Chapter 37:

They had met outside the magic box after Saffron's shift. Well, she thought she had a shift but Giles had taken her off the rota after almost a month of not showing up for work. He had stated he couldn't rely on her, which had stung, but she couldn't blame him. She was embarrassed of how she had acted and that the only reason she had changed her mind was because she either hallucinated her mother or was sent a non-negotiable wake up call from the powers that be. She still wasn't sure which. While she was waiting for Tara, she had been into a shop to buy a new pair of combat boots, she was missing a full pair and she couldn't bear walking around with Dawn's sparkly silver trainers any longer. Not just because they were a size too small. Tara and Saff entered the Espresso Pump and ordered their coffees. Saffron made sure she paid; it was the least she could do. They sat in the far corner, Saff made sure she could see the rest of the room as she sat down. Her electric blue nails had been freshly painted and she wrapped her hands around her mug, as if she needed the warmth desperately. Her hands shook as she raised the porcelain to her lips and took a large sip, letting the rich liquid slide down her throat. She wished she could inject it straight into her system, she felt like she hadn't slept for months.

"Thanks for seeing me, T" Saffron finally spoke up after setting her mug back onto the table and locking her hands to avoid shaking so visibly.

"What you said broke Willow's heart more than I ever could…"

"I'm so sorry, T, I mean it. I know I shouldn't ask but just please don't leave Sunnydale"

"Huh?"

"I know what I've done, and I know it's shitty, but please don't go. We need you, me and Will especially" Saffron spoke quickly, not ashamed of how desperately she was pleading with one of her closest and most trusted friends, "Even if there's a time where, say, you feel like we don't need you we definitely do-"

"Saff-"

"I know I haven't been a great friend, I've been so wrapped up in… everything. But please just stay okay?"

"Saff, I'm not going anywhere" Tara stated, finally given a chance to speak. Saff scrutinised her before accepting she was telling the truth, her mind confirmed it. She would have to keep an eye on Tara in case she changed her mind. She had been letting every single emotion through again. The biggest in the room hit her in the gut: doubt. Saffron winced, she knew where it was all coming from. "I can feel that you're doubting me too, you know. I'm feeling everyone's emotions again. Even my own. It's mayhem in here" She grimaced, pointing to her head in a way that she must have picked up from Spike. "You're wondering if I added brandy to the coffee, right? Taste it." She looked at Tara as she paused before she took the cup and tentatively sipped it. Tara nodded and went pink at how easily Saffron had read her.

"Where is Willow, anyway?"

"She's at one of those GSA-type meetings at college, she's making all new friends. There's this one friend, Lee, he gives me the creeps-"

"Well, his name's Lee. Three-letter names shouldn't be trusted" Saff offered, smiling at her friend. They chatted for the rest of the afternoon, both girls feeling that the trust was growing back between them. Tara knew what it was like having to deal with things like this and feeling so alone and she couldn't measure Saffron in any other way than how she wished others would treat her. She wished the others could see how she was so determined to change, but they would need more time. They eventually had to leave the coffee house, Saffron had somewhere else she needed to be.

"Take this" Tara said quietly as she passed her a grey stone, before quickly giving her some simple instructions for how to use it on Spike. She was relieved when she saw it, Saffron didn't know how to ask her for it. She needed it for Spike but she knew nobody owed her anything. Saffron nodded and thanked her before parting ways with Tara, making sure she got to her next destination with plenty of time.

The sun was high in the sky as Saffron stood awkwardly shuffling through her mp3 player as she waited for Dawn at the entrance of the makeshift school. This high school was much smaller than the one she had attended with Buffy and the others, it was meant to be temporary and that's exactly how it looked. The buildings used to be office spaces that now opened into a warehouse-style room that could be viewed from the outside. Saffron was stood with other parents and she prayed briefly that Dawn didn't make a fuss or worse, ignore her as she left the building. The bell went that signalled the end of the day. She heard it through her earphones and turned the volume down so she could focus on scanning for Dawn through the crowds of excitable adolescents who were rushing to leave before the teachers changed their mind.

She walked back to Revello Drive, trying to work out whether Dawn had seen her waiting and avoided her or had simply not been in school that day. She was worried. Dawn had been getting such good grades before she found out about her true identity. She had been missing school a lot and Saffron couldn't help feeling almost entirely responsible after everything she had said to her whilst she had been drinking. She wished beyond anything that she hadn't said the horrible things she said. She wished, silently, that she had handled everything better. She finally rounded the corner and the house came into view. She rushed up the driveway and entered, seeing Dawn sat on the sofa watching cartoons.

