An Interesting Twist

AN: Obviously some stuff taken from Chosen and Just Rewards, then maybe some later episodes of Angel S5 as we go along.

~Chapter One~

Sunnydale - Summers House - Basement

It was dark and quiet in the house, and yet Buffy couldn't sleep. She turned over and looked at Spike, tried to snuggle closer hoping it would help. Finally, she got up and wandered around the basement for awhile until she felt ready to go back to sleep on the cot with Spike. Of course, The First had to show its face... or rather, Caleb and her own face... But, in the end she was hit with an idea. She smirked and walked back over to the cot when Spike beckoned to her. This time more at peace now that she realized they were going to win. Good did win over evil, at least this time.

She could sleep now and she could thank The First. Odd.

She woke up early the next morning, and yet again lay there staring at the ceiling. This time for a whole new reason. She glanced over at Spike and sighed. Last night, with him so pissy about the kiss with Angel and hurt... she had given him the necklace to help boost his ego back up as she called him a Champion as well. She hadn't been lying, she truly thought him the type to use his soul for good and all that... and not just because he was cursed with it. That made him even better than Angel in her book, and it was a shame he couldn't see that for himself. But, now, she knew she couldn't make such an important decision on just how it would put a little smile on his face and spring in his step to be reminded he was a champion and could wear the amulet.

She had a soul and she was stronger than a human. They also didn't know what that thing would do to the person who wore it... or at least if Angel knew, he didn't share. She really wouldn't put it past him to have hinted at her giving it to Spike because he knew it would kill him. Really... the way he had acted right afterwards had proved it... and Spike had been no better... She glanced over at the punching bag with the funny caricature of Angel's face still on it.

A small sigh escaped her as she looked at Spike again. No, she had to wear it, not him... and it didn't matter if he gave her the hurt puppy face again. She couldn't give into it and risk so much just for that momentary ego boost for him.

So, her hand slid down his arm to his hand where the amulet was still clasped firmly. She took it and stuck it in her pocket, then got up to go gather the Scoobies. She needed to tell them the idea that had come to her the night before and boost their morale the way it had boosted hers. Also, they would be able to help her work out the logistics of the plan and put it into action. She nodded and headed upstairs after giving Spike a soft kiss.

*****

Los Angeles - Wolfram and Hart - Angel's Office

"We need to be ready for whatever comes our way," Angel told his trusted few before turning towards his desk.

He saw the curious envelope on it and picked it up. No return address. Hmmm. He shook it and held it to his ear in a needless gesture because of his vampire hearing, then held it up to the light. Nope, too dark of envelope. Well, might as well take the risk and open it. He tore off the end and shook it out onto his desk.

Immediately, dust shot out and formed a small skeletal figure. The figure filled out until it became a petite blonde in a horrified pose looking upward. The slayer. Buffy. A scream erupted out of her lungs as soon as they finished forming and became functional. Then she stopped when she noticed there was a roof above her and not the shaft of light coming down through the stairs. She looked around the room slowly at the small crowd of people, somewhat familiar to her as her brain began to jog a bit.

"Buffy," Angel finally gasped as the air stilled again.

Her terrified gaze swung towards him swiftly when she heard his voice. "Wh-what am I doing here?" Her lips trembled and she looked down at herself in her dirty jeans and blouse. She lifted her hands in front of her and then looked at him again. "What happened to me?"

"You... you died... or at least we thought you died," he stepped towards her. "The Hellmouth collapsed in on itself. Sunnydale's completely gone... just a big hole." His hand reached out to touch her tentatively, but it passed right through her. "That can't be good."

"So we won...?" She swallowed and watched his hand pass through her arm. There was a slight tingling, but that was all either of them felt. "I'm... I'm a ghost... oh gawd... this is worse than the last time I died."

"I have all of Wolfram and Hart at my disposal... surely someone will be able to think of something." Angel turned to Fred and Wesley. "You guys take her to the lab and do some tests."

Buffy glanced shyly at them and wondered what sort of tests they would be running. The other two nodded and motioned for her to follow them. Angel walked beside her solemnly. She looked up at him, a little uneasy since the last time she had been there he had told her to take a hike and stay out of LA. Was he going to set her right and then send her on her way again? Where would she go if Sunnydale was gone... where were her friends? Oh gawd, were they even alive?

"Angel... the others... did they make it out okay?" She asked worriedly.

He looked down at her, thinking quickly. They had for the most part made it. Anya had died and so did half the potential slayers that she had been training, but besides that they had made it out okay. That included Spike, who she would surely run to the minute they figured out how to give her a solid form again. Cookie dough be damned, he wasn't going to give up the chance to have her to himself for awhile. So he thought up a lie quickly that he figured would keep her there. Not like she could check it out as a ghost.

"No, they didn't. We found out about the collapse and assumed it happened during your battle since it happened the day after I gave you that amulet. You stopped the first, but apparently didn't have time to get yourselves out of there. I told you to give it to Spike, but for once I'm glad you ignored what I said and wore it yourself or I'd have him here right now," he laughed faintly to lighten the heavy news he had just delivered.

She stopped and crumpled to her knees, clutching her chest at the pain that filled it. She felt like she couldn't breathe, which was funny since she was a ghost. But, all the feelings felt as real as if she were still alive. Her friends were dead... and Dawn... she let out a distraught cry and clawed at the carpet. Angel tried to pull her up to comfort her, forgetting that he couldn't touch her until his hands went right through the weeping figure of his former lover. He almost felt bad for lying to her, but once they got her body back he would be there to comfort her and help her move past this.

Wes pulled him away from Buffy as she sat there crying and looked up at him with a chastising frown. "Why have you lied to her?" He asked in a harsh whisper. "She'll surely find out about it eventually. This is beyond cruel."

"She won't be able to check the story out while as a ghost and I will make damn sure that continues. I want her to stay here, with us. You will make sure the others understand this as well. Once she is back to normal, she'll be able to help us here."

"Oh, and the fact that you can swoop in and comfort her, hopefully rekindling a relationship didn't sway your decision at all." He gave him a withering disappointed look.

"Just make sure everyone else knows not to tell her any different than what I have told her." Angel said firmly and then went to kneel in front of Buffy.

*****

Buffy sat on a stool and watched Fred as the mousy looking woman scanned her with some handheld device. She reached up and brushed her hair out of her face, noticing how limp and grungy it looked. Same as her clothes, dusty as if she had just been in the battle under the school just moments before. It felt like just moments ago... She sighed and wondered if ghosts were allowed long hot showers.

She glanced over at Angel, who was watching as Fred scanned her. She remembered what he had said in the office when she first came back and glanced around the very expensive looking surroundings again. Her brain started to waken and work a bit more, like she had been sleeping deeply. She remembered that feeling from the last time she had died, it took her awhile to come back to herself.

"You said... Wolfram and Hart... that's where we are and... you're in charge? I thought they... you know, were the bad guys." She asked with a slight frown.

"They are, were, but I'm in charge now and that's all going to change." He crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the desk. "It'll give me more resources for the fight against evil. You'd be a great help. I'm hoping you'll stay once we figure out how to get you back."

"I'll think about it," she shrugged and looked back at Fred as the brunette finished scanning her.

Fred walked over to the computer to analyze the data she collected. "Okay then, that's weird." She blinked and tapped a few keys, but got the same result. She looked over at Buffy. "I'm getting electromagnetic readings which is normal around spiritual entities, but there's no ectoplasmic matrix. Very odd..."

"Okay, now in stupid people terms for the college dropout here..."

She rolled her eyes and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "Ectoplasm's what makes ghosts visible. If you're a ghost, we shouldn't be able to see you." She looked at Angel over her shoulder and pointed at the computer screen. "And I picked up brainwave activity of all things... very very odd..."

"At least we know it works." Buffy made a face.

"Anything else?" Wesley came up behind her to look over her shoulder. "You're getting a body temperature reading? But don't ghosts normally... I mean..."

"Yes," Fred nodded vigorously and motioned at Buffy. "That's another thing! Just like in ghost stories and stuff like that, there's talk of cold spots where the spirits are. That's because they absorb heat energy to keep them going since its not like they can eat. They also sometimes absorb light energy which is why sometimes they create a slight shadowy area or refract it to make orbs. But it's much the opposite with her! She gives off a body heat signature!"

"So, its like she's there, just not?" Angel looked confused and glanced past them at Buffy. "Is that good or bad news for the goal of making her solid again?"

"I won't know until I do some research on making beings like her corporeal again. We'll see what it says about making ghosts corporeal and then see what that might mean for her. We might still be able to treat her like a ghost in that respect, even if she is a very odd ghost."

"I always was special," the petite blonde rolled her eyes and slid off the stool.

Wesley was holding up the amulet and studying it. "I would say she's connected with the amulet, since it seems its been storing her essence since she wore it back at the Hellmouth. Destroying it might release her completely, but we do not know if it would do that or simply destroy her completely. I wouldn't want to do something so rash, so for now I will find a place down here to keep it safe." He walked off to find a storage unit to lock it in.

"Okay, so how did it go from being buried in the rubble deep inside the Hellmouth to being on my desk in an envelope?" Angel asked, looking over at Fred.

She shrugged. "The Powers... they think she still has work to do here... a destiny to fulfill?"

"I'm used to the whole not resting in peace by now..." Her fingers worried the end of her blouse. "Don't suppose a grubby ghost could take a shower? And how do I still have clothes... do my clothes have spirits too?" She lifted her hands in a spooky gesture and spoke in a eerie voice, "I am the ghost of the dress you wore last Tuuuuesdaaaaaay."

Fred giggled and straightened her glasses.

"I mean really, if its just because of some weird image thing... you think I would get CLEAN clothes and have ME be clean. Don't they usually appear with the whole ethereal light and long flowing white robe deal?"

"Actually, most entities appear the same way they were at the time of death... if they're tied to this plain. Usually with their death wound at times. It's very gruesome." Fred shook her head.

"Then shouldn't I be standing here with burnt crispy skin?"

"Is that how you... you know..." the brunette wrinkled her nose and waved a hand uncomfortably.

"There was this light that suddenly came down the shaft onto me... and the amulet reflected it out to kill all the uuber vamps that were crawling out. They just kept coming and coming... but the light and they started dusting, and the others started retreating when the place started shaking. Spike wanted to stay... but I... not like it mattered I guess..." She turned away to wipe away the tears that had started to fall. "The light burned... was so intense and eventually it felt like I was on fire... then I think I was... that's all I remember..."

Angel started to head towards her. "Buffy..."

"No, please-" she was cut off when she faded from view.

"Buffy!" He spun around, looking around for any sign of her. Then he looked to Fred again as Wesley came rushing back in after hearing Angel's yelling. "Fred, what happened... is she still here... are you getting any readings at all??"

"Let me just have a look see..." She picked up the scanner again, but froze same as the other two when Buffy appeared across the room from where she disappeared.

"I can't..." she trailed off when she noticed she had moved. She looked at them and her brows went up. "What with the huh?"

"Our thoughts, exactly." Wesley stated and looked over Fred's shoulder at the scanner to see if she had picked up anything when Buffy had reappeared. "I hope that's just a side effect of being a ghost... but we can't be too sure. Rest assured, we'll hurry our research along just in case that's a really bad sign of something."

The slayer swallowed and looked between the three. "Well I really hope it's not..." She looked down and wrinkled her nose at her appearance again. "So, whatever Fred said earlier about my appearance... does that mean I'm stuck looking like something that cat drug in?"

"Maybe if you work on concentrating? I mean, ghosts do little tricks all the time such as changing their appearance and sometimes if they're powerful they can take possession of people." Fred nodded, giving her a small hopeful smile. "But, for now, we'll be down here working on this little problem and Angel can show you around." She looked over at the silently brooding vampire and nodded.

"Oh, yeah... sure." He straightened and motioned for Buffy to follow him. "I can also have someone make you up one of the suites upstairs for your use."

"Thanks." Buffy offered them each a small smiled and then followed Angel out of the lab.

*****

Angel knocked on the suite door softly before sticking his head inside. "Buffy?"

She came out of the bathroom and offered him a small smile. "I think I got the hang of that concentrating thing. Took me twenty-two years, but I got it." She chuckled and motioned to her now clean jeans and shirt. "Next, I'll work on my face and my hair."

"I think you look pretty even covered in dirt." He walked closer. "God Buffy, I wish I could touch you. This is torture."

"Oh yeah, and its peachy for me. I'm the one who's dead," Then she blinked as she realized who she said that to. "-er... deader... you know what I mean." She rolled her eyes.

"I know. I didn't mean to imply... I just meant," he swallowed and tried to collect what he wanted to say, his little practiced speech out the window now and forgotten. "You're in pain... hurting... and I want to comfort you... but I can't. It's hard... because I care for you so much and it's killing me to see you like that."

She offered a small, wavering smile. "I'm tough, I'll get on with it eventually. I just need some time... and no offense, but preferably alone."

"Oh, no problem." He glanced away to hide the disappointment. "But, I'll be here. I'm always here and you know where to find me if you need anything. I always got time for you." He looked at her again and gave her a small smile before leaving the suite again.

