~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SPIKE: (OS) Bleedin' crime, is what it is. Jackin' up the bar price to pay for fixin' up this sinkhole. Not my fault insurance doesn't cover act of troll.

BUFFY: Gee, maybe it's time you found a new place to patronize.

SPIKE: I've half a mind to! Especially since the flowering onion got remodeled off the sodding menu. 'S the only thing this place had going for it.

BUFFY: What are you doing?

SPIKE: Wha, what do you mean what am ... I ...

BUFFY: Here? At this table? Talking to me. Like we're some kind of talking buddies.

SPIKE: Well, I saw you ... sitting here alone. Thought, I don't know, you could, maybe do with a bit of, uh, you know, company. Suit yourself! (Gets up) Although... (Comes back and sits back down) It's just, we took on that Glory chippie together, I was right there with you, fightin' the fight.

BUFFY: Actually, you were sleeping the sleep of the knocked unconscious.

SPIKE: Still, points for intent. You'd think that would be enough to cut me a sliver of slack. Earn a little consideration, respect.

XANDER: (OS) Hey, uh, Evil Dead, you're in my seat. (Xander and Anya are standing behind him)

SPIKE: Bugger it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BUFFY: Oh ... oh no. Are you out of your mind?

SPIKE: It's not so unusual. Two people ... in the workplace ... feelings develop.

BUFFY: No! No, no, feelings do not develop. No feelings.

SPIKE: You can't deny it. There's something between us.

BUFFY: Loathing. Disgust.

SPIKE: Heat. Desire.

BUFFY: Please! Spike, you're a vampire.

SPIKE: Angel was a vampire.

BUFFY: Angel was good!

SPIKE: And I can be too. I've changed, Buffy.

BUFFY: What, that chip in your head? That's not change. Tha-that's just ... holding you back. You're like a serial killer in prison!

SPIKE: Women marry 'em all the time!

BUFFY: Uhh!

SPIKE: But I'm not ... like that. Something's happening to me. I can't stop thinking about you.

BUFFY: Uhh.

SPIKE: And if that means turning my back on the whole evil thing-

BUFFY: You don't know what you mean! You don't know what feelings are!

SPIKE: I damn well do! I lie awake every night!

BUFFY: You sleep during the day!

SPIKE: Yeah, but - You are missing the point. This is real here. I love-

BUFFY: Don't! Don't say it. I'm going.

SPIKE: Oh, come on, we need to talk-

BUFFY: We don't need to do anything! Okay, there is no we! Understand?

~"Crush"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BUFFY: What's going on?

SPIKE: Simple. I'm gonna prove something. I love you.

BUFFY: Oh my god.

SPIKE: No, look at me! I ... love you. You're all I bloody think about. Dream about. You're in my gut ... my throat ... I'm drowning in you, Summers, I'm drowning in you.

~"Crush"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SPIKE: Just ... give me something ... a crumb ... a barest smidgen ... tell me ... maybe, someday, there's a chance.

BUFFY: Spike.... The only chance you had with me was when I was unconscious.

~"Crush"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

SPIKE: No, it's not that easy. We have something, Buffy. It's not pretty, but it's real, and there's nothing either one of us can do about it. Like it or not, I'm in your life, you can't just shut me out.

~"Crush"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~