"Really, Spike," Buffy said exasperatedly. "It'll hurt less if you relax the muscle..."

Spike stared up at her with wide eyes, switching between her and Dawn. "Look at the size of that! He could inject something into my heart through my neck with that bloody thing!" A large amount of panic with a small bit of absolute terror shone in the blue orbs.

Buffy smiled, glanced at the truly smallish- to medium size needle Giles held, standing in their living room. "Remember, it just goes in, lets the liquid go, and comes out. Just like turning someone right?"

Spike shivered. "...no..", he said in a small voice. "And my turning HURT!"

She looked at Dawn. "Go get some hot chocolate ready, and pull out the double chocolate icecream."

Dawn nodded and went to the kitchen.

"Ice cream?"

"If you're good," Buffy said.

He looked at Giles again. "What constitutes 'good'?"

Buffy smiled, and moved to sit on his lap. "Are you gonna stall all day?"

He swallowed. "Maybe..." There was a trembling that was running through him. Buffy wouldn't have even noticed if she hadn't been sitting on him.

She took pity, and using her thumb and forefinger, tilted his head to his right, to look at her. 'Focus on me.'

A slow nod. '...okay...'

'Close your eyes, and focus on me... on how fun what we were doing when we were interrupted was....'

He closed his eyes. A slow smile spread across his face.

Giles looked at her questioningly. "Now?", he whispered, wishing he had a mental link.

Spike tensed again at the Watcher's voice.

Buffy shook her head no. Pouted her mouth up in a silent, "Shhh..."

Giles nodded.

'I liked being with you....' She ran a finger across his right cheek, knowing the left side would get the shot.

Spike began to relax again. Her touch always did it. He sighed. A tentative purr started. "*I like being with you, too..*"

She let her mouth drift over his softly, her eyes open and on Giles.

"Now?", Giles mouthed.

When she claimed his mouth again, slightly harder, demanding his attention, she gave an almost imperceptible nod. 'On me... think of nothing but me...' She ran a finger over his scar, the scar she left. 'Me in you...'

Spike kissed her back, almost forgetting why he was there. "*You in me....*"

Giles slowly tensed over him, poising the needle. He looked at Buffy for final confirmation.

Her eyes closed, knowing he'd take the hint. '*Always*.' Her mouth moved over his.

"*...Forever...*"

Giles slowly slid the needle into the vampire's arm. Except for a involuntary muscle twitch, he didn't even notice. Giles slowly emptied the contents of the needle, then withdrew it, settling back in the recliner.

Buffy pulled back slowly.

Spike opened his eyes, and immediately tensed up again. "Well? Where's the shot?"

Giles chuckled.

Buffy kissed him again, lightly, fleetingly. "All done."

Spike cocked his head. "Huh?" He stared at her, then looked at Giles, who held up the empty needle. "You cheated!" "*Why am I not surprised.*"

She narrowed her eyes, and stood. 'And you're complaining?'

He grinned. "Do I ever?"

She blushed a light shade of pink. "DAWN! Icecream! Cocoa."

Dawn came in, balancing a bowl of icecream in one hand, and holding the hot chocolate in the other. "Special delivery for the big boy on the couch."

Spike grinned and sat up, licking his now apple flavored lips.

Dawn pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, slapped it on Spike's shirt. It was a small smiley face sticker.

He looked at it, reached to peel it off. "What's this?"

She slapped at his hand. "Stop! It's a sticker, dummy. You get 'em when you go to the doctor, when you're little, to tell you you did good."

He looked at her. "But I'm not little. And Rupert's not a doctor. Gimme the ice cream."

Dawn sighed as he snatched it out of her hands.

Took a big bite, grinned, and put the sticker back. "I'm a good puppy." Licked the spoon.

Giles chuckled. "An emotional five year old. You weren't far off, Dawn."

Dawn laughed, sat on the arm of the recliner by Giles. "I know. Big Bad. Big sissy, actually."

Spike growled. "I am *not* a sissy. I don't like needles. That doesn't make me a sissy."

"Of course not," Dawn clucked sympathetically. "You just had to have my sister make out with you for you to be able to bear it..." She glanced sideways at Giles. "Convenient, much?"

Buffy blushed bright red.

"I could have taken it without her," Spike pouted, then chuckled when he noticed Buffy.

Giles laughed. "Yes. But they agreed to it yesterday."

"That's enough, discussing Buffy's non-sex life." She looked at him, gave him 'the look', then continued to glare at Dawn. "Got me?"

