Giles was reading his newspaper at the table when William appeared. Breakfast was due to be ready in about five minutes and as usual both men were there promptly, though Giles was wondering if his nephew was feeling altogether well.

"I would say Good Morning, William, but you don’t look as if you slept all that well" he commented, putting the newspaper aside. William sighed as he took his seat.

"I had things on my mind" he replied vaguely, "but I don’t..." he stopped abruptly, surprised to see Buffy entering the dining room from the opposite door that he himself had come through. Giles looked equally stunned, but covered well and smiled at the girl.

"Ah, Buffy, so nice to have you join us, my dear" he told her as she walked towards the table. If they didn’t know better William and his uncle would almost think she’d made an effort with her attire as her skirt came down to at least her knees and the top she wore covered far more flesh than any other they’d seen her in.

"It’s no big" she shrugged when they stared at her, "I was just hungry is all" she told them as she took her seat and Willow arrived a moment later with serving dishes of bacon and eggs and other hot breakfast food.

"Er, are you quite happy to eat as we do Buffy?" Giles asked her, "Or is there something else you would prefer?"

"No, this is good" she half-smiled in the hope he might stop grinning at her and asking her things if she at least looked a little happy.

"Pass the salt" she asked William, adding ‘please’ all of a sudden despite the fact he’d already picked it up to hand to her. Giles almost choked when he heard her, wondering at how manners and semi-sensible clothing had landed on the girl over night. He wished he could ask but he daren’t for fear of setting her off again as he had inadvertently done a few days ago.

Again he noticed how William seemed to have a problem keeping his eyes off the blonde across the table and Giles was truly starting to worry about what kind of relationship might be developing between his nephew and God-daughter. He loved them both, of course he did, but the girl was unruly at best and a nightmare at worse. William was terribly vulnerable and it would be all to easy for him to take a turn to the wilder side of life and become, to all intents and purposes, a carbon copy of his father, Ethan. Giles would hate to see that happen.

"Do you have plans for today, William?" he asked casually as possible, hoping against hope that anything the boy did have planned would not include Buffy.

"Not as such, no" the young man mumbled, pushing his food around the plate once more but not really attempting to put anything in his mouth, "Excuse me" he said suddenly, his knife and fork clattering as he set them down. He got up and left the table then, and Giles watched him go, a little stunned by his nephews behaviour.

Without a word Buffy also dumped her cutlery and hurried after William, leaving her God-father staring at the empty table before him.

"Hey" Buffy called as she saw William on his way up the stairs, "You okay?" she asked him. He stopped half way up and leaned over the banister to look at her.

"No" he said sadly with a shake of his head, and the girl was surprised by how bad she felt for him right now, "Would you..." he began, "I wondered...can we talk?" he finally spat out the question but Buffy couldn’t seem to answer immediately.

Last night when they’d talked it was probably the first real conversation she’d had with anyone in years. He wanted to tell her things and when she talked he wanted to listen. She found she wanted, even needed to hear what he had to say too and the thought wouldn’t leave her that it might be nice to have someone to share her secrets with, just for a little while, so long as she was here in this house.

She nodded slowly, following on up the stairs til she reached his side. He smiled slightly as they continued on up to the first floor and then the second, as he led her toward another staircase, Buffy looked back the way she’d come.

"Exactly where are we going for this talk?" she asked with a slight frown. It didn’t bother her where they went but she was starting to wonder how high the building went and what they might find when they got to the top.

"Somewhere we won’t be found" he smirked almost mischievously and Buffy felt like she might be a young child again, playing hide and seek. It was good to know she didn’t have to keep up all her barriers with William. She wasn’t quite ready to completely let him in, but he made her admit a lot of her cold behaviour was a screen to hide her pain. As pissed at him as she would like to be for this revelation, she found she was just kind of glad that someone paid her enough attention to notice.

"Wow" the gasp that escaped her throat surprised even her as William opened a door and she stepped through into what seemed to be part of the attic, though a large window let in much of the suns bright light preventing the space being dull and gloomy as the roof of a house should be. The wooden floor was polished so it reflected the light up into the room making it almost unbearably bright, but when Buffy glanced over and saw the view from the window, she realised it would be a beautiful way to be blinded.

"It’s not much of a place" William shrugged, closing the door behind himself, "but it was my sanctuary if you will, when I was a child"

The final words of his sentence stuck in Buffy’s head as she turned back to look at her new friend. He really did look like such a little boy right now, and kind of lost really.

"I thought this whole house was like sanctuary-ville for you?" she said with a thoughtful look.

"Now it is" he agreed, walking over to the window and looking out, "but only since my father decided to stay away from here"

"Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" Buffy asked, sitting down cross legged on a large rug that covered part of the floor. In the absence of proper furniture it looked fairly comfortable.

"Possibly..." William began to answer as he turned back to see her sitting there, eyes closed and hands on her knees as if she were meditating. Trying to ignore the fact that crossing her legs made her skirt ride up, he took in the sight of her sitting there, the daylight shining all around her making her look like a strange sort of modern day angel.

"Do I bore you so much, Buffy?" he smirked, as he came to sit in front of her in a similar position, "Have I put you to sleep already?"

"If I was bored you’d know" she smiled, opening one eye and looking at him, covering her surprise well when she found he was no longer by the window but just a few inches in front of her, "Anyway, you said you wanted to talk so shoot" she told him, opening both her eyes and relaxing her body, leaning back a little on her hands.

William copied and sat staring at her for several moments, head tilting to one side as he did so. Just when she was about to ask him what the hell he thought he was looking at, he spoke.

"How many people have you ever talked to about your parents?" he asked her, looking seriously thoughtful about it. Buffy looked visibly startled by the question and not at all comfortable.

"What business is that of yours?" she snapped without thinking. He didn’t mean to upset her or anything, she was sure, but it was like a reflex action to bite the heads off anyone that tried to get close to her, get behind the barriers she’d so expertly built after her Mom and Dad passed away.

"Buffy, last night I told you things that I never told anyone" he admitted softly, "and yet I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t, just five minutes before you walked into my room"

"And what?" she shrugged, "It’s my fault that you spilled your guts to me?"

"No" he was quick to answer, shaking his head in the negative, "You seem determined to start an argument with me" he sighed, "Perhaps this was a bad idea"

William got to his feet and Buffy hated that she felt bad for treating him as she was, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

"Look, you have to learn, Will" she told him with a tired sigh, as she scrambled to her feet and stood next to him as they both looked out of the window once again, "We’re from different worlds, and just because last night got kind of intense with the sharing...it doesn’t mean we’re suddenly best friends" she told him as she turned to leave. In some ways, as crazy as it was, she thought she might like this guy for a friend. He wanted to talk to her, and that was a pleasant change, since most guys were more interested in jumping her than anything else. Still it was also sort of disconcerting that he hadn’t tried to come onto her at all.

"Do you like me?" she asked suddenly, turning back from the door. He looked at her strangely then.

"What do you mean?" he checked, wanting to be very sure before he said something foolish.

"Do you like me?" she repeated, "Do you think I’m attractive?"

He coloured at the implications of the question and the way she’d almost struck a pose to show herself off, speech became an issue for poor William.

"I..I don’t think that..." he stammered a little before he got the whole sentence out the way he wanted it, "I find it hard to believe that any man would not find you attractive"

"That wasn’t what I asked" she told him with a sly smile. His failure to give a properly formed response was all the answer she needed really, but as much as she was starting to kind of like him, it was fun to watch him suffer a little bit.

With a deep breath William took a step towards her, reaching for the door handle slightly to her side.

"Yes, Buffy" he said in a soft tone, "I find you very attractive" he admitted, pulling the door open and causing her to move so he could exit the room.

As much as the blonde wanted to rejoice in both his admission and apparent discomfort that she had caused, she couldn’t quite manage it. The look in his eyes when he’d told her that he liked her, there was attraction there, but behind a big dark cloud of something else. As she stood there for a brief moment considering it she realised what it was - disappointment.

With a mixture of hurt and fury running through her veins she stormed off after him. How dare he look at her like that, how her uncle looked at her, and Giles yesterday when she’d been swimming in the lake. What right did he have to find her disappointing? She didn’t understand and she really wanted to hit something right now!

"Hey!" she yelled as she caught up to him, grabbing his arm and making him turn to face her half way along the landing, "What is up with you?" she demanded to know.

