Willow stepped out of the shower and pulled the bathrobe around her,
knotting the sash tightly around her waist. Of all the demons she had
ever encountered in all her years living on the Hellmouth, none had
ever shaken her as terribly as the human male in the park.

His hands on her body, tearing at her clothes; his cruel, hard mouth on
hers; the obscenities whispered by his gravelly voice. And then,
mercifully, the unexpected voice from the shadows that had distracted
him, allowing her a brief moment to kick out at him with more force
than she ever imagined she possessed. Breaking away and running,
running.

She crawled into bed and pulled the covers up around her. Tucking her
knees against her chest, she turned her head into the pillow and let
the tears flow one more time.
***
"Who is he?" Xander asked.

Buffy knelt over the still body of the young man and shook her head.

"I've never seen him before," she answered.

"Vampires?" he asked.

"No bite marks," she said.

She gripped his shoulder, turning him onto his back, and gasped at the
blood-caked opening in the young man's skull.

Xander swallowed hard and looked away.

"Pretty brutal," the slayer spoke. "Whoever did this must have hated
him with a passion."

Her eye caught a gleam of metal amidst the bloody pool on the sidewalk.

"What's that?" she asked and reached across the corpse.

"Buffy," Xander whispered as the slayer stood up, a gold bracelet
dangling from her fingers. "It's Willow's."

The slayer nearly choked on her heart as her panicked eyes stared down
at the bracelet.
***
Willow took a deep breath and entered the library. She paused at the
sound of muffled voices coming from the open door into Giles' office.

"You're sure it's Willow's?" she heard Giles asking.

"Her mother gave it to her on her sixteenth birthday. Her name's
inscribed inside it," Xander's voice replied.

"And you found it under the body?"

"Yes," Buffy answered. "But when I called Willow this morning to ask
why she never showed up at the Bronze, she said she'd spent the entire
evening studying at home."

"This is crazy!" Xander said. "We shouldn't even be thinking like this.
Willow would never hurt anybody."

"Unless she was in danger," Buffy replied.

"I've known Jack Andrews for years. I wrote him a letter of
recommendation when he applied to university. He had an impeccable
reputation," Giles told them.

"None of this makes any sense," Buffy said. "I'm going to talk to her."

"No, Buffy," Giles ordered. "We must inform the police."

"Giles! You can't honestly believe she killed that man!"

An icy finger ran down Willow's spine, and her jaw dropped open.

"I don't want to believe it," she heard the watcher say. "She hasn't
been herself since Oz insisted on terminating their relationship."

"You make it sound like surgery," Buffy said impatiently. "So, she's
been a bit withdrawn. Who could blame her?"

"She's angry," Giles stated.

"Angry does not equal homicidal," Xander argued.

"We all know she's been spending a great deal of time practicing
her--skills--since Oz left her," Giles told them.

"Meaning what?" Buffy asked.

Willow heard Giles' heavy sigh from her post outside the door.

"I've warned her many times of the dangers of witchcraft. In her
present state of mind--"

"I've known Willow too long to believe she suddenly snapped and went on
a witchy killing binge," Xander blurted.

"You cannot close your mind to the possibility simply because she's
your friend," Giles snapped. "We all know the capacity the Hellmouth
has for affecting people. If Willow is responsible for Jack's death, we
must inform the police. I'm more than willing to help Willow in any way
I can, but I will not turn my back on mur--"

"I'm not listening to this," Buffy interrupted him. "We don't even have
all the facts, yet. Let me talk to her."

"Do you think she'd admit it to you if she did kill him?" Giles asked.

"I don't know," Buffy conceded. "But even if she wouldn't, there has to
be a way to find out what happened. Let me try, please, Giles."

"All right. You have until tomorrow morning, and then I must contact
the authorities. I'm sorry, Buffy, but it's for Willow's sake as much
as it is for Jack's. If she is responsible, she needs help."

Willow heard a squeak from the watcher's chair, and she bolted across
the room and up the stairs to the stacks. She watched from the cover of
a bookcase as Xander and Buffy exited Giles' office.

"Buffy, you don't think Willow could've--"

"No," Buffy said sharply. "I can't believe it. I won't."

Xander laid his hand on her arm and looked at her with troubled eyes.

"But if, just if, something went wrong--a spell or something--and
she...you know. What will we do?"

"Help her," Buffy whispered. "We have to; we love her."

He stared down at her, "You think she did it."

Tears welled up in the slayer's eyes and slid down her cheeks, "I don't
know. Maybe. Do you?"

"Maybe," he answered sadly.
***
Spike rose from the chair as the demon entered the room.

"Well?" the vampire asked.

"It's perfect," the dark demon grinned and looked over at Spike with
cold eyes. "The body has been found, the bracelet discovered, and the
little witch is about to find herself very, very alone."

Spike smiled, "Where is she?"

"Wandering through that very park. She looks most unhappy."

"Brilliant," Spike chuckled. "See to it she finds her way here."

The demon bowed slightly and left the room.
 

Willow's troubled thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps
behind her. Without turning to look back, she quickened her pace. She
heard a soft snarl from over her shoulder and broke into a run, all the
while realizing there was nowhere to run to. She veered off the
sidewalk and onto the grass, nearly running straight into a dark form
in her path.

"Quick," the man barked. "This way."

Not knowing who he was, and not really caring, Willow followed his
lead, dodging picnic tables and trash bins. Heavy footsteps pounded
behind them, and the man in front of her raced out of the park, across
the street, and down an alley.

Briefly considering her options--follow whoever her would-be rescuer
was or stay behind and become a vampire's Friday night special--she
tore off down the alley. The man had turned another corner and slowed
his pace, waiting for Willow to catch up. He threw open a door at the
side of a building and frantically gestured for her to go through.

"Where are we?" she panted.

"I own it. He can't come in here," the man answered.

"You know about vampires?" she asked.

"Living in Sunnydale? You either know about them, or you're brain dead,
or just dead, period. Hurry up!"

Willow darted through the doorway and blinked in the darkness. The man
stepped inside and slammed the door shut, quietly turning the lock.

"Come on," he said softly. "There's another exit. We'll check and see
if the coast is clear."

Willow followed him through the building and down a flight of stairs.
They entered a doorway into another room, this one sparsely furnished,
with several unshaded lights burning harshly in the gloomy darkness.
Willow's gaze traveled around the room and settled on a familiar form.

"Spike," she hissed and whirled around to find the strange man blocking
the door.

