As always- Disclaimers still in full effect. I own nothing, they own all, I'm only playing!

Huge, mondo, super-sized thanks go to Stephi for this chappie. You rock sista!

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Sunnydale-


The Slayer and vampire slowly made their way up the walkway of Revello Drive, Spike dropped Buffy to her feet as soon as they'd reached the sidewalk. He heard her heart speed up in nervousness and figured she'd be better off being able to move freely, or pace, if needed.


Buffy reached down and removed her sole sandal. It was making a 'thwacking' noise as she walked, and that disturbed the silence that was needed in order for her to get her thoughts in order.


She was really excited that she would see Dawnie again, and her friends too. But she was still wary because, as she'd told her mother, this was just gonna be weird no matter how you looked at it. They might've known she was coming back; but to be faced with the situation head on, was something else entirely. Buffy knew that first hand. She noticed Spike watching her and turned to meet his gaze.


"Shouldn't be nervous, luv. We've all been waitin' for this day. They're bound to throw a party, or send out flyers."


"Yeah. I know. But I can't help it." She was acting like a scared little girl; totally the opposite of what his Slayer usually acted like.


"Well, buck up, get over it and get yourself inside before I have to resort to carrying you in there. And don't think I won't. Don't care if you are scared, you're goin' in." He knew that the sure fire way to get her inside that house was to imply that she was afraid.


"I am not scared! And I'm going. I was just resting for, like, a second. You big butt." She glared at him and then stomped the rest of the way to the porch. As soon as she reached the steps she slowed down again, another wave of nerves coming over her. Geez Buff, get it together, will ya? She straightened her shoulders and put her hand on the knob. She tried to open it, but nothing happened. She took her hand off and glared at it like it was the problem, and then tried to twist the knob again. Still nothing.


All of a sudden Spike was behind her. Reaching around her body, and getting mighty close while doing so, he put his key in the lock. As he turned it, he whispered in here ear causing 'chilly bumps' to appear all over her skin, again. "Usually works better when you try to open it after you've unlocked it."


Buffy sucked in a sharp breath as chills swept over her body in response to his nearness and his accented voice in her ear. "Very funny." She breathed out. Her heart was hammering in her chest, her face felt aflame, and she was too much of a lady to discuss the rush of heat in her womb and the subsequent state of her undergarments. But needless to say, the effect Spike was having on her was a profound one, and if she stopped lying to herself, she would even say it wasn't exactly a shock. He's always been sexy. Even that first time I saw him, I knew it. I just found out he was a vamp and figured that was that. She thought as she unconsciously leaned into Spike's chest and closed her eyes. Then with the 'Will Be Done' spell, found out first hand just how yummy he is. And it's not like he's even evil now, I mean, c'mon! She knew that she was basically making up excuses to ogle the sexy vamp, but she was actually listening to Whistler for once and not analyzing or questioning. I know I wasn't the only one who saw how he was while I was gone. So it's not a total shocker that I'm wanting to ravish the vampire on my porch. Is it?


Spike released the key and let his hand fall to Buffy's side as she leaned into him. This whole night was completely surreal to him. His Slayer was back, she was okay, she was being nice to him, she was... touching him. Through the haze of shock she'd created by leaning into him, he once again noted the changes of her body and was still surprised at the hint of arousal. Especially this time. There was more than a hint there. Bloody hell! The dozey bint's tryin' to kill me. His nostrils flared and his eyes rolled back into his head as her scent washed over him. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply. She smelled of sunshine and night, strength and life, lust and want, earth and just plain ole Buffy. Gone were the parfums and spritzes. This was everything Buffy, and he was sure he'd never smelled anything so sweet. Bringing his hand up to her arm, his fingertips lightly grazed the skin, "Ready, love?" He whispered against the shell of her ear.


She shivered in response and answered with a mumbled, "MmHm," and a sigh.


When she still failed to move he brought his hand up to her face and lightly traced her cheekbone, "Buffy?"


