Silence enveloped the once raging room. Charlie had made points everyone had been to frighten to say Buffy and Spike knew this. Contemplating what to do next, the best thing they could come up with was to walk away. Spike turned into the basement, trudging down into the darkness,

"Where I belong." He thought about his past statements.

Buffy turned to walk out of into the dining room, but turned again to shut off the gas flow on the burner. Then stood hands on both sides of the oven, resting. A tear threatened to slide down her now red cheek. Embarrassment of the sincerity of Charlie's words crept to the surface of her nerves. Why couldn't she just let herself love him? Spike has shown his goodness, it should be enough. It is enough.

Buffy opened the basement door softly, taking that first step down, darkness closing in on her. She felt restrained, as if she was being smothered by it. Risking a glance back at the open door, Buffy longed to be up there with only the moonlight and its shadows. She kept strong, she wouldn't let herself be spooked just yet. What needed to be said needed to be said, and tonight.

Feeling her foot finally step onto the cement floor, Buffy released her held breath. Time for the hard part.

"Spike?" She asked around, not being able to see anything in the darkness. Silence from the nobody who sat in the corner. Finding her slayer senses, she could feel his presence in the room.

"I feel as though I've been falling. It's been like this since the moment I found out I was the slayer. I don't like it.

"For a year I had off from all the falling, I had Angel. He held me in place, but he couldn't keep it up. I killed him that night, a part of me had gone to hell along with him, came back with him tarnished with cruelties.

"Then I had some more time with him, restrained time with him. It wasn't the same, the falling feeling had returned if not doubled since. And soon Angel learnt that he wasn't strong enough to hold me anymore. I have a feeling that nobody is." A shuffling was heard from the corner as Spike stood up from his crumpled position. Gently a pair of soothingly cold arms slid around her waist from behind. Spike hid his face in her hair as he held on to her.

"I might not be strong enough for you." He started taking in the smell of her, "But I will hold on until you're the death of me." Author's Note: I realize this is like anti-climax bullshit and quite aware that Charlie doesn't even make an appearance in this chapter. The shortness is just to pronounce how easy it is for me to hook Buffy up with Spike. Actually I think it gives it some mysterious outrageousness that is such to boggle your mind for at least two minutes after the reading of. ENJOY.