Elizabeth had woken up the next morning slightly sore but at the same time last night had been one the best of her life. Spike had kept his promise. Last night was special. She certainly would never forget it and the thought that Spike would soon be gone and out of her life forever was a saddening one even though she had just met the man hours before.

"Mmm" Spike started to wake and tightened his hold on her. Elizabeth relaxed into his grip until she took a look at his clock. "Oh shit!" Buffy jumped out of bed and began searching for her clothes.

"What's the matter?" Spike questioned still half asleep. "My mom is so gonna kill me!" Buffy stated as she frantically searched the room for her clothes.

"Your mom?" Spike may have been sleepy but he was pretty sure there was something wrong with that statement.

Buffy froze. Shit! She thought. "Yeah,I'm having breakfast with my mom. She doesn't live too far away, we get together every once in awhile and she hates it when I'm late" Buffy closed her eyes and prayed he bought that.

"Oh of course",Buffy exhaled the breath she had been holding. Thank god. "Well I guess I'll be going now." Buffy began to walk to the door slow but steady knowing she had to leave but not quite wanting the experience to end.

"Hey Buffy I know I'm leaving and all but you know if you're ever in LA you know my name and I'm listed"

Elizabeth turned towards him and smiled at him sweetly "Ok, I will." And with that she turned back to the door and left.

***************************** Elizabeth was exhausted she had forgotten how long the walk was from the apartment buildings to her home. She sighed in relief as her house finally came into view.

She walked up the walkway and opened the front door. What she found inside terrified her. Inside were her mom, her dad, and her sister all screaming and shouting most likely about her whereabouts.

"Oh man" Elizabeth tried to slowly sneak up the spiral staircase but that dreaded fifth step that Dawn had always warned her about in her rants about escaping had just ruined that plan.

"Damn" Elizabeth whispered to herself as a loud creak seemed to echo across the room. Joyce a.k.a. Mom turned around at the noise and Elizabeth didn't know if she'd ever seen a look so filled with worry in her life. This made Elizabeth's gut drop as guilt filled her.

"Oh my God my baby are you okay? I was so worried! Where have you been?" The questions came one after another and Elizabeth felt overwhelmed as she considered that last question.

I mean yeah the whole point of her plan was to show her parents she wasn't their perfect little girl but at the same time she wasn't ready to get herself killed.

"I was out with Willow." Elizabeth replied hoping she wasn't transparent. The looks around the room were not ones of disbelief so that was good but at the same time they weren't happy looks either so that is not of the good.

"You went out with Willow all night without telling us?"

I can't do this. I never go against my parents. I could just make up some lie about studying and falling asleep and get out of this, Elizabeth thought but in the end hesitantly answered, "Umm yeah I guess."

"Where'd you two go until nearly 10:00 in the morning?"

"Oh after we went back to Willow's and I accidentally fell asleep, I'm sorry." Elizabeth looked down at the floor hoping her lying skills would work. She was so scared she knew she must be shaking there is no way she was gonna get away with this, But after a few moments of almost unbearable silence her father spoke up for the first time.

"Elizabeth your mother and I are very disappointed in you." There was a long pause before he continued "Both you and your sister are to go to your rooms. Your mother and I will discuss how we are going to handle this."

Elizabeth almost started to cry at the looks her mother and father were giving her but when she thought about the plan and how many times Dawn had dealt with those looks for no reason her resolve came flooding back to her. So with a determined step she grabbed Dawn's hand and headed up the stairs.

When they reached the top step Elizabeth released Dawn's hand and headed towards her room. She was exhausted from everything that had happened over the past 12 hours.

"Hey Elizabeth wait." Dawn halted her progress. "What do you want Dawn? I'm tired, crabby, and sore."

"Sore?" Dawn questioned with a large smirk spreading across her face. Even though Dawn wasn't wrong Elizabeth put a disgusted look on her face, "From the walk home stupid"

"Whatever" Dawn called out as she turned to go to her room. Elizabeth was too exhausted to think anymore so she went into her room and collapsed onto her bed. **********************

2 hours later

Dawn entered her sister's room and was surprised to find her still asleep. Dawn let out a sigh and went to sit on Elizabeth's bed.

"Lizzie" Dawn whispered "Time to get up" nothing Elizabeth didn't budge. Oh well Dawn thought. Plan B

"ELIZABETH!!"

Elizabeth sprang out of bed and ended up on the floor ready to kill the person responsible for this disturbance.

"Dawn you have 30 seconds left to live. Any last words?"

"Wait!" Dawn exclaimed. "I had to wake you up." She continued to plead. "Why is that?" Buffy asked disbelievingly.

"Mom and Dad are about to come up and make sure you've been helping me with my homework like I said you were."

"Why did you tell them that?"

"Well it was either that or they would've come up here and realized you were up here sleeping the day away. Since its like 3:00 in the afternoon now."

"Yeah I guess that is better not to piss them off anymore. Thank you."

"No problem. It's what a sister is for." Dawn smiled. "Besides I've been waiting to help you out of trouble for awhile now."

Elizabeth giggled "Ok so where's that homework?"

"Wait I got a question to ask" "What?" Elizabeth asked knowing she wasn't going to like what was next.

"What did you really do last night?" Sister never disappoint do they Elizabeth thought. "Dawn I told you guys I was out with Willow."

"Elizabeth I've known you longer than that and I know that you're not telling me something but fine if you don't want to tell me see if I care." With that Dawn stomped out of the room to get some homework to pretend to do.