A/N> Okay, okay, I know the eggs were hatching much earlier but I'm using my artistic license...

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“Tell me you love me.”

“I love you. You know I do.”

“Tell me you want me.”

“I always want you. In point of fact-”

“Shut up,” she spoke softly, dragging him close, spinning to sit on the sarcophagus and drawing him with her. He was watching her warily as she struggled with the buttons of his shirt, needing to feel him.

Finally, he lowered his mouth to hers and she closed her eyes, kissing him back hungrily, drawing him close to her, her whole body singing with his soft, hesitant touch. He was so gentle, so tender- she didn’t deserve this. She could do nothing but keep kissing him, needing the constant reassurance of his caress. He managed to remove the borrowed gear and threw it to the floor, blue eyes locked on hers as he ran his hands over gently.

She kept her eyes on his as he finally slid inside her, watching the expressions play across his face. He moved against her slowly as she held him tightly, wrapping her arm around him as she gripped the lapel of his jacket. He kissed her again, long, sensuous kisses that affected her almost as much as his body’s movements against her. When he wasn’t kissing her, she buried her head against him, eyes closed as she clung to him. He hooked his arm under one leg and she gasped, hands twisting in his shirt.

She met his eyes again and was unable to look away, held in his bright gaze as he moved. Suddenly, her body exploded and she gasped, her body convulsing as he thrust against her sharply.

“God, I love you,” he whispered as he collapsed against her, holding his weight off of her. She screwed her eyes up tightly, trying to fight back the wave of emotion that hit her with his words as she held him tightly. It was too much though and she buried her head against his neck, trembling as she desperately tried to hold back the tears.

“Buffy?”

He tried to pull away, to look at her, but she hid her face against him, a sob breaking from her.

“Buffy, love, what is it?”

She shook her head, clinging to him like a lifeline as he carefully shifted her so they were both on their sides, delicately balanced on the sarcophagus. He wrapped both arms around her then, holding her tightly against his chest as she sobbed, all the while trying to calm herself- but helplessly. She could only cry harder as he held her so gently, his hand stroking tenderly over her hair.



She didn’t know how or when she fell asleep, but when she woke, she was still wrapped up in his arms. At some point, he had removed his clothes and she felt his cool skin against her now. A part of her was desperate to break free from his embrace, to leave him as she always did- but she simply didn’t have the energy. She was so tired of fighting- him and herself.

She didn’t realise he was awake until his hand touched her hair.

“Buffy?”

She started and her eyes flew up, meeting his worried gaze.

“Are you okay? You had me worried there.”

“I need to…I have to go.”

He said nothing- too used to her leaving him like this- and released her without a struggle as she rolled to her feet and went about finding her few discarded clothes. As she shrugged on her jacket, she turned to him- and her heart almost broke at the pain in his expression, which he quickly suppressed. He sat up, keeping his face turned away from her as he fastened his jeans.

She went to him though, touching her hand to his cheek and drawing his gaze to hers. Not knowing what to say to explain her behaviour, she leant forward and kissed him softly, her fingers dropping to rest against his neck. She pulled back though, meeting his confused gaze.

“I… I don’t know when I’ll be back,” she murmured, her gaze dropping to his knees.

“Buffy, what’s going on?” he asked in confusion, one hand reaching out for her and hesitating before falling back to his side.

“I don’t know,” she whispered, still unable to meet his eyes.



“This about Soldier Boy?” he asked and her head snapped up to meet his carefully plain expression.

“No… well, kind of.”

“I see,” he answered shortly, pushing himself to his feet and grabbing his discarded T-shirt. He pulled the garment on roughly and turned away from her, searching through the pockets of his jacket.

“I don’t think you do,” she whispered- but it was loud enough for him to hear and he paused, turning to her with a questioning look.

“Something… something changed tonight…and I know you felt it. And I… I need some space to figure out what… what’s going on.”

He moved towards her, studying her with knowing eyes.

“You’re not making any sense, love.”

“We both know it was different. Different from anything we’ve ever…and I-“

“You’re scared,” he finished, blue eyes boring into her, “It wasn’t violent and painful and that scares you. Feeling anything but hatred for me scares you.”

“I didn’t-“

He caught her by the arms then, shaking her slightly as he spoke.

“What’s so wrong about feeling something for me?” he ground out, obviously struggling to restrain his emotions, “I love you.”

His voice was full of such pain, such emotion that it stilled her and she looked up at him with a watery gaze.

“I know,” she whispered.



He shook his head then, pushing her away and turning his back on her.

“Just go have your space already, Buffy. You know where I am when you come back for the next round.”

He was walking away from her but something in her prompted her to call out to him.

“Spike.”

He paused and she saw him give a sigh, turning back to her with a carefully-veiled expression.

“What?” he bit out.

She bit her lip, not knowing what to say but knowing she needed to say something.

“I… I’m sorry.”

“Oh, bugger off!” he got out exasperatedly, turning away from her again and heading for the ladder to the lower level. She moved after him, grabbing his arm before he could descend. He looked up at her with a mixture of anger and surprise.

“What do you want, Slayer?” he asked tiredly, “Time you got going. Soldier Boy’s probably looking for you anyway.”

He shook her off and moved down the ladder.

“I’m scared,” she blurted out, hearing him pause on the steps and a few seconds later, he re-emerged, watching her intently.

“Scared of what?” he asked softly.

