It's some weeks after the wedding. Spike and Buffy are out on her nightly patrol through the grave yard.

Buffy: That's every night this week you've been out patrolling with me.

Spike: You know I love being with you.

Buffy: And the I do's at the alter didn't do it for ya?

Spike: Hey, I'm just enjoying all this married bliss thing. I'm somebody's husband now. Got to take my husbandly duties seriously.

Buffy: Ah. That's what the bedrooms for.

Spike: Hey I'm more than a pretty face and your sex toy.

Buffy: Yeah. Well see, later tonight. (She give him a knowing look.)

Spike: Least something's dinnit change.

Suddenly a vamp jumps out at them. He is soon joined by two more. They are wielding weapons.

Charles: So you must be the slayer. We've heard of you. And we're gonna clobber you.

Buffy: Yeah. Like I haven't heard that one before. (She looks at them and they all have on the same jacket.) What is this? Like some motor cycle gang for the undead?

Jack: No! We're gathering a group together, and when we get enough members we're going to go on a road trip of death and destruction. (They all cheer in unison.) I'm Jack the Ritter. This here's Charles Hanson, and over there he's Issie.

Buffy: Issie?

Jack: Yeah, you know like Issie Borden. Forty whacks with an ax, like's he's going to do with your heads.

Spike: Ah, not to sound dumb, but wasn't it Ripper, and Manson? And isn't Lissie Borden a girl?

Issie: (Sniffling slightly.)

Jack: We wanted to do something original with the names. See now look what you've gone and done. Do you know how sensitive he is about that?

Buffy: (She just roles her eyes.) Oh boy here we go again. Least I'm not fighting characters from Interview with the vampire tonight. Where'd you find each other. Did ya go to put out an add in the paper? Under single dead vamp needs other S.D.V. To go on a killing spree.

Charles: Don't be stupid. I used the Internet. Much quicker that way. Plus I got a discount on the jacket's by doing the order on line.

Issie: Enough talking we're waiting for our friend Bart to rise and were taking no prisoners. (He pulls back his ax, and takes a swipe at Spike's head.)

Spike: (Ducking just in time to avoid the ax. He jabs the vamp in the stomach and they begin fighting.) I'll give ya forty whacks, and then some. Here's another. (He connects his fist to the vamps face while avoiding the ax.)

Buffy: (Responding to Charles.) Stupid would be you. These stupid get ups, and getting in my way while I'm out patrolling. (She gives Charles the vamp, a quick upper cut to the face. Takes out her stake and goes on the attack.)

Jack: Hey, I designed these jackets. How dare you call them stupid. (He tries to attack Buffy from behind.)

Buffy: (She kicks back. Getting the vamp between the leg as he doubles over.) Sorry stupid is such a harsh word, I think pretty and frilly with cute names all over the back is a way better description. (She ducks as Charles tries to stab her with a knife. She gives him a triple combination punch.)

Spike: He is rolling around on the floor with Issie. Sees Jack about to attack Buffy again, they roll towards the other vamp and Spike throws him off balance with a scissor kick maneuver.

Buffy: (Sees what he did, for her.) Thanks.

Spike: It's what I'm here for sweetheart. (Spike gets control of the ax, as they roll on the floor. He picks it up, and whams it into the vamp. Who shatters to dust around him.) Problem with vamps, one whack in the right spot and they turn to dust.

Buffy: (As Charles comes at her again with the knife. She lunges her stake up, and connects this time with the essential spot and he goes flying to dust and pieces all around her.) Know what you mean.

Jack: You're both gonna di... (Rising something that looks like a hook, he is about to go after them. But before he can finish the thought. Buffy rolls over Spike's back for leverage, and kicks the weapon out of Jack's hand, and lunges her stake into the vamp.)

Buffy: (Talking to the pile of dust.) And you were saying?

Spike: Betting he was gonna say, we are both gonna destroy him into a big pile o' dust. And so we did. (See another vamp rising from the grave.) Buffy look out!

Buffy: (Stakes the vamp who is just coming out of some newly dug earth.) Ow. (Looks at her hand.) Relax, I got him.

Spike: (Goes over and picks up a jacket the vamps were carrying before they all got dusted. It say's Bart and Ernie, with Ernie slashed out.) This is good quality workmanship on this jacket.

Buffy: But why does the jacket say Bart? I mean I get. Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper, and Lissie Borden. But Bert? He's a muppet. Nothing evil there.

Spike: Hey don't be so sure. There's a whole web site devoted to Bert being an evil muppet. Read all about it when Willow let me use her computer to go on the internet. (Looks proud of himself.)

Buffy: (Just rolls her eyes.) You read?

Spike: Funny. I can spell, write, know my abc, and a few other tricks too. Sure you remember from last night luv. (He raises his eye brow at her.)

Buffy: Well there is something you can help me do right now.

Spike: What you got another itch you need me to scratch? (Gives her a suggestive look.)

Buffy: Close. Come with me, you'll see.

Over on a bench in the grave yard.

Spike: (They are together on a bench in the cemetery. Buffy is on Spikes lap.) Stop squirming this is killing me as much as it's killing you.

Buffy: I doubt that, I'm the one who has it inside me. (Moans out. She is in a bit of pain.) Would you hurry up, I can't take much more of this.

Spike: Working it back and forth is the only way to get it out.

Buffy: It's just I've never had one this size in me before. (She moans out again.)

Spike: Well you had it in your hand. You practically forced it inside you.

Buffy: How did I force it inside me? I assure you it went in of it's own free will.

Spike: Hold still. I think I have the right rhythm this time. Almost there.

Xander enters the graveyard. He's comes to find Buffy and he walks in on the scene in the grave yard.

Xander: (He's a little put off by the scene in front of him, but instead of making his presence known he just looks on. Mesmerized by the scene before him.)

Buffy: After you take it out of me, you better kiss it and make it better. (Beads of sweat are running down her brow. She knows to reach their final goal she must put up with this just a little longer.)

Spike: Oh I'll do a lot more than kiss it and make it better. I'll soothe it with my mouth, for as long as you like.

Buffy: Promise. (She sees him nods.) When you talk like that, I think I can endure anything.

Willow: (Finding Xander in the graveyard, coming over to see what he's looking at. In a whispered voice.) Xander what are you doing?

Xander: (Surprised cause he's been so mesmerized by the scene in front of him.) Aw nothing.

Willow: I can't believe you're watching, I can't even look. (She's seen what's going on at the bench and she turns around to look away.) How can you watch that?

Xander: It's not as bad as it looks. Besides he's got a real technique there, with the back and forth. It's almost hypnotic.

Buffy: We've been at this forever. (She sounds breathless.) How much longer?

Spike: Till I can get the right spot. Now stop moving already, just relax. (They are so caught up with what they are doing, they don't notice Willow and Xander's presence.)

Buffy: How can you ask me to relax at a time like this. I'm too worked up.

Spike: Not much longer now. I got it. (He rocks her hand back and forth.) It's coming.

Buffy: I can feel it. (She starts to moan out really loud.) Ow, Ow, Ow, (Then she screams out it relief.) Oh. Finally. (She has a tear running down her face.) That left me exhausted.

Spike: Me too.

Xander: I think, I can see it from here. I've never seen one that size? It's amazing you really should have a look Willow.

Willow: Xander that's just gross. Is it over with now?

Xander: Yeah, it's over with now, he finally pulled it out of her. (Wipes the sweat from his brow.) Call me a voyeur, but I couldn't help watching. Next time Anya asks for me to assist her. I'll know what to do. What a great technique Spike has. Willow you really should have watched this. Bet you could have learnt a thing or two. Come on let's go over.

Buffy: That was it? (Looks at the splinter that was causing her so much pain.) That was the splinter?

Spike: That's it, that's our little bad boy that was causing you so much pain. Serves you right, for carrying wooden stakes.

Buffy: Not my fault this one wasn't smoothed out properly. That splinter practically forced itself into my finger. (Holds up her finger.) You said you'd kiss it and make it all better.

Spike: I did. dinnit I? (He kisses her finger with his mouth. Then he's about to suckle her finger.)

Xander: Would you two cut that out. We don't want to see anything gross now.

Buffy: (Looking up for the first time.) Xander. Willow. When did you two get here?

Willow: Xander and I stooped by the house. Dawn said you and Spike had gone patrolling. So we went to grab some ice cream. We picked some up and came by then saw you with Spike. (Points to Buffy's finger.) We saw Spike trying to get your splinter out. I couldn't watch. The site of a splinter and I go all whoosey.

Spike: Slayer with super strength and she goes super sucky over a little splinter.

Xander: Little splinter? Hey I could see that thing from over there. That's a good size splinter.

Buffy: (Pouting.) Thanks for the back up Xander. (Sticks her tongue out at Spike.)

Spike: (Shakes his head.)

Xander: Anytime Buff. And Spike, I've got to say that's some technique you've got there. Where did ya learn that?

Spike: I watch a lot of telly. That Martha Stewart's got a work around for everything. She uses a potato cut in half to remove broken light bulbs from the socket. Know what, works like a charm.

Xander: No wonder. Anya says Martha Stewart is a witch. Apparently no one could do that much decoupage without calling on the forces of darkness.

Spike: Never really thought of it before. That explains so much.

Xander: Yeah hun. That's what I said.

Willow: Would you two stop going on. Buffy's got a little boo-boo on her finger. Want some ice cream. It's kind of melty by now, but you can still sip it from the package.

Buffy: (Getting up from her comfortable perch on Spikes lap.) I would love some ice cream. After slaying and being injured in the line of duty. I think I deserve something yummy.

Spike: Injured in the line of duty? That vamp almost took my head off.

Buffy: Yep, and I took a splinter in the finger. I'd say that makes us about even.

Spike: How you figure that one out?

Buffy: I don't have to. I'm injured. (She links arms with Willow and the two walk off ahead.)

Spike: (Shakes his head.)

Xander: I hear ya. Woman. (Xander hands him, the package with ice cream.) That's ok. We all know who the hero was around here tonight. Anya gets a splinter and it's Xander this, Xander that. Thousand years killing and wounding men and one little splinter or bunny and it's all over with.

Spike: (Takes the ice cream from Xander.) Thanks. I hear you on that one. Super Slayer Strength, one splinter and she goes all wounded kitten on me. Biggest baby, good thing we know who wears the pants round here.

Buffy: (Turning back.) Are you two coming.

Spike: Be right there.

Xander: Ah, she does?

Spike: Hey. We share. (They walk off after Willow and Buffy.)

The four leave the cemetery and make their way to various other destinations, with a promise to Willow that they will try to stop by her new place at some point tomorrow. Spike and Buffy go home to kiss any hurts she might have and make them better. Willow goes home to her new apartment. Xander reluctantly goes home to have another argument with Anya about the wedding he called off.

