Author's Note: Well...I never thought that the end of the season would get to me so much that I would have to write somewhat of a sequel. This is my absolute first Buffy The Vampire Slayer fic, so please be nice. I hope you enjoy the little ficlet as if it was done by the best author in the world. Well...maybe that's asking a bit too much, maybe...a half decent author? Well, anyway, enough of my rambling. Let's get on with the story...

Whispers From A Distant Memory

He didn't know exactly where he was, or how long he had been there. He wasn't sure whether this was supposed to be some kind of hell, or heaven. He didn't have a clue what kind of position he was in. All he knew was that he wasn't with her. He wasn't by her side. He couldn't feel her presence. He couldn't smell her scent. He was in a whole different Realm-Universe. He was dead.

Dead, eh? Well, guess it's about time to leave reality and float somewhere else for a while... he thought to himself and found himself laughing.

No, he wasn't unhappy or sad that he left the other world. Her world. All he knew was that he was at peace. He felt relaxed. His mind drifted to a million different things, and at the same time, her...always her. No matter what, his mind drifted back to the slayer. His mind drifted to the words she'd said.

No matter how she acted, what she said, how angry or violent she got...she was always cute, he smirked despite himself. She couldn't ever bring herself to kill me, yet she killed Angel boy without much of a second thought...Slick haired gay...

He even dared to burst out laughing as he remembered the remark he had said about hair-gel. Now that was funny. Too bad he was the only one laughing. He would never forget fancy-smancy hair-gel boy. The angel vampire with a soul, for lack of better words, the wimp.

Yeah, Angel was always wrapped around the slayer's finger. Then again...I probably am too, now.

And then, suddenly..."I love you" echoed in his mind.

And then, after that..."No you don't...But thanks for saying it anyway..." came next.

Suddenly, his soul warmed and blasted with light. He was a complete bright, glorious light. Love...Yeah, right...she didn't love me...She never loved me...She just said that to make me feel better...Yeah...still meant something though... He floated aimlessly with that question crumbling through his mind into a thousand pieces until he couldn't ignore it anymore. Did she...really...love me...?

The question swarmed his mind like AIDS would any normal human. It spread throughout his body, making the bulge in his pants jerk. He ignored it, feeling a bit randy now. Worst part about bein' dead is that there's no good sex...

If she really did mean what she said, then she had just denied it all along. It was the reason why she even allowed him to sleep with her. It was the only reason she allowed him to live. It was the only reason she protected him, with the excuse that he was a big part of saving the world of course (which he was), but it was still partly because she felt something for him.

By the Gods, she must...And to think I'll probably never see my girl again... he thought in a slightly somber manner.

What in the hell is wrong with me...Gods, I'm acting like a lovesick dog...Probably am all the same thought...dammit... He thought after a minute of a clear mind.

Damn, just one night would do me...so this question wouldn't be pesterin' me for the rest of the damned life! To see her again for just one night...one last night to spend with her...tell her...tell her how much she made an impact on me, my life, my heart...my soul...Hell, I'm startin' to sound like someone sicko in one o' those heart-retching love novels! he exclaimed to himself in slight disgust.

Still...one night would last me a lifetime o' this... he thought, before feeling a bright flash of light in front of his eyes.

He seen a figure that couldn't quite be picked out in much detail. "One night you say, and so, one night it shall be. However, come the following day, you will come back and that night erased from their memory."

After that was said, there was a bright flash of light, with the man in the black leather trench coat shielded his eyes. When he took his arm away, he was standing in a busy street of Chicago. He looked around and caught sight of a particular familiar redhead. Hmm...Willow...

He watched Willow as she pulled groceries out of the trunk of a car. Another figure stepped out of the car to reveal one-eyed Xander. It's a pirate's life... he thought as he smiled in amusement. He noticed that the sun had gone down and he trudged over to where Willow and Xander had disappeared to. It was a quaint little home, a place where he figured that the whole clan lived. He sat down beside, what he identified as, the kitchen window. It was open, so he could hear the voices of those inside.

