Xander checked out the back and front windows of the car, feeling for the stake and the knife he had inside his jacket before he got out of the car. He warily went into the club, immediately recognising the song that the band on stage were playing. Devon leaned over the mike, yelling out the lyrics to Pain, Oz to his left was banging out the power chords on his guitar and Xander found he could quite easily imagine himself back at the Bronze one day last year, when he was dating Cordy, and Wills and Oz were still together. He shook his head and let the memory fade as he took a seat at the bar, ordered a drink and waited for the band to take a break.

Three songs and a couple of beers later, Xander headed over to the stage, managing to sneak through to the back and find his old friend.

"Hey man, what’s up?" he said casually and Oz looked surprised when he turned around.

"Xander, hey" he smiled uncertainly, running a hand through his currently dark brown hair, "Wasn’t expecting you"

"Didn’t expect to be here" he admitted, "but we’re kinda having a situation in Sunnydale, and Willow’s the only girl that can fix it"

"Oh, okay" Oz nodded, "Well, she’s at the hotel but, you’re lucky you found us tonight"

"Yeah, I saw the final gig posters. Where you and the guys headed?" Xander asked, always keeping an eye out for possible demon attacks.

"Oh no, final gig is really, y’know, final" he stressed, "We’re breaking up, for a lot of reasons but I don’t mind so much" he explained, though his old friend didn’t seem to be paying much attention "Things were gonna get tricky anyway once me and Willow were married and..."

"What!" Xander was suddenly very aware of what was being said, "You and Will with the...marriage, now?" he said, completely stunned.

"I know, it’s kinda...intense" Oz nodded, "but we were talking about it and I just...it seems right y’know?"

Xander closed his eyes and sighed, feeling sick. Willow’s spell meant that everything she said was coming true and since it had yet to be reversed things were still happening, things that wouldn’t happen in ordinary circumstances. Obviously she’d said something about she and Oz getting married and suddenly they were engaged. She probably still didn’t realise she was doing all this and the brunette hated knowing he must tell her the truth and probably break her heart.

"Oh, that’s me" said Oz and the guys made there way back on stage and needed him to join them, "Here, if you wanna visit Willow feel free" he smiled, tossing a key-card to his friend, "I’ll see you there later?"

"Maybe" Xander nodded, "Thanks, man"

"No problem" came the response as the guitarist disappeared onto the stage.

Xander just watched him go and listened to the first few chords of Violent start up. He felt just awful knowing what he must go and do now, but first he realised with some panic, he had to deal with the two vampires between himself and the door.

"Goodness, is that the time?" Joyce gasped when she caught sight of the clock on the mantle shelf, "The kids should have been in bed an hour ago" she realised.

She and Giles had got so deep into conversation about anything and nothing, and the evening hours had slipped away without them really noticing.

"I confess I feel as though I could use some sleep myself" the ex-Watcher yawned a little, "Oh, not that the conversation has been anything but a pleasure" he added quickly in case he’d caused offence, "I must say, I find there really is nobody’s company I would rather share than yours Joyce"

She coloured at the compliment, grateful he couldn’t see it.

"Well Rupert, I have to admit, it’s been a long time since I felt so comfortable with a man" she smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek, "I only hope we’ll still spend some time together when all this is over" she said almost shyly.

"I..I’m certain we shall" Giles replied, though he found it terribly diffilcult to make any kind of sentence after what just happened. He so wished he had his sight right now, he had an incredible urge to kiss the woman beside him and not carefully on the cheek either. She had been so wonderful these last few days and she was right they did get on famously. When this spell was over he planned to still spend plenty of time with Buffy’s mother, he liked her very much indeed.

"I should get the kids to bed" he heard her say before he felt movement on the couch beside him and she was gone.

"Buffy? Spike?" she called going over to the table and peeking underneath. There she found the children, leaning on each other and both fast asleep. It seemed a shame to wake them but she must, and gently she shook her daughters shoulder.

"Come on sweetheart, time for bed" she said as the little girl stirred, awakening her friend in the process.

"Buffy?" Spike opened his eyes and found her close to him, "Is it morning?"

"I dunno" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"No Spike, it’s not morning" Joyce smiled, encouraging the out from their hiding place, "It’s time little boys and girls were in their bed" she told them as they crawled out from under the table all half asleep. She got them up the stairs and changed with much less struggle than some previous nights. They were too sleepy to put up much of a fight and soon they were laying side by side in Buffy’s bed, still in the baggy t-shirts that passed for their nightwear, since Joyce had forgotten to get them anything else in that department.

"Goodnight, sweethearts" she smiled, kissing them both before she left the room.

They both mumbled a sleepy reply as the light was turned off and they fell asleep together again.

Joyce returned to the living room to find Giles had also fallen asleep on the couch. She should wake him and get him up to his room too, but she wasn’t the least bit tired yet and she’d so been enjoying this man’s company. After a moments hesitation, she sat back down beside him, resting her head on his shoulder as she quietly flipped on the TV, keeping the volume low as she watched something semi-interesting about baby alligators. What she watched didn’t matter, she was insanely comfortable beneath Giles’ arm that he sub-consciously wrapped around her in his sleep. She missed having someone to share the sofa with in the evenings and even if it was only for tonight, she planned to enjoy it.

