Buffy finished patrol early and headed home. She had a chemistry exam the next day and wanted to get some extra studying in. Her mom's car was parked in the driveway, which surprised Buffy. Joyce usually parked it in the garage as soon as she got home. Opening the front door, she called out "Hi, Mom, I'm home."

"In here, Buffy," Joyce answered. As Buffy entered the living room, she came to a surprised halt upon seeing who was sitting in a chair facing her mom. Going instantly into attack stance, she pulled out a stake and ordered, "Get away from my mom now!"

Spike insolently raised an eyebrow at her and drawled, "Don't get your knickers in a twist, pet. I'm not doing anything to your mum. We're just havin' a nice conversation, aren't we, Joyce?"

Joyce looked at her daughter with some confusion. "Honey, what's wrong? It's just Spike. He's your friend isn't he?"

"No, mom, he is not," Buffy growled. "He's a killer. What's he doing here?"

Joyce looked between her enraged daughter and the smirking vampire. Thoroughly at a loss, she explained, "My car broke down on my way home. A couple of men were coming at me. I... I think they might have been vampires. I know they really frightened me. Then all of a sudden Spike was there and chased the men away. He fixed my car and offered to escort me home. I invited him in for some hot chocolate. We were just talking." Joyce paused, "Honey, I don't understand. The last time I saw Spike, you and he were allies, weren't you?"

"Yeah, well that was just a one time thing, mom. He's an evil vampire, and you should never trust him. And you certainly shouldn't allow him to escort you home and invite him in for hot chocolate."

Spike lounged back in his chair and took another sip from his mug. "Relax, Slayer," he said. "If I had any evil intentions towards your mum, she'd be dead already."

He heard Joyce's intake of breath at his statement. He smiled reassuringly at her and continued, "Like I said, I'm not doing anything to your mum, and I don't intend to." Sitting forward again he gazed intently at the tense Slayer. "I give you my word here and now, Slayer. I will never hurt your mother, nor will I ever enter this house with the intent to hurt anyone here."

By now, Buffy was as confused as her mother. "Just what kind of game are you playing now, Spike?" she demanded.

"No game, Slayer. I saw your mother in a bit of a pickle and thought I'd help her out is all. She's a nice lady, your mum. Of course, if you like, the next time I see a couple of vamps coming up on her, I could just walk away." He shrugged. "It's up to you, pet."

Buffy was at a complete loss. Why on Earth would this vampire who had promised several times that he would kill her protect her mom from other vampires? Shaking her head, she put away her stake, but backed up to the front door. Holding it open, she said "Well the party's over, Spike. I want you to leave. Now!"

Standing up, the blond vampire placed his mug on the coaster, turned to Joyce and said good night. Walking past Buffy, he said low for her ears only, "We still have a date to dance, Slayer. I haven't forgotten about it." With that, he disappeared into the night.

***

The next day, Buffy filled the gang in on her latest Spike encounter. Giles had removed his glasses and was rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You came home from patrol last night and Spike was sitting in the living room with your mother drinking hot chocolate?"

Buffy sighed. She was as confused now as she had been last night. Joyce had insisted that Spike had done nothing but help her. She had felt absolutely no discomfort being in his presence. Buffy didn't know what to think of his actions.

Xander shook his head. "Just what kind of a game is that guy playing?"

"My words exactly, Xander." Buffy answered. "He said he wasn't playing any game; that my mom was a nice lady. Said if I wanted however the next time he saw my mother in trouble, he could just walk away and leave her on her own. My choice, he said."

"Buffy, this is really weird," Willow chimed in. "And not a little creepy."

"Yes," Giles said. "I'm not sure what Spike is up to, but I certainly don't like it. If he is trying to terrorize you like Angelus did, he is certainly going about it in a unique way."

"I don't think he is, Giles." Buffy said. "I believed him when he said that he would never hurt my mom." Buffy paused. "I just don't know why I believed him. And why wouldn't he hurt my mom? I mean I'm glad he won't but she's nothing to him. Why would he care to save her from other vamps? Why would he swear to never enter my house to do harm? It just doesn't make any sense."

Cordelia had been sitting at the table all this time filing her nails, acting as if she wasn't listening to the conversation. It therefore surprised everyone when she spoke. "Maybe he's in love with you," she said.

Four shocked faces turned to her. "Huh?" Buffy choked out.

"Cordy, honey," Xander laughed nervously. "I think your train has finally jumped the track. Spike in love with Buffy? That's insane."

Cordelia shrugged. "Well he is insane. So why would it surprise anyone that maybe he's in love with the Slayer? He hunts Slayers doesn't he? Maybe this time, instead of killing one he wants to..."

Before she could finish her statement, four sets of voices yelled in protest. "Ew, no way!" Buffy cried. "That's the most disgusting thing anyone's ever thought of. Spike wants to... no way. Absolutely, positively no way."

Cordelia shrugged once more and returned to filing her nails. She had dated a lot of boys and was wise beyond her years in the ways of men. If Buffy wanted to pretend that there was no way Spike could want her, well then that was her problem. Cordelia thought that it was better to be aware of a problem than to ignore it, but it was up to Buffy. Cordy didn't really care one way or the other.

"I hate to say this, Buffy, but I think it is time that you took the fight to him instead of waiting for him to attack. It is obvious that he is becoming very dangerous to you and your mother, regardless of whether or not Joyce felt threatened. I think it is time that you tracked him down and killed him."

Buffy felt a chill run through her body at Giles' words. She agreed with him logically. Spike was a vicious and dangerous vampire. He was fixated on killing Slayers, and now he had apparently also become fixated on Buffy's mother. He could not be allowed to continue to live. The only problem was Buffy still was not sure she could kill him.