When Spike arrived at the Magic Box the following night, Cecily wasn't there yet. But Buffy was.

"Hey Spike," Anya greeted him.

"Hey Anya…Buffy."

She watched him, not bothering to answer. She looked clearly upset. With him.

Anya went to the basement and they were left alone.

"So…you're not seeing Halfrek, tonight ?"

Spike smiled. Ok…He got it.

"Jealous, Slayer ?"

She gave him a threatening look.

"Ok…forget I asked." she sighed.

" Why did you, then ?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

"I said forget, ok ?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I'm seeing her. We have to meet here at 8.00."

"And you're in advance. How cute. Couldn't wait to see her, apparently," she said, trying to appear detached about it and totally missing it.

Spike looked at her. Bloody Hell…she was jealous !

Before he could find an appropriate answer, Anya was back.

"What time is it ?" Buffy asked.

"Almost eight," Anya said.

"Good. I have to get Willow at the…Oh my God, Dawn ! I totally forgot she had an excursion today. I'm supposed to pick her up at 8.15 !"

She put her hand on her forehead.

"Stupid me !"

"If you want" proposed Anya, I can ask Xander…"

"It's ok" Spike interrupted. "I'll get the Nibblet."

Buffy turned to him, surprised.

"I thought you had a date with Halfrek ?"

"Well, yeah. But it'll take only a moment. I'm sure she'll understand. And she likes Dawn."

Buffy seemed to hesitate.

"What's the problem ?"he asked, rather harshly. "I'm not gonna bite her, you know."

Buffy realized he had taken her hesitation the wrong way.

" No ! I know that, of course. It's just, I wouldn't want her to think I forgot about her…"

"Which is the case" pointed Anya.

"Yes, thank you Anya."

"I'll go catch Red, if you prefer."

"No. It's fine. Dawn'll be glad to see you."

"Alright then. I'll wait for Halfrek to…"

Just at this moment the demon girl came in.

"Perfect timing" Spike finished, with a bright smile to Halfrek which disturbed Buffy. Never ever had he smiles to her like that.

"I'll have to go get Dawn at her school" he told her. "You don't mind, do you ?"

"Of course not" she smiled. "I'll wait for you here."

Buffy took her jacket and her bag. She felt reluctant to leave.

"I…I'll go, then" she said. "Thank you, Spike, for taking care of Dawn."

He nodded, not answering.

She left, soon followed by him.

"I'll be back in a few" he told Halfrek.

"Sure."

He looked at her closely.

"Is everything alright ?"

"Yes, fine. Go, you'll be late for Dawn."

He frowned, but didn't add anything. Something was clearly bothering her. He would find out soon enough.

"Oh my God, was that day boring or what ?"

Dawn and her class had gone to LA to visit a special exposition at an art museum.

Dawn looked at Janice.

"I don't know, I kind of liked it…"

"Hey, girls…check out the hottie over there…"

Their friend Susan pointed her chin to a blond man standing a little further.

Dawn started to laugh.

"It's Spike !"

"You know this guy ?" asked Susan, wide-eyed.

"Yes, he's…um, he's my sister's boyfriend" Dawn said, the first plausible thing that came to mind.

"Well, introduce us !" asked Janice, excitedly, as Spike was coming towards them.

"Hey, Bit. Had a nice day ?"

"Yes, thanks. I'm surprised to see you."

She get to him and hugged him. He looked a little bit puzzled but hugged her back.

"Big Sis had an emergency with Willow, so…"

"Spike, here are my friends Janice and Susan."

"Evenin', girls" he said, slightly unease in front of these two giggling girls. One of them battled her eyelashes so hard he thought for a moment she had a compulsive disorder.

"Are you ready to go, Dawn ?"

"Yep. Bye guys. See you tomorrow."

"Bye Dawn, bye Spike !"the two girls added, still laughing stupidly.

Spike took Dawn's bag and walked towards his car.

"What was that all about ?"

"They think you're a hottie."

"I'm a …?"

He turned around, saw the two girls still watching them. He frowned.

"Aren't they a little bit young to entertain thoughts like that ?"

"Hey ! They're my age ! We're not too young to appreciate cute guys."

He looked at her with a grin.

"Ok, I'm a hottie and I'm cute. Guess it's a good day after all."

They climbed in the car and Spike starts the engine.

"So…you and Halfrek, uh ?" Dawn said with a knowing smile.

"What, 'me and Halfrek, uh' ?

"Well, I saw you talking at the wedding…then yesterday at the Espresso Pump…"

"Yes, so…?"

"She's pretty."

"That she is."

"When she's not in demon face, of course"

"Of course" answered Spike, in a neutral tone.

Dawn watched him with a slight smile.

"You're not gonna tell me anything."

He smiled back.

"But there's nothing to be said, pet. Halfrek and I are just friends."

Dawn laughed.

"Yeah, that's always what celebrities say in the newspapers, then we discovers they had sleazy affairs for month !"

"Well, I'm not a celebrity, so…though I would probably have been better than that Oldman bloke in 'Dracula'. What with me having the real stuff, and all…"

He turned in Revello Drive, stopped in front of the Summers House.

"Here we go, princess."

"Thank you."

