[ It hurt far more than she'd like to admit to hear him talking to her like this again. For years, they'd been bitter and angry toward each other, constantly fighting and barely tolerating the other, but over those last few months in Sunnydale she'd really come to rely on his friendship and support. It was like being kicked in the chest, the more she saw of the old Spike.

She crushed the automatic retort that rose in her throat, the old habit to give as good as she got with him not one she wanted to fall back into. She kept her voice calm, steady, just wanting to talk with him because... who else did she have? ]

There's a lot you don't know about, that happened after you... left, I guess? [ How did that work, exactly? If he was from before her, but she remembered him from after that point. She'd have to ask someone. ] I don't know how it works, but for me it's been years since what you remember, and a lot's changed, Spike.