They jumped apart, their heads jerking away from each other as two pairs of eyes fixed on the same window Angel had climbed through.

"Spike," Buffy said softly, her eyes wide as she looked from him to Angel.

"Long time, no see, love," he said with a smirk.

"What do you want, Spike?" Angel demanded, his voice stiff and uninviting.

"My own business, that is. What the hell are you doing here? It's not that you aren't welcome-" He paused, obviously thinking. "Well, actually it is."

Angel said nothing, taking a threatening step closer to Spike.

"Trying to scare me?" Spike's smirk grew as he stepped through the window into her room. "That doesn't work anymore."

"You've invited him in, Buffy?" Angel said. Every muscle in his body tensed as he spoke, his eyes fixed on Spike.

Spike's smirk faded. "What? You mean to tell me that she hasn't told you?"

"Told me what?" suspicion slowly found its way into Angel's eyes and voice as Buffy shifted uncomfortably beside him.

The blonde vampire grinned once more. "The Slayer's been keeping my crypt warm, Angelus."

Angel was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowed. When he finally spoke his voice was a deadly whisper: "Liar."

Spike scoffed at this, his eyes darkening. "Alright, then. Slayer, you tell our old friend here the truth."

Angel slowly turned to face Buffy, desperately hoping that the other vampire was wrong. "Buffy?" he asked softly.

She avoided his gaze once more, her voice a whisper. "Angel, I... He's telling the truth..."

"Told you," Spike gloated softly, his eyes glittering.

"Spike, shut it!" she snapped angrily.

For once, the vampire complied without a word.

Buffy turned to Angel, a resolute expression on her face.

"I know you're going to blame this on me, Angel, but don't. You're the one that walked out of town without a word, only to show up later on to follow me around. Not only did you do that, but you never said a single word to me until I found you in LA."

"We've already talked about this. Why are you bringing it up again?"

"Because it still hurts!" the volume of her voice rose with each word.

He was silent at this, still gazing at her. Moments later he spoke again, "I know, Buffy. I feel it, too."

Spike finally broke his momentary silence. "Alright, then. What's done is done. Can't undo the past, I always say." He clapped his hands together once, staring pointedly at Buffy. "And now, I need to have a little word with the Slayer. You done here, Angel?"

"Actually-"

"Yes. He is," Buffy interrupted, her eyes silently telling Angel to leave.

The dark vampire looked hurt for a moment, but the expression faded quickly, anger replacing it. Without a word to the other two he crossed to the window, climbing out of it and disappearing into the night silently.

"Buffy-"

"What?" she snapped.

"Damn," Spike cursed softly, looking away. "Look, Buffy. I'm sorry I interrupted your little chitchat with Angelus-"

"Don't call him that," she said slowly, her voice strained.

A grin spread across Spike's face lazily. "What, Buff? Does the name bring back memories of the killer he is?"

"He's not a killer."

"He's a vampire, love. What else would he be?"

"Hypocrite," she spat angrily, taking another step away from him.

With a low growl Spike crossed the room to Buffy's side, grabbing her upper arms roughly and forcing her to look him in the eye. "Really? Tell me something I don't know, Slayer."

"Get your hands off of me," she said, her eyes flashing.

He said nothing in response, looking her in the eye and silently challenged her. For several minutes they stood there, Spike's grip tightening occasionally.

Buffy was the first to speak: "Why are you doing this?" she pleaded softly.

He didn't answer, instead shoving her away from him with a low growl and watching with grim satisfaction as she collapsed onto her bed. She slowly sat up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. He looked her in the eye, despite the fact that her hair covered much of her face.

He forced himself to break eye contact with her, almost ashamed at having lost his temper – again. He still said nothing, avoiding her question.

"Get out, Spike," she said quietly, her voice filled with anger.

He finally looked back at her, surprised and yet furious for some unknown reason. "What?"

"You heard me. Just... Just leave." She turned away, obviously finished.

Spike hesitated. "Buffy-"

"Go!"

He jerked his head back as if slapped, his voice a growl as he spoke once more, "Fine."

The blonde vampire turned his back on her swiftly, his trench coat billowing out behind him as he crossed the room in three strides. Easily slipping over the window frame, Spike glanced once more at Buffy. With a barely audible sigh he left her there, climbing back down.

When he was barely six feet from the ground his foot stumbled slightly and suddenly he was in the air, falling fast. He hit the ground with a grunt, cursing himself silently for his lack of concentration.

"Nice," came a calm voice from the shadow of a nearby tree.

Spike looked up quickly, a scowl on his face as his eyes landed on Angel. "Oh, bloody hell. I thought you left."

"Obviously not."

Spike stood slowly, still scowling. "Why?"

"I want to know what's going on between you and Buffy."

"Oh... jealous, are we?" he sneered.

"Just tell me what I want to know, Spike."

He said nothing for a moment, contemplating what he should or shouldn't say to Angel. His old nemesis stared him down, his hatred for him prominent. He could only imagine what the other vampire would do to him if he told him the real story.

Of course, the git won't know if what I tell him is the truth or not, he thought silently, a slow grin curving his lips.

"Well?" Angel's tone was an obvious indication of his impatience.

"What's there to tell besides what you already know?"

"A lot, apparently."

"Not all that much-"

"Damnit, Spike. Stop avoiding the question," he growled softly.

"Would you like me to tell you the short story, or the long version of it, then?"

Angel said nothing in response and it was obvious to Spike that the vampire wasn't going to be civil towards him for much longer.

"I have a better idea: How about you just start talking." It wasn't a question.

He hesitated for a moment, than spoke slowly. "In her mind, I am what you used to be to her. You know, the whole 'boyfriend' thing?"

He was still silent, but it was obvious to Spike that he had struck a nerve. The other vampire's hands clenched silently.

"So do you still think I'm lying, Angel? Still think I'm making it all up just to make you jealous?" Spike sneered again.

"No-" Angel started to say.

"But I do."

Damn... Spike turned quickly, his eyes falling on Buffy.