marks on Buffys neck, then the marks on Spikes neck. He lowered his eyes before speaking. "Wesley called to speak with me very early this morning. It was concerning Angel." Giles said looking at Buffy.

Spikes hand tightened on Buffys knee at the mention of his grandsires name. Buffy in turn, caressed her claim mark on his neck reassuring him, lessening his grip on her knee slightly.

"What did he want?" Buffy said, and in an after tthought, "What's with all the luggage?"

"Giles told us too pack our clothes and come here. He wouldn't tell us why." Willow said looking around at everyone. "We got here a few hours ago." Xander said uncomfortably.

"Apparently we were early, what with all the orgasms going on upstairs." Anya stated

Spikes jaw dropped slightly as he looked at a red faced Buffy.

Everyone else intently studied the carpeting, finding it very interesting at the moment..

Giles cleared his throat and began cleaning his glasses.

"Yes, well, getting back on topic. As I said Wesley called with some rather interesting , if not frightening news. I also said it was concerning Angel......or rather Angelus." Giles said as he looked around the room guaging everyone's reaction.

Buffy and Spike exchanged looks, recalling the last time Angelus made an appearance. Spike had come to Buffy and formed an alliance with her to stop Angelus from bringing forth Acathla.

Giles began to speak breaking into their thoughts.

"There was a deamon that performed a ritual last night, apparently with the help of Angelus, unbeknownst to them of course, he seemed like Angel, they had no idea. The result of the ritual, is blocking out the sun. Turning day to night, no more sun. Deamons, vampires, have free reign. It's already begun in L.A. After the ritual, it happened immediately. Wesley said he'll call back when he has more information on what we're up against. He also said the sun will become hidden here in the next day or two." Giles said quietly trying to remain calm.

"So, Angelus is back. This time he did it, literally hell on earth." Spike said as he pulled Buffy closer.

Buffy slid onto Spikes lap and wrapped her arms around him.

"What happens now?" What do I have to do?" Buffy asked quietly, resting her head on Spikes shoulder.

Spike closed his eyes, thoughts of something happening to her flashing in his brain. Worry etched into every line on his face.

"No. What do we have to do." He said raising her face to look at him. "I'll live or die by your side." Spike said only loud enough for her to hear.

Buffy hand came up to rest on Spikes hand, which was cradling her cheek. Her eyes spoke volumes, without her having to say a word.

"You're not alone Buffy. We're all in this. Together." Xander said.

Buffy looked at Xander and smiled.

"As to what to do, I don't know. I'll have to cunsult my books, as well as wait to hear more from Wesley. The council is looking into it as well." Giles said pinching the bridge of his nose.

Buffys and Spikes eyes widened.

"Oh god." Buffy breathed as she and Spike raced to the front door and out to the porch. Quickly followed by everyone.

They watched in horror and resignation, as the last vestiges of the sun disappeared behind a black cloud.

"It started early." Was all Buffy said as she leaned into Spikes protective embrace.

Continued...