Chapter 3

It was a few weeks into term and Riley had nearly moved into the flat. Buffy had realised very quickly that the only way to ever see her friends was to make her home the social hub of the group so it had become a fairly open house. Riley was at her side almost constantly these days and, though she found it a little claustrophobic, she put it down to the fact that he loved her and that's what couples were like.

Wednesday afternoon found them all sitting in the living room watching TV. Not that there was much on but that didn't deter them as they watched reruns of "Grange Hill" and "Blue Peter" almost endlessly when they didn't have lectures.

"This programme's never been the same since they stopped saying 'and here's one I made earlier'," Xander bemoaned as the Blue Peter Presenter produced a model of Wembley Stadium made completely out of used household items and poster paint.

Everyone looked up as two sets of feet tramped down the stairs and Oz appeared with a guy that none of them had met before. Buffy examined the newcomer. He wasn't exactly tall but the way he stood seemed to make him appear tall though she wasn't sure why. He was definitely striking and just seemed to scream 'hey everyone, look at me' with his cut glass cheekbones, piercing blue eyes and bleached blonde hair. She really wasn't sure what to think.

"Hey everybody," Oz was saying, "this is Spike – we're working on a project together.

"Spike, this is Willow, Tara, Xander, Riley and Buffy." Oz indicated the figures scattered around the room. The newcomer eyed the group before him and his gaze fell on the petite blonde on the sofa. He stared at her and, as she returned his gaze, he knew that he just couldn't let it lie.

"Buffy – what kind of a stupid name is that?" Spike asked with a smirk

"Oh, and pot, kettle, black, Spike !"

"Yeah, well, at least I have a proper name that's not all stupid." He was thrown slightly by her quick retort and struggled for a witty comeback. He failed.

"And that would be?"

"William"

"Hah! That's worse than Spike." She snorted derogatively and turned back to the TV.

"Yeah, right – Betty!"

"It's Buffy!"

"Whatever!" He threw himself down onto the sofa. "You know, this programme's never been the same since they stopped saying 'and here's one I made earlier'."

"That's exactly what I was saying before!" Xander said to the bleached blonde without turning his head from the TV.

"Okay, speaking as one of those who don't remember them ever saying 'and here's one I made earlier, may I please say 'huh'?" said Buffy.

"Damn colonials, they just don't understand the intricacies of English telly – Blue Peter is a mainstay of children's TV. We were raised on this stuff and they always used to say 'and here's one I made earlier' whenever they produced the finished thing."

"I disagree with the whole mainstay thing," Riley interrupted, "I could never stand Blue Peter as a kid."

"How could you not religiously watch this? You'll be saying next that you never watched 'Why Don't You'!" Xander looked over at Riley with a look of shock.

"Nope. Well, not until the summer I took my A-levels and then I didn't miss a show."

"Okay, it's official – all British people are weird!" Buffy laughed as she got up to make herself a drink.

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Spike and Oz had finally decided that their assignment couldn't be put off for any longer and they were sat in front of Oz's computer trying to get the whole thing finished as quickly as possible.

"Man, this is going nowhere. I gotta take a break!" Oz stood up and stretched. "You want a drink?" he called, heading for the kitchen.

"Sure."

Oz was back a couple of minutes later and handed Spike a glass.

"Thanks." He took a sip of the liquid and turned to Oz. "So, that Buffy chit seems alright." He raised an eyebrow expectantly as he waited for Oz's reply.

"Don't even bother, man. That one is most definitely taken."

"Oh. Right." Spike tried to hide his disappointment. "Let me guess – that Riley bloke."

"Yeah. Those two are joined at the hip - together almost constantly. You'd think he lived here, he spends so much time here."

"He doesn't?"

"Nah – he lives in the flat upstairs. Nice guy really and completely in love with her. If you're thinking about making a move, well, don't." Oz looked at his friend, waiting for the confirmation he wanted.

"Hey. That's not my style. I'd never move on another guy's girl. Know too well how that one feels from the receiving end." He shook his head and drained the glass he'd been holding. "Right! Back to work then."