Chapter Forty-Four: The Soulful Truth

"I don't know what to think, Angel." Joy confided as the two patrolled together. "He's been back in my life for two weeks and I still have no idea where he was all summer."

"Have you ever come right out and asked him?"

Joy shook her head. "I trust him completely."

"That doesn't mean you can't have natural curiosity." Angel reminded her. "Like, for instance, why am I here slaving away with you and not him?"

Joy frowned at Angel. "You volunteered to patrol with me, remember?" She shoved Angel aside as a vampire lunged at him from behind. She met the vampire with her fist and then proceeded to attack him with an alternating pattern of kicks and punches. Angel finally stepped in and staked the vampire easily.

"I know I wanted to come. I've been feeling slightly neglected since the boyfriend returned." Angel admitted a little sarcastically.

"Angel, I haven't meant to neglect you, but you know how excited I've been to have him back." Joy smiled. "He's been amazing. It's like he's trying to make up for all the time he was gone. Besides, if you're so annoyed at him for coming back, then why'd you let him move in with you?"

"He didn't have anywhere else to go since that demon took over his crypt." Angel shrugged. "And I could tell you wanted me to."

"And I really appreciate it." Joy smiled. "How about I come over after we finish here and cook my two favorite boys some dinner?"

"That's sweet Joy, but I thought Spike was going to meet you at the Bronze."

"Damn, I completely forgot." She glanced around the quiet cemetery. "I should probably go and meet him soon…"

Angel nodded. "Go ahead. I'll stay around here for a while longer."

"Why don't you come to the Bronze with us?" She paused. "Do you dance?"

"Only when forced…or very drunk." He grinned. "If you're lucky, you'll never have to witness such a catastrophe."

Joy smiled. "You could at least come and have a drink with us…"

"We really need to discuss your drinking habits, Joy."

"I don't have a habit. I just drink when we go dancing."

"You're seventeen!" He argued. "That is too young to be a social drinker."

"Yes sir." Joy mock-saluted.

"Alright, that's all the lecturing I've got in me for tonight. Get on over to the Bronze and I'll see you later."

"Bye Angel!" Joy smiled and waved at him as she sprinted off away from the cemetery and towards the Bronze.

……………

"So, I was thinking…"

"That's never a good sign." Spike joked, circling his arms tighter around his girlfriend's waist as they danced together slowly on the crowded dance floor at the Bronze. "What have you been thinking about, pet?" He leaned down and tried to kiss her but she moved her lips out of his reach.

"About Angel." Joy admitted.

"Alright, not exactly encouraging for me to know you've got another man in your thoughts." Spike growled.

"Relax. It's not like that." Joy reassured him. She slipped her hands around his neck and smiled up at him. "He's been feeling a little lonely I think since you came back to me."

"Oh?" Spike pretended to care for her sake but she could see that he didn't.

"Spike, I know the two of you have your eternal rivalries and whatnot, but Angel is very important to me. He is one of my best friends, and I don't like him feeling left out of my life just because my boyfriend is suddenly back in it." Joy explained.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say, Gidget." Spike told her.

"I just want to be able to keep him involved in my life."

Spike frowned. "I've never tried to keep him out of your life! Obviously I'm not a fan of the big brooder, but I'm not going to prevent him from being close to you. As much as I hate to admit it, Peaches cares about you and I know that he would never let anything happen to you." He smiled and kissed her forehead. "And that means something to me." He tried moving to her lips again, but she again pulled away.

"Good, then you won't mind helping me to get him more involved."

"Involved?" Spike hesitated. "How so?"

"In my life…which I suppose means our lives." She shrugged. "I need him to always feel wanted and welcome."

"I'll do my best, but no promises. You know how he tests me." Spike reminded her.

"Well, your best will be good enough for me."

"Can I get back to kissing my girlfriend yet?" Spike asked spitefully.

Joy smiled and tipped her chin up toward him. "Absolutely."

"Good." He captured her lips with his and kissed her passionately as they continued to sway to the music.

"Seriously, get a room!"

