*****

Dear Diary,

Well...it's official. I've written in this dumb book three times. I've written the words "Dear Diary" with corresponding dates three times. As my favorite blonde vampire would say...I'm such a nancy-boy.

Speaking of undead British people, if Spike ever finds this thing he'll laugh himself into his second death. I don't have so many friends that I can afford to loose any more...so I guess it's my duty as a "good friend" to hide my diary from him, huh?

I know, you're thinking that my paranoia has reached new and interesting heights, but Spike finding this journal is now a valid worry. You see...he moved into my apartment today.

Yes. I did just write that.

William the Bloody.

Roommate.

It's *not* my fault. I swear. Okay. A little my fault. But mostly Buffy's. And Willow's. With just a pinch of Dawn and Giles thrown in for good measure. But mostly Buffy's. And Willow's.

Okay, okay. Fine! It's completely my fault since I could have said NO, and I clearly didn't.

But Buffy started it, so...

Ever since Spike was tortured by Glory and he didn't crack or break or even *hint* at Dawn's identity as the Key, well...Buffy's been a bit on the protective side. Worried about him and secretly looking out for him. I mean...she was seriously impressed that Spike willing suffered such extensive pain and agony for Dawn.

And then brushed it off as no big deal. No strings attached.

Service free of charge.

So, Buffy's worried about Spike's safety and all. Living in his crypt, I mean. No heat, no refrigeration, no electric, no plumbing...no cable for his telly. No way to protect him from any random humans that may want to drag him out into sunlight.

She even went so far as to compare him to *me*. Flattery in a disturbing way. Buffy told me that she knows that when Angel went all evil and soulless that I confronted him, stood up to him. To defend her. And that Angelus had called me her "White Knight". Buffy said that she guessed this made Spike Dawn's "Black Knight"...or some other romantic girly thingy.

And Willow jumped on the "move Spike into Xander's apartment" idea because she's still worried about me and my 'not talking about it thing'. Well...it's more like a not talking about it, nor smiling at all or laughing ever, not to mention no more wisecracking jokes type of thing.

But that's knit-picking.

Anyhoo...she talked Spike into the whole idea by a combination of a promise of unlimited free cable and the opportunity to watch over me and keep me safe...from myself.

Me? I just am tired of the apartment being empty.

It's so quiet here anymore. The silence can get deafening until it's all I hear. Until it invades every atom of my body and every corner of my mind. Ringing, echoing, hollow silence.

But that's going to change.

Spike's here. I'm no longer alone.

Alexander L. Harris

END