Title: Why We Never Killed Each Other
Author: Lauralee
Email: yummyspike@yahoo.com

Spike stood in the door of the workout room, watching Buffy as she laid into the punching bag. It had to be at least a 125 pound bag, but she had it swinging with the force of her punches and kicks. Nobody at the magic shop was paying any attention to the blonde vampire, and he was just as happy that way. Finally Buffy stopped beating on the bag long enough to turn and look at him.

“What do you want?” she asked, obviously exasperated at Spike’s presence. The vampire just smirked, then walked into the room and stood behind the bag. He held onto it, and motioned for the Slayer to continue her workout.

“Oh, you mean I get to beat on the bag and you at the same time? Cool,” Buffy shrugged. Spike grunted when her first kick pushed him backwards, but didn’t lose his grip on the bag. Buffy had brought her CD player with her, and smiled as her Kid Rock CD whirled into place and “Cowboy” started playing. Her punches and kicks soon matched the steady rhythm of the rock song, and she realized that she was enjoying herself. It was good to work off some of the stress of her life. Between her mother’s recent surgery, Dawn, Glory, and Riley she had plenty of stress to work through. The song picked up its pace and so did she. Soon Spike was gritting his teeth and struggling to keep his hold on the bag and his standing position.

*Bloody hell* he thought to himself. He didn’t know what had gotten into the Slayer, but she was destroying the punching bag in front of her. She hadn’t even seemed to notice the tears appearing in the bag’s leather cover. Finally the song ended and Buffy stopped, panting. Spike released the bag and rubbed his sore arms. He started to say something, then laughed as the song coming from the CD player changed and Rob Zombie started blaring through the speakers.

“ ‘Dragula’?” he asked. “I’d have though that you got enough of that sort of thing in real life, pet,” he commented. Buffy smiled and shrugged.

“Hey, if I’m going to beat the crap out of an innocent punching bag, I might as well be thinking about vampires,” she answered. “You never answered me, Spike. What do you want?”

*That’s because you’d dust me if I answered that* he thought to himself. “What makes you think I want anything?” he said instead.

“Because you’re here. Which reminds me, lately you’re always here. Or, more to the point, you’re always underfoot. Every time I turn around, I run into you. Why?”

“Boredom?” Spike offered. Buffy glared at him, and he knew she didn’t buy it.

“Whatever. I’m going to go patrol now,” she said as she shut off her CD player and grabbed her workout bag.

“I’d suggest you go home and shower first, cutie,” Spike smirked with a raised eyebrow.

“Trying to tell me I stink?” Buffy asked, turning on him.

“Not me, Slayer. But you did work up quite a sweat there, and any vampires would smell you coming.”

“That’s what I thought. You’re telling me I stink.” Buffy couldn’t believe that Spike had the guts to tell her that she smelled bad. Some vampires were obviously just stupider than others.

Spike saw the irritated gleam in her eye, and he laughed. “I never said you stunk. I said you smelled. Personally, I like the way you smell.”

Buffy set her bag back on the floor, then walked up to the vampire. She crossed her slender arms over her chest and studied him for a while. “Spike, you are weird,” she said finally.

“Bet I can make you think I’m even weirder,” he leered.

“I doubt it.”

At her answer Spike leaned in towards her and licked the side of her neck. “I like the way you taste, too,” he purred softly. She was staring at him in shock and confusion, then pushed him away. He watched as she turned and picked up bag, then left in a hurry. Before he knew quite what he was doing, he followed her. She shot him an evil glare when he pulled the bag out of her grasp and walked next to her.

“Why are you following me?”

“Told you before, Slayer. I’m bored. If I go with you I can get a little bit of violence in before the sun comes up.”

Buffy wondered if boredom is what had made him lick the side of her neck. Then she wondered if insanity is what made her like it, and decided that she really didn’t want to know the answer to that particular question. She opened her front door and allowed the blonde vampire to follow her in.

“Hello Spike!” Joyce greeted from the kitchen.

“Joyce,” Spike acknowledged. “How are feeling, luv? Recuperating nicely?”

“Yes, thank you. Care for a cup of cocoa? I even have marshmallows.”

“Mom, don’t you think you should be resting? I mean, it was brain surgery,” Buffy sighed, knowing that her mother was going stir crazy.

