Chapter 9- Catching up with the Ex

A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! Here's the summaries again:

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Chapter 1: Sunrise: Buffy rescues Spike. It's sunrise, so he'll have to remain there for the day. As she leaves the cave and heads home, Buffy ponders life without Spike.

Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home: Buffy returns to her home only to be attacked by the Potentials. Somehow, the First, in Buffy's form, has convinced them that the real Buffy is the First in corporeal form. Buffy is, naturally, upset that the Potentials and her friends could believe that. The First leaves after a bit of taunting.

Chapter 3: Wheatabix, Blood and a Blanket: Buffy searches for these things (plus a first aid-kit) so she can go help Spike. She talks with Xander, who tells her that Willow was called to LA. As she leaves, she tells him that Spike is a good man, and that he should try and realize this.

Chapter 4: Nightmares and Memories: Buffy returns to the cave, bag o' supplies in hand, to find Spike having a nightmare, and nearly hurting himself in his thrashing about. She wakes him. Despite his protests, she bandages him and gives him blood. Inadvertently, her thoughts lead her to Willow's Let my will be done spell' (Something Blue). She (finally!) realizes that Willow's spell was only that she and Spike should marry, not that they should be in love. Unfortunately, she says some of this out loud and Spike hears her.

Chapter 5: Rain Check: Buffy tells Spike she doesn't know what her feelings are for him exactly, and asks for a rain check on the heavy, serious stuff till after they defeat the First. He agrees. Buffy fills him in on what's been going on while he's been gone. They then fall asleep, side by side (Awww! ;o)

Chapter 6: A Long Talk in a Damp Cave: Basically, a big long talk between Buffy and Spike about forgiveness. She says that she needs his forgiveness for what she did to him last year, which of course surprises him. Buffy admits that he did some good things even when soulless, like taking care of Dawn. By now it's sundown, so they set out for home.

Chapter 7: Coming Home: Buffy and Spike head home. Halfway there, Spike asks Buffy if she really thinks he can be a better man. She replies that he already is a better man. They arrive home, unexpectedly finding Riley sitting in Buffy's living room.

Chapter 8: Leading to a Talk: Spike accuses Buffy of not telling him about Riley, then realizes she really didn't know. Xander offers to help Spike (gasp!). Dawn, Anya, and Andrew leave Riley and Buffy to talk. Sort of a filler chapter, nothing real interesting.

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We need to talk, Riley said.

Buffy looked at him. What did I ever see in him? I mean, state the obvious much? Of COURSE we need to talk.

 Out loud, all she said was, Ok, Riley. Let's sit down and talk. Do ya want something to eat? Hot chocolate?

He looked at her strangely. Hot chocolate? What? Uh, no. Thanks.

He sat back down on the couch and Buffy plopped herself down into a comfy chair facing him.

Finally, Riley cleared his throat and began. A lot has happened to me, and I'm sure a lot has been happening here. But I need to tell you something very important first. You're not going to like hearing this. Though I will enjoy telling you this, he added silently.

Oh, just spit it out already Riley, it's been a bit of a long couple of days, Buffy snapped.

Blinking at her rudeness, Riley continued. Right then. Cut right to the chase. Hostile 17's chip was only a temporary one. Since he wasn't, obviously, supposed to go free the temporary part shouldn't have been a problem. The chip was still very new, very experimental.

He paused. Buffy chose not to respond, sensing he had more to add. She was also a bit annoyed at his use of the term Hostile 17' in place of Spike.'

So, basically, Hostile 17's chip may not be working, or it will very soon cease to be. I understand not staking him when he was harmless and could be useful, but he's nothing but a danger now.

Buffy was still regarding him blankly, as if waiting for him to make his point. He frowned. Maybe he'd have to spell it out for her.

he said slowly and carefully, as if to a small child, Hostile 17 needs to be staked. He can and will kill humans again.

The words which next came out of Buffy's mouth surprised him.

No, he won't, she calmly stated.

Buffy, he's a vampire! An evil, soulless, HST who will murder you the first chance he gets.

She was really starting to lose her patience. Spike is not evil. In fact, he's not soulless either.

Shocked, Riley could do nothing but stare at this woman. God, he really must have her under some sort of spell or something.

I don't know what that HST has been telling you, but it's a lie. He couldn't-

Buffy stood up, staring down at this boy playing at being a soldier.

Riley! Shut up! You have no idea what you're talking about. Look, Spike has a soul. He's endured torture numerous times to save me- err, us. And some of that was before the soul. Some was to get the soul. He chose to get the thing. And it hurt him... God, how it hurt him! It drove him insane. For a while. And-

Riley jumped to his feet and glared down at her.

What, has sleeping with the HST affected your brain? You know, maybe I was wrong, maybe you aren't the woman I once loved, perhaps you have changed. I think Hostile 17 has you under some kind of thrall. Well, I'll just break it, and then you'll see the truth.

Before Buffy could move, Riley had run up the stairs. She ran after him as quickly as possible. He always has to be the hero, she mused. Even so, this is stupider than usual for him.

With her being still slightly wounded from her battle with the Ubervamp, and his rage lending him speed, she didn't reach him until he was close to her mother's bedroom door.

As chance would have it, at that exact moment a now-clean Spike opened the door. Buffy grabbed Riley and threw him backwards to the floor, inserting herself between him and Spike.

A thoroughly confused Spike looked at them both. Uh, pet, what's-

Buffy cut him off, yelling at Riley. Damn it, Riley! He has a soul! He's good! He helps! No staking of Spike!

Spike got it now. So he's out to stake me again. Got another plastic stake with ya, soldier boy?

Not plastic this time, Riley growled.

It was Buffy's turn to be confused. But before she could say anything, Spike continued.

Buffy's right, I do have a soul. As for being good, well, I'm tryin'.

Riley stared up at him, hatred clear on his face. He didn't bother attacking with Buffy standing right there.

Spike decided they needed to resolve this, once and for all. Killing me won't get Buffy back, ya know, he said softly, not mockingly for once. He figured that's what this was about, at some level.

Spike paused, considering. Besides, what about the missus?

Yeah, where's Sam? Buffy chimed in. Maybe Sam could knock some sense into her husband.

Riley's reaction was totally unexpected. He began to sob. I... I killed her.

Buffy and Spike exchanged glances, each clarifying that the other had no idea what he was talking about.

You... you killed her? Buffy asked, disbelieving.

Riley continued to sob, head in his hands.

Spike frowned thoughtfully. Something didn't sound right. Oh. Of course.

Uh, mate, when you killed the missus, was she, by any chance, say, other than human?

Buffy's eyes widened. Of course... oh, how terrible. She kneeled down beside the weeping man.

Riley, you had to. She knew that was a risk in this business. Sam would've wanted you to kill the demon. And she wouldn't want you to feel guilty about it, either.

Riley finally looked up. But... but if Spike can be good, she coulda too. No, I murdered her.

Spike shook his head. This boy was so naive. Doesn't work like that. I came to be this way because of very singular conditions. First, the bloody chip. Second, the fact that I loved Buffy more than... No words for that. And thirdly, the soddin' soul that I went and got. You did the right thing. Don't doubt-

The little moment they were having was broken by a sound from the downstairs; specifically, the sound of Xander screaming.

Follow me, Buffy ordered.