"Nothing" he told her, pulling his arm free and rubbing it with his other hand. She had a hell of a grip for a girl, "Nothing you’d be interested in at least" he added almost nastily, walking away, but still Buffy followed.

"You don’t make any sense!" she yelled, "You stand there and tell me I’m attractive and then you run away. Are you afraid of me, is that it?" she asked almost laughing at the concept, and loving it just a little bit too.

"I’m not afraid, Buffy" William assured her as they got to the bottom of another flight of stairs and stopped, "I’m...I don’t believe I understand you" he frowned, "Yesterday you talked to me like a person, and today...why are your looks so important to you?" he asked eventually, "This image you have, these clothes you wear to catch attention..."

"I wear these clothes for me" Buffy argued, "I look this way because I want to, not for anyone else"

"To be honest Buffy" William sighed tiredly, "I don’t care, I just can’t...I was mistaken to think I could talk to you about my problems and for that I’m truly sorry but..."

"Problems?" the blonde girl interrupted him, looking a little stunned, "What problems?"

William looked at the floor and everywhere but at the girl before him. Her hand found his on the edge of the banister rail and though it surprised him it also made him smile slightly.

"It’s Drusilla" he said huskily, watching Buffy’s fingers squeezing his own, "but...you don’t want to hear this" he turned away but her grip tightened on his hand and didn’t let him leave.

"I’m not good at this" she admitted, "but if you wanna tell me, I’ll listen"

William looked back her, smiling gratefully as he nodded in agreement. He did want to tell her, he really had no-one else to talk to. Though Giles cared, he was busy a lot and even when he were free to listen Will knew his uncle didn’t really understand. He tried to, but unless you were a person who had been through the same pain and loss it was impossible for you to comprehend and sympathise in the manner that was needed.

Buffy looked awkwardly down at her hand over William’s and pulled it away suddenly, running her fingers through her hair to cover her slight embarrassment. It was weird to her that he could make her feel so strangely vulnerable at times. Still, he also made her feel sort of special, especially now he wanted to talk to her. It meant that she mattered to him, that she was important enough to be told his secrets - he trusted her. No-one else ever really had.

They were soon sitting back in the attic room, and he began to tell her everything he’d planned to before.

"They called me yesterday, to tell me that perhaps I shouldn’t visit this weekend" he explained, "That’s why I was so worked up about it all before...She’s having another of her turns for the worse"

"You visit every weekend?" Buffy checked.

"I try to" he nodded into his response, "And even though I’m here, I’m no further from the place. It’s more-or-less in the middle between my home and here" he told her, so glad to know someone was interested in what he was telling them. He didn’t talk to anyone about Dru. His father’s mood only ever got worse when he tried to talk to him, and he didn’t like to burden Giles with all his nancy-boy worries.

"She’s lucky y’know" Buffy told him, making him look at her strangely, "I mean not for the...problems and stuff" she clarified, "but to have someone that really cares about her like that. I’ll bet you’re a really great brother"

"Perhaps" he smirked at that, not really knowing how to take it, and finding it endearing how Buffy was trying to be as she was - kind, caring, and considerate. These things he was sure would have come to her so easily if she’d had the love of her mother and father, or even her uncle and aunt, but no-one had ever cared enough to listen to her or be there for her, she put up walls to hide the pain and fear that no-one would help her get over, and so the girl before him now was made.

"Look, I dunno much about psychology or whatever" she admitted, "but if your sister isn’t so good, wouldn’t it help her to see you, someone she recognises?"

"I think so" William agreed, "and she does always know me...all the others she’ll be oblivious to, but through it all she always knows me"

Tears came to his eyes as he spoke about it and he fought against them as his father had taught him to well. You do not cry in front of people, you do not appear weak and feeble. If you must give in to tears you do so in private and not make yourself look like anymore of a ponce than you already are.

"If you think it’ll help then go and see her" Buffy’s voice broke through his deep thoughts and painful memories, "I mean, she’s your sister, it has to be your choice, right?"

"But they told me not to visit" William looked troubled, but she just rolled her eyes at him.

"God William, do you always do everything you’re told to do!" she asked in frustration. She knew this guy was kind of the geek type and everything but did he really have to act like such a loser!

"You told me you didn’t understand me, cos yesterday I’d talk to you and today I’m not so big with the listenage" she reminded him, "Well yesterday you were jumping-in-lakes guy and now you won’t even face a couple of nurses to see your sister. What gives?"

"That’s not me Buffy" he shook his head, "I’m not jumping-in-lakes guy as you would call me, I don’t know how to be"

"Then I’ll teach you" she smiled, eyes glittering with the promise of fun, "What do you say, Will? Wanna see what life’s like on the other side?"

As he stood before his uncle, William felt decidedly like the accused on trial, though he’d done nothing at all to feel guilty about. He didn’t intend to do anything so very awful on this trip with Buffy they had planned. Just go to see Dru and then on to London where the blonde told him she would ‘introduce him to the other side’ or at least the British version of her world. They’d left off that last part of course, only mentioning Drusilla and sight-seeing for Buffy.

Now a couple of hours after their plans had been made, they stood in Giles’ home-office awaiting his approval.

"Well you’re both adults, albeit young ones, but still" he said removing his glasses and polishing them furiously, "I have no problem at all with you going together to see Drusilla, but this trip to London afterwards..."

"It’s perfectly safe Giles, I assure you" William interrupted him as Buffy stood patiently at his side, checking her nails for lack of something better to do, "Your car will come back in one piece and neither Buffy nor myself should come to any harm. I know my way around as well as anyone could" Will assured his Uncle, desperate to have his permission to take this trip with his new friend.

"Indeed, I have complete trust in you, William" Giles told the boy as he replaced his glasses on his nose "I just..." he glanced at Buffy and then back, "well, I’m not certain you’ve thought about this"

"Translation, you trust Will, but you don’t trust me" Buffy said looking increasingly pissed off about it. Giles didn’t like the dangerous look in her eyes and tried to placate her.

"Now really Buffy that’s not it at all" he tried to tell her, but she interrupted.

"Sure it is" she waved an arm emphatically, "He told me he made the same trip last Summer. You’re only all wiggy about this because he’ll be gone a little longer and because he wants to take me with him" she said, knowing it was true, "You think I’m gonna murder him half way down the highway, Giles?" she asked him with a look, hands on her hips.

"Buffy don’t be so ridiculous" he said agitatedly, knowing what she said was actually at least half true, "I merely wish to keep you both safe. Your Aunt and Uncle have entrusted me with your safety and I will not have it jeopardised"

Buffy looked daggers at him as he made her feel so young and stupid.

"Y’know I was actually starting to feel like..." she started, before realising William and Giles were both staring at her and the defensive walls flew back up, "Doesn’t matter, I don’t feel it anymore" she huffed, turning and storming out of the room. The door slammed behind her loud enough to wake the dead and the two men winced as it did so.

"Oh heavens" the older man sighed, sitting down on the edge of his desk, removing his glasses once again and rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Giles, reconsider, please" William pleaded with him, "I know Buffy comes across as, well, a bitch I suppose" he said uneasily "but she’s not so violent or even as unpredictable as she seems"

"It is not her I worry about so much, William" Giles told him, though his eyes remained mostly on the floor, "it is you in her company that concerns me"

He’d never had to worry about bad influences on his nephew before. His father barely spent any time with him and he came in to contact with few other people that would get him into any kind of trouble, until now of course.

"If this is about yesterdays...episode" said William, "then I apologise if we shocked you. We were having fun Giles, it’s what young people are supposed to do" he realised.

Yesterdays event may have been different to his usual behaviour, but for the most part he had enjoyed himself, and come to realise that this was what he’d been missing in his life, Buffy was the missing piece.

"I’m fighting a losing battle aren’t I?" Giles sighed, knowing that the only way William was going to grow up into a decent sort of man was to be allowed to be an adult and make his own decisions - even if he made a few wrongs ones along the way.

"I do believe you might be, yes" William smirked, something that was slightly unusual in itself. He turned and headed for the door but paused and turned back to his Uncle.

"You know we didn’t have to ask permission" he pointed out, gaining Giles attention, "I’m nineteen years old after all, I could’ve just taken off in one of your cars, consequences be damned, but I didn’t...Does that not bring you some comfort?"

