CHAPTER EIGHT
 
She clicked off just as Spike caught her and grabbed her around the waist, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder.  He was on his way out of the room when her giggles and less-than-strenuous struggles stopped. She didn’t try to get loose, but she knew he felt her body tense up as she flashed back to the previous year.
 
“Bloody—I’m sorry, love.  I’m an idiot. Don’t know why you haven’t staked me yet. Forgive me?  Please?” As he spoke, he was setting her on the floor, his hands hovering over her shoulders as if afraid to touch her. She faced him, taking in his stricken expression and the genuine sorrow there, meeting his gaze and sharing his memories of the event that changed their lives. To Buffy’s shock, he dropped to his knees in front of her, arms around her legs and face pressed into her stomach.
 
“I’m so sorry, Buffy. I’m a fool and a wanker. Never meant to—”
 
She exhaled loudly and rested one hand on his head.  “It’s okay.  Really. We were having fun and it just.... Yeah, I had a moment... but I’m fine. I’d almost forgotten that we—”
 
“We