"Yeah?"


"You have to actually open the door to get in, pet."


"What?" She lifted her head up and asked confused. She shook it a bit, "Oh, yeah. I'm going." She stood up straight and wiped her hands against her thighs nervously. Both of them felt the strong sense of loss go straight to their cores, and in spite of the hum on her skin telling her to get her warm body back up against his cooler body, Buffy hesitantly reached for the door and opened it slowly. "When did the door start getting locked anyway? I don't remember that part." She tried to cover up the way he affected her, but a vamp's nose didn't lie, and she knew that. But-- she could fool herself if no one else.


"Put in a new one a few weeks ago. Didn't want the Bit in a house with a door we couldn't lock since no one seemed to have a bloody copy of the key to this place. So-- I figured I'd just start over." Spike answered.


"Ah." Was Buffy's distracted response. She moved over the threshold and noticed that the lights were all off, save one that seemed to be in the kitchen, and a small lamp in the living room. She stepped into the foyer completely and poked her head around the corners of the living room and dining room, just to make sure no one was hiding, and then turned towards the stairs.


Spike followed behind the Slayer and closed the front door softly. He watched her actions in interest and when she began to slowly make her way up the stairs, he did the same.


Buffy reached the top and turned to head in the direction of Dawn's bedroom. She stopped when she reached the door and put her ear against it, listening for any sounds that her sister was still awake. When she heard none she turned back to Spike and he simply nodded and gestured with his hand for her to enter. She turned the doorknob slowly, and opened the door in the same fashion, mindful of any squeaking. When the door was opened completely, she stepped into the room and walked up to the side of her sister's bed. Dawn was lying, not really on her back, but not on her side either, and with headphones resting askew on her head. She undoubtedly fallen asleep with some teeny bopper boy band crooning in her ear.


Spike came to rest against the door frame crossing his arms and ankles. He watched Buffy silently as she removed the headphones from Dawn's head and placed them on the girl's nightstand. He watched with an over abundance of love, as she gently pushed a strand of hair out of Dawn's face and then sat on the edge of the bed. And he watched in apprehension as his Bit started from the sound of her sister's soft voice calling her name.


"Dawnie?" Buffy whispered softly.


Dawn was just getting to the good part of her dream. Justin Timberlake had been telling Tiffany Johnson, the resident bitch of her school, that she was a troggelodite bitch with callouses on her lips from gossiping so much. Tiffany was always a major bi-yatch to Dawn; constantly stabbing her in the back and running her mouth. Just as JT turned towards her with the intention of kissing her-- right in front of everybody in school-- she heard someone softly calling her name. Nuh-uh. Not wakin' up. I like this dream. Her dream self shook her head in protest and stubbornly scrunched up her face.


When she got no response other than her sister shaking her head negatively and adapting a 'sour puss' face, she repeated a bit louder, "Dawnie." That seemed to do the trick as the young girl rolled onto her back, stretched her limbs, and squeezed her eyes shut really tight.


Dawn had just decided to ignore the other voice in her dream and focus completely on the hunk in front of her. He'd almost reached his destination-- her lips-- when the voice spoke again, louder. Her dream self stomped her foot, daggum it! She whined in her head as she felt herself being pulled back to the land of the awake. Why couldn't these people leave her alone? She was an impressionable teenager that needed her sleep. She had to be prepared for the day of learning ahead of her, and one of the others waking her up right now certainly wasn't going to achieve that goal.


She rolled over and stretched out, much like a cat waking from an afternoon nap, when it suddenly occurred to Dawn that she'd just been awakened by her sister.


The sister that was supposed to be dead.


That could only mean one thing.


She slowly opened her left eye first, followed by her right. Still having said nothing she turned to Spike in the doorway for clarification. He nodded slowly with a smile on his face and she turned back to Buffy with her own smile in place. "It is you."


