Liam woke up, disappointed to find that his bed was empty and unlike his dream Buffy's body was not next to his. Exhaling he looked at his clock, realising it was midday. Turning over he rearranged his boxer shorts and shut his eyes again. Dreaming with his eyes closed he heard the front door close half an hour later and resigned himself to the fact he had to get up. Rolling out of bed he opened his door and looked around the silent house. He paused as he heard footsteps upstairs and moved to the bottom of the stairs as Buffy started to paw her way down, dressed only in a towel wrapped around her.

"Morning." She smiled at him.

"Morning." He replied groggily, eyeing her body up and down. As she reached the bottom step Liam stepped closed to the stairs, putting out his arm to stop her coming down any further. Leaning in he kissed her softly, moving his hands to land on her waist. He inhaled sharply as Buffy moved forward, her body just touching his. She upped the passion in his kiss as his hands wrapped around her pulling her hard against his own. Buffy's hands landed on his shoulders, his head near the same level as her own due to the additional step she was standing on. Her hands wrapped around his neck as the passionate kiss continued. Liam pulled his lips back as he looked at her,

"Would you like to go back to bed?" he asked nervously.

"Only if I get company." She whispered. She laughed lightly as he wrapped his arms around her petit frame and lifted her off of the step, walking backwards as he kissed her.

"Your room or mine?"

"Yours…condoms are….in yours." She made out between kisses.

Liam dropped her once in his room and kicked the door shut, turning and walking straight into Buffy to kiss her again. She gasped as his kisses went down her neck, her hands in return squeezing between their bodies to his boxer shorts. Before they knew it they were both naked on top of his unmade bed gorging on one another's bodies.

Buffy lay on top of Liam, his arms firmly wrapped around her to keep her in place as they caught their breath.

"You fancy a shower together since no one else is in?" Buffy asked, lifting her head up to look at him. She smiled at the look of shock and pleasure that passed over his face. Nodding he gave her a half smile before moving them gently off of the bed and wrapping a towel around himself while handing Buffy one.

"I need to go to the supermarket for some food." Buffy said wandering through to the livingroom.

"You want to take a walk and get some?" he asked eagerly.

"You're keen." She frowned suspiciously.

"I had this dream last night about you and I walking down the street hand in hand. It's maybe a bit optimistic, but I think walking down the street with you will still make me happy." He admitted, standing up and walking over to her.

"Like this?" she asked, placing her hand into his own. Lifting the two hands up to his mouth he kissed the back of her hand, using his other hand to bring her towards him and leaning down to give her a sweet, soft kiss.

"I don't think I've ever seen you smile this much." Buffy said looking across the coffee table at Liam.

"I haven't been this happy in a while." He admitted staring at her. "You have no idea how stunning you are." He said, his eyes looking at every element of her face. Buffy averted her gaze, blushing under his intense gaze. "Besides which, every single person we've walked past today has looked at us as if we're mad. Or rather, you're mad and I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Katherine stopped in her tracks as she entered the kitchen to find Liam standing behind Buffy, his arms wrapped around her as he chopped up vegetables.

Buffy turned and smiled at her happily, "Hey, how was your weekend?"

Liam stopped what he was doing and moved away from Buffy embarrassed at being caught in their intimate position.

"Good thanks. Leanne might be coming down in a couple of weekends time."

"That's great news." She smiled. "You got much homework to do?"

"Not as much as Liam if he's been busy chasing you all weekend. I presume you haven't told Dawn?" she asked smirking.

"No, but feel free to knock yourself out. The house number's next to the phone in the livingroom." Buffy said testing her.

"It's cool. I was just messing." Katherine shrugged, heading back through to the lounge. Buffy looked at Liam concerned at his reaction.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Liam shrugged, not looking her in the eye, "Just not sure how to act around people when I'm with you." He said nervously rubbing his hand through his hair.

"Well, when you decide, let me know." She said a little put out, walking out of the kitchen to her room.

Ten minutes later Liam opened the garage door, to find a pissed off Buffy hitting out at a punch bag as Matt watched on from the steps.

"Hey, can you give us a minute please Matt?" he asked. Matt frowned at him, huffing before leaving the garage. "Buffy?" he asked. "Buffy. I'm sorry. I'm just not use to living with my girlfriend, or having a girlfriend I care so much about."

"You didn't have an issue with walking down the street with me earlier on." Buffy said to him.