“I don’t think making a couple of cups of hot chocolate is going to tire me out too much, Buffy,” Joyce answered. She handed a cup to Spike, and sat down with hers. Buffy just shook her head and jogged up the stairs. Joyce noticed how Spike watched her daughter’s departure and smiled into her cup.

“So Spike, how’ve you been? Didn’t I hear Buffy say that you were with Harmony nowadays?” she asked innocently.

“Um, well sort of,” Spike answered uncomfortably. “Truth is, she gets on my nerves. I haven’t really seen her for the past week.”

“Avoiding her?” Joyce asked.

“Yeah, that’s about it. It’s either that, or I stake her again.”

“Again?”

“Well, the last time I staked her she had on the Ring of Amara, so it didn’t kill her.”

“I see,” Joyce murmured. They sat in silence, each musing into their respective cups of cocoa, until Buffy came back downstairs. Spike noticed her tight jeans and tight black tank top, with matching leather boots.

“Jeans and boots?” he commented lazily.

“Wanna be a cowboy, baby,” she grinned.

“Ridin’ all night, ‘cause I sleep all day,” Spike answered with a grin of his own. Joyce shook her head as she watched to two blondes in front of her.

“Buffy, be sure and come home as soon as you can. Right now Dawn’s next door, but she’ll be home soon. Spike, keep an eye on my daughter and make sure no vampires take advantage of her,” Joyce said, with a sly grin of her own.

Buffy frowned when Joyce said that Dawn was next door. “Mom, I wish you wouldn’t let her go out so much.”

“What am I supposed to do, honey? Tell her that her big sister is paranoid, and so she can’t act like a normal kid?” Joyce stressed the word ‘normal’, and Buffy caught it. So did Spike, though he had no idea what the two were really talking about.

“I know Mom. It just makes me nervous.”

“Why? The neighbor’s kid a bad influence?” Spike asked, thoroughly confused.

“Huh? Oh, well, no, not really. She’s just, um, short,” Buffy finished lamely. What was it with her and the short objections, she wondered to herself.

“Uh-huh,” Spike said, looking at the Slayer suspiciously. “Never trust short people,” he said, looking speculatively at the Slayer’s own diminutive height.

“Shut up Spike.” Buffy led him out of the house, and they started towards the cemetery.

“So where’s Commando-boy these days?” Spike asked, hoping for some sort of painful story.

“Not sure, really. He’s not been around much the past several nights.”

“Thought you kept him on a pretty short leash, Slayer. Letting down on your job?” the vampire prodded her.

“No, I’ve just been busy lately, and so has he,” she shrugged.

“Curious kind of business that keeps him away from you,” Spike mumbled under his breath. Buffy heard him, but ignored it. She’d just been too busy worrying about her mom and her sister to be too concerned about Riley. He was a big boy, and she had no doubt he was staying out of trouble.

Unknown to Buffy, Riley was sitting at Willie’s bar getting drunk. Again. The bartender watched him nervously, and knew that he had to find a way to tell the Slayer about her wayward boyfriend’s nightly habits. Coming here and getting drunk was bad enough, but disappearing around back with the local clientele was different all together. Willie knew that Buffy would beat the shit out him for letting Riley hang out with vampiresses if he didn’t tell her soon. The question was just how to go about getting her the message. After all, he didn’t really want to be the messenger when she found out. Too many messengers ended up dead or severely beaten. Suddenly his eyes lit on a younger vampire at the edge of the bar, and he motioned to him. Soon the vampire was on his way out of the bar, and Willie was smiling to himself.

Riley thought back to the phone call earlier as Willie poured him another shot of whiskey. Graham had said that the Initiative was more than willing to take him back, especially after his help with the Queller demon. And it wasn’t like he really needed to stay because of Buffy. She certainly didn’t need him, and it was glaringly obvious. She still hadn’t told him what was going on, and he knew it was something important. And she still hadn’t staked Spike, even though he was always around and being a pain in the ass. And why hadn’t she gone after the vampire, Riley wondered, after the whole ordeal with the doctor. After all, Spike had almost killed him, even if it was just through interference. It had almost been too late when the doctor started the surgery needed to save his life.

“Damned vampire,” Riley growled softly into his whiskey.

“Anyone in particular?” asked the dark haired woman at his side.

“Yeah, but nobody important,” Riley answered. He knew that later would find him allowing the vampire at his side to feed from him before he dusted her, but somehow that knowledge didn’t seem to bother his alcohol-hazed brain.

