Long Way From Home - Chapter 14

Pulling her coat tighter around her Buffy stepped out of the college and into the dark street. It had been over a week since she'd foolishly kissed Spike and things had gotten wonkier, to the point that she hadn't seen him at all and worse, she missed him.

Now the temperature had dropped to subzero and a patchy layer of ice coated the pavement, she walked along with every muscle in her legs tensed for fear of slipping over.

Adjusting her hat so it protected her ears from the chill night air she headed towards Borders in search of a cappuccino. As she weaved a path up the street towards the bookshop she noticed how empty the place was, it was only six in the evening but most shops were closed, Buffy figured it probably had something to do with tomorrow being Christmas Eve.

Trying to ignore how miserable the thought of Christmas made her feel right now she crossed the road and continued towards the store. On nearing it Buffy felt her mood fail her, the windows were dark and she peered in through the doors to see everything still and quiet.

"Damn." Buffy adjusted the heavy bag on her shoulder and sighed, in a moment of utter frustration she kicked the door hard.

"My, my aren't we moody today?"

Spinning on her heel Buffy turned to see Spike standing near the edge of the pavement, he exhaled smoke at her and smiled.

"Leave me alone." She started heading back in the direction she had come from, her stomach twisted upon itself and she felt like it was desperately trying to pull her back towards him.

"You really are in a foul mood tonight kitten, something I said?" Spike walked along side her with his hands jammed into his jeans pockets, cigarette bobbing about as he spoke.

"Nothing you say would ever have an impact on me Spike." Buffy quickened her pace and fought to keep her bag from slipping off her shoulder.

"You alright love?" Spike kept up with her and gave a quick glace to the path up ahead, there was a road she would have to stop at to cross.

"I'm not your love." She kept her eyes firmly set on the path and Spike decided he wasn't going to wait for the road to stop her.

"Buffy?" Spike skidded in front of her stopping her in her tracks, he'd spent the last week thinking about her and he wasn't about to let her storm off.

"What?" Buffy ground out from between her teeth and then relented. The whole of her body sagged into a relaxed position as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sorry, I'm being queen bitch tonight aren't I?"

"What happened to bouncy Buffy? Even perplexed Buffy was better than this." Spike frowned at her and flicked his cigarette to the floor, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on her face.

"Just having a bad time." Buffy slumped even further and looked up at him.

He looked different tonight, he was wearing a chunky knit navy sweater along with his trademark jeans and boots, but instead of his leather duster he was wearing a black denim jacket. When she breathed in the scent of his aftershave something in her wanted to either hug him or cry, Buffy realised she really had missed him.

"Wait a minute." He narrowed his eyes as he watched her. "Christmas holidays started three days ago, shouldn't you be back in LA snuggled up to tall dull and brain dead?"

Buffy ignored his reference to Angel and looked up at him with a saddened expression. "Buffy doesn't get a Christmas this year."

"Why the bloody hell not?" He noticed she had started to shiver and his anger failed him. "Never mind, you're freezing out here."

"I wanted a coffee, little pick me up." A reason to get out of my empty room.

Spike read her thoughts clearly. "I know a nice little place not too far from here, we can grab a cab, it'll only be a couple of quid - my shout." Not waiting for her to answer he waved down a passing taxi.

Opening the door he ushered Buffy into the back of the cab and slid in beside her.

"North parade, mate." Spike leant forward to the taxi driver and then slouched back into the seat next to Buffy, who was rubbing her bare hands together to warm them.

He took a pair of leather gloves from his jeans pocket and handed them to her, surprised that she took them without protest.

"Thanks." She smiled as she slipped them on, they were warm and Buffy didn't want to think about the fact that had been in his jeans. She wiggled her fingers at him. "Toasty."

As the cab pulled to a halt Spike slipped the driver some money then with a 'merry Christmas' let Buffy out of the car.

"Just a little walk." Spike smiled as Buffy took in her new surroundings.

It was a tiny side street barely wide enough for one car to drive down, twinkling lights stretched in a zigzag from side to side. Little café's and shops lined the pavements and she peered into them with interest as they passed.

Spike watched her as she absorbed everything around her. She still had the same sad edge to her but it seemed to be lifting a little. Heaving a sigh he watched his breath turn white in the cold night air.

"Here's us." Spike pointed to a little café and pushed the door open, it was empty except for a handful of people.

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