Out of My Head
                          ...part VII...
.:A Vision of You, Standing Out in The Crowds:.

She had done a –very- stupid thing. She should’ve just stayed at home and looked after Mom and Dawn. And instead, she’d allowed her friends to drag her into another Bronze night. Why? Because they’d felt that she needed ‘cheering up.’

Whatever.

They’d already had a Bronze night earlier that week, for Tara’s birthday. It had been a very welcome diversion after the chaos that was Tara’s family and a bunch of invisible Lei-Ach demons. And as if she didn’t have enough problems, she was still sore from that fight she’d had with some big blonde slut who thought she was some sort of god.

Anyway, Spike had entered the training room, just as she was being attacked by two of them (she figured that his link to her had given him fair warning). But the spell Tara had used had clouded everything of supernatural origin from her eyes, so she hadn’t even known he was there until the spell was reversed.

He’d actually managed to save her, and he’d even scared off Tara’s family at their attempt to take her by going into Attack Vamp mode, snarling and going after them. Now that she thought about it, it really was quite funny watching Mr. MacLay turn tail and run from Spike, screaming like a little girl. True, Spike had said that he hadn’t really cared, but she guessed that he’d wanted in when the Summers girls and Giles had looked like they were going to break some bones.

Bloodshed always reeled them in.

Later on, Spike had scented Tara... or at least that was what Buffy had told everyone. Actually, Tara had been happy enough by –not- being taken away that she had allowed Spike to gently bite down on her finger, to test her blood for any demon residue. Which, Buffy realized dumbly a minute later, that Spike could do. Obviously, Tara was demon free.

Having a vampire around really came in handy.

Anyway, that minor – MINOR – interaction with him was one of the only times that Buffy had spoken to him since the sweet, gentle, yummy Spike with evil, sharp teeth incident. <I have REALLY got to get a shorter name for that.> Otherwise, it was all business. And when she went patrolling, she always towed someone else along with her, in case she ran into him.

She just didn’t trust herself alone around him.

She mentally snorted. <Would anyone?>

"Eve where air balloon and craft out jam crackers in Bali." Buffy jumped to attention, nearly knocking her untouched glass of Coke right off the table as she looked at Willow. She creased her brow, blankly trying to put together the words and hopefully comprehend the phrase she’d just heard.

"Wh... what?" Willow sighed.

"I said... oh, never mind." Buffy sighed. "Buffy, are you okay? You’ve been so out of it ever since you broke up with Riley. Are you regretting it?" Buffy’s head shot up and she glared at her friend.

"Hell no! Breaking up with Riley was the smartest thing I’ve ever done. I swear, by the time I dumped him, I was so ready to just wrap my hands around his throat and strangle him till he turned black and blue," she muttered, completing the disturbing image with hand motions. She looked up at the silence and caught the wide-eyed gaze that both Tara and Willow were giving her. Buffy grinned sheepishly. "Uh... pretend you didn’t hear that." Both girls nodded quickly.

"No problem," Willow mumbled, eyeing Buffy wearily and taking a sip of her tonic water.

The girl was gonna snap any day now.

"Whoo!" Xander bellowed, doing a little dance and spinning once before flopping down onto his seat. Anya, shaking her head, followed right behind him with a smile on her face. Xander wrapped an arm around her and tilted his head at the other three girls. "So what’s up, guys? We’ve ceased to get our groove on tonight? Oooh, listen, they’re playing that Sublime song on the speakers!" Buffy shrugged.

"Eh. I’m not really up to boogying down right now, Xander. But you all can go on, I don’t mind." Xander pouted, Willow armed herself with a puppy dog look, complete with jutting lower lip, and Tara tilted her head at Buffy, biting her lower lip.

"Are you sure, Buffy? We can stay here and talk. The song’s over anyway." Buffy smiled reassuringly at the blonde witch and nodded. <Poor Tara. She’s still feeling bad about the birthday thing.>

"I’m okay, Tara. You can... go on." At that moment, Buffy had glanced at Xander and noticed, with alarm, that he was studying her a little too intently. Instantly feeling self-conscious under his scrutiny, she asked, "Whaaaat?"

"Does this moodiness have anything to do with Riley?"

"No!"