Chapter 1. After life.

Next morning at the Summers house. Connubial bliss continues. (As much as can be.) Buffy and Spike have moved into Joyce's old room. It has been moderately redecorated to suite them both. Willow has moved out of the house, and lives on her own. She is trying to stand fully on her own two feet after the addiction. It is morning, and the sun comes streaming through the window. A ray of light reflects off of something and onto Spike's arm.

Spike: (Wakes up with a start. He is screaming.) What you trying to do? Get a divorce?

Buffy: (She gets up and shuts blinds more fully.) Guess we have to fix that. I wasn't trying to wake up as Mrs. big pile of dust. I'm not ready to be a widow. But it serves you right for not properly kissing my wound and making it better.

Spike: I could use some sympathy here. Besides I kissed everything else last night. Dinnit I?

Buffy: (Tends to his arm where the beam of light has burnt his skin.) Where would you like the sympathy to be placed. (Really suggestive.)

Spike: That's my girl, that's the kind of talk I like to hear. You perk right up from, wounded kitten in the grave yard, to sex kitten in our bed dinnit you? (Gives her a really seductive look.)

Buffy: (She smiles.) I have something you might like better than talk.

Spike: Yeah? I think my arm is starting to feel a little better. What do ya have in mind? You could ah come back to bed and show me.

Buffy: Let me just get some balm to put on your wounded hand.

Spike: You're all the balm I need babe.

Buffy: Oh I think you'll like this. (Comes over to the bed carrying something in a little jar.) I am just going to spread it on anything that might need soothing. (She starts to put the balm on his hand. Then on his chest, then on some other places.)

Spike: Hey wait a second, that's not balm that's honey. (She wipes some off his chest with her finger, then sticks her finger into him mouth. He closes his lips around her finger, licking it off with his tongue.) Sweetheart I think I'm gonna like your tending to.

Buffy: Well the fun parts not really putting it on. It's taking it off. (Gives him the most suggestive look he's ever seen. Then she straddles him as she starts to remove the honey she has placed on him.)

Spike: (As she looks up, he wipes off some honey that has gotten stuck on her chin, and her nose. She takes his finger, and puts it into her mouth, then she licks the honey from his finger, as she pulls his finger out of her mouth back and forth.) Only so much a man can take. (He grabs Buffy, he removes her tank top, and the rest of her clothing. They assume the same position as before. She is still on top. Her legs are still around his waist. He sits up a little, and positions her on his hips. They find each other and connect on their bed. Buffy moans as her tongue finds it's way into Spike's waiting mouth. Their arms link around each other, and they begin to rock back and forth. Morning silence at the Summers house is broken with the sighs and tender groans of their impassioned joining.

Hours later. Silence is once again broken, by the outside noises and other stirrings inside and outside the bedroom.

Buffy: I'm sticky everywhere. (She says pouting as they lay covered with honey in each other arms.)

Spike: Yeah me too luv! (Gives her a well satisfied look.)

Buffy: You know what I mean. I have honey everywhere, it's in my hair, on my chin, my nose, my toes, and other places. I'm completely sticky.

Spike: I can see if I can go bout getting the rest off you. If you'd like? (Starts on her ear lobe.)

Buffy: Oh no you don't everytime we start we never finish. Well we finish, but you know what I mean. (She hits him.)

Spike: So it's a little bit of slap and tickle your after is it? (He pulls her to him and they wrestle a little bit more.) I still love you, you know that.

Buffy: I know.

Spike: Any regrets?

Buffy: About us?

Spike: I didn't give you much time. Before you said yes.

Buffy: This was right. I didn't need much time. (Kisses him.) I was sure.

Spike: I want to keep making you sure. My promises didn't stop in that groove. I hope you know that.

Buffy: I do know that. (She snuggles into him.) Sometimes I think about my mom. How she's not here anymore and it makes me really lonely. I think about the future and it's just me and Dawn and I get really sad. But now you're here. We are not alone any more. I was sure for so many reasons. You asked me if I was afraid you were going to leave. Do you remember?

Spike: Yeah I remember.

Buffy: Well I was. I thought you'd leave. Everyone else has left, so I figured you would too. But you're here.

Spike: I'm not going anywhere.

Buffy: I think I know that now. I was so afraid I would be alone after mom died. She was great, she took care of everything.

Spike: I know. Joyce was a good lady. Treated me with respect she did. Always had a cuppa hot chocolate and marshmallows waiting round the table. She was real upstanding.

Buffy: I miss her, and I know Dawn misses her. We are not use to having people in our lives. I mean after my mom died, do you know that my dad didn't even show up for the funeral? They were married had kids, and he didn't show up. (She starts to mist up a little.)

Spike: There now pet. I'm here for you. (Strokes her hair, as he wipes a tear from her eye.)

Buffy: (Stops crying.) I know, but isn't that suppose to mean something? Instead he's always off with his secretary or something like that. I always wanted a family after my dad left. Dawn too. It's not that we weren't taken care of, cause mom was great. Just guys don't stay in our lives. My dad didn't show up, even the guy my mom was dating before she died didn't even call us. He just leaves flowers, then she dies and he never calls, or shows up again. Just like that. Then there's my history. You know my history. You're the only one who's stayed so far. Oh and Xander, but you know what I mean.

Spike: Not your fault. Anyone who'd walk away from you should have their heads examined. I'm lucky having you. You and Dawn are the best things, come into my life.

Buffy: You're the best that's come along in a very long time. That's why I was so afraid. Why I kept it casual. Why I almost broke up with you a couple of times, before I told everyone.

Spike: (Raises his eyebrow.) What you mean almost. Luv?

Buffy: Ok I did break up with you, and we had our problems. I caused most of them, but here we are. I kept pushing you away, cause I was so afraid it would end up the same way. But you stuck it out.

Spike: Knew what I wanted. It was you, but I wanted the whole package. Now I think I have it. The whole package I mean. I have all of you.

Buffy: (She remembers the visit or dream or whatever it is she had from the first slayer. Feels guilty cause she still does not feel she can share the vision with him yet.) You have as much of me as anyone ever has. (Stops nestling with Spike.) Hey we better get going. Dawn going to think that...

Spike: Dawn's gonna think we're newly married, and enjoying each other to the fullest. She'd be right.

Buffy: Still I think it's time to get showered. Why don't you go ahead. I want to fix up the room a bit. Honey is all over everything.

Spike: Only when you smile luv. (He smiles at her. Then he goes to the bathroom, through the inner bathroom door to have his shower. He is fully naked, and resplendent in the indirect sunlight that dances across his naked skin. Buffy watches him into the bathroom to have a shower. He goes through the door that adjoins it to their room.)

Spike is having an early morning shower. He is enjoying the running water, and the warmth of it. Suddenly the curtain is pulled back.

Buffy: (Standing there in nothing but a towel.) I'm still sticky all over. Thought we could reserve water. (Pouts as she looks up at him.)

Spike:I'm all for conserving luv. (The towel drops to the floor. She enters the shower with Spike. They pull the curtain all the way around. The water is warm and the soap lather intoxicating. He kisses her, as he moves the bar of soap over her hair, and down her back, which is facing him. He kisses the side of her neck as he moves the soap over her breasts, then down her belly. She reaches up and interlocks her fingers around his neck Her body is fully exposed, with her arms raised above her head. He continues to lather every part of her skin, moving the bar of soap from her navel to her lower abdomen. She maneuvers down with him as he lathers her legs, and upper thighs. He puts the bar of soap away and he finishes lathering her skin with his hands. Every part of her is completely lathered and massaged

Buffy: (Moaning, and stretching against him, to allow better access to his roving hands.) This gives new meaning to the words deep lather and massage.

Spike: We are going to give new meaning to a lot of things luv. (Turning her to face him. They are about to get comfortable when...)

Dawn: (Loud knock at the outer bathroom door.) Buffy are you in there? (Dawn screams at the top of her lungs.)

Buffy: Dawn. I'm having a shower go away!

Dawn: You've been in that shower forever. I have to go pee. (She opens the bathroom door and goes over to the toilet.)

Buffy: Dawn get out! (Buffy screams at the top of her lungs.)

Dawn: What's your problem. I'm almost finished peeing. Besides not as if I haven't walked in on you before in the bathroom. It's nothing that I haven't seen before. What are you getting so worked up about. I've seen it all before. You walk around the house half naked anyway.

Buffy: (Spike nibbles her ear. Dawn can not see anything threw the curtains.) Well it's not the same. You need to learn how to knock. (Finishes the last.)

Dawn: You need to learn to lock the bathroom door. Buffy are you ok? You sound funny.

Buffy: Dawn. I'm fine, just go!

Dawn: (Finishes using the toilet.) Are you sure you're ok. You sound all breathless and stuff. (Flushes the toilet. She hears a scream that almost sounds masculine.) Buffy are you sure you're ok? You sound funny.

Buffy: Dawn. I'm fine, just go!

Dawn: (Finishes using the toilet.) Are you sure you're ok. You sound all breathless and stuff. (Flushes the toilet. She hears a scream that almost sounds masculine.) Buffy are you sure you're ok?

Buffy: Ow. You burnt me and I screamed. I said to leave!

Dawn: Your voice sounded so weird when you screamed, sure your ok? (Dawn goes over to the shower to investigate. She is about to pull the shower curtain back.)

The phone rings.

Dawn: That might be Janice. I've been expecting her call. Fine be a shower hog, see if I care. (Dawn leaves the bathroom.)

Buffy: (Gets out and locks the door. Walks back to the shower.) Are you totally demented. She almost caught us.

Spike: You weren't complaining. Sides we're married now. What do you think she thinks? Her rooms just across, and down the hall. She is a hormonal teenager. Probably knows as much as we do by now.

Buffy: She better not. Besides. Hearing is not seeing.

Spike: (Lifting her back into the shower.) And talking is defiantly not doing. Now where were we pet?

An hour later. Spike showered and dressed at last makes his way down to the breakfast table to have a very late breakfast with Dawn.

Spike: Morning bit. How you doing? Did you sleep well?

Dawn: Same as usual. You and Buffy sleeping ok?

Spike: (Spike looks up.) Well how do you mean?

Dawn: You just seem to keep late hours with patrolling and all. Just wondering if you're settling in ok. This must be a change from your crypt.

Spike: Oh yeah. (Sounds relieved.) This is defiantly a change for me. But I'm loving it. (He goes over to the cupboard and grabs a bowl, then goes to the fridge. Looks in his special drawer and withdraws a packet. Goes to the microwave. Heats up contents of packet into bowl. (Goes back to join Dawn at the table.) Can I have some of that?