Buffy nodded and tears sprang to her eyes, begging to be released, "Yup. The only me there is; that's me."Dawn suddenly burst out laughing, much like Spike had done earlier, and tackled Buffy to the bed. The two girls hugged ecstatically and laughed heartily as they rolled off the bed and onto the floor.


Spike couldn't help but laugh at the situation also. His girls were happy, he was happy; unlife was good.


"Ow." Dawn suddenly whined. Buffy moved from her spot on her sister, after having landed there from the fall. "Happy time, but, ow." She giggled again and fell to the floor on her back, exhausted.


Buffy giggled also from her spot next to Dawn, "Sorry, but, you did tackle me, ya know."


"Yeah, but I couldn't help myself. I mean, hello! My sister just came back from the dead. Kind of an overwhelming, tackle needing situation, right?" Dawn reasoned as she lifted herself onto her elbows and looked at her sister.


"I know. Spike reacted the same way. Only less with the tackling and more with the laughing." Buffy commented as she eyed him at the door.


"Not 'xactly in the mood for a migraine, thanks. Otherwise, I'd'a been more'n happy to tackle ya." He responded with a smirk in place and his scarred brow arched. "Still am."


"Spike!" Buffy admonished quickly. "Behave." His only response was to run his tongue against the backs of his upper teeth and smile, causing her face to flush again. She looked away quickly, and turned back to Dawn. "Ignore him. He's being weird tonight."


Dawn looked to Buffy with an 'are you crazy' look, "How's tonight any different than every other night? He seems pretty normal to me." She finished off turning towards the vampire in question and giving him the once over. "You bein' weird tonight, Spike?" She asked him honestly.


"Nope." He answered, popping the 'p'. "Don't 'ave a clue what she's talkin' about." He lowered his voice and moved his head in Dawn's direction. Speaking in a stage whisper he continued, "'M a bit worried, tell the truth. She's just come back from the dead, she might just be off her nutter. If ya know what I mean?"


Dawn giggled in response and Buffy mock glared at him. "Why was I being nice to you again? I suddenly can't remember. Must be a side effect of, what was it again? Oh, duh! The whole me 'Being off my nutter' thing, right?"


Spike sobered up quickly, "You're right. 'M sure you're fine." He turned to Dawn and slightly shook his head and gave her a look that said 'total rot'. Buffy noticed and her mock glare intensified, causing Dawn's laughter to do the same.


"You're a bad influence on my sister, Spike." Buffy commented.


He simply shrugged, "What can I say? Evil, remember?"


"Shyeah. You're evil alright. About as evil as a cuddly vampire can be." She told him smirking.


His eyes widened, "Oi! Take it back."


"Nuh uh. Big softie."


He moved farther into the room and Buffy sat up as he approached her. "'M not a bleedin' softie, woman. 'M a master vampire of the Aurelian bloodline, that's not something to be taken lightly, I'll have you know."


She clasped her hands over her heart and gasped, "Oh no! Dawn, the big bad Aurelian vampire's gonna get me. Whatever shall I do?"


Dawn waved her hands in front of herself, "No, no, no. I'm not taking sides. I'm smarter than that."


"Looks like you're all by your lonesome here Slayer." He said as he stalked towards her.


Buffy said nothing but watched his progress with a smile on her face. This whole 'no analyzing' thing is pretty fun. She leaned back on her hands as he came to rest on his haunches in front of her.


"'S not nice to tease a vampire, luv. You should know that." Spike commented.


"Generally I would go with the popular vote on that one, but, this is you we're talking about. Not some run of the mill vamp." She shrugged her shoulders, "It's not like you can do anything to me anyhow."


"Ooh, is that what you think?" He turned to Dawn with a cheeky grin and then proceeded to attack the Slayer with wiggling fingers at her sides. He wasn't clear on where his newfound courage came from, but he wasn't asking any questions. His Slayer wasn't trying to stake him yet and he was making the best of it. Dawn had let him in on a tiny secret a couple weeks back. Apparently, Buffy was extremely ticklish; and this was something he planned to use to his advantage from now on. He was evil after all.