Buffy was humming to herself as she circled the cemetery. So far it had been a slow night. She and Spike had already been through both cemeteries and the park, and had just stopped back at this one for one final check. Suddenly, she spun on her heel and faced the young vampire standing at the edge of the trees.

“Well?” she prodded. “Are you going to come out and play?”

“Uh… no!” the vampire said, shifting from one foot to another. “I just came here to find Spike, and give him a message from Willie.”

“What message, mate?” Spike asked, appearing directly behind the nervous vampire. He whirled around to face the older blonde, and whispered nervously. When Spike finally nodded at him, he turned and ran.

“Why’d you let him go?” Buffy growled.

“He wasn’t causing any harm, pet,” Spike shrugged. The two finished circling the cemetery and were about to leave when suddenly Riley appeared.

“Riley!” Buffy greeted him with a hug. “Where have you been?”

“Yeah, mate,” Spike said, raising an eyebrow. “Where have you been?”

“Nowhere important,” Riley answered. “I need to talk to you,” he said to Buffy.

“Have you been drinking?” Buffy asked him, wrinkling up her nose at the smell.

“Like a fish, from the smell of it,” Spike commented lazily. Riley just shrugged, then glared at the vampire.

“What are you doing here anyway?” he asked Spike.

“Helping the Slayer. Which leads us back to the million dollar question. Where have you been?”

“None of your business,” Riley growled. Before Buffy could stop him, the taller boy advanced on Spike and landed a punch on the right side of his jaw. Spike’s head whipped sideways, but the vampire didn’t respond.

“Riley! What are you doing?” Buffy exclaimed, shocked at her boyfriend’s sudden action.

“Why is it that you never staked him after he almost got me killed?” Riley asked her.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, confused by his tone of voice.

“When we had to chase down the doctor so he could operate on me. I almost died because of your pet vampire here, and you never did anything about it. Why?”

“Riley,” she started, but Spike interrupted her.

“Listen mate, I’m thinking that you should probably go home and sleep this off.” Riley turned on the vampire again, this time kicking him viciously. Spike fell backwards, bouncing off a headstone and rolling into some bushes. Suddenly the Slayer advanced on Riley, and she slapped him.

“I don’t know what your problem is,” she ground out, “but I think that Spike’s right. Sleep it off. I’ll talk to you later.” With that she went over and helped Spike up, and walked with him back to her house on Revello Drive. When they got there, Buffy helped him inside and set him on the couch.

“Are you ok?” she asked.

“A few bruises, a few scrapes. Nothing too big,” Spike answered.

“Sit here, and I’ll go get something to clean the cuts up with.” On her way to the bathroom to get the first aid kit she checked on Dawn and her mother, just to satisfy herself that they were both all right. When she came back downstairs she saw Spike had taken his duster and shirt off, and was leaning against the back of the couch with his eyes closed. She stood in front of the vampire, observing the slight purpling around his ribs.

“Damned headstone was hard,” Spike muttered, keeping his eyes closed. Buffy laughed softly, then began dabbing at the cuts on his face and arms with antiseptic.

“What did Willie want to tell you?” she asked as she worked. She knew that she was doing more than she needed to. The cuts were already healing, and so were his bruised ribs, but she wasn’t ready to move quite yet.

“You really don’t want to know, pet,” Spike answered, looking down into her face. She scowled at him, then stood up.

“It’s late,” Buffy stated as she picked up the first aid kit. “You can stay in the basement for today if you want.”

“Going to bed?” Spike asked.

Buffy shrugged. “I’m not really tired. I might stay up a little longer.”

“Why don’t you pick a movie for us to watch then?” Spike suggested.

“You pick,” Buffy said. “I’m going to go get changed.”

Spike kicked off his combat boots and socks, then prowled through the Slayer’s movie collection. Finally he smiled as he came across the perfect one and put it in the VCR.

“ ‘Shanghai Noon’?” Buffy asked, as she came back downstairs. “You got the song stuck in my head,” Spike explained. She curled up on the opposite end of the couch, and Spike couldn’t help but notice how adorable she looked in her loose cotton pants and tank top. Her hair was piled on top of her head, leaving her shoulders and neck exposed. He forced himself to drag his attention to the movie playing on the TV, and soon they were both laughing at Jackie Chan’s antics. Buffy admired the small man’s fighting ability, while Spike roared with laughter at his inability to fit into his surroundings. Too soon, though, the movie was over. Spike stopped it, and returned to the couch.

