Buffy looked at Spike fearfully as everyone poured into the room, yelling. "Is she here!?" One of the Scooby's yelled, "God! There she is!" Xander said catching his breath.

Spike looked at Buffy as she looked at him for support, "She's shakin' up." Spike stood up, dropping Buffy's hands from his grasp when he stood he noticed Buffy stand up also and stand behind Spike, grasping the sleeve of his jacket.

"We didn't know where you were." Xander said softly to Buffy.

"You ran away." Anya said.

"Buffy!" Willow shrieked.

"Are you okay?" Tara asked concerned.

Spike gives them a disgusted look, tries to move away and notices Buffy's got his jacket. Not letting him move away from her.

Dawn looks at the gang in shock, "You knew she was back?" Dawn moves in front of Buffy but to the side of Spike, blocking her sister off from the group slightly. "How did you know?"

Anya moves forward, "You're not a zombie… are you?" Anya asked Buffy.

Buffy looked at Anya, confused.

"Anya!" Xander yelled.

Spike felt Buffy's hand tremble on his sleeve because of the whelp's outburst. He felt her steady so he didn't say anything.

"Are you in pain?" Willow asked.

"What do you remember?" Xander questioned.

"What do you know about what happened?" Tara asked.

Spike looked back at Buffy, she was looking at him for any kind of help, "Bloody hell, you guys want to stop with the bleedin' questions? She's been there enough as it is."

Dawn nodded, "Yeah, back off you guys!"

Willow sighed, "We're sorry, we just… she's back."

Spike looked up, "You-you did this." He said.

Willow nodded, "A spell, we… we did a spell."

"We didn't think it worked but—" Dawn cut Anya off.

"Is she going to be okay?"

"I'm okay." Buffy said, the gang turning to her. "I'm gonna be fine. I remember. You brought me back." Buffy whispered.

"What was it like?" Anya asked.

"I, I can't…" Buffy said looking down. She looked back up at the group, "I'm tired." She said, dropping Spike's sleeve. Giving him a small smile. "I, I think I… just want to go to sleep." Buffy said softly.

Tara nodded, "That's a good idea, You, you should get some sleep."

"Right, long day." Willow said, "But Buffy, be happy, we got you out. We really did." Willow said giving her friend a big smile.

Buffy looks at them, still uncomfortable. "Tired." She whispered, apologetically. She looks at Dawn, "My room, it's still…"

Dawn nods, "Yeah. Yes, you're room is still –your room."

Buffy nods and exits the room.

Outside

Xander and Anya walk down the driveway, talking. "Oh yes, six of seven days." Anya said sarcastically, "That's all you need to get over the hell experience,"

Xander stops when he hears something, "What's that? Who? Spike?" Xander asked looking toward the tree and walking over to it.

Spike's leaning against the tree, his back to them, he lifts his hands and wipes his eyes. "What are you doing here? I thought you left when Buffy went up stairs?"

Spike grabs Xander and spins him around, slams him up against the tree and holds him there. "Hey!" Anya shrieked but Spike ignored her. "You didn't tell me." Spike said, "You brought her back and you didn't tell me." Spike said slamming him up against the tree again.

"Well, now you know." Xander said.

"I worked beside you all summer."

"We didn't tell you. We just… we didn't okay?"

Spike nodded, chuckling. "I've already figured it out." Spike lets Xander go, glaring at the whelp. "Maybe you haven't, but I have." Spike spat angrily. New tears burn Spike's eyes, he points toward the house, "Willow knew there was a chance that she'd come back wrong. So wrong that you'd have ... that she would have to get rid of what came back. And I wouldn't let her. If any part of that was Buffy, I wouldn't let her. And that's why she shut me out."

"Willow wouldn't do that." Xander told the vampire firmly.

"Oh? Is that right?" Spike asked sarcastically.

Xander shook his head, "Look at me and tell me the second you saw that she was back, that wasn't the happiest moment of your entire existence."