With him gone, she finally deflated and sat on the end of the bed. She put her face in her hands again and heaved a big sigh. She finally realized that she loved Spike, only to lose him and be stuck with the guy she had blown off. Was this some sort of cosmic joke? Were The Powers just resorting to cruel jokes now? She growled and grabbed a vase off the table, chucking it at the wall angrily. The crash brought her back to herself and she blinked at the broken shards. She had just touched something. Fred had mentioned concentrating... but wanting it bad enough must be a factor too... having a strong will for it to happen and the energy to do it. She smiled and momentarily felt a bit better as she figured out something for herself, meaning she could finish with the whole changing her appearance project and she headed into the bathroom to put her new knowledge to use.

She finally got the dirt off and she looked all shower fresh without the trouble of showering. Her hair looked better and she tilted her head. Maybe she should change her look up a bit then, if she could do more than just get herself clean. It would help the moving on process if she didn't have to constantly see herself as she looked that day.

*****

The next night, Buffy wandered down to Angel's office after a day of exploring Wolfram and Hart. She even tried leaving the building a bit to take a look around outside, but the further she got from the law firm the more the uneasy feeling in her gut grew. So she didn't stay outside long and came back inside for more exploring.

She was bored and the day before Angel had mentioned briefly something about helping his people here. She figured she would see if there was anything up that she could lend her two cents to as that was about all she could do at the moment until they finally returned her to normal.

At Angel's office door she paused as Harmony motioned a couple men into the office who were carrying buckets of some viscous red fluid. Her mind refused to believe what it was at first and absurdly wondered why they were taking red pain into Angel's office, but the bucket with the yellow tie coming out of it hammered it home for her. Her stomach rolled and she felt like she was going to throw up, even if she wasn't sure it was possible she could anymore.

Harmony was watching her when she lifted her face, getting a grip on the nausea. The blonde vampire wrinkled her nose at the slayer. "They said you were back... also word was you and Spike were knocking boots. That is so... just so ew..." She turned to walk back towards her desk. "Just ew... that he would even touch you... slayer loving freak... I mean, that whole sick obsession was one thing... ugh..."

Buffy growled softly and nearly went to yell at her to shut up about Spike. That was the love of her life... who had died saving the world... and Harmony was bad talking them both as if she were better than them. She just shook her head instead, deciding to just ignore it... not like she could really give the brat the throttling she deserved anyways. Maybe concentrate enough to get one good hit in, but if Buffy did that she would only want to continue and work out her stress.

She stepped into Angel's office and avoided looking at the buckets on his desk. "Trouble in paradise?" She asked and leaned her hip against the wall.

He was looking at the file Gunn had handed him. "Been enacting reforms to this place to change it to my liking as best as I can. I shut down the Grave Robbing department that was supplying some local necromancer with bodies. I sent one of my employees to tell him that he was no longer represented by us... apparently he never heard that you shouldn't shoot the messenger... or eviscerate him..."

"Yuck much..." she wrinkled her nose.

"You changed you hair," he commented as he finally looked up again. "It's pretty."

She reached up to touch her shoulder length waves. "I kinda liked it about this length when I cut it short a year or so ago. Lot easier for the fighting and upkeep... and not so much weight for my head to lug around." She shrugged. "Wonder if when you guys turn me back... if you do... that I will take the form of however I am when you do your thing or I'll be like I was when I first came out of the amulet."

"I don't know. You can ask Fred that later, but for now, I have to go pay a visit to this necromancer guy." He looked over at Gunn. "Make sure he got the message loud and clear that we won't put up with this. His behavior proves he wasn't up to any good with the dead bodies he was receiving and I should go make sure whatever he's doing stops."

"Um, hello... am I the only one with brainwaves in the room?" She waved a hand at them. "Necromancer... guy with control over the dead... you're dead... that would only be dumber if you were taking me in as backup or Harmony. How about you think before you act for once and take some living back up at least. So they WON'T be a friggin' target for the necromancer guy!" She rolled her eyes at him and turned to leave the office.

Angel sighed and looked at Gunn. "Fine. You and Wes are coming with me." He turned and motioned them to follow him to the elevators.

Buffy headed for the lab to check on Fred's progress. Not like she had anything else to do but remind the girl what she was working towards and be there to answer any questions. Maybe she could help. It was a big maybe, but hey. She walked into the lab and headed over to the desk the mousy brunette was working at.

"Got anything good so far?" She asked.

Fred jerked. "Oh my! Please don't scare me like that again." She turned around in her seat and frowned, glancing around confused. Buffy wasn't there.

tbc...

~Chapter One~

AN: No! There will be no Bangel! Blech! *runs off to puke* Oh, and some bits from Life of the Party this time. Don't worry, she'll probably become corporeal in the next chapter and Spike will arrive soon after.

The whole crew was sitting around a park bench after dark in a park across town from the Wolfram and Hart offices. They had to wait for dark so that Angel could leave the offices and across town because, as they explained to Buffy, they weren't so naive to think that just because Angel was in charge of the evil law firm didn't mean things were going to be sunshine and rainbows. They wanted to meet where they could talk without fear of being spied on. So, they used the excuse for a small friendly picnic now and then. They snuck out in ones and twos, were careful to make sure they weren't followed, and Fred usually scanned them for any tracking or spying devices. Buffy watched them pass around the Chinese take-out and nibbled her lower lip, wishing she could eat one of her favourite foods with them.

Being a ghost these many weeks had been so dreary and boring. All she was able to do was wander about the building and watch the others doing things that she couldn't anymore. Not to mention, their camaraderie made her hurt at times as she missed that with her friends. She shoved the memories aside as she usually did, trying to avoid the pain she hadn't wanted to deal with since Angel first told her that everyone had given their lives to stop the first back in Sunnydale. It's not like they weren't all aware of the possibility going into the battle... but apparently part of her had thought someone would have gotten out alive... she sighed and glanced away with a frown. She wasn't going to turn into a bigger brooding freak than Angel...

She reached out and concentrated, grabbing a noodle from Fred's chopsticks and surprising the girl. She floated it along back towards her perch at the end of the bench, but almost there she suddenly disappeared again and the noodle dropped onto Angel's hair. He looked up, thinking she had done it on purpose but noticed she wasn't there.

"She disappeared again hasn't she?" he asked the others, who nodded and he heaved a deep sigh. "She's been doing that a lot lately... more and more and for longer periods. This can't be a good sign." He looked at Fred while picking the noodle out of his hair. "Have you found ANYTHING yet?"

Fred handed him a napkin and shrugged, "I think I've got some good leads... and I'm working very hard... which isn't making her corporeal, I know... but I'm doing my best, I really am."

Wes leaned forward and looked up at Angel with stern eyes. "I'm not caring for the lies you told her. For all we know, that's why she's fading away! Haven't you ever heard of people dying of a broken heart... letting themselves fade away after the death of loved ones? And even if she's fading for some other reason, she most likely won't want to fight it very hard if she thinks that she'd be joining her friends if she passed on finally."

"I understand... which is why we must give her a reason to stay her. Make her understand how much we want her to stay here. How much we could use her help," Angel told him and wiped the duck sauce off his forehead.

"Or we could just tell her the truth. Its been what... a couple months since she showed up... that's better than her finding out a year or more down the road!" Wes started to get up, tossing down his chopsticks.

Angel's hand shot out and grabbed his shirt, tugging him back down. "Listen to this, I'm in charge here and what I say goes. If you don't like it, then you can leave... leave your posh apartment and the big bucks you're making with us. Your nice office with all its resources and your company car. Not to mention, leaving would mean that you wouldn't be able to continue helping Fred with getting Buffy back to normal." He hissed and leaned in close.

"Boys boys..." Lorne laid a hand on Angel's arm. "Let's play nicely. We need to be united to keep the evil baddies at bay." He looked at Wes, "Just do your best with Fred to get Buffy back to normal as soon as possible and once she's solid again we can see about getting Angel to fess up."

"Fine," Wes tugged his shirt free and got up, motioning to Fred to come with him. "But I'm still worried it won't do much good if she's letting herself fade away because of the lie he told." He turned and walked back towards the law firm with Fred hurrying to catch up.

Angel's eyes went to Gunn. "Keep an eye on him when you can. Make sure he doesn't try anything."

*****

Buffy was doing her usual wandering around the offices, trying to alleviate her usual boredom and avoid the bad maudlin thoughts that plagued her when she was alone and her brain was idle. She found herself in Lorne's office with him bent over something scribbling furiously. He was kind of nice and she liked him somewhat. So she bent to glance over his shoulder curiously.

"What're you up to there?" she asked.

"Oh, honeybuff, you need to stop startling a poor demon." He chuckled as he looked up.

"Well, you would've noticed me if you weren't so preoccupied with whatever you've got there. What's so interesting?" She sat on the corner of his desk and smoothed her skirt over her knees. "Something to keep a poor ghosty from being bored?"

"Oh, of course! I'm in charge of planning the annual Halloween Party here this year. It's going to be spectacular! I hope you'll attend. You can lift your spirits for a bit..." he paused and chuckled. "Sorry, figure of speech there... but I guess I'm hoping to lift one spirit." He reached up and made a motion to chuck her chin, pretending he could touch her.

"I don' know. Though, Halloween always was like my big day off cause all the monsters took the night off as well." She shrugged and then chuckled lightly, "No offense about the monster comment. But yeah, and when I did go out on Halloween it usually ended badly. I think I might just huddle in some dark corner somewhere and hope nothing bad happens..." She looked down at the floor.

"Sweetycakes... you should come! You'll even be my special guest for the night!" He smiled and dipped his head to get into her line of vision. "You just need to forget about everything for at least one night and let go, have fun!"

She smiled faintly. "I'll try. Best I can give you."

"That's good enough for me. But if you're not there, I'm coming after you." He laughed and motioned for her to go. "Now let me finish with all this last minute stuff and get all dolled up for tonight with your concentrating thing."

*****

Lorne looked around the party with a frown. No one was dancing... except for Harmony... He went through the crowd, trying to get people to dance. He briefly ran into Wes and Fred, disappointed with the two wallflowers huddling in the corner and commented that they needed to get some alcohol in them to loosen them up a bit. He turned from them and bumped into the ever-brooding leader, this time over some advances that Eve seemed to be trying to make. Honestly, was Lorne the only one who was able to see sense. He gave tall-dark-and-brooding a pep talk then went to go find Buffy. She hadn't shown yet and he had threatened just this. He paused as he was leaving, smelling some rank by the champagne fountain.

He found Buffy wondering down the hall with a confused look, dressed like a faerie princess. She had gauzy, glittery faerie wings and a flowing pearly ball gown with little glass slippers that peeked out as she walked. Her hair was very long again and glittery, topped with a tiara. She had glitter across her face and cleavage. She froze when she spotted Lorne and let out a frightened squeak.

"Yeah, I know," he looked down at himself, misinterpreting the squeak. "Been so busy with planning the party and seeing that everything went smoothly that I wasn't able to get myself a killer costume." He looked up at her and smiled widely, holding out his arms, "But you! Buffykins, you look amazing!"

When he "advanced" on her, she turned and ran down the hall squealing in fright.

Lorne was left there blinking confused. "I don't look THAT bad..." He straightened his jacket and turned to head back to the party, hoping she'd come back in a little while or to send one of the others after her. But, when he got in there he caught the others acting just as odd or odder, so he gathered them up in hopes of figuring out what was going on. He needed to go find Angel.

*****

Buffy kept running down the hall as fast as her feet could take her away from that green thing. He had seemed to know her, though... which was more than she could say for herself at the moment. She had no idea where she was, who all these people were, or who the hell she was. He had called her Buffykins... that so better not be her name. She glanced behind her to see if he was following and then looked ahead again, squealing when she saw she was about to run into a wall and bracing for impact. The next thing she knew, though, she was inside the room on the other side. She frowned and patted herself in confusion.

Okay, things were just getting weirder and weirder around here...

She heard some grunting and moaning coming from the other side of the room and her brows drew together. She got curious and crept over to that corner of the room. It was coming from behind the couch and she silently crawl onto the couch, and bracing her hands on the back peeked over to see what was going on.

Eve was the first to see the blonde peering at them with a confused expression and screamed, causing Buffy to scream. This brought Angel's head up with a jerk and he started yelling in surprise as well. Eventually all the screaming had the others running into the office to see why Angel was screaming, worried since they were slowly seeing there was something up at the office.

"What's all the screaming about?" Lorne asked and then saw Buffy. "Buffykins, there you are. Why did you run off like that?"

"Do I know you?" she blinked at him.

"Ew, Angel... you and Eve were..." Fred wrinkled her nose, swaying on her feet slightly so she leaned against Wes.

"Erm, that's none of your business... anyways... why is Buffy asking if she knows Lorne?" He searched around for his pants and pulled them on before stepping around the couch. "And are you two drunk?" he motioned to Fred and Wes.

"It appears so," Wes smirked and Fred started giggling again. "And I don't recall ever having a drink. Do you?" Fred shook her head.

"Oh good, my name's Buffy? I almost thought it was Buffykins and was worried... well Buffy isn't the best name either. I sound like either a stripper or something..." She rolled her eyes and then paused. "I'm not like... a stripper hired for the party am I?" She tugged at her skirt to see if it was tear away, but it stayed and she was slightly relieved.

"Okay then, when did you both start feeling drunk then?" Angel asked, trying to keep a straight face while Eve was nibbling on his ear.

