She'd snuck out after everyone was asleep, her feet finding their own way as her mind wandered. It was almost peaceful here, quiet, with no harsh lights or people looking at her with half-accusing puppy-dog eyes, waiting to be told they'd done good when they had caused her so much loss. Her thoughts didn't whirl as rapidly here, even if the ache in her heart still throbbed just as fiercely.

He hadn't asked anything of her, had simply opened the door, letting her in and watching quietly as she perched on the arm chair. He squatted in front of her and reached out slowly to take her hands, turning them gently to inspect their progress.

"Where were you?" He asked eventually, quietly breaking into her thoughts. "I mean... do you remember?" He tilted his head, watching for a moment as she continued to stare at nothing. "You don't have to tell me," he added quickly, smiling self-consciously and dropping his gaze back to her injured hands.

She knew she should remember, that it was important that she know, but try as she might, all she could remember from before the gut-wrenching, mind-tearing pain was that she was loved. She had been safe and happy, everyone and everything she cared about was safe, and above all else she had been loved in a way she'd never known before, and probably never would again.

"I... I think I was in Heaven," she answered, her voice breaking the long silence. She was unsure why she would confide such a thing in Spike, especially when she knew beyond a doubt that she couldn't tell her friends. "They can never know," she added, gently reclaiming her hands from his and rising to leave the quiet shelter of his crypt. "Never."