TITLE: "Stone by Stone" Chapter Four - Good Times, Bad Times.
AUTHOR: Elise D.
FEEDBACK: Gimme gimme. Just be gentle.
SUMMARY: Season Seven, Buffy and Spike exploration. Building up stone by stone.
SPOILERS: Spoiler free, do I get a cookie?
RATING: PG-13.
DISCLAIMER: Nobody buys me good presents, so I steal other peoples.
NOTES: Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback guys! You're keeping me inspired :)

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"Christ alive, I think I may be having a stroke," said Spike just before he felt his knees begin to buckle. Leaning against the shopping cart, he took an un-needed breath to steady his nerves, and avoided all eye contact with the woman next to him. This was not an alternate universe. No it wasn't, that much he knew. This also wasn't some wacky dream of his. The wetness in his boots, and the queasy feeling in his gut made it clear that he was totally conscious. Plus she hadn't proclaimed her undying love and promptly whipped off her clothes. Not to mention the setting…no, not a dream. So this was really happening, then? She'd actually told him that she had serious feelings for him, feelings that might include love? It was just too much to take in.

Buffy stood to the side, nervously wringing her hands, desperately trying to come out with something else. She couldn't get over her own stupidity. This was so not happening. Not in a Sunnydale grocery store in the middle of the night. She had a stupid mouth with no sense of timing. She just couldn't have waited until they got home, could she?

"I...um...no. I'm tapped out. I still have no idea what to say," said Spike finally, shaking himself from the mild case of hysteria. "You've kind of taken me by surprise with this, love. No offence. Mind telling me what brought it on in the first place?"

Buffy's eyes dropped to the floor. Oh God, not the explaining part, please? She hated the part where she had to talk about it. Then again, that's been the problem, hasn't it? Maybe it's time to get over it. No. No maybe about it, she had to, for both their sakes. This was an era of open honest Buffy, whether she liked it or not. She couldn't go back to the actions of last year. She couldn't. It would destroy her, and Spike. Who knows who else. She couldn't go back there. She wouldn't. It was just so hard, though.

"It was something and nothing. Look, can we walk and talk? I might be able to get all this out easier. Less manic Buffy, more sensical Buffy. You might get better answers from me, if I'm distracted"

"Okay, sure," said the hesitant vampire, before resuming their journey down the fresh produce isle. There was near silence for a while, except for the squelch of Spike's boots, as he unconsciously clenched his jaw and held back the million and one questions that were running around his head. Buffy on the other hand, seemed to be having a silent argument with herself, and it was a toss-up as to who might be winning. When she frowned slightly, Spike knew that things were going to get ugly.

"Look, I don't want to take back I said, but I want to make sure you heard me clearly," began Buffy cautiously.

"You said you "think". Don't worry Slayer, that part came out loud and clear," replied Spike curtly, causing Buffy to frown at his tone.

"You're mad at me, I can tell"

"No, m'not," said Spike with a slight huff.

"Are too! You're totally annoyed with me, aren't you?"

"I. Am. Not. Christ."

"Yes! Yes you are. I've been honest with you, and it's pissed you off. Typical!"

"I'm not! Bloody hell, woman, listen to yourself. You don't think I might need a few? Maybe give a bloke a chance to absorb your little confessional? God knows you couldn't have timed it better if you tried," he noted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh no. Don't you get all high and mighty with me, you stupid vampire," Buffy snorted. "I didn't mean to just blurt that out. I was just thinking, and the next thing I know…"

"You're knocking me for six, and getting all snotty when I don't immediately fall to my knees with thanks, that's what. This is just so like you. You express an emotion and the world has to bloody stop. All hail Queen Buffy!"

"Hey! That's not fair. I didn't mean for it to happen this way, and I didn't mean to confuse you."

Spike snorted, and Buffy rolled her eyes, narrowing them sharply at her opponent.

"Yes, because you would never consider confusing a bloke, or give him mixed messages, would you?" said Spike, his voice shaking slightly.

"Well, if you're going to be a child about it..."

"OH! So I'm a child now, as well as a stupid vampire? Charming. It's nice to know you think so highly of the man you might love. And might I add, I'm not the one who just stomped my foot, having a little hissy fit," he added with a smirk.

"Hissy fit? Why you…you're totally wrong. Totally."

"You petulant little..."

"Hey!"

They stared at each other, the anger and passion coming off them in waves. Anyone with an ounce of sense wouldn't try to get between the couple right now. The store manager had approached the isle, after hearing the disturbance, but had quickly stopped, when he saw the two young people who had been engaged in such a heated argument. The air surrounding them was electric. The minutes passed, as vampire and slayer faced off, when finally Buffy's shoulders slumped in defeat.

"You're right, I'm wrong. I'm sorry. God, why do we always end up fighting? It's not right, us doing this all the time," sighed the slayer with a shake of her head. This was going all wrong, and she didn't want to screw it up.

Spike simply raised an eyebrow at her.

"Do you really need me to answer that, right now?" he asked.

Buffy shook her head again, knowing full well what he'd tell her. "It's the passion, love." He'd told her. That was before. Back when he still tried, and she still resisted. This time it was going to be different. It was going to be better, even if it killed her. Or hopefully not, as she really didn't think dying would solve anything. Hey, check out optimist Buffy!

"It's just…hell, I'm just as confused over this as you, alright? And it doesn't mean anything. Well, it does, it just means I have to think, and I hate that. Not the thinking, just the whole having to decide what it means, if anything, because it might not. I mean, we've been through a lot, and maybe we're better off like this, just friends, yanno? Who needs to make that more complicated…?"

A hand on her shoulder quickly put an end to the verbal diarrhea. Buffy looked up, into the face of unconditional love, and smiled.

"Buffy, you're gibbering, love. Take a breath, okay?" said Spike. His concern for her mental well-being was pretty much tied with his eagerness to hash this out. He wasn't a fool though, and knew damn well pushing her wouldn't resolve a thing.

Buffy nodded, calming herself down, and watching as Spike looked at her with nothing short of amused adoration on his face, while his hand rubbed small comforting circles on her back. Even if she took it back right now, he'd stay by her side, wouldn't he? He'd understand her confusion and the stupid case of brain following mouth, and they'd carry on. He'd be behind her all the way, and she'd be glad of the back-up. He was totally amazing, and he didn't even try.

"No. I've changed my mind, I was wrong before when I said I thought I might love you. I do. I am, I mean. I'm in love with you."

"Oh," said Spike, his face falling, before his brain caught up with his ears. "OH? Oh. Oh, yep, I'm sure I'm having a stroke now…"

Buffy smiled and shook her head, as he mock-swooned in her general direction. She poked him in the chest, sending his body back to the locked and upright position.

"Okay, now you're being a dumbass," she said with a laugh, causing Spike to join in. "This really isn't the place I thought we'd have a such a heartfelt conversation, so how about we pay for this stuff, dump it at home and then go have a quiet talk somewhere, k?"

"Sounds good, love," said Spike, throwing an arm around his ladyloves shoulder, and steering them towards the checkout, and a fresh start.