By the time she got back to the house it was three thirty in the afternoon. Time had flown by. She opened the door with they key while balancing some bags on her hip. She pushed open the door and then closed it.

"Buffy?" She heard from somewhere upstairs.

"It's me," she called to Spike as she made her way to the kitchen, setting down her clothes bags and telescope she had found at a science store by the couch. She started to put away the food she had bought, which wasn't all that much.

"Nice to see you home," she heard close behind her and she jumped. She turned around to see Spike, carefully leaning in the shadows and staying away from the beams of sunlight that came through the windows.

"I was only gone a few hours," she said tartly, closing the cabinet door and facing him.

He shrugged.

"You're up early," she said as she leaned against the counter, noting the afternoon sun outside. Spike couldn't help noticing the way the sun from the window shone through her blonde hair and made it seem to glow. If only he could see her in the sun all the time.

"Early? I went to sleep at four. Woke up at two. That's bleedin' ten hours. More than enough sleep. I'm used to going on five or six. 'Sides, I'm an early riser."

"No need to get pissy," Buffy replied as she made her way past him. She stopped and turned.

"By the way, I told our neighbor, Katherine something or another that my last name was Summers, so yours is too I guess," she told him.

Spike made a face. "I'm supposed to be the male in this relationship," he mumbled.

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "This 'relationship' is a ruse my dear, so get used to it." That stung. She could tell by the look in his eyes that it had come out wrong. "Look I'm sorry Spike, all I meant is that not everything has to be...classic alright? Remember that this is just an act to keep me safe."

Spike nodded solemnly. "I know."

Buffy smiled. "There's about 350 dollars left and I---"

Spike interrupted her. "From what?"

"Oh," Buffy said, remembering that Spike didn't know about the letter she'd found. "I found a letter from Angel to Giles with five hundred dollars in it. I went shopping, I shopped clearance too, thank you very much. Speaking of that, where did that woman put my clothes?"

She looked around and spotted them by the door.

"Oh that Blake woman? Came here making a bunch of noise, could've woken the dead. Actually, she did," Spike said with a grin.

Buffy had to crack a smile. Spike made his way carefully into the living room. "What did you get?" He asked, reaching for the bags.

Buffy suddenly remembered the black bra and panties and raced forward. "Nothing important, just clothes," she said quickly, pulling the bag behind her back.

Spike gave her a weird look. "Ok then."

"Oh, and, a telescope, " She said casually.

"What? Why do you need a telescope?" He asked.

Buffy grimaced as she told him. "Spike, I, um, told Katherine you were...an astronomer." She mumbled the last part quietly.

"A what?!" Spike almost yelled.

"An astronomer," Buffy said defensively. At Spike's shocked look she hurried into an explanation. "I couldn't think of anything else!" She said, throwing up her hands.

Spike sputtered. "A bloody astronomer? What the hell kind of job is that? They'll think I'm a crack pot!"

Buffy gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, I just, couldn't think of anything..."

Spike gave an exasperated sigh. "Well it's too late to do anything now," he said begrudgingly.

"I'm sorry," Buffy said cautiously.

Spike shrugged. "That's really the least of my problems. Buffy I think you may have forgotten something."

Buffy looked at him, trying to think. "I did?"

Spike nodded. "Buffy, it's been almost four days since I've eaten."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh my god," she whispered.

Spike nodded again. "I've been thinking a lot and I can't think of any way I'm going to get blood either. Feeding obviously is out of the question not only because of the chip but because this neighborhood's so tight-knit. And I can't just go to the butcher and ask him for some pigs blood."

Buffy saw their predicament. She sat down on the couch. "Oh! I've got it!" She said triumphantly.

"What?" Spike asked.

"It's simple. All you do is leave every other night or so and go pick up blood. Then you take it back here and wait another couple days. It's perfect."

"And the story?" Spike asked. "What do I tell people I'm doing?"

"We could tell them...tell them, that you're visiting your grandma," she finished lamely.

Spike rolled his eyes. "I know, I'll bring the bloody telescope and tell them I need to find different positions of the stars or something to make notes."

Buffy nodded. "That's good." She sighed. "I hate lying to these people," she said softly.

"I know Buffy, but it's for your own good."

Buffy nodded and stood. "I forgot to mention that you need some new clothes too, we'll have to go shopping again."

Spike made a face. "Hate shoppin' for clothes. Most bloody annoying thing in the world. 'Specially when you can't just go in there and steal the loot."

Buffy looked shocked. "No. You can't steal from Roseland!" She protested and Spike laughed.

"Just a bit of a joke pet, don't mean to get us kicked out or arrested."

Buffy took a breath, embarrassed she had overreacted.

"Oh! That Katherine woman said she's having a dinner party tomorrow night. I really want to go. It's black tie Spike." She mentally chastised herself. She needed to remember to call him William.

Spike sighed. Getting all poofed up was *not* his idea of fun. He looked at Buffy and groaned inwardly. There she was looking all gorgeous and hopeful. He couldn't just bash that. "Whatever you want love, suppose that means we'll be needin' something to wear."

Buffy smiled. She wondered if the could buy Spike clothes and formal wear with 350 dollars. They'd have to. Besides, Spike didn't need *that* much. And with Giles' toiletries they could last another week until more money came. She realized she hated budgeting but sighed. It would just have to work.

"Thank you Spike! William," she corrected herself. "As soon as it's dark we'll go shopping ok? You *have* to see this downtown area! It's incredible!"

Spike listened as Buffy chattered away happily. If he wasn't already in love with her he knew he would have been now. She was so bloody beautiful when she was happy. "This is going to be great Sp---William. Can I call you Will? It's so much easier and all."

Spike shrugged. "You can call me whatever you want love."

Buffy smiled. "We can pull this off. I think it's going to be fun."