Part twenty-six....

Holding Out For A Hero

~~~~~

"Where have all the good men gone

And where are all the gods?

Where's the street-wise Hercules

To fight the rising odds?"

~~~~~

"Want to go the mall and have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny?"

Buffy looked up from her lunch, surprised at Willow's question. "Are you making a joke?"

"Nope." Willow sat down on the bench next to the slayer and opened her lunch bag. "Oz wants a picture of me with the Easter Bunny and I feel silly doing it by myself."

"OZ wants it, huh?" Buffy gave her friend a look.

Willow nodded, opening a bottle of apple juice. "I swear it. He says he wants a theme oriented picture of me from every holiday of the year."

Buffy thought it over. "Could be fun."

"Come on," Willow cajoled. "It's the last day of school for a whole week. Let's do something goofy."

Something goofy? It had been a while since she'd done something goofy with her friends.

But...what if he came back tonight, and she wasn't there?

"I'll buy you a chocolate easter egg," Willow added.

Buffy smiled. "Okay...but the kind with the marshmallow inside, not the fudge."

"You got it," Willow said, biting into her sandwich.

Buffy pulled an apple out of her bag. "Let's make Xander do it, too."

Her friend giggled. "He wouldn't ever."

"Oh, please...for a chocolate egg filled with fudge, Xander would put ON the bunny suit and hop around the mall singing 'Here Comes Peter Cottontail'. "

"I heard that!" Xander's voice came from behind them. "And for your information," he added, sitting down across from them, "I'd only do that for the marshmallow chickies."

The three friends sat and ate lunch, making casual conversation. A few minutes before the bell was due to ring, Willow and Xander exchanged a look.

"Um, Buffy?" Willow said. "As long as we're going to the mall tonight...why don't we find you a dress for the Spring Formal?"

Buffy sighed, making a face. "Will...I already told you that I'm not going to the Spring Formal."

She had made known to her friends, in no uncertain terms, that she wasn't interested in going to a dance with one of the five boys who'd already asked her. There was only one man whose arms she wanted around her, and she was going to wait for him.

~~~~~

"Isn't there a white knight

Upon a fiery steed?

Late at night, I toss and I turn

And I dream of what I need."

~~~~~

"I know you don't want to go with another guy," Willow said quickly. "I get that.." She looked at Xander. "WE get that...right?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Oh, sure."

"But, we were thinking, if....."

"William," Buffy supplied.

"Right," Willow nodded. "If he's not back in time to take you...maybe you could just go with us. You shouldn't miss it."

Buffy smiled. Willow was so sweet natured and brimming over with good intentions. She had listened patiently when Buffy had wept over her lover's departure, and she'd been genuinely happy to hear the news that he was returning.

Of course, Buffy hadn't been completely up front with her friends about just who and what William was. Before she'd known he was coming back, it hadn't seemed necessary to mention, as she'd been in no mood for the endless round of lecturing she'd be in store for; and now she wasn't sure how to broach the subject.

"I appreciate the offer, Will...but I'd feel funny tagging along with you and Oz...."

"Oh!" Willow broke in. "No! See, we're all going together. Me and Oz, Xander, Cordelia, Amy, and Scott. There's gonna be a limousine, one of those super stretch ones. And we all want you to come along," she added sincerely. "Please."

Buffy vacillated. If they were all going in a big group, it wouldn't seem so much like a date thing. And her mother had been hounding her about going out and having a little fun. Even Giles had encouraged her to accept one of the offers she'd had.

Maybe it would take her mind off the infernal ache of waiting...just for a little while.

~~~~~

"I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight."

~~~~~

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break. After making plans to meet at the mall, the three of them went their separate ways.

"He probably won't come tonight anyway," Buffy decided as she made her way across campus to her algebra class. "I guess I could take a night off."

Besides, she could always hit the cemetery after the mall closed.

And, as far as the the Spring Formal was concerned, she would make up her mind about that later. Maybe she'd let the search for a dress make it up for her.

If she found a dress she really liked, maybe she would go, and if not...then she wouldn't.

Still, the dance wasn't for another week, so there was always the possibility that he'd get there in time to take her.

That would be perfect. He would look drop dead gorgeous in formal wear. Although William normally dressed casually in jeans and button down shirts, when he took her someplace nice he looked like he'd stepped right out of the pages of GQ.

She remembered one night in particular. He'd picked her up just as the sun went down, then drove her all the way to Los Angeles to see 'Phantom of the Opera'.

He had been wearing a charcoal gray suit, with tiny pinstripes, a raspberry colored shirt, and a burgundy silk tie.

She'd been pestering him for days about giving her a picture in exchange for the one she had given him, and she had decided that night would be the night she'd get what she wanted.

Coming down the stairs with her hands hidden behind her back, she had waited until he stood up to adjust his jacket, then whipped her Nikon out and snapped the photograph just as he glanced up at her.

Not trusting Fotomat, she had brought the film to school and asked one of the kids in the photography class to develop it.

She kept the 8X10 hidden at home, but carried a 4X6 copy in the back of her notebook. Opening it now, she smiled at the image looking back at her.

~~~~~

"I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than like

Larger than life..."

~~~~~

If she could walk into that dance on William's arm, every girl in the place would be pea green with envy.

She was still picturing it that evening as she crossed the street to where Xander and Willow waited at the mall entrance.

"You look nice," she said to Willow. "Very Easter-ish."

Her friend was wearing a powder blue sweater, and a plaid skirt in various shades of blue. She smiled at Buffy, pleased at the compliment. "You, too."

