13350/Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business
Date of Scene:	22 May 2021
Location:	Summers House, Sunnydale
Synopsis:	Spike returns some laundry, with all the usual drama.
Cast of Characters:	Spike, Buffy Summers

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Spike has posed:
Dawn and Joyce Summers were the only ones to still live at their house, although Buffy's room was just as she left it. Though she may live elsewhere, she could always come home. Her bedroom had two modes of access. First of all, there was a window that she would routinely climb through, and of course, there was the stairway, but she hardly ever used that. The light in her bedroom was on, which was unusual, as she wasn't home. Other lights were on, like the living room, kitchen, and Dawn's room, but those were to be expected at this hour. It was dark, probably about nine or ten o'clock at night.

Buffy Summers has posed:
With all the craziness going on lately, and with Dawn returning from her visit to a friend's house in New York, Buffy decided it would be a good time to check in on her family. As she nears the house though, she's a little troubled to see that the light is on in her room.

Sure she doesn't live here anymore but she still sleeps there and has some stuff in there when she visits. "Dammit Dawn, that better not be you snooping go through my stuff.." she grumbles as she unlocks the front fir and heads straight to her room. "Dawn are you in. there?" she calls.

Spike has posed:
When Buffy got to the top of the stairs, she would see Dawn's bedroom door open, and music coming from it. Coldplay by the sound of it. She would move, looking up, "Oh, hey Buffy, you're back. Weclome. Sorry, I'd love to hang, but I'm trying to get this paper done tonight, so I get the whole weekend off." With that, she would head back into her room, then pop her head out, "maybe later, okay?" And she was gone.

In Buffy's room, everything was normal, except the light was on, and there were some clothes sitting on her bed, freshly cleaned. They were the clothes she had left at Spike's crypt. But he did not seem to be in her bedroom, unless he had dove under the bed, was hiding in the closet, or something. As a vampire who had been previously invited, he could come and go as he pleased.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers blinks at Dawn, eyeing her warily, "Wow, really? You're actually studying instead of sneaking off to some party or getting into some other trouble? Are you feeling well?" but looks like she's fled to her room and Buffy just sighs, deciding to head to her own room.

Only to encounter another surprise! "..Huh? How did these get here..?" she frowns a bit, having left them at Spike's crypt, not having the heart to go retrieve them now..But does that mean..He's here? "Spike..?" she peers around but sees the room is empty. With a sigh, she plops down on the bed, examining her freshly washed clothes.

Spike has posed:
The clothes were absolutely normal, washed, clean, though beneath them, there was a note. Fairly simple. In his handwriting. All it said was, "thank you." Spike had no idea if Thomas would be with her, or if Dawn or Joyce might see it, so he kept it as to the point as he could.

In her haste to figure out what was going on in her bedroom, Buffy had missed that Spike was currently in the kitchen, sitting on a stool, talking with Joyce Summers about gardening techniques of all things, while drinking a cup of blood. Spike loved that Joyce was comfortable enough to keep blood in the house for him, and would always have a cup. She treated him with respect. And he adored her for that. She was drinking coffee herself.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers's eyes widen, gasping a bit as she reads the note. "Spike.." she sighs, shaking her head but stuffs it in her pocket before heading downstairs, She had considered de-inviting it but for some reason, both Joyce and Dawn seemed to enjoy his company. She peers around the first floor but is inevitably drawn to the kitchen and she just lingers in the doorway for a moment or two, eavesdropping on their conversation.

Spike has posed:
"-ant to plant in rows. Instead, plant in blocks, or, if better yet, triangles. That was you can maximize your space, getting better yields, and you won't waste as much space on pathways. You can fit more plants into a smaller area that way, and with them densely packed, it'll brighten things up."

Spike seemed to know a fair bit about gardening. Drusilla loved to play with her gardens, even if she often cut the heads off the flowers, she did learn all the techniques, and because he loved her, he picked it up too. He had his back to Buffy now. If he knew she was there, he didn't let on.

