The morning started like most mornings had the last couple of years. She got the children up and dressed and fed and then gets ready for work herself. But this morning her thoughts kept

drifiting back to yesterday morning, there was no rushng, her children got to sleep in without being hauled to daycare and ....and.....Spike had been here. Get over it, Buffy! She grumbled as she ran the brush through her hair. Thoughts of Spike could only lead to heartache.

"Mommy!!!" Tierney ran into the bathroom and clung to Buffy's legs.

Brenna followed fast on her heels, "Give it back, Tierney."

Tierney peeked at her sister from behind Buffy's legs, "No."

"What is it, Brenna?" Buffy tried to remove Tierney's grip from her leg.

"She's got my hair barrette and she won't give it back." Brenna pouted as she stepped towards the younger girl.

"Tierney, let me see?" Buffy knelt beside her daughter she carefully pried open Tierney's fist, and revealed a plain blue barrette. "Let's give this back to Brenna, okay?"

Tierney frowned as Buffy handed the barette to Brenna. "Brenna, you have lots of blue barettes, sweetie, what's so special about this one?"

"Mr. Spike put it in my hair yesterday and he said it made me look smashing, that means pretty." Brenna smiled at her mom.

"Oh, I see. Well, I think any barette you wear makes you look smashing." Buffy teased the little girl and picked up the brush to her her hair, pulling her bangs back with the blue barette. She put on a very happy face but inside it hurt a little, in a matter of days Spike had already made a big impression on her girls. What would happen if she let them spend even more time with him?

Tierney insisted on a blue barrette also, Buffy grinned as she watched the girls walk out to the car, she could never imagine life without them. She buckled them into the seats, "Okay, girls, mommy has to work late tonight, so you'll be with Miss Marie after Miss Jan leaves tonight,okay?"

Marie came in and worked the evening shift at the daycare, the girls weren't as familiar with her as Jan, but they seemed to like her and Buffy felt comfortable with her too. She just hated her girls having to stay late at all.

****

Mr. Brannon popped into her office several times through the morning, he brought her a bagel and sat around chatting for several minutes before his first client showed up. He continued to make Buffy nervous, she hoped by politely declining his invitations he would get the message that she wasn't interested.

At noon Buffy leaned back in her chair, her boss had a lunchtime meeting so she was in the office alone. She opened her diet soda and a bag of pretzels for lunch, the phone rang and she was tempted to let the machine get it, afterall it was technically her lunch. She thought better of it and picked up the phone, "Brannon Law Offices, how may I help you?"

"Buffy?" Spike's voice came through the phone, "Please don't hang up."

"What, Spike? I'm kind of busy here, working you know." She lied as she fished another pretzel from the bag.

"I wanted to come by and see you later, please?" He tried to sound calm.

"Spike, I'm working late and by the time I get the girls home, we won't feel like company." She sighed into the phone, "I really do need to talk to you sometime though, I talked to Dawn...."

"You did?" His voice had that hopeful ring she remembered so well.

"Yes, and she explained a few things, but I'm just not going to be up to going over it tonight, it's already been a long day. Will you be in town tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'll be here as long as you want me to be."

"Spike.....I can't, I mean I.....I'll call you later okay?" She hung up the phone and took a long sip off her coke, so not wanting to have that conversation.

Spike hung up the phone deciding that he couldn't wait until tomorrow, he had waited too long, his decision to never see her again seemed utterly stupid now. Despite the fact that he didn't regret her happy marriage and children and he would have never interfered with that, now that the situation was so different, all it took was one look at her in that park and he knew.....knew he would never stop loving her.

Buffy was well known for procrastinating when it came to emotional confrontations, he wanted to get this all out in the open now. If she was working late he would just swing by there at dusk and see her for a few minutes maybe he could help somehow, possibly pick the girls up from daycare for her, he wasn't going to give up until he made her see that he still cared, still loved her, already loved those little girls.

He showered and dressed and tried to watch tv as he paced the small room waiting for darkness.

Buffy looked at the clock on her desk, 6 o'clock, just one more hour and she could go. Mr. Brannon still had someone in his office and he'd been very busy this afternoon so he had not had much time to bother her. She was grateful for that but her heart sunk when she heard him saying goodbye to the client and heard his footprints heading down the hall towards her office.

"Buffy." He called out as he entered her office, "That's a lovely name......for a lovely lady."

He sat down on the corner of her desk.

***

Spike pulled on his jacket as the sun went down, he grabbed his keys and went to find Buffy's office. It didn't take long and her car was still in the parking lot. "Now or never?" His words seemed loud in the empty car. He parked and got out walking towards the building.

**

"Thank you, Mr. Brannon. Is there something I can help you with?" She smiled nervously as she rearranged some paperwork.

"I think you could probably help me with, " He leaned over the desk his face close to here, "lots of things Buffy. I'm sure you would be a big help at relieving some of my stress." He raised his

eyebrow suggestively.

"Mr. Brannon, I really like my job here and I'm flattered, but... I really don't think it's a good idea ....."

"You don't mix business with pleasure?" He grinned at her.

"No, sir. I don't think thats a good idea." She took a deep breath and stood up behind her desk.

He took her by surprise and lunged over the desk at her trapping her between the wall and the desk, he pressed against her, "It can still be business, Buffy, I'll make sure you're paid for any services you perform."

Buffy's anger flared as he put his hands on her upper arms, she sighed inwardly, I really needed this job was her last thought before she wrenched one arm free and made a fist, she pulled back to hit him, but didn't get the chance.

Spike had entered the room and was roughly pulling Brannon off of Buffy, "I believe the lady was saying no."

He raised his own fist to hit the man but was stopped by Buffy. "Spike, don't. Please." She pleaded hoping she could still get out of this with a job - at least until she could find another.