Buffy had chosen to wear a pale pink cotton sundress, with a halter top, tied at the back of her neck. Her hair was loose, held away from her face by a pink hairband, and she wore tiny pearl studs in her earlobes.

"Gee, Xander...you look nice, too," Xander interjected. "Why thanks, Xander. Just a little something I threw on at the last minute."

Buffy eyed him up and down. "Yeah, it looks like it," she said, grinning.

"Meanie." He pulled the door open for the girls. "Let's go ladies. That rabbit ain't getting any younger."

~~~~~

"Somewhere after midnight

In my wildest fantasy

Somewhere just beyond my reach

There's someone reaching back for me"

~~~~~

"That's it....that's the dress."

Buffy stopped and joined Willow in front of the dress store window. "Oh...that really is nice,"

she said softly.

The gown was white, with a high waistline. Sleeveless, with a form fitting bodice, the satin and chiffon skirts floated around the legs of the mannequin on the slowly revolving turntable.

As she devoured the dress with her eyes, her only thought was how much William would love to see her in it.

Okay, NOW...she had to have it. Even if she decided not to go to the dance, she still couldn't stand the idea of someone else wearing her perfect dress.

"Buffy," Willow said in her best 'no nonsense' tone of voice. "You have to try that dress on. It's calling to you." She gave Buffy a gentle push. "Listen," she added, steering her friend into the store. "Buffy! I was made for you! Come and slip into me."

"All right, all right!" Buffy laughed, pulling her arm free. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to just try it on."

Xander plopped down on a small sofa next to the fitting room, watching as the girls hunted down a sales-woman.

When they were told that there was only one dress available..the one in the window..they held their breath waiting to find out what size it was.

Willow squealed with excitement when the saleswoman came back and informed them that the dress was a size 4.

"See?!" she said, turning to Buffy with a huge smile. "Your size. That's a sign."

"Keep in mind," Xander added. "Signs on the Hellmouth can have more than one meaning, and not necessarily a good one...what?" he asked when Willow glared at him. "I'm just saying...."

Buffy ignored him, following the saleswoman into the fitting room area. Five minutes later, she was standing and twirling in front of the three way mirror. Losing herself in her imagination, she pictured William striding into the store and seeing her, then sweeping her up into his arms, and carrying her off into the warm night air.

~~~~~

"Racing on the thunder

And rising with the heat

It's gonna take a superman

To sweep me off my feet

I need a hero..."

~~~~~

TBC

Part twenty-six

Holding Out For A Hero (cont..)

~~~~~

"I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta be strong, and he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

~~~~~

"Buffy! The limousine just pulled up."

"I'm coming!"

She took one last look in her full length mirror, and was pleased with what she saw.

The dress was just as beautiful as it had been the night she'd found it. Her poor mother had been so pleased that she was actually going out and doing something with her friends, that she hadn't turned a hair when she'd been told how much the gown cost.

She had even taken Buffy back to the mall the next night for new shoes and an evening shawl.

Even though she was pleased to be going out, Buffy couldn't hold back a feeling of disappointment as she dressed for the evening. She had almost managed to convince herself that William would be back by now, and would be taking her to the dance himself.

But, no matter how long she lingered in the bath, or how much time she took doing her nails and fixing her hair, he still hadn't put in an appearance.

Joyce knocked lightly on the door, and poked her head in. "Oh, honey...you look beautiful," she said, smiling in a gushingly maternal way that usually made Buffy squirm. "I thought you might like to wear my diamond earrings."

Whoa. Hold the presses. Buffy couldn't have been more surprised. Her mother cherished those diamond studs and had never offered them up before. "Really?"

Joyce smiled and held out her hand. "Really," she confirmed.

Buffy transferred the earrings from the box to her ears in record time, not taking a chance on her mom coming to her senses. "Thanks, mom," she beamed.

Joyce sighed, leaning against the doorway. "I was going to offer you my pearls, but I know you don't like to take off your necklace.

Buffy put her hand over the crystal heart that William had given her. Three days after the carnival, he had shown up in the evening and replaced the inexpensive chain with a 24k gold one that had a much stronger clasp.

She hadn't taken the necklace off since.

"Anyway," her mom said, "the diamonds go well with the crystal. I had them cleaned today."

Buffy looked in the mirror, smiling in delight when the gems caught the light and sparkled like stars. "Thanks," she said again.

Downstairs, the doorbell rang.

After kissing her mother goodnight, Buffy grabbed her shawl and ascended the staircase, feeling very grand.

The only thing that could make her feel better, would be to open the door and see.....

~~~~~

"I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life.."

~~~~~

"Hey, Buff....you look good." Xander smiled, dropping his clown act for the occasion.

"Thanks," she replied. "You, too. Nice tux."

He shrugged. "Cordy picked it out. Apparently, she had a problem with me wearing the light blue one with the ruffled shirt that my cousin Dan got married in."

Buffy made a face. "A woman saw him in that and still married him?"

Xander nodded solemnly, miming a very pregnant belly with his hands.

She laughed and closed the door behind her, then followed him back to the limo where her friends were waiting.

Before she stepped into the car, a sudden light breeze kicked up and made her shiver. She glanced up and watched white blossoms fall from the plum tree in her neighbors yard.

Staring down the street, she felt an odd sense of something about to happen, but couldn't really judge whether it was something good or something catastrophic, or perhaps a combination of both.

~~~~~

"Up where the mountains meet the heavens above

Out where the lightning splits the sea

I would swear that there's someone, somewhere

Watching me.."

~~~~~

The school gym looked like something out of a picture book. One large area had been designated as a dance floor, and the band playing was a group of professionals, and not the cream of the Sunnydale High music department.