"Wha'! Oooh no, unh uh mister! Stop it! St-stop i-it! Aahh!" Buffy tried her best to get away from his overactive fingers, but she couldn't wiggle away fast enough, and she soon found herself trapped on the floor with Spike looming over her.


"You give Slayer?" He asked with his hands hovering over her sides.


"Give? Are you crazy? A Slayer doesn't give." She remarked bravely.


"'S'at right? Hunh. Let's see shall we?" Suddenly he was tickling her mercilessly again.


Finally Buffy somehow found some leeway and was no longer underneath Spike, but on her side facing him. They appeared to be at a stalemate; hands clasped together in between their bodies, both panting and flushed from exertion. Neither said a word for what seemed like minutes, both too confused by the evenings happenings.


As she looked straight into his eyes Buffy was, at that moment, having a bit of a disagreement with herself. The little voice inside her head that sounded like Faith and that she'd dubbed 'Bad Buffy' spoke up. C'mon B, have a bit of fun! You know those big pouty lips are just begging to be sucked on. Just after that 'Normal Buffy' added her opinion, Don't you dare little missy! This is an evil, soulless, bloodsucker you're eyeballing. What kind of Slayer would you be if you hooked up with another vamp? One that doesn't even have a soul? Finally, 'New Buffy' threw in her two cents, 'Cept he's not so big with the evil now is he? He might be soulless, but he ain't evil. Besides, he's totally lickable. Even as she had the thought, her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.


Spike nearly lost the tiny bit of control he had when he watched her small pink tongue peak out. Oh sod all. He happened to be involved in an inner argument himself. The Spike of now, demon included, wanted nothing more than to attack Buffy's mouth with his own and shag her senseless. Her intense stare, combined with the heavenly scent radiating from her body almost did him in. Look at those lips, mate. Stop and take a whiff of the air. She wants you, you know she does. The nose never lies my friend. Before he could voice any more inappropriate comments his inner William interjected, Hear now! Young ladies of Miss Summers' caliber should never be the subject of such ungentlemanly thoughts. You question her honor when you make such proclomations and I'll not have you sully her virtue.


Any further introspection was prevented by Dawn breaking the silence. "God! What is with you?" She burst out. The two blonds on the floor whipped their heads in her direction, shock evident on their faces. They were both completely dumbfounded and surprised by Dawn's outburst; they'd completely forgotten about the youngest Summers' presence in the room. She was standing over them with her hands on her hips and her head cocked to the side. "Didn't you listen to me at all?" Surprise was quickly replaced with confusion on their faces, when she made her last statement. She huffed and moved to stand behind Buffy, looking directly at Spike. "You have to go for the side and the leg." She said rolling her eyes. Spike suddenly smiled at her and Buffy continued to look at her in confusion. "Like this."


And with that, she was on her knees showing Spike exactly what she meant and causing her sister to almost hyperventilate. The three were so caught up in their fun that they didn't realize the level their voices and laughter had gotten to. Suddenly lights were coming on throughout the upstairs and doors were swinging open. Willow's voice could be heard coming down the hallway, "Spike! What did we tell you about keeping D-...oh." Her tirade was cut short when she reached Dawn's bedroom door and saw exactly what all the commotion was. She stood completely still and speechless at the threshold.


Tara's voice rang out through the hallway then, "Dawnie, honey, I thought we talked about...oh." She stopped abruptly, right next to her girlfriend; both were wearing matching expressions of shock.


Spike greeted Tara and Willow from his spot on the floor, then turned his gaze back to his Slayer. "Ladies."


Dawn hopped off of the floor and bounced over to the two stunned witches. "Look! Isn't it great? She's back." They simply nodded, still unable to form words.


Buffy looked up at them from her spot next to Spike and smiled shyly, "Hey guys. Miss me?"