Joyce said, "that's so interesting. You know, I think I've seen what you mean. It looks better, but I didn't know why it looks better. Oh, hi honey, Spike was just dropping off some of your things after you had changed at his Mausoleum."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers blinks slowly as her mom addresses her, glancing at Spike with a slight frown. "Oh..Hi mom..Is that so?" she glances at Spike. "Uh...Thanks. Um Spike, can we talk..?" she seems confused maybe, not sure if she should be grateful, annoyed, embarrassed or all three. She's certainly surprised though.

Spike has posed:
"Oh, sure," Spike said, picking up his blood and standing up, "thanks for the cup, a pleasure as always." And he would walk with Buffy, leading her away from Joyce, since he figured whatever she wanted to talk about, it was away from the prying eyes and ears of the rest of the Summers family. Taking a sip of his cup of blood, a cup that said 'Of course I talk to myself. Sometimes I need expert advice.'

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers smiles and waves to her mother before heading back upstairs..She really should just keep him in an open public place but she would like the privacy of her room. Buffy doesn't say anything til she gets to her room, locking the door behind her. Then pulls out the note, showing it to him. "Whats this about?"

Spike has posed:
Spike figured she'd have led him to the living room, or outside on the porch, or anywhere. It was intriguing that she felt that he should be in her bedroom, even more so that she let him bring his cup of blood into it. Had she led him outside, he would have just left it on a nearby end table or something, for Joyce, Dawn, or Buffy herself to clean up, as he wouldn't want to take the cup with him.

With her locking the door, he looked towards it, "Got me right where you want me, don't you now, Buffy?" He smirked, but she wasn't in that mood. He looked at the note, "It's called showing gratitude."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns, folding her arms, "Don't play games with me. I'm tired. And don't leave sneaky notes like this. Nothing happened, I just wrapped your wounds and headed home, that's all." she sighs, glancing around the room, and heads to her closet as she speaks. She had left something in there last time and it was one of the reasons she came back. May as well make this quick.

Spike has posed:
"I'm not playing games, Buffy. You patched me up, and you watched over me, all night," technically, he watched over her, but he was saying that because he knew that Dawn was pressed up against the door with a glass, listening in on the conversation. "Is it so wrong to want to thank you for that? But I figured the boyfriend might not take too kindly to that little detail, so I kept it to a simple, 'thank you'. He does seem the possessive type, doesn't he?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers continues to search her closet for something, frowning, muttering something under her breath. "Look, it's not a big deal so quit making a mountain out of a mole hill..I..I shouldn't have even come. I just.." she sighs, giving up on whatever she's looking for, and moves to sit on the edge of the bed tiredly.

"You have the wrong idea about him. He's not controlling at all. He doesn't like you sure, but you guys have worked well together in the past. He knows we have..History, but he trusts me. I just..Don't want to let him down.."

Spike has posed:
"What are you looking for," Spike asked, tapping his nose, "vampire senses. Maybe I can help you find it?" He would move to take a seat next to her on the bed, her bed. The comforter felt nice and warm, and oh so soft. "History, is that what they call it now?" he chuckled a little, "as good a word as any, I guess." That phrase though, not wanting to let him down. It bothered Spike. He went into counsellor mode. "You ever stop to think about the words and phrases you use about him? What they mean?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns, hugging her arms and staring straight ahead. "Oh you know, it's silver, about yay big.." she spreads her fingers, "On a chain..Biught it at that weird French antique shop..Fontainebleau? Might be in the top drawer over there." not her underwear drawer of course, but the trinket one above it.

"Its not a big deal. And yes, History." with a capital H. "You know what I'm talking about." she blinks at his counselled mode then, "What are *you* talking about?"

Spike has posed:
"Right, silver, color, or material, no matter, if it is here, we'll find it" he would slap his hands on his knees, which were covered by black jeans, and rise, as he tried to sniff it out. Though he wasn't inhaling quickly, making a noise. He was just making sure to flare his nostrils, letting the scents of her room consume him. Vampires could often tell some fairly intimate details with their sense of smell when they wanted to. And she was allowing him to do that in her bedroom of all places.

