A/N: This is my first baby (as for fic) so try to be sweethearts :) Thanks Kristen for beta-ing! Kisses, Ally.

Summary: Buffy Summers is young, beautiful, strong and... blind woman. She lost her eye light three years ago, now she lives with that what she has. One day she meets William 'Spike' Walthrop, only then Buffy starts to understand what she have and what she wants.

A/N: Sorry for waiting, but I tried my best, so cheer up!

Chapter Nine

"So how was it?!"

"Oh God!!!" Buffy jumped when entering her room Dawn practically yelled. "The fact that I'm blind isn't enough for you; you wanna give me a heart attack too?"

"So sorry, but you kissed! I saw!" Dawn nearly fell from the bed saying it. Buffy smiled as she started to unbutton her skirt.

"Yeah, we did."

"Soooooo?" Dawn questioned.

"Soooooo... What?" Buffy asked playfully sliding into her black t-shirt, to go to sleep.

"Come on! Pleeeeeease tell me." Dawn begged jumping out of Buffy's bed, so she could get in.

"Shouldn't you be in your bed?" She asked lying down.

"Buffy..." Dawn said impatient.

"Go to sleep, Dawn." Buffy said as she rolled on her left side and closed her eyes.

"You're impossible!" Dawn said angrily and started to go to the door. "Can you at least tell me something, so I wouldn't think that I wasted six hours waiting for you to come back?" Buffy smiled and looked to Dawn's direction.

"He tastes good." She answered quietly. Dawn giggled. "Like candy." Buffy added.

"Candy, huh? You'll tell me more tomorrow?" Dawn asked hopefully.

"Deal. Now go to sleep!"

"Night. I love you." Dawn said as she left Buffy's room.

Buffy again closed her eyes. *Like candy?! Who the fuck says that? Well, ok he really tasted like candy, bet he's tasty everywhere. No, no, no! Bad, bad Buffy!* She thought to herself. *Licking and sucking. God, I'm a perv!*

***

The telephone rang, startling Buffy out of her thoughts. "Summers' art gallery. Buffy, speaking. How can I help you?" Buffy said picking up the phone. At the same time the gallery's doors opened and Buffy smelled a sweet lavender aroma. *Willow.* Buffy waved at the redhead's direction at the same time closely listening to what the customer said on the phone. "Yes, I'll send you an e-mail when it comes. Thank you. Good day." Buffy said and hung up phone. "Willow! What are you doing here?"

"Came to help you a little with gallery stuff and after that take you out to lunch." Willow answered sitting beside Buffy.

"Um, thanks for the help in the gallery, but as for lunch.. I already have a date." Buffy said with a smile on her face.

"Oh, who? Wait did you say date? As with a man?" Buffy let out a laugh at Willow's shocked question.

"Yes, hun, a date. With a man. And I know this will be a shock to you, but I kinda like men." Buffy said still smiling.

"Wait, wait, wait! Who do you have a date with?"

"Remember Spike?"

"That hot, bleach blond?" Willow nearly fell off the chair.

"Don't know how hot or bleached, but yeah. No, wait I know how hot. And still yeah." Buffy giggled remembering yesterday's shared kisses with Spike. Willow giggled as well.

"So is it your first date?"

"Nope. Second. We had one yesterday."

"And you didn't tell me?!"

"Not so loud." Buffy placed her hands over her ears. "And, sorry. Just I worked all day and in the evening Dawn helped me to get ready."

"Well, as long as it was only that once.." Willow started.

"I promise!" Buffy interrupted.

"Ok. So how was it?"

"God." Buffy said smiling. "Where to start?"

"That good, huh?" Willow asked giggling.

"Even better. We went to dinner and after that to the beach."

"Were there smooches?" Buffy blushed. "There were!" Willow yelped. "Where? When? How? Was it good?"

"At the beach, later at my front door. It was more than good. Damn, Wills, best kiss in my whole life." Buffy admitted quietly. "And he asked me to drive with him tomorrow to his sister's place."

"Wow. Meeting the family." Willow gasped. "Someone's got it bad!" She said in a sing-song voice.

"Stop it." Buffy playfully hit Willow's hand. "I really like him, Willis, but.."

"But what?" Willow asked when Buffy ceased talking.

"Do you think he likes me?" She asked almost whispering.

"No, dummy, he wants you to drive with him to his sister's, just because he hates you." Willow answered sarcastically.

"No, I didn't mean it that way, just- this guy, I could.." She went silent again.

"You what? Come on, Buffy, you know I'm no good at guessing games."

"IthinkIcouldeasilyfallforhimandmaybehedoesn'tfeelthesame." Buffy said so fast that Willow got just every third letter.

"What? What? And what?" Willow asked dazedly. Buffy took a deep breath and looked in Willow's direction.

"I think I could easily fall for him and maybe he doesn't feel the same." She said more slowly.

"Oh, honey, I'm sure he does feel the same." Willow got up and hugged her friend.

"That's what I'm afraid of." Buffy whispered.

"What?" Willow asked not really hearing what Buffy said.

"Um, nothing." She said almost at the same moment. "Um, honey, I of course love this hugging thing, but I kinda have a job to do.." Buffy smiled when Willow slowly let her go.

"Job. Ok, I'm jobby, let's start." Willow said smiling and turned to the backroom's direction.

"Jobby?" Buffy said as she turned too.

***
 

Chapter Ten

The doorbell to the gallery rang as Spike walked in.

"Hello! Anyone here? Buffy, luv, where are you?" Spike asked looking around the gallery. No answer. Then he heard giggles from the backroom. He went closer and was sure that one of the giggling women was Buffy. He slowly opened the door to the backroom, and saw Buffy sitting on a box and her redheaded friend Willow sitting on one as well. Both girls were laughing insanely. "You know while you're both having fun back here some costumer may take a painting on his own." He said and both women stopped laughing and turned to him.

"Spike!" Buffy exclaimed happily. "You came!"

"Didn't want me to?" He asked and took a step closer to the petite blond.

"I think you know the answer." She said and pulled Spike into a passionate kiss. Willow watched as both blonds shared the kiss. Wow! He's not just a hottie; I think he's Buffy's hottie! She thought smiling.

"Ahem!" Both blonds let each other go and turned to Willow. "Nice to see you again Spike." She said finally getting his and Buffy's attention.

"Mutually, Red." Spike gave her a smile. "So, ready to go, luv?" Spike still smiling turned to Buffy.

"I.. um.. well I didn't finish all my work." She said quietly.

"Oh, go. I'll take care of that." Willow said. Mostly it was her fault that Buffy didn't finish the work already.

"You sure, Wills, cos I could stay-"

"No, no. I'll work; you love birds go have fun." Willow said, Buffy still didn't move. "Buffy go before I change my mind."

"Ok, thanks." Buffy said and put her hand in Spike's.

"Yeah, thanks, Red. We'll bring you some cookies." Spike lightly kissed Buffy and lead her out.

"Cookies, huh? Yeah, right, being together you'll remember about me." Willow said turning back to her work.

