Author's Notes: This idea stemmed off of a writing assignment for a course I'm taking. The assignment was to write something in pure dialogue, followed but a story in pure narrative. Then to do a combination of the two. So I figured, who better to write with than Spike and Buffy? *grin*

"Hey Buffy, could I… uh... could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah, sure. Just let me finish with—"

"You should take a break, anyway, luv. Let Willow finish shelving the books. Come with me outside for a second."

"OK. You takin' a quick break?"

"Actually, I was gonna head off soon… There, that's better."

"Yeah. So, what's on your mind, Spike? Spike?"

"Oh, sorry. Guess I blanked for a second there."

"S'ok. So, what's up?"

"Um… ok, here goes. Over the past few months that you've been back, we… we've started to get close."

"Yeah…"

"And… and I've started to think of you as a friend."

"Me too, Spike. Er… I mean, I think of… oh, you know what I mean."

"Yeah. But... Damn it. I'm leaving Buffy."

"What! Why?"

"I can't stay here anymore… not with you bein'… I… I'm just leaving…. Unless…. Unless you give me a reason to stay."

"What?"

"I know this is… unexpected, but just hear me out."

"Spike—"

"Just wait, Buffy. Listen. I know you're back with Riley and all, luv, but—"

"Yes. I am with Riley and it's not fair that you do this to me. To us! How fair is it that you—"

"Life isn't fair, Buffy!"

"Look! This is a lot to deal with, and we agreed you wouldn't bring this up anymo—"

"You agreed!"

"I'm just really confused and I—"

"It's simple! I love you—"

"Spike! That's not—"

"Buffy! Listen to me! I love you. You're part of me. I—I need you more than I ever needed Dru, or Cecily, or my ponce of a Sire. Every waking moment I see your face. You haunt my dreams… and I know—believe me, I know, that I shouldn't put all this on you, but… But I'm leaving Buffy. Unless…. Unless…."

"Unless what, Spike! Unless I pledge my undying devotion right here and now! Unless I go tell Riley that, "I'm sorry, but Spike has a crush on me, so forgot about the past two plus years!""

"… Good bye, Buffy."

"Spike! Wait! We need to talk about this!"

"We just did."

"Spike! Don't you walk away from me!"

"Tell Nibblet… I…. I'll keep in touch."

"Spike! Spike…"

TBC….




Part I
Part II