He's staring into the eyes of the woman he loves and he's about to die. He is overwhelmed by emotion - his love for her and the pain of dying are clashing.
He wishes he could tell her everything he wants her to know that she smells sweeter than honeysuckle, fresh in the night air. Her eyes sparkle like stars in the darkest of skies. Her lips call to him, they taste sweeter than any candy.
She is his love, she always has been. He burns for her and can never stop thinking about her. Right now he is dying and even through this blinding pain he can still love her.
He wants to rip the amulet away and take her in his arms so they can run. He'd be risking everything, but all he wants is to make love to her the way he did last night. She gave him everything last night - she was too afraid before. This time she let go and made love to him the way he'd longed for ever since he fell in love with her.
There is too little time. She will die too if she stays, so he begs her to leave. She has his hand clasped in hers and tells him she loves him. This is not right. How can she tell him this now? Tears sting his eyes and he tells her that it's a lie.
He has hurt her by saying this, but unfortunately it's the only way. His time is too near to worry about her possible love for him.
He tells her to leave and she finally does, tears glimmering in her eyes. At this very moment he is sure she loves him and it's unbearable. Watching her disappear from his soon-to-end life almost breaks his heart.
Then, in one final flash of pain, he bursts into light and everything is gone.

*

He awakes, and the tears came again. Weeping into his pillow, he decided he had to end this. Night after night he dreams the same, haunting dream.
Sitting up groggily, he reaches for the phone and dials her number.
It is engaged. Not a good sign.
He has been forbidden but that only tempts him more. He drives to the airport in his Sire's car, still crying. He can't help it - being without her makes him utterly miserable.
He tells the pilots to take the jet to Italy. He sees they are doubtful, and wonders which would work better - a charming smile or a threatening frown. He smiles and they agree.
He's on his way to Italy and he chuckles softly. He's on his way to be with the woman he loves.

*

TBC - did you like it? :-) comments are appreciated :-)
 

*

She wishes she could tell him everything he deserves to hear.
Maybe she's loved him for longer than she's known - maybe it was when he comforted her on the backstep when her mother went to hospital. Or maybe it was when he first kissed her, with so much passion and love. He was like fire tracing it's way through her body when all else was ice.
Maybe she's loved him since he first made love to her. Or maybe it was when she ended things - the old thing of "you don't know what you've got until it's gone".
She can't believe he's denying her love for him. This isn't fair - she loves him and yet he's about to die. Why is her life so unfair? But then again, she was the one who denied her love for him over, and over again - why should he believe her now?
He orders her to leave, but she can't. She has promised herself to him with three simple words, and because of this she can't move.
She wants to tell him everything, but could it really help? Finally she decides to go. She can feel his teary eyes on her as she escapes her death, and knows with sickening guilt she is leaving him to die.

*

She awakes, sweat on her brow and tears on her cheeks. Curling her body into a little ball, she stares out through the barred window into the rain and wishes her love would return.

*

"Spike." Xander said, his eyes wide.
"Hey whelp." Spike smiled, proving that it wasn't a cruel comment.
Xander smiled back. Truth be told, he's missed Spike. Maybe not as a close friend, but as someone to make harmless fun of. He knows it is the same for Spike.
"How... how are you... um... you died." Xander is lost for words. Willow appeared behind Xander and dropped the can of soda she was holding.
"I know. I got brought back, unfortunately it was to LA and I had to put up with Peaches for a bit." Spike scowls.
"Wow." Willow whispered.
"Is Buffy here?" Spike asked, a small smile returning to his face.
Willow and Xander were silent. Tears formed in Willow's eyes and Spike instantly knew something was wrong.
"Where is she?" He asked in an angrier tone.
"Come in." Xander said, showing him into the huge house. They went into the lounge and sat down.
"Where is she?" Spike asked again, almost choking on fear. Horrifying scenarios flash through his mind - in many of them Buffy is dead.
"She wasn't well after you died." Xander explained. "She wouldn't eat or sleep or leave her room. All she did was cry and beg for you to return. Eventually..." Xander trailed off and it was obvious he was close to tears at well.
"Eventually..." he went on despite the pain, "Giles suggested she go somewhere to get help. So Buffy commited herself to an institution."
Willow started to cry.
Spike stood up, fists clenched. "Excuse me?"
Willow and Xander remained speechless. Spike glared at them. "She's in a mental instituion?"
Xander nodded meekly.
Spike took a deep breath and then stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Willow followed. "Spike, wait!"
"What?" He hissed.
"She's in England. Please bring her home." Willow begged, taking his hand in hers. "I miss her so much."
"I will, Red. I promise I'll bring her home." He hugged her reassuringly then drove the rental car back to the airport.
"Take me to England." He ordered the pilot.
"Um, Angel said not to-"
"Take me to England." Spike repeated, vamping out as a severe warning.
"Okay then." The pilot agreed.

