The group of four ate lunch at the W&H building, some eating fries, some slurping blood. All enjoying each other's company.

Buffy suddenly spoke up. "I'm going through the portal," she said with quiet determination.

"Like hell you are!" Spike immediately objected.

Buffy sighed, continuing. "I have to do this. You guys will find a way to bring me back."

Willow nodded, and Angel said, "You know we will."

"I'm counting on you."

Spike looked on as everybody supported Buffy's decision. "Have you people gone completely insane? Buffy," he said, pulling her aside. "It's a trap, and you know it."

"Spike, it's the only way."

"You don't even know if the girl's telling the truth."

"No, it's legit. Willow checked with five different covens. It's already starting, Spike. Earthquakes—"

"—Happen all the time."

"Not in the middle of Ohio, they don't."

Spike sighed in frustration. "Okay, well in case you've forgotten, you're not the only slayer anymore. Why's it gotta be you? Why can't we send someone else?"

Willow and Angel slowly inched their way out of the building to give them some privacy.

Buffy looked at him, incredulous. "What is this?" she asked after a moment.

"What is what?" Spike answered, confused.

"You. With the mind games. You don't tell me you're alive. Then when we see each other for the first time in a year, you can hardly look at me. You say you've moved on. And now," she shook her head, "now you're giving me romantic birthday gifts. What are you playing at?"

"I'm not playing at anything. I just…bloody hell," he fumbled, trying to explain. "I wanted you to remember me as the bloke who died for you, for the world. I didn't want you to see me like this, with no purpose. I needed to find a purpose, Buffy, I needed to stand alone for once."

She slowly shook her head. "That's…really lame."

"Excuse me?"

"You not coming to me because you wanted me to think of you as a champion. Well, if you recall, when I came back after jumping off the tower for Dawn, nobody thought less of me. Hell, when I came back, we started boinking each other."

Spike scoffed. "Yeah, well, I'd be doingthe same this time if I hadn't been replaced by the Immortal."

Buffy was taken aback.

"Yeah, I know about you and that ponce."

"How—"

Spike sighed. "Angel heard that you were with him. We went to Rome to try to rescue you. Turns out you were dating the git."

"Angel was keeping tabs on me?" she asked in indignation. "Oh, I'm gonna kill him."

Spike waved his hand. "Don't beat him up for it. He just wanted to make sure you were safe."

Buffy paused. "Did you just defend Angel?"

"Yeah," Spike said, uncomfortably. "So?"

"Nothing. I'm just…wondering where the flying pigs are."

"Look, you can't deny it. You got over me in the blink of an eye, so don't act pissed at me for trying to do the same."

Buffy lost it. "I had no choice! I moved on because I had to, because you were dead! You were dead," she repeated, her eyes brimming with unwanted tears, "and you left me! I couldn't keep holding onto dreams, I just couldn't." She heard the waver in her voice, and she was angry with herself for being so weak. "You were dead," she said, her voice hard. "And I had to keep living."

They stared at each other, processing the truths that had just spilled out. Neither could say a word, unsure of what could come out. Suddenly, Spike grabbed Buffy and pulled her close. He kissed her. Desperately, passionately, he did what he had wanted to do since he came back, he did what he was made to do, what he lived for. Messy kisses, flesh feeling flesh, drowning in her smell, in her being. He tasted her again and again, drinking her in. He melted into her as he continued to touch her, hearing the soft sighs and moans that escaped from her lips. How sweet she tasted, how intoxicating. He was in deep, he was drunk with love, there was no turning back.

She responded. Put her hands on his chest, on his shoulders, in his hair. Always trying to get closer. Her mouth lost on his, too busy to come up for air. She slid his leather duster off of his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground in a heap. He moved his hands down her back, and she shivered.

To hell with breathing.