Teaser

A bus stopped at a gas station and a young girl walk out holding a bag on her shoulder.
Bus Driver: "So darling, what are you doing in Sunny Dale anyways?"
Girl: "I'm here to see an old friend" The bus driver laughed
Bus Driver: "I'm sure they're not that old. Why, you yourself don't look a day over 14 or 15." then the girl smiled
Girl: "I'm older than I look. Thanks again for the ride".
Bus Driver: "Oh, your welcome angel. I hope you find your friend"
Girl:"Thank you, sir"
Bus Driver: "God bless you, child". Then the door on the bus closed and pulled away. Watching the bus leave, the girl said
Girl: "Way ahead of you".

Chapter 1- Silent Treatment

Buffy: "I'm home" she said to who ever was listening. She saw that Anya, Xander, Giles and Dawn were all sitting in the living room watching tv.
Dawn: "Hey Buffy. Oh, do I smell Chinese food?" she said with a grin. Buffy held a large brown bag in front of her and said
Buffy: "You sure do. I'm gonna go get the plates. Can you go get Willow? I think she's in her room. I'll call down to Spike in the basement. Kennedy took the Potentials patrolling, so you know what that means?"
Dawn: "All the more for us. Good thinking. I'll go get Willow".

Upstairs
Dawn: "Knock knock"
Willow: "Oh, hey Dawny. What's up?
Dawn: "Buffy wanted me to tell you that dinner's ready."
Willow: "Oh good. I'll be down in a sec. Is there something else?"
Dawn: "Well it's just that...oh nevermind. It's none of my business."
Willow: "It's alright Dawn, it's just me."
Dawn: "Well, it's Buffy...and Spike kinda. The past week they've been kinda acting differently."
Willow: "Towards eachother?"
Dawn: "Well, not really. More towards Giles. It all started one night last week. I heard Buffy and Giles arguing outside my door. I think they thought I was asleep. They were talking about someone, I think about Spike. Do you know anything? Did something happen that I don't and should know about?"
Willow: "Buffy hasn't told me anything. I'm sure it's nothing. C'mon, we should be heading downstairs right about now."
Dawn:" Maybe your right Wil"

Dining Room

Willow, Dawn, Buffy, Spike, Xander, Anya, Andrew and Giles were all sitting at the table eating Chinese.
Buffy: "Dawn, can you ask Giles to pass me the egg rolls?" Dawn and Willow exchanged glances.
Dawn: "Ummm, okay. Giles-" but Giles had already handed her the box before she got a chance to finish.
Spike: "Dawny, be a dear and and asked Rupert to pass the rice while he's at it". Now everyone at the table were giving eachother confused looks except for Buffy and Spike who knew exactly what they were doing.
Xander: "Ah, Buff, un-dead guy, is something wrong?"
Buffy: "I don't know what your talking about. Oh, yeah and Dawn would you mind passing me Giles' chopsticks? I'm suddenly not feeling to safe-"
Giles: "That's enough!" he shouted. "Honestly, what are you two? Six? This little silent-treatment has go on for quite enough. And if you must know, I'm not sorry for what I did. Spike is and always will be a killer! Having him in this house, even with the chip is the stupidest thing you've ever done Buffy. If you thought about anyone but Spike for 1 minute you will see that Robin's plan to take care of Spike for good was the only was to ensure safety for thoses who actually matter!" Then, Spike got up and stormed out of the room. Buffy turned to Giles.
Buffy: "Get the hell out of my house." Buffy then got up and went after Spike.

Chapter 2

Kitchen
Buffy walked into the kitchen and saw Spike facing the window.

Buffy: "Spike, I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this with everything else that's been going on". Spike didn't take his eyes from the window.

Spike: "Don't worry about it, pet. It's not like it's the first time I've been exposed to the heat from the men in your life."

Buffy: "Go on" she asked, intrigued by her ex's statement.

Spike: "Rupert, Wood, the Whelp, never met the likes of your father, but I'm sure he'd give it to me too".

Buffy: "Xander and Giles just want what's best for me"

Spike: "No, they want what they think is the best for you. Ain't that right, luv?" Buffy then got quite.

Spike: "I'm fine really. The only reason I came in here is because
it reminds me of when we used to sit on your there porch. We'd have ourselves a nice little chat when you were feeling blue. Remember?"

Buffy: "Of course I remember".

Spike: "It's about time you and Watcher Boy made up anyhoo. You may not want to admit it right now, but when he is around, he is very important in your life".

Buffy: "But your an important part of my life too and Giles doesn't have the right to talk to you that way. It's wrong. He's wrong. He doesn't know you like I do, none of them do" Buffy's voice trailed off. Spike then turned to her.

