"I beg your pardon?"
"Do you think he'd've stood against the First better than me?"
"He might've had a leg up, since he has an encounter on his resume already. But maybe not. Spike - you protected Dawn against Glory for me. In unsouled state! Do you think Angelus would've done that for me - for anyone - chip or no chip? I told you I won't forget that, and I won't. It makes up for a multitude of sins - before and after... Angel has a unique place in my heart, and so do you."
"Except he has the one I want."
"You really think there could still be romance between Angel and me? After the Faith thing? And that's not even bringing up the curse - been there, done that. You were there!"
"I told you both years ago. Soldier-boy saw it too - that's why he went all bonkers in the end. He thought it was something he could steal. Didn't see it as clearly as I do, only met the guy once. But who'd you run to, when Joyce died - when you died, and got back? Me? Rupert? Hardhat Man or red-and-white-and-black-all-over? No. And both those deaths were after the body-snatching."
"You're reading too much into it."
"No, kid. The day'll come when I'll recite you the Bogart speech from the runway. I already memorized it."
"You're crazy."
"You're cute when you're in denial, luv. Never mind. I'm just laying the groundwork for the I-told-you-sos."
FIN