"It was some time ago... but a little bit after we spoke with Lorne." Wes said thoughtfully.

Fred giggled. "He got onto us for being wallflowers and told us we should drink something to loosen up. Guess that was lucky."

"Wait... you're right... he did tell us we should be drunk and then we were..." Wes shook his head slowly, trying to clear it as he put two and two together. He glanced over and spotted Gunn urinating on the corner of Angel's desk. "So it's been you who's been pissing all over the office all night!"

"Yeah... sorry..." Gunn turned away and shoved himself back inside his pants quickly.

"Ewww...." Buffy pinched her nose and started gagging.

"Did Lorne tell you to piss all over the place?" Angel asked him with irritation, making a mental note to get a new desk.

"God, I sure hope so..." Gunn looked down at his feet.

"Look, this all just has to be coincidence... I haven't been going around do this stuff to you guys. I wouldn't even know how to." Lorne held out his hands pleadingly.

"Aren't you just an empath demon?" Eve finally looked up from Angel's neck to blink at him. "So, how could he be telling people what to do?"

"You had your sleep removed," Gunn pointed at Lorne. "I remember you telling me that and unless you remember anything else out of the ordinary happening to you lately, I'd bet that's got something to do with it."

"Maybe I had my memory removed...." Buffy blinked in confusion. "Though, I must not really like you guys if I did that... or maybe I saw them doing that before and didn't want to remember seeing his pasty ass waving around like that." She made her blegh face.

"An empath with his sleep removed... you're right, that's not good," Wes shook his head. "I'll take Fred and we'll get his sleep back." He started for the door and Fred wobbled after him, so he just tossed her over his shoulder before disappearing out the door.

"Territory! You told me to mark my territory! That's it!" Gunn looked relieved that Lorne was behind his urinating all over.

"And he did say something to me about the sexual tension between me and Eve..." Angel tried to move away from Eve so he could think more clearly. "So what did you say to Buffy to make her like this?"

Lorne searched his thoughts since he knew Buffy didn't remember. "Oh lord, I think I do remember. I told her to forget about everything for one night when I was trying to get her to come to the party." He looked at her. "I'm sorry, Buffykins." He then looked at the others, "But someone needs to go make sure the party continues smoothly."

"Not you. You need to stay put and try not to say anything that could lead to more mayhem." Angel turned and motioned Gunn. "You go, and try to not piss on anything." Gunn left he turned to Eve, resuming making out with her and leaning over so they both toppled over the back of the couch.

Buffy made the blegh face again and turned to Lorne. "Is he always that gross?"

After some time, Wes and Fred came stumbling into the office in a panic. Fred was fumbling with a gun it seemed and Buffy blinked. That seemed a bit extreme, shooting Lorne. He seemed very nice. Angel and Eve popped up again like prairie dogs at the sound of people entering again.

"We've found it and also found out something alarming. The projecting is just the beginning. His subconscious will manifest if this continues," Wes told them and turned to help Fred with the gun.

Gunn rushed in right behind them at that moment, bumping into Wes who in turn bumped into Fred and caused the gun to go flying across the room. Wes helped Fred straighten and turned to glare at the other man.

"Sorry, but bad news... this thing... it looks like uuber Lorne and its rampaging in the party. It killed a couple people and I did my best to lure it away before it killed anyone else," he panted.

"Lured it? You mean it's following-" Buffy was cut off as she screamed in fright when Gunn went flying because a meaty green fist swatted him like a fly.

"See, that's what I was warning you about," Wes said and tried to close the doors on the thing, but it was a loosing battle.

Fred was across the room, trying to reach the gun with Lorne's sleep in it. It was wedged behind the weapons case just out of reach, then it hit her and she turned around to shout, "Buffy! I need you're ghosty help over here!"

Buffy turned and ran over to kneel beside her.

"Just reach through that wall there. You told me if you can concentrate and really want something you can grab it. So grab it and move it out from behind the wall for me, please," Fred pleaded.

Buffy nodded and stuck her hand through the wall. She glanced over her shoulder at the other struggling with the thing that looked eerily like the Hulk and knew this was important. Gunn had said this thing had killed people and it could kill the people that were obviously her friends if she didn't do this. So yeah, the wanting was there and she just needed to concentrate really good. She closed her eyes and wrinkled her nose as she concentrated, after a moment feeling the gun. She smiled and grabbed it, moving it to where Fred could reach it.

"Got it!" Fred said excitedly and sat back.

"Well shoot him! Now!" Angel called as he struggled with the hulking thing.

Fred nodded nervously and stood, aiming the gun with a wobbly hand. Buffy made an impatient sound and grabbed it, aiming it quickly because she wasn't sure how long she could do the solid thing. She shot Lorne in the neck as he was turning to look at her. He swayed for a moment and then passed out. The hulking version of him disappeared in a puff of smoke and Angel, who had been on its back, flailed in mid-air for a moment before landing face first on the floor.

*****

Buffy came back into Angel's office after a little while, going off to mope somewhere for a little while after the memories came rushing back and along with them all the bad emotions they evoked. But, now she was composed again and ready to help with the aftermath. She saw they had tucked Lorne in on the couch with a big comfy blanket to get some Zs. Wes and Gunn were sort of debriefing Angel like normal. Eve was nowhere to be seen, which was just fine with her. There was something about the other women she never really cared for. And now, she would forever be scarred with the sight of that woman naked and boinking Angel.

She so wasn't jealous. At all. She knew now that the one for her had been right in front of her all that time, with his snarky comments and his eagerness to do right by her, even if she made it damn hard for him. She sighed, which brought attention to her and she winced.

"Buffy... are you okay?" Angel asked with concern.

"Oh well, as okay as I was before all this," she forced a chuckle and lifted a shoulder.

Fred came in and stood beside Buffy. "I'll get you corporeal again. I'm sure of it, don't worry." She gave the blonde a soft smile. "And thanks for your help before."

"It was nothing. I wouldn't have wanted anything to happen to Lorne or any of you," Buffy bit her bottom lip and let the added like my other friends go unsaid. She looked down and scuffed her shoe on the carpet instead.

"Well, I didn't get a chance to tell you how lovely you looked tonight in your costume," Angel said, trying to cheer her up a bit in vain.

Fred looked over at her and nodded, as did the others.

"At least I didn't disappear at the wrong-"

Angel growled lowly as ironically she did disappear at that moment. He looked at Fred and Wes, "You too better be VERY close to finding something to do about her. I would hate to have a second chance with her fall right into my lap only to have it slip away because my staff was incompetent!"

Fred flinched and Wes's face tightened. He still didn't like this scheme of Angel's one bit and was even angrier that he had just snapped at Fred. Wes could take it by now, but Fred was a little too tender hearted for such treatment. He fought the urge to growl right back, knowing that would just make the situation worse. So instead he turned to drag Fred out of there.

Angel glared after them and turned to go sit behind his desk. Gunn smirked and left as well just before there was a cry of outrage from Angel's office.

tbc...

~Chapter Three~

AN: Ooo ooo, we're almost to the appearance of Spike, hehe.

Buffy sat in the lab watching Fred as she did most days when she wasn't holed up in her suite moping. She liked the mousy brunette the most of those she had met here. The other woman was kind to her and reminded her somewhat of the younger Willow. The way Willow had been when Buffy had first moved to Sunnydale. Her heart constricted at the memories of the friend she thought dead. She pushed the bad thoughts aside and resumed watching Fred.

She never really could completely follow half the things the woman and the others did here, but that was okay. She was hoping some of the brain cells would rub off on her eventually. Plus, even as a ghost, it probably wasn't good for her to mope so much... she needed to eventually get on with her life... or unlife as the case seemed to be at the moment.

It also meant she was around in case Fred had a question to ask while researching ways of making Buffy corporeal again. As well as if she came up with a theory and wanted to run it by the slayer. Buffy was mildly surprised that Fred was running ideas and such by her instead of Angel. He seemed like he would want to be kept up to date on all of this, but maybe Fred kept him informed through memos or something. Or told him later after Buffy left to wonder about or return to her suite for her nightly mopings.

At one point they had come across something including the sacrificing of a virgin, but Buffy had quickly shot that down. She was pretty sure Fred didn't want to do that anyways and was only telling Buffy so she would know it was an option. They both agreed to leave that in the last ditch, if there was an apocalypse or something pile.

Another, oddly enough, was for her to bleed on it to separate the entity from the amulet. Her, as in the original slayer, which was mondo weird, because how was she going to bleed on it when she was a ghosty? It made them think of several possibilities. That maybe it was meant for after she turned corporeal... that she would still be linked to the amulet and so would have to do that. Or, much scarier to Buffy, was that maybe the amulet had been meant for someone else. She shoved that aside. No, she made the right decision. She wouldn't have wished this existence on anyone else. So even if she messed up some grand scheme, she wasn't going to regret her decision.

Fred stood and stretched, then looked over at Buffy. "Well, I say we call it a night for now. Please don't lose hope, though. I'm sure we'll find something besides that sacrificing a virgin thing. No one wants to do that, but if its the only way we'll just have to find a loophole." She nodded and pushed her glasses up her nose.

Buffy nodded as well. "But if that's our only option and there's no loophole, then you might as well just let me fade away. I'm not afraid. I've died twice before... and I'll get to be with my friends, I'm sure." She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans and followed Fred out of the lab.

Another young lab tech came over to talk to Fred. She thought she remembered his name being Knox or something, she remembered because of course the mind immediately went to Ft. Knox. Did he have hidden gold? She giggled and earned a funny look. She blushed and headed out of the room ahead of them, giving them some semi-privacy. She had noticed the oh-so-obvious glance footsy they had been doing. Knox obviously had a thing for Fred, even if she probably had big glance footsy contests with Wes. Knox was a bit persistent anyways.

She was passing by Harmony's desk on her way to Angel's office to check in when the annoying blonde stopped her. Well, the best she could when the person you were stopping was intangible.

"Um, Buffy... Buffy!" Harmony waved her arm.

Buffy finally turned around and did her best to not wince at the bright pinkness that was the blonde vampire. How Spike could have ever... she gave a mental shudder. But then, he had spent a century with a raving loon. Throw her in the mix and it was obvious he liked crazy women.

"Yeah? What is it, Harmony?"

"You got a package," she held it out and her brows wrinkled slightly. "Though, really not sure who would be sending a ghost a package. There's no return address, so don't know. Is it your birthday?" She really didn't care if it was the slayer freak's birthday, but she was curious as to what was in the package. She had shook it, but there was no clunking noises.

"Not for a couple months, actually." Buffy said and walked back over to the desk, expression of deep curiousity. The only people she knew, who were still alive or at least walking around, were here in Los Angeles. And, in the same building. No need to send her a package. "You think it could be some sort of booby trapped thing?"

"I don't hear ticking," Harmony shrugged and held out the package. The slayer arched a meaningful brow. "Oh, oh yeah. Let me... at least it can't kill me if it is booby trapped. But, just in case, going to open it at arms length. You can also see it that way."

Harmony set the box at the top of the desk and pushed it towards Buffy, running a letter opener along the tape that held the flaps together. She looked up at Buffy for a second, waiting for a sign she was ready and receiving a nod. So she opened the flaps and jerked away instinctively from the bright light. After a moment, she poked her head out from under the desk, relieved that she hadn't burnt to dust.

Buffy lowered her hands and blinked back the stars that danced in front of her eyes. "Well then... what the hell was that all about?" She frowned, this was not a very funny idea for a joke gift. Especially after the way she had died... both this time and the time she had jumped off the tower. Both seemed to involve a very bright, burning light. Anyways...

"What the freak was THAT?" Harmony stood and brushed herself off indignantly.

Everyone else had seemed to come to a screeching halt and were staring at the two blondes.

"Uh, I'm going to go tell Angel what just happened..." Buffy pointed towards the office and turned to do just that.

The blonde vampiress's nose twitched and her head cocked. Her brows crinkled again and she lifted a hand. "Uh... Buffy?"

It was too late as the slayer walked straight into the office door and bounced off with a loud smack. She landed on her butt and blinked up at the door with wide eyes, then slowly reached up to rub her throbbing nose. She had hit the door. She would have thought she had concentrated to solidify herself on accident except there was pain. Ghosts didn't feel pain.

"I tried to warn you..." Harmony rolled her eyes from behind her desk.

Before Buffy could respond, Angel jerked open the door after hearing something bang into it. "What the hell was that?" He noticed the slayer on the ground and cocked his head. "Buffy?"

"That was me, apparently running into your door." She still looked majorly shocked and confused as she continued to rub her nose. "I... don't know how... I was coming to tell you about the strange package and then POW!"

He extended his hand and helped her to her feet. "It seems you really are solid again."

"Guess we don't have to sacrifice that virgin." She rolled her eyes and touched her nose gingerly. It was already starting to feel better. Yay for slayer healing. She was still in too much shock to start realizing what all this was going to entail besides the fact that she couldn't go through things and she could feel pain.

"You mentioned a strange package?" He glanced over to Harmony then back at the petite blonde in front of him.

"Yeah, I mean, who would send a ghost a package?" Harmony rolled her eyes and held up the empty box. "Maybe the thing inside was a ghost, too." She muttered sarcastically.