Dawn: She hands him some of her Life serial.

Spike: (He takes the cereal and adds it to the blood in the bowl.)

Dawn: Eww that's gross.

Spike: You've seen me drink blood before bit.

Dawn: Yeah, but not by putting in little bit's of cereal. That's gross.

Spike: What? Give's it more texture.

Dawn: Whatever! Still gross.

Spike: So how is school going?

Dawn: Well you know. Same as usual. When is that social worker suppose to come by? I can't believe that she still has to do regular monthly check up's on us. Even now that you and Buffy are married.

Spike: Got to show we got a stable family. Sure she'll push off after that. Leave us alone and all.

Buffy: (Enters the kitchen. Still glowing and looking radiant after her morning shower.) Dawn. We need some house rules about knocking on all doors. Not just the bathroom door.

Dawn: Well if you put the lock on the door, you wouldn't have to worry about it now would you?

Buffy: Sometimes I forget. It's joined to the bedroom, and I forget sometimes. I'm still adjusting to taking the room over from Willow.

Dawn: I still don't see why your making such a big deal. It's not as if I walked in on you and Spike in your bedroom or something.

Spike: (He looks up at Buffy. They exchange glances.) Well I think what Buffy means is, not just you women in the house any more. You got me here now. We just need to set up some new house rules and stuff. Right bit.

Dawn: I knocked first. If you had answered I obviously wouldn't have barged in.

Buffy: I'll remember that for next time.

Dawn: Hun?

Buffy: Just remember the house rules for next time.

Dawn: Whatever. So Spike what are you going to do today?

Spike: Don't know bit. Since it's the weekend, thought I'd watch some telly, then see bout getting things fixed up round here. I am pretty handy. Put some real work into my crypt. Think I could do the same round here.

Dawn: I hate not having any money. I mean I know we're ok. But I liked it before. You know when mom was around.

Buffy: I'm doing my best here Dawn.

Dawn: I didn't mean it that way. I guess I just miss her. She always knew what to do. She always made sure everything was nice. She could always fix things.

Spike: Of course you didn't mean it that way bit. Sides it's natural to miss your mom. Tell you what. I made it real pretty where she is. I put some flowers round the site, so next time you and Buffy go visit, it will look really nice.

Buffy: You did that?

Spike: No problem. Round that area lots anyway.

Buffy: I should have but.

Spike: You been dealing with other stuff. Sides we're together now. All of us. (Makes sure Dawn knows he's there for both of them.) How bout we go sometime? The flowers are probably better in the day. But I got that whole sun, me, burnt to a crisp thing happening.

Dawn: I'd like that.

Buffy: Yeah me too.

Spike: So what you two got planned for the rest of the afternoon?

Dawn: Janice and I are going to the mall. We are going to see if we can meet up with Emily. It's so hard getting those two in the same place at once.

Buffy: I am suppose to stop by Willow's new place, and help her settle in. But I should be back before the whole afternoon slips away.

Spike: I look forward to that. (Gives her a look, that holds many promises for the afternoon.)

Buffy: (Goes over and kisses him.) Me too.

Dawn: (Goes back to eating her cereal and smiles. It's not the perfect nuclear family, but it's breakfast around their table and it's great.)

The three settle down to the morning breakfast, which is being enjoyed during the afternoon in the Summers house.

Buffy arrives at Willow's new apartment. Xander and Anya are there as well. The gang has come to help Willow settle into her new place.

Willow: That lamp I think will look better over there.

Xander: That's the third time you've made me move it?

Anya: Shut up Xander. We're here to work, to lend a hand. To be good friends. That means no complaining. See just like you made me memorize. (She smiles.)

Xander: It's too bad I don't see ya doing as much work as talking.

Anya: I lent a hand.

Willow: Actually I think it was more like a finger.

Anya: Well I could lend you one more. I think I know which one.

Xander: Anya!

Anya: What? She started it. I did so help. I put those books on the self over there. (She points.) And I've been appraising all of Willow's things that are of value in the apartment. Good news is at least if you get robbed Willow, you won't have anything to worry about? (Here she smiles.)

Willow: You know Anya, you really don't have to be here if you don't want to.

Anya: Sure I do. Xander dragged me here, and said cause you helped us when we moved. I had to help you. So here I am helping. (She puts on a smile on her face.)

Xander: Anya. It's way better when you're going to help someone, not to tell them that you were forced into it sweetie.

Anya: And Xander. When you're going to marry someone, it's much better for you not to call off the wedding, and then not set a date ever again. Sweetie. (She keeps the smile firmly plastered on her face.)

Xander: Can we not discuss this here.

Anya: Sure, where and when exactly would you like to discuss it? Cause you never do when we are home with each other.

Xander: Just not here baby.

Anya: Fine. (She just stops talking.)

Buffy: (To Willow.) So how did you find this place, and for so little. It's really cute and charming.

Willow: If you mean small and affordable you would be right. I got it from a friend I meet years ago when I went away to music camp.

Xander: Do you mean band camp?

Willow: (Ignoring Xander.) So he's going away to Europe for a bit, and wanted someone to take care of the place, and since his parent's rent it to him for cheep. I get to take over his rent. Don't know when he's coming back. Good to know people in musically places, I guess.

Buffy: Well it's really cute I like it.

Xander: Yeah it's great. Hey how come Tara didn't come to help? Didn't you invite her?

Willow: (Looking uncomfortable.) Actually I did, but she had other things to do.

Anya: That's an off limits topic Xander. Even I know that. Things are still all uncomfortable. Tara still hasn't forgiven Willow.

Xander: Gosh I was sure, she'd come around by now.

Willow: Looks like we are moving on with our lives. (She sounds sad.) Anyway that's what I have you all here for. Let's finish unpacking.

They finish unpacking and settle down to watch a movie.

Willow: It's great that he left some of his furniture and stuff. He didn't need it in Europe where he was going to be. I'm so glad I don't have to shop for electronics.

Buffy: Well you know you could have stayed with me, Dawn and Spike.

Willow: Yeah, but I want to get out on my own and be independent. I love all you did for me, but I need to stand fully on my own two feet now, just like Tara's doing.

Buffy: I really sorry that things haven't improved in that area.

Willow: It's ok at least we are on speaking terms. Sort of friendly at times, but not hostile or anything. At least that's something.

Buffy: True.

Xander: Hey, what kind of Movies does this guy keep? (Xander rifles threw a case containing movies.) Hey look at this, he has Apocalypse Now. Remember just after we beat Adam, and we rented movies and watched them at Buffy's house?

Willow: Yeah, it was the group of us. Oh and Giles was there. Remember?

Buffy: Yeah. I remember. I still miss him. I still wish he was here, at least he was able to come for the wedding. (Buffy tenses realizing that she has said the "W" word. Which is still a buzz word that could start Anya and Xander fighting again at any minute. But they don't)

Anya: Yeah that was a great night. Except for the visit from the first Slayer, and her trying to kill us and all. Gosh still gives me goose pimples when I think about it. What about you Buffy?

Buffy: (Her mind instantly goes back to her visit with the first Slayer, the night of her wedding and the slayers words about slayers being routed in darkness. Vampire darkness to be exact. Also all the images she saw, and the slayers final words, "You now know what you are, and soon you will know what you have become. We are all one kindred.")

Xander: Buffy. You ok? (He sounds concerned.)

Buffy: Hun? Yeah I'm fine. I just got distracted. Spacing again.

Anya: Bet you were thinking about all that great Spike sex you get to have. How's that going by the way?

Buffy: (Still a little spaced out.) Great. (Realizes what she said. Blushes.) I mean, none of your business, but if it was.

Willow: If it was?

Buffy: (Smiles, looks radiant and nodes.) Still great.

Willow: (She sighs in unison with Anya.)

Xander: Hey I'm still in the room. I so don't need to be hearing this right now. Can we please talk about something else?

Anya: Yeah sure Xander. I can think of something else that I would like to talk about.

Xander: (Sensing a trap about the wedding discussion, in there somewhere. He makes his escape.) Actually the current topic of conversation is just fine. (Turns to Buffy.) So Buffy. Spike. Great sex? Do tell.

After the friends get settled Buffy leaves to go meet up with Spike. Xander and Anya hang out a little bit longer. Xander is trying to avoid going home, for yet another discussion about the delayed wedding.

Buffy, Spike, and Dawn meet up later that evening. The three go to the video store, they come home with rented movies.

Dawn: This is the sad part, he turns all rabid and stuff.

Buffy: Promise if I ever get rabies you won't take me out to the back and shoot me. Just stake me or something like that. Bullets bad.

Spike: So is getting staked. Sides not old yellers fault he got turned all rabid and stuff. Made to drink blood for all eternity. Oh no wait, that something else, I'm thinking of.

Dawn: (She looks over at Buffy and they share a look about Spike that is becoming all too familiar. They smile.) Ok. That was just too sad. They had to do it, he would have gone really crazy like cujo and just killed everything eventually.

Spike: Still it made me all sad and stuff. Let's get something more cheerful on. Anyone up for terminator? That Arnold's one bad ass. Leather jacket, bad attitude, rides a motor cycle. Reminds me of someone I know. Sides, it's one of my favorite movies.

Buffy: Ok, but we have to watch the chic flick I selected next.

Spike: I'm all up for girl interrupted. A poignant chic flick about teen angst. I'm just watching terminator as a warm up. Get me all set for the scary stuff. (Dawn and Buffy laugh.) What?

They watch the movie and enjoy some micro-waved popcorn.

Spike: You know what I could be Kyle from the movie. What you say Buffy? I could say I traveled cross time for you.

Buffy: It's not the same, no cool time machine.

Spike: Sure it could be the same. Watch this. I'd travel through time for you Buffy Summers. I traveled from 1880 for you. I love you.

Buffy: (Getting into the spirit of it.) That could work, I suppose.

Spike: Yeah then you can show me just how greatful you are, that I did all that traveling through time for you. (Gives her a look.)

Dawn: (She is well familiar with the looks that pass between them by now and she is just sitting back looking relaxed and happy. She smiles at the contented happy picture they make in their own way. She just pretends to do whatever she is doing as they go upstairs to "fight cyborg's.") Looks like it's just me and Wynonna Rider.

Chapter 2 Gone

A few days later. Buffy is home by herself and hears a knock on the door.

Anya: (She has arrived on Buffy's door step, bags in hand. Sounding in tears.) I've left Xander.

Buffy: You what? (Sounds surprised.)

Anya: Well after he called off the wedding, we haven't sorted out what we want and he hasn't reset a date. I just up and left. It's driving me crazy. He's all hot then cold. Marry me, just not right now. (Drops her bags and goes to lean on Buffy's shoulder.) Please let me stay for awhile. I don't want to be alone.