“Spike, why didn’t I come after you? After the thing with Riley and the doctor, I mean,” she explained needlessly.

“Couldn’t tell you, pet,” he answered.

“And why haven’t you ever killed me?” she asked.

“Complaining?”

“Be serious, Spike. Why hasn’t one of us killed the other? You’ve killed two slayers. What makes me so different?”

“And you’ve killed hundreds more vampires, including the Master. What makes me so different?” Spike countered.

“I don’t know,” Buffy whispered, shaking her head. They sat there in silence, until Spike realized what time it was.

“The sun’s about to come up Slayer. I’m going downstairs.” Spike stood and picked up his discarded clothes, then stopped in front of Buffy. He reached down and cupped her cheek in his hand, pulling her eyes to his. “Want to know what I really think?” he asked.

Buffy nodded, and tried not to nuzzle her face into the palm of his cool hand.

“I think it’s because neither one of us can stand the thought of this world without the other in it. It’d be too bloody boring.” With that Spike leaned down and kissed Buffy’s forehead. Unfortunately, just then Riley opened the door.

“Riley! What’s wrong?” Buffy asked, jumping away from Spike. The blonde vampire just turned and looked at the boy expectantly.

“What the hell is going on here?” Riley demanded.

“Nothing! Spike was just going to spend the day in the basement. Why are you here?” Buffy glanced at Spike, who was currently *not* moving towards the basement.

“I thought I was welcome here,” Riley said, glaring at the two people in front of him.

“Of course you are, but you don’t usually get here for another hour or so. It’s early, even for breakfast. So what’s wrong?” Buffy asked again, trying to be reasonable.

“I came to talk to you. I need to tell you something.” Riley glared at the vampire, but Spike wasn’t moving. “Maybe I should open a few curtains and we could get some privacy.”

“Oh, don’t mind me mate. I like listening to secrets,” Spike leered at him.

“Riley, ignore him. He could probably hear us from the basement anyway. What did you want to talk about?”

“I’m leaving,” Riley said suddenly. He watched Buffy, judging her reaction.

“You’re what?” she asked, shocked.

“Leaving. Graham called me, and they’ve offered to let me back into the Initiative. I’ve been at a loss here for a long time now, and I think that I need to do this,” Riley answered, softening. He walked to Buffy and held out his hand, which she took absently.

“Ok,” she finally answered.

“That’s all?” Riley asked.

“What did you expect? For me to beg you to stay? I don’t beg. And if you need to do this, then you need to do it.” Buffy winced at the hardness of her words, but she was angry, and she wasn’t about to take them back. Riley jerked his hand away from her again, and glared at her.

“I bet you begged Angel,” he snarled. Before Buffy could react, Spike did. The blonde vampire shoved Riley onto the floor, ignoring the pain in his head.

“That was uncalled for, mate,” Spike growled.

“Back off Spike,” Buffy said coolly. When the vampire looked up he saw the ice in her eyes, and wondered if he had pushed his luck too far. Then she turned to Riley, and Spike sighed in relief. “And for your information,” she said, glaring at the boy at her feet, “no, I didn’t beg Angel. I *don’t* beg. Anyone.” At that, Buffy whirled and disappeared upstairs. Spike sent one last glare Riley’s way, then turned towards the kitchen.

“I think you know your way out,” he said without looking back. When he heard the click of the front door, Spike went downstairs, and stretched out on the cot he found there. He still hadn’t told Buffy about Riley’s nightly outings to Willie’s, and he didn’t know if he should or not. If Captain Cardboard was leaving anyway, then maybe he wouldn’t have to. He lay there, considering his options, until he heard noises coming from the kitchen. Suddenly the basement door opened, and the Slayer walked down the stairs with her arms full.

“Here Spike. I didn’t think about a pillow or blanket for you earlier. Just don’t mess them up, ok? They’re all I’ve got,” she said as she set them down at his feet.

“Sure thing, luv. Are you alright?”

“Do you really care?”

Spike shrugged, unwilling to show her that her words had hurt him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That wasn’t very fair of me. Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ll be sure and tell Mom and Dawn not to disturb you,” she said as she climbed back up the stairs. After she left Spike picked up her pillow and comforter. Soon he was asleep with his face buried into the smell of his Slayer’s pillow.