‘Well are you sure this thing with Spike hasn’t made you paranoid or something?" He leaned closer. "Did he do anything, force himself on you so he could bite you?" It was quite convenient of Xander to completely forget that Riley had mentioned Buffy –not- resisting Spike. "Do we need to make with the poofing?" He pantomimed himself sticking a stake into Spike (although in this case, his hand was actually hitting the pizza in the plate in front of him). He pulled his hand back and grimaced, wiping it off. Buffy shook her head in frustration.

"Nooo. Guys, god, I didn’t let Spike do anything to me that I didn’t…" She stopped as soon as she realized she was about to let slip too much info. "I mean, I –let- him bite me. And I know he wasn’t trying to hurt me. I know about the claim and everything." She sighed and put her head in her hands. "I just don’t know why he claimed me." Xander shrugged.

"To control you?" Anya bounced in her seat excitedly.

"Because he likes her!"

Four heads shot up to stare at her in shock. Buffy’s face paled.

"W-what?" she whispered. Anya realized that she’d said a Bad thing. Oh, for Christ’s sake, she couldn’t help it! It was hard being perceptive and learning to keep her mouth shut!

Fortunately enough for her, she’d spent a thousand plus years learning how to cover herself after unconventional means of vengeance.

"Well we were commenting on what could possibly make Spike want to claim you. Maybe he likes you. It’s a possibility. But not a big one. Don’t worry, Buffy. Xander’s probably right. Spike probably just wants to control you so it’ll be easier for him to kill you later." She smiled and crossed her legs, smoothing her skirt and grabbing on to Xander’s arm. Buffy gaped at her.

Somehow, the thought Wasn't. All. That. Comforting.

Come my lady, come, come my lady

You’re my butterfly, sugar, baby

Come my lady, you’re my pretty baby

you're my butterfly, sugar, baby

"Oooh! Oooh oooh oooh! It’s CrazyTown! Get up get up get up, we HAVE to dance to this!" Xander whooped, jumping up, grabbing Anya and racing onto the dance floor. Willow and Tara grinned at each other and grabbed hands, following the first two.

Buffy watched her friends as they submerged themselves into the sex-charged crowd of people, all who were now writhing and grinding against each other. She couldn’t help but notice that neither of her friends had stopped to say anything to her before racing out there with their significant others.

Damn. She felt lonely.

Maybe she should’ve held on to Riley, just for... No. No, definitely not. Breaking up with that maggot was the best thing she’d ever done.

Such a sexy, sexy, pretty little thing

fierce nipple pierce, you got me sprung with your tongue ring

And I ain’t gonna lie, cuz you’re lovin’ gets me high

So to keep you by my side, there’s nothin’ that I won’t try

She hated him. HATED him. Okay, so maybe she didn’t hate him, but she really, really didn’t like him anymore. He didn’t have what she needed. HE wasn’t what she needed. She didn’t need him. In fact, if anyone needed anyone, it was HIM who needed HER!

Well she didn’t need him, didn’t need anyone for a relationship, OR for some stupid dance. She’d danced by herself before. So fuck it. She’d dance by herself now.

Butterflies in her eyes and the looks to kill

Time is passing and I’m asking could this be real?

Cuz I can’t sleep, I can’t hold still

The only thing I really know is she got sex appeal

Standing up, Buffy was the walking definition of the well-written lyrics. Walking to the dance floor, she exuded an air of confidence that succeeded to turn heads, both male and female.

Okay, so it was the strappy blue halter-top and the tight black leather skirt that was grabbing most of the attention. So what?

Making her way to the center of the floor and closing her eyes, she listened to the churning punk rock beat of the song. The music took over her body, and her hips began to gyrate, her waist beginning to twist, her arms rising above her head in a bewitching dance.

I can feel too much is never enough

you’re always there to lift me up when these times get rough

I was lost now I’m found

Ever since you’ve been around

You’re the woman that I want so yo I’m puttin’ it down

Come my lady, come, come my lady

You’re my butterfly, sugar, baby

Come my lady, you’re my pretty baby

I’ll make your legs shake, you make me go crazy

Demoness.

That was what she was. She moved like a demon, fought like a demon, it’d only make sense that she be a demon.

She hadn’t talked to him since that night at his crypt, and it was driving him insane. He didn’t understand, couldn’t understand... why had she run away?

He’d felt things he never thought he’d feel again. Things he'd forgotten, things he hadn’t felt since the last happy times he’d had with Dru.

I don’t deserve you unless it’s some kinda hidden message

to show me life is precious

then I guess it’s true

But to tell the truth I never really knew

till I met you

He growled low in his throat at the lyrics of the song. They were hitting way too close to home.

