Chapter Ten:

Be a lover of gateways,
Approach them softly
For once you pass through
there will be changes
and much that you
will gladly lay aside.

Spike made a couple of right hand turns, and there in front of them stood the office building. Spike didn't turn round, but he sensed her reaction. "Looks like you made to many right hand turns Slayer. You were almost back to where you started from."

Buffy didn't comment, but she did glare ferociously at his back.

Ahead, the doorman saw them approaching and motioned for the Valet to fetch Spike's car. By the time they reached the entrance, Spike's Jag was sitting at the curb waiting. The doorman held the car door open for her, and again, his face remained expressionless at the sight of her disheveled appearance, Spike's lack of jacket, and the sparking tension that existed between the two.

Buffy lowered herself into the car with a distinct lack of ladylikeness. She no longer gave a damn if the dress ripped. Beside her, Spike was shifting the car into gear, and he pulled off almost before the doorman had a chance to swing the door shut behind her. She glared at him, but he paid her no attention. His face was fixed and rigid.

"So talk" she demanded.

"Not here" he snapped back.

Buffy watched him for a minute, before shrugging her shoulders and turning her attention to the passing neighborhood. All the camaraderie of their last ride together was gone. She felt alone and lonely. And she hated him for it.

The ride passed in strained silence. Though Buffy tried, she couldn't help the occasional glance in his direction. Even though she hated him with all her heart, she couldn't deny that he looked damn good. He had looked good in the suit, but to her tastes he looked better like this. Slightly disheveled in his black shirt and trousers.....both of which bore small rips from his fall through the window of the shop. But what really kept grabbing her attention was his hands. Repeatedly, her eyes fell onto his hands as they rested on the steering wheel. A couple of times, she had to bite her lip to stop herself from reaching out and touching those hands.

Finally though, she got a handle on where they were heading.

"You're not planning on taking me to your house?" she questioned incredulously.

For the first time since this ride began, he turned and looked at her. "Can you think of any place with more privacy for talking," he paused briefly, "Or killing?"

Buffy didn't reply, she just turned her head away. He continued to watch her for a moment before turning back to the road. He took her silence as acceptance, and within minutes they pulled up in front of his house. Without comment, he got out of the car and walked to the house, never looking to see if she was following. He disappeared inside, but left the front door open behind him.

For several minutes Buffy continued to sit in the car looking at that door. She knew that walking through that door was stupidity at its most sublime, but she also knew she would go. What she couldn't figure out, waswhy she was going. Why was she taking such risks? With a final sigh of confusion, she opened the car door and followed his path into the house. Briefly she paused to close the front door behind her, then she stood and listened for his location. A small noise reached her from above and her eyes turned to the stairs. With a feeling of unreality, she moved towards the stairs and took hold of the banister with one hand.

"I don't believe you are doing this." she said to herself, as her foot stepped out and took the first stair. Her eyes stayed firmly fixed on the stairs above her as she moved slowly upwards. Reaching the landing, her eyes turned to the lighted bedroom door that stood open to her. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the doorway and looked in.

Spike was sitting on the bed. At his feet lay the discarded black shirt. Beside him lay several bandages and some tape. At the moment, his attention was firmly fixed on the difficult task of trying to fix a bandage onto the wound on his left side. It was a difficult chore. One hand was needed to hold the bandage in place, which left only one hand to try to apply the sticky tape.

Buffy looked at the gapping wound. She hadn't realised that he had been hurt when he went through the window. The wound was healing rapidly, but it was still nasty. Without thinking about what she was doing, she moved into the bedroom and laid her purse on the bed. Then she took the tape from his hand and began applying it to the bandage that he held against his side. She was careful to keep her eyes away from his.

Spike stared thoughtfully at the back of her bent head, but he wisely decided not to comment. Instead he waited quietly until the Slayer had finished and backed off from him. Then, he stood and gathered all the bandages together, crossing the room and throwing them back into a waiting draw. Sliding it closed, he turned and looked at the watchful Slayer.