Spike chuckled, and held a bite of ice cream out to the Slayer.

Dawn smothered a grin. Glanced at Giles again. "Got her?"

Giles just smiled. "Doesn't apply to me."

She shrugged compliantly, then noticed Buffy's truly distressed look. "Ok... Ok... I get it. I gotcha. No with the non-sex. But for the record, that was NOT non-sex that I walked in on last night, you were all... trancey, and biting... and WAY with the tople-" Her jaw snapped shut.

Spike choked, sputtering on cocoa.

"Gonna go... upstairs.. and uh.... do homework.. and.... clean my room..... and.... um... ya know..." She stood, edged her way to the entryway. "Upstairs..." She scampered up the stairs.

Spike coughed, unable to talk.

Giles groaned.

Buffy was now quite pink, edging to a dark rose. "She dies..."

"..tonight." Spike finished her sentence after the coughing fit. "I'll do it personally. When the HELL did she come downstairs!?"

"I don't KNOW! If I KNEW would I have-" she stopped.

Spike looked hurt.

She stopped. Said more quietly, "I just meant, if I knew she was awake..."

He took a bite of ice cream. "Yeah. I get it."

Giles stood up. "Um, I'm going to.. get a glass of water now." He went to the kitchen.

She took his wrist, made him put the spoon back. "Spike... I just... I wouldn't have been sitting topless in my living room, reclaiming you, if I knew Dawn would come downstairs.."

He nodded. "I said I get it, luv. You're embarrassed."

She shrugged self-consciously. "It'd be like her... walking in on us, or something.. it's private. That..." She ran her hand over his scar. "It's just for us..."

He grinned, nuzzled her hand. "Share my ice cream?"

She smiled back, relieved. "Ok."

========================================================================== ===========

Spike and Buffy headed for the Magic Box, hand in hand. He was excited, this being his first official Scooby meeting and all, but also nervous. And he couldn't help noticing that this was also the first time that Buffy had held his hand outside of their respective residences.

Buffy was plain, straightforward nervous. This would hurt Xander. And affect how they thought, and Anya... oh, God, Anya...

Spike felt Buffy's tenseness, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You doin' okay?"

Dazzling smile, confident hair-toss. Man, did she have it down. "Great."

He stopped. Cocked his head. Stared at her. Waited.

Smiled again, brighter. What? Did she have to *blind* him or something?

He snorted. "You're worried about something. And that makes me worried. So I'm not going any farther until you tell me exactly what's on your mind."

Confused smile, slight headtilt, nose crunch. Small laugh. "What are you talking about?"

He tapped his head. "Your emotions. You aren't blocking them, luv."

Which she did, promptly.

"Too late. Please talk to me, luv. I hate it when we keep things from each other. You're worried about the meeting, and that's making me seriously consider going straight back home and waiting for you." He squeezed her hand again. "I'm scared, too. Keep thinkin' Harris is gonna hit me."

She said softly, "He won't." She took a deep breath. "Scared. Too many people... Xander, Anya..."

Spike nodded. "Yeah. I know. But Rupert will be there, too. Gotta find some good things."

She fidgeted. "Yeah. It's ok, now. I wish Willow could come, but she's got therapy."

"I'm really proud of her," Spike said, taking her hand and beginning to walk again. "Red has guts. Not many people who have killed with magic, or any other way, ever fully recover. The nightmares alone...."

She shuddered, nodded. "We'll get her through this. If we have to drag her kicking and screaming, we'll get her through this."

Spike glanced at her. "It's not up to us, luv. Will has to do it on her own, or it won't work. Like when I went to get a soul. I would never had gotten it if someone pushed me into it, but once I wanted it bad enough, I stopped at nothing to get it. See?"

She looked at him, slightly hurt. "She's our *friend*, Spike... how can we not push her?"

"Encouragement is one thing, pushing is another. If your mum tried to push you into... say... getting your ears pierced, even if you wanted to, would it make you want to more, or less?"

She saw his point and it irked her. "Less," she mumbled.

"See now?"

She gave a reluctant head nod.

He chuckled. "Good." Paused, considered where they were. Just outside the Bronze, almost in the side alley. "Hey! Look where we are. This is where we first met, luv."

She laughed, rolled her eyes. "What good memories... 'What happens on Saturday?'" she mocked herself. "'I kill you.'"

He chuckled. "And I couldn't wait, either. Waaay to excited about my third Slayer."