Buffy shot her an annoyed look and then looked back at Angel. "She opened it for me and there was a bright flash of light. When it cleared, I was going to come straight to your office to tell you and well... you know the rest there." She pointed at her sore nose. "Think it was the wiggy light? I mean, that seems to be the most likely since I was still a ghosty when I left the lab."

"Lab... we need to call Fred back to check you out," Angel said quickly and hurried off down the hall, pulling her along with him gently.

*****

Angel caught Fred before she left and filled her in, then went about gathering the rest of the team in the lab while the brunette started studying the now non-ghosty Buffy. Buffy sat on her stool with her hands in her lap, watching the same device Fred had used when she first got there being used again. It was better than watching the others stare at her.

She looked herself over, glad that she hadn't reverted back to the way she looked when she first popped out of the amulet. She had always feared she might... if she ever got her body back that was. But, no. She still had the wavy shoulder length hair she had been sporting recently and her clothes weren't burnt and dusty. In fact, the black jeans and red long-sleeved shirt looked brand spanking new. Not even any scuff marks on her boots. If she had known, she would have thought herself in lots of jewels or something. Maybe even tried giving herself slightly bigger breasts.

She sighed and watched Fred as she tapped keys over at the computer, studying the data she had collected. "So... did I come back wrong or something?" She tried to break the silence and the ice.

"It seems as far as I can tell, you came back normal. Well, I suppose normal for a slayer." Fred shrugged. "I would still like to keep an eye on you for awhile, just to make sure. You never know what can crop up after such odd events. That shouldn't be a problem, since I'm assuming you'll be sticking around for awhile?" She peered at Buffy through her glasses.

"Uh, I suppose for now," Buffy shrugged. "Until I get things together and decide what I want to do with my yet again renewed life."

"You're always welcome to stay here. I can offer you a job and a place to stay. Anything you want." Angel interjected, coming forward. He needed to squelch any talk that might lead to his plans being ruined.

"That's very nice of you. I'll think about your offer." She nodded and stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.

"It is late. Why don't you head up to your suite and get some rest. Like Fred said, we'll just have to see if this has any long term affects. Also, think about my offer. We could use the help of a slayer around here," he smiled.

"I said I would... and sleep would be very nice. Haven't slept in many months and I think its catching up with me." She nodded as she headed for the door.

Fred wrinkled her nose. "Uh... you haven't?"

"Ghosts don't sleep," Buffy shrugged.

She nodded, making obvious mental note of this new tidbit. "So..." She looked a little reluctant to ask, clearly curious.

"I believe Fred isn't blunt enough to ask you and pry into what may be private. But, what do you do all night then... while everyone is gone and/or sleeping?" Wes stepped forward and tilted his head slightly.

"Oh, no biggy. I mostly just wander about... and even leave the building on occasion. You wouldn't believe the things that go on at night. Well... I guess you guys would, but yeah," she looked up in thought and then back to them, raising her hands. "Oh yeah! I was getting better at concentrating to touch things, yeah. So now and then I'd be able to turn on the TV to watch. Though, I couldn't flip channels a lot, so I had to be lucky about finding something good on."

Fred giggled and pushed her glasses back up. "And I can't imagine there being a lot of choices late at night."

"Yeah," the blonde agreed with a friendly smile. "Well off to get real sleep finally. I'll probably see you in a week." She turned and left finally, going up to her suite and collapsing on the bed without even getting undressed or pulling back the covers.

*****

"Even if she stays she's bound to find out that her friends are still alive," Wes flung out a hand.

"Then we make sure that doesn't happen," Angel said pointedly and leaned in close. "And don't think I won't be keeping a very close eye on everything, so you better not try anything. Not if you like your cushy job here."

"I'm beginning to think the job isn't worth it." The former watcher shot back. "We thought working for some evil law firm, that we'd be the ones changing it to use the resources for good. But, it seems that this place has been changing us. Some more than others. And maybe that's just what they wanted when they extended you their offer. You know the saying, 'If you can't beat them, join them.' Well, seems they decided to do their own twisted version of that, except when they couldn't defeat you they recruited you. And, you went right along with it, didn't you? Gave up the good fight for some money, fancy cars, and a big corner office!"

Angel's fist connected with Wes's face, causing the man's head to snap back and him to hit the wall behind him then slump to the ground. Fred gave an alarmed cry and went to kneel beside him. She touched his face and then felt his neck worriedly, giving a slightly relieved sigh when she found that he wasn't dead from the blow. She looked up at Angel, horrified at his behavior, but too scared to say anything. She wasn't so sure anymore that he wouldn't hit her as well.

Gunn stepped forward to stand between them. "Let's just all go sleep it off. I'm sure he'll be sorry for what he said in the morning." Anything to get Angel to lay off for now. Wes probably would be sorry he ripped Angel a new one in the morning, knowing better than to piss off a master vampire.

"I'm sure he will. I'm giving him extra chances here because he's a friend, but there's only so much of his insubordination I'm willing to take. Especially considering his history for selling out the team," the vampire spat and turned to leave the lab.

Gunn sighed and bent to help Fred lift Wes to his feet. Once they had Wes to his quarters and resting on his bed, Gunn looked over at Fred with sad eyes. "I think Wes was right for the most part. Not for taking on the boss man and getting himself decked. He could have gotten killed even. But, what he said. Angel's changed. I'd almost be worried that we were dealing with Angelus, but Angelus never did care of laying low and wouldn't be taking things slowly like this."

With a nod, Fred sat on the corner of the bed. "I like Buffy and this just isn't right. Wouldn't be right to do to anyone. I'm not sure if there's a way we can tell her what's going on with Angel keeping a close eye on her. Even if we got her out of the building to some place remote, I'm sure he's got other people tagging her for him. I mean, he obviously isn't trusting us much anymore to help him with his plans, just threatens us to keep quiet like hostages."

He nodded and sat down beside her. "There has to be other ways... of revealing his lies..."

"If only her friends weren't all the way on another continent... then there would actually be risk of her hearing about them or running into them. It wouldn't be so easy for him to keep her cut off."

His eyes lit up slightly. "I've got a plan, I think. I'll have to think on it more. We'll have to find a safe place to talk about it it, but I'll get to you and Wes when I've got it figured out. Then we can meet up somewhere to discuss how to get it rolling."

She smiled a small relieved smile. "Okay." She glanced back at Wes. "I'm going to sit here with him until he wakes up, just to make sure. You get some rest."

He nodded and squeezed her shoulder before slipping out of the room.

*****

Willow sat down at the table in the large kitchen with a sandwich and a soda. She pushed her long auburn hair over her shoulder and started munching on her sandwich. She looked out of the window thoughtfully. They had stopped in Cleveland to regroup as Giles had suggested, but there was already those there who were fighting the good fight. Xander stayed there along with some of the young slayers to lend some help.

The rest of them had continued on to England where Giles took control of the council again, setting up a system immediately for going about gathering all the newly awakened slayers. It also led to them realizing they needed to step up their efforts to recruit more watchers to help with the sudden explosion of new slayers. Faith and Kennedy had started taking over training of the new slayers as they came in. They didn't think Spike should help, what with the whole slayer hormones making them look at him the same way he would look at someone's jugular. Also, with them being so inexperienced, the chances that they might actually accidentally stake him during sparring was very good. Not that he looked up for much fighting since the battle. Been all mopy ever since, and nothing they did helped so they just left him to it. At least he had stopped stumbling around shitfaced... it scared the younger girls. Well, it scared the rest of them, too, since they weren't sure what he would do while drunk.

Willow had taken over the job of surrogate mother to Dawn, making sure she continued school over here in England. She had come a long way from the shy awkward nerd that she had been when Buffy first came to Sunnydale. That girl would have quaked at the idea of laying down the law to a rambunctious teenager. But, she figured that whenever the unsure girl in her started to waver when she had to be all stern with Dawn, she just thought to herself of what Buffy would do. She wanted to make her friend proud by continuing to take care of her little sister and raise her right. Make Joyce proud as well.

Her head came back around as someone entered the kitchen. She blinked in surprise. It was the mopy vampire.

"Hey there," she said softly and got up to toss her plate. She leaned her hip against the island and sipped at her soda, watching him worriedly.

"Hi, Red," he peered into the fridge, just staring at the contents blankly.

"I got more blood from the butchers last night. So its all fresh and tasty." She tried to sound chipper, but she didn't know why she tried anymore.

"Thanks, luv," he closed the door again without taking anything out. He finally looked at her, "Oh yeah, Rupert needed t' speak with you. Somethin' 'bout business back in LA."

She nodded. "Come with me. Sure you could help and you really need something to do to keep your mind occupied. It helps. Some." She bit her lip and glanced away, remembering how hard it had been for her to lose someone she loved. At least Spike hadn't tried to destroy the world, just got drunk and wandered the halls naked. "Just come and try to keep busy a bit."

"I..."

She rolled her eyes and took his arm, leading him out of the kitchen and down the hall to Giles' office. The watcher looked up and blinked a bit at the sight of them with linked arms, then quickly discarded the short lived alarm. Spike wouldn't and Willow wouldn't. End of story. He stood and removed his glass to clean them.

"Good of you to remember to deliver my message to her. I wasn't sure if I would have to go looking for her myself shortly," Giles said and motioned for them to sit down.

"I nearly did forget... sorry, Rupes." He shrugged and sat himself down, reclining and shoving his hands in his pockets. "Jus' happened that I got a bit peckish an' went int' the kitchen where Red was."

"Well, it worked out either way." The elder man waved it away. He looked to Willow, "I have got news of another slayer in the Los Angeles area. As you know, we are stretched a bit thin here and while I understand that you have taken Dawn as your charge, I need you to go since you are the only one I can spare at the moment. I can watch over Dawn while you are away. You may take one of the other slayers with you if you think you might need assistance."

"Oh well, I guess if I'm the only one who can go and Dawn'll be taken care of... then I suppose I'll be taking a sunny LA vacation." Willow gave a small smile and a shrug. "And, I'll go ask for volunteers, see who actually wants to go rather than forcing one and having them be in a foul mood the whole trip."

"No need, I'll go with you." Spike spoke up nonchalantly and both of them stared at him. "What? A nice paid vacation t' Los Angeles an' who better t' back her up?"

"Oh, and I'm sure the fact that your Grandsire is there, too, has nothing to do with it?" Willow smirked at him. "I'll be glad to have you as my travel partner. I'm not sharing a hotel bed with you, though." She grinned even wider.

"Ew, wouldn' be caught dead in the same bed as a human. The cooties." He shot back with a ghost of his old smirk.

"Will you two cut it out... about as bad as-" he caught himself and started cleaning his glassed yet again. "Fine, go. If only to get you out of my hair for awhile and maybe you'll decide you like it in the states then stay there... then we won't have to worry about your lily white ass roaming the halls at night."

Willow put her hand over her mouth as she snickered.

"Oy! Most of the girls enjoy seein' my ass." He was in full out smirk for the first time in months.

Giles rolled his eyes. "Oh shut your gob before I decide to stake you, you prat." He looked at Willow again. "The people who tipped me off to this slayer have pledged their help in bringing her in. She is... a bit wild. And what with her new slayer abilities, that makes her very dangerous. They have arranged lodging there and will pick you up at the airport."

"Who are these people? Initiative?" The redhead cocked her head slightly.

"Well... it seems they are affiliated with Wolfram and Hart, which last I had heard was a law firm who worked with demons and the other dregs of society. They also claim to work for someone we all know," he eyed Spike warily, "they're associates of Angel. You met them, Willow, I believe." He looked over at the witch. "The other thing I find odd is that it wasn't Angel himself who contacted me."

"He was too busy being a magnificent poofter." The bleached vampire muttered and Willow swatted at him.

"I... sorta agree. Maybe he was busy. If he's working at a law firm, then he must have lots to do." Willow nodded. "And there must be a good reason for him to be working at supposedly evil law firm."

"He's joined up for all the shaggin' he can get an' no worries 'bout losin' his soul."

"Spike, please do shut up." Giles snapped. He clenched his jaw and looked back at Willow, "No, he seems to have taken it over. Maybe he's trying to change it from the inside out or some such nonsense. None of our business either way. The only thing that concerns us is that they have found another slayer for us and are going to help us bring her in."

"I'll go get us tickets for a the soonest flight I can get out of here. You can call them back and tell them I'm on my way, but don't tell them I'm bringing Spike with me. They're not going to like that; Angel might throw a fit." Willow got up and yanked Spike out of the office after her before he could irritate that irate watcher anymore.

*****

Willow stretched her arms over her head as she stepped off the plane, trying to restore circulation after such a long flight. She tossed her long ponytail back over her shoulder and moved through the crowd, trusting Spike to follow her and not get lost as she searched for the familiar faces that were supposed to be there waiting for her. She spotted Wes and hurried along.

"Hey," she said a bit out of breath after dashing through the crowd, dodging around people to get to him and Fred. "Glad to see you again, even if its always under bad circumstances."

He wasn't looking at her, but past her as he saw Spike. He was trying to decide if this was a good or bad thing. He would hope for good...

"Hello," Fred smiled at Willow and then looked at Spike, smiling at him as well. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Winifred Burkle, but everyone calls me Fred."

"Uh... William, but I prefer Spike." He shook her hand awkwardly.

"Oh! So you're... so this is..." She pointed at Spike and looked between him and Wes.