Brannon looked from Buffy to Spike, "I didn't know she was seeing someone, if she had told me..." Brannon started to explain.

"I'm no...." Buffy started to explain then thought better of it, maybe it was a good thing if he thought she was seeing someone.

"It didn't look like that would have mattered to you." Spike stared at the man icily. "Trust me I know when this woman says no, that's what she means. You can't go around treating women like that. you don't force a woman..." Spike's voice began to lower to an almost whisper.

"It's okay, Spike. I'm okay." Buffy touched his arm.

Brannon sneered at them, "I think you both better leave, Buffy your check will be in the mail tomorrow. Probably wouldn't have been worth the expensive dinner anyway." He snarked as he started to leave the room.

Spike's fist met his face within seconds of the last statement. Brannon reached up to his nose and felt the blood running down his face, he picked up the phone off of Buffy's desk and heaved it at Spike's head, it made contact and soon Spike had blood running down his forehead.

Mr. Brannon quickly exited the room.

Buffy simply gathered her purse and her pictures of her chidren from her desk. Spike was still very quiet as he watched her, "He could have, he was going to...force you."

"I wouldn't have let him, Spike. Come on, let's go, we need to get that cut fixed up." She shook her head as she looked around the office, what was she going to do about a job?

He followed her outside the office, "I'm sorry, I just couldn't let him do......what I almost did." His eyes were filled with horror at the memory from so long ago.

"Spike, it's okay, we aren't going there. If you want to pick at scabs on old wounds you'll have to to do it alone, I'm not going to help. I'm going to get the girls, meet me at my place okay?" She touched his arm again, "I'm okay, jobless but okay."

"I'm sorry, Buffy, I didn't mean to.....I guess I better let you go get the girls. You don't have to worry with the cut, it's nothing."

"Don't be silly, you kind of rescued me so it's the least I can do. The girls will be happy to see you anyway, Brenna was mad at me for sending you away last night." She gave him a small smile.

"She was?" He grinned.

"You know she was, she likes you..... alot." Buffy sighed, "See you in a few minutes."

"Okay, I'll be there." He got into his car, maybe he has chance.

She drove off wondering how quickly she could find another job after this last check she would only have the meager savings in her account to live on.

"You're a little early?" Miss Marie greeted Buffy with the girls at her side.

"Yes, I didn't have to stay as late as I had thought." Buffy explained as she grabbed the girls backpacks.

"Can we go to the park?" Brenna asked as she got in her seat.

"Not tonight, sweetie, it's a little late. But I do have a surprise for you at home." Buffy smiled at the little girls in the rearview mirror.

"Surprise?" Brenna asks with a grin.

"Yay!" Tierney claps her hands.

Buffy pulled up in the driveway and Spike's car wasn't there, where is he? I shouldn't have told the kids they had a surprise, he must have changed his mind she sighed as she parked the car.

"Where is the surprise, mommy?" Brenna wants to know.

"In a minute, sweetie." Buffy puts her off. I'll have to think of something and as she's going over possible surprises in her mind, a car pulls into the driveway.

"Mr. Spike!" Brenna and Tierney call out to him as he exits the car, happy meals in hand.

"Are you our surprise?" Brenna asks him as Buffy looks on, a small smile on her face.

"I guess I am." He smiles at Buffy over the girls heads, "And I brought dinner." He waved the McDonald's bags at the girls.

"Mr. Spike....your blooding on your head." Brenna notes with a frown, "You need some bactine and a bandaid."

"It's okay, Brenna. I'm gonna fix him up." Buffy answerrf for him.

"Good." Brenna took one of the small bags from him.

"Nuggets?" Tierney questions him.

"Yes, sweet bit, it's nuggets."

She gave him her biggest smile and takes the other bag walking towards the house.

"You learned what makes them happy pretty quickly." Buffy raised her eyebrow at him.

"They're pretty easy to please. Thier mom is the hard one." He teased her as they walked into the house.

"Mommy is going to fix Mr. Spike's cut and then we'll be right back. " Buffy told the girls as she settled them at the table with their food.



Spike followed her into the living room, "I'll be right back with the first aid kit and we'll get you fixed up."

He waited for her on the couch, she sat down next to him and lay out her supplies, she dabbed at the cut with an alcohol soaked cotton ball. He winced, "I thought Brenna said bactine?"

She rolled her eyes at him, "Are you four years old?"

He sighed, "Just saying."

She put the bandaid on and absently ran her hand through his hair pushing a random girl back off of his forehead. She quickly tried to pull her hand back when she'd realized what she had done.

He reached for her hand before she could pull it away from him and looked into her eyes, "Buffy, we have to talk." His hand gently held hers, " I Iove you. I always have and always will. If you don't feel the same way, if you don't think you can ever feel that way, it's okay, I understand."

"Spike...I don't know.......I've got the girls to worry about now. What if somewhere down the line you decide it's in their best interest that you leave? You can't go around breaking children's hearts...if it was just me, it would be different...." Buffy's voice was full of conflicting emotions.

"I'm not going to hurt you or those girls. I already love them, they're a part of you. I want to take care of all of you. I want to make up for all the hurt you've been through." He squeezed her hand tightly.

"You're here and part of me just wants to let you take care of me, but a very large part of me is scared to let anyone take care of me again." Her brow furrowed as she thought things over.

"Would you be willing to at least give me a chance to prove to you that I'm going to stick around this time. I'm not going anywhere." His eyes and his voice were full of sincerity.

"How about your job in LA?" Buffy raised her eyebrows at him questioningly, "You already have to leave if you're going back to work."

"I'm gonna talk to Angel, he's talked about a second office. Doesn't matter I've got money saved and I can find something here."

She couldn't hide her surprise, "You...you want to move here?"