At the other end of the room, there were tables and chairs set up, with long white tablecloths

hiding the scratches and graffiti. A buffet stretched out along a side wall, covered with cookies

and pastries donated by parents. There was a beautiful glass punch bowl at each end of it, jealously guarded by Principal Snyder, who viewed each approaching student as a possible vandal.

The glaring overhead lights were dimmed, and one of the kids from the drama department was providing romantic and colorful lighting effects.

Two hours into the evening, Buffy was beginning to wish she'd stayed home. She was tired of fending off offers to dance, some of them tendered by boys she'd never even seen before, and she was having a dreadful time shaking the feeling that something was about to explode all over her.

After the band took a short break and the music began again, Xander suddenly stood up and held out his hand to her.

"Come on, kiddo," he said. "You've gotta dance at least one dance and if you dance it with me, you don't have to worry about being molested."

He had apparently cleared this with his girlfriend, since Cordy just smiled encouragingly. Buffy took her friend's hand and let him pull her to her feet.

There was a slow song playing, and Buffy placed one hand in Xander's and rested the other lightly on his shoulder. They talked a little, and then he bent over and whispered something in her ear about the dress that Harmony Kendall had showed up in, making Buffy look up and laugh.....and wish more than ever that William was the one holding her.

As they danced, her heart beat suddenly sped up in a way that had nothing to do with physical exertion.

~~~~~

"Through the wind and the chill and the rain

And the storm and the flood,

I can feel his approach, like a fire in my blood."

~~~~~

TBC

Part twenty-eight.....

It Must Have Been Love

~~~~~

"Lay a whisper on my pillow

Leave the winter on the ground"

~~~~~

"Hello, baby. How've you been all this time?"

"Did you miss me?" Spike ran one hand over her sleek, smooth body. "You look gorgeous. I see someone's been taking good care of you."

He straightened up and turned to face the lot attendant, extracting his wallet from his coat. "She looks good. Not a speck of rust on her, and a nice polish."

After paying the storage fee and tipping the attendant, Spike climbed into his De Soto and adjusted the seat, found some traveling music on the radio, then pulled out of the lot and headed for the freeway.

It was a warm night for early April, and he cranked the windows down to let in the evening air. His foot depressed the accelerator, until he was doing nearly 80mph. He was in far too much of a hurry to drive any slower.

"I'm close, sweetheart," he murmured under his breath, touching the hard lump of the small velvet box nestled in his coat pocket, a talisman of good fortune. In another hour, the ring would be on her hand, and he would make sure she never took it off.

~~~~~

"I wake up lonely, the air of silence

In the bedroom, and all around"

~~~~~

He crossed the city limit line at exactly 9:15. The moon was full and white, and he felt like it was

actually smiling on him for a change.

During the time he had been incarcerated on that frigging island, he had hated looking at the moon. All it did was remind him of the nights he had spent with Buffy, nights they would sit and star gaze, while he pointed out and named as many of the constellations as he could remember.

But it was all over now, and he was free. Free of that bloody island prison, free of responsibility, free of Drusilla.

Their final confrontation had been unexpectedly calm. He had actually been prepared for a scream fest the likes of which he'd never experienced before.

Instead, she had been understanding to the point of placidity, and he'd wondered for a moment if Lysander hadn't been sedating her with something.

She had decided to remain on Isla Nueva for a while longer. Too eager himself to get away, he hadn't bothered to argue with her about it.

On his way downstairs with his bags packed, he had stopped briefly in the room where Angelus was recovering. The vampire had been asleep, so he'd closed the door quietly and left.

Down in the library, he'd paid Lysander a generous fee and said goodbye. The warlock hadn't inquired as to where Spike was going, but he had said that Drusilla was welcome to stay as long as she chose to.

As the launch had pulled away from the dock, Spike had gotten the feeling that Lysander cared for Dru in much more than a platonic way, and he'd silently wished the fellow good luck, knowing that he would need all of it he could get to handle her.

Turning on to Revello Drive, he could see that the small house where Buffy lived was brightly lit. He pulled into the driveway, barely throwing the car into park before he was leaping out of it and running up the front path.

Although tempted to fling the door open without waiting, he forced himself to knock as politely as he could manage in the force of his need to see his bride.

When the door swung open, he found himself looking at an attractive woman who looked to be in her late thirties. Recognizing Joyce Summers from the photographs he'd seen, he smiled pleasantly and asked if he could see Buffy.

"She's out for the evening," Joyce informed him, giving him a look that clearly said "Who the hell are you and why are you asking about my sixteen year old daughter?"

Since he was uncertain of just how much Buffy had confided in her mother, he tried to wipe the eager, anticipatory smile off his face, not wanting it to be interpreted as a lecherous leer.

"I'm a...friend of her's," he explained. "Been out of the country for a while...and I..." He cleared his throat nervously. "I just wanted to see how she's doing."

Joyce gave him a speculative look, clearly not convinced. "Well, she's at a school function tonight," she explained. "With some of her friends."

Spike smiled. He knew where her school was. He could go there and surprise her, then steal her away from her friends and greet her properly. Thanking Joyce for the information, he turned to leave.

"Are...are you William?"

Spike stopped halfway down the front walk. Facing Joyce again, he nodded. "Yes, I am," he admitted. "William Hamilton."

With slightly narrowed eyes, Joyce looked him up and down. He was quite obviously older than her daughter had let on, and they would definitely be discussing that topic in the morning.

