"You guys did good. Chloe, make sure you put some ice on your wrist before you go to bed." Buffy said, ushering the girls back into the house. Spike followed behind her, closing the door.

"I'm getting too old for this…" She grumbled, flopping back onto the couch.

Spike chuckled, falling into the seat beside her. "You're too old?"

She looked over at him, smirking.

"Hey Buff." Xander greeted, walking in from the dining room. "How'd it go?"

"Splendid." She said sarcastically.

Xander smiled. "They'll get better, Buff. They got the best teacher in the world."

"Honestly, Harris, didn't think you thought so fondly of me." Spike said. Buffy punched him in the arm, smirking.

"Where's Willow?" Buffy asked, looking back up at Xander.

"Upstairs with Dawn and Joey. They managed to dig some of Dawn's old toys out of the attic. Dawn's room has become Barbie Central."

"Yay." Buffy said, sighing.

"So what's the plan?" He asked, tucking his hands into his pockets. "With Joey, I mean. She's too small to train, so what? We just gonna play babysitter until this is over?"

"Gonna have to." Buffy said. "Those things are after her just like the others."

"And the poor tike's less able to protect 'erself." Spike added.

Buffy sighed again, then climbed to her feet. "It's late, we should all get some sleep. Xander, you heading home?"

"Yeah, Anya, Giles, and Andrew are staying at my place tonight. I think the mob of teenage girls is slowly driving them insane."

Buffy smiled. "Wish I could join you. You staying up, Spike?"

"Slept all day, didn't I?" He asked.

She smiled. "Do me a favor and make sure the girls actually sleep tonight. They spent most of last night gossiping."

"'bout what?"

"Xander and you." She said matter-of-factly. "You are the only two guys in the house… other than Giles."

"Eww." Xander said, his face scrunching up.

"Exactly." Buffy said. "Be careful on your way home, alright?"

"Always am." Xander said, heading towards the door. "Tell Willow and Dawn I said bye."

Buffy nodded as he walked out the door.

"So where you stickin' the Bit for the night?" Spike asked.

"Joey? God, I don't know." Buffy muttered, running her hand through her hair. "Can't stick her in the basement with the other girls. I don't want her in a sleeping bag on a cold cement floor." She sighed. "I'll probably just stick her in my bed and I'll crash on the floor."

"Why don't you stick 'er on the couch? I can keep and eye on 'er down 'ere." He suggested. "'sides, you'll just wake 'er up in the mornin' when you leave for work."

"You sure?"

"'course. Now go get some sleep. I'll fetch the Pint-Size."

She gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks."

"Don't sweat it." He said, following her up the stairs. Buffy knocked lightly on Dawn's door, then pushed it open. They were greeted by a flood of Barbies. Dawn and Joey were seated in the center of the mess, and Willow was seated on the bed.

"Hey." Dawn said, smiling.

"Bedtime." Buffy said. "You got school in the morning."

"But-"

"No but's. Bed. Now." Buffy stated. "Joey, you're gonna go sleep downstairs, alright?"

The girl looked up at Willow, as if making sure it was okay.

"Come on, sweety. I'll take you downstairs." Willow said, standing. Joey followed suit, taking the redhead's hand and following her out into the hall. "Night Dawn."

"Goodnight." Joey called, waving over her shoulder.

"She seems far less scampy than she was earlier." Spike noted.

"Yeah." Dawn said, pushing Willow's Barbies off of her bed. "Once me and Willow told her we had toys she wouldn't shut up."

Buffy nodded and smiled. "Goodnight."

"'night, Bit." Spike said, following Buffy back out into the hall.

"Here, I'll get you some blankets and stuff to take downstairs." The Slayer said, walking across the hall and into her room. Spike followed after her, taking a seat on her bed as she rummaged through her closet. She pulled a large quilt out, handed it to him, and grabbed a pillow from her bed. "And no bedtime stories." She warned, giving him a playful glare.

"Who me?" He asked innocently. "Why would I tell the poor girl ghost stories right 'fore bed? Do I look like some kinda monster?"

She smirked and pushed him out the door.

Joey looked up from her seat on the couch as he walked downstairs, pillow and blanket in hand. "Where'd Red get to?" He asked, setting the bedding down next to the girl.

"The kitchen." She answered, her eyes following his every move.

"For what?"

"I'm thirsty." She said simply.

He smirked. "Already got everyone tending to your every whim, 'ey?"

She just stared at him.

"Here ya go, cutey." Willow said, handing the girl a glass of water as she walked back into the room.

"Thank you." The girl said, sipping at the glass.

"I'll see you in the morning, kay?"

Joey nodded. "Night."

"Sleep tight." Willow said, smiling at the girl.

"Night Red." Spike offered as the girl walked away. He turned back to Joey, who was staring at him expectantly. "You done?"