"No" Willow cried, "You have to be wrong, Oz loves me" she sobbed when Xander finished his tale. He’d gone straight to the hotel to find his friend and she’d been thrilled to see him, pulling him into tight hug. They’d sat down to talk and he’d been forced to explain the whole Will Be Done spell deal, and how it had worked, just not the way she thought it would. She was shocked to hear what she’d done to Giles, Buffy, Spike, and himself, but what soon concerned her more was her situation with Oz, no matter how selfish that made her.

"I know Oz cares, Will" Xander said, putting a sympathetic arm around her, "but he left for a reason, because he knew he couldn’t deal with being around you, and now suddenly he’s talking wedding plans" he told her, "All I can think is you said something in the region of ‘Hey Oz, I thought you and me were going to get married someday’ and abracadabra you’re doing just that"

Willow cried even harder, knowing her friend was right but hating to admit it. She loved Oz so much, despite what had happened between him and the she-wolf Veruca. She was all too aware that he’d left for a valid reason - he didn’t want to hurt her in any way, not again. Still, she didn’t want to believe a spell had made him want her again.

"What if I didn’t reverse the spell?" she said in a moment of madness, "Or maybe if I reversed this one and did another one to make him want to stay with me?"

"Will, no" Xander shook his head sadly, "Leaving this spell gets us nowhere, ‘cept I’ll end up demon food, Giles’ll never get his sight back and Buffy’ll have to grow up all over again with Spike for a sand-box buddy" he explained, "And do you really think you could carry on with Oz knowing he was only with you cos you made him with magic?"

Willow shook her head, knowing he was right again and hating it still.

"How can I deal without him, Xander?" she cried, "It just hurts so much to know I can’t be with him"

"I know, Will" he said softly, hugging her to him as her tears continued to fall, "But we’ve all been there and eventually you’ll heal, move on"

It took a good half hour before she was calm again but the witch realised her friend spoke the truth and that she must reverse the spell and let Oz go.

"I can’t face him after this" she sniffed, packing her things back into her bag, "I’ll leave a note and go"

"I’ll take you home" Xander nodded in agreement, "The sooner we get back to Sunnydale the sooner you can reverse this spell" he said, checking out the window for any possible further demon attacks.

"Oh, I don’t have to be there for that" Willow shook her head, moving to stand in the centre of the room. She closed her eyes and held up her hands, focusing her energy. Xander hoped she hurried as he realised a vampire was currently scaling the wall of the hotel to get to him.

"Let the healing power begin" Willow commanded, "Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken"

There was a flash of light and the demon Xander had been watching disappeared like it had never been there at all. He turned back to see Willow with tears on her cheeks once again as she pulled off Oz’s ring - the one he’d put on her ring finger when she’d agreed to marry him. She placed it on the table and scribbled a note of apology and goodbye.

"Come on, sweetie" Xander urged her out the door when she paused to glance around the room, "It’s all over now"

Spike awoke with a strange mixture of thoughts in his head, none of which seemed to fit too well. Something was different, familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. He was in a bed which made sense, he did seem to remember getting put to bed a few hours ago, but then why did he need help with that? He was quite capable of going to bed by himself, but it seemed he was far from alone as he realised something soft and warm was pressed against him. His arms were wrapped around the form of a woman, the back of whom was pressed flush against the front of his own body. She smelt familiar, sweet but strong, and it took him just a few more moments to realise it was Buffy, the Slayer.

As much as he wanted to be disgusted at the idea of being close to the enemy in this way, he couldn’t help but love the feel on her in his arms. Memories jumbled around in his head, and he desperately tried to make sense of what was going on. Childhood memories mixed in with adult ones, those from his human life and others from his vampiric existence.

He and Buffy had been children together, and though he couldn’t remember how it had happened, he remembered almost everything else. Calling Joyce Mum and watching cartoons with Buffy. Sitting beneath the dining room table colouring pictures and...oh God, promising to marry the Slayer!

"My Slayer-Bint" he whispered in the dark, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he pulled his woman closer to him, careful not to wake her. She was beautiful and she was his. He ran his fingers down her arm, taking her hand in his and feeling his ring on her third finger. It had really happened, he’d fallen in love with the enemy of all the ridiculous things, but it was true. Better yet, she had loved him too, cared about him like no-one else. Joyce had been his mother and cared for him too and together they were a family for a while.

As insane as it was, Spike had never felt as content as he had when he was that five year old boy, running around with the mini-Slayer, tying up the baby-sitter and getting a hug from his temporary Mum. Whatever had made that life happen had taken it away, they were back to their full-size adult selves and there was no way anyone would want him around now, but for a couple more hours at least, whilst Buffy slept, he could live the dream.

She turned over in her sleep though she never left his arms and smiled from an apparent pretty dream. Spike only hoped he was there and that he was making her this happy, then maybe in the morning she would be less disgusted by the situation she found herself in. He had no doubt she’d be less than thrilled to wake and see his face on the pillow next to her, but she had loved him before, he knew she had. If his love had sustained the transition back to adulthood, it was not ridiculous to think her feelings might remain too, but he doubted it somehow.