She gave a snort. "I so kicked your ass."

"You mean your mum did," he said with a quick poke to her ribs.

She laughed, "Yeah... she saved me a trip, that's all..."

"A trip?" Poked her again.

"Yeah... ya know, swinging arm down in a dust-causing motion?"

He snorted, started walking again. "Tell me another one, Slayer."

"Hey!" she took a few quick steps to catch up with him. "Whatever. I could have had you."

"Uh-huh. Yeah. Right." Another snort.

She poked at his side. "I could have! Well, maybe the second time you came back."

He snort/giggled. "No way. That was a bad day, and doesn't count."

"It totally does! You were all drunk and sloppy... easy stake."

Poked her back. "So why didn't you, Ms. Big Scary Slayer."

"It would've been bad for my reputation to stake a MASTER vampire in the midst of a drunken crisis. And it was fun to watch."

Stared at her, caught between conflicting feelings that said "Pin her to the wall and tickle her brains out" and "Pin her to the wall and shag her brains out." He picked the first option, pouncing her, fingers finding ribs quickly.

She squirmed against the brick, her own hands finding his ribs. Leaned forward, caught his earlobe in her teeth. "Should have went for shagging," she whispered roughly.

Spike's eyes crossed, and he pulled back, scratching at his ribs. "You heard that?"

She walked away, scot-free. "Yup. Cloak your thoughts better."

He growl/chuckled. "You too. I had an idea earlier, that should reduce the tickling problems that we've, or rather, *I've* been having." He trotted to catch up to her.

She tossed over her shoulder, "Oh?"

"A three strikes rule..", he began, catching up to her. "I get to bother you, Rupert, or whoever two times with no consequences. Third time I get it. Same goes for you and Bit."

"Wait... you can irritate us twice with no consequences?"

"Yep. And you can do the same for me. But there is something to make up for it, and I'm hesitant to say it."

Her eyes lit up. "What?"

He groaned, defeated. "No time limit, and feathers are allowed."

She grinned, deviously. "Deal... but to makes this fair. Remember when I said there were two spots I was ticklish, but only showed you one?"

He grinned. "Yeah?"

She grabbed his hand, ran it up her ribcage, till he hit the rib below the swell of her breast. "There." She shoved his hand down. "We're gonna be late."

He grinned. "Can hardly wait for you to annoy me for the third time, luv."

She gasped. "That is SO not included in the free-tickle. Besides, it's not that ticklish. It's not!"

"Uh-huh. Yeah. What ever you say, luv..." He chuckled. "Just wanted to scare you, luv. I'm kidding. You haven't even gotten strike one, yet..."

She gave a glare, glad the Magic Box was near ahead.

Spike took her hand again, began rubbing his thumb in small circles on the back, trying to apologize for his overly playfulness. They continued to walk toward the magic shop.

She gave him a small smile, slightly tingling at his thumb. As the sign neared, her thoughts were more and more blocked, inward, guarded. Her hand started to slip from his as she reached for the door.

He sighed. He should have expected this. Old habits die hard...

Straight fear across her features as she pulled the door open. She let her hand slide to the tips of his fingers, then let go, and walked in the door. "I hear it's a fun party tonight," she announced cheerfully. "All the dusty books and pizza..."

"Bloody hurrah...", Spike muttered, following her in. He stayed behind her, peaking over her head, relaxed to see that Xander wasn't there yet. Only Giles and Anya so far. Dawn wasn't back from her.... date.... yet.

Buffy gave another cheerful smile and pulled up a chair, after giving Giles a half-hug. "What're we researching, Research Man?"

'Da da da da da da da da, Research Man!!', Spike thought, doing a good impression of the Batman theme song. He sat across from Giles.

Buffy gave a quiet smirk, hearing only the 'da da da da da da da da...'

Giles looked at them. "Actually, nothing at the moment. It's been a quiet month. Thanks to the vampire flu. And please stop communicating telepathically. It's quite annoying."

Spike grinned. "I guess he's got one strike on both of us, eh, Slayer?"

Giles looked at Buffy. "What?"

She gave a quick glance at Anya, pouring over a Cosmo. "Nothing. Nothing much. And we weren't-" She sighed. "What about the ugly green thing with three horns?"

"Oh that." He pointed at a picture in the book. "A strange demon that actually feeds off of laughter. Never seen anything like it. It's really quite harmless. Although you're right. It is ugly."

She frowned. "And the- um.... the... grey one with the... thing... on his... um... leg?"