“Buffy, are you ok?” Willow looked worriedly into her best friend’s face. “You’ve been quiet all day.”

“We’re in class, Will. I’m supposed to be quiet.”

“That’s why I’m worried,” the red head muttered. Buffy smiled a little at her friend, then sighed.

“Riley’s leaving,” she whispered, not wanting to attract the professor’s attention.

“What?” Willow’s voice was as close to a shriek as you could get while whispering.

“Going back to the Initiative. He said some really nasty things, but,” Buffy trailed off.

“But what? No wonder you’re upset today!”

“No, Will, you don’t understand. I’m not upset that he’s leaving. That’s what’s upsetting me.”

“Huh?” Willow was completely confused now.

“Later,” Buffy whispered as the professor glared at the two girls.

Tara joined them after class, and the three girls walked to a close café for lunch. Willow was biting her lip, trying to keep from pushing Buffy for more information. The little restaurant wasn’t very crowded, and pop music was issuing from the speakers. Buffy laughed as she listened to the No Doubt song that was playing.

“Are you ok?” Willow asked, looking askance at Buffy.

“It’s a good question, Will. Why do the good girls always want the bad boys?” the blonde asked, repeating Gwen Stefani’s lyrical question.

“Um, Buffy, what are you talking about?”

Buffy sighed, and shook her head. “You’d wig if I told you.”

“No way,” Willow insisted. Tara watched the two carefully, not wanting to interrupt.

“Completely wiggy. I’m wiggy, and it’s me we’re talking about.”

“We are? I don’t know what we’re talking about,” Willow frowned.

“Ok, I’ll explain. But remember, I warned you,” Buffy shook her finger at her friend. “Riley’s leaving. The Initiative offered him a place, and he wants to take it.” Buffy held up her hand when her friend tried to offer her sympathy. “It’s no big, really. We’ve been distant for the last couple of weeks anyway. The wiggy part is,” Buffy took a deep breath, “Spike.”

“Spike?” Willow did shriek this time. Tara’s mouth fell open as she gaped at the petite blonde sitting across from her. “What about Spike?” she asked, timidly.

“He helped me train last night. Then he helped me patrol. While we were patrolling, Riley showed up drunk and hit Spike. I took Spike home and cleaned him up, then we stayed up all night watching a movie and talking. He was nice,” Buffy whined. “He’s not supposed to be nice! It’s confusing me. Made me all philosophical, or something. I asked him why neither one of us has ever been able to kill the other.” Buffy was staring at her hands and chewing on her bottom lip.

“Well, what did he say?” Willow questioned.

“He said that neither one of us really wants to kill the other. ‘Cause life would be too boring without the other around. And I think he’s right. I don’t want to kill him. Not even when he almost got Riley killed. I can’t remember the last time that I really wanted to kill him. Certainly not when he had the Gem of Amara. I was so surprised to see him in the sunlight that I didn’t know what to do at first. If he hadn’t have pissed me off, I would have just sat there and watched him in the sun.”

“Wow,” Willow said.

“Yeah,” Buffy agreed.

“So, if you don’t want to kill him, what do you want?” Tara asked. Buffy looked across at the girl, and smiled in a self-deprecating kind of way.

“Good question. Damned if I know the answer,” she sighed. But she was afraid she did know the answer. God, how could she want Spike, of all things? He was a vampire! Of the soulless variety, no less. *Yeah, but Spike without his soul has been there for you when Angel with a soul wasn’t.* She shook her head at her thoughts. It didn’t make sense, and she didn’t know how to handle it. Demons weren’t supposed to have feelings, and they weren’t supposed to be nice. Or sexy. Or have those damned blue eyes. Buffy slumped into her seat, and let her head hit the table.

When Buffy came home, Spike was sitting in the kitchen with Joyce. They were talking about the art gallery, and Joyce’s eagerness to get back to it. Buffy grinned when she heard them.

“Mom, you can’t go back to work yet. It’s too soon.”

“I know that, sweetheart. But I feel fine. The doctor said I could go back in a week,” Joyce smiled at her daughter.

Buffy tossed a paper bag at Spike, and smiled. “Brought you a present,” she said.

“A present? What for?” he asked. Buffy just shrugged, and smiled. Spike automatically smiled back at her, and opened the bag.

“Not much, I know, but your shirt got ripped at the cemetery last night,” she said as he pulled out the red silk shirt. He grinned widely, then jumped up and hugged her.

