She shut the suitcase, looking over at Willow. "How's your packing going?"

"Pretty good," she said. "Goddess, I can't believe we're getting to spend spring break in The Bahamas!"

Buffy grinned, nodding. "I can't either. I just wish Riley and Graham weren't going to have to meet us there. And we're going tonight!"

"At least they get to go. Poor Forrest...he's stuck here the entire time."

"Someone's got to run the parties at the house," Buffy said, sending her roommate into a gale of laughter. There was a knock on the door, and Anya walked in.

"Hey," she said, sitting on the bed and pouting slightly.

"What's wrong, chica?" Buffy asked, moving the suitcase off her bed and setting it on the floor.

"It's Xander. He...we..." she shook her head. "We need a vacation. So...we're going away for Spring Break."

"But I thought you guys were going to stay here and watch things!" Buffy said, flopping down on her bed.

"We *were*, but Cordy and Spike volunteered. Is that all right?"

"Not really," Buffy muttered, sighing and getting up off the bed. She opened up her suitcase, pulling out her belongings.

"What are you doing?" Willow asked, watching in amazement.

"You and Graham and Riley have fun. I'm staying here."

Later that night, Buffy gasped, ducking to get away from the vampire. He'd sent a solid kick to her midsection, causing a rib or two to break. She held her side in pain as she used her other arm to throw a weak punch, breaking the vampire's nose.

A few more kicks and punches and the fight was over.

She staggered towards Riley, who was finishing off his own vampire. "Are you okay?" he asked, pulling the stake away from the vampire.

She shook her head, wincing. "Nope. A broken rib or two, I think."

Riley nodded, gently leading him over towards his car. "I think patrol's over for the night."

"Yeah," she said lightly.

"You know," he said, returning to the conversation they'd been having earlier, "I'm going to feel horrible if you're here for Spring Break and I'm not here with you. So...I was thinking we let Xander and Anya go instead of us and we stay here?"

Buffy smiled slightly. "That's not a bad idea. Really..." She frowned soon after, though. "But I thought you wanted to get away from here."

"I do. I just don't want to watch Graham and Willow for a week. I'd rather stay here with you, actually. You know Walsh said Graham could leave tonight?"

Buffy nodded. "*You* know Cordy and Spike are coming, right?"

"Spike's coming back here? I didn't think that would ever happen."

Buffy shrugged. "I think Angel and Kate are driving them nuts. Wesley had to go back to England on business. I think he was *glad* to leave. But he has to go back. They *all* have to go back."

Riley laughed. "And yet they all seemed so normal...they're just as nuts as we are, I think."

Buffy started to laugh, then clutched her ribs. "Stop making me do that."

"Stop making you what?"

"Laugh. It hurts." Riley sobered up and stopped laughing. "There, that's better."

He gently picked her up, something he did when she was hurt. It got to be a silent testament between them that even though she was strong, he wanted to occasionally take care of her. She rested her head on his shoulder, shutting her eyes as he took her back to her dorm.

Willow looked at her traveling companions. "So...are we absolutely ready?"

Anya nodded. "And thankful to be getting to hell out of Sunnyhell."

Xander grinned. "We're ready. Let's go."

Graham picked up Willow's bag. "Stop worrying, Will. Everything will be fine."

There was a knock on the door, and Cordelia walked into Buffy and Willow's dorm, dragging Spike behind her. "Hey! Where's Buffy?"

"Behind you," Buffy said, her speech slightly stirred.

Riley shifted her slightly. "Broken ribs," he said, moving towards her bed and setting her down. He nodded briefly to Spike, who looked decidedly...different.

Spike glanced down at his dark blue jeans and white T-shirt, with a navy button down shirt over it. He shrugged, looking over to Willow.

She stared at him briefly before turning her attention to her bag, still in Graham's hand. Things between her and Spike were still awkward, and everyone knew it.

"Hey...I'd like some noise here," Buffy said, wincing as she sat up. "Silence is fine, but awkward silence is not."

Anya started to say something but quickly shut her mouth. She looked at Xander, trying to get him to say something.

"We have to get going," he said, nudging Willow slightly.

"Oh, yeah," she said, picking up her tote bag. "Yeah..."

Spike silently moved out of the way, sitting on Buffy's bed and looking at her. "How'd you break your ribs, love?"

"Vampire kicked me." She shrugged, wincing again slightly. "What's with the sudden interest in fashion?"

He scowled at her for a moment. "Cordelia. Actually, I don't think it's half bad."

"Do you still have your duster?"

"Yes."

"Do you wear it?"

"Not as often."

"Can I have it?"

"No way in bloody hell, Buffy." The scowl turned into a grin. "I actually missed you. Soul boy's been getting on my nerves lately, Wesley's just...well, a royal pain, most of the time. Kate and Cord are my only bright spots."

"Cord?"

"I hate Cordy. Sounds so juvenile. And she hates Cordelia."

Cordelia smiled. "I don't hate it, it's just I like having a special nickname from him." She walked over as the others got their luggage out of the room. Putting her hand on his shoulder, Buffy watched as he reached up and put his hand over hers.

"So," Riley said, shutting the door on the last good-byes from their friends. "They said they'd call when they get to Miami, before they catch their flight to the Bahamas."

Buffy nodded, shutting her eyes. "I need some sleep."

Spike nodded, standing up. "I think we need to leave anyway, get to our hotel room. Meet you at dusk, Buffy?"

"Yeah," she said, yawning.

Cordelia and Spike walked out, hand in hand, and Riley sat down next to Buffy, stroking her hair softly. "You going to be okay?"

"Yeah," she said, smiling. "You want to stay here tonight?"

"Only if you want me to."

"At least this time we won't have to share a bed again. I know I kick when I have a nightmare."

Riley grinned, kissing her lightly. "Kick as often as you want, Buffy. It's fine by me."

"But I gave you a huge bruise last time!" she said in a slightly laughing voice.

"Well, it healed up. And I didn't mind, to be honest." He yawned, stretching slightly. "I guess I do need sleep. Good night?"

"Good night, she mumbled as he turned off the light and pulled off his shirt, climbing into Willow's bed.