"I suppose so" his Uncle smiled, but called after his nephew as he made to leave, "I want to know what’s going on. You must call me at regular intervals, and if either one of you gets yourself in any kind of trouble..."

"We won’t Giles" William called back to him, "You have my word"

As William put his bag into the back seat of the car he couldn’t stop smiling. It was two days ago that he and Buffy shared a very odd yet life-changing conversation. She was an incredible young woman and like no-one else he’d ever met. Her aim in life at first glance seemed to be to go through the world wreaking havoc wherever she could, but on closer inspection William had found she was actually a very deep and insecure person who just wanted a friend, and someone who cared.

The day of ‘the conversation’ had led to Buffy’s promise to show her new friend the way things really were in the world. She was certain he could be this amazing person and though he was less convinced of that, he didn’t mind experiencing something a little different, especially if it pleased Buffy.

"Woah" her voice outside the car startled him, almost making him bump his head "and here was me thinkin’ Giles was all straight-laced and boring, and the guy owns a Viper" she grinned, taking in the sight of the beautiful silver-coloured car. William pulled his head out of the back to look at her and found himself completely at a loss for words.

Clearly the small amount of effort she’d made to cover her skin before had been for Giles’ benefit. The skirt she wore now barely earned it’s title and Will was fairly sure he’d seen belts that covered more. In contrast her high-heeled boots were almost to her knees, whilst her halter neck top adequately covered her chest but left her back open to view.

"Er, yes" he coughed a little, trying to keep his eyes on her face, "I thought this would be a little more your style so to speak" he gestured to the car as she strutted over, pulling her sunglasses from on top of her head and putting them where they belonged on her face.

"It rocks" she said of the car as he opened the door for her, causing her to stifle a giggle, "and anyway I thought my style was gonna be your style by the time we got back" she said as she climbed into the car, apparently not worried by the fact she showed her underwear when she did so, or the fact that it took William several moments to get over the incident.

"Perhaps" he said eventually as he moved round to get to he drivers seat, "Although I think I’d look awful in that outfit" he smirked, eyes glittering with fun as he pulled on his seatbelt and waited for her to do the same.

"Sarcasm, huh?" Buffy grinned, "That’s a start" she commented as she threw her small bag into the back, "So, what are we waiting for?"

"Nothing at all" William realised, turning the key in the ignition and making the radio blare loudly with something distinctly punkish.

"What is this?" Buffy seemed highly amused as she adjusted the dial slightly so they could hear themselves think.

"Er" William listened for a moment before answering, "I do believe it’s the Sex Pistols"

Buffy let out a hearty laugh at that one.

"Giles listens to the Sex Pistols in his Viper?" she chuckled, "Okay, did I just enter Bizarro World?"

"If you did I think I must’ve joined you" William told her, unable to stop from laughing himself as he drove out of the garage.

"Y’know this is actually pretty good" Buffy decided a she got into the rhythm of the music and William smiled at her enthusiasm for it.

"Yes, it’s not bad at all is it" he grinned as they swung around the side of the house and sped down the driveway.

"I do believe I may be insane" Giles sighed as he stood in the front doorway of his house and watched his nephew and God-daughter go tearing off in one of his most expensive cars, the music blasting so loud he was positive their ears must be bleeding.

"Will and the Buffster headed off for London, huh?" Xander commented as he finished up washing the ground floor windows.

Giles nodded bsently as he watched the tail lights of the car disappear.

"I know it’s ridiculous and William is a sensible lad, but that girl..." he sighed.

"For what it’s worth, sir" Xander began carefully, not wanting to cause offence, "and I know it’s none of my business but...those two have spent a lot of time together and every time you see them they’re laughing and getting along. I think maybe given a shot she can be an okay person" he told his boss, always willing to give everyone a chance, much like his sister would.

"I do hope you’re right, Xander" said Giles as he went back inside the house, "truly I do"

"This is so wild" Buffy laughed as she pulled the rest of Giles CDs out from the glove compartment, "AC/DC, The Ramones...who knew Giles liked this stuff"

"I certainly didn’t" William admitted, "but I must say I can see the appeal" he went on to say. Buffy gave him a look of disbelief.

"Perhaps it is a little loud but I think it would be a good way of escaping, driving a little too fast with his kind of music playing"

"You don’t know the half of it" Buffy grinned, hitting a button that slid the sun roof back.

"Er, Buffy" William said nervously as she undid her seatbelt, "What exactly are you doing?"

"Having a good time" she told him with a grin as she stood herself up.

With the top half of her body outside the car, the fresh air blowing her hair back and her arms waving wildly, Buffy had never felt so alive. William sat inside the car, trying not to be petrified for both their lives, since she was hardly in a safe position right now and the view he had when he glanced to hisleft was in danger of taking too much of his attention off the road and causing them to crash.

After a minute or so, Will decided enough was enough. They were nearing the institution and he didn’t fancy the staff thinking his passenger was on the ‘to be admitted’ list. Just as he opened his mouth to tell Buffy to get back inside she did so anyway, coughing strangely.

"You alright, pet?" he checked as she swallowed hard and reached into the back to get her bottle of water from her bag.

"I think I ate a bug" she told him with some distaste as she gulped down more water.

It was all William could do not to laugh hysterically and he had to bite his lip to prevent it.

"William Rayne, tell me you’re not laughing at someone else’s misfortune" she said in a distinctly Giles tone, "Whatever would your Uncle think of you?" she smiled.

"Doesn’t matter, does it?" he shrugged, "He’s not here, and aren’t you supposed to be teaching me how to live on your wild side of the tracks?" he reminded her, glancing across to see her smile dangerously.

"Believe me, it’s only gonna get better, baby" she winked, sipping her water as both she and William turned their eyes back to the road ahead. A short distance away, a large building loomed and the atmosphere in the car turned serious as Will shut off the radio.

"It’s bigger than I thought" Buffy commented as she stared at the building they were approaching, "And y’know that’s not a phrase I use a lot" she smirked, in the hopes of lightening the mood, actually just causing William to blush at the implications of her innuendo.

"You sure you want to do this, pet?" he asked a moment later, "I mean, Dru can be...unpredictable" he said as he pulled the car into a space outside the institution.

"In case you hadn’t noticed" she told him, "I do okay at unpredictable myself"

"This is different" he told her firmly. Jokes were all well and good but this was serious, this was his sister and her sometimes-frightening mental state. Underneath it all William was sure Buffy was a decent and compassionate girl but this was a big deal and the last thing he wanted was to upset either her or poor Drusilla.

"Will, I said I wanted to meet your sister, and I do" she said, looking over him, the hand she put on his arm felt as if it burnt but he couldn’t move, "I promise to behave in there, okay? And whatever she does, even if I get seriously freaked, I won’t show it"

"Thankyou Buffy" he said more sincerely than he’d ever said anything, as he put his hand on hers and squeezed it gently.

"So let's get going already" she said, uncomfortable with all the serious looks and declarations by now. They both climbed out of the Viper and Will checked three times it was locked and alarmed correctly before they went inside.

"She’s ready to see you now" a kindly looking nurse-type said as she exited Drusilla’s room, leaving the door ajar. William shared a glance with Buffy, glad of the supportive smile she gave him, and the fact that her hand slipped into his as they walked through the door.

By the window sat a young woman with such dark hair it made her pallid skin look all the more pale. She wore a long creamy coloured lacy dress that Buffy swore came out of the Victorian era. She didn’t look crazy, just frighteningly still as she stared out across the scenery, but then Buffy had never met a real live crazy person before.

"Drusilla, luv" William said gently as they approached.

"And there he is" she grinned not yet turning her head, "My sweet brother William come to visit me like a good boy"

She finally turned then and spared a look at Buffy.

"And he’s brought a little friend for us to play with" she continued, the look in her eyes somewhere between playful and dangerous. Luckily Buffy was an expert at hiding fear. She didn’t even flinch as the brunette came towards her, stopping just a stride away.

Dru closed her eyes and put her hands up in front of her, palms facing Buffy who shared a look with William. He gestured for her not to worry as Drusilla swayed side to side her hands eventually shifting to hold her head.

"Oh William" she sighed, frowning first then smiling, "It’s dark where she is" she said when she finally opened her eyes and faced him, "but the sun will shine through in the end" she decided, "and you my darling boy" his sister continued, putting a hand on his shoulder and leaning in to whisper in his ear, "All the birds will sing for you, and all the stars will too" she giggled, making William smile himself.

