*Isabel*

Anya, Xander arrived just as Willow was introducing herself to the women they had just meet.

"Hi, its nice to meet you, I'm Isabel, Ben, Jasmine's still in bed, can you drag her out and tell her breakfast is ready."

"Is it?"

"No, just tell her, okay."

"Okay." Ben said leaving the group.

"Do you guys want some breakfast?"

Xander's eyes lit up and Isabel laughed. It was a rich sound and Spike instantly liked her, Xander and Riley were equally affected though Thomas didn't even seem to notice.

Isabel turned and led them towards a large room with a wood burning fire in one corner and a stereo and TV set up next to it. The TV looked dusty and barely used but the stereo had CDs piled on top and was on, a soft melody came through but it was quiet and hard to hear. There were tables set up haphazardly in an L shape as you entered the room, leaving a rectangle of free space diagonally opposite the door. At the corner of the space there was a ramp that led to another room. Opposite the fire was an extension that was the kitchen. Isabel walked into this area and began gathering things to make breakfast.

"Bacon and eggs okay?"

"Yep," came the reply from six hungry people.

"Please sit, get comfortable."

They all sat except Spike who strolled over and began speaking to Isabel. Willow strained to hear the conversation that was passing between the two of them, but wasn't able to pick anything up but a few small words.

"Do you want some help, luv?"

"No, I can handle breakfast, but if you really want to help chuck some toast in."

Spike put some toast in and looked at Isabel as she moved easily around the kitchen alternating between looking after the bacon and the eggs. She was tall, about his height but it wasn't plainly obvious you had to study to see it, she had an unassuming air. She sat comfortably between muscular and thin, causing her immediate appearance to be normal. She was wearing a pair of black sweats and a pair of untied sneakers; she also had on a loose light blue singlet. She had long brown hair that hung down past her shoulder blades and dark brown eyes that were almost black. Even being so overtly normal she had captivated the all of the guys bar Thomas, with her smile As she cooked she swayed slightly to the music Thomas had put on. She was pretty, didn't seem wear make up, and she smelt of strawberries. He saw that she wore a bracelet on her right wrist, a small delicate one with a simple link pattern. On her right was a watch tan line that barely stood out against her creamy, pale skin.

Isabel finished and felt Spike's eyes finally leave her she gathered everything and made her way over to the table everyone sat around. There were two places left one in between Willow and Thomas and one in between Willow and Riley. She took the one in between Willow and Riley; avoiding the one that would sit her next to a familiar face, Spike wondered but sat down anyway.

Just a she sat down and everyone began to eat the door opened and Ben and a new girl entered the room.