6
Buffy sat curled up in the armchair placed in the corner of her hotel room, clutching a steaming hot cup of coffee, with both hands, feeling the warmth spreading throughout her. The muffled sounds of the shower came from behind the closed bathroom door. Even though he had been alive for more than a hundred years, he still kept his basic grooming skills intact and for that Buffy was eternally grateful, she had seen, and smelled, too many vampires who had decided that when their souls fled, so should their good grooming skills. Buffy could fell the dull ache that had been in heart ever since she had first said goodbye to Angel and had slowly increased with every love she had lost, but she was glad to be alone. She had a lot of things to think about.
I love Angel, she thought. But I love Spike too.
Angel was my first love.
But I can't be with him without risking him losing his soul.
Can I be with Spike and not miss Angel?
Can I be with Angel and not miss Spike?
Would I be better alone? The last thought, she quickly shook from her head. She had a billion thoughts buzzing around in her head but exhaustion quickly overcame her and she fell asleep with her head resting against her chin.
The dream came quickly and unbidden. She was in a sewer tunnel, standing behind a large green demon, dressed in red. Chinese type armor that she recognized with a shock. The Morha demon. In front of the demon, Spike and Angel stood shoulder to shoulder, each clutching a sword and in attack position. Before Buffy, Angel or Spike could react; the demon lunged forward and unsheathed a hidden sword. In a nanosecond, his blade sliced through the air and through Angel and Spike, they both fell to the ground in a heap and Buffy screamed. Then the demon turned his unforgiving eyes on the Slayer.
A cold hand on her shoulder woke her and she sprung to her feet, nearly spilling her coffee. Spike gazed at her, his cobalt eyes sparkling with worry. He was dressed only a towel, and his white blonde hair glistened wetly, it was obvious he had just come out of the shower.
"Buffy, what's wrong?" Buffy wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Only his vampire strength kept him from being suffocated.
"Whoa, luv, be careful, this towel isn't glued on" Buffy moved back, eyes glittering with tears.
"We need to talk to Angel, something's coming." Spike's eyes narrowed and his chin tightened. She knew this look, just as well as well as all his other looks; he was preparing himself for a fight.
"I'm guessing it's not good."
"It's never good."