Still, he was most certainly a handsome young man, and she could see why Buffy had fallen so hard for him. Joyce hadn't probed too deeply into the particulars of the relationship, but she had spent time on the opposite side of Buffy's bedroom door, listening to her as she cried into her pillow. All that had stopped suddenly a few weeks ago, and Joyce had been too happy to see it go to question Buffy too intently about it.

Watching this man now, Joyce could see that he was anxious to go and find Buffy. His body language was telegraphing that message loud and clear, as he edged further down the sidewalk.

She tried not to laugh, and asked him if he knew where Buffy's school was. After being assured that he did, she said goodnight and closed the front door, shaking her head in amusement.

Young men in love. They never changed.

~~~~~

"Touch me now, I close my eyes

And dream away...."

~~~~~

Spike turned into the parking lot of Sunnydale High School at 9:42. It took him four minutes to

find an available parking space. Just when he was ready to park his car in the middle of the grassy expanse of lawn, an El Dorado pulled out of a space on the far east end of the lot, and he zipped into it.

He could hear the music blaring, and he headed straight for the gymnasium, weaving his way through the parked and waiting limousines.

There were a few kids milling around outside, and he could see from their formal wear just exactly what sort of function the school was holding. There was a sign, hand lettered in silver glitter paint, announcing a welcome to the Spring Formal.

Pulling open the double doors, he scanned the room, searching for his little slayer. She didn't seem to be sitting at any of the tables, though he spotted her cute little redhaired friend at one, sitting with a couple of kids he hadn't seen before.

Moving a bit further into the room, he picked up Buffy's scent easily. Happy beyond the telling of it, he started towards where he felt her to be.

But when he saw her, saw what she was doing, all the joy that had been intoxicating him vanished.

His bride was dancing in another man's arms, and he was so ragingly jealous that he could barely stand it.

When he saw who she was dancing with, his vision blurred over with an angry red haze. That boy...that god-damned boy...the one who'd tried to put his hands on her that long ago night they had met.

She had moved away from him then, but she wasn't doing that now. The boy leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and she looked up into his eyes and laughed.

Taking a firm hold on his temper, Spike watched as they danced together. The look in the boy's eyes was filled with tenderness and Buffy....

Buffy looked happy. Smiling and laughing...and happy.

He had been gone too long, and she had gotten tired of waiting.

~~~~~

"It must have been love,

But it's over now

It must have been good,

But I lost it somehow

It must have been love,

But it's over now

From the moment we touched,

Till the time had run out."

~~~~~

Spike wanted to scream. To tear the walls down.

To kill....

With a monumental effort, he willed himself to keep control. To keep his demon from exploding from inside of him.

"She'll be dancing when you find her. Then, you'll have your answer."

Drusilla's enigmatic words echoed in his ears.

And so, he had his answer. It wasn't a demon wanting to kill her that Buffy was dancing with. It was a boy that just plain wanted her. Judging from her smile, she was finally returning those feelings.

His unbeating heart felt as though it was cracking open in his chest. The pain he was feeling wasn't mitigated one ounce by the knowledge that he probably deserved it.

He had left her without a word of farewell, had simply vanished from her life. Whether there'd been a reason for it or not, he had deserted her with no intention, at first, of ever coming back. Then, taking the coward's way out, he'd informed her of his actions in a letter.

Even after sending the second letter, the one asking her to wait for him, he had taken too long to come back, and she had given up on him.

He was too late.

~~~~~

"Make believing, we're together

That I'm sheltered by your heart

But in and outside, I turn to water

Like a tear drop in your palm

And it's a hard winter's day

I dream away..."

~~~~~

Unable to watch another moment, Spike swallowed the ache in his throat that was threatening to strangle him.

He turned his back, walking swiftly towards the exit, not noticing...or caring...that he was bumping into people as he went.

Banging open the double doors, he practically ran from the gym, not slowing down until he reached his car.

When he got there, he placed both hands on the trunk, letting his head hang down and closing his eyes.

But no matter how tightly he squeezed them shut, the image was burned into his brain, refusing to go away and leave him with some kind of peace.

Her smile. Her sweetness. Her love. Given to another man.

For the first time in more than a century, he felt like crying.

~~~~~

"It must have been love

But it's over now

It was all that I wanted

Now I'm living without"

~~~~~

Violently wrenching the car door open, he threw himself inside and closed it hard enough to rattle the window.

As he sat clutching the steering wheel with one hand and fumbling for his keys with the other, he

stared straight ahead, wondering where the hell he was going to go.

For so long, his only purpose had been getting back to Sunnydale and to Buffy. He hadn't looked beyond that goal, except in his foolish and vague fantasies of making a life with her.

Those dreams were dead now, as dead as he was himself, and they'd died presenting him with no alternative...no "Plan B."

Right now, the only thing he knew for an absolute fact, was that he had to get as far from this town as he possibly could.

Since he had no desire to go south where Drusilla was, he would go north and lose himself there. For a while, anyway.

Twisting the key in the ignition, he gunned his car's engine. It's roar of power split the night, followed by a screech of tires as he dropped it into reverse and backed out of the parking space.

~~~~~

"It must have been love,

But it's over now

It must have been good

But I lost it somehow

It must have been love,

But it's over now

From the moment we touched

Till the time had run out"

~~~~~

TBC (oh, boy...here we go) :-{

Part twenty-nine.....

Two Less Lonely People In The World

     ~~~~~

"I was down, my dreams were wearing thin

When you're lost, where do you begin?

My heart always seemed to drift from day to day

Looking for the love that never came my way"

     ~~~~~

Buffy stared at Xander, surprised when he pulled a silver hip flask from inside his jacket.

"Where did you get that?" 