Turning from him now, unable to bear that too bright gaze, she paced away from him. She bit her lip nervously, trying to summon up the courage to continue.

“I didn’t think I could ever… feel like this again. And it scares me so much I don’t know what to do. And the only person I can talk to…”

She trailed off, glancing back at him with wide, scared eyes.

“Buffy,” he started, ready to come to her, but she held out a hand, halting him.

“That’s why I need you to give me some space,” she whispered, “I need to… to figure this out. I…I don’t want to hurt you.”



The door burst open only seconds later and they both jumped, turning to find Riley in the doorway.

“Riley!”

He looked between the two of them and then focussed his gaze on Spike, somewhat more menacing for the scar over his left eyebrow. He cocked the gun in his hand and frowned.

“Let’s make this quick, Spike. Where are the eggs?”

She frowned and turned to the vampire as well.

“What eggs?” he asked.

“I’m not playing. Every lead I’ve got comes back to you, Spike. Or should I call you the Doctor?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She frowned and turned her attention back to Riley.

“Look, Riley… I know it seems like something Spike might have done in the past… but it can’t be him.”

Riley gave her a strange look, half surprise, half something else that she couldn’t identify.

“Do you know, for certain?”

She glanced at Spike out of the corner of her eye and then looked to Riley again.

“Well, no, but… it just can’t be him.”

“See?” Spike piped up, “Listen to the Slayer. She knows what she’s talking about.”

Riley gave her another strange look and then tilted his chin, squaring up to the vampire.

“I don’t know what’s going on here… but if you’re innocent, you won’t mind me searching your place.”

“Err, yeah, actually I would,” Spike retorted, stepping forward, but Riley was already moving into the crypt, eyes scanning the darkness.

She felt like she should step in and stop this farce, but it would probably be easier if she just let Riley take his fill, see there was nothing there and leave.



Riley moved towards the hole to the lower floor now and Spike stepped in his path.

“Look, I got rights too. That’s private.”

“Get out of my way,” Riley spat out, elbowing Spike out of the way and moving down the ladder. Spike threw a look in her direction and she smiled slightly, before he turned and followed Riley. She decided to join them and skipped down the ladder. She rounded the corner, moving towards where the two men stood, idly noticing just how different they were.

When she reached them though and saw what Riley was looking at, she froze, wide eyes flying to Spike. He had the eggs. He caught her look and she saw a flush of shame before he dipped his eyes.

“We need to destroy them. They haven’t been kept frozen so they’re going to start hatching soon.”

She could barely take in what Riley was saying, her eyes fixed on Spike. How could he?

“Buffy.”

Riley grabbed her arm, jolting her back to the present and she turned her head to him.

“We need to get out of here. We’re going to have to blow the whole place.”

She saw Spike’s head shoot up at that and he went to protest but when he met her gaze, he stopped. She quickly looked away, nodding to Riley. He released her but began to beckon her towards the exit, glaring at Spike, who was silently following them. As soon as they were in the upper area, he threw the belt of grenades from his waist into the lower level and warned them to get down.



She crouched down behind the sarcophagus next to Spike, arms and legs touching but unable to meet his gaze as there was a loud boom and the crypt shook with the impact. She rose shakily to her feet and turned to Riley.

“So, no more problem, huh?”

His gaze was on Spike though as the vampire stood.

“I’m supposed to get rid of the Doctor,” he spoke up, gun still in hand and half-cocked in a vague threat. She sent a worried look between the two men and then took a careful step between them. Riley’s eyes widened and moved to her.

“Buffy?”

“I can’t let you do that.”

He was silent for a long moment, staring at her, but then he seemed to snap out of it.

“What?!”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Why?”

“I just can’t.”

“What’s going on here, Buffy?” he asked, eyes flicking to the vampire behind her and back to her again.

“It’s not really any of your business, Riley. Not anymore.”

He gave her another strange look and then nodded slowly, as if he couldn’t quite comprehend.

“I should get to Sam and let her know what’s happened.”

She nodded and with another look between her and Spike, Riley turned and left the crypt.



There was a long pause and then Spike spoke up.

“Buffy-“

“Don’t,” she bit out angrily, turning to him.
His mouth shut again, blue eyes watching her in confusion.

“You lied to me,” she whispered.

“Technically I didn’t lie ‘coz you never asked, but-“

“God, Spike!” she blurted out, “Were you even thinking when you took on those eggs?”

“Probably not,” he muttered and she turned away, crossing her arms. After what she had been feeling and what she had told him just before, she was feeling all sorts of confused.

“Buffy, love-“

He had taken a step towards her, hand reaching for her but she turned before he could, meeting him with an angry gaze.

“Don’t.”

“Look, I was holding them for a friend and-“

“I don’t want your excuses.”

He fell silent then, those blue eyes boring into her. She shook her head and dropped her gaze from his.

“How could you do this?” she whispered, “I trusted you.”

“Buffy, please. I messed up.”

“You really did,” she answered, raising her eyes to his, expression serious, “Innocent people could have been killed, Spike.”

“I know. I just…”

He trailed off and she watched him for a long moment before forcing her gaze away.

“I have to go.”

She saw his head snap to her but she avoided his gaze.

“But you’ll be back, right?” he asked, his tone blended with the confidence he usually exuded but tinged with just enough vulnerability for her to notice. She forced her eyes to his and sighed.

“Probably.”

It was all she could give him right now and with a tired sigh, she turned from him and made her way out of the crypt.

THE END