"My family wasn't watching. I know it's stupid, I just…am not sure how to act around them with you."

"Why don't you act how you want." She said tiredly.

"Like this?" Liam asked, stepping forward and pulling her closer to him, kissing her soundly.

"Maybe." She shrugged a little playfully.

"I would go for sex but you suggested Giles wouldn't be too happy." He teased.

"So what's happening between you two?" Matt asked, looking from Liam to Buffy and back again.

Buffy and Liam both looked embarrassed as they looked at one another and their plates.

"Looked pretty happy from where I was standing earlier on." Kat teased.

"We're seeing one another?" Liam said, glancing at Buffy to get her approval.

"Works for me." She shrugged casually.

"And for the old one at the table who doesn't know what the terminology 'seeing one another' is, is it the same as dating?" he asked.

"No. It means they're sleeping together but they're not officially going out." Katherine filled him in.

"But it usually means they shouldn't be seeing other people." Matt shrugged.

"So the difference between dating and seeing one another? When is the line crossed?"

"When it becomes a bit more serious." Katherine shrugged.

"How can it be more serious than sleeping with one another?" Giles asked taking off his glasses..

"Because people sleep with one another all the time, you see one another for a while and when it seems to be working together and you know it's right you start going out." Matt filled in.

"Bloody teenagers." Giles complained.

"So, how are you and Buffy going?" Ted asked eagerly when Jen and him caught up with him in the locker hall.

"Good." Angel nodded, "We're seeing one another. See how it goes." He smiled.

"Smitten kitten." Jen said smiling at him.

"It's love." Ted joked.

"It certainly is." Liam smiled. "Have you seen her?" he asked them. "Have you spoken to her?" he shook his head a happy man.

"Liam, may I have a quick word please?"

Liam stopped in his tracks and turned around, instantly tensing up as he noted the head teacher standing behind him.

"Do I need to get Mr Giles?" he asked.

"No, not at all. Very quick, nothing bad."

Liam nodded, nodding to Ted and Jen before following the principal into an empty classroom. Closing the door to the room, Liam stood diligently in front of the desk.

"I just wanted to say that Buffy told me about the two of you and I'm sorry if I've done anything to get in the way. She seems like a fantastic woman and I hope you're both very happy."

Liam looked at the head teacher shocked before nodding, "Thanks." He looked around quickly, "Is that it?"

"Yes." He nodded, opening the door, offering his handshake to the teenager who took it politely.

Liam walked into the school library at lunch time and smiled as his gaze fell upon Buffy sitting at one of the far off desks. Noticing him walking towards her she smiled and watched him swagger over.

"You seem to have a bit of a swagger." She teased.

"I have a beautiful girl sitting in my school library who I spent yesterday with." Leaning against the table, next to her chair and where a school laptop sat, he watched her steadily. "The head teacher wanted a word with me today."

Buffy suddenly frowned, "What did he say?"

"He said you'd told him about us and that he wished us well and that we were happy together. He shook my hand and let me go." He admitted.

"Told yah, good guy." Buffy smiled.

"Doesn't mean I like him anywhere near you." He said quietly, reaching out and touching her arm.

"I thought you might be able to come on patrol with me tonight?" Buffy offered, keeping her voice low.

"Does that mean I get you to myself?" he asked suggestively. Buffy smirked as he leant down to kiss her gently. Just as their lips were away to meet they were interrupted by a loud

"EEEEW." Turning around Liam blushed as Katherine pointed at them. "Keep tongues in the correct mouths." She complained. "Disgusting." She shook her head. "Are you two going to watch the football for Matt?"

"I am." Liam nodded.

"Enough for me to join you and to abandon this." Buffy said standing up.

"I'm heading home then." Katherine made up her mind.

"As am I." Giles appeared. "Ready when you are Katherine. You two…" he looked at them and frowned, "Just don't make too much of a public scene." He asked shaking his head.

Buffy and Liam stood together at the side of the football pitch watching the game.

"Matt's pretty fast." Buffy said watching him run around.

"Yeah. He's got the legs for it." Liam watched him, shouting the odd word of encouragement. He glanced at Buffy, realising she was hugging her arms to keep her warm. "Are you cold?"

Buffy looked at him and smiled sheepishly. "This autumn temperature seems to be catching up pretty fast." Liam shook his head in laughed, taking off his school blazer and placing it over her shoulders. "Are you not cold now?" she asked concerned.