"So, what did Cassandra tell you then?" he said quietly.

Buffy didn't reply immediately. She crossed back to the bed and sat down on the edge. "No Spike, you have this all wrong. You were the one who wanted to talk.

So talk."

Spike lost his barely controlled temper. It had been at snapping point for awhile now, and her proximity in his bedroom didn't help one little bit. "Damn it Slayer, use your brain. I know you have one, so use it and stop being so bloody stupid." he yelled at her.

Immediately, Buffy was on her feet. "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

she screamed back at him.

Spike looked at the irate Slayer, and consciously calmed himself. In a lower voice, he said, "Buffy, why don't you ask yourself why that bloody bitch would tell you anything useful......or truthful?"

It was not his question that caused her to think, it was his use of her name. Spike always called her 'Slayer'. For him to use her name meant that he really wanted her attention. Buffy sat slowly back down on the bed, trying to give herself time to find an answer. Eyes finally raised to meet his. "The most dangerous woman in the world is a woman scorned.....and I guess that applies to Vampyress's also."

Buffy watched carefully for his reaction, but only confusion showed in his eyes.

"....and that means?" he prompted.

Buffy sighed. "Cassandra hates you. Says you did the dirty on her when you met Dru. Since then, she says that she has gone out of her way to ruin all your business deals. She wants to hurt you where she thinks it counts.....she wants to ruin your current 'business' deal, thereby hurting your rep not to mention your bank account."

Spike continued to look confused. "I don't get it. What in the fuck do you have to do with a business deal?"

Buffy's voice was very quiet when she replied. "Don't Spike. I know all about The Game and your plans for me."

At the mention of The Game, Spike became deadly still. "What do you know about The Game?"

"What she told me." said the Slayer carefully.

Spike gave an impatient sigh. "Indulge me. Tell me what she said."

Buffy nodded. "OK, but then I want some explanations from you. I want to know what this is all about."

Spike merely nodded and motioned for her to begin.

"The Game is alittle soul distracting form of amusement that a few rich and powerful Vamps dreamed up a few hundred years back. Seems that eventually the basic hunt and kill becomes boring, and the excitement goes out of your demonic life." she gave him a hateful glare before continuing. "The Game apparently gives you back the challenge you need."

"....and...." Spike prompted carefully.

"OK, it goes like this." said the Slayer with distaste evident on her face. "One of you is responsible for selecting and bringing a 'mark' into The Game. The mark must be someone of wealth, intelligence or beauty. A list of all the people nearest and dearest to the 'mark' is made up. Then the bidding starts. Someone is selected from the list. The vamps bid on who will win the right to kill that person. But that is only the beginning. The second highest bidder must lay out the plan for the death of that person, and the winning Vamp is challenged to follow that plan exactly. The key to the fun though, is that the plan must involve the 'mark's' active participation in the death of their nearest and dearest. As The Game continues the 'mark' become increasingly destroyed by being subtly tricked or forced into participating in the deaths of those they love." Buffy paused for a moment. "The end of The Game comes when everyone the 'mark' loved is dead. The final bidding is for who will win the Right to force the 'mark' into taking their own life."

Buffy looked at him and waited for his response.

Briefly he paced the room and then he turned to her. "So, why would Cassandra tell you all this?"

"Simply because you had taken me there as a prospective mark." said the Slayer accusingly.

Spike nodded thoughtfully. "And what reason did Cassandra give you for my doing that?"

"Why are you playing so innocent Spike. You know exactly why you did it."

"Like I said, indulge me."

"OK. Lets get it all out in the open. The person who brings in 'the mark' gets to operate on their own. If they can keep the 'mark' from committing suicide through the whole ordeal, without letting on their role in the whole plan, then they get all the money that has been bid during The Game." Buffy looked right at him before speaking the next bit. "He also wins the right to kill the mark and feed off them at the end of the Game."