Buffy: Well since you are already here. (She cautiously invites her in.)

Somewhere across town Willow hears a knock at her door.

Willow: Xander what's wrong? What happened? You're bleeding.

Xander: (Comes into her apartment.) It's Anya, she's gone nuts.

Willow: Tell me something I didn't know.

Xander: Willow, I'm serious. She tried to kill me.

Willow: (Sounding concerned.) Really!

Xander: She threw a rolling pin at my head. Look at this. (Points to head.) She's deranged.

Willow: No arguments there.

Xander: This is serious. Because I wouldn't reset a date for the wedding, and I didn't want to discuss it, she finally lost it and she freaked on me. Then she got violent, and threw the rolling pin at my head. Apparently that friend of hers from the wedding. That demon friend of hers the one that was maid of honor at our almost wedding. She's been putting ideas into Anya's head again.

Willow: Sure there's any room left in her demony head to have any more ideas?

Xander: Willow I serious. She's never walked out before. What am I going to do? I have to go out and I have to find her.

Willow: She's at Buffy's house. Buffy just called me. She said I'd never guess who just turned up on her doorstep suitcase in hand. Besides you're going to go after her and get another rolling pin thrown at your head?

Xander: Well I have to do something don't I?

Willow: Why? People are going to do whatever they want. Whenever they want. If you don't want them to go, they go. They don't look back, they don't care. (She sounds sad.)

Xander: We still talking about me here? (Sees the look on her face. Goes over to give her a hug.) Still no word from Tara?

Willow: We talk, and it's all polite and friendly, but she has this wall up. When's she going to forgive me Xander? I've done everything that I could. I'm sorry for what I did.

Xander: She loves you Will, but it takes time. She was pretty angry after you did that spell that took away all our memories, and seems like it wasn't the first time you did something like that?

Willow: But I'm sorry. Can't she see that I'm sorry?

Xander: You just have to give her time. People stay angry as long as they need to. There's not much you can do as far as working things out, if they stay angry. Can't break down those walls with anger in the way.

Willow: Maybe I just have to face it. Tara's gone, and maybe she's never going to come back.

Xander: I have to face it too. Anya's gone till I reset a date for this wedding. I don't know why I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I mean I know I love her.

Willow: Xander. You've grown up so much over the last year. More I think than any of us. But maybe you just went too fast. That's probably why you backed out. You have to give yourself time, space, figure out what you want. Last thing you want is another wedding, where you call it off at the last minute. That would just piss her off more.

Xander: Know what? Your right. We're not getting anywhere till I figure this out for myself first. I know what I'm going to do now.

Willow: What?

Xander: Nothing. I have to figure this out before I chase her all over the place. Else like you said, we're just going to continue having the same problems, and God knows what she will do next time. Women.

Willow: Women. (They shake their heads in unison.)

A few days later. Their house guest has settled in nicely. Nicely for Dawn and Spike, who love having the extra company, and listening to her stories. Buffy is having some difficulties adjusting to the house guest, who is currently residing in Buffy's old room. Anya and Spike have become fast friends, and though Buffy would never admit it, she's a little uncomfortable with their closeness. She is in the kitchen preparing a snack, as she listens to their happy chatter from the living room.

Anya: (Sitting on the couch with Spike. They go over stories of destruction and devastation that they caused.) Yeah you should have seen what I did to his testicles. He couldn't walk for a week. That obviously wasn't my best work though. I was young, inexperienced. After I became a vengeance demon. V.D. For short. Not the other kind. Although I inflicted a lot of that on people, and Xander's penis has diseases from a shumash tribe.

Spike: Yeah I can remember one time, for Dru's birthday. (From the kitchen we can hear one dish being broken, and then another.) What I mean is, for someone, who will not be named in this house's birthday, we wanted to... (he goes on to tell her about some pretty bizarre things, he and Dru have done for her various parties, up to assembling the judge.) I can tell you that was a laugh riot. (They sigh in unison recalling the good old times.)

Buffy: (Comes from the kitchen with some glasses)

Anya: Oh Buffy you didn't have to do that by yourself, you should have asked someone to help you. (Anya then goes back to what she was doing.)

Buffy: (Picks up a butter knife threateningly off the tray, as she balances the tray with one hand.)

Spike: (Goes over to help out.) Now, now, temper, temper luv. (Takes the tray and the butter knife.)

Dawn: (Comes in from visiting friends.)

Buffy: It's disturbing all the happy talk between you two. I mean the happy talk about hurting people. It's just disturbing.

Dawn: No it's not Buffy, I think it's kind of cool. Sides, how many good stories have you told about killing demons, or dusting vampires.

Buffy: But what I do is different, what I am is totally different..

Dawn: (She rolls her eyes.)

Spike: Yeah how's it different? I mean there are a couple of people who don't show up for kitten poker one night, and I start to get dirty looks cause I'm married to a slayer and she's probably killed them, or dusted them.

Buffy: But slaying is my job. It's something I have to do, it's my destiny.

Spike: So being bad is what vamps and demons do. It's our job, it's our destiny.

Dawn: Yeah, why is everything always ok when you do it but when we do it, it's all like such a big deal. Buffy kills vamps and demons. Buffy wants to date vampires. Buffy, Buffy, Buffy, it's always Buffy.

Anya: Yeah I agree. What they said. Does kind of seem a little double standardish, if you ask me.

Buffy: Well no one asked you. I can't believe I'm hearing this. Did I just fall into some backward dimension or something? I can't believe you're all just ganging up on me like this. (Points to Spike.) You are suppose to be on my side.

Spike: What and back you up, cause I don't like you staking all my friends? Well the one's I've still got. Gets even smaller everyday. People find out your married to a slayer and it's like you've got bloody leprosy.

Buffy: Oh so being married to me is like a plague?

Spike: Now pet, I never meant that. What I meant to say was.

Buffy: Well it's what you said. Well if you don't like being married to me, we can always fix that.

Dawn: (Motions to Anya.) I think this would be a good time for us to go upstairs or something.

Anya: But why? This was just getting good.

Dawn: Anya!

Anya: Ok. I 'm coming already. But I hope we can still hear upstairs through the rails.

Dawn and Anya exit the room and go upstairs.

Spike: What's that suppose to mean?

Buffy: Just that if being married to me is so bad, you don't have to be.

Spike: You're blowing this way out of proportion. All I meant was you get to prance around in this self righteous world, never convicted of doing anything bad, but the moment me or Anya talk about our past it's like we're these terrible people. It's part of who we were, there is darkness in us, you're just gonna to have to accept that babe.

Buffy: Well that's you and Anya. Not me.

Spike: I know that. All I'm saying is you should lighten up a little. You're moody, and blowing things way out of proportion. You should lighten up, like Anya. Even Dawn finds my stories funny. Dru would never have... (Before he can to take the words back it's too late.)

Buffy: Dru! There's that name again. I told you not to compare me to Drusilla. (She pushes him towards the kitchen.) I'm nothing like her, and if you like Drusilla so much you should have married her and not me. (They arrive at the kitchen door and she forces him into the kitchen.) Also if you hate my job so much, why don't you do something? Why did you marry me? I have to slay vampires, it's what I do. I'm the slayer. (Frustrated she opens the back door and pushes him outside. Realizing what she's just did, she opens the door and drags him back in.)

Spike: Are you crazy? What did you do that for? Have you lost your mind? Is it that time of the month again? I could have been toast, good thing there's some shade on the back porch, you're bleeding crazy!

Buffy: (Still angry.) Yeah, well next time I'll leave you out there.

Spike:Walking over to her angry himself now. He stares her down.) Yeah, well what makes you think there will be a next time. (He goes over to the fridge, gets his packets of blood from the fridge, puts them in his jacket. Then goes over to the living room and gets his blanket from a space under the sofa.) I'm not putting up with this. If I wanted crazy I would have stayed with Dru. (Throwing the name in Buffy's face deliberately this time, he walks out the back door, blanket fully around him.) I'm outta here. See ya Goldilocks.

Buffy: (Walks over to the back door which he's left open, and she slams it really hard.) Not if I see you first. I should just have staked him, when I had the chance. Would have simpled things up so much more. (Realizes that the time for such sentiments is far over with. Whether she likes it or not he's become a part of her, and all the pain and emotions that feelings bring comes with that.)

After the argument and Spike leaving for his crypt. Dawn makes her way downstairs.

Dawn: (Hearing it grow quite downstairs she takes some slowly cautions her way into the kitchen.) Where is Spike?

Buffy: He left. (Trying to not sound upset about the argument they just had.)

Dawn: What do you mean he left?

Buffy: He took his stuff and went back to his crypt!

Dawn: And you let him leave?

Buffy: What was I suppose to do?

Dawn: You're suppose to stop him. (Starting to get emotional again, remembering when Tara left Willow.) What if he doesn't come back? What if you can't work this out? What if it's forever?

Buffy: We didn't break up forever. This is an argument. (But she is not fully convinced of her own words.)

Dawn: An argument? Where he moves back to his crypt? Nice Buffy. If you hadn't started in on him about talking about his past, talking about who he was, he wouldn't have left. This is all your fault.

Buffy: Dawn, I never meant...

Dawn: You never meant to make him leave. Why does everyone end up leaving. (She starts to break into tears.) Every time I think I'm going to have a family again. First dad leaves, Giles, Tara, now Spike and Willow moved back out. Then your probably going to leave again, then I'm going to be all alone.

Buffy: Dawn you know that would never happen. I would never leave you again.

Dawn: But how do you know? How do you know what's going to happen? The future's not set remember. Things can change.

Buffy: We'll make up. Me and Spike fight all the time.

Dawn: (She goes over to the fridge. She looks in him drawer.) Where's all his blood?

Buffy: He took it with him. (Sounds worried.)

Dawn: He took it? (Sounds about to break into tears again.) This is all your fault. If he doesn't come back this is all your fault.

Buffy: We fight all the time, he always comes back. (Trying to sound convincing, but getting a bit worried, cause it's the first time he's taken his stuff back to the crypt.)

Dawn: That's just great Buffy. That's really reassuring. You know what. If Spike goes, I'm going. I'm not staying here with you. You can't break things apart like this. It's not fair. Just when things were starting to get good again.

Buffy: Dawn stop it. You're overreacting. (Trying to gain control of the situation.)

Dawn: No. You're acting like you don't care again. Like you can just push everyone's feelings aside and it doesn't matter. I really hate you right now. And if Spike goes, then... (throws her head back in defiance.) I'm going too.

Buffy: (Exhausted and not up for another argument.) Dawn. Go to your room.

