Special Occasions

Author: ~*Mystra*~

Disclaimer: BtVS and AtS belong to Joss and a whole bunch of other people with a lot more money than me. I'm just borrowing them.

Distribution: Totally Exclusive to my list and my site, this is a TEASER!!!!

Feedback: Am I doing this right?

Category: Fluff, with too many pairings to count

Rating: R

Spoilers: My own little world.

Summary: A whole lot has changed for the Scoobies and the Fang Gang.

Notes: Remember my site Mystra's Book of Shadows ( http://www.spikedangels.com/mystra/main.htm )!!!!

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~Part: 1~

~L.A., Summer, 2008~

Festive streamers of every conceivable color hung from the ceiling. They were everywhere, curling down above the heads of the assembled friends. 'Happy Birthday!', balloons and banners proclaimed.

The dark haired vampire watched the proceedings with an air of pride. He laughed out loud, at his Childe's antics, watching as the younger vampire made a spectacle of himself trying to entertain his captive audience of one.

Sitting by his side, his Mate nudged him with her elbow, green eyes twinkling.

"Gosh, Angel, I had no idea your brat could be so cute", Willow commented with a grin.

Angel growled at the redhead, narrowing his eyes. "As cute as me?"

The witch's eyes opened comically wide. "No, no, of course not."

"Good", the souled vampire purred in her ear seductively. "I'm still cuter aren't I Little One?"

She shook her head.

"I'm not?", he said, his voice bordering on panic.

"Nope. You're beyond cute. You go straight to bone-melting, stutter inducing hotness", Willow said with a straightface.

Angel and Willow stared at each other for a long moment, before the serious facades cracked, and they were both laughing so hard, she thought she would pee her pants.

Across the room, Spike rolled his eyes. Those two had way too much fun together. It was right frightening, it was.

"You two know I can hear ya' right?", he shouted over his shoulder to his Sire and the witch.

Willow blushed. She wondered if he'd heard the last couple things Angel had whispered to her, they had involved leftover frosting and some ice.

She looked up. The smirk on Spike's face said it all. She stuck her tongue out at him and shrugged.

"And I'm not bloody well cute!", the bleached blond continued. "I'm the Big Bad!"

"You can't be both?", a quiet, interested voice asked. "'Cause I think you're both."

Spike turned, icy blue eyes softening as they fell on his mate.

"Then I guess that makes me both then, don't it Fred-luv?"

The slight brunette smiled at him shyly, and Spike's eyes narrowed. She was up to something.... Just then, she stuck out her arms.

"Can I have 'em Spike? You've had him all night", Fred pouted.

Spike frowned and shook his head. He knew it! "Nope, I just got him. Its his birthday, and he wants to be with Uncle Spike." Looking down at the squirming dark haired two year old in his arms, the vampire chuckled. "Don't ya' Jesse?" The rest of what he said fell into the annoying realm of baby talk, and lost a lot in translation.

Fred bit her lip in annoyance, before murmuring, "I'll get you for that later hon'."

The British vamp chuckled. He was counting on that.

Little Jesse stared up into those blue eyes and giggled, right before grabbing a fist-full of bleached hair and yanking with all of his tiny, yet considerable might.

"OW!!! BLOODY HELL!!"

Everyone in the room turned to stare. Scowling, Anya left the conversation she was having with her husband and some of the others and marched right over.

"Spike!", she yelled. "Could you please control your baser impulses. I will not have you teaching my child filthy language."

The blond vampire glared at the ex-demon. "B-b-but he pulled my hair."

Ignoring him, Anya pulled the little boy out of Spike's arms, and plopped him into Fred's waiting embrace. It was Spike's turn to pout, that is until he met Gunn and Faith's amused stares, and managed to paste an unconcerned look on his face.

The demon hunter and Slayer laughed aloud. The two warriors stood near the food table. They'd come to the party directly from patrol, and were hungrily wolfing down helpings of Tara's turkey chili. Adrenalin and sexual tension was like a palpable thing around them. Angel wondered how much longer it would be before they gave in to their attraction.

Sighing, the souled vampire kissed his witch beneath her ear, breathing in the scent of her.

Willow giggled. "Love you honey", she whispered quickly, before turning back to catch the last of what Cordelia said.

Feeling eyes watching them, Angel glanced around only to find Wesley's eyes glued to Cordelia's face. It was the first time all night, the former Watcher had let his fiancée get more than ten feet away from him. Ever since Wes had asked Delia to marry him, he'd been hyper alert and a bit paranoid. It was as if he expected this happiness he was experiencing, to disappear. It was cute, if a bit sad, as far as the vampire was concerned. His friend should know by now, that he would protect his happiness and that of his Seer with all he had. Nothing would get between them. Not if Angel had anything to say about it. Especially since it had taken the better part of six years to even get them to this point.

Sighing, Angel glanced over at where Lindsey and Tara stood hand in hand. The two stood trying to get a word in edgewise with Xander, Anya and Wesley. He honestly didn't know how Xander could manage to have a conversation while still stuffing large quantities of hot dogs into his mouth. The vampire chuckled, catching the matching looks of exasperation on the faces of the ex-evil lawyer and his witch.

Sometimes it still amazed him how much things had changed. Everyday he thanked the Powers for the family and friends they'd given him. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve them....

Withdrawing his arm from around Willow's middle, Angel stood.

"Is everything okay?", she asked him.

"Its perfect", he answered. "I'm just going to check the rest of the hotel and make sure we're all closed up."

Willow laughed. "Go ahead, you always do. Just hurry up, they're going to serve Jesse's cake soon."

"Yes ma'am", Angel said, mock saluting his mate. He turned and left the little small ballroom, and jogged down the stairs. The office of Angel Investigations came into view.

This was it. Where it all began. Unable to help himself, Angel sat on the bottom stair and let himself reminisce.

~Part: 2~

~L.A. Spring 2002~

Angel sat behind the lobby counter reading a book. It wasn't a particularly interesting book. Well, unless one thought the mating habits of Tarikks was interesting. He sighed, wishing the phone would ring. He was bored! Even Gunn was gone. Usually when things were this slow, the vampire could count on the black youth for a little violent sparring.

A loud series of knocks jarred him from his thoughts. 'Yes!', he thought. Jogging over to the door, Angel opened it carefully, making sure to step back in case a stray ray of sunlight managed to make its way into the shadowed safety of the Hyperion Hotel.

"Can I--", his voice petered out, in shock. He stared at the four people on his doorstep, two of whom he'd always thought as part of his old life. That old life in Sunnydale. The life that included Buffy.

"Willow? Xander?"

"Hey Deadboy, can we come in?", Xander Harris asked slowly.

Angel moved aside mutely, allowing them all in, before closing the door behind them.

The group moved further into the lobby, and he could see them all take it all in.

"Wow", the blond woman murmured in awe.

"Yeah", Willow agreed, "told ya' huh?"

After a moment, the redhead turned to face him. For the first time Angel saw the weariness present in her face. Dark circles smudged the porcelain skin beneath her eyes, and worry lines marred her forehead. He frowned, glancing at Xander. The young man looked almost as bad. Every single one of them looked bone weary, beat. They looked defeated.

Willow's eyes teared as they looked up at the souled vampire. "Angel", she whispered, "I'm so sorry... I failed, its all my fault. I tried to bring her back, but the spell was ruined and now its so terrible, we can't live there anymore."

Angel stared at the hacker in confusion. What was she talking about. She was so upset.... Who did she try to bring back?

"Buffy?", he croaked, his voice gruff. "You tried to bring back Buffy?"

Willow nodded, before great choking sobs wracked her body. The blond girl at her side, squeezed her hand in support. Large, salty tears fell from sad green eyes, and Angel gasped, when he suddenly found his arms full of Willow.

He looked over the young woman's bright head, and met Xander's eyes. The youth just shook his head.

"She blames herself", the dark haired man said. "It wasn't her fault that those biker demons messed up the spell."

"You shouldn't have even tried to bring her back. Do you have any idea just how dangerous the powers you were trying to tap are? Or how dark?", the vampire growled.

"W-w-ww-we knew", the blond girl stammered, speaking for the first time. "It s-s-seemed like the only thing ww-w-we could do at the time."

Hearing her girlfriend's voice, shook Willow from her tears. She backed away from Angel. "Angel this is Tara, Tara, Angel. She's my girlfriend."

Angel blinked, momentarily surprised. Stepping forward, he shook her hand. Tara smiled up at him shyly, before retreating to grab Willow's hand in her own again.

'Shy', he thought, 'reminds me of Willow when she was fifteen.'

"And you might remember Anya?", Xander asked by way of introduction.

"Anyanka", Angel began, "Patron Saint of scorned women. Yeah, I remember her." Boy did he ever, images of Vamp Willow from another dimension flickered through his mind. Hadn't that fiasco been Anya's doing?

The now blond ex-demon grinned, her eyes still scouring the hotel with barely concealed avarice. "So does this place make lots of money? If it doesn't I can help you with that. I'm good at it", she blurted out. "Making money that is."

Willow glared at Anya. "Ignore her, we all do."

"Xander doesn't. He can't, or he'll sleep in the doghouse." The former demon said, nodding enthusiastically. She peered up at the dark vampire. "You do have a doghouse don't you? Because we might not be able to stay here if you don't."

"Stay here?", Angel croaked.

"Yeah that's why we're here Dead Boy."

Willow glared at Xander, and cleared her throat. "Without a Slayer, the demons... well, lets just say living on the Hellmouth is becoming impossible."

"Why didn't you call me. Maybe we could have helped?", Angel asked.

"We were holding our own for a while", Tara volunteered.

The redhead nodded. "Yeah, but then the Buffybot got destroyed--"

"Buffybot", Angel interrupted.

"Don't ask", Willow said, "its gross and involves Spike."

The souled vampire grimaced. "Forget I said anything."

"And then those biker demons showed up", Anya said.

"And disrupted the resurrection spell", the blond witch murmured under her breath.

'Thank the Gods', the souled vampire thought, closing his eyes in relief.

"They pretty much went on a rampage", Xander said, "but after like two weeks they got bored and moved on. I guess the Hellmouth wasn't a huge party town like they thought." He shrugged,

"And well... things just got steadily worse. We managed okay with Spike's help, and our magick, but then Giles decided to go back to England. Since no one could find Buffy's dad, Giles took Dawn with him", the redhead whispered. "Next thing we knew Spike was gone. I guess he only stuck around because he'd promised Buffy he'd protect her sister."

Angel looked up sharply. "Protect her? Why would he make such a promise?"

Xander snorted. "He said he loved Buffy. Besides which he and Dawn really got along. It was one of those friendships that could only happen on the Hellmouth..."

"If he said he loved Buffy, then he did", the vampire growled. "Spike never played around when it came to matters of the heart. All he's ever wanted, ever, was someone to love him wholeheartedly."

For a moment, Xander actually had the grace to look chagrined.

"Whatever", Anya said interrupting the tense moment, "all we know is that he's gone." Her ancient eyes scoured Angel's face. "The Hellmouth has become unlivable, people are moving out in droves. Besides which Buffy's home was taken over by the bank and last week some stupid vampires burned out my store. We need a place to stay, and you were elected."

Angel sighed. "Well then, welcome to my humble home. There's plenty of rooms to choose from." Remembering something suddenly, he paused. "Oh and remind me, if I can track her down at some point, to introduce all of you to my other roommate, Fred."

