I was formulating my mental argument with Mr. Fury about why Buffy could never be with Spike, and it struck me that Spike would likely have the same arguments! So it came out in the form of a very short piece of fic. It's my first fiction response to "Crush" but fear not -- it won't be my last!

Anyway, here it is.

Title: The Letter

Author: Theory Queen

Summary: Buffy gets a letter

Spoilers: Crush, Crush, and more Crush

Distribution: Why bother? It's too short!

Disclaimer: They all belong to Joss, but if he can't take better care of his toys he should have them taken away.

The Letter

Okay, let's just do a little comparison here, Miss high-and-Mighty. Shall we?

Angel is a vampire. So am I. Angel has a soul, and redemption to earn. I have a chip, and your affections to earn.

Now before you start gagging at that last bit, give me a chance. Just keep reading.

When you first met Angel he hid the fact he was a vampire. You gradually fell in love with Angel, and then bang! He's turned evil again. He threatens your friends, your mum, tortures your watcher and tries to end the world. This is when you un-invite him from your house.

Me? I started out evil. I didn't bother going after your mum or your mates, just you. Then I come back to Sunnydale and get this bloody chip stuck in. Started hanging around with you lot, helping a bit. I need violence, Slayer. I need it as much as you do. Seems the logical thing to extract it from the demons, don't it? I gradually fell in love with you. Started helping out more and more. Saved your life a couple of times. Fought alongside you and your friends. Protected your family. Gave up everything else I ever held dear.

And that's when you un-invite me.

Honestly, Summers, where's the logic?

Oh. And let's not forget the wolf. He could still kill people whenever he escaped, but did you kill him? No. Me, I can't kill people even if I wanted to - and thanks to you, bitch, I don't even want to anymore. So how come he gets the friendship and respect and I get naught?

Why am I so very different from Angel, and from Oz, and from that demon-girl Anya who also wreaked a little havoc in her day? And her day lasted about nine hundred years longer than mine, luv. Why am I not worth shit, while you're palling around with a bunch of other nasties out there who aren't even as harmless as I am?

So tell me again, Summers, why don't I deserve you? Tell me, Buffy. I really want to know.

Yours,

William, the bloody fool