***

"So where you wanna go, pet?" Spike asked as he and Buffy slowly walked down the street hand-in-hand.

"Dunno, you?"

"I want something to eat. How 'bout pizza?" Spike asked giving Buffy a small peck on her cheek. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful and she was with him. *Why?* Was all Spike could ask when it came to Buffy.

"Cordy--you remember her right?" Buffy asked turning her head in Spike's direction.

"The girl with Peaches?" Buffy nodded.

"Yeah, well she and her step-brother own a club and pizzeria a few blocks from here."

"Well, then lead the way."

"Ok, come on." Buffy turned to the left and started to walk to the "Hyperion".

***

Spike looked around the big, crimson colored club. There was a stage and around it many two-five person table. In the corners were bigger tables. Left of the stage was a bar. All around the walls were paintings of mystical beings. At this time of day in the club there weren't many people, but those who were there all were listening to the guy who was singing on stage.

"Buffy, sugar bean, how good to see you!" A guy with brown hair hugged Buffy.

"Lorne! It's so nice to hear you. How's work?" Buffy asked.

"Good, great actually, this guy," Lorne pointed to the stage. "Lindsey, he sings amazingly and the audience loves him."

"He really has a great voice." Buffy said and felt Spike's hand on her back.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Lorne meet Spike, Spike this is Cordy's step-brother Lorne." Spike put out a hand and Lorne shook it.

"Spike, huh? Well nice to see that Buffy finally found a man, and a cute on at that." Buffy blushed, so did Spike.

"It's not true; I had cute boyfriends before." Buffy said and Spike smiled from ear to ear. She had called him her boyfriend and he could bet, she didn't even notice.

"Right. And that would be who? Hair-gel Angel, ninny Parker or mollycoddle Riley, who, let me remind you, never actually saw?" Spike was intrigued. Three? Buffy only ever had three boyfriends? That's good, right? Hell, yeah!

"Enough! Show us a table or we're gonna leave." Buffy said, a bit annoyed.

"Ok, ok! Come on!" Lorne turned around and walked away from the blond couple. Spike and Buffy followed. "Have a nice time." Lorne said walking away from the table after they had sat down.

"Interesting guy." Spike said. He looked around; they had one of the best places in the club: close to the stage, but still private enough.

"Lorne's a sweetheart. So what do you want to eat?"

"Besides you?" It was out of Spike's mouth before he could think. Buffy smiled a genuine smile.

"Besides me." She said, smile never leaving her face.

"I-I'm sorry; I didn't mean it that way.. No, I did, but-I, well-um.." Spike said extremely embarrassed. Buffy let out a laugh.

"It's ok, Spike. No offense taken, I even think it was a compliment. So what do you really want to eat?"

"Pizza?"

"Spike, we're in a pizza restaurant, of course we'll eat pizza. What do you want on it?"

"Salami and pineapple." He answered thinking a little.

"We need a waitress." Buffy said a little loud, but not yelling so she wouldn't disturb others, who were listening to Lindsey's singing.

"So, love birds, what can I get you?" Said a brown haired girl, in blood red pants and a white shirt. Her uniform obviously.

"Interesting, that everybody calls us that." Buffy mumbled and then looked towards the waitress. "Bring us a Hawaiian pizza with salami and a bottle of 'Lorne's special'." The waitress nodded and turned around.

"What's 'Lorne's special', luv?"

"Cocktail. It's really tasty, Lorne makes it." Buffy said, at the same moment Spike was bending over to her and kissing her passionately.

"Sorry, couldn't resist." Spike said quietly when he finally broke the kiss. Buffy had kissed him back, but this kiss was different, it had joy, pleasure, care and... no. Love. It couldn't be love. Could it?

"Hey what's wrong?" Buffy asked when she felt the sudden change in Spike.

"What? Um, nothing." Spike jerked. "Just thinking."

"'Bout what?"

"You, who else?" Spike asked as he stroked Buffy's cheek.

"Here ya go." The waitress said putting a plate with pizza on the table and beside it a bottle of blue liquid.

"Thank you, Amy."

"No prob." She said as she walked away.

"So, tell me, luv, do I qualify as your boyfriend?" Spike asked with a grin on his face.

"Wh-what?" Buffy nearly choked on her slice of pizza.

"You said to Lorne, that you had cute boyfriends before, but he called me just your date." Spike answered, smile still on his face.

"Oh.. I.. um.." She truly didn't know what to answer. Was he her boyfriend? She didn't know. Did he want to be? She didn't know. Did she want him to be? That one she knew. And the answer was yes, God, yes!

"It's ok, pet, I would love to be your boyfriend. If you want me, of course." Spike said and placed a small kiss on Buffy's cheek.

"Oh, God yes." She said giggling.

"Sounds a bit suggestive, doesn't it?" Spike repeated her words from yesterday with a smile. He kissed her and this time it was Buffy's turn to break it feeling more emotions in it then she thought she needed to feel. Love? No, it couldn't be, could it?

***

 

Chapter eleven

"Thanks for the lunch." Buffy said slowly kissing Spike as both of them stood at the entrance of the gallery.

"Mmmm." He growled not letting her leave his embrace.

"I have to work." She said with a smile on her face.

"Mmmm." Was Spike's only response.

"Baby, stop that!" She said playfully as he slowly let her go.

"Baby, huh? I like that." He said slowly letting his fingers run through her blond locks. "Listen I wanted to leave in the morning to go to Dru's tomorrow and I wanted to know is it ok with you.. You- you’re still coming right?" Spike hesitated. What if she didn't want to?

"Of course I'm coming if you want me to." Buffy kissed Spike again. "So how early you want to leave?"

"Around eight, it's a one and a half hour drive."

"Ok, you’ll come pick me up?"

"Of course." He kissed her again. *So damn tasty.* He thought to himself.

"I'll wait. But now I hafta work. Oh and how long do you want to stay there tomorrow?"

"I was thinking two days, but if you want to we can come back tomorrow evening."

"No, I think it'll be ok, I'll ask Willow to look after the gallery so there won't be any problems." She said and kissed him. Spike let her go into the gallery. Before entering, Buffy turned to Spike one more time. "I really had a great time with you Spike."

"So did I, luv, so did I." Spike said quietly watching as Buffy stepped into the gallery.

***

"So, Will, you truly don't mind watching the gallery for the next two days?" Buffy asked as she and Willow finally locked the gallery's doors.

"Of course, beside it's nice to see you with a guy again, especially with such a hot guy!" Willow answered excitedly.

"I know." Buffy giggled.

"I'm so happy for you." Willow said suddenly and hugged her friend.

"Oh.. um.. that's nice, Wills, but I kinda like to breathe too." Buffy said trying to get out from her overjoyed hug.

"Yeah, yeah, but who needs breathing if you have love?" She asked letting Buffy go. She suddenly saw changes in Buffy's features. "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

"It's just... Love? I kinda forgot how to love, ya know. Last time..."

"Spike is not Angel. They don't have anything in common." Willow said as both girls started to walk to Willow's car.