"Dru, this is Buffy Summers, she’s a friend of mine" he introduced.

"Hey" the blonde waved a little, feeling very awkward suddenly.

"She is the pretty one you were waiting for" Drusilla laughed like a child, "Yes, she’ll do very well..." she paused and a strange look came over her face before she grabbed Buffy’s hand and walked across the room to her bed where they both sat down.

"Do you like dolls?" the brunette asked as she reached across the bed.

"Uh, I guess" Buffy lied as a china doll was thrust into her hands.

"Say hello to Miss Edith then" Drusilla ordered and William noticed how stupid Buffy must feel.

"Dru, maybe Buffy doesn’t want to..." he started, but soon stopped when the blonde smiled at the doll in her hands.

"Hey Miss Edith, nice to meet you" she said. Drusilla smiled triumphantly at her brother, a look that said ‘see, she wants to be my friend too’.

An hour passed in which William felt very much the third wheel. His sister chatted animatedly to Buffy about all manner of things, and for the most part her probing questions were not too inappropriate. Despite the fact he was almost completely left out of conversation, Will found he didn’t mind. To see Dru like this, so happy and almost normal, with Buffy who herself seemed so at ease, it gave him a great feeling of contentment.

"Dear William" Drusilla frowned suddenly, "Princess is a bad girl" she scolded herself, "Left the sweet boy all alone in the corner like a dunce"

"Sorry" Buffy said, as she suddenly noticed how right Dru was, "You came here to see your sister and I kinda got all the attention"

"He doesn’t mind" his sister grinned, "Too kind, too soft...let the damsels run amok to save them from distress"

"I never let you run amok, Dru" William smiled indulgently, "Never got a choice in what you did, couldn’t stop you if I wanted too"

"Free spirits can’t be caged like birds" she shook her head, one hand going absently to her throat, "Poor chick will choke with bars to bind her" her grip tightened on her own neck til she started to go a funny colour and Buffy wasn’t sure what to think.

"No, luv" William was immediately at his sister’s side, prising her fingers from her own windpipe, "Don’t do that, pet"

Tears came to her eyes as he held both her hands in his and she started to rock back and forth as she looked at him.

"Princess didn’t mean it" she promised, as she began to cry and William pulled her into a hug. He was used to this, strange mood swings and the like. It usually meant she was due her drugs and as if they’d read his mind a nurse tapped on the door and entered quietly. Buffy got up to leave, feeling very awkward and out of place.

"Bye Dru" she said softly as she made for the door.

On the other side she leaned against the wall and expelled a breath. Meeting William’s sister was an intense experience, and nothing like what she’d expected. She tried to imagine how it must have been for him, trying to cope with looking after her when he was just a child. She couldn’t understand how anyone would begin to deal with that. The more she got to know William, the more Buffy realised that she was far from the only one to have suffered as she grew up. Yes, she’d lost her parents and it was a tragedy but it was not the only bad thing to happen in the world.

"Buffy?" William was by her side when she looked up and without a word she put her arms around him and pulled him into a hug.

"Hey now, what’s this about?" he said nervously, though having her in his arms did feel wonderful. A moment later she pulled away, a tear escaping down her cheek.

"I’m sorry" she told him, "You’re a different person to what I thought, and, well..." she had trouble saying all that she meant and William hated to see her struggle with it.

"I’m sorry too" he apologised, "Dru can be a little..."

"No" Buffy interrupted, shaking her head, "She’s great, really. It’s not her fault she does some weird stuff...and y’know before the whole strangling deal...she’s fun to hang with"

William smiled at that, cautiously bringing his hand up Buffy’s cheek and wiping away the lone tear she didn’t seem to have noticed she’d shed.

"You know, Buffy" he said softly, "You try to hide it, but underneath it all, you’re really a very sweet girl, aren’t you?"

"Yeah, right" the blonde scoffed at that, automatically going back into carefree mode, but he could see in her eyes it was all a lie. Once the facade had been allowed to let slip it was pointless putting it back in place, even she herself knew that but it didn’t stop her trying for the most part.

"Tell anyone, and you die bloody" she told him with a smirk that showed she was teasing.

"Never say a word, luv" he promised her, "Scouts honour" he added with the appropriate salute as they headed back out of the building.

"You were a boy scout?" she asked him with a disbelieving look till he turned away.

"Just for a day" he admitted, "I’m allergic to camping" he smirked, making her laugh out loud as they made their way back to the car.

It was about a half hour later when William pulled the car into the lot of a small country hotel. He and Buffy would be staying just the one night, visiting Drusilla again tomorrow morning and then driving down to London after lunch.

"So, this is where you stay every weekend that you visit Dru?" Buffy asked as they climbed out of the car and pulled their bags from the back.

"Yes" William nodded, "and you should actually feel quite at home, the owners are American"

"Seems like there’s more people from my country over here than yours" she smiled as they arrived at the front door and he opened it for her like a gentleman should.

They’d barely reached the front desk when a girl a little taller than Buffy but much younger looking came galloping from a door, colliding with William and nearly knocking him over.

"Hello, Bit" he smiled, hugging her for a moment. Buffy felt ridiculous for feeling a little jealous as she watched the pair together.

"I can’t believe how much you’ve grown" William told the girl when they parted, "Quite the young woman now, you are"

The young brunette coloured at his words, ducking her face behind her hair and turning away, coming face to face with Buffy.

"Hi" she said, frowning at what she considered to be ‘a total skank-girl’.

"Oh, Dawn this is Buffy Summers" William quickly introduced, "Buffy this is Dawn, the owner’s daughter. You two are fellow Americans you know"

"Huh" the younger girl looked entirely unimpressed as she headed back behind the counter, telling William she’d go find her parents to get him booked in.

"She’s...friendly" Buffy commented as soon as she was gone and William shrugged.

"I’ve been coming here for a couple of years now" he explained, "Most of the time Dawn’s away at boarding school but in the holidays we spend some time together whilst I’m here. Her parents are almost always busy and she gets lonely"

Their conversation was interrupted when Dawn re-appeared with her mother and the visiting pair were handed a key each. The young brunette seemed eager to follow William wherever he went and it was strange to the young man to note that Dawn and Buffy seemed to be shooting nasty looks at each other because of him. Whilst it was embarrassing he found it was also a little thrilling to know your attention was so much sought after, particularly by those of the opposite sex.

Eventually, Dawn’s mother called her away, telling her to leave the guests alone as Buffy and William headed up to their respective rooms. From the outside, the hotel looked of an average size, yet somehow the bedrooms seemed huge. Buffy guessed the large windows and grand views beyond had something to do with that. As she stood staring out at the hills and trees there was a tap on her door before William entered.

"Is your room okay?" he asked her and she shrugged.

"Yeah, it’s okay" she said, trying to look serious but having difficulty as smile broke out on her face, "Will, it’s huge! Of course it’s okay, better than okay. Kinda sucks you have to pay for all this though" she realised, "I don’t really have a lot of cash or I could..."

"Now, Buffy" he silenced her, "We agreed not to talk about that"

She nodded that she remembered and decided to let it go. Anyone other than William she might have felt worse about his kindness, but he put her at such ease. Other guys she met, most of them in fact, would expect some kind of payment for all they gave her, in which case Buffy never would’ve accepted their offers. She was a lot of things but a hooker was not one of them, she didn’t do the sexual favours thing. She was totally comfortable here, knowing William wasn’t like that and would never try anything, though she had to admit that somewhere deep inside, she kind of wished he’d want her that way.

"I suppose we should get something to eat and then get some sleep" he suggested, glancing at the view that seemed to have her hypnotised.

"William, it’s barely eight o’clock" she smirked, "And you’re thinking about sleeping?" she checked.

"In case you’ve forgotten, Miss Summers" he smirked back at her, "Some of us have to play chauffeur again tomorrow - not just back to the home to see Dru but then all the way down to the other hotel in London" he reminded her.

With that he turned to leave, stopping just short of the door when she spoke to him.

"Y’know this time tomorrow, chauffeur or not, we will not be sleeping by eight" she told him as he turned back. The look in her eye made him blush, and she giggled.

"You wanted to see the wild side of life" she reminded him, "and it all starts tomorrow"

"Looking forward to it, luv" he smiled, despite his embarrassment, finally leaving her alone.