He got out of the car, head with Dawn to the front door, then suddenly stopped and turned around.

"What ?"

"Nothing. Let's go."

He smiled reassuringly, not wanting to frighten her. He had sense like someone…or something was watching them. Which was impossible as no car had been following them.

Still, he felt an uneasy pinch.

Buffy was already there.

"Hey, Dawnie. How was your day ?

"Ok, I guess. But the best part was when Spike came. Janice and Susan were practically drooling !"

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Really ? Spike got himself a fan-club ?"

"Yep…want to be a member, Slayer ?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Thank you, but no, thank you."

He shrugged.

"Well, I brought little sis safe and sound, so…I'm off. Goodnight, Nibblet."

Once again, she put her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks, Spike"

"Anytime, luv."

He watched her go upstairs with a fond smile. By the time he turned to Buffy, the smile was gone.

"Bye, Buffy."

"Bye…and thank you."

He opened the door.

"I didn't do it for you. I did it for her."

Buffy acquiesced. That hurt more than she thought.

"I know."

He watched her. She looked so unhappy. Maybe he could…No ! Just get out of here, Spike.

"I'll go now. Cec…Halfrek is waiting for me."

"O…Of course."

He nodded, started to leave.

"You still didn't tell me how you guys know each other."

He stopped, turned around. Was she trying to delay him ?

"Yes, I did. Last year. Remember our little conversation about my past ? That girl I was in love with…Cecily ? Well, that's her. Halfrek is Cecily."

"Oh…I see."

His first love. Scary thought.

"How…"

"Listen, Slayer, I don't have time for this now. I'll tell you the whole story some other time,

ok ?"

That felt as good as a slap in the face. She shrugged, making a false casual face.

"Ok. Not that it really interest me, anyway."

"Like hell it doesn't" muttered Spike.

He reached his car, was about to open it. She was still standing on the threshold, kneading her hands. He sighed. Leave, Spike…you're going to regret this…you bloody wanker…

He came back to her.

"Ok, Slayer. What's the problem ?"

Puzzled, she raised her head towards him. He was suddenly standing very close to her.

"You're acting weird," he said. "Is that because I'm seeing someone else ?"

She opened her mouth but he raised his hand.

"If you're about to deny it for the zillion time, don't bother. I know the tune already."

He turned, started to leave again.

"I won't !" she blurted out.

He stopped.

"You won't what ?"

She approached him.

"Deny it. I won't. I told you at the wedding it hurt. It still does. Whether it's that skanky-ho, or Halfrek…I hate seeing you with another woman."

They stared at each other, both surprised by her admission. Spike could almost felt his heart start beating. How long had he waiting to hear…he calmed himself. That was jealousy she was talking about…not love.

He gently put her hair behind her ear, cupped her cheek in his hand. She closed her eyes.

"Do you regret it ?" he asked softly.

"What ?"

"Breaking up with me."

She plunged her eyes into his blue ones, and swallowed hard.

"Yes" she whispered. "I do."

"Well…"he said, wandering his mouth feather-like on her jaw and her neck, "That's too bad…because I don't."

He torn himself from her, climbed in his car and drove away.

When Spike got back to his crypt, later that night, he still had the impression of being watched. And Cecily had acted weird the all evening. What was happening in these soddin'women's minds ? he thought, exasperated.

He stopped at his door, scrutinized the cemetery.

"C'mon ! Show yourself ! I know you're out there !"

There was no answer, of course. He was just talking to air in the middle of the graveyard at night, like a bloody idiot.

Shaking his head in self-pity, he entered his crypt and closed the door behind him.

"Buffy ? You're ok ? You barely ate anything."

Buffy pushed her plate away.

"You've been torturing that piece of chicken like it's…I don't know, anyone I know ?"

Willow asked, trying to lighten Buffy's somber mood.

Buffy managed to smile reassuringly.

"Probably some annoying Big Bad…Don't worry, Will, I'm ok."

"You were moody all day. Is everything ok at the Doublemeat Palace ?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I'll just go patrol a little bit. Turning some nasty vampires to dust" she said, showing the staking move with her fork at the same time.

"Ok…"Willow said carefully.

Buffy put her jacket on, checking for the stake in her pocket.

"See you later, then" Willow added. "Wishing you a lot of nasty vampires !"

"I'm sure to find at least one" Buffy muttered to herself.

She was being totally unfair and she knew it. She was mad because of the little act he had given her yesterday. For the first time, she had been totally open to him…and he had rejected her. Leaving her on the verge of tears. No, she had to be honest. She had cried for him. Because of him!

Then, by doing some more thinking, she had had to admit the truth. Spike had been treating her exactly the way she had treated him for months. All this time when he had bared his soul…no, wait, he didn't have a soul…well, baring his most deeper feelings to her, she had crushed them. Without giving a second thought about it.

Oh God, she had been so blind ! So ungrateful…She realized that now. He must really love her very much to have accepted all that bad treatment from her. He had told her so several times, but she wouldn't listen. Listen to him, but mostly to her heart. Her heart already knew.

Spike had shown more humanity these last few months than any of them…especially her.

So he maybe didn't have a soul, but he didn't need one. And her biggest hope right now was that it was not too late to tell him that.

TBC…