~ L.A., Winter 2003~

Xander and Anya were married early that winter, in a beautiful nighttime wedding. They were being married in San Francisco on a night of the full moon. Stars twinkled down on them, as they stood in the shadow of the Golden Gate bridge, torches all around. Golden Gate park had been Anya's choice, and the dark haired vampire thought it was beautiful.

White roses and rose petals were strewn throughout the green grass. The couple stood on a white, silk carpet, in front of the non-denominational minister. Willow and Tara stood by Anya, in long mint green dresses with empire waists. The color choice made Angel smile. Green.... like money, and money was always the ex-demon's favorite color.

Gunn stood by Xander as his best man. Wesley had been chosen as the other groomsmen. Angel was an usher, which basically translated to security. If anyone or anything tried to break up this wedding, he was under orders from Anya to break their necks.

As a matter of fact, all of Angel Investigations was in attendance, as were all their newest additions, the transplanted Scoobies. Even Giles and Dawn, had flown in from England. The former Watcher could not and would not miss the wedding of one of the children he'd watched grow up. Xander was like a son to the older man.

Cordelia elbowed Angel. "Hello...You're supposed to be looking at the beautiful blushing bride..."

"Huh?", he said eloquently, tearing his eyes away from a certain lovely redheaded witch, who stood by her blond girlfriend, their hands clasped.

The Seer grinned. "You know", she whispered conspiratorially, "you may just have a chance with Willow..."

"What are you talking about?", he hissed between clenched teeth, turning his attention back to the ceremony.

"She was telling me that she and Tara are drifting apart. They love each other, but Willow's not sure she's still in love with her anymore, or even that she ever did, at least the way you're supposed to in a relationship", Cordelia confided in him.

A momentary flash of hope flared to life in Angel's undead heart.

"Shhh!"

The vampire and his Seer turned to face an annoyed looking Fred. "I'm trying to hear the ceremony."

Cordelia rolled her eyes.

Fred leaned in, and grinned at them. "I think Willow likes him too."

Angel blinked. "I can't believe this. Does everybody know!"

"Shhh", Fred said again, noticing the curious eyes that had turned at the vampire's suddenly too-loud voice. Then the slight brunette leaned in again. "And yes, everybody knows. You're almost... well, lively, I guess... whenever Willow's around. Its so cute." She frowned slightly. "Well, okay...not everybody. Willow doesn't. She doesn't have a clue."

The souled vampire sighed in relief.

"And you know she cares about you Angel", Cordelia spoke softly in his ear.

"Like a friend", he scoffed.

His best friend shook her head. "Come on, you're my best friend, but you didn't see me searching for a spell to anchor your soul for like a year."

"But--"

"No buts", Cordelia said firmly. "Oh and by the way..."

"What?"

"I want to move in to the Hyperion."

"Why?", Angel asked. "I thought you liked your apartment."

"I do, but its so much fun now with everyone there. Plus, its like so much more cost effective, what with David Nabbit paying the mortgage and stuff. Splitting the utilities is sooooo, not a problem", the Seer explained.

Angel smiled. "I would love for you to move in, but what about Dennis?"

"Willow and Tara took care of that", the brunette said, looking down and clasping the large, carved amethyst pendant which hung from a woven golden chain between her breasts. "Dennis is now bound to this. So he can manifest wherever it is, and I can even have him with me all the time!", Cordelia whispered excitedly. "When I wear it, I can even sort of hear him. You know ... I can know when he's happy, or worried. Its so cool!"

"I'm glad", the Warrior for the Powers That Be stated. "Otherwise I'd miss him."

The gleaming purple stone in Cordelia's hand glowed for a second, before quieting. The Seer's hazel eyes shone. "See! He said he would've missed you too!"

The vampire chuckled, and turned his attention back to the ceremony. Emerald green eyes met his gaze, and he started in his seat. He blinked and when he looked again, all he saw was Willow's fiery mane.

~ The following week; Winter 2003 ~

A souled vampire, two witches, a former Watcher, a ghost and a Fred were all involved in helping a Seer move in to her new home. Suitcase after suitcase of clothing was either carried up the stairs by the two males, floated up the stairs by Phantom Dennis or magicked up by Willow and Tara. A former demon and a Zeppo would have been involved as well, but unfortunately for Cordelia, Anya and Xander were on their honeymoon.

Fred and Cordelia were supervising. They stood in the center of the chaos, placing the boxes and suitcases in the proper sections of the tall brunette's suite of rooms for ease in unpacking later. Already, her bed had been set up, and made, and her sofa situated.

After the heavy lifting had been accomplished the two males disappeared, happy to let the women help the Seer decorate and unpack.

"You think Angel would mind if I move my stuff into the room next to yours Delia?", Tara asked hesitatingly.

Cordelia stopped in mid sentence. She'd been talking to Fred, when Tara's voice broke through. She looked at the earthy blond for a moment. "Oh wow", she whispered, and then glanced over at Willow.

"You two aren't together anymore?", Fred asked, pushing a strand of long hair back into the clip it had escaped from

Tara's gaze slide to the floor. She nodded. "Yeah.... Not in a bad way, just.... Yeah, we're not."

"He won't mind Tara. Really he won't. You can have any room you want. Any room that's left that is, not that there aren't tons of them...", Cordelia rushed to say. "I mean this freaking hotel almost takes up an entire block."

"O-o-okay", the blond stammered.

"Tara", Willow said quietly, moving to hug her ex-girlfriend. "It'll be alright. I swear it will."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Downstairs, Wesley and Angel discussed the changes in their lives.

"Amazing to think, we once thought the Hyperion too large for us", the Englishman said, tossing back a shot of whiskey.

Angel nodded and poured him another one.

"I hope Gunn's having luck trying to get information on that new demon gang in his neighborhood", Wesley said.

"Me too. I'm beginning to worry about him Wes", Angel commented, meeting the other man's eyes.

"Yes. Gunn's been a bit on edge as of late. Dealings with his old group are getting more and more strained. Even getting information from them is becoming more and more of a challenge for him. The last time, he was forced to go on one of their daytime nest raids."

Wesley glanced at the amber liquid in his glass. "Not that he would have minded normally mind you, but that was the time we needed to get that little girl away from the Sommnus creature. She almost died because they delayed him getting here with the information."

"I remember", the dark vampire said dryly.

A knock interrupted their conversation. Before either one could get up to open the door, it swung open.

"Angel?"

The two men at the desk looked at each other in disbelief. It couldn't be...

A man stepped into the lobby, a suitcase in one hand and a guitar in the other. He wore scruffy jeans, and his dark blond hair was unkempt and haphazard.

"What the hell are you doing here?", Angel growled at the newcomer.

"Couldn't stay away", Lindsey MacDonald said sarcastically. He looked meaningfully at the suitcase he'd placed by his feet, self-consciously rubbing his magically restored hand.

Wesley and Angel just stared at the former lawyer.

Lindsey chuckled. "So either one of you gonna show me to my room?"

"What's that?", Wesley asked in bewilderment.

"Why are you here?", Angel demanded.

"I'm tired of running. Its time to stand and fight", the dark blond man replied. "I'm your newest recruit."

~Part: 3~

~L.A.; Summer 2004~

Fred wandered downstairs, her light summer dress fluttering about her ankles. She wore white keds and a sky blue dress, perfect for the hot weather. She didn't really care if she wasn't a fashion plate like Cordelia. Fred believed in comfort. That and the unhindered ability to run if you had to. Keds helped.

Spotting Xander by the front desk, the brunette grinned and gave a small, cheerful wave.

"Hey Fred, nobody's seen you all day", the dark haired man said. "What'cha been doing?

"Nothin' really", she said brightly, "just tryin' to design an experiment whereby I can measure the vibrational frequency of interdimensional portals. I think there's even a way I can adjust a microwave to--"

Xander held up a hand, halting the flow of words from the physicist's pretty mouth. "I withdraw my question counsel", he deadpanned, still completely amazed by Fred's ability to be both flaky and brilliant simultaneously.

"I'm meeting Anya, Cordy and Wesley out for dinner. Do you want to come?", he asked.

"Oh that's so thoughtful of you to ask... really it is, but I don't want to be the fifth wheel."

"You won't be." He frowned. "Really, Fred its okay, I mean, its not like Wussy and Cordy are dating or anything."

Fred smiled brightly, and said nothing.

"They're not are they? I mean, I know I miss a lot here, being one of the few with an outside day job but..."

A crooked grin appeared on the former Pylean slave's face. "Naw, they're not dating, but they should be. I mean, he is in love with her after all."

Xander groaned. "Tell me you're kidding."

"Its not like he told me or anything but Tara and I've noticed the way he looks at her when she's not looking and he gets that wistful, completely ooey gooey look on his face. Come on you have to have noticed? Its the same way Angel looks at Willow lately."

The construction worker's dark eyes widened in horror, his hands going to his throat. "ACK! GrrRR! Ugh!"

Fred scowled at him.

Xander grinned. "Just kidding. I'm over my Angel hating days." He shrugged. "Somewhere along the way, I think I actually grew up."

The young woman shook her head and walked over to the computer, muttering under her breath, Xander wasn't completely sure, but he thought she said, "You sure about that?"

Booting the computer on, Fred finally noticed the utter quiet. "Where's everyone else?", she asked.

"Well they left a note. Cordy had a vision. Gunn, Angel, Willow, Tara and Lindsey went to take care of it."

"Oh! I wanted to go!", she cried. "I built this new gizmo... its great, its designed to be light, portable and able to decapitate at baddie from thirty feet away!"

Xander blinked. "'Kay..." He shook his head as if to dislodge some cobwebs. "Anyhow, I think they didn't want to bother you since you locked yourself up in your room." He started to walk to the front door. "So you're sure you don't want to go to dinner with us?"

"I'm sure", she murmured, already engrossed in whatever she was reading on the computer screen. "I'll just get some tacos later."

"Okay. Bye Fred."

She mumbled a goodbye, and continued reading.

~Hours Later~

A loud bang, broke Fred's concentration. 'What the he-- heck?!', she thought. Slowly, and as silently as she could, she rose from her place by the computer, and made her way over to the weapons cabinet.

Glad, they'd gotten into the habit of oiling the hinges, Fred managed to open it with little noise. Anxiety roiled through her gut, and she almost panicked when she saw that almost all the weapons had been taken. Sighing, she settled for a unimpressive baseball bat, and wished she'd thought to bring her newest invention downstairs.

The sound had come from behind her. 'The kitchen?', she wondered. 'Or maybe the old ballroom?... Oh, oh and why am I doing this again? I should be runnin' for the hills.'

Even as she contemplated running and hiding, the physicist crept towards the back of the lobby, reaching the hallway that ran underneath and behind the main staircase to the upstairs. Another noise made her turn her head left.

'The ballroom', she decided, creeping silently in that direction. Her hand reached for the doorknob, and Fred paused, took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The door connected with someone/thing, with a resounding crack. She heard a string of fairly descriptive curses. Fighting the uncontrollable and bizarre urge to laugh, she darted into the open door, and flicked on the light. Only to spot a wiry, dirty, bleached blond man sprawled out on the floor.

Fred started. That had to be the very last thing she'd expected to see.

"Bloody 'effin' hell!!", the blond groaned.

"Who are you?", Fred demanded in her best demanding voice.