".....and Cassandra told you all this, because she wanted to stop me from getting the jackpot and from having the fun of mentally destroying the Slayer before finally killing her." Spike nodded thoughtfully.

"Interesting plan" he added before turning and moving to look out the bedroom window.

Buffy stared at his back. "Would you have me believe that wasn't your reason for taking me out tonight?"

Spike turned back to face her. "Would it be so hard to believe that I mean you no harm?"

Buffy found she could not keep eye contact with his questioning gaze. "So why did you take me out. Why did you take me there? It all makes no sense." she said as she dropped her eyes to her lap.

Spike looked at her for a few moments before simply shaking his head. "It doesn't matter why I took you there, you'd never believe me anyway."

"You don't know that Spike" she replied in a whisper. "I'm here, so give it a go."

Spike merely shook his head again and turned back to the window. "I was wrong to go out with you tonight, and I was wrong to take you there....but The Game was never my intention. I don't know why I did it....it wasn't planned. One thing just seemed to follow another and I went with it. But it won't work, and I admit I was wrong." he paused. "Now pick up your stuff Slayer and get out of here."

Buffy remained sitting on the bed and slowly shook her head to herself. There was more to it than he was saying. There had to be, since this made no sense.

"Spike....." she began, but she was cut off by a vicious snarl. Spike whirled from the window in full vamp mode. "I said Get. Out. Of. Here." he growled.

Buffy looked at him totally unperturbed by his appearance and aggressiveness. Slowly she rose from the bed and moved towards him. "No, Spike, I'm not ready to leave yet. We had a deal remember? We would talk and if I wasn't satisfied, we'd fight." she said quietly.

Spike chuckled to himself and looked up to the ceiling for a moment. "You never give up do you Slayer?" He looked back at her and his face devamped. "You can't kill me Buffy. I'm the only thing protecting you from The Game. Now those guys have you in mind for their Game, the only thing stopping them is me. I die and you'll play....count on it." He took at step towards her. "Now go on. Leave and just forget tonight ever happened."

Still Buffy made no move to leave. "Protection. Why in the Hell would you want to protect *me*. You should be grateful that someone wants to do your dirty work for you!"

Spike shook his head slowly and issued a small laugh. "You're right. I should be glad."

Buffy looked at him in amazement. "....but you're not glad, are you?" she said slowly.

Spike didn't answer, he just turned his back on her. "Last chance Slayer. Get out of here before I do something we will both regret."

Buffy looked towards the door, then looked back at where he stood. Her intention was to turn and walk out the door, but it seemed her feet had different ideas. Slowly she moved over to stand right behind him. She watched with detachment as her hand rose and gently placed itself on his back. Spike stood stock still.

Her other hand moved and placed itself gently on his hip, while the first hand trailed down his back to his other hip. Slowly she let both hands move gently round his body until they joined together in front of him. Silently she placed her cheek against his back and felt the cold smoothness of his body against her.

Still Spike remained motionless.

Buffy tried to speak but found her voice caught in her throat. Taking a deep breath, she tried again, and was relieved to hear her voice speaking to him. "Look Spike, I can't think this all out. I don't understand it all and I don't think I am supposed to. All this is wrong....my mind tells me this clearly. But I do know that I want to be here with you tonight. I can't think beyond that, and I don't want to examine why I feel that way." she paused for a minute while she turned her head and gently placed a light kiss upon his back. "Spike, for tonight, I trust you." she said as her voice faded into the silence.

With a groan, Spike spun round and faced her. Emotion rippled across his face as he raised both his hands to cup her face. "I'll ask you one more time baby. Leave, and leave now."

Buffy stared into his eyes and gave a small negative shake of her head. "One night, remember? You promised me one night." she said quietly.

Spike stared into her trusting eyes, and his hands moved down her face to rest on her shoulders. "I guess I did promise, didn't I."

