disclaimer on first part

Angelus' body exploded, showering Buffy with a cloud of dust.

Behind them stood Giles, holding a stake, staring down at the ashes with an inscrutable expression on his face.

Then he caught his Slayer in his arms. "Are you hurt? We need to get you to safety!"

"No!" she glanced around wildly, unable to see through the thick fumes.

"Spike!" Buffy struggled weakly as Giles dragged her to the window.

"I'll go back," Giles promised. "Wait outside!"

He disappeared into the fog....

Cordelia fled into the garden. "Stop!" Xander blocked her way, aiming his crossbow at her heart.

"You won't use that," Cordelia said softly. "We could...go away together, Xander. I could show you a new life...one that would never have to end."

"I told you to stop," Xander held the weapon rock steady.

"You won't fire." Cordelia stood right in front of him, staring fearlessly into his eyes. "You can't."

Xander gazed hopelessly at her, slowly lowering the bow.

"You're right; I can't do it!"

There was the whirr of an arrow being loosed; and Cordelia looked in disbelief at the bolt in her chest. Then she fell back, disintegrating before she hit the floor.

Xander whipped around to see Willow clutching her own crossbow.

"Don't worry, Xander. I can."

Buffy sat quietly in her own room, keeping watch over the blond vampire now asleep in her bed. She and Giles had brought Spike to the house on Revello Drive; wearily Buffy wondered if they'd ever get the blood cleaned up.

Giles seemed to know her thoughts. "He will heal, Buffy. His injuries are terrible, but in time..."

She held up her hand to stop him. "What happened to Xander and Willow?"

"They went to Xander's basement," Giles told her. "I think...they'll be spending a lot of time together from now on."

"They belong together," Buffy confessed. "I always knew it."

She glanced up at the man who was the only real father she'd ever known. "I owe them, and you, so much!"

"And Abernethy," Giles smiled at her. "He woke Bronwen; or we'd never have got to the mansion on time. As it is..."

"Yes." Buffy said somberly.

He patted her shoulder awkwardly. "Bad as things are, they could be worse. Remember that."

She managed a weak smile for him. "I know."

But in the dark, watching Spike sleep, Buffy couldn't avoid a shiver when she thought of the future. What would it be like for them, a vampire and a Slayer?

She would most likely not live long enough to reach her thirties.

Well then, their future would be short. But, he'd be fighting his nature the whole time.

Spike stirred, moaning as his tortured muscles protested.

Buffy got up and crossed to him, placing a tiny hand soothingly on his forehead. "It's okay. Shhh."

His blue eyes opened, gazing longingly into hers. "Buffy?"

It was there, in that question...all her hopes and fears, magnified. It had never occurred to her before, that he could be as uncertain and frightened as she was herself.

She pulled back the covers and slipped into bed beside him.

"I'm here, Spike," Buffy whispered.

And burned her bridges.