That was it, he couldn’t stand it. He had to touch the girl.

He chugged back the last of his imported beer and extinguished his cigarette in some preppy school boy’s Coke, earning a resentful Look from the twit. Spike gave him a purely evil smirk, baring his fangs, and slammed the beer bottle down on the bar, chuckling inwardly as the boy paled and jumped. Getting up in one lithe surge, he sauntered onto the floor.

I was lost and confused, twisted and used up

knew a better life existed, but thought that I’d missed it

My life style’s wild, I was livin’ like a wild child

Trapped on a short leash paroled, the police files

So yo what’s happening now?

I see the sun breaking, shinin’ through dark clouds

And a vision of you, standing out in the crowds

Heh. Was this the story of his unlife with Buffy, or what?

Yecch. The poor chit had a bunch of mangy frat boys slobbering all over her. One braved the seductress’s dance and slid forward, putting a hand on her hip. Buffy made no move to bring herself closer, but Spike’s demon still flared, and he growled gently to keep it from emerging altogether.

No one, but NO ONE, least of all some pussy-faced, pimple-popping little college kid who didn’t know his dick from a twig, touched his girl.

The whole Big Bad attitude came out as he moved through the crowd, who parted instantly, like the Red Sea for Moses. When he arrived at the throng of dipshits surrounding Buffy, most of them moved out of the young man’s way rather than attempting to pick a fight with him. He shook his head as he watched Buffy and the four remaining lugs enclosing her.

Really. What in the blue hell made these stupid gits think they even had a scrap of a chance with his Slayer?

Come my lady, come, come my lady

You’re my butterfly, sugar, baby

Come my lady, you’re my pretty baby

I’ll make your legs shake, you make me go crazy

She could sense his presence behind her – had sensed it since she’d felt part of the claim twist around her. Her Spidey sense always seemed to be extra aware when Spike was around. Like it knew that Spike was a special one, a vampire to be held in higher regard than other vampires. She knew she should be slightly wigged at his proximity, but right now, she was having way too much fun to worry. So she thought nothing of it when two of her admirers went flying, and she pressed into him when Spike’s cool, sensual hands wrapped around her waist.

Spike peered over Buffy’s head at the college boys and smirked in victory, leading his hands up her body and cupping her breasts, squeezing them possessively. Buffy let out a low moan and pushed into him more, one arm wrapping around his neck. Spike ground his crotch into her ass, fully aware that she could feel every inch of him awakening, and truly not giving a flying fuck. The frat boys glowered and shoved off, knowing that the blonde girl had made her choice – she hadn’t let either of –them- get that close to her.

Spike slid his hand under the Slayer’s skimpy top and captured a rosy nipple, twisting and turning it, rubbing it until it ached. Buffy moaned again and threw her head back against his shoulder, hearing his ragged voice mutter in her ear, "Fuck, I want you." She replied by pressing into him, rubbing her ass up and down his cock with a powerful, dizzying friction.

He could see her skirt riding up her thighs, and oh GOD... if they weren’t public right now, Buffy would be on the ground, riding something else. Spinning her around, Spike hoisted her into his arms, and she quickly hooked her legs around his, her fingers gripping the thick leather of his duster almost enough to bruise it. They were face to face now, hooded blue eyes meeting heavy green ones, both aroused, both proud and secure in their sexuality, neither giving a damn now about where they were.

Buffy began to move against him, the skirt sliding up around her hips. Spike quickly draped his duster over her, intent on keeping the view of her body from everyone else’s sight but his own. He let out a soft groan as he felt her crotch grind into his repeatedly, the wet spot on her panties burning a hole through his jeans and making his cock jump towards her. Her excitement was filling the room and Spike was dizzy from the scent of it. He was drowning.

Hey, sugar mama, come and dance with me

the smartest thing you ever did was take a chance with me

whatever tickles your fancy

girl, it’s me and you like Sid and Nancy

Oh, god. Oh, god, he was gonna come. Fast. There was absolutely no friggin’ way on earth that he could be here, dancing to this song, in this position with the Slayer, and –not- come. His balls were aching, and his cock felt like it was gonna explode. He could hear Buffy’s harsh breathing in his ear as she ground into him, and knew that she was having a bit of the same problem.

His eyes focused on a droplet of sweat that appeared at the nape of her neck, and slid over her collarbone, moving down her chest, trickling down the very visible valley between those sweet, supple breasts...

