"Why were you leaving?" asked Buffy, hurt evident in her voice.
"I just thought that, you know, it might be best" said Spike softly.
"You want to leave?" asked Buffy quietly.
"No" said Spike quickly as Buffy smiled.
"Good" she smiled. "So tell me about this 'Halfrek' person"
"What's to tell?"
"Well, how'd you know her?" she questioned.
"I knew her back when she was human" sighed Spike. "Her name was Cecily, and she was the love of my life"
"What was she like?" probed Buffy jealously.
"A bitch" snapped Spike. "Thought she was too good for me"
"Oh" said Buffy quietly.
"Is that all you wanted?" asked Spike as he turned to leave.
"No" called Buffy urgently, thinking of something to stop him from leaving. "I wanted to say thank you for my present. It's gorgeous, but I don't deserve it" she added quietly as she handed it to Spike.
"Buffy, after everything you've gone through, you deserve it more than anyone. Besides, you are the woman I love" he smiled sheepishly.
"Thank you" she whispered. "Just one little thing?"
"What?"
"Help me put it on?" she grinned. Spike took the necklace and carefully placed it round her neck, smelling her scent as he did so.
"Beautiful" he whispered as he stepped back, causing Buffy to blush.
"Will you stay then?" she asked shyly, which surprised Spike immensely.
"Why do you want me here so much?" he asked.
"I'm sorry" snapped Buffy, taking his innocent comment the wrong way. "If I'm keeping you from something more important then please feel free to leave. But you're the one who's always hanging round me, remember?"
"I never said I didn't want to say" yelled back Spike. "I just wanted to know why you wanted me to stay so much. Hell, you don't even like me"
"Is that what you really think?" asked Buffy stunned.
"It's not as if you don't tell me enough" snapped Spike.
"And you believed me?" she gasped.
"Why? Were you lying?" yelled Spike.
"Do you want to know what I really think of you?" Buffy yelled back.
"Go on, surprise me" retorted Spike.
Buffy:
It must have been cold there in my shadow
to never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine, that's your way
You always walked a step behind
So I was the one with all the glory
while you were the one with all the strength
A beautiful face without a name for so long
A beautiful smile to hide the pain
Did you ever know that you're my hero
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle
for you are the wind beneath my wings
It might have appeared to go unnoticed
but I've got it all here in my heart
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it
I would be nothing without you
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be
I could fly higher than an eagle
for you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Author'snote - The song was Bette Midler - Wind Beneath my Wings