"Hello, ducks," the vampire smiled and approached her slowly. "Don't
you know it's dangerous to lurk around dark parks at night? All sorts
of nasty things could happen, couldn't they?"

She looked up at him, "You want to cut the evil harbinger routine and
tell me what's going on? Why am I here?"

Spike chuckled and stared down into the most intense green eyes he had
ever seen.

"I want to help," he said.

"Help? Me? I don't need any help," she told him.

"I think you do. You know your friends think you killed that man."

A chill shook Willow's slight body, "You know about--"

"I know about all of it," he nodded. "I know he attacked you. I know
you defended yourself as best you could."

"I didn't kill him," she stated.

Spike smiled, "I know that, too. He did."

Willow looked back at the man behind her.

"Then he can go to Giles and tell him it wasn't me," she said.

"He should have known that, shouldn't he?" Spike asked. "But he
didn't."

"Look, I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish by this
game, but I'm not playing. I'm leaving," she told him.

He placed a cold hand on her arm, "I don't think so, pet. Aren't you
just a little bit curious to see just how willing your friends are to
'help' you? The watcher seems convinced you're guilty."

"What the hell have you been doing? Following me around?" she demanded.
"Giles is just being Giles. As soon as he's thought it through, he'll
realize I couldn't possibly have hurt that man."

"Will he? You were the last one to see him alive, and your bracelet was
found with him," he pointed out.

Her eyes flashed up at him, "You set me up! You bastard!"

"I didn't," he responded calmly. "When my friend found you in the park,
you were in serious trouble, luv. That man had every intention of
raping you."

Willow lowered her eyes, "I suppose that was your doing, too."

The vampire shook his head, "No. I told Andrews I wanted you
frightened. I never told him to go that far. I wouldn't have stopped
him otherwise, would I?"

Willow sighed wearily, "I don't understand."

"I know the watcher thinks Andrews is a pillar of society, but I doubt
he was aware of the man's penchant for playing the ponies. Addiction is
more accurate, really. He was about to lose his home, his wife, his
family. I offered him a way out."

"In return for hurting me? Why?" she demanded.

"He was only supposed to frighten you," Spike repeated. "When he went
too far, my friend stepped in. It was he you heard from the shadows."

"Then why did he kill Andrews after I'd gotten away?" Willow asked.

"Because the bloody fool was about to come after you. It was a lucky
coincidence your bracelet was lost in your struggle," Spike explained.

"So he used it to frame me?" Willow asked.

"I wouldn't have let you go to jail, Willow. That isn't where I want
you," he told her. "I thought it might be--educational--for you to see
your friends' reactions."

"You're heartless, in more ways than one," she spat. "Let me go to them
and explain."

"They'll discover the truth for themselves, I expect," he told her.

"I don't understand any of this! What do you want?" she cried out.

"You, Willow," he said softly. "I want you. I need you."
***
"She didn't kill him," Giles stated.

Buffy sighed and dropped down onto the chair, "I'm so relieved to hear
you say that."

"I'm sorry, Buffy," he said. "But you must admit, it looked
suspicious."

She shook her head, "Willow's my friend. I know what she's capable of,
and murder isn't on the list."

"You had no doubts? None whatsoever?" he asked.

She looked at him uncomfortably, "Well, maybe, just for a second."

"Or two," he added. "There's no way she could've struck Andrews with
enough force to dislodge his brain. It took someone with a great deal
of strength to hit him with such force."

"Giles, I'm worried. I haven't seen Willow. She isn't at home, and her
mother's gone out of town again. Cordelia said she saw her leaving the
school last night. You don't think she knows what we--"

"I hope not. We were most unfair," Giles said. "I'm sure she's all
right."

"I hope so," Buffy whispered. "I'll never forgive myself if anything's
happened to her. I don't know what happened in the park, or how her
bracelet got there, but I have to find her and let her explain. Xander
and I are going to go look for her again. What about the police?"

"I haven't shown them the bracelet, and I don't intend to. There's no
need. Believe me, they aren't going to be looking for a young woman of
Willow's size."

"Good," Buffy said. "At least that's something."
***
"Want me for what?" Willow asked softly.

"You don't see it, do you?" Spike looked at her curiously. "How
beautiful you are."

Willow flinched as Spike's hand reached out to caress her coppery hair.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he promised.

"Then let me go," she requested.

He shook his head and stepped closer to her, "I can't, luv."

His fingers brushed her cheek, and he lowered his lips to hers.
Willow's brain flashed a thousand warnings signals as Spike's tongue
sought entrance to her mouth. He was so cold, a vampire, no soul, fangs
hiding behind that deceptively handsome face. He was evil, ruthless, a
killer.

Her body was sending different signals entirely as her lips parted and
his tongue entered and danced slowly around hers. He pulled her closer,
deepening the kiss and caressing her back as she began to respond. He
pulled away reluctantly and stared into her eyes once again.

"I need you, Willow," he whispered. "And you need me. Your friends
aren't going to help you. They think you're guilty."

"That's your fault!" she shouted and stepped back, as reality flooded
her brain.

"No, pet. You know that isn't true. They found Andrews and your
bracelet. Did the slayer come and talk to you? Did she ask you what
happened?"

"No," Willow whispered.

"She made up her mind, without even giving you a chance to explain."

She turned away from his piercing stare, "She would have. She was going
to."

"After she ran to her watcher, who cemented her suspicions," he
replied. "Why didn't she go to you straightaway?"

"I don't know. She just--It must have looked like--" Willow sighed. "I
don't know. I'm so confused. I don't know what I'm thinking."

"That's understandable. I can help you. I can make sure they discover
the truth," he told her.

"Why would you do that?" she asked.

"Because I want you, Willow. I want you to know you can trust me, that
I'm on your side."

"I'll never believe that," she stated.

"Shall I prove it to you, luv?" he asked and looked over at the man in
front of the door. "Go to the slayer. Tell her what you did."

Willow's eyes flew open, "He's going to admit it? Just like that?"

"He'll do whatever I tell him to," Spike answered. "Wait here."

The vampire walked to the door and spoke softly to the demon, "Go
directly to the slayer and tell her."

"But I thought you wanted them to suspect her," the man said.

"They already do, and she's aware of it. They won't suspect her
forever. Get to the slayer and tell her what you did. Willow will never
be convinced she would have believed her without your confession. It'll
drive a wedge between them deep enough to get the little witch to turn
away from the slayer."