He had dragged them all outside a few minutes ago, instructing everyone to get a glass of fruit punch first.

After taking a quick look around for authority figures, he unscrewed the cap on the glass and poured a shot of something into his own cup.

"I knocked over a liquor store on the way to the dance," he replied, rolling his eyes at her. "Where do you think I got it?  My house is better stocked than the sport's bar on 14th street." He began adding a shot to everyone's cup.

Willow stared doubtfully at the punch in her cup. "It smells weird," she said, wrinkling her nose.

Oz placed one hand on her back. "Don't drink it then, babe."

She sighed. "No, I will.  It's...sort of a rite of passage," she said nervously. "Isn't it?"

"That's right," Xander cut in. "It's a step beyond sneaking a beer in the basement. Next thing you know...we'll be sipping fine champagne."

The words made Buffy smile, a smile she hid by raising the cup to her lips and taking a tentative taste. The others followed suit, except for Cordelia who'd refused to even consider tasting it.

It tasted as vile as it smelled. Buffy swallowed and made a face of pure disgust. "It tastes...like cherry flavored turpentine," she choked.

"I tried to warn you," Cordelia murmured, patting her on the back. "Are you going to throw up?" she asked, suddenly backing away a few feet.

"I'm...I'm trying not to," Buffy coughed, her eyes watering.

Xander noticed that Oz had swallowed the liquor without flinching, and attempted to do the same. "Whoa" he gasped, shaking his head after the liquid burned it's way down his esophagus. "Not....bad."

Willow stood frozen, clutching the cup in her hand, reluctance to participate in this "rite of passage" written all over her face. Oz solved the problem for her by taking the cup and drinking

the spiked punch for her.

Buffy was about to toss the remnants of her cup into the bushes, but was startled by the sound of a car starting up with a roar.

The five of them edged out away from the building to see what was making all the noise.

Tires screamed on asphalt, and an engine revved again.

"Geez," Xander said, gazing toward the far end of the parking lot. "Oh, man," he added. "That is one hell of a car."

Buffy's cup dropped from her fingers, hitting the ground and staining the hem of her dress. "Oh..." she whispered, her eyes wide with shock that turned to distress when she saw the car leaving the parking lot. "No....wait."

She knew that car. She had ridden in it, tried to drive it, dented it....and been made love to in it's back seat.

     ~~~~~

"Then you smiled, and I reached out to you

I could tell you were lonely too

One look, then it all began for you and me

The moment that we touched, I knew that there would be"

     ~~~~~

Without a word, she left her friends behind and began to follow the car, starting to run when it

picked up speed.

"Wait!" she cried, almost screaming the word. "Wait for me!"

The car pulled out into the street, and she ran faster, trying to get to it before it was out of sight.

She made it all the way across the parking lot without mishap, but when she stepped down from the curb to run in the street, her foot turned on a chunk of loose asphalt.  Thrown too suddenly off balance, she went sprawling to the ground.

Her ankle turned painfully beneath her, and she scraped the palms of her hands when she tried to keep her face from connecting with the road.

Attempting to stand, her ankle warned her not to and she caught her dress under her knee, sending her right back to the ground, hitting her chin and leaving an abrasion.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and she could no longer hear the car. He was gone. For some reason he had come here tonight to find her, then left without her.

Not caring that she was lying in the street, she laid her cheek on her arm and began to cry....

     ~~~~~

"Two less lonely people in the world

And it's gonna be fine

Out of all the people in the world

I just can't believe you're mine"

     ~~~~~

....when she felt a pair of strong arms picking her up and carrying her back to the safety of the sidewalk.

Opening her eyes, she looked into the dark blue gaze of her lover. "William?" she murmured softly.

"Sweetheart...are you all right?" he asked, concern for her overwhelming any other emotion he had been running from.

Buffy wound her arms tightly around his neck, hiding her face. "I am now."

     ~~~~~

"In my life where everything was wrong

Something finally went right

Now there's two less lonely people in the world

Tonight...."

     ~~~~~

Feeling her arms around him, taking in her scent and the warmth of her body, he knew that he had behaved like an idiot.

Buffy loved him. If she had been dancing with her friend...well, that was all it had been, a dance. No matter what that boy might feel for her, she felt nothing like it for him.

When he had glanced into his rearview mirror and saw her running after him, he'd taken his foot off the gas. But when she'd fallen, he'd swerved into the curb and left the car without turning the engine off or closing the door.

Covering her soft hair with kisses, he tightened his arms around her, hushing her sobs the way he always did.

Only seconds later, he heard running feet and looked up to see her friends coming towards them, Xander in the lead, calling Buffy's name.

Although he managed to keep his face from shifting, Spike couldn't suppress a warning growl as he held Buffy closer.

"She's all right," he said curtly. "I've got her. You just...go back inside. I'll take care of her."

The four kids stopped about ten feet away, looking worried.

"Buffy?" Xander said, ignoring Spike's words. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, without raising her head. "Yes," she said quietly, sniffling.  "You guys...go back inside. I'm fine."

Spike turned and began to carry her towards his car.

Xander, unwisely, tried to follow. "Wait a second! Hey...you wait!" he demanded. "You can't just show up here and take her like that. She fell down...she probably hit her head."

"Xander..." Willow interjected, trying to shut him up.

But he refused to be silenced. "No, Will...he can't do that. Just try and take her."

Spike kept walking.

"Hey!" Xander yelled. "I'm talking to you. Who the hell do you think you are?"

Turning on him, Spike's eyes flashed with anger and dislike. "I'm her husband!" he snapped.