"I know, but well... and I'm not saying that I'm in love with Spike... It's just, see, I really like Spike, but I think we’re moving too fast." She said unsure.

"Sweetie, you just need to follow your heart, not your timing."

"Uh huh, but he's different, ya know?" She asked looking over towards Willow.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. You should see the look on his face when he's looking at you." Willow answered in a dreamy voice as she opened the car door for Buffy. *Yeah, probably.* Buffy thought to herself.

"Thanks, Wills. You're really good at this pep talk thing." Buffy gave her best smile to her friend as she got into the car.

"It better be good, or I’m overpaying for my psych classes." Both girls laughed as they drove to Buffy’s house.

***

Buffy's alarm clock went off. She sleepily pressed snooze so it would stop that terrible noise. She slowly got out of bed and looked around. *Why's everything black?* She asked herself. *Oh, right: I'm blind.*. Buffy, still not fully awake, slowly started to walk to Dawn's room. She knocked lightly.

"It's seven-fucking-am! Go away!" Called a voice from inside the room. Buffy opened the door carefully.

"Ya know if it was mom she would kill you for such a colorful language."

"Yeah? Well then it’s good luck it's not her." She responded sarcastically looking at her sister.

"Oh, come on I'll be gone for two day's, you could at least help me with my clothes."

"Ok, ok. What do you want?" Dawn asked sleepily getting out of bed. "Especially from my closet?!" She yelped when Buffy opened her closet.

"I want to find that light yellow sundress that I gave you four years ago." She answered and started to dig though her sister's closet.

"Oh, come on!" Dawn pushed Buffy away from closet. "First of all you’re blind, that means you *can't* see any of my clothes, secondly, you hate yellow." Dawn said as she stopped Buffy’s search through her closet.

"I liked that dress and I think I would look good in it, do you still have it?"

"Aha, here." Dawn handed Buffy the dress. "Need anything else?" She asked in a voice heavy with sarcasm.

"No, that's all." Buffy smiled. "You're my favorite sister." She said exiting the brunette's room.

"I'm your only sister!" Dawn called after her.

***

Thirty minutes later Buffy entered the kitchen wearing Dawn's sundress, white sandals and a white jacket tied around her waist. Buffy smiled at where she felt her mom standing.

"Mornin'!" Buffy said enthusiastically.

"I see you're in a good mood this morning." Joyce watched as Buffy sat on a chair beside the table. "That's something new." She muttered to herself.

"Mom, remember my amazing hearing?" She pointed at her ears. "And yes, I'm in a good mood. Actually I'm really excited."

"I can see that too. I think William has made a good impression on you." Joyce really liked this young man, he made Buffy smile constantly.

"Uh huh." She mumbled taking a sip from the coffee cup that her mother had given her.

"Are your all packed?"

"Mom, you sound like I'm going away for two months, its just two days, don't worry, I'll be ok."

"It's what mothers do, honey, they worry." Joyce said putting a peck on her daughter's cheek. "I love you."

"Love you too, mommy."

The doorbell rang.

"Oh, that'll be Spike. Let him in please and tell him my bag’s on the couch." Buffy said and started to walk toward the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Her mother called after her.

"I forgot Mr. Gordo." She answered starting to walk upstairs. Her mother let out a laugh as she walked to the front door. Buffy was a 23 year old woman who still slept with her stuffed pig. "Morning, William. Please come in." Joyce said as she stepped away so Spike could enter. She noticed the same excitement in Spike that she had seen in her eldest.

"Morning. Is Buffy ready?" Spike asked.

"She'll be right down. She asked you to take her bag." She answered and pointed at the couch.

"This is heavy, what does she have in it?" He asked picking up the bag.

"Nothing that I don't need." Buffy answered as she started to walk down the stairs. Spike looked up at her. She was dressed in a sundress with a stuffed pig in her hands; her hair was gently falling over her shoulders. She looked like an angel.

"Morning, pet." Spike kissed Buffy on the lips when she reached him. Joyce smiled watching how he kissed her daughter, yep; he definitely left a good impression on her. "Ready to go?"

"Yep, all ready." Buffy said slowly licking her lips, still tasting Spike on them.

"Ok, then go." Joyce encouraged.

"Right." Spike opened the door as Buffy hugged Joyce.

"No, worries, Joyce, I'll take care of her." He said and closed the door after himself and Buffy.

"As I said: I know you will." She said to herself watching as Spike opened the car door for Buffy.

***
 

A/N: Thanx Kristen for beta-ing :)

Chapter Twelve

"I knew we should've left later." Spike commented as Buffy yawned.

"No- no, its ok, I'm always sleepy when I wake up, it's kinda part of the blindness: whenever you wake up its always dark around, so..." She didn't finish as one more yawn found the way out of her mouth. "What are we gonna do?"

"Huh?"

"Well we have an hour or so to kill, so what are we going to do?" Buffy asked turning down the strange punk noises coming out of Spike's radio.

"Well I would suggest kissing and cuddling, but the fact that I'm at the wheel..." Buffy let out a laugh.

"Yeah, kissing and cuddling probably would be my suggestion too, but seeing as we can't do that, what else?" Spike smiled wildly. Oh, yeah, he had a few ideas.

"How about a game?"

"As long as we don't need to count cars that are passing by, I'm in."

"'Ow about 'Truth or Dare'?" He asked looking at Buffy.

"Um, no, Buffy and Truth or Dare aren't mixy things. How about honestly answered questions; it's kinda like Truth or Dare just with out the dare part?" She asked as a smile played on her features.

"I hate the Truth part, but ok. Who's starting?"

"You just did. My turn." She said smiling wildly.

"Hey, that's cheating."

"I know. So my question: What are you wearing?" She asked and looked at Spike as he looked at his outfit.

"Black jeans, black shirt, black duster, black boots."

"Oh, that's colorful, bet even your underwear is black."

"Don't have any on." Buffy turned bright red to Spike's comment.

"My turn." Spike said smiling at Buffy's blush. "So, luv, are you a natural blond?"

"What?!" Buffy yelped.

"You heard! Now answer." Spike spurred her on.

"It's not a fair question." She protested. Spike didn't say anything for about ten minutes when Buffy finally yielded. "Ok, ok. I’m not. Happy now?" Spike smiled.

"I knew it anyway, but yeah, I'm happy." He said looking at Buffy. Her head rested on the head rest, eyes closed. She looked asleep, even thought she wasn't. "Your turn, pet."

"Right." She opened her eyes and gave Spike her best sweetheart-smile. "How did you get your nickname?"

"You really want to know that?" Spike asked uncertainly as Buffy nodded. "Well it's not an interesting story anyway..." He said not taking his eyes off the road. "Mostly it was Dru's fault. I was seventeen at the time, she was fourteen." He smiled to himself remembering the memory. "It was a time when I was the big one and she still was the little chit to me. So it was her first date, and I, as any protective brother should do, didn't let her go."

"You ruined her first date?!" Buffy shouted in disbelief.

"Well, mostly." Spike said not a bit embarrassed. "Afterwards she met the guy anyway, so..."