Willow walked into the house and laid the groceries on the table, while Xander went upstairs to catch a quick shower. Willow quickly busied herself with putting away the groceries and soon heard Dawn come down the stars to help her.

"So, how'd it go?" Dawn asked expectantly.

"Well...I know I have an interview later this evening. Wish me luck!" Willow smiled as she put the last carton of milk in the fridge.

"That's great! I'm...slowly working my way up in Dairy Queen...Which is good because now I'll be able to buy the Linkin Park CD!" Dawn said as she put the cereal away.

"Well, it looks like we're both accomplishing things. By the way, Xander planning on asking everyone if they'd like to go out on an outing with him to celebrate his new carpentry job. What about you? Are you gonna go, Dawn?" Willow asked happily.

"Hmm...maybe. I can't go until I finish my Math homework though," Dawn rolled her eyes to indicate sarcasm. The two girls laughed and finished up in the kitchen.

"So, you'll be going for sure?"

"Eh, why not? It's a reason to get out of the house and have fun during exams!" Dawn said, dripping in juicy sarcasm of high qualities.

"Well, I hope you'll be back in time to study for that Math exam tomorrow," Buffy said, coming downstairs groggily. She had just woken from a most needed nap she had taken earlier that day.

"Hey, sis. Of course, you know me...I would dare not study for a Math exam that could determine whether I go to summer school or not!" Dawn said sarcastically.

Buffy, too tired to make a smart remark back, went to find something to eat.

A few minutes later, while Buffy was chewing on an over-toasted pop tart, Xander came down fully clothed wearing a grin. "Hey, Buff, Dawny, Will...Anyone going out and celebrating with me tonight?"

"Celebrating what?" Buffy asking through a mouth full of pop tart.

"Celebrating my new job!" Xander said in pure delight.

"Oh! Congratulations!" Buffy said, a little surprised.

"Thanks. Are you coming? I already asked pretty much everyone else and most of them are affirmative except for Will, who has a job interview, and Andrew, who was forbidden to come because he's too annoying to take anywhere," Xander explained.

"Not me. Too tired. I'll just stay here and wait up," Buffy said, taking out her plate and rinsed it off.

"Aw, c'mon! How many times do we get to spoil ourselves with fun?" Xander asked, almost whining.

"Sorry, I'm not up for it," Buffy said and yawned.

Xander shrugged and let it go. "Dawn?"

"Yeah, I'm up for it," Dawn gave the affirmative.

"Great, get ready, we're pickin' everyone up in a half an hour," Xander told her and went to comb his hair.

Willow got up also. "Well, I gotta get ready for my job interview. I'll probably meet up with the group later on...You don't mind, do you?" Willow asked. "Because, I can stay here and-"

"No, it's OK. I'll be turning in early anyway. You...go have fun! You deserve it," Buffy yawned again.

"OK, see you later, Buffy," Willow said with a wave and was off to get ready.

In a matter of an hour, Buffy was the only soul left in the house. She went and turned on the TV to see what was on. She caught some kind of action show called Dark Angel and kept that on for a little while. Soon after, she heard a knock at the door and went to open it.

Buffy opened the door, expecting it to be the neighbor or something, but suddenly stood frozen as soon as she looked up. Oh...my God... was all she could muster inside of her head. The bleached hair, the black trench coat, those eyes, that face. It was, "Spike...!" Buffy had managed to exclaim in a shuttering voice.

"In the flesh," Spike said simply and held out his arms.

Minutes passed before Buffy could make a move, but she was in his arms before either of them could confirm what had happened. After inviting him in, Buffy and Spike sat themselves down in the living room. Then came the flurry of questions.

"How did you get here? How'd you come back? How'd you find me? Did you really die? I don't understand! What happened to you?" Buffy started, tears threatening to blur her vision.

