Crystal

By Silversweet

Spike was walking down the street in front of his cemetery when he heard the crying. His curiosity got the better of him as he walked toward the noise. There was a figure sitting under the tree. Upon further inspection, he discovered it was Tara. He didn't know her too well, but she was the only one among the Scoobies who treated him like a person. He walked over and sat beside her.

Tara started at the sight of the blonde vampire seating himself next to her. They weren't exactly friends, but he was polite enough to her. And even if no one else saw it, she could tell he was good. She looked up at him and knew that she wasn't the only one feeling bad and heartbroken tonight.

"So, you gonna tell me what's wrong?" Spike asked softly. "You and Red have a fight?"

Tara hesitated, but gave in. "I found out that she'd been altering my memory behind my back." she said sadly.

Spike winced. "Ouch."

"Yeah. But what about you? You don't exactly seem happy tonight either."

"Slayer."

"Oh." He didn't need to say anything more for Tara to know what had happened. Buffy wasn't really very nice to Spike, despite how much he helped her and obviously loved her. She figured that she was probably the only one who had seen how much Buffy's treatment affected him.

They sat in silence and mutual understanding for a while, Spike's arm wrapped comfortingly around Tara's waist. She was leaning against his side when she felt him taking silent, shallow breaths. She looked up at him and realized that he was trying to hide the fact that he was crying. She was a little nervous as to what to do next, but she went with her instincts and put her arms around him.

Spike was startled by the contact and his body tensed. Tara looked up and said quietly, "I won't tell anyone." He then relaxed and returned the embrace and they sat there in the dark, crying with each other until they felt better.

"We should go inside. The sun'll be up in a short while," Spike stated after a long period of silence. "I suppose you'll be wanting to go home?"

"Home where? I used to live with Willow," she reminded him.

"Oh yeah. You wanna stay?" he asked.

"Alright."

He took her hand and they went back to his crypt. When they got inside, Tara yawned widely, making Spike grin. "You tired?"

"Only a little."

"You like you're gonna fall asleep where you stand."

"Not the only one."

"What say we go downstairs. I have a bed down there. We can catch up on some sleep."

Tara looked up at him. "Are you sure that's ok?"

"It is my house," he stated. "And it is a weekend. You don't have any classes today. Plus, I'm sure no one will worry about you, considering the circumstances. But if you'd rather sleep somewhere else, or stay with someone else, that's fine with me. I just thought you could use a little companionship. But you don't have to stay here. Not on my account. Am I talking too much?" he asked, embarrassed.

"No, and I'll stay, if it really doesn't bother you," Tara said with a smile.

"It really doesn't," he said, leading her toward the ladder.

Tara opened her overnight bag and pulled on a flannel nightgown when she and Spike settled into bed together.

"You think you're gonna be staying here a while?" Spike asked sleepily.

"If you don't mind," she replied.

"Not a bit." He reached over and pulled Tara close to him. He suddenly had the desire to kiss her, which he tried to overcome, realizing that it could be inappropriate, and failed. He leaned over and immensely surprised to find her kissing him back. Things may have gotten to be "adult material" if they hadn't realized what they were doing.

Tara broke off the kiss and looked up blushing. Spike just looked surprised. Tara curled up closer to Spike and said softly, "I'm looking forward to getting to know you better."

Spike smiled and they fell asleep.

THE END