Words Unspoken

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Title – Words Unspoken
Author – Harmonie
Description – Response to Spike Lover’s challenge 8. Buffy doesn’t reject Spike, set during Crush.
Rating – PG.
Disclaimer – I’m a mere fan, who is borrowing the characters from Joss Whedon and co. I did ask if I could keep Spike, but they said no, and threw me out of their office.
Feedback – Would be just marvellous, thankyou.
Dedications – I dedicate this to Spike Lover, who keeps providing these brilliant challenges… :)
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”Just... Give me something... a crumb, the barest smidge... tell me someday, maybe, there's a chance...”
Buffy hung her head, avoiding his hopeful gaze.
The tension hung in the air, and Spike moved forward to urge her for an answer.
Buffy sighed and pushed her chin further into her chest.
Spike tried to bend his head to catch her eyes, but she moved so he couldn’t see her.
Pained, he untied Drusilla, and she attempted to attack Buffy.
Spike sent her flying across the room with one punch, and as she scrambled to her feet, he growled at her.

“Get out. Don’t come back, Dru. You’re not bloody well welcome”
The vampyress shot him a pitiful look, and backed out of the door.
“Poor William”
Spike watched her walk away, and turned back to Buffy, who still had her head hung. Unlocking the chains holding her, he spoke softly to her.
“I’m sorry, Buffy. You should go.”
Buffy rubbed her wrists, and avoided his gaze once more, and sat down on the floor, and put her head in her hands.
Her heaving shoulders told him she was crying, and Spike knelt down beside her.

“Buffy?”
He lifted her chin with his finger, and bit his lip when he saw her red eyes, and tearstained cheeks.
She looked directly at him, and started laughing bitterly.
“You really have no idea, do you?”
Spike removed his hand, and looked puzzled.
“No idea? What about?”
Buffy shook her head
“Don’t you see why I am such a bitch to you?”
Spike shrugged.
“I’ve tried to kid myself that I hated you. I don’t hate you. I love...” Buffy paused and shook her head “No. You just tied me up, and threatened to let Drusilla kill me. And I…I still don’t hate you.”
Buffy stood up and made her way out of the crypt as fast as she could.
Spike slumped back against the wall, and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Bloody Hell”

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Buffy had done her best to avoid Spike, and she’d done well. Her friends had noticed a huge change in her mood. She became withdrawn and the slightest thing made her cry or shout.
She’d taken to comfort patrolling, and her vampire count had risen dramatically.
All of her days were spent thinking of how she could have thrown her arms around Spike’s neck, and kissed him, and he would have responded, just like she’d wanted him to.
At night, she was haunted by not doing exactly that.

His hopeful face was embedded in her mind and heart, and it was killing her that she didn’t have the guts to do something about it. Over and over she replayed him telling her how he felt, and how her heart had skipped a beat, and how she had a million different responses, all ten times better than the one she ended up with. When she cried, she wished he’d been there, but realised, she had nothing to say.
Sighing as she recounted the hell she’d been living in since she last saw him, Buffy walked through the cemetery, slowly, but with a purpose.

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Spike was aware that Buffy had been avoiding him. And part of him wanted to get into his car, and drive away from Sunnydale. But another part of him was begging that they’d be together soon, and it was strong enough to make him stay.
He hadn’t been prepared for her almost admission of love. It had taken him by surprise, and he hated himself for not reacting differently. He spent his time thinking of how he could have kissed her, and she would have responded.

He’d watched her patrol a few times that week. Hiding in bushes, he watched her fight, and walk away. He’d watched her stop and cry, and wished he could pull her into his arms. But he realised, he had nothing to say.
Puffing on a cigarette, he walked through the cemetery, slowly but with a purpose.