Dawn: What? Are you serious? I'm 16, you can't tell me what to do, and you can't send me to my room.

Buffy: I can make you go!

Dawn: You think you're so tough. One of these days just wait. (She storms off.)

Dawn goes upstairs, but she is really upset with Buffy. She is afraid that Spike has left them for good. She packs an over night bag. Sneaks out her bedroom window and makes her way to the crypt.

Inside the crypt.

Spike: (Talks out loud to himself.) She's crazy. All I said was Dru and she throws me outside, she could have killed me. I could have been a big pile of dust. Temper she got there. Crazy too. Why do I get the crazy ones? (He plays the whole scene over in his head for the hundredth time.) I was sitting on the couch with Anya, she's the one who started in with her holier than thou attitude. (Goes over to the fridge to gets a nice glass of blood.) Half my stuff's still there. Hope she don't burn it or something. Saw what that Angela Bassett did to that blokes cloths in that Waiting to exhale movie. Then she makes me watch those chick flick movies I don't even like. Well that one with Angelena Jolie was ok, but do I get time for Dawson's Creek any more, no! It's all like family responsibilities this and family responsibilities that, and (screams out as if in pain.) Oh God I bloody well miss her already. (Turns on the television to try and get his mind off of her.)

Arriving at the crypt. Dawn knocks first. Then enters.

Dawn: Spike are you here?

Spike: Bit's that you?

Dawn: Yeah.

Spike: What ya doing here?

Dawn: Buffy said you left! (She sounds upset.) You took your blood from the fridge.

Spike: Noticed that did ya. (He feels bad cause he can see all the turmoil on her face. Thinks at least one Summer's is sad he left.) I was upset.

Dawn: Yeah Buffy has a way of doing that with people. (Remembers her recent argument with Buffy, as well.)

Spike: I just wish she'd stop being such a bitch. (Looks at Dawn, realizes, what he just said.) What I mean is ...no what I said before. But I love her to distraction, drives me crazy when she acts like this.

Dawn: So it's not over? You're not leaving for good? (Holding her breath waiting for an answer.)

Spike: What and leave my favorite little bit, to get into mischief and trouble. (Gives her one of his inquisitive looks.) Never. Your big Sis and I just have some things we need to sass out. A couple days to cool off, and we might be able to have a rational conversation. She's all moody lately. Kind of distracted.

Dawn: She's just power tripping. She actually tried to make me go to my room. Can you believe that? Then when I refused she threatened to use force. Just wait, one of these days I'm gonna show her.

Spike: Now, now bit. Talk like that's gonna get you into trouble. (Sees her bag.) So your sister doesn't know you're here?

Dawn: No. I snuck out of my window. If you're not staying there, then I'm not staying there. (She stands all defiant.)

Spike: (He smiles.) So there's some division in the ranks? You know she's gonna be real pissed with the both of us, when she finds you gone. (On a more subdued note.) Sides she's gonna worry. (He's mad at Buffy, but he doesn't want to make her worry unnecessarily.)

Dawn: If she's so worried she'll come looking for me.

Spike: Yeah. You'd think she'd do that. (Spike thinking that she didn't really run after him.) Well I should send you packing, she'll have both our hides. Me for letting you stay, and you for running off.

Dawn: Even though she's gonna be all pissed. Can I stay? (She looks hopeful.)

Spike: Not with language like that. (He laughs cause it's the pot calling the kettle black.) Course bit. But no hogging the telly, and I get dibs on the sofa.

Dawn: Deal. (She smiles at him.)

Spike: (He ruffles her hair.) So who's up for some kitten poker? They settle down to play cards.)

Back at the Summer's house. Buffy has not noticed that Dawn has snuck out. She sits in the living room. Trying to figure out what went wrong.

Anya: (Entering the living room, after too many hours of silence, she makes her way over to Buffy by the sofa.) Where's Dawn and Spike?

Buffy: Dawn's in her room, and Spike...Spike.. (She breaks into tears.) He left. (She sounds surprised by her outburst, but also hurt.)

Anya: You had a fight, and he left?

Buffy: Yes. (Sounding even more tearful.)

Anya : Xander and I had a fight, and I left him. (Places a hand on Buffy's shoulder and makes her look up.) But it doesn't mean I don't love him, or that I'm not hoping to get back together. He just has to figure out what he wants.

Buffy: But we know what we want. We got married and everything. What if he stays gone, like my dad?

Anya: I think he loves you. I've been around the house for a few days, and I still don't know everything there is to know about humans, but he always watches you, when you walk in and out of a room, and when you're not around you should hear how he talks about you. It's all like Buffy did this and Buffy did that. It's so cute. It's how I hope Xander talks about me, when I'm not around. Dawn and I just smile about the cute looks you two give each other and the way you always try to touch each other when you think no ones looking, or when you know people are looking and you just don't care, and I'm right across the hall from you, so I hear the noises that come from your room and...

Buffy: Anya. I think I get it. (She sounds embarrassed.)

Anya: All I'm trying to say is, I think you have something special. Xander and I thought it would never last. We figured you were just using each other for the sex, but then you got married, and you didn't even hesitate, and I think that's how it should be with people. Either you are sure or you are not. Or you are just crazy and rushing into things and going to suffer terribly for it. You know what they say marry in haste repent at leisure.

Buffy: (Has a worried look on her face.)

Anya: Oh, but what I mean is. I don't think that's the case with you and Spike. I think you really care for each other, and after seeing you together, the way you act, and the way you connect. I know you care for each other, and you will work this out.

Buffy: (Feeling better, after Anya's rant.) I hope you're right. He's just never left before.

Anya: Neither have I. Sometimes you just need space. After all they say absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Buffy: Where'd you get the chipper quotes from?

Anya: I got some of them from hallmark. (Does the voice over from the commercial.) If you could say it like hallmark. You wouldn't need hall mark. I was thinking of using some of the quotes to boost business at the store. (She smiles.)

Buffy: (She laughs. Only Anya could make hall mark cards sound so commercialized at a time like this.)

Anya: See that's the spirit. Knew we could have you perking up in no time. Now go wash your face and we can go spend lots of money. That always makes me feel better. That or going to the store and making lots of money.

Buffy: I'll have to settle for watching you shop. The budget's kinda tight around here. (They get their jackets. Buffy yells upstairs.) Dawn I'm going out for a couple hours. (She gets no answer.) Great. She's not speaking to me. Think I should have her come with us?

Anya: If she's not speaking to you, don't ya think it will just make shopping uncomfortable?

Buffy: You're right. I'll let her cool down for a couple of hours. (Yells up again.) I'll be back later.

Sometime later. Back at Spike's crypt.

Spike: And the way your Sis thinks she's right, when she's not.

Dawn: Yeah, and she thinks she's so, so smart.

Spike: I hate that. (Thinks for a second.) But I love her. Everything about her.

Dawn: She not always so bad. But she is bossy.

Spike: She does smell pretty, and she's awfully cute.

Dawn: Well she does let me borrow her sweaters at times, but still.

Spike: I know bit, but she is pretty good to have around.

Dawn: Yeah I guess so. I guess I like her too, but she drives me crazy, more than she drives you crazy. I mean I wanted to get this shirt at the mall the other day while we were out, (she describes the shirt to Spike, and the store they were in,) and she's all like no, it's too expensive. Yet she still gets to dress so cool.

Spike: She does dress awfully nice. (Dawn gives him that, your suppose to be on my side look.) I mean yeah, bad her dressing all good, while bit doesn't get her shirt. But I do miss her. I know it's only been half a day, but I miss her a lot. Bet she's worried about you, not about me mind you, but about you. She's probably all worried by now. It's dark out now.

Dawn: It would serve her right. If I never came back home. (Feels bad for saying that, remembers when she took off a few weeks ago, just before the wedding.) But I wouldn't want to worry her too much. You think she's worried?

Spike: I think she loves you, and she's got to be worried about you. I know I'd worry if you were missing. You're my Sis too now. I worry about you the way Buffy worries. Guess it's cause we both love you. (He sounds shy about saying it.)

Dawn: (She gets a little choked up.) You do? I mean you both love me?

Spike: I do bit, and I know your sister loves you a great deal too. We'll both be there for you, no matter what happens between us.

Dawn: I guess I love you guys a lot too. I feel really bad if either of you were just gone one day. Promise, no matter what happens we will still be ok.

Spike: I promise bit. (Puts his hand up.) Scouts honor. Oh well not scouts honor, I was never a boy scout, that was parts of Adam. I keep forgetting that. But we should shake on it or something. Like real men. (Spits in his hand and puts it out for Dawn to shake.)

Dawn: Can we say eww factor. I don't think so. (She scrunches up her face.)

Spike: What? It's just spit. (Pulls his hand back.) Ok then bit what do you suggest to seal the deal.

Dawn: I know how about we become blood brothers, like on television. Since we're family. Still has the same ick factor, but it's a lot more official.

Spike: And you thought the spit was ick. You don't want your Summers blood mixing with some hundred year old, demony vamp.

Dawn: And why not? I was the key remember? That makes my blood older than any of yours practically, and remember how evil the knights and Glory thought the key was. I say that make me a candidate for blood brother.

Spike: Fine, but it's going to have to be blood brother and sister, less there's something that you forgot to mention.

Dawn: Hun? (Has the blank questioning look on her face.)

Spike: (He just smiles.) Just don't grow up too quick bit. (He goes and gets the knife, and he pricks his finger, and hers and they link fingers for a minute.)

Dawn: (She smiles.) There it's official. We're blood brothers. I mean blood siblings. Now no matter what happens. We're family.

Spike: That's right bit. Family.

Dawn: (Speaking of family, she feels guilty about Buffy.) I guess I love Buffy too, but sometimes.. ( Her stomach growls. She blushes a little.) Oh. Guess that's my stomach letting me know, it's time for lunch.

Spike: Lunchtime ...was hours ago. I've only got the blood that I took with me from the fridge. You Nibblet need to get some food into ya. Put some meat on those bones.

Dawn: We could order pizza. (She looks really hopeful.)

Spike: They don't deliver out here. Kinda an outta the way location.

Dawn: Oh yeah. I forgot. (Sounds disappointed.)

Spike: Sides we really should let your sister know where you are. I don't want her getting more upset than she already was this morning.

Dawn: Well if she does I'll just kick her butt. (Does her defiant chin move.)

Spike: You won't be kicking anything without some food in you here, (points to her tummy,) and some training here. (Points to her head.) I spoke to Giles, and he thinks it would be a good idea to start training. What do you think bit?

Dawn: I'm all up for that. But I don't want Buffy knowing. Also it's been a few weeks now, and I don't know if I still have what it takes. What if Giles was wrong. What if what I did was a fluke?

