AN: Sorry it's been so long in coming! I've suddenly went from 1 website for my own stories, to helping out on a new archive (www.recklesspassions.com) to completely re-doing a gaming site from scratch! I lost track of my writing, but hopefully, I will at the very least, finish out the stories I have open. I hope.

Also- keep in mind that chapter 15 is my smut chapter. You can find that at my site, or at the spuffy archives! Only over 17, please!

Chapter 16

Buffy awake slowly, her body drifting away from the languid sleep. As her mind came awake, she slowly stretched her lithe body against the cool sheets, and smiled. Buffy's arm slowly reached to the side, and came up empty. Opening her eyes, she propped herself up on her elbows, and glanced at the empty space beside her. The pillow was still indented from where Will's head had been.

What the-, she thought to herself with a frown. Great, he has his fun and leaves. Buffy wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, and slid from the bed. Her clothes were tossed about, and she quickly gathered one piece and then the next. As she did, however, Will came up the stairs behind her quietly, his arms laden with a tray covered in lunch.

Buffy was in the middle of stomping over to her jeans when she heard him chuckle behind her. Stiffening her back, she straightened and turned, then felt the tension drain away at the site of him with the food.

"Thought you might be hungry, pet. You a'right?" He asked her as he sat the tray on her table.

"I- yeah, it's stupid, I just… you weren't here." Buffy finished lamely.

"Well, I was only gone a coupla minutes, just wanted to make sure you had something to eat, s'all. Now, sit. It's my turn to be all domesticated. You've got work in a few hours, and you need to keep up your strength." He winked at her as he removed a cloth napkin from the first plate on the tray, and then the second. Buffy started to laugh softly at the slices of gooey pizza on the plates.

"Domesticated, huh?"

"Hey, I called the pizza joint, AND paid, AND put it on the plate. Took note from your breakfast this morning, pet. You want steak, you can pay next time." He winked once more as they both sat down to eat.

While Buffy chewed, an almost awkward silence filled the room. Buffy wrapped the blanket more snuggly around her body, and let her free hand pick at a slightly frayed edge.

"So, this is kinda awkward, innit?" His clear eyes met hers as she looked up in surprise. She quickly nodded her agreement, however.

"It's just new, that's all."

"No feelings of regret?" He almost looked scared of what her answer would be as he asked her softly.

Shaking her head no, Buffy frowned slightly, wondering why he seemed almost nervous over her answer. "No, no regret here, Will. It's just, well, new, and… I need time to adjust. That make sense?"

Will nodded and chewed as he thought on the matter. After swallowing, he bestowed a charming smile on her. "Makes enough sense for me, Buffy. Now, eat up, s we can snuggle up and watch a movie."

*

Buffy glared at the little old lady who was poking her hands into the various bins of 'magical' herbs, her goal being to try and find the best of the best. Scowling at the woman's back, Buffy turned to glance at the clock. It was already ten minutes past closing, and she was supposed to be meeting Will for dinner soon.

"Ma'am, are you certain I can't help you?" Buffy asked gently as she came up beside the woman.

The lady just shook her head and muttered about people minding their own business, then triumphantly held up a root that looked identical to all the other roots, at least to Buffy's eyes.

Buffy sighed in relief as she rang up the customer, and then sent her towards the door with an overly bright smile. Buffy trailed right behind her, and after showing her out, locked the door quickly. She hurried through the closing tasks, and shut the lights off, before leaving by the back door.

Buffy muttered under her breath as she waited for the next bus, which wasn't due for a few minutes yet.

*

Will waited at the table he had managed to reserve at the last minute, and scowled at the time. Shoulda picked her up, he thought to himself. He started to smile as the chair in front of him was pulled out, only to scowl when he realized it was Drusilla and Angel. Great, just bloody great, he thought.

"That seat's taken, so leave." Will glared up at the pair, before glancing towards the door.

"Oh, my little Spikey's upset, my love. He doesn't want to see me." Drusilla turned a pout towards Angel before turning back to whimper at Will.

"Name's not Spike, Spikey, or any of the other sick little names you came up with. It's Will. Now leave, before I have management remove you."

"Now, William, is that anyway to treat an old friend, and the lady you hold a torch for?" Angel's silky voice purred as he reached over and took a drink from Will's glass.

"Yes, it is, and I don't hold a torch anymore. Got a new one. Scurry on off, go eat your young or something. I'm busy."

"Oh, but we're eating here, too. Hope your date doesn't keep you waiting much longer." Angel held his hand out, and Drusilla placed her daintily into it, before standing. She blew a kiss to him, and they stepped away, but only moved a few feet. Their table was only over by a row, and back one. They would be right there the entire time, watching and mocking him.

Will scowled, and trained his eyes on the door, just as Buffy came through in a flurry. She looked flustered, her hair was wind swept, and there was what appeared to be a root sticking to one side. She was shown to the table, and without a word, Will smiled, and plucked the root from her hair.

Buffy's blush was instant, and she ducked her head with an embarrassed sort of smile.

"Sorry I'm late, we had this woman in there who just wouldn't leave."

"S'not a problem, love." All ready, Will had pushed the thoughts of Angel and Drusilla out of his mind, and focused on the flustered girl in front of him.