Buffy opened the front door and walked inside. "Dawwwn! Dawn! Dawn, are you here?" Nervous, Buffy started hurriedly up the stairs. A moment later, Dawn stepped out of the kitchen, thoroughly befuddled.

"Yeah? Whe- "

Buffy grabbed Dawn and gave her a tight hug. "Oh, Dawnie! I'm sorry. It was raining and then it started to hail and I couldn't make it home. Were you okay by yourself?"

"It's okay, Buffy. Really," Dawn said in a muffled voice, her head still buried in Buffy's chest. Pushing her sister away, she looked her up and down and said, "One question."

"What?"

"Uh, why are you wearing Spike's shirt?" She asked, an amused smirk appearing on her face.

"What?" She looked down at the black shirt— Spike's trademark— and replied, "This isn't Spike's shirt. It's a black shirt I borrowed from...Xander."

Dawn merely raised an eyebrow. "It smells like Spike, not Xander."

"Oh, yeah? How do you know what Spike and Xander smell like?" Buffy asked, panicking now. "Sniffy girl," she added lamely. Dawn just stared at Buffy as the older Summers had a coronary. "Oh, okay. See, I told you I couldn't come home because of the storm, and Spike's crypt was the closest place..." she stammered. "And I needed clothes."

"You spent the night in Spike's crypt! Ohmigod, Buffy!" Dawn bounced around in teenage jubilee. "Was it good? I bet it was, being Spike and all."

"Dawn! You're not supposed to ask those kinds of questions! And besides, nothing happened! Hello? Spike is evil."

"Yeah, but he's still sexy. Plus, how evil can he be? I mean, being all chipped and everything."

"Dawn! Stop! Spike is not sexy. He's...Spike," she said with a put-on sigh of disgust, turning to climb the stairs. Why was it that her sister always managed to bluntly state everything she'd been thinking and make it seem so simple? Talk about unfair.

"Buffy?" Dawn called. "Can I have the shirt?" Buffy rolled her eyes and kept walking. As she headed into her room and closed the door, she wondered who she was trying to convince about the not-so-sexy-and-very-evil-Spike: Dawn or herself?

Spike woke in his crypt later that day, immediately remembering that Buffy had spent the night in his bed. The thought brought an immediate smile to his face, despite the fact that it had nothing to do with him and everything to do with the rain. Next time, he vowed to himself, they'd both be in that bed. He knew the absurdity of this conviction and laughed at his own disillusionment.

Doubting that she had lingered, he nevertheless went downstairs. Sure enough, the Slayer had disappeared. So had his shirt. "Bint takes my clothes and can't even say g'bye," he muttered to himself. Lack of gratitude had always been one of her faults, at least when it came to him, and yet he loved her regardless. Eternally love's bitch, he thought.

Every physical trace that Buffy had ever been there was gone, but her scent still permeated the air. Spike inhaled deeply and smiled, laying down where Buffy had slept. The sheets, too, were saturated with her scent. He could drown in it. And what a way to go…Closing his eyes contentedly, he slept again and dreamt of his Slayer.

Later, at the Magic Box, the gang was researching a new type of demon. Buffy, immersed in thoughts of Spike, stared absently and the book in front of her, scanning paragraphs and absorbing nothing. "Something on your mind, Buffy?" Giles asked, cleaning his glasses.

"Yeah, Buffy. You've been kinda quiet today." Willow glanced up from her own book. "Everything okay?"

"Wha-? Oh, yeah, I was just wondering where Riley is. He told me he was gonna show," she lied.

"Well, you can go look for him. We're okay doin' the research thing on our own," Willow said, smiling. The redhead knew that Buffy was worried about something other than Riley and that having her research in her preoccupied state was like asking a hyperactive puppy to sit still and maybe stand on its head. Stupid and really really pointless. Hence the letting her off the hook.

"Yeah, ya know what? I think I will." Buffy made up her mind. Seeing Riley will make me forget all about Spike. Spike is stupid. Stupid Spike and his stupid attitude. Riley's sexier that him anyway. At this she laughed, then immediately chastised herself. The thoughts continued on their own, however. Yeah right.