Spike: Giles is pretty smart. He's had a lot of practice with stuff like this. Whatever this is, and if he thinks you should be training, then you should be training. Sides you did kick my butt, remember?

Dawn: Yeah but it was just that one time. What if it's all just a coincidence?

Spike: Bit. I've seen you in action. That didn't seem like a fluke to me.

Dawn: But how are we going to train without Buffy knowing?

Spike: Well just pick the lock to the magic box and go after hours.

Dawn: Yeah but what about Buffy?

Spike: We'll just sneak out after she goes patrolling. Don't think we have to train ya, every day, just a couple times a week. Still bit. I don't like this not telling Buffy. Don't like keeping things from her.

Dawn: I'm gonna tell her. Just don't know what to tell her, or how to just yet. But I will, but it's not as if I can just walk over to her and say hey Buffy, I think I got some of your slayer genes. She'd make a big deal about it, and overreact and then I don't know it would be all weird and stuff.

Spike: Only for a little bit, besides maybe your not giving her as much credit as you should. She can have a level head every once in awhile.

Dawn: Yeah. Like when cows jump over the moon. Or when Dingoes ate my baby get a new album. (She laughs. Her stomach growls again.)

Spike: Come on Platelet. It's late we should get you home. Grab your bag.

Back at the house Buffy and Anya have returned from shopping. They return home to an empty house.

Buffy: She's not here. I just checked her room. That little brat. I told her I'd be back. I can believe she's just walks out like that.

Anya: Well she is sixteen. Those adventurous young ones. Maybe she's out having sex, doing drugs, or robbing stores. You should probably find her and fast.

Buffy: Anya. Don't help.

Anya: Ok. But I was just trying to be practical.

Buffy: Yeah, practically scaring me. Now usually when she goes missing the best person to find her is... (She realizes that it's Spike.)

Anya: Who's the best person to find Dawn?

Buffy: Seems to be Spike. He always seems to know where she is. (Wonders if she should go and find him, to help look for Dawn. He's the one she's always counted on whenever Dawn was missing.) I don't even know how long she's been missing. She said she wasn't going to pull this crap anymore.

Anya: So Spike and Dawn are missing. Maybe they are together. You did argue with them both in the same day.

Buffy: Of course, she's probably at the crypt. You wait here. I'm going to.. (Just then she hears voices outside the front door.)

Spike: Yeah and that Troll demon never saw what hit him, should have seen it, it was... (trails off as he opens the door to see Buffy glaring at him.)

Dawn: (Laughing.) That was a funny story, especially when you tell it. (She also trails off as she enters the house. Sees Buffy standing there.)

Buffy: Where have you been?

Dawn: (Walking past Spike and into the house. Back to her defiant posture.) I got bored so I went for a walk.

Buffy: I told you to go to your room.

Dawn: I did. Then I left. (Gives her a defiant look.) I'm practically an adult. You can't treat me like a child.

Buffy: When you act like one I can.

Spike: (Stepping in before another all out war can happen.) Bit just came to see if I was ok. She missed me, unlike some other people I could mention.

Buffy: Oh she came to see you. With her overnight bag? (Turning back to Dawn.) You defied me, you were running away again.

Dawn: I was not running away. I walked over to Spike's crypt. Told you I wasn't staying here.

Buffy: (Turning back to Spike.) And you...

Spike: And me what? I brought her back all safe and unharmed didn't I? We would have been here sooner if we hadn't stopped for pizza. Bit had a rumbly tummy.

Buffy: Well there's plenty of food in the fridge here.

Dawn: I didn't want the food that was here. I wanted something else. Sides, you didn't come looking for us. Either of us.

Buffy: So I'm suppose to come looking for you? Like you're twelve?

Dawn: No like your my sister with Super, Slayer, Strength and like you care.

Buffy: You could try acting like you're not twelve.

Spike: If all you're going to do is rag on her, we might as well both go back to the crypt right now, cause that's where she'll end up again, with you carrying on like that.

Buffy: Don't you start. How's this my fault?

Spike: Didn't say it was your fault. All I said was stop carrying on. She's safe. Things are fine. I'm going back to my crypt now.

Buffy: (In unison with Dawn.) You're not staying?

Spike: I'm coming back, but all my blood's at the crypt, and I don't want another argument. I'll be back in a couple of days.

Dawn: But you said we're family now.

Spike: Bit we are. I promise I'll be back. I just need a couple days to Sass things out. (Looks over at Buffy.) I'm not going anywhere. I made a promise, I plan to keep it. But I don't want to be fighting. Just think we need sometime to let things cool down. Like what Anya's doing with Xander. Right Anya.

Anya: Yep. Things are definitely cooled down. No heat, no sex, nothing. (Tries to smile, but she is realizing that she is starting to miss Xander also.)

Spike: Sides if I don't come back. You could burn my cloths. Like that Angela Bassett did in that movie.

Buffy: You ..saw Waiting to exhale? (Sounds surprised.)

Spike: Yeah. I tried to rent Adams family, they put the wrong movie in the case. Thought they looked different at first. Good movie thou still think she should have knocked out the secretary, then come back with an Oozy all Arnold like, then been all Asta la visa. Then shot the whole place up. That would have made the movie more realistic, I reckon.

Buffy: (Despite themselves, her and Dawn share that special look that they have about Spike. She realizes in that instant how much she misses him.) You will come back? (She sounds emotional.)

Spike: (They exchange looks and lock eyes.) Like you could keep me away luv. I just need to sass things out. Don't want a repeat of this morning. But I'll come back. Sides who's gonna play referee for you and bit here?

Anya: Well I suppose I could, if you really didn't come back. (All three give her a look.) But it's way better if you do it.

Spike: Night bit. You be good till I get back. Buffy, Anya. (He walks out the door.)

Buffy: (Buffy realizing she doesn't want to chase Dawn off like she did Spike.) Dawn. I don't want to fight with you. I'm sorry I treated you like a child.

Dawn: I'm sorry if I acted like one. (Needing reassurance.) Spike's gonna come back right?

Buffy: He said he would. (She trusts him to keep his word. She walks over and puts her arm around Dawn's shoulder.) Come on it's late.

Anya: How bout I make popcorn and we watch a movie.

Dawn: You're gonna make popcorn? (Her and Buffy in unison surprised that Anya is going to do anything.)

Anya: Of course I am. Micro-waved popcorn. Besides I'm practically living here now, till Xander comes to his senses and makes up his mind about a new wedding date. Don't think he can go too much longer without sex. I know I can't. I'm more wound than a spring, ready to pop! Oh by the way Buffy you're out of batteries again.

Buffy: (Covering Dawns ears.) Come on Dawn. I think it's time to go unpack your stuff.

Dawn: (Looking at Anya. Shaking her head.) Yeah-hun.

Anya: What? I need them for my portable radio. What did you think I meant? (Anya goes off to make popcorn.)

After they watch the movie and eat popcorn. They settle down to bed for the night. Anya thinking about Xander, and punching her pillow in frustration. Dawn about her new family. Buffy alone in her new bedroom, thinks about Spike. She goes and gets one of his tee-shirts from the closet. One that still has his scent on it. Even though she knows he's coming back, he's still gone. She falls asleep to "these eyes" by the guess who playing on the radio.

Listen to song.

Chapter 3. Oh grow up.

It is late at night. Buffy is on her own patrolling tonight. She and Spike have sort of made up, but things are still tense, and he's still not home. She hasn't told him about the visit with the Slayer so she can't explain why she's been acting the way she has, and they haven't discussed the words that passed between them. She goes out patrolling, hoping for a few hours to take her mind off things.

Buffy: While she is patrolling she sees a vamp, in the grave yard. She's about to stake him, but she pauses for a second. You don't by any chance play kitten poker, do you?

Vamp: (Giving her the oddest look.) Kitten poker? Are you serious? That sounds like a stupid game.

Buffy: (To vamp.) See that's what I said but he insists on playing anyway.

Vamp: Who insists on playing?

Buffy: Oh, my husband Spike.

Vamp: That's a weird name for a human. Spike?

Buffy: Oh he's not human. He's a vampire. Still I suppose that's a strange name for a vampire too.

Vamp: And you're a vampire slayer?

Buffy: Yeah hun.

Vamp: (Scratches head.) Must make things tricky at home?

Buffy: See that's exactly it. We got into this big argument about me killing his friends. He said he understood my job, but now I'm not so sure, then there's this whole thing about me being descended from Slayer's, and as it turns out they're incarnated from the same darkness that makes vampires. For some reason I can't tell him about this, every time I just freeze up. I mean what's he going to think, and what are other's going to think once they know? I can't even tell my old Watcher. His name's Giles he moved away to England. Then there's the money problem. I slay seven days a week, well 5 now. Spike helps with patrolling. He's so sweet with things like that. But I'm still going to have to get yet another real daytime job soon. (She sits adjacent to the vamp who has taken a seat on one of the grave sites. Listening to her woos.)

Vamp: So why not just tell him. Come out and say it. Life's too short. Well not always, look what happened to me. But weather you're living or dead it's about the moments, and once they pass they don't always come back. Wish I'd told my wife and kids how much I loved them, before getting turned vamp.

Buffy: You know. You're right. Thanks for all the help, and for sitting and listening.

Vamp: Hey no problem. You probably have other vamps that you have to dust, we should probably get back to the thing.

Buffy: The thing?

Vamp: Points to stake in her hand.

Buffy: Oh yeah that's right. Don't take it the wrong way. I really like you. You seem like a nice vamp. But it's just, it's my job.

Vamp: Hey no need to apologize we all go to make a living. Sides wasn't sure what I was going to do for the next hundred years or so. I was a salesman before I got bit. Went to the wrong house and here I am. Sides if I live for a thousand years, don't think I'll find anything as interesting as a vampire slayer married to a vampire.

Buffy: Thanks for understanding, you've been really nice about the whole thing. (She points, her stake into him.)

Vamp: NO, proble... (He turns to dust and desolves around her.)

Buffy: (Talking to herself.) Yeah this is my job. He's right. So what if Spike doesn't like it. (Thinking to herself, as she walks off.) You meet some of the nicest vampires in graveyards. (Stake in hand she goes threw the grave yard, and gets ready for night of slaying. Once finished she puts her stake away and gets ready to go home, feeling good.)

At the Bronze. Spikes is looking to make some clean cash.

Spike: So let me get this straight. All I have to do is walk around looking all non conspicuous like and I see anything happening and I put a stop to it?