"Why weren't you at school?" Saffron raised her voice after slamming the front door behind her. She walked over to the tv and turned it off, before turning back to Dawn. She crossed her arms and stared for a long time and Dawn provided a matching glare back. When they were younger, they both remembered that Dawn would always back down first, even though they never really had a shared past before the monks came. This time, Dawn wouldn't back down and Saffron blinked and looked to the floor. Who am I to shout at her like that, after everything? Saffron was obviously embarrassed and Dawn scrutinised her before deciding to answer her question.

"You said it. I'm just a big ball of green light, what do I need to go for?" Dawn challenged, the bite in her voice felt like she had been submerged in cold water. The room felt icy cold as Dawn stood from her seat and continued to watch her older cousin, aware she could feel the way she was feeling.

"Dawn, I don't think that, I was-"

"Drunk? Yeah, great excuse"

"Look, Dawny, you're my cousin! I love you and what I said was horrible. I shouldn't have said it" Saff could remember vaguelly the words she had shouted at her cousin, she couldn't think about it for too long though, "I know that sorry's not enough. Everything I said, I thought that I was protecting you-"

"You're totally lying to yourself if you think that! You wanted to hurt me like you were hurting. But I was already hurting, Saff!" Dawn's voice cracked.

"I wanted to save you from being next… I thought- I thought that the powers wanted to prove that I could stand everyone I was close to being taken and still being capable of my stupid fucking destiny"

"That doesn't make any sense, Saff!" Dawny shouted, although she hesitated. She looked at her cousin sadly, she really had been hurting.

"I-I know. I see that now, babe. I've been a world-class idiot" She sighed, trying her best to make it up to her cousin, "How can I make it up to you, Dawny?" She asked, hoping the flicker of understanding she had felt from Dawn meant that she no longer wanted her to leave. She knew Dawn would never idolise her in the way she had when she was younger, but Saff just wanted her cousin back.

"Three scoops of Super Bubblegum and Cherry ice cream from the mall" Dawn said quickly, which made Saff smile despite herself. There was hope that they could be friends, "Um, actually, the principle wants to see a guardian. Make it up to me by going? Don't tell Buffy?" Dawn asked, making sure not to sound desperate so as to convince Saffron. Although, Saff could tell she was nervous of Buffy finding out.

"Don't know if I should be doing the lying thing again, Dawn. I'm trying to turn over a new leaf and all…" Saffron started, realising that she was trusting her with this though. She needed to show Dawn she was serious about being a cousin to her again.

"Just don't tell her for a few weeks… until I've turned my own leaf"

"You'll be going back then?" Saffron asked, making sure. She knew she was in no position to ask, but she did care really.

"For as long as you stop the drinking" Dawn said quickly. They both nodded, mirroring each other.

"Deal" Their thumbs connected, an old way of showing they trusted each other that they invented in their first year of living together. Saffron left Dawn so she could write in her diary, that now had three locks on the side and 5 scrawled 'keep outs' across the front.

xoxoxo

Saffron wore her most professional outfit, the blouse and pencil skirt she had worn to her interview for the magic box, and tried her best not to look out of place as she moved to cross her leg. She had even decided to wear slightly healed shoes to appear more credible to the headteacher. She fiddled with the thread that had started to come loose from her pencil skirt anxiously as she waited next to Dawn.

"Ms. Summers?" A greying woman appeared, glasses perched on the end of her nose. Her grey pantsuit matched her hair. She had a pinched face and she looked like she could kill you with one look. Scarier than Snyder, Saff decided just by looking at her.

"Uh, no… it's-it's Page" She stuttered, the title of head teacher put her on edge.

"Miss… Page? Ah yes, you are listed as a guardian. Please, sit" Her words appeared friendly, but her voice was monotone. There was no real feeling behind the words, but she could just be having a bad day at the office. Too many meetings with 20-year-olds playing mum.

"Thanks" Saffron silently thanked the Gods that she had been listed as a guardian and looked at Dawn who was inspecting her sneakers closely. Close call.

"Dawn has been missing a lot of school lately, and when she had been in her classes, her work hasn't been what we have come to expect from her. Now, I do understand that the recent bereavement has been hard on you both…" Saffron switched off from the conversation after this. It wasn't a meeting, it was a lecture. She could feel the woman didn't approve of her and honestly, she didn't care very much. She could feel Dawn's grief as she spoke about Joyce though and she tried her best to cut the meeting short.

