Fly Away Home

"See Spike, being in a wheelchair isn't so bad," Buffy shrugged as she pushed him in the front door. "Anyway, you'll be back on your feet before my parents even come home..." Buffy trailed off.

Joyce and Hank were standing cross armed right in front of her.

"Hi Mom, Hi Daddy," Buffy smiled weakly.

"We need to talk," Hank said coldly. "All of us." He glanced over at Spike.

"Ok," Buffy sat down in one of the armchairs. Spike wheeled over next to her. "What did you want to talk about?"

"About what you've been up to since we left for Europe," Joyce answered, sitting down next to her husband. "One day you're telling us everything is fine, the next you're begging us to come home because Spike's dying!"

"Well, he was. The whole building was blown up and I got shot!" Buffy held up her still plastered arm. "I just thought you might have wanted to be here."

"We couldn't get flights," Hank shrugged, obviously lying.

Buffy nodded, not in the mood for an argument.

"So we've decided that the best thing we can do is send Spike back to England," Joyce said.

Buffy's jaw dropped. "You can't!"

Spike remained silent; he was used to people not wanting him around. But he was bit shocked at Joyce's outburst.

"I think it's for the best," Hank said.

"Best for who?" Buffy demanded.

"Buffy, its ok, if I'm not wanted anymore..." Spike nodded.

"Don't ever think that!" Buffy glared from Spike to her parents. "I won't let you do this."

"And why are you so eager for him to stay?" Hank asked. "You were counting the days until he left last time I heard."

"Things have changed." Buffy answered. "Things have changed so much."

"How have they changed, Buffy?" Hank was starting to get annoyed with her.

"Because I love him!" She cried.