"Wow…I mean…wow..." Willow sat on the edge of the tombstone not being able to help the fact that her jaw felt like it was too the ground. Spike waited for her to say more, relieved that he was finally able to share his fortune with someone other than himself. Willow stared at the vampire she though she knew so well with an air of amazement and some level of respect. "So…you really did all of that, all of those trials, just to try and get to a point where Buffy would accept you again?" Spike said nothing as he looked down at the ground and gave a slight nod. "Spike…I don't think I will ever be able to forgive you for what you did to her…but…I truly am sorry." He looked at her in confusion and to his amazement she leapt up and embraced him in a hug. "I can't tell you how Buffy feels…I know you want to know but the truth is, is that ever since that happened well…Buffy isn't exactly Buffy anymore." Willow said with sad eyes looking up at the vampire, she let out an exaggerated sigh, "Goodbye Spike, I hope everything goes alright for you…" with that she walked around the vampire and made her way back into town. Spike sat down, not really sure how he should feel, part of him was happy that he had finally told someone and the other felt terrible realizing that Buffy wasn't the same after he had left. He tried to imagine her before that day, well really before anything with them had ever occurred. He pictured her bright smile and excitement, and the way she walked into the room and everyone around her suddenly had a smile across their faces. He thought mostly about the first time he had seen her, the way she moved on the dance floor. Her style of dancing was unique, it was seductive and drew everyone's eyes to her but at the same time she appeared lonely, her eyes closed, as if no one else in the room was really there. He wandered the cemetery for a long time imagining her in every way possible. Eventually he stumbled across his crypt and walked in to sit on the couch. He moved to turn on the television but decided he didn't feel like watching Passions for once, all he wanted to do was lie down and think of his slayer…
"Are you out of your mind! I mean my goodness I finally give you a chance to listen to how I feel like an adult and that is the result you come up with!" Buffy fumed pacing the room before sitting in the recliner with a huff.
"Well Buff, I mean come on isn't it obvious. The way you talk about him, how you can't forget about him and even after what he did you still worry about him. I may be younger than you but you can't see that misty look that is in your eyes whenever you talk about him or someone even mentions his name! Don't tell me you don't love him, you always said it was so wrong to love him or even care about him, you call him an animal, the truth is Buffy you just don't want to admit how you feel! Tell me right now how could you date Angel and that be fine but now that Spike is here the rules change completely." Dawn breathed hard trying to catch her breath, she looked at the expression on her sister's face not really sure what to make of it. Buffy took a deep breath and simply replied.
"Angel had a soul…Spike doesn't, he is just a monster." She folded her arms and saw the temper rising in her sister's eyes.
"Don't even feed me that Angel had a soul bullshit! Look at the bigger picture Buffy, yeah Spike doesn't have a soul, but he loves you…more than guy that has ever even tried to be with you. Remember how Angel was without his soul…that is what a vampire is…that was a monster. How can you even compare Angel to Spike, Angel is good because now he has a support system…his soul. Tell me this Buffy, what is the reason Spike has to be good huh? There is none, he behaves now and loves you without even needing a soul. He was there for you through everything always willing to be there for you even when you just needed to beat the shit out of something! Don't ever call Spike a monster, because both of us know that, that just isn't true." Dawn left her sister to think about what she said and ran upstairs to her room. She hadn't meant to yell at Buffy like that but she knew in the long run it was the right thing to do.
Buffy sat downstairs not even bothering to respond to the door opening, Willow walked in from outside, about to go into the kitchen, when she noticed Buffy sitting in the chair, not moving. Willow ran to her friend and kneeled in front of her.
"Buff…are you ok?" She asked, concerned for her best friend.
A single tear ran down her friends cheek as she looked down at Willow.
"She is right Willow….She's right."