A few hours previously, Buffy Summers had found herself at Spike's crypt after some patrolling. Something deep down she was sure was going to become an unhealthy pattern. Just a week ago, she had clawed herself out of her own coffin after being resurrected by her best friend Willow. Willow thought she was saving her from eternal hell torment, but only Spike knew the truth. Buffy had been pulled out of Heaven and brought back to the Hellmouth. And every moment since then had been a living hell for her. The only moments it was any easier were when she was around Spike. So here she was, again, despite how it went last time.

"Slayer" Spike greeted as she walked inside the crypt.

"Hey, Spike" she greeted as she took a seat.

"I'm kind of surprised you showed up again so soon after what happened the other night"

Two nights previously, the two had gone out for drinks, and Buffy had witnessed a game of poker between Spike and a couple of demons. Instead of gambling for money like most people do, they were gambling kittens. Kittens! Of course, Buffy wasn't thrilled about that news, and that plus how much she drank resulted in her snapping at Spike. That was before the demon attack.

"I still stand by my opinion on your desire to be gambling for kittens. But..." Buffy trailed off.

"But everyone else you have to pretend with, for their sake" Spike finished.

Her gaze remained on him, and she didn't say a word as thoughts went through her mind.

It was exhausting having to put a brave face to keep them from worrying about her, but if she let it slip at all, it only caused them to worry even more. At least here with Spike, she could be her real self. Even if that self was miserable. And somehow, for reasons she couldn't explain, she felt things around him. Not always good things, but he was the one person she could stand to be around. Everyone else, she just felt numb. It was like a dead person was needed to bring her recently resurrected soul back to life a little. But she wasn't happy. She was miserable, but with him it was easier.

"Well, I got a new bottle of bourbon if you want any" Spike said as he went over and picked up the brand new bottle as well as the two shot glasses.

"Not much. I don't want a repeat of last time" Buffy said. "That way leads to badness"

He poured them both shot glasses. "Regardless of how it went, that doesn't mean it would be like that every time. Though you accusing me of being drunk when you were very drunk was definitely something"

Buffy took the shot glass and downed it before making a face. She didn't think she'd ever get used to the taste of whiskey. "You weren't there when beer made me turn into Caveman Buffy. Or when drinking at a frat party put me unconscious and I woke up tied up and was going to be sacrificed. It's more than one bad experience" she explained.

'Well I wasn't there for the Caveman bit, pet, but I was around for the frat party actually. I didn't realize they had taken you until Xander was kicked out of the party. Though drinking wouldn't have caused you to pass out. You and I both know you were drugged. I wouldn't do that. Or turn you into Caveman Buffy, whatever that means"

"You were there?" Buffy looked at him curiously.

Spike nodded. "I- Dru wanted me to bring her the maiden girls for the sacrifice. Once I found out it was you, I couldn't do it. I didn't even realize why. I made excuses for myself that were just that, excuses, but..."

"But you brought her someone else, right?"

His gaze lowered a bit before he looked back up at Buffy and nodded slightly. "I brought her the frat boy that had harassed Xander"

She watched him for a moment, silent.

"I can't undo what I've done, but I am here for you and the Little Bit, and I don't plan on going anywhere"

"I know" Buffy said. She took the bottle from him and poured herself another shot glass before passing the bottle back. "Do you have any idea what that demon was that we saw the other night?"

Spike shook his head. "I've never seen a demon like that before. Though he didn't seem very threatening. Just that he was attempting to be"

"You noticed that too, huh? It was bizarre"

He shrugged at that. "Some demons like to act more intimidating than they are. Put on a show, big talk. Like vampires do"

"Except vampires actually do the biting and the killing"

"Well, yeah, pet. Most aren't chipped, souled, or in love with the Slayer-" Spike stopped as he realized the words that came out of his mouth. "I just mean- that some demons act more tough than they are. Just like some vampires specifically talk big about ending the world but most of the time its just talk."

"I remember you telling me about that, when you were convincing me to listen to you. It was the first time we weren't trying to kill each other. The first time we worked together" Buffy recalled. Also the day her mom found out she was the Slayer. Her heart ached painfully at the thought of her mother.

Spike, noticing her expression, shifted the conversation. "And yet neither of us would have thought we'd get to this point, drinking together' he said, offering her a smile. "A vampire and the slayer sitting in a crypt and taking shots. Sounds like something you'd read in The Joke Book for Monsters"

A small chuckle escaped Buffy's lips, a faint smile on her face as she shook her head a little bit.

The two continued enjoying each other's company and occasionally drinking Spike's bourbon. Eventually, Buffy stood up and looked at him. "I should get back. Get a couple of hours of sleep before the others wake up"

"And this isn't a way to avoid anyone asking where you've been?" Spike asked.

Buffy's gaze diverted, and she headed out of the crypt without a see you later, but they both knew it would come sooner than Buffy wanted to admit.

Part of her felt guilty for what she was doing with him. To him. But he was easy to be around. She just knew her friends couldn't understand. And all telling them the truth would do was hurt them. She wasn't happy with him. But it was easier. And she was happier. Or at least, she wasn't straining herself every moment to pretend to be happy. She could just be Buffy. No expectations. He let her be miserable. He was there for her when she was. And he also tried to get her mind off of things for a moment by cracking a joke or taking her out to watch a game of poker.