A/N: Huge thanks to my betas Luxferi and Amarysso. :D

* * *


Buffy was getting more and more nervous, and was starting to doubt if her decision to take Spike home had been one of her better ideas. What was she supposed to do when she got there? She wouldn’t have to sneak in like she used to, this time Joyce knew she was out on patrol, but Buffy hoped her mother would be in bed by now.

The way Buffy saw it, she had three options: dump Spike in the basement on that cot she had a vague memory of; place him on the sofa in the living room, where Joyce was sure to find him or take him upstairs to her own room.

Her first option seemed kind of harsh. The basement looked like a dump, but at least he was safe from the sunlight if he would sleep past dawn. The second choice was more hospitable of her, it was what you usually do, right? Put the guest on the sofa. But the living room window was large and the curtains see-through, it wasn‘t optional for someone with a sunlight allergy. Then there was the last option, it was harder, since it was in itself two options. Let him sleep on the floor or her bed?

She had to make a decision.

Buffy had reached her house and front door and was trying to get her keys out of her jeans pocket without dropping the vampire on her shoulder. When she finally managed to unlock the door and got inside, she kicked off her boots before heading upstairs.

She had just reached the final steps when Joyce walked sleepily out of her bedroom and turned on the light in the hallway.

“Buffy?”

Buffy looked like a deer caught in headlights where she was standing with Spike casually thrown over her shoulder. How was she going to explain this to her mother?

“Um, hi mom.”

“What are you-? Is that-?” Buffy could tell her mother was trying her hardest to act like this was normal. She was doing a fine job at it, although Buffy could see her freaking underneath that calm exterior. It wasn’t everyday you saw a teenage girl carrying an adult man.

“Spike, um, he wasn’t feeling well.”

“Is he sick?” Joyce asked and seemed to be worried. “Can I get you anything?”

“I just think he needs some sleep. He didn’t have anywhere to go so…”

“Oh honey but the spare bedroom is-”

“Full of gallery stuff, I know. I was going to put him in my room.”

“Are you sure?” Joyce asked skeptically, her typical maternal instinct kicking in, but she wasn’t sure about what to do about the situation at this point. “I’m really not liking this, Buffy.”

“Mom. Please. He’s unconscious, what is he supposed to do? We need to get some sleep now.”

“All right, honey, just this once. But you haven’t told me how your patrol went? I really don’t like you being out this late all by yourself.”

“It was fine, mom, it was a slow night. And I wasn’t alone, Spike was with me,” Buffy said tiredly and headed to her bedroom.

She pushed the door shut behind her with her foot, and dumped what she thought was an unconscious Spike on the bed. Buffy took a moment to look at his sleeping form. What now?
He couldn’t very well sleep on her bed with those muddy boots…or that duster. Buffy began taking them off carefully. She had to roll him over to get his duster off, but she finally succeeded after yanking and pulling at it aggressively.

To Spike, in his drunken state, his ability to keep on pretending was a surprise even for him. He was a bit embarrassed that Buffy’s mother had seen him like this but it was nothing his alcohol-laden brain worried about.

Buffy turned her back to him, made sure the curtains were shut tight, opened her wardrobe and began to change into her pyjamas.

“Love the PJ’s, luv,” Spike said suddenly. Buffy jumped and let out a shriek, startled. He had carefully opened one eye and seen Buffy changing, something he couldn’t resist not to watch, or for that matter, comment.

“God! Don’t do that! What is it with you vampires!”

“I’m a vampire,” Spike announced proudly. “The biggest …baddassest you can find!”

“Please don’t remind me, and get that ass of yours under the covers.”

“Oh,” Spike said, dumbfounded. “Oh! You want me to-” Spike’s face lit up into a grin. “Well, in that case, little girl, you’ve met the right bloke!” Spike grinned mischievously. “I’m gonna make it good, make you scream until you have no air left in your lungs, make it hurt in all the right places, just right… I’m just gonna…” Spike stood up, wobbled slightly before trying to unbuckle his belt.

Buffy was quickly there to push his hands away.