Spike opened his eyes and watched as the blur with long brown hair yelled at him. "Peaches?... Sire?", he whispered.

Fred's brow furrowed. 'Peaches?' She drew a bit closer, suddenly noticing the small pool of blood that was growing by his hip. She gasped in horror. "Oh my! You're hurt!"

Immediately, the brunette fell to her knees and felt his side, searching for the wound.

"ARGH!", he shouted furiously, his face contorting. The flash of yellow eyes was enough, Fred's mind rapidly pieced together the facts. This guy was vampire. Again, her hand reached out for the bat she had dropped.

Groggily, the bleached blond, blinked at her. "Angel?", he groaned. "Wait, your not Angel. Need to get to Peaches."

Angel was Peaches? Deciding she didn't even want to know, Fred filed that little tidbit in her mind.

"Nope, I'm Fred", she said, right before smashing the bat into his temple. After all, it was only proper she introduce herself.

She frowned wondering what to do with him. He was a vampire, but he seemed to know Angel. There would be no reason for the average vampire to show up here injured and think that Angel might help him. So...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oi", he groaned, groggily coming awake. He made to move his hand to touch his head, and realized almost sleepily that somehow he'd been immobilized. He was tied down. For a second he struggled against the rope, and then sagged back in defeat. He was too weak. He'd lost too much blood.

Something warm and soft, pressed against his side. He probably should've been more upset considering he'd been beaten upside the head, but whatever it was he now felt, was bleedin' heavenly.

Sighing, Spike's eyes fluttered open, and met an open, pretty girl with a look of intense concentration on her face. He grunted, recalling she was the one who whacked him with a bat.

"Oh good, you're awake", the young woman said, peering up into his face intently. She blinked, her mouth forming a little silent 'o'. "Wow", she breathed.

"What?", he asked unable to help himself.

"Your eyes... they're so blue. I've never seen such pretty eyes."

The blond vampire smirked cockily. "You don't say."

The brunette blushed and went back to her earlier task, wiping a moist, warm towel against his wound.

"Don't move", she said finally after a moment, "this is gonna hurt."

"Huh?"

"I'm digging the slivers of that piece of stake you got in your side out", she said, biting her lips in concentration.

Suddenly he felt something stab him in the side. "Sod it all to hell!", he growled, feeling as something came loose from inside of him.

Grinning in triumph, Fred held the long sliver of wood aloft. Blood dripped from the tip. "Got it!", she cried.

"Great", he mumbled. "Can you let me loose now?"

"Nope, your staying right where you are mister. Right there until Angel comes. He can decide what to do with you."

Gods, this girl was a trip. First she causes him bodily harm, then she ties him up to a bed, gives him a delightful feeling sponge bath, and then yanks the splinter from hell out of him, making him bleed. Spike decided he liked her right then and there.

"What's your name belle?"

"Belle?"

"You know, your accent... Southern belle?"

"Oh", she laughed, "I get it." The brunette leaned over him, brown eyes peering into his icy blues. "I'm Fred."

"Fred?"

"Yeah, like Winifred?"

"I'm Spike."

"Oh I've heard of you", the physicist said.

"So you'll let me loose."

"Nope", Fred replied, getting up and leaving the room without a second glance.

'Yep, I definitely like the little chit, she got cojones', the chipped vampire thought to himself.

~Part: 4~

~ Present: L.A., Summer, 2008~

"What are you doing?"

Angel's head turned, a large smile on his face.

"I was just thinking."

"Thinking or brooding?", Willow asked quietly, slowly coming down the stairs to join her mate. When she reached him the redhead sat by his side.

"Thinking, or rather remembering really."

The redhead sighed and layed her head on his shoulder. "What were you remembering."

"How things changed. How we finally found each other.... ", he murmured.

"How this strange little family, became a big, strange family", Willow volunteered.

Angel chuckled. "Do you remember our first date?"

"Yeah you asked me out to dinner. Goddess, what a disaster!"

~L.A.; Summer 2004~

"I can't believe that", Cordelia gasped in confusion. "You two are so perfect for each other." She glanced at Tara. "No offense."

"None taken, Willow and Angel are perfect for each other", the blond witch said agreeing with the Seer.

Willow frowned. "You think we are?"

"Totally", Cordelia reassured her. "That's why I don't understand how this first date thing went so wrong."

"I don't know... I mean usually Angel and I can talk about anything and everything and we have fun, but he asked me out, and we sat down at that table, and I just went rigid."

"Why Wills?", Tara asked point blank.

The shorter woman's eyes slid away from her ex-girlfriend's face. "I don't know", she mumbled.

"Yes you do. Come on Wills, what's going on?", Delia asked impatiently, her amethyst pendant glowing slightly. Behind her, a teddy bear on one of Willow's bookshelves rose and floated over to the hacker witch.

"See! Even Dennis wants to know", the receptionist continued.

Willow smiled absently, ruffling the teddy bear's soft, green fur. "Angel gave me this, did I tell you guys?"

"Mmmm hmmm, we heard that story Wills. He won it for you at that carnival, once you guys kicked those demon clown's asses... Now stop stalling!", Cordelia said archly.

"Oh fine...", the redhead blurted out. "Its Buffy okay. I felt like she may as well have been sitting there at the table with us. I feel so disloyal. I mean, how can I, her best friend go after her soulmate?"

Tara sighed, "Oh Willow..."

"Everything was fine with us when it was just fun and about friendship. Why I can't I just be happy with that? Why is it everytime I see him, my heart starts to pound, and I start to sweat, and--"

"Ewwww! Gross!", the brunette interrupted with a snort.

"Look Wills, after Buffy died he was really sad. He even went away to a monastery for three months to meditate and weird stuff like that", Cordelia explained. "But afterwards, he was okay. It weirded all of us out that he was okay, but he really was. He felt kind of guilty about it, but the fact was, he realized somewhere along the way that he and Buffy weren't meant to be. He let it go."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

The blond witch sat on the bed, her hands running soothingly through the other witch's silky hair. "You've never really discussed Buffy have you", Tara asked.

Willow's emerald eyes grew moise. "No", she breathed.

"Well", Cordelia said, "its time you did."

"You're both right. Its time. Do you know where Angel is right now?", the redhead asked.

"Probably beating on something in the training room", the former cheerleader guessed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel slammed the dummy again, his claws digging into the tough plastic covered canvas. Why had things gone so wrong? Things with Willow had never been that way before. So... painfully awkward... and strange. Maybe she hadn't wanted to go out with him? Maybe she only did because she felt sorry for him? The thought made the vampire wince, even as his foot connected with the dummy again, sending it swinging wildly.

His nostrils flared, and he was turning even as an achingly sweet voice called his name.

"Angel?"

The vampire dropped out of his stance, and stared at the lovely redhead with inscrutable dark eyes. "What?", he asked, turning away to grab a towel

"We need to talk", Willow said.

"No. We don't", he replied, walking to the far side of the training room, and putting some more distance between himself and who'd been haunting his every waking thought. Adrenalin from the workout, was charging through his system, and... Gods, she smelled so good.

To his chagrin, Willow followed behind him. "I'm sorry about tonight, I..."

"Oh that. Not an issue. I understand", he said gruffly, his back to her.

The redhead laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Do you? Do you really? Because I didn't, not til about ten minutes ago."

He closed his eyes, absorbing the sensation of her hand on his flesh. He groaned under his breath. "Will, its okay I get it. You don't like me that way--"

"No!"

Willow's eyes widened as she realized what she said had come out all wrong. "No, I mean yes. Yes, I do like you that way", she said quickly.

Angel looked over his shoulder at the witch, noting her sincere almost pleading expression. Her hand tightened on his skin, burning into him. He stepped closer to her, caught in her gravitational pull.

"You smell so good", he whispered, watching as color bloomed on her pale cheeks.

"I do?", she asked breathlessly, her head tilting back as the souled vampire moved closer.

Unable to help himself, Angel dipped his head, his lips skimming against Willow's lightly. Hot, electric heat raced through them both at the tender, hesitant touch.

The redhead's hands crept up to the souled vampire's shoulder. Her heart beating loudly in both their ears. Angel brushed her mouth again. This time eliciting a sigh, which opened her sweet mouth to his tongue. The kiss deepened, without his conscious consent, until by some force of will he wasn't aware he was capable of, Angel tore his mouth away.

"Willow", he groaned, against her lips.

"Oh!", she said, her chest heaving. "Oh Goddess... wow!"

The Warrior for the Powers That Be stared at the slight redhead in awe. "We should have just done that to begin with."

"Yeah, but Angel we still need to talk."

"We do?"

"About what happened tonight... I think we need to discuss why--"

"This is about Buffy right?"

Willow nodded, large green eyes meeting his chocolate gaze. Smiling slightly, the tall vampire took her hand in his, and pulled her in the direction of the stairs.

"Come on Will, lets talk."

~ Present: L.A., Summer, 2008~

"Well I'm glad we worked that out", Willow said smiling.

"Amen to that", Angel agreed, tilting his mate's mouth to his own, for a short tender kiss. "At least we got it together sooner than Wesley and Cordelia, or even Lindsey and Tara. Jeez, were those two annoying."

The witch chuckled. "Tara was scared to death. She hadn't exactly had the best experiences with men. The fact she was even attracted to him, mystified her to no end."

"It still mystifies me", the dark haired vampire quipped.

Willow shook her head. "Oh stop it, you know you've grown to like him...."

Angel groaned. "Jeez honey, why don't you say that a little louder?"

"Faker!", she laughed. "So did you check the building?"

"No I got caught up in memories", he admitted.

"Silly vampire... Come on I'll help. They're going to cut Jesse's cake soon, and we can't miss that."

Angel smiled. "No we definitely can't miss that."

~Part: 5~

~Present: L.A., Summer, 2008~

Xander watched as his best friend pulled a sheepish looking Angel back into the ballroom.

"Just in time you two, we're about to cut the cake", he shouted good-naturedly.

Lindsey chuckled. "Hmmm... I wonder where they wandered off to all by themselves, that's so unlike them... Oh wait, no its not."

Willow blushed to the roots of her equally crimson hair, before sticking her tongue out at Lindsey. "Smart alecky lawyers.. BLECH!"

Xander shared a look with the ex-Wolfram and Hart lawyer before grinning. The two men may never be the best of friends but there were a few things they did agree on. One was that there lives could not get better, and two was their mutual love of giving Angel a hard time. Making Willow blush was just an added bonus as far as Lindsey was concerned.

"Dada!"

The assembled group chuckled, turning their heads towards Anya and the tiny life who'd cemented their bonds. Jesse gurgled happily, his eyes seemingly glued to the sugary sweet goodness of the vanilla frosted devil's food cake.

"Wow, he looks like a chip off the old block there Xander", Angel deadpanned.

"Why thanks Deadboy-- HEY!"

"Cor! Would somebody just cut the bloody cake already?"

"Patience never was your strong suit Spike", Angel said lightly.

Spike eyes twinkled. He arched a scarred eyebrow and settled Fred's slight body against his more firmly.

"Mmmm", the physicist sighed happily.

"I can be patient when it counts Peaches."

~L.A.; Winter 2004~

Spike twisted, whipping the bo in his hands around like a bat. The wooden staff met Lindsey's abdomen with a resounding crack.

"Damn!"

"Sorry Lawyer Boy", the vampire said insincerely.

"Yes, you certainly are", the other man replied, breathing heavily.