Tomorrow was going to make for an interesting day, what with another visit to see Drusilla, and then on to London where Buffy planned to show William how one partied with the best of them. As strange as it seemed, they were both quite looking forward to it.

"Are you sure about this?" William asked Buffy as he pulled the car up outside the institution where his sister resided, "I mean, yesterday was..."

"Yesterday was fine" he was told in no uncertain terms, as he shut off the engine and the blonde beside him demanded his attention, "William, your sister is a great person. She says what she thinks and I respect that" she smiled, "Okay so maybe she went a little OTT yesterday and I admit I was a little freaked but that doesn’t mean I’ve changed my mind about today" she told him.

"You are full of surprises, Buffy Summers" William smiled at her, and it bothered her a little that he was making her uncomfortable with his compliments.

"You have no idea" she said quickly, climbing from the car as he did the same.

They walked up to the front desk and were taken up to Drusilla’s room by a nurse, just like yesterday. As William pushed on the door and went inside, Buffy took a deep breath and followed.

"Here they are again then" Drusilla grinned at the sight of them, "My darling brother and his pretty girl"

"Hello, luv" Will smiled as she came forward and hugged him. She seemed a lot more lucid today and that was a good sign, "How’re you feeling?"

"Like I could fly to the moon and back" she giggled as she turned to Buffy, "Psst, want to know a secret" she whispered, urging the blonde to follow her across the room. Buffy smiled as she glanced at William before letting Dru lead her over to the corner.

"Love flies on fairy wings" she said seriously, "Sprinkles pretty dust on all of us, everyone of us" she smiled. Buffy looked at her strangely, wondering if what it seemed like she as saying could be true.

"Dru, is there a guy here that you like?" she asked cautiously, finding it amusing when the pale girl looked away and giggled.

"Says he’d rebuild the world the way I wanted, if I asked" she admitted, "and so pretty when he smiles" she sighed dreamily.

Buffy knew William was trying to both ignore them and hear what they were saying at the same time. She didn’t know if Dru had made up this dream guy in her own head or if there really was a man in her life somehow, but she doubted Will would be to be pleased to hear either tale. Clearly his sister knew that too and that was why it was all a secret.

"Naughty Buffy" she heard Drusilla say and realised her attention had been very much taken by William, "You find my brother all too pleasing" she smirked.

"I so do not" the blonde laughed to cover the fact she wasn’t really sure what to say. Thankfully Dru lost interest and wandered over to her brother. Buffy watched them for a while as they talked about nonsense, almost wishing she could have had a brother or sister to share things with. Secrets and games, that only siblings would understand. Faith was great but you couldn’t talk to her about anything real. Everything was about dancing and drinking, guys and sex. Buffy hadn’t realised that life was more than a combination of just these things till she’d spent some time away from that world.

Here in England, forced to live amongst refined people, people who actually cared about others, even her. It was so strange but things were starting to matter, things she hadn’t thought about for years. When she picked out her clothes, she now asked herself if those around her would approve of what she wore, William in particular. What was he doing to her to make her feel like this? She had thought she was immune to men and their affections. She used them and moved on just like Faith did, except for Angel of course, he was a little more special than the rest but not enough to get too far under her skin, she wouldn’t allow it.

"What are the birds singing about where you are?" Drusilla asked suddenly, right in her face.

Buffy made a startled sound and blinked several times as she came back to reality.

"You alright, luv?" William checked and she smiled.

"Sure, just kinda zoned out, no big" she covered, "Just a day dream"

"Sometimes I dream of rainbow coloured castles" Drusilla smiled as she sat down beside her new friend once again, "I’m a princess and my knight in shining armour saves me from the monsters..." she trailed off and the smile slid from her face, replaced by a dark look, "The monsters want to take me" she said softly, staring a spot on the wall that no-one else could see, "They say that I’m a bad, bad girl" she grimaced and Buffy suddenly became aware of what Drusilla was doing. The nails of one hand scratched the back of the other, already marking the skin there, "Bad girls must be punished, taught a lesson" she continued, sharp nails almost drawing blood by now. William moved barely a fraction of an inch, planning to go to his sister and stop her before she hurt herself but he never got the chance.

"But you’re not a bad girl" Buffy cut in, taking hold of Dru’s hands but not saying a word about what she’d been doing, "You’re a good girl, a real princess" she told her, as the pale girl stared at her strangely, "It has to be true, I mean, your brother is a real prince, right?" the blonde smiled, glancing over at William and hoping he’d play along. He was too stunned to say anything.

Drusilla giggled as his dumb expression.

"Dear William, a prince among men" she said amusedly, "Proper gentleman my brother" she nodded.

William coloured at their comments and checked his watch.

"Nearly time for us to be going, pet" he told his sister, "but I’ll be back next week, okay?"

"I shan’t be lonely" she smiled as he came over and hugged her, "Miss Edith will watch over me til I see you again"

"I’m sure she will, luv" he said, kissing her forehead affectionately.

"Oh" Drusilla complained as Buffy stood up, "I wasn’t done with her yet, and you’re taking her away" she said, sending a look her brothers way. He shared a look with Buffy and was more than a little stunned when she sat back down on the bed and looked seriously at Dru.

"Tell you what, next time Will comes to visit, I’ll ask him to bring me with him if you want" she asked, "That sound okay?"

"Perfect" the raven-haired girl grinned, "We shall be very good sisters you know"

Buffy didn’t say anything and William too shied away from the implications of that particular comment, but then much of his attention was still taken by the very fact Buffy was being kind to his unbalanced sister. He was almost certain there was probably a beautiful person underneath the more obvious external beauty of this girl but the more time he spent with her the more he felt that even he might have underestimated her.

They both said goodbye to Drusilla and walked back to the car in silence. It was only when they started to drive back towards the hotel to pick up their bags that William decided on the words he wanted to say.

"Buffy" he said suddenly, somewhat startling her since the silence had gone on so long until now, "Did you mean what you said to Drusilla?" he asked her, glancing between her face and the road.

"I dunno" she shrugged, trying to be nonchalant whilst knowing she really had meant what she’d said, just a little wary of him thinking she might actually care.

"Oh" he sounded too disappointed and Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her seat, fiddling with the radio so she could concentrate on something else.

"I guess if you want me to go with you to see her again" she said quietly, "That’d be okay" she told him, not looking at him at all as she finally tuned the radio to a station she was happy with.

William smiled but didn’t say another word on that subject.

"So, we pick up our bags and then on to London, I suppose" he said as they drove on down the road.

"That was the plan" Buffy grinned when she remember their bargain, "Ready to go wild, Will?" she asked with a look. He hardly dare glance at her for fear of losing concentration and crashing the car, because he knew that suggestive look was on her face again.

"Er, yes" he said, trying to sound much more confident than he felt, "I think so"

The lights of London as they drove down the streets were what held Buffy’s attention. She looked like a kid in front of a Christmas tree for the first time in her life, and William was sorry he had to keep his eyes on the road instead of looking at her. He was naturally a little wary of where this trip would end up going, not so much destination-wise as in a wild kind of way.

On the way to the hotel Buffy had pointed out various clubs that they might check out and William dare not admit that the very idea petrified him. He’d agreed to this trip, this ‘wild’ adventure and he would see it through, if only to please his companion. The girls eyes had gone comically wide when they’d arrived at the hotel. It was a little grander than she’d assumed apparently, and the way she stared at everything like a small child in awe of it all was quite amusing and endearing too.

"This must be costing you a fortune" she’d commented almost guiltily as they were shown their rooms. Altogether the two bedrooms and adjoining bathroom were larger than any of her friends apartments back home and almost as big as the rooms in Giles’ House.

"Not in relative terms" he’d told her, regarding the money, making it clear he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

It was an hour later when she knocked on his door and let herself in when he called that she could.

"Hey" she smiled, "So, we going out or what?"

"I suppose" William answered with his back still to her.

When he turned and saw her he was stunned. Though he’d seen her in clothes like these before she was never so, well, glamorous perhaps was the word. Her top looked black from most angles but sparkled with silver glitter when the light caught it just so. Her black pants looked practically painted on and William did his best not to stare too obviously but it wasn’t easy. He wasn’t entirely certain, when he looked up at her face, why she over-did her make-up like that. She was so pretty without anything added. Though he’d never tell her he didn’t like the way she looked with all that stuff hiding her natural good looks.

"Um" she bit her lip as she observed him, "You’re going to change, right?" she checked and he looked down at his sensible attire.