"And straight to you," the demon added. "Drucilla will love that."

"Dru is none of your damned business," Spike snapped. "If she didn't
want me tracking down the slayer's friend, she should've kept her mouth
shut about the prophecy."

"An attempt on the slayer's life will fail due to the young witch's
intervention," the demon said.

Spike grinned, "The attempt on the slayer's life will be successful,
because the young witch will have abandoned her for me."

The demon smiled, "I'll go track down the slayer."

"Find her fast," Spike ordered. "And don't hurry back. I want time to
work on the little redhead--alone.
 

"Sit down, ducks," Spike patted the sofa cushion beside him.

"I'd rather stand," Willow told him. "When can I get out of here?"

Spike leaned forward and brushed his hand along hers. She quickly drew
hers away.

"Where are you planning on going? To the slayer? Her watcher? Home?"

"They'll be looking for me," she said.

"I'm sure they will be. You're wanted in a murder investigation."

"I won't be after what's-his-name explains everything!" she snapped.

"And they'll all come groveling to you, swearing they never believed
you could have done such a thing. But we know better, don't we?" he
asked.

"She glared down at him, "I hate you."

"That's the last thing I want," he spoke softly. "You don't really hate
me."

"I do," she declared firmly.

Spike reached for her and pulled her in front of him. He placed his
hands on her waist and forced her down onto his lap.

"No," he whispered against her cheek, his lips softly brushing her warm
flesh. "You don't."

"I--" Willow's denial was halted by his lips against hers.

Spike caressed her thigh, and he smiled at the soft moan of pleasure
that slipped from her mouth to his.

"They should have believed you, Willow," he murmured. "They should have
stood by you. You deserved that much."

"They didn't understand," she said.

"How could they? They turned their backs on you. Not so much as the
benefit of the doubt."

"No," she shook her head. "It isn't like that."

He brushed her hair from her face.

"It's exactly like that, and you know it," he stated. "They left you
all alone, when you needed them the most."

"Spike," she whispered as her eyes misted with tears.

"I know, pet," he said. "I'm sorry."

He pulled her back to him and kissed her softly. He felt her hand move
to his shoulder as her tongue brushed tentatively against his.

"Let me help you," he asked.

She nodded slightly as his mouth moved more insistently against hers.
***
Buffy had her hand firmly wrapped around the demon's throat.

"You bastard! You killed Andrews and let us think it was Willow!" she
hissed.

"I didn't know she'd be blamed. I thought someone would help her," the
man said.

Buffy's hand withdrew, and the demon backed away from her.

"I wanted to help. I just didn't know if--" she stopped and took a
breath.

"I thought she'd tell someone--her friends--you. How was I to know?"

"She should have come to me. She must have been frightened out of her
mind. I have to find her. I have to tell her everything's all right.
And you have to go to the police," she glared at him.

"That's where I'm headed, right now," he lied easily.
***
"The slayer's looking for her friend," the demon informed Spike.

"I'll make sure she finds her, then," the vampire responded.

"What about Drucilla?" he asked. "She's going to be a problem. When she
finds out you have the little witch locked away here--"

"Dru won't be any problem at all, not any longer. For all her cunning,
she really could be a stupid bitch. She should've thought twice before
mouthing off about finding Angel. She should have known I'd stop
her--permanently."

The demon was clearly surprised, "You killed her?"

"I had to," Spike shrugged. "She was going to get in my way, droning on
endlessly about coming back here to track down Angel. I swear, she
nearly drove me to the other side of sanity."

"What about the little witch? What are you going to do about her when
this is over?"

Spike grinned and looked back at the closed door behind him, "I'm going
to keep her."
***
"Did he tell Buffy?" Willow asked the moment Spike entered the room.

The vampire nodded, "He told her."

"Did she believe him?"

Spike arched an eyebrow and looked over at her, "Did you think she
wouldn't?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I guess she'll have to. I just wish--"

"You wish what, pet?" Spike asked softly.

"I wish she hadn't doubted my innocence in the first place," Willow
answered. "Can I go talk to her, please?"

Spike waved his arm toward the door, "Go ahead. I won't stop you."

Willow walked past him and turned back when she reached the door. Spike
was watching her with interest.

"Will you--" she looked into his eyes.

"Willow?"

"Will you go with me?" she asked.

Spike smiled and walked over to her, "Of course I'll go with you. I
told you. I want to help."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked timidly.

"Because I see what you are, or what you could be, with the right
person on your side," he told her.

"The right person," she repeated. "Meaning you?"

"Willow, you have more strength than you even realize. Do you know
you're all I've thought about since I left Sunnydale months ago?"

"But Drucilla--"

"Dru is gone, luv, forever," the said.

Willow's eyes widened in astonishment, "She's dead?"

"I'll never know whether it was intentional or not. She walked right
out into the sunlight," Spike answered, lying through his deadly teeth.

The fact he felt no grief, no sorrow at having shoved the stake through
her unsuspecting heart, had surprised him at first. He'd spent so many
years chasing after the Angel-obsessed lunatic. He thought killing her
would have been the most difficult thing he'd ever do in his unlife,
but it hadn't been. What he'd felt instead was an intense sense of
relief. Besides, when she started threatening to make tracks for
Sunnydale to find her daddy, Spike knew she'd completely annihilate his
plan to get at the slayer through the young witch.

Those plans hadn't included the undeniable attraction he felt toward
the redhead. He'd planned to use her to destroy the slayer and take
Willow out with her. Now, he planned to destroy the slayer and take
Willow. Period.

"Spike?" Willow's uneasy voice drew his eyes back to her.

He grinned and took her hand, clutching it firmly when she attempted to
pull it away.

"Sorry, ducks," he smiled. "I was just thinking."

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I'm just a bit worried about you. This could be painful--facing the
slayer," he warned her.

"I'll be all right," she told him. "You are coming with me, aren't
you?"

"Of course I am," he nodded and reached around her to open the door.
***
"Go on, pet. I'll be right here," he promised as they stood on the
sidewalk in front of Buffy's house.

Willow nodded and walked to the front door. Spike watched from the
shadows as the slayer opened it and took Willow's hand to drag her
inside.

"Willow! I've been so worried!" Buffy said. "Are you all right?"

"I don't know what I am," Willow answered. "Confused, mostly."

"Why didn't you come to me? I would have helped!"

