"Why did they pick Harmony to do the shopping?" Rose moaned, dropping the plastic smile she'd worn while Harm was present. "There's nothing here that's..,"

"Dowdy? Frumpy? Unattractive?" Spike broke in. "You look fantastic, babe." He pulled her into his arms. "I like it," he mumbled into her ear. "A lot." He just refrained from sliding his hands down over her denim covered backside, sensing that she wasn't quite in the mood right now. Instead, he settled for cuddling her closer.

"It never ceases to amaze me the odd things you like," Rose replied with a wry grin. She snuggled closer and laid her head on his shoulder, obviously having capitulated, mostly. "But when we do get to go out and about, I would like to get a few things that are a little less.., revealing."

"Still a bit of a prude, aren't you, luv?" Spike laughed softly. "Don't know why you insist on hiding all the sights, but whatever you like." Both look and voice were fondly indulgent.

"You know what I'd like right now?" she mumbled into his shoulder. Evidently the caffeine wasn't enough to overcome the exhaustion.

Spike kissed her temple and picked her up. She was almost asleep on her feet. Rose's arms twined around his neck almost automatically, as if that was where they belonged. "A quick trip off to dreamland it is then, luv." He carried her into the bedroom and tucked her in, and watched her curl into a tight ball and drop the rest of the way off. He considered getting her clothes off her, but decided against it, not wanting to wake her. Instead, he just stood there for a time, watching her sleep and marveling at the good fortune that had brought her into his life when he had given up hope on nearly everything.

&&&&&&&&

The meeting was starting to break up, when Angel had a thought. "Has anyone here told anybody about Rose's transformation yet?" There was a general denial. "Good, let's try to keep it that way for now."

"You're afraid that the bounty hunter might move her base of operations if she doesn't have a hope of getting what she was after in the first place?" Gunn asked.

"Something like that," Angel admitted. "Or, in some weird way, it might make Rose a more valuable commodity, it's hard telling what a collector might want. But until we at least get Ms. McBride out of the way, I'd like to keep Rose a secret."

"Won't somebody around here notice?" Fred asked. "I mean, they've all gotten pretty used to seeing her going through walls and doors and stuff. It might look strange to them when she doesn't."

Angel shook his head. "I think they're going to spend more time wondering why she's never alone anymore," he said. "Because as of right now, I don't want her to be. As a human, it's going to be a lot easier for someone to get hold of her, literally. So, one of us is going to be with her at all times. And we're all going to have an acute attack of good manners, which includes opening doors for a lady."

"Is any of this going to change our plans in regards to the robot?" Wesley inquired. "If we do intend to modify the plan, Fred is going to need to know so she can change the robot's programming."

"Why don't we put that on hold for the time being?" Angel suggested. "I'm not sure what it is, but there's something nagging at the back of my mind, but I can't quite bring it to the surface. I want to talk to Rose and Spike for starters."

"Where are they?" Wesley asked. "I thought you'd want them in on this from the start."

"I gave them the day off," Angel replied, a little sheepishly. "After all, it's been a long time, and..,"

"I'm back," Harmony announced, waltzing in uninvited. "You ought to see some of the outfits I got for Rose, they're absolutely darling."

"Harmony, have you told anyone about Rose being human?" Fred thought to ask. They'd kind of forgotten about her.

"I haven't had time," she answered. "Is it a secret?"

"It is now," Angel informed her. "Harmony when you were delivering the clothing, did it look like they were going to be.., um, up and about for a while?"

Harmony looked perplexed, so Lorne clarified things for her. "Did they act like they were going to get busy again the minute you got out the door?"

"Oh. I don't think so," Harmony replied. "Rose was looking a little groggy. I think Spikey wore her out." She giggled. "I don't know what he's doing, but she's probably out of it right now."

Angel sighed. "I think I'll go talk to Spike. Fred, can you work around the programming for a little while longer?"

"Oh sure," Fred replied. "Even though it's easier while we're still in the construction phase, we can do the programming after the whole thing's finished."

