Confrontation

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She walked into Giles’ house with her head held high, her hair pulled back and the mark on her neck free for everyone to see. She just didn’t care anymore- and her feeling of disinterestedness increased when she spotted Riley among the group. He rose to his feet at the sight of her and moved towards her with a smile, leaning down to kiss her. She evaded his kiss and he pulled back with a frown.

“Buffy?”

His eyes drifted to her neck and his expression softened.

“Buffy, are you okay?”

“I’m just fine,” she answered sharply, avoiding his touch as he reached out for her.
She moved round him and headed for her friends, hoping he would not provoke her into something she was hoping to do without an audience.

“Buffy,” he called and she turned back to him, her expression carefully blank, “What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“You got bitten.”

“Yes,” she replied simply, refusing to explain.

His eyes narrowed, flicking to her neck and back to her eyes again, and he frowned.

“Funny how you’re not fussed about it.”

She glared at him, unable to hold back her anger anymore.

“You’d know how it feels, I guess.”



The room was completely silent as they stared at each other and she could feel more than one concerned gaze on them. So much for doing this without an audience.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Riley answered uncertainly, unable to hold her gaze.

“Roll up your sleeves.”

“Buffy-“ he started softly.

“Roll up your sleeves,” she repeated in a hard tone, “Or I’ll do it for you.”

He took a step towards her then and lowered his voice.

“Look, let’s go somewhere else and talk,” he murmured, taking her arm.

She shrugged him off and stepped backwards, glaring at him.

“I don’t want to go somewhere and talk. I want to see the bites you got from those whores.”

There was more than one audible gasp from behind her but she could not stop and she stepped forward, taking his arm and ripping the bottom of his sleeve to reveal two barely-healed bites. With a look of disgust, she stumbled backwards, her stomach churning with the confirmation of what she already knew.

“Buffy, I can explain-“

“I don’t want to hear any explanations, Riley. I can’t believe I... You have no idea what I gave up for you!” she bit out, trying hard to rein in her emotions, “And now, when my mom’s ill and I’ve got enough to worry about, I find out that you’ve been sneaking around my back with...with vampire whores!”



There was silence after her outburst and she took several deep breaths trying to calm herself, her eyes trained on the floor.

“How did you find out, I wonder?” Riley asked bitingly and her gaze rose to his, taking in the anger in his expression.

“It doesn’t matter how I found out.”

“It does if he told you!” he ground out, “How do you know he’s not lying?!”

“Because I trust him.”

“I’ll kill him,” Riley burst out, already moving to the door, but she darted forward and caught his arm, slamming him into the wall and placing one hand on his chest.

“You go anywhere near him and you’ll regret it, Riley,” she murmured, her voice low with menace. His eyes widened with surprise and then narrowed with anger.

“I knew it. I knew you had a thing for him.”

She moved away from him, releasing him from her hold and turned her back to him.

“Just get out of here, Riley. I don’t want to see you ever again.”

There was a moment of silence before she heard movement and then the opening and closing of the door. She raised her head to meet the shocked gazes of her friends and promptly crumpled to the floor in tears.



“Buffy?”

She came back to herself at the sound of Willow’s soft voice but did not lift her head from what she now recognised as her friend’s shoulder.

“When did everything go so wrong?” she whispered, closing her eyes as tears threatened to overwhelm her again, “I never wanted it to be like this. I never asked for this.”

“Riley’s just...he’s stupid.”

She laughed at her friend’s childish insult and nodded weakly, brushing her wet cheeks.

“I tried. I tried to be what he wanted...tried to be normal. But I just...I can’t.”

“It’s okay,” Willow soothed.

She took a deep breath and lifted her head to find Xander, Anya and Giles watching her from a safe distance. She forced a shaky smile and with Willow’s help got to her feet.

“Well, Buffy-breakdown fun, hey?” she quipped, unable to meet any of their gazes.

“Buff, are you okay?” Xander asked hesitantly and she threw him a wry smile.

“I’m not really sure. But I...I need to go see my mom right now. And then I...” Then I want to go back to Spike.

“Buffy?” Willow prompted.

She looked at her friend and knew then that there would be no easy way of telling them her feelings for the vampire. And right now, she just did not want the added stress.

“Nothing. I’m gonna...I’m gonna go visit my mom.”

“Send her our regards,” Giles spoke up and she met his eyes, almost instinctively shying away from his gaze. She nodded jerkily and then moved towards the door, quickly leaving the room.



She sat by her mother’s bed in a daze, staring out of the window as her mother slept. Joyce had been tired but apart from that, she already seemed much better. Suddenly, a tap at the door drew her attention and she turned, her heart thumping as she met Spike’s gaze through the window. She rose to her feet as he entered and moved towards him, reaching out and touching his hand, desperate for contact. He caught her hand and, with a quick glance at the bed, raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it.

“How is she?” he whispered, lowering her hand but keeping his fingers twined around hers.

“Better,” she answered with a smile, “We’re both much better today.”

He smiled softly and she leant forward into his embrace, sighing as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“You spoke to Soldier Boy today.”

It wasn’t a question and she nodded.

“I felt it. How angry you were...and upset.”

“He knows, I’m sure he does. I’m afraid he’ll try to hurt you.”

“I’ll be fine, love,” he murmured, pulling back to meet her gaze, his blue eyes boring into her as he cupped her cheek.

“Spike!”

They jumped apart at the sound of her mother’s voice and she turned with a blush, avoiding her mother’s gaze as she moved back to her seat.



“How you feeling, Joyce?” Spike asked, moving to the other side of the bed.

Her mother glanced between her and Spike- too knowingly- and then with a smile, turned to face Spike.

“I’m feeling much better. Thank you.”

“S’good.”

Joyce nodded and he glanced at Buffy before clearing his throat and turning back to her mother.

“Just thought I’d pop by and see how you were doing. But I should let you rest.”

Buffy opened her mouth to protest but before she could, her mother spoke up.

“Oh, I’ve been sleeping all day. I’d be glad for some company. And I’m sure Buffy doesn’t mind.”

His eyes moved to hers and Buffy smiled softly, holding his gaze. She forced herself to turn back to her mother though and didn’t miss the suspicious look on her face.

“Um...how about some TV?” Buffy spoke up, hoping to distract her mother.

“If you want, honey.”

She stood and went to the television, pressing the buttons and groaning in frustration when nothing seemed to be working. She felt Spike at her side and glanced at him as his hand brushed against her back. He bent and plugged the television in at the wall and gave her a smile.

“I knew that,” she mumbled, blushing.

“Sure you did,” he answered, his eyes holding hers.

She quickly looked away before she could get lost in his eyes and moved back to her mother’s side, throwing him a wary smile as she settled back in her chair.