"Yes," Wes gave her a look that reminded her they weren't supposed to say anything about their recent ghost problem. Just lead them back to the office and let things unravel from there. Then they can't be blamed and Angel's lies will be revealed. Seeing Spike might make Angel's temper even worse, but at the same time he was probably the only one strong enough to take on the vampire if he went into some sort of rage.

"Yes, the great Spike is here." He smirked and hooked his thumbs in his jeans. "Now lets get our bags an' then get me over t' your offices where I'm sure a place like that's got somethin' for a famished vampire t' drink. The airline didn' exactly cater t' blokes like me." He thumbed over his shoulder.

"Uh, yes, we've got a stock of animal blood. Angel doesn't allow the employees to drink human blood and in fact has these random tests, kind of like how sports teams do drug testing. It's complicated and probably more than you wanted to know. But yes, we have something to hold you over." Fred smiled nervously and led them to the luggage carousel.

*****

The group walked off the elevator and Wes started to lead them towards Angel's office. They didn't get far, though, when Harmony spotted Spike and let out a shriek somewhere between excitement and fright.

"BLONDIE BEAR?!" She came around her desk and started to rush him.

"Oy!" He held out his hands to ward her off and started backing away. "Now, luv... we've got a bit of business... really important..."

She put her hands on her hips. "You went off and got all freaky with the slayer freak? That is so gross! I can't believe I ever kissed the same mouth. I mean, how could you even put up with her? She's so annoying! I mean really!!"

He started to growl. How dare she talk about Buffy like that? The love of his unlife who died saving the world. Harmony wasn't even worthy to speak her name. His eyes flashed gold and he took a step forward with deadly intent in his eyes. Willow grabbed his arm and pushed him back a couple steps, then turned to usher Harmony back behind her desk.

"I suggest you just get back to your job and not try to stir up trouble." Willow said firmly. She came back around to stand in front of Spike, looking up at him and laying her hands on his arms. "Just ignore her. She's always been a pain in the ass and always will be. Not even worth getting worked up about."

Spike opened his mouth to thank her for taking care of him these last few months, but the door to Angel's office was jerked open. Angel looked around to see what had caused Harmony's latest shrieking and his eyes fells on Spike. His face darkened and he began to growl as well.

"Spike," he ground out.

"Spike," came a gasp and all eyes went to the stairs. Buffy stood there with her hand on her chest, "My god... and Willow? They said..." She took a shuddering breath and then fainted, tumbling down the last couple stairs before Spike overcame his stupor and rushed over to her.

tbc...

~Chapter Four~

AN: A big thanks to my betas; Jessica and Chelsea. This obviously strays from Angel canon cause I didn't realize it until one of my betas brought it to my attention, but some readers may think Angel is just pretending to turn evil like in the show. Nope and it'll continue to stray further from canon after this.

Spike scooped Buffy up and held her tightly, forgetting everyone else was there, even his growling grand-sire. All that mattered was that for the second time the love of his unlife was suddenly back from the dead. All he wanted to do was carry her off to some dark, private place to reacquaint himself with every inch of her body.

Willow appeared at his side and pulled him back to the present somewhat. "Oh my god. Is that Buffy? Is she really back again?" She looked up at him. "I swear I didn't do another spell."

He buried his nose in Buffy's hair and inhaled deeply. "Smells of her, at least." He looked towards the others. "How... how long has she been here?"

Fred looked towards Angel to see what he would say, but he just continued to glare in Spike's direction. Wes finally stepped forward to bite the bullet. He might as well tell them and hope they would help keep Angel from trying anything.

"For several months now," Wes said. "Late summer we received an envelope with the amulet inside. Her spirit came out of it and she has been haunting our offices in a way. Only recently was she made corporeal again."

"She's been here that long an' you blokes haven' told us?" Spike growled.

"Well..." Fred fidgeted and glanced at Angel again. Wes squeezed he hand to reassure her that she should go ahead. "We- we were under orders not to say anything."

A couple growls had Wes moving them back from the two vampires, not wanting them caught in the crossfire. "Apparently he thought it best not to say anything until we got her corporeal again. She started... disappearing more frequently the longer she was here and for longer periods of time. Perhaps he did not want to put you through losing her again since we weren't sure if we would be able to keep her with us." He didn't know why he was making excuses for Angel's behaviour, but hoping it would avoid too much bloodshed.

"Bloody hell! You can' decide that for us!" Spike spat at them. "Even if she was only back briefly, it would be worth it t' see her again an' give her a proper good-bye. Right, Red?"

Willow nodded, looking at Angel mistrustfully... especially since he was in game face now and still growling at them all. She looked back towards Spike, though, when she heard a small groan come from the petite blonde in his arms.

*****

Buffy gave another soft groan and snuggled into the arms that were holding her so protectively. This was nice, she thought groggily then opened her eyes slowly to blink up at the owner of said arms. She frowned in confusion as she saw the same mirage that had made her faint. Spike. He was looking down at her with concern. The arms felt solid enough. She reached up to touch his face and felt it was solid as well. She turned her face slightly and saw Willow standing over her as well. Had they come back like she had?

"What... did I finally die for real?" she asked curiously then looking around, seeing the others there as well. "Huh?"

"Buffy, we're alive." Spike shook his head, voice hoarse with emotion. "An' so are you. It's a bloody miracle..."

"Why does she think we're dead?" Willow looked at the others with a suspicious frown. "Something else you want to fess up?" Her eyes had darkened dangerously.

"They said the Hellmouth collapsed and destroyed Sunnydale," Buffy spoke up, looking up at Spike with wide eyes, drinking him in.

"It did," the witch's face softened as she looked over at her friend. "But we got away safe, and they knew that."

The slayer's eyes shot to Angel accusingly. "You... you said they were all dead! My friends! My sister! Spike!" She growled. "I cried for months and you continued to let me believe they were all DEAD!" She started to push herself out of Spike's arms, trying to get at the other vampire with murder in her eyes and hot tears running down her cheeks.

Spike held onto her, tightening his arms around her so much he was nearly afraid he would crush her so soon after getting back his girl all whole and healthy. "Pet, calm down a bit. You're goin' t' work yourself up an' you were only recently unconscious. Please, pet." He pleaded with her when she nearly turned her rage on him. He could take it. Was even used to it after all this time. But, he couldn't take the crying. Never. Not his girl.

He leaned his face close to hers when he was finally sure she wouldn't have bitten his nose off. He brushed a light kiss across her lips then moved his face to murmur in her ear softly, soothing words then a soft pleading. She looked at him silently for a moment then finally nodded, swiping at her tears with the back of her hand. He stood and looked towards Angel, face back to a mask of anger.

"Tell us why. WHY? Why did you torture her? Why did you keep her from us? WHY?? Tell us, goddammit! We're givin' you a chance t' explain yourself an' perhaps save your ugly neck from being a pile of dust in a minute when I let her loose." He growled, unable to keep himself from vamping and giving a loud growl. He would enjoy seeing the big poofter getting his finally, but as always, his first instinct was to protect his girl. He knew if he just let her go dust the ponce, she would later start asking these questions with no one there to answer them.

All eyes were on Angel again as he continued to growl at them. Finally, he took a step towards Spike to glare down at the younger vampire.

"Because she's mine. Mine. I couldn't let her run off to you as soon as she was corporeal again or beg for me to call you here while she was still a ghost. She's mine, but you've done something to steal her from me!" He reached out and jerked Spike away from Buffy. "You've always been a thorn in my side, William. I should have destroyed you when Drusilla dragged you home." He lifted Spike off his feet. "I should have been the one fighting by Buffy's side. Not you. You should have died on the Hellmouth. Not her. But, I plan on rectifying the situation."

"No! Angel stop!" Buffy jumped up and grabbed at Angel's arm. "Why are you acting like this?"

He shrugged her off and shoved her away. "I'm acting the way I should have acted when I first heard my wayward Grand-Childe was trying to make a third slayer conquest of you."

Spike growled when Angel shoved Buffy. "Oi! Don' lay a hand on her!" He brought his feet up into Angel's chest and shoved hard, leaping away to go to Buffy's side. "She doesn' want a wanker like you an' you don' deserve someone as good as her. So just give it up an' bugger off!"

Angel snarled and lunged for him again. The two vampires grappled in game face like wild animals in the middle of the room, growling and roaring. The others backed up, not wanting to get dragged into the fight and hoping Spike gave Angel a good pummeling for his behavior.

Buffy was watching them fighting over her with wide eyes. In only a few short minutes, her world had spun out of control. She had found out everything about her life, or un-life, for the last few months had been a cruel lie formulated by Angel to keep her close. She was frozen in place in shock. Spike and her sister and her friends... they were alive! Angel had lied in the cruelest of ways. Watching her wail in agony after delivering the heinous news and waste away for these past months from grief... All the while, he had been plotting to manipulate her. She had not been so naive as to think Angel lived up to his namesake, at least not for many years now. But, she never thought him capable of this when he was his soul-having self. Maybe she HAD been naive if he really was...

"Stop!" She finally shouted and dashed forward to try to pull them apart.

Willow grabbed her arm. "Buffy... you know, even with your slayery powers, it's probably not best to get between two angry vampires. It's like getting between two rabid dogs... but you know, with vampire strength and stuff..."

Buffy actually growled at her friend in frustration. "I can't just let Angel maim Spike."

"Have some faith in Spike... not to mention, you might be sorry tomorrow if you kill Angel..." the witch looked at the vampires, eyes filled with disgust as they landed on Angel. She never did see what her friend saw in him. She put up with him for Buffy's sake mostly.

"I won't. His actions have been unforgivable. He told me my friends and family, everyone I cared about, were dead! He let me waste away in despair for his own selfishness. I... no, I won't miss him. Not this way. I'll miss the way he used to be and THAT man is apparently dead already." She shook her head. "And I have a sneaking suspicion he knew the amulet would kill the person who wore it and knew I was going to give it to Spike, though he probably didn't know the person would appear in his office as a ghost. He just didn't bank on me changing my mind and wearing it myself." She smirked acidly, "Though, if I had known, would have let Spike wear it so he could have appeared in Angel's office to give him hell."

Willow's face darkened. "So you're sure of your decision?" Something dark moved behind her eyes.

Buffy nodded.

With permission seemingly given, the witch turned and flung out her hands. The two vampires were flung apart and Angel was lifted off his feet, kept immobile by unseen hands. "Buffy, it was you who was wronged. So you get to do the honors."

The slayer shivered a bit at the hints of Willow's dark side. It had been so long that she had nearly forgotten that the soft, caring redhead had such dark places inside her. Months ago, Buffy had been sure her friend was finally in control of herself and her magic, asking her to do one of her most powerful spells to awaken all the potential slayers in the world. But, grief had caused her to lose control before and maybe after Buffy's death... Were they on shaky ground again?

She shook it off for the moment turned towards the immobilized Angel. She growled at him to show she was a part of his lynching before heading over to check on Spike.

"Are you okay?" She bit her lip and knelt by him, reaching out to touch his cut lip.

"Bloody wonderful, luv," he gave her a grin. "Nothin' can' take away the joy of seein' you again."

"We have some... talking to do after I take care of our problem here." She grinned back and licked the blood from his lip off her finger slowly, "You're mine."

Her eyes flashed silver briefly before she quickly stood up, not giving him a chance to respond. He froze, watching her walk off in shock. She just... He gasped at the flurry of emotions that fought inside him at the possible ramifications of what she just did. He could only watch her, totally floored and unsure if he was able to walk at the moment. So instead he sat there with the world's goofiest grin spread across his face.

Angel roared as he noticed the exchange that went unnoticed by the humans. "I won't allow such lunacy to happen! Over my dusted body!"

Willow glanced between them, aware she had missed something but figured that if it pissed off Angel this much then it was probably a good thing so she smirked at Angel. "I think that's probably only adding to the appeal of it."

"You little bitch," he spat at her and she responded by stretching his limbs painfully until he cried out in agony.

Buffy strode over to Angel angrily and brought her leg up into his groin. "Don't talk to my friends like that. You don't deserve to even speak to them. To even look at them." She punched him square in the jaw. "I'm not yours. Haven't been yours in years. You're not even the same man I fell in love with. My Angel wouldn't have done this. You've changed. This place has changed you. And you don't even care, do you? Because so far you've used it to get whatever you've wanted, huh?"

"And yet, I'm still like him," Angel arched a brow in Spike's direction. "He's a selfish son of a bitch and does things much worse than this. So why do you fuck him and stake me?"

"Cause I love him and you have a small dick," she grinned. "Not to mention, he has made improvements while you have obviously made declines in character." She frowned. "He got his soul by choice, not against his will. And quite frankly, he was a very good man even before he got his soul."

Behind her, Spike smiled proudly at her words. He could burst into flames at that moment and die a happy man, but he seriously hoped that didn't happen seeing as he would miss out on the shagging later.

Buffy licked her lips and put on an innocent face, glancing left and right before leaning in close to whisper in Angel's ear. "Me and Spike are going to fuck for many, many, many hours and I'm going to do things we've only dreamed about for the last few years. When I get done with him, he's not going to be able to move for days. And, the only thing keeping me from getting down to it with him is first I have a bit of business to get out of the way. You." She leaned back and smiled wickedly.