Buffy smiled slightly. "I guess you did."

"Well never let it be said that I didn't keep a promise to a lady" he whispered as he lowered his mouth to her upturned face. Gentle lips covered her face with a series of small kisses as one of his hands moved to the base of her neck and the other traveled to encircle her waist coaxing her into his embrace.

With a low moan, Buffy turned her head to capture his lips with her own. Her arms wrapped round him and she pressed against him as she lost herself in his kiss. Her hands roamed over his back constantly trying to pull him closer.

Spike continued to cover her lips with kisses as he gently began to coax her into deepening the kiss. Buffy didn't need much encouragement, she desperately wanted his kiss. She opened her mouth slightly and immediately Spike began to plunder her mouth sending her senses into overload.

Without breaking the kiss, he slowly moved his hand to her back and lowered the zip on her dress. Then he ran his hands inside along her bare skin. The feel of his hands on her skin wiped out any rationale sense that Buffy might have had left. Softly, she broke the kiss and looked up into his eyes for a moment. A small smile played across her face and she backed up a couple of steps. Never taking her eyes off his, she took her hands and slid the dress from her shoulders. The silky material flowed down her body and pooled at her feet, leaving her open to his gaze.

His eyes were smoldering pits of fire, but he didn't move towards her. "The rest of it Slayer."

Buffy smiled again and looked at him cheekily. "Guess you're thinking that I won't have the guts."

Spike didn't smile back. "I don't think I have ever been guilty of underestimating you. I don't think I'll start tonight."

For a moment, Buffy felt some trepidation at what she was about to do, but then she pushed those thoughts aside. This night was separate from her real life. This was a fantasy night and she could do whatever she wanted.

With another grin in his direction, she moved her hands behind her and unclipped the bra, allowing it to slide down her arms to join the dress at her feet. Then, without pausing to think, she moved her hands to her hips and carefully stepped out of her underwear. This accomplished, she stood before him allowing him to look at her.

Still Spike made no move towards her, but Buffy was acutely aware of him. She noticed him swallow before he managed to speak.

"Turn round for me Slayer" he said softly......then he added, "Please."

Slowly Buffy turned. She was beginning to feel slightly self conscious under his unwavering piercing stare and a blush began to travel across her body. In an instant, he was beside her as his arms pulled her into him. Startlingly blue eyes stared down at her.

"Don't ever be embarrassed by your body. You are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen......more beautiful than I imagined."

Buffy looked back at him as his hands roved across her body. "You have imagined us....me, I mean?" she said incredulously.

Spike gave a small grin at her innocence. There was still so much of the child in her woman's body. He didn't reply, he simply lowered his head and claimed her lips once more. Then, without breaking the kiss, he bent slightly and picked her up. Buffy was barely aware of him moving her over and laying her on the bed. Her senses were screaming from the feel of his lips and hands on her body.

Gently, he laid her on the bed and then backed away briefly. Buffy watched as he slid off his trousers and couldn't keep the small smile from her lips as she noticed that he did not wear underwear! The site of his naked body brought another blush to her face, but she didn't back down. As he moved back towards the bed, she held up her hand to stop him. His eyebrows raised questioningly, but he stopped immediately.

An evil grin formed on her face. "Turn round for me Spike." she said in with a sultry wink, before adding "Please."

Spike laughed out loud at her request. "Fair is fair" he acknowledged as he made a slow turn under her watchful gaze. By the time he had finished, Buffy was beet red. He took in her face and laughed again. "Why would you blush. I'm the one being watched here." he said tauntingly.

The Slayer glared at him. "Lets not discuss that now." she hissed.

Spike continued to smile as he moved back to the bed, and placed one knee onto the bed beside her. Then, bending over, he placed a kiss on her stomach, before moving up to her mouth, and effectively covering her body with his.

