The dream played again in her unconscious mind. It was the same dream she'd had the night before - and the night before that. Her heart filled with dread as she recognized the place where she had once stood with her doomed lover. The cavernous room was eerily silent after the clanging force of their battle, a battle that had ended abruptly just seconds before.

"Angel," she breathed as she looked into his confused brown eyes, "I love you." She drew close to him and raised her face. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she heard his words.

"I love you."

"Close your eyes," she told him as her right hand tightened around the sword she held at her side. She lifted her free hand and laced her fingers through his before drawing close to kiss him one last time. "I love you," she whispered against his cool lips.

"No you don't."

She stepped back, her eyes wide with shock as she saw the clear blue eyes.

"But thanks for saying it."

"Spike?" The sword was gone as she reached out toward him tentatively, her fingertips gliding over the contours of his face. "Are you real?"

He smiled at her softly, and lifted his hand to cover hers. "It's your dream, love."

She sat up with a gasp.