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As Buffy rounded a turn in a path, she saw him approaching from the opposite direction. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she inhaled sharply, preparing herself.
She stopped and sat on a nearby bench, watching his approach, his icy blue eyes gazing at her.
He finally came to a stop, and sat down next to her.
They looked at each other, the electricity in the air stunning them both into silence.
Her eyes never moving from his, Buffy broke the silence. Taking his hand, she began to speak.
“Spike, I need to tell you…”

A vampire, moving towards them, interrupted Buffy, who looked relieved that she’d been interrupted.
She sighed and gave the young looking vampire a pitiful glance.
Spike regarded the young vampire, and smiled.
“New in town.”
Buffy cocked her head
“How can you tell?”
The vampire stopped and listened to their exchange.
Spike shrugged
“It’s come to feed, right?”
Buffy nodded
“Well, it’s come to feed on an innocent looking couple.” Spike pointed to Buffy “You” he placed his hand on his chest “and me”
Buffy nodded again, and the vampire looked on, confused.
“Right. But how does that make it new in town?”
Spike sighed
“If it had been around for a while, it’d know that we, pet, aren’t an ordinary couple”

Buffy smiled, and turned to the vampire, who looked puzzled
“You’re not?”
Buffy shook her head.
“No. ‘fraid not. You see, he” Buffy pointed at Spike “is a master vampire.”
Spike grinned
The vampire put his hands up, and backed away.
“Hey, sorry, man. I won’t cut in on your feed”
Buffy laughed
“I’m not his feed. I’m the Slayer.”
The vampire backed away more, and Spike was behind him in a flash, causing the vampire to bump into him.
“Hey man, what’s the deal?” the vampire looked at Spike who was grinning “You working with the Slayer?”
Spike nodded, and whispered in his ear.
“And guess what? I’m in love… But shhh, don’t tell anyone”
Spike twisted the vamp’s neck, and Buffy dusted it, and then grinned at Spike, who was looking at her expectantly.

“You were going to say something before we were interrupted.”
Buffy hesitated, as she thought of something other than what she had originally planned. She decided to tell him about the letter she received that morning.
“I, uh, I got a message… from Riley.”
Spike eyed her suspiciously.
“Oh. Saying what?”
Buffy sighed, sadly
“He’s coming back. They finished whatever they were doing, and he is back in the USA. He’s in Iowa now, but he’ll be here tomorrow.”
Spike nodded, surprised.
“And you are telling me, why?”
Buffy shifted
“Because of what’s happened. I thought you might like to know.”
Spike frowned
“No. Not really. I couldn’t be less interested”
Buffy looked into his eyes and saw that he was interested, and angry.
“I’ll, uh, see you around then. Just hope it all works out for you and Riley”
Spike walked away, and Buffy shouted after him
“I never said I wanted to work it out”

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Buffy heard a knock at her front door, and looked outside.
It was night, and she wasn’t expecting a visitor, so she ran to the door, hoping it was Spike. Talking excitedly, as she opened the door, she blurted out what she’d longed to tell him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I love you”
When the door was fully opened, she realised her sudden outburst had been directed not at Spike, but at Riley.

“Well, I came to see you and talk about stuff, but this is a pleasant surprise.”
Buffy forced a smile, and hugged him awkwardly.
“Uh, when did you get back?”
Riley put a bag down on the floor.
“Oh, just half an hour ago. I came straight here. I had to see you. We have things to talk about”
Buffy sat down on the sofa, and Riley hesitated between next to her on the sofa, or the chair opposite.
She made no attempt to offer him the seat next to her, so he sat on the chair opposite.
“I missed you”
Buffy looked up, and smiled sadly.

“Yeah, uh, how was wherever you went?”
Riley shrugged, deflated. She didn’t seem happy to see him.
“Okay, I guess. Nothing special. How about you? What’s happened with you?”
Buffy sighed
“Oh, normal stuff. Slaying. The usual. Nothing really fabulous.”
Riley smiled knowingly, and leaned forward
“You know, I, uh, saw Xander earlier. He told me you did try and catch me before I left.”
Buffy groaned quietly and bit her lip.