"Joke, Buffy? Share. Xander likes laughs." Xander commented in an attempt to get his best friend to let him in on what was bothering her.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinkin'. See you guys later, okay?"

"Bye, Buffy."

"Later Buffy."

"See ya."

Riley and Buffy sat on her bed talking and cuddling, when Riley got a somber look on his face. "What's with the serious?" Buffy asked with a smile, already attempting to lighten the mood.

"I love you, Buffy," he said, with a conviction that belied the insecurity shining in his eyes.

Buffy paused, then kissed him. She could almost taste his dissapointment that she hadn't reciprocated, but pushed aside her guilt and continued to show him how she felt using her lips and hands. So she wasn't ready to say 'I love you'. It didn't mean she didn't. Ok, so maybe she wasn't at that level of feeling yet, but she cared for Riley and that should be enough for him. Deep down, she knew she was lying to herself and holding out on him, but she continued to ignore her conscience. She really did have feelings for him and didn't want to lose him.

He finally kissed her back, putting his hands on her waist, and she immediately deepened the kiss, only stopping when they both needed air. She sighed, whispering "Spike" against his lips. Her eyes flashed open and she froze in horror.

Startled, Riley pulled back. "What?"

Buffy blushed and unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm. "I said Spike. He might be up to something. I think we should patrol," she replied quickly.

"Uh...yeah, all right. Are you sure?" He still looked suspicious. And hurt.

"Yeah. It's getting late. Gotta go out and stake some vamps. Protect the innocent populace of Sunnydale and all that."

"Oh, I thought we could, uh..." He looked at her pleadingly.

"Maybe after," she said, firmly. She really needed some air. "Duty calls."

"Okay," he replied, clearly disappointed.

They walked slowly through the cemetery, this night just as cold as the last. I can't believe I was thinking of Spike when I kissed Riley. What is wrong with me? And when he told me he loved me, I should have said something. At least a 'me, too'…anything!

How long is he going to fall for that? Eventually he's going to realize that I never answer him—if he hasn't already. It really isn't fair. But I don't love him. I mean, sure, he's nice, and he cares about me; but it's nothing like what I had with Angel.

"Buffy?" She was jerked from her thoughts and noticed that Riley had stopped walking. He stepped towards her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "We need to talk."

She blinked up at him. "Now?" His unrelenting gaze prompted her to add finally, "Bout what?"

"Do you love me?"

Taken aback by the straightforwardness of the question, she wondered if Riley could read minds. Or maybe they were just thinking the same thing. "W- what?"

"Do you love me?" His eyes begged her to affirm that she did, to pledge her undying devotion to him, and Buffy was moved. She couldn't hurt him.

"Of course I do. Love you," she said, staring at the ground. "How can you even ask?"

"That doesn't convince me. I love you, Buffy. It's not that hard. Unless," he added quietly, "you don't mean it. If I'm pushing too hard, or asking too much, you tell me. Because I really don't think I am. You know exactly how I feel about you and I think you owe me the same courtesy. Good or bad." He turned away.

"How can you even ask me that? After all that we've been through and you doubt my feelings for you!"

"I'm not doubting anything. I just want to hear you say you love me. Or- that you don't."

"What is all this about? We were happy, and suddenly you're thinking that I don't care about you?"

"I know you care about me, Buffy. But you also care about Willow and Xander and Giles. Love is a totally different thing...and I know you don't love me. When you know how you feel, let me know. You know where to find me." He walked slowly out of the cemetery, leaving Buffy standing stunned and alone.

Spike witnessed the whole scene, smiling inwardly. I knew she had more sense than to fall in love with a bloke like that. Big, dumb, and innocent. She needs someone darker; someone like me. Someone who understands her.

Sodding poofter hasn't got an ounce of darkness in him, he thought indignantly. Doesn't deserve someone like Buffy. He thought about coming out from the shadows but changed his mind. She belongs in the shadows with me, he thought. In the cold...and she'll come.

With that thought, he turned and walked silently to his crypt.

I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews! This was my first fanfic, and I was really nervous that everyone would hate it, but apparently it didn't suck that bad. Please continue to R&R!Thanx!