The blond vampire snorted. "Cor, Linds, you've got to work on those snappy retorts. Its a white hat trademark don't you know?"

Just then, small, white keds appeared on the basement steps. Spike looked up, his nostrils flaring at a familiar smell. He stared as long, slender legs in semi-baggy jeans appeared. A soft, snug green sweater was just coming into his field of vision when--

WHACK!!

"Oi! That bloody hurt. Watch it!", Spike growled.

"No you watch it", Lindsey said, grinning. "We were in the middle of something... or don't you remember?"

The blond male grunted, unable to tear his eyes from the slender physicist, who threw him a small smile, and a wave before heading over to the other side of the room where Willow, Cordelia, Anya and Tara were already assembled. They were discussing something animatedly, and it drove Spike crazy that he couldn't hear it. He was convinced the witches had somehow turned down the volume, because there was no way a vampire would have trouble listening in at this distance.

"You know, that over there makes me friggin' nervous", the vampire said, gesturing with his chin over to where the women were seated.

Lindsey turned his head and frowned, his eyes automatically searching for a specific blond head. Tara sat there, looking serene, a mischievous glint in her eyes he'd never seen before.

WHACK!!

"Spike! Damn it!", the former lawyer, grunted, rubbing the growing bump on the back of his head.

"What?", the platinum haired vampire grinned. "It seemed to me someone wasn't paying attention."

Lindsey continued to grumble, his eyes wanting to stray back to that mysterious circle of beautiful women. "I wonder what they're up to?", he mumbled under his breath. He looked back over at the Brit only to realize he was staring at Fred again.

"Why don't you just ask her out?"

Spike turned hard eyes towards the other man. "I could ask you the same bloody thing mate. The way you gaze at the blond witch all googly eyed... how much more pathetic could you get?"

"You'd know, wouldn't you?", Lindsey grumbled, moving towards the wall to put away his wooden bo. Spike followed suit, grumbling under his breath and then slowly making his way up the steps.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Okay they're gone. You two can start breathing any time now", Cordelia teased.

"Oh hush", Fred scolded, feeling her cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

Tara groaned, her eyes sliding to the floor.

"Like I could help it", Fred continued. "It should be illegal for that vampire to go around with a shirt...", she mumbled, sighing melodramatically.

Anya smiled. "Yes he is completely orgasm friendly. You know Fred, I don't know why you just don't jump him."

The slight brunette stared at the ex-demon in shock. "You mean I can do that?"

"Of course you can", Anya said. "You're a modern woman, you don't have to wait for him to figure it out. Give him some hints, you know... something like leaving your underwear in his room."

Cordelia groaned. "Don't listen to her Fred. Look who she's married to."

"Hey!", Anya cried, elbowing the ex-cheerleader.

Meanwhile, Willow was staring at her ex-girlfriend. "I was right, you do like Lindsey."

"I don't... uh, I can't. Right? I mean I'm not supposed to", Tara stammered, finally shrugging helplessly.

The three other women looked at the blond witch with wide eyes.

"I don't think things are black and white that way Tara", Willow finally said, speaking quietly. "I think things change. Look at me and Angel."

Tara bit her lip. She had some thinking to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well at least the witch isn't one of Peaches' pet humans", Spike retorted. "There's no way daddy dearest will let me court Fred."

"Court?", Lindsey smirked. "Been a long time since you've dated, huh? Besides, don't give me that. I'm the one up shit's creek. Tara's gay. She's a lesbian. She'd think I was insane if I asked her out. I can see it now.... Hey there Tara, I was wondering if we could go out sometime, you know you and me--"

"Smooth Lawyer Boy", Spike interrupted.

Ignoring the bleached blond, the lawyer continued. "Uh, Lindsey, that's really, uh... sweet. But, I'm gay... remember?"

The vampire collapsed against one of the lobby chairs, laughing until his sides ached.

"What's so funny?", a voice interjected.

Immediately, Spike sobered. "I'm thinking its a toss up, between your hair, or those poofy Italian shoes you always wear."

Rolling his eyes, Angel made his way to the coffee machine. He hoped Willow had gotten there before Cordelia had. In all the years they'd worked together, his Seer's coffee had lamentably not improved.

He took a sip and grimaced. Ugh.. apparently, it was a Cordelia day. Still frowning, the souled vampire looked up at his Childe and Lindsey. "Where is everybody?"

"Gunn's out back tinkering with his truck. We haven't seen Wesley", Lindsey replied.

"And all the lovelies are downstairs plotting", Spike said.

"Plotting?"

"Well what would you bloody call it? I haven't seen a collection of troublemaking, strong, stubborn women like that in all my bleedin' years. I'm telling you, no good can come of it", the blond stated vehemently.

Angel smirked. "I think they're actually planning a party."

"Oh."

Lindsey met Spike's eyes. "Ask him", the mortal mouthed.

The British vampire's blue eyes widened.

"Ask him", Lindsey mouthed again.

Angel groaned. "Oh for God's sake-- ask me what?"

"I'll get you for that Lawyer Boy!", Spike hissed between clenched teeth.

"Yeah, yeah. Have a nice talk you two. I'm going to go see if I can make Lilah's life miserable. See you later."

"Well see Peach-- I mean Angelus, I mean Angel, I mean.... Oh sod it all!"

"Spike?"

"Well its about Fred."

Angel growled, taking a step toward the bleached blond. "What about her?"

"I know she's one of your pet human's and all, see and I think the chit's amazing..."

"She is", Angel agreed, "stay away from her boy. She's too smart to get involved with the likes of you."

Spike ground his teeth. "I won't hurt her..."

"That's right you're not. I'm not giving you the chance."

Growling, the bleached blond exploded in anger, charging the elder vampire.

~One month later. L.A.; Winter 2004~

Anya pondered the sight before her for a moment. "Hmmm, maybe if you moved them a little to the right..."

Xander groaned and fidgeted uncomfortably on the ladder, reaching to the aforementioned right. "How's that?", he asked between grit teeth.

"Nope, nope. I liked where you had them before. You can put the balloons there", his wife said after several agonizing minutes.

"Ex-vengeance demon my ass", Xander mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing honey", he called out with fake cheerfulness.

Cordelia watched the proceedings critically. She really wasn't sure about the colors they'd chosen. Silver and white. She sighed, shaking her head. That was so over. Oh well that's what happened when instead of just letting her decide, the other women had taken a vote. Still, she was not giving up. This New Year's Eve party was going to be the event of the season.

She turned to her helper. "Okay Gunn, here are the last invitations", she said handing her friend the tall stack of silver envelopes. "I spent two days hand lettering them, so I want them spotless. Got it?"

"Remind me again, why I like you?", the demon hunter grunted.

"Cause I'm cute", she said, smiling up at him.

Rolling his eyes, the black youth nodded. "Fine. Clean. Got it."

"So no stopping at the hot dog stand, or fighting any slime demons, okay?"

"Hey, that was an accident--"

"Hello!!!", the Seer sing-songed, shooing him away with her hands. "Go. Go. What are you still doing here? Those need to go out today. So people can RSVP by the end of the week. The party is on Monday!"

"I'm leaving, I'm leaving", he grumbled, walking away. His voice wafted back to her. "...Barbie...can't believe... hand deliver..."

Cordelia grinned, and turned back toward the witches and the physicist. The girls were twisting streamers.

"He barely looks at me anymore", Fred lamented quietly. "I don't know what I did to make him mad, its like his whole demeanor towards me changed..."

Willow listened silently, twisting the crepe paper carefully. 'Hmmmm...', she thought.

"Have you tried talking to him?", she asked.

"I-I-I tried, but well, I get all flustered and you know after he accidentally walked into my latest booby trap...", Fred's voice trailed off, and she wrung her hands nervously. "He couldn't sit for days!"

Tara tried to keep her face straight. "That was you?"

Fred nodded.

Unable to control it anymore, the blond witch collapsed in a fit of giggles, triggering Willow and Cordelia's laughter as well.

"Its not funny."

"Yes it is", Cordy said, wiping tears from her eyes.

Fred glared at the taller woman.

"Fred, just talk to him."

~Later that evening~

Fred looked up from beneath lowered lashes. She could see Spike in the courtyard. The vampire was smoking a cigarette. The cigarette's glow lit his face up whenever he took a puff. She loved that. He was all angles and shadow. Beautiful, dangerous. She shivered.

Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and wits about her strode towards the open doors.

"Hi Spike", she said timidly.

"Fred", he grunted, tossing the fag to the ground and grinding it under his boot in deference to her dislike of smoking. Turning the vampire moved to leave.

"N-no! Don't go."

Confused, Spike turned to look at the pretty brunette.

"Are you mad at me? I don't remember doing anything to make you mad at me... Did I?"

"I'm not angry with you Fred."

"You're not?", she asked, stepping closer.

Spike took a step back. Fred frowned, and took a step closer.

"Then why are you avoiding me? We used to talk... a little, at least", the physicist stated, shaking a strand of dark hair behind her ears. The vampire's eyes followed the move hungrily, and Fred's eyes narrowed, trying to read into his body language.

Was it possible Spike liked her too? Emboldened, Fred remembered snippets of conversation with Anya, and smiled secretively.

"Fred?"

Instead of answering, she took another step towards the bleached blond, and reached out to place a hand on his still chest.

