A/N: this is the same day before anyone gets confuzzled. Oh and I'm sorry for that 'UPDATE' thing at the end of the last chappie. I meant 'REVIEW'. That's what I get for updating early in the morning or late at night depending on how you look at it. Hm…why am I doing that now?

Buffy sighed before going to open the front door. Spike had forced her to call her brother and invite him over which she had done. So when she opened the door, that's what she saw, her brother.

"Oh my god! Scottie" she yelped seeing his beaten state. His eye was puffy and swollen and he had bruises everywhere. By the way he limped into the house, he most likely had a sprained ankle. His shirt had dried blood stains on it and he looked about ready to collapse.

"Don't worry Liz. I'm fine" he replied.

"Don't tell me not to worry. Look at you."

Scott nearly collapsed right there but she caught him just in time. "Spike!" she called needing help bringing him to the couch.

A flustered Spike came into the living room from the kitchen, almost dropping the lemonade and cups in the process. Placing the tray on the table, he wordlessly helped Buffy drag her brother to a chair. "You must be Spike" nodded Scottie once he was in the seat. Spike sat down opposite him while Buffy ran to get the first aid kit. They had already told Dawn to stay in her room and be quiet while they dealt with this.

"That'd be me" he nodded pouring a drink. He handed it to Scott who downed the entire thing in less than ten seconds.

"Huh" he smiled setting the glass down. "My sister told me about you."

"Really?" Spike got curious. "What'd she say?"

Unfortunately, Buffy came into the room just then and Scott sent Spike a smirk. "Here" Buffy said handing him a bag of ice. "Put it on your ankle." Scottie groaned slightly as Buffy cut through his shirt. "When did this happen?" Scott sent Spike a weary look. "It's okay. He already knows. You can trust him."

Scott still hesitated. "I bumped into Wilkins cronies on the street coming here. They chased me down and" he took a sharp intake of breath as Buffy disinfected the gapping knife wound. "Dammit Liz. What are you trying to do?"

Buffy stopped her movements looking angrily at her brother. "You own these loan sharks and need my help. Do you even realize that they could've killed you tonight!" Angry tears fell from her eyes.

Scott reached up, softness in his eyes. "Liz, I'm fine. See?" he wiped at her tears and offered her a little smile. She pulled away.

"I can't do this anymore Scottie. I can't keep almost losing you."

"What are you saying?" Spike felt suddenly very uncomfortable but he didn't want to abandon his…Buffy.

"I'm giving you an ultimatum. Either you clean up or I don't wanna talk to you…ever again. This is the last time I'm giving you the money either way." He looked at his sister oddly and could see how serious she was. He said nothing for a long time mentally weighing his options.

"Buffy" he began. "It's not that easy."

"I'm making it that easy" she replied stubbornly. "Because of you, I'm bringing people whom I really care about into something they were never meant to be associated with." She placed a hand on Spike's shoulder. "I lay awake every night wondering if you're okay or if today is the day that they finally get you. I can't live like that Scott. I just…I can't."

"So you're abandoning me?" he sat up a little, grimacing in the process.

Buffy sighed. When she spoke, her voice was soft. "I've never asked you for anything. I've helped you through some serious, for lack of a better term, shit. Now, for the first time ever, I need you to do something for me." She paused, wiping at the now steadily flowing tears. "Scottie, please clean up your act. I can't risk losing you."

Scott looked at his sister then down at his beaten body. He knew this should be an easy decision and Buffy was right, she had never asked him for anything. It's just, what would he do? He'd never had a job, nothing legit, unless you count the job at the cleaners when he was thirteen. But this was his sister. He had to at least try. That's all he could do right? Try.

Buffy took the couch, letting her brother stay in her room for the night. She couldn't help the silent tears that fell down her face every time an image of Scott floated into her head. She really loved him despite all the stupid things he'd done. On some level, she even understood why. It's just, when she thought about how close he came to dying tonight, well she lost it.

"Buffy" Spike's voice sounded directly behind her. She rubbed at her eyes, not wanting to seem weaker. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine" she said unconvincingly. Spike took a seat next to her.

"You can have my bed if you want. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight" he informed.

"Me neither."

Pause.

"I'm proud of you, you know. Of how you told your brother the truth, opened up."

"I just hope it makes a difference." Spike put an arm around her, settling back into the gushy couch. Buffy leaned into him.

There was a long moment of comfortable silence before Spike decided to break it. "So you care about me?"

Buffy took a second to understand what he'd said but when she did, her cheeks began to turn a fiery red. She was just happy he couldn't see. "I-I…"

"Be honest" he interrupted.

"Honest?" he nodded. "Then yes, I do care about you Spike. I totally understand if you wanna end this thing…whatever it is."

He turned to her, staring at her like she had ten heads. "Why would I wanna do that?"

It was Buffy's turn to look at him oddly. "Are you kidding? I mean, you've met my brother and I told you about my breakups and…my past in general. How can you not want to end it after all that?"

"Buffy." He looked at her seriously, eyes clouded with a mix of desire and total honesty. "You have baggage, we all do. I love you too much to let you go just because you have a screwed up family. Who doesn't?"

"Y-you love me?" Buffy asked, a smile playing at her lips.

"Well, as Dawn would say, duh." He too was smiling.

"You don't have to say anything." Spike continued. "I didn't say I love you and expect you to say it back. I just want to tell you how I really feel."

Buffy kissed him, passionately, and as she pulled away with a big smile she whispered "I love you too…William."

A/N: okay sorry for the delay but I haven't been near a computer to the past few weeks. I've been away on vaca, again, and I just got back. I'm sorry. I actually just woke up so I don't know if any of that makes sense. For all of you who read my other story, I'll be updating that within the week. I also want to put the next chappie to this story up soon but it'll be short, most likely a Dawn/Spike conversation or something. Well as always, REVIEW! (heehee, I got it right this time. Lol)