Disclaimer: I do not own BTVS. I simply borrow them and take him for a stroll.

Author's note: Sorry I took so long to update but this chapter was very hard to write. Not only was it hard to write but I also have been incredibly busy the last two weeks. I hope to be better next time. I promised myself I would not beg for reviews but here I go. Please, please review. Constructive criticism is welcome. This is the first time I have done a proper story and although it will have just maybe two chapters after this, I would appreciate some guidance as to where I could do better. Thank you to those who favourited my story and I am pleased to see there are those who have requested story alerts so I can't be doing too bad a job.

Chapter Three

Buffy walked back into her home watching the blob of white that was Spike's hair disappear into the distance. As surge of panic that he would not return gripped her and she could not help feeling a little bereft. It was so frustrating.

"Damn vampire" she muttered to herself. She could not get properly angry at the vampire because she would remember that not a few hours ago she was under the impression that he was nothing more than dust at the bottom of the Hellmouth. She was delighted that this was not the case but she simply could not understand why he felt the need to keep it from her. He claimed that he loved her but surely his were not the actions of a man in love. She decided that she needed to train and maybe vent some of her anger. She had her own training room but she usually liked to train with the Slayers but tomorrow she was going to call in sick. There was no way she would be able to concentrate and she feared she would not get a wink of sleep for the night. Buffy walked into the barely used training room and her eyes landed upon the punch bag. She briefly recalled a moment the last night she spent with Spike after she had returned from her surprise reunion with Angel, when the vampire had drawn a picture of Angel on the punch bag. She was tempted to take a leaf out of Spike's book and draw a picture of Spike and thump the punch bag off its chains. She quickly laughed the notion away and whaled on the punch bag. She thought of how Spike and Angel had been fighting side by side while she was in the dark. Buffy's punches quickly became harder in an attempt to vent her rising anger. How could they? Angel certainly would not have been encouraging Spike to see her. She expected the whole "for your own good" from Angel and even her friends but never from Spike.

"Stupid, selfish..."

The chain holding up the punch bag creaked ominously.

"..pain in the ass"

This time the punch bag came right off the chains and hit the wall the other side of the room.

Buffy sighed in defeat. This clearly was not helping. Perhaps a night's slayage might do the job.

"I am going to have me some vampires for dinner"

Meanwhile Spike and Dawn were walking down the street in silence. Dawn could tell that Spike was thinking hard. The fact that the vampire looked miserable was the only thing that kept Dawn from tearing into him. She could see that he clearly still loved Buffy.

"You have been spending too much time with Angel!" Dawn declared suddenly breaking the silence.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Spike snapped meeting her gaze for the first time since they started walking.

"Since when do you brood? I thought Angel was the one who had that down, patented and trademarked"

"Do not compare me to Captain Forehead. I do not brood."

"Could have fooled me! What's all this then?"

Dawn had a point but Spike was never going to admit it. So when she changed the subject he was relieved.

"So Spike, please tell me you checked into a motel and not a crypt" she asked.

"Don't worry I have a room somewhere. Are you hungry, Dawn? I can hear your stomach rumbling."

"Actually I am starving. I was going to order some pizza until I discovered a formerly incinerated vampire all undead and well in my sitting room. However I know a late night cafe that serves some mean wings."

Spike and Dawn walked into the cafe which was almost empty. The red haired waitress waved at Dawn. The waitress knew Dawn by sight and name as she was a regular. Dawn walked over to the red haired woman and smiled brightly.

"Hi Stacey, can we please have two portions of buffalo wings and one Coke please"

She looked Spike over from head to toe as he found a table and leaned over the counter to whisper in the ear of the dark haired teenager.

"Hey Dawn, you have got yourself a looker there." Stacey whispered conspiratorily in Dawn's ear.

"Settle down, Stace. You have got it wrong, he's a friend." Dawn laughed.

"More fool you then. He's hot. Do you think he would take my number?"

"Hey hands off! That is my sister's ex. You have met my sister and that "looker" is called Spike."

"You said ex, Dawn. That makes him fair game!" Stacey pointed out.

"They are.." Dawn trailed off searching for the right word.

Stacey looked curious but said nothing.

"They are complicated" Dawn said finally, "Besides Buffy is very possessive and you don't mess with her stuff."

Stacey gulped as she had seen Buffy knock a six foot bodybuilder into orbit one time.

"Don't worry, I get it!" Stacey said raising her hands in surrender.

The teenager headed back to the table to Spike, where he was smirking. Of course he heard the whole conversation. Vampire hearing how could she forget!

"Nice to know I still have it."

It was not long before their food was brought to the table by Stacey.

"Thanks, luv and keep the change" Spike said passing her enough to cover both his and Dawn's meals and a generous tip.

"You are such a flirt! Don't be encouraging her" Dawn scolded him punching him in the shoulder.

"Ok mum. What can I say? Some men have it and some men do not" Spike said preening.

She could not help but giggle. It was nice to see that gleam in his eye again even for moment. It had been missing all evening. Once the giggles subsided, both the vampire and girl lapsed into silence again. Their thoughts were both focused on the same person: Buffy. Suddenly Dawn could not bear the silence any longer.

"What was that back there Spike?" she asked curiously, "Even if you are wrong you usually still shoot your mouth off. It was like you had given up. You know she will forgive you despite the fact that you probably do not deserve it".

"She was crying and it was because of me" he said softly not able to meet her eyes.

That was not the full truth of it. It reminded him too much of the time he had left Buffy in shock and tears on the bathroom floor back in Sunnydale. There were some things that can never be wiped clean or forgiven.

On the way back from patrol Buffy passed by Xander's place and was surprised to see that his light was still on. She felt a jolt of affection for her male friend as she thought about how despite Xander's own dislike for Spike that he had been able to put that aside and convince the vampire of his stupidity. She rang the doorbell and a sleepy looking Xander answered the door. She threw her arms around a surprised looking Xander.

"Is this about a certain not so dead bleachboy?" he asked smiling.

He gestured for her to come in and closed the door behind him.

"Thanks Xan for giving Spike a talking to. He told me that for once he would grudgingly admit that you spoke some sense."

Xander looked bemused.

"I am glad Buff. How are you?"

"Mostly confused" she confessed.

"Please tell me you staked him?"

"You of all people know the answer to that! Probably would be easier if I could" Buffy laughed hollowly.

"Where is he now?" Xander asked.

"I asked him to give me some space and come back later" she answered.

Xander nodded and squeezed her hand.

"I think the Buffster is in the need of ice cream and being the great friend that I am I will oblige" Xander said bowing ironically.

"Yes sad Buffy and ice-cream are decidedly mixy" Buffy affirmed.

To be continued...

Thank you for reading and I hope to be quicker in putting up the next chapter. I have just two more planned folks.