"If thats what it takes, I want to be where you are, where Brenna and Tierney are. I'd move to Alaska if that's what you wanted ." He smiled at her, she seemed to be warming up some.

"The girls feelings would have to come first, we would have to be very careful with them." Buffy's lip began to tremble, she couldn't believe she was even contemplating this.

"Of course, the girls are the priority here." He agreed with her.

"And it has to be slow, Spike. We aren't good with the rushing in." She warned solemnly.

"Slow, we can go slow." He was almost afraid to answer, afraid she might change her mind.

"Okay, then." She nodded her head and gathered up the first aid supplies.

"Okay." He agreed as she stood beside her, "I think I owe the girls a book and when I've read it I'll go. Give you a bit of time to think, is that slow enough?"

She smiled at him, "I think that will work."

He then leaned over and placed a gentle, barely there kiss on her forehead, "Been wanting to do that since I saw you in the park."

She laughed softly as she raised her face to his for a real kiss, lips barely brushed against each other when they were interrupted by peals of giggling.

"Tierney!" Brenna was calling her sister, "Come here....Mr. Spike and mommy kissed!"

TBC

Chapter 5:
A/N: This will probably be the last part for a little while, my daughter's wedding is June 21rst. So I am busy, busy ~ Andra

Buffy pulled away from Spike and faced Brenna who was now pointing at Buffy and Spike as Tierney came to stand beside her. Tierney was grinning now, "Kiss?"

Brenna nodded her head enthusiastically, "Brenna, you are so silly, come here you two." She knelt down on the floor and held her arms out for the girls to come give her a hug.

"Mr. Spike kissed you, mommy." Brenna mumbled from her place pressed against her moms shoulder peeking at Spike standing close by, she grinned at him.

"Yes, he did." Buffy pulled the little girl back a bit and looked in her eyes, "Is that okay?"

"Uh huh!" Brenna nodded.

"And you, sweet bit?" Spike asked Tierney as he knelt beside them.

"Um huh." Tierney grinned as she wrapped chubby arms around his neck.

"Then it's settled." He smiled and winked at Buffy.

"Well, at least part of it." Buffy grinned back, "Now, I guess we should all go finish supper."

Brenna took one of her mom's hand and Tierney took the other. As Spike walked behind them he was glad that unlike Angel his soul was anchored, because as Brenna looked over her shoulder at him and offered her free hand, he was sure that classified as a moment of true happiness. He grasped her small hand in his and walked to the kitchen.

"Here is a salad for mommy." Spike took the grilled chicken salad from the bag," and a burger for me."

"Come on girls, you need to finish your food." Buffy encouraged them as she sat down next to Spike and began to eat her salad.

"Finish it all and we'll read a book before I have to go."

"Goodie!" The girls called out and began to finish their meals.

Spike watched them with a smile on his face, he'd never thought much about children, but these two had certainly claimed his heart already. He glanced at Buffy who was watching him interact with the girls and grinning, that had to be a good sign.

"Okay, I'll clean this up and you can go listen to a story." Buffy told them as she began to clear the table.

Spike and the girls headed into the livingroom where they chose a book, Buffy could hear his comforting voice in the kitchen and it made her feel safe and warm. Sure she had to hit the streets tomorrow for a job search, but now listening to Spike reading a Winnie the Pooh book and her girls sweet giggles was enough to make her happier then she had been in a long while.

"The End." Spike's words signaled the end of the book.

"Now it's time for little girls to go get ready for a bath." Buffy called from the kitchen doorway where she was leaning watching them.

"Mommy!" Brenna whined.

"Brennnnnnnnaaa" Buffy whined back at her, "go and get your jammies laid out and I'll be in to run your bathwater in a few minutes."

"Okay, bye Mr. Spike." Brenna called to him as she left the room.

"Bye, Mr. Spike." Tierney copied her sister as she followed her down the hallway.

"I think that's my cue to leave." He stood and reached for his coat.

"I better get some sleep tonight, it's job hunting Buffy tomorrow. At least I'm paid till tomorow on daycare." She sighed and suddenly leaned into his chest resting her head there.

He was happily surprised at her action and promptly began to run his hand over her hair, "I'm sorry about that."

"It really wasn't your fault, I would have hit him anyway." She giggled softly against him and it sent a shiver through him.

"I better go." He pulled away from her and grinned, "Can Mr. Spike kiss mommy again?"

"He better." She returned his grin before he leaned towards her and this time lips parted, and they explored each other as if it was the first time, yet something so familiar brought back a flood of passionate memories for both.

Buffy finally pulled away to breathe, "Wow!"

"Yeah, wow!" He agreed, "Now, I'm leaving or I'll never go."

"Come by tomorrow night and I'll let you know how the job hunting went." She walked him to the door her hand clasping his hesitant to let go of him.

"See you then, good luck. I'm going to start looking for a place tonight."

"That sounds good." She let go of his hand, "Talk to you soon."

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, "Goodnight."

She stood at the door and watched him leave. Her silent reverie was interrupted by the sound of bathwater running. She ran down the hallway and found the girls in the bathroom. "Let me adjust that water for you, you could get burned." She scolded them.

"Like mommy?" Brenna asked as she pulled the bubble bath from under the sink.

"Like mommy." Buffy looked down at the faint white burn scars on her hand,another memory from long ago, "Now lets get you two in the tub."

****

Morning came bright and early, Buffy hit the off button on the alarm and lay in the bed for a few moments. She was going to drop the girls at daycare and start combing the want ads for a job. She sighed as she went to shower, job hunting was never fun.

"Jan, today will probably be the girls last day for awhile, I...I kind of lost my job, so I'm looking for a new one today." Buffy explained as she handed the girls backpacks to the daycare owner.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Buffy. It's none of my business but did Jim Brannon try anything with you?" Jan asked a frown on her face.

