Buffy smiled at the sink full of breakfast dishes, probably the only time she's actually been pleased with the sight. She started washing them, happily well-rested for the first time in a while and thinking of how her mom and Dawn received Spike/William's presence this morning.

There were light jokes, Dawn didn't act bratty at all, her mom said she hadn't had any headaches since the day before. William even flipped some fancy cat and dog-shaped pancakes, like a pro, for them, all with a smile on his face.

She intended to, but hadn't mentioned that Spike was actually split into two last night… it just hadn't come up between the banter and it was nice to see them all as a family again.

Buffy wiped the last plate and put it in the drainer. "Family?" her eyebrows furrowed, thoughts of Spike… Spike thoughts… she crushed her eyes closed and shook her head.

Willow's 'thy will be done' spell was long since over, and although that really had opened her desires, since she knew deep down she craved that family life, but who was she kidding. She couldn't have that, especially not with Spike…

Riley. Riley was her boyfriend. Good, wholesome, human Riley.

She pursed her lips and wiped her hands, trying to let go of the thought that she and Riley were fizzling out slowly but surely.

Okay, she thought, Dawn's at school, mom's at work, I have class soon, Spike… William's in the basement till nightfall. All is fine, not gonna waste time thinking about boys, she went to get ready for class.

Buffy entered the Magic Shop a little after 3 pm, her class ended and she came straight here, no sense in going home. Though she did worry slightly that Dawn would be home from school soon with just William in the house.

Chipped, half vampire, she rationalized, Dawn was safe. Plus she had her cellphone on, if Dawn needed her… she'd call, right?

Buffy shook her head for the millionth time that day. Full Spike wouldn't hurt Dawn, half Spike/William wouldn't either! Just breathe, she thought. Giles and Willow smiled up at her from their tomes.

"Hey, how's researchin' goin'?" She asked as she sat down across from them.

Willow's face said it all but Giles spoke up, "Basically nothing new, no strengths or weaknesses. I take it, you and the Spikes, didn't run into him last night?"

Buffy shook her head, no action was had last night besides Spike going off with Harmony she supposed and a small frown found its way to her face.

"You went on patrol with Spike AND William?" Willow leaned forward, "How was that?" She was actually interested, the whole two Spike's, one with less demonie aspect, really sparked her academic interest.

"Oh, it was a pretty boring patrol, nothing but easy pickins'." Buffy's chin rested on her hand lazily, until she remembered, "But! Then William fought with Spike!" Her excitement turned Giles back regarding them.

"Whatever for?!" His face was definitely concerned.

Buffy shook her hands, "No, no, nothing bad, I meant like. Sparring. We were all bored so they started tussling. Honestly it was great action!" she tilted her head, "I sparred with William later too and it was such a good workout. He knows so many techniques."

"You were out late with them?" Willow whispered to just her, but Giles was still looking concerned or maybe slightly perturbed that Buffy had learned something from the vampire duo that she wasn't getting from their training sessions.

"Oh nah, not too late. Harmony came by and took Spike off with her," Buffy flipped her hair and rolled her eyes, a motion of jealousy not lost on her redheaded best friend, "But William is actually back at my house."

To Willow and Giles's shocked expression, "Well. He needed a place... since Spike clearly had the crypt." and Buffy stood up to make herself feel more confident, "And you can't deny that William is the more… human of the two." insinuating he was the safer part.

Giles just blinked, he couldn't really argue with her, and over the past year, Spike's relationship with the Summers ladies certainly had turned into more than he ever expected a vampire to have with a human's family, let alone a Slayer! His unofficial watcher journals were filled with the incredibly human aspects Spike has shown since the chip, and to be frank even before the chip.

Willow chimed in rationalizing, "Though Spike has more bumpies, it's not like he showed us he was any more violent."

Both of them looked at her questioningly, "Well... we haven't really experienced them separately, mostly we just researched on Toth last night and so did they. And. Sure. William was the one who spoke up for them and seemed more educated, but what if the Spike part of him is just... shy."

Buffy smiled at her best friend's thought, 'shy' did seem kind of an accurate depiction of Spike in certain times. Willow's spell and memories of being engaged to him flooded back.

He'd been quiet, calm, more for the touches than the words. Even though his silly bravado reared up a few times, he wanted to be equal with her. Oh, and his eyes, she dreamed back, his love for her shown so beautifully in those deep blue eyes, he didn't need to say much for her to accept him.

"Buffy?"

She opened her eyes to both Willow and Giles, realizing they were talking to her but she hadn't heard them, having been lost in her thoughts, "Huh?"

"We were just saying, it'd probably be best if you brought both Spike's back here at nightfall before we go out looking for Toth." Giles's filled her in.

"Oh yeah, right. Sounds like a good plan." Buffy smiled, though her thoughts on the vampire were raging, she grabbed her bag, "I'm just gonna go, check on Dawnie and mom… till then!" She waved and quickly exited.

She half power walked, half ran all the way back to her house, her heart beating super fast. Wanting to make sure Dawn was okay was just the pretense for the feelings that Willow's little "Spike's shy" comment brought up in her.

Anxiously, before letting herself in her own house, she fixed her hair a little and took a deep breath. The house was dim though, no lights turned on yet, just the sun streaming in the windows, her body telling her it was about two hours away from dusk.

Buffy glanced at the clock above the mantel, a little after 4, her mom was usually home around 5… where is Dawn? Slightly wishing Dawn was at a friend's house, she crept closer to the stairs and listened for her sister.

A giggle! She heard it, Buffy bounded toward the basement door, and down the steps, only getting halfway down, dumbfounded by what she saw.

William and Dawn looked up at her innocently, they were across from each other, cards strewn between them. A picnic blanket, she recognized from one of the many basement shelves, covering the cement floor underneath them.

Buffy finished her way down the steps slowly, trying to glare at Spike/William but was probably failing. Dawn piling up the cards to shuffle them, "Wana play? War is much more fun with more than two people."

The Slayer sat down with them, much like her sister, crossed-legged, beside the lounging vampire on his side. His curls much more unruly than last night, after having slept, she guessed. Same t-shirt and jeans, tucked in at the waist, with a big black belt that made his waist look bigger than it was.

"Buffy, sheesh, oggle much," Dawn mumbled and shook her portion of the deck out to her sister again. Buffy blushed in embarrassment, she had been eyeballing Spike… William, lying there beside them so casually confident, his smile never ceasing.

A few hands of war later, where only Dawn and William seemed to be warring and winning, Buffy heard the front door open and close, "Mom's home." she said in a daze of how normal and weird this time with William seemed.

Dawn's eyes widened happily and she jumped up to the stairs. Buffy reached out to gather the cards back to their box, William was helping and her hand brushed over his distractedly.

They stopped, looking at each other, he smiled at her, its warmth reaching his eyes. Their moment passed and he continued sweeping up cards, "How was your class?"

She looked shocked, and gulped, okay so he'd picked up on the fact she had class the next day, and now he was kindly asking her about it, not a big deal… Why did it seem like such a big deal?

"It was fine." She barely whispered.

"Buffy, Spike! Dinner!" Joyce's voice rang down at them from the kitchen.

Buffy's eyes navigated the floor before meeting William's again, smiling softly and a little embarrassed that her mom would yell at them or assume that he'd eat dinner with them, she wasn't sure.

He popped up with grace from his lying position and held his hand out to her, "Dinner, madame?"

She couldn't help but smile at his old-timey politeness and accent, feeling the butterflies in her stomach, she grabbed his hand interestedly excitedly.

TBC!
I'm really excited to post this chapter! Working on more! Please review if you have a moment!