His head darted forward, and his tongue traced the path, licking up the saltiness, sucking her skin momentarily. Buffy moaned softly, and arched up, the wetness of her panties once again coming in contact with Spike’s throbbing crotch.

So sexy... almost evil

talkin’ ‘bout butterflies in my head

I used to think that happy endings were only in the books I read

But you made me feel alive when I was almost dead

Recognition of the lyrics flashed through both of their eyes, each understanding the implications of the words. A crooked smile crossed Buffy’s face as she wrapped both arms around his neck, and Spike returned the smile, tugging her closer. God, he loved this girl.

Buffy was up against Spike enough so they could... um, "dance" comfortably, but she was low enough on him so that anyone who looked would think that they actually were dancing. Which was probably a good thing considering Xander, who very well may have had a heart attack lest he realized what his best friend and the evil vampire were actually doing.

As it was, the sight of them... um, "dancing" together was enough to freak him out.

"Holy Toledo! What in the sacred name of Zeus is that?" he yelped, nearly dropping Anya. The ex-demon turned, following her boyfriend’s gaze. She grinned slightly.

Anya *really* liked it when she was right.

"It’s Buffy. And Spike. They’re dancing. We should dance, too." She tugged on his arm, trying to convince him of the sense in her words, and made a small noise of frustration when he pulled away.

"Dancing? Buffy’s dancing with Spike? It doesn’t LOOK like they’re dancing! They look like they’re about to eat each other alive, like they’re going at it in the middle of the floor!" Anya grinned to herself; by the flushed looks on their faces, it seemed that was exactly what they were doing. But she couldn’t tell that to Xander. He might go into cardiac arrest.

"Xander, take it easy. Buffy’s been stressed lately with all this Riley stuff piled on top of the normal demon stuff. Maybe she just wants to relax for one night. She’s put the minor fact that Spike is an evil vampire to the side for tonight, and if she can, then so can you." Xander looked at her.

"But –"

"Xander..." Anya gently touched his shoulder, her voice softening. "Look at her." He did. "Does she look disgusted? Like she’s gonna back away and stab him anytime soon?" Xander frowned and shook his head. He saw Spike lean in and whisper something to her, then gawked in surprise when Buffy actually laughed. Anya continued. "No, she doesn’t. She looks happy for once, doesn’t she?"

Xander sighed and nodded. "Yes..."

"Right. She’s happy. So just leave them alone." She took his hand and pulled him close to finish the dance.

He really didn’t want to. Leave them alone, that is. He looked toward the center of the floor again.

But as long as Buffy was happy.

You filled that empty space with the love I used to chase

and as far as I can see, it don’t get better than this

So, butterfly, here is a song, and it’s sealed with a kiss

And a thank you miss

"You know you’re bloody well beautiful, don’t you?"

Buffy grinned. "Pretty sure of it." She leaned in, burying her face in his neck, breathing in his scent. "Any particular reason for bringing it up?" Spike pulled her closer, kissing her neck. His hands cupped her ass, and his grinding became quicker, his breathing coming in shallow, erratic bursts.

"Just checking, luv." Buffy moaned blissfully, resting her cheek against his. She whimpered in his ear, then playfully licked his earlobe, sending shivers running up and down the vampire’s spine. She paid for it when Spike slammed his pulsing bulge against her scantily clad clit.

Her fingers curled into his hair as she moaned, and she arched backwards, her head falling back, her hips thrusting against him blindly. Spike groaned and quickly unzipped his pants, knowing he was close and not particularly wanting to wash out any stains from his jeans later.

Come my lady, come, come my lady

you’re my butterfly, sugar, baby

come my lady, you’re my pretty baby

I’ll make you legs shake, you make me go crazy

As the final lyrics of the song played, they seemed to order it of them, and Spike slid his hand between himself and the Slayer, cupping it around the head of his cock and capturing his seed. His head flopped down on Buffy’s shoulder and he let out a soft whimper.

Buffy gave a long, pleasured sigh, her insides clenching and spasming as she approached her own release. When she did, she buried her face in Spike’s neck and bit down gently, her blunt teeth not even close to penetrating his skin. Nevertheless, the feel of her teeth against his skin made instinct rear up. He lifted her hand, allowed his fangs to slide out, and gently bit into her wrist, suckling at her blood.

After a moment, he withdrew and placed a gentle kiss on the wounds. Buffy slid down, looking up at him with dazed eyes. She lifted a shaky hand and touched a finger to his lips, wiping off a smear of crimson. She sighed.