She nodded, holding out the glass to him. He rolled his eyes and took it, placing it on the coffee table. "Right then, scootch for a minute so we can make the couch a bit more bed-like, 'ey?"

"You talk funny." She stated, standing.

"Gee, thanks luv." He said, tossing the pillow on the one end of the couch. He unfolded the quilt. "Right, up ya go. Bedtime."

"I can't."

"Can't?" He questioned. "Can't what?"

"I can't go to bed." She said.

"And why not?"

"I don't have any 'jamas."

"Jamas?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"I can't sleep in my jeans." She said, her voice implying that he was rather stupid for thinking she could.

"Oh, uhm… well. Wait here a tick, I'll see what I can do." He said, tossing the blanket back onto the couch. She stared at him as he disappeared down the hallway.

"You lot are supposed to be asleep." He stated, marching down the basement steps.

"We're not tired." Molly said.

"Besides, it's not like we're doin' anythin' tomorrow anyway." Vi added.

"Rumor has it Red, Harris, and Anya are takin' you on a little field trip tomorrow." He said, walking over them.

"Field trip?" Vallerie questioned.

"Where to?" Kennedy asked.

"Mall." He said simply. "But you didn't hear it from me, 'right?"

They all nodded and giggled.

"Right then. Now do any of you lot know what a little girl's 'sposed to wear to bed?" He asked, looking around.

"Pajamas." Chloe said.

"I know that." He said, eyeing her as he dug through a box in the corner. "What kind of pajamas?"

"Oh! I used to have these little pink ones with stars all over 'em when I was Joey's age!" Molly said.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Sorry, pet. Not quite my style."

"Just give her a big t-shirt." Kennedy suggested. "That'll work."

"You sure?" He asked.

"S'what I used to do." Vallerie said.

Spike nodded and pulled one of his black tees from the box. "It'll have to do." He said, standing. "Now go to sleep. Slayer'll have my hide if you're up all night." He said, walking back towards the stairs, careful not to step on any of the sleeping bags.

There was a chorus of  'Night Spikes' as he headed back up stairs. Walking back into the living room, he found Joey in the same place he had left her. He tossed the shirt at her. "There. Pajamas. Now go to sleep."

"I'm still thirsty."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. Last time." He snatched the glass from the table and headed towards the kitchen. When he returned, she was snuggled up under the blanket on the couch, her clothes discarded on the floor. "Here." He said, handing her the glass.

She sat up, taking it from him. Even though it was short-sleeved, the sleeves of his shirt went well past the girl's elbows. She handed the glass back to him. "Thank you."

"Yep." He said, setting the glass back on the table. "Now get some shut eye."

"Are you going to sleep?" She asked, watching as he sat down on the other end of the couch.

"In a little bit." He lied, grabbing the remote.

"How come?"

"I'm not tired."

"I'm not tired either." She said.

"Course you are." He said, flipping through channels.

"Uh-uh." She argued. "Can we watch cartoons?"

"No." He said, setting the remote on the arm of the couch. He reached over and grabbed the girl under her arms and layed her back down. "Now sleep."

"I don't wanna."

"Sucks to be you." He said.

She pouted. "You're mean."

"Most vampires are." He agreed.

"What?"

"Nothin'. Go to bed."

"You're a vampire?"

"Uh… no."

"I seen a vampire once." She said, sitting back up. "He had pointy teeth."

"No such thing as vampires." He stated.

"Yes there are." She argued. "I sawed one!"

"Look, kitten. It's late. Would you just go to sleep already?" He asked impatiently, looking at her.

She scowled. "I ain't tired."

Spike groaned. "Alright, if I let you watch one bloody show will you go to sleep?"

"Okay."

"Promise?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Uh-huh."

"Fine." He grumbled, flipping through the channels until he found a cartoon. He shrugged, not expecting to have found anything on this late at night.

"What's this?" Joey asked, screwing her face up.

"Damned if I know." He said, picking up the TV Guide. "Uh… s'called 'South Park'. Ever hear of it?"

"No." She said honestly, watching the screen.

Spike shrugged, watching the cartoon children on the television. They began to talk and he nearly fell out of his seat trying to change the channel. After dropping the remote, he scrambled across the floor and flicked the TV off. "What the hell was that?" he asked, looking back at her.

"What does 'Donkey-Raper' mean?" she asked curiously.

"Right. No more telly." He said, looking over at her. "You like hot chocolate?"

-----

Buffy screwed her face up as she walked into the kitchen. Evidently, Spike didn't understand the concept of 'make sure the girl gets some sleep'. The counter tops were littered with empty packets of hot chocolate, coffee mugs, the box from some macaroni and cheese, and an empty packet of blood.