Spike leaned back, closing his eyes. "Wake me up when the fun starts."

She gave a soft frown at the start of an attitude. "Well, it had two eyes..."

Giles chuckled. "It's really not that important, Buffy. I think I know what it is. This town seems to be giving you a vacation. I'd take it, if I were you. Play with Spike."

Spike cracked an eye.

Buffy was going to hyperventilate silently. Anya's head looked up from her magazine. "What're we doing with Spike?"

"Research," Buffy said firmly. "Spike is going to play nice, and research."

A slightly disappointed look crossed her face. "Well, we don't even ever PRETEND to start till Xander GETS here with the pizza..." Her eyes gave a small glint. Late. He was always late.

Spike snorted, closed his eye again. "I don't wanna research. I want to take a nap."

Giles chuckled. "Like a petulant five year old."

Buffy was gonna tear her hair out. 'What is your problem? We haven't even been here five minutes and- nevermind.' She snapped the door down to her mind.

Anya surveyed the scene with interest. More interest than the sex- section of Cosmo.

He looked at her. 'Sorry, luv. I was trying to be cute.' He picked up a book, opened it. 'Look. I'm researching. Uh, hang on...' He reached into his pocket, got his glasses, looked around sheepishly, slipped them on, and looked at the book again. 'That's better.'

She gave a reluctant smile, and a small eyeroll. Nerves were gonna kill her. "So.. um... what are we researching then?"

Giles shrugged. "Looking for your grey thing, I guess. Like I said. Not much going on." He glanced at Spike, noticing the glasses. Looked at Buffy questioningly.

She shrugged. "Mind thing?"

"Ah."

Spike glanced up. "What?"

She pointed at his eyes. "Glasses."

Anya was now totally disinterested. And hungry. "Where is he?" She demanded of Giles. "I want food."

At that moment, the door opened, and Xander came in, carrying three pizza boxes, two containers of cheese sticks, and a HUGE bucket of hot wings. Spike wasn't the only one who liked them, after all. "Food's here!"

Buffy grinned, got up to help Xander with the boxes. "Hey, Food Guy." She gave him a goofy smile. "How ya doing?"

"Better now that I'm out of that crazy construction site. I nearly had a beam dropped on my head today." He paused, waiting for the inevitable insult from Spike, but there wasn't one. Gave a mental shrug. "And then! I had to wait for the food for like, 45 minutes! I think they had to raise the chickens from eggs, and fly the ingredients in from Italy!"

Spike's eyes locked on the hot wings, and he nearly dropped his book.

She laughed and opened the pizza box, inhaled, then said appreciatively, "Mmm... we love you for it."

Anya simply reached over and grabbed a slice. Took quite a bite. "Ooogh! Got!!!" She hung her mouth open, fanning at it with her hand. Burned tongue translation, "Oooh! Hot!"

Xander quickly held a glass of water out for her. "You okay, An?" Concern showed in his eyes, but he knew she hated him. He deserved it.

She took the glass, and a large gulp, her eyes softening as she looked at him. She dragged in a large breath of cooled air. "Thanks."

Shy grin. "You're welcome."

Buffy hid a very happy happy dance, instead pulling a slice out of the box, taking a small bite out of it.

Spike smiled for an instant. It was a start. He ate a hot wing, and picked up his book again.

"So," Buffy said around a mouthful. "We're looking for... a gray thing- ee, with a... pointy thing-ee on it's leg. Bad breath, ugly, gurgled."

Xander grinned. "Buffy, I thought I told you that Derrik looks like that all the time."

Spike coughed to hide a chuckle.

Buffy grinned, shook a finger at Xander. "Stop talking about your crew like that... it's not nice."

"I don't have to be nice. And he's my boss." He ate a slice of pizza.

Spike coughed again.

"Problem, Dead-boy Junior?"

Half growl, ate another hot wing.

An unpleasant tingle ran down her spine. "So... I've got this... um.. thick, boring book, I'm not sure is in English. What's everybody else got?"

"Esherch in ambiric..", Spike muttered. English translation? "Research in vampiric."

"I'm with you, Buffy," Xander said. "Thick, boring, Swedish. I think."

Giles just chuckled.

She smiled at her friend. "Yeah.. Boring. Anya?"

She let her volume slide down to smile sheepishly at her revealed Cosmo.

Giles wagged a finger at the vengeance demon. "Research, Anya."

She pouted. "It's so boring. And the demon can't be that bad, Buffy would have killed it."