Joy and Spike broke apart as they heard Dawn beside them. "You have awfully bad timing lil' bit." Spike glared at her and Colin.

Dawn shrugged. "I actually think it's kind of perfect." She nodded over her shoulder towards the bar. "I was trying to save you from an inevitable lecture for your public display…"

Joy and Spike looked to where Dawn had indicated and noticed Buffy and Riley ordering drinks. "Thanks for the heads up Dawn." Joy rolled her eyes. "I swear she's stalking us just to be annoying." She told Spike who nodded in agreement.

"Or she's just really dying for a fight with me." He grinned.

"Spike…" Joy warned with a raised eyebrow.

"Only joking, pet!" He insisted. "Come on, let's give them what they want."

"What?" Joy frowned as he wrapped his arm around her waist and directed her towards the bar. Colin and Dawn followed them curiously.

"Mind if we join you?" Spike asked briefly before snatching the beer out of Riley's hand and guzzled it down.

"Actually…" Riley started to protest but Buffy shook her head and he backed down.

"Spike, can you try to behave for five minutes?" Buffy glared at him and ordered Riley another beer.

He shrugged. "It's not likely."

Joy pinched his side hard. "Be nice." She growled at him.

"Hey, what'd I do to you?" Spike frowned at her, rubbing his side as though it had actually hurt him.

"You're trying to start a fight. I think it's a habit with you." She took the bottle of beer from his hand and took a long drink.

"Joy, seriously!" Buffy rolled her eyes. "You're not old enough…"

Joy rolled her eyes. "Now you sound like Angel."

Spike took the drink back from her. "They do have a point though pet. How 'bout I order you a nice lemonade?"

Joy ignored him and turned her attention to Buffy. "So, what are you two doing here?"

"Having a drink." Buffy replied casually. "I kind of thought that was obvious."

Joy smirked. "Right, because the two of you always feel like coming to the Bronze on a Wednesday night to get a beer."

"Sometimes we do…" Buffy answered lamely.

"You're an awful liar Buff." Joy sighed. "If you're that desperate to spy on us, you could at least be honest about it."

"We're not spying!" Buffy insisted.

"Whatever." Joy shook her head. "I just wish you could give me some space. You know, show that you have some sort of trust in me to be able to take care of myself."

"I do trust you, Joy!" Buffy argued.

"Prove it!"

Buffy hesitated. "I don't know exactly what you want me to do…"

Joy thought for a minute then smiled. "Prove you trust me to take care of myself and be responsible for my own life, by giving me some space. Some time without you watching my every move."

"What exactly are you suggesting Joy?" Buffy asked her nervously.

"Go away." Joy stated simply.

"What?"

"I don't mean just right now, I mean go away for a while and give me a chance to take care of myself and Sunnydale." Joy smiled at the idea. "I'm sure you and Riley could use some alone time. So, go away for a while. Take a few days for a vacation."

Buffy frowned. "I don't think that's a very good idea…"

"Why not? You should know by now that I'm perfectly capable of patrolling alone, and I don't need a babysitter." Joy reminded her sharply.

Riley glanced at Buffy hopefully. "The kid has a point, Buffy!"

"I'm not a kid," Joy growled. "But thank you for being on my side."

"Let's go on vacation Buffy. It would be fun." Riley encouraged. "We can go to the beach."

Buffy smiled slightly. "It's been a while since I've been able to relax."

"See, it's exactly what the two of you need." Joy grinned.

Buffy waited another second and then finally nodded. "Fine. You win. Riley and I will leave town and go on vacation. You can be in charge of yourself and all slayer duties for three days."

Dawn grinned. "Nice! Let's have a party."

Buffy glared at her sister. "Joy, I expect you to actually be responsible and not give me reason to regret my decision in leaving you alone."

"I promise I will be on my best behavior!" Joy glanced sideways at Dawn. "And she will be too."

Spike grinned and wrapped his arms around Joy's stomach. "We will all be on our best behaviors. But now, we're going to dance." He kissed her ear and pulled her back towards the dance floor.