Angel's eyes narrowed at her. "You didn't love me. You're just a slut who spreads her legs for anything lacking a pulse."

Her eyes widened in shock and in a blur of movement it was Spike who was there to slam his fist into Angel's face. "Don' you dare talk t' my mate like that!" He continued to punch his Grand-Sire. "You've had more partners than she's ever had an' in one month! An' such a bleedin' hypocrite when you've shagged nearly every vampire over a hundred." He sneered. "Even the men..."

If it was possible, Buffy's eyes widened even more until she was afraid her eyes would pop. There was an implication there, but she ignored it in lieu of her shock. Angel wasn't the first to say something like that to her, it was just more hurtful coming from him.

She shook her head slowly. "Stop Spike... just end this. Please. I can't take anymore of this. My heart is just not up to it." She closed her eyes and let out a breath. "Just end it."

Spike slid an arm around her and whispered soothing words into her hair. He rubbed her back and Willow came over to do the same, showing her support. "I'll get you a stake or somethin' else useable, pet." He headed over to a chair in the waiting area near the elevators.

"No..." she shook her head again. "You do it, Spike. After all the things he did to you, you deserve to drive it home."

"No, you should, luv, I know you want t'."

"Together then?"

He grinned and came back with a broken chair leg.

He held it out in front of her and she linked her hand over his, smiling up at him softly. "To a new start?"

He nodded and bent to kiss her forehead tenderly. "Let's do this before any more shit spouts out of this poofter."

"You can't seriously be about to do this," Angel looked shock, but they only nodded with impassive faces. He looked towards Fred and Wesley, "And you're not even going to try to stop this?"

They shook their heads slowly and Wes stepped forward. "I tried to warn you from the start. If you had listened to me, instead of the evil selfish voices in your head, the maybe you wouldn't be in this predicament now. The Angel we had befriended wouldn't have treated us like hostages. So we agree with them. The Angel we knew died the minute you started making deals with the senior partners."

Angel snarled angrily at him and opened his mouth to probably insult them some more, but they never found out. Before he could utter a word, the two blondes slammed the makeshift stake through his chest and he immediately burst into dust. As the dust settled, the small group just stood there silently. They didn't know what to say or what to do. None of them regretted staking him after everything he had done and wanting to prevent what he might have done if they let him continue down the path that he was taking.

The elevator dinged and snapped them all out of their thoughts so that they swung around to look towards it almost guiltily. Gunn and Lorne stepped into the room and looked at them, noting the signs of struggle and their dazed expressions. Lorne looked to the side where Harmony was peeking around the edge of her desk.

"What happened here?" Lorne asked, looking back towards the others. "Looks like there was a party and my invitation was lost in the mail."

"More like a lynching," Harmony muttered as she got up, straightening her skirt. "Does this mean I can go back to drinking the good stuff?"

"Harmony, get out of here before you get the same treatment." Spike snarled.

Her eyes got wide and she nodded, darting down the hallway.

Fred walked over to Gunn followed by Wesley. She smiled up at him, "It seems that Spike and Willow showed up and accidentally discovered Angel's plot." She winked.

"Oh," Gunn winked back.

Willow looked between then and suddenly smiled widely herself. "Buffy was the slayer we came to pick up, wasn't she?"

Fred laughed and nodded. "We finally had enough of his lying to Buffy and his temper. We decided to come up with a plan to get you guys here to accidentally run into Buffy after he went as far as hitting Wes." She sighed, "Whatever deal he made with the senior partners... it obviously affected him, cause we can't totally blame it on working in a place like this. WE didn't turn evil... we only went along with it out of fear."

"I totally understand," Buffy nodded as she came up beside Willow. She put a hand to her face, "But we can all catch up and decide what to do about the consequences tomorrow I think. Right now, I'm emotionally and physically exhausted. And I really don't feel like staying here tonight..."

"No problems, pet. We got ourselves digs over at the Sheraton. My suite is your suite," Spike grinned. "Me an' you got stuff t' discuss, like you said... or does that wait 'til tomorrow, too?" He definitely wanted to know why she had done the blood thing. Was it just to piss off Angel or did she really intend to go through with it?

"I'll see when we get there. Maybe some stuff can be aired out tonight... not sure I can wait no matter how exhausted I am. So happy to-" She noticed the others watching them intently and blushed. "Let's just call it a night and get to the hotel."

Willow nodded and slid her arm around Buffy. "Sure thing. Do you have anything upstairs you need to get?"

"No. Up until a couple days ago I had no body, so I really had no need for clothes. Since then I've been borrowing... well... Cordelia's old things until we could get some time to go get me new stuff. Angel offered to send someone to get clothes, but I wanted to buy my own things." Buffy shook her head, "Now I know why he was trying to avoid it..."

"Cordelia's old stuff?" Willow picked out that bit frowned. "What?"

"Long story. Maybe the others can fill you in on the way to hotel."

*****

Buffy walked into the suite and went over to flop onto the sofa immediately, barely taking in her surroundings. She threw an arm across her face and groaned. What a just all around bad day. Yes, a good thing had come out of it technically. But, still... a really really bad day. She knew once things wore off... adrenaline or whatever she was going on, it would hit her and she wasn't even sure she wanted Spike to be there... but she couldn't tell him to go away. She needed him around after thinking he was dead for so long. So many things she had to tell him before she lost the nerve or other things got a chance to intrude again.

Spike walked in and looked down at her then knelt beside the sofa. He reached out lay his hand on her stomach, slipping it under the blouse to stroke slow, soothing circles. "You okay, luv?"

She lifted her arm slightly to peek at him from under it. "Not my best, but considering the day I had... I'm okay."

"Anythin' I could do t' make you feel better?"

She gave a slow smile. "You being here is helping." Her eyes started to water, "I missed you so much and I-" her throat tightened. "I thought I'd never see you again. I almost didn't want to become corporeal again, but now I'm glad I didn't just let myself fade away."

"Shh," he leaned in to kiss her softly. "I missed you, too. Was a right drunkard an' Red can tell you better than I can about how I was. I was too drunk t' remember much. She looked out for me somewhat an' so did the Bit. Made sure I didn' stake myself while I was inebriated, but wasn' able t' stop me wanderin' the halls naked at night a couple times." He smirked, "Scarred your watcher for life, I did. You would've been proud."

She chuckled and got up to slide off the couch into his lap. She laid her cheek on his shoulder with a sigh, "This feel so nice. I needed this so badly." Her eyes drifted close. "I could stay like this forever."

"You can. But, then that's what you were up t' when initiated the claim back at the law firm, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"So it wasn' just to piss off Peaches?"

"Huh?" She lifted her head and looked at him shocked. And slightly offended. "You think that's why I did it?"

"I guess I didn' want t' get my hopes up too much." He glanced away.

"Spike... I guess it's true that my actions in the past obviously didn't inspire trust in me... but it wasn't to just make Angel mad. That was just a nice by-product." She bit her lip. "I didn't mean what I said down in the Hellmouth. You know that right? I only said it to get you out of there." She clutched at him desperately. "Please, forgive me. Please."

"Shh." He kissed her softly, lingering on her lips for a moment before forcing himself to continue speaking instead of losing himself in the kiss. "I forgive you an' I understand."

She slumped weakly against him, relieved to hear him say that. He wrapped her in his arms and got up, carrying her into the bedroom. He turned down the covers and laid her down before sliding in beside her. She turned into his embrace and they curled up silently, understood that when they woke up they would straighten the rest of it out. But, for now they were content to have each other again and lay entwined.

*****

Flashback to Sunnydale High basement

"C'mon!" Faith called and started up the stairs. Spike motioned to her and she made an impatient sound before dashing out of there.

"You have to go, Spike!" Buffy told him angrily.

"Not leavin' without you, pet," he shook his head.

"I can't go anywhere. I have to stay and finish this, make sure it's done. Make sure the threat is gone for good." She pointed, "You have to go. Get to safety. Go take care of Dawn and make sure she's okay."

"No. I love you an' stayin' with you 'til the end. This life into the next."

"Spike, I don't love you! I never loved you and I never will! I keep telling you that and you never seem to get it! Just go!" She pushed him towards the steps angrily. "Get out of here! You're just a vampire and even with your soul you're still not good enough for me! Sometimes, I can't even stand to look at you! You'll never be good enough for me!!" She screamed at him, tears running down her face.

He looked at her stricken then frowned. "Fine. Have it your way..." He got up and turned towards the steps, starting to go up them then looking back. "And you're wrong." With that he started running up the stairs to avoid rocks as they started falling from the ceiling on him.

*****

Buffy stretched as she woke up then sat up slowly. She started to slide towards the edge of the bed, but Spike's arm tightened to draw her back. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was still asleep then pried it off so she could get up. With a small smile, she bent to give him a small, tender kiss before going into the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker. While she was waiting for the coffee to brew, she padded back into the bedroom and to the bathroom for a shower.

She was starting to wash her hair when the curtain was she sensed him moving about and with a smile waited, knowing he was coming to her. She rinsed her hair, not looking up as the glass door slid open and let the steam billow out into the room. It seemed like he stood there forever, though, so she finally looked at him impatiently.

"You're letting all the cold air in," she chastised him with an eye roll.

"Sorry, pet," he said with a smirk and stepped into the shower with her then slid the door closed again. "Was just admirin' such a stunnin' view of my lovely golden slayer under the water, like a goddess at a waterfall..."

She blushed and looked away. "You obviously never lost that poet in you..."

"No matter how I tried t' bludgeon the wanker t' death," he agreed good-naturedly and reached out to skim a hand over her body with a soft purr. "So beautiful..."

"Spike..." She smiled up at him and went into his arms, holding onto him tightly as it hit her again how happy she was to have him back. To have him safe and sound in her arms. Well... until the next apocalypse.

tbc...

~Chapter Five~

AN: Hold on as we spin further and further out of canon. Weeee! Hehe. And thanks to my lovely betas; Aribelle, Tami, and Jessica. They were a big help to a blonde who writes in the early morning while she's half asleep... *pouts* For some reason, that's the only time my muse gets all spunky... the bleached menace...

Buffy lifted her head after what seemed like forever. The water had turned cold long ago, but she hadn't cared. She looked up at Spike and slid her hand up his body to cup his cheek. She still marveled at being able to touch him again after thinking he was dead these many months. She knew he was probably feeling the same way. She could see it in his eyes as their gazes locked.

She stretched up and kissed him slowly, coaxing his mouth open so she could deepen the kiss. Her hands smoothed down his body, eagerly touching every inch of skin she could.

"Bloody hell, luv... you don' know how many nights I've dreamed of this an' now it's come true," Spike murmured into her neck as he clutched her more tightly against him.

"I have, too," she said softly. "I dreamed that I had you again and this time I didn't treat you badly. I didn't deny your love. I didn't deny my own feelings. And, once I had you, that I didn't let you go." She leaned her head back and smiled up at him. "Then I dreamed of the sappy 'happily ever after' with you."

"An' that involved the claimin', yeah?" He grinned down at her, not letting her forget what she had started.

As if she would.

"Of course," she rolled her eyes.

"An' you plannin' on makin' a bloke beg for it?" He teased, nipping at her throat.

"If you keep being a pain about it, I will."

She nipped back and he gave a little growl, clearly aroused even without the prodding at her stomach. She slid her hand over his length and kissed him again. She gave him a few more strokes as she pressed kisses to his jaw and neck.

"So, mister persistent... did you still want a quickie in the shower or to make with the claiming then?" She tilted her head and arched a brow, laughter dancing in her eyes.

"Are you completely daft?" His brows drew together as he gave her one of his patented Spike looks. "Of course I want the claim... bloody annoyin' bird..."

"And here I thought sex was the most important thing to you." She laughed.

He gave a warning growl before kissing her roughly, reaching around her to turn off the water. He lifted her against him by grasping the backs of her thighs and carried her out of the shower, but only as far as the sink, where he set down a towel before sitting her down on the counter there. He kissed her again then let his mouth trail down her body as he knelt in front of her.

"So beautiful... lovely golden goddess..." he murmured as she started to spread her legs for access.

"I thought we were going to be claiming each other, not doing the quickie?"

"Is there a rule that says I have t' bite your neck an' have no imagination?" he gave her an exasperated look.

"I guess not... Continue."

He rolled his eyes at her with a snort then lowered his head again. He gave her inner thigh a long lick all the way up to her core where he continued licking eagerly. He ran his tongue along her slit, giving her clit a flick and grasping her thighs when she started to writhe. His eyes rolled upwards to watch her face as she moaned softly in pleasure. He continued to watch her as he delved his tongue in her core.

His brows immediately went up and he jerked back. "What the bloody hell?"

"What?" She frowned, not sure what to make of his reaction.

"You taste... different..."

"Different? Like I came back wrong or... bad different??" Her face flushed and started to scoot away from him self-consciously.

He kept hold of her legs and dragged her back to him so he could lick her again experimentally.

"Pet..." he looked up at her worriedly. "Have... did you an' the poofter... since you came back?"

"You taste Angel?" Then she shook her head. She went from being shy to sheer indignation. "And even if you could, a world of NO! I did not! I've been mourning you since I got back and didn't just hop into bed with the next eligible bachelor!"

"No, I didn' taste Angel... I tasted somethin' else," he took a slow breath, unsure of how she was going to take the news. Not yet sure how he was taking the news. "You... you're pregnant, Buffy."