"I tried to," Willow told her. "I went to the library to find you--"

A profound look of guilt washed over the slayer's face.

"You thought I killed that man," Willow stated sadly.

"No, not really," Buffy answered. "It's just, we found your bracelet,
and then we didn't hear from you--"

"I was terrified, Buffy! Can you understand that? I don't think I was
capable of coming to you at that point. Then, when I did, and I heard
you and Xander and Giles--How could you ever think that I'd be capable
of murder?"

"I don't," Buffy said.

"Not now. Not since that man came and told you what happened."

Buffy was shocked, "You know about that?"

"I met him," she nodded. "He told me he was trying to help me, and he
promised to come and talk to you."

"Willow, I would have believed you anyway," the slayer said.

"You would have wanted to. There's a big difference."

"If only you had come in and talked to us instead of standing outside
Giles' door and eavesdropping," Buffy's voice carried an unmistakable
note of rebuke.

"Don't throw the blame back on me!" Willow shouted. "This isn't my
fault!"

"I didn't mean it like that," Buffy argued.

"It sure sounded that way to me!"

"That isn't fair. I'm not totally to blame. You shouldn't have been in
the park alone. You shouldn't have had to fight Andrews off--"

"What should I have done, let him rape me?" she asked.

"Don't be ridiculous. You know that isn't what I meant!"

"I don't think you know what you mean. I sure don't. When I needed you,
you weren't there. You were huddled over Giles' desk wondering how the
hell I could have killed Jack Andrews," Willow accused.

"Willow, I'm only human!"

"Just barely," Willow hissed.

"Look," Buffy lowered her voice to a more rational level. "We both need
time to cool off. The past twenty-four hours have been rough on both of
us."

"Somehow, I strongly doubt you've been in the same hell I have. You had
friends to lean on, after all," Willow said coldly.

The slayer shook her head and backed away, "We can't talk about this
right now. You're too upset to be reasonable."

Willow's laughter raised goose bumps along Buffy's flesh.

"Reasonable," the redhead echoed. "It's reasonable for my best friend
to suspect me of murder. It's reasonable for me to just shrug those
suspicions off and give you a comforting pat on the back. I don't
understand your 'reasoning' at all."

"I think you should go," Buffy suggested firmly. "Before we say things
we'll both regret."

"You've already said things I regret, beginning last night in Giles'
office. I can't think of anything I've said that I'll regret," Willow
told her.

Buffy sighed and stepped to the door. She pulled it open and looked at
Willow.

"Go. We'll talk later," she said.

"There's nothing more to be said," Willow replied, walking past her and
out the door.

Spike stepped out of the shadows as Willow approached and took her in
his arms.

"That was hell," her tired voice murmured against his chest.

A satisfied grin formed on Spike's lips as he stroked her hair and
tightened his embrace.

"Forget it, luv. Forget her. Come home with me," he whispered.

Willow looked up at him, "There's nowhere else for me to go."

"You don't need anywhere else, pet," he promised.

A shy smile graced her pretty face, and he drew her lips to his in a
slow, lingering kiss.
 
 

"She really said those things? Our Willow?" Xander asked in disbelief.

Buffy nodded, "I hardly recognized her. Maybe she's possessed."

"Maybe she's hurt," Giles suggested. "She didn't say anything that
wasn't basically true."

"Giles!" Buffy protested. "None of us meant to hurt her."

"We appear to have succeeded in doing just that, nonetheless," he
replied.

"Well, I'm going over to her house," Xander determined. "There must be
a way to fix this."

"Xander, I really don't think that's wise," the watcher told him.
"Willow has a lot to deal with, and she needs time to do it. The best
thing we can do is to give her that time. When the shock of all this
has worn off, she'll be more receptive."

"I hope you're right," Buffy said.
***
"Willow, don't sleep out here," Spike said as he pulled the redhead up
off the sofa. "Come lay down with me."

Willow shook her head, "I can't."

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to. I just want to hold
you. You need to be held."

She looked up at him uncertainly, and he smiled softly.

"Come on," he urged her toward the hallway.

She allowed him to pull her into the dimly lit bedroom and coax her
down onto the bed. He toed off his boots and laid down beside her,
tucking an arm under her waist and pulling her against him. She lay
rigidly in his arms, and he kissed her forehead and stroked her back.
Slowly, she began to relax, and he brought his mouth to hers, kissing
away the last of her unease.

His hands moved over her body as his tongue searched the warm cavern of
her mouth. He unbuttoned her shirt and caressed her breasts through the
silky fabric of her bra. Willow trembled under his tender
ministrations, and her body moulded around his. She gasped softly
against his mouth as his erection brushed against her. Spike took one
of her hands and cupped it around the hardness inside his jeans.

"I want you, Willow," he whispered as his lips played softly over the
warm flesh below her ear. "I want to make the pain stop. I want to make
you forget everything, except us. Just us, pet."

Her body tingled as his soft voice reverberated with his desire for
her, and her mouth instinctively sought his. He swept his shirt over
his head and dropped it to the floor before lowering himself over her.
He felt her hands moving along the taught muscles on his back as he
drew her shirt away from her and unclasped her bra. His mouth sought
out the perfect pink bud of her left breast and suckled it gently.

This overwhelming desire to fill her, make her his and only his, was
totally unexpected, but certainly not unpleasant. His hands unfastened
her pants, and he raised her hips as he drew them, along with her
panties, down her legs. His lips traveled along her belly and below, to
the wet entrance between her legs. He parted her folds, and Willow
bucked underneath him as his tongue flicked the tiny nub of her clit.
His hands captured her hips and pressed against them as he worked her
into a haze of need.

He removed his jeans and raised himself over her, staring down into her
eyes as her legs parted to allow him entrance. He was mildly surprised
when his hard shaft met no resistance to her tight channel. No matter,
he thought to himself; he'd make her forget whoever had taken her
virginity. This would be a first for her, a complete and total
possession such as she had never before experienced. Willow moaned
softly as his considerable girth stretched and filled her. He placed a
necklace of kisses along her throat and down to the valley between the
firm mounds of her breasts.

She arched into him as he began to move slowly, insistently, inside
her. Her body followed his rhythm as he brought her to an agonizing
fever of need. His hand dipped into her, pinching her clit between his
cold fingers. She cried out, her walls gripping his cock and drawing
out his own climax.