Soon they were all on the floor forming a massive group hug. Spike tried, in vain, to free himself from the groping and reaching arms, but found it impossible. "Soddin' group hugs." He grumbled, but found himself hugging back anyway. He suddenly felt someone pinch him on his side, under his arm. He let out a decidedly feminine yelp and glared at the giggling Slayer.


"Shut up Spike. You know you love it." Buffy said teasingly.


"Do not."


"Do too."


"Do not."


"Do too."


"Do n...Oh bloody hell, forget it. Yes, I love soddin' group hugs and puppies and flowers and sugar and spice and everything nice. Now will you let me up? I may not need to breathe, but having four women all piled up on me, while sometimes fun, can get uncomfortable for a bloke." He gave up trying to argue with Buffy, he knew it was pointless. He was, in fact, enjoying himself but he wouldn't dare tell. It just wasn't normal for a master vamp to enjoy a soggy Hallmark moment with four human women, one of which happened to be the Slayer-- so he had to put up a front. Couldn't let on that this was an important moment in his existence. But as the small group slowly extricated themselves from each other and came to sitting positions, he had a feeling they already knew.


Forming a circle on the bedroom floor they all sat facing each other. Spike settled back, his left leg bent up, the other against the floor, and his hands behind him. The girls settled back in various curled up positions or Indian style. As he lifted his head, Spike met Buffy's gaze and knew for sure that, even without saying anything, she knew how he felt.


Okay, it was a definite now, Buffy needed no further proof. Not only did she come back all power enhanced and Slayery, but she also came back with weird eyes. That was the only reason she could come up with for why she couldn't seem to look away from Spike tonight. She even specifically ordered her eyes to avert, Okay peepers; look away from the sexy vampire. She mentally popped herself on the hand, No! Not sexy. Quit doin' that. Look away now before it's too late! But they simply ignored her. It's not as if it was entirely their fault, they were seeing a whole new side to him after all. But still, she was the boss, so the ignoring her thing just wasn't cool.


The two stayed in each other's gaze for what seemed like minutes. That is, until the air was filled with Willow's voice. "I'm so glad you're back Buffy. We were startin' to wonder what was taking so long."


Buffy looked away from Spike. Finally! Stupid eyes! She shrugged her shoulders and looked to the red headed witch, "I dunno, something about timelines and destiny, blah blah." She made the universally known hand gesture for talking, and then waved as if dismissing it. "Whistler yapped so much that I ignored some of it."


"Ignored it? Buffy? How could you? What if he told you something that could help? What if you missed something that was, like, super mondo important?" Willow asked frantically with Tara and Dawn nodding in agreement.


"Oh, I listened to the important parts." Buffy nodded quickly trying to reassure them all. "Just not when he was whining about certain times and schedules 'tick tock, tick tock' and crap like that."


Willow let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, and rolled her eyes. "Oh. Well, okay then." She turned to Tara and whispered, "You shouldn't let me wig before I hear the important stuff."


Tara chuckled lightly at her girlfriend. "Okay sweetie, I won't let you do it again, 'kay?"


"'Kay." She nodded and turned back to Buffy, "So, how are you?"


"Honestly? I'm starved. Please tell me we have something to eat in this house?"


Tara quickly made to stand and head towards the kitchen. "We actually do have food. Spike and Dawn went to the market the other night."


Buffy looked at Tara shocked and then turned to Spike and Dawn. "You guys went to grocery shopping?" She looked down at the floor and muttered to herself, "Mom and Whistler didn't tell me that. Can't believe I missed it." She ended with a pout.


The sound of four 'huh?'s rang through the room. Buffy's head shot up and she looked at each one of them in turn, then said quickly, "Nevermind." She stood up and joined Tara at the door, "So, food huh? I'm huge with the food lovin' right now."


Soon all five were making their way down the stairs. Willow and Dawn firing off questions at Buffy in quick succession. The Slayer stopped halfway down the steps, "Guys! How 'bout lets feed me, call Giles, Xander and Anya, and then I'll tell everyone at once? Please? I don't feel like playing repeat-o girl tonight."


