Buffy slowly bends over to draw water for a bath. Sudden pain struck her back. That vamp really did a number on me. Buffy gave an apologetic smile. Sorry guppy. She touched her stomach lightly with her fingertips. She didn't even realize Spike was standing at the bathroom door. "You hurt?"

Buffy gasped. "Get out."

"We need to talk."

"I really don't." She shut her eyes and sighed as she really wasn't in the mood.

"This isn't just about you -- as much you'd like it to be." Spike said, becoming annoyed.

"You spoke. I listened. You leave."

"I'm sorry." Spike spoke softly and meaningfully.The sincerity in his voice affects Buffy despite her anger and hurt."Not that it matters now. But I needed you to know that."

"Why?" Buffy asked quizzically.

"Because I care about you."

"Then you might want to try the not sleeping with my friends." Buffy sneered.

"That's not... I didn't go to Anya for that. I was looking for a spell."Buffy was outraged.

"You were going to use a spell on me?"

"It wasn't for you. I wanted something -- anything to make this feeling stop. I just wanted it to stop… You should have let him kill me." Spike whispered, ashamed for hurting Buffy.

"I couldn't." Buffy spoke slowly.

"Why?" Spike said, seeing a spark of hope in Buffy.

"You know why." Buffy said. This baby is the only thing left between us. Maybe I should tell him now… No. He'd never leave me alone. Besides, I can't have Xander finding out right after…Spike's words cut through her thoughts.

"Because you love me."

"No. I don't." Buffy said, aggravated. As Spike came closer to her she backed away slowly.

"Why do you keep lying to yourself?"

"I'm not saying I don't have feelings for you. I do. But it's not love. I could never trust you enough for it to become that."

"Trust is for old marrieds, Buffy. Great love is wild and passionate and dangerous. It burns and consumes."

"Until there's nothing left. That kind of love doesn't last."Spike moves toward her, giving her no more room to step away. His pain was clearly taking control of him.

"I know you feel like I do. You don't have to hide it anymore." He moves to kiss her. She gently tries to stop him.

"Spike –"

"Let yourself feel it..."He becomes more forceful. Buffy becomes frightened at what he might try. Spike, she thought, don't. Please, don't go there.

"Stop it..."

Spike becomes overly aggressive, practically jumping on her."You love me..."

"Don't –"She stumbles back as she grabs the shower curtain for support. Not controlling her strength, she pulls the shower curtain off the rail and she looses her balance. Her back hits the edge of the bathtub and she gasps in pain. Oh baby. Spike, you don't know what you are doing… Spike grabs her and pins her against the bathtub as she screams. He doesn't care. He can't see through his own pain…

"Let it go... Let yourself love me..."

"Stop it... please... stop..."

He tears her robe open. She screams more but it doesn't get through to him. Buffy's stomach tightened and turned. I'm going to be sick… Trickles of pain drew from her stomach as she tried desperately to get away from him. It's okay baby. I'm going to protect you…You don't need to be afraid of…it. At that moment she found the strength to send Spike flying across the room, smashing into the wall. "Ask me again why I could never love you!" She yelled, almost in tears. Spike looked at her with shock. He almost…

"Oh God. Buffy I didn't—" He started as Buffy cut him off.

"Because I stopped you. Something I should have done a long time ago."

Spike couldn't handle this. He couldn't handle what he had almost done to the one he loved with all of his heart… He stormed off, forgetting his coat on the stair railing.

Xander felt horrible for the way he'd treated Buffy. He knew she needed someone to talk to and he didn't know how the others were taking the info. He opened the door to the Summers' house and the first thing he noticed was the too familiar leather coat hanging on the railing. Instantly he darted up the stairs to find Buffy sprawled out on the bathroom floor, crying. His heart sank.

"Buffy…" He said, as Buffy quickly covered her newly bruised leg with her robe. He was heated. "What did he do? Did he—Did he hurt you? Buffy!"

"He tried…He didn't…"

"Son of a bitch." Xander growled, Buffy quick to stop him. "Don't." She said painfully. "Just…Don't."