Her leg crossed over his as she shifted closer still and Spike did his best not to react to the feel of her body so near to his. The T-shirts Joyce had dressed them in now barely reached their waists and left little to anyone’s imagination. Spike closed his eyes briefly, and let out a sigh of relief when she stop wriggling against him. He lay there and watched her taking even breaths and knew it would be impossible to sleep. He must enjoy this moment for as long as it lasted, because he had a definite feeling it would not last long.

Buffy had a hard time keeping up her facade of being asleep, but she knew she must. When she’d first woken up and her mind had processed what had happened she didn’t know whether to laugh of cry. Something about a spell that Willow did had been mentioned but she was just a child when they talked about it and she hadn’t been paying much attention. Just a child, it seemed odd but she and Spike had been children. Her memories had got so muddled up and even now it was difficult to keep them straight. One thing she knew for certain was that she had very strong feelings for a certain vampire, who held her in his arms right now.

He’d said he loved her, she’d said it back, and on her hand she wore his ring, a symbol of their promise to marry each other one day. It was ridiculous and she knew it, but he’d been her best friend or possibly even more than that, and she knew in the morning it would all have to end. He wouldn’t want to be her friend anymore, he’d go right back to wanting to kill her and she must do the same. The spell had ended and that meant their relationship must too. He’s evil, she reminded herself, but it was difficult to convince herself after all they’d shared. In their child form, they were different people in some ways, but in others they were just little versions of their actual selves. He was still Spike and she was still Buffy, both with their super-strength, and yet they cared for each other in a way that was new and strange to the Slayer. She didn’t want it to end, if it was anyone but Spike this had happened with she wouldn’t let it stop now just because their time as five year olds was over, but he wouldn’t want her now and she shouldn’t want him.

He pulled her tighter to him, she assumed wrongly it was a subconscious act he performed in his sleep and she shivered in a glorious way when his cool fingers ran over her skin. She swore she heard him repeat words he’d said before, calling her that ridiculous name his child-sized version had made up, but she decided she must be wrong.

Wanting to get closer, she turned around in the circle of his arms, feigning sleep the whole time just in case she woke him. She dare not open her eyes in case he saw, she couldn’t stand the confrontation right now. Just for tonight she wanted him to hold her and love her, for as long as possible. In the morning she would deal with the whys and wherefores and the big fight she knew was inevitable. She’d have to play the part of the disgusted, high and mighty Slayer, and pretend it didn’t hurt when the sight of her appalled him. She could cry when he was gone and start to get over him as he walked out of her life, just like every other man she’d ever cared about had done. At least for a couple more hours though, they could be happily in love.

"Ah, hello Spike" Giles spoke uncertainly when the vampire appeared at the bottom of the stairs. The ex-Watcher had just been opening the drapes but quickly closed them again as Spike came into the room.

"Got those peepers of yours back to fully functional now then I see" he commented but Giles was far too amused by what this supposed evil creature was wearing to really pay attention to his words.

"Yes, indeed" he answered absently, taking in the sight of Spike who was wearing a lemon yellow T-shirt and something that greatly resembled a skirt of some kind, though in fact it was the comforter from Buffy's bed.

"I don’t know where my clothes are or what size they’ll be, and what I’ve been wearing won’t exactly fit now will it, Watcher" he complained, "’Sides I’m not gonna embarrass poor Joyce when she’s been good to me"

That surprised Giles quite a bit. Though he was naturally releived to know Spike was a non-violent vampire due to the chip in his head, he was a little stunned to realise that Spike actually seemed to like Buffy’s mother and even appreciate what she’d done for him these past few days.

"Erm, I could fetch you your other jeans and T-shirt" Giles offered, "I believe they’re still at my house"

"Very decent of you, Rupert...Why?" he asked suspiciously as the Watcher looked around for his jacket and glasses so he could leave.

"As you say, Joyce does not need the embarrassment" Giles told the vampire as he headed for the front door, pushing his spectacles onto his face as he went. He was gone before the Summers women made it back down the stairs and Spike was still standing there wondering what the hell was going on.

"Now, let’s see about getting you that coffee, Spike" Joyce smiled amiably, leading him through to the kitchen, "Or would you prefer hot chocolate"

"Coffee’s fine, thanks Joyce" the vampire smirked, liking the fact she remembered what he preferred, not just during his throwback phase but right back to last year when he’d come visiting. A little worse for wear and pining for Dru, the only person with any sympathy for his breaking heart was this woman, the Slayer’s Mum of all ironic beings!

"So, um, I suppose Xander caught up with Willow last night" she said as she busied herself with making coffee and something for Buffy to eat. It was clear she just wanted a conversation and Spike wondered if perhaps it was to cover her disappointment about Giles leaving so suddenly.

"S’pose he did" he shrugged, "Maybe he’s not as useless as I had him down for...but then I seem to recall you did a lot of helping Joyce"

"Oh, not really" she shook her head, "but someone had to look after the two of you when you were kids and dear Rupert was blind..." she paused shortly after mentioning his name, but forced a smile when she handed Spike is drink. He thanked her and was trying to think of something clever and maybe comforting to say about Giles when Buffy slammed into the kitchen.

