The crypt was a shambles, but he was still there, absorbed in cramming all his necessities into one bag. Like a predator with its prey, she stalked up behind him, waiting until the last possible moment, to pounce and catch him unawares.

He was pinned to the ground, at her mercy. "Come to finish me off, eh, Slayer? Can't say as I blame you."

She back-handed him across the cheek. "You bastard! You useless coward! You do what you did and you still wonder how I can't possibly love you?!!"

"You gonna stake me or berate me into oblivion?" he tried to shift underneath her. "Cuz we've already been through this before, luv. What's the sense in going through it all again?"

Buffy responded by pressing him harder, making any further movement impossible.

"Do something before I fall asleep, Slayer. Ball's in your court."

Thinking had gotten her nowhere, so Buffy gave herself over to instinct and acted. She took the stake and tossed it across the crypt. As she got up, she pulled Spike with her. Staring him defiantly in his crystal blue eyes, she took on deep breath of resolution, and in one swift motion, savagely attacked his mouth with her own.

Before he could react, she shoved him backwards, causing him to land on the ground. Again she had him pinned and was staring at him, her face blank of all emotion. "What do you want, Spike?"

"I want to know what game you're bloody playing at, Slay—"

She kissed him again with full force. When she broke off again, her face was anything but blank. "I can't even stand to be near you," she kissed him once more. "Why don't you just leave me alone?!" She ripped his shirt and traced one nail around his chest til it came to rest over his one mortal spot. "It's simple, really, all I need to do is stake you and I'll be free, forever. I've done it before and I'll do it again."

The woman was driving him to the brink with her contradictions. Words and tone were all a contradiction. In fighting him, she was fighting herself. All he wanted to do was take her, right then and there. But she wouldn't let him and he knew it was up to her. He had said it himself; the ball was in her court.

"Hard as I try, I can't seem to make you go away. You're always there, lurking on the edges. I can make the others leave me, but you just won't go," she was nearly breathless. "And I want you like I've never wanted anyone else. You've known what I refuse to acknowledge." With that, she rolled so he was on top of her. That was all it took. Spike acted and both were lost amidst a tangle of limbs and clothes. Buffy had fought herself, coming out both the victor and defeated. And it no longer mattered.