--Spike, Giles is coming in sometime today, so I had to go get the house ready. You can pick me up around 10 tonight for a patrol if you're not busy.

Buffy

PS. Thank you for last night, but mostly for this morning. I didn't wake up feeling alone, and that's more important than I think I can explain.-

Spike smiled as he read the note. He folded it neatly and place it on his nightstand. Then he rolled over and hugged the pillow Buffy had used. He took in her scent again, for maybe the millionth time since she'd been back. It meant so much to him, because before she died her scent was all he had sometimes. She might storm out of his crypt or throw him out of her house, but her scent always remained. He could pick up her trail a day later. But when she died, her scent slowly died too. He would walk past her house and for a little while, it would be there. And he could pretend she was just inside. But a few weeks later, it was completely gone. He could smell that Willow and Tara had been there, sometimes Xander and Anya. But the traces of Buffy were gone. He stopped walking by her house then. Even if he needed to go somewhere that would take him past her house, he would take a different route. He couldn't stand passing by and not smelling her.

But now she had been in his bed. He had been holding her. She had wanted him. She had needed him. Spike fell back to sleep with a smile, intoxicated by Buffy.

The reunion with Giles had went as Buffy expected. He had gotten there much earlier than she had thought possible, but when he said 'the next flight' he wasn't joking. Giles stared at her, hugged her, and said 'dear lord' quite a bit. The rest of the gang was there too, as Giles had stopped by the Magic Box first. Giles made Willow explain the spell she used, and she did, with much pride. Buffy had to make an effort not to say something rude. 'They thought they were helping,' she continually thought to herself. Giles didn't let go of Buffy's hand as he and Willow discussed the spell. Buffy found herself missing Spike. 'Why do I miss him? He's Spike! I have all my loving friends here, and I'm wishing I could talk to Spike.' Buffy decided not to dwell on it, her life was confusing enough as it was without trying to justify her friendship with a vampire. Buffy snapped out of her thoughts when Xander started talking about said blond vampire.

"What? What about Spike?" Buffy looked aggravated.

"Oh, nothing, Buff. I was just telling the G-man about how we're trying to keep Spike's little obsession curbed this time around. I mean, you just got back from hell, there's no reason you should have to put up with Spike too!" Xander laughed at himself.

"Spike's...ok. He's not doing any harm. Just leave him be." Buffy wished she could tell them all that he'd been more of a friend than they had. Instead, she settled for a mild defense. She didn't want to stir up anything, especially when Xander was on one of his anti-Spike rants.

"Ok, Buffy, whatever you say. I'll just be keeping my eye on him, is all. You're one of my girls. Gotta look after you!"

The day proceeded with more gabbing and hugging, more awestruck looks from Giles, and what Buffy thought was a little disagreement between Giles and Willow. She didn't make out all of the conversation, but it seemed Giles was concerned about Willow delving into the black magics. Giles had taken Willow into the kitchen, away from prying ears. But as everyone else was talking excitedly about what to do for dinner, Buffy focused on the other discussion. Giles sounded a bit agitated and Willow sounded defensive. When they returned to the living room, however, there were smiles all around as if nothing had happened.

After yet another exhausting day, the gang finally left. Buffy offered Giles a spare bedroom upstairs, which he accepted eagerly. As Buffy headed to the basement to return some chairs that Xander had brought up, the doorbell rang. Giles called to Buffy that he would get it.

"Oh, Spike. Yes, Buffy told me you would be dropping by. Come in."

Spike responded with a nod as he entered. "Watcher. How is everything?"

"Well, it's...overwhelming. As I'm sure you can understand."

Spike nodded again. "How's England? The tea still hot and the queen still cold?"

Before Giles could respond, a shriek startled them. Spike was in the basement before Giles could even think, but he managed to catch on quick enough. Spike found Buffy staring at herself. Or rather, the bot of herself.

"W-what is this doing here?" Buffy was wide eyed.

"Oh, well, Red fixed it up this summer and-"

"And you *used* it? Oh my god, Spike. That is so sick. I thought-"

"Oh, bloody hell, woman! I didn't use it like that! We used it for patrolling. Didn't want the demon world thinking the Hellmouth was without a Slayer."

"OH! Oh, ok. I guess that makes sense...it's still...weird."

"I can't believe you thought I'd use it...like that...again."

"Well, I'm sorry. I just thought, you probably missed me and well...you *did* have her made for that..."

Spike frowned. "I wouldn't. I couldn't, not after you...look, let's just go patrol, alright?" Spike stormed up the stairs past a slightly confused Giles.

Buffy followed Spike and called back to Giles, "Don't wait up, we'll be late."