See You Later

Title : See You Later

Author: Sophie

Disclaimer : Not mine

Faith’s ironic glance went from Buffy to Spike and she got up from the cot.

“Right. I’ll go have some bonding time with the wannabes up there.”

“Thanks for the bonding time with me,” Spike said with a smirk.

She gave him a wink. “Anytime, Blondie.”

Buffy watched her go with a less-than-pleased expression. She turned to Spike.

“So…you’re on nickname basis, I see.”

“Yeah, what of it?”

“She called you Blondie.”

“I prefer Blondie to Pig or Evil Thing.”

Buffy nodded. Ok, she deserved that.

“Something you wanted, Slayer?” he asked, sitting straight and putting his feet on the ground.

“I…”

She had come down to talk to him about the loss of her job. She had felt the need to go see him and talk. It happened more and more often lately.

But seeing him almost all cuddly with Faith on the cot had disturbed her greatly and made her loose her train of thoughts.

“I didn’t really cut back on my hours,” she admitted.

He frowned.

“No?”

“I got fired.”

She came to sit down next to him.

“You mean Wood fired you. That bastard…”

“No, I don’t think it was because of what happened. A lot of people are leaving town, and the kids barely show up. I’m useless.”

She shrugged.

“It’s just…it was giving me the opportunity to be out of the house for some time…putting my mind on other things. I’ll miss it. But I guess I’m more needed here, anyway. I just wish I could keep a job for more than six month,” she added with a humorless laugh.

“You’ve been slaying for seven years. That’s quite impressive to me,” Spike said in a soft voice.

She smiled to him.

“Thanks. But the salary sucks big time.”

“And you get no paid vacations.”

“No vacations at all. Except that time when I was dead.”

They chuckled, both happy and surprised to share a moment like this. They exchanged a look, and what Spike saw in Buffy’s eyes made his heart leap in his chest – although technically it was impossible.

“I’m glad you’re getting along with Faith,” she said in a tone that sounded almost convincing. “You’re my strongest warriors. I need you to be ok with each other.”

“We’re not exactly as thick as thieves, but I like her. She’s a special bird. You two have quite an history, huh?”

“History doesn’t start to cover it. When I think of how things could have been so great, if only she…anyway, it seems like we have a second chance to make things good. That is, if we don’t all die, of course. And if she lost that annoying habit of her of hitting on my men.”

“She has no man of yours to hit on, this time.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” she said softly, watching him intently.

It took some time to sink in, but she perceived the exact moment when it did. His eyes grew a little bit wider, just for a second. Then he smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got my hands full with one Slayer already.”

“I thought you had given up the dream and the white picket fences?”

“I changed my mind. Not about the picket fences. Still too dangerous. But about the dream, yes.”

She took his hand squeezed it gently.

“I’m glad you did.”

She leaned to him and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

“I have to go check on that girl at the hospital. See you later?”

“I’ll be right here.”

She left but the memory of her smile stayed with him long after she was gone.