Title: Standing On Your Own

Author: Hope

Rating: PG-13

Summary: When a demon kills everyone the slayer loves, she falls deep into depression: No will to live, no will to fight. Because her heart is no longer in slaying, the PTB send back a certain blonde vampire to help get her back on track.....

A/N Please review!!!

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Faith's eyes lolled open and she scanned the area around her. Everything was blurry. What happened, where was she? Oh shit, the Council. She shot up but was stopped short and pulled back down. She wiggled her hands to find them bound together above her head. Damn. She pulled again but failed to release them from whatever they were tied to.

"Glad you could join us."

Her eyes reopened slowly and she blinked a few times before focusing on Spike. Glancing around, she concluded that she was in Buffy's room, obviously bound to the bed.

Better than the Council….

"Well, if this isn't kinky, I'm not sure what is…" She smirked at Spike. He arched his eyebrows and approached the bed. Crawling up over her body, he positioned his face above hers. She grinned, eyeing him seductively. "I love it when B's guys are so loyal to her….." Spike chuckled, burying his head in the hair by her neck. She wiggled under him and giggled, but was stopped abrubtly as his hand quickly grasped her neck. He pulled away and looked down at her, his vampiric features in place.

"You do anything to hurt her and I'll kill you, got it?" He demanded harshly, tightening his grasp. Her eyes narrowed. He smirked, did she plan on letting him strangle her to death? "Well?" She clenched her jaw and nodded. "Good." He released her and stood, leaving her glaring at him from the bed.

"Hey." Buffy offered the vampire as she walked into the room. He smiled at her before nodding to the bed.  She turned to look at a rather angry Faith."Oh, you're up." Faith just scowled. "You're really not one for gratitude, are you?" She asked, rather annoyed. Maybe saving her sorry ass had been a mistake. Stupid Buffy, stupid. "Fine, pout all you want. I'll bring you some food up later. Come on Spike." She grabbed the vampire's arm and dragged him out of the room. "I really don't like her."

"And that's why you saved her?" He asked, smirking as they walked down the stairs.

"No, I saved her because that's my job. Kill the demons, save the humans – even if I have to save them from other human creeps. And believe me, none are creepier than the Council." He didn't say anything. She turned to look at him as they walked into the kitchen. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine, pet." She looked at him skeptically as she filled a glass of water.

Kill the demons, save the humans…..

"Spike, I didn't mean….."

"Don't worry 'bout it, Slayer." He said, hopping up and taking a seat on the counter. She sighed, setting her glass on the table. Walking towards him, she grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him back down so he was standing in front of her.

"I don't care what you are. You're more human than anyone else I know. Especially Faith. " She looked up into eye, offering him a small smile.

Great, now what do you bloody say to that? Thanks? No sodding way. Instead he just smiled down at the girl, running his cool hand down the side of her face. He was almost positive that if the rest of her friends had still been alive that she wouldn't have said that to save her life, but now there was no one here to tell her it was wrong. No one to point out what a horrible creature he was.

And it hurt.

Damnit, he actually missed them. Well, of course he missed Dawn, she was like his kid sis. And Red and Pixie weren't really all that bad. But Giles, Xander? Fuck, he actually missed the sodding Whelp. Now that he thought about, he would have given his life to save any of the, even to save Xander.

And they never knew. They never knew he cared.

"I love you." He said softly, pulling the slayer into his arms. He'd sooner take a bath in holy water than have her not know he loved her with all his heart, unbeating or not.

"I know."  She replied simply, resting her head against his chest.

Short chap, I know. My mum kicked her b/f outta the house and the bum took my computer!! Gah!! I swear I almost died. I actually watched TV over the weekend. I never watch TV. Never. Well, cept when Buffy's on. Oh well. I should have a new chapter up Friday night. Adios!