Demo: Yeah that's right. The Bronze is a great little hang out spot, but as part of our new license agreement, we agreed to have bouncers in the joint. Now nobody wants to see bouncers hanging round the place, so this is what you do. You just walk around, plain cloths should be fine, what you're wearing blends in just fine with the place. There's been talk about regulars going missing. People just stop coming, but there is talk that people go missing from here under strange circumstances. Plus everyone in a while we get these weird customers and the place gets trashed. It's been remodeled several times over the last few years. That kind of things bad for business so were gonna try it and see how things go.

Spike: Yeah sounds good. So I just walk around looking all non conspicuous and your gonna pay me money?

Demo: That's the gist of it. (Walks over to Spike and puts his hand on his shoulder.) Now I don't want this to put you off from the job, but we've gotten some weird reports. People with odd looking faces, and all kinds of black magic stuff going on. Personally I think it's just good old fashioned drug use, but there are some people that will tell ya. (He laughs in a conspiratal manner.) Some people will tell ya, they have seen ...get this. Vampires at the Bronze.

Spike: (Gets a real uncomfortable look on his face.) Vampires you don't say?

Demo: Now I told you not to let it scare you off, we all know that kind of stuff is just nonsense, but just to keep the regulars happy, you see anything weird you check it out. (Laughs again.) Can you believe how stupid some people are? Yeah Dracula's gonna come to the bar and ask for a Miller light.

Spike: Actually he drinks Heineken.

Demo: (Gives him an odd look. Then breaks out into laughter.) That's a good one, "actually he drinks Heineken." I can see were gonna get along just fine. Remember you see anything that goes bump in the night, you check it out.

Spike: That's me, creature of the night here. Putting a stop to all manner of unpleasant beasties.

Demo: That's the spirit. Now you said you could start right away.

Spike: Pays by the hour doesn't it?

Demo: Yeah!

Spike: Then I'm your guy.

Demo: We'll start you out with three days a week and see how things go from there. Welcome aboard. Remember anything scary in the place you're the guy.

Spike: Yeah that's me grrr arrgghh.

Demo: Just kills me with that sense of humor. (Walks off to go see about other happenings in the club.)

Spike: Bet I could kill ya a lot better with these. (He vamps out for a second. Then goes back to his normal face.) Oh well it's a job. Forgot to ask if free beer comes with, that would be a plus.

At a table in the Bronze by herself. Tara sits and eats some pretzels.

Xander: Hey you all by yourself there?

Tara: Yeah. Um, pull up a chair make yourself comfortable.

Xander: So what brings you here? Thought you'd be all busy hitting the books or something like that?

Tara: I pretty much finished with my semester. I'm pre-preparing for next semester and some summer courses. How bout you? What brings you here?

Xander: Had to get out of the house. Driving me crazy there by myself.

Tara: Why where's Anya?

Xander: You haven't heard? She packed up and left me. Just freaked out on me, packed her bags, and as it turns out she's staying with Buffy.

Tara: No I hadn't heard. I haven't been keeping up. I've been busy.

Xander: Yeah, I saw Willow. Said you'd been busy. Haven't really seen ya much since the wedding.

Tara: Haven't really been around much.

Xander: I hear you. Uncomfortable right?

Tara: Sometimes. Me and Willow are ok. But it's hard sometimes. (She sounds a little sad too.) But what ya gonna do right. It's all part of growing up.

Xander: Know what you mean. (Thinks about his fight with Anya.) All part of growing up. (Sees Spike walking by their table.) Hey what are you doing here?

Spike: Working.

Xander: What do you mean working?

Spike: Just what I said working.

Xander: Standing around, lurking, doing nothing, you call that working?

Spike: Yeah. And I get paid for it too.

Xander: You get paid to stand around here and do nothing?

Spike: I don't just do nothing, I hang out, look for big bads and smash heads.

Xander. Things you would be doing any way?

Spike: Yeah, but this way I get paid.

Xander: Where was I when this job was being handed out?

Spike: Guess the early bird catches the worm.

Xander: You are not an early bird., cause then you would be all dusty, and big pile of dusty. If you were an early bird.

Spike: (Sees Tara.) Hey Tara. How you doing?

Tara: Doing good, how have things been going since the wedding?

Spike: Going good. I'm a married and working man now.

Tara: So I heard. How'd you land this gig?

Spike: Over heard some guy talking bout an opening. Cash under the table. No id. Required. No uniform. Just my usual relaxed self. Hanging, chilling.

Tara: That sounds cool. So what does Buffy think of all this?

Spike: She doesn't know yet. I just started today. Plus don't want her knowing till I see how it goes. Don't want her going all crazy on me again. For-what-ever reason.

Xander: You too? Having problems? The old home fire not as hot as it was a few weeks ago? Pull up a chair do tell. (Sounds excited and happy bout Spike's misery.)

Tara: Xander stop being so mean. Spike pull up a chair, fill us in on what happened. Xander was just telling me about Anya. So what's happening with you and Buffy?

Spike: (He sits down.) Well for starters. She tried to kill me.

Xander: You too?

Spike: Buffy tried to kill you? Maybe it's some kind of weird Slayer gets married goes all crazy thing like that Angelus spell.

Xander: NO not Buffy. Anya tried to kill me.

Spike: Oh see that I believe. That bird of yours is crazy. But she tells great stories.

Xander: Why don't we go back to your story. (Positions himself more comfortably and looks interested.) So Buffy tried to kill ya hun. Already? (Sounds consolatory.) Come on and tell uncle Xander all about it., and don't leave out any of the juicy details.

Spike: More like dusty details. (Turns to face Tara, ignoring Xander.) She tried to turn me into a big dusty pile.

Tara: How'd she do that? (Sounds concerned.)

Spike: Pushed me outside in the middle of the bleeding day.

Xander: Yeah that will do it every time.

Spike: (Gives Xander a look, then continues.) Then she goes bizarre about me not liking her job, and I made the mistake of mentioning Dru.

Tara: (She and Xander in unison) Oh. (With pained expressions.) That will do it every time.

Spike: Yeah but I didn't mean to. Next thing I know saw the white light and my undead life almost flashing before me.

Xander: Women, they are tricky creatures. (Sees Tara.) No offense.

Tara: Hey none taken. Know what you mean.

Xander: For me it was the "W" word, and that did it. Rolling pin straight to the head.

Tara: (Her and Spike in unison, with shocked expressions on their faces.) Anya owns a rolling pin?

Spike: Didn't think she cooked.

Xander: She doesn't. It's mine. I use it to make these cute little pies she likes so much. It came as a matching set with the apron. (Sees them both looking at him.) What?

Tara: Hey as bad as I feel for you both, I top the list. Mine played with my mind literally. Erased my memories. Twice. At least your women let you keep yours.

Spike: See what you mean. Red acts all quite, but I bet she's got quite the temper when she's ready.

Tara: Well she is kinda feisty at times, but that can be a good thing at times if ya know what I mean? (She raises her eye brows at the guys.)

Spike: So that's how it is. Don't think I've seen this side of you before.

Xander: I haven't either. That last image so, so trying to get it out of my mind. But it oddly doesn't want to go.

Tara: Oh please. I make one little comment, and you blush. What about you and Anya all the time?

Xander: What we don't go on that much.

Spike: Oh please. (Does his high pitched Anya voice) Xander lets go have sex now. Xander tell them where we had sex last night, Xander tell them about how many times we...

Xander: (Cuts him off.) Ok maybe a little bit. But what's all this talk I hear about you and Buffy, and all the great sex you have?

Spike: Not from me ya didn't. She uses the word great? (He smiles proudly.)

Xander: Oh yeah you missed an afternoon of girl talk. Just me Anya, Willow, Buffy, and you the topic of conversation. I can see why though with your, bulging arms and intense eyes and...

Spike: (Gives Xander an odd look and moves closer to Tara.)

Xander: I've been spending way too much time in the company of women, I so need some good old fashioned male bonding that does not have Spike as the topic of conversation. Besides.... I've been without Anya's good old fashioned loving for well over a week now. She practically living with you and Buffy. If I don't get some soon, I'm going to... (Looks over at Tara, and see the inquiring smirk on her face.) I'm going to run out of cold water really soon.

Spike: Know what you mean. Since she tried to kill me. I've been back at the crypt. We made up and stuff, but I'm sassing stuff out, been going by everyday to check up on stuff, but we haven't you know ...made up in that other way.

Xander: So I'm not the only one on a dry spell?

Tara: Is it guys only, or can I join the club? (They both nod. She holds up a glass to toast. They hold up their bottles.) To the dry spell club.

Xander: May it be broken soon and I mean soon. (Has that antsy look on his face again.) I'm so in the mood for some of Anya's (Sees them both looking at him.) Let's just call it home cooking shall we, and I do mean sex if ya missed it.

Spike: Well we know you didn't mean cooking, cause your bird doesn't cook. Sides I know she misses you. She's acting more wonky than when you're round the house. A couple soft words from you and she'd melt like butter.

Xander: Do ya really think so?

Spike: Know it for a fact. Sides soft words don't work, try torture, use to work with Dru like a charm.

Xander: I'll keep that in mind. Tara how bout you and Willow, I know she misses you like crazy.

Tara: It's just really complicated, she violated my trust, and I'm not sure I trust that she wouldn't do that again. But I do miss her too. I miss being no more than friends. (Sounds a little sad.)

Spike: Well I know Buffy misses me, guess the question is what we gonna do, bout all this missing and no loving? I think we should... (Just then they are interrupted by some pretty hungry customers.)

Tara: Uh...Uh...Uh... Va-vampires. Two o'clock.

Spike: (Goes into action. He starts punching, kicking and dusting some vamp butt.) Hey none of that in here. I work here now, can't have all that free blood sampling going on.

Xander: (Gets into the action as well.) Yeah it's not free blood and beer night you dolts.

Tara: (Smashing her glass over the head of one vamp.) Yeah it's free pretzels, not free sample night. I hope you all see your insect reflections, and die.

Spike: (He and Xander stop fighting for a sec and they both give Tara the oddest look.)

Tara: What? You both got to say something witty, so I wanted to say something witty too. (Then they all go back to fighting.)

Spike: (He continues to fight. He then gets thrown back into a pole, as he pulls back his hand to punch a vamp, he accidentally hits one of the regulars of the club with his elbow, and he gets his signature headache.)

Xander: That's what you get for hitting a human. See the chip is still fully working. Amazing work those initiative guys did.

Spike: Thanks for the sympathy. (He recovers and dusts the two vamps closest to him.) They pay me for this, and I get a free beer a night, and they say all dogs don't go to heaven.

Xander: (Punches one onto the floor, and Tara stakes it. She carries a stake from all the time she's spent hanging out with the Scoobies.)

Tara: Hey can we split the cash? I just dusted one.

Spike: No but I'll buy you a beer. (Feels good about what they just did, as he watches the rest of the vamps run off.) Fact beers on me for the rest of the night.