Buffy flushed slightly and nodded in affirmation.

"I don't know how you lasted that long with him, he has a terrible reputation." Jan smiled at Buffy, "But his loss may be my gain."

Buffy looked confused, "Pardon?"

"Lydia who runs the office for the daycare is moving at the end of next week, so I have a secretarial position open." The older woman smiled.

"Really? I'd love that!" Buffy grinned.

"I don't think I can pay as much as Brannon did, but, there are some perks to working here, for instance, your children's daycare is free." Jan led Buffy into a small office.

"That would be wonderful, Jan." Buffy fought back a tear, maybe things were going to be better.

"This is Lydia and she'll start training you on Monday if that's okay?" Jan gestured towards a pretty girl sitting at the desk.

"I'd be happy to train you." Lydia smiled.

"Let's get some details worked out and then I'll see you Monday." Jan offered Buffy a chair.

Buffy left the daycare feeling lighter, she had a job and she could be near her children. What could be more perfect? She wanted to share her good news and even though it was still early she found herself on the road to the hotel where Spike was staying. She parked in front of the hotel hesitating for a few moments before getting out the car and walking to his room.

Spike was startled from his sleep by a soft knocking on his room door, pushing the covers aside he called out sleepily, "Be right there." He pulled on a pair of sweat pants and went to the door he opened it cautiously, "Buffy?" He opened the door a bit wider and let her in.

"Sorry to wake you." She suddenly felt quite shy as she stared at his bare chest, "I should go, let you rest."

"No, I needed to get up anyway. I found some apartments to look at in the paper last night, need to call to make some appointments for tonight. Is everything okay? The girls?" He asked concern heavy in his voice.

"The girls are good, I'm good, in fact I have good news. I've already found a job!"

"Tell me all about it, sit." He patted the bed beside him.

She sat down and excitedly explained about the job. He listened to her every word smiling at ther excitement, "That's perfect for you."

"Yes, it is. I just feel so good, like everything is going right for a change." She took his hand in hers, "Thank you."

"Me? You did this on your own." He rubbed his thumb across her knuckle staring at her beautiful, scarred hand. Scarred hand? "Buffy, how, when did this happen?" He held her hand up looking at the pale scars.

"That night, Spike. When I took your hand in mine, funny I saw the flames, but I didn't feel them. I didn't even realize I was burned till hours later." She gave him a half smile.

"I guess we both have scars from that night," He held out his own hand for her.

Buffy took a closer look at his hand, it held pale scars matching her own, "You kept the scars even after you came back?"

"Yeah, the one above my eye and these on my hand." He shrugged,"don't know why."

"I kept wanting to believe that you survived somehow, I missed you for so long." She leaned back against the headboard.

"I missed you too, all these years, I thought about you everyday." He stretched out on the bed beside her tilting his head so that it touched hers ever so lightly. He reached for her scarred hand and held it tightly in his own. "You said something to me yesterday about not picking at old wounds. Do you really think we can do that?" He brought her hand to his lips

and placed a kiss in her palm.

"Honestly I don't know....." She squeezed his hand, "I do know that I want to try though. Are you sure you're ready to take on the girls? I'm a package deal now you know."

"Terrifies me , but that's nothing new." He smiled as he put his hand to her cheek, "But it's going to be worth it."

"So I still have the ability to terrify you, that's something." She leaned over and placed a light kiss on his lips.

The kiss grew in it's intensity within minutes, as hands roamed freely, small sighs escaped from them both as they lost themself in the moment. Spike sighed loudly and pulled away suddenly.

"What?" Buffy asked worry shone in her face.

"As much as I would love to finish this," he raised his eyebrow at her meaningfully, "I....I want to to do this properly, no rushing just like you said last night. We know we're good at this part of a relationship, lets give ourselves time to get good at the other parts." He held his non breath waiting for her reply.

She smiled the sweetest smile then, "You mean that don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. Gonna do it right this time." He disentangled himself from her and stood up.

"Thank you...for caring so much." She kissed his cheek, " I noticed that the fair is starting tonight, would you like to go with the girls and I. It's not much of a date but....it could be fun." She stood up and reached for her purse.

"I'd love that, I'll come by at dark." He walked her to the door, kissing her briefly before closing it behind her. A smile lit his face.

Spike spent the afternoon on the phone with realtors and apartment managers, he had found two places close to Buffy and had appointments the next evening to see them. He had also circled another listing in the paper, a four bedroom with a large yard, he knew they were taking it slow, but as soon as he had seen the ad he knew he had to at least see it.

Buffy went home to make some phone calls, first to Dawn who was very excited to hear that she was giving Spike a chance. The second was a call she dreaded to make but she had to have some answers from him, she dialed Gile's number nervously. After three rings his machine picked up, she left him a message, "Giles, this is Buffy. I need to talk to you. I'll call back tomorrow."

She picked the girls up from daycare and let them in on the plans for the fair. They giggled with excitement all the way home. "Let's have a quick supper and then you can have dessert at the fair!"

"What kind of dessert?" Brenna asked as she finished her sandwich and milk.

"Candied apples, cotton candy, funnel cake or kettle corn. Lots of good stuff." Buffy answered as she cleaned up Tierney's face.

"Tierney let's go change your clothes you have kool aid on your shirt." Buffy led the little girl out of the kitchen in time to get the door.

"Are we ready for the fair?" Spike asked as he entered the house.

"Yep!" Tierney grinned at him, "Candy apples."

Brenna came into the living room chanting, "We're going to the fair!"

"I told them they could have dessert at the fair." Buffy explained as she took Tierney's hand, "I've got to go change her shirt before we go, I'll be right back."