“I wondered if maybe you’d uh, like to go out for dinner, or something. I’m taking your welcome as a sign that you might want to”
Buffy shook her head
“No. I don’t want to go to dinner with you.”
Riley leaned back in his chair as if he’d just been slapped.
“No? Uh, oh-kay. How do I react to that?”
Buffy smiled apologetically.
“You don’t. I, uh, something good did happen to me, when you were gone.”
Riley gulped and mentally braced himself.
“What?”
Buffy sighed
“Spike happened”
Riley’s eyes widened
“And the good thing?”
Buffy bit her lip again
“That is the good thing. I love Spike. He doesn’t even know. But I do.”
Riley laughed awkwardly
“You had me going there for a second. This is like the time you said you were marrying him right? A joke?”

Buffy shook her head, and Riley stopped laughing
“Oh my god, Buffy. What’s wrong with you?”
Riley stood up, and put a hand to his mouth
“Are you out of your mind? That’s another vampire. And he doesn’t even have a soul. I mean, Angel was a vampire, but at least he had a soul. Spike’s a monster.”
Buffy stood up and glared at Riley
“No, Riley. You don’t understand. You couldn’t possibly. You haven’t seen what you leaving did to me. And do you know who cheered me up when I was upset?”
Riley scoffed
“You can’t tell me…”
Buffy nodded

“Yeah, Spike. He was there, but I treated him like crap, because I was so cut up about you.”
Riley threw his arms up
“Why are you treating him like anything? You’re the slayer. So why didn’t you slay?”
Buffy looked at Riley with venom
“Because every time I thought about him not being here, I cried. I’ve never felt that strongly before”
Riley staggered backwards, like her words were swords to his stomach.
“Way to dismiss a relationship, Buffy. You have just proved with one sentence, exactly why I left. You didn’t love me like I love you. You are so messed up. You need help. I pity Spike, because you’ll just break his unbeating heart too”
Buffy’s eyes widened and tears fell down her cheek.
“Go on, Buffy. Cry. You can give it, but not take it. Play the helpless little girl. But where’s Spike now, huh?”
Buffy sat down in a crouching position and put her arms over her head.
“Where is he, Buffy?”
“I’m right here, white bread.”

Riley spun to face the vampire standing in the doorway, and he pulled out a stake.
Slamming the door behind him, Spike glanced at Buffy on the floor, crying, and he looked back at Riley, eyes flashing angrily.
“What the hell are you doing here? Don’t you have a vampire to get a suck job from?”
Riley gripped the stake tight, so his knuckles went white.
“I came to see my girlfriend. What are you doing here?”
Spike shrugged and knelt next to Buffy
“Are you okay?” Buffy nodded and Spike turned his attention back to Riley
“I’m here to see Buffy. And ex girlfriend. You ended it when you left her.”
Riley gripped Spike’s t-shirt, and lifted him up. He pushed the stake against Spike’s chest, and Buffy looked up at him horrified, unable to speak.
“Go on, soldier. Do it. But when you do, I die knowing three things that make me very happy.”
“Three things? Come on then, fang face. Three things.”
Spike put his hand around the end of the stake and put a finger up on the free hand.
“One. I was right. You just aren’t dark enough for her.”
Riley flinched and pushed the stake a little harder against the vampire’s chest.
Spike put up a second finger
“Two. I AM dark enough for her”
Spike grinned and put a third finger up.
“Three. When you leave after not having the stones to stake me, I’ll be the one who’ll get to kiss her. Not you”

Riley looked down at Buffy, who was still horrified at the situation.
Spike cocked his head, and took his hand away from the stake, and spread his arms wide, daring the now trembling soldier to dust him.
“Come on, Riley. I’m so happy right now; I’m thinking it’d be a good time to die.”
Spike looked directly into Buffy’s eyes
“I love you, pet. Remember that when you dust bust me”
Tears formed at her eyes, and he realised he’d taken the joke too far.