"Thank you for caring so much about Dawn, she really does want to do well at school" Saffron smiled sweetly, hoping to butter the woman up. No luck.

"That's very promising but her attendance records say otherwise"

"You have my personal guarantee that I will be with her at the gates before and after school to make sure she's in the gates, uh, miss"

"Your personal guarantee, unfortunately, doesn't mean much until we start to see a real improvement in her attendance and schoolwork"

"Give us a week and Dawn will be at every class with every piece of homework caught up on… won't you, Dawn?" Saff gestured for her to say something convincing. She wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing. Joyce would be able to handle it, she thought sadly. Dawn agreed enthusiastically and apologised to the woman in front of her. The woman seemed satisfied after their grovelling and dismissed them with a nod of her head, already shuffling paperwork and moving on to her next job of the day.

They had walked back through the town to the magic box. Saff had decided that she should take any opportunity she could to prove she was reliable to the others. She missed how it used to be. Dawn had started to chat to her again since they had talked. She was talking about the latest drama at school and Saff interrupted her asking how she could know when she's barely been there. The girls smiled at each other, glad to share a rare moment of humour. They walked into the magic box smiling, but Saff noticed that everyone inside went silent when they saw the pair walk in.

"Hi guys!" She said overly cheerfully and waved to everyone in the room. See, totally back to normal, she reprimanded herself as everyone went back to what they were doing. Ignoring her.

"Nice monkey suit" Xander said eventually, unable to stand the silence, his tone hard to read.

"You don't like the smart casual?" Saff asked, checking herself out. She had forgotten she was still wearing the smart clothes for the meeting.

"Not if it's to hide the too-drunk-to-function-ness" he said, pretending to be more interested in his book.

"It's not." She said shortly. He didn't look convinced, so she spoke up again, "I mean it, I just had somewhere to be" She didn't explain that she had been guilted by Dawn into meeting the principal so that Buffy didn't find out, but she wasn't asked directly so she decided this wasn't a lie. She moved to sit on the other end of the table, next to Dawn. She was helping with her homework. She had a lot to catch up on. Buffy walked into the store, skipping down the steps to the main area where they all did their research.

"All dropped out" she said, dusting her hands off and acting happier than Saffron knew she was about dropping out of college. Saff avoided eye contact with her cousin, this was the most guilt she had felt in a long time, as if all of the guilt from the other lies had finally caught up with her. She got busy drawing a map for one of Dawn's school projects that was beyond late, she decided she owed her that much after everything. Her mind was deep in thought, worrying about Spike as she coloured in the sea. She hadn't seen him since that morning, having moved into the crypt temporarily to look after him. He was healing but seeing the extent of his injuries was painful. She wished it had been her.

"How was the principal's office?" Buffy cut through Saff's thoughts.

"Shit" Saff hissed, they had been found out straight away. Buffy had her hands on her hips as she looked between the two younger girls. She had had a call from the woman they had met, making sure that Saffron actually was a family member. The woman then filled Buffy in on why they had a meeting. Her glare so strong it felt as if she could burn holes through them. "I was gonna tell you…" Saff started, as Dawn looked down at her homework.

"I thought we were past this, Saff. Why are you always lying?" Buffy crossed her arms. This is the point where Saff imagined having a bottle of alcohol later, just to calm her nerves after what was probably about to be another round of kick-Saffron-while-she's-down. No, you can't drink. Not again, she reminded herself of everything. Staying sober was a real challenge.

"Hey! Buffy, that's not fair! She's always told us eventually" Saff was surprised that Dawn, out of everyone had spoken up. She gave Dawn a watery smile to thank her. Dawn shrugged as if it was nothing and started on her geography project as Saff passed her the map back.

"And you're not in the clear either, I can't believe you would skip!" Buffy directed at Dawn, who stayed silent this time.

"I swear I was going to tell you, but Dawn asked for a little time to prove she was going walk the straight and narrow. Who am I to deny her a second chance?"

"Is that true?" Buffy scrutinised the pair. Dawn nodded her agreement and looked down at her work, ashamed. Buffy asked Willow to help with Dawn's homework, not convinced that Saffron would be the most help. She then left to talk to Giles in the back room away from the others.

"Dawn's messing up. Saff's messing up. I'm messing up. It's a mess" Buffy sighed, at a loss with how to handle everything that had been thrown at them recently.