Spike swallowed, and the slight woman felt him take an unnecessary breath. She leaned in a little....

~~~~~~

Willow elbowed Angel.

"Look!", the redhead said excitedly, pointing out into the courtyard.

Angel raised his head and growled. "Why that... I told him to stay away from her!"

"You what?!", Willow shouted. "I knew it!" Exasperated the witch glared at the vampire.

"Owww, Willow...", he mumbled rubbing the spot on his arm where she'd pinched him. "What?"

"Fred likes Spike."

"She does?"

"Yes", Willow reiterated, shaking her head. "Stupid vampire."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. He came to me to ask permission--"

"Permission?" The scowl on Willow's face deepened.

"Its a vampire thing. Fred's under my protection, and therefore is my responsibility. She's mine. As my childe, Spike needs my blessing in two ways. Since he's living under my roof, I am responsible for him as well. He needs my permission to see anyone... and he needs my leave to allow him to see Fred", the dark vampire attempted to explain.

"Goddess... I can't believe you!", Willow hissed, green eyes flashing. "She was so worried. She thought she'd done something to make him angry with her."

"I'm sorry, I just thought it was for the best. Spike doesn't exactly have the greatest track record when it comes to falling in love."

The redhead snorted. "Like you did?"

"Point taken", Angel sighed in resignation.

Out of the corner of his eye, the vampire watched as the shy young woman he'd saved from Pylea leaned in to kiss his platinum haired childe. For a moment, Angel was shocked by her audacity, but then again Fred was constantly surprising him. Spike's eyes closed in anticipation... but then the younger vampire flung himself from the brunette's embrace, and stalked away from Fred in a swirl of denim and black leather.

The former Pylean slave's dark eyes grew wide and moist in her pretty face.

"Damn", Angel muttered.

"Fix this", Willow demanded, "or you'll be sleeping alone from now on."

The souled vampire took one look at his girlfriend's 'resolve face' and snapping green eyes, and grabbed his jacket. He had to go after him.

~Part: 6~

~New Year's Eve 2004~

Spike grimaced and pulled at his collar, grimacing. He felt like a poof. If it was possible, the bloody things had gotten MORE uncomfortable. Suddenly it was all too clear to him why he'd avoided wearing the damned things for over one hundred years.

"You look good."

Surprised, Spike stopped fiddling with his bow tie, and looked at his Sire.

"Do, I?", the bleached blond muttered. "I wouldn't soddin' know, considering I can't see myself."

Angel smirked, allowing his eyes to rake over the lanky form of his childe in a tuxedo.

"Come here, your tie is a bit crooked."

Spike's upper lip lifted in a silent sneer, but he obeyed. He wanted to look good. He wanted to look good for Fred. She'd been avoiding him, and he just wished for at least one dance with her.

The tall, dark haired vampire adjusted Spike's tie in silence. After one last tuck, he stepped back surprised to find those icy blue eyes locked on his face.

"Bloody hell, Peaches. You almost look like Angelus in that get up."

Much to the chipped vampire's surprise, Angel grinned, and looked down at himself. Although, Spike had opted for a modern interpretation of the tuxedo, Angel had gone a little more traditional-- actually a lot more traditional. His black coat was almost knee length. A white silk cravat, held with an onyx pin was at his throat, while white lace peeked out, barely visible at his wrists.

"I probably do. But it was the only one I didn't feel like a trussed up pig in", Angel replied finally.

The platinum haired male nodded, spotting Lindsey coming down the stairs, a self satisfied grin on his face.

The doorbell rang, and the three men turned to watch Wesley and Gunn answered the door and show the arriving guests into the small ballroom. The two friends couldn't have been dressed more differently. Wesley had gone traditional with a twist, bringing to mind images of James Bond in his white overcoat, black tuxedo pants and black bow tie, while, Gunn had gone for a collarless shirt, a sparkling crystal at his throat instead of any kind of tie. Although completely different both men exuded sophisticated elegance.

"I'd say we were a good looking group, except--"

"You haven't seen Xander yet", Spike said, interrupting Lindsey.

The lawyer chuckled. "Exactly."

"He's in the ballroom already with Anya. They're pulling the host duties while I wait for Willow and Cordelia", Angel supplied. He looked at the lawyer for a moment, before his eyebrow rose. "Hmmm, you know I think he's wearing the exact same tuxedo as you, now that I think about it."

Spike snorted, catching his friend's glare of death at his Sire.

"In order for sarcastic humor to work, you usually need an actual sense of humor Peaches", Lindsey quipped, using Spike's favorite nickname for the tall vampire. He looked around the room before clearing his throat. "So, uh, is Tara--"

"Nope, neither witch has come down yet", Spike said.

"I really wish you'd --"

"Stop interrupting you?", the blond vampire said, interrupting yet again.

Lindsey rolled his eyes. "I'll go join Xander and Anya then, maybe they need a hand."

~Hours Later~

The men and women of Angel Investigations mingled with their guests; both demon and not. Lorne had arrived fashionably late as usual, making a grand entrance in a shiny teal tuxedo. It almost hurt to look at him. Still in typical grandiose fashion, he managed to keep an entire group of guests entertained with tall tales and witty banter. Thankfully, he'd only broken into song twice.

Cordelia looked around appraisingly. All the guests had glasses of champagne in their hands. Smiles were plentiful. The band was playing beautifully, and even the silver and white motif was growing on her. All in all, not a bad little shindig, considering she'd had to budget.

"Cordelia."

She turned, and grinned, accepting the glass of champagne Wesley held out to her.

"You must relax. Have fun. The planning is over... give yourself a little time to enjoy the fruits of your labor", Wesley told her, his eyes sweeping over her upswept hair and the red, silk strapless dress which hugged her in all the right places.

"You look lovely."

"Thanks Wes."

~~~~~~~~~~

Tara shifted a bit uncomfortably. Although she was definitely not as shy as she'd once been, large crowds of people still triggered an instinctive nervousness she'd never really been able to quell.

That nervousness was something she and Fred had in common. Which was one of the reasons, the two women were currently sitting at one of the small, candlelit tables.

"You should've danced with him."

Fred sighed. "I didn't want to dance with him. Mr. Nabbit-- I mean, David, is a nice guy and all but..."

The blond witch smiled softly, watching the physicist twirl the tiny, red straw in her drink. Coca-Cola, she believed it was.

"I know who you would want to dance with", Tara whispered.

Fred blushed, ducking her head. Unfortunately with her long hair drawn back into a low bun at the back of her head, there was nothing to hide the flush of color. The hair, complimented the slightly ballet inspired feel of her gown. It was white, and long sleeved with an off the shoulder dramatic collar which highlighted Fred's long swanlike neck and slender build. The gown's skirt flared into crinoline ruffles. In Tara's opinion, her friend looked lovely, like at any moment she would begin dancing the lead in Swan Lake.

Taking a sip of her belini, her eyes did a habitual survey of the room, finally finding Lindsey. She blinked startled when she found that he was observing her as well. When she'd spotted him before, he'd always been in lively discussions with some of the other guests.

He waved to her, and she waved back, before turning back to Fred.

"He looks nice, don't you think?", Fred asked, gesturing with her eyes to where Tara had just seen Lindsey.

"He does."

"I think he likes you."

"You do?"

The slender brunette nodded. "Yes but I think you confuse him. He doesn't know if he should approach you or not."

The witch shrugged, crossing her legs and adjusting the flowing, shimmery, apricot hued a-line skirt she wore. She'd paired it with a deeper coral colored corset top, and finished it with an off the shoulder wrap in a transparent shimmery material she'd absolutely loved the moment she'd set eyes on it. Tara had wanted to accentuate her best features, and Willow and Cordelia had both agreed that the apricot color complimented her pale, peaches and cream skin, and hazel eyes.

She was well aware that she was not as svelte or petite as the rest of her female friends. Her body simply wasn't built that way. But over the years, especially with Willow's enthusiastic love and support when they'd dated, she had grown to love her curves. Being a woman and loving it, was an empowering feeling. All in all, she felt good, like a fairy princess in fact. Even the sparkly barrette, which held some of her ash blond hair away from her face, added to that illusion.

"It took me a while to figure out, Fred, but I've decided that I do l-l-like him. I just don't think I'm going to pursue more than friendship. He's got that same fatalistic death wish Gunn does. He's constantly putting himself in excessive danger", Tara confided in the physicist. "I especially don't like it now that he's playing double agent with Wolfram and Hart. That Lilah woman hates his guts. He knew before he started that she would constantly be looking for ways to prove he's gone over to our side for real. I can't love someone who doesn't value their own life. Where would I be if I gave him my all and he got himself killed out of carelessness?" The blond witch paused, and then swallowed some more of her juice/champagne concoction.

"Does that make any sense?"

Fred smiled a trifle sadly at her friend. "Yeah", she said nodding, "I guess it does. Still we are all in a dangerous field of work... I mean truthfully none of us know when we'll die. It could happen anywhere at anytime, and it doesn't even have to be the evil of the week...."

Self-consciously, Fred tried to adjust the top of her dress, without being too obvious. She hadn't been comfortable with the idea of not being able to wear a bra with it, and Tara could tell it was still bothering her.

The brunette bit her lip thoughtfully. "'Cause you know, he could just die crossing the street to go the corner deli, 'cause he had a sudden yen for mint chocolate chip ice cream in the middle of the night."

Large, brown eyes widened, straying from Tara's face to something behind her.

"What?", Tara said under her breath, suddenly on alert for possible trouble.

"S-s-sp-spike", Fred muttered. "He's coming this way. Oh God, I'm so embarrassed. I can't look at him", she said, turning away.

"'Ello Witch."

Tara grinned at the blond vampire, noting the hurt in his eyes. She glanced back at Fred who was staring blindly out at the swaying couples.

Winking at him, Tara rose from her seat. "Ask her to dance Bleached One, she really wants you to", she whispered in his ear, before walking away.

"Fred."

Fred froze in place, unsure of how to react. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she turned to face the wiry vampire.

"Would you like to dance?"

"I, I, I... Really?", she stammered.

"Please", he added, holding his hand out.