"Then do what you can for the moment." Angel shook his head as if trying to dislodge something. There was a germ of idea up there, he was sure, but it just didn't seem ready to present itself.

&&&&&&&

Spike was feeling a little restless. He'd been short on sleep too, but a vampire just did have more stamina than a human, so he let Rose sleep, checking in on her every once in a while. It wasn't that he thought there might be something wrong, it was almost as if he were reassuring himself that she was still there. It was therefore with mixed feelings that he acknowledged Angel's return.

"Checking up on us?" he asked. "Or just trying to get some pointers on how to..,"

"Could you give it a rest for just once?" Angel interrupted. "And I wouldn't have come up here this early if I hadn't been pretty sure that I wasn't interrupting something. Harmony said that Rose looked pretty tired."

"Bit of a shock to the system," Spike remarked. "I mean, suddenly having a system and all. Bound to be kinda wearing." But his smirk said volumes otherwise. "What's on your mind, such as it is?"

Angel started to open his mouth to reply when a movement caught his eye, and Rose, clothes all rumpled with chestnut hair tousled from sleep emerged from the bedroom.

"Hello, Angel," she greeted him. She crossed the room and sat down on Spike's lap as if it were the only place in the room to sit. Spike didn't seem to have a problem with it, merely put his arms around her and gave his grandsire another smirk.

"Hello, Rose," he replied. He grinned. He'd never seen Rose in tight, tight jeans and a midriff baring t-shirt before. He lost what little grasp he'd had on his embryonic idea.

"That's my bird you're gawking at, ya big ponce," Spike grumbled, probably more out of habit than anything. He gave an involuntary grunt as Rose's elbow dug into his ribs.

"Did you want something, Angel?" Rose asked politely. Despite the previous byplay, she still seemed more than content to remained cuddled in Spike's arms.

"It's about the robot," Angel answered. "Something to do with the programming, but I can't quite get a grasp on it."

"Well, what are you asking us for?" Spike demanded. "We're not computer geeks. That's what you've got Fred and her staff for, isn't it?"

Rose's eyes lit up. "Like having the robot offer Daria what she wants, but giving her something she's not expecting?"

"That was it," Angel said triumphantly. "Stop looking like that, Spike. We're not turning you over to the bounty hunter."

"You ought to," Rose said. "We can be protected against wards and spells, all it will take is a bit of research and the construction of some charms."

"Now wait just one bloody, effin' minute," Spike protested vigorously. "Are you out of your bloomin' mind, luv? In case you don't recall, Daria McBride's got it in for you. The second she realizes that you're human, she's probably going to have at you in ways that would make what she put me through look like a Sunday afternoon drive."

"But we could be armed," Rose protested. "After all, if the robot offers us to Daria for a fee, she's not going to expect that."

"No," Spike said flatly. "You don't know damn all about fighting for one thing." Seeing the stubborn set of her face, he decided to turn up his ace in the hole. "You remember what I told you about The Powers sayin' they'd linked our life forces? Do you really want to go and get yourself killed?" Well, it would work on him, he knew that. Should work on Rose too.

It did. Rose's expression became horrified. Spike pulled her head down on his shoulder and cuddled her close. "I know you want to get Daria McBride out of the way, pet, we all do. But I don't want you being put in danger." He glared at Angel as if his grandsire had approved the crackbrained plan.

"Why don't we just go along with the original idea?" Angel suggested. He wasn't in the mood for getting into a shouting match with Spike just now. Besides, it hadn't really been what he'd had in mind. "I'll go and talk to Fred so she can get on with the programming." He headed to the door. "I'll be back around six, so if you don't mind?"

"Or even if we do." Spike may have mellowed some, since the arrival of Rose, but he still couldn't resist the opportunity for a smart-ass remark. Angel rolled his eyes and left.

"It'll be nice to get this all cleared up," Rose murmured. "I really do like Angel, he's a good friend, but..,"

"But it'll be nice when we can get back to my.., our place," Spike replied, correcting himself in mid-stream. He found he rather liked the sound of it too.