The feel of his skin pressed down the length of her caused Buffy to close her eyes as she unconsciously arched her hips upwards against him. She opened her eyes, and found his eyes staring down at her smolderingly. "Are you sure you want to do this Slayer, you can still leave if you go right now." he offered with a voice which had begun to crack under the strain.

Buffy shook her head slowly. "I'm not going anywhere, so I guess you are just going to have to force yourself to live with it."

With a groan which emanated from deep in his throat, he let his control snap. Buffy was immediately rocked by the passion that exploded around her. It was like nothing she had ever experienced or even imagined in her wildest dreams. Making love with Angel had been gentle and sweet, and up until now, Spike had been equally as gentle and sweet. But that was not how things were now. The man with her now was demanding a complete abandonment of her soul, and he moved over her with power and skill.

His mouth plundered into hers as his hands twirled into her hair, raising her head from the pillow and pressing her mouth into his. Above her his body moved in a sensual abandonment which was driving her own body to distraction. With a final moan of need, Buffy gave in and gave herself up completely to the wild sensations which were attacking her body.

His lips left her face and began to travel down her neck, gently nipping and kissing their way to her breasts. Buffy's fingers wrapped themselves into his hair and her hips surged up against him, as his lips played and teased with first one nipple and then the next. Her breath was coming in ragged gasps, and she had to consciously force her eyes to open.

Looking down, she watched with half closed eyes as he kissed and sucked on her breasts. Feeling her gaze, he looked up into her smoky eyes. Her need for him was shining from her eyes, and if he could have, he would have sucked air into his lifeless lungs. In one fluid movement, he moved back up her body and placed a kiss on her lips while his finger marked a trail down the side of her face. "OK Slayer?" he whispered. Buffy couldn't answer. Her voice was gone. Instead she managed a small nod. In response, a small smile crossed his lips and he began to move down her body once more, but Buffy put a hand out to halt him. Two could play this game! With a quick burst of her Slayer strength, she bucked her body and pushed him off her and onto his back. Immediately she moved on top of him and gave him a cheeky grin. "My go."

Laughter lit his eyes. "Be my guest baby."

Buffy lowered her lips and gently used her teeth to nip at his lips. Each time he moved his head to try to capture her lips, she would back up slightly out of reach. After about the fourth attempt, Spike flopped back against the pillow. "OK, I get the picture. Have your wicked way and I promise not to interfere."

Buffy smiled into his eyes, and lowered her head to his lips. This time she did not tease. She kissed him and plundered his mouth with all the pent up passion in her small body. Spike groaned and his hands traveled across her back working their own magic on her body. Following his example, Buffy left his lips and trailed kisses down his neck until she came to his small nipples. Then taking one between her teeth, she used her tongue to coax a response. Gently she nipped, sucked, and licked until each nipple was erect with need.

Beneath her, Spike's body was in constant motion, as were his hands on her back.

She was driving him to distraction and she liked it. Briefly she paused, picking up some courage, and then she moved, trailing her lips on down his body.

Immediately Spike jackknifed into a sitting position, with Buffy left resting in his lap. "No" he said quickly. Buffy looked into his eyes and confusion shone out. With a groan, Spike realised that she didn't have any idea about the power of her touch. Gently he cupped her face with his hands and placed a small kiss on her lips. "I can't take that Slayer. Not now. It would all be over in a second, and that's not the way I want it." he explained softly.

Realization dawned in the Slayer's eyes. "Oh" was all she could manage for a response. But Spike didn't give her time to think. His mouth descended onto hers, as his body twisted them back down to the bed with her, once again, beneath him.

"Nice move." mumbled Buffy.

"I have nicer." was his equally mumbled reply.

With that he pushed himself off her and onto his side beside her. Buffy's skin tingled in the cool air and she looked at him questioningly. He smiled, as he took the tip of one finger and let it trail softly over her body. With a moan of need for a firmer touch, Buffy tried to grasp at his hand and turn toward him. Both moves were blocked. Taking both her wrists in one of his hands, he moved them above her head, holding them out of the way. Then his lips and remaining free hand began to work unspeakable magic on her body.

