Part 7

      "Willow, what's wrong?" Angel asked when he saw the crying red head enter
his apartment when she should have already been in school.  When he saw
Cordelia come in behind her, he grew even more worried.  He went over and
took the upset girl into his arms.  "Kitten, what happened?"
      "Three guess and the first two don't count," Cordelia answered for the
sobbing girl.
      "Buffy and Xander," Angel stated.  Willow nodded her head against his
chest.
      "We ran into them before we even got to class.  They wanted to know where I
have been staying," Willow explained.
      "Buffy went ballistic when she found out it was with you," Cordelia added.
"Then she told Willow that she didn't really have a right to be upset and
that was when Willow asked me if I would bring her back here."
      "Why did Willow ask you?" Angel tried to make his voice even, but it still
held an accusatory tone.  Cordelia, if she even noticed, didn't take offense
at it.
      "Because I had given her a ride in and because I was completely
understanding as to why she needed to get away from the two of them.  I
needed to do the same."  Willow pulled away from Angel a minute and looked
up at him.
      :Turns out that Xander and Cordelia had been together for the past month,"
Willow told him.  Angel looked at the cheerleader and finally noticed the
tears that threatened to fall.
      "I'm sorry, Cordelia."  The brunette shrugged her shoulders.
      "That's what I get for being involved with the jerk.  I just can't believe
that Buffy actually knew about Xander and I and didn't have a problem with
it," the girl spit out.
      "What else would you have expected from the self-absorbed slutty the
vampire layer," came an accented voice.  "Her to actually act responsibly?"
      "Spike, I though you were resting," Willow admonished the blonde vampire as
she pulled away from Angel and went over to the man in the wheelchair.
      "And I thought you were in school," he shot back.
      "Touche.  So, how are you feeling?"
      "Well, I still can't walk, so that would be not good."  Spike saw Willow's
face fall at his sarcasm and instantly felt bad.  "But at least I'm not some
brooding poof, so I'm doing better than another vampire that we both know."
      "Watch it blondie," Angel growled.  "Soul or not, I can still kick that
English ass of yours."
      "Oh, big words there since I can't even walk on my own."
      "God Willow, is this what you always have to put up with here," Cordelia
asked, still amazed at how bad Spike looked.
      "You should have seen them last night," Willow laughed.  "They were even
worse.  For two master vampires that have four centuries between the two of
them, they act worse than Xander did in grade school."
      "Hey," both vampires shouted as Willow compared them to Xander.
      "That's not even funny, Red."
      "And I though you loved me," Angel whined.  Willow went back over to him
and wrapped her arms around his neck.
      "I do love you and that's why I feel the need to point out your
weaknesses," she joked.
      "Thanks a lot."  Willow smiled up at the vampire, who found himself
returning it.  He leaned down and kissed the red-head, causing Spike to make
a gagging noise.
      "Good thing I'm not a diabetic," he said.  "Damn near need an insulin shot
around you two."
      "They are a little on the sweet side, aren't they?" Cordelia added.  Willow
and Angel pulled apart with the witch burying her head in his chest.
      "Bite me, you two."
      "Anytime, pet.  Anytime."
      "Don't even think about it, Spike," Angel growled.
      "But she offered," the blonde countered.  Willow pulled back from Angel.
      "Cordelia, before there two goons get into another fight, would you like
something to drink or eat?"
      "You mean Angel actually has something other than AB Positive on hand?"
Cordelia quipped, feeling at home with everyone.  Even Spike.  There was an
easygoing camaraderie in the apartment that she liked.  And, now that she
got a good look at the blonde vampire, she couldn't help but admit how cute
he was.
      "Yeah, well, since I've been staying here, I've actually made him go to the
store for real food, although he did so reluctantly," Willow answered.  "So
what will it be?"
      "Since it's early still, I'll just take some coffee if that's okay?"
      "No prob.  Let's go make some," Willow replied, causing Angel to groan.
      "Oh no, Willow on caffeine."
      "Watch it buddy, or you'll be the one sleeping on the couch."  Everyone
laughed as Cordelia and Willow made their way into the kitchen.  Once the
two were alone, Willow faced the cheerleader.  "Guess I should explain why
Spike is here."  Cordelia shrugged her shoulders.
      "Not really.  Looks to me like he was hurt, got kicked out and you and
Angel took him in."  Willow stared in shock at the brunette, taken by
complete surprise at how accurate her description was of Spike's
predicament.
      "Pretty much," Willow stated.  "You know, for a cheerleader, you're pretty
smart."
      "Gee thanks," Cordelia said.  "And for a nerd, you're pretty cool.  I mean,
living with two incredibly cure guys.  Color me jealous."
      "Nah, green really isn't your color," Willow joked.
      "True, it's so much better suited for Buffy."  Willow frowned at the
mention of the Slayer's name.  "Oh Wills, I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have said
anything."
      "No, it's okay."  Willow waved off Cordelia's apology.  "I'm just going to
have to accept that my friendship with Buffy is probably going to be hurt
because of my relationship with Angel.  Her reaction to my staying with him
was proof of that."
      "Well, all I have to say is that it's about time somebody knocked Miss High
and Mighty Slayer down a peg or two."  Cordelia put her arm over Willow's
shoulder. :And I think we're the perfect ones for the job."  Willow and
Cordelia laughed together, grateful for the other's company.  They poured
themselves some coffee and stood around the kitchen taking.  "Okay, so tell
me.  What's he like?"
      "Who?"
      "Spike."  Willow raised her eyebrow, looking at Cordelia over the rim of
her coffee mug.
      "He's okay.  He's got a wicked sense of humor.  He's a terrible flirt,
especially in Angel's presence."  Willow smiled at Cordelia.  "Why, do you
like him?"  Cordelia blushed as she looked into her coffee mug.
      "Maybe."  Willow continued to stare at the brunette.  "Okay, so I like
him," she blurted out, "but can you blame me.  I mean, you have to admit
that he is kinda cute.  And that accent of his makes me melt."
      "True," Willow agreed.  "If it wasn't for the fact that I am madly in love
with Angel, I would probably make a play for him myself.  Go for it."
      "Go for what?"  Angel asked as he and Spike joined the girls, having grown
bored by themselves.  Actually, it was more like Angel hd gotten tired of
listening to Spike ask about Cordelia.
      "Nothing," Cordelia said a little too quickly.
      "Cordelia was just wondering if, maybe, she could help with Spike too,"
Willow stated, earning a withering glare from the girl in question.  "You
know.  That way we can have some time to ourselves."
      "I don't need a bloody babysitter," Spike complained, not entirely turned
off by the idea of him and Cordelia alone together.
      "I know that Spike, but this way if you needed something, there would
always be someone around," the witch commented.
      "That sounds like a good idea," Angel said.  "Thanks Cordelia."
      "That's what friends are for."  She shot another glare Willow's way.
Willow decided that if everyone was going to be spending time together, then
they should get more comfortable with each other and she figured a game
could do the job.
      "Well, now that we're agreed on that, how about some cards."  The other
three people agreed and they sat around the kitchen, joking and playing
until it was time for Cordelia to go him later that night.  The four grew
closer, the girls wanting to hear more about Spike and Angel's past and the
girls amusing the vampires with tales of their childhood antics.  By the end
of the night, they were all good friends and that was a good thing because
they were going to need to call on the strength of that friendship very
soon.
 

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