"'Our place'," Rose repeated. "I like the sound of that." She gave him a heart-stopping kiss. Or it would have if his heart had been beating.

"A little more privacy would be nice," Spike agreed. "Then I wouldn't have to wait until we got to the bedroom to..,"

"Spike..," she interrupted with a laugh. "Don't you think of anything else?"

"'Course I do," he mumbled through her hair, questing for an ear to nibble on. "But I've been deprived for a long time, sweetheart."

&&&&&&&

Daria was fussing and swearing. It was still too early to try luring Spike out again, and tomorrow she had a meeting set up with a client. It looked like her revenge would have to be put off. But somehow or other, she was going to get the pair of them back. She only wished that the ghost could be made corporeal. It might significantly lower her value, but oh the satisfaction to be had. She idly wondered what would be more fun. Torturing Rose while Spike watched, or the other way around. Pity that with Rose being a ghost, she'd never have a chance to test her theory.

With a frustrated sigh, Daria began getting ready to meet the new client. She almost considered giving he/she/it the brush-off, but that would be bad for business in the long run. Daria had enough money to last her several lifetimes, but she was always open to the opportunity to make more. And more. And still more. It was never enough, and never would be. The money was even more important to her than revenge. Than anything.

&&&&&&&&&

"It's five-thirty, love," Rose observed.

"So what?" Spike was preoccupied with kissing the back of her neck. "You going to turn into a pumpkin or something?"

"Angel is going to be back in a little bit," she reminded him. "Since he made a point of telling us, maybe it would be a good idea if we were.., presentable?"

"You look just fine to me, babe," Spike muttered, working his way around to one side. "Are you saying that you find the way I look offensive? If so, might I suggest that evidence to date says otherwise."

Rose turned around to face him. "I like the way you look," she admitted. "And I like being in your arms and making love with you. But, Angel is our host, and it might be nice if we showed him a little consideration."

Spike repressed a sigh. Showing consideration for Angel's feelings had never been high on his list of priorities. But, he had promised to make nice. Now that he had Rose back, not only spiritually and emotionally, but physically as well, he sure as hell didn't want to screw it up. "Shower with me?" he suggested hopefully.

"Only if you promise to behave yourself." She took some of the sting out of her words by kissing him.

Spike made a face. "I promise."

&&&&&&&

It was all that Angel could do to keep himself from crossing his fingers as he made his way to his apartment. He had been assured by Fred that the robot would be ready in a few days, and Gunn already had the paperwork set. Then, they might just be able to see an end to all this and he could have his life back. Okay, so by some people's standards, it wasn't much of a life, especially by Spike's standards. But it was his, and he was getting a little tired of feeling like an intruder in his own home. And it made no difference that it had been his idea, or that he was unwilling to revoke the invitation until the coast was clear. Rose was considerate enough that the thought that all the billing and cooing, not to mention the moans of passion were an annoyance to him. But he was willing to bet that it had occurred to Spike. And that his grandchilde either didn't care, or, more likely, delighted in the notion of tormenting him. He was glad that the two of them were happy together, really. But he'd be happier if they were happy someplace else. He opened the door to the apartment.

He was barely inside the door when Rose greeted him with a hug. She smelled pleasantly of soap, shampoo, and of course, Spike. He returned the hug, wondering where Spike was.

Spike was standing in the doorway to the kitchen area. He had a mug in one hand and a bottle in the other, and an expression on his face that missed being a scowl by millimeters. "Beer or blood?" he asked.

Angel released Rose and approached Spike. He took the mug, and took a sip. Spike contented himself with the beer. "Thank you." He belated remembered his manners. If Spike could be nice, although from the look on his face, it was costing him, then he could too. "Has Rose had anything to eat yet?"

"Your executive dining room wouldn't take an order from us," Spike growled. "We ain't high and mighty enough for them. Pizza's on the way, though." He took another swig from the bottle. "You're out of beer," he remarked, as he drained it.