Liam shook his head, "I'm fine. Come here and stand in front of me out of the wind." He said reaching out and moving her gently with his arm so that she was standing in front of his body.

"Is this classed as public scene?" she asked looking around and up at him.

Liam grinned, "I think if I put my arms around you and pulled you close, followed by a kiss, that might be a public scene. As it is, I think we'll pass."

Matt smiled after shaking everyone's hands and jogged over to Buffy and Liam.

"Hey. What did you think?" he eagerly asked Buffy.

"I'd go with brilliant." She smiled at him. "And you never said you were that fast!"

Matt shrugged, "I'm faster when I come on as a sub, I have problems sustaining that for a whole game."

"You coming home with us or you having a shower and that here?" Liam asked him.

"I'll come home with you. Hang on a minute and I'll get Buffy my training jersey, it'll keep her warmer and you can get your blazer back." He said running down the touchlines as the other two walked behind him. Turning back with a hoody he handed it over as Buffy gave a disgruntled Liam his blazer back and pulled the hoody on. "You wait at the gates, I'll be there in five." He promised running off.

"Does it suit me?" Buffy teased.

"It does actually." Liam sighed.

"He never meant anything by it and you were getting cold too." She pouted. Seeing his face still a little upset she stopped in front of him, pulling his tie down for a short kiss. "Better?"

Liam smiled a half smile at her nodding as they continued towards the school entrance. Just as they reached it the principal headed out of the front doors to his car.

"Becoming part of the supporters club already?" he smiled at Buffy.

"I was cold, Matt is sweet." She explained lightly.

"I'll maybe see you both tomorrow," he nodded heading off.

Liam walked Buffy backwards, pinning her against a headstone as he kissed her hungrily. Buffy's hands flew from his shoulders into his hair as she relished the intimacy and privacy of the graveyard. Breaking the kiss off a moment she smiled at him while catching her breath.

"I have to patrol." She saw his face fill of disappointment but understanding. "We could carry this on when we get back?" she suggested. As a response, Liam pressed his lower body against hers, making her sure of what effect she was having on him. Pulling away he took her hand in his own before allowing her to choose a direction.

"Ah good. You're both fine." Giles smiled relieved as they came through the front door. "Any luck?"

"Just one fledgling."

"Nice and quiet."

"Yup." Buffy nodded making her way to her room.

"Well, I'll off to bed. Liam, please remember you have school tomorrow." He lectured as the teenager nodded at him, watching him go up the stairs. Turning around he headed straight for Buffy's room. Opening the door he smiled and took a long look of her body up and down as she stood half changed into her pyjamas. Taking two quick strides he embraced Buffy, kissing her deeply as he hands pulled her close to him. His breath caught in his throat as she pulled herself up to him, wrapping her legs around his waist, his hands landing on her rear to keep her where she was. Liam pressed himself against her as she gasped and pulled back,

"Angel…"

"I know." He half smiled at her, rubbing his nose against hers, "Don't worry." He said looking her in the eye. Getting a small nod from her he supported her backside before turning and walking through to his own room. Laying her down gently on his bed he lay down next to her, wrapping his arm around her and kissing her softly.

Liam hit the top of his alarm clock before looking at a still sleeping Buffy. He smiled and tried to leave the bed without disturbing her however, she rolled over and looked at him sleepily,

"Can you stay?"

"I have school." He said, his heart and head wanting very different things. Buffy pouted before shutting her eyes and falling asleep again. Closing his bed side drawer he noted that they had used the last of protection last night and grimaced at the thought of buying more. It was something which made him feel very awkward. Resisting the urge to lean down and kiss her he picked up his towel before opening the door to his bedroom, leaving the room and closing it again.

"Buffy in with you?" Katherine asked walking past. He nodded to her as she nodded, "I need to speak to her about something."

"She's sleeping." He said defensively.

"So I'll wake her." She shrugged waiting to get past him. Liam scowled at his sister before moving towards the shower, letting her past. Opening the door back up Katherine laughed at Buffy cuddled up in her brothers bed, "Hey, sleeping beauty, can I speak a moment." She watched Buffy stir and open her eyes, sitting up a little. "I'm sorry about waking you, although if you're going to shag my brother all the time you deserve it." She shrugged. Buffy looked at her pointedly as she nodded in understanding that this wasn't helping, "A guy I sit next to in class asked me for a coffee after school today, just to speak about a science project we have to do together. I was wondering if you could speak to Giles for me please." She asked hopefully.

