“I am so bored of the no-show geeks,” Buffy huffed, kicking at a stone as she and Spike made their way through one of Sunnydale’s cemeteries.


“They’ll be back.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“They committed murder and got away with it. They’re not just gonna sit around and play nice after that.”

“Great,” she sighed, drawing up and leaning against a headstone as Spike stopped opposite her, instantly fishing out a cigarette. She watched him for a moment, then dropped her gaze to the floor, biting her lip.

“Worried, Slayer?”

Her eyes rose to his and she smiled wryly.

“Strange, huh? It’s just…I can fight demons. But these are people...guys I went to school with...”

“Doesn’t mean they’re good though, does it?” he asked pointedly and she met his bright gaze with a frown, sensing that there was some deeper argument.

“I guess not. But they’re still human.”

“And killers.”

She frowned, not liking this talk that danced dangerously close to some serious grey areas in her life.


She sighed and looked to the ground again, her shoulders sagging. Spike’s touch at her shoulder brought her gaze back to his again.

“Don’t let the fact they’re humans stop you from doing what’s right.”

“Of course I won’t.”

“Just sayin’. They may not be demons but they’re just as bad.”

“I’m not sure I’d say that.”

“Right, so ‘coz they’re humans, they’ve got a get-out-of-jail-free card, or something?”

He was obviously getting riled up and she crossed her arms, keeping her expression neutral.

“Not what I said.”

“Implied it though.”

“God, Spike, I don’t want to argue with you.”

“Makes a change.”

“Hey!” she protested, “I’m…I’m trying, okay? I’ve been anything but bad to you lately.”

“Just wonder how long it’s gonna last.”

Outraged, she pushed herself to her feet, clenching her fists tightly to stop herself from lashing out at him and turned on her heel, storming away from him.


He followed her- of course he did- but she refused to slow down. Here she was, trying to change for the better- and he had no faith in her!

“Buffy,” he growled out, hot on her heel.

Ignoring him, she continued in her path, until he caught hold of her arm, halting her and spinning him round to face her. He opened his mouth to speak- and then froze, before crumpling to the floor. She stared at him, frowning when she spotted the two metal barbs in his back.

“Spike?”

“It’s okay, Miss. You’re safe.”

She looked up to see a tall, dark-haired woman holding a gun and moving towards her, holding out her hand in a sign of non-aggression.

“Huh?” Buffy got out, confused.

“You’re okay, now. Just step away from the va- the man.”

Figuring out some tiny bit of what was going on, she bit her lip and came up with what she hoped was a good explanation.

“Oh, it’s fine really, Ma’am. Me and, err, my boyfriend were just having a bit of an…an argument.”

“Boyfriend?”

She smiled sheepishly as the woman frowned, looking down at the prone vampire on the floor. She then pulled out a communication device and spoke into it.

“Red Knight, this is White Knight. You better get over here.”


“This…this man is your boyfriend?” the woman asked, gesturing at Spike’s prone form.

“Erm…yeah,” Buffy got out awkwardly, not sure the woman was believing her.

“Has he changed lately?”

“Huh?”

“Has he started acting differently? Staying in in the daytime, that sort of thing?”

The woman thought he was a newly-turned vampire. The thought made Buffy want to laugh and she was sure Spike would be insulted by that suggestion.

“Do you mean, do I know he’s a vampire?” she asked bluntly, secretly amused at the woman’s shocked expression.

“You know…and you’re still…”

“Buffy!”

At the sound of that familiar voice, she whirled round- to find herself face-to-face with Riley Finn.

~*~*~*~*~

“Riley,” she breathed out.

He glanced at the woman behind her and nodded once.

“Sam, it’s okay. This is Buffy, the Slayer.”

“A Slayer with a vampire boyfriend?”

Buffy cringed as she realised her excuse would backfire on her now. Riley moved to her side and looked down at the unconscious vampire.

“Is that Spike?”


She sighed and nodded, not missing his look of disgust.

“Yes. But, he’s, err, he’s not my boyfriend,” she instantly added, glancing at the woman, Sam, “I just said that so you wouldn’t stake him.”

“I wasn’t planning on staking him. I thought that was your job though?”

“It is,” Buffy got out, not liking the woman’s accusatory tone, “And I’m pretty
good at it… And Spike here helps me.”

“Helps you?” the woman asked in obvious surprise.

“Yeah, maybe you should ask your leader here about that.”

“Husband,” Riley commented.

“Huh?”

“This is my wife, Sam.”

Her head was spinning and she felt like she had been punched in the stomach.

“Wife?” she repeated in a half-daze, then quickly shook it off, “Err, it’s nice to meet you, Sam.”

“Likewise,” the woman said with a smile, moving now to stand next to Riley, “So, can someone explain why we’re not staking this hostile?”


“We’re not staking Spike because he helps out,” Buffy answered tersely.

“Last time I was around, his idea of helping out usually involved just getting in the way.”

“Yeah, well, a lot’s happened since the last time you were around, Riley,” Buffy got out, trying to rein in her automatic response to shout, or hit.

“I, err, I heard about your mom.”

She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the pain the memory of her mother always brought.

