Chapter 2:

"Buffy, phone!" Joyce's call pierced through Buffy's dreams of calorie free chocolate. Buffy groaned. She wanted more dreams of guilt free snack foods. "It's Spike!" At that Buffy jolted out of bed and raced to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, luv. Heard you weren't feeling well, wanted to make sure my favorite midnight, or midday, snack was still alive and kicking." She grinned at his reference to their having sex at almost any time of day or night. "So 'ow you feelin' now, ducks?"

"Better, still headache, but not so bad now."

"Good to hear. Want to go out tomorrow night?"

"Well, tomorrow would be Friday, date night, so yes."

"I'll pick you up at 7 then. And wear something nice, one of those frilly, girly numbers you love so much."

"Yes, sir, drill sergeant! Anyway, it's dinnertime. I'll see you tomorrow! Buh-bye, love you."

"Love you, too." She hung up and went downstairs.

"Hey, Mom. Ooh, chicken with stars!" She sat down at the kitchen island and dug in. After she finished her first bowl the phone rang.

"Hey Buff!" It was Willow's chipper voice.

"Hey Wills, what's up?" She poured another bowl of soup as she chatted.

"Not much, I heard about you being sick."

"Does everyone know the status of my vitals at all time around here?" She giggled and slurped in more soup.

"No, Anya told Xander who told me. Big family we got going on here. Oh, and speaking of family, my darling brother is taking you out tomorrow night?"

"Yup, I'm to wear something 'pretty and frilly'. I hope he's not taking me out to see another monster truck rally!"

"Yeah, that was so unlike him, I don't really know what got into him that day!"

"He was 15, what do you expect? Anyway, he's older and wiser now. I think he's going to take me to a nice dinner tomorrow."

"Uh huh!"

"What?"

"Nothing. I just hope you have a good time!" Willow giggled.

"Okay, Wills, no more happy pills for you," Buffy though her friend a little odd. "Anyway, I'm gonna go back to bed, I still have to work for Giles tomorrow and I want to feel my best. Have a good night. Tell Tara I said 'hello.' If you see Spike, give him a hug for me!"

"Okay, will do." She hung up the phone and went back to bed hoping no one else would call.