Passionately, his mouth covered her breast as his hand traveled down to her most sensitive spot. Unerringly, his finger found her core and slowly began the most sensual mind numbing massage of the Slayers life. Her hips moved against his hand in unspoken need and she moaned low in her throat. Spike moved his mouth from her breast and covered her mouth with his. His tongue forced its way into her mouth and began to mimic the movement of his fingers. Buffy bucked beneath him and desperately tried to pull her hands from his grip above her head. But Spike wasn't budging. His fingers never ceased in their sensual torment.

Buffy raised her head from the bed in a fit of mindless abandonment. Her mouth warred with his lips as she virtually tried to devour him with the only weapon she had left. It did no good, Spike simply deepened the kiss even more and drove her to the edge of sanity.

Buffy felt a hot coil of need begin to form in her stomach. Her hips bucked faster against his fingers as her mouth plundered his, seeking the ultimate fulfillment. Spike was acutely aware of her response, and just at the last moment he withdrew his fingers and moved over her. Buffy's eyes flew open in dismay as his fingers left her. A groan issued from her lips and she ground her hips against him.

"Look at me Buffy" he said quietly.

The Slayer's head continued to move back and forth, caught up in the undeniable need to find release. Spike let go of her hands, and immediately her hands flew to his back trying to push him against her.

"Slayer. Look at me." he repeated with his clear eyes fixed on her glazed stare.

This time, his voice managed to penetrate the sensual fog that had hold of her brain. Wild eyes turned on him. "Please" she moaned from deep in her soul. With her eyes on his, he slid inside of her. As her warmth surrounded him he felt her surge upward to meet him. With a groan, his eyes closed and he bent his head to her mouth. Tongues met in an explosion of passion. Beneath him the Slayer continued to move against him, but Spike stayed stock still while he tried to regain some control. The Slayer's hands were like wildfire on his body, urging him onward. Finally, he issued a loud groan and gave up on the idea of any kind of control.

He didn't move gently or slowly. He plundered her body with a speed and passion that he had never experienced before. Beneath him, the Slayer responded to him, meeting him move for move, totally undisturbed by the barely leashed passion that was exploding in her lover. Bodies rocked violently as one.....each barely aware of the other. And then the world exploded around her. With a scream muffled by Spike's shoulder, Buffy surged against him. Instantly she felt him surge deep inside her and she caught the sound of a deep groan emanating from his throat as they climaxed together. The world rocked around them, and they clung to each other as the waves hit them time and time again.

Eventually though, Buffy found that she was capable of opening her eyes. Looking down, she saw Spike's head resting on her chest. With a small smile, she found that she had a very basic control of her arms. She managed to raise one hand and gently began to stroke his hair. Slowly the reality of the night began to reassert itself, and she glanced towards the clock on the bedside stand. The luminous dial glared back at her, telling her that it was now 3 a.m.

Spike's voice drew her attention back.

"Don't look at it and don't think about it" he said quietly. His head was still on her chest and his eyes still appeared to be closed.

Buffy didn't answer, she just continued to run her fingers through his hair.

Again Spike spoke. "You tired Slayer?"

Buffy decided to see if she still had a voice. "No."

Spike raised his head and looked at her. "Good, because the night is not over yet."

Buffy stared into his blue eyes and felt her soul reflected back at her. "No, not yet. Why, did you have something in mind?" she said with a small smile.

"I have a lot in mind. Want to talk about it?"

Buffy shook her head. "Nope. Why don't you just show me instead."