"You're not exactly helpful, you know." Joy scolded him.

"I do what I can." He smirked. "So, you'll have the slayer out of the house and soldier boy with her. How about working on getting rid of the witches and then maybe I can come over and spend the night…"

Joy placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back a little. "Spike, I know that I have made you wait for a long time and I really appreciate your patience, but…"

"But you still want more time?" Spike finished for her.

Joy nodded. "Sex just complicates things and I don't think we need any more complications right now."

"Of course not." Spike backed off quickly. "No worries, Gidget." He kissed her hairline and they resumed dancing.

"But I still want you to come over when they leave. Just to be with me." She smiled up at him and he nodded.

"If you want me to then you know I'll be there."

………………

"Hello? You here?" Spike called out as he let himself in the front door of the Summers' house the next night.

"Just a minute! I'll be right there!" Joy called down the stairs.

"Come to the kitchen, I have a surprise for you." Spike called back up to her as he crossed the entryway and entered the kitchen. He placed the two grocery bags he was carrying down on one of the counters and started unloading them.

Joy soon bounded down the back stairs, stopping when she saw him unpacking the food. "What's going on, Spike?"

"I am cooking you dinner." Spike announced proudly.

"Are you serious?" A slow grin spread across Joy's face as she started inspecting the groceries. "I didn't know you could cook!"

He shrugged. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Gidget." He started searching through the cupboards for cooking pans. "Now, you just go and make yourself comfortable while I take care of dinner."

Joy smiled. "I just think it's a bit unfair for you to be cooking for me when you don't even eat!"

"I'm not making it for me." He smiled at her. "It's for you. So, stop complaining and just let me enjoy spoiling you for one night, alright?"

Joy nodded. "Oh, I'm not complaining. It's not every night a sexy man makes me dinner…"

"Sexy, huh?" Spike raised an eyebrow.

"Yea, yea, soak it up." She retrieved a soda from the fridge and hoisted herself up on top of the counter to watch Spike while he began fixing the ingredients for the chicken pesto ravioli he had chosen to make. "So, after I enjoy the delicious food you're going to feed me, what else are we going to do tonight?"

"That's up to you." Spike told her.

"Well, patrolling, obviously." Joy decided. "And then maybe we can come back here and you can stay the night with me…" She corrected herself quickly. "Just to stay with me. That's all. Willow and Tara are staying out for the night and Dawn's going to be out late with Colin, so I'll be all alone, and that can get pretty boring."

"So, I'll spend the night with you, but strictly for company…" Spike repeated.

"Yes, just for company." Joy smiled. "Unless I for some reason change my mind later…" He looked at her hopefully. "But I wouldn't count on it." She sighed. "Do you hate me for making you wait?"

He opened a container of strawberries and held one up to her. "I am getting good at this whole patience thing. Really, a few years ago I never thought I'd be interested enough in someone to actually have a relationship, you know, no sex. But now…"

"But now?" Joy opened her mouth and he slipped the strawberry between her lips.

"It's just different now." He turned away from her. "When I'm with you I don't care about anything else. Being a part of your life just makes me so perfectly happy…"

Joy felt her lips turning up into an unstoppable smile. "Spike, why won't you look at me?"

He busied himself with the stove. "I'm not good at all this bloody emotional shit." He sighed. "I just needed to tell you."

"Tell me what exactly?" Joy asked with excited curiosity. "That you're happy with me?"

"Yea, but it's more than that. Being with you is perfect." He turned around to face her again and she saw something in his eyes that she'd never noticed before. Calling it a 'sparkle' was too cliché, but it really was. He was actually sparkling with delight or as he had said, a perfect happiness.

"It is perfect, isn't it?" Joy agreed. She stretched out her legs and locked her ankles around his waist and pulled him towards herself. "We are perfect." He placed his hands on her hips and kissed her slowly.

He sniffed the air. "Okay…we're perfect but the food is burning!" He broke the kiss and pulled away from her, quickly returning his attention to the stove.