"Well" he smirked when she looked daggers at him, "Aren’t you just a little ray of sunshine"

"If I were you’d be dead" Buffy told him nastily, "So hey, I’ll look into the change"

"You wound me Slayer" he said with mock pain, a hand over his unbeating heart, "and not twenty four hours ago I had you pledging your heart to me"

"That was a spell, and you know it" she snapped, sitting down on the stool beside him but making a big deal of turning her back as Joyce passed her a plate of pancakes.

"If it was just the spell" Spike said, leaning in too much for Buffy’s liking "Why are you still wearing my ring?" he asked, unable to tear he smirk from his face.

Buffy looked down at her hand and squirmed uncomfortably.

"The stupid, ugly thing won’t come off" she complained, making further attempts to remove it, "but don’t worry I’ll cut it off if I have to"

"You bloody will not!" Spike yelled and Joyce turned to them both with a frustrated glare.

"Stop it you two, right now!" she snapped, almost as if she’d forgotten they were adult-sized again now, though apparently that was not the case, "You acted more grown up when you were forced to be five" she told them, "Can’t you just be civil for a few hours until sun down when Spike can leave?"

"Sorry Mom" Buffy mumbled when her mother’s distress became apparent, "I just...he makes me mad"

Spike’s response was an incredulous snort, but he duly apologised to ‘Mum’ too, as he finished off his coffee. Joyce left the room in silence and the pair she left behind shared a glance.

"You should go talk to her, Slayer, y’know woman to woman" Spike told her, "Reckon what we spotted between her and Giles in our tiny-tots phase might have been exaggerated but still real"

"You think my Mom and Giles are really...like, a couple?" Buffy asked, not sure whether she was happy or not about that. When she’d learned of their little time together under the thrall of the Band Candy she’d been disgusted but that had been mostly sex, plus it was over a year ago and she was much more grown up and understanding about things now. She smiled to herself as she thought that, says the girl who was five years old up until a few hours ago!

"Huh?" she said absently when she realised Spike had spoken to her again.

"I said, you might want to get that little chat in before good old Rupes gets back" he repeated, as he got up to put his now empty mug in the sink, "He’s only nipped back to his place for my jeans, won’t take him more than another five minutes, even at the speed he bloody drives" he rolled his eyes and without thinking Buffy did as he’d told her too and followed her mother upstairs.

The phone rang as Spike walked through to the living room and he picked it up.

"Er, Summers’ house" he said with a frown, regretting his actions.

"Who is that?" asked Xander’s voice and the vampire rolled his eyes.

"Who do you think it is, Whelp, the soddin’ Easter Bunny?" he snapped, causing the boy to launch into one of his little, ‘you’ve got a chip, we can kick your ass’ speeches that were almost guaranteed to bore Spike into a coma before the end.

"Look, you called for reason, right boy?" he interrupted, "So tell me what it is and then bugger off"

"You kinda already told me what I wanted to know" Xander admitted, "You’re back to your full-size annoying self so I guess the Buffster is back too, and if Giles has his sight back then we’re a full house"

"Yeah, everything’s just fine and dandy here in Sunnyhell" he said, some sarcasm apparent, "You found the little red witch then I guess?"

"Willow’s with me" Xander confirmed, "She fell asleep half way back, I just pulled over to call and check the reversal spell had cleared up everything. Seems it has so I’m gonna get home"

"See ya when we see ya then I s’pose" Spike sighed, hanging up before the boy could say anything else, "Right" he smiled walking into the living room and making himself comfortable on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table "What’s on telly?"

"Mom?" Buffy called uncertainly, pushing the bedroom door open and finding her mother sitting on the bed. Joyce glanced at her daughter and seemed to wipe away a tear as she beckoned her into the room.

Long awkward hours past at 1630 Revello Drive. Giles arrived back with some proper clothes for Spike though by now it had come to light that both his and Buffy’s original outfits were both perfectly fine and back to full-size. Spike was exceedingly glad to get back into his black outfit, and to find that his precious coat would be wearable again when he needed it.

Buffy did all she could to avoid the vampire, who in turn seemed to make every effort to keep out of the Slayer’s way. The four of them spent some of their time all pretending to watch a movie on TV though in truth their minds were all elsewhere, thinking of one they ached for that sat not a few feet from them, but were not ready to admit it right now.

When the phone rang, everyone seemed to want the excuse of answering it to leave the awkward atmosphere of the living room. It was Buffy that ran fastest and made it to the ringing phone before anyone else.

"Hey Buff, it’s me" Xander told her, trying not to yawn. He’d driven so many hours and on limited sleep ever since Willow’s spell, which was now thankfully over, he felt as if he could sleep well into the next century given half a chance.

"Xander, how are you?" she checked, "Is Willow with you? Is she okay?"

