" Well? " Buffy baulked, glaring at Spike.

He felt the lump in his throat swell and shook his head ever so slightly.

" I don't know why. " His voice was so soft, she barely heard him.

" Not an acceptable answer! " she snapped.

" Well it's the only bleedin' one I got, Slayer, " he sadly replied, lowering his eyes.

Buffy just looked at him, her heart and her brain fighting a silent battle. Her brain was telling her that he deserved no mercy. Her heart, on the other hand, felt almost sorry for him. Although she hated to admit it, she knew that he honestly did care about Willow. Alright, he more than cared. He loved the redhead, a fact he had proved on more than one occasion. However, despite all the love he had for her best friend, he had still hurt her..in the worst way..and there was no way she was going to let him get away with it.

Turning around, she walked over to the door where she had dropped her bag. Picking it up, she returned to the vampire. He looked at her.

" What's in there? " he asked, raising a brow at the bag.

" You're punishment, " she said, reaching in and coming out with a piece of wood.

Spike's other brow shot up. " Exactly what do you think you're going to do with that? " he inquired, his blue eyes staring at the large paddle in her hand.

" You've been around a long time, Spike. I think you know. "

" Look, Slayer, I love Red. She's the only one I play with. Besides,

I thought she was your best mate? Not being much of a friend now, ay? "

Buffy didn't flinch. " I'm not here to play, Spike. I'm here because Will is my best friend. You made her cry, I make you cry. Two plus two, William. "

He closed his eyes and nodded. " Touche, Slayer. "

Taking an unneeded breath, he reopened his baby blues and stepped over to the slab of cement in the middle of the room. With his back to Buffy, he bent over, placing his hands on the top. Buffy tossed the bag onto the sofa, then followed him.

" Take off the jeans, " she ordered.

" Nothin' on under them, " he noted.

" Don't touch the jeans! "

A small smile formed on his lips, disappearing quickly as he felt the power of the Slayer cracking the wood down hard on his bum. He couldn't help but yelp.

" You say her name, after each one, " Buffy ordered. " Say it loud. I want to make sure that you never forget who it is that you love. "

She slammed the paddle down again.

" Willow, " he said,

" Loud! " she snarled, whacking him again.

" Willow! " he cried, closing his eyes.

Another hard smack.

" Willow! " And another. " Willow! " And another. " Willow! "

The Slayer didn't hold back, every ounce of her strength going into each swing and the vampire felt it, tears falling as the fire on his backside blazed. He was being punished, and not in the cute little way that he and his Red played. He had hurt his precious Red and was now paying the price. A price he knew that he deserved to pay. Willow had been nothing but wonderful to him since they had been together and what did he do? How did he repay her? He betrayed her.

It was the equivalent of a stake through the heart. He had been making love with her. He had called out Dru's name. It was worse than a stake through the heart

" Willow! " He knew he would never make that mistake again.

Buffy's arm felt as if it were going to disconnect itself from her shoulder.

As she massaged the elbow, she took comfort in knowing that Spike was in much greater pain. Looking at him stretched out on the sofa, lying on his stomach, she smiled. It would be awhile before he would be able to get comfortable any other way. And, she doubted that he would ever make her Willow cry again.

" I suggest that you give her a few days, " she said, stuffing the paddle back into the bag. " Then, I suggest that you do something truly spectacular. I'm talking more than roses and candy here. She loves you, Spike. She's more in love with you than she's ever been with anyone. She'll forgive you. She'd even forgive you if she didn't, that's just Will. But me, I'm not so forgiving.

If I ever see my best friend in the shape she was in this morning, and you have anything to do with it, you'll pray for me to set your ass on fire. "

With that said, Buffy left. Spike closed his eyes, trying to ignore the massive pain that was once his bum, and started planning his spectacular plea for his Red's forgiveness.