“Riley… hurry it up. Here, I’ll give you a few choices.” Spike grabbed the stake again, and pulled it out of Riley’s hand, and snapped it.
He glanced at Buffy again, and he smiled at the look of relief on her face. She smiled back.
“You could step away, leave and never come back. Or maybe you could step away, try some smart talk, and whimper while I kick the crap out of you for making Buffy cry. Or, and I like this one, you could step away, try some smart talk, whimper while I kick the crap out of you for making Buffy cry, then I hurt you some more for putting me in a situation where I made Buffy cry, and then you can apologise to her, leave and never come back. What’s it going to be, soldier?”

Spike’s eyes flashed an angry yellow, and Riley picked his bag up, thoroughly humiliated. Spike held the door open for him, and Riley walked out into the night, not daring to look back.
Spike slammed the door, and was at Buffy’s side in seconds, holding her tightly.
“I’m sorry. You know me. I can’t resist ribbing that boy… I would’ve killed him. Coming through the door and seeing you crying.”
Buffy moved out of his arms, and looked at him
“I…need to be on my own”
Spike’s eyes widened in shock, and disappointment.
“Buffy?”
The Slayer hugged herself

“I can’t… It’s too difficult. I just have difficulty saying how I feel in front of you. I can tell someone else. I can even tell someone in front of you. Hell, I even managed to say it when I thought you were at the door. But just you and me, when you are right there, and I freak. I can even laugh with you, and act normally with you, but I just can’t get the words I want to say out”
Spike nodded
“Fine. I’m gone. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear everything you said”
Buffy shrugged
“I don’t know. I’m sorry I keep doing this. One day. I promise. I’ll tell you. I will”
Spike looked over his shoulder as he opened the door.
“I’ll see you later then. I guess.”
The door shutting made Buffy blink, and she sat back down in her crouching position, crying again.

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Buffy had stayed in college late, going over some notes with her history teacher.
She’d stayed long after he’d left, just thinking. She sat high at the top of the rows of chairs, staring down at everything below her.
Yawning, Buffy gathered her books together and upon reaching the door, she turned the handle and realised it was locked.
Her watch blinked 7:00 and she cursed herself.
She hadn’t heard anyone lock the door.
She also didn’t realise that she hadn’t been alone.
A hand lay on her shoulder and she jumped into fighting stance, and spun around.
Seeing Spike, she relaxed, and regarded him, suspiciously.

“How long have you been here?”
Spike smiled sheepishly
“I just came in to pick you up for patrolling.”
Buffy raised an eyebrow and smirked
“Yeah, right. The doors locked, Spike.”
He grinned, and hung his head
“So I’ve been here for about 20 minutes. You didn’t see me? I’ve just been standing here, looking at you”
Buffy put her bag down on the floor and sat on one of the lower level chairs.
“I didn’t see you. Sorry. I didn’t expect it at all. I thought you were angry with me.”
Spike waved his hand
“No, not really. No big.”
Buffy giggled
“You said No big. I’d expect at least No bloody big.”
Spike shook his head, and laughed, and Buffy banged on the door.
“Anyway, how do you propose we get out of here?”
Spike laughed again

“Uh, hello? Slayer strength and vampire. We rip the door open”
Buffy shook her head
“I don’t like the idea of the bill I’ll get for it. We’ll have to wait for someone to come by”
Spike sat on the chair next to her, and draped his arm over the back of her seat.
“I always wondered how dull sitting in these chairs, listening to some pillock talk crap, actually was. I mean it must be awful. What with the slideshows, and projectors. And notes. And writing, and reading. Thank god, I’m only getting to experience the sitting in chairs bit now.”