Buffy looked at Giles in defense. "It- it was big. Really big."

She's right, Rupert. Let's do something fun for a change," Spike said, putting down his book. Causing Xander to see his glasses for the first time.

"Glasses?!", he laughed. "You wear glasses? And I suppose you write poetry, and pick flowers, and... cry at movies, and... other geeky things I can't think of at the moment." Xander dissolved into giggles.

Spike growled low, his eyes flashing yellow. He started to get up, snarling loudly. "Watch it, Harris..."

Buffy had no clue what to do. Help one, piss off the other. Help the other, piss off the one.

"Or what, Soul boy? Gonna hit me, and be all, 'Oh, I'm so sorry!', crying about it later?"

"Guys," she began weakly, scarcely heard over the growling.

Spike stood shaking with rage. "Last warning, Whelp. And I won't regret it if I DO hit you."

Xander snorted and picked up his book.

Spike, still vamped, sat down. As long as Xander didn't push him, it would be fine.

"William the Bloody Awful Poet..", Xander muttered.

Spike roared and nearly jumped across the table at Xander, stopped only by Giles grabbing the back of his shirt.

Buffy had Xander by his, yanking back. "Stop it!"

Giles held Spike still, holding him in a half hug and rubbing the agitated vampire's back in a way that was supposed to calm them down, in theory at least. But it seemed to be working. Spike's growl faded to a low rumble, and he relaxed under the Watcher's ministrations. He was still vamped, though, and glaring at Xander with yellow eyes.

Xander wasn't so cooperative. Buffy was still pulling at him. "Xander, knock it off."

"Lemme go, Buff!"

She had a hand planted on his chest. "Do you really want me to?? Do you really want me to let one of my best friends go to fight a VERY pissed off guy, who despite all else, is STILL a vampire, being WAY stronger than you?"

"I'm not going to fight him. I was just teasing. God! Can I help it if Mr. Big Bad is so sensitive?"

Low snarl. Giles started his rubbing again. "Easy, Spike. Easy."

"Stop. It."

Xander snorted. "Fine."

"No. Not fine." She started pulling him behind her, to shield them between rows of books. "Now, what the hell is your problem?"

"What are you talking about? I've always teased Spike. It's what I do."

"That was not teasing, Xander, that was absolutely mean. Now... WHAT is wrong with you?"

He practically growled. "I don't like him. You're too good for him, and he doesn't deserve you and, and..." He started sobbing quietly. He wasn't talking about Buffy at all...

She wrapped her arms around Xander's waist.

He sniffed. "Why?", he asked quietly. "Why him? Of all people, living and dead, why Spike!?"

She said slowly, sadly, "Because he was there, and we weren't."

Xander laid his head on Buffy's shoulder. "How do I... make the hurt stop? She... hates me. Why don't you hate him?"

She petted him softly, running her hand over the hair on the back of his head to his neck, over and over. "You got stop... stop hurting yourself. And she doesn't hate you, Xander... She's hurt, and scared and confused."

"...so am I.."

Her own tears started pooling, but she bit them back. Hard. "We all are. We're all afraid, and hurting." She hugged him. "But we all love eachother, and that's what makes us Scoobies."

"Even Spike? Cause I sure as hell don't love him."

She winced. "And he sure as hell doesn't love you. But he cares, Xander. He's-" She stopped. Not her confession to give, not her solace to beg. "He's a Scooby. And that alone deserves respect."

Xander nodded, and let out a low chuckle as he pulled back. "But *glasses*? And I saw the Scooby keychain, by the way."

She gave a small smile. "He's excited. He likes... being a part. Give him a break." She gave him a stern look. "And I've seen you in a Speedo, Mr. Swim Team. Want me to bring THAT up?"

"Undercover operation," Xander said indignantly. "And no. Please. I'll do anything."

She looped her arm through his. "You can start by sharing the bucket of hot wings with Spike, then at least TRYING to play nice with him. If I need dishes done, I'll give you a call."

Long suffering sigh. "Do I have to? How do you play with a vampire nicely? They're vicious, mean, scary, things!"

She gave him a look. "Who started all this? I'm not saying go out and apologize on bended knee. I'm saying, don't talk until you can say something civil, or addressed to the group as a whole. And he's not... well, he can be... but not to us."

"I know, I know. But you still didn't answer my question. How do you play with a vampire?"

She suppressed a grin. "I dunno... talk about TV, or manly things... cars. Music...?"

