Disclaimer: I don't own anything Buffy or Whedon like. Unless you count the Buffy Seasons One through Seven.

A/N: Finally, an update. I'm sorry it took so long but I hope this chapter is something that you enjoy and please leave a review and let me know what you think. The more reviews the faster I can add a new chapter. Thanks!


Spike growled as he saw the redhead walking towards him. He extinguished the cigarette as he rolled his eyes. Watching her walk nervously up towards. He smirked when she got into hearing distance, "Oh , it's you now then Red?"

"Spike, we need to, we have to talk." Spike smiled.

"That's what we're doing Red. Now if there's something you want to talk about specifically you're going to have to let me in on that."

"I-I wanna talk about B-Buffy." Willow murmured. Spike shook his head.

"No."

"What? Why not?"

"Because I have nothing to say about her Willow. She blew me off and I'll tell you something, she did it enough. I know when I've been kicked enough not to get back up." Willow sighed, pushing a hand through her hair.

"Maybe you just need to talk to her." Willow sighed, "There might be something that you don't know about." Spike rolled his eyes.

"Really? What could possibly be going on that I don't know about? She told me everything." Willow bit her lower lip.

"Everything?"

"Yes! We trusted one another and she knew that whatever she needed to talk about whether it be her family problems or something that was wrong with the bint that she'd tell me." Willow frowned.

"Well, then if you knew Dawnie was getting worse why haven't you gone to see her?"

"Of course I knew Daw-" Spike stopped. "Wait. What did you just say?" Willow's eyes widened and she shook her head.

"Oh no. That means you didn't know and I just," She shook her head, "I was horrible, I just, my mouth just let it all out. I shouldn't hav-" Spike grabbed her shoulders, rough enough to just shake Willow out of her ramble.

"What are you talking about Red? What's wrong with the bint?" Willow shook her head, her eyes pooling up with tears as she tried looking up at Spike. But she couldn't. "Come on now Red, tell me what's goin' on."

"Dawn's sick."

"Yeah. Well I knew that." Spike said softly. What else is wrong?"

"She's getting worse. The chemo, it's not working very well." Spike felt the breath catch in his throat. He looked down a moment as he tried to gather words.

"And what does that mean for big sis?"

"It means she's been staying home with her while her Mom is talking with the doctors to see what's going on." Willow sighed, seeing the heartbreak clear on Spike's face, "Haven't you talked to Conner?" Spike shook his head.

"I haven't gotten to talk to Conner, he's been kinda dis-" Spike shook his head as he felt the tears pool up. He couldn't even begin to understand what was going on in Conner's head. "I have to call the guy. He's got to be, why wasn't I there?" Spike started rambling as Willow just let him cry on her shoulder, frozen.

"I-It's not like it's your fault. You didn't know." She said softly.

"I should've talked to him sooner." Willow bit her lip and looked down towards Spike who let go of her and sunk down onto the ground his back to the wall.

"You couldn't have known though. I mean, if he hasn't been talking to you there wasn't much more you could've done." Spike shook his head.

"I should've pushed."

"And what, had Conner pushing you away?" She asked as she knelt down next to him. Spike slowly looked up at her.

"When did you get smart?"

"Well, about things like this it's just kind-" Willow paused, a frown forming on her face, "Hey!" She quickly stood up, "I don't know why you feel like insulting me but I'd say that I was looking at that with more of a reason then you." Spike slowly smiled, laughing just a little.

"I'm just messing with you Red. You're right when it comes to that, you're right. And you know what I'm going to do?" Willow shook her head as she watched Spike slowly get up, adjusting his duster. "I'm gonna go back to Buffy, talk to her, make her listen to me, till she likes me again." Willow stared towards him wide-eyed as he walked off.

"O-okay. Whatever works." She whispered.


Xander stared towards his best friend. She wasn't in there. He knew she wasn't. The happy Buffy that he and Willow had known since their freshman year of high school no longer lived in the Buffy shell that he stared at now. It was scary. He didn't know what to do or even what to say. What did a friend say when their best friends sister was sick and dying? He wasn't sure.

"If you're going to stare at me the least you can do is say hello." Buffy murmured. Xander looked down, slowly walking up towards where she sat in the recliner.

"Hey Buffy. How's it going?" Buffy slowly looked up towards him as he sat on the sofa, her eyes were puffy and worn from tears.

"My sister is lying in her room, dying and possibly throwing up. How do you think I am?" Xander sighed.

"You know Buffy, I hate to be a thorn in your side but if you keep thinking of the horrible things that are going on you're not going to have any hope." Buffy shook her head, glaring down at the floor.

"Don't give me any religious bullshit."

"Buffy." Xander started.

"No. You don't get it Xander. If there was any good to find in this situation, don't yo think I would've found it already?" Buffy accused. Xander looked down, rubbing his hands on his thighs.

"Yeah, either that or you let it go." Buffy scoffed.

"Oh really? What the hell did I let go of?" Xander looked up at her.

"Spike." He watched as she saw the hit of what he said making an affect on her. She looked down, tears pooling up again.

"I didn't let him go. He let me go." Buffy replied. She looked down, wrapping the blanket around her tighter.

"No Buffy. I think that you let him go." Buffy's glare shot into him.

"How would you know Xander? You hate him anyway." Xander shook his head.

"You know, you're right and it amazes me that you're having more of a passion for fighting with me then going back to Spike and a passion for fighting me more than you do for Dawn." Buffy reached out, slapping him. Xander let her do it, his face following the direction of her slap as he looked the other way. He could feel the sting.

"How dare you!"

"What else am I supposed to say Buffy? It's the truth." Buffy shook her head.

"I've been fighting for my sister."

"Really? Because all I see is you down here, crying your eyes out. Now I'm not going to say you can't cry, because you have to. We all have cried because we all love Dawn. But you don't seem to understand that you need help too Buffy."

"I don't need anyone."

"Yeah. Well if that's what you believe. I'm gonna just go." Xander slowly stood up walking towards the door when Buffy suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave me." She whispered. Looking down, another attack of tears coming.

"I won't. C'mon, let's go get some air." Xander said, wrapping an arm around Buffy, he opened the door.

Both stood there stunned to see the familiar blonde head with the black duster, raising his hand to knock as the door swung open.