"Whoa! Slow down! I did die. I'm not sure how I got here, but I'm only here for one night. As far as I understand, this is a one time deal. You won't remember it the next day. It'll just be like I was never here...I wanted to see ya...one last time, I suppose," Spike explained, head turned towards his lap.

"One night? I won't remember? What is this?" Buffy asked in confusion, just happy to see the man she had left behind again.

"Buffy...this question has been eating away at me lately..." Spike started quietly.

Buffy pulled back from embracing him and folded er arms. "Go on."

"When you said you loved me...I said you didn't, but...really now...did you really mean that?" Spike asked. "Do you really love me?"

Buffy fell silent and blinked a few times. She averted her gaze for a little while, thinking about his question. She had loved him. She did love him. She had denied it until that very moment she knew he was going to die. Then, that very same minute, she finally gained the courage to admit to him and to herself, that yes, indeed she did love him. She loved him with all of her being, just like she had with Angel and Riley. Of course, her and love, they just didn't go together. The man either died, she had to kill him, or he couldn't take her job. Perfect situation that had always managed to frustrate and not to mention depress her.

"Yes, Spike. I did mean it. I do love you...and nothing is ever going to change that," Buffy said quietly.

They were both silent for a long time before Spike burst out into roaring laughter. Buffy's eyes bulged out in surprise. "What's so funny?"

Spike tried to catch his breath. "Nothing...I'm just...so...happy...!"

After that, Buffy blinked and joined into his laughter. After a bout of that, they were kissing madly and heading to her bedroom. Their love making, to say the least, was much more enjoyable now that they both could be open with their feelings. It was the happiest night of both of their entire existences and they couldn't have been any more content.

Spike kissed Buffy's forehead blissfully and sighed.

"What's the matter?" Buffy asked as she looked up at him.

"You know...you're not going to remember this tomorrow...and I'll be long gone..." Spike answered sullenly.

Buffy silenced for a while and then turned to face him. "I won't forget this. I won't allow it. Even if I can't quite recall it, somewhere, in the back of mind, it'll be there, and someday...I'll find it," were the last words said that night before the both of them drifted off to sleep...

Buffy opened her eyes groggily. She yawned and stretched, absent-mindedly reaching behind her as if to reach for something or someone that was supposed to be there. All she grabbed was air and she shrugged it off. How could there be anything or anyone there? It wasn't like Spike had suddenly come to life and groped her all night.

She went downstairs to see everything as it should be. Dawn was eating and getting ready for school. Willow was off to work. She was hired for the secretary job on the spot. Xander had already gone to work. Buffy was standing there, observing everything. She felt as if something was missing. She went to the front door and went outside to stand in the soothing breeze of coming Spring. It was warm and she could've sworn she heard something, like a voice, riding along the wind. It sounded like rich laughter of herself and someone else, though she couldn't particularly remember who it might be.

Suddenly, Buffy felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see her younger sister staring at her, an expression of confusion and worry written on her face. "Something wrong?"

Buffy looked back over the horizon of the street, her pajama pants swishing in the wind. "No...nothing at all...Just thought I heard a familiar voice on the wind...Someone long gone or...something," Buffy said before going back in doors. She waved to Dawn as she went to catch the bus. Willow had left through the back door and Buffy was again left alone in the big house.

For some reason, Buffy felt as if someone had just whispered the words I love you in her ear, and she turned around to see nothing. She could only hear the rich laughter of a man forgotten overnight through the rooms of the house...Buffy, however, paid no heed and turned on the TV to begin watching some action show called Dark Angel. Yes, perhaps a part of her did remember a certain incident that might have happened the night before. Who knows? The mind is a very mysterious thing...

Author's Note: Well...how was it? No one was too out of character, were they? I hope it was pretty OK for my first. Hehehe...I guess I'll shut up now. There's no sense in rambling. Review and tell me what you think, please.