He shook his head. "Nuh uh on all counts. TV: We don't watch the same programs. Manly things? Spike's not interested in discussing construction. Cars: He's got a beat up DeSoto, and a motorcycle, while I'm taking the bus to work. Out of my league. And music? I wouldn't even know where to start. Besides, Spike doesn't strike me as the playful type."

She was careful of her words. "He can be. Just... joke with him. Neutral topic...Have you met the guy Dawn's been dating?" 'Gold,' she thought.

Xander snorted. "You mean 'Andrew'? I don't like him. Wimpy little guy."

"Mmm... You and Spike could talk about him." She nodded. Apologized to Dawn in her head. "Dawn wore lip gloss AND eyeshadow."

Xander bristled. "I'm talking to her when she gets back." He tugged Buffy's arm. "Let's go. The other's are probably dying of boredom without us."

She laughed as Xander trooped into the room with her trailing behind. She checked Spike's face for signs of... anything.

He was relaxed, reading over Giles' shoulder while eating a hot wing. Looked up. His eyes darkened at the sight of Xander, then looked confused when he waved at him. He looked at Buffy.

She made a hopeful face, biting her bottom lip.

Spike grinned. 'Don't bite too hard, luv. Or I'll have to come stop the bleeding for you.'

Her jaw popped open, her lip freed. Looked quickly around, almost questioning if the other's could hear. She took her seat by him, leafing through the boring book again. Her eyes and Anya's met over the table. Anya made a hopeful face at the other woman. Buffy gave a small grin and nod.

Xander cleared his throat. "So, Spike...", he began.

Spike looked up, suspicion and anger flashing his eyes.

Xander swallowed. "Uh, have you met Dawns new 'boyfriend'?"

Spike growled, and Xander tensed, until the vampire spoke. "Bleedin' wanker, the boy is."

Xander grinned and nodded. "Tell me about it..."

They continued this conversation, all traces of anger at each other leaving their voices and postures.

Buffy's own tension left her back, and her empty hand crept off the table to dangle between them. She reached over, lightly touched the tips of his fingers with hers.

Still talking to Xander, Spike entwined their hands, rubbing his thumb lightly on her palm.

She gripped his hand gently. A quiet, 'Thank you,' echoed through her head as she and Giles chatted about how the demon was gurgling.

'You're welcome, luv,' Spike answered, laughing at something that Xander had said. He began to gently scrape his nails over her palm, playfully.

Her stomach clenched, and she lost her train of thought. "It was kinda- um... ya know, just...." she cast around in her mind for a word. Any word. "Gurgly?"

Giles chuckled, inclining his head toward Spike, asking without speaking about it if there was a problem.

Spike's other hand went under the table, holding Buffy's arm still while he lightly ran his fingers up her arm.

She smiled. "He was um... like he had a lot of spit in his mouth. He could have still been talking- uh. English."

"Ah. That narrows the list," Giles said, looking down at his book.

Spike pinned her hand between his knees, and began very lightly tickling the inside of her elbow.

She jerked in her seat slightly.

Spike grinned. 'Found a button.' He increased the tickling, determined to make her laugh out loud. Let's see her explain that.

She snorted out a giggle, looking totally mortified.

Giles guessed what was happening and chuckled.

Spike slid his other hand lightly across her ribs.

Anya looked at her, slightly distressed that Buffy was snorting, while she was trying to not look like she was looking at Xander.

Buffy gave another giggle.

Xander glanced at her. "Something wrong?"

Spike's wandering fingers found her armpit. Began to wiggle.

She laughed. "Oh.... uhhhh... this... this demon... he... looks all snotty. And- he speaks Fjorle... ya know, like Giles was when he was all grrr and demon-ee, and I thought it was realllllly really funny"

Giles chuckled and shook his head again.

Spike dropped his hand for a moment, waited for Buffy to relax, then went for her belly button. This was fun!

She laughed hard.

Xander looked at her. "No demon's that funny."

Spike continued his assault.

She stood. "I think it's my hours.... ya know, DoubleMeat's a pain... I've been up so early, and this..." She gave a huge, mega-watt, 'I'm just fine' Buffy smile. "I'm getting kinda punchy. I think it's bedtime." She itched at her bellybutton.

Spike chuckled. "Need help?" He reached for her again. Knowing he was going to pay for this when they got home. He had a feeling he'd just used up all three strikes.