The former slave straightened, and accepted Spike's chivalrous gesture, placing her hand in his.

~~~~~~~~~~

Willow watched the room from the solid, safe comfort of her lover's arms.

She sighed.

"Is something wrong?", Angel asked.

"Goddess, no.... this is so perfect. I'm so glad you were okay with mine and Cordelia's idea for this", the redhead said, looking up into her dark vampire's chiseled features.

"We all live here, I think we all have a say in what should happen here. Besides, both you and Cordelia seemed so excited.... Hell, even Anya thought it was a great idea.

Just then, the ex-vengeance demon ran up to the dancing couple. Her color was high and she seemed breathless. Despite seeming a bit upset about something, she looked stunning in her knee-length, black sheath dress.

"Have you seen Lorne?", Anya asked shrilly.

Angel winced.

"Why?", Willow asked.

"The band's singer got drunk. He passed out in the bathroom. We NEED another singer", she whispered urgently to the witch and vampire. "And considering midnight is in ten minutes.... he's it!!"

Pulling himself up to his full height, Angel spotted a familiar horned head in a far corner. He grinned, because they should have realized the Host would gravitate to the bar. He squinted, and chuckled after spotting who was with him.

"He's at the bar. You may want to hurry over there Anya, if I'm not mistaken I think Xander's throwing back shots with him."

The currently blond ex-demon's eyes widened. "NO! Bad idea..." She whirled away from Willow and Angel and charged through the crowd. "Xander! Xander! You'd better not get drunk on me Xander! This was supposed to be a BIG, ROMANTIC night, if you know what I mean?!"

Willow giggled, before stopping abruptly her breath caught in her throat.

"What is it?", Angel asked.

"Look around."

Around them, the other AI members had seemed to converge. It had been inadvertent, but the sight was memorable. Spike and Fred danced in entranced silence, slowly behind them. To the right, Tara and Lindsey swayed gracefully. The blond witch was laughing at something her dance partner had said, the clear tones of her voice ringing out like a bell. Near them, Cordelia danced slowly with Wesley, and Angel couldn't help but note the way his Seer's hand trembled ever so slightly at the former Watcher's shoulder. Thankfully Gunn had also found a partner, Doyle's ex-wife Harry had made an appearance. She looked wonderful, and was delighted to hear Gunn's stories about the Fang Gang's latest adventures. Angel and Cordelia had been very happy to make the introductions.

Soon, however, the music ended and it was Lorne's voice everyone heard over the loudspeakers. Anya and Xander joined the others. The dark haired man looking vaguely chagrined.

"Ladies and gents... and yes, I do use that term loosely", the horned demon joked, looking around at the varied crowd of demons and humans, a microphone in one hand and a seabreeze in the other.

"Its almost that time people... Another new year..."

As Lorne spoke, the catering staff passed around glasses of champagne.

"... so grab that special someone, and remember that this is the perfect time for new beginnings", Lorne said into the microphone, looking out into the surprisingly large crowd that had joined Angel Investigations in their celebration of the new year.

"TEN!...", everyone cried.

"NINE!..."

Spike glanced down at Fred. She was looking up at him through lowered lashes.

"You don't have to stay--", she began, only to be cut off by the feeling of his finger at her lips.

"I want to. You're the only reason I'm in this bloody suit, or here in first place", the blond vampire said.

"EIGHT!..."

Fred's dark eyes glittered, her lower lip trembling. "Really?"

Spike nodded. The next thing he knew, her hand was in his hair, and her warm mouth was pressed to his cooler one. He chuckled, vaguely aware that technically no one was supposed to kiss until the countdown was over. 'Not that he gave a rat's ass', he thought, deepening the toe curling kiss. Fred did things her own way, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"SEVEN!..."

Angel smirked, his eyes falling on his childe and his Fred. Willow followed his gaze and smiled. "Awww... that's just too cute."

"It is", he agreed, looking at his woman tenderly. "I love you ioniun", Angel breathed into the redhead's ear.

A tingling sensation made its way down Willow's spine. "I love you too."

"SIX!..."

Gunn smiled at Harry. "Is a kiss on the cheek okay? You know, since I just met you and all?"

The curly haired woman chuckled. "Works for me, otherwise I may have to deck you."

"FIVE!..."

"But my lipstick will get all smeared!", Anya cried.

"Anya! We're supposed to kiss. Its good luck. If we kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, its supposed to mean we'll be together forever", Xander explained to his wife.

The ex-demon smiled. "Okay. I like that. You may kiss me."

"Thanks honey", Xander murmured dryly.

"FOUR!..."

"Don't get any funny ideas Wesley."

"Honestly Cordelia, its just a simple tradition, it means absolutely nothing", the former Watcher intoned seriously, despite the he-was-sure, completely audible beating of his heart.

"Oh... fine!", she huffed in annoyance, her eyes downcast so that her friend wouldn't see the disappointment in them.

"THREE!..."

"TWO!..."

"Is this okay with you?", Lindsey asked Tara.

She nodded, smiling up at him.

"Glad to hear that", the lawyer said, taking his dance partner into his arms and capturing her mouth with his own just as--

"ONE!!!"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!"

Lorne watched the room erupt into kisses, laughter and cheers. Confetti fell over the crowd and noisemakers sounded cheerily around the room.

He sighed, and took a long draught of his drink. With knowing eyes, he watched the souled vampire and his witch kissed. 'Things were coming together beautifully', he thought.

The Host's eyes wandered over the chipped vampire and the physicist, a grin forming on his lips. 'And some things were happening faster than expected.'

'Others', Lorne thought, thinking of the Seer and Watcher, who were currently engaged in a hesitant embrace, 'were slower than Sloth demons.' He shook his head, taking another drink of his seabreeze, and beginning a rousing round of song.

~Part: 7~

~Present 2008~

Xander shoved a piece of cake in his mouth, and grinned when he saw his son emulate him. Vanilla frosting and crumbs of devil's food cake clung all over Jesse's chubby cheeks and tiny mouth.

"Where's the camera?", Anya demanded. "We need picture to commemorate this occasion. Look how adorable he is..." She looked around almost frantically. "Where's that stupid camera?"

"Here it is", Fred volunteered, spotting the camera on a chair.

"Thanks Fred", the ex-demon said earnestly, as she snapped off some photographs of her cute, yet completely dirty toddler.

Xander grinned proudly, suddenly smirking and searching out Angel's gaze. "I can remember a couple of times we've all been in desperate searches for cameras, don't you Angel?"

The dark haired vampire groaned. "You're a dead man Xander... by all that's holy don't--"

"You guys remember don't you?", he continued, completely interrupting whatever Angel was going to say. Upon seeing everyone's momentarily confused looks, Xander started humming a familiar tune that soon had everyone giggling uncontrollably.

~Summer 2005~

Willow stared at Spike in disbelief, her mouth dropping open.

"Come on Spike, tell me you're kidding. You can't honestly want me to get Angel to actually do that!"

"Uh uh Red, no backing out now. You owe me. I helped you track down that book you needed to secure his soul.... hell, I wasn't even a part of the pathetic L.A. crew then", the chipped vampire said. "You have to tell him you absolutely love the song and dance, and that they turn you on."

The witch slumped in defeat. He'd so guilt tripped her into a corner. "Fine. I'll tell him. But if he never speaks to me again, you're SO gonna be living in a Dustbuster for the rest of your unlife."

Spike smirked evilly. 'Oh this is gonna be good', he thought, 'it had been way too long since he'd pulled a practical joke on his Sire. Bloody hell, had it really been ninety years?'

"Oh don't worry about it so much Red", he said out loud. "You've totally got Peaches by the short an' curlies. He'll forgive you anything. Besides, the worst that could happen is he punishes you pet... and believe me, you'll bloody well love it."

Willow blushed.

~~~~~~~~~

"I feel completely idiotic Spike. Are you sure that's what I'm supposed to do?", Angel asked.

"Oi! For the last bloody time, yes. I remember this vividly. MtV was like a fixture in the bloody lair forever.... Dru just loved that goofy Carson Daily kid." The bleached blond vampire shuddered. "Ugh, and then there was that hellish four months when I was living with Harmony.

Angel scowled remembering his own run on with the ditzy blond vampire from the the valley. "I wonder whatever happened to her....", he wondered idly.

Spike groaned. "I try not to think about it." He glared at his Sire. "Okay stop stalling. Try it again."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes!"

~Upstairs, Same day~

"Okay", Tara said, her eyes resting on Lindsey's relaxed face. "Concentrate, focus on my voice.... Good... Find your center."

Lindsey frowned, finally tightening his jaw. "I give up", he said, opening blue eyes that were slightly gray with the chaotic state of his emotions.

The blond witch shook her head. "You CAN'T quit. You have to learn to do this. The Wolfram and Hart mindscans are getting more and more powerful, you have to learn to cloak your thoughts beforehand... I don't think the spells Willow and I do for you are going to work much longer." Tara's eyes were wide and pleading. "Please, you have to keep trying. You have to get this, or something's going to happen to you."

The lawyer's gaze softened, his eyes drifting to his friend's plump lips. "Okay", he sighed, inwardly wondering how long he could keep up this pretense of friendship when all he wanted was to tell her he loved her, and couldn't picture his life without her in it.

"Lets try again", he said evenly.

Tara closed her eyes in relief. "Thank you", she whispered softly.

~Three nights later; Caritas~

Gunn stared at the demon singing Twisted Sister's 'We're Not Going To Take It', unseeingly. Thankfully he barely heard the actual singing either, his thoughts were too turbulent.

A black bag sat at his feet. It contained what remained of all his belongings. Most of it had disappeared. 'His old boys were probably all wearing it', he supposed he should be thankful they left him drawers so he wouldn't have to walk around commando-style.

He slung back another tumblerful of Bushmill's and grimaced. 'Damn but the stuff was potent', he thought. It was exactly what he needed, and he was heartily glad Angel had introduced him to the stuff. It figured the big vamp knew the good stuff, he'd was Irish... or he had been Irish. Gunn sighed.

The demon hunter shook his head bitterly. He'd tried. He really had, to be there for his people. To be there for his neighborhoods and help protect them. When he joined up with Angel and his crew, sure he'd made new friends... but it wasn't that fact which had kept him from always being there for his people, it was that suddenly instead of working to just keep his neighborhood clean of demons, he was working for much larger things. How much did raiding a vamp nest really mean, when if he went off with Angel, the probability was he could be saving the world? His worldview just kept getting bigger and bigger, and as a result he'd spent less and less time in his 'hood. It had gotten to a point where all he did was sleep and change his clothes there really.

He glanced back down at the pack by his feet. Gunn guessed his crew had just gotten damned tired of that fact.

Grabbing the bottle, the demon hunter, poured more whiskey in his glass. A large black shape in front of his table caught his attention. Blinking, Gunn looked up.

"What are you doing Gunn?", Angel asked.

"Getting myself wrecked", he replied.

"Why?"

"Seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

The dark haired vampire's observant eyes strayed to the bag by his friend's feet. Angel ran a large hand wearily through his hair upon realizing what must've happened.

"You know we always have room at the hotel for you, don't you?"

Gunn nodded. "Thanks man, I guess I'll be taking you up on that." He paused, and looked around the bar. He blinked. "Whoa, everyone's here", he said noticing the entire Hyperion gang. "Work or pleasure?"

"Bonding time according to Cordelia, there aren't any cases currently", Angel clarified, before moving towards the stage.

The black man shuddered. 'Oh God, no... please tell me Angel isn't going to sing...'

Gunn's horror only grew, as the opening strains of Angel's chosen song began. 'The Macarena!?'

He choked on his tongue and glared accusingly at the bottle of booze on his table. 'It had to be the Bushmill's?? Right? There could be no other possible explanation. Right?!', he wondered, desperately.

The laughter at the other table caused him to look over. Spike, Xander, Lindsey, Wesley and even all the Fang Gang ladies were laughing their asses off. Only Willow was serious. She looked vaguely guilty and uncomfortably, trying desperately not to dissolve into giggles herself. When Anya yanked out a camera and snapped a few pictures, and Spike fell onto the ground still guffawing, Gunn finally realized what had happened.

The end of the world had arrived, and he hadn't even been notified.

~Part: 8~

~Present 2008~

Angel pouted. "It wasn't that funny."

"Bloody hell Peaches, it was friggin' hilarious", Spike rejoined.

Anya grinned. "Yes, it was. For months Xander would dig out the pictures whenever he was depressed. It never failed to make him laugh."

Willow winced.

Gunn shook his head. "Man, and I swore it was the booze. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd see Angel up on Lorne's stage dancing and singing The Macarena."

"Are you serious?", Faith gasped. "And I missed it? Awww... damn."

"Oh that's okay", Anya volunteered. "Xander will find the pictures for you."

The dark haired vampire groaned. "Can we please change the subject?"

Lindsey and Tara looked at one another and nodded.

"Well we have an announcement which could take the heat off of you Angel", the blond witch said, chuckling.

"And although that fact is lamentable, the news is happy", Lindsey stated.

"Well!!!", Fred and Spike prompted practically simultaneously, almost identical looks of mischief on their faces.

"We're going to have a baby!", Tara announced, beaming as her love kissed her cheek.

~Fall 2005~

Cordelia placed a dish she'd just dried in the cabinet, and held out a hand to Willow so that the redhead could give her another freshly washed one.

The dish slipped from suddenly nerveless fingers, and a scream rent the air.

"Cordy!?", Willow shouted, lunging for the taller woman just as the vision sent her tumbling back. In an instant, the spell left the witch's mouth, pillowing Cordelia's spine and head before it connected with the tiled floor.

Avoiding the broken shards of plate, Willow kneeled by the Seer's prone form.

"Cordelia... Cordelia are you alright?"

Horrified hazel eyes blinked, focusing on the pale redhead's face. The brunette nodded, her dry throat tightening almost painfully.

"Willow, get everyone together", she urged.

"What's going on?", Willow asked, her eyes wide in her pinched face.

"Lindsey", Cordelia choked, "Wolfram and Hart finally got dirt on him. The jig is up." The brunette tried to sit up. "Get Tara."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I knew you'd show up and try to copy those files", Lilah crowed. The tall, slender brunette paced in front of Lindsey, a triumphant smile lighting her face. With a nod of her head, the two demons holding the already beaten lawyer, each punched him in the side.

Explosive pain erupted through Lindsey's system. His body screamed with the effort of taking a breath.

"Lindsey!"

'That voice', he thought, as he fought to remain conscious. Forcing his head upwards Lindsey saw all those he cared about, striding to his rescue. Vaguely, he registered that his team was mowing down Lilah's henchdemons easily. Angel and Spike cracked necks with bare hands, while Fred and Anya wielded baseball bats with deadly efficiency. Wesley, Gunn, and Xander worked seamlessly as a team, cutting a swath through vampires with sharp axes. Unfortunately, the lawyer didn't hold out much hope that he would survive this. He only wished he'd told Tara how he felt.