Brenna sat beside Spike on the couch, "Have you been to a fair before?"

"Yes, I've been to lots of fairs. Have you been to a fair before?"

"I don't 'member, maybe when I was little." Brenna told him with a grin.

"Oh, that long ago, huh?" He laughed softly.

Brenna nodded her head and smiled, "Mommy says it's lots of fun."

The phone rang and Buffy called from the bedroom, "Spike, could you please get that?"

"Sure." He called back as he picked up the phone, "Hello."

There was no answer on the other end, "Hello." Spike repeated.

"With whom am I speaking?" The caller asked.

"Who do you think it is, Rupert?" Spike answered with a smirk.

"It can't be who I think it is, he's dead...has been for years." Giles sighed loudly into the phone.

"Funny thing about that." Spike began to speak but was soon interrupted by Buffy returning to the room.

"Who is it?" She asked as she sat Tierney on the couch and began to change her shoes.

"Giles." He handed her the phone and took over shoe duty.

"Giles, this is Buffy."

"Buffy, was that really Spike? Is that why you needed to talk to me? How..when..how is he there?"

Giles strung the questions together.

"Yes it's Spike. He really is here, and yes, that's partly why I needed to talk to you. But mainly I wanted to know why you've been lying to Angel all these years. You let him believe that David was still alive, that we were living happily ever after. Why, Giles?" Buffy's voice broke softly.

"It was for you, dear. As long as Angel thought you were happy, he stayed away, if he had known that you were widowed he would have felt like he had to come and help you. You don't need Angel in your life again and you most definitely don't need Spike in it! Have you learned nothing, Buffy?"

Giles sighed again and reached for his glasses.

Buffy could almost hear him cleaning his glasses, "So it was you trying to teach me another lesson, like when you and Wood set up Spike to kill him for my own good? I believe that was before he sacrificed himself to save us all, wasn't it?"

"Buffy, I do realize that he did sacrifice himself, but that does not mean he is any better for you now than he was then. I realize you have a soft spot for him but really you have the girls to think about now." Giles tried to reason with her.

"The girls already love him, he reads to them and really listens when they talk to him. This is my decision to make, Giles. I can't talk to you now, I'm taking the girls to the fair."

"With Spike?" Giles asked dissproval in his voice.

"Yes, with Spike. I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone and swallowed the lump in her throat. Why couldn't he understand?

TBC

Spike placed his hand on Buffy's shoulder as she hung up the phone, "You okay, luv?"

"No, but I will be." Buffy tried to smile, "I'll sort it out with him later, now...now we have a fair to go to."

"You sure?" He asked as Tierney lifted her arms up to him to be picked up.

"Very." She took Brenna's hand in hers and they went to the car.

The Fair was bustling with people and activity when they arrived. The girls eyes grew wide at the sight of the rides and the sound of the fair workers voices as they called out to come play their games of chance. Giant stuffed animals hung from rope strung around the booths. The wonderful scent of Fair food hung heavy in the air.

The Merry Go Round seemed to jump out at them as they turned a corner, Brenna pointed at it excitedly, "Look at the horses!"

Buffy grinned, "Let's get some tickets and we'll ride it."

"You want to ride that one, too?" Spike asked Tierney from her perch in his arms, she nodded her head enthusiastically. He pulled out his wallet and handed several bills to Buffy, "Get lots of tickets!" He grinned.

Buffy grinned back, "Thanks." She went to the small booth and was soon back with a handful of tickets.

They went to stand in the short line at the Merry Go Round, Brenna bounced up and down excitedly, "I want to ride the white horse." She watched as a white horse with purple and pink flowers in it's mane passed round and round in front of them.

"Alright, we'll try to get that one just for you." Buffy smiled brightly, the earlier conversation with Giles forgotten for the moment.

The ride stopped and the group handed their tickets to the man and began to board the ride,

Buffy helped Brenna on to her horse and took the one beside it. Spike climbed on a larger black horse behind them, Tierney firmly placed in front of him, she held on tightly to the pole in front of her.

The music started and the horses began to move up and down, round and round. Spike frowned at the choice of music, this was Tennessee though, there was going to be country music at a fair. As he watched Buffy and Brenna giggling in front of him and Tierney laughing happily as she leaned back against him, he listened to the words...

"I will give you my heart

Faithful and true

And all the love it can hold

That's all I can do

But I've thought about

How long I'll love you

And it's only fair that you know

Forever's as far as I'll go."

Not a bad thought he nodded to himself as Buffty turned around and flashed him a smile. Not a bad thought at all.

The ride began to slow down and the music stoppped. Spike climbed down from his horse with Tierney in tow. Buffy helped Brenna off of her horse and they went in search of another ride. Brightly painted lady bugs going in circles weren't too far away and they found themselves standing in line there too, Tierney backed off of this ride though. So they watched as Brenna giggled her way through the ride waving each time she passed them.

They made their way through the kiddie rides and were soon at the Ferris Wheel, Buffy begged off saying she would just hold Tierney if Spike and Brenna wanted to go on this one. Brenna looked a the tall wheel and hesitated for a moment before grabbing Spike's hand, "I want to ride it."

"Okay, lamb. Let's get in line." He pulled more tickets from his pocket and handed them to the man running the ride. He settled her into the seat beside him, making sure she was secure. The ride started slowly as they began to load each seat, the higher they went up the quieter Brenna became.

"You okay, Brenna?" Spike asked noticing how still and quiet she had become.

"It's high up." She told him, her eyes wide as saucers.

"Yes, it is, but I'm right here with you." He took her small hand in his, "I'll take care of you."

"Okay." She held his hand tightly and managed a small smile.

After the first rotation she seemed to relax a bit and even waved at Buffy and Tierney on the ground below. But Spike could see she was releived when the ride was over. "Let's take a break from the rides and we'll go get something to eat, okay?"

