"Give us a sec, okay?" Buffy called to Gunn and Oz who stood in Spike's living room, as she closed the door.

Illyria had excused herself a while ago, deciding that if there was no violence to participate in then she had better things to do. The Slayer didn't turn around for a moment, just staring at the bedroom door. To say she had been worried about Spike would have been a massive understatement, and then to see him simply stroll out of that building by the waterfront and wave at her…well it had been both a huge relief and strangely maddening.

His story wasn't all that coherent, either. Something about a long lost sister? It didn't make much sense to her but then she wasn't in the most calm and rational mood. Finally, she turned around to face him. He sat on the corner of his bed, watching her, his face bruised heavily on one side. So much had happened to him in one day it was pretty unbelievable. That was how their lives would always be, she supposed, even if he was human now. Only problem now was that he was infinitely more breakable.

Spike cleared his throat, holding an ice pack to his head. "I'm sorry you were worried."

"I was more than worried, Spike." Buffy sighed, taking a step towards him. "I thought you were dead."

He nodded, slowly, painfully. "Yeah, well, so did I for a while. Turns out the bird just wanted to chat."

"She has an odd way of going about it."

"Yeah." He chuckled, then winced at the sensation it caused.

Buffy pulled a face of sympathy. "What did she want to talk about?"

"Oh, you know…old times. Announcing she was my half sister. That sort of thing." Spike raised his eyebrows. "Not sure how much I believe her."

"I'd say it was weird for this sister to come out of nowhere, but…"

He smiled. "Dawn. Is she…?"

"Fine. Worried about you, too."

"No need. We Brit's are made of tough stuff," he groaned and rubbed his eyes, "still my newly weak human self is begging for sleep. Pathetic, really."

Buffy shook her head and crossed the room towards him. She crouched down on the floor next to him and began unlacing his boots. As she pulled each one off in turn she glanced up to find Spike giving her an odd look. She stood and grabbed the bottom of his T-shirt, intending to pull it up over his head. He grabbed her hands to stop her. "Woah there, Slayer. I said sleep, not any of that funny business."

"You're going to sleep in your clothes?" Buffy asked, a little surprised at his bashfulness.

"Was thinking 'bout it."

"Oh, for god's sake, Spike. I've seen it all before." She tugged hard on his shirt, pulling it up over his head even as he protested.

She tossed the clothing onto the floor and raised her eyebrows as Spike scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. Buffy rolled her eyes but nevertheless reached for his belt buckle. Spike slapped her hands away.

"I can undress myself." He groused.

Buffy nodded, putting her hands on her hips. "Okay. So, do it."

"Some privacy would be nice."

She shook her head and laughed, turning on her heel and leaving the room. After closing the door behind herself she approached Gunn and Oz who were waiting for her to dismiss them. Buffy told them that Spike seemed fine, if not a little bruised, and that she was going to stay and take care of him.

"Ah, of course." Gunn nodded, suggestively. "Take good care of him, Buffy."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Goodbye, boys."

Gunn gave her a goofy thumbs-up and then skedaddled pretty fast when she threatened to hit him. Oz just saluted her and left quietly. That was another thing she liked about the werewolf – he didn't mock. At least not about this kind of thing. The Slayer turned and looked at the bedroom door. She waited a few minutes before knocking, and then entering the room.

Spike was all tucked up in bed, his naked back to her. He glanced over his shoulder at her and then sat up, holding the covers close.

Buffy shifted from foot to foot. "They've gone. But, uh, Wolfram and Hart are sending some guys down here for security. Don't exactly like those guys but having some extra muscle around here might be a good idea."

"Now that I've lost my stones, you mean." Spike replied monotonously.

"You haven't lost any…stones," she chastised, walking slowly up to the bed.

Spike muttered something and then just looked at her for a long while. "What…do you want?"

"Well, I…" Buffy found herself feeling oddly nervous, "…was kind of hoping you'd let me crash. Here, I mean. It's been a long day."

He opened and closed his mouth. "I haven't got anything for you to wear…not to mention I'm sort of naked under here, Slayer."

"That's okay." Buffy smiled sitting down on the edge of the bed.

She noticed how he shifted slightly away from her. Buffy decided the best way to get over this awkward vibe Spike was putting out was to just confront it head on. She shed her jacket and enjoyed the way he didn't take his eyes off of her as she unbuttoned her shirt. Once she was dressed only in her underwear she slid beneath the soft blue comforter and touched him lightly on the side. He didn't pull away, so she let her hand trail across his stomach, feeling the indentations of his muscles. Buffy's lips pressed against his shoulder gently, his warm skin still a novel delight.

"Buffy…" he breathed.

She looked up at his face to see he was looking at her unsteadily. Buffy kissed the line of his jaw, wrapping her arm around him possessively. He reached up carefully, and pushed her hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger against her face for a moment before it dropped.

"It's been a long day, like you said," Spike shifted out of her reach and turned onto his side away from her, "we should sleep."

Buffy looked up at the ceiling and sighed. She guessed the weird vibe wasn't going to go away any time soon, then. Turning to face away from him, Buffy closed her eyes.