The doorbell rang again and Buffy headed for it, half-relieved for the distraction, but wondering who it be. Hopefully Spike hadn't decided it was an appropriate moment to come by and talk. Given her luck, though?

She opened the door and stopped. It looked like Spike, but didn't. The man wore a blue dress shirt beneath a sleeveless argyle vest and beige chinos. His white-blond hair was not slicked back, but formed soft waves, perfect compliment to the blue eyes and the glasses perched on his nose.

Buffy blinked. And again. And a third time.

"Aren't you going to invite me in, Elizabeth?"

His voice was softer than she was used to, the accent somehow more cultured. This had to be some kind of trick. Maybe Spike had an evil twin brother who'd just arrived in Sunnydale and was trying to trick them.

Maybe the sky just turned orange.