Tara turned to Buffy and placed her hand on the other girl's arm, "Of course Buffy, there's no need to tell the story more than once. And I know Xander and Giles'll wanna be here too."


"Sure, yeah." Willow readily agreed. "Gah, don't know what I was thinking. Tara and Dawn can get you some yummies and I'll call everyone." When she said 'everyone' Spike whipped his head around and looked at her with wide eyes. He had an intuitive feeling that Angel would, no doubt, be included in that 'everyone'.


Buffy smiled at her friend genuinely, "Thanks Wills."


Willow beamed a smile at the Slayer, "No prob, Buff. I'll just go get the phone." She said as she rushed down the rest of the stairs, through the living room and into the sitting room on the side.


When the rest of the group reached the bottom of the stairs, Tara and Dawn turned towards the kitchen go raid the fridge, Buffy made to follow but noticed Spike hanging by the front door. She turned to him curiously, "What's up? Aren't you coming?" She asked sweeping her arm in the direction of the kitchen.


"Um...nah, think I'll bugger off now. Red'll be making the calls and that'll include Peaches, and as much as I enjoy goading him on, I don't fancy facing him again right now." He tried to put on an air of disinterest and nonchalance, but he never was very good at lying, so his movements were jerky and clumsy as he moved to open the door.


"What? Did you slip a crazy pill in with your afternoon blood? Is the Big Bad scared of the 'Great Brooding Wonder'?" Buffy asked in a mocking voice. She walked towards him and latched her hand around his bicep. "You're not getting away that easily, Junior. Running never solved anything." She told him with a firm nod, then grinned. "Or at least that's what I heard."

"'M not scared." He declared standing tall. "And 'm not runnin'!" He heatedly protested.

"Oh no? What d'you call it then? Traipsing quietly? Sauntering in silence?" She snorted indelicately. "More like galloping in fear."

"Oi! 'M tellin' you that I'm not scared here, luv." He said pointing a finger at himself. He moved away from the door and took a few steps towards Buffy. "And, I don't traipse or gallop. Occassionally I'll saunter, but only if the occassion calls for it. But never, ever do I traipse or gallop."

"Whatever you say Bleach Boy." She called over her shoulder as she walked away from him and towards the kitchen. "What's the eats?"

He followed behind obediently, but voicing his opposition. "'M serious Slayer. I don't." They turned the corner and disappeared into the other room.


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Willow dashed throught the living room and into the sitting room, headed for the phone. She came to an abrupt halt, her hand halfway to its destination, suddenly overcome by the severe urge to do the happiness jig. She ran in place, much like Jennifer Beal in 'Flashdance', shook her arms and made a high pitched 'SQUEE' noise. She was so excited to have her best friend back.


With the sounds of chatting and laughter coming from the direction of the kitchen, Willow diligently placed her calls. The first being to Giles, the second to Xander and Anya; both consisting of Willow speaking before the other could answer, simply saying, "She's back." But that was all that was needed, because in all actuality, she'd only gotten as far as 'She's b-' before she heard their doors shutting.


Then came the part where her nerves got the best of her-- the call to the ex, sometimes evil, always moody, vampire-boyfriend. Willow knew there was a reason someone should've made this call weeks ago, or just told him as soon as they found out, and this was it. The bit where she got to tell Angel that his true love had returned from the dead, and that they hadn't seen fit to tell him it was even a possibility.