“Eww! Spike! Stop it!” Buffy pushed him down on to the bed again. Her face was flushed in embarrassment - he was grinning cockily.

“This is how we’re going to do this, okay? You get under the covers and you keep your hands to yourself. Or you can sleep on the floor!”

Grumpily, for different reasons, they both got under the covers and turned to lie on their sides facing away from each other.

The awkward silence that settled didn’t last long. Buffy was beat after patrolling for hours and couldn’t keep her eyes open even if she wanted to. While Buffy drifted off to sleep, Spike turned to simply look at her, inching closer to her resting form.

* * *

Buffy awoke early that morning to find an arm lazily draped over her midsection. Black flaked nail polish was the first thing she noticed. Her mind soon concluded the obvious: Spike. The previous night’s events came crashing down upon her, including the truth about Jenny’s murder. Buffy shivered and moved closer to Spike. He responded to Buffy even in his sleep - this time he was not pretending - and pulled her closer to his chest. Buffy enjoyed the feel of him spooning her from behind and couldn’t help but press closer to him. He was warmer than usual, her own body heat had warmed him up and it felt good. She let her eyes drift shut and went back to sleep with a smile on her lips.

* * *

“…and you should see the paintings on the ceiling! Marvellous!”

“I would love to go there. ”

Buffy was walking down the stairs, still in her PJ’s, when she heard voices in the kitchen. Was Spike talking to her mom? When she’d woken up alone she thought he’d left before dawn, but that was apparently not the case. Did Spike have the nerve to leave her sleeping to talk to her mother? She was disappointed, she didn’t think she should be, but she was. Apparently Spike wanted to get away from her as soon as possible.

Buffy stopped in the doorway to look at Joyce and the vampire. He was sitting casually at the kitchen island with a marshmallow topped cup of cocoa and her mother was busy at the stove flipping pancakes. They looked right at home. It made Buffy even more angry.

“Oh hello Buffy, William was just telling me about the Uffizi gallery, isn’t that exciting?”

Buffy looked blank. “The what?”

“Florence, luv. Italy.”

“They have the most magnificent art collection. ‘The Birth of Venus’, among others.”

“You never told me you’d been to Italy.” Buffy said coldly. Spike was just sitting here nonchalantly speaking to her mother about… art? It annoyed her incredibly.

“You never told me your mum had a gallery.”

“Didn’t think you would be interested.”

“Ditto.”

“Pancakes?” Joyce offered.

Buffy reached out her plate and her mother loaded it with pancakes.

“So... Was it nice?”

“Was what nice?”

“Italy.”

“It’s been a while since I’d been there, but sure, it’s nice.”

“Did you know William shares my love for the great masters?” Joyce smiled excitedly at her daughter. “Art can be so fascinating.”

“Whatever, mom.” She turned to Spike. “So what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“The sun is up. You’re kind of trapped here.”

“It’s no problem, Joyce has already offered to let me stay until tonight.”

“What? Mom!”

“What honey? We can’t kick him out, can we? He’ll fry!”

“Are you planning to leave an evil vampire alone in our house?!”

“Honey, what is he going to do?”

“I don’t know! Evil stuff! He’ll mess up my room and… and put soap on my toothbrush!”

Spike frowned at her last comment, but remained silent.

“I’m sure William will behave.”

“Forget it, I’m staying home today.”

“Honey you have school-”

“Mom, please. It’s not just Spike, believe me, with everything with Jenny, can’t I just…“ Buffy looked at her mother with pleading eyes. “Please don’t make me go?“

“Oh honey, I‘m sorry,“ Joyce hugged her daughter. “But are you sure being home alone would make you feel better? You’ve got your friends at school.”

“I know, but I would rather be here...”

“With Spike?”

“With Spike.”

“Well okay then, I’ll call your school, but you better tell Willow.” Joyce left the kitchen.

Spike turned to look at Buffy with an amused expression on his face. “You gonna baby-sit me, then?”

“You’re saying I won’t find my house torn down when I get back if I leave you here?”

Spike snorted. “No luv, not torn down. You would come home to find me and my demon pals in an orgy.”