"You'll just have to put your foot down with Dawn. As for, ah, Saffron it appears she is back on track with the uh, sobriety and she did share the responsibility with meeting the principal. They both just need some, ah, tough love"

"Saff's fragile. Her parenting skills are questionable at best and I'm scared the next time something bad happens I'll lose her. Like we… like we lost Mom" Buffy's throat caught as she spoke about it, "And I mean, I try. It's just my foot's not used to being put down. I want you to do it. You can be the foot-putting-downer"

"No, Buffy. I don't think I can" Giles explained, "Anyway, I haven't had much cause to, ah, speak to Saffron since she had her, ah…" Giles didn't know what to call what happened with Saffron. He knew that this behaviour had a cause, Buffy had explained what Spike had told her. But he decided she needed tough love. From him and Buffy.

"Please? Pretty please? I mean, your foot is way bigger than mine. And you're so much more a grown-up than me. Dawn needs an authority figure, a strong guiding hand. She'll listen to you"

"Like you always have? Like Saffron ever did?" Giles questioned dubiously.

"I listen. I do" Buffy said unconvincingly, "I mean, really, Saff was the one with an authority problem, I think the blame rests nicely on her" Buffy joked and Giles smiled sadly. How had they let Saffron get so out of control? He couldn't help but feel responsible. She hadn't had much in the way of a father-figure. He had tried, but she saw him to be telling her what to do rather than helping.

"I may be a grown-up, but you're their family. Their only real family now. They both need you to do this"

"Right. They need me. Me, the grown-up. The authority figure. The strong guiding hand and stompy foot that is me"

"That's the spirit" Giles said as he steered Buffy towards the main part of the shop where everyone was helping with Dawn's homework.

xoxoxo

When Giles and Buffy left for what Saff presumed was a work-out where Buffy pretending the punching bag was her face, Saffron started to write up another homework sheet for Dawn hoping that the answers hadn't changed since her stint at Sunnydale High. She thought of Spike, hoping he was coping and hadn't moved from the bed. She had set up blood and the mini fridge next to the bed. She had moved the tv down to the lower level, annoying Spike as the reception just wasn't as good. But she had to, or he'd start moving about and she needed him to get better. As her brow furrowed at the thought of Spike alone and probably in pain still because he won't have been able to stop himself not listening to her advice, she felt Xander and Anya's gaze. Their doubt and annoyance at her presence penetrated her every thought. When she looked up to meet their eyes, they looked away as Xander pretended to be interested in Anya's ramblings about the merits of Capitalism.

She had had enough. Saff used the chair as a ladder, so she could stand on the table. Everyone stared in horror, worrying about what was about to happen.

"What are you doing?"

"Careful of my merchandise!"

"SP, have you been on the drink again?" Xander asked, weary of his friend and her behaviour. She cleared her throat, as if she was about to make an important speech. And, well, she was. Everyone's attention was on her.

"I know sorry isn't enough. I said those things out of anger. Out of stupidity… I would do anything to make it up to you all." She tailed off, but felt that the others wanted to hear what she had to say, "I convinced myself I was saving you from being hurt too. By cutting ties with you all, I thought- I told myself I was protecting you all. But I was kidding myself. I was hurting and I took it out on all of you, and I shouldn't have" there were some nods of understanding, others opting just to mull over what she had shared. "I really am sorry" She whispered, as Xander, ever the gentleman, wasn't mad enough not to give her a helping hand back down to the ground from the table.

"Dawny, why don't we start with that Geometry?" Willow asked kindly rather than reassuring Saffron as she once would have done. Dawn took her book out and Saff made a noise of disgust, this was something she couldn't help with, "I need three glamorous assistants for Dawny's homework question!" Willow asked the room enthusiastically after reading through the tasks. Xander and Anya agreed and the room turned to Saffron. There was an awkward silence, nobody really knew where they stood with each other.

"Hey, no, I'm like allergic to maths, if this even is maths, which I can't tell because they give them all these weird names!"

"Well, you did say you wanted to get with the making up to us?"

"Well, this is helping Dawn and Dawn's already been helped what with the sneaking and the lying about the principal despite my newfound not-lying, so you know, you might have to fill in this time babe"

"Well, seems like you're not a triangle then, Saffy. You're a circle" Willow said, knowing this would mean Saff would question her. She wasn't exactly okay with Saffron, she was really hurt. But she couldn't help biting back a smile.

"I'm a circle?"