"Wait, wait! If you didn't let her, how did she meet him? And how does this story include your nickname?" Buffy asked.

"Well, see Goldilocks, if you didn't interrupt me after every second sentence I would get to that." He answered teasingly.

"Sorry." Buffy mouthed.

"So, Dru was more than angry at me about that, and, unfortunately for me, she had was crazy about metal at the time. She had one of those bracelets, if you could call them that," He added. "With nails. Well, anyway in anger she hit me, again unfortunately for me, she accidentally hit my face with the bracelet on her hand. One of the nails ripped into my eyebrow and stayed there. Got eight stitches, a big scar, and the nickname 'Spike' from the hospital's doctors." He finished not taking his eyes off of the road. They had about forty minutes left to drive.

"Wow, that's something, but how did Dru meet her date in the end?" Buffy asked still a bit shocked.

"Oh, right. Well the bloke’s mother was the doctor who got the nail out of my eyebrow and gave me the nickname."

"You have a very interesting life, Spike." Buffy said looking at Spike.

"If you say so." He said wiping one of the blonde locks out of her face. "My turn to go, pet."

"Spill."

"What do you see?" He asked softly.

"Um, ya know I'm kinda blind? I don't see a thing." She said smiling, understanding that it wasn't what he meant.

"No, not that. And, yes, I know you’re blind, pet." He looked at her. "What I meant was what do you see through your blindness, when you close your eyes?"

"Peace. It's strange how not seeing helped me see." She let out a little laugh. "Now I have more an easier understanding people, their purposes, everything. So basically: when I close my eyes, I see everything."

"If you had a choice, would you choose to see again or stay blind?" He asked unsure as he saw her look change, he knew his question came on a bit strongly. Buffy blinked and turned her head to the window. *What would I choose?* She asked herself.

"You already asked a question, now it's my turn." She said and Spike knew better than to get back to his question, he obviously had hit a nerve. "What's your sister like? I mean what does she look like? Does she look like you or... Well you get the point." She slowly turned her head to Spike.

"Well in features not much. She's more like my mum, I have dad's cheekbones, but Dru doesn't." Buffy trailed her hand over Spike's right cheek.

"I like those cheekbones."

"You're evil." Spike pointed out.

"How's that?" Buffy asked as she took her hand back.

"You know I'm driving, you can't say a thing like that, cos while I'm driving I can't kiss you." She smiled devilishly.

"Well then I think you should make ample compensation later, don't you think?" Spike nearly ran off the road. "Ok, keep telling me about your sister." Buffy encouraged.

"Uh... Right, well the most similar thing between us I guess is our fashion sense."

"Huh?"

"Dru's favorite color is black as well. She always wears black, and she has long brown hair and dark eyes." Spike explained.

"Oh, joy! You're all in black and your sis is all in black as well and look at me I'm wearing a yellow sundress! Between you two I'll look like... like..." She couldn't find the right word. Spike gently stroked her cheek.

"Like an angel, Buffy. You'll look like an angel." He said and Buffy blushed. *How does he always finds the right words?* "We're here, luv." Spike said and stopped the car outside of a big, old mansion.

***
 

Chapter Thirteen

"Spike!" A girl yelped as she opened the door to the blonde couple.

"Lysson!" Spike hugged the girl. Buffy aheam-ed beside Spike. "Right, sorry. Lysson I would like you to meet my girlfriend Buffy. Luv, this is Lysson, one of the girls who's lives here." Buffy blushed a little when Spike called her a 'girlfriend' and gave her best smile to where the girl stood. *God, why do I always blush around him?*

"Oh, I’m so sorry. Please come in. Dru's expecting both of you." Lysson said as she stepped away from the door so Spike and Buffy could enter.

"William, dear!" Called a woman's voice. A sweet voice, with the same accent that Spike had. Buffy guessed that would be Spike's sister.

"Dru!" Spike hugged the brown haired girl. When Spike let her go Dru turned to Buffy.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Drusilla." She said and took one of Buffy's hands in her own.

"Mutual. I'm Buffy." Buffy liked Dru already; she had a nice touch, not that nice as Spike thought, but still...

"Come, I want to show you something." Dru said and started to pull Buffy to one of the biggest windows in the room where they were.

"Dru, she's..." Spike started to intrude. He didn't want Buffy to feel bad, because of the fact that Dru didn't know that she was blind.

"See? This is one of the most beautiful views here." Dru said as she and Buffy stood beside the big window. "You can see the trees and the lake, in the autumn it looks like a fairy tale. When the wind throws peach colored leaves in the lake it looks like they are dancing. Between the deciduous trees stretches a path. And from here you can see a waterfall too, in it we have a beautiful angel, who's dancing with sprites, ok I know it’s a bit of twisted mythology, but it looks amazing. In summer the lake’s water is like milk, but in winter we are going to skate there. You should come some winter, I bet with ankles like yours you're an amazing skater." Dru told Buffy so fast that she could practically see the view. The only thing she could do was gasp; Dru was an amazing story teller.

"It's beautiful, Dru." She said slowly.

"Yeah, it is." Dru responded. "So tell me how was the drive?" She asked turning to Spike.

"Wasn't bad, I had great company." Spike answered a bit shocked about Dru's previous behavior: obviously she knew that Buffy was blind.

"Yeah, I can see. You all glow. Buffy, sweetheart, I think my brother likes you." Dru informed knowingly.

"You think?" Buffy asked as she kissed Spike and giggled a little. Spike smiled as well. *Amazing.* was all he could think when he was kissing Buffy, she was so... so... God he couldn't find another word better than amazing.

"Ok, ok. You both look very sweet together; you have your whole life ahead of you, now I want my present!" Dru said loudly. Spike looked at her confused. Did she just say that he and Buffy will have spend their life together?

Buffy heard it as well. Yeah, Dru knew a lot, but could she really know THAT much? And could it be true?

"Oh, stop! Both of you, stop looking at me like I'm insane!" Dru yelled. "I want my gift!" She pouted at Spike.

"First of all, you are insane, Dru." Spike grinned. "Besides, why do you think I brought you a present?"

"You!" Drusilla cried out and jumped on her brother.

"Ok, ok! I did bring you a present! Gee, someone should tell me never to joke in front of crazy woman." He said trying to get rid of her hands which were wrapped around him. "I'm going after it, ok?" Spike turned to the door and started to walk. "Be right back, ok, Buffy?"

"Sure. I guess it's good I never saw your gift, huh?" She asked amused.

"Probably." Spike said to himself and rubbed his neck in the place where Dru's hand had left marks as he stepped out of the mansion to go get his gift to his sister.

"Dru, Dru, did your brother arrive?" Called a woman's voice. Buffy turned toward the caller. She felt the girl stop beside Dru, who stood at Buffy’s left.

"Yes, Crine, he's here and he brought a girlfriend too." Dru said and turned from Crine to Buffy. "Crine meet Buffy, Buffy meet Crine. She lives here as well."

"Nice t' meet ya." Crine said and shook Buffy's hand. "You must be a happy girl, Buffy. I’ve been trying to get that guy's attention for..."

