Water dripped down his legs as Spike rushed from the bathroom to answer the persistent knocking at the door. "Bloody hell, give a bloke a minute…" he groused. "Can't even get a proper shower and a wa—" He cut short, stepped back from the light spilling in from outside, blocked only by the figure of a wide-eyed Joyce in the doorway.

"Spike?"

Spike took a large step back, almost cowering at the sight of her perplexed expression. She pressed her lips together, nervously as Spike adjusted Giles' stolen bathrobe around his still-soaked body.

"I should've called— I'm sorry if I'm interrupting— whatever I might be interrupting," Joyce stammered in shock.

Spike looked down at himself, dripping on the worn rug, and pulled the robe even tighter. "S'not what it looks like— At all! Just caught me in the shower—" he caught her knowing gaze as Joyce bit back a smirk, that made Spike falter slightly, wondering just how much knowledge that smile hid. Did she suspect his feelings for her daughter? "Watcher's not even here. He popped off to the market or some such, should be back soon if you wanna wait."

Joyce hesitated, still standing in the bright sunlight, before speaking. "Buffy said you were back in town, I didn't think you'd be here though."

He ran a hand through his hair dispelling some of the water. "Guess she didn't tell you 'bout my little life-changing event then."

She eyed him wearily.

"Been out of town for work and all, guess she hasn't had the chance…" he said, awkwardly shifting his bare feet on the soaked rug. "Commando boys caught me in a butterfly net, turned me into a sodding lab rat. Can't hunt, can't hurt, can't do much of anything really—" he added glumly, then straightened his shoulders. "Watcher's been putting me up till I can sort things out."

Joyce nodded once, surveying the room with a quizzical expression. "Why do I have the feeling there's more to this?" she asked.

He grinned, regaining a little of his charm. "Look, believe me, or don't, but I'll make you a nice cuppa while you wait if you like. So long as you don't mind giving me a mo' to make myself decent," he said, gesturing to the robe.

"And you're sure he'll be back soon?" she confirmed.

Spike stepped back a little further from the door. "Never leaves me on my own for long, doesn't trust me, can't imagine why," he grinned, then cleared his throat. "Thought he'd locked himself out, the way you were banging on the door."

She gave a resigned sigh, crossing over the threshold and closing the door behind her. "Well, tea would be nice."

"Of course. Oh eh, feel free to make yourself at home, doubt he'd mind," Spike replied, ducking into the kitchen to put the kettle on before slipping back into the bathroom for his clothes.

He emerged, fully dressed in time to turn off the kettle and make Joyce's tea. "Sugar?" he asked, peering at her from inside the kitchen.

Joyce looked up from where she was thumbing reverently through Giles' record collection. "Yes, please."

He brought her tea in, setting it down on the coffee table. "There you are, Luv."

She flashed him a smile and a murmur of thanks before taking a seat on the sofa.

He watched her for a moment as she took a sip of tea and her gaze fell upon Giles' guitar for a brief second before meeting his eye. "It's nice to see Rupert's been playing again, but what is the other guitar doing out? Do you play too?"

"I do," Spike replied, raising an eyebrow as he slid into his preferred seat, lounging like a cat. "Funny, you seem to be the only one unsurprised by book-man's secret hobby."

A pink hue crept into Joyce's cheeks. "He might have played a few songs for me once or twice."

"Is that right?" Spike purred with interest.

Joyce sipped her tea, hiding her expression behind her cup. Spike didn't miss the way the blush crept up to the tips of her ears.

Like mother, like daughter… He smirked, reaching out to pick up one of the guitars and settling it in his lap just as the front door opened.

Giles eyed Spike suspiciously and set a grocery bag on the kitchen ledge counter before noticing Joyce and his face split into a smile. "Oh, hello, I'm surprised to see you here. When did you get back from your trip?"

Joyce returned the smile. "This morning. I figured Buffy would be in class and I had a few errands to run so I thought I would stop and catch up," she replied, giving him a vaguely expectant tilt of her head.

Giles nodded his own blush tinging the tips of his ears. "Ah, well I'm sure Buffy told you what a resounding success Thanksgiving was," he replied, casually leaning a hip against the arm of the couch furthest from Joyce.

Spike snorted a laugh. "Sure it was. A right treat if you like bears and getting shot through with arrows."

Joyce's jaw dropped slightly as she turned to Giles with a suspicious glare.

Giles flinched. "It wasn't as bad as it sounds, I assure you."

"And I'm guessing you didn't want to worry me," she answered.

The air was thick with tension between the two of them for several seconds before Giles averted his eyes and cleared his throat. "Yes, well, everything is fine now, I've just been…" Giles trailed off, making a sweeping gesture toward Spike.

Joyce's steady gaze didn't move from Giles as she spoke, "Spike was kind enough to fill me in a little on his situation. He's been a very nice host in your absence."

Spike preened watching the exchange while he quietly strummed the intro to an acoustic version of Cream's Sunshine of Your Love.

Always liked Joyce. Not a clue what she sees in the stuffy tweed suit, but it's clear they've got something brewing, he mused, reciting the song's lyrics in his head.

"It's getting near dawn

When lights close their tired eyes

I'll soon be with you, my love

Give you my dawn surprise…"

Joyce sipped her tea, humming along as she turned her attention back to Spike. "This is one of my favorite songs."

"Would explain Rupert's little preoccupation with it then," Spike drawled. "Swear the bloke was humming it in his sleep."

Giles gave an indignant snort. "A gross exaggeration…"

"You've been playing the album on repeat for days," Spike retorted and resumed the song, singing aloud this time.

"I'll be with you darling soon

I'll be with you when the stars start falling

I've been waiting so long

To be where I'm going

In the sunshine of your love…"

"Do shut up," Giles shot back.

Joyce slid forward in her seat to set her cup on the table. "You know, I stopped at the Espresso Pump earlier," she said, drawing the attention of both men. "They Were putting up the signs for an Open Mic Night. It's going to be every Friday," she smiled coyly. "Might be worth thinking about."

Song: Cream— Sunshine of Your Love