'And where was Tara?', Lindsey wondered in an ever-growing panic, his pain momentarily forgotten as he searched the melee for the woman he thought of as HIS witch.

'Where was she? And where was Willow for that matter?'

Lilah almost snarled in impotent anger. They would not succeed. She was getting rid of Lindsey MacDonald, finally, if it was the very last thing she ever did.

"Kill him!", she ordered the two demon's holding the dark blond man.

"No!", Willow screamed, her voice reaching Lindsey's ears from a spot somewhere above him. A spiraling, white-hot ball of flame came hurtling towards him from the direction of the redhead's voice. The demon on his right screamed in agony as the magical missile hit, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Tara struggled with the demon that held her, her body stiffening in pained outrage as the remaining demon holding Lindsey raised a blade and thrust it into his chest.

"NO!!", she screamed, her eyes flashing desperately.

"Morte!", she shouted, as power the likes of which she'd never felt before, erupted from the earth itself and through her body.

The Angel Investigations team watched in disbelief as every demon and vampire left was systematically dispatched by that simple word. Dust, smoke and green ichor covered the ground of the Wolfram and Hart parking structure. It was all that was left of their demonic adversaries.

No longer held up by anything, Lindsey slumped to the ground, blood pooling around him.

Tears streamed down Tara's wan face. He was dying!

Tendrils of blue flame still licked at her skin, crawling up her arms, fed by her raging emotions. She stepped off of her perch, effortlessly and seemingly unaware that she was floating down. Once her feet touched the ground, her eyes sought those of the remaining enemy.

Lilah flinched instinctively at the look in the blond witch's eyes, before relaxing. She snickered, confident in her safety. They couldn't hurt her, they were the good guys.

"Poised and beautiful though you may be, we all know that to be only outwardly. Let the truth be seen, let all who view you know your soul. Let nothing be hidden. As I will it, so mote it be!", Tara screamed, her arm upraised, her finger pointed accusingly at the dark haired attorney.

A painful wrenching began in Lilah's gut. She tried to scream, her head thrown back, but no sound escaped; only a breathy hiss.

Tara walked away without watching the transformation, her only thoughts now on the man she loved. The man bleeding on the ground. The man who didn't know how she felt. Sobbing, the blond witch threw herself onto the ground, cradling Lindsey's head in her lap.

"Willow!", she cried, looking up and seeing the faces of her friends as they gathered around. "You have to help me! He can't die! He can't!"

Tears slid down the redhead's face. She sunk to the ground by her ex-lover. Her gaze was drawn to Lindsey's deathly pale face. It no longer seemed like he was breathing.

No one noticed when a small snake slunk sneakily away, its beautiful blue-green scales glinting in the gloom.

"I'll do what I can", Willow whispered, placing her hands on Tara's own on Lindsey's chest. They wouldn't let their friend die without a fight.

As the painful scene unfolded before the stunned Fang Gang, only Angel had the presence of mind to dig out his cell phone and call for an ambulance.

~ A week and a half later; Fall 2005~

Tara held Lindsey's slack hand in a tight grip. She sat by his side silently, her eyes on his pale face. She never moved, never deviated. Willow didn't think she'd seen the other witch sleep or eat, the entire time, the lawyer had been in his coma.

Sighing, the redhead, leaned against the window separating her from her former girlfriend. It was cool and soothing against her brow. At least there was hope now. A coma was so much better than the alternative. 'He'd been dying', Willow remembered, 'but somehow we brought him back from the very brink....'

"We really need to get her to rest", a deep, voice said from her right.

Willow turned, the pain in her heart, lightening ever-so-slightly at the sight of her lover and soon to be mate.

Angel held out his hand, and Willow took it gratefully, rushing into his arms for an embrace of shared strength.

"I know", she said, her voice muffled by her vampire's chest, "but she refuses to move. Its like she's willing him to live, willing him to wake up..." She looked up into Angel's deep brown eyes. "She's in such pain, and I don't know what to do", she whispered, tears springing into her expressive emerald eyes.

"We just have to be there with her Willow", the souled vampire replied quietly, "no matter what happens." After a moment, he spoke again. "Come on love, let me get you some tea." Willow nodded, and together they made their way down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~

Tara traced Lindsey's features with her eyes. She ached for him. Memories bombarded her. The way he was always there for her. How he'd take trips to magic stores with her, despite not having a single magic-inclined cell in his body. 'And especially, she thought, closing her eyes momentarily, 'that toe-curling, beautiful kiss he'd planted on her at the New Year's party.'

Guilt and anger tore at her. He had to wake up, he had to live. He couldn't go without her telling him, without her declaring her love for him. Even if he didn't return the feeling, she had to tell him. Love was a gift, a precious goddess-given gift. She'd been selfish and cowardly.

She cleared her throat. It was dry and shriveled from lack of use. Besides her screams of a week ago for Willow's help, Tara didn't think she'd said a word since.

"Lindsey, please wake up", she whispered hoarsely in his ear, leaning over the bed to lay her head on the pillow besides him. "Please. I love you. You have to know that. You can't not know.... "

She blinked, suddenly lurching to her feet. Had his finger really twitched? Had she imagined it?

"Lindsey? Can you hear me? Come back to me...", the blond witch's voice petered out when there was no discernible change in his comatose form.

Her face fell. "Please Lindsey, I love you", she managed weakly, her body sagging forward, her knees buckling.

A raspy, familiar voice, interrupted the sound of her weeping. "I love you too."

Tara froze, tears forgotten. "Lindsey?"

She looked up. Those beautiful blue-grey eyes were open. She gasped, berry-ripe lips forming a cute round 'o' or shock.

"Goddess..."

"You love me?", he asked weakly.

"Yes, more than I've ever loved anyone in my life", she said clearly, voice utterly devoid of hesitation or even a hint of her usual stammering.

Lindsey smiled, squeezing her hand. "I love you too", he said, bringing her hand up slowly to his lips for a kiss. "I love you too."

Tara grinned, and then blinked. "Oh Goddess... I have to tell somebody. Wait right here... Don't move... oh well I guess you can't, but still..."

Turning round, the witch yanked open the door. "Doctor!! Nurse!!!", she shouted down the halls. "He's awake!! He's awake. Willow! Angel! Spike! Fred! Cordy! He's awake!... Wesley! Anya! Xander! Get your butts in here!"

The wounded lawyer chuckled, he could hear his witch yelling down the hall. 'For someone usually so quiet, Tara sure had a set of lungs...', he mused.

~Part: 9~

~Present 2008~

"Congratulations!"

"Oh Tara, that's wonderful, I'm so happy for you", Willow said happily, hugging the taller blond woman.

Angel and Spike smiled superiorly. "We already knew that", the chipped vampire smirked.

"You knew?!", Fred cried, smacking her vampire playfully on the arm. "I can't believe you didn't tell me."

"It wasn't our secret to tell", Angel interrupted smoothly, hoping to intercede before his own mate got her knickers in a twist over not having been told.

Willow humpfed in mock disapproval, but the smile on her face ruined the effect. "How far along are you?", she asked Tara.

"Three months."

"Wonderful", Anya declared, "that means you're over the worst of the morning sickness."

"Morning sickness?", Lindsey said in disbelief. "Don't you mean, morning, noon and night sickness?"

Angel and Spike groaned, nodding.

"Hey... and how would you two know anything about that?", Fred questioned, her voice vaguely suspicious.

"I was the oldest", Angel said. "My mother had three more children after me, two of which actually made it to term."

"Me mum, had four", Spike admitted, "since we weren't well off enough to have a nurse maid, I had to help change the little blighters." The bleached blond vampire shuddered.

Xander groaned in shared horror. "God! Not to mention those late night feedings, and the hell that is.....", he paused dramatically, "Pregnant Woman Cravings Disorder."

"Argh!", Angel, Spike, and Lindsey all groaned.

This time even Wesley chimed in. "Good heavens, yes. When my aunt Clarice was with child, she once sent me out for pickles and strawberries."

"Gross!", Xander exclaimed.

"Pickles and strawberries.... that's nothing", Lindsey said. "Tara once sent me out for bananas and bacon. I swear her cravings are actually alphabetical." Noticing his wife's glare, the attorney abruptly quieted.

"Alright, I'm feeling left out."

Spike, Angel, Lindsey, Xander and Wesley looked over at Gunn.

"You guys are having this straight outta the Twilight Zone bonding session, and I can't even participate", the handsome demon hunter said.

Faith chuckled. "Never known any pregnant women Gunn?"

He shook his head.

"Don't knock that fact you lucky bastard."

"Xander!!", Anya cried, scandalized. "I can't believe you said that!"

"Sorry honey, but you don't know how much trouble you gals give us guys."

All the women in the room blinked before turning as a unit towards Xander. Xander paled. 'Oh boy... he was in trouble now.'

"What did you say Alexander LaVelle Harris?", Willow said very deliberately.

"Get him Willow!", Fred crowed.

The dark haired man backpedaled in a panic. "What I meant to say was... uh, I didn't mean that...", he turned to the other men in the room. "Help", he squeaked.

Angel cleared his throat, and looked up at the ceiling. Spike looked down at the floor. Lindsey and Wesley recognized the panic in each other's eyes and both headed to the punch bowl. Gunn also beat a hasty retreat, grabbing Faith's arm and pulling her back toward the food-laden table, with a mumbled, "He's on his own."

Faith grinned, and looked over her shoulder just in time to see all the women close in on Xander, and Anya grab his earlobe in what looked to be a painful grip.

"Ouch", she quipped.

The dark Slayer grinned and looked back at the handsome black man. She wracked her brain for something halfway intelligent to say.

"So uh, I kind of get how all the relationships here work", Faith commented, " but ah....", she looked over her shoulder, "how did the Cordy, Wes thing happen? I mean, I never ever saw that coming?"

Gunn chuckled. "Actually, I think it was more a long time in coming really.... Everyone but them seemed to realize how they felt *way* before they did."

~Winter, 2005~

Wesley left his apartment, and wrapped the scarf tightly about his neck to fight off the chill in the air. It wasn't exactly that L.A. was ever exactly cold... but the slight dip in temperatures was still a bit of a shock to someone who'd become accustomed to the temperate California climate.

Besides, the scarf had been a gift from a particularly beautiful friend of his. Cordelia had meant for him to use it on his visits to England, but they were becoming very few and far between and he'd really wanted to wear it.

His mood was depressed and pensive, his head bent as he pondered his situation.

He was tired of being alone. All around him, love flourished. Tara and Lindsey were so utterly in love. Watching them was both inspirational and sickening. The former Watcher was happy that the couple had had a chance to be together, especially when Lindsey had basically escaped the clutches of death by the skin of his teeth, but that fact had had some far reaching consequences that had made his own situation all the more poignant and depressing. All around him, the Angel Investigations lovers were realizing that life was short and transient, and making their pairings a lot more meaningful.

Wesley sighed. Yet he himself had no one.

Just yesterday, Willow and Angel had made their relationship permanent with a little seen vampiric ritual that effectively married them. It had been a beautiful, if slightly, uncomfortably intimate thing to witness, but he couldn't have said no; not when Angel had specifically asked him and Spike to be his witnesses. The redheaded witch and souled vampire were mated now.