"Woah. Who went binging?" Dawn asked, walking into the room.

"Spike and Joey." Buffy said, shoving the garbage into the trashcan. She made a face when a bit of the blood from the packet got on her hand. She walked over to the sink and began to scrub at it. "You ready to leave?" She asked, looking over at her sister.

"Yep." The  teen said, grabbing a granola bar from the cupboard. "I'll meet you out in the car."

"Yep." The slayer said, shaking her hand dry. "Be out in a minute." She turned and headed towards the living room. Joey was curled up on one end of the couch, sleeping soundly under the quilt, and Spike was sitting at the other end, dozing.

"Hey." She nudged his shoulder, smirking. "Sleepy head."

"Huh… what?" He blinked, sitting up.

"Nice mess you left in the kitchen." She said.

"Midnight snack." He said with a smirk.

"Yeah, well clean up after yourself next time. She's five, not you." Buffy said, nodding at Joey.

He chuckled. "Gotcha, luv."

"Good." She said. "I gotta get to work. You can head upstairs if you want, bed's free."

"Thanks, sweets." He said, watching as she headed towards the door. "Have a good day."

"I'll try." She said. "Bye."

"Bye."

Spike sighed, looking down at the girl snoozing next to him. Yawning, he stood, scooping her into his arms and heading upstairs. The SIT's would be awake soon, and there was no way she would remain asleep once they swarmed the living room.

Pushing the door to Buffy's room open, he deposited the girl on the bed, pulling the comforter over her small form. She made a soft noise, but didn't wake up. He rolled his eyes, walking back into the hall and closing the door.

As suspected, when he got back downstairs the SIT's had already began to make their way upstairs. Molly and Chao-Ahn were in the kitchen, spreading butter on some bagels.

"Mornin' girls." He said, walking over to the fridge.

"Morning Spike." They said in unison.

"Sleep good?" He asked, looking over his shoulder at them as he pulled out a packet of blood.

They exchanged small smiles.

"S'what I thought." He said, ripping it open and pouring the contents into a mug. "Just don't go complainin' 'bout bein' tired later. Don't much feel like getting' an earful from you-know-who."

"Don't worry, Spike. We'll stick it out." Molly said with a smile.

"Good girl." He said, walking back towards the living room, blood in tow. Kennedy, Rona, and Chloe had already taken over the couch.

"Hey Spike."

"Mornin' Spike."

"Hi Spike."

He arched an eyebrow at them before taking a seat on the floor. "Mornin'."

"Hey guys." Willow greeted, descending down the stairs. "Sleep good?"

"'course they did." Spike answered, grinning.

Chloe giggled. "Yeah. We slept fine."

Willow smirked. "Where's Joey?"

"Stuck her up in Buffy's room." Spike said, finishing off his breakfast.

Willow nodded. "She'll probably be out for awhile."

"What makes you say that?" He questioned.

"Spike. You're hardly the quietest person ever. I could here you two down here goofing off all night." She said with a smile.

"Were not." He argued.

"Were to." She said. "You didn't shut up until like, three."

"Two-thirty." He corrected. "And it's not my fault. She wouldn't go to sleep."

Willow rolled her eyes and headed for the kitchen. The three girls on the couch smirked at him.

"I come bearing doughnuts." Xander declared, walking in the front door. He held four dozen sized boxes of doughnuts in his hands. Andrew and Anya followed behind him. Andrew was pouting.

"I don't see why I had to be tied up." He whined. "My wrists hurt."

"Because I don't like you." Xander said informatively. "Now put these in the kitchen." He ordered, shoving the boxes into his arms.

"I hate this…" Andrew whined, obediently heading towards the kitchen.

"So, where's everyone?" He asked, walking into the living room.

"Willow, Chao, and Molly are in the kitchen, Amanda, Vi, and Vallerie are still downstairs, Joey's in Buffy's room, Buffy and Dawn left already, and uh… s'that everyone?" Spike thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, think that's it." He was quiet for a minute. "Bloody hell that's a lot of people."

"Tell me about it." Xander stated. "And for once, I'm glad to have you around. There's way too many girls running around this house."

Spike counted to himself. "Four guys, thirteen girls. I'd say we're at a slight disadvantage."

"That many?" Xander asked incredulously.

"Nine SIT's, Dawn, Red, Anya, and the Slayer." Spike said, standing up. "That makes thirteen."

"Then there's me, you, Giles, and Andrew." Xander said. "Go us."

Spike smirked, walking back into the kitchen.

TBC…

A/N: Me = Bored!! Ack. I'll prolly finish another chap by the end of the night. Go me! I'm gonna keep writing this no matter what, I'm having fun with the Spike/Joey interaction, but reviews would be appreciated. Let me know what you think, and I'm open to any suggestions.