30 minutes later: 12:30 pm Monday
Spike kissed Buffy gently whispering, “Lunch is served Ma’am.”
She giggled as she held her head again which still felt warm and dizzy but she sat up in her bed taking the tray from him. On the tray were two carefully cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a bowl of soup. Buffy frowned glance at the mug, “What is that? It looks like tomato juice.”
Spike looked a tad embarrassed, “It’s my lunch.”
Buffy gave Spike a disgusted look as she stated a loud, “EWWW. Where’s my juice?”
Spike frowned, “You didn’t ask for juice luv.”
Buffy pouted like a spoiled brat, “Mom always brings me juice. She even knows how to make it.”
Spike got a bit upset snapping, “Well I’m not your mum. I’ve never taken care of you when you’re sick and I don’t know what kind of juice you like!”
Buffy yelled back as her head started to spin, “I want juice too. Two parts orange, one part grape.”
Spike grumbled as he got up setting his mug on the nightstand and went to make her juice. He had spent so much time making the sandwiches and the bowl he had forgotten she needed something to drink. He returned a minute later to find Buffy sleeping ignoring her meal. He sighed taking the tray and her juice downstairs and set it in the fridge thinking what a crazy life he led. He carefully climbed the stairs drinking his mug of blood then pulled her close closing his eyes hoping she slept off her mood.
2 hours later: 2:30 pm Monday
Joyce climbed the stairs peeking in at her sick daughter and William. Both were sleeping and the only sign either had been awake was the empty Kiss me I’m Irish mug on the nightstand. She refused to think about the fact it had been full of blood and lifted the mug tucking the blankets tighter around the both of them and then exited the room. She rinsed the mug out putting it in her dishwasher as she noticed the tray of food in the fridge.
She chuckled realizing William must have made her lunch only to have her either refuse it or fall asleep before she got to eat it. She shook her head as she smiled knowing her daughter was in good hands as she went back out the door to return to work at her gallery.
1 hour later: 3:30 pm Monday
Spike woke up to Giles clearing his throat in the room. He frowned as he extracted himself from behind Buffy listening to her moan in protest. He took the watcher outside the room asking, “What’s up?”
Giles handed him a necklace and Spike frowned, “What’s this?”
Giles shook his head and threw it over Spike’s neck and demanded, “Wear that.”
Spike picked up the silver chained stone and asked, “What the heck is this? Oh God, what did you do to me? I feel so bloody empty!”
Buffy sat up in bed and came rushing to the door looking pale and weak still holding her head. Giles frowned, “He’s fine Buffy. Go back to bed.”
Buffy refused and Spike opened his eyes, which he had squeezed shut roaring, “What does that thing to me?”
He was about to rip it off him as Giles shook his head, “No it’s getting too late already to do this. We are making it look like you are dead. I had Xander collect some dust from vampires we dusted last night and Willow arranged the chair allowing Xander to put the dust on it. We left it where Angelus will think that you left the factory through the backdoor and dusted yourself.”
Spike frowned, “You severed the sire bonds.”
Giles nodded, “It severs temporarily while worn, sire bonds, claim bonds and whatever else you vampires use to tell if someone is alive and kicking still. To Angelus and Dru and anyone else in your line, you are dead. But it only works if you stay out of sight. Joyce and I talked about it last night while you and Buffy slept. She is allowing you to stay here. Oz restocked your blood and picked up some clothes for you using the size of your jeans and shirts that you left at the crypt. We didn’t want to risk visiting the factory so it doesn’t appear you moved out.”
Spike shrugged, “I already took my journals out. I have them in the basement. Those are the important things.”
Giles smiled, “Welcome to the land of the missing and deceased Spike.”
Spike chuckled as Buffy shook her head, “Been there done that Rupes. I kind of have been dead for over 120 years.”
He slapped Giles on the back just as Buffy stumbled trying to stand on her own. Spike sighed, “I’d better get Buffy back to bed. Are you hungry pet?”
Buffy smiled with a big nod. Spike chucked, “Figures. Are you going to sleep before I get it finished?”
Buffy grinned but said nothing as she was tucked back in bed. Just then Xander and Willow bounded up the stairs in time to see Spike place a gentle kiss on Buffy’s forehead, “You visit with your friends and I’ll get you some food.”
Willow bounced into the room sitting on the edge of the bed as Xander sat on the other and Willow released a balloon in the room declaring, “I brought this for you and I did your homework for you! It’s all fixed up for you when you return and Xander talked to your teachers today.”
Xander smiled at Buffy, “Me and Cordy are working things out. Can you believe she told off Harmony calling her a sheep? I was so impressed!”
Buffy chuckled thankful her head was feeling a little better but she still felt weak. Apparently slayer healing wasn’t prefect when you had given yourself a fever.
Giles stepped into the kitchen watching as Spike hummed while heating up Buffy’s soup. Giles spoke up loudly, “So what are your plans Spike? You’re now dead to your family. You’re living with a slayer and you’re an evil vampire without a soul. What do you plan to do?”
Spike shrugged as he put his finger in the soup testing it for warmth as he licked his finger and frowned, “Is this hot Rupes?”
Giles touched the bowl and nodded as Spike turned around setting up the tray, “I don’t rightly know what my plans are. I tend to act with my heart and not my mind when possible. I just want Buffy safe is all.”
Giles took off his glasses as he asked, “Do you love her?”
Spike almost dropped the tray he had just picked up as he replied, “I haven’t told Buffy so it wouldn’t be right to tell you first.”
Giles rubbed his glasses, “So are you planning to stay around after?”
Spike didn’t reply exactly and instead stated more calmly than he felt, “It’s yet to be discussed.”
Giles knew he wasn’t getting anything more from the vampire as he stepped out of the way allowing Spike to carry the tray upstairs. Buffy scooted over closer to Willow making room for Spike to sit next to her on the bed. Spike nibbled on his sandwich while Buffy sipped her soup and sandwich. Xander returned from downstairs with a bag of some cheesy potato chips to munch on and Willow helped with Xander’s bag of chips.
The whole gang sat eating and talking and Spike felt at home and included for the first time in his life. He didn’t have to prove himself with them at this point and he no longer felt his sires but he could feel the sense of belonging in the room and it just felt good.