"Come in, Spike," Sarah invited him.

    The vampire stepped into the motel room and made a wry face at the
interior.

"My crypt is very cozy, you know," he smiled at her.

"I'd rather have cockroaches than spiders, thank you," Sarah replied in the
same tone.

"Fine, whatever you want," Spike grumbled, his eyes twinkling.

"Plus, the bed is very comfortable," Sarah went on, sitting on it. "Wanna
try it out?"

    Spike grinned wickedly and went and sat next to her. He cupped her cheek
and brushed his lips against hers.

"That is quite comfortable," he admitted, grinning again.

    He was about to add something when he felt her lips crushing his, and
her hands all over his cold body, setting it on fire. He finally managed to
stop her.

"Love, wait," he asked her. "What is this about? Do you plan on staying here
or-"

"Shhh," she put a finger to his lips and looked at him with her piercing
brown eyes. "No more talk, Spike, please. Just remember how much that smile
meant to you."

    Had he wanted to resist her, his body wouldn't have let him. He let his
passion and love overwhelm him and sunk into her arms. He did not know
whether it was his imagination or reality when he heard her add the three
beloved words. I love you. He didn't really want to find out whether it was
real or not. He didn't whisper them back, he kept them to himself,
treasuring and cherishing them.

    Some time later, he watched the woman asleep in his arms. She was so
beautiful. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and laid his head above
her breasts. He let himself drift into a peaceful sleep, lulled by the
beating of her heart.

--------------

    Spike opened his eyes slowly, while he reached for her body next to his.
His hand only caught sheets. His eyes shot open, only to realise that she
wasn't anywhere to be seen.

    All that was left of her was a white envelope. Spike gently lifted the
piece of paper from her pillow. This was so clichéd, so pathetic. And there
it was, a tear rolling down his cheek, to top it all.

    He took a sheet of paper out of the envelop. He unfolded it, and
discovered her small handwriting, a few words in black ink.

'That night was to me like that smile to you. Thank you. Perchance our paths
shall meet again, worthy knight.'

    It was not even signed. The blood tear fell off Spike's cheek onto the
few words, blurring some of them. Trembling, he put it back into the
envelope and let the sobs overwhelm him.

-----------

"So you're absolutely sure about it?" Methos asked Sarah, now that he was
driving on the motorway.

"Nothing's absolute, Methos, you should know that," she smiled uncertainly
at him. "I'll never be sure."

    A few minutes of silence ensued. Sarah was fidgeting in her seat.

"So, are you going to stay in LA?" she asked her friend.

"Do you want me to?" he replied with a smile.

"No, what I want you to do is to introduce me to that Scot of yours, but
considering it's not gonna happen in a thousand years, your moving in LA
would be the next best thing," she smiled back.

"I'm glad to be a 'next best thing'," Methos replied with an amused tone.
"And well, who knows, if we're still around in a thousand years, I might
introduce him to you indeed."

    Sarah looked at him with reproachful eyes. He'd never change, she
sighed.

"You¹re aware that Angel lives in LA, right?" Methos suddenly asked her.

"What? No, no, I didn't know."

    She looked taken aback by the news. Surprise faded away from her
features as coldness replaced it. She clenched her teeth unconsciously.

"Well, he does," Methos went on. "He's got this sort of investigation
business going on. Helped by a seer, another ex-Watcher and some guy from
the streets."

"Great, now I learn that I live in the same town as my murderer."

"Does Spike know you live in LA?" Methos abruptly asked. "Because then he
might need Angel Investigations' help in finding you."

"He won¹t try to find me," Sarah said between clenched teeth. "He's too
proud, and he has too many ties with Sunnydale."

"Like what? A Slayer whom he hates, memories of his time with that crazy
vampiress? Plus, you can't begin to fathom his ability to love. Much bigger
than his pride, believe me."

"We'll meet again, Methos, I know it. But not yet. We both need some time.
Plus, we've got eternity."

    Methos looked up at his friend. She had become much more mature than he
thought she was.  He smiled at her and returned his attention to the
traffic.

"Eternity, really?" he wondered out loud. "Whatever you say, roomie."

"Roomie?"

    Sarah looked at his expression and decided that the best option was to
go along with him.  She rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation.  It was
going to be a tough cohabitation.
 

~~~~The end~~~~

back