Chapter Three

Upon descending upon Rovello Drive, the Scoobys were shocked to walk in on Spike and Buffy sleeping on the couch – cuddling into each other.

More surprisingly, when Dawn's squealing woke them up, was the fact that they didn't detach.

"Oh, hi," said Buffy, glancing at the clock and then yawning. "That wasn't nearly enough rest."

Closing her eyes again, and pulling Spike closer, she was just on the verge of falling back asleep when he nudged her slightly and said, "Uh, pet."

"What?"

"Yer mates are here."

"I know," she replied, in a sigh, not bothering to open her eyes a second time. "Someone should totally order food. I just need five more minutes."

Spike shrugged at her lack of concern and then closed his eyes again, too.

"Someone wanna tell me what's going on here?" asked Xander.

"M-maybe we should leave them alone," suggested Tara.

The boy was shaking his head. "No, I'm not having this."

"Grab a stake and you'll have one brassed on Slayer on yer hands," Spike warned him, in a casual tone – as if he were discussing the weather, and not the idea of someone murdering him.

"That's right," Buffy agreed, from where she sat with her head on his shoulder.

"You're all freaks," Dawn exclaimed.

Spike smirked at that. "Jus' about sums it up."

Finally giving up hope of more sleep, Buffy groaned, sat up, and looked at Xander. "Can we not do this?"

"Well-" he began.

"No. Buffy's right." Willow cut him off to say. "I think we've had enough drama to last us for… like, a really long time."

"Amen to that," Dawn agreed, flopping herself down beside her sister – on the opposite side to Spike. "So can we order pizza?"

"Yes," Buffy told her. "And thank you, Willow. I'm so not ready to dissect and defend this relationship yet."

"It's a relationship?!" exclaimed Xander, to which Spike rolled his eyes.

"Alexander Lavelle Harris," Willow chided. "We all could have died tonight. Perspective!"

He held up his hands in defeat, before sitting down in one of the armchairs. "Fine, fine, I'm perspective guy. What kind of pizza are we having?"

"I want Chinese food," Anya told him.

"I rather fancy something more wholesome," said Giles.

"An' I need some blood," Spike added.

It hadn't escaped the Vampire's notice that the watcher was yet to voice his objections to whatever he and Buffy were developing, but he sure as hell wasn't going to be the one to bring it up. Most likely the calm before the storm, he reckoned.

Placing herself in the second armchair, Willow declared take-out too much effort and magic-ed the requested foods right in. Giles frowned at her, but again said nothing.

Off his look, the Witch defended herself. "What? It's a one-off. I think Buffy was right with the more sleep idea."

"Well, I for one, am in favor of food, no matter how it got here," said Xander. "Thanks, Will."

"What he said," Dawn agreed, before starting to open the containers.

Buffy was relieved that soon enough everyone was too busy eating to speak. Silence couldn't last forever, though. Eventually Dawn started asking questions, and Xander started putting his opinions about again, to which the Slayer simply stated she was too tired – "In every way possible" – and told them both to hold off until tomorrow when her head would be more clear.

They both agreed, but neither looked happy about it. Then the group began dispersing back to their own homes again.

Giles was the last to leave and, as he hovered at the door, it was apparent that he was in two minds whether to say anything or not.

Before he chose, Buffy did it for him. Hugging him she said, softly, "Tomorrow?"

He nodded and then left. Dawn had climbed up the stairs to bed just moments earlier, which just left the Slayer and Spike.

Pulling her into his arms, Buffy couldn't help but laugh as he carried her up to bed.

"A girl could get used to this," she joked.

"Yeah," he agreed, with a smile, before setting her down again and heading for the door.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

He looked sheepish as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "Uh, well, I was hoping you'd let me away with crashing on yer sofa."

"As if!" Buffy exclaimed.

Spike sighed, and then nodded. "Right you are. I'll head home then. See you tomorrow?"

"Spike, get in bed with me."

"What?"

"You heard. Needy Buffy demands more cuddling."

"But-" he began, to which she raised an eyebrow at him. "Right. Gift horses. Never mind."

She chuckled as he removed his coat and boots with enthusiasm, and then hesitated at the foot of the bed.

"What are we…?"

"We're cuddling. That's it."

"Right," he said again, looking somewhat relieved. Buffy knew how he felt.

"It's been a long day. Heck- a long month! And I know we've gotta talk more stuff through. But for now I really just need to sleep, and I want you with me."

"Fine by me," said Spike, smiling as he slipped in behind her and put his arms around her waist.

It didn't take either of them long to drift off, after that.

To be continued...