"Date?" she asked eyebrows raised.

"School project but it would be nice to speak to him outside school." Katherine admitted blushing. "He's one of the school geeks. But I don't want to let him down with my share of the work either."

Buffy looked at her steadily for a moment before nodding. "Leave it with me. I'll text you after I speak to him k?"

"Thanks." Katherine smiled at her gratefully before leaving the room. Admitting defeat Buffy climbed out of bed and through to the kitchen.

"Morning." Giles nodded, looking at her confused.

"Major downfall of sleeping in Angel's bed on a school night." She complained plonking herself down next to a bowl and cereal.

"Perhaps a good enough reason to stay in your own bed more?" Giles said matter of fact.

"Yes dad." She groaned, realising that the conversation was highly amusing for both Matt and Kat who were listening. "Can I come into school once I'm ready?"

"Certainly." Giles nodded approvingly.

"I might go for a run this afternoon." She said looking outside.

"Oh, and Dawn phoned yesterday night for you." Matt said. "She was wondering the latest on your and Angel and how I got on at the footy." He said proudly.

Buffy smiled at him, "I'll phone her today when it's a good time with them." She checked the clock before pouring some cereal and milk into the bowl in front of her and eating them slowly as she came to terms with being awake early. Five minutes later Liam came into the kitchen, shocked to find Buffy in his usual space with his bowl and spoon. Seeing her almost finished he reached out and took it from her, pouring himself a bowl before sitting next to her.

"We have clean bowls Liam." Giles chastised.

"They've already exchanged saliva, it won't make a difference." Katherine teased them leaving the room.

Liam walked into the library and looked around. Wandering over to the office he saw Giles sitting with his lunch,

"Is Buffy here?" he asked hopefully.

"No. She went back home for a run." He explained. "Anything important?"

Liam shook his head, a little disappointed, "Just wanted to see her." He admitted shrugging.

"Ah young love." Giles sighed.

"Hey, speaking of which, did you know we're getting a new computer teacher?" he asked. "Apparently she's really hot. Dark hair, slim but not too young."

"I did hear we were getting a new staff member but I know of no details." Giles shook his head.

Liam nodded in thought, "I'll just head home straight after school. If Buffy comes back can you get her to text me please?"

He nodded at the teenager, "I know for a fact she's going for a coffee after school for me." Giles updated him.

"For you?" he looked confused.

"Your sister claims she has a study meeting with her lab partner. They wish to go to the coffee shop. She asked Buffy to have a word with me to see if I could up lift her grounding for the occasion, so I've asked Buffy to pop along and make sure the story links up. I've already checked with science and it's no lie that she has an assignment in pairs."

"Is it a boy partner or girl?"

"Boy I believe. No idea who, Buffy just mentioned that Katherine said he was a bit of a geek and she wanted to ensure she pulled her weight in the assignment," Giles said. "A little doubtful I must say."

Liam shook his head after a moment, "No. Believe it or not that was what the old Kat was like," He admitted. "I know I'm biased, but I really think that Buffy and Dawn have had a really good influence on this family." He admitted.

Giles smiled softly at him, "Buffy is a very special and unique person. Her contribution is very often overlooked. She makes me undoubtedly proud on many occasions, yet she is not one for praise or prize." Giles watched the smile play on Liam's lips and no longer doubted any feelings that he had for Buffy.

"Hey, is Buffy here?"

"It's nice to see you too Liam." Giles said pointedly as Matt followed him in.

"She told me she'd take me for a coffee." Matt said smiling, "With a cookie."

The library doors swung open as Buffy rushed in smiling at Liam before looking at the others, "You ready to go?" she asked Matt.

"Yup." He smiled. "Is Liam coming too?" he asked.

"Nope." Buffy smiled at him.

"Why not." he asked annoyed.

"Because I need Matt to tell me who Katherine's having coffee with and he'll do it while happily munching on a cookie. You on the other hand will scowl at her and scowl at the poor boy who is supposed to be the science partner and Katherine will be mad at me." She explained.

"She has a point." Matt smiled at him as Liam crossed his arms disgruntled.

"Yup. Let's go. I'll see you later." She smiled at Liam, giving him a quick wink.

Katherine scowled as she entered the coffee shop, seeing Buffy and Matt sitting at a table. She sighed as Matt noticed her and waved casually, surprising her by turning straight back to his conversation with Buffy. Buffy didn't look around.

