This scene popped into my head and I know I've read it before but I can't think of the story
Spike comes back from somewhere and Buffy's in hospital for some reason, he says to the doctor "She's my wife / I'm her husband" or something to that effect so that he's allowed to see her [they're not actually married]
I think it's Xander who sort of goes "No you're not" and Spike replies with "were you there ?" and then there's a pretty funny line of Giles considering that they might have actually gotton married at some point.
It's really annoying me - I
think it was pre-chip Spike, they had a secret - but short - relationship of some kind and that he did the leaving for her own good bit but I'm not 100% sure of that, I might be mixing
So yeah, I will be eternally grateful if someone can help

thanks
xx