Buffy slumped up the stairs and slowly made her way to the apartment. Work had really tired her out today, she had been given mandatory overtime and not much in the line of breaks. Her legs ached. Her back hurt. And she smelled of gross greasy fast food. Part of her was grateful that she didn't have to patrol so much anymore. Since the potentials had been unlocked and they were no longer living on a Hellmouth her Slayer duties had lessened.

As soon as she opened the door thought she wished she had gone out in search of a fight anyway. "Buffy..." Spikes voice called quietly and he sat up straighter on the couch.

Buffy groaned inwardly. 'Maybe I should start seeing a therapist. This guilt is driving me crazy.' She turned around to close and lock the door, hoping the hallucination would be gone when she turned back. It wasn't. "Willow I'm going to bed."

Willow ran out from the kitchen "But...but you just got home!" She looked frantic. 'Too much alone time with Dawn probably' Buffy thought. She glanced back over at the couch where Spike looked sad and concerned. It was too much for her right now. Tears started to well up in her eyes. This did not go unnoticed. Willow touched her arm softly "Buffy?"

"I'm just...I'm just tired, Will." She thought she heard the couch squeak and Spikes boots clump towards her. Closing her eyes tightly she tried to tell herself that if she focused hard enough she could make the hallucination stop.

His scent enveloped her and she began to cry. "Why don't you sit down, Love"

Buffy tried to ignore him. 'He isn't real' she told herself 'Don't fall for it Buffy, he isn't here...'

"He's right, you should sit down, Buffy. You don't look so great."

Buffy froze. "What?" it came out barely over a whisper.

"I mean, you look great. You always look great. But...you don't look like you feel very good and-"

"No," Buffy interrupted, opening her eyes suddenly. Willow looked very confused. "You...you said...'he's right'..."

Willows eyebrows knit together and she tried to understand why Buffy was confused but it all seemed very, very simple so it didn't make sense. "Well yea, Spike said you should sit down and I thought 'he's right' so I said 'he's right', that's usually how talking works, right? Unless I guess if you're one of those people who don't think before they open their mouths, but I'm not one of-" She noticed Buffy's eyes where huge, a million different emotions swimming through them. "-those people." she finished quietly, embarrassed by her rambling.

Buffy turned to Spike, slowly reaching a hand out. When it touched his face her eyebrows shot up "You're real."

"Thanks for the update" he rolled his eyes