"Everything’s cool" her friend assured her, "We’re at the dorm, Will’s dropping off her bag and using the bathroom and stuff, then I planned on bringing her over to see you guys - she kinda wants to apologise"

"It’ll be great to see her but y’know she doesn’t have to be sorry" Buffy shook her head, "She didn’t mean to do any harm"

"I told her" Xander agreed, "but you know Will, all big with the guiltage"

They talked a little while longer before hanging up with the promise to see each other very soon. Buffy told the others what had been said and Joyce said she needed to go out to the store for a few things if people were coming over. Buffy frowned, and insisted her mother was being over-the-top about this. It was only Wills and Xand coming over to say hi, but Joyce insisted there were things she must fetch right now. Buffy only understood when her mother called for Giles attention.

"Er, Rupert, would you like to come with me?" she asked almost shyly, "I could use some help carrying things"

"Oh, certainly Joyce" he smiled, as they got their jackets and left together, leaving Buffy and Spike alone and the movie they’d been watching long over. The TV was turned off and a deathly silence fell over the house. Spike stared over at Buffy as she in turn kept her eyes on a picture on the wall, anything just so she didn’t have to face being alone with him like this.

The vampire studied her, wondering at what an actress she really was. She played the part of the high-and-mighty Slayer pretty well, telling him it was all the spell that made her like him. Truth was he meant a lot more to her than she admitted, he’d heard her after she’d been talking to Joyce upstairs.

He’d realised shortly after they’d disappeared up the stairs that he needed one of the Summers women to fetch him some more blood since there was none in the fridge. He was just two steps up when he’d heard Buffy exit the bedroom, the soft click of the door perfectly clear due to his vampiric hearing ability.

"He means nothing" she’d said, making him feel sick to his stomach, especially when he smelt the salt water she shed from her eyes. He was about to walk away, maybe grab the throw from the couch and make a run for it, find some other place to call home, but then the truth had met his ears.

"He means everything" she’d whispered and then he knew he wasn’t the only one play acting following the spell. She did feel the same, her love for him had survived the process of bringing them back to adulthood just as his had.

Now as they sat here alone together he planned on admitting to his true feelings, in the hope she might do the same. It seemed she was a little more stubborn that he’d bargained for.

"Buffy" he got her attention, though she didn’t seem happy to be forced to look at him. When he realised how intently she was looking back at him now he completely lost all hold on what he was going to say, "I, er...you managed to get that ring of mine off yet? I want that back y’know" he snapped, mentally kicking himself.

"It won’t come off" she told him, demonstrating her point by pulling on it and wincing when it stuck at her knuckle.

"Well, guess there’s only one thing to do then" he sighed, before grinning, "Just have to cut your finger off I s’pose"

"Yeah, right" Buffy scoffed, though she couldn’t help the slight laugh that escaped her lips. When he smirked at her that way he was incredibly sexy she realised and when his expression turned into a playful grin like it usually did he was the little boy who’d meant so much to her. Either way it was becoming increasingly difficult to hate him like she knew she should.

"Gotta say, as much fun as it was runnin’ round like a kid for while" he said, getting up from the chair he’d been sitting in and moving to join her on the couch, "There are definite advantages to being back to normal"

Buffy hated how she had trouble breathing when he came close to her. She remembered how he’d held her last night, how safe and perfect it’d felt.

"There were definite up-sides to the spell too" she said quietly, loving how they’d been such great friends and knowing there was no way to get that back, though in truth more than friends was on her mind now.

Spike seemed to know exactly what she was thinking as he stared at her. Those bright blue eyes of his felt like they were looking into her soul and she could barely breathe again.

"Buffy..." he began only to be interpreted by a loud knock on the door, "Oh, bugger" he complained as the Slayer practically jumped off the the sofa and went to open the door.

"Hey" Willow smiled uncertainly beside Xander, "Buffy, I’m so sorry" the red-head immediately added as her friend pulled her into a hug.

"You don’t have to apologise, Will" the blonde assured her, "You didn’t mean to do what you did, I know that"

"But the damage I could have done" the witch went on to say as she and Xander came into the house and Buffy closed the door behind them "the damage I did do! I mean, all those demons chasing Xander, and Giles being blind, and you forced to run around and be friends with a disgusting, evil...hey Spike" she changed her sentence immediately when she turned and realised he was right in front of her. Buffy felt awful for him.

"Nice to see you too, Red" he said, looking far from happy, "Alright with you if I have a fag in your basement, Slayer?" he asked the blond, going over to his coat and rummaging through the pockets, "Can’t rightly go outside, sun blazin’ and all"

"Sure, go ahead" Buffy nodded, not appreciating the look Xander shot her way, "Xand, have you seen Anya since you got back? Y’know she was really worried about you" she told the brunette.

"Oh geez, Ahn, I completely forgot to call her" he realised, putting a hand to is head that ached from all the stress, "I should go see her now" he said looking for confirmation from his girls who both nodded.

"I’ll hang here with Buffy, if that’s okay" said Willow, "and then I’ll walk back to campus"

When Xander was gone the two girls shared the couch and the red-head again started an apology.

"Willow, really, it’s okay" Buffy promised her, "Of all people that need an apology I’m the least needy...well, except maybe for Spike" she smiled slightly.

