Chapter 8

Buffy and Spike walked into her house later that day and she closed the door once they were inside. "Mom, I'm home!" She yelled when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Spike!" Casey exclaimed as she ran over to him and he gave the girl a smile as he picked her up.

"How's my little nibblet today?" He asked her and she graced him with a smile.

"I'm fine; I drew a picture in school today. You wanna see?" He nodded.

"I would love to, princess." He said as he carried her back upstairs and Buffy smiled as she watched them go. Her little sisters loved Spike and he was so good with them. Buffy walked into the kitchen to see Joyce who looked up when when her daughter walked in.

"Did I hear Spike out there?" Buffy nodded and sat down.

"Yep, he's dealing with the brats right now. I wish him luck with that." Joyce smiled as she looked at Buffy.

"How was school, honey?" Buffy shrugged.

"It was good, I met a guy today. He's new and I offered to show him around." Joyce nodded and sat down by Buffy.

"I see, is this a decent guy?" Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I just met him, but yes he seems decent." Joyce placed her hand over Buffy's.

"They all seem decent at first, sweetheart." Buffy could feel the lecture coming.

"I get it, mom. I have to be careful. I already got the lecture from Spike. Don't need one from you, too." Joyce nodded again.

"I wouldn't dream about giving you a lecture. Spike does that so much better anyway." Buffy nodded and looked away from her mother's gaze when Joyce said something that had her looking back at her. "What about William, Buffy? He is such a nice young man and you know you can trust him since you two have known each other since you were babies." She explained.

"What are you getting at, mom? You know we're just friends." Joyce nodded.

"I know that, but that doesn't mean there can't be more between you two." Buffy shrugged.

"I admit I have thought about it, but he doesn't see me like that. I'm over that huge crush I used to have on him. I was 12 then and I'm 17 now. Right now I just see him as my best friend. He's like an older brother." Joyce nodded again and accepted her daughter's answer when Spike then came back downstairs and joined them in the kitchen. "So, how are the rug rats?" Buffy asked him and he sighed as he sat down next to her.

"They're fighting over something as usual. Taking care of those two seems like a bloody lot of work." Joyce sighed.

"You have no idea." She said as she headed out of the kitchen to see what her two children were up to now. Spike then turned his gaze back on Buffy.

"So, what were you two ladies talking about?" He asked her and she just shook her head.

"Nothing," she replied as she looked away from him. Spike figured something was on her mind, but he didn't pressure her about it. She would tell him when she was ready.