Willow saw Spike's eyes soften as she materialized. She wasn't going to
forgive him that easily. She saw his lips quirk in that way that had melted
her when she was alive and she knew she was a goner. She tossed his smokes
onto his lap, watching with amusement as he scrambled to light one. She
drifted to hover over the chair opposite him. She had been dead for five
years and still couldn't get use to not having an actual body. At times it
was nice but at others it just served as a reminder to her death. "You need a
hobby."
 

Spike grinned around his lighted Marlboro. "Red, you've been haunting for
going on six years now. That's six years of having you try to get me to stop
smoking. It ain't gonna work, sweets. Get over it."
 

She let herself disappear, irritated at his cockiness. She hovered in the air
above the couch, watching and waiting. She saw him start to frown and glance
around. She loved this. The one benefit of being dead. She got to spend her
unlife with Spike. She saw him finally give in, knowing the look in his eyes
before he even spoke.
 

"Reeeed" he whined, "I hate when I can't see you. Are you even in here now?"
 

She gave in to the panic in his eyes. She cleared her mind, allowing her body
to come back. She saw his eyes watch her in relief. "Miss me?"
 

He scowled at her smirk, hating the need he had for her. "Like a toothache."
 

"Love you too Spike" she said, rolling her eyes. She settled down on the
couch, watching the cushions dip as she sat down. It was strange not having a
body. She ran her hand over her arm, not feeling anything. She sighed,
looking at him. "How did you enjoy your evening out?"
 

He shrugged, "It was ok. Did you enjoy your evening in?"
 

She snorted, "Oh yeah...I love being alone. Spike, five years of only
speaking to you has spoiled me."
 

"You could have gone and haunted the moron." He pointed out.
 

"I couldn't scare the kids!" she said.
 

"Those brats? It would do them good" he said.
 

"No. Besides, they know me" she said.
 

"What? I thought I was the only one that could see you?" he asked, a bit
jealous.
 

"Spike, children can see things even if they aren't meant to" she said
softly. She smiled, thinking of Xander and Anya's three children. "They have
no idea who I am, but I think one day they'll realize I'm their dead Auntie
Willow."
 

"With all those damn pictures of you up, they'd have to" he said, wondering
when she had visited the moron. He knew from her that he was the only one she
had ever showed herself to. He knew she didn't want Buffy or Xander to even
know she was still around, in a way. But, he knew she watched them all. He'd
never said anything, but he was happy that she had chosen him as her link, so
to speak. She had been dead for a week before she had come to him. At first,
he'd thought it was merely another dream. He had loved her for years, ever
since he had been implanted. He had almost left Sunnydale when she had died,
only staying out of a need to be close to where she had been. She had found
him drunk by her gravesite. Ever since then, she had been with him. Haunting
him, as she called it. He would often wake up in the middle of the night, his
cock spent and her scent in the air. Dreams of images and caresses....he
hated that he had never been able to know her intimately. She had never told
him why she had come back. He'd never asked, just glad to have her in his
life still. Even as a ghost, he loved her. And, he thought she loved him.
"Well, you could have haunted Slutty and her boy toy."
 

"Riley is her husband, not a boy toy. And again, can you imagine her reaction
if she saw me? She'd probably hire an exorcist or something." Willow said,
smiling slightly as she thought of her best friend, the former slayer.
 

"So, guess I'm stuck with you" he said, smiling as he said the words.
 

"Yes" she said, smiling at him. "Stuck with me forever."
 

"Hmm...I guess I can handle that" he replied, taking another hit from his
Marlboro. Forever. He liked the sound of that.

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