***

Chapter Eleven

I am your beloved
you are my true companion.
We meet in the circle
at the rainbow's center
coming together
in wholeness.
That is my gift of freedom

Beside her, Spike finally lay still. With a small smile of contentment, she snuggled up to his side and laid her head on his chest. Weakly his arm came around her and briefly cupped her shoulder before falling back to his side. Buffy glanced up at his face and saw that his eyes were closed and his features were deadly still. For the first time, she also noticed that the room was slightly less dark than before. Through the thick drapes, dawn was beginning to make its presence known. Spike's nature had asserted its' power, and he now slept the Sleep of the Dead.

For several minutes, Buffy simply lay there pressed against his side. Her eyes were fixed on a bare spot on the wall while her mind wrestled with what must be.

Finally, with a brief sigh, she pushed herself from his side and rose. Quickly and quietly, she moved round the room gathering her clothes and getting dressed.

She tried not to think as she moved. Thinking was much, much, to painful.

With one last brief glance round the room, she came to the conclusion that she couldn't stall any longer. Purposefully she kept her eyes from the bed as she moved towards the bedroom door. Her hand was reaching for the handle when Spike spoke.

"Going somewhere Slayer?" came his quiet inquiry.

Buffy froze, and briefly she closed her eyes while she picked up the courage to turn and face him. Eyes open once more, and soul steeled against the pain of what must be, she turned. Her eyes drank in the sight of him, even though her brain screamed at her to ignore it.

He had pushed himself up onto his side and he was supporting his head with one hand. The sheet had slipped down his body, exposing his bare chest, and just barely covering him below the hips. Sleepy, half closed eyes watched her carefully.

Buffy took a deep breath. "Time's up. The night is over" she said with a voice that cracked slightly as she spoke.

Spike's gaze didn't waver. "Stay." was his only comment.

Buffy shook her head, and consciously fought against the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She had no intention of crying. What must be, must be.

In response to his questioning gaze, she simply gave a brief negative shake of her head. "I can't. We can't. A promise is a promise. One night was all it was. One night, no matter what. Remember?"

"Promises were made to be broken." he whispered to her.

Buffy lowered her eyes and stared at the floor while heart warred with mind. The last time she had fought this battle, she had let her heart win and the result had been grief and disaster. She couldn't, she wouldn't, go down that road again.

This time, she didn't respond. Instead she turned quickly and let herself out of the bedroom. With all the dignity she could muster, she walked away from the bedroom and quickly took the stairs to the front door. Letting herself out the front door, she went straight to her car and got in. Briefly she looked at the front door, but Spike was not following her. She hadn't really thought he would. He understood as well as she, that one night was all they were entitled to.

One night for a lifetime.

Taking a deep breath, and gritting her teeth with resolve, she started the car and backed out of the driveway. Dawn's rays were becoming stronger now, creeping stealthily across yards and roadways bringing the day to the night. Putting the car into gear, she drove off down the street. She did not look back, so she did not see him standing at the bedroom window watching her departure.

He stayed at the window long after the red tail lights of her car turned the corner at the end of his street. He continued to stand there while dawn's rays began to creep along the window until they finally reached the hand that held the drapes to one side. Immediately his hand began to smoke, but still he stood watching the road. Then suddenly, the hand released the drapes as Dawn won it's fight and pushed this Creature of the Night back into his world of Darkness.

Buffy drove for awhile without really thinking about where she was going. She was sort of heading home.....sort of. She wasn't really sure what to do. Her teeth were gritted so hard that her jaw finally began to ache under the strain, but she refused to let go and give into the tears that threatened to fall.

She didn't want to cry. This night had been the best of her life. She had experienced just about every emotion known to man, and she already knew that this night would be one of the most precious of her life. The night didn't deserve to be remembered with tears. A night such as that could be expected to exact a heavy payment. She could never repeat it. She could never talk about it with anyone. It was to be her secret for the rest of her life and she doubted that any other moment in her life would live up to this night. The cost was high, but she would not have done one single thing differently. Not one thing.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, a slight smile played across her face and her jaw relaxed slightly. Trying to relax even more, she looked down at the car stereo....maybe some music on the way home would help.