Spike: "You don't have to explain yourself, pet. I know you. I know the person you are and I love you. I know why you put up with all of them and why you don't tell them the truth". Buffy's eyes dropped to the floor. "Right then, I suppose I'll just be heading down to my dungeon. Drop a few blows into the punching sack and I'll be good as new by morning". With that he turned and opening the door to the basement. Just before he took his first step, Buffy stopped him.

Buffy: "Spike, wait." and he did. He stopped but kept his back towards her. "I never really got a chance to talk to you about last week".

Spike: "It had nothing to do with you. That's all I care about".

Buffy: "It's just that, when I realized what Giles was doing, I was so scared that you were hurt or that I lost you".

Spike: "I know the feeling. Although watching your body being lowered 6 feet under from a far off tree was a little more of a reality check". Buffy just ignored him and kept going.

Buffy: "I ran so fast I almost lost my balance" Buffy said almost smiling. "I don't think I was ever so terrifyed in my life except for when..." Buffy's voice started to get shakey. "What I'm trying to say is the thought of my losing you was one of the scariest moments of my life. I need you to know that I can't loose you".

Spike: "I understand everything you feel, Buffy. Because I feel it too. Soul or not, it's the only thing I've ever really felt. The only thing I've ever really feared. Good night, Buffy".

Buffy: "Good night Spike".

Chapter 3

Basement

Spike walked down the stairs leading into the basement only to be greeted by another voice.

Giles: "My, my Spike. That was quite a speech you just gave. Tell me, do you two love birds share those words much to the sound of a struggling poet often? "

Spike: "How did you get down here?"

Giles: "Now, now. let's not get ahead of ourselves, I asked first". Then Spike directed his attension to the door leading out which was wide open.

Spike: "What do you want. If I heard correctly, Buffy told you to see your way out".

Giles: "And if I heard correctly, you just told Buffy that it's about time me and her should...what was the phrase you used, 'made up'."

Spike: "Just because I don't want Buffy holding a grudge against you anymore doesn't mean that I have to. I don't have to do anything I don't want to as long as I'm here, Rupert".

Giles: "Yes, which brings me to my next question: Why are you here, Spike?"

Spike: "Because I don't have a place to live is all".

Giles: "No, not here as in this basement. Here here, as in Sunnydale and Buffy's life".

Spike: "For the fight".

Giles: "That answers the part about Sunnydale, but what about Buffy's life?"

Spike: "She told me. She told me she wasn't ready for me to not be here".

Giles: "And like a loyal, love-sick puppy, your staying by her side. If you really loved her, you would leave her. You would let her move on from any twisted feelings she thinks she has for you. Angel knew that much and he left, he really loved her".

Spike: "But when Nancy-Boy left, if you recall Rupert, it was post-apacalypse. Not right before the fight of a lifetime. Or at least that's what Dawny told me once".

Giles: "Speaking of Dawn, tell me, when was the last time you two had a real chat, from one beating heart to one not".

Spike: "What are you getting at?" He said begining to become frusterated.

Giles: "Well, it's just that you and Dawn, got along real great until some minor incident Xander told me about. I can't remember it too well, let's see what was it? Oh yeah, you trying to rape her sister-" With that Spike grabbed Giles and pushed him up against the cold wall by the collar. Spike began getting teary eyed in the process.

Spike: "I don't know about you, Watcher Boy, but I'm having a small case of de ju vo. Except last time, the circumstances where slightly different. You've had your share of talking then and tonight and now it's my turn. I am not you friend. You told me there was no way to Buffy, well, I recon I found it. I get that you can't handle that. I get that you care about Buffy like a daughter and that's why you left after she died. I recon I'd done the same thing if I didn't have the little bit to take care of. Do you wanna know the thing I don't get and what makes me feel sick? How after she came back, you left her...again. How could you have left her? How?" tears were streaming down his face by now, but he kept going. "Buffy needed you and you left her. She may have forgiven you by now, but I will never. Cause I was here, you see, I was here the whole time. I saw her slowly slip, and I did my best at the time to help her back up. I gave her love. Given, it wasn't the best way, but somehow it was there and she felt it. She still does too. Cause she told me and cause I feel it. I feel it everytime she looks at me. Oh, and Rupert, one more thing: you wanna rip us apart, but deep down, you know you can't, so do yourself a favor and move the hell on".
With that he let go of Giles, grabbed his coat and walked out of the door and slammed the door behind him. From inside all Giles could hear was the engine of a motorcyle starting up and then fading away. The camera focused in on Giles as he said:

Giles: "Good boy".