Spike felt the bed move slightly under his weight; he felt the warm body that as next to his sit up on the bed. He didn't open his eyes he just laid there, seemingly asleep. He felt a small hand lay on his chest lightly tracing the patterns. His six pack. This is how it was for him, his hands burning to touch the slayer but couldn't. The only affection he'd gotten from her was when she thought he was sleep. He felt her hand travel up his chest and over his arm where it grasped his hand. Holding it tightly almost in a death grip.

Buffy watched as he lay before her emotionless. The only mirror to his emotions was closed tight. Hiding his blue orbs from her. She reached out and ran her fingers threw his bleached locks with a look of confusion on her face. She looked around the crypt readying herself to bolt to get her clothes.

She swept her fingers over his cheekbones. She figured that it was okay to stay here if he was asleep and not knowing how much he affected her. Each tender stroke wouldn't be known in his mind. Just hers.

When she told Tara about them Tara asked one question that echoed in her mind over and over again. "Do you love him?" She gulped at the question and dodged it, as if the blond hadn't said anything at all. Moving onto the next topic easily. She said that it was okay to love him. Buffy didn't see how. Spike was evil, soulless. But he loved her. How was that possible? He loved Dawn like she was his own sister.

Spike bit his cheek to stop himself from doing anything as he felt her hand fall flat on his cheek. He willed himself to relax under her hot touch. But his body just wouldn't. He felt Buffy's hand move away from him and the bed readjusted tohis weight ones she got up. He opened his eyes to see her bending over and looking for her clothes. "Goin' so soon, pet?"

She didn't even bother to look at him as she pulled on her pants. "Why would I stay?"

"Right, play this now." He sighed sitting up. Leaning on his elbows as he watched with a sideways glance as she searched threw the room for her shirt. "T's on the lamp."

Buffy looked at him and then looked over at the lamp where her shirt was draped over it. She walked over to the lamp and pulled the shirt over her head.

In silence Spike watched her get up and walk to the rabbit hole. She jumped down and was gone. He sighed heavily and fell back on his pillow.

TBC ..

REVIEW