"Sounds good to me, those candied apples are calling my name." Buffy walked towards the snack wagon.

"I want that." Tierney pointed towards the pink and blue cotton candy.

"Me too!" Brenna chimed in.

"Look they even have blooming onions!" Spike exclaimed as Buffy placed their order.

They found a picnic table and sat down to eat thier goodies. Happiness seemed to just roll of of them and Buffy couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun. That's when she saw her coming towards them smiling that cold polite smile. "Buffy." The familiar voice made her cringe.

"Hello, Deanna." Buffy managed a smile.

"Well look at you and the girls and," Deanna turned to Spike, "a new man. Well I guess it has been a while since my brother died."

"A little over two years, Deanna. " Buffy replied cooly.

"Yes, I've meant to call. But...you know how busy things can get. Jay and I brought the children tot he fair tonight, you wouldn't recognize them they've grown so. Speaking of, Brenna do you remember me, I'm your Aunt Deanna."

Brenna shook her head, "No."

"Deanna she was only two the last time you saw her at David's funeral."

"And this must be Terry." Deanna turned to Tierney.

"Tierney, her name is Tierney." Spike shook his head with disgust at the woman.

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry. And you are?" She politely offered her hand to Spike.

He ignored the hand, "I'm William."

"He's mommy's friend." Brenna added helpfully.

"Oh, I bet he is." Deanna raised her eyebrow at Buffy.

"It was very nice to see you Deanna, but we promised the girls we'd try to win prizes so we need to go now." Buffy stood up from the table and picked up Tierney.

"Nice to see you too, have fun." The other woman added in voice full of false sweetness before walking off.

"She was a breath of foul air if I've ever seen one, that was your husband's sister?" Spike asked as they walked towards the game alley.

"Yes, his only family left. She never really liked me, thought I had a deep dark past." She sighed, "She didn't know how right she was."

"But her brother loved you despite it all, right?" Spike stopped walking and adjusted Brenna in his arms. He couldn't imagine Buffy losing her husband and his only living family left could be that vile, his poor girl, she had really been through the wringer.

"Yes, he did." Buffy smiled at the thought, "He used to say that Deanna must have been adopted."

"He's probably right." Spike told her as he stopped in front of a game stall, "This look okay, Brenna?" He asked as he put her down.

"I want that one!" She pointed at a large purple version of Mr. Gordo.

Spike accurately threw each soft ball into the large milk can, the man working the booth looked surprised as he handed Brenna the large purple pig. Tierney then picked out a blue teddy bear and giggled happily when Spike handed it to her. "You want something, luv?" He asked Buffy feeling quite confident.

"No, thanks." Buffy smiled back at him. The vendor looked relieved when they walked away from his booth.

Tierney held tightly to the blue bear as she rested her head on Buffy's shoulder. "I think someone is getting sleepy. Maybe it's time to go home?"

"Yeah, I think you're right." Spike answered as he watched Brenna yawn and lean her head against his chest. "It's been fun though, right girls?"

"Lots of fun." Brenna mumbled against his chest.

"Fun." Tierney replied with a sleepy smile.

"I think everyone had a good time." Buffy leaned against Spike and he put his free arm around her as they walked to the car. To anyone watching they appeared to be a sweet little family, Buffy smiled at the thought.

******

Giles hung up the phone and frowned and cursed and paced his livingroom before picking up the phone and calling Angel.

"Hello!" Angel answered on the first ring.

"Angel, how could you not let me know that Spike was back from the dead or undead so to speak?" Giles accused angrily.

"The same way you didn't bother to tell me that Buffy's husband was dead, that she was alone and struggling the last couple years. How could you do that Giles?" Angels voice was as anger filled as Giles.

"I suppose I deserve that." Giles sighed into the phone, "My only excuse is I thought it was what was best for Buffy."

"I didn't tell about Spike because he asked me not too.....at the time he thought it was what was best for Buffy." Angel replied with his own deep sigh.

"This can't end well, you know that." Giles tone was weak, he knew he'd lost this battle.

"Maybe not, but I think.....I think this time maybe we all need to stand back and let Buffy finally get to decide what's best for her. Over the years..we...all of the men in her life have done things we thought were best for her and sometimes she suffered more for our decisions than she would have if we had maybe let her decide?" Angel's tone was thoughtful.

"Perhaps you're right. I...I tend to want to keep her away from anything that might hurt her, she's had far too much pain in her life. I suppose my judgement is sometimes clouded by personal feelings about certain individuals in Buffy's life." Giles conceded.

"I've talked to Spike, he is finding a place in Tennessee, he's going to do his best to make sure she's happy, Giles. He's not my first choice, but he is Buffy's choice...." Angel's voice was soft, "We've always thought we knew best.....but maybe this time she does."

"Maybe, I suppose I owe her an apology." Giles shifted in his chair and sighed, "I will call her tomorrow, and if she'll listen to me..I'll apologize."

"She'll listen, she can be stubborn but she has an amazing ability to forgive." Angel smiled into the phone.

"I suppose she does." Giles agreed as he hung up the phone.

****

"I'll help you get them to their room." Spike whispered as he carried a sleeping Tierney and Buffy carried a snoring Brenna to the bedroom.

He watched as Buffy pulled back the covers on the bed and removed Brenna's shoes, he followed suit and pulled back Tierney's blankets, lie her down and removed her shoes too. Buffy dug around and brought back two nightgowns handing the smaller one to him. She gently removed Brenna's shorts and top and put the nightgown on without even briefly waking her. Tierney opened one eye and frowned at him as he tried to put her arm through her shirt, "Let's get your jammies on." Buffy told her as she watched Spike's struggle. The little girl helped him a bit and held her arms up for the nightgown.

