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Buffy didn't think she'd ever be more amazed than she was now, but hoped the tiny thrills she found in Spike's humanity didn't fade with time. She was standing at the foot of the bed watching him sleep. A thin ray of light from the window filtered its way through the room and cut a bright path across his face. His hair was even more shocking in the early morning light than it was in moonlight and she caught herself staring at him with more than just a casual eye. There was only one word for it. Lust.



He had stripped his shirt off some time in the night and Buffy just stood there admiring him. She had seen him half-dressed before, but never had the chance to just look at him. Strong, hard muscles lay under pale skin and when he moved, she saw those same muscles strain and release with the movement. She sighed as a smile covered her face. Her eyes roamed his exposed skin and her smile widened before she shook her head and turned away from the bed. Walking across the room, she turned and took one last look at him before opening the door and leaving. As the door softly clicked closed, Spike lifted his head and turned to the door. His smile was wider than Buffy's had been.



~*~



"Hey guys," Buffy said cheerfully as she entered the kitchen. All eyes turned to her and her smile wavered as disappointment covered the faces of her friends. She knew this was coming but didn't want her morning ruined just yet. Taking a deep breath, she smiled and cleared her throat. "I know what you're all going to say so let me make this easy for everyone. Yes, I'm seeing Spike. Yes, I know you don't approve. No, I'm not going to stop just because you think it's a bad decision. Yes, I care what you think but this isn't up for discussion. My life has a time limit on it, it always has, and I intend on using what time I have the best way I know how." She waited nervously when her speech was over and no one moved. She wondered if they even heard her at first but when Willow gave her a half-smile she returned it hesitantly.



"We need to go to the Magic Box to research the spell," Willow told her softly before she glanced at Giles. "You're welcome to come if you want. Even Spike."



Buffy's eyes widened slightly before she looked at everyone. The same disappointed looks still covered their faces, except for Dawn, but she could see that they weren't going to fight her for a change. She wondered why the sudden change of heart all of a sudden but dismissed it. If they didn't want to fight it out, then so be it. She preferred it that way. She smiled before letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding in. "Okay. Research I can do. I'll see if Spike wants to help."



She watched them all give strained smiles as they grabbed their things and started for the door. When Dawn passed her, her sister's smile was almost blinding. She couldn't help but smile back. This was all too easy. It was almost scary. Why were they acting so out of character? "What's going on?" She asked as she followed Dawn and grabbed her arm.



"They think it has something to do with the spell we did on you," Dawn told her. "They're researching that spell as well."



"Me and Spike being together is a side effect of the original spell?" Buffy asked, confused.



"Yeah," Dawn said. "We know it's not but they have to put a name to everything. So, just let it go. They'll spend so much time trying to fix you and Spike that they'll at least leave you alone for a while."



Buffy watched her sister follow the others out before she let out a long cleansing breath. They actually thought her sudden "feelings" for Spike was a side effect from the spell? She shook her head before sighing heavily. She leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms across her chest and thought of the best way to handle things. What would they do if and when every thing was back to normal and she was still seeing Spike? Would they demand some sort of action from her? Hearing water running upstairs, Buffy smiled as she pushed away from the wall and started for the stairs.



~*~



The bathroom door was cracked open slightly and Buffy could see the heavy steam from the shower clouding the room in a soft haze. The mirror was covered in a thick blanket of mist and she could barely make out the shower curtain reflecting through the mirror. She could only imagine what was happening on the other side of the curtain and she swallowed heavily as her imagination started running wild. She could almost see the soapy water running over the muscles of Spike's back. She wanted nothing more than to push the door open, strip down and join him. What would he say? She wondered to herself. When she heard the water being shut off, she stepped back and turned to her room.



"I know you're out there, slayer."



Buffy stopped and smiled as she reached her door before turning back to the bathroom. She tried to keep her face neutral when Spike suddenly appeared in the doorway but she knew the smile gave her away. He was standing there in nothing but a towel hanging low on his hips. His hair was wet and curling wildly on his head and tiny water droplets made their way down his chest. She wondered if she was drooling as much as she felt like she was. He was gorgeous. And apparently he knew it, judging from the smile on his face.



Spike held back a chuckle threatening to escape him as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe. Buffy still hadn't spoke and he wasn't sure she could. She was staring at him like she'd never seen him before. Maybe taking the shower without her wasn't such a bad idea after all. Not that he would have minded her joining him, but this reaction was just as good. "Come here."



Buffy smiled when his soft-spoken request reached her and took a shuddering breath as she started across the hall. His smile widened slightly as she walked the short distance to where he stood and only when she was right in front of him did he actually move. His arms wrapped around her waist before he leaned down. Buffy closed her eyes and waited for the kiss she thought he was about to give her but when his lips met her neck instead she felt her knees go weak. His tongue licked a small circle on her skin before he kissed the soft flesh there. His breath was hot against her skin and she felt a tremor across her skin as he kissed his way up her neck. Her breathing sped up and she felt dizzy suddenly and was glad he was holding her. When his lips closed around her earlobe and he nibbled softly on it, she smiled as her stomach clenched and tightened. "You really are evil, aren't you?" She asked breathlessly.



Spike chuckled as he kissed and licked the shell of her ear. "It takes me being human for you to finally realize that?"



"Uh-huh."



"Well, I have other little evil tricks I'd like to play with you."



"I bet you do," Buffy said, grinning. "But everyone is expecting us at the Magic box."



Spike sighed before leaning back to look at her. "Do I have to?"



"You don't want to go?"



"No," Spike said loudly. "All they're going to do is sit there and glare holes in my head."



"No they won't," Buffy told him before she frowned. "Okay, maybe they will."



"Guess that settles it then," Spike said before smiling and lowering his head back to Buffy's neck.