Still buried deep within her, Spike covered her body with his. He
grinned as her walls began to twitch around him again, craving more of
the man inside her. He began a more urgent thrusting and quickly
brought her to another, more intense orgasm that left her screaming out
his name. His cold seed flooded her channel as he growled and bit into
the rounded flesh about her right breast and lapped at the droplets of
blood that oozed forth.

He pulled out of her and drew her into his arms, whispering soft
reassurances against her hair until he felt her drift off to sleep.
***
Spike awoke to find Willow staring up at him. He grinned and kissed her
deeply for a long moment.

"Who have you been with, luv?" he asked.

"Does it matter?" she whispered.

"Not really. I just like to know who my competition is," he smiled.

Her fingers brushed his cheek, "You don't have any."

He chuckled and kissed her once more.

"Who was he?" he asked again.

"Oz," she answered. "I thought we loved each other. I thought he would
stay."

"But he didn't?" the vampire asked.

"No," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "He started touring with
the band right after graduation. Lots of new women, you know. He found
someone new, someone better."

Spike tucked a finger under her chin and raised her face to look into
the fathomless beauty of her eyes.

"Never better," he told her. "I'm glad the werewolf was stupid enough
to let you go."

Her eyes searched his, desperately wanting to believe his tender
declaration.

"I mean it," he said. "I can prove it--again--if you want me to."

She smiled and kissed him, "I want you to."
 

Willow stood nervously outside the library doors. It had been more than
a week since her last appearance here. She had considered coming back
several days ago, but every time she was on the verge of doing so,
Spike would suddenly wrap himself around her and drive away any
thoughts of going anywhere.

Her mind didn't doubt for one second that Spike's diversions were
purposely calculated to keep her away from her friends. A
reconciliation between herself and Buffy was the last thing he wanted.
Her body, however, didn't give a damn about why the vampire was all
over her with a dizzying urgency that left her breathless with a
delicious mixture of total satisfaction and a burning desire for more.

Her gaze returned to the closed doors in front of her. She was torn
between the need to put this behind her and the fear of reopening fresh
wounds. She scolded herself for being a coward and shoved the doors
open. Three pairs of eyes all turned and looked at her as she stepped
into the room.

"Willow!" Buffy cried out and took a step toward her.

The redhead held up one hand to stop the oncoming embrace.

"I just came to see you, to let you know I'm all right," Willow
explained.

"I understand," Buffy said softly. "I'm glad you're here."

"So am I," Xander spoke. "We've been worried about you."

"I know, and I'm sorry. I just need some time. Am I interrupting
something important?" she asked.

"Interrupting--no, important--maybe," the slayer answered.

A familiar curiosity lit up Willow's emerald eyes.

"I'm supposed to track down and slay a demon that's been on a feeding
frenzy over near the Bronze. Giles says he feeds off the energy of
young people," Buffy told her.

"Which means he may also feed off the energy of a slayer," Giles added.
"We could use your help, Willow."

"I don't know," she said. "I don't think I'm ready to jump back into
that again. I'm sure Buffy can handle it just fine."

"I can always use the back-up," Buffy replied. "We're planning on going
after him tomorrow night. Will you think about coming with us?"

"I'll think about it," Willow nodded. "But--"

"No promises," the slayer smiled. "I do understand, Willow. I hope
you'll be here when we go after him, but if you're not ready, that's
okay."

"Thank you," Willow said softly.

"Sit down. Tell us how you are," Giles suggested as he eyed the young
woman appraisingly.

"No, I can't. I just wanted to see you. I really should go," Willow
answered.

"You just got here," Xander said. "Come on, Willow."

"I'm sorry," she shook her head. "I'll see you soon, though."
***
"Did it help, pet?" Spike asked.

"What?"

"Seeing the slayer," he said.

"How did you know?"

"Well, let's see," he replied. "I wake up to find you gone. You return
half an hour later sadder and quieter than I've seen you in ten days. I
figure only your friends could make you feel this bad."

She looked up at him, "I want to let go of this, Spike. I really do."

"I know. So tell me, what did the slayer have to say?"

"We didn't talk very long," she shrugged. "It was harder than I thought
it would be. She asked for my help."

Spike forced a tone of disinterest into his voice, "Help--with what?"

"She's supposed to fight a demon over near the Bronze tomorrow night. I
didn't ask for details. He feeds off of energy, Giles said."

"You're not going," he told her.

"I haven't decided," she said coolly.

He stepped over to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Willow, let the slayer fight her own battles. You've done your time
with her. Stay here with me, where you're safe."

"I don't know. If this demon is killing people, and I can help, maybe I
should be there. Buffy may need me," she said.

A soft growl from Spike's throat sent Willow struggling out of his
arms. She backed away from him in alarm. Spike turned away from her and
waited for her reaction. She did not disappoint.

"Spike? What did I do?" she asked timidly.

"It's always about what the slayer needs, isn't it?" he snarled. "Never
mind that you might get hurt. It didn't bother her a few days ago. Why
should it be any different now? She 'needs' you. Your safety be
damned."

"I don't think--"

"Don't justify her actions, Willow," he snapped and turned around to
face her. "You needed her. Where was she? She accuses you of murder,
and you're supposed to swallow that and get over it. Why does her sense
of loyalty strike me as being completely one-sided?"

"I can't hold onto that forever. I have to let it go," she said.

"I agree, but letting it go doesn't mean jumping to her side every time
she snaps her fingers. She doesn't deserve it, and you deserve a hell
of a lot more," he told her. "You're willing to put yourself in danger
for someone who obviously doesn't care enough about you to stand by you
when you need her."

"She does care!" Willow protested.

Spike strode over to her and took her arms in a firm grip, "How the
hell can you say that? You throw yourself at her feet so she can wipe
them on you. Look at me and tell me the things she did don't matter.
Tell me you deserved to be nearly raped. Tell me you deserved to have
your friend stab you in the back when you were so traumatized you
couldn't even defend yourself. Does she have the right to do what she
did because she's the slayer?"

Willow pushed him away from her and glared at him in fury.

"Of course not. I didn't ask for any of this!"

"Damn right you didn't. She rammed it down your throat anyway, didn't
she?" he shouted back. "Run back to her, Willow. She's pulled your
strings; start dancing."

"Shut up," she hissed.

"Face it, pet. She owns you. You'll take all the pain she can hurl at
you and smile back because that's what you were meant for," he sneered.

"Fuck you!" she screamed and flung herself at him.

He landed on the floor with the irate redhead straddling him.

