If Buffy had any idea how poorly her word choice could have been taken, she would have regretted it. The real key was in how she usually downplayed the things that mattered to her because caring too much practically guaranteed that it would get taken away. Somehow. Good things never lasted. She cuddled closer and tried not to over-think it.

"...Do we need a code?" She sounded unconvinced. Over the past month, just as many of their meetings had ended no where near this conclusion. As far as she was concerned -- although she did such a terrible job at voicing it -- they were no friends with benefits. Perhaps Buffy would hesitate to call the pirate a boyfriend but she wouldn't shy away from calling it a relationship. How had she said it, once? In her heart.