Buffy grinned wickedly
“I’m getting both parts of it. The chairs and the pillock talking crap”
Spike glared comically at her
“That’s not nice. I’m hurt.”
Buffy laughed.
“I was only joking.” She twiddled her fingers “Okay, bored now. Let’s find something to do.”
Spike smiled suggestively and Buffy rolled her eyes.
“Let’s train.”
Spike sighed
“In the dream I had, when we were alone in a locked room, you didn’t kick my arse. You sort of straddled…”
Buffy interrupted him, by clearing her throat
He pretended to zip his mouth, and chuckled when she turned away.
“Come on. Giles doesn’t put up enough of a fight. I need a challenge. That challenge is presented in a Spike shaped box.”

Spike hesitated
“I can’t fight back though. I’m chipped”
Buffy took up fighting stance
“Do you want to hurt me, Spike?”
The vampire scoffed
“No, of course not.”
“Then it won’t hurt you.”
Buffy punched Spike, and threw another punch, but he blocked it, and kicked her, sending her across the room.
She scrambled to her feet, and landed a perfect roundhouse, that hurled him into the locked door.

He groaned and looked up at her surprised face.
“I didn’t know how to block that, Slayer.”
Buffy shook her head
“I just learnt a new variation of the roundhouse kick. Maybe that’s why”
Spike got up and they exchanged blows.
“Where did you learn it?”
Buffy smiled sweetly, and landed a punch to his jaw
“From you”

Spike landed a similar punch and laughed
“Glad to see I have such an effect.”
Buffy flipped out of the way of another punch, and walked over to her bag.
“Wait a minute. I get out of breath. You don’t.”
Buffy pulled a bottle of mineral water from her bag, and sipped it.
Spike tackled her and they landed in a mass of limbs on the floor.
The bottle spun in the air, and spilled the water, drenching them both.
“Nice one, Spike”
The vampire put his elbow on the floor, and rested his head on his hand.
“I thought so”

He looked down at Buffy, and took his duster off, and then his red button down, and wiped away a few drops of water from Buffy’s face.
She stared up at him, and blinked. Grabbing him roughly by the back of his head, she pulled him to her, and kissed him passionately. Spike’s shocked tension turned to hungry response, and he growled deep in his throat.
Buffy moaned softly, as Spike pulled away to remove his shirt, and slide closer to her.

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After making love for the second time, Spike sat up, and pulled his jeans on.
Buffy crawled on the floor looking for her t-shirt, and she found it, a few feet away.
Spike watched her, walk barefoot over to the door, and try the lock again.
“Buffy, I doubt anyone opened it ‘just in case’”
Buffy looked down at her watch.
“Spike! We’ve been here for 3 hours! It’s midnight!”
Spike smirked
“Everyone’s long gone then.”
Buffy sat down in a chair, and exhaled.
“We’ll have to stay here then. God, whatever happened to ‘Let’s wait for someone to come by’?”

Spike stood up and sat down on the chair next to her, and Buffy put her head on his lap, and closed her eyes.
“I’ll keep watch, you get some sleep. That WAS one hell of a workout.”
Buffy slapped his knee, and Spike laughed, and put his head against the wall, settling into a comfortable position.
“Love you, Pet”
Buffy had fallen asleep, and Spike rolled his eyes
“Love you too Spike” he commented sarcastically.

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Buffy stirred and looked up at Spike, bleary eyed. He’d given in to sleep, and had slumped a little to the side, his arm hanging on the floor.
She looked down at her watch and yelped.
“My god! Spike. Get up.”
She shook him hard, and he jumped up
“Spike, classes began half an hour ago. There are students walking all over campus.”
Spike stood up and stretched his arms.
“Real funny, luv. Where are they then?”
Buffy shrugged
“Maybe nobody has a history lecture in this room now.”

Spike picked up his duster from the floor and put it on.
He walked to the door, and looked out of the window.
“You’re right. But there’s another problem.”
Buffy picked up her bag, and Spike’s red over shirt and slung it over her shoulder.
“What?”
“It’s daytime. How the bloody hell do you suggest I get home?”
Buffy laughed and patted his arm.
“We’ll find a way.”

