AN: This is the sequel to Past and Present. This probably happened a few days after the last one ended. By the way things in italics are from prior events, ie: Spike's dream of what Dru told him.
Cold fingers gently massaged her head as he leaned his weight beside her. Her body was cuddled into his side. The vampire could feel her steady breathing, forcing him to stare at her. Even in sleep, her body was tight and ridged. Placing a soft, open mouth kiss on her forehead, he heard her breathing pick up.
"William," she quietly mumbled, obviously lost in sleep. Spike smirked as he thought about getting a preview of what's inside her head. He cupped her cheek, hoping to get another reaction.
"Miss you, love you," she hastily commented arching up to Spike's touch. "So alone without you."
Spike's heart broke when he heard that. Did she really feel alone? Jealousy was crawling up his spine as he thought about this William boy. He must have broke her heart. He wondered if that was the boy who gave her that busted lip and that giant bruise on her cheek. He petted her skin using careful touches and he got a frown out of her.
"Feel so dirty for what you did," she cried and Spike could tell the pain in her voice. "If Spike ever finds out," she murmurs so quietly that he could barely hear her.
Hearing this information, his eyes went wide. What was she bloody talking about? But she wasn't talking anymore. He wanted to shake her awake and torture her until she told.
"Oh god," she said as she came out of a nightmare. Her heart was beating so fast that she was scared it would jump right out of her chest. Her hand grabbed a fist full of sheets as she tried to breathe through another nightmare.
"It's okay, love. Just take deep breathes," Spike assured while rubbing her back. He handed her a glass of water with some Advil. She took it greatly and drowned it down.
"Thanks," she hiccupped, a massive pounding in her head starting again. "Promised myself I wouldn't drink since..." she trailed off, talking to herself.
"Since when, pet?" he asked. She shook her head and sighed.
They sat in silence for a few seconds. Dawn was staring at an invisible piece of lint on her arm and Spike was looking at anything but her.
"Want to go pick out a mattress?
"Hell yeah. I'm tired of sleeping on the couch."
After they picked up a queen size Sealy bed, they had it delivered to her apartment. Spike helped her set everything up to her desire.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Spike, Things have just been...hard," she stated with a lopsided smile. "Want to stay over?"
And of course he couldn't say no.
Um, R&R. Thanks guys.