Yeah, so-- fun this is not. Willow grumbled to herself as she reached for the phone again. She halted her progress at the sound of Buffy laughing at something Spike said, and Tara and Dawnie chuckling along in the background. She smiled to herself, once again basking in the greatness of the situation. Her smile was quickly replaced by a look of confusion, 'Cept...It's kinda large with the weirdness to see her acting all buddy-buddy with Spike. I mean, c'mon! It's SPIKE! Although, if she allowed herself to admit it, she knew that he had changed. This wasn't the punk rock vampire that blew into town with his psycho girlfriend; this was the chipped love-sick vampire that was head over heels for her best friend. Yes, she could say it now; Spike loves Buffy. In spite of being a soulless, 'evil' vampire, he loves Buffy. Everyone had seen how he was after that night, they'd seen how much of a mess he was; if that wasn't, at least in part, love then she didn't know what love was, obviously. Xander had even changed his attitude and actions towards Spike. She wasn't delusional enough to see them frolicking through a meadow in the future, but they at least got along for the most part now. Willow had a feeling that their new and shiny 'buddiness' began with the mutual Angel-hatin' that occurred on the day of the funeral. That, and they both loved an incredible woman that was gone; but now that Buffy was back Willow had a niggle in the back of her head telling her that the 'buddiness' would be cut down to pint size. Xander and she had been friends since kindergarten, she knew how he could be when his jealousy was in the driver's seat. Even with the recent engagement and upcoming wedding, Xander was still insanely protective of Buffy-- especially when dealing with male suitors. Oh well, guess we'll find out here shortly exactly when the male posturing will begin. Xand'll be here in no time.


She shook her head and scolded herself for getting distracted from completing her task. She really, really didn't want to make this call, it was just destined to be full of badness. Angel's gonna get all growly and broody. Then the REAL male posturing will begin when he gets here. Between the three of 'em, there'll be enough testosterone in the air to fuel the National Guard. She grabbed the receiver to prevent herself from continuing her mind babble, and just finally place the call. She glanced at the small notepad on the table, read the number and then punched it in; all the while dreading having someone pick up on the other end. When it rang twice and they still failed to answer she began nervously twirling the phone chord around her fingers. By the fourth unanswered ring her heart began to speed up again, only this time it wasn't because of her nerves. Hey! Maybe they won't be there and then someone else, that isn't me, can call them later! That'd be stellar. Finally she heard a click, and for a second she thought her heart stopped. Then she heard Cordelia's voice ring out over the phone line, 'Hi! You've reached Angel Investigations...' With lightning speed she slammed the phone down onto the cradle, before someone did pick up.


"Phew! One angst ridden conversation put off for now." She muttered to herself as she continued to stand by the phone. She heard laughter ring out from the kitchen again and turned to head in that direction. "Maybe now someone else-- again, not me-- will have the pleasure of that lovely convo and I won't have to deal with it. Yay me!"


She made it into the kitchen just as Spike was ending an entertaining imitation of the womanly screech that Xander had let out one night on patrol. When she was in the room fully, she went to stand against the island between Buffy on the bar stool, and Tara leaning against it. "What'd I miss?" She asked with a smile.


Dawn stopped laughing long enough to answer. "Oh, Spike was just telling Buffy about that night you guys fought that Glarko-wacky-thingy."


Willow began giggling herself, as she picture Xander running around the cemetary yelping at Spike to help him. "Oh yeah! The Glor'kow'dkin. Oh Goddess Buffy!" She turned to the Slayer, "You shoulda seen it. Apparently, the Glor'dow'dkin's limbs are still 'alive', after you sever them. You have to like, yank their hearts out or something. But-- Spike cuts this thing's head off, right? Xander walks right up to the demon's body-- keep in mind, the head is off the body, but still nearby-- kicks it in the side saying something like, 'Ha! You big demon dummy' or something as equally Xander-ish, when all of a sudden something grabs onto his pants leg." She had to pause in her narrative in order to get a particularly nasty case of the giggles out. "So, Xander looks down at his ankle, and what does he see? An ankle biter! Literally. The things head was still 'alive' and had clamped down on Xander's jeans with his teeth. He was running around like a little girl, screaming at Spike to 'Save me you big dumb peroxide vampire!' with this head attached to him. It was the funniest thing, in like, EVER."

Soon the entire group was in stitches as they continued to recount their tales of patrolling without their Slayer. And that is the scene that Xander, Anya and Giles walked into as they arrived at the Summers' house.



tbc...

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