"Yep, pointless!" Willow said, grinning. She enjoyed mathematical puns more than holding grudges. Saffron could feel that Willow was still hurt but she was trying to make everything feel normal for Dawn. Saff understood, she hadn't been a good friend, this wasn't just going to go away.

"Fine, I'll be part of your human-triangle as long as we quit while we're behind with the horrible puns"

Anya, Xander and Saff arranged themselves in a triangle on the floor with Willow explaining the problem as Dawn stood in the middle concentrating. Saff couldn't help smiling, enjoying the afternoon's activity. It hit her, how normal it felt. How good life could be when she was a part of it again. She had felt guilty before for feeling anything other than grief. The anger had been living deep in her chest where it was slowly dissipating now. It was getting easier, easier than it had been when she had been drinking.

"Xander you're so obtuse"

"Hey! I'll have you know that there are many layers to the Xand-meister"

"Well, I don't know about that, but you do make a-cute triangle" Dawn said and everyone started to chuckle. It was nice, they hadn't felt able to just mess about for a long time. For Saffron, it was the most normal thing she had felt in a long time. It was like being back in high school.

When Buffy walked back in, the smiles dropped. Buffy shouted at Dawn for not doing her homework as she saw them all laughing.

"I was doing homework!" Dawn insisted at Buffy's attitude.

"She really was" Saffron quickly backed her up.

"Please don't lie to me"

"We so are not!" Dawn protested as Buffy sighed. She felt like the younger two never listened to her and now she was trying to put her foot down and even Willow was on their side. Will explained what just happened. She highlighted that they were helping Dawn learn through visual-aids and Saffron had joined in to help make it up to the others, and the puns had meant that hilarity ensued.

"Right. Well, you know what I think? I think maybe Dawn should do her homework at home"

"But it was working. I was really learning"

"Please get your stuff. Both of you" Buffy said firmly. Saff's head dropped, she was embarrassed. She couldn't manage to do anything right. She needed a drink. No, she didn't.

"Fine. Don't listen to me" Dawn said pointedly and Saff sent her a wave of calm. Buffy felt responsible for them. It made Saffron guilty as hell but Dawn was young, probably thinking about it as an injustice. Willow defended the pair, explaining the reason for the laughter and the human triangles. Buffy wouldn't hear it, focusing on the tough love. She told Will she couldn't understand their loss. Her responsibility.

Willow offered for all of them to go to the world culture fair that was on in a month or so, it would be educational and something to occupy everyone's mind. But Buffy refused. She was adamant on being firm with the younger girls. Saffron listened, feeling what Buffy felt. It almost made her cry, but she was determined to stay strong.

"I can't do it" Buffy shrugged as Will tried to sell the fair again. Saffron looked at Buffy, really looked at her. She scrutinised her emotions in a way she had stopped herself from doing for a while now. She felt the hollow feeling, the worry and the weight of responsibility Buffy felt she had. She felt alone. Alone in all of it.

"Look, Buffy. I know what I did was stupid. You told me that I need to prove who I am, deep wounds heal slow, all that. This is me trying, okay? Let me help you with Dawn? With everything?" Saffron pleaded to her cousin, she wanted to share her responsibility. Saff took Buffy's hand as Dawn sulked and threw her books into her backpack. Saff was really trying, and Buffy could tell. She didn't say anything, trying the tough love still. She nodded once, but still told the pair to follow her. And they did, all the way back to their home.

xoxoxo

The crypt was pitch black when she entered, the only light was from the moon that streamed in when she opened the door. When she closed it behind her the room was shrouded in darkness again. She fumbled her way into the centre of the room, feeling items of furniture that she recognised to tell her where she was in the room. She took a wrong turn from the coffee table and tripped and landed hard on her knees. She groaned and muttered some choice curse words under her breath.

"Have I ever told you how much I like to see you in that position, pet?" Spike croaked from the opposite side of the room. Saffron looked up into the darkness and glared, not entirely sure if she was glaring in the right direction. She realised she wasn't when Spike managed to chuckle which turned into more of a wheeze. He could see well in the dark where all she could see was, well, darkness.

"You were watching me struggle this whole time? If you weren't in need of medical attention, I'd call you an asshole"

"You gonna nurse me better?" He asked, she still couldn't see him but she knew that there was a cocky smirk firmly planted on his face as well as an eyebrow raising suggestively. She sighed and hauled herself to her feet and scrabbled to find the switch to the lamp on the other side of the chair she had fallen next to. The light flooded the room and although it was a small source of light, it meant she could see Spike now at least, and she had been right about the eyebrow. He was lying flat on a raised concrete gravestone, still swollen but the bruising had been reduced to yellow and green patches across his skin.