"Night, night." She yawned as she snuggled next to the large blue teddy bear already almost asleep again.

"Night, night." Buffy and Spike replied in unison. Buffy turned out the light and they left the sleeping girls.

"Would you like something to drink? I don't have anything stronger then iced tea," She teased as she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm okay, but you go ahead." He sat down at the table while she poured herself a glass of tea and then sat down across from him.

"Thanks for going with us. The girls had a great time." Buffy sipped her tea, "I had a great time."

"Thank you for asking me to go. I had a great time too.....in fact, " He reached his hand across the table and covered hers, "I would say it was the second best night of my life." Bright blue eyes met hazel as they both remembered what he had called "the best night of my life."

Buffy almost blushed, "And you're still terrified, right?"

"Not so much now." He tightened his grip on her hand never letting go as he stood up and walked around the table to where she sat. He leaned over and kissed her ever so slightly on the lips, she tasted like peach iced tea and he licked his lips when he pulled back from the kiss.

Buffy watched his tongue and suddenly it was very hot in the kitchen and her iced tea wasn't helping a bit. She stood then and wrapped her arms around his neck leaning her face up towards his for another kiss, this one not quite so gentle. They stood in the kitchen wrapped around each other, lost in the kiss. Buffy broke away for a moment and took his hand silently leading him out of the kitchen and through the livingroom towards the hallway. His eyes met hers in a silent question , she only nodded and smiled at him. He kissed her halfway down the hallway to her bedroom.

The loud ring of the phone shocked both of them back to the present, "Should you get that?" Spike asked as the phone rang shrilly once again.

"It's probably Giles trying to make nice. Let him stew a little while. The machine will pick it up."

Buffy grinned at him raising her eyebrows at him, "Unless you'd rather listen to me talk to Giles."

"The machine can get it." He said quickly scooping her into his arms and carrying her into the bedroom.

"Buffy, this is Dawn. Please pick up if you're there." The familiar voice came through onto the machine.

"You better get it, luv." Spike told her he sat her down on the bed.

"I guess so." Buffy sighed as she picked up the phone, "Yes, Dawn, I'm here. But this better be important!"

"It is important." Dawn replied, after a moment something occured to her, "Buffy, why did this need to be important? Am I interrupting something? It's late and I know the girls are asleep, so hmmmm......what could you be doing? You aren't alone are you?" Dawn giggled into the phone.

Buffy couldn't help herself, she giggled back, "No, I'm not alone." She rolled her eyes at Spike.

"Hello, Bit." He called into the phone.

TBC

Chapter 7:

Dawn giggled on the other end of the phone, "Tell him I said hello!"

"You can tell him yourself." Buffy grinned as she handed the phone to Spike.

"Niblet." Spike spoke into the phone, "I'm guessing I owe you a thanks."

"Yeah, you do." Dawn giggled again, then became serious, "How are you, Spike?"

"I'm good, better then I have been for a long time." He smiled at Buffy as he talked.

"You'll take care of her and the girls right?" Dawn asked.

" Till the end of the world." He answered as Buffy took his hand and gave it a warm squeeze.

"Then I guess this a mutual thank you fest." Dawn's voice was full of happiness.

"Ask why she called?" Buffy whispered from beside him.

"Sis wants to know why you called?"

Dawn answered excitedly, "Carson and I are coming to town next weekend. Make sure that's okay with her, not sure she'll have time for us now that "you're" there." She teased him.

Spike turned to Buffy, "She's coming for a visit. Wants to know if that's okay?"

Buffy leaned into the phone, "That's wonderful. When will you be here?"

"She said next weekend." Spike answered for Dawn.

"I guess I'll let you go, I'll call with more details later in the week. You two have a "nice" evening." Dawn laughed softly as she said her goodbyes.

Spike hung up the phone and turned to Buffy again, "Now where were we?"

She leaned forward catching his bottom lip and lightly nibbling on it, "Just about here....."

His hand inched her shirt up and he began to feel the smooth skin of her tummy.

"Mommy!!" The cry interrupted his ministrations, Spike pulled back.

"Tierney?" Buffy rushed down the hallway to the little girls room.

She found Tierney crying in her bed, "Whats wrong, sweetie?" She held the little girl on her lap.

"Scary." Tierney answered with a sob.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Buffy asked as she smoothed the blond curls back from Tierney's face.

"Uh huh." Tierney nodded as she held her mommy tighter.

"She okay?" Spike asked from the doorway.

"Bad dream." Buffy answered as she gently rocked the little girl.

"It's okay, Tierney." He stepped into the room and patted her back.

"Maybe it was just too much excitement tonight for her. " Buffy continued to rock back and forth as the little girl sniffled against her.

"Maybe I should just go on home, let you take care of her." Spike kissed the top of Buffy's head.

"But...." She gave him a small smile, "I really did have other plans for you."

"I know you did, but that can wait. We said the girls were the priority." He smiled at her as he walked towards the door, "I'll call you tomorrow afternoon, I've got some apartments to look at tomorrow evening and I'll try to stop by after."

"You're sure you're okay with this?" Buffy asked raising her eyebrows.

"I am. We've got plenty of time, Buffy. I'll let myself out and lock the door. Goodnight." He said soflty as he left the room.

"Goodnight." She replied with a sigh.

Tierney finally fell asleep an hour later, an exhausted Buffy crawled into her bed and smiled as she thought about what almost had happened earlier, her smile grew bigger as she fell asleep dreaming of strong arms around her and sweet kisses all over her face.