     ~~~~~

"Just to think what I might have missed

Looking back, how did I exist?

I dreamed, still I never thought I'd come this far

But miracles come true, I know 'cause here we are"

     ~~~~~

Four faces turned white with shock, four mouths gaped open.

Buffy raised her head and met William's direct gaze. Smiling tremulously, she lowered her head to his shoulder again, sighing deeply.

Placing another gentle kiss on her hair, he turned and continued towards the car.  As he set her down on the passenger seat, he heard Xander say, "Did he just say he was her husband?"

"Yeah, that's what he said," Willow replied.

There was a short pause.

"When did she get married?" Xander asked.

Spike paid no further attention to the conversation. He closed the passenger side door and went around the front of the car to the drivers seat.

Before he put the car into gear, he reached for Buffy. Pulling her across the seat, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her, deeply and passionately.

When he felt her arms sliding around him, the heart he thought had stopped forever, took flight.

     ~~~~~

"Tonight I fell in love with you

And all the things I never knew

Seemed to come to me somehow

Baby, love is here and now...there's

Two less lonely people in the world

And it's gonna be fine

Out of all the people in the world

I just can't believe you're mine

In my life where everything was wrong

Something finally went right

Now there's two less lonely people in the world

Tonight......"

     ~~~~~

TBC

Part thirty.....

Now and Forever

~~~~~

"When love is new

And the world is out reaching for you

We try hard to hold it all

In our hands

But it slips through like soft drifting sands

But drying the tears

Can build it all like new"

~~~~~

Buffy waited in the car as William stopped in the hotel office for the key.

He had called ahead on the way, making sure that "their" room was available, promising her that if it wasn't, he would make it so.

She was was so happy to see him and to touch him, she wouldn't have cared if he took her to the sleaziest fleabag motel on the highway out of town.

Swiveling in her seat, she saw him exit the building. He had the key in one hand and a small white box in the other.

When he'd reseated himself in the car, he handed her the box. Buffy turned it over, and saw the large red cross on the top, underscored with the words "First Aid".

William parked the car in front of the cottage, unlocked it's front door and returned to help her out.

"You okay, angelface?" he asked, giving her his arm to lean on. "Not too hurt, are you?"

"No, I'm fine," Buffy said, smiling bravely. "Nothing hurt but my dignity." Placing her weight on her ankle, she gasped. "And maybe my ankle."

Without a word, he scooped her up and carried her inside the cottage. He took her into the bathroom and sat her on the counter. Lifting her foot gently, he removed her shoe and examined her ankle.

His touch was firm, but gentle. "I think you just strained it, babe. It'll be a bit sore, but it's not serious."

Buffy grinned. "Slayer healing comes in handy."

William met her gaze with his. "This is my fault," he murmured.

"No, it isn't," she insisted. "You didn't push me. I fell."

He shook his head. "You fell because you were chasing after me. That shouldn't have happened," he said, shedding his coat.

"Well....since you brought it up," she replied. "How did you know I was there...and how come you left? Did you come inside? Couldn't you...you know...find me? Is that why you were leaving, and...and why were you driving so fast? I heard your car and...well, I didn't know it was yours at first, but then Xander said it was such a neat car and when I looked, I saw you, but you..."

"Did you hit your head?" His voice was concerned as he moved his fingers through her hair, searching for an injury of some kind.

She knew she was babbling, and no doubt sounded a little crazed. "Um...no. I just...banged my chin." She tilted her face up. "Is it bleeding."

William examined her face. "Hardly at all. It's just a small scrape." He took her hands and turned them to look at the palms.

Buffy saw the first aid kit out of the corner of her eye. "It's all right," she said, pulling her hands away. "It's nothing."

"In whose opinion?" he asked. Retrieving her hands, he gently picked out a few specks of dirt. He opened the kit, then ran water in the sink. When it was warm enough, he carefully cleaned the scrapes with an antiseptic soap. He dried her hands with a soft towel, then reached for a can of Bactine.

Buffy immediately pulled her hands back. "I don't need that."

"Yes, you do," William insisted, reaching for the hands she kept behind her back.

Big pain, Buffy could handle. But the little pains, like the stinging from having antiseptic sprayed on an open wound, she tended to avoid like the plague.

Immediately deducing the problem, William smiled. "My brave little slayer's afraid of a little antiseptic spray," he teased.

She shook her head. "I'm not afraid of it," she protested.

"Good." He reached for her hand again.

Buffy evaded him. "I just don't need it."

William shrugged. "Fine," he conceded. "But when your hands get infected and you wind up in hospital, don't complain to me. And, by the way, you'll find it difficult to perform your duties as a slayer with a couple of hooks where your...that's my girl."

She thrust her hands out, submitting quietly to the remainder of his treatment.

~~~~~

"Now and forever

Remember the words from my heart

Will always be true

Now and forever

Together, and all that I feel

Is my love for you..."

~~~~~

When he was finished doctoring Buffy, William nudged her legs apart and stepped closer. "This wasn't the way I pictured our reunion, angelface," he said, with a rueful smile. "I was thinking more moonlight and roses, and less Phisohex and band aids."

She regarded him with a steady gaze. "Where have you been?"

He hesitated, then picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom. Sitting in one of the armchairs, he held her on his lap as he explained.

"There's a small island off the coast of South America. It's called Isla Nueva."

Buffy leaned her head against his shoulder and played with his shirt buttons.

The feel of her body pressed so intimately against his, after the long, lonely time he'd been without her, was playing havoc with his senses. He'd almost forgotten how soft and warm she was, and how good she smelled.

