To comfort you in these trying times (AO3 being down), here's an excerpt from my current fanfic project. This is a canon divergence AU in which Spike's post-Drusilla rebound is Andrew instead of Harmony. This scene takes place a few days after Spike fights Buffy with the Amara ring in S4E03 "The Harsh Light of Day."
Joyce returned from the kitchen with a gift-wrapped box roughly the size of her fist. She placed it on the table. "Spike came by earlier and dropped this off for you."
Buffy snapped up from her seat so fast her chair skidded back several feet before topping over in a clatter. "Spike was here? When was Spike here?"
Joyce raised her eyebrows at Buffy's dramatic reaction. "Yesterday. Wait, no, the day before yesterday. You know, I think he's finally getting over that Drusilla woman. He mentioned he's been seeing a new boy lately, Andrew something, but I don't think it's very serious. More of a rebound relationship."
Joyce stopped talking abruptly and slapped her hand over her mouth. She gave Buffy a wide-eyed look of chagrin, then dropped her hand from her mouth to say, "Oh, no, I didn't just out him did I? Please tell me you already knew he's bisexual."
"He's what now?"
"He said this sort of thing is a lot less taboo in vampire culture. Like the Ancient Greeks."
Buffy stood there with her mouth hanging open, just blinking for several seconds. "So Spike just came by to talk to you about his sex life?"
"Well, we're friends, Buffy. We talk about all sorts of things. He's a very good conversationalist. And I already told you that's not why he came by. He left this box for you. Oh! And he wanted me to let you know he's staying at Restfield. He doesn't mean the cemetery, does he? I don't see how anyone could possibly live—oh, well I guess he is a vampire. And Restfield does have that nice big mausoleum."
"What is happening right now?"
Joyce sighed through her nose and gave Buffy that sort of half-exasperated, half-amused look that meant she'd be rolling her eyes if it wasn't beneath her dignity. "You tell me, Buffy. It's not like you keep me in the loop on anything."
Buffy took the box carefully in her hands, as if it were a writhing ball of poisonous snakes. "I'm taking this to Giles."
"Right now? I thought you were staying for lunch."
"It could be dangerous."
"Oh, is it Slayer related, do you think? He made it sound like some kind of apology gift. Did you two have an argument?"
Buffy let out a breathless laugh, feeling a bit hysterical. "Uh...hyeah. You could say that." She headed for the door.
"Well, at least take the laundry you left in the dryer with you."
"Next time, mom!"