He would move about, quickly, slowly, generally not actually pulling out drawers, or opening things. There was metal all over, in the frame of her bed, the screws in the cabinets, and such, so a lot of distractions. He would pull out her underwear drawer, "oh, not here," and promptly close it. That had to be deliberate.

And then, as he was about to pull out another one, he stopped, kneeling down, and reached behind the chest of drawers. He would grab something, gritting his teeth a little as he did, and return to the bed, where he would sit, and hand it to her, not by holding it up, but by taking her palm, open face, and letting his rest on top of it for a moment, before he let go. There was smoke coming from his hand. He pretended not to notice.

"There you go, problem solved." If it were anyone but Buffy, he'd be crying out in pain, but for her, he pretended that it didn't hurt.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers watches him warily but doesn't try to stop him. If he's going to be foolish enough to go looking for trouble, let him. Should serve him right, after all..."Heey! Not my underwear drawer!" she sighs, knowing vamps have good senses, particularly sense of smell, and can't help but wonder if he knew what she and Thomas had been up to earlier that day..

But her thoughts are interrupted when he actually finds her crucifix and hands it to her, steam rising from his fingers. Serves him right, he shouldn't.."Spike!" she cries out in spite if herself. Why does she even care? "You're Gonna hurt yourself, let me see.." she'll toss the cross to the side, more concerned about if he burnt his hand now. "You're such an idiot..Why'd you go and do that?"

Spike has posed:
Spike knew, Spike always knew. A small part of him wondered if she knew he knew, and was just trying to cause him grief. If so, he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Besides, he had the good sense not to bring it up. It wasn't polite. He would only ever address such things if he didn't like the person, or was just trying to get under their skin, which was often, but rarely with Buffy these days, as he both liked her, and wanted her to be happy.

His hand had the imprint of the cross in it, only slightly burnt. With her grabbing his hand and looking, he enjoyed the attention, "it's okay, Buffy, it's all right, nothing to worry about." He was trying to impress her, the lengths he'd go. It hadn't been working so far, but he had to try something.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns, "That was stupid. You're still healing, you should be more careful.." he may notice that she has a streak of white in her hair now too, just a bit. But she's been pretty busy and stressed lately too. Of course it could be due to something else..Either way, Buffy isn't talking about it.

Anyway, she peers back at him. "So what were you talking about earlier? You trying to psycho analyze me or something?"

Spike has posed:
Spike nodded, "yeah, well, what else is new?" Spike was a very smart man who did stupid things. They all knew it. He paused, rubbing his hand now that she had let go, "Buffy, have you looked at your hair recently?" It was short and to the point.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns deeply, avoiding his gaze as she grabs her crucifix, fussing with the clasp. "So, what's your point? So I'm greying prematurely. It's not that uncommon." of course she knows what's coming next. It wouldn't be the first time.

Spike has posed:
Spike rises from the bed that he would so love to use, he watches the girl he loves avoid his gaze, instead, fussing and fumbling with the clasp of her crucifix. She was in denial. He didn't need to be a psychologist to know that. And on so many subjects. He thought about saying that she can lie to herself, but not to him. He had said it many times before. She could likely hear it in her head right now. But it didn't come. Instead, he simply said, "I'm sorry," and he took a step towards her door, having to unlock it in order to leave.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers finishes clasping the crucifix around her neck, something she knows could harm him because he is, at the end of the day, a demon. And Demons and Slayers aren't supposed to get along. Not that she was ever good at rules.

She draws a deep breath, watching him go, doing nothing to stop him,until he reaches the door. "I..Wanted to thank you, for saving my life back there. I probably shouldn't have kissed you though..And you shouldn't have thanked me either."

Of course Buffy knows what comes next, he'll probably lecture her, tell her how he knows the truth, how she can't lie to him, blah blah..