"I confess I’m not certain what I should change into" he said uncomfortably, "or even if I have anything at all that would be suitable"

"Hmm" she said stepping towards him, circling him like a predator. He felt rather embarrassed and not at all comfortable. She soon switched her attention from him to the contents of his bag, pulling out various things and frowning before throwing them to one side.

"Do you even own a T-shirt?" she asked incredulously.

"I...that is to say..." he stumbled over his words, feel terribly out of place and uneasy, "I’m not certain I like you going through my things" he said, encouraging her to stop, "I, I really think this was a bad idea" he told her, almost physically pushing her towards the door.

Buffy frowned before realising what his problem was. He was embarrassed, he was almost ashamed of not being the guy she knew he could be given the chance. When they’d arrived at the hotel there’d been a guy outside. He was hot and clearly interested in her, but whilst Buffy had graced him with a smile she’d barely paid him any attention. Clearly though, even the small look of vague interest had not escaped William’s notice. He was insecure and unsure of himself. Buffy didn’t like to see those feelings in him, though in others she found it amusing. He was so strong for his sister, and for her when she needed him to be. Now he had to learn to be strong for himself, to be the person she knew he was inside.

"William" she said as she stood by the door, "Do you trust me?" she asked, not sure whether she’d consider him a fool or not if he said yes.

"Yes, I believe I do" he told her solemnly.

"How about we postpone the club trip till tomorrow night?" she said, a smile forming on her lips, "If you can trust me, and spare a little cash, I guarantee that by then you’ll be begging me to take you out"

William considered her suggestion, but was as yet unsure as to whether he fully understood what she was proposing.

"I could make you over" she explained, noticing his bemused expression, "Let the inner Will out, bring your wild side to the surface just like I promised" she grinned, "What do you say?"

With more confidence than he really felt, the young man nodded.

"I say... yes" he agreed, "I’ll do it"

As soon as William saw the sort of shops Buffy wanted to take him in he started to regret his agreement with her. The clothes that the models in the windows of these stores wore were not at all the kind of thing he’d ever choose for himself, but then was that not the point of all this, he asked himself. He wanted to be different, not what everyone expected him to be, no longer the type of person who would be bullied and ridiculed by his fellow students at university, or by his father at home.

"Earth to William" Buffy said, waving a hand in front of his face, "God, zone out much?" she laughed as he blinked and focused his eyes on her once again, "And you know that’s another thing we’re going to have to deal with" she muttered as she looked through racks of black denim and leather.

"What other thing?" William frowned, feeling as if he’d turned over two pages at once and missed the point.

"Your name" Buffy told him simply, "William is a little too..."

"British?" he ventured.

"I was gonna go with weak and uncool, but whatever works for you" she shrugged, moving across the store. He followed her with a frown on his face.

"Oh because of course Buffy is such a wonderful name" he said sarcastically, "Sounds more like a pet rabbit than a girl"

"And he comes out swingin’" Buffy smiled, not at all offended by such comments, least of all from a guy like William, "Y’know if you keep this up you might even impress me"

"By insulting you?" he looked unimpressed by her logic and she rolled her eyes heavenward.

"You have got to learn to lighten up" she sighed as she pulled clothes from the rack in front of them and put them over his arms, "Just take these and go try them on" she ordered.

"They’re all black" he noted with distaste until Buffy gave him a look that told him to just move it already. She waited outside the men’s fitting room as he changed into the unlikely outfit and was getting quite bored when he hadn’t emerged after fully ten minutes.

"Are you coming out of there?" she called to him, "Or do I have to come in and get you?" she grinned, liking the idea of catching him half-dressed suddenly. She knew there was a pretty good body under all those dull, insipid, and often tweedy type clothes he wore, might be fun to see what he could do with it too...

"I feel ridiculous" William told her when he finally emerged, more self-conscious than anything else if he was honest. The black jeans and T-shirt fit like a second skin, showing off that body Buffy was day-dreaming about moments before. Given how painfully shy and seemingly weak the guy was she doubted he worked out much, meaning that was some fine genetics his family had.

"Wow" the blonde smiled as she circled him, only making William feel worse. When he’d caught sight of himself in the mirror he wasn’t sure he liked what he saw, the fact that he could see so much of himself was quite disturbing, but he dare not ask Buffy the reason for the tightness of his new clothes, for fear she might say something to embarrass him.

"Er, these boots are surprisingly comfortable" he noted, preferring to focus on his feet in a pair of Doc Martens than anything else right now.

"All looks good to me" Buffy nodded as she eyed him appreciatively, "but it needs something..." she said thoughtfully.

"Something?" William echoed as he waited for her to explain.

"Don’t move" Buffy said suddenly hurrying off across the store.

"I’m not certain I could if I wanted to" he rolled his eyes wondering how one ever got used to these constrictive black clothes she’d got him into.

A moment later she was back and handing him a hanger with another item of clothing on it. Thankfully this one was not black, but in fact a blood red shirt which he slipped on over his T-shirt.

"Perfect" Buffy grinned as she walked around him once more, "I swear, that is such a good look for you"

"Really?" William asked warily, quite embarrassed by now as she looked at him as if she really liked what she saw. Maybe she did, but then it was probably just her being friendly, there was no reason to think she had any actual feelings for him.

"Really" she confirmed with a nod, "Now you gonna pay for these or just run out and hope they don’t catch you?" she smirked. William wasn’t entirely sure if she was joking about the stealing and gave her a look.

"Lighten up, Will" she sighed, "I didn’t mean it. Well, maybe I did, but I don’t make a habit of stealing whole outfits from clothes stores" she assured him.

William couldn’t help thinking, as he changed back into his other clothes and paid for his new ones, that if Buffy didn’t steal clothes what exactly was it she did steal. It certainly sounded as though she didn’t mind the idea of shop-lifting, he only hoped she wouldn’t try such things with him around.

"Okay, what is up with you?" she asked when they exited the shop and headed on down the street, "Ever since I made that joke about stealing you’ve been all non-relaxy" she pointed out.

"I find it difficult to relax when trying on clothes like these" he said casually, gesturing to the bag in his hand, "Although I admit there was a little more to it than that... Have you ever, not paid for things?" he asked carefully mindful of the girl’s temper. He was grateful when she didn’t explode at him.

"Not really" she admitted, "A couple of lipsticks, a bottle of scotch one time for a dare, nothing huge"

William wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or disturbed by that. This girl he was walking with, a girl he trusted and liked, was in actual fact a petty thief. Did it change the fact that she was his friend, he wondered, coming up with the conclusion that no, it didn’t matter at all to his opinion of her. She was wild, he’d always knows that, and she was changing him because he’d agreed to the proposition. Though he didn’t think he’d be going out stealing and pillaging anytime soon, he did want to enter into her world as it were, she seemed to get such a kick out of life in a way he couldn’t understand.

"Oh, I have just had the best idea" she told him, taking hold of his arm and steering him into a men’s salon.

"What are you doing?" William asked, quite alarmed to find himself in a place full of rather frightening looking specimens of men with terrifying hair styles.

"Making you over like I promised" was Buffy’s only response, "Now, stay there" she ordered as she got him to sit down in a chair and walked up to a counter on the other side of the salon.

She pointed at him a couple of times talking animatedly to the man there and gesturing at some pictures he showed her. A minute or two later the man had a chat with a young woman who nodded and grinned as she looked over at William. Suddenly he found himself in a stylists chair without a mirror, being talked at by the young woman who was apparently called Harmony. She didn’t seem like she knew what she was doing and William would have been panicking by now if it weren’t for the fact Buffy sat there right next to him. Her presence made it all okay, he trusted her after all, so nothing could go wrong.

It was quite a while later when Harmony really worried him.

"Oopsy" she giggled nervously "That’s not good"

"What? What’s not good?" he demanded to know as Buffy got to feet and surveyed the apparent damage.

"Oh" she said, forcing a smile, "No really, it’s fine" she told William, patting him on the shoulder. He grabbed her hand and pulled her face down to his.

"Get me a bloody mirror, now" he demanded and Buffy was a little stunned, though she had to admit to herself, the forceful thing worked for him.

"Mirror, right" she nodded, pulling her hand free and getting Harmony to fix William’s hair as best she could whilst she found a mirror. She purposefully spent a little longer than necessary before returning with a hand mirror which she passed to her friend.