"Way too long." Intruded a new voice. Again female's. "Hi, I'm Celeste, but everyone calls me Ell. I'm living here too."

"Pleasure." Buffy smiled. The girls here were sweet.

"So tell us how did you and Spike meet?" Lysson asked as she sat in the bay window. Dru lead Buffy to an armchair and sat on the couch beside it.

"We bumped into each other. Literally." Buffy answered when she sat in the chair.

"Help." Spike called when he opened the door. In his hands were a wrapped painting as well as Buffy's and his own bags. Lysson and Crine rushed to Spike and took both bags from his hands. The only thing that Spike now held was a painting. "Thank you, ladies. Nice too see you again, Crine." He smiled to the blonde girl. "Ell." He gave a smile to the seated redhead too.

"Yeah, yeah, who cares if you're happy to see them again. Where's my gift?" Dru pushed aside Crine and looked at the painting that Spike held.

"Dru, I'm starting to think I raised you bad." Spike said teasingly and went to sit beside Buffy. She smiled as she felt Spike sitting beside her and placing his right hand over her left.

"Oh, come on, Will. Please, please, please, give me my gift."

"Well here." He handed the painting to her. "But only because you said three pleases in the same sentence." He added, but Dru didn't hear it anymore, she was too busy opening her gift.

"Oh, it's so beautiful." She commented looking at the painting. "Thank you, Will." She kissed him on the cheek. "Buffy." Dru said and kissed the petite blonde as well.

"Knew you would like it."

"It's so... so..." Dru couldn't find the real word.

"Doleful?" Ell asked helpfully.

"No. Perfect." She responded and then again turned to Spike and Buffy. "Thank you so much, it's really great." She looked at the painting again.

"Guess we should show them their room, so they can get ready before dinner." Lysson suggested.

"Yeah, you’re right." Dru got up.

"Our room?"

"Well, yeah. You know, one room, with a closet, table, windows, door, bed." Crine said sarcastically.

"Wait, our room as in ONE room?" Spike asked still puzzled.

"Of course. But- but is that a problem? Cos, Gosh, I'm sorry I just assumed that you would stay in the same room." Dru admitted. "Actually, we don't have any other spare rooms. In the north wing we’re renovating."

"It's ok." Buffy stepped in. "We’ll be ok in one room." Spike looked at her bemused. Did she just say that it's ok for them to sleep in one bed?

"Well good then. Come I'll show you the room." Dru said and helped Buffy to get up. As both girls started to move out of the room Spike still sat in the chair puzzled. Of course that was till the moment when Crine and Lysson threw both bags at him.

***

 

Chapter Fourteen

"You sure, you don't mind staying in the same room? Where there's only ONE bed?" Spike asked again.

"Spike, does it trouble you? If it does I'm sure Dru would let me sleep in her room." Buffy asked as she passed a hand over a table beside the bed. The room was nice, there wasn't too much furniture, and it had a big space to move. She liked it, but most of all she liked the bed. It had sweet smelling sheets and a soft mattress. And it was big, very big. The only thing she didn't like about it was that there would be next to no chance of her touching Spike all night. Wait, wait did Spike just say something? "Huh? What was that, sweetheart?"

"I said that I don't have a problem with us in the same bed." Spike repeated and then twitched. "And it did sound just as suggestive as the first time." He added quietly. Buffy smiled and walked up to Spike.

"Spike, don't worry. There isn't anything to worry about." She reached for his cheek and pulled Spike's face closer to hers. She kissed him playfully and Spike answered her kiss with his own, just more passionately. "So we're good?" Buffy asked when Spike reluctantly let her go.

"You can bet on that." Spike responded and kissed her again. They were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in." Spike called as Buffy let him go.
The door opened and Dru walked in the room.

"The dinner will be in an hour or so. So I thought, maybe, if you're done with settling in, we could go for a walk in the park?"

"Oh, you both go, I bet you have a lot to talk about." Buffy said as she sat in the armchair beside the window.

"No, no, dear, I wanted you to come too." Dru said immediately. Buffy smiled.

"It's ok, besides I *want* to stay in for a bit. I need to change before dinner and I want to rest a little too."

"You sure, luv? I could not go and stay here with you." Spike crouched down beside Buffy and gently touched one of her hands.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Go, have fun!" She responded and kissed Spike.
"Damn, you two look SO fucking sweet together. Can we please go, being here and watching you all lovey-dovey makes me want a boyfriend." Dru groaned.

"We're gone." Spike said instantly and stood up as he kissed Buffy. Buffy smiled and looked toward the window when she heard Dru and Spike exiting the room.

"Ok, let's imagine I can see what's in my bag." She said to herself and started to walk to the bed where her bag was.

***

"She's really sweet." Dru commented as she and Spike started to walk down the path.

"Yeah, she is. God, Dru, I met her just half a week ago and I already think I've had the best time in my life. How's that possible?" Spike asked his sister. Dru looked at Spike with a knowing smile on her lips.

"Cos she's the one." She said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"I just met her, princess." Spike said, but deep inside he was truly hoping that his sister was right.

"Well, you still hang with blondes, at least this one has a brain." Spike heaved a sigh. "Yeah, that's for sure. God knows Harmony was the worst time in my life."

"You really glow you know, I've never seen you like this before." Dru said as she looked around the park. "When was the last time you called Gabry?" She asked quietly turning her gaze back to her older brother.

"Around a week ago, why?" Spike asked. Gabriela was one of his best friends ever; ok, maybe she was his only best friend ever.

"She called this morning. Apologized that she can't come to my birthday." Dru explained.

"Well, I guess she can't, she's still in France, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she is." She responded. "You should call her and tell her about Buffy."

"I know." Spike looked at lake. "So you really like her, huh?" Dru chuckled.

"I don't know why you care. But, yeah, I like her. She's good for you."

"Of course I care what you think, Dru."

"Right, you cared that I hated Harmony?" She asked and looked at the lake.

"Good point. Sorry." Spike lightly smoothed back Dru's hair. "So how are you?"

"Good." She answered. "So what do you want for your birthday?" Dru asked standing up and starting to walk to the lake.

"Don't remind me, I hate birthdays." Spike said following his sister.

"This one you will love." She said and smiled to herself.

"What? You, know, Dru, sometimes I think you're just crazy." Dru smiled and holding Spike's cheek and placing a small kiss on it.

"Sometimes even I think so." They both burst into laughter.

***

"How was the walk?" Buffy asked as she heard Spike enter their room. He looked at her a bit puzzled. She had changed into black jeans and a white blouse, but her feet were still bare.
"How did you know it was me?" He asked and kissed her. Buffy gave him her best smile.

"First: your steps are a bit heavier than others who live here, and second: who else would walk in here without knocking?" Spike lay down beside Buffy on the bed.

"True." He kissed her again. "Walk, huh? It was good, but it would have been better if you had tagged along."

"Not true. I bet you and Dru had a lot to talk about."

"Um, not really. She just wanted to know what I want for my birthday." Spike said as he stroked Buffy's cheek.