Spike has posed:
Spike had unlocked the door, and had a hand on the knob, but Buffy began to speak. So he stopped. He had his back to her. Perhaps it helped her to say it that way. To thank him without looking him in the eye. Turning around, his hand lifted off the knob. "You're welcome," he said, and he had no trouble looking her in the eye as he said it, so long as she wouldn't lower his gaze as he did it. But then he got a quizzed look. "Huh?"

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers is actually grateful that he's not facing her when she says that, unsure of how he might take it.

Except that he's now facing her...And he seems..Surprised. "Wait, what? You mean you didn't know?" she gasps, her face turning a bright red and she shakes her head vehemently.

"Uh, it's nothing, forget I said anything!"

Spike has posed:
And with that, Spike casually walked back towards the bed, doing his absolute utmost not to grin like the cat that got the canary. It was really hard not to have that come across, "So, you kissed me?" He suspected, from when he smelled something after they had spent the night together, but he didn't know... until now. Although if he didn't know she had kissed him, what was the thank you note about?

Buffy Summers has posed:
Her eyes widen in alarm, realizing she just messed up. Big time. "Uh, Spike, No! It's not what you think! I just.." she sighs, hanging her head.

"Like I said..I just wanted to thank you, for saving my life, that's all. It doesn't mean anything else, beyond a thank you..I..I thought that's why you wrote that note in the first place?" now she's confused.

Spike has posed:
She was so cute when she was nervous. He had to smile, and tried not to laugh, as he shook his head, thoroughly enjoying this. "So, I was sleeping beauty in this, huh? And because I didn't wake up, I suppose you don't think what we have is true love?" He still hadn't explained what the note was for, instead focusing on the kiss.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers bites down on her lip, hands clenched and unclenching nervously, "It wasn't like that! It's not like I wanted anything from you, I was just saying goodbye.." it's a lame excuse really, but she's stubbornly standing by it. So there!

Spike has posed:
That part hurt. There was nothing she wanted from him. "Is that right?" And yet, even if she didn't love him back, he gave everything he had to her. He saw her clench and unclench, placing a hand on hers, hoping the touch would be welcomed, and that it might stop her from fidgeting. And then he would lean in to say goodbye.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers just nods wordlessly, avoiding his gaze. Why did he have to make things Soo hard? She actually relaxes a bit as he rests his hand on hers, relaxing enough for him to lean in a bit more. If she doesn't really need him, well, he would know. He always knew. He could see it in her eyes how very torn up about this she is.

Either way she doesn't protest, hazel eyes fluttering closed briefly as she lets him say 'goodbye'. Because..It doesn't really mean anything else, right?

Spike has posed:
Whereas her 'goodbye' had been far briefer, this one continued. Her lips felt really good on his, and he thought that his felt good on her. He wasn't about to break it, meaning she would have to, and the real question was, how long would she let this go on, how long would she enjoy it, how long until she thought better. His own eyes closed as he continued, pressing his lips, savoring her taste on him. His hands went to her, pulling her in closer.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Oh, it would be so easy to lose herself in his kiss..As she had done so long ago, when she was still available, when they actually stood a chance..But now, things seem different. He had left, she had moved on, or tried to, so why did fate keep pulling them back together like this?

Her eyes widen, realizing he's not letting go. This isn't just a peck on the lips, a brief goodbye or 'thank you' like she had given him. Her eyes widen in confusion, anxiety..A hundred different thoughts and feelings cross her mind, but mostly sadness.

"Spike..Spike, stop!" she can't exactly pull away, as she's sitting on the bed, so she tries to rest her hands on his shoulders and push him away, albeit gently, at least at first.

