Morning broke. The rain gave way to the sun. And its rays warmed Spike's naked back.

He couldn't escape his old habits, though. The ones that weren't so pleasant.

And naturally he spasmed when he felt the heat.

He felt kind of silly about it afterward.

After a brief self-deprecating chuckle, he turned to the sleeping blonde form beside him. His beautiful Buffy lay curled and naked beneath the sheet, looking peacefully contented.

He brushed her hair back gently and kissed her on the forehead.

"I'm…I'm gonna go enjoy the sun, love. You're welcome to join me," he winced at the sound of his voice breaking.

He climbed out, took one of the blankets, and wrapped it around himself. Then went to the roof to soak up the sun.

But he hesitated outside the exit door.

Psyching himself up and struggling to at least appear not to look like a Nancy Boy, he opened the door and stepped outside.

He closed his eyes and the senses wash over him.

The birds singing, workday traffic honking in gridlock, (sigh) the smog.

But all of it drowned out by that sun, the warm sun he bathed in. Silent streams ran down his face. He didn't care. He just wanted this feeling to never end.

He heard the door behind him open and close and a pair of arms wrap around him, massaging his chest. Her lips in gentle pecks across his back.

"Good morning," she said softly.

"Buffy…I, I didn't realize how much I missed…I don't know if I could ever live up to…"

"Shhhh," she soothed. "You were worthy. You are. He knew that."

"It's so beautiful. The daylight."

She rested her head against his back and rocked him gently. "You are worthy, Spike. You've just got to let yourself believe it. Let it begin with me."

He grinned at that. "Quite a sight to wake up to."

Buffy laughed gently and fondled the back of his hair. "I'm glad I could wake with you to see this, Spike." She separated herself briefly. "Actually, considering our marathon session, it's a miracle we woke up at all."

He turned around to take her in his arms. "And how was the marathon? Well run?" he husked.

Buffy smiled uneasily and wandered off. "Yeah," she said trying to hide her uneasiness. "Surprisingly…yeah.

Spike suddenly felt his stomach begin to undulate and the bile churn. He couldn't even force the words form his throat. Didn't even want to.

"What…what do you mean?" he whispered.

"I mean we picked up where we left off and it's like we haven't missed a beat."

"I don't under---"

"Spike, you turn human and it's like we haven't lost anything. The same passion. Same…everything. It's all still here," she exclaimed with an accusatory finger. "You're a human being now. You were nearsighted and you fretted about a bloody nose and then last night was…So how do you explain that?"

Spike turned away form her addressing he blue L.A. skyline.

"When I was with you last night," he said haltingly. "I felt this strength course through me, like I felt when I was turned. Like my body recovered old strengths and powers I thought I'd lost. I got this….thing where I never lost my capacity for love, even without a soul. And now when I was with you last night…" He fixed his gaze unbroken on Buffy. "The way I feel about you…I feel so strongly for you, it's like the desire brought them all back. Like I never lost it.

"So what now, Buffy?"

Buffy sighed. "Well,…I think that's up to you."

Spike didn't expect that. "What do you mean?"

"If I'm going to have you as a….partner, I need to know you won't falter. I know you won't. But it's up to you," she said meeting his eyes. "You were right. I can't escape who I am. I'm still a Slayer."

Spike met her eyes, staring intently.

"I just got a call from Willow. She says hi by the way…after I told her and she got through the shock-induced hyperventilating," she added sheepishly.

"Anyway," Buffy continued. " She found me courtesy of her location spell and some vague mumbling from the coven. The main Slayer in Tokyo is ill-equipped to handle some vengeance spirits haunting an ancient family home. Whoever gets possessed feels an uncontrollable homicidal rage. That's where I'm heading."

"Doesn't sound like much, "Spike offered.

"Up to this point it's just been Stake N' Slay. Never had to do the exorcism thing. I've got the experience."

"And…why are you telling me this?" Spike cautiously asked.

"I might need help. And I want yours."

Spike shook his head and gave an awkward laugh. "I'm gonna be no good to you as a human, Buffy."

"You are so full of shit!" Buffy angrily raged. "You said it yourself. You can…tap into the old vampire powers when you need to. I don't know how, Spike. And frankly I don't care. I'm long past trying to understand how you can be capable of so much other vamps can't. And, honestly, I don't want to know. It's enough for me to accept it."

"So, what?" Spike threw back agitated. "I gotta be in a constant state of horniness to be of any use to you?" He stopped to think about it "Kind of already am…"

"No, no," Buffy mused. "I think it's simpler than that. Your desire and passion is so encompassing that…maybe that's enough. You're passionate about being a warrior and fighting at my side. And maybe when we're confronted by whatever we find in Japan…or before, we'll see it put into action."

"But you don't know for sure." Buffy flinched as Spike finished her thought.

"No," she agreed. "But I'm willing to take the risk. I've played it safe, too safe for so damn long. And you were the price I paid. I'm not making that mistake again.

"I think.. I know it's a new beginning for both of us. But I wanna give it a shot, a decent shot this time. Let me be new to you. Please. I can't say that…I'll always be fair, but…I'm gonna give it my best. If you'll let me."

"For you, I'll do my best," he said softly.

"No, Spike," she whispered. "Do it for you." She cupped his face tenderly. "For us."

Spike took his sweet time answering. "Well, for right now," he grinned faintly, "let's stick to the trip. What did you say you wanted from me?"

Buffy smirked with affectionate exasperation and gently slapped his face. "Your help."

"Figure that's a good place to start," he nodded. "Just got to help me pick out some eyeglasses when we get there. And we gotta hit a karaoke bar."

"Karaoke?" She ventured as Spike followed her back through the hotel doors.

"Need to eat some sushi and drink some sake, too,"

"Spike…"

"Didn't let me finish," he interrupted. They moved to collect some spare clothes the Fang Gang had left. Buffy gathered Angel's leather in her arms and wrapped Spike's duster around her shoulders.

They moved to the front door. Spike opened it to let her through, but she reached out to take his, giving him a warm loving smile.

"Off each others' bodies."

Buffy turned red.

"Oh, well that's different." Spike closed and locked the door.

Hand in hand, the two reunited lovers exited the Hyperion and faced the new dawn that promised a new life filled with new adventures.

DONE