"Do you know him?" David asked.

"Yeah, he's my brother." She nodded.

"Do you want to go for a booth and we can load up the laptop on the power supply?" he asked pointing to the spare booth.

"Fine. What do you want? I'll get the drinks if you load up the computer."

"Well, we have one official alibi." Buffy said to Giles, walking into the house. "They are hard at work on a computer doing….things."

"Equations by the looks of it. Though I did see the periodic table of elements."

"What he said." Buffy pointed at Matt. "Is Angel in?"

"In his room. I don't know if he's forgiven you for no coffee though." Giles smirked.

Buffy smiled and shook her head, not knocking on the door as she walked into his room.

"Hey." She smiled, shutting the door and walking over to his desk where he sat. She smiled at his face which was still set at annoyed. Pulling his seat back, with him sitting in it, she walked around to the front of him and straddled his lap. Smiling at him she leant in and kissed him softly. "Missed you." She said softly.

"Not enough to take me for coffee." He said steadily.

"Katherine needed some space." She said softly, kissing him again.

"Buffy, we have a problem." He said blushing.

"What?" she asked him confused.

"I…I don't have any protection left." He said looking away.

"Well, we'll get some more." She shrugged. She watched as he nodded a little, "Are you embarrassed by the topic or having to buy some?"

"Both." He admitted.

"I'll get some when I'm out tonight." She smiled at him, kissing him again. "I'll leave you to your work." She removed herself from his lap and left the room, heading to give Giles a help with dinner.

"How did your studying go?" Giles asked Katherine.

"Did you not ask your spies?" she said pointedly.

"Yes, I did. Since you were grounded I wanted to make sure that you were doing as you said. I got that there was a laptop and a periodic table of elements." He said.

"Tagteam effort." Matt smiled, "Buffy's not so clued up on the periodic table." He teased. Buffy shrugged, uneffected by the teasing.

"Is it a big project or a one off?"

"It counts for fifteen per cent of our grade so it's quite important. David is really clever though so if we study hard we should get a good grade."

"What's David's surname?" Liam asked looking at her steadily.

"It's 'mind your own business big brother,'" Buffy said.

"It's my job." He said looking at her.

"Hey, I'm not being a bitch of a sister since you started seeing Buffy." Katherine protested.

"It's true, the two of us could be making your lives hell." Matt said. "Besides, David wasn't hot, he was just geeky looking."

"He was cute." Buffy shrugged, "But he did look like a nice boy."

"Cute how?" Liam asked jealous.

"Tall, dark, handsome….oh no, that's you." Buffy smiled at him making him raise his eye brows.

"Buffy, are you patrolling tonight?"

"Yes I am. Late tonight though, I'm looking for lots of them. I'm having a productive day and I want it to continue like that." She said matter of fact.

Buffy came into the house and headed straight for Liam's room. Opening the door without knocking she turned on his light as he looked at her confused before sitting up to attention,

"What's wrong?" he asked quickly standing up.

"Dawn. She fell at school today and has to get her knee operated on. Willow phoned. Can I use your laptop to look at flights?" she asked panicking.

"Of course." Liam moved and turned his laptop on before walking up to Buffy and embracing her. "What happened to her knee."

"I'm not sure. It might be broken, or something's chipped or fractured or something to do with tendons and ligaments." She shook her head. "Willow said they'd find out more once they opened it up but that Dawn was in serious pain." She explained with tears in her eyes. Liam turned around and typed in some passwords before looking at her.

"I'll go and get Giles." He said grabbing a T Shirt and pulling it over his head.

Buffy nodded, sitting down and logging onto the airline's site. She frowned as she pressed her personal flights, looking at alternatives.

"Buffy. Liam woke me." Giles walked into his bedroom with his dressing gown on. "How is Dawn?"

"I don't know, Willow says they have to operate. I need to get back Giles."

"Of course, let's look at our options." He said leaning over her and the laptop.

"Liam, could you please boil the kettle and make some sugary tea for Buffy?"

"Course." He said, feeling a little helpless. Moving through to the kitchen he frowned as he filled the kettle. If Buffy was heading back tomorrow, that would mean no more Buffy. He wasn't prepared for this. Prepared for another four weeks with her: yes. Prepared to lose her now: no. He shook his head, Dawn was seriously ill and needed Buffy. Buffy needed him.