………………

After dinner, Spike left to run a quick errand, though he wouldn't tell her what it was, while she changed for patrolling. They planned to meet at the cemetery in thirty minutes. As she was heading down the kitchen stairs to leave by the back door, there was a knock on the front door. Curious, she hurried to answer it.

"Who the hell are you?" Joy asked immediately after opening the door and seeing the group of half a dozen young men decked out in very serious looking outfits of either all black or army-camo.

The man in front frowned at her and she noticed his arm flexing as he gripped something behind his back, which she assumed was a weapon of some sort. "Is this the Summers' house?"

Joy nodded slowly. "Who's asking?"

"I'm Graham, and we're looking for Riley Finn."

"Oh, I get it. You're all government boys, aren't you?" She grinned. "Cool. The outfits make sense now."

The agents seemed confused. "You know about Riley's position in the government?"

"Of course. I've been living here for almost a year." Joy shrugged. "Do you want to come in?"

The guys hesitated briefly but entered the house. "Is Riley here?"

"No, actually he's not." Joy told them. "It's my fault really. I persuaded him and Buffy to take a vacation for a few days." She shrugged. "They deserve it…you do know Buffy, don't you?" The men nodded. "I thought so. Anyway, I think they went to the beach."

"When do you expect them back?"

"Not for a few days. They only left this morning." Joy explained. "Is there anything I can help you with?" The men were silent but she could sense they were hiding something important. "Relax boys, you can trust me." She smiled. "I'm sure Riley's told you about me. I'm Joy Peters."

Comprehension seemed to dawn on a couple of the men. "You're the new slayer."

She nodded. "That's me!"

"You're young." Another man commented bluntly.

"That's a matter of opinion." She frowned. "Besides, age doesn't mean anything. I bet I could take all of you."

The guys seemed doubtful. "No offense, but you're kind of…well, small."

Joy laughed. "Don't worry, no offense taken. But just because I'm short, it doesn't mean I'm weak."

Graham nodded. "Don't underestimate her. You've all seen Buffy, haven't you? She's tiny but she could easily kick our asses."

"Anyway, I was just leaving to patrol, so is there anything you needed me to pass on to Riley and Buffy for you?" Joy asked them quickly, remembering that Spike was waiting for her.

The guys considered for a moment and then nodded. "You should probably know too. We aren't sure if you have been affected at all yet, but we wanted to give you all in Sunnydale a heads up."

"About what?" Joy asked.

"I'm sure Buffy and Riley filled you in on the Initiative."

Joy nodded. "I've heard bits and pieces."

"Unfortunately we have been recently learning of some malfunctions in some of our…operations."

"What kind of malfunctions?" Joy questioned.

"You were probably told about how we would modify the behaviors of demons and vampires by implanting a chip inside their brain to control their actions."

"Yea, I've heard."

"Well, recently these chips have been failing."

"Failing?" Joy started panicking.

"Yes. The chips have now become inactive." The agent informed her. "Completely. They are no longer functioning as we had intended them to. About two weeks ago we noticed that they have shut themselves off some how. "

Joy paused. "So you mean that none of the chips work? At all?" The men shook their heads. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. There have been outbreaks of violence all over from the demons who have been constrained for so long."

"Well…thanks for informing me…I'll, umm, I'll pass it on to them as soon as they get back." Joy told them, slightly dazed with the new information.

"Okay, well that was all. It was good to meet you." The agents nodded to her and headed back to the door.

"Yea, umm, good to meet you too." Joy waved them through the door and closed it quickly behind them. They have to be making a mistake. All the chips couldn't be malfunctioning because that would mean that Spike…She stopped herself suddenly, feeling an overwhelming dread fill her mind. Thinking about the implications of Spike's chip not working made her feel queasy. It isn't possible. She told herself. They said the chips have been off for two weeks! All that time that Spike's been here, and we've been together…everything is perfect! Something like this can't be possible! Her eyes filled with tears and she struggled into a jacket as she ran out the front door and started sprinting down the dark streets towards the cemetery. She resisted the urge to fall to her knees and sob pathetically, and instead cleared the traces of tears from her eyes and forced herself to remain calm until she knew for sure what was going on.

