Challenges

Chapter 12

 A week had gone by, and Spike had began to recover remarkably from his attack.

 Buffy had come to his crypt every other day to check up on him, and they had talked on those days, sitting on the bed, or eventually walking around his dusty space. Small talk really, nothing too invasive. They had laughed, poked fun, punched, and had generally just been as thick as thieves. Since his secret was out, he had seemed more comfortable around her, and she too was beginning to want to visit.

 Yet, there was a awkwardness every time they were both together in the same room.

 Buffy knew Spike loved her now, and Spike was unable to take back what he had said. There had been no going back... so what else was there to do? Although they enjoyed each others company and had been coming to common ground on many levels, facts were, she could never trust him.... completely. He had no soul.

Friends, yes. Allies, ok. But they could never love each other as he had wanted. End of story.

Maybe the right thing to do was to eliminate temptation. If they would never be more than just friends, it was kind of mean to tease. She would have to start avoiding him now and make it apparent that they were just... colleagues.