"Oh, when is it?" She asked enjoying Spike's gentle touch.

"Two weeks after Dru's. It was the only way I remembered the date of hers and Gabry's birthdays." He admitted.

"Who's Gabry?" Buffy asked looking at Spike.

"My best friend." Spike explained letting Buffy's head rest on his chest.

"Oh. I would like to meet him sometime." She said as she listened to Spike's heartbeats. They were rhythmic, like music to her ears.

"Her." He corrected quietly.

"What?"

"Gabry is a woman, pet. Gabriela." He slowly stroked Buffy's back. "I thought that you would meet her here, at Dru's, but she couldn't get here, so you probably will meet her at my birthday." Spike commented and then twitched a little. "That is of course if you'll come." Buffy smiled and settled comfortably onto Spike's chest.

"I would like that." She said as Spike kissed her head. "So why didn't she come?"

"Who?" Spike asked a bit dazed, it was hard to think when Buffy was nearly crawling on top of him.

"Your friend." She answered feeling Spike's growing erection.

"Oh... Well, Gabriela is in France right now, she couldn't come."

"What's she doing in..." Buffy started, but was interrupted by Spike's kiss.
She didn't refuse. It was gentle at first, but grew more and more passionate with each touch. They didn't even feel the moment when Spike rolled Buffy and himself over and now was on top of her. Their kiss had turned into an extreme make out session. Spike's hand slowly slipped under Buffy's blouse and her hand started to stroke his back. There was a knock at the door.

Hearing it they jumped apart as far as they could. Spike blinked a few times. *God, that was close.*

"Hey, you two hear me?" Called Lysson's voice through the door. "Dinner's ready."

"We're coming." Buffy answered Lysson's call and stood up from the bed. *God, that was close.* She said to herself as she and Spike exited the room.

***
 

Chapter Fifteen

"Spike! Buffy! Wait up!" Ell called running after the blonde couple, who just reached their room and were ready to enter.

"What's the matter?" Buffy stopped and asked turning to the redhead.

"I already asked Dru and she said that if you agree we could all go have a picnic at the lake in a little while." She explained trying to catch her breath.

"Um, sure. Spike?" She turned to Spike. True she missed a bit.

"Well if you want, then sure." He answered slowly taking Buffy's cheek and turning her head to face him. This was their first contact in two hours. They had gone to dinner and had not even looked at each other. The memories from the bedroom still fluttered around them.

"Cool." Ell smiled lightly and turned to leave, but again turned to Buffy and Spike. "In Serbia it would be nice to rear poultry." She said as if it was a revelation about one of the world's wonders. And with that she was gone.

"What?" Buffy asked Spike, extremely confused. He just twitched.

"Crazy, luv. They are all crazy here." With that he opened the bedroom door so Buffy could enter.

***

Lysson sat on the blanket that was outspread on the ground and watched how Spike chased Dru and Crine around the meadow. At her left sat Buffy, who was slowly sipping her lemonade and listening to the sounds around her. This was a beautiful place, Buffy could tell, because she felt the good aura that the lake and meadow held. Just one more thing about being blind: maybe you don't see anymore, but you definitely got back what you lost in feeling.

"Where's Ell?" Buffy asked turning her head to Lysson.

"She had a doctor's appointment, but she will be back soon." Lysson replied.

"Oh. Does it have something to do with Serbia and poultry?" Buffy asked with a grin and Lysson let out a laugh.

"Not exactly. That's just this month's obsession. It was way worse when it was sex. Ya know? We would be going through the mall, talking perfectly normal and then suddenly she yells in full voice: 'I love to give blow jobs, it's way better then ice cream!', that was embarrassing." She told Buffy laughing. Buffy laughed as well.

"So is that why she's here?"

"Well mostly. You know there are people that speak and seem normal most of the time, but Ell just starts to say very strange things. But you get used to it soon enough." She explained smiling.

"And you, why are you here?" Buffy asked and then cringed at how rude it sounded. "I'm... I'm sorry... it was rude... I-I shouldn't have..." She stuttered.
"It's ok Buffy, really." Lysson consoled Buffy slowly touching her hand. "I'm here, because I have tantrums."

"As in manic-depressive?"

"Well you could say that too." She admitted. "I can be pretty dangerous when they come, but if I have a good day I'm ok."

"When was the last time you had a tantrum?" Buffy asked biting from an apple that she just took out of the picnic basket.

"Oh, it's been months. Living here helps, a lot." Lysson took an apple as well. "It helps all of us. The worst is probably Crine though." She avowed.

"How's that?"

"Well Crine has some sort of fits as well." She said and took a bite from the apple. "It's like she, well I think that the right word would be she jumps from one reality to another."

"Huh?"

"Like now, she's running from Spike..." Lysson started as she looked at her friend. "Ok, she's runs after Spike." She corrected as both, she and Buffy, burst into laughter. Lysson looked at Buffy before continuing, obviously she felt pretty safe, even though her boyfriend was running around with another blonde beauty. "As I said, she's running after Spike now, but it's possible that an hour from now she won't remember it ever happened."

"I don't think I follow." Buffy admitted.

"It possible that an hour later she will think that she wasn't here today, but that she spent all day in her room watching TV. The strangest thing is that if it happens she will know exactly what she saw on TV. Every movie, every show, bet she would even remember Oprah."

"That's very strange."

"That's why we're here, Buffy, cos, as Spike always says, we're special." Lysson smiled and then corrected herself. "Well, except Ell, she's here, cos we like her." Buffy laughed as well. It was nice, these girls weren't crazy- they really were special.

"So, luv, you like it here?" Spike asked lying beside Buffy. She kissed him lightly; Spike could still taste the apple on her lips.

"Yeah, I like being here. Starting to think that being crazy is much better than not." She answered when Spike stopped kissing her so they could breathe. *Tasty.* Buffy thought to herself.

"Could you please stop, just while I'm eating? It's disturbing." Crine pleaded as she ate a bite of her sandwich. Spike let Buffy go and turned to Crine.

"Jealous, pet?"

"Extremely, but that's not what takes away my appetite." She answered giving Spike a stop-it-or-I-will-throw-up look.

"Got it." He said turning all his attention back to Buffy.

"They look beautiful together, don't you think?" Dru asked Lysson, quietly, knowing that no one else could hear her.

"Yeah, they do." She agreed. "What do you see?"

"Happiness, protectiveness, unsteadiness, love." Dru commented looking over at the blonde couple. "Many things, Lysson, but most of them have a start and an end."

"You mean they are gonna break up?"

"Yes." Was all that Dru said; she stood up and turned to Crine. "Payback's a bitch, Crine." She said as the blonde woman jumped up and started to run.

"Wait up, princess, I owe that blonde treasure payback as well." Spike said calling after his sister. "Can I, luv?" He asked turning to Buffy. He surely didn't want Buffy to feel left out.

"Sure, go on." She answered smiling and Spike leaned in to kiss her. *Amazing, beautiful, sure about herself. What's not to love?* He asked himself and then inwardly cringed. *Love? Ok, think later, catch Crine now.* Spike said to himself and started to help Dru catch the blonde girl.

