Oz looked at the crocheted doily on the table and tried to wrap his mind around the Donna Reed flavor of this place. What was Buffy doing hrtere? He shifted slightly and watched the demon come back down the stairs. The whole situation was pricking at his nerves. Buffy was here. He smelled her blood, but her scent was changed. He tilted his head and patted Willow's knee.

"Buffy and Spike will be own in a minute. Would you like something to drink? I have grape pop." The loose skinned demon smiled. "It's tasty."

"Actually, we brought food for Buffy." Willow smiled. "She needs to eat when she's been injured. Is she okay?"

Oz heard Buffy whispering softly. He took a deep breath as relief washed over him. His alpha was alive. He took another breath and stood as she came into view, clutching Spike's hand as she dragged him down the stairs behind her.

"Oz, Willow, it's so good to see you." She grinned. "It is so not safe out there, right now."

"You need to eat." Oz lifted the bag of Chinese food he had purchased. "Werewolf and Slayer special?"

Buffy bounced and released Spike's hand. She hopped down the rest of the stairs and hugged Willow close to her. Oz smiled and watched them both with a sense of satisfaction. Buffy pushed back from Willow and smiled at him. He nodded his head.

"Fifteen egg rolls, spare ribs, broccoli beef, and rice." Oz handed her the bag, and she touched his shoulder gently with her free hand.

"Thanks."

"I would have bought more. Didn't know there would be a crowd." Oz shrugged one shoulder.

"It's all good, Oz." Buffy dug into the bag and pulled out a cellophane wrapped egg roll. "I need my egg roll fix."

"Why is Spike here?" Willow asked. Oz rubbed her shoulder, hating how nervous she was. "I mean he's still a bad guy right?"

"That's complicated." Buffy bit her lip. "I mean really complicated."

"I am a demon, Pet. No getting around that." Spike took the bag from Buffy and glanced down at it and raised an eyebrow.

"Werewolves and slayers have higher metabolism than other humans." Buffy pushed his shoulder. "Oz gets it, and not all demons are bad. I mean Clem let us crash here."

"What does metabolism have to do with my being evil?" Spike raised his scarred eyebrow.

Buffy took a big bite of her egg roll and turned her back to Spike again. Oz watched the amusement in the vampire's eyes. This situation was more complicated than he had imagined originally. His alpha had chosen a mate. Their mixed scents filled the air.

"Mated?" Oz quirked his head to the side and watched Buffy blush.

"Don't be silly, Oz." Willow patted his shoulder. He clapped a hand over her mouth to stop the oncoming babble.

"He's right." Buffy sighed. "Spike and I are mated."

"No." Willow shook her head and backed away. "He's tried to kill you like dozens of times. He kidnapped me. He threatened me with a broken bottle."

"I don't really need the laundry list, Will. I know what he's done." Buffy looked at Spike and shrugged. "It should bother me, but it doesn't. He saved me, this time."

Oz nodded. He could scent the changes in both of them. They were fundamentally bound. The wolf side of him accepted it easily. He took another deep breath, trying to discern the sweet scent that was mingled in with Buffy's. He wrinkled his nose. The trace of orange blossoms and apples was slight, but it was part of her. The medicinal scents and the powerful adhesive odor would was away, but this was new. It would bear thinking about.

"But, it's Spike." Willow scrunched her face up again.

"And..." Buffy tilted her head. Her patience was running thin.

"I need to get some drinks and some paper plates." Clem stood up and hustled toward the back of the house. "I have television trays to eat on. Get comfy."

"Can we try not to make Clem nervous. He gets sweaty. It isn't pleasant." Spike whispered. "He's a good sort, and we are guest in his home."

"So you're Miss Manners, now?" Willow glared at Spike.

"Knock it off, Willow." Buffy growled. The low sound brought up the hairs on the back of Oz's neck. He grabbed Willow's hand and squeezed it gently.

"I don't get it." Willow tossed her hands up and flopped back onto the plastic encased couch.

"It's a long story, Red." Spike sat on a chair and pulled Buffy onto his lap. "Parts of which are very private. Give Buffy some room."

"She can speak for herself." Willow glared at the vampire.

"Yes, I can." Buffy smiled. "I can make my own damn decisions. I don't need to explain them to you, Willow. I love that you care, but I need you to accept this."

"You didn't even tell me you were seeing him." Willow's jaw trembled. "I mean, why not? You do remember what happens when you keep secrets, right?"

"She hasn't been keeping me in a closet somewhere. I'm not a well behaved little puppy. I was coming to bloody well end her, but things got interesting." Spike tilted his head and smiled. "Very, very interesting."

"Interesting, how?" Willow leaned toward Buffy and Spike. Her facile mind was just not naughty enough for this. Oz grinned and enjoyed watching Buffy blush.

"And, again, it is not your bloody business." Spike shook his head. "Is wolf boy not pulling his weight? Is that why you can't leave our private moments alone?"

Oz growled. There was no need to get personal.

"I have grape sodas and some Zima." Clem returned to the room balancing a tray and dragging a rolling cart of trays with legs. "I love that stuff."

"Thanks." Buffy grinned at the demon and took a bottle of pop. "I haven't had one of these in years. Want an egg roll?"

"Wow." Willow smiled. "Take her up on that. Buffy doesn't share egg rolls ever, or secrets. Apparently."

Buffy growled. The sound was low and menacing. Oz stiffened. A fight between Buffy and Willow was a losing proposition for him. His alpha or his girl, he would be the one ripped to shreds. Buffy shook her head and their gazes locked. He could see her anger, but she nodded.

"Fine. Let's waste our time on this crap. I was on that date with Parker, okay. God, it sucked. The guy was all about the pressure." Buffy shook her head. "I am never playing helpless coed again. That's for sure."

"You went on that date days ago." Willow moved her hand in a rapid circle encouraging Buffy to hurry the story up.

"Long and short of it, Pet. Buffy was nabbed by crazy commandos. They did something to her. She escaped. I was there to kill her but wound up saving her." Spike grinned.

"That doesn't explain the mating." Oz swallowed and held up his hand. "Go light on the details, please."

"The military type guys were hunting me. Spike chose to save me." Buffy looked up at her mate and licked her lips. "I claimed Spike as my mate."

"Then I returned the favor." Spike stroked her cheek. "More or less."

Oz nodded and shook his head at Willow when she opened her mouth.

"It's done." He rubbed Willow's arm. "Spilt milk."

"We have larger issues." Buffy pulled the food containers out and reluctantly placed them on the coffee table. "So, let's eat and get to work."

"See." Willow grinned. "She's keeping the egg rolls for herself."