Spike couldn’t stand one minute more of the sexual moans from his sire and her daddy in the other room. He knew that it wasn’t a very bright thing to do but he took his wheelchair out for a spin. He headed to Restfield cemetery in search for some late night mourner he could eat. One of the wheels on the wheelchair got stuck in a puddle of mud in the cemetery. It had rained all day, an unusual event in Sunnydale.

“Bloody hell”, Spike mumbled as he tried to get loose.

“Need any help with that Spike?”

‘Oh, bugger’, Spike thought and looked up. It was the Slayer; she had her hands on her hips and the usual ‘mightier than thou’ attitude.

“I’ll be fine, now sod off”, Spike answered her question grumpily.

“Okay, your loss”, she said and turned to leave. What the hell was this? Did the bitch think he was so helpless that he couldn’t harm anyone and not worthy to be staked?

“Wait a minute”, Spike said and Buffy turned around. “You’re not going to stake me?”

“No”, Buffy said simply.

“Why?” Spike was very confused now.

“It wouldn’t be fair. And besides, it’s no fun if they don’t fight.” She winked at him, the bloody Slayer winked at him! And what was more incredible was that he liked it. Spike tilted his head, this was all wrong.

“So what are you doing here?” the Slayer asked like they were old friends and not old enemies.

“Just trying to find some mourner to eat”, Spike said and then cursed to himself. That was probably not the best thing to say around a Slayer when you were practically helpless and wanted to continue your unlife.

“You’re not going to find anyone”, Buffy said and shrugged. “This place is dead tonight, no pun intended.” Spike found himself smiling, she was just so adorable. No wait, what the hell was he thinking? He must be out of his bloody mind.

“I should roll home then”, he said.

“Or you could stay and keep me company.”

“What’s that?” Spike couldn’t believe what he just heard.

“Nothing”, Buffy said and blushed.

“I can stay I guess, I don’t have much to do. Where are your mates then?”

“Home in bed where they should be I guess.” Buffy sat down on a gravestone in front of him.

“But you’re destined to hang out in graveyards”, Spike said taking out a smoke from his pocket and lighting it.

“Isn’t it quite dangerous having a smoking habit when you’re pretty much allergic to fire?” Spike grinned.

“What can I say; I’m a dangerous man, pet.” Buffy rolled her eyes but smiled that little cute smile she had. Spike shook his head, now he knew that he was crazy. But it was kind of nice talking to her. Angelus only patronized him when he was talking to him and Drusilla was so out of her mind that you couldn’t have a decent conversation with her. Buffy talked to him like he was a normal person. A person. That struck a core deep inside of him, that place where William was hidden and buried.

“So no vampires then, love?” Spike asked to break the silence.

“No vampire except from you, not even a little demon”, Buffy said and pouted. “I think that The Judge thing has scared them away.”

“The rocket launcher was really clever.”

“Xander thought of it.” Spike raised an eyebrow.

“The whelp thought of something useful? I’m deeply shocked.” Buffy giggled but stopped herself quickly.

“Hey, he’s my friend! He’s got all this soldier knowledge from Halloween when we got turned into our costumes.”

“That was really neat”, Spike said and snickered at the memory.

“For you maybe but not for me”, Buffy said. “I was all with the fainting and the damsel in distress thing.”

“But you looked really beautiful.” Buffy blushed and Spike went rigid, did he really just say that out loud?

“Thanks, so you noticed? I thought you were too busy with first trying to kill me and then getting your ass kicked.” Buffy grinned.

“When I was human I was a real softie for beautiful women, I guess something stuck”, Spike said and couldn’t believe he was actually telling her about it. She brought out the humanity in him and he couldn’t stop himself.

“I’ve seen you with Drusilla”, Buffy said. “So I’ve already seen the soft side of you.” Spike jaws clenched at the mention of his sire.

“Maybe I should get back before they notice I’m gone”, he said.

“Yeah”, Buffy said. “I should get some sleep. See you around, even if we are fighting to our deaths the next time.”

“Looking forward to it.” Buffy helped him out of the mud and he was on his way to the mansion.

‘This has been a very strange night’, he thought.