Title: Here With Me (a working title. Hope it doesn't remind everyone too

much of Dido... :)

By: binks

Email: rabidbinks@aol.com

Website: http://virtue.nu/perchance

Rating: Um, PG?

Distribution: Man, that would be cool. Just e-mail me!

Summary: Buffy visits Spike.

Spoilers: "The Gift". Beware!

Here With Me

---

He sat on the steps, in the sun. It was warm. The birds sang.

Someone was standing next to him. He turned. Not to see who it was; he

already knew that. He turned because he'd been waiting for her visit.

"Spike?"

He smiled. "Hi, Buffy."

"Hi..."

She sat down. "I'm glad you're here."

Spike nodded. "It's nice here."

They sat on the steps, in the sun.

She looked up, towards the light. "This doesn't hurt anymore, right? This

doesn't hurt you?"

"Nothing hurts anymore." He took her hand. "Now that you're back, I mean."

Buffy bit her lip. "What about... Spike, what about when I left?"

He thought about that for a minute. "Buffy, when you left, it hurt me so bad

I thought I'd never feel anything again."

She looked down. It was still. Then, quietly:

"Are you mad at me, then?"

"Mad?" Spike looked at her questioningly. "Why would I--"

Her words came all at once. "I hurt you all. I caused you all pain. I didn't

mean to. I know I had to do it, but all of you suffered. Because of me." She

began to cry, softly, burying her head in her hands. "I'm sorry. Please

don't be mad at me. I'm so sorry..."

Spike held her. The sun shone. The birds sang. "Shh. No one's mad, Buffy.

You were strong. You saved the whole world."

She sniffled. "A lot?"

"A lot." Spike grinned.

She laughed, through her tears. "I was so scared. I didn't know what to

do..."

"But you did it. You did the right thing."

She sighed, and laid back in his arms. "You were right. It's nice here..."

Spike closed his eyes. The sun shone, the birds sang. He held her close.

"You're gonna stay here with me, right, Buffy?"

The birds sang.

"Buffy?"

He sat on the steps, in the sun. Alone.

--

Spike opened his eyes to the darkness.

"Buffy?" he called. "Buffy..."

And closed his eyes again.

It was too painful to think. Too painful to accept.

Just a dream.

The End