Disclaimer: for fun, not profit.

Summary: AU – Spike's chip has been removed but only Giles knows. Willow didn't get the call from Fred so never went to LA.

AN: I'm putting up the first three chapters all at once, but this will only get updated if people say they want more - so if you like it (or don't like it and want me to stop) please review.

"How was patrol?"

Buffy closed the back door behind her and joined Spike at the kitchen counter.

"Quiet. Guess even the demons don't want to be around when the first does its thing."

"And how are you?" Spike asked, gaze focused on her like she was the only thing in the world.

Buffy didn't want to meet those eyes; those eyes that bored into her soul and let all her pain come flowing out again. She turned her face away quickly, but couldn't stop a sigh escaping her lips.

"You mean apart from deal with a house full of teenage girls while battling the original evil in the world? Yeah, I'm just peachy."

Spike stood and she knew he wanted to comfort her. The problem was she wanted it too, wanted the feeling of someone who loved her taking care of her for once, but she couldn't let him: anyone but Spike, but the one she really wanted.

Before he could come any closer and melt away her resolve completely a strange noise sounded from the basement: a surprised voice followed quickly by a meaty thud.

"What was that?" Spike asked as they both moved towards the stairs down to the basement. There shouldn't be anyone down there. Since Spike had taken it over the girls didn't go near it unless they absolutely had to and besides everyone else was asleep. Leading the way quickly down the rickety stairs Buffy noticed the naked form of a man lying (mercifully) face down, and groaning as he tried to sit up. As they both reached the bottom of the stairs Spike whipped a blanket off what passed for his bed and wrapped it round the guy as he helped him sit up.

"Where the hell am I?" A thick Irish accent asked. "And why am I naked?"

"Both very good questions" Buffy replied, her own surprise evident in her voice. "But do you want to start with who you are or maybe how you managed to fall out of thin air?"

The man on the floor peered up at Spike and Buffy. He looked kind of weasel-y, but not particularly evil, though Buffy was prepared to treat anyone who fell out of thin air as evil until proven otherwise, especially at the moment. Spike had touched him so it couldn't be the First in person (as it were) but that didn't mean he couldn't be one of the First's games.

"I'm Doyle," the man answered, his eyes widening suddenly as he made out who he was with. "Hey I know you! Yeah, yeah we met once in LA when you came to see Angel."

Buffy didn't like to think about that trip to LA, but she did have a vague memory of a guy in a loud shirt. As Doyle took hold of the blanket for himself, Spike moved to stand next to Buffy and Doyle recoiled as he realised who else he was with.

"Yeah and I know you too Spike," he spat the word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth, but then seemed to notice something. "Huh…though I must say you're looking rather more ensouled than the last time I saw you. How'd you manage that? Those gypsies get everywhere, don't they?" He said with a wry smile.

"It wasn't gypsies," Spike said morosely and Buffy decided to leap in before this guy trampled all over anymore delicate territory.

"How'd you know that? And anyway we still haven't covered why you're naked in my basement."

"You're basement? …And a very lovely basement it is too, as basements go I've never been in a nicer one." Doyle coughed.

Buffy was getting annoyed now. "You're not answering the question…questions."

"Ah well, you see the thing is up until about five minutes ago I was dead, though it seems the Powers That Be have had other plans along that line. And the other, well," he suddenly exploded into blue spikes all over a forest green skin, quickly shaking himself to return to at least the appearance of humanity. "Even half-demons can spot a soul when they see one."

Buffy and Spike had both taken a hasty step back into a ready fighting posture at the sight of his demon form and warily shared a look they would have flatly denied if anyone had mentioned it.

"Huh," Buffy said, breaking the growing silence. "You always been half-demon, 'cause I don't remember that from last time."

"Well no offence princess, but I don't remember you stickin' around for long last time. Anyway I don't like doing that – prefer to stay human as much as possible, you know? But I figure we've got to start from a place of trust right?" There was a pause. "Now do you think I could get some clothes?"

Buffy snapped back to herself. "Uh, of course, there must be something around you can wear, though there's not a lot of guys in the house."

Spike strode over to his things and threw a pair of trousers and a black shirt his way. "Here, you can wear these till morning at least. We can get you some new stuff then."

"Thanks."

"Come up to the kitchen when you're done. There's still some things I want to talk to you about." Buffy said, heading for the stairs.

"No problem. I'm here to help after all."