"You don't know the first damn thing about me! Nobody owns me! Not you,
not that bitch of a slayer, nobody! I haven't forgotten what she did,
and I'm not her puppet. She can fight her damn demon all by herself,
and you can go straight to hell."

Spike reached up and grabbed her, throwing her to the floor and pinning
her under him.

"That's my Willow," he grinned.

She looked up at him, her eyes flashing in anger, "You're a bastard."

"I'm your bastard, luv," he answered as he captured her lips in a
bruising kiss.

Willow's hands moved to his shirt and yanked it over his head.

"Fuck me," she ordered as she unfastened his jeans and drew out his
rock-hard shaft.

"Tell me you're not going to help that bitch," he demanded.

"I'm not going to help her," she said. "Now, fuck me, damn you."

Spike laughed and tore off her clothes. He slid off his pants and drove
into her. Willow groaned as he thrust into her. Her nails raked his
back as she ground against him.

"Fuck me, baby," he whispered. "You don't need her. You need me. Just
me."

Willow panted as her body began to tremble under his, "As much as you
need me, you dead bastard."

"I need you, Willow," he groaned. "I need you. Come for me."

She keened as he pistoned into her, drawing out her climax and flooding
her hot channel with his seed.

He collapsed on top of her and rolled over, crushing her against his
cold chest. He nuzzled her neck and kissed her shoulder as the
realization that he was hopelessly in love with the little witch
settled into his brain. The thought would have bothered the hell out of
him if it hadn't felt so damned right.

He scooped her up off the floor and carried her to the bedroom,
determined to keep her there while the slayer fought for her miserable
life.
 

Willow sat in the hospital waiting room in stunned silence as Giles
paced restlessly in front of her.

She looked over at Xander, "How did the demon--"

"It wasn't the demon," Xander said. "It was the vampire behind him."

"I don't understand."

"She was doing okay. Giles and I were doing our best to keep the demon
distracted, but he turned on Buffy and knocked the stake out of her
hand. None of us saw the vampire until he had the stake in his hand. He
came up behind her and stabbed her with it."

Willow recoiled and looked up at the watcher.

"Will she be okay?" she asked.

"She lost a lot of blood. The doctor said none of her vital organs were
damaged," he answered.

"Well, that's good, at least."

"You should have been there." The words escaped thoughtlessly from
Xander's lips.

"What?" Willow looked back at him.

"We needed you," he told her. "This might not have happened if we'd had
you there to help. Giles and I were so busy keeping the demon's
attention. You would have seen the vampire, and Buffy wouldn't be here
right now."

Willow jumped up from the chair, "Don't push the blame for this on me!"

Xander's weary eyes glared back at her, "Truth hurts, doesn't it?"

"Go to hell," she snapped. "You don't know what would have happened,
even if I had been there."

"Willow," Giles called out as she stepped past him and walked out of
the room.
***
Spike awoke to find Willow's side of the bed empty. He'd hesitated to
let her go to the hospital at all, but his need to know the slayer's
condition had been too strong.

He got out of bed and pulled on his jeans. He walked to the living room
to find Willow curled up in an armchair, weeping softly. Spike went to
her and knelt down in front of her.

"Pet?" he asked quietly.

She looked at him as he took her hands.

"She's hurt, Spike. It's bad," she sniffled.

He lifted her from the chair and sat down, settling her onto his lap
and cradling her head against his chest.

"They blame me," she whispered.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because she needed me, and I wasn't there," she answered.

"We've been through that, luv," he said.

"I let her down. In spite of--"

"No, Willow, because of. She started this when she hurt you. You are
not responsible for what happens to her," he told her.

"All I know is that she asked for my help. She reached out to me, and I
slapped her away, and now she's lying in a hospital bed. If she doesn't
make it--"

Spike groaned and stood up, still cradling her against him, "You're
tired, pet. You need to get some sleep."

She shook her head, "I want to go back to the hospital."

"Later. Get some sleep first."
***
She slept fitfully, troubled by dreams of Buffy calling out to her,
pleading for her to help. Willow woke up trembling and slipped out of
bed to find Spike. Her attention was drawn to soft voices coming from
the living room.

"I thought she was supposed to die," the familiar voice of the demon
floated down the corridor.

"The prophecy said an attempt," Spike replied. "She may not survive it,
anyway. We don't know her condition."

"You could send the little witch--"

"I don't want her anywhere near them again. I did what I could by
keeping Willow here. We'll just have to wait and see whether the slayer
makes it or not. If she does, there'll be other opportunities," Spike
said. "Get over to the hospital and see what you can find out."

Willow waited until she heard the door close before stepping into the
light.

"You knew," she whispered. "You knew this was going to happen. You knew
I should've been there, and you kept me here."

"Willow--" he stepped toward her.

"How could you?" she asked.

"I'm a vampire. She's the slayer. Put it together," he replied.

Willow was staring at him with cold eyes, "That's what this whole thing
has been about, isn't it? The attack in the park, the man who rescued
me, my bracelet, the accusations, all the time you've been spending
with me. You wanted me out of the way so Buffy would be killed."

"No," he shook his head.

"Liar," she hissed. "I believed you. I swallowed the whole thing. How
could I have been so stupid?"

"Willow, it isn't like that," he said.

"I'm going to them. I'm going to tell them exactly what's been going
on, and then I'm going to help Buffy stake your fucking heart."

Spike stepped in front of her as she moved toward the door.

"I can't let you do that," he warned her. "I want you here with me, and
it has nothing to do with the slayer."

"I'll die first, you bastard," she promised.

Willow shoved him aside and stepped around him. He latched onto her arm
and dragged her back.

"I'm leaving, Spike. Let go," she demanded.

"No," he refused as she struggled to escape from his bruising grip.

Spike raised his fist and slammed it into her jaw. He caught her up in
his arms as her knees buckled.

"We would have to do this the hard way," he muttered as he threw her
over his shoulder and headed out the door.
***
Spike moved to her side as Willow moaned softly. She opened her eyes
and looked around in confusion. Realizing her hands were bound behind
her, she looked fearfully at Spike as he brushed a strand of hair from
her cheek.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"I've had this house for awhile. It's far enough out of Sunnyhell that
you won't be able to walk back," he answered.

"I hate you," she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes.

"You hate what I did," he corrected her.

"I hate you!" she insisted. "You lied to me from the start of this
whole pathetic game!"