Spike smiled and backed her against a wall, and began kissing her neck.
“Spike… Someone will come in”
Spike whispered, against her neck
“So? Let them come in.”
Buffy giggled as he pretended to bite her.
“Spike. Come on. Stop” Buffy muttered, as he kissed her on the lips.
He began nuzzling her neck again
“Really want me to stop, pet?”
Buffy frowned
“No, but Yes…”
Spike pulled his head back and grinned at her
“Seeing as you sound so convincing” he teased.
He pressed a final kiss to her lips, and the history professor walked in.

“What is going on here?”
Buffy jumped, and smiled weakly at the professor. Spike simply stood aside, and smirked at the teacher.
“I, uh, we were…”
“This is a history lecture hall, not a sex education class. Why are you in here, Miss Summers? This is a locked room. How did you get in?”
Spike grinned at Buffy, and back at the teacher.
“It’s my fault. On both counts.”
Buffy lowered her head. She knew that Spike wouldn’t be able to resist
“I came in to give her a hand, with her history work. Cos she stayed really late, doing her studies. She’s a good student. We got so involved in the studying and what all” Spike looked at Buffy and winked, then turned back to the teacher.
Buffy lifted her head up. He hadn’t embarrassed her.

“And we got locked in.”
The professor raised a suspicious eyebrow.
“Who might you be?”
Spike extended his hand
“I might be Spike. Buffy’s” Spike cleared his throat “friend”
The teacher took his hand and shook it.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, uh, Spike. But in future, I’d appreciate that this room were not used to satisfy your teenage hormones.”
Spike nodded, and took Buffy’s hand
“We’ll just be going then. Thanks.”

Spike led Buffy to the door, and turned around.
“Just so you know… I’m not a teenager. I’m much older than Buffy, but I was satisfied. I was satisfied twice, right where you’re standing.”
Spike grinned as the professor’s jaw dropped. Buffy slapped her hand to her head, and pulled Spike away from the door”
“Have a good day, mate”

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“Are you absolutely insane?”
Spike smirked and Buffy shook her head.
“I can’t believe you told my history professor that we had sex in his lecture hall. I have a history lecture this afternoon. I have to sit there, and my teacher knows what happened. You are nuts.”
Buffy pulled up a manhole cover, located in the college basement.
“But his face, Buffy. It was priceless.”
Buffy smiled as she recalled his mouth hanging open.
“Okay, it was funny.”
Spike smiled and climbed down a few rungs of the ladder, leading into the sewers.

“Considering we’ve consummated this strange arrangement of ours…any chance of making me happy and declaring your undying love for me before I go home?”
Buffy smirked, and looked at Spike, who’s face had become serious. She stopped smiling and frowned instead
“Spike…”
Spike laughed bitterly.
“I heard that ‘Spike’ before. I suppose I’m expecting too much. Because well, I kinda got the impression you might give it a go. I thought you were better than that, Buffy. I never saw you as the type to use people for a quick shag.”
He disappeared into the darkness of the sewer, and Buffy mentally kicked herself.
She went back up to the main part of the college, and back to her house, where she cried herself to sleep.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffy’s phone rang, and she jumped out of sleep to answer it.
Yawning, she answered
“Hello?”
The voice on the other end of the phone woke her up immediately.
“Buffy, it’s me.”
She nodded her head
“I know. How are you?”
The voice sounded angry
“Ummm, I got a visitor this afternoon.”
Buffy wrinkled her nose.
“A bad slayery type visitor?”

“No. But it’s got a lot to do with you.”
Buffy shook her head
“I don’t get it. Who’s the visitor? I don’t know what you mean”
Buffy heard a smash, and then Angel shouting.
“Angel? Are you there?”
Angel came back to the phone
“Listen to this, Buffy.”