"One in a million." Buffy smiled and turned to Lysson, who was still shocked about what Dru said. "So why aren't you running around the meadow?"

"Huh? Oh... um... I twisted my ankle, can't run fast." She explained still thinking about Dru's words. *They will break up? But they seem like such a perfect match. Why would they break up?*

"Come on, luv." Spike said lifting Buffy from the blanket.

"What? Wh-where are we going?" Buffy asked a bit unsure.

"Dru said I should show you something, so come on." Spike answered and kissed Buffy, that was all the persuasion she needed, she would let Spike lead her anywhere he wanted.

"Dru, are you sure?" Lysson asked the brunette beside her while gazing after the couple.

"More than anything else in my life."

***

 

Chapter Sixteen

"Sit down, pet." Spike said as he sat Buffy in a white, wooden swing. He kneeled in front of her. "Listen."

"To what?" She asked closing her eyes.

"Just listen." He answered and Buffy did. She inhaled and listened to the sounds around her. There were birds, water, warm wind and... huh? What was that? She listened carefully and smiled when she understood what she was hearing.

"What? Why are you smiling?" Spike asked as he saw the beautiful smile on Buffy's face.

"Why did you bring me here?" She asked slowly opening her eyes and caressing Spike's cheek.

"Truth be told? Dunno. Dru said I should bring you here, that you would get it." He closed his eyes enjoying Buffy's gentle touch. "So did you 'get it'?"

"Yeah, I did. Thank you." Buffy responded and Spike leaned up to kiss her.

***

"Dru, I really don't get it. You said to Buffy and Spike that they will spend their life together and now you're telling me that they will break up?" Lysson asked as she watched them kissing in the swing.

"The future changes every minute, dear." Dru explained looking at them as well.

"So they may not break up?" She asked a bit relieved.

"No, they MAY spend the rest of their lives together, but they will break up."

"I don't get it." Lysson practically whined.

"That's ok, I'm crazy anyway." Dru smiled to her friend. Lysson still felt very unsure. She liked Buffy, a lot. She was the first girl Spike had ever brought here, and she could see the good impression she had left on Spike. Maybe she should... "Don't even think about it!" Dru interpreted Lysson's thoughts. "Lysson, you have to understand, destiny does whatever it wants."

"But..." She started.

"Lysson!" Dru warned.

"Hey! What's up?" Ell asked coming to stand next to the seated girls.

"Oh, nothing. How was the doctor appointment?" Dru asked looking up at her.

"Good. So where's our lovely couple?" She asked looking around.

"I sent them to listen over ..." Dru didn't finish, her gaze was focused on the two who were now making out on the swing. "Oh, well, guess they got sidetracked." She commented giggling. Ell giggled as well; even Lysson smiled watching the blondes kissing. Maybe everything would be fine in their relationship. Maybe.

***

A few hours later found the group listening to Crine tell a story.

"...so when they finally found the cat, it was so scared that it died from a heart attack." Crine finished the story. All four girls and Spike burst into laughter.

"So they never found out?" Buffy asked still laughing.

"Uh huh. They totally thought that it was a serial killer." She answered laughing as well.

"Serial cat murder." Ell added. They all started to laugh even harder.

"God, with all these cat stories we stayed up really late. We should go get some sleep." Lysson pointed out as she stood up.

"Yeah, you're right." Dru stood as well. "And don't forget that tomorrow is my REAL birthday." She reminded her friends, brother and Buffy.

"That's not quite true, princess." Spike said as he helped Buffy to get up. As she stood up she slipped her hand into Spike's. He gently squeezed it.

"Huh? What did I let slip?" Lysson asked smoothing one of her brown locks away from face.

"Dru was born at midnight, so her birthday is between days, ducks." Spike explained.

"Oh, wow." Ell said. "So why tomorrow?"

"Cos it's the thirteenth, and in my passport it is written that I'm born on the thirteenth." Dru explained patiently.

"Neat." Crine commented. "But can we go sleep now? I'm really tired." She said around a yawn.

"Right away." Spike said and started to walk back to the mansion, hand-in- hand with Buffy. His sister and the other girls followed after them.

"So, luv, did you have a good day?" He asked Buffy.

"Yeah, it was great. I really like it here, and the girls are really sweet." She responded.

"Yeah, that they are, but..." He started.

"There's a 'but'?" She asked turning to face him.

"Yeah." Spike smiled. "You're much sweeter." He said and leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was passionate, but it had much more emotion in it than any other kiss. *I could bet there's no one who kisses as good as he does.* Buffy thought to herself.

"Ok, see ya in the mornin'!" Crine called and walked down the corridor to her room.

"Good night." Lysson and Ell said as well and both walked upstairs.

"Night, Will." Dru said as she leaned over and pecked her brother's cheek. "Night, Buffy." She pecked Buffy as well.

"Night, Dru." Buffy responded.

"Well, luv, it looks like we're all alone now." Spike established smiling. Buffy let out a yawn. "Tired, pet?" To his question Buffy nodded. "Ok, let's go upstairs."

"You lead." She said sleepily.

***

"Shit!" Buffy cursed quietly, trying to find her bag.

"What's the matter, luv?" Spike asked stepping out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel around his waist.

"Did you move my bag?" She asked turning her head toward Spike.

"Um, yeah, I put it on the chair beside the window." He admitted.

"Gee, thanks, and please tell me how the fuck I can know where the window is?" She asked him a bit annoyed.

"Oh... um, I'm... I'm sorry, Buffy, I didn't... God, I'm an idiot... I just, put it... and didn't think... I'm sorry..." He mumbled and went to get her bag. Buffy's mood softened at Spike's reaction, she understood that he didn't mean to make things harder for her. She softly pulled him in for a kiss.

"It's ok. I'm sorry, if I don't get enough sleep I turn into a total bitch. It's not your fault." She whispered letting Spike go. He kissed her again. They stood in the middle of the room and held each other between kisses. Buffy's hands wrapped around Spike's neck, and she felt his naked chest pressed to her breasts. Spike's hands found their way around Buffy's waist. The kiss was getting too heated, Spike's towel slipped down. As he felt it slip off he broke the kiss, now fully naked before Buffy. He lifted the towel from floor. "What's the matter?" Buffy asked as she felt Spike take a step back.

"Um, my... towel slipped down." He answered a bit embarrassed, deeply blushing. *Well, at least she can't see the blush. On the other hand if she had seen it she would have seen me naked as well. Would it be that bad? Hell, no!* He said to himself.

"Spike, sweetie, I'm blind." Buffy said smiling. "I don't care if you're naked... Well, ok that's a lame lie, I do care, but as long as I don't touch you I can't tell you're naked." She explained. *Guess, it's not the time to tell that I feel body heat, huh?* Buffy thought. "Ok, go to bed, I'll take a shower and be right back." She said and took a white t-shirt from her bag.

"Ok." Spike said quietly and took some pj pants out of his bag. He watched as Buffy stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. As Spike heard the water start running he said to himself. "This will be a bloody interesting night."