"You didn’t mind being five and friends with him?" the witch looked confused by that and Buffy sighed.

"I dunno" she admitted, "I mean, it was confusing and a little upsetting for a while. None of my memories fitted together and that was wiggy but..." she paused before continuing, "Will, it didn’t matter. None of the badness meant anything, the slaying and all was something I knew I was supposed to do, but it was okay"

"Because you were too little to really understand?" Willow frowned, not sure she was getting it. Buffy shook her head, as she studied her hands. Eventually she looked up, dreading what might happen when she said what she must.

"It was okay because...Spike was there" she admitted, "As crazy as it sounds he was there for me and he cared about me and as weird as everything got I just knew that the love between us was real...and forever"

"Love?" Willow looked stunned, "Th-there’s love now?" she stammered, wondering if she’d accidentally cast more than one spell here, something to induce weird attractions or whatever, but the look on her friends face was too serious and genuine to be faked by the magicks.

"I don’t know about now" Buffy shook her head, as she looked own at her hand, the tiny shaft of light though the crack in the drapes causing the silver ring she wore to glint, "He keeps asking me for his ring back and being all mean and evil-ish like he used to be...either he doesn’t love me anymore or he’s one hell of an actor"

"How come you still have the ring without telling him you like him?" Willow wanted to know.

"I told him I can’t get it off" the Slayer admitted.

"And can you?" the red-head wanted to know. Buffy said nothing as she took hold of the silver item, puling it passed her knuckle and off the end of her finger, before pushing it firmly back on.

Willow sighed sadly.

"Oh boy, you got it bad" she realised.

"You don’t mind?" Buffy asked worriedly, "I mean, you don’t think I’m a freak? Like Freako-girl that only has serious relationships with guys old enough to be her ancestors?"

"Buffy, in case you haven’t noticed my love life ain’t exactly rainbows and sunbeams right now" Willow smiled sadly, "I’m not going to start judging your choices in life. Besides, Xander’s latest flame was kinda demony, and Spike is...well, evil, but not so much with the chip in his head, right?"

"Was that a yes or a no to my question?" Buffy smiled in spite of herself, really not having followed the to’s and fro’s of what her friend had said too well.

"Well" Willow considered, "to be honest I don’t really remember the question" she admitted, "but Buffy, I just want you to be happy" she told her, "I want us all to be happy and if that means being with people that aren’t perfect well, hey, who is prefect these days?" she smiled.

"Thankyou, Will" her best friend was almost tearful as she hugged the witch tightly, "And y’know I’m kinda glad your spell went all kablooey"

"Not often I hear that" Willow laughed lightly as the two friend pulled apart again, right as Spike came up from the basement again. Both girls turned to look at him and he frowned.

"What?" he asked suspiciously, looking down and then up, checking he hadn’t transformed back into a kid or a random demon or something, "Reason why you two are looking at me like some kind of science project?" he checked.

Buffy opened her mouth to answer, to tell him the truth, but the words wouldn’t come.

"What’s the matter, Slayer?" he asked, head tilting to one side, "D’you really miss me all that much? I was only gone for a minute" he smirked. His stupid comments spoiled her plan to be honest, hardening her heart against him once again.

"I’m just disappointed" she lied, getting up and pushing passed him to leave the room, "I was hoping you might set yourself on fire with your cigarette"

"Bitch" Spike called behind her as she bolted up the stairs.

Willow rolled her eyes as she watched him storm off towards the kitchen. She really had been right about their childish behaviour. After all that had happened, they still couldn’t admit that they like each other. Perhaps she should have left them as kids.

"Oh, Willow" Joyce was surprised to find the young red-head coming out of the house as she and Rupert arrived back. The witch was equally surprised to note that Buffy’s Mom was holding hands with Giles!

"Mrs Summers, hey" she managed a smile, "Giles, I am so sorry about what happened..."

"Yes, I should think that you are" the Watcher said with a slight annoyance in his voice, and Willow looked at her feet like a naughty school kid who’d been thoroughly shamed, "Nevertheless I don’t suppose any major harm was done" Giles conceded, "and indeed some greater good did come out of it" he smiled at Joyce as he squeezed her hand and Willow glanced between the two of them uncertainly.

"You two are all...coupley?" she guessed, not really sure how one was supposed to deal with this kind of situation.

"Yes, Willow, I suppose you could say that we are" Joyce couldn’t shift the grin from her face. She and Rupert had worked things out during there trip into the town and back. Both admitted they had deep feelings for the other, that may very well be love, and it was something they were both interested in exploring further. Joyce was so grateful that Buffy had understood and only hoped her daughter could find a way to get along with Spike, maybe even admit her true feelings for him. The two of them were impossible to be around as things stood.

"Er, Willow" she asked the girl who was about to leave, "Are Buffy and Spike okay?"

"Sure" the red-head nodded, the smile on her face far from convincing.

"Willow?" Giles prompted her to tell the truth and she sighed.

"They kinda yelled and slammed some doors" she admitted, "but nobody got bloody or dusty, so it could have been way worse"

She left then and Joyce shared a look with Giles as she put the key into the door.