*

Giles opened the door and was greeted by a furious Spike. "You bastard."
"Spike... you're... alive?"
"You son of a bitch! How can you let her rot away in some cell?" Spike's fury had never truly affected Giles until now. He trembled as Spike pushed past him and entered his house.
"It was her decision, Spike. I'm sorry."
"Where is she? Tell me."
"I'll take you there." Giles offered. "You might be able to help her."
"I will be able to." Spike promised himself as they drove to the institution through the pouring rain.

*

TBC - Feedback is always nice :-)

*

"I'll go in first." Giles offered. "She's very... well... she likes her isolation at the moment."
He slipped into the room. "Buffy?"
She was still curled up, facing the wall. If she'd been facing Giles he would see her tears and she didn't want that.
"Go away." She said in a cold voice.
"I will. But first... somebody is here to see you. Somebody I know you'll want to see." He left before she could protest.
"Hello, luv."
She sat up and stared at him, her entire body tense. Spike was staring back at her. She had purple rings around her eyes and her face was blotchy and red from endless tears. Her once-gorgeous hair was greasy and limp. If she hadn't been wearing her loose-fitting nightgown, he'd be horrified to see her skin was a dull white and her hips and ribs jutted out.
Buffy backed away, cowering into the corner. She held the bedsheets up to her in defense. "You can't really be here."
Spike was completely clueless as to what he should do. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss her. But her eyes were wide with fear and he knew he should tred carefully.
"Buffy? Luv? It's really me. I got brought back." Spike took a step closer.
Buffy let the sheets fall away and she stood up, wavering on her feet. With no sleep and barely any food she was weak.
"Buffy, look at you. You aren't well." Tears filled Spike's eyes and he again took a step closer.
Buffy took a long, raspy breath and sat back down.
Spike sat down next to her and felt her tense again.
Minutes passed with a painful silence between them. Buffy didn't know whether to trust him or not - so many times she'd imagined him returning to her, and she wasn't ready to accept this might be real. She had missed him so much the pain was actually physical at times. She craved his touch and sighed in relief when Spike put his hand on hers.
"Are you really here?" She asked softly.
Spike nodded and smiled. "I really am." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
Buffy moved into his lap and let him wrap his arms around her. With another raspy breath she released more tears and cried into him. Spike rocked her gently in his arms.
"I missed you so much!" Buffy whimpered.
"I missed you too, luv." Spike cupped her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "I love you so much."
Hearing this made her remember how he'd rejected her love for him and she pulled away.
"You hurt me." She hissed. "You didn't believe me at the most pivotal of moments and you have no idea how deeply that broke me."
"Luv, please, I was just scared." Spike pulled her back into his arms and refused to let her go. "I didn't want to die knowing what I missed out on."
Buffy kissed him. "I love you, Spike. Please believe me."
"I do, luv." Spike replied with a big smile. He'd never felt so happy in his whole life. "Will you come home with me?"
Buffy nodded. "Of course, baby."

*

Spike took her to a hotel in London for the night. He wasn't going to let Dawn or anyone else see Buffy in the state she was.
He took her into the bathroom and undressed her. He couldn't hide his shock when he saw how thin she was.
"Luv, look at you. You're nothing but skin and bone!"
Buffy blushed and sat down on the edge of the jacuzzi, wrapping her arms around her body to hide it. Spike kissed her softly.
"It'll be okay. You take a nice bath and I'll get us dinner, eh?"
Buffy nodded and Spike watched as she started to run the water. She turned the jets on and poured in bubble bath. When she turned back to him there were tears glistening in her eyes.
"You don't find me attractive any more?" Buffy whispered sadly.
"Oh, luv." Spike scooped her into his arms and kissed her. "You're still as beautiful as ever, just a bit thin. But we can fix that. I still love you and want you just as much as I ever did. Okay?"
Buffy smiled and kissed him gratefully. "Okay."
She slipped into the jacuzzi and relaxed as Spike left to order dinner.
She washed her hair and cleaned herself, scrubbing away the hideous grimey feeling the mental home had left her with. She got out of the tub and washed her face and spritzed her neck and wrists with perfume. Buffy then blowdried her hair and admired herself in the mirror. Wrapping a terry robe around her, she went to find Spike.
The main room was lit by candles and Spike was paying the waiter who had delivered their dinner.
Buffy sat down at the table and smiled at him.
"You look gorgeous." He said softly, and kissed her. Buffy let the robe fall open a little and Spike kissed all the way down to the soft skin between her breasts.
"Dinner, luv?" He pulled the lid off the dish and revealed a roast chicken with baked potatos and salad.
Buffy licked her lips hungrily as he dished some onto her plate.
"Eat up. You're nothing but a skeleton." He smiled and sat down next to her, kissing her neck as she ate.
"That was delicious." Buffy purred after two servings.
"Good." Spike picked her up again and carried her into the bedroom. He didn't want to waste any time and threw her onto the bed. Buffy tore off her robe.
His hands dropped to his pants and started to unfasten the button and the zipper. Buffy started to unbutton his shirt and pulled it off eagerly. Once his pants were undone, his large cock poured out of the fabric and Buffy smiled at him. "I want you." She kicked his pants off.
Spike aligned himself with her dewy opening. He rubbed against her. "Ready, pet?" He said and pushed inside.
Buffy gasped with pure delight. Spike began to pump inside with deep thrusts. Buffy raised her hips to meet him, yearning for more. With each thrust they came closer to a passionate climax, finally coming together in a frenzy of screams.
Spike cuddled up next to her as she snuggled under the quilts. "I love you, Buffy." He whispered in her ear as she started to doze off.
"Love you too." she replied dreamily, falling into a deep sleep with the man she loved.

