It had been awkward in the beginning, both avoided and then ignored each other, as everyone else pretended not to notice the tension between the Slayer and the resident vamp. It had been a month since Buffy had ended their ‘affair’, a month of drunkenness for Spike, and long month of bickering between the two. This night found them alone in a dank, dark cemetery seeking out fledglings. They had been patrolling for nearly an hour in complete silence and it was making Buffy uneasy, whereas Spike embraced the silence, not sure he could take her rejecting him further and sure that was what hung on her lips.

“Spike…” Buffy called out softly and he stopped and then groaned as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, a reaction he wasn’t sure was from the fear of hearing what she had to say, or simply joy from hearing her speak his name in such a tone.

“What,” He replied as he turned and gave her an icy glare. “Am I standing to close Slayer?” He asked from his spot a good fifteen paces from where she stood, watching him nervously.

“No,” She answered and lowered her head a bit, a move that use to soften Spike’s badass routine, once upon a time, but now only fueled his anger, because he knew the tactic well.

“What then?” He again asked as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, and then pulled a deep drag from it.

“Do you have to be like this?” She inquired again looking up at him. He regarded her a moment before throwing his head back and loudly laughing, as she now stared at him in confusion.

“Like what, Slayer, you’d have to be a bit more specific, do I have to be a Vampire, yes have no choice in that, or do I have to be so devilishly handsome, again no choice, or do you mean do I have to treat you like a selfish cold-hearted bitch, if that’s the question then yes, yes I must.” Buffy bowed her head again as she felt the tears coming and the familiar lump formed in her throat, which she tried to swallow down but to no avail.

“It was wrong, Spike.” Was her mumbled response, and then her eyes instantly and instinctively shot up when she sensed he was closer. She was surprised to find that their noses were barely touching as he leaned into her face.

“Did it feel wrong?” He asked but she couldn’t find the words to answer him, she couldn’t deny that it felt wonderful, for it had, but she couldn’t admit it either, for she knew he would run with it, and they’d end up having sex right there in the middle of the cemetery. “Just say what you really mean Slayer, don’t hold it back now,” He said with a chuckle as he stepped back from her. “I’m wrong, that’s what you meant to say isn’t it?”

(Will add more here, stay tuned)

Buffy stood speechless to his accusations, which only served to make him angrier. “You know what, I got better things to do, so I’ll see you around Slayer, and next time you go patrolling go grab up one of ‘your friends’.” And with a dramatic move of tossing his cigarette to the ground and then smashing it into the dirt with his boot, Spike stalked off and out of the cemetery, leaving Buffy to look after him.

~~~~

“Self-righteous bitch,” Spike grumbled as he proceeded through the middle of Sunnydale’s bustling Downtown Square, heading to The Bronze, which had become his safe haven from his thoughts of Buffy. There he could wash away the pain of not having her in his unlife anymore. Spike entered The Bronze, tapping the bar top as he passed, to let the barkeep know he had arrived and would be at his usual table, to which the Bartender nodded his acknowledgement, and quickly pulled out a full bottle of ‘JD’ and a shot glass, which he instructed a waitress to take over to where Spike sulked.

“Come on now, it can’t be that bad,” A female’s voice spoke out but Spike didn’t look up until the whiskey bottle and shot glass was set before him.

“Yeah and what would you know about it?” He shot out snidely tossing some money on the table, as he regarded the waitress who he figured was new since he hadn’t seen her there in the past month.

“Nothing I guess,” She replied as she grabbed up the money and placed it in her apron pocket, not making a move to give him change for the large bill. “Except no girl is worth that sour look on your face or getting plastered off your ass, and I don’t care how cute she thinks she is, nor how tight her nooky might be.” Spike chuckled at that comment.

“So you know Buffy, then?” He joked again chuckling, as he shook and lowered his head a bit.

“No can’t say that I do, but then again I’m not one to keep company with fools, and she’s got to be a big one for dumping on you. I’m Sam by the way.” The woman extended her hand to Spike but he stared at it and the body it was attached to a moment before he accepted it, and shook it firmly.

“Spike,” He responded as he let his mind register and then memorize Sam. She was a petite girl, he’d guess the same weight as Buffy though maybe an inch or two taller, with hazel-green eyes like Buffy, but instead of the blonde tresses, Sam held a head full of long raven hair, that seemed to shine and shimmer with every move she made.

“Don’t be comparing me to ‘her’.” Sam said placing her hand on her hip as she smirked down at him.

“I wasn’t…sorry,” Spike said not caring enough to deny it instead he unscrewed the bottle of whiskey and filled the shot glass. “What are you psychic?”

“Nope, just a woman with a keen intutition. Guess I’ve bugged you enough I’ll let you get back to your self pitying, if you need anything just give a whistle, and it was nice to meet you Spike though I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you.” Spike simply raised his glass in salute before downing it and then smacking the glass down on the table as Sam smiled, shaking her head as she headed off.

“Hey don’t you owe me some change?” Spike called after her.

“Nope, that’s my counseling fee.” And then with a wink Sam disappeared into the crowd of swarming dancers, leaving Spike to smile after her before he focused back onto his liquid lover.