"I think they were easier to deal with as kids" she told him as she let them both into the house, "At least they were honest about their feelings then"

"Feelings?" the Watcher frowned slightly, "You’re not suggesting that Buffy feels anything other than hatred for Spike, I hope" he checked as he helped Joyce carry her groceries through to the kitchen.

"Rupert really, you must have noticed what’s between them" she rolled her eyes, "Nobody fights like they do without having some kind of attraction..." she trailed off when she found Spike half hidden in the refrigerator, "Hello, Spike" she greeted him as his head appeared from behind the door.

"Sorry, Joyce" he apologised, "Was just looking for something to...well, there’s sort of a lack of blood" he admitted.

"Oh, yes" she remembered suddenly digging into one of the bags on the counter and handing him a container, "Here, I didn’t forget"

"You are an absolute star, Joyce" he smiled and thanked her.

Despite the fact his demon was just about ready to scream from frustration, he took the time to pour the blood into a mug, though he didn’t bother warming it before he drank it down. He even had the good grace to turn his back so she didn’t see his game face as he gulped down the red substance he craved.

"Where is Buffy?" Giles asked suspisciouly as Joyce put away the groceries.

"Upstairs" Spike answered shortly, "Doesn’t favour my company so much now we’re back to full-size"

The way he said it, the pain it seemed to cause him, Giles was quite astonished to realise that perhaps dear Joyce was at least correct about the vampire’s feelings for Buffy, if not hers for him. It ought not to be possible for a demon such as Spike to have real feelings of love for anyone, but Giles had learnt that much like people, vampires could not be labelled and sorted into sets. Angel was an anomaly and he was beginning to wonder if perhaps Spike was too. In fact it begged the question, were any of the vampires along the blood-line of Aurelius altogether average or normal...?

"Spike, honey" Joyce said gently, placing a hand on his harm, "You know how stubborn my daughter can be, and I happen to know you can be just as bad" she told him with a look, "You just have to work at it, I’m sure she’ll come around"

Although he did hear all that she said and appreciated her concern, Spike’s mind had got a little stuck at the term of affection, honey. He had pet names for everyone, but the only names applied to him were those related to evil and badness, until now.

"Thankyou, Joyce" he said sincerely, putting his hand briefly over hers. Of course she had no idea just how much he really meant that, "but I think it’ll be best all round when the sun gets down low enough that I can vacate your premises" he smiled sadly.

"Well, you’re welcome back anytime you want" she assured him, as Giles looked on, a little amazed.

Spike just nodded gratefully, before glancing over at the clock.

"If it’s alright with you, I’m gonna catch the rest of Passions" he said, getting up from the stool and going through to the living room to watch TV. Joyce sighed as she turned back to the refrigerator and finished putting away the things she and Giles had bought.

"It’s incredible" the Watcher said, almost more to himself than to her, "You’ve tamed him, a vicious vampire and he’s...he behaves so much like..."

"Like a human being?" Joyce supplied as she closed the door and came to sit beside him by the counter, "Rupert, he is. I know there’s a demon in there too, his need for blood and ‘allergy’ to sunlight contest to that but...with what the Initiative have done to him he’s no threat to anyone, all that’s left is the normal boy he used to be" she explained, "Maybe I saw it faster than the rest of you because I don’t entirely understand how the whole evil thing works" she admitted, "but I think Buffy saw it, under that spell, and it’s real. He can love people Rupert, and I’m almost certain he loves my daughter"

"And you believe she feels the same?" Giles checked.

"I do" she agreed with a nod, "and of course it’d be so much simpler if she didn’t, if she could have a ‘normal’ boyfriend" she air-quoted just as Buffy would, "but the world isn’t perfect, Rupert, you know that"

"Indeed I do" he sighed, taking her hand in his, "Although I do feel as though it has improved a great deal, since you agreed we could, well, date I suppose would be the correct term"

Joyce smiled at that, before leaning in to kiss him briefly.

"I think maybe I should go talk to Buffy" she told him afterwards, "You promise not to get into a fight with Spike whilst I’m gone?" she checked with a hint of a smirk.

"I promise" he told her as she left the room, wondering how all that had happen had actually come to pass.

It seemed ridiculous to think how everything had changed so much in just a few days, but if time could be rewound and everything started again, Giles felt he would let it be exactly as it was. Buffy and Spike as a couple was something he may have to deal with, and that was definitely not something he relished but, he had Joyce to help him through any troubles he might face and he would willingly put up with a great deal to keep her at his side.

"Buffy?" Joyce called as she tapped on the bedroom door and the opened it, "You okay, honey?" she checked as she came into the room and found her daughter sitting on her bed with a cardboard box on her knees.

Buffy didn’t really know where she was going when she left her house. She wasn’t even entirely certain why she’d left in the first place. Those pictures her mother had shown her, herself and Spike all happy together as kids, it just made it so clear to her what she’d lost and that hurt more than she could say. Obviously at that age she hadn’t felt for him exactly what she did now. There was no sexual element to it when they were five, but she saw him. Buffy saw the real William because she didn’t have the understanding of the world to pre-judge him on what he was, a vampire. He was a person rather than a thing and she was forced to take notice of that. He’d become her friend, her boyfriend even, if one could call it that at pre-school age. He’d promised to marry her one day and she’d agreed to that, and still she wore the ring he’d given her, pretending she could not remove it just so she didn’t have to part with it.