As she approached the edge of the cemetery, Joy heard the unmistakable grunts and kicks of a battle. She took a deep breath and moved around a tall marble crypt. Spike was in a clearing of low-headstone graves fighting with three vampires at once. She stood in the shadows of a branchy tree, watching the fight.

"Yea! How does that feel bastard?" Spike was shouting at one of the vampires that he had just kicked hard in the face.

Joy rolled her eyes at the verbal baiting. It was so typical of Spike. He couldn't just have a simple fight without tossing out a few sparring insults.

"You want to try and say that about my slayer again?" Spike was now viciously punching another one of the vampires, alternating between the face and the stomach. Joy frowned, curious about Spike's words.

"Look man, I'm just saying what I heard!" The vampire replied weekly, pathetically attempting to duck away from Spike's attacks. He wasn't successful, and Spike managed to flip him onto the ground where he then proceeded to lunge at the hopeless vampire, elbowing him hard in the chest.

"Well, next time you hear shit about my girl, it'd be best for you to correct the rumors." Spike punched the vampire in the face. "Actually, unfortunately for you, you're never going to hear anything again!" He pulled out a stake and dusted the vampire quickly.

The two others slowly started approaching Spike, their fangs flashing in the glow from the moonlight. Spike leapt to his feet and narrowed his eyes at them. "Either one of you have anything to say?"

"Well, what he said was true. The word has been getting around. The new slayer's a bit of a sleaze." One of the vampires smirked. "Not that it's much of a problem for me. If she's as easy as they say, I might actually have a shot at finally banging a slayer…I hear they're pretty good…you should know, right?"

Spike's face instantly turned fangy as he lunged at the vampire who was speaking and snapped his neck without a moment's hesitation. He turned to the final vampire with a scowl. "Any last words from you?" The vampire seemed to briefly consider, before turning and fleeing from the cemetery. Spike laughed. "That's right! Run home little boy!"

"Spike…" Joy finally stepped out of the shadows, with a slight smile on her face. Regardless of what the soldier boys had told her, she couldn't help feeling that Spike was fully on her side. It was impossible for him to be evil again. She knew that he cared for her completely, but still, she had to know the truth.

Spike turned to her, his face melting back to its human form instantly. "Joy…" He looked embarrassed. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough." Joy responded.

"Long enough?" Spike seemed nervous.

"Yea, long enough to see my guy sticking up for my honor." She grinned. "It was kind of nice."

"I don't like them talking trash about you…" Spike told her softly.

"And I appreciate that."

He reached his hands out to her but she instinctively pulled away. "What's bothering you Gidget?"

She slipped her hands up into the sleeves of her jacket and fiddled with the buttons nervously. "Spike, where did you go when you went away?"

Spike hesitated. "I told you, I just needed some time by myself, to figure things out."

Joy shook her head. "No bullshit Spike. I need to know the truth."

"Joy, I don't understand what's going on." Spike stepped back from her slightly. "Just a couple of hours ago we were fine. What's changed?"

Joy sucked in her breath, trying to figure out how to approach the subject. "I met some people tonight, just a minute ago."

"Who?"

"They were government guys…" She told him. "From the initiative. They were looking for Riley."

Spike cleared his throat. "Aah, the good old soldier boys. What'd they want?"

"Don't screw with me Spike." Joy glared at him. "You have been lying to me for too long."

"I don't see what this has to do with the initiative!" Spike argued.

Joy shook her head. "No more lies Spike. Don't you think you've hurt me enough?" She sighed. "Leaving me like you did I've managed to get over, but this…this is too much. This is serious and there are more consequences then you obviously are considering."

"There is obviously something you are mad at me for, but it would be really great if you'd fill me in." Spike frowned. "What did they tell you?"

"You are really something else." Joy shook her head. "Lying to my face like this? I mean, I've heard things about you from Buffy and Angel, but I never realized that you could be that sadistic. Keeping this from me for so long! What are you waiting for?" Joy lashed out at him, punching him hard in the jaw without thinking about it.