*
TBC - comments are greatly appreciated... :-)

*

Spike got up early to order breakfast. He chose pancakes, fruit salad and toast with tea and was told it would be up to their room in twenty minutes.
The food arrived and he was about to wake Buffy when there was a loud bashing at the door.
"Spike, open up!" Angel roared from outside.
Spike sighed and went to open the door. "What do you want?"
"You stupid little shit. I told you to stay away from her." Angel grabbed Spike by the shoulders and shook him. Spike pushed him away just as violently.
"She needed me."
"She did not!" Angel snarled, throwing a punch that Spike easily blocked.
"Spike? what's going on?" Buffy emerged sleepily from their room.
"Nothing, kitten. Angel was just about to leave." Spike glared at Angel, who was struggling to keep his demon down his rage was so powerful.
"Angel!" Buffy yelped. Spike pulled her to him protectively.
"She's mine, Angel." Spike smirked.
"She's not property!" Angel cried in exasperation.
"It's not like that, Angel. He is mine and I am his." Buffy stated simply. "Come on, we'll talk."
"No." Spike growled, clutching her to him. "He's not going anywhere near you unless I'm there."
"Spike, trust me." Buffy whispered. "Okay? You go take a shower."
Spike frowned but agreed, disappearing into the bathroom. Buffy led Angel outside into the hall.
"I told him to stay away from you." Angel said. "I can't believe he did this."
"I needed him here." Buffy said softly. "I was falling apart. Okay, scrap that, I had fallen apart completely." She sighed sadly, the memories of her months without Spike painful. She continued, tears in her eyes. "I was so stupid. When he was alive I tried to keep Spike out of my world without realizing it revolved around him. I loved him without knowing it, I wanted him so desperately but was too stubborn to admit it. I built my world around him, he was my strength, my reason for being - and what was I to do but fall apart when he disappeared? I saw him everywhere. In the shadows, in the corner of every room - he was haunting me. It was never really him and realizing that killed me - it was just the memory of Spike. I loved him so deeply he was everywhere - in my coffee, in my friends, in my tears, just waiting for me to accept that I loved him." She broke down into tears and Angel wrapped his arms around her.
"I love him so much, and I think that I brought him back... just endlessly wishing for him to be with me again."
Angel took a deep breath and listened as she continued to sob out her feelings.
"He swore to always love me and he kept that promise - soul or no soul, alive or dead. Spike and I are meant to be." She looked up at Angel and saw he was smiling. "It's not funny!"
"I know. I'm happy for you. Not for Spike, I hate the little bastard, but for you."
Buffy laughed and hugged Angel. "Thanks."
"Look, um, about the jet that Spike stole... you guys can keep it. You've always wanted to see the world." Angel grinned. "And... there's something else. How much do you trust Spike?"
"I trust him with my life and those of everyone I love." Buffy said firmly.
"Take this." Angel rifled through his jacket pockets and handed her a ring. "It's not the Gem of Amara, but it's close. Spike will be able to go out in daylight, but he can't hurt humans. I know the soul already serves that purpose... but you know, safety net."
Buffy stared at the ring in her hand. She felt so happy she thought she'd burst. "Thankyou, Angel. I'll be grateful for this forever." She hugged him.
Spike opened the door and wrenched Buffy out of Angel's grip. "I told you not to touch her!" He yelled.
"Spike, calm down." Buffy said. "Angel's given you something very, very special and I want you two to make up. Now."
She gave him a look telling him he'd better obey. Spike gave an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. "Okay, what's the gift?"
"Enjoy daylight." Angel said, smiling, and Buffy slipped the ring onto Spike's finger.
Spike narrowed his eyes. "Nice try. I bet I'll go outside right now wearing this and I'll start sizzling."
Buffy punched him in the arm. "Ow!" Spike whined.
"Go outside then." Angel suggested.
"I think I'll play it safe and just open the curtains." Spike said and they went back into the room. He walked over to the window and pulled the drapes open, spreading sunlight through the room. Angel remained in the shadows while Spike marvelled at the warmth of the light that didn't affect him. The room looked over London, and it was a remarkably sunny day for England. Spike let out a cheer and swept Buffy into his arms. "I'm going to take you everywhere, kitten. Hawaii, France, Australia, Greece - anywhere the sun shines."
Buffy giggled as he kissed her. "I love you, Spike." She whispered.
"I love you too." He replied, kissing her once more as they basked in the golden glow of morning sunlight.

*

The End - did you like it? :-)