The platinum guy walked through to the lounge and threw himself onto one of the sofas. He lit up a cigarette. The rest walked through the hall slowly, the guy in with the scarf tripping on their cases that had been left in the hall. The dark haired girl sat next to the guy smoking and lit up too.

"Glad I'm not the only smoker." she said.

"Not by half, luv." he said, smiling lazily at her.

"You're British?" she said.

"Yeah." He sat up a little straighter, "Name's Spike."

"I'm Faith."

The other girl and the scarf boy sat on the other sofa, facing them. The girl took off her coat and hat, smoothing down her silky hair.

"I'm Buffy." the blonde said.

"Hey." said Faith, smiling.

Buffy smiled back.

"Xander!" said Xander, with a goofy grin, "Is me!"

Buffy laughed softly.

"And you are, mate?" questioned Spike, as the last of their group lent against the wall.

"I'm Angel." he said quietly.

Buffy eyed him with interest, smiling. He smiled slightly in return.

"So now we all know each other." said Spike.

Everyone looked at him, expecting him to say more, but he just turned, uninterested, to look out of a window, and continued smoking.

"All of these cameras are creepy." said Faith. She stepped up to one and blew smoke into it, "Don't think I'll be able to stand it for a whole year."

"Don't get any ideas like that." said Angel, suddenly stern, "You punk out, and none of us get paid, and I didn't come here for the thrill of interacting with others."

"Well said, mate!" said Spike, suddenly willing to be part of the conversation, "And that goes for everyone here. No-one leaves, or I'll hunt you down afterward, and ram a railroad spike through your head!"

"You know, I'm gonna laugh so much if you're the first to walk." said Buffy to Spike.

Spike fixed her with a stare and grinned, "And you are, Princess? Betty, was it?"

"Buffy." she said, glaring at him.

"Well my bet is on you, Goldilocks."

"Well my bet is on you, Goldilocks." she retaliated.

Xander stifled a giggle.

The two sat glaring at each other.

Faith stood up. "Who wants to go exploring the house with me?" she asked the room.

"I'll come." said Buffy, smiling at her.

Faith returned the smile.

"Not yet...but you will..." Spike said under his breath, as the two passed him.

"I heard that!" Buffy called out from the hall.

The girls walked through an empty room on the other side of the hall and then on through to the kitchen. It was spacious, with a large table surrounded with five chairs. There was a back door that led onto the back yard.

"Oh wow, there's a pool!" said Buffy excitedly, staring out the window at the ice-coated pool.

"Awesome!" said Faith, joining her at the window, "Looks like there's a slide too."

"It's gonna be so much more fun during the summer." said Buffy.

"It's gonna be wicked fun!" said Faith. She grabbed Buffy's hand and the two ran through the other way out of the kitchen, and ended up in the lounge again.

"There's a pool." Buffy told them.

"Cool!" said Xander, "Bring on the summer!"

"Me and this piece of furniture here will check on the upstairs." Spike said boldly, standing up and heading to the hall. Angel followed him, scowling.

The two guys walked up the large staircase and onto the landing.

"Let's find the bathroom first." said Angel.

"You don't need me to hold your hand, do you?" teased Spike.

They entered the bathroom. It was bright with scrubbed, white tiles and a large old fashioned bath tub. There was also a shower cubicle.

"Not too shabby." Spike said.

There were five rooms, as well as another staircase which lead to the attic. Their names were written on plaques that were attached to the bedroom doors. The guys inspected their bedrooms, and then made their way downstairs to the others.

"What color was my room?" asked Buffy in a child like tone.

"Pink." said Angel. He and Buffy smiled at each other.

"What about mine?" asked Xander, grinning.