"Ow!" Spike exclaimed, stumbling away from her and glaring at her with sad eyes. "Was that really called for, Gidget?"

"Hit me."

"What?"

"Hit me Spike!" Joy shouted at him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Spike shouted back.

"Hit me god-dammit." Joy punched him again.

"I'm not going to hit you Joy!" Spike insisted. "I think you need to just calm down and talk to me." He reached his hand out towards her but she lunged at him, attacking him viciously.

"Hit me now!"

Spike defended himself but refused to hit her. "Stop it Joy! You're being ridiculous!"

Joy's eyes were blurring with tears and she continued to attack him. "Just do it."

Hesitating only very briefly, Spike finally gave in and punched her hard in the face, expecting his head to explode in pain. The second he pulled his hand away from her, Joy stopped attacking him and waited for his reaction. He moved his hands to his head instinctively but when nothing happened he dropped his arm and stared at her in surprise.

"How does it feel to be able to hurt me, Spike?" Joy asked him coldly.

"Joy, what's happened?" Spike asked her tensely.

"As if you didn't know!" Joy accused bitterly.

"I didn't…I don't! What's going on?" Spike repeated.

For a minute she wanted to believe him. His reaction was so innocent; she didn't think it was possible for him to actually be guilty of hiding something like this from her and plotting against her for so long. He had been so perfect! She didn't think it was possible for him to be such a good actor.

"Spike," Her voice was low. "The initiative chips have been inactive for over two weeks."

"What?" Spike frowned. "That doesn't make any sense…"

"Stop pretending like you didn't know Spike!" Joy threatened. "What have you been planning? Why have you been leading me on for so long? If you want to hurt me so badly than just do it."

"Joy, I don't want to hurt you." Spike insisted. "I would never want to hurt you. I couldn't."

"I want to believe you." Joy told him sadly. "But I have to accept what you used to be and without that chip…it's what you are again."

"I'm not though!" Spike continued to fight with her. "You have to believe me."

"Why? Give me one reason to believe you? Tell me why I should trust anything you say?"

Spike hung his head. "Those three months that I was gone…" He paused and took a deep breath. "I wasn't just biding my time."

"What were you doing Spike?"

He looked up at her, locking his eyes with hers. "I was looking for something."

"For what?" Joy asked.

"Something that could help me prove myself to you, to gain your trust." He gazed at her deeply, sincerely. "The way that Angel is able to."

"Oh my god." Joy gasped as realization hit her. "Spike…"

He nodded slowly. "It wasn't easy, but I was determined and I finally found a way."

"How?" She shook her head. "Why?"

"The 'how' was long and difficult and painful, and I'd rather not describe the details to you." He shrugged. "It wasn't pleasant." She nodded her understanding. "As for the 'why'…" He glanced up at her and made sure she was listening clearly. "I had hoped it would be obvious by now." A slight smile tugged at his lips. "I love you Joy."

For a moment Joy felt as though she couldn't breathe. She had never realized how much she had wanted to hear that from him, but now that he had told her it was as though everything was finally falling into place. Everything finally made sense. It was perfect, just as it should be.

"You have to believe me Joy. I don't know what else to do to prove it to you…"

Joy cut him off, placing her hands on either side of his face. "You don't have anything left to prove to me. What you've already done…" She smiled and stood on tiptoes to kiss him quickly. "Nothing in this world could mean more to me."

The concern in his face faded and he circled his arms around her waist quickly, pulling her close to himself. "Are you sure?"

Joy nodded. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life." She kissed him again. "I love you!"

He grinned broadly and kissed her passionately. "Say it again."

"I love you!" She murmured with her lips pressed against his. "I love you." She slipped her arms around his neck and lifted herself up, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Your turn." She murmured, slowly kissing a trail from his lips down his chin and down to his collarbone.

