"Ugh," Buffy groaned in annoyance as a small gurgle came from somewhere within her stomach cavity, indicating that meal time had passed by long ago. "I really think I need to get up for food soon. Can you hear my stomach complaining that I haven't eaten? It's got this whole language. Gurgle once if you're hungry, gurgle five times if you're really hungry..."

They had been lying in Spike's bed for over two hours just talking, and her hunger pangs had only just sprung up over the last few minutes.

"Hungry, pet?" Spike smiled, tracing her stomach softly with his free fingers. "You're crazy. I probably have some spare chicken wings upstairs, if you're interested?"

"Ew." She shook her head. "Definitely not, Spike. Those have been up there for at least a week."

"They still taste fine!" Spike defended, "You're just too picky is all. Who cares if food is a little past the sell by date?"

"Me." Buffy spoke, her lips turning up in a slight smile. "Thee who can actually die of food poisoning."

"Slayer, you're certainly hard to please. What are you going to do, head home?"

"Perhaps just the convenience store. I could buy some sandwiches or something, and –"

Her words were cut short as Spike pressed his cool lips against her own.

"Mm, Spike." She whined, pulling away. "Do you want me to starve?"

Before Spike could actually answer, Buffy's cell phone began to ring loudly.

"Huh, I didn't think I'd actually get signal down here." She shrugged and leant down to the floor, picking up the vibrating item from the ground. The caller I.D. read 'Dawn' and she pulled it to her ear.

"Dawn? Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"It's lunch." The youngest Summer's girl replied, obviously rolling her eyes, "We're getting let out earlier than usual today. Are you home?"

"What time are you going to be leaving? I'm out at the moment." Buffy responded, smiling at Spike as he stared at her with a glint in his eyes.

"In about thirty minutes. Where are you? I could get keys from Giles."

"I'm with Spike. He got hurt." Buffy pouted in Spike's direction and used the hand not holding the cell phone to rest over his. "Do you want to come down here?"

"You're actually inviting me to Spike's? That's certainly a first. Is he okay?"

"It will only be this once, Dawn." She feigned being stern, "He's had worse, but isn't going to be up and about fighting the fight for a while."

"Oh. I'll come. Do you want me to bring anything?"

"Food would be good," Buffy admitted, "Just a sandwich or something. Spike really lacks in the human food department."

Buffy listened to Dawn laugh on the other end of the phone before she replied.

"Sure, ok. I'll bring you something to eat. Does Spike need anything?"

Spike could obviously hear what Dawn was saying, as he shook his head softly.

"No, he's good to go. Use your allowance money and I'll pay you back when you get here, okay?"

"Sure thing, Buff. I'll see you later, yeah?"

…and the younger girl disconnected the call.

"Teenagers these days." Buffy scowled. "Would a simple 'goodbye' really be that difficult?"

Spike chuckled softly, raising his eyebrows in the process. "She probably just wants to run off with her gal pals to catch a little gossip. It's only natural for a developing woman to want to know everything."

"Spike?" Buffy whined, letting her cell phone drop down on to the bed, "What on earth have you been reading?"

"It's all in here, Miss Summers." Spike replied, pulling his hand from under Buffy's protective touch and tapping his forehead several times. "I've got over a hundred years of knowledge."

"I get that, Spike. It's just hard to believe that you've spent time – as a vampire, I must add – studying the art of gossip amongst teenage girls." She broke into a smile and rolled over, propping herself up on both elbows. "I'm intrigued."

"Perhaps I just read it in a magazine or saw somethin' on the telly." Spike concluded, "Anyway. Are we going to play happy families down here in the bedroom?"

Buffy had to pause for second before she realised he meant 'happy families' in regards to the two of them and dawn. Happy families? Was Dawn supposed to be the Daughter? Ew. No.

"We can play host down here, yes." Buffy nodded, intentionally changing the phrase. "I don't suppose you fancy another struggle with those stairs just yet."

"Guess not." Spike nodded. "Bloody hell, Slayer…" He groaned, "I'm still sore as anything."

"What hurts?"

Buffy's brows furrowed in concern as she looked over both the sling and the heavy bandaging across his chest; he was always getting injured (mostly at her own hand), but she never got used to it.

"Arm, mostly." Spike shrugged, intentionally using only the shoulder attached to his good arm. "It doesn't feel right. I know it was only just broken and all, but bollocks. Every time I move I can feel the bone moving with me. Mostly in the opposite direction too."

The description made Buffy's empty stomach churn. "Any ideas on what would help?"

"A cast, maybe? Just something to stop it from moving as much."

"Fancy a trip to the Emergency Room?" Buffy was half-smiling, imaging the scene and the story they would have to make up to match the injury.

"I don't think so, Buffy. We'll just get a brace or something, yeah?"

"I'll ask Xander to look on e-bay." Buffy nodded. "I'll text him, hold on."

She grabbed her cell phone again, and expertly began keying in the words.

"Xander, can you look on e-bay for a brace? It's for Spike's arm. Something that holds the elbow in position. Text me if you find anything, thanks."

"Done." Buffy smiled. "Oh, is that Dawn?"

The patter of her feet was clearly heard seconds after Spike's door was slammed shut.

"Buffy!" They both heard her shout, "Are you downstairs?"

Buffy grinned at Spike before pushing herself up from the bed. "Prepare yourself, Spike." She instructed. "This girl has missed you a ridiculous amount."