***

Saturday mornings were special for Buffy, it was the morning she and the girls slept in. When they did wake up they enjoyed a special waffle breakfast and cartoons. Buffy did some laundry and played a game of Candyland with the girls, soon it was lunch time and after the girls decided to play in the sandbox in the backyard. Buffy finished the dishes as she watched them through the kitchen window. Around one o'clock the phone rang, she dried her hands off on a dishtowel and answered it, "Hello."

"Hello, luv. What are you doing?" It was Spike's smooth voice.

She smiled instinctively at the sound, "I'm watching the girls play in the sandbox."

"Sounds fun, Tierney feeling better now?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Yes, she fell asleep about an hour after you left." Buffy leaned against the counter to get comfortable and a better view out the window.

"Good."

"Did you sleep well?" Buffy asked hesitantly still not completely sure he had been okay with how the previous night had ended.

He laughed, "Yeah after a very cold shower." She could almost see the smirk on his face.

"I'm sorry about that." She replied softly.

"I told you it was okay, and it is. Just had to tease you a bit. I'm not worried about when we....I mean it will happen when it should." He assured her.

"So, when do you have to go look at the apartments?"

"I meet the lady at six thirty tonight, it sounds like the perfect place. Two bedrooms and a balcony. I'll have to do some furniture shopping and such."

Buffy grinned into the phone, "Shopping, I can help with that!"

"I knew you could, pet." He laughed again.

The laughter between them was new and nice, they both felt it. After a few minutes more, Spike let her go with the promise of a call after the apartment viewing. She went outside and played with the girls for a bit then brought them inside to lay down and try to take a nap. "Don't want a nap." Brenna complained loudly.

"Then just rest for a few minutes okay?" Buffy told her as she put them in thier beds.

The phone rang and she rushed to answer it, "Hello, Buffy." Giles voice came across the line.

"Giles, I'm really not in the mood to be told how wrong I am." Buffy sighed.

"Good, because I'm not going to tell you that." Giles answered calmly.

"You're not?" Buffy asked surprised.

"No, I think....I think it's time I quit judging what was right and wrong for you. Buffy, you've been an adult for a long time now. I should be trusting you to make adult decisions about who you have in your life." He sighed.

"Even Spike?" She asked unconvinced.

"Even Spike. Now that I've got that out of the way how are the girls?"

Buffy had to laugh at the sudden change of subject but she didn't push him on it, over the years she had learned that this was a typical Giles apology, "The girls are good, they are both napping right now."

After catching up for another thirty minutes, Buffy hung up the phone a smile on her face.

********

Two nights later

"This is beautiful." Buffy held Tierney on her hip as she ran her hand across the foot of the antique cherry sleigh bed.

Spike had found and apartment and was now busy shopping for furnishings. He, Buffy and the girls had stopped at one of Memphis' many antique shops. "It is pretty and look a matching armoire." He held Brenna's hand as he went to inspect the large piece of furniture, "You really like this, Buffy?"

"Yeah, look at the craftsmanship, it's lovely." She sighed wistfully, "It's probably not quite manly enough for you though."

"Hmm..." He mumbled, "Brenna and I are going to look over here, okay?"

Buffy nodded at him as she went to look at a display of depression glass.

"Your wife, she really likes the sleigh bed? I can make you a good deal on it." An older woman stepped from behind the counter.

"She's no ....." Spike caught himself, "Yes, she really likes it. How much for the bed and armoire?"

The saleswoman smiled and quoted him a price, "That's not too much to make her happy is it? "

"I'll take it and thank you." He smiled as he pulled out his wallet, Brenna still tightly holding his hand.

"It will be delivered tomorrow." She told him as she handed him a reciept.

Buffy joined him at the counter, "So what did you decide on?"

"I went with the sleigh bed." He grinned at her.

"We'll throw a masculine bedspread on it and you'll be happy." Buffy grinned back at him.

"You have a lovely family." The saleswoman smiled at the couple in front of her.

Buffy started to explain but noticed that Spike wasn't rushing to correct her, almost at the same instant they both replied, "Thank you."

Once out of the store, Buffy looked at Spike, "It seemed easier to go along with her."

"Yeah, it did." He kissed her cheek, "And I have to admit, it's nice to be thought of as someone's family."

Buffy put Tierney down and took her hand, she took Spike's hand in the free one, "Family is nice."

****

Dawn arrived late Friday night with a sleepy little boy in tow. Spike carried her luggage in for her as Buffy led her to the guest room where she put Carson to bed. They stopped and peeked in at the girls who were already sleeping soundly.

While Spike and Buffy got comfy on the couch, Dawn settled into the chair grinning at both of them, "It's so good to see you two together!"

Buffy smiled shyly, "So Dawn what do you want to do while you're here?"

"I want to babysit my wonderful neices while their mom goes out with her boyfriend for a real date." Dawn smiled brightly.

"You didn't come all this way just to babysit?" Buffy shook her head.

"No, I wanted to see you and the girls and Captain Peroxide over there. But I know you and I bet you haven't spent any time away from the girls together, have you?"

"Well, no but it's okay, I love the girls." Spike started defensively.

"Spike, I know you love the girls. But it would be kind of nice to go out alone, don't you think?"

Buffy took his hand and began to rub small circles with her thumb across his knuckles.

"Well, dinner might be nice." He warmed up to the idea quickly.

"And then maybe back to your place to see the new furniture?" Buffy added her eyes wide.

"And then maybe we could try out the....." Spike stopped midsentence as Dawn cleared he throat to remind them she was still there, "Yes, a night out would be nice. Thanks Dawn."

"Your welcome, and you can stay out as late as you want, all night even." She gave them a wink.

Spike stood up, "I suppose I should go, leave you two to the gossip. I'll be back tomorrow night."

He kissed Buffy lightly and then hugged Dawn before he left.

"Okay, big sis it's time to spill!" Dawn laughed as she joined Buffy on the couch.

TBC

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