***

Chapter Seventeen

"Could you please stop moving, pet? I can't sleep when you bloody tossing and turning in the bed." Spike asked when Buffy turned over for the hundredth time.

"I'm sorry. I just can't get comfortable." Buffy answered, but in her thoughts added *Mainly because there is a half naked sex object next to me.*

"Ok, come closer."

"What?"

"Closer, pet, come closer to me." At Spike's words Buffy moved closer to him till her ass was pressed to Spike's left leg. *Oh, yeah, bloody great idea!* He thought to himself feeling his growing erection.

"Now what?" Buffy asked, but already felt much more comfortable.

"Now just sleep." Spike commanded.

"I... can I, um..." She stammered.

"Can you, um, what?" He asked tired.

"Put my head on your shoulder?" She asked quietly. Spike smiled and turned Buffy over so her face was beside his shoulder and kissed her forehead.

"Sure, just sleep after that, ok?" Buffy nodded. "Good." He said just before Buffy put her head on Spike's left shoulder. *A lot better.* Buffy thought to herself as she finally closed her eyes and fell asleep. As Spike felt Buffy's breathing slowing down he smiled to himself still not understanding why this felt so right.

***

Spike woke up from the feeling of something wet against his shoulder. At first he was too asleep to understand what it was, but after a muffled sob from Buffy he was fully awake and looking at the blonde girl beside him. He saw that Buffy was still sleeping; moonlight was softly playing on her shoulder, but after another quiet sob he noticed that Buffy was crying in her sleep. He slowly stroked one of her blond locks of her face and lightly shook her.

"Buffy, luv, wake up. You're dreaming." He whispered. She didn't respond but started to cry harder. "Sweetie, wake up." He said a bit louder. At that Buffy winced; she opened her eyes a little.

"Spike?" Buffy asked so quietly that he almost didn't hear it.

"Yeah, pet, I'm here." He assured her, lightly stroking her face. "You were crying."

"I'm sorry. Just had a dream."

"Nightmare?" Spike asked letting her rest on his chest. She slowly shook her head.

"Not a nightmare, just a dream." Buffy told him closing her eyes and just enjoying the feeling of being close to Spike. "I-I saw you... in my dream, that is." She admitted.

"Am I that awful?" He choked.

"No, not that. It's just..." She went quiet.

"What, luv? It will make you feel better if you'll tell me about it." Spike pointed out slowly sliding his hand over Buffy's back.

"I know." She admitted. "I couldn't see your face. I saw my family and friends all around; you were in front of them, beautiful, the only thing I couldn't see was your f-face." She sobbed a little.

"Shhh, luv, that's ok, you've never seen me so..." He started, but was interrupted by Buffy's sobbing voice.

"No, that's not it. I-I could see T-Tara, even Dru, b-but I couldn't s-see your f-face." She buried her face in Spike's chest. "And then, y-you went away, a-and my family and friends t-too, but I just wanted to s-see you." She sobbed again, now much louder.

"It's ok, luv, don't worry about it." He said bringing her face up and kissing her sweetly. "Try to get some more sleep, we only have left..." Spike tried to move so he could look at the clock that was on the wall, but Buffy stopped him.

"It's four thirty." She said quietly.

"How do you know?"

"Talent. Can we go to sleep?" She asked getting even more comfortable on Spike.

"Sure, luv. Just close your eyes and think about nice things." He answered kissing her again. Soon they both were close to sleep. Buffy again saw her family in her dreams, and friends too, only Spike didn't appear in her dream anymore.

***

"Happy Birthday, princess!" Spike wished Dru pecking her cheek as he and Buffy walked to the table.

"From me too, Dru." Buffy smiled over at Spike and Dru.

"So how did you both sleep?" Ell asked when Spike and Buffy sat at the table, beside each other.

"Assuming that they slept at all." Crine added devilish.

"Thank you, Ell. We slept very well." Buffy answered ignoring Crine's comment. *Course not that I wouldn't have thought about it...* Buffy thought to herself. *Baaaad, Buffy!*

"Yes, wasn't bad." Spike said watching Buffy. She hadn't mentioned her dream anymore. This morning when he asked about it, she had told him that she didn't want to talk about it. He couldn't understand why she had been so sad about it. He could tell that the sadness was still there. Buffy's eyes told him everything. Spike could bet that if she had been alone now she would be crying like last night. But why? Why did she cry over some dumb dream?

"Maybe dumb to you, but not her." Dru said reaching for the toast.

"What? What did I miss? Again." Lysson asked a bit puzzled. Spike at the same time looked to Dru.

"Now you're reading minds too?" He asked a bit scared and annoyed at the same time.

"Well it's not my fault if you're thinking so loud, now is it?" Drusilla asked annoyed as well.

"What? When did you start to read minds?" Crine cried out. "And... Wait, does that mean I'll hafta think about what to think?"

"Huh? Forget it." Dru looked to Crine, now puzzled herself. "The only person whose thoughts I ever could read is Will. Beside it's not my fault his thoughts are so idiotic."

"Hey!" Spike yelped.

"Can someone pass me the milk?" Buffy asked, completely ignoring the conversation around her. Yes, she had heard Dru's comment. And, yes, she was pretty sure Dru was speaking about her. Even thought Buffy couldn't see Spike, she still could feel him. She felt him staring at her as well. Buffy knew he was thinking about her dream, but Dru was right, it wasn't dumb, it meant a lot.

"Sure, luv. Here." Spike put a milk pitcher in her hand, lightly touching her fingers. Even the light touch made tingles shoot up both of their arms.

"So when are you both leaving?" Lysson asked. "Not that I want you gone, just interested."

"We were thinking about leaving this evening." Spike said biting from a piece of toast he held.

"I thought that you needed to be in L.A. at six." Dru said remembering.

"Shit!" Spike cursed. "I totally forgot about it!" At this Buffy perked.

"Why do you need to go to L.A.? And when will you be back?" She knew she sounded clingy but she didn't want him to leave.

"I need to speak with my bloody publisher about a new book. Damn, that means we have to leave soon." He again cursed under his breath. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to be with Buffy, but he knew that he had a job to do.

"And when will you be back?"

"In three days." Spike admitted quietly. Buffy twitched. *Three days? That's long. Wait I met this guy hardly a week ago, now I can't survive with out him for three days?*

Spike didn't like this either, not the fact he needed to go away, not the fact he knew how much he would miss Buffy. *This girl is getting me wrapped round her little finger.* He thought to himself. *Oh, well, it's not like I'm complaining.*

"So you'll leave after breakfast?" Ell asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." Spike answered. "Luv, you don't mind?" He asked Buffy. She didn't respond. "Buffy?"

"Huh? Oh, sure. Just thought you were speaking to Dru." She admitted and for the first time Spike actually got the fact that Buffy was blind. She didn't know he had been speaking to her. How could she anyway? He just had assumed that she would know, but he was wrong. Very wrong.

"Ok, so let's finish this and we'll help you pack." Lysson said before biting into her apple.

***

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