The early morning sunshine came pouring through the windows of the old Jeep. Squinting as she slowly opened her eyes, Faye became aware of the fact of how incredibly stuffy it was in the vehicle. "Shit its hot in here." She leaned forward rolling the window down, hearing Spike mumble something incoherent in the seat beside her. Leaning back against him, she rested her head against his shoulder.

"What time is it?" he mumbled.

"Six thirty."

Resting his chin on top of her head, he kept his eyes closed. "Too fucking early." He shifted, trying to readjust his position to stave off the stiffness in his neck. He slumped more against the door, Faye slipping further down his body, her head coming to rest on his chest. Absentmindedly he stroked her hair.

Smiling, Faye turned a little, slipping her arm around him and burying her face in his chest.. "God you smell like a distillery….I think after you get cleaned up, I'll take you out for breakfast and…"

Spike cut her off, bringing a finger to her lips. "Shhh…Go back to sleep Faye."

Closing her eyes and listening to Spike's heart beat, and even breathing, Faye felt her eyes grow heavy." I love you asshole.." Once he started to snore it was game over, the sound was oddly soothing, and soon she was lulled back to sleep.

Sitting in a little booth at a small diner, a freshly showered Spike glanced over the menu in front of him. He looked across to Faye who was intently studying her menu as if it held all the secrets to life. "You know what you're having yet?"

Looking back and forth between the menu and Spike, Faye arched an eyebrow. "Waffles, and hash browns…oh, and orange juice. What about you?"

Spike flipped through the pages, he was starving, but nothing sounded good, not with a hangover stalking him like a predator stalks its prey. "Dunno." Reading through his options again, he turned his attention back to Faye. "I'm glad you came back to Doohan's with me. I thought he was gonna skin me alive for taking that Jeep, but then he let us take it here. Good thing he is sweet on you."

Chuckling, Faye took a sip of her water as the waitress came to the table. She placed her order and the waitress turned to Spike, who gave the menu one last look over. "Uhh…Pancakes, short stack, hash browns and two eggs over easy…umm and coffee please." He glanced across at Faye quickly. "Hey do you want coffee?" She nodded her response and Spike turned back to the waitress, "Two cups of coffee." Taking their menus the waitress headed off to put in the order.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Spike winced slightly. "Damn my neck hurts."

"Serves you right for getting drunk in the middle of nowhere."

"Maybe you should have been a good girlfriend and let me use you as a pillow….I don't see you with a sore neck."

Faye almost choked on the drink of water she had taken as his words sank in, she swallowed hard. "Girlfriend huh?"

Realizing what he had just said, Spike fell silent for a moment before stumbling over his words. "Well….uhhh…I…I mean ummm…well you see…."

Faye studied his face, amused at how flustered he was getting.

Spike downed most of his glass of water, and took a deep breath. "Yes…Girlfriend…that is if you want.."

Reaching across the table and setting her hand on top of his, she smiled. "Ya know…I think I like the sound of that."

A comfortable silence, minus the sound of clanking dishes, and other peoples conversations, settled over them, as the waitress soon came with their food. Spike took a sip of his coffee, and picked at his food, as he looked to Faye, who was wasting no time making quick work of her meal. He chuckled softly. "Good stuff huh?"

Nodding with her mouth full, she swallowed. "Yeah, it really is. Little diners like this always have the best food."

Taking a bite of his pancakes, Spike couldn't help but agree. Pancakes weren't exactly the hardest thing in the world to make, in fact they were very basic, but damn it, these were some of the best he could remember having.

Setting her fork down, Faye watched Spike eat his meal, an amused look on her face. He gave her a quizzical look, setting his own fork down. "What?"

"This is nice…just us spending time together like normal people. I just wanted to make sure I remember it."

Spike frowned slightly. "Don't say it like that, makes it sound like we won't see each other again."

"Well…we don't exactly have the best track record so far Spike."

Taking another drink of his coffee, he sighed. "I want to change that. I want us to…no…I know we will work out."

"Come back to the Bebop…come home with me Spike."

Taking another sip of his coffee, Spike nodded slowly. "I will. I miss that bald headed bastard, and the kid, the damn mutt, even that god forsaken feline we took in"

Faye took a drink of her own coffee raising an eyebrow. "That's all you miss huh?"

"No, I miss the sex….and just falling asleep with you, and waking up with you in the morning."

Faye scoffed. "Way to cover your ass there mister."

