The breakfast of donuts was a noisy affair, but Allison and Carolee were just spectators. Xander, Dawn and Cordy made up most of the conversation, with their teasing and cajoling of one another, interrupted by spurts of Willow and Buffy. Giles sat in the corner, sipping his tea and smiling, but not really contributing verbally. It was easy to see he was the patriarch of the group, and comfortable being so.

Spike was missing, but once the food was consumed, Buffy said she'd go awake the vampire from his basement bedroom. He was needed now that it was time to discuss the plan that would be carried out later that night.

"But Buffy, you were going to help me with that thing." Willow grabbed Buffy's arm and stopped her from leaving the kitchen. "Thing?" Buffy asked, with a confused look on her face.

Willow tried to be coy, giving Buffy a quick wink and nod towards Allison. "Yeah, that 'thing'…you know! So, why don't you send Allison down to get Spike. I need you for that 'thing.'"

"Oh! Right! That thing, of course!" Buffy smiled and then sat back down in her chair. "Allison, would you mind running down to the basement and waking Spike?"

All eyes turned to Allison with questioning and knowing looks. Her own eyes became huge, and her mouth opened but no sound came out. Carolee elbowed her in the side. "Go on!" she urged her friend.

"Yeah, get on with it. We do have shopping yet to do you know, and shoes wait for no woman," Cordelia also prompted Allison.

"Just down the hall and to the right." Dawn pointed Allison in the right direction.

"Ok," Allison said in a soft voice. With a nervous glance Carolee's direction, Allison slowly tiptoed down the hall towards the basement. She hesitated at the door before softly knocking. "Spike?"

Silence.

Her knock was a little firmer this time. "Spike? It's Allison. I've been sent to wake you?"

Silence

Geeze, she thought, he was more difficult to wake than her kids!

Tentatively she opened the door and peeked her head in. Total and complete darkness was interrupted only by one small votive candle, which sat on the bottom step. It was almost burnt down to the quick. The small glow illuminated the bed that was pushed up against the far wall, landing on Spike's blonde hair, his features relaxed in sleep.

Allison took two small steps down the stairs before quietly calling out his name again. "Spike?"

He didn't stir.

His form came more into view as she continued to creep slowly down the stairs. The wool blanket covered him up to his bare chest, his right arm lying across his chest and the blanket. His other arm was not in view, lying beside his body under the covers. His face was turned towards her, his brow slack and relaxed.

Allison found herself drawn to him. He looked like a little boy tucked in bed, and not the fierce and evil vampire. Her breathing almost stopped as she approached him. Slowly she reached out her fingers, and gently caressed his forehead. His brow furrowed under her feather like touch, and he sighed softly. She ran her fingers down his cheek, mesmerized by his sharply cut features in this composed state. Her eyes followed her fingertips, so she didn't notice when Spike opened his blue eyes, staring at her in wonder.

"Morning, pet." She jumped at the sound of his voice. His eyes shone with mirth, and his chest began to shake with soundless laughter.

"You startled me." Allison cautiously backed away from his lying form.

He gave her one of his patented evil smiles, and folded his arms underneath his head. "You're going to get more than just a startle if you stay there too much longer."

She didn't know what he meant, but soon gasped when he flicked the blanket off of his completely bare body. He sauntered over to the other side of the room and grabbed his black jeans off of the floor, and slowly pulled them up, knowing full well he was on full display for Allison. She was frozen in place.

He reached for his red shirt and looked at her questioningly as he buttoned it up. "So what do I owe your sweet visit to this fine morning?"

Allison's eyes jerked back up from his waist to his eyes, a blush flooding up her neck and through her ears. "Um, uh…oh...you are needed downstairs. For a meeting." Her embarrassed look amused the vampire, so he decided to try and put her out of her misery. "Ah, a meeting, with lots of Buffy speeches." He clapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her up the stairs. "The day would be ruined if I hadn't had such a pleasant morning already."

The gang had filtered into the living room, and a giggling Allison and roguish Spike joined them there. They found two places next to Carolee on the sofa, and amidst all the stares, plopped down, turning their attention to Buffy. Buffy stood in the middle of the room, already looking like she was about to hold forth for a momentous speech. Spike groaned inwardly, and threw his arm around Allison's shoulders. She smiled and tried to enjoy his closeness, without being too obvious.

"Great, now that we're all here, let's get on with it." Buffy began to pace back and forth in the living room, all eyes following her. Xander's eye was riveted, enthralled, and some might say obsessed. Cordy looked bored, and impatient to shop. Dawn yawned, stretched, and looked annoyed. Willow looked like she was trying to be supportive of Buffy, but really wished to be elsewhere. Giles looked a bit proud, and a bit sympathetic and sad. His eyes met Carolee's across the room, and she gave him a small smile as if to encourage him. He gave her a grateful smile in return, and then hastily pulled back to gaze upon Buffy, a little of a far away look now in his eyes. Every once in awhile he would glance at Carolee, but missed her covert glances. She was starting to get interested in what Buffy was saying. And to she and Allison and Spike, this plan was all shiny and new.

Spike began to twirl Allison's long hair in his finger, as if distracted, but he truly tried to pay attention to what the Slayer was saying.

"So tonight we will travel to Windy Cove, and Carolee and Allison will lead us down the beach to that long triangle jetty. When we reach it's apex, Willow and Giles will do the spell, with Carolee and Allison's essence, and hopefully, that will prevent the ocean swallowing up the earth." Buffy finished her speech. Allison and Carolee looked at her, dumbfounded.

Carolee slowly raised her hand, as if a student in grade school trying to get the teacher's attention. Buffy nodded at her, giving her permission to speak.

"This might be a stupid question, but, how are we going to walk this jetty in the middle of the night? It's hard enough to traverse it in the middle of the day, and it's been years since Allison or I have been there."

"It is a full moon tonight, so there will be some lighting. We'll all help each other. I'm sure it will be fine." Buffy threw back her shoulders. "Besides, I'm the slayer, and we've all battled thousands of demons. Walking some rocky jetty should be no problem."

Carolee and Allison looked at each other and frowned. Buffy didn't know what she was in for.

Chapter 7