"You really have to stop doing that," she murmured. Spike gave her a small smile, discreetly zipping himself up with one hand. She hadn’t even noticed he was free. Hah.

"Why?" She slid a finger down his chest and splayed her hand over his abdomen, rubbing his muscles gently.

"Because then I won’t be held accountable for what I’d do to you."

He wasn’t sure whether to curse the non-existent vampire refractory period, or thank the Powers That Be over and over for it. He tilted his head.

"Show me?" Buffy smiled.

"Maybe." She brushed past him to the bathroom, a mile-wide grin plastered on her face. Spike dipped his head, inhaling the heady scent of her orgasm, and he physically had to restrain himself from going in after her. His eyes followed the Slayer as she disappeared through the crowds. When she was out of his line of sight, he sighed and turned around. He had to wipe his hand off somewhere. And as luck would have it, somebody’s shirt was on the floor. Heh. Obviously, he and Buffy weren’t the only ones getting busy during the song. Picking it up, he smeared the quick-drying goop on it, then threw it back on the ground. He looked back over his shoulder toward Buffy.

And he smiled.

Buffy walked into the bathroom, fully unable to wipe the smile off of her face. Damn. If they had been *that* intense just grinding, would the earth explode if they actually had sex?

She went to the sink and turned on the tap, splashing the cold water on her face. Okay, make-up was definitely finito. And it figured -- she hadn’t brought her bag to touch up.

Oh, well.

Her panties felt too slippery. She turned the tap off and ducked into a stall, shimmying her skirt up and squirming out of a very soaked white thong. She chuckled softly to herself as she cleaned up her little mess.

Holy crap.

The fact that it was Spike that was evoking these feelings in her was no longer an issue. The only thing that mattered was that he could. She hadn’t felt so happy and so relaxed in such a long time and, once again, because of dancing and grinding? With Spike?

She was thinking that this was a big yay.

Should she curse the Powers, or thank them for getting her involved with Spike? Stupid mystical beings... they ALWAYS had to complicate things.

Buffy left the restroom, tossing the soiled panties into the trash. Another smile forced its way onto her face.

But complications always made things a lot more fun.

Heavy combat boots clomped into the room and Xander froze. Last night at the Bronze had been a step up for him in not picking on the evil, blood-sucking fiend (especially since the puppy had his chompers back – heh. Yeah). He’d held himself in check pretty well, even when Spike had joined them at their table at Buffy’s behest. He had to admit, having the vampire there, even if the vampire's attention had been entirely focused on Buffy, had definitely lightened the mood. Xander had even engaged in some pleasant banter with him.

That didn’t mean he was gonna officially be friends with him.

Anyway, there was only one person he knew that sounded like that when coming into the room, and he had to steel himself so as not to bitch, lest Buffy followed him in.

Surprisingly enough, the owner of the boots was Buffy.

Should he be wigged?

Damn. He’d forgotten that Buffy Anne Summers owned one of the world’s most extensive collections of shoes, including eight different pairs of boots. The combat boots on her feet all-too-closely resembled Spike’s. With a skin-tight white T-shirt emblazoned with the word ‘hottie’ on front with blue flames and a tight black skirt that reached mid-thigh, however, she was all Buffy.

Except for her apparent new love for all things restricting with a lack of room for circulation. It seemed that she was taking fashion tips from Spike. Really creepy fashion tips. Xander suppressed his gag reflex as an involuntary picture of Spike walking around in Buffy’s clothes with sunglasses on popped into his head.

How disturbing.

Maybe the claim was having more of an effect on the Slayer than they’d originally thought.

Xander stood up, his finger pointing at her. "Look. It’s a cross between Madonna and Billy Idol!" Buffy’s head jerked around, focusing on him, and he shrank back, wiggling his fingers sheepishly. "Please don’t hurt me. Loving the new look, really."

Buffy shook her head and turned away again, taking off her sunglasses. "Shut up. FYI, I just wanted to try something new. And I’ve had these clothes for, like, ever, so I figured I’d get some wear into them. Okay?"

Xander held both hands up. "Okay, okay, sorrrrrreeee."

Buffy frowned, then shrugged. "Whatever."

Whoa. Buffy was going back to pre-Slayer, Los Angeles Buffy days. Creepy.

Xander shivered.

