Spike seethed as he walked behind a dejected Buffy. Her fingers trailed along the tops of the grave markers, her eyes glued to the ground. Her little band of cohorts was going to get her killed before Angelus even tried for her again. They were so busy blaming her for everything that they didn't see her anymore.

"You need to tell them to get off your back." He grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him. "You are not responsible for this."

"Oh, really? So, I wasn't the one that fucked her demon lover and set his evil free? I didn't get Jenny killed? If I had just kept my knees together, he'd be trying for redemption instead of killing every night. I loved him. Now, he's a monster." Buffy snarled at him and shrugged off his hand.

"He was a monster before he was ever turned. Darla liked to turn the real bastards. Angelus was her greatest find. You weep for that soul. It didn't do much for him until he found you, a new obsession. You're just the Drusilla du jour, pet." Spike stepped into her personal space bringing them nose-to-nose.

"It wasn't the same." She shook her head her blonde hair flying.

"Yes it bloody was. He saw you sucking on that damn lolly, and he wanted you. He didn't consider redemption until the notion of getting into your hot little quim stirred in his crazed mind." Spike crossed his arms across his chest.

"It wasn't like that. He loved me." Buffy flipped around and stomped away from him.

"Some demons can love, but Angelus isn't one of them. The soul can't give him a talent he never had. Let me guess he wooed you with a little gift, something personal, a piece of jewelry. Then every time you wear it, it feeds his feelings of ownership. I've watched him do it dozens of times. He wants to possess you not share himself with you. It only looks like love when you're young and stupid." He snagged a flower of a grave and threw it at her. It hit her square in the back, and she stopped.

Anticipation flooded through him as he watched her turn. Her anger was evident in every minute motion. "Shut up, Spike."

"Brilliant argument from the emotionally stunted." Spike smiled and laughed as she puffed up.

"Stop laughing at me." She stomped her foot and glared at him.

"Stop being stupid. You are a warrior. Be a bloody warrior. He hurt you. Hurt him back. They belittle you, tell them they have a short leash and then shake it for good measure." He mimed shaking the leash to emphasize his point.

Buffy launched herself at him so quickly; he barely managed to deflect her blow. She growled and circled around him forcing him to pivot on his heel to keep his eyes on her. It suddenly occurred to him that pissing Buffy off might not have been his best idea. He brought his hands up as she attacked him again, but her punches never landed. She swept his legs and jumped on him and held him down with one arm pressed to his sternum.

"You wanna fight the slayer? Well, here I am, and there is nothing you can do about it." Buffy punctuated each word by poking him in the chest.

Spike grinned and grabbed her hips before he flipped them over. He smirked at her. "Is that all you got? I know you can do better. I know what you want. Come on, Slayer, give it me good."

He pushed off her body and retreated a few steps as she popped back up. He watched as she dusted her bum and glared at him. "Waiting around isn't the smart move."

"I've never been known for my brains. William the Bloody here, doesn't lend itself to the deeply contemplative." Spike advanced two strides toward her and she met him with another series of quick punches. He drove her back with a shove from his booted foot.

Buffy let the motion take her as she grabbed his lapels, pulling him with her. She stepped back and spun and tossed him thirty feet across the graveyard. He landed and scrambled to his feet as she came running straight at him. He stood and caught her against his chest, letting her rain punches on him until he felt her start to sag. He held her to him and brushed her hair back from her face.

Her eyes glistened as the tears brimmed. "I don't have the right to be angry, Spike. I did this." She tilted her head against his chest, letting her hair fall around her face like a curtain.

"No, you're a victim of it. They're blaming you, but they're wrong. . Would you have slept with Angelus if you'd known about the curse?" He felt her shake her head against him. "Your watcher doesn't blame you. He's the smartest person you know, yeah?"

He kissed her tears and licked his lips and felt the flaming pain of his injuries fade away.

Buffy nodded. She reached up and twined her fingers into his hair. She tucked her head under his chin. "I'm sorry I hit you."

"I wanted you to fight. You need it. What you're designed to do, isn't it?" Spike pulled her even closer to his body. "I hoped we'd find something else to pummel, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices."

"I shouldn't hit you when I'm angry. It's one thing when we spar, but this was abusive." Buffy spoke so softly he could barely hear her even with his demon enhanced hearing.

"Stop it. We'll figure out how to be together as friends. I don't mind being your punching bag when you need it. I'm a vampire. We tend toward perversity. I like that you can dish it out. I don't want it to be how we hash out all things, but we are what we are. I think that means a certain amount of physical violence is probably par for the course." He smiled and pulled back to drop a kiss on the tip of her nose. She giggled.

"You've forgotten that this can be fun. It's about life and living. Things you are meant to do. Things I want to help you do."

Buffy wrapped her arms around him in a fierce hug. "I can't explain what's happening between us to the others. I don't know how. I'm not even sure I understand it."

"To be honest, luv, I'm at a loss myself. Giles is trying to figure it out. Once he can explain it the others might be a tad kinder." Spike laughed at Buffy's raised eyebrow. "So, it's unlikely. Let's get this patrol over and head home. I'd like to share some spaghetti with you."

Buffy was smiling up at him when her whole body stiffened. She hooked her leg behind his and toppled them to the ground. The cross bow's bolt sailed safely over their bodies, and Buffy sprang to her feet.

"Xander, you asshole." Buffy glared at him as he walked up with the cross bow trained on Spike. Spike reclined on the grass and raised an eyebrow at the boy.

"It was an accident, Buffy. I don't get the vampire thing, but right now we need him. Willow and Oz decided to make a run to her house for some book she forgot. They should have been back by now."

"Where are Giles and Cordelia?" Buffy asked as Spike stood up behind her.

"I wasn't going to tell either of them. Cordelia was pissed after dinner and went to sleep, and Giles is researching." Xander shook his head.

"And you're afraid of pissing them off." Buffy flashed a smile at him. "Well, let's go save the day."