She swatted at his hands. "Nope. Just fine. Gotta get home. Umm.. Dawn and Andrew were supposed to be back at 10, and it's 11 now, so... Don't wanna find them on the couch bit-necking. Don't wanna find them on the couch necking."

Spike chuckled again and stood. "I'm coming with. You might need help if 'Andrew' turns nasty."

Xander chuckled. "Bite him for me."

Spike laughed. "Maybe. But I hate it when I get food poisoning."

Xander and Giles chuckled.

Anya realized belatedly she hadn't been paying attention. Laughed loudly.

Spike headed for the door, held it for Buffy. "After you, luv."

She gave a quick wave, then ducked out the door. "Bye!"

Spike trotted after her. "Wait up, luv." He let the door close behind him.

She let him catch up, then hit him in the shoulder.

"Ow." He grinned.

"Very cute, tickle boy. Now they think I'm psycho."

He chuckled. "Naw. Rupert knew what was going on. And you could have told them."

She arched her eyebrow. "Oh? That you were pawing me under the table? Because that would have improved relations across the board."

"That I was playing with you. Not 'pawing', which makes me sound like a cat."

Her eyebrow never lowered. "Cuz you aren't?"

"I'm not a cat!"

She sighed, stopped walking and grabbed his hand, started stroking his palm.

His eyes closed almost immediately, and he purred.

She stopped as soon as the purr started in earnest. Started to scratch his back.

He arched against her hand, knees feeling weak. Purring got louder.

She stopped her hands, shoved them in her pockets and waited for his eyes to open.

He looked at her sheepishly. "Doesn't prove anything."

She said dryly, continuing on her way, "Just come running when I rattle the food bag."

He trotted to catch up to her again. "So, no payback for what I did back there?"

She just looked at him. "You broke your own rules."

"Did I?"

"You tickled without three strikes."

He lowered his head. "Yeah. Unless you count the 'kissless week' which, I think, had three strikes in it. Besides. I've used up all three tonight, anyway."

Buffy looked over her shoulder. "I dunno what I'm gonna do with you. And the kissless week? Not even fair. You need real reasons that I irritated you."

"Can I count back a couple of years? And I've already surrendered my strikes. That should even it out."

She gave a snort. "No! You didn't make the rules till tonight. Nothing but tonight counts."

"Ok. I give. You win. How can I make it up to you?" He caught up to her. By then, they were outside her house. A quick whiff told the vampire that Dawn was already home, and in bed, and that her date had left some time before.

She shrugged. "How long have you been back?"

"About three months, why?"

She shrugged. "Just wondered, CZ, ya know, we don't even have one date on record."

"Movie night wasn't a date? And, we were holding hands tonight. That seems a 'date' thing."

She gave another mega-watt smile. "You're right. Date-age."

He grinned. "I'm gonna get it when we get inside, aren't I?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm gonna go inside and go to bed." Another too-big smile. "I'll talk to you later, yeah?"

He looked kind of disappointed. "Oh. I.. I can't stay here?"

She nodded. "Sure. If you want to, absolutely."

He cocked his head. "You're not planning something, are you, luv?"

Shook her head. Thanked whoever cared that she had mastered a mental block. "Nope. I'm just... Tired. Ready for jamma's and bed."

He grinned. "Ok." Followed her in the door and immediately flopped on the couch. "Night, luv."

She gave a small grin. "Night." In her room, she closed the door carefully. Her very bright smile faded, and a few tears slipped. Scooby- age was date-age. So... how many dates had she been on with Xander, and Giles, and Willow, and Anya? She swiped at her eyes quickly, and went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.

She wasn't as good at the mental block thing as she thought. Spike knocked on the bathroom door.

She let the water run as she scrubbed a cloth across her face. "Just a minute," she said quietly.

"I just wanted to ask you somethin', luv."

She clenched her teeth, and closed her eyes tightly. "Hmm?" Bottom lip firmly in place between lips.

"Tomorrow night... uh, would you... um.. that is, like to... Uh..." He stopped annoyed at the old William that seemed to be making his presence known more and more these days.

She was tired and wanted a good cry. Took a big silent breath, wondered if she should open the door. "What?" It came out more weary than she would have liked.

"...go to dinner? Or a movie? Or just drive around, or somethin'?", he said quietly, extremely embarrassed that he hadn't asked sooner.

Her eyes flooded again. Blinked hard. Calm. Calm. "Um... sure... if... if you want to."

He caught the rush of emotion. "Luv, what's wrong? I thought.. I thought you wanted to go on a date..."