"Hey, Xander, hey, Anya, hey, Buff-eee, whoa." Dawn bounced into the room, glancing over her sister’s outfit. "Wow, look at you! All punk-ish and goth-y... now all you need is that dark make-up you always wore when you dated Angel, and you’d actually be cool."

Buffy scowled at her sister, but a tiny smile was twitching at the corners of her mouth. "What are you doing here? Did you follow me? Or did Willow teach you teleportation?"

Willow’s head poked out of the training room, and she waved meekly. "No teaching of any things magic, Buffy, I swear. I was just coming here and Dawn was walking around, so I brought her with me."

Buffy stilled, then looked at the Energy Blob. "You told me you were going to Caitlyn’s. Who, as I happen to recall, lives right down the street from us." She turned back to Willow. "Where was she walking?"

The red-head froze up. She felt like her throat had globbed over. "Um... um, she was... just around..." A sleek blonde eyebrow rose up, and Buffy looked wearily at her friend. That slut she’d encountered had been looking for the key. Dawn was the Key. What if this woman had found her? From what Buffy had seen of the chick, she had more strength than two Buffies put together. She grabbed Willow’s arms.

"Where was she, Will?"

Willow took one look at the Slayer and broke down. "She... she was at Spike’s cemetery with him. I’m sorry, so, so sorry!"

Buffy felt relief wash over her immediately, and she looked down at the teen, who was glaring at the witch for her betrayal. "You were with Spike?" she asked.

Dawn turned to her and nodded meekly. "Yeeessss..."

Buffy smiled and nodded. "Okay." She turned toward the training room.

Dawn blinked.

Willow gaped.

Xander choked.

Anya pretty much ignored them all.

The other three looked at each other, before Dawn raced after her sister, with the two Scoobies on her tail.

Catching up to her, Dawn grabbed her shoulder. "You mean, you don’t mind that I was with him?"

Buffy turned to her. "No. I don’t. Because I know you’re safe with him." She turned to walk again, but spun back just as quickly. "But I AM a little miffed that you lied about where you were going."

Dawn pouted. "I’m sorry... I just really wanted to see him. He was so cool about what happened with Tara’s family on Monday." Dawn paused, thinking for a moment. "I think I scared him when I showed up. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?"

Buffy laughed. "For some reason, little girls have a way of unnerving big manly vampires. You saw how Angel wigged every time he saw you. Don’t know why." She put a hand on Dawn’s shoulder. "Okay, you’re off the hook this time. Don’t do it again... someone could..." Buffy trailed off. Dawn didn't know about Crazy-Chick. Dawn didn't know about the Key. Dawn didn't know that she was said Key, and that Slutbomb 2000 was after her. She reworded herself quickly. "You might scare Mom." The two shared a meaningful look, and Dawn nodded.

"I gotcha. Thanks, Buffy."

Buffy nodded, touching a lock of Dawn’s hair. "No problem."

Dawn grinned giddily, then flounced off to somewhere in the store, most likely to bother Giles.

After a brief pause, Xander and Willow walked up to Buffy.

Xander had his hand over his face. "Did I just hear what I... thought I heard?"

Buffy looked at him, unclasping her skirt to reveal workout shorts underneath. "What would that be?"

Xander glanced at her in disbelief. "You? Saying that Dawn was *safe* with the Evil Dead? Are you nuts? He’s got his fangs back! He could go after Dawn to get to you, and you’re saying that she’s SAFE with him?!"

Buffy turned and glared at him, tying her hair up. "Did you even see how he was with Dawn the day I broke up with Riley? He couldn’t even believe that she liked him! And did you see her just now? Did you see any marks on her? Did you see her shaking, and crying, and, and scared to death?" Xander started to reply, but Buffy cut him off.

"No, you didn’t. What, Xander, do you think I’m stupid? That Spike’s claim on me has completely clouded my judgment of him? Because it hasn’t. In fact, with the damn claim, I’m thinking more clearly than before. Dawn is fine with Spike! She didn’t come back maimed or torn! He wouldn’t hurt her, he wouldn’t do anything cruel to her, and do you know why? Because he cares about her. I know he does. And I know he wouldn’t bring her any harm. I trust him."

Xander’s jaw fell open and he stared at Buffy in shock. Willow’s eyebrows had risen up on her forehead, and she was just watching the two. Buffy turned away, more stunned than the others were at her own words. But as she slid her boots off and taped her hands up, she knew the truth, and repeated it with more resolve. She had confidence in him.

"I trust him."

Lyrics belong to CrazyTown, "Butterfly."

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