I own nothing. All character and script text belongs to Joss Whedon and co.

Again thanks to my reviewers. I will keep updating as often as possible though it's usually during the week, as I can't access a computer during the weekend. Will usually do major updates on Monday's though.

Buffy woke around ten thirty. But she didn't want to wake up; she wanted to stay like this. She wasn't ready to get up and face the world; she liked it where she was. She liked it with Spike and boy was he good in bed, with the.and the.and that thing he could do with his.Well that wasn't the point. She was going to have to move. She was hungry.

Spike felt Buffy wriggle but instead of letting her go he pinched her on the ass first. Buffy turned around and smiled, "I didn't know that you were awake."

"Course, pet. You're heart speeds up when you wake up, I can tell."

"Hah! I woke up before and you didn't notice."

Spike knew that she was referring to when she had gotten up to close the curtains, he pointed at them, "Considerate of you pet."

Buffy's eyes widened a little, "You really do notice."

Spike pulled her back onto the bed, "I always notice." Buffy didn't hesitate to return the kiss that Spike planted on her lips. She was about to get back underneath the covers when the phone rang, "Sorry, I have to get it, I don't know if Dawn's still in."

Buffy grabbed her robe and ran down the stairs, "Hello?"

"Hey Buffy."

Buffy smiled, "Hey Will. What's up?"

"What? Did you forget? We're mean to be helping you to move out of the dorm and back into your mom's permanently. You did forget huh?"

"Yeah. But it's no problem, I'll just get dressed and meet you there in an hour."

"Okay Buff. Dawn was dropped off here this morning, by your mom, who said she was feeling better by the way. Anyway, Dawn said that shed help us out. So that makes, me, you, Xander, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Tara oh and of course Riley."

Buffy felt her stomach clench, oh god Riley! What was she going to do? She had deliberately not thought about it. She hadn't wanted to think about it. She had wanted to be with Spike. She had.oh god.she had cheated on Riley. And technically, she was cheating on Spike with Riley if she saw him today. What was she going to do? "Will, I'll see you in an hour okay?"

"Yeah sure Buff."

Buffy put the phone down and headed back upstairs to the bathroom.

Buffy went back into her room. Spike held out his hand and she took it without thinking. He pulled her down onto the bed and kissed her, but she pulled away. "Spike I need to talk to you."

Spike heard the seriousness in her voice; whatever had been said over the phone had effected her, "What's wrong pet?"

"I'm kinda moving back into well.here. With mom being sick, I need to be here and now with Dawn.well I need to be here. And we're all going over to the dorm to move me out."

Spike could see that she was trying to say something and she didn't seem to be able to get it out, "Buffy, what are we getting around to here pet?"

Buffy squirmed, "Well I need everyone's help, Dawn, Willow, Giles.and Riley."

Spike stiffened. He had almost seen this coming. He had no idea how to deal with this, but at the mention of Riley's name, he had the sudden urge to vamp out and growl 'your mine'. And yet, he didn't feel that he could call that, he wanted to, he wanted to make this tiny blonde mortal 'his', but he didn't know if she would let him. Spike climbed out of bed and grabbed his jeans, "It's okay then, I'll just get out of your hair."

Buffy felt guilt stab her, "I'm sorry Spike. But what am I meant to say, 'Hey sorry Riley but I have to spend the day with my lover'?

Spike stood and looked at her, he still had to shirt on and Buffy was trying desperately to not look, "Is that what I am pet? Your lover? Your bit on the side?"

Buffy didn't know what to say, "I didn't mean for it to come out like that but what do you want me to say? I know that I feel something here but it's just."

Spike's heart sank, "What pet? Not good enough for you? I had the feeling."

"No that's not what I mean.meant." Buffy hesitated for a second trying to find the right words, "Riley is everything I've ever wanted, a nice, normal, guy. Someone who I can be real with because he is real, he isn't something belonging to the world I have to live in."

Spike walked over to her and ran a hand over her breast, "Is that really enough for you pet, 'nice.normal'? Is that all you need? I don't think that he really is enough? I don't think that he is all you need. I could tell last night, the way we were, touching you were getting something that you don't get with him."

"I don't know, God I'm not ready to deal with this not this too. I.I'm sorry, I feel something for you but I just don't know if I can deal with this. It's just.it's a little too uh right now."

Spike felt sympathy for her, she didn't need him pushing her with everything else she had do deal with, her mom, her sister, "Look Slayer. I don't care what tell Riley, but you can come to me and I won't say anything. You can come to me and I'll be there for everything. Including an incredible night like last night, but if you let him touch you, it's over I can't handle that. I wont share you."

Buffy looked at Spike, he still wanted her, still loved her? He said that he would wait, but Riley.how would she explain her not wanting him? "How do I explain?"

"Not my issue pet. If you want to call it off completely fine. I don't want you to, but if that's your choice otherwise, I'll wait and still be here, but you don't sleep with him. What do you say? For now at least?"

Buffy didn't know what to say, what was she meant to say? Spike was practically offering to start a.a what? She didn't want to think too much about that, though she did know what he actually meant. The idea of starting an affair made her stomach turn. She wouldn't choose she couldn't but she didn't know if she could do without Spike not after.what had happened. And how would she explain to Riley how she went off him? God this was making her head spin. Buffy took a deep breath and looked at Spike. She wasn't going to lose him, but if she chose him she'd have to give up all pretence at a normal life, she wasn't going to do that either. She couldn't she wasn't ready. Buffy nodded. Spike didn't seem happy but resigned as he nodded too and pulled her against him kissing her. Stopping any thoughts going through her head she returned the kiss. Spike slipped her robe off her shoulders and kissed her neck and throat. Buffy was late for meeting the guys.