"It was supposed to be highlights" she explained "Although I actually think it looks better this way..."

"Bugger me" William explained, uncharacteristically big with curse words at this juncture, but then the sight that met his eyes was entirely shocking. His hair, which he had almost always hated, was no longer brown and slightly curly, but a bright-to-the-point-of-white blond, with the waviness almost completely knocked out of it.

"I’m sorry" Harmony squeaked from behind him, "I’m kinda new at this and... I’m really sorry if you hate it"

"On the contrary luv" William said slowly, putting a hand to his unfamiliar head, "It’s bloody brilliant" he grinned as he turned to look at both the stylist and Buffy, "Been wanting to change my hair for years just never knew what to do with it. I like it" he confirmed.

"Me too" Buffy smiled, "I mean, a little gel to keep it back off your face and yeah, it’ll be totally cool. Good contrast to your new clothes too"

"You’re not mad at me?" Harmony checked and when it was confirmed that they weren’t she couldn’t be more relieved. William even gave her a huge tip when paying for the service and Buffy noted he almost seemed like a different person already. She was certain all he needed was his confidence boosting and he’d be totally fine, at ease with anybody at all.

"So, we headed back to the hotel now, luv?" he asked Buffy as they walked back down the street. The blonde smiled involuntarily at how he’d started doing that, adding little pet names when he talked to her. He’d done the same thing to Harmony at the salon and several times with his sister when they’d visited, even that little girl Dawnie at the other hotel, but it didn’t make her feel any less special when she was his ‘luv’ or ‘pet’.

"Buffy?" he prompted when she didn’t answer.

"Sorry, yeah, hotel, right" she agreed as they continued walking.

They were halfway back when something in a store window caught her eye and she stopped, causing William to run into her back.

"Exactly how much cash are you willing to spend on this new look of yours, William Rayne?" Buffy asked him, a smile slowly spreading on her lips.

"Depends what you had in mind" he frowned slightly at the dangerous look in her eyes, trying to remind himself that everything she’d made him buy and do this afternoon so far had been great, he really should trust her.

"I’ll make you a deal" she told him, "There’s something I just saw that I think you should really buy but it’s kinda pricey" she explained, gesturing to the shop they were standing outside of, "How about we go in, you try it on and if you love it, you buy it. If not, I never mention it again. Deal?" she asked, holding out a hand for him to shake on it.

"Alright" he nodded slowly, putting his hand in hers and shaking, "Deal" he agreed, as they both held onto the others hand a little longer than they needed to, neither of them really certain why.

William was a little disturbed to be entering Rocko’s Land of Leather, surrounded by rails of jackets, coats, trousers, all in black and brown shades, not to mention the array of Goth-type girls and Hells Angels’ rejects checking out the latest items.

Buffy disappeared for a moment, returning to him a moment later with something large in black leather held behind her back.

"Close your eyes" Buff told him simply and he looked warily at her before doing a she asked. She took his bag from his hand and set it down, moving behind him and encouraging his arms into the sleeves of a black leather duster. She manoeuvred him over to a mirror and stood beside him before telling William to open his eyes.

"I know it doesn’t go with what you’re wearing" she said quickly, "but imagine it with your new outfit. What do you think?"

William seemed a little stunned by the sight of himself. The bleached hair came as a shock all over again, despite the fact he’d been checking it in every shop window since he’d had it done. The black leather coat swept down to almost his ankles and he tried to imagine how it’d look with the other black clothes, boots, and red shirt as well.

"Well?" Buffy pressed him for a reaction, "Likin’ the picture or not?" she checked, leaning into him so they were both in the mirror. His eyes shifted from his own reflection to hers and he smiled.

"Definitely liking" he told her and she wasn’t so blind that she didn’t notice it was her he was looking at when he said it.

"So?" she said moving away to break the moment, "We buy, yes?"

"Yes" William agreed, slipping the coat off and taking it over to the counter to part with an obscene amount of cash. Buffy stayed where she was, watching him talk to the woman behind the counter and pay for his new coat. He liked her, she could tell, and the more time they spent together the more obvious it became. Of course she liked him too, though she’d never tell him that. To reveal your feelings to someone was to give them licence to hurt you, or so she believed. That’s what Faith always said, and Buffy knew it was true. As far as men were concerned, well they only ever wanted one thing from you. May as well enjoy yourself and dump them before they dump you, that was the theory she lived by, as did her cousin.

Buffy sighed as she thought about William. He was so different to the other guys that had been in her life. He cared about her, she could see it sometimes when he looked at her, feel it when her hand had been in his. It was like she mattered, and nobody else really ever made her feel like that, no-one except William.

"Cost me an arm and a leg" he commented as he came back to join her and they exited the shop, "Worth it though, I think I’m going to like the new me" he smiled and Buffy did the same. She knew she was going to like the new William too. As scary as it was for her to realise, she really liked him already.

"And you promise I don’t look ridiculous?" William asked for the seventh time. Buffy made an exasperated sound as she strode back across the room and stood next to him by the mirror. She’d yet to get him out of the hotel room, nevermind the building. By the time they got to the club she was sure it’d be closed!

"William, please" she urged him, "Can you just accept that you look great so we can leave?"

"It’s just so different" he said, tilting his head as he looked himself over once again.

"And therein lies the point!" Buffy rolled her eyes, "For God sakes Will, this is getting so boring now"

He eventually conceded that he did look okay, though the lady on his arm would quite out-shine him. She smacked him across the arm for embarrassing her, which was in itself something kind of insane. Guys complimented Buffy all the time, she loved it, she lived for it some nights, it never really made her uncomfortable. It seemed it was just William’s good opinion she couldn’t deal with and she knew why. She was really starting to like the geek whom she’d done such a good job of making over. He truly was one of the most gorgeous guys she’d ever seen right at this moment and she knew that wasn’t all down to the clothes she’d put him in and what had happened to his hair.

"You’ve gone quiet on me?" he observed as they walked down the street, "Something worrying you, pet?"

"Not so much" she said with a shake of her head, "Just kinda stunned by how hot you look" she smirked, "Even I didn’t know you could look this good"

"You’re teasing me" he assumed, looking away but she stopped walking and grabbed his hand to make him stop too.

"Really not" she promised, "You look awesome, and hey, if you don’t believe me look over there" she pointed across the street and he glanced in the same direction, "Those girls can’t take their eyes off you"

William found he quite liked the female attention he was getting, but not half so much as he liked the feel of Buffy’s hand in his own. He was doing this wild thing first for himself, as some kind of escape from the person he was every day, a person he was growing to dislike a great deal. His other main reason for the change however was Buffy. He wanted to understand her and felt that perhaps this was the way. She had been forced into his world, now he wanted to put himself into an approximation of hers, in the hopes that some good would come out of it. So far, so good.

"This is perfect" the blonde said suddenly, and William zoned back into reality, finding himself outside of a night club with neon flashing lights declaring it was called Club USA.

"Stupid name, good music" Buffy decided as waves of thumping sound emanated from beyond the doors, "Shall we?" she asked William who took a deep breath.

"Lead the way, luv" he said trying to smile but feeling very sick. This was not his kind of place, and he was beginning to think he’d made the biggest mistake of his life agreeing to go in. He felt such a fake as he walked through the door and found himself surrounded by girls in skimpy clothes and men in ripped denim and leather. The nauseous feeling in his stomach was not at all pleasant, but not exactly unfamiliar either. William had felt almost equally as bad when he was forced to call his Uncle Giles and tell him everything was fine and promising no trouble would occur, at the same time putting on his black leather coat over his black and red outfit and gelling back his newly bleached blond hair.

Buffy pushed her way through the crowds of people to the bar and William followed, trying not to get crushed.

"What can I get you?" the barman spoke loudly over the thumping music, though it was less intrusive in this particular corner.

"Beer for me and er... what do you drink?" Buffy turned to William who shifted nervously. Truth was he didn’t really drink anything as a rule, possibly a glass of wine with a meal or something but that was hardly an appropriate choice to be making now.

"Bourbon" he said the first spirit that popped into his head. Giles had the occasional drink and it was always bourbon or scotch. If his Uncle drank it, William surmised it must be fairly tame.

Buffy was looking at him with an amused smile when the barman put their drinks down in front of them, and William had no idea why until he picked up the glass and put to to his lips. Remembering the way Giles drank, Will knock the drink back in one, coughing loudly straight afterwards. Buffy bit her lip so as not to laugh as he declared it was ‘very nice’ and asked for another.