Finishing off his pancakes, Spike spoke around mouthfuls of hash browns. " I'll have to let Doohan down easy….old man is gonna be heart broken losing his best employee."

Laughing, Faye drained her coffee cup. "What about Miles?"

Giving an all knowing and cocky grin, Spike set his fork down. " Well I know I am the favorite."

Faye kicked him under the table. "Don't be a dick. That boy works hard and you know it."

"Yeah, and I am sure he's rubbed one out a time or two thinking about you."

Furrowing her brow, Faye grimaced. "God you are disgusting."

"You love it."

"Damn it…that is besides the point."

Finishing of his meal, Spike smirked. "Well…I think its about time to get back and break the news."

Outside of Doohan's shop, Faye looked over the Redtail. Maybe Spike had been right when he said Doohan was sweet on her, he had given the damn thing a tune up while they had been out at breakfast. Through all his grumbling, bitching, and gruff exterior, Doohan really was a good man, much like Spike.

Standing outside the zip craft, Faye leaned against its cockpit, heavily eyeing Spike. "Tell Doohan I said thanks for the tune up ok?"

In response Spike pinned her against the Redtail with an unrelenting kiss. His body pinning hers against the craft. Slowly she pulled away. "Wait till you get home ok?" Leaving his arms entirely she climbed into the cockpit. "I'll see you soon, alright?"

Sighing, Spike cracked a half smile. "Ok…fine. Get home safe Faye…I'll see you soon." He stepped back as she took off with a cloud of fine sand, than felt almost jagged against his face as he watched her leave.

Heading into the shop, he watched from the doorway as Miles fiddled around with something, the Bluesox game blaring in the background. He hated to admit it to himself, but he was going to miss the happy go lucky young man. Silently walking though, he made his way to the back office, there was someone far more important to say goodbye to first.

Leaning against the door jam, Spike watched as Doohan flipped through a stack of invoices, not unlike when he had first come here months ago practically begging for a job. Crossing into the room, Spike plopped down in the chair across from the older man. "You busy?"

Shoving the stack of papers aside, Doohan lit a cigarette, and offered the pack to Spike. "Nah. What's going on?"

Taking a drag off his smoke, Spike offered a half hearted grin. " I'm going back home old man."

"Ah, so you patched things up with that pretty thing."

Spike smirked. "Yeah I guess you could say that. I belong back on the Bebop with all of them, but especially her."

Doohan stood from his desk, his steely eyes softer than normal. Spike looked at him questionably before rising to his own feet, meeting him in front of the desk. "I'm gonna miss ya around here boy."

Spike smirked and placed a hand on Doohan's shoulder. "I appreciate all that you've done for me old man, it really means a lot."

Doohan pulled him into a rough hug, something that completely caught Spike off guard. "Take care you yourself and that woman, kid. Don't stay away too long."

Smiling Spike returned the hug. "I will….and I'll make sure we stop in from time to time. Take care of yourself Doohan." With that he left the office and Doohan behind.

Making his way back to the workshop, Spike watched as Miles tinkered away at his work once more, clearing his throat to get the young man's attention.

Quickly turning around, Miles set his wrench down, and reached to switch down the volume on the ball game. "You finally came back in. Doohan was pissed!"

Laughing slightly, Spike set a hand on the Miles' shoulder. " Yeah I know…but were good now. Look Miles….I'm leaving."

"You're going back to that ol' ship?" Miles' face held a bit of sadness as he spoke.

"Yeah kid, There's a lot more waiting in life out there for me, and one hell of a woman." After a bit of second thought Spike pulled the young man in for a one armed hug.

Patting Spike on the back, Miles pulled away, and took off his Bluesox cap, placing it on Spike's head. "Well we had some good times. I want you to have this."

Turning the hat around backwards much the way Miles mostly wore it, Spike smirked. "Thanks kid. And don't forget to stay in touch." With that he headed out of the shop and into the sweltering heat outside.

Standing beside the Swordfish, he took one last look at Doohan's shop. It was a place where he had learned to give himself the time and space to learn what the future could hold for him. For that he would forever be grateful. Starting up the engine, he smiled to himself. He was going back to the Bebop. Back to bounty hunting, back to Jet, back to Ed, back to the dog and cat, and most of all he was going back for the love of a good woman; he was going back for Faye. Above all else, he realized he was going back to a place he belonged, he was going back home.