Willow quickly released Oz from the bear hug and
turned to face Spike's amber eyes. Oz took a step
forward as the blonde vampire latched onto the
redhead's arm and yanked her back toward him. Buffy
moved between the two men and shot Oz a look of
warning.
"Why are you with him?" the wolf asked Willow.
"She doesn't owe you any explanations," Spike snapped.
"In fact, she doesn't owe you a damned thing."
"Spike, please don't," Willow laid her hand over the
one on her arm.
His human features slid into place as he looked down
at her, "After everything the sod put you through, he
doesn't deserve--"
"Please," she repeated and looked over at Oz. "I'm
glad to see you again, but this isn't a good time. I'm
tired, and it's crowded and noisy here. Where are you
staying?"
"With Giles, for a couple of days, until I can find a
place. He told me you were here," Oz answered.
"Willow, there's so much I need to--"
"Not now. I'll call you tomorrow, okay? Spike, take me
home?"
He nodded and took her hand, and Oz's eyes followed
them as they walked away. He waited until he could no
longer see them before he turned to Buffy.
"What the hell is going on?" he asked.
She nodded and looked back at Riley, silently
signaling him to follow as she led Oz off of the
terrace and around to the parking lot.
"Let me tell you about all of the fun Willow's been
having over the past couple of months," she said
dryly.
"Buffy, she wasn't the only one hurting," Oz defended
himself.
She stopped walking, and he turned to face her, "All I
know is that you dug a hole about six feet deep and
shoved my best friend into it before you roared out of
town. So, as far as I'm concerned this is NOT about
you. If you want to hear, keep your mouth shut and
listen because I'm long past giving a damn about your
pain."
Oz stared back at her, stunned by the sharpness in the
slayer's voice. Her hard eyes glared back at him, and
she waited until he nodded before continuing on across
the lot.
***
Willow rubbed her temples as Spike paced back and
forth in front of the coffee table.
"Who the hell does he think he is?" the vampire
muttered to himself. "Damn it all. What I wouldn't
give to be able to tear out his throat."
The redhead groaned softly and leaned back against the
sofa, and Spike turned and looked at her pained
expression. He sat down next to her and reached for
her hand, pulling her over to rest against him.
"You can't want him back," he said, his soft voice
edged with dark bitterness. "Not after everything
you've been through."
She sighed, "I don't know what I want. I'd convinced
myself I'd never see him again. I honestly never
expected he'd come back. When I saw him tonight, I
just--reacted. I didn't mean to make you angry."
"I'm not angry at you, pet," he told her. "But you
cannot hand him the bloody pieces of your heart. Not
after you've finally gotten them stitched back
together."
"I haven't handed him anything," she said. "But I am
going to have to talk to him. I know why he left, but
I don't understand why I never heard a word from him.
And I don't understand why he suddenly reappeared with
no warning."
"Isn't it obvious? He wants you back. He figured he'd
find you sitting around, still moping over him."
"He loves me, Spike. I know he does. He must have
known his silence was as painful as his leaving me
was. Why didn't he let me know he was planning on
coming back? Why did he leave me hanging all those
weeks and then decide to just suddenly show up?"
The vampire snarled softly and jumped back onto his
feet to resume his pacing. He looked over at the
redhead and clenched his fists as a tear trickled from
her eye.
"I hate this," he growled. "I can't fight him. I can't
hurt you--"
"Would you if you could?" she asked.
"To keep you away from him? Probably," he admitted.
"Doesn't really matter either way, now, does it? The
only weapons I have now are words. I've always been
bloody awful with words."
"I beg to differ," she smiled softly.
She got up and walked around to him, and he put his
arms around her as she stepped into him.
"Want me to leave?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head, "You don't have to, do you?
There's still some blood in the fridge. My mind is
running like an overwound clock. I know I'm just going
to sit here and babble on endlessly. But I need to
figure out what I'm thinking before I talk to Oz, and
you always seem to be able to help me do that. I need
you, Spike. Please don't leave me alone."
She looked up at him, and he brushed his lips over
hers and held her tightly for a moment before dragging
her over to the sofa and settling her on his lap.
"All right," he nodded and grinned softly at her.
"Babble on. I'm listening."
End.