Buffy figured he must have been holding the phone up to the room, because she could hear smashing clearer than before, and someone singing, out of key.
Buffy’s eyes widened, and Angel came back again
“Spike’s here. Arrived earlier. Caught him trying to burn himself in my office. Now very much drunk, and smashing my place up.”
Buffy sighed into the phone
“Is he okay?”
“Spike, just sit down! Yeah, he’s okay. Like I said drunk.”
Buffy breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good. Was he drunk when he got there?”
“No. He was sober. I gave him the bottle to stop him doing anything stupid.”
“Angel! That’s stupid. You did the stupid thing. I can’t believe you just handed him a bottle”
Angel shouted at Spike again, and came back to the phone
“Anyway, he told me everything before he got sloshed.”
Buffy rolled her eyes back into her head and flopped back onto the bed
“What exactly did he say?”
Angel took an unnecessary breath
“He said that he loved you, and I punched him”
Buffy groaned

“Punched him?”
“Uh huh. Then he said that you had, ummm, in a lecture hall?”
Buffy groaned again.
“Ummm… What else?”
“He also said that you wouldn’t tell him that you love him. And that’s why he’s here. To kill himself. I don’t see why he couldn’t do it back in Sunnydale.”
“Angel! Christ! He’s your family. And it’s not that I wouldn’t. It’s more like I couldn’t tell him. I was scared”
Angel sighed down the phone
“Okay, I really don’t want to hear this. I might have to punch him again.”

“No, don’t. Put him on the phone.”
Buffy heard the phone land on a hard surface, and Angel talking to Spike
“It’s Buffy.”
Buffy waited patiently, as she heard Spike tripping over furniture and swearing.

“Shlayer? Ish that you? Are you Shlayer?”
Buffy smiled when she heard his voice, and replied
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Oh Good, Shlayer. I luf you. You don’t luf me. I’m sad.”
Buffy closed her eyes
“I do love you. Don’t be sad. Just don’t drink anymore. Please?”
“Okay, Shlayer. I’ll smash the bottles. No more bottles. ‘kay?”
Buffy smiled as she heard several bottles smash, and Angel shout in the background
“Thankyou, Spike. Give the phone to Angel”
“Great big nancy giant poofter? Where are you? Pretty Shlayer wants to talk”
Buffy heard a thud as Spike fell over

“Buffy?”
“Angel, take the drink away from him. Can he stay there with you?”
Angel sighed
“I suppose so”
“Thankyou. He’ll be sober in the morning. Send him back here”
Angel sighed again
“Buffy, there was swearing. Lots of swearing. I don’t think he’ll listen. I’ll try, but I doubt a sober Spike wants to come back.”
“Hmm. Okay. I’ll phone you in the morning. Just try and keep him there, and don’t punch him.”
Angel sighed for the third time
“Buffy, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think you’d believe that he’s different. He’s changed so much.”
“But…Spike? That’s, It’s…I can’t understand it.”
“Angel. I’m not asking you to understand. I’m just asking you to not punch the man I love again.”
“If he hurts you…”
“Angel. He’s not hurting me. Goodbye.”
“Yeah. Bye. Sweet dreams”

Buffy clicked the phone off, and lay back.
She shivered in the cold, and pulled her quilt over herself.
She pulled the red shirt up around her face, and inhaled the smokey smell of the shirt Spike had left behind.
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Spike woke up on a sofa, surrounded by smashed bottles, and he sat up.
“Oh…bloody hell. My head”
Angel came into the room and thrust a mug of warm blood in Spike’s face
“Drink it.”
Spike took the mug, and narrowed his eyes at the older vampire
“How do I know that you’ve not put garlic in it or something?”
Angel sat down on the other end of the sofa
“Because. Buffy would kill me if I hurt you. So drink it”
Spike drank the warm red liquid in one gulp, and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his duster

“Oh. Buffy.”
Angel nodded at the phone.
“She, uh, she’s phoning soon.”
Spike groaned as he clutched his head
“I don’t care. Tell her to piss off”
Angel held back an almost overpowering desire to hurt the blonde vampire, and instead growled
“I had Buffy on the phone last night, and she was worrying about you, and she was telling me how much she loved you.”
Spike groaned again
“Well, she won’t bloody well tell me. So she can sod off”

