"Buffy?" Willow caught sight of her friend and hastily sat up, noticing that Spike's arm remained around her shoulders. With her new position, the leather of his coat was rubbing against the back of her neck. She cursed the shot of arousal that spread over her, wondering when she had become so perverted.
"Hey guys," Buffy gave them both a weak smile as she stopped on the second stair of her porch. She leaned her head against the rail, her hazel eyes looking over them. She didn't miss anything, from Spike's arm around Willow's shoulder to Willow's mussed hair to the slight flush that crossed her best friend's face.
"You've been crying," Willow said softly, recognizing the signs.
"Something happen, slayer?" Spike asked curiously as his thumb moved over Willow's shoulder.
She sighed, smiling wryly, "You could say that."
"Are you hurt?" Willow demanded, not seeing any visible signs of injury.
"No, not really," Buffy said, shaking her head. "I wasn't attacked, Willow. Patrol was nice and quiet, a bit boring but that's become the norm."
"No worthy foe, eh slayer?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.
"None as good as you, Spikey," she shot back before looking at Willow and smiled guiltily. "Sorry, Wills."
"Oh no, you two go ahead and argue. Don't tell me what had you so upset you were crying!" Willow said, irritation making her raise her voice slightly.
"Tell her why you were crying," Spike said, glaring at Buffy for ruining a rather perfect evening.
"I wasn't crying," Buffy denied softly, feeling weird letting Spike see her so vulnerable. She felt rather weak and powerless at the moment. Riley's leaving had hurt her more than she had imagined.
"Buffy," Willow warned, standing and pulling the slayer to sit beside her, causing her to move closer to Spike. "Talk to me."
"I saw Riley," Buffy said quietly, her hazel eyes moving to look at the empty street.
"Did he say something?" Willow asked, angry at the man for hurting her friend. "I can smack him around for you."
Buffy laughed softly, smiling wryly, "Might be a little hard. I don't know where he is."
"What?" Willow asked, glancing at Spike and seeing him looking at the street, his hand moving along her back reassuringly though he appeared to be paying no attention.
"He found me on patrol to tell me that he loved me, that he doesn't believe that I love him, that he was leaving Sunnydale tonight and that what we had was fun but that it was over," Buffy said.
"Oh," Willow said, not sure what to say. She couldn't tell what Buffy's reaction was so she didn't know if I'm sorry was appropriate or if good riddance would be better. She took Buffy's hand and squeezed, giving her best friend a smile as she laid her head on her shoulder and whispered, "We love you, Buffy."
Buffy smiled, resting her cheek against Willow's head as they both studied the empty street. Spike glanced at the two, jealous of the friendship and the bond that existed between the two, angry that Buffy had ruined his and Willow's night together, and begrudgingly relieved that Willow had someone that cared about her almost as much as he did that could be with her to protect her when he couldn't. He looked back at the street, his hand continuing to stroke Willow's back as a comfortable silence again surrounded them.