"Maybe it was." Spike told him, "I'm not goin' to lie to you lot and say I'm not happy the slayers back, your not even worth that anymore. But what you did… you have know idea what could have happened and you did it anyway!" Spike yelled, "You could have really hurt her! You could have—bloody hell you already did! You made her DIG HER WAY OUT OF HER OWN BLOODY GRAVE! And you call your selves her FRIENDS?" spike asks. "You're not worth it."

Spike moves away toward his bike. "The thing about magic!" Spike called, "There's always consequences." Spike yells getting on the bike, "If you hurt her again, I'll make sure you pay." Spike said before driving off.

Inside the house

A while later

Buffy peeked her head out of the door to her room, silence greeted her. Then she heard the talking from down stairs. She slowly walked down the stairs, seeing Dawn, Tara, and Willow in the kitchen she decided it was less crowded and walked into the room.

"Hey, Buffy." Willow greeted her friend. "I thought you were gonna get some sleep?"

Buffy nodded, "I-I was gonna, couldn't sleep." She looked around, "Umm. Did Spike leave?" She asked looking at Dawn.

Dawn nodded, "He left after you went up stairs, you want us to get him?" She asked, "Willow can call him."

Buffy shook her head, "N-no, I'm okay… can I have some water?"

Dawn nodded and looked at Tara who was already filling a glass with some sparkling water. Tara placed the cup down in front of the Slayer, "Thanks." Buffy whispered taking the cup and sipping from it.

Buffy turned and walked out of the room.

"Why'd she ask for Spike?" Willow asked, confused.

"She must have wanted him here." Dawn said, "Duh."

Tara laughed lightly, "It makes sense, that she w-would w-want him here." Tara said, "He was the one she was pretty much hiding behind."

"ohmigod! You know what would be awesome! If they got together!" Dawn said happily.

The next morning

The bright sunlight creped threw the window. Making its way to Buffy's bed. It slowly warmed her body and moved to her face. She blinked herself awake. Sighing. She got up out of the bed, she was freezing. She grabbed a sweatshirt and put it over her body. She walked out of the room and made her way down the stairs to the kitchen.

Willow and Tara were taking a bite of toast and rushing to the door, "Buffy, do you want us to stay with you?" Tara asked Buffy, "Dawn's already at school, do you want us to stay with you?"

Buffy shook her head, "No, that's fine, you guys go ahead."

They nodded and left. Buffy sighed going into the living room and sitting down on the couch.

Buffy jumped when she saw the door fly open and a smoking blanket entered. She smiled knowing who was under it. Spike threw the blanket off of him, "Fire!" He yelled stomping on it, throwing the door closed. His back was turned to her; he could feel her gaze on him. He sighed, ran his hands threw his hair and turned to her. "Mornin' love."

Buffy smiled, "Morning, Spike." She greeted him, "What's that?" She asked pointing to the paper bag in his hand.

He looked down, "Figured the witches left to early to make you breakfast. Right?" Buffy nodded, "So, figured you'd be hungry." He handed her the bag. "Egg sandwich,"

Buffy smiled, "Thanks."

"Wasn't really sure what you liked." He told her, "Or in the mood for." He shrugged, "So, I got you pretty much everything they had." He said with a soft smile, "There are about five sandwiches in there."

Buffy opened the crumpled bag and smiled, "That was really sweet."

"What ever you can't eat I will." He offered with a toothy smile.

Buffy smiled, "Okay." She walked sat down on the couch and he sat on the recliner, "Umm, you can… I mean.. You can sit here." She said patting the spot next to her.

"Right." Spike said, he sat down next to her and watched as she looked threw her sandwiches, "So, really, love… how're you holdin' up?"

Buffy froze, "Fine." She said softly.

"See, I'm a vampire, pet, I know a thing or two about a lie."

Buffy looked at him, her face solid, no emotion. "I'm not lying."

Spike nodded, "You know, you don't have to act all strong around me." He told her, "You can just be… Buffy." He told her tilting his head to the side.

Buffy nodded, "I know." She whispered.

TBC…

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