Spike has posed:
Spike stopped without pulling away as she broke the kiss to say that. The gentle push was all it took for him, at this stage, and in the circumstances, but he looked into those hazel eyes, lost in the moment that he happily gave in to. "The thank you note was for staying with me, being there, looking after me, and cuddling, all night. It was the greatest night of my life." He was so touched that she trusted him enough to lean on his shoulder and drift off to sleep, in his lair. He was a vampire, yet she chose to spend the night with him, her body against his. Of course, she may have noticed that his chest was sizzling, the crucifix having burned a hole in his shirt, and the bandages underneath.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers blinks, eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, it wasn't...But I didn't..I just.." oh..Crap...What really happened that night? "I mean.l was asleep the whole time and was pretty much exhausted..It's not like I was consciously crawling all over you, besides it's your fault for getting your injuries opened again! I was just there to make sure you healed properly. I would have done the same for anyone--"

Her eyes widen at his sizzling chest, "Spike! Your chest!" dammit, he's doing this deliberately, isn't he? And she keeps falling for it every time....Grr..

Spike has posed:
She was in denial again. She had walked him home, showered, bandaged him, and then sat down beside him on the couch, cuddling, and falling asleep. She chose to sit on the couch and cuddle him. She didn't faint and collapse into the couch. She was awake when it had started, and she chose to walk around the coffee table to the couch, instead of the chair, which had been closer at the time. "Oh, did you forget how I got the injuries, saving your life, or re-opened them, protecting you?" There was a theme to it. He kept putting himself in harm's way to get closer to her, to protect her, and sometimes, like his chest, it was exacerbated. In fact, he had left her clothes here, where she could accept them, without having seen him. She was the one who brought him upstairs and locked them in her bedroom.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns, "No, of course not! But I'll bet you're just doing this for attention..Are you trying to ruin things for me? I'm happy! For the first time in my life, things are going right.." well mostly.

"We're just allies, co-workers. To be anything else would just be unprofessional." oh she's eyeing the cross shaped burn in his chest, debating whether she should help him or let him sizzle after trying to pull a fast one like that on her..

Spike has posed:
"You think I took a rebar through me chest, got dragged under the water by the Kraken, or burn on a cross for attention. Buffy," he shook his head, "if I wanted attention, there are a lot less painful ways to do it." If she felt sympathy for him when he got hurt doing her favors, that was because she was a good person, and may have feelings for him.

Then he laughed, a bit bitterly, snarky, he didn't mean it that way, and immediately tried to reign himself in. "Okay, if you're happy, then how come you've kissed me three times this week? How come you're getting sick from being with Thomas? How come you spent the night? And... why are we having this conversation in your childhood bedroom?" They weren't really the actions of someone who didn't care about him.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers sighs and shakes her head. "You really are something, aren't you, Spike? Okay, so you risked your life protecting me and I paid you back tenfold. What more do you want from me? And to be fair, two of those kisses you initiated and caught me off-guard , and the only one I initiated was little more than a brief peck and gesture of thanks.."

As she speaks, the phone on her bed suddenly beeps as someone sends her a text message. She blinks at the tone, making a grab for her phone..

Spike has posed:
"Oh? Really?" He laughs incredulously, "think again Buffy, you and I both know that first one, I leaned in close, but didn't touch you. You closed that distance all by yourself. So, that's two you initiated to my one, but who's counting?" Clearly, Spike had been. "And you know what I want. You've always known what I want."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns, stepping up from the bed, glowering at him...After sending a few more text messages to..Someone on her phone. "Geez, Spike! You're really twisting things around aren't you? I never initiated anything with you..And I definitely didn't..Snuggle up to you. I was merely wrapping your wounds, and I was so exhausted I fell asleep. You happened to be sitting too close and I accidently fell on your shoulder. That's all!"

Well, she's known to have quite the temper, now more than ever. The burn marks on his chest are noted of course, but in her annoyance! she's not even going to try and patch him up this time, not when it means getting tricked into some cozy web of lies..Grr..

"I don't have to listen to this, I'm out of here!" and she storms past him, out of her own freaking room for crying out loud, past a startled peeping Dawn and out the front door, slamming it pretty hard.

So there!