Instead of retorting like she usually did, Buffy felt trapped in a moment of silence. She cleared her throat and looked down at the yummy sushi pyjamas she was wearing.

“I’m just gonna go put some clothes on,” Buffy said apologetically. “And call Willow, I think we need a Scooby meeting as soon as possible.”

Buffy rushed up to her room and started to rummage through her wardrobe. She couldn’t find anything to her liking. How come she didn’t have any clothes that fit? They were all so… childish, with their bright colours and silly patterns. She wanted black. Maybe red. Something sexy. She was in desperate need of some shopping, but right now a simple pair of black pants and a red tank top would have to do. They clung nicely to her body and she was pretty sure it was Spike’s favourite colours. Buffy grabbed both pieces of clothing and headed for the shower.

* * *

Spike was left alone in the kitchen to nurse his hangover from the night before. He was almost ready to empty Joyce’s liquor cabinet if it didn’t get better soon. Spike was used to hangovers and he didn’t really mind some pain, but being both dumped and sporting the largest hangover he’d had in years left him feeling more pathetic than usual. He really hoped the Slayer could keep him entertained.

* * *

“Please, please, please?”

“I’m not touching that thing!”

“Come on?”

“No way in hell!”

“But my mom usually helps me and she left early. Can’t you at least try?”

“I’m not fixing your hair, Buffy! I’m not your bloody girlfriend!”

“But I don’t want my hair straight, I want pretty curliness!” Buffy pouted. “I’m going to be ugly all day!”

“You won’t look-”

“No? What’s this?” Buffy pointed at her hair. “This side is straight and this is wavy, and it‘s all your fault because I had to sleep on my side all night, because you were there with your limbs!”

“Your hair is fine, pet. Dunno why you have to dress up and all, thought you were staying in today?”

Buffy felt the urge to roll her eyes, but didn’t. *I’m trapped at home with a sexy vampire, who on earth would I want to look pretty for? Not that he even noticed my outfit… stupid jerk.*

Buffy stared at Spike who seemed to be lost in his TV show. When Buffy realised he wasn’t going to help her she slumped down on the sofa beside him and put the curling iron away.

“You’re not going to apologize are you?”

Spike took a moment to think. Did he have something to apologize for? He couldn’t think of anything, but then again, guilt wasn’t usually his best friend.

“For what? I told you, you look pretty didn‘t I?”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “Never mind…”

“No, pet, hold on a second. What are you going on about?”

“You just-! I woke up alone. You could have at least woken me up and I didn’t have to feel stupid lying there by myself-”

“What? You usually have company?”

“No... But still!”

Spike turned to look at her intently. “I couldn’t wake you, pet. You were sleeping so peacefully,” he said softly. “You really telling me you wouldn’t have hit me in the head with a large, blunt object if I had woken you?” He earned a smile from Buffy at that. “Thought so.”

“Spike?” Buffy asked quietly.

“Yeah?”

“Do you know where they are?” He looked at her quizzically. “Dru? Angel?”

“No,” he said truthfully.

“Oh.” There was a pause, when both were staring at the TV, but not actually watching. “If you… if you knew where they were, would you-?”

“Join them? No, luv.”

Buffy smiled shyly at him. She felt relieved. He wasn’t going anywhere and it warmed her heart.

“You know I have to kill him, right?”

“It’s what you do, pet. You’re a Slayer. Wouldn’t expect anything else.”

They shared a look of something that cannot be described as anything but understanding. His looked at her warmly and Buffy seemed to melt under his gaze. He didn’t have to say more. To hell with Dru and her duties, that simple indication of support was enough for Buffy to feel at peace with him at her side.

“What are we watching?” she asked.

“Passions.”

“Passions. Isn’t that like a soap or something? For the ladies at some old age home?”

Spike glared at her. “It’s a good show.”

“If you say so.”

They sat quietly on the sofa for a couple of minutes, but soon Buffy became bored.

“Spi-ike! Can’t we do something?”

Spike cast her a questioning glance.

“Like what?”

“I’m hungry!” Buffy said perkily.

* * *

“Ow! Bloody buggerin’ hell!”