She reached out her hand to hit the power button, but the hand paused in mid air. Sticking out of the tape player was an unlabeled tape....one she didn't recognize. All the tapes she kept in the car were bought tapes.....she never seemed to have time to do any recording of blank tapes.

With a sense of unreality, she used one finger to push the tape into the player.

For a couple of moments there was no sound while the taped whirred on. Then the first strains of the song began:

Stay Now....
Baby if you've got to go away
Don't think I could take the pain
Won't you Stay another day?
Stay Now....
Oh, don't leave me alone like this
Don't you say its the final kiss
Won't you Stay another day?
Stay Now....

Buffy stared at the tape player. There was no doubt in her mind as to who had put the tape there. The question was *when* had he put it there? The only time he could have done it, was while she was taking a shower at the very beginning of their evening together.

Don't you know we've gone to far now
Just to go now and throw it all away
Thought I heard you say you loved me
That your love was gonna be here to stay
Stay Now.......
I've only just begun to know you
All I can say, is won't you stay just one more day?
Stay Now.....
Stay Now.....
Stay Now.....

As Buffy listened to the song, the tears began to trail slowly down her face. He had known from the very beginning what she would do. He had known that she would leave. He had known just how dearly this one night would cost him. But he had done it anyway. The song continued, but Buffy didn't hear it........she reached out her hand and hit the eject button. Taking the tape in her hand, she laid it in her lap. Then she rolled down the car window. As the car rounded the next curve, she picked up the tape and tossed it from the window.

A promise was a promise. One night. Only one night.

Epilogue:

It took Buffy three weeks to decide to say 'the hell with promises'.

Three weeks of pure hell. Three weeks of smiling and talking with her friends, with her mother, with Giles. Three weeks of talking about anything but the one thing that was on her mind constantly. Spike.

She hadn't seen him, or heard anything about him in that time. Sometimes she even wondered if the night had ever happened. Had it been a fantasy? A dream? On the exterior she acted like nothing had happened, but inside she was a mess of emotions, and questions, and doubts.

Finally, she couldn't take it any longer. She went there. As she rounded the corner onto his street her eyes immediately fixed on his house.....and her heart stopped. It not only stopped, it died right there in her chest.

The house was deserted. Bare. In the front yard stood the barest grave stone of all.

The sign said "For Rent."

Her car slowed to a halt in front of the deserted house. For several moments she just stared, then a small smile began to play at the corners of mouth and she nodded in understanding.

"Thank you Spike" she whispered into the night, just before she drove off.

.......From a distance, Spike watched as her car traveled up the street and turned the corner. "You're Welcome Slayer." he said quietly.

With that, he turned on his heels and paused as he threw down his cigarette. He glanced back over his shoulder at the deserted street and a gave a brief chuckle as a smile lit his eyes. Then, he simply slid his hands into the pockets of his black leather coat, and strode off into his night.

As he disappeared from view, the sound of 'that voice' came echoing back through the night, "OK people, I'm bored now.....who wants to playyyyy???"

The End.

***

It was a theme she had on a scheme he had
Told in a foreign hand
To take life or love to the Second Birth
And the man was in command
It was the final flight on the wings of a young girl's dreams
That flew to far away
And we could make the most to Live Again
Oh, hands move and heart beat on
Now Life will Return in this electric storm
A Prophecy for a Fantasy
The Curse of a Living Mind
Don't Push to far, your Dreams are China in your hands
Don't Wish to hard because they may come true and you can't have them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
China in your Hand
Come from Greed, never born of a Seed, took Life from a Barren Hand
Oh, Eyes wide, like a Child in the Form of Man
A story taught, a mind of his own, and Old before Our Time
Your Dreams are China in Your Hand
Here in Your Hand
Oh, you take a flight on the wings of Fantasy
You Pushed to hard and made those Dreams reality
But they are only Dreams
China in your hand
(T'Pau)