"You mean like I have been for the past few weeks? Of course, love" She rolled her eyes as she said love. It slipped from her mouth, she had been spending so much time with him that his phrasing had rubbed off on her. The sight of him still worried her, she was sure he had broken a whole bunch of bones that she couldn't even name.

"Stop worrying, it's only cuts and bruises honeysuckle" He stated, which would have been convincing if he hadn't winced and clutched his side as he tried to sit himself up. She rushed over and took his weight to help him get sat up comfortably. He rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes, he was glad she was back. She had been away all day again trying to convince everyone she could be trusted and running errands for him. He knew how desperately she wanted to prove herself to the others. What annoyed him was that she would have forgiven any of them almost instantly if the roles were reversed. Saffron had been staying every night though, which just about made up for him missing her most of the day. He felt relaxed in her presence and wished she could just move into the crypt permanently. He moved his arm to softly rest on her waist, which made her sigh softly. She felt more relaxed too, despite her worry. She moved her hand to softly stroke his shocking blonde hair. He closed his eyes again and seemed to melt into her touch. The feeling of comfort from his girl couldn't match up to any feeling in the world. Except maybe when they shagged, he decided. His hair hadn't been styled and neither of them had bothered much with their appearance, more concerned with the open wounds which were only now closing up, very slowly, even with his vampire healing.

She moved from his side and he let out a low growl in the back of his throat in protest, he missed the contact. She was already across the room and getting items she needed out of the plastic bag he hadn't noticed she had brought in with her. She started to arrange some green candles and salt in a circle in front of where Spike was sat. He raised his eyebrow but watched without saying anything and just watched as she lit the candles clockwise, muttering something as she went. She placed the pebble from her pocket into the centre of the circle carefully. She recited the words Tara had told her to say and closed her eyes.

"Most people bring grapes, pet"

"Maybe I'm about to conjure up some for you right now" She said, smiling at him, moving her hands around as if she was casting a spell. Spike snorted and told her he'd be disappointed if it turned out all the spell was good for was healing him, but the end of his sentence ended in a gasp as he felt a twinge of pain. She passed Spike the pebble, telling him hold it tightly. She could see that he was worn out from the pain and when he recovered, she helped him get to the lower part of the crypt and made sure he was in bed, still with the stone in his hand.

"Tara let us borrow the stone, so please don't lose it" She whispered as she fussed around the room, putting the tv on and made sure he was comfortable.

"We could always pick up a pebble from outside, bird wouldn't know the difference" Spike shrugged, then winced at the movement.

"She's not some bird, she's Tara and she would definitely know, Spike. She's proper powerful"

"And I'm proper hurting, love. Cut a man some slack" He said, closing his eyes and resting the rock on his chest.

"Didn't say jar, did I?" She whispered with a wink, settling herself in the bed next to him. She tried not to move too much and hurt him. He rolled over to face her, the pebble dropping from his chest to rest on the duvet between them. His eyes blinking slowly as he looked at her, one was still swollen. She moved to stroke his arm lightly, offering some comfort.

"Tell me a story?" He asked sleepily, dropping a soft kiss just below her chin. His eyes were still closed as he smiled slightly at her reply.

"What are you 12? I don't know any stories"

"I'm on death's door here, pet. A bit of comfort wouldn't go amiss" He said, opening one eye, knowing that she'd give in and give him what he asked for. She rolled her eyes but a fond smile was on her lips as she took the stone and clasped his hands around it. It was important that he got well again.

"You're not on death's door, Spike. You're in the bloody building and up the elevator" She said, more half-heartedly than she had intended. She was worrying about him. She was thinking about the risk he had taken for her and her family. Her arms snaked around him, the softness to her touch felt as if it was a balm to his wounds in itself. She wanted him as close as she could without him hurting any further. She found herself absentmindedly stroking her hands through his bleached hair again. She started to speak softly about her life in England, something she had rarely done, even with him. She spoke as if she was narrating a fairy-tale. He relaxed into her touch and listened intently with his eyes closed. They both eventually started to fall asleep to the rhythm of Saffron's caress. It was the best sleep either of them had had in a long while.

A/N: Thanks for sticking with the story this far! Season 5 is nearly finished, I think this is about the halfway mark of the entire series! Feedback is definitely welcome, I always enjoy hearing what readers think! xoxo