"On the night I left," he continued, "we discovered that there was a healer living there...a warlock, actually...who could possibly cure Drusilla completely. Problem was, we had to leave immediately, that night. Arrangements were made for us to board a yacht in Mexico..."

"But...why didn't you tell me?" Buffy asked, looking up to meet his gaze with her own.

"I didn't have time, baby. We had to leave immediately. We barely had time to pack. I wrote you a letter..."

"Yeah," she said, frowning at the memory. "I got it."

William shook his head and tilted her face up. "Not that letter," he said. "In the car, on the way to Los Angeles, I wrote you a letter telling you that I'd be back as soon as possible. I tried to tell you how sorry I was to have to leave the way I did."

Buffy sat up straight in his lap. "I never got that letter."

"I know...I never sent it," he replied, tightening his arms around her. "I was about to...then I started thinking that maybe you'd be better off if I didn't come back.."

"What?!" She grabbed the lapels of his shirt. "How could you even think a thing like that?" she demanded.

He shook his head. "I know...it was stupid." He kissed her lightly on the lips, then buried his face in her sweet smelling hair. "I can never leave you, angelface. I couldn't stand being away from you. If I'd had to go one more day, I would have lost my mind."

"Well, I should think so!" she said, wrapping her arms around him. "Please don't do that again," she added. "Don't you know....I wanted to die when I thought I'd never see you again?"

"I know, baby," he whispered, stroking her hair. "So did I."

~~~~~

"Learning each day

That the right time was so far away

To tell you the things I knew

Now, it's clear

That the moment we searched for is here

And counting the years is all I want to do

~~~~~

"So...is she better?"

"Mm-hmm. Completely healthy again."

Buffy looked up at him. "You...you didn't bring her with you, did you?"

He chuckled. "God, no. She's still on the island, I guess."

She was happy to hear this. "Did you tell her...about me?"

"Yes. Well, actually I didn't really need to tell her. She already knew that I'd fallen in love with another woman. Remember...I told you how she has these visions?"

Buffy nodded. "What did she say?"

Instead of answering, he cupped her chin in his hand, lifting her face. "Sweetheart...I promise I'll tell you anything you want to know, but if I can't make love to you soon, I won't be responsible for what happens."

Just hearing him say the words made her entire body become pliant and calm in his arms. "I missed you so much," she said, leaning forward and brushing her lips against his.

He stood up and carried her to the bed. "Can you stand for a second?" he asked, setting her on her feet.

Buffy tested her ankle by allowing her weight to rest on it a little at a time. There was barely a twinge this time. "It's fine," she said, looking down at her feet. "But just look what I did to my dress."

William smiled. She hadn't changed a bit.

Kneeling in front of her, he examined the stained fabric of her gown. There was a small smear of dirt where her knee had ground the material into the pavement, and a splatter of red fruit punch down at the hem.

"I'm sure this can be cleaned, angelface," he said, glancing up at her. "It's a very pretty dress."

Buffy looked down at him, her eyes melting with tenderness. "I knew you'd like it."

"Did you have a nice time at the dance?" He urged her to sit down on the side of the bed, then slipped off her shoes and set them aside.

She shrugged. "It was all right. I would have liked it more if you had taken me."

"Next time," he promised. His hands moved up the sides of her legs, searching for the waist band of her pantyhose. She lifted her hips, allowing him to pull them down and off. "No garter belt and stockings tonight?"

Buffy shook her head. "I only wore those because you were going to see them," she said, matter-of-factly. "I didn't figure anyone would be seeing my pantyhose."

"Good thing," William murmured, stroking the soft skin of her thighs. He sat back and unlaced his boots, then tugged them off and climbed behind her on the bed.

Gathering up her hair, he pushed the fragrant mass to one side, then leaned over to kiss the soft skin of her neck and shoulder. "When is your next school dance?"

Buffy tilted her head to one side. "Mmmm," she sighed dreamily. "The junior prom, I guess."

William began to unzip her dress. "Well, you let me know, and I'll take you shopping for a gown." He placed a gentle kiss at the nape of her neck. "And shoes...something pretty for your hair...and something sparkly for around your lovely throat." He punctuated each offer with another light kiss, trailing them down her back as her dress slipped down around her waist.

Buffy's head was beginning to spin in the wonderfully familiar way she'd missed.

"So, tell me," William said, unfastening her bra. "Do you fancy diamonds...or emeralds, to match your eyes...or rubies, the color of your lips?" His hands drew the lingerie straps down her arms, then slid back up.

The touch of his fingers as they moved lightly over her skin was making it difficult for her to concentrate on what he was saying. Her eyes drifted shut as she leaned back into his embracing arms.

"William," she whispered pleadingly. "Touch me."

Her back arched, thrusting her breasts forward as he slipped his hands down and over them.

"Buffy," he said in her ear, gently licking her soft skin. "I love you, baby...so much. I've missed touching you like this...feeling your silky skin...making your nipples hard."

She whimpered when he lifted her breasts, and swept his thumbs back and forth over the firm pink buds.

After a few moments, he released her breasts and worked her dress off entirely. "Oh, baby," he said softly, appraising every inch of her. "You are so damn beautiful it almost hurts to look at you."

Reluctantly, he left the bed and began to undress. He dropped his shirt on the floor, then raised his hands to unbuckle his belt.

When her eyes darted away, he smiled. "Still my shy little bride, aren't you?," he said, unzipping his fly. "I'm glad to see you blushing again, angel. Sometimes, I think I missed that most of all."

His pants dropped down around his ankles, and he stepped out of them.

