Buffy is up early the next morning, she takes a quick breakfast, before Dawn and her mother are awake. She goes straight to the Magic Box, she wants to see Anya before she opens the store.

Anya is already there and she is surprised to see Buffy.

Hello Buffy ! It's early, you've come to train ?

Hi Anya ! Not really, in fact I want to talk with you about something.

Oh ! Really ? Is it about sex ?

NO ! Why do you think I would want to talk about that ?

Because it's a very interesting subject, humans always think about that, but they don't want to talk about it, it's not logical.

Well what do you want to talk about ? Is it about Spike ?

Buffy's cheeks flushed. Spike ? Why do you think I want to talk with you about Spike ?

I don't know, he is weird with you, he always wants to spend time with you, he doesn't complain about patrolling anymore, and he is always watching you when you don't watch him. I think he has a crush on you.

No ! I don't think so, well it's not about him, it's about demons in general, Giles says you are the best person to talk to about that, since you have been one for centuries and...

Giles said that, it's good to know that someone appreciates my knowledge ! Says Anya, delighted.

Yes, he said that, so my question is do you think that demons have feelings like humans even if they don't have a soul ?

It depends ! Some demons are very primal, like insects, these have more instincts than thoughts, some others are more enlighted, like cow, not very intelligent but they are affectionate.

What about vampires or demons of the same level of intelligence ?

Well ! At this level, and with demons more enlighted than vampires, they are not very different than humans, they just doesn't have the same priorities is all.

What do you mean ?

Demons are generally evil, not all of course and they have a sort of soul but much more smaller if I can say that, if you want vampires for example are like humans without a moral or social conventions, they have rules between them, Masters Vampires are dominant and the others obey.

They are amoral most of the time. But like humans they are all differents, some humans are amoral others are saints. I have known some vampires who didn't drink human blood because they thought it was not a necessity for survive, like some humans are vegetarian for example. Others refused to kill, they only takes a little blood from three or four humans each night without killing them. It depends of each demons in fact. I don't think a soul makes a really big difference.

So do you think a demon can love in the same way as a human being ? I mean it's not just lust or obsession ?

It's depends of the demon in question, is he always evil, is he unselfish sometimes, it's the same with a human you know, some guys are selfish and immoral.

Ok ! Thank you Anya, you have been very useful.

It's nothing ! Oh and Buffy, if it's Spike your questions was about, I think someone who have been loyal to a crazy girl like Drusilla for a century, it proves that he is the most vertuous man or vampire I have ever known. Anybody else would have quit or kill her after a month. I think he could be the man you need !

Anya didn't wait an answer and returned to her occupations, living Buffy amazed behind her.

Buffy get out of the shop, her mind turned upside down. « I think he can be the man you need » Anya's statement replaying in her mind. What does she mean by that ? that I am as impossible to bear as Drusilla ! Wonderful !