AN: Next chapter will be around on Wednesday, just letting you know. And if you think it's going to get better… you're wrong.

Revenge 7

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Spike had an urge to slam with the doors, but remembered this was not his own home. This wouldn't have stopped him five years ago, right after his 'accident', but he had become more considerate. Oxford had helped him a lot in that matter, having to share a dorm with a few other students. He was surprised to find Buffy still up in the living room.

"I thought you would have gone to bed."

"I wanted to wait for you… if that's allowed." Buffy said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She kissed him lightly on the mouth before stepping back.

"Where did you go with Will and Tara?"

"The diner."

"Did you have fun?"

It was an innocent question, asked in the most innocent tone, but Spike wasn't fooled by it. With a smile he reached for her and noticed that she didn't immediately come to him. It hurt him, although he didn't show it. Eventually she took his hand and went into his arms.

"They invited the both of us, love, but you weren't home. I knew you had an exhausting day at university and I had nothing to do."

"I forgive you, Spike, no need for the explanation."

They sat down together and conversation fell silent. Spike found it an excellent opening to begin over his rival.

"How was university?"

"Like usual."

"That's not the answer I got when I was in Oxford. You could never shut up about it, Buffy. What's changed?"

"Nothing… no novelty anymore Spike. Stop bugging me about it."

She waved him off and he just got more roused up. No emotion showing on his face, the next question threw Buffy off completely.

"How about the friends you made there? Willow told me about a few of them."

"Fr.. Friends?"

"Yeah, Buffy, friends. Like that assistant of the professor!"

"This is too ridiculous for words!"

They were yelling at each other now, although they knew they shouldn't. Eventually it was Spike who calmed down first.

"I'm sorry, pet, I didn't mean to get so… so angry. I think it's with the jetlag and all…" He trailed off and sighed before trying again. "It's just that you build a whole other life without me, Buffy. You are… It seems like I know only a small piece of you."

"Don't you think I feel the same, Spike? We have seen each other for six months over the past three years. I don't know what you have been doing there. You have written so many letters, but you could have written all lies."

"You know I didn't, Buffy."

"How? How do I know for sure that you didn't pick a girl up at Oxford? Who knows you didn't say to her that you went home on the holidays?"

Spike sighed and sat down. He had been very angry at her in the past hours, but now he was just… disappointed.

"I didn't know you would think so low about me. I guess there is nothing left to say."

With that, he took his duster from the couch where he had thrown it when he came in. Buffy went after him, laying a hand on his arm.

"Spike, don't be like this."

"Like what? It's obvious what you think of me."

"Are you… are you breaking up with me?"

He looked at her for the first time since he took up his coat. His eyes hardened and his voice sounded low and cold.

"I gathered it was more like the other way around. You don't' want me in your house or in your bed, Buffy ,you made it painfully clear. If you don't mind, I'll be on my way."

He immediately turned and opened the door. Without giving Buffy a chance to speak her mind he left. He didn't want to give her the time to think about what she had done. He vowed to himself that this was final. If Buffy thought about him in that way, if she didn't even have the courage to trust him while he had to just know that she was faithful to him, they didn't fit together.

Buffy sat on the couch still, an hour after Spike had left. It was over, truly over… and it was all her fault. For one reason or another, she didn't feel so sad as she should. When she heard the door slam, her heart skipped a beat. Maybe he was back!

"Honey? Are you home?"

"I'm here, mum." She sighed.

"Where is Spike?" Joyce asked when she came into the living room. She saw Buffy, her shoulders slumped, sitting on the couch.

"We've broken up."

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry! You were doing so good again."

"I guess it wasn't meant to be." Buffy replied quietly.