“Thanks pet!” he said.

Buffy just shrugged, and silently reprimanded her thoughts for going places that they shouldn’t have when he wrapped his arms around her. “You were being so nice last night that I couldn’t help myself.”

“If it gets me presents, I’ll be nice more often,” he smiled.

“Just wait till this gets around,” Buffy teased. “The Big Bad being nice!” Spike scowled at her, then grinned again. He seemed to have lost his ability to stay angry with her for long.

Buffy left Spike with her mother and went upstairs with her books. *Get a grip!* she told herself sternly. *Even if he wasn’t Spike, which he is, he’s still in love with Drusilla. And sleeping with Harmony. Not Buffy material!* She sighed, then went back downstairs. Dawn was home, and doing her homework in front of the television in the living room. Buffy stood silently in the doorway, watching the small girl. A frown appeared on her face, and she ran a hand over her eyes. Thinking about Dawn led to thinking about Glory. Buffy didn’t know how she was going to protect the girl from the blonde monster, but she knew she’d die trying if she had to. As angry as she had been when she found out the truth about her “sister”, she knew that the girl was completely innocent in it. She didn’t deserve any of this, and she certainly didn’t deserve Glory.

Spike stood still, watching the Slayer as she watcher her sister. He knew something was wrong there, but he couldn’t figure out what. “Slayer,” he whispered.

Buffy turned and looked at Spike, who was studying her carefully. “What Spike?”

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so worried?” Spike didn’t know what was so bad that it could spook Buffy that way, but it couldn’t be good. Nothing scared his Slayer, except for the well being of the people she loved.

“Nothing,” Buffy said, too quickly.

“You’re lying,” Spike answered.

“I am. But I don’t know if I should tell you or not, Spike. It could put you in danger, not to mention the whole rest of the world.”

“You don’t trust me,” he said. Buffy saw the hurt in his eyes, and she walked up to him.

“Strangely enough, I do,” she answered, cupping his face in her hand. “But I’m not the only one involved here.”

Spike’s brain shut down at her words. She trusted him. The thought repeated itself over and over, and before he knew it, his lips were brushing against hers. Buffy’s hand moved from his cheek to his hair, and her other hand moved to his arm. She stroked his muscled forearm lightly, then backed away.

“I don’t know what’s happening here Spike,” she said.

“You trust me,” he whispered. The wonder in his eyes made her smile, and she raised up to her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips.

“I trust you. And I’ll tell you everything as soon as I can,” she said. Spike made no move to hold her, knowing instinctively that she’d run if he did. She backed away from him, and leaned against a wall to watch him.

“I have to tell you something,” he said, looking at the floor. “I don’t really want to, because you’re going to think that I’m trying to hurt you.”

“What?” she asked.

“Willie wanted me to tell you about something that’s been going on at the bar for a while now.”

“Demons? Vampires? Why would any of this make me upset at you?” Buffy questioned.

“It’s Riley. He’s been going there every night and getting drunk,” he said quickly.

“Well, that’s not that much of a shock, given that he was drunk last night,” she said, frowning.

“That’s not all, luv. He’s been providing a snack for some of the local patrons.”

“Huh?” Buffy looked at him, confused.

“He’s been letting some of the female vamps there feed off him.”

“Why?” Buffy whispered. “Why would he do that? What did I do to him?”

“Slayer, you didn’t do anything. Your life was going in lots of different directions, and he felt left out. So he did this to himself. You didn’t do anything,” Spike insisted.

“I must have hurt him, though. I didn’t mean to hurt him,” she said, as a tear started rolling down her face.

“Oh don’t cry,” Spike moaned. “I hate it when you cry. And the wanker’s not worth it. He knew who you were a long time ago. If he couldn’t handle it, then he should have left then.” Spike wrapped her in his arms again as the tears continued to build in her eyes. Buffy didn’t say anything, but Spike sensed a sadness in her that hadn’t been there before. He didn’t understand, but didn’t know how to ask her about it. The sudden pounding on the front door tore the two apart, though.

“Willie,” Buffy said suspiciously when she opened the door. The sun had gone down, and Spike joined her at the door.

“Good, your both here. Bad news is in town,” the bartender gasped, out of breath.

“Since when did you make deliveries?” Buffy asked him.

“Your boy-toy is over his head, Slayer. He’s flirting with death, and I can’t stop it.”

