XLVI - video;

[breakmychest]

[GUESS WHO'S SMIRKING VISAGE IS ONCE AGAIN GRACING THE BARGE? That's right, it's Spike! He's back! And he's...actually not wearing black. Well, there's still the coat, of course, but his shirt's brown. His room's changed too. It's got pipes and metal all around, like it's something off of some awesome steampunk spaceship. Which, to be fair, it is.

He gives the Barge a lazy wave.]

So. What'd I miss?

[Filtered to Fred.]

You still here, pet? How've you been? And how long was I gone?

[Filtered to Buffy]

Told you I'd be back.

[Please still be here.]

Comments

[Fred]

[bigbad]

I didn't know how long it's been. You could have gone home.

[He notices, and he falls silent, looking at her seriously. It may have been a while ago, but he remembers how they left things.]

Re: [Fred]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[There is a small tilt of her mouth. Not quite a smile, but something. Still, the quiet is strained]

I'm still here.

[She missed you, you know]

[Spike]

[bigbad]

[He smiles back.]

Still have the same room and everything?

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Fred nods. She feels herself missing him more now than when he was gone]

...same room and everything.

[Fred]

[bigbad]

I'll be right over.

Action

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[They've done this before. More than once. But that doesn't keep this time from feeling different]

Action

[bigbad]

[Pretty soon he shows up, and after a moment's hesitation, knocks on her door. He has seen her since he left. The Admiral made good on his deal. But... this is different. Fred's never been through dying. And he let it slip.]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Fred's moved to pretty much standing just on the other side of the door. It opens on the echo of Spike's knock]

[bigbad]

[When she opens the door, he just steps in and pulls her into a full-bodied hug. It's been too long, even though he knows she's happy and healthy back home.]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Well, then? There's pretty much nowhere to go but Spike. Not that she's objecting]

[bigbad]

[It takes him a while to pull back, and when he does, he doesn't let go, just moves back enough so that they can talk.]

So. How've you been?