Spike shook his burned hand while bouncing around the kitchen. “I’m done with this Buffy, you get those cookies yourself!”

“Fine! Calm down, will you?”

Spike was cooling his burned hand under the water in the sink, when he heard a gut wrenching scream from Buffy’s direction.

“No!”

“What now?!”

“They’re burned!”

“Well so is my hand!”

Buffy held out the plate with the neatly lined up cookies. They were all as black as ash. They looked strangely similar to stones or excrement from some extinct animal.

Spike started laughing.

“You really can’t cook, can you?”

“No…” Buffy said in despair and looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

Spike choked back his laughter and looked at her kindly.

“Come here.” He pulled her closer to him, squeezed her shoulders gently, reassuring. “It’s just cookies, yeah? You’ve got ready ones over there, from the store, nothing to worry about.”

“It’s not the same, home made cookies are better. Willow always makes the best cookies.”

“But these are fine. I can eat these.” Spike picked up one burned cookie and brought it to his lips.

“No! Don’t!” Buffy giggled. She tried to stop him from putting it in his mouth but it was useless.

Spike took a bite, black crumbs spread over his lips and he tried his best not to grimace when he tasted the burnt cookie. He licked his lips and swallowed.

“Delicious.”

Buffy was laughing at him and soon Spike joined in with his own trademark chuckle. He kissed the top of her head before grabbing the plate and throwing the burnt cookies in the trash.

* * *

Willow, Xander and Giles came over in the afternoon to have a Scooby meeting as planned. Buffy greeted her friends in the hallway with their usual jokes and cheer, but when she came face to face with Giles her mood fell and she smiled at him weakly. He looked tired, drained even. His eyes had lost their usual spark and he looked unusually pale.

Buffy spoke only his name before she wrapped her arms around his waist and hid her sad face in his tweed jacket. Giles patted her back in return with a kind but forced smile. When he saw Spike standing at the bottom of the stairs the smile turned into a look of anger.

“Buffy,” he said. “Can I have a word with you?” Giles walked into the kitchen, expecting her to follow.

“What is he doing here?!” Giles whispered loudly, barely keeping his anger in check. “You cannot tell me you’d invited a vampire into your home? That vampire! At these times, Buffy I-”

“Giles. Calm down.”

“I will not- Do you have any idea what he did to her?” Giles spoke urgently.

There was no question about who he was talking about. They were no longer talking about Spike, but Angelus.

“I do.” Giles opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but stopped himself and closed it again.

“I know what happened to Jenny. And I’m sorry. I know you‘re disappointed in me, believe me I know, but I promise you I will bring Angelus down, even if it‘s the last thing I do.”

“Buffy.” Giles took off his glasses and looked at her kindly. Somewhere during her ramble he had again to remember that this was a young girl he was talking to. “I cannot say I know anything about what it’s like to be a sixteen year old girl. Do you want me to wag my finger at you and tell you that you acted rashly when it comes to Angel? You did. And I can. But it won’t change what has happened, and I’m not going to.”

There was a quiet moment, until Buffy noticed a bruise on Giles’ cheek. She reached out to touch it.

“What have-” Buffy stopped herself and looked knowingly at her watcher. “You tried to find him, didn’t you?”

“Yes, well he’s nowhere to be found, and I came across a nest of Marketh demons instead… tricky buggers.”

“Giles. Look, I know Spike may seem to be our enemy, but I really think he could come through in this. I know you don’t trust him. But-”

“You do.”

“Yes.”

Giles stared at her intently before he nodded and went out to the teenagers in the living room. “Put on some tea, will you?” he said on his way out.

* * *

They had barely sat down and started talking when a muffled scream came from outside and made everyone look up. Buffy shared a panicked look with Spike before she rushed to the front door. She threw the door open.

No one.

There was no one standing outside. That was when Buffy noticed her mother’s SUV in front of the house. When had her mother come home?

Buffy looked down to her feet. A grocery bag was thrown on the ground and its contents were spread on the front steps. Her mother’s purse was lying close by.

“Mom?” Buffy asked shakily, then more panicked. “Mom?!”




A/N: Review please? ;)