"You've got to be kidding me," she laughed incredulously. "I haven't had sex since... since you back in Sunnydale!"

"You sure no one..." he made a motion with his hand and lifted a brow.

"You sure you didn't get it wrong?" Her lips pressed together and she pushed him back so she could stand.

"Vampire, pet." He looked up at her as if he were talking to a child.

"So what, besides having the icky smell thing, your tongue is a pregnancy test strip?" She planted her hands on her hips. She frowned at him, "Maybe I should pee on it to make sure..."

"As lovely as that sounds..." he remarked dryly as he stood. "I'm sure if we continue with the claim I'll be able t' sense what's goin' on with your body more clearly. Use the link the way mates do t' make sure you're okay an' I should be able t' sense the child if there really is one... or if it's somethin' else, sense that, too."

She looked away. "What if I'm not in the mood now?"

He frowned then in the blink of an eye he was on her, pressing her to the wall.

"No backin' out now, luv." He kissed her hotly, grinding into her. His hand buried in her hair and used it to pull her head to the side, baring her neck to him. "Mmm, glad you didn' shorten your hair too much. Love my goldilocks." He ran his tongue over her pulse. "Love every soddin' bit of you."

He shifted into game face, dragging his fangs over her throat before sinking them into her flesh. Blood flowed into his mouth and he groaned, grinding into her more eagerly than before. He forced himself to stop after a moment and licked his lip, looking down into her eyes.

"Mine. My mate now and forever." He brushed a kiss across her lips, "No matter what all this mess with you bein' pregnant is all about."

She smiled and kissed him back. "There has to be a logical explanation for all this, Spike."

"Just get t' bitin' me back, pet," he bent his neck in offering. "Then we can start sussin' it out."

"Mmm," she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck before biting down. She applied pressure and worried at his skin until her teeth broke the surface, getting a gush of blood. She lifted her head to look up at him after she was sure she had taken enough, not enjoying the blood as much as the vampire obviously had. "Mine."

They looked at each other and both their gazes flashed silver like Buffy's had when she first initiated the claim the day before. Both felt the bond as it tightened between them and their mouths connected again, tongues dueling as their hands moved to grasp at each other.

"Buffy," Spike purred against her mouth. "You've... can' tell you how... how happy this has made me. Been waitin' years for you t' be willin' t' be my mate."

"I'm sorry for being so stubborn," she smiled softly. "Now... as for our problem...?" She pointed down.

"Would you see it as a problem t' be havin' a child with your mate?" He watched her carefully as he pulled her back into the bedroom. He set her on the bed and knelt in front of her.

"It can't be yours, Spike. We haven't had sex in like a year... and I've been dead half of that time." She shook her head.

"But, either way, I'm not leavin' your side an' I'm goin' t' be the itty bitty's father. Not biologically... but still..." He lifted a hand to her cheek. "Goin' t' take care of you both, I will."

"Just tell me if I really am... please." She sighed and looked down, distress etched clearly on her face. "And if I'm mysteriously pregnant... who's to say it's even human or... or even all with the evilness."

"We'll figure it out. Together. Okay?" He squeezed her hand and kissed her flat stomach. "Now just let me concentrate an' see what I can get out of our new bond. This is new... not somethin' a vampire does all the time... claimin' willy-nilly. You have one mate an' you're with them until you're dust."

He closed his eyes and nuzzled her stomach, then stilled as he concentrated. His hands traced comfortingly circles on her back as he checked out his earlier diagnosis. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and looked up at her with concern. She knew what he was going to say and started to draw away from him shaking her head.

"It can't be... I mean, you can't be... try again, please..." She pleaded.

"There's no doubt about it now, pet. I can sense it growin' in you now," he laid a hand over her abdomen.

She whimpered and her lower lip began to quiver. Immediately, he was on the bed beside her and drawing her slight body to him. He tucked her head under his chin and rocked her gently.

"Shhh. Soothe, luv. We'll figure it out," he said softly.

She opened her mouth to say something but there was a knock on the door just then. They looked at each other then went to the closet to quickly pull on clothes. Spike was quicker about yanking on his usual jeans and a shirt so he went to answer the door while Buffy finished getting dressed, giving her a moment to collect herself. She finished pulling on a black pair of slacks and a blouse before following him.

"Cordelia," she gasped as she walked into the living room. "They said... were they lying about that as well?"

"No," Cordelia shook her head and looked between them. "I was in a coma, but not exactly. And now, I'm back. To help you. I take it you found my other gift by now?" She smiled at their puzzled expressions then grinned at Buffy. "You look nice in my clothes, by the way. Do I have taste or what?"

*****

Spike paced as usual while Buffy watched him nervously. Willow and the remains of Angel Investigations were watching Cordelia. Buffy finally made herself stop watching Spike before she got motion sickness or something and glanced at Cordelia. After a moment, she leaned forward to bury her face in her knees and link her hands over her head. Gawd, she just needed a moment to adjust to everything. For the last day it seemed a constant barrage of things, each turning her world upside down just when she thought it couldn't get any stranger.

She felt a weight beside her on the couch and knew who it was before the hand caressed her back. Before the silky voice whispered to her mentally, //Are you all right?//

She lifted her head to smile up at Spike slightly, "Just needed a short breather. Don't worry."

"Well, I'm here to help make sense of everything," Cordelia smiled down at her softly. "Hopefully you'll feel a little better after you understand what's happening."

"Hopefully."

"First," Wesley lifted a hand. "Could you please tell us... how? How are you back? You just woke up? I would believe that, but with a complete recovery as if you had never been gone... That's very strange, to say the least."

"That's because I wasn't in a simple coma. I was in a sort of limbo. My soul went back up to be a higher being, like before... but my body was still stuck here in that vegetative state." Cordelia tilted her head, "And, that's how I was able to keep an eye on all of you and help you when the time came."

"Help us? How?"

"As you all know by now, Angel was spiraling out of control by the day." She motioned to Buffy. "I couldn't wait much longer for you and Fred to find the right spell to bring you back. Who knows what Angel might have done before then. So I sped up the process considerably."

"You sent the flash in the box?" Buffy blinked.

"Yup, you can thank me for that. But, it wasn't just renewed life I gave you."

"You..." the slayer pointed at her stomach. Her brows went up and she said in a slightly higher voice, "That too?"

"Huh?" Willow looked between them. "What's in her stomach?"

"Her womb." Cordelia amended and nodded at Buffy.

"Her... huh?" She looked boggled.

"After we woke up, Spike... well, he discovered I was pregnant," Buffy turned to Willow to explain to her and the others what Cordelia was talking about. She smiled faintly, "Takes a load off 'cause I'm not sure Spike was convinced I didn't sleep with anyone since I came back, what with me being pregnant and all."

"Yeah, I knew such a strange pregnancy would cause some confusion, which is why I knew I had to come back to help explain everything I did," Cordelia told them. "And help you with the upcoming battle. I'm not good with being stuck on the sidelines, especially when I know I can be a big help."

"Wow, you have changed," Buffy teased her lightly. She looked down at her stomach and rested her hands on it, "So... then who is the father... or is it some weird 'made of me' thing like Dawn was?" Her eyes got wide and she looked at Spike.

He chuckled. "We'll call Nibblet later an' tell her the good news... got a lot t' tell her, too, yeah?"

"Oh, I already called them," Willow looked sheepishly. "They're on their way."

"Good. You're going to need their help," Cordelia tried to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand. She looked back to Buffy, "Well, yeah, I had to work a bit of strange magic to make it of you since, yeah, you were dead and it came with the resurrection, which meant no eligible sperm donor. But," she said before the slayer could interrupt her, "because of that claim I know you just did, the baby will be linked to Spike as if he were the natural father."

Buffy pouted slightly and opened her mouth to speak, and then shut it again and shook her head. There were some things she just didn't have to know... Spike curled his arm around her and pulled her closer, reassured knowing that this wasn't something to be concerned about. He didn't really believe Buffy had jumped into bed with someone, but was worried that this could be something evil and harmful to his mate. He didn't care for something happening to her after just getting her back.

"You... you keep alluding to something to come," Fred spoke up. "Surely you just don't mean the pregnancy."

"I don't," Cordelia shook her head. "You caused a big problem for yourself when you killed Angel. The reason Angel was turning evil was because of the deal he made with the Senior Partners, obviously. Whatever they did to 'anchor' his soul left it open to corruption, which is obviously what they had in mind when they offered that deal to him. The place was literally poisoning him. It was even in the blood he was drinking. They wanted him on their side to do their dirty work in this dimension, help them take it over. Also, it would get one of this dimension's greatest champions out of their way. They probably didn't count on you awakening all the junior slayers, but when you did they still figured they could do away with a few newbies."

"So... they're pissed at me for ruining their plans even though my killing him still got him out of their way?" Buffy blinked.

"Yeah, 'cause now they have to start out all over again finding someone to help them do their dirty work and corrupting them and all that boring stuff." She paused and looked down at Buffy solemnly. "That means they might come after you, Spike, or even your baby to corrupt you. Spike is another souled vampire to them, you are the slayer who has thwarted many apocalypses, and the baby would be easy to corrupt."

Buffy groaned and bent forward to bury her face in her knees again.

"Pet, it'll be okay. You got me an' all the others." Spike ran his hand over her hair then looked up at Cordelia. "So what are we goin' t' do, just lay low an' hope they lose interest in us?"

"That won't happen." Cordelia shook her head. "But right now, we basically make sure that baby is born. That baby is the key to getting rid of the Senior Partners. I begged the Powers for their help with this one and they gave the baby their own little gift. After she is born, she will have the power to banish the Senior Partners from this dimension."

"Bloody good of them..."

"My baby is a girl?" Buffy finally lifted her head, looking up at the other woman in awe. Her fears were temporarily forgotten at the idea of having a little daughter.

"Oops."

"No, thank you. I'm glad you told me."

"I wanted a lil' boy t' teach him how t' tease the girls," Spike pouted.

"Well you can teach our daughter to rip on boys," Buffy rolled her eyes at him. She looked back at Cordelia, "Okay, deferring my usual leader-y role to you since you seem to know what to do here more than I do. So tell us, oh great leader lady, where do we start? You said our role is basically to make sure the baby is born, right? So, what do we do besides that for nine months?"

"We start with getting you settled into your new life," Cordelia nodded. "And me, too, I guess. So, we start deciding where we're going to 'set up shop' and who's going to be there to help us. Basically, who is going to be the support system, our new Scooby crew. I'm sure you can even get some of the new slayers that are trained up enough to come with you to help, too."

"I guess I don't want to make any big decisions until the others get here then," she leaned into Spike tiredly. Already it had been another emotionally exhausting day. "So let's just relax until then."

"How about you birds go do some shoppin', know how that always makes you feel better, pet," Spike stroked her hair. "You an' Cordelia need t' get some clothes an' things anyways, right? Willow can let you use the nifty charge card she has from the Council an' I'm sure even Fred would like t' go along."

"Okay. Do you need anything?" She started to get up slowly. She was a little reluctant to leave him, but wasn't sure if it was because she had just gotten him back or because of the claim. Maybe both. "We can come back with take-out and a movie, sound good?"

"Yeah, sounds bloody great," he stood and kissed her before she started to head for the door with the girls.

"Fred, I am so getting some Chinese. You tortured me with it all while I was a ghost and now I can finally eat it!" Buffy teased as they left the suite.

tbc...

~Chapter Six~

AN: LoL, start sending in your name ideas for the itty bitty, hehe. Thank you to Thianna and Jessica for betaing.

Dacula, Georgia - Two Weeks Later

A large, stylish house sat at the end of a small, sparsely populated subdivision. The area was hugged by trees. The backyard was closed off by a high fence for privacy. There was an area good for training sessions as well as a nice pool. Off to the side, Xander had built a large garage to house most of the numerous vehicles.

Right now, though, a moving van sat in the driveway while workers came and went with the last of the boxes as dusk started to descend.

Buffy stood in her room, her and Spike's room. She walked over to the window and watched the others hurrying about like worker ants. She hoped this was a good thing -- them all under one roof where they were more likely to drive each other completely bonkers. She was putting her faith in Cordelia when the former higher being said this was what was best to keep her and the baby safe.

Spike came up beside her, sliding an arm around her waist to pull her close. He was glad they thought to put necro-tempered glass on the windows. The slayer wouldn't be living in the basement while she was pregnant and he wasn't going to have a room separate from his mate. Not to mention, Spike should be free to move around his house as he pleased and not confined to the basement half the time. His hand slid over her stomach in circles and he kissed the marks on her neck.

"Mine," he purred into her ear.

"Your brain is stuck on a twenty-four hour porn channel, isn't it?" She rolled her eyes towards him with a teasing smile.

"Oy, there was nothin' pornographic 'bout that," he retorted indignantly then slowly smirked, pulling her tight against him and thrusting himself into her soft backside. "Now, if you want pornographic..."

"You're such a pig, Spike," she swatted at him then darted away.

Spike gave a playful growl then chased after her, skirting around the bed and leaping over the corner to get to her. She squealed as he nearly crashed into her and she pivoted to get away. She dashed for the door and just before she reached it, he leapt at her back and tackled her to the ground. They tumbled out into the hallway and Buffy continued giggling until they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat loudly.