She scrubbed the washcloth across her eyes. "I do." Glared at her reflection in the mirror. Stop that. Stop the flooding.

"...then why were you crying?"

She smacked the cloth down on the sink and sighed. "I don't know. I feel like it. I feel like I deserve a good cry. And I'm not good at them, and I don't know how to do them..."

Low, embarrassed chuckle. "Learn from me, then." He slowly opened the door, looked at her.

She ducked her head when he came in. Her throat was closing. She wasn't used to this kind of release. Hers was usually bloody and violent. Not passive.

He cocked his head. "If you need to cry, just let it out. If you need to beat on something, I'm right here. Whatever you need, I'll be it. Or at least try." Mental snort. When did he start speaking in quasi poetry?

The first shuddering sob fell out.

He moved to her, then stopped, waiting for her to motion that she needed him. "S'ok, luv. Let it out."

She made a helpless motion with her hands. "It's so *hard*," she ground out between her wretching, embarrassing sobs. "I can't... balance everything."

He wrapped his arms around her. "I know, it's okay. Just let it go, luv. You don't have to balance everything. I'm here, and the others want to help. Just let us."

She shook her head against his chest. "No it's not... I can't... I can't be everyone's buffer... I can't balance being with you, and... and not hurting Xander. And I can't stand Xander hurting. And... Willow. I wanna... I wanna shake her till she gets better. I can't- I can't figure us out."

Spike rubbed comforting circles on her back. "Shhh. I know. Neither can I. But you know what? I don't think you have to buffer between Xander and I anymore."

She gave a very undignified sniff and looked up at him. "Xander?"

"Yeah. Xander."

She suddenly wanted to shake Spike, too. "How does not being able to figure us out not drive you crazy?"

"It does! You people are some of the weirdest people I've ever met! My own post turning family excluded, of course."

She sniffed again, hit his chest. "I know! How messed up can we be??"

He chuckled. "Do you really want me, the evil master vampire who fell in love with a Slayer, got a soul, and is doing his best to fit in with a bunch of humans, to answer that?"

She gave a watery chuckle and shook her head no. "A world of no." She put the heels of her hands to her eyes. "I'm gonna feel hung-over tomorrow."

"Maybe, but you feel better now, don't you?"

She gave a small nod. "But my stomach feels all... shaky and tight."

He hugged her tightly. "Mine too. Maybe it's me." He pulled back, holding her shoulders. "Want me to stay with you? Just till you fall asleep?"

Her eyes squarely, embarrassedly on the black cloth covering his chest, she nodded.

He smiled, cupped her chin and made her look at him. "I love you, Buffy Anne Summers, and your little pals, too." A playful snort. "Hell. I'm even starting to like Har- Xander."

She gave a small smile, her stomach loosening imperceptibly. It was still so hard to get out. "I..." God, with puffy eyes, no makeup, and a huge crying fit. Wasn't that just like her? "I love you, too." It was quiet. But it was there.

"I know." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her to bed. "Come on, luv. We don't want to wake Niblet up."

She crawled in bed, waiting till he lost his shoes, and whatever else he needed to to even try to pull up the covers.

Spike sat on the side of the bed. "Mind if I take off my shirt? No innuendo intended."

She shrugged, back to him. "It's fine. We've slept in l-" She stopped. "It's fine."

He smiled, removed his shirt, and laid down beside her. "I'll stay on top of the covers, if you want."

She shook her head slowly. She needed closeness, and to be warm. "If you don't want to..."

He crawled under the covers, cuddling against her. "Actually, I was hoping you'd say that I didn't have to." He nuzzled her for a moment. "This is so much more comfortable, after all."

She squirmed her back against him. There was the warmth she was looking for. "Yeah." A small silence. "Spike?"

"Yeah?", he whispered against the back of her neck.

She pulled the blankets closer around them. "Can you... can you leave tomorrow, and come and pick me up?"

He grinned. "Sure." He snuggled closer, ready to doze off, then he had a thought. "Luv?"

She was almost asleep, her eyes already stinging. "Hmm?"

"I really am going to pay for what I did at the shop, aren't I?", he grinned, knowing the answer. She never missed an opportunity, after all.

Very sleepily, she muttered, "In spades if you don't go to sleep..."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Mmm.." She snuggled back against him. "Spike?"

"Yeah?"

Slurred, barely hanging onto consciousness, the Slayer said, "Sleep."

Kissed the back of her neck. "Night, luv..."

His 'luv' was already asleep.