Yet when she had to face him now, those times when she knew she should just tell him the truth of how she felt, she bottled it all up and spat out nasty insults and threats instead of the love she so wanted to share with him. She knew why, if she was honest. She could blame the fact that she now knew what he was and that made a difference, but it didn’t. She could say he had changed, not just in physical size and appearance, but completely in his personality, but he hadn’t, not really. The real reason she wouldn’t commit to having any kind of feelings for him was because she was afraid.

There wasn’t much that got the Slayer so scared that she ran from it, but the prospect of facing another relationship like the one she had with Angel put a fear in her like she’d never faced before. Things could be so good with Spike for a while, they had been with Angel, but one little thing could turn her whole world on it’s head and she couldn’t take that a second time. If Spike got the chip out of his head he could be evil again, just like Angelus, and she couldn’t take that risk...could she?

Before the chip Spike had taken her side to fight against Acathla and his grand-sire, and just last year they’d fought side by side against a vampire gang sent by the Mayor. One might say that was all for his own gain but what about now? Under the spell it seemed the chip didn’t work at all, and yet he hadn’t harmed her, not once. Whenever Spike was around Buffy or Joyce he’d gone to great efforts to hide his vamp face and keep the violence inside. He’d threatened Xander, lashed out at Anya and Angel, but not once had he really meant to hurt the Slayer or her mother. Buffy hoped it was because he really did like her, maybe love her like he’d said he did. They’d shared a bed every night and he’d held her when she cried, never once taking advantage and biting her or anything.

Buffy had, at length, come to the conclusion that perhaps Spike did share her feelings of love, and yet she knew she could never admit to her own. So long as she held on to memories of Angel, she could never learn to trust Spike fully enough to commit to him. It would be easier all around if they just stayed out of each others way.

"So, this is where you ended up?" said an English voice in the dark and Buffy sighed. There was no chance of that then.

"What business is it of yours what I do?" she snapped, getting up from the gravestone she’d been sitting on and making to storm away. Spike caught her wrist as she went past him.

"Maybe I want it to be my business" he told her, "Maybe I’m startin’ to realise that...I want you" he said seriously, eyes locked onto hers. Buffy swallowed hard, steeling herself against emotions that were running riot inside of her.

"I want, doesn’t get" she said coldly, pulling her arm from his grip and turning away. He gave chase as she should have known he would.

"Bloody hell, Buffy, give a bloke a chance" he implored her, "You can’t just switch it off, and under that spell..."

"Under that spell, what?" she yelled, turning back to face him so suddenly he nearly fell over her, "Under that spell we thought we were friends - big whoop" she said sarcastically, "Spell over, friendship over" she explained, but he wasn’t buying it.

"No" he shook his head, "It’s more than that, we had a connection"

She moved to walk away and he grabbed at her again, turning her around and holding her firmly in place, a hand on each of her upper arms.

"You loved me Buffy, and I loved you" he said, making her listen, "You’re wearing my ring because we promised to marry each other for God’s sake, that doesn’t just mean nothing"

"Yes, it does" she half-yelled, seeming as though she were trying to convince herself as much as him, "Kids play games Spike, they make up stuff, they pretend to have weddings and all kinds of crazy things" she told him, pulling out of his grasp but remaining in front of him, "but that’s all it is, a kids game...and ours is over now" she ended quietly, suddenly walking away so fast that Spike had only just registered she’d started moving when she was gone. She was crying again, he could smell her salty tears on the breeze and he hated it.

Still, he didn’t go after her. He knew there was little point since they’d only end up fighting again and that got neither of them anywhere fast. He’d come out here both to look for her and find some place to call his own. He refused to be dependant on the Scoobies or Joyce, he was tougher than that. So the chip those Soldier Boys shoved up his brain stopped him hitting humans, but he could wail on any demons that came calling. He remembered getting twinges when he bit into Anya’s ankles as a Little Bit, but there was not so much as a buzz when he’s sunk his fangs into Angel. It’d make sense too, for the Initiative to make him non-violent to humans only, made unlife a little less rough on him at least.

As Buffy’s scent faded away, Spike set off to find himself a crypt somewhere in the graveyard that he could fix up, or at least catch some sleep in. Joyce had treated him like a normal kid and got him in the habit of sleeping nights and being awake during the day, meaning he was getting tired already.

Tomorrow he’d deal with his Slayer issues. Maybe he’d grab her and snog her til she gave in to him, that idea had potential. If he didn’t love her so damn much he might just kill her and have done with it to end all the trouble, but it was too late for that now. He was falling in love with the silly bint, and no-one could save him from that.

When Buffy arrived home, Joyce offered to get her some food but the Slayer declined saying she wasn’t feeling so good and just wanted to go to bed. Her mother tried to apologise for upsetting her but Buffy assured her it wasn’t her fault before hugging both her and Giles and hurrying up to her room.