"Buffy...look at me." When she did as he asked, he said, "Can you see how badly I want you." Pushing his hips slightly forward, he indicated his unrestrained erection.

Half hypnotized, Buffy watched him kneel on the bed. Moving up beside her, he took her hand and placed it on his hard length. When her fingers instinctively wrapped around it, he groaned softly. "That's my sweet little girl...yes...like that."

She slid her hand up and down, rubbing her thumb over the head of his shaft. A pearly bead of semen emerged from it, and she smoothed it back into his skin.

William knew he couldn't allow this play to continue much longer. He'd been apart from her far too long to count on being able to control himself.

But, oh God....it felt so damn good.

~~~~~

"Now and forever

Remember the words from my heart

Will always be true

Now and forever

Together, and all that I feel

Is my love for you"

~~~~~

Even though she was out of practice, her memory served to guide her movements. She fondled and manipulated his erection in all the ways she knew he liked best.

If his half spoken words and harsh grunts were anything to judge by, she figured she must be doing something right.

When he finally pushed her hand away, she knew it wasn't because he wanted her to stop, but because he was approaching a climax that he wouldn't be able to control.

Almost before she knew what was happening, he threw one leg over her, straddling her hips. Moving down, he positioned himself between her splayed thighs, then lowered himself and began tonguing her wetness.

Buffy threw her head back, grinding it into the pillow beneath her. Her fingers slipped down and played with the platinum silk of his hair.

Panting and writhing under the onslaught of his ravaging tongue, she nearly screamed when he located what surely must be the most highly sensitized place on her body.

"Mmmm," he moaned. "Still the sweetest little pussy I've ever tasted."

Licking her with hard strokes of his tongue, he brought one hand up and slipped his index finger up and down the heated cleft of her sex, dipping it teasingly inside her from time to time, driving her insane with need.

When he couldn't stand to wait another moment, he moved up from his vantage point between her legs and settled down on top of her. "Hold me," he begged.

Buffy slipped her arms around him and pulled him closer. One hand moved into his touseled curls and pressed his face against her throat, while the other moved around his back.

He adjusted his position, then began to push himself inside her. "Oh, God....Buffy....sweetheart," he mouthed against her damp skin.

Although she tried to relax, Buffy was a little surprised to learn that a long abstinence from intercourse caused some discomfort when the waiting period was over.

"I'm sorry, baby....am I hurting you?" William raised his head and looked down at her.

Afraid that he might try and pull away if he thought he was causing her pain, Buffy clutched him tighter. "No, I'm fine....please don't stop."

She knew enough now to realize that the only cure for the problem was to forge ahead and let her body become accustomed to his invasion of it.

"Are you sure?" he asked, drawing back slightly and then sliding back in.

Buffy nodded, raising her hips to meet his downward thrust. "Yes....yes. Please....love me..." She pulled at him until he had settled most of his weight on her, propping himself only a little on his forearms.

"I do love you," he whispered in her ear. The fluids that their bodies were producing was making their joining slick and easier.

Buffy was relieved to discover that the pain was diminishing rapidly.

Holding his weight on one arm, William sent his free hand down, cupping the back of her left thigh and lifting it. She bent her knee and curved her leg across the small of his back, giving him an even deeper penetration.

It wasn't long before he knew that this first time after so long wasn't going to last. His body was already sending him signals, telling him to get ready because it wasn't going to wait much longer.

He began to thrust harder and deeper, releasing a soft grunt every time his pelvis impacted against hers.

"Buffy...Buffy...baby," he chanted, a mantra of lust and love. "Feels so good....so hot and wet...so fucking tight!"

When he angled himself so that the base of his shaft rubbed her sensitive clitoris, her eyes flew open wide and she began to move beneath him, seeking that delicious friction on her own, allowing it to carry her over the edge.

William felt her nails digging into his skin when she came. His thrusts increased in speed, until he was literally jack-hammering himself into her, heedless of anything else in the world but the pleasure he was seeking between her legs.

He lifted his head and captured her mouth beneath his, thrusting his tongue between her lips, moaning when she caught it and sucked it gently.

His control snapped and they were both caught up in the storm of passion. He shouted with exultation as he rammed into her over and over again, calling her name, babbling words of love and tenderness, and of hot, raw sex.

"Buffy...love...you...yes...yes...ahh...gonna come...oh fuck!...do it...do it...now!"

He surged into her one final time, grinding himself against her as he allowed his orgasm to take him under. The clutching heat and wetness surrounding his cock was almost unbearably pleasurable, and he erupted inside of her, spewing what felt like gallons of semen into her, giving

her everything that had been building up for so damn long.

~~~~~

"Hold me as close as love will allow

Until all your fears are gone

What has all passed

Is over now

I'm here with you

I'm here with you

I'm holding on..."

~~~~~

Buffy was sated to the point of immobility. She literally couldn't move one muscle in her body.

After a few minutes, her lover rolled off of her and went into the bathroom. Returning with a damp washcloth, he began to dab her with it, removing the sheen of perspiration, then gently cleaning between her thighs.

When he was finished, he tossed the cloth onto the bedside table and climbed back into her bed.

Pulling her into his arms, he reclined back into the pillows as he stroked her hair, reacquainting himself with it's silky texture and the floral scent of her shampoo.

She didn't say anything, and he assumed that the unaccustomed activity had tired her out to the point of falling asleep.

He was close to joining her when she suddenly sat bolt upright in bed and stared down at him, wide-eyed.

"You...you told them that you're my husband!?!"

~~~~~

"Now and forever

Remember the words from my heart

Will always be true

Now and forever

Together and all that I feel

Is my love for you.."

~~~~~