"Of course I did," he shrugged. "What was I supposed to do? Come to you
and tell you I was after the slayer's hide and ask you to help me? I
needed you away from her, so I made sure it happened."

"I should have told them it was you. I should have told them
everything," she berated herself. "How did I twist myself into thinking
you were on my side, that you cared about me?"

"I do care about you. I admit that wasn't part of the scheme, but it
happened. I didn't force them to betray you," he told her.

"You did everything but!" she shouted. "What about Drucilla? Is she
really dead, or is she behind this, too?"

"She's really dead," he nodded. "I staked her."

Willow's eyes flew to his, "You--how? Why?"

"She was threatening to come back here. I knew she'd fuck up
everything. Her obsession with Angel was finally more than I could
stand. She'd have fried my ass with a smile on her face to get at her
daddy."

"So tell me," Willow sneered. "Was I as good a lay as she was? Probably
not, far less experience. Or is that actually a bonus for vampires?"

"You're not a replacement for Dru. You never were."

"Sorry to disappoint you," she spat.

"That isn't what I meant. I don't want a replacement. I want you."

Willow tried, unsuccessfully, to squirm away from him. Spike curled his
fingers through her hair and held her still as his mouth covered hers.

"So, now it's your turn at attempting rape," she whispered as he pulled
away from the kiss.

"I could, but I won't. I won't have to. I love you, Willow. You can
fight that fact as hard as you like; it isn't going to change it. And
some part of you loves me. You want me as much as I want you."

"I want you dead," she scowled.

He nuzzled his mouth against her neck and whispered in her ear.

"You want me buried inside you until you scream. I lied to you. I used
you. And somewhere along the line, I fell in love with you."

"And you went on using me, anyway," she said.

"Yes, I did," he agreed, kissing her neck. "And I'd do it again.
Doesn't mean I don't love you."

"What if I asked you to leave Buffy alone?"

"I'd refuse," he said as his lips traveled along her jaw line. "Vampire
and slayer, we're eternal enemies, pet."

"I can't accept that," she told him.

"You have to," he answered. "I'm not going away, Willow. I'm going to
be in your face and in your pants for the rest of your lovely
existence."

"I don't want this," she whispered as his lips brushed over hers.

"Yes, you do," he said. "In two centuries, I haven't found a warmth as
deep as yours. I feel it every time I'm near you. Dru never had it. Her
mental thermostat went on the blink long ago."

He grinned at Willow's soft snort.

"I'm cold, pet. Cold and evil and cruel. And you're warm, and good, and
kind beyond my capacity to comprehend. You're all the things my
heartless demon despises," he said softly. "And I love you. I'm a
bastard, Willow. I lied to you. I used you. I'd use you again if I
thought it would kill the slayer, and I'm not the least bit sorry about
any of it. And you love me."

She shook her head and looked away from his penetrating stare.

"Yes, you do," he said as he brought her mouth back to his.

"Let me go," she asked. "If you love me--"

"No. You'd run straight back to your friends because their need for you
would win out over your own needs. But I'm heartless enough to refuse
you that and selfish enough to keep you here with me."

Willow whimpered softly as he sucked at her lower lip, and her body
shivered in response to her need. Spike unbuttoned her shirt and
removed her pants before unclothing himself and pushing her down onto
the sofa.

His lips brushed softly along her throat and down to her breasts as he
slipped his fingers into the sopping cleft between her legs. She moaned
in frustration, wanting desperately to touch him. Spike chuckled and
nibbled at her hardened nipples as his fingers danced along her clit.

He entered her swiftly and began a teasing rhythm. Willow arched into
him, grinding herself against his shaft.

"Tell me you love me, baby," he demanded.

"No," she whispered.

He grinned and pinched one of her nipples between his thumb and
forefinger.

"Tell me, or you won't get what you want," he told her.

Willow groaned as the fingers of one hand played at her breast while
the other rubbed along her clit with just enough pressure to make her
wild with need.

"Tell me, Willow," he repeated.

His thrusts became deeper, long, and slow, and she cried out in
despair.

"Tell me."

"I love you," she relented. "Please, Spike. I love you."

His mouth swooped down to hers, and his tongue darted between her lips,
thrusting in time to his hard shaft in her belly.

He wrapped his arms around her and brought his hands to her ass,
drawing her forcefully into him as she screamed out his name. His
juices flowed out and mingled with hers as her walls spasmed around
him.

"Oh, goddess," she murmured as he pulled his glistening cock out of
her.

He grinned and moved down her body.

"We're just getting started, luv," he told her as his tongue parted her
folds and lapped at their mingled juices.

Willow breathed in sharply as a new bolt of desire snaked through her
body.

"Untie me, please," she begged as she thrashed under him.

His hands moved around her and untied the knots at her wrists. Willow's
hands moved to his ass and around to cup his sacs, gently teasing them
with her fingers. Spike growled and entered her again as Willow's mouth
found the cool flesh of his throat and nipped at hit. Her hands pushed
against his ass as he drove into her. Her hot channel clamped onto him
as another orgasm possessed her, and Spike groaned against her ear as
his climax met hers.

Willow's breathing slowed as she drifted back to reality.

"We're not done with this argument," she told him softly.

"Well, it's going to have to wait," he responded. "Because we're not
done with this, either."

He scooped her tired body up off the sofa and carried her into the
bedroom, knowing it would be hours before his little redhead had the
breath to argue about anything.
 
 

"I want to go back."

Spike took the coffee mug from Willow's hand and set it on the table.
He put his arms around her and kissed her.

"I'm sure you do," he said.

"I'm not trying to get away from you. I told you I love you--"

"With a little persuasion," he reminded her.

"And I meant it. I do hate what you did, but I won't leave you. I want
to go to Buffy and wipe the slate clean."

"That's a hell of an eraser, luv," he remarked. "She did accuse you of
murder."

"You orchestrated the whole fiasco!" she protested. "I want to tell her
it doesn't matter anymore. None of it matters."

"I'll make a deal with you," he said.

Willow eyed him suspiciously, "What kind of a deal?"

"Go to your slayer. Tell her everything, and I mean everything. Tell
her how I set the two of you up. Tell her how I kept you away from her.
Tell her we're lovers."

"I can't do that!" she objected.

"If you're going to tell her what was really going on, you're going to
tell her all of it," he demanded.

"Spike! She'd never understand! She'd hate me!"

"I thought you were wiping the slate, pet. You're not going to chalk it
back up with half-truths. Make her understand--all of it," he insisted.

