Tired of running, yes, but was she ready to face him after everything? Buffy sighed, leaning her head against the crypt door. If she was ever going to get a decent night's sleep, she needed to do this and get it over with.

"Slayer."

Buffy turned to see Spike watching her intently. She wasn't ready.

~*~

He was half tempted to run off when he'd seen her there. He was back because of her. For good or ill the time had come to let the chips fall where they may.

~*~

She stood there staring at him. She could stake him, run, or see this through. The first two were out of the question and she knew that, but that didn't make doing the last one any easier.

~*~

It was Buffy's move. The ball was in her court. She had sought him out. All he could do now was wait.

~*~

Maybe sleepless nights were worth it after all. She wasn't ready, but had she ever been ready for anything that happened in her life? He was waiting for her; it was her turn in this game of theirs. She took a deep breath and said the first thing that came to her, "I'm sorry."