Spike was taking his usual late night walk. He was kinda hoping to find something to eat. He always went out a few hours before sunrise, to avoid walking into Angelus. Yes, the bastard was back. This time, Faith was the one to give him a happy. She had only done it to hurt Buffy, and would propably succeed. In fact, Spike was one of the few to know that Angelus was back. The bastard was laying low for a while to prepare a perfect death for Buffy.
Most of Buffy's friends had left for college and knew nothing about the situation in Sunnydale. Spike was Buffy's only friend right now, so the two of them were really close. Buffy liked to think that her feelings towards him where only friendly, and that it was normal to be that attached to someone when you spend a lot of time with them, but she was starting to fall in love with him. Spike finally gave up on fiding a meal and went back to his place. When he got there, Buffy was lying in his bed, asleep. He closed the door behind without making the slightest sound but still woke Buffy up.
"Oh, Spike." Buffy said when she woke up, "You're finally back."
"Yeah, I went out for a meal." He explained, "Are you allright ?"
"No, I'm not."
"Tell me all about it."
Spike was hoping with all his heart that this wasn't about Buffy finding out about Angelus being back. Obsviously, he didn't hope enough.
"I was patroling tonight, when I ran into Faith. She and I started to fight, and then she told me she had slept with Angel."
"She was probably lying."
"No, she told me some things about Angel that require seeing him naked."
"Buffy, I thought you were over him."
"I am, I really am, it's just that he's back to being Angelus, and I'm not safe at home anymore. That's why I came here."
"Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you. And you can stay here as long as you want."
"Thank you. I'll move over to the floor, and let you sleep in your bed."
"No way, you stay right where you are. I'll sleep on the floor."
"No, I can't let you do that. Just sleep in the bed with me, there's plenty of place."
"Are you sure ?"
"Of course."
"This feels akward." Spike said when he layed back beside Buffy.
"Yeah, I know."
"Buffy, there's something I have to tell you. And if you get mad at me for not telling you before and never talk to me again, I'll understand."
"Don't be stupid, I won't do that."
"Okay, well, I kinda knew about Angelus."
"You mean, you knew and didn't tell me ?"
"Well, yes. I was afraid you'll go and try to kill him, and you'll end up dead."
"I wouldn't have done that."
"It's what you did the first time it happened."
"I know, that's why I wouldn't have done it again. And anyway, you ment well."
"So you're not mad at me ?"
"No, I'm actually... un-mad at you."
"Meaning ?"
"Well, I'm not *glad* that you kept something like that from me, but it really shows that you care and were worried about me. Which is kinda nice, so there."
"I see. Didn't you know that I care about you ?"
"Not really, no. Well, yes, I did, but like... Am I making any sense ?"
"No, but that's because you're tired."
"Aren't you ?"
"No, and I won't be before a couple hours."
"Do you want me to stake awake with you ?"
"No, you have to sleep."
"Not really actually, my first class is at 12 tomorrow."
"It is ? Well, then I don't mind having some company."

So Spike and Buffy talked until Buffy couldn't keep her eyes open, then they both went to sleep. Or at least Buffy did; Spike mostly looked at her sleeping. She was so beautiful, and peaceful. He started to think that maybe his feelings towards her weren't just friendly. That maybe he was starting to fall in love with her. But he can't fall in love with her. She's the Slayer, he's a soul-less vampire, it's totally against all laws of Man and God. But she's so beautiful, so innocent, so kind, so perfect for him. And she already likes him ! But anyway, he won't do anything about it, it could ruin their friendship, and he didn't think he could go on with his so-called life without her. So, he'll just have to keep quiet about his feelings and let Buffy some kind of a chance to have a normal life and a normal boyfriend.

Later on that day, Buffy was headed home when she realized that it was after dark and that she had to get home at once. Unfortunately, Angelus had already spoted her, and was moving in for the kill.