"You two are new to this place, aren’t you?" the barman smirked, "I know most of the regulars and I think I would’ve remembered you, sweetheart" he said to Buffy who leaned over the bar and gave him a good view of her chest which her top could barely contain.

"That’s a cheesy line, even for a bartender to use" she smirked, "but I’ll play" she shrugged, "I’m Buffy, I’m from California"

"I’m Phil" the barman introduced himself, leaving William completely out of conversation by now, "So you on your holidays over here then?"

"Kind of" Buffy nodded. Phil opened his mouth to say something else when the man at Buffy’s side slammed his glass on the bar top.

"Another, barman" he snapped and Buffy grabbed his arm that was waving the glass around now.

"Go easy, William" she cautioned him in a low voice, "That stuff is strong and I don’t think you can handle it"

"Yes, William" Phil stressed his name, "Why don’t you have a nice fizzy water or something and piss off so I can get to know Buffy better"

"Why don’t you piss off!" she told him in no uncertain terms.

He was good-looking and she’d have happily got to know him better in any way he liked, but not if he was going to insult William like that. Despite her better judgement she liked the young man she had made over, and she would not have him spoken to like this.

"Come on" she said, getting hold of his arm, "Let’s dance"

"Buffy" William protested as she dragged him towards the dance floor, "Buffy, I don’t do this sort of danc... oh" he stopped suddenly when he caught sight of two girls a few feet away who seemed to have completely abandoned the concept of dancing, instead kissing and groping each other in what William knew to be a highly inappropriate manner for a public place. However, as with all men, whilst his brain thought it was inappropriate, other parts of his anatomy were enjoying the show a little too much. In the crush of people, he had ended up more or less pressed up against Buffy’s back and she moved fast when she realised what was happening.

"Honestly, men!" she sighed, "You see two guys kiss and you wanna hurl, but when it’s two girls... stuff happens" she gestured vaguely and William looked suitably ashamed of himself. Buffy was also fairly uncomfortable, and she wondered vaguely if most of her problem wasn’t just because someone else got a ‘reaction’ as it were from William, and she hadn’t.

"Hey" said a voice behind William, and a girl who was dressed not dissimilarly to Buffy appeared next to him.

"Hello" he said nervously, clearing his throat when he felt words escape him.

"What’s your name?" she asked, apparently a little worse for wear for the drink but nevertheless all to eager to get her hands on William.

"My name? Er, well..." her hands on his chest and the view he had down her top was very distracting and every proper thought was vacating his head at some speed.

"Spike" Buffy suddenly said the first thing that came into her head, and she knew why it had too, "His name is Spike" she smiled, before striding away, leaving the newly christened Spike alone with a girl that only now introduced herself as Nancy, despite the fact she was already very acquainted with his form.

Buffy was angry, a little bit at William, but mostly at herself. She liked him, she knew it, but that was okay he was a nice guy. Only problem was that the little bit of like she had for him seemed to be growing and that scared the blonde more than she was comfortable with.

Being scared made Buffy angry for allowing herself to be weak and afraid of anything. A person can’t run from their own feelings and her practised drinking these last few years meant drowning them was pretty impossible too. If only there was a way to clear her mind, lose all rational thought just for a moment. Buffy smirked at the idea that popped into her mind. To get over William all she had to do was get under someone else, she surmised, and it wasn’t as if this place wasn’t just full of gorgeous specimens she could take for a test drive.

"Hello darlin’" a tall dark stranger winked at her, "You wanna dance?"

"Yeah" Buffy nodded as she looked him over, "Definitely up for the dancing"

"Er, Nancy?" William said nervously as she pinned him to the wall and nibbled his ear lobe, "It’s not that you’re not a very nice girl because I’m certain that you are but..."

"I don’t have to be a nice girl" she giggled, whispering in his ear, "I could be a bad girl if you want me to be... Do you want that, Spike?" she asked, moving to kiss his neck.

William was somewhere between enjoying himself and feeling awful about what was happening. This was not how he’d planned on the evening going, although truth be told he had very little idea about how it would go. He had thought he’d be spending time with Buffy though, and the thought she’d invent some ridiculous name for him and then leave him to the mercy of an apparent nymphomaniac had never entered his head even once.

"Hey, you!" a deep voice yelled suddenly and Nancy jumped back from Spike as if she’d been scalded, "I’m talkin’ to you, Bleach-Boy!" a very rough looking biker-type man complete with tattoos and various piercing shouted as he approached, "What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing with my girl!" he demanded and William wished the floor would just swallow him now and have done with it.

"I didn’t mean to be doing anything" he said nervously, "She was... she seemed to want me to do... something, but I didn’t and..."

"You expect me to believe she came onto you, you sod!" the biker said angrily.

William didn’t know what to say, it seemed to him no matter what excuse he made he was about to get pummelled into the ground. It wasn’t as if he’d never been beaten up before, the bullies at school and even University had given him more bruises than he’d care to count, but this was a big deal. If this guy decided to get physical, William knew he could end up dead.

"Look, the thing is..." he smiled as best he could, taking a couple of tentative steps forward until he was right in front of the man who was apparently Nancy’s boyfriend. The larger man didn’t notice how William had pulled a stool from the bar over with his foot. In one movement he reached down for the seat, swung it over his head and clocked the biker over the head with it. To William’s shock and horror the large man fell to the floor, completely out cold.

"Butch!" Nancy cried, kneeling down beside her dazed boyfriend and William looked around frantically for Buffy. He needed to get out of here, before ‘Butch’ came to and decided to get some revenge.

"Where the bloody hell are you?" the bleached blond muttered to himself as he stood at the edge of all the writhing bodies that were apparently dancing. It was then he spotted Buffy, in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by four or five men who seemed to be taking turns at ‘dancing’ with her if it could be called that. It looked much more like simulated sex to William and he didn’t like to see Buffy behave this way. She was better than this, but he didn’t have time to think about it right now, he was on borrowed time.

"Buffy!" he called, pushing his way through the crowds to get to her.

"Hey, Spike" she grinned, liking the new name she’d given him, "You wanna dance now?"

"No" he said firmly, grabbing her wrist when her arm reached out to him, "We have to go"
"But I was just getting started" she complained, a very suggestive look on her face as she eyed her circle of admirers.

"Please, luv" Spike begged of her, "If we don’t get out of here now I might very well be leaving in an ambulance... or a body bag" he said grimly as he pulled her off the dancefloor and she called to her group of ‘friends’ to call her anytime.

"What is going on?" she demanded to know as they got outside the front door and into the cool night air, "I was having a good time and you completely embarrassed me!" she said, quite angry about it by now.

"There was a bit of trouble" William admitted, walking away from the club at double speed.

"Trouble?" Buffy frowned as she hurried to keep up with him, "How’d you get into trouble?"

"The nympho-girl you left me with has a boyfriend" he snapped, "A bloke that’s twice the size of me and fancied laying me out for touching his woman"

"Should we run faster?" she bit her lip trying not to laugh but William shook his head.

"I stalled him for while" he admitted, "I sort of hit him... around the head... with a bar-stool"

Buffy burst out laughing at that, finding the image in her head highly amusing. Still it was pretty cool that Spike had stood up for himself.

"So you didn’t just stall him you kinda stooled him too?" she giggled and even Spike had to give in and laugh then.

"’S not bloody funny" he told her, desperately trying not to chuckle and finding it impossible to keep a straight face.

"Oh, it really is, Spike" she told him, grabbing onto his arm as doubling over with laughter almost sent her tumbling to the ground.

"That name going to stick now is it?" William asked her more seriously and Buffy looked up at him, suddenly finding she could push her laughter down to a mere smile.

"Yeah, I like Spike" she grinned, realising that it was a little less scary right now to have feelings for this guy, "So we headed back to the hotel?" she checked as they continued to walk arm in arm.

"I s’pose" Spike agreed, "I’m sorry I spoiled things"
"That’s okay" Buffy shrugged, "We can still have fun tonight" she told him with a look in her eyes that Spike didn’t need to see to know it was there.

As much as he liked her, he really didn’t like the idea of her offering herself to him like she had with those men in the club. He wanted to treat her properly, with respect like she deserved, though it seemed she had no plans to make it easy for him.