Both looked up guiltily at Dawn, Xander, and Willow.

"We thought you were hurt or something and came running," Dawn said with mock-annoyance.

"He started it," Buffy said petulantly and pushed Spike off her so she could get up. She grinned, "And short, bleached, and delusional will never be able to get the one up on me, so in the future... if you hear screams, it'll probably be him or Andrew."

"Oh shut your gob..." Spike muttered as she straightened his shirt. "I have never screamed in my life. You've got me confused with the whelp." He motioned at Xander.

"Hey!" Xander said indignantly.

"Oh, apparently you repressed the whole Tabula Rasa incident," Buffy shared a look with the other girls and they all smirked at Spike.

"Oh bloody hell, I need a fag," Spike stomped down the stairs towards the back porch as he was only allowed to smoke outside now with the baby on the way. He was muttering as he walked, "Bleedin' chits, always gangin' up on a bloke."

"Great, I come back from the dead only to die of lung cancer..." Buffy grumbled with a hidden smirk as she watched him go. She turned to the others and smiled, "How are the new troops settling in?"

The Los Angeles people that she had grown close with as well had, of course, come with them. After it was established that they would all be staying together in America, Giles went back to England with Willow to put all the affairs with the new Council in order and set it up for Giles to be in contact with them by use of phone and the internet. He also asked for any volunteers to come along to help the cause, feeling the more the merrier and the safer they would be. Three slayers had volunteered, two about Dawn's age and one a couple years older. Two young watchers, a man and a woman, who were barely out of training had come along as well. The woman, Lenora, and Willow had been exchanging looks since the female watcher arrived.

"Pretty good," Willow nodded. "They all just left to go do some shopping at the Mall of Georgia, get whatever they forgot to bring with them. I would've asked if you needed anything, but figured you didn't want to go with the younger girls."

"Dang, coulda used some Krispy Kremes... I'm using pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever the hell I want," Buffy chuckled and walked with them downstairs.

"You read my mind, I told them to get some while they were out," Xander winked.

"Which reminds me," Willow rolled her eyes at them, "now that everyone is settled in, I can work my mojo to check on the baby like you asked. You sure this is necessary? I did the protective charms all over the property and cleansed the property as well, not to mention started researching herbs to help you with the pregnancy."

"Yes, better safe then sorry." Buffy went and sat down on the couch. "And if not now, then later Spike is going to pester me to death then he'll pester you to death, too. So might as well be prepared to tell him to shut up."

"You two seriously need couples counseling," Dawn muttered and headed for the back door to go talk to Spike to make sure he really wasn't annoyed about the teasing earlier.

"And with that, I'm off too to go get supplies from Office Depot. Giles wants to keep in touch with England, but he's as technophobic as ever. It's time to introduce him to the 21st century," Xander chuckled and headed for the door. "I'll drag Andrew along with me to keep him out of your guys' hair for awhile."

"My hero," the two girls said at the same time then burst into laughter.

Andrew had been driving everyone batty since he had arrived from England with the new slayers and the young watchers that had pledged their aid. He was as hyperactive as ever and still gung-ho about being a watcher. He followed them all around, claiming he wanted to learn by observation from the best. They weren't even doing anything but moving into a new house, so all of them were pretty much ready to tie him up to a chair again.

"Okay, now just relax and lay back against the cushions then close your eyes," Willow told Buffy as soon as they were alone.

Buffy did as she was told and took a couple deep, calming breaths. The redhead's hands hovered over her stomach and glowed faintly as she hummed. They started moving in circles then the circles widened so that her hands encompassed more of the slayer. After a few moments, she stopped humming and sat back.

"All seems fine in the land of Buffy," Willow smiled up at her.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked down at her friend. "Yay," she stretched and sat up. She glanced towards the back door. "You think I should go make nice with the would-be father, now?"

Willow patted her knee. "I doubt he was really all that mad with the teasing. He's used to worse and he knows you didn't mean anything mean by it. But, maybe you could go... discuss things with him and spend time with him. You know, nice quality time together that all couples need."

"It's hard to get quality time with a house full of people," Buffy shrugged and got up. She smirked slightly, "But I'll go show my mate a bit of loving."

"Well, I'll go take Dawn to the mall as well so we can do some holiday gifts shopping. Hopefully, we'll run into the others and we'll go to a movie. That'll give you some time here alone with your mate."

"Yay," Buffy chuckled and before she could head for the back door, Dawn and Spike came walking back in. She went over to him and twined her arms around his waist. She grinned, "So, you finished brooding, sweetie?"

"Oy, I don' brood." He scowled, but wrapped his arms around her.

"Okay, done pouting?"

"Is this any way t' treat the father of your baby?"

"You didn't impregnate me. It was immaculate conception!" She arched a brow. "The star was in the box. Fred, Wes, and Giles were the Wisemen. Angel was the evil King Herod... You're poor Joseph. Xander and Andrew are fluffy sheep... Willow and Dawn are their herders. Lorne can be the drummer boy. Cordelia is the angel messenger person... and I'm sure I forgot someone, but whatever."

"Someone is so full of herself," Dawn joked with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh shut up, big bad mystical key girl who could end existence," Buffy laughed and tossed a pillow from the couch at her sister.

"C'mon, Dawn. Let's go do some holiday shopping and see if the others are up for a movie," Willow laughed as well as she tugged the teenager out the door with her.

As soon as they were gone, Buffy turned back to Spike and pulled him down for a kiss. "Willow has decided me and you need quality couple time. So what do you want to do with it? Lay on the couch and watch some sappy movie? Or what?"

"Sappy movie sounds nice," Spike brushed a hand through her hair. "Remind me t' thank Red later. When they get back, we can continue the alone time by takin' a nice walk in the woods out back, yeah?"

"What about patrolling?" She cocked her head.

"Giles can take the girls out, show them the ropes an' the area." He pulled her back towards the couch, falling back onto it and taking her with him so that she landed on his stomach. "I want t' show my girl some private attention."

"No complaints here," she kissed him again, sliding her hand under his shirt. "I enjoy as much private attention as I can get."

"I thought you wanted t' watch a movie."

"We can make it a dirty movie," she gave a wide grin with her tongue sticking out. She giggled, "I know where your secret stash is. Though, let's forgo the midgets with strap-ons."

He roared in affront and chased after her when she ran for the back door, laughing her ass off at him. He stilled at the door as he did a quick check to make sure the sun had gone down before continuing to pursue his mate. She was already darting through the back gate and trying to fasten it behind her, but saw him coming so she let it go in favour of running again. She scrambled up the hill behind the house, wheezing and laughing the whole way.

"Oh pet, you know I'm goin' t' get you. It's gettin' dark an' I can see much better than you can," Spike paused at the bottom of the hill to call after her. "Do you seriously think you can out run or hide from a vampire, Slayer?"

She stopped at the top and looked back at him with an innocent grin, "You wouldn't hurt your mate... especially when she's pregnant!"

She blew a raspberry at him then started running again. He growled as he easily scaled the hill and continued after her, enjoying the chase as much as she did. And, both knew exactly what he was going to do to her once he caught her. She was right, he wouldn't hurt her. Not in the bad sense.

She gave a sharp yelp as her foot hit a fallen limb that she hadn't seen in the growing darkness, tumbling to the ground when it twisted. Grumbling, she sat up and reached down to prod her ankle with her fingers to make sure it wasn't broken. Spike was soon kneeling beside her, brushing her hands aside so he could check it himself.

"Well that's what you get for runnin' 'bout like a mad woman," he looked up at her as he massaged her leg. "I'll carry you back."

"Hey, you enjoyed the little chase as much as I did," she shot back then scowled slightly, "And slayer healing, sheesh, we can still stay and enjoy the privacy. Not like I planned on actually walking around anyways, unless you had something kinky in mind."

He was glad that her eyes weren't as keen in the darkness as his were so she didn't see him actually blushing at that imagery. Not to mention, he had actually meant for them to have a bit of a romantic walk. Damn it, he must be losing his grip on his inner William if she was the one with the dirty ideas.

"What? No perverted comment? Mark this down on the calendar!" She grinned and rolled onto her knees to crawl towards him. Her hand rested on his chest, "Is the prospect of being a daddy getting to you?"

"Maybe," he grumbled and caught her hand, pulling her closer against him. "Still the Big Bad, though."

"Oh, of course," she didn't sound all that convinced. Her lips ghosted over his jaw, "So is the Big Bad going to take advantage of the poor, hurt Slayer while he has her at his mercy?"

He growled and pushed her down, pinning her body with his while he plundered her mouth. They rolled down the rest of the incline to land in a pile of leaves at the bottom with him straddling her. His hands skimmed over her sides and cupped her breasts through the fabric of her top, thumbs circling the peaks. She arched into his touch, tongue darting out to wet her lips as her eyes locked with his even in the dark. That was all the enticement he needed and he was crushing his mouth to hers, slipping his tongue in to duel with hers.

She went to flip him over onto his back but he just flipped her back, leading to another struggle for dominance as they continued to kiss heatedly. She finally gave up with an impatient grunt and resorted to tearing at his clothes. Those things were coming off no matter if she was on top or bottom! He quickly shed his duster to spare it the same fate that his clothes were receiving. Then he went to tearing at her clothes with the same eagerness.

"Are you sure you're comfortable on the cold ground among the twigs an' bugs, pet?" he asked softly, fingers continuing to caress her ribcage. "My beautiful pregnant mate."

"You're going to be one of those really protective daddies, aren't you?" she chuckled and sat up with him so he could lay his duster underneath her.

"Is that a bad thing?" he teased.

"Not until you drive me to the point of bashing your head in."

"Still not a bad thing as the fightin' is as good as the shaggin'," he smirked with a curl of his tongue, "maybe better."

Her jaw dropped in mock astonishment, "Blasphemy!"

"Well then you better get t' showin' me how much better the shaggin' is!"

She arched a brow then shot up again to clamp her teeth onto the column of his neck over her marks. His back arched with a low howl. Their eyes flashed silver in the night before she released him and flicked her tongue over the spot, sending another bolt of pleasure straight to his groin. He was hard and ready, pressing into her soft belly. His hands cupped her face and brought it to meet his so he could plunder her mouth again as he laid her back down.

He settled between her legs, grunting as his hardness came in contact with her wet sex. It ground against him, wanting it as much as he did as her fingers scrabbled over his shoulders in search of purchase. His own hands skimmed down over her sides to her hips, which he grasped to lift her against him. The tip of his cock began nudging her folds and their mouths still didn't break contact with each other.

"Mmm," she moaned and began sucking on his tongue as he slid into her, her nails digging into him slightly. His hips began rocking against hers and her legs twined around his waist to pull him deeper, her hot sheath feeling as if it would melt him. Her muscles gripped him and rippled along his length, urging him to move faster and harder.

Their mouths finally broke apart and gasped for air greedily. Her head went back and she arched up off the ground as his thrusts became rough. He caught a bouncing peak in his mouth, suckling voraciously. One hand slid around to the small of her back to grasp her even tighter while the other one slipped between them to twist and pull at her clit. Her screams echoed through the forest, surely scaring animals and people alike if they were within earshot.

And then his fangs slid into her breasts and she clawed his back desperately as if possessed by a wild animal. Her lust and orgasm were that of a wild animal as it rushed through her, making her choke on her screams as her back arched even more painfully. He grunted and thrust a couple more times before finding his completion, extracting his fangs delicately from her flesh. He stroked the bite with his tongue, sending new bolts of pleasure through her that made her tense again.

"Well..." she took a breath as she finally began to relax, turning her head to look at him where he now lay beside her, "was that better than fighting now?"

"Hmm," he squinted his eyes in thought for a moment and she punched his shoulder, "Ow! Yes! Yes, it was! I was only teasin', Slayer."

He caught her around the waist and pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck with a low growl. He scraped his teeth over his marks, causing her to squirm and flail with laughter. They stayed out there for awhile longer as the late fall air became much cooler, teasing each other some more until the vampire became concerned with his mate becoming too chilled. She needed to stay healthy for the baby and she was right about him being a protective mate and papa.

Buffy and Spike snuck back in to the house. Spike gave her the only un-ruined piece of clothing, his duster. They hoped no one was about and the coast was clear at least for the short distance to the stairs then up to their room. The house was dark when they poked their heads in the back door guiltily and they felt safe as they started for the stairs.

There was a loud clearing of a throat and Spike was suddenly plastered to Buffy's backside with a squeak. She rolled her eyes then glanced wearily in the direction of the sound, spotting Giles who was looking a little scandalized at the view. He whipped off his glasses and began furiously cleaning them as an excuse not to have to look at his surrogate daughter looking mussed up and the bane of his existence in his birthday suit.

"Uh, Giles..." Buffy began embarrassedly.

"Please, just hurry upstairs so I can start forgetting this horrible nightmare," Giles said as he continued polishing his specs.

Spike saluted and began ushering Buffy up the stairs while still pressing himself into her back to cover his bits and bobs. Giles put his glasses on again with a relieved sigh, only to catch Spike wiggling his naked ass at him wickedly as he disappeared up the stairs. The chuckle the vampire gave clued the Slayer in to what he had done and she thrust her butt out into his sensitive groin, giving Giles his own chuckle when he heard a pained shout after the two were out of view.

tbc...