"I love you desperately." He chuckled slightly as her lips tickled his neck. "You are the most amazing person I have ever known…" He touched her chin, leaning it up towards his face and kissed her nose. "And I love…" He kissed her lips and then each cheek. "Everything about you." Now it was his turn to make a trail of kisses down her neck.

"Spike…" She breathed heavily as she felt his hands sliding over her jacket, up her back.

"Yea?" He responded, equally breathy as her hands massaged through his short hair.

"You know how Angel's soul keeps him from getting too close to anyone?"

"Yea?" Spike continued kissing her.

"Is your soul going to keep us apart?"

Spike stopped kissing her for a moment and shook his head. "Peaches and I are different. He was cursed. His soul was given to him as a punishment. I went searching for mine. I had to earn it and it was given to me as a reward." He explained carefully. "The things I went through for my soul left me without consequences. I can't lose it."

"Really?" Joy's eyes brightened hopefully.

"Unless someone purposefully take it away from me, it's mine for good."

"Thank god!" Joy grinned and resumed kissing him fiercely. "Spike…"

"Yea?"

"I'm ready…"

"What?" He pulled his lips away from her skin momentarily and noticed the excited glint in her eyes. "Are you sure?"

Joy nodded eagerly. "I'm positive." She latched her lips on to his again, mumbling into the kiss. "I want you now!"

Spike didn't have to be told twice. He had already patiently waited for months and now she was finally ready. He instantly started removing her jacket, struggling to pull it off her arms. In order to assist the process, Joy unwrapped her legs from around him, dropped to the ground and slipped out of her jacket easily. Spike grinned at her anxious behavior as she moved her fingers to the buckle of his belt, working quickly to unfasten it.

"Are you sure this is the best place?" Spike asked with a laugh as Joy pressed her lips to his again.

"We're supposed to be patrolling…" She reminded him teasingly.

"Well, if you'd rather patrol…" Spike pulled away from her and started refastening his belt.

Joy stared at him for a moment then raised an eyebrow. "You know, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I'm not ready for this. I mean, if you don't really want to…I'm fine waiting…" She bent down to pick up her jacket but when she straightened up Spike was in front of her.

"Don't mess with my mind, tease!" Spike warned her, reaching out and taking hold of her hips. "I can't wait another minute." He resumed his trail of kisses down her neck and chest until he reached the neckline of her shirt. "This is getting in the way…"

She smirked and swiftly lifted the shirt over her head. "Is that better?"

"Much!" He resumed his kissing, letting his lips tickle over her skin lightly.

"Now you're teasing me!" She giggled from the tickles and pushed him backwards gently. He kept her close to his body as he moved backwards slowly, continually exploring her shoulders and chest and neck with his lips. She slid her hands beneath his shirt and let her nails scrape lightly over his perfectly toned stomach muscles. "Why are you still waiting?"

"I just want to enjoy this moment to the fullest!" He replied softly. "I want to memorize everything about you! I want to know every perfect inch of you!"

Joy smiled in perfect delight and pressed her lips against his cheek. "You don't have to worry about memorizing me. There are going to be plenty of more nights like this!" She kissed his partway-open mouth. "Many more perfect nights."

"I can't wait."

She pressed her body up against his and he stepped backwards unintentionally and before either of them could realize it, Spike had stepped over the edge of the wide-open hole of a deep empty grave. He fell backwards, pulling her down with him.

"Oh god…" Joy gasped as she realized where they were. "This is kind of creepy…" She glanced up at the sky, realizing that they had fallen almost three feet down into the ground. The dugout was long enough for them, almost three inches longer than Spike and almost wide enough for two people to lie side-by-side.

"Yea, but at least we're out of sight from any passing by night walkers." Spike grinned.

Joy laughed briefly. "Okay…I'm game if you are." Spike didn't bother to reply with words but instead began unfastening her pants. She wriggled her hips to help him get them off. "This is so weird!" She giggled as he succeeded with the pants and she began helping him out of his.

"We can stop if you're uncomfortable." Spike told her quietly.

Joy finished unfastening his pants and slid them off of him. "You can't stop me now!"