"I couldn't," she answered softly.

"So, what are you planning to tell her? Are you going to let her think
I coerced you? I lied to you, Willow, but I didn't force you to sleep
with me, and I didn't force you to fall in love with me. You know
everything now, and you still love me, even if you'd like not to. But I
don't think you'd like not to," he said and took her mouth in a hungry
kiss.

Willow hugged him tightly to her and rested her head on his chest.

"If you only tell her half of it, you're telling as big a lie as I
was," he stated. "Tell her all of it, or tell her nothing."

"She'll kill us both," Willow murmured.

"Let's find out," he replied.

Willow nodded reluctantly, "All right. When?"

"Now," he answered.

"Now! We can't! She's in the hospital--"

"She was released this morning," he told her.

"You son of a --" Willow sighed and pulled away from him. "Okay. Let's
get this over with."
***
Spike lurked outside as Willow sat in the library trying to explain all
that had happened and feeling certain she was failing miserably. Buffy
listened in stony silence until Willow finished her disjointed
explanation.

"Buffy, say something," Willow pleaded after several minutes of chilly
silence.

The slayer looked icily at the redhead, "You know, I understood and
sympathized with everything, right up until the 'I love him' part."

"Buffy, I'm sorry. I know--"

The slayer's fist slammed down onto the table, "You don't know! Willow,
he set you up! He used you to try to get me killed! You can't love
him!"

Spike had shoved open the library doors when Buffy's hand had pounded
against the table.

"She can, and she does," he spoke.

Buffy whirled around and glared hatefully at her adversary. She threw
back her chair and hurled herself at the vampire. Spike staggered
backward and crashed through the doors.

"Oh, goddess," Willow moaned and scrambled after them.

Spike grabbed Buffy by the throat and shoved her back against the wall.

"Stop!" Willow shouted. "Please--"

The slayer's fist connected with the vampire's jaw. He reeled back, his
hand moving free of her neck.

"I'm going to kill you, you black-hearted bastard," she snarled and
pulled a stake from her back pocket.

"No, Buffy!" Willow begged as the slayer grabbed for Spike and raised
the stake.

Willow shoved herself between them, shielding her lover from Buffy, and
groaned loudly as the stake drove into her chest just below her left
shoulder.

"Oh, god. Oh, god," Buffy wailed as the redhead slumped to the floor.

"Willow," Spike whispered as he lifted her up off the floor and raced
toward the door.

Buffy tore out after him and flung open his car door. He lowered Willow
in and slid in beside her as the slayer scrambled into the back seat.
***
Spike watched reluctantly as the nurse wheeled the gurney down the
hallway and around the corner. He sunk into a chair and dropped his
face into his hands. Buffy watched in silent wonder as red tears seeped
between his fingers.

"You love her," she said.

"I'd die for her," he mumbled.

"Then why did you--"

"Because you and I hate each other. It's what we do. You'd have done
the same thing if you'd had the chance, and you know it," he snarled.

"She's my best friend, Spike."

"I wasn't supposed to fall in love with her. I wasn't supposed to give
a damn about what happened to her," he stood and walked to the window
and stared down at the dark parking lot below.

He spoke in soft whispers, a quiet monologue between his brain and his
long dead soul, "I've never known anyone like her. Dru wasn't like her.
If I had breath, I'd lose it every time Willow comes near me. She's
like that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach, right after a
bolt of lightening streaks across the sky, and you know that inevitable
roar of energy is coming, and you're held motionless, waiting for it,
and suddenly, there it is. She was just--there--and I couldn't ignore
her, and I couldn't stop wanting her, and I couldn't believe she wanted
me."

"Spike," Buffy said softly from behind his shoulder.

"I love her," he murmured.

"I believe you."

He turned to look at her, and she smiled weakly and put her arms around
him.

"I can't lose her," he whispered. "She's the only warm thing in my dead
world."
***
Buffy stood in the corner as Spike sat by Willow's bedside,
unconsciously stroking her pale hand. She opened her eyes and turned
her head to look at him.

"Spike," she said softly.

He moved closer to her and bent to kiss her gently.

"I hurt," she whispered.

"I know, baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

"Buffy--is she here?" Willow asked.

"I'm here," Buffy answered and stepped around to the other side of the
bed.

"You're supposed to be the slayer. You've got to work on your aim,"
Willow teased.

"Don't," Buffy's voice broke as a tear slid down her cheek. "I'm so
sorry, Willow."

Willow shook her head slightly, "You didn't mean for it to happen. Just
like I didn't mean to hurt you. We're even."

"Don't put it like that," Buffy pleaded. "I'm sorry for blaming you for
something you were caught in the middle of."

Willow looked at Spike, "I still love him, Buffy. I can't help it."

Buffy nodded as Spike brought Willow's hand to his lips.

"I know. I know all about loving someone you're not supposed to love. I
should have been more understanding," Buffy said.

"Will you two stop fighting?" the redhead asked hopefully.

Spike and Buffy's eyes met and locked.

"For a little while? Maybe?" A grin tugged at the corners of Willow's
mouth, "At least long enough for me to get back on my feet so I can run
like hell next time."

"I'll make sure you're not in the middle of it next time," Spike
promised.

"Does that mean there's going to be a next time?" she asked.

"I didn't say that."

"So, there won't be a next time?" she tried again.

"I didn't say that either," he grinned.

"Then what are you saying?"

He looked into her eyes, "I'm saying I love you."

"We both love you," Buffy added.

"Then you shouldn't fight," Willow stated.

"Tell you what," the slayer said. "I'll only try to kill him when
you're not around him."

"Hmmm," she looked at Spike. "I guess that means I'll have to spend all
my time around you."

He smiled and squeezed her hand, "I guess it does, pet."

"We should let you sleep now," Buffy suggested.

Willow gripped Spike's hand and looked up at him, "Don't leave me.
Please."

He nodded and hooked his foot around the chair, pulling it close to her
bedside. He sat down and stroked her temple with gentle fingers as her
eyes drifted shut.

Buffy smiled and turned to close the blinds.

"I'll see you on the front lines," she said to Spike as she walked to
the door.

"Right. I'll meet you there in a hundred years," he replied.

"It's a date," she agreed as she opened the door. "And I'll bet
anything she'll be still be peering over your shoulder."

He looked down at the sleeping woman and smiled softly.

"You can count on it," he whispered.

End

read the sequal 'Evil Venery'

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