"No it doesn't," Buffy giggled as he nibbled his way across her neck.



"Yes it does," Spike mumbled against her skin. "Scoobies don't like me, so we stay here and fool around."



Buffy laughed as she pulled herself out of Spike's arms and took a step back. "You need to get dressed."



"Thought you liked the towel," Spike said.



Buffy watched a smirk cross his face as he lifted one brow to look at her before she grinned. "I like the towel a lot," she told him, taking a minute to look at him from head to toe.



"Then what's the problem?" Spike asked, taking a step toward her.



"They're expecting us," she said, smiling as she started walking backwards while he slowly advanced on her.



"My clothes are dirty," Spike grinned as he followed her slow movements. "Take at least and hour to wash and dry them."



"Well, then we go to the crypt and get you some clean clothes." Buffy was just inside her bedroom door and he was still slowly advancing on her. Her heart was racing in her chest. The look on his face said it all. "God, how am I going to resist him?" She asked herself.



"We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with," Spike told her as he finally stopped in front of her. "Come on, kitten."



Buffy sighed as he lowered his head and kissed her breathless. Every nerve ending in her body was jumping and she fought to keep her head straight. "Put some pants on first," she said, breaking the kiss.



"That takes all the fun out," Spike whispered against her lips.



"Yeah but at least that way we won't get carried away."



Spike sighed before pulling away from her and shaking his head. "Okay, we'll play this your way."



"Thank you." Buffy smiled as he turned and headed back across the hall to the bathroom. "We'll stop by the crypt on the way to the Magic Box and pick you up some clothes."



"Yeah, okay."



Buffy watched him with a smile that grew as she watched his backside when he walked across the hall. When he reached the door, she grinned as he turned his head and smiled back at her before he grabbed the towel and pulled it from his hips. His naked backside caused a bright flush to cover her face before she laughed and turned her back to him. His laughter echoed inside the bathroom and she couldn't help but turn and get another look as he picked his jeans up. "I am in so much trouble," she said softly as she shook her head.

~*~





Giles rubbed a hand over his face before taking a deep breath and releasing it. He glanced at the others scattered around the room before replacing his glasses and looking back down at the original spell Anya had cast. They had gone over every thing but something was off. The spell should have worked. But how did Spike end up a human and Xander a vampire? "Anya, can you explain to me what happened again?"



Anya looked up from her book at Giles and frowned before she sighed heavily. "I have Giles. Like ten times now. The story won't change. I did the spell right."



"I'm not claiming that you didn't, Anya. I can see that you did but something went wrong. We need to figure out what that was."



Anya sat back in her chair and closed her eyes. She remembered the smell of the herbs, the soft chanting and the feeling of power rush over her skin. She knew the spell was working. She felt it. The power rose to its peak and a voice broke through the circle of power. Her eyes snapped open as did her mouth.



"What?" Giles asked as he sat straight up in his chair. "What did you think of?"



"Xander," Anya said softly before looking at Giles. "Xander said something during the spell."



"Do you remember what it was he said?"



Anya closed her eyes again and concentrated, trying to remember. She shook her head and made a grunting sound before she looked back up. "No. I just remember hearing his voice. Maybe something he said changed it."



"It's very possible," Giles said as he looked back down at the spell. "Whatever he said must have altered the outcome. We'll have to figure out exactly what that was to begin trying to find a way to correct it."



"How are we going to do that?" Dawn asked from the steps. "If Anya can't remember I'm sure Xander isn't going to."



"Hypnosis maybe?" Willow asked.



"Maybe," Giles said. "Any luck on your end, Willow?"



"No," she said quietly. "The spell to bring Buffy back to normal should have brought her back exactly the same as she was prior to the spell. We did it correctly from what I can tell, so she should be the same old Buffy."



"But she's not," Giles said looking over at her. "Keep looking. We've missed something."



Dawn watched them as they poured over their text. They would never accept the fact that Buffy made a conscience decision about Spike and herself. They had to blame it on something. Looking back down at her own book, she sighed, knowing things would get worse before they finally accepted Spike. Especially accepting him and Buffy being together. It was going to take a miracle.





~*~





"Hold up a minute, luv," Spike said, grabbing Buffy's arm and stopping her.



Buffy turned her head to look back at him. She smiled when she saw the look on his face. "You can't be scared, Spike. You run around almost every day in the sun."



"Yeah, with a blanket over my head," he told her as he looked out the front door. "It's a lot different than just walking out there unprotected."



Buffy giggled as she walked back to where he stood. "I'll protect you."



"Now you're making fun."



"No I'm not." Buffy smiled wider before leaning up on her toes and kissing him. She really hadn't thought of how he'd react to everyday things that she didn't give a second thought to. She had her whole life to adjust to them. He hadn't had to worry about them in over a hundred years. When she pulled back from him she grabbed his hand before walking slowly toward the door. He still looked apprehensive, but not as scared as he had been. When they were both on the porch, she locked the door behind them before starting for the steps. Spike stood just on the edge of the porch staring down at his feet as the sun hit them. He gave her a hesitant smile before sticking his hand out into the bright ray of light and she watched as his smile grew.



"No smoke," Spike said before grinning. He took the first step down and for the first time in longer than he could remember, the heat felt good. It wasn't scary or making him want to hide. He looked up, squinting his eyes before lifting his hand to shield them.



Buffy just stood there watching him as he walked down the steps and onto the walkway. He was still staring up into the sky and she felt something tighten in her chest as she watched the sun play off his hair. He looked like he was glowing. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt a small prickling of tears behind her eyes before she smiled and walked down the steps to join him. "You ready to go?"



Spike looked down at her and smiled before leaning in for a quick kiss. "Yeah, let's go."





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