Demo: No my friend. Make that beers on me for the rest of the night, for you and your friends here. I saw what you did out there. You had those punks quivering in their boots. I saw the way they took off, why they were practically quaking, and turning to jelly in their boots.

Tara: Actually it was more like dust.

Demo: More like dust. (Then he laughs.) Oh that's another vampire joke. You kids crack me up.

Xander: But they were va.. (Sees Spike shaking his head.) Very jelly like. Vamps, who ever heard of such a thing. Why we'd probably all be quaking in our boots if we were around vamps.

Spike: Yeah, I know I'd be. I mean quaking that is.

Tara: (Doesn't sound convincing.) Yeah me too, except they don't exist ...right.

Demo: Kid, I like what you did out there. How bout we move ya from temporary status to a regular gig. We'll iron out the details later, but anything you need, just let me know.

Spike: Well... You think I could get an advance.

Demo: Got some woman you want to impress hun?

Spike: Actually two of them. (Remembers Anya.) Well actually three of them.

Demo: (Laughs.) The boy can't even keep count. Knew I was going to like you. Tell ya what, stop by my office, end of your shift. See what I can do. (He goes to leave. Turns back. Remember kids don't let the bogey man bite.)

Xander: Actually he doesn't bite, he's more like to be invisible, and just suck the life out of you. Hangs round children wards at hospitals, kinda looks like Freddy.

Demo: Where do you kids come up with this stuff. Laughs and walks away.

After he leaves they all settle down again. What no one saw was the guy lurking in the corner who over heard their earlier conversation about Spike's chip. Warren leaves sneaks out of the Bronze a lot happier than when he came in.

Tara: What's his story? I mean with the whole denial thing. He must have seen at least one of those vamps turning to dust?

Xander: People see what they want to see. Things are invisible to them if they want it to be. Guess he see a bunch of street punks who ran off scared.

Spike: Plus a huge disbelief in vamps. Guess people can fit the script to whatever, their beliefs are. Sides it's not like when you all kept forgetting that Ben was Glory, and Glory Ben.

Tara: (Her and Xander in unison.) Ben was glory?

Spike: (Shakes and holds down his head.)

Xander: (He and Tara exchange amused glances.)

They hang out a little longer then each makes there way home to their destinations. Spike a little richer. Xander feeling a little better, and Tara feeling a little more included again.

The next day.

Somewhere in another part of town, the Troika have recently returned to town. They have been hiding out since the passing away of Warrens girlfriend Katrina. They have made a brief return to Sunny dale.

Warren: I have a theory. I've been reading all the data that I have on the computer from last time, when Spike wanted to know if the chip was working. I can see what the signal does, but I don't know what happens if we change the feed. Manipulate it a bit. Play with the input and output. Here is what I discovered. At the club Xander mentioned something called the initiative. Couldn't find any mention of it anywhere. So I did some research through some top secret government files, which I hacked into. This is what I discovered. They were operating out of Sunnydale a couple years ago. Some secret Government project designed to control the demon population of Sunnydale. Everything went wrong, and they nuked the lab, and cemented it.

Jonathan: Ok, I still don't see what this has to do with us?

Andrew: Unless they were doing experiments and were going to have super mutants like X-men or something. (Looks hopeful.)

Warren: Don't make me hit you. NO this pertains to us because according to this, one of the hostiles they did this experiment on got loose and is still residing in Sunnydale.

Andrew: Are they invisible, like the invisible man, or like that ray gun we invented? Is that why they never got caught?

Warren: NO but you do know him. He's right here residing in Sunnydale. Says that before Hostile 17 escaped, according to these files they put a little chip in his head. Seems it doesn't allow him to hurt any living creature without intense neurological pain. Can't hunt, can't feed. Basically a defanged puppy. Know who hostile 17 is?

Jonathan: Spike?

Warren: Give the man a cookie. That's right, very good. (He pats him on the back.) So they aren't really very clear with the particulars and it gives a lot of room for interpretation, but this is what I theorize.

Andrew: Oh good now we get to hear your theory. After that long villenous lead in. I would have gone to the good stuff first.

Warren: Any way. What I theorize is, the chip works by picking up chemical reactions in the brain. Now our bodies know when we wanna hurt someone, it does this through chemicals that get released.

Jonathan: (Interrupting.) But you said he could hurt those vamps.

Warren: Yeah I'm getting to that. Apparently he can hurt vamps, demons, dead things, along that line.

Andrew: But you said he hit that guy, and got hurt. How does he know if he's hitting a vamp or a demon?

Warren: That's the beauty of it. He doesn't.

Jonathan: (He and Andrew both look lost.) Hun?

Warren: (Explaining.) He doesn't but his body does. See he can't consciously tell vamp from demon all the time, but his body can. Subconsciously. We are all sending out and receiving chemicals all the time, pheromones and other things. All sorts of stuff, we don't even know about, even though he's dead, or maybe especially cause he's dead his body is constantly picking up on these signals, weather he knows it or not. Probably part of the hunting instincts. We do the same thing, but probably to a lesser degree.

Jonathan: So his body knows human from demon, even if he consciously doesn't?

Warren: Exactly! So that's why he could for example point a knife at me have a violent intent towards me and get a headache. Does the same thing with a demon no headache, cause his body knows the difference. Also as long as he's got no violent intent to harm, he could say spank Andrew here. As long as it was just for fun, with no harmful intent.

Jonathan: So he could pin ya to the floor as long as it's him showing or demonstrating a wrestling move?

Warren: Exactly. Now keep in mind the theory is a work in progress, but with a lot of variables and room for interpretation. So I know what it does, pretty sure I know how it works, and I have all the components of the signals from when he ah, (smirks here. Tries to do Spikes voice.) Had me look at his chip.

Andrew: If that's some kind of British slang, cause we are not ga...

Warren: Would you relax. So now the question is what are we, what am I going to do with all this info? (Grins and rubs his hands together.)

Jonathan: Well if he can't hurt us, we don't have to be afraid anymore.

Warren: Come on think bigger. Let's have some fun with it.

Andrew: What do you have in mind? I hope it's nothing too bad.

Warren: What if we could trick the signal into thinking he wanted to hurt people anytime we wanted? The signal picks up on his undead body's chemistry, which he still has. The brain sends out signals still and receives that's why he can drink and get drunk. If we can find a way to manipulate and trick the signal, we could give him a headache anytime we wanted to. Think we could have some fun with that.

Andrew: But that sounds kind of mean. I had a head ache once and...

Warren: Would you stop your whining, we're suppose to be Super Villains. You can't think about nice and not nice. We're just out to have some fun .

Jonathan: (Sounds upset and worried.) Fun? Like what happened with Katrina?

Warren: I told you that was an accident. Besides. I can't believe you're still bringing that up.

Jonathan: You tried to frame Buffy for it and you don't seem to really care.

Warren: Of course I care she was my girlfriend.

Andrew: Yeah I just don't want anyone to get hurt again.

Warren: Not gonna happen. Sides Spike is evil. Who cares what happens to him?

Jonathan: Ah. Buffy might. She already wants to kick our butts if she finds us.

Andrew: That's right cause, we're her arch nemesis.

Jonathan: Also. I heard that, while we were out of town hiding. You might want to sit down for this one. I heard that he and Buffy got married.

Warren: You can't be serious. I know he has a thing for her. God knows he made me build a Buffybot, but married? He must have fallen in love and married the Buffybot.

Andrew: That's just sick and wrong. It's like marrying the blow up doll, Jonathan keeps in the closet.

Jonathan: That blow up doll is for study purposes: Besides the bot was destroyed.

Warren: How are you hearing all this any way?

Jonathan: (Looks a little embarrassed.) Well this girl I like, she has a sister and her and her sister go to school with this guy, who goes to school with this girl, who know Buffy's sister. And that's how I know all this.

Andrew: You like a girl? And she goes to high school with Buffy's sister? That's gross.

Jonathan: "NO it's not, she's eighteen, almost nineteen. She was out for a year for back surgery, and some eye condition which is clearing up nicely.

Warren: Like I said, we're just going to have some fun.

Andrew: (Sounding sad again.) Promise not like what happened with Katrina?

Warren: I'm tired of telling you nothing is going to go wrong this time.

Jonathan: How can you be so sure? What if someone dies. I don't want anyone else to die.

Warren: Would you stop sounding like such a girl. NO ones going to die.

Andrew: You tried to kill Buffy with the invisible gun. That's wasn't very nice. And I still think we should have gone to the police.

Warren: What's wrong with you, are you crazy? Go to the police. You know what they'd do to you? After they locked us all up and threw away the keys. You would be put in some prison cell and be sweet meant for guys named butch. You and Jonathan. Now is that what you want?

Jonathan: No. But I just don't want to see anyone else get hurt. Especially not Buffy.

Warren: I told you guys no police. Now I'm tired of having this discussion with you. We're super villains right? Start acting like it.

Jonathan: Well you know what Warren, we're getting sick of listening to you. And doing everything you say. You should grow up.

Andrew: (He stays quite, but nods in agreement.)

Jonathan: Another thing, I don't even think I want to do this anymore. I'm not sure I want to be a super villain. I think I want to be on the side of good. Know why?

Warren: NO. But enlighten me.

Jonathan: Cause all evil needs is for good men to do nothing.

Warren: What's that like the quote of the day? What'd you read that off the back of a cereal box or something?

Jonathan: NO. I got it off some bumper sticker that was stuck above the video game I was playing.

Andrew: What game were you playing?

Jonathan: (Sounds embarrassed.) Sailor Moon.

Andrew: (Giggles.)

Jonathan: Don't laugh. I almost got high score. Well seventh, but I made the top ten.

Warren: Oh yeah that's a goal to work for.

Andrew: Ever notice how hot that sailor Venus is? She just make me want to...

Warren: We're talking about a video game here. Besides sailor Uranus is the hottest.

Andrew: (Giggles again.) Uranus.

Warren: Sides Jonathan. You wanna fight for the side of good now? You think the side of good is going to want you, after what we've done?

Jonathan: I haven't done anything.

Warren: Do you really think they'll see it that way? Do you think Buffy will see it that way? Face it you leave here and your done for. Sides what are we talking about evil here? Come on guys you know me. Sides where are you gonna go? It's one for all and all for one. So you with me or not?

Andrew: (Kind of wanting to keep the group together.) Well I've always liked the musketeers.

Jonathan: Yeah pathos was the best. (Looks at them.) I guess I'm still in. But no one gets hurt.

Warren: See I knew you'd see things my way. No one's gonna get hurt. And besides, Aramis was the best musketeer.

They continue to argue, and converse about several other Troika, topics of conversation.