“No Spike. You will speak to her, and listen to her. And then you will go back to Sunnydale, and you will love her, because if you don’t, I’ll rip your intestines out, and send them to Drusilla”
Spike opened his mouth to reply, but Angel’s angry face told him to shut up, and not speak.
The phone ringing cut the tension in the air, and Angel answered it
“Hello?”
“It’s me. Can you put him on?”
Angel held the phone out for Spike, who shook his head. Angel put the phone back to his ear
“Buffy, he won’t take the phone. I got to go, I have a vampire here with me, who needs his innards removed.”

“Angel! Do you have speakerphone?”
Angel looked around the base that charged the phone
“Uh, yeah.”
“Put it on.”
Angel pressed a button, and feedback made Buffy squeak into the phone.
“Spike.”
Spike looked up when he heard Buffy talking to him
“What is it, Buffy?”
“Spike, just pick the phone up and talk to me.”
Spike shook his head defiantly
“No. Bugger off”
“Spike! Pick the bloody phone up now!”

Angel smirked and Spike took the receiver from his hand, and pushed the talk button. The speakerphone cut off, amking the conversation private again, and Angel sat down, watching Spike.
“I’d rather not do this over the phone, Spike.”
“Yeah? Well, I’d rather do it this way.”
“Fine. I couldn’t tell you I loved you because every time I told someone else, it blew up. Angel lost his soul, Riley left. I don’t want you to go.”
“I can’t sit around waiting. Feeling sick with love for you, when you can’t even tell me.”
“I don’t want to lose you”
Spike glanced at Angel, who looked broody as usual.
“I don’t want to lose you either, baby. That’s why I’m not going anywhere.”
“You went somewhere, Spike. You’re in LA”
Spike laughed a little
“Needed some time, pet.”
“Time to kill yourself?”
Spike glared at Angel
“He told you that?”
“Yeah. But I’m ultra super glad you didn’t. Because I love you. It’s been hard. Being too afraid to tell you. But I do. I love you.”

Spike punched the air, and laughed.
“Love you too so much.” Spike turned to Angel “What do you think of that, you great big poof?”
Angel scowled at Spike and shook his head
Buffy laughed down the phone
“Don’t tease Angel, Spike.”
Spike’s smile faded
“Buffy, I have a sudden urge to kiss you, and you aren’t here for me to kiss. I, sure as hell, am not kissing Angel. Can you make it here in three minutes?”
Buffy laughed again. The doorbell rang, and Angel went to answer it.
“Highly doubt it.”
“Damn. Dammit all to hell.”
“I bet I could do it in less”
Spike dropped the phone on the floor and turned round when he realised she was in the room, holding a mobile phone.

“I got Xander to drive me here.”
Spike picked her up and swung her round, kissing her passionately, and so hard her lip bled.
Buffy put a hand to her mouth and looked up at Spike. Angel saw the blood on her hand, and stepped forward.
“Angel. It’s okay.” Buffy smiled up at an apologetic looking Spike “Ouch, but big wow.”
Spike grinned and kissed her again.
After a few minutes, Angel coughed, and the couple pulled apart. Spike looked annoyed
“Hey, if you don’t like it, go into another room”
Buffy smacked him lightly on the chest
“It’s his place, Spike. Besides, I kinda needed to breathe”
Spike scowled

“I don’t like that human characteristic of yours.”
Spike kissed her forehead, and strode over to Angel, who was sulking.
“Cheer up, mate. At least she’s with me, and not nancy boy commando.”
Angel smiled at this, and extended his hand
“Look after her, Spike.”
Spike nodded
“I am looking after her.”
Angel scowled at Spike, and pulled him into a hug.
“Good.”
This time, Buffy cleared her throat
“Come on Spike, let’s go. There’s a lecture hall, just waiting for us to get locked up in again.”

The End