“What are you talking about, mate?” Spike growled.

“Drusilla’s back, boys and girls. And she’s got Riley.” Willie paled as Buffy’s hands clenched into fists and Spike growled. “Riley didn’t know who she was,” he said.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Buffy demanded.

“With her standing right there?” Willie asked. “No way. My hide’s on the line as it is, just being here. So I’m telling you, and now I’m leaving. See ya,” he said, quickly disappearing into the night.

Buffy turned to look at Spike, worried about him. His cold eyes met hers, and he smiled. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry pet. Let’s go stop her.”

“Spike,” she said, stopping him. “What are you going to do?”

“Not me,” Spike said. “We are going to stop her, and save the idiot Commando-boy.”

“Why?” Her eyes pleaded with him, needing the truth.

“Because,” Spike sighed, closing his eyes. “Somehow in the insanity that is my unlife, I’ve fallen in love with you. If she hurts him, she’ll hurt you. I won’t let her hurt you.” He didn’t open his eyes until he felt Buffy’s fingers brush his lips.

“We’ll talk about this later,” she promised. “But for now, I trust you.” Spike pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips, then turned and walked out the door. Buffy followed him, with her fingers pressed to her lips. They quickly arrived at Willie’s bar, and found Drusilla with Riley in the back alley.

“You didn’t quite leave soon enough,” Buffy said to Riley. “Somebody should have told you that this wasn’t the best of places to pick up women. But you did get the craziest ho I’ve ever met.”

Drusilla hissed at the Slayer, already in her game face. Suddenly Spike stepped out of the shadows, and Dru smiled.

“My Spike,” she purred. She stepped closer to him, dragging Riley with her. Suddenly she growled, and turned to glare at Buffy. “He stinks of you. I see you everywhere around him. What have you done?”

“What’s wrong, Dru? You left him, after all. Didn’t think that he’d move on?” Buffy asked flippantly, keeping her eyes on the crazed vampire and Riley. She smiled seductively. “After all, he is a hottie.” Drusilla dropped Riley in her rage, which was what Buffy had been counting on. She grabbed the dazed boy and flung him the other side of the alley, away from Drusilla.

Suddenly two more vampires appeared beside Drusilla, growling and grabbing for the Slayer. Immediately, Buffy and Spike crouched defensively. Willie had snuck out long enough to pull Riley into the safety of the barroom. Buffy struck first, sending a flying kick at one of the minion’s head. The alley was too small, and Buffy had a hard time maneuvering around the three vampires and Spike. Before she knew what was happening, she saw Spike slammed into a wall and ran to pull the minion off the blonde vampire. As she did, Drusilla grabbed her from behind. Spike turned and staked the vamp that had thrown him into the wall, but stood still when he saw Buffy in Dru’s hands. Dru’s other minion came rushing at him, but Spike caught him easily and snapped his neck. He shoved the stake through the minion’s heart almost as an afterthought, the looked warily at Drusilla.

“I remember what the other Slayer tasted like,” the dark haired vampire purred. “You killed her and shared her with me. Now I can kill this one, and share her with you.”

“I don’t share anymore,” Spike growled. “Let her go, Dru.”

“No, Spike. She took my Angel, and even caused Grandmother to die. I won’t let her take you from me too.”

“It’s too late for that, kitten. I’m already hers,” Spike answered simply. Just then Riley busted back through the alley door, distracting Drusilla. Spike used the opportunity, and spun Buffy out of her grasp before shoving the stake through his ex-lover’s heart. He watched as his Princess turned to dust, the dropped the stake in his hand. Riley stood watching the scene, confusion on his face. Buffy walked forward until she stood mere centimeters in front of Spike. Silently, she wrapped her arms around him and held him.

“Buffy, what are you doing?” Riley asked, still dazed.

“You wouldn’t understand, Riley. You’ve never had to kill someone you loved,” she answered. “Just go. Go to the Initiative, and find your place in life again. There’s no place for you here.” Spike still hadn’t responded, and was just standing there with his arms hanging loosely at his sides. Finally he wrenched himself away, and disappeared into the darkness. Riley gaped at Buffy, but didn’t say anything. Then he too walked away, and Buffy was left standing alone in the alley, with the piles of dust at her feet. Into the night she whispered, “I still trust you. I’ll be waiting for you.” Then, slowly, she turned and walked away.