Buffy awoke from her sleep mid-morning, still under the tree, a light blanket from the couch draped over her and Spike. His arm was draped possessively over her middle, her back to his front. She sighed contently, looking up at the tree and thinking of the night before.

It had all happened so quickly, she realized it probably seemed sudden to Spike, her declaration of love. And in a way, it had been sudden. She hadn't meant to say it, but the realization had hit her and the words had spilled out. However, in retrospect, she remembered the subtle moments in the two months that had led to that moment.

Spike had gone out of his way to conform to the neighborhood. He had dressed accordingly, and spent time with the other husbands. He went to Friday poker nights, although he had confessed to Buffy he hated the game when it was played with money, instead of kittens.

He hadn't gotten smashed off liquor like he used to. In fact, he never touched any alcohol but the wine served at the various dinner parties. He was in a perpetual sober state despite his admitted longing for some good scotch.

He had laid off cursing and using his favorite slang terms. He spoke like a cultured British gentleman instead of a street toughed London brat. He made jokes with the friends Buffy has made as well as laughed at their jokes. He had made friends reluctantly with some of the men.

The ways he had changed to fit their new lifestyle were numerous. And he never threw it back in Buffy's face. Never had he grumbled about all the changes he was making. He had done it all without her asking, and without complaint.

But it wasn't just Spike's willingness to alter himself which had made Buffy fall in love with him. There were even deeper things.

Spike had never hid his dislike for Angel. Never had he hesitated to insult his grandsire and point out his faults. And so, when Angel had showed up at their doorstep mid-November, Buffy was as surprised to see Spike's complacence as Angel being there.

They had all taken seats in the living room. The tension was thick though Spike had said nothing.

"Could I talk to Buffy alone?" Angel had asked quietly.

Spike had nodded tersely and left, retreating upstairs.

Buffy stared at Angel, still shocked he was sitting there.

"Why are you here?" She finally asked.

"I wanted to see you, I had to see you, to make sure you were ok," Angel replied quietly.

"Is it safe?"

He had smiled at that. "I'm pretty sure. Wesley cooked up some charm to shield my journey, and I switched trains about seven times."

She nodded. There was an awkward silence.

"Buffy, I'm sorry to show up like this, it's just, I had to make sure things were going alright. You know, with Spike and living here."

"Things are fine, great actually, you have no idea what a relief it is to be here not worrying about patrolling or what the next Big Bad will be."

He swallowed. "And Spike? Is he..." Angel looked away. "Behaving himself?"

Buffy didn't understand at first, but then realization took her and she answered with indignation. "Of course he is. Spike's been wonderful, he's been a perfect gentleman the whole time. I can't believe you'd think..." She didn't finish.

He seemed to blush, if that were possible. "I didn't know, the Spike I know would take advantage of this situation---"

"Well he's changed. He's not the Spike you knew, Angel," she had said defensively, her voice raising.

"I didn't mean to make you mad Buffy, I just wanted to---"

"Just wanted to make sure poor little Buffy isn't being overtaken by Big Bad Spike? Well guess what? I'm a big girl, and I trust Spike, and if you can't, well then, I don't know if I can speak to you Angel. He's my friend." She couldn't believe she said that. Basically she had told Angel, her long lost love Angel, that if he didn't trust Spike he could get out.

Angel had looked disheartened and ashamed. "I'm sorry, I am, don't be angry, I didn't know."

She had stared at him with an icy glare. "Well you do now." Was this really her? Being so cold to Angel?

"I should go now, I'm sorry I came and disturbed you," Angel replied curtly, standing and trying to regain his dignity. "Sorry I cared."

Buffy swallowed but could say nothing. *Say something!* she yelled at herself. *Do something! Apologize!* But she could not. She watched as Angle gave her a sad look and walked out the door.

As soon as he was gone she burst into tears. Spike heard her and came down the stairs. But still, he had kept his comments to himself, when he was dying to call Angel a barrel full of bad names for making her cry. Instead he just took her in his arms.

"He hates me now!" She had choked out.

"No he doesn't pet, don't cry. It's a hard time for everyone, we're all tense."

Tears.

"Shhh, things'll be alright once we get back. Then you two can make up and everything will be perfect," Spike assured, his stomach churning at the thought.

"But he said he didn't trust you!" She said in a wail, as if it were the most horrible thing ever. This had silenced Spike. So what? Angel had never trusted Spike. What was the difference now? Spike didn't asked.

She had cried for an hour, and he had held her, until she had finally passed out from the fatigue of bawling. He had carried her to her room and laid her on the bed, kissing her forehead softly. When she awoke the next day she had said nothing about Angel. It was as if the whole event had never happened.

But now, as she lay in Spike arms after a night of passionate love making, she realized that Spike accepting Angel as a part of Buffy's life was a crucial step in falling in love with him. Spike holding back his own revulsion of Angel for her sake had cleared a lot up for her. In fact, it was the main thing.

But there were other small things. Like Spike's surprise on Thanksgiving. She had returned from some a day of shopping downtown and gone into the dining room only to gasp in astonishment. The table was set for two, deep autumn colors for the tablecloth and place settings, beautiful silverware and dinnerware, steaming bowls of food on the table. She set down her bags as Spike stepped into the room carrying a bronze, perfectly roasted turkey.

"What is this?" She asked in amazement.

"It's Thanksgiving," he had replied with a smile, taking off the cheesy apron he was wearing and tossing it into the kitchen. He rushed forward to take out her seat. She sat.

"Yes, but, all this? You made it?" She looked at the mashed potatoes and gravy, the cornbread stuffing, the green bean bake.

"Yes, I did," Spike said with obvious pride, taking his own seat.

"I didn't know you could cook," she said.

"I didn't, but I spent the last half a month getting lessons with Madison while you thought I was watching football with the guys."

This touched her deeply. "Oh Spike," she said, tearing up.

"Now don't start crying Buffy, let's eat first, then you can cry." He started to carve the turkey.

She had dabbed at her eyes briefly with the napkin, then started to ladle the side dishes onto her plate. The fact that Spike had gone to so much trouble, when he couldn't even eat, was marvelous. It was so thoughtful and kind.

The meal went by pleasantly slow. He had sipped wine the whole meal, not even having more than two glasses as she ate her fill, stopping repeatedly to tell Spike it was delicious. After, they had cleared the table and done the wash together, laughing and joking as if they did it everyday.

She had gone to sleep with thoughts of what a extraordinary person Spike could be.

And little things since then has affirmed the statement of love she had given last night. She had never realized she was falling in love with him until she had said it. Then it had all clicked. Everything small detail of their life together in Roseland had fell together to form a beautiful picture of her love for him.

She found herself hoping beyond hope that Gugsrak would tire so quickly, and that she could spend more time with Spike here. She actually dreaded returning to Sunnydale as much as she was anxious to see her friends. Sunnydale would present some major difficulties to her new found relationship with Spike.

But she didn't want to think of that now. No, now she was going to go back to sleep and be content that she was with Spike for the present. And so she drifted back into a peaceful slumber.