“Surprising, what with you taking off to South America a couple of days before she died.”

“Buffy-“ he started, contrite.

“Whatever,” she snapped, stopping him, “How long’s Spike going to be out?”

“Another ten minutes, at least,” Sam got out.

“Great. Just what I love to do: hang around in a graveyard, waiting to get jumped while my partner’s knocked out.”

“Did you just call Spike your partner?” Riley got out.

“We have been patrolling together for months now.”

“I’m not surprised he stayed around. After all, he’s got what he always wanted: he
gets to hang around you like a sad puppy.”

Had Riley always been this obnoxious, she wondered.

“Actually, he stayed around to look after my little sister.”

“Convenient excuse.”

“When I was dead?”


That bombshell silenced them and both Finns just stared at her. And God, the thought of Riley married was still doing odd things to her stomach.

“Dead?” Riley murmured, dark eyes searching her.

“Long story. Short version, not dead anymore.”

There was an awkward silence and she sighed, crossing her arms lightly.

“So, what are you doing in this part of the world?”

“We’re on a mission,” Riley answered.

“But we’re thinking of moving to California, too. I miss it,” Sam added with a smile.

“Great. Well I don’t recommend Sunnydale. Hellmouth and all.”

“Isn’t it exciting though?” Sam asked, “I mean, there must be so much demon activity. You must have seen so many different species of demon.”

“Tons of excitement here,” Buffy got out sarcastically.

“And you work with a vampire. Fascinating.”

Sam was regarding her like some sort of specimen now and Buffy had the absurd urge to tell the woman that she had also been in the habit of sleeping with said vampire quite recently. See what Mrs. Science made of that.

“He’s one of the best fighters I’ve ever met. Seemed like a smart idea.”

She saw Riley frown at the words and couldn’t help a little smile- which she quickly repressed. Poor Riley never had been able to deal with his physical weakness.


“And has the behaviour modification chip really made a difference?” Sam asked, all-scientist now. Buffy just sighed, not wanting to go into a long discussion about Spike’s different behaviour with this woman.

Luckily, she was saved from that when Spike let out a low moan, drawing all eyes to him.

“Bloody hell, Slayer,” he mumbled, “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything.” she bit out, angry that he instantly accused her.

He began to push himself to his feet, Sam watching him in amazement.

“He really shouldn’t be recovering yet.”

Buffy caught the vampire by the arm and helped him to his feet as he took in the pair.

“Well, it takes a lot to keep Spike down, trust me.”

He gave her a look that could only be called lascivious and she frowned, swatting at his arm until he turned to the Finns.

“Well, well, Soldier Boy…Didn’t reckon on seeing you round these parts any time soon.”

“Same,” Riley got out.

The vampire’s gaze moved to Sam, who still had her gun pointed at him.

“Got you to thank for that delightful pleasure, eh pet?”

She said nothing, obviously not entirely sure how to deal with the vampire.

“So, did I miss anything exciting?” Spike asked, glancing at her.

“Nope, just introductions. This is Riley’s wife, Sam.”

Spike’s eyes widened in surprise ever so slightly and a smirk tugged at his lips as he turned to the woman once more.

“Likes his women with a pulse now, does he?”

Riley fumed with Spike’s words and his wife looked suitably shocked and Buffy nudged the vampire in the side.

“They’re here on a mission.”

“Fun for them. Can we get back to our patrol?”

At his words, a sudden ringing started and everyone looked around in confusion until Buffy realised the ringing was coming from Spike.

“Spike, you’re ringing.”

“S’not me. I didn’t do anything.”

“You’re definitely ringing. Do you have a phone?”

“Huh?” he asked, confused, and then he frowned, “Your bloody sister.”

Going into one of his pockets, he pulled out a phone and proceeded to stare at it, as if he could answer it telepathically.

“Oh, give it here. You’re useless,” she remarked, taking the phone out of his hand.

“Your bloody sister. Reckoned I needed one. Didn’t want it.”

She blocked out Spike’s grumbling and answered the phone.


“Dawnie?”

“It’s me, Willow.”

“Hi, Will. What’s up?”

“It’s Dawn.”

“What about her? Is she okay? Where is she?” Buffy asked frantically, her
worried gaze flying to Spike’s.

“We don’t know. She…she’s gone, Buffy. She was acting really strange and she went to her room. But I went to check on her and she wasn’t there.”

“Okay, God,” Buffy took a deep breath, going into general-mode, “Phone her friend, Janice.”

“I think I know where she is,” Spike murmured thoughtfully and Buffy looked at
him hopefully and nodded once.

“Spike thinks he knows where she is. I’ll call you if we find her.”

She quickly hung up the phone and turned to the vampire.

“What is it? Where is she?”

“What day is it?” he asked quietly.

She thought for a moment and then went to speak- and then realised the significance of the day.

“It’s been a year. God, how could I forget?!”

“You’ve been busy. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay!” Buffy exclaimed and then took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before she turned to the Finns.

“I’m sorry, we really need to go.”

“Do you need any help?”

“No. But if you…if you need any…with the mission…well, you know where I am.”

With that, she and Spike set off across the cemetery.