Soon he was sure, Spike and Fred would be doing the same. The couple was definitely headed in the same direction. He shook his head ruefully. That relationship still amazed Wesley, and yet it worked. The impulsive vampire and brilliant, but flaky physicist were somehow made for one another.

Blinking owlishly at the garish lights, Wesley realized with a start that he'd someway or another, gotten where he was going.

'Good Lord', he thought, 'and I wasn't even paying attention.'

Trying to turn his thoughts away from feeling sorry for himself, the former Watcher pushed the door to Caritas open.

A sad, mournful voice poured from the bar's speakers. Although obviously an amateur, whoever was singing was doing so from the heart. She sang of loneliness and wanting love, and despite agreeing with her wholeheartedly, Wesley couldn't bring himself to even look at the stage. All he wanted was a drink.

Heading for the bar, he spotted Lorne drinking one of his typical pink, fruity concoctions.

"Hey there Wes, old buddy, old pal", the green demon greeted.

"Hello Lorne."

"Oh! I'm getting some seriously broody vibes off of you honey. What are you trying to do, take over Angelcakes' job now that he's actually found *someone* better to do?"

Wesley grimaced, and sat on a stool.

The Host shook his head. "That bad, huh... Drink?"

"Please", Wesley said. "Shot of tequila, I think."

Lorne didn't bother arguing, despite the fact he remembered Wesley's last bout with the Mexican liquor. Gunn could drink the stuff like water. Wesley, on the other hand... well, lets just say, he couldn't.

"So you like the singer?", Lorne asked. "Its her first time on the stage alone."

"She's fine, I suppose. I will admit to liking her choice of songs, however. Whoever she is, she's singing just how I feel", the ex-Watcher said softly, tossing back the first shot Manuel, the bartender gave him.

"Leave the bottle Manuel", the aura reading demon said. He looked at the dark haired human next to him and cocked his head. "I think the lovely Cordy feels just the same way Wes."

"Cordelia?", Wesley queried in confusion, tossing back another shot. "What are you talking about?"

"Loneliness Wes, loneliness", the Host sighed, gesturing towards the stage.

For the first time, the Englishman's gaze actually touched the stage, and the woman who sang so plaintively, and with such sadness.

"Its Cordelia", the former Watcher breathed.

"Knew that one Sweetcheeks."

He stared up at the dark haired beauty onstage, unable to tear his gaze away. Cordelia stood, eyes closed, microphone tightly clenched in one elegant hand. The song was ending, he realized, and she was crying.

The Seer opened her eyes, and their gazes locked.

Wesley watched as Cordelia put the microphone down on a stool and shakily made her way down the stage steps. He waited for her, glad he'd done so when she suddenly swayed, losing her balance.

"Cordelia!", he exclaimed, catching hold of her shoulders.

"Hey there *hic* Wes", the Seer mumbled.

Frowning the ex-Watcher led the woman to a table.

"Are you drunk Cordelia?", he asked.

"Not completely, but I'm working on it", she admitted.

"Would you mind if I worked on it with you", Wesley asked, much to her surprise.

"Be my guest."

~~~~~~~~~

"I'm lonely Wesley."

"Yes, well... apparently that feeling is going around then."

"You're lonely too?"

He sighed. "Very much so. Painfully so."

Cordelia nodded. "Everyone else has someone... everyone--"

"But us", he said, finishing her thought, both conveniently forgetting Gunn.

The two friends looked at one another. The table became silent, as the air about the two dark haired warriors for good, became redolent with secret feelings and long denied desire.

"Wesley?...", Cordelia began softly, her hazel eyes shining.

"Yes."

"Is that your answer?"

"Most assuredly.... I would still like to know the question, however", Wesley said, in his typical British fashion.

"Would you.... would you, come home with me?", she asked, swallowing nervously, even as her hand reached across the table.

Wesley's hand met her own, holding it in a firm, reassuring grip. "I would love to... but, Cordelia?"

"Yes?"

"Once I go home with you, I won't be leaving. You do realize that don't you?"

The Seer's smile lit up the room. "I was hoping you'd say that."

At her words, Wesley pushed his chair back, walked over to her side of the table and pulled out her chair. Standing gracefully, Cordelia pulled his head down to her's for a short, but obviously passionate kiss.

Lorne watched the proceedings with glee. The couple left quietly but efficiently, with Cordelia's arm tucked into Wesley's.

'God's', the Host thought in amusement, 'even when those two were gonna go home and screw like bunnies, they sure did it in a classy way.'

Looking up, the green demon grinned up at his bartender. "Another Seabreeze Manuel, I've got some celebrating to do."

~Part: 10~

~Present 2008~

"So basically, Wes and Cordy just dove in, huh?", Faith observed under her breath, casting an almost shy look, up at the much taller black man.

"I guess, you could look at it that way", Gunn replied, wondering how exactly he should take her comment. He shifted, and cleared his throat. "Faith, uh, I've been wanting to ask you--"

"Shoot."

"Well, I wondered if you'd want to ever, uh, you know, hang out?", Gunn asked.

The dark haired Slayer smiled, and nodded. "Sounds cool."

There was a slightly prolonged silence where both demon hunters grinned goofily. The silence was broken, by a cooing sound somewhere in the direction of their feet.

Gunn looked down and spotted Xander's son. "Hey there Jesse, you big guy you", he said, bending down to pick him up. After years of living in the Hyperion with everyone, he'd become completely comfortable with the idea of handling the child.

"Do you want to hold him?"

Faith blinked, and stared at the little boy with a mixture of awe and fear. "Really?"

Gunn nodded.

"Go ahead, really. Its okay", the demon hunter said coaxingly.

Reaching out, the former rogue Slayer took hold of the smiling dark haired boy, pulling him close to her body. Jesse's hand rested in Faith's and she couldn't help but marvel at its small size and perfection. Realizing resistance was futile, she brought the small hand to her lips giving his fresh baby-scented skin, a kiss.

Jesse's head reared back in what looked like, surprise. He stared at the Slayer with solemn brown eyes for a moment, before lurching forward and launching himself at her neck. A bright flash accompanied his sudden action.

Faith blinked a few times before the world came back into focus.

"Anya?", she asked blankly.

The ex-demon smiled. "That was so cute. It is going to go into the family album."

"You don't mind me holding him?"

"No, don't be silly", Anya said, waving off Faith's worry.

The raven-haired Slayer abruptly quieted. "Wait... did you just say family album?"

The other women nodded. "Where we put all our keepsake photos", Anya said matter-of-factly, as if what she was saying was something Faith should have obviously known.

"I think I'll place it right next to that funny photo of Spike."

"Which one?", Gunn asked, chuckling.

The ex-vengeance demon, smiled widely, tickling her son beneath the chin while Faith continued to hold him. "You know which one I mean Charles."

"You mean, the one that proves pink really is Spike's color?"

Anya giggled, forgetting whatever it was she was going to say, and only managing a nod.

The Slayer looked from Gunn to Anya and then back. She was missing something good, here. "Uhh, can anyone get in, or is this a private joke?"

~New Years Day, 2006~

Anya stared at the little white stick with a mixture of horror and disbelief. Desperately, she grabbed at the box it had come in and read the directions again.

' A - sign indicates not pregnant, while a + means-- '

The rest of whatever the stupid thing said didn't even permeate her brain. Only one thing did.

The woman who'd once been Anyanka, demon and patron saint of scorned women, was pregnant.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel blinked up at the dark haired physicist. He was pulling out all the stops. Fred couldn't believe her friend had actually resorted to the puppy-dog eyes.

"That's not entirely fair, Angel", Fred huffed.

The souled vampire blinked up at the slight woman again, his eyes seemingly almost moist.

She sighed, and bit her lip.

"I guess I could. I mean its not like it would hurt him, physically anyway. His pride, now that's another thing entirely."

Angel managed to control the urge to smile... just barely. Fred was crumbling! 'Yes!!', he thought. 'Revenge was his!'

The physicist grinned. "Besides", she said, "I guess I kind of still owe you for the saving me from further servitude in a demon dimension thing."

The vampire nodded enthusiastically.

"And Spike did pull that dirty trick on you with that whole Macarena thing..."

Angel was still nodding.

"Plus I really like it when Spike puts me over his knee."

He stopped nodding. "Huh?"

Fred's eyes widened. "Nothin'", she mumbled, quickly running from the room, a blush on her cheeks.

Angel shuddered.

~~~~~~~~~

Anya walked around in the next two days in a fog. She brushed off the concern of the others, assuring them all that she was fine. It wasn't that she was unhappy about having Xander's child; truth be told, she was ecstatic about that fact. She was just scared about how her husband would react. He'd fought the darkness so long, she truly wasn't sure he would want to bring a life into a world that had cruelly taken not one, but two of his best friends.

She stood on the second floor stair landing, looking over the bustling Angel Investigations lobby on the ground floor. Willow, Lindsey and Tara sat in a circle, eyes closed. She pondered the map at their feet and the crystal in the redhead's hands and concluded they were casting a locator spell.

The dark haired former demon, cocked her head, her gaze moving over to the lobby's other occupants. Cordelia, Wesley and Spike were leaning over the newspaper. Anya shook her head in amusement, sure that the trio was probably doing another crossword puzzle. It had surprised no one, that Cordy and Spike were both extremely intelligent, but it had surprised the entire office when it was discovered that both of them shared Wesley's passion for the famed and difficult Sunday New York Times crossword.

A small smile graced her face, her hand moving of its own volition to rest against her flat tummy.

Her gaze shifted again, taking in Fred and Angel in a corner of the room. Anya frowned wondering why they looked so furtive and sneaky. 'Hmmm... ', she thought, 'are they whispering?' It certainly looked like it.

Taking one last look at all of her friends and noting the fact that Gunn was nowhere to be seen, Anya headed back to her room. Xander was at his job, on site.

She suddenly wished, she'd gone to work as well, but staying home had seemed like a good idea at the time. Especially when her head was practically lodged in the toilet bowl all morning. Now that she felt better, she was just bored. Perhaps she really should look into what was going on with Angel and Fred. She had the feeling, it was *good*. Besides, she had been a vengeance demon for over 1,000 years, and it had been *way* too long since she'd caused a little mischief.

~~~~~~~~

"Okay, so we're set right? You know what to do?", Angel asked.

Fred nodded, her brown eyes twinkling, as the two walked slowly down one of the upstairs hallways.

"What is it she's going to do?", Anya asked, surprising both distracted individuals and popping out from behind a large, potted palm.

Fred's eyes widened. "Oh nothing, we were just discussing what I'd do if we ever ran into uhhhh....", the brilliant woman's mind went blank, she looked at Angel desperation in her eyes.

Angel groaned searching for something to say. He couldn't believe he'd been so distracted he'd let someone sneak up on them. Of course Anya was better than Xander.... that fact made things a *bit* better in the vampire's head.

Anya folded her arms over her chest. "Well?"

The souled vampire opened his mouth--

"Oh save it!", the ex-demon declared. "You guys are up to no good and I want in."

Fred blinked, her mouth opening into a round little 'o'. Angel arched an eyebrow in silent contemplation before turning to his companion. Fred shrugged.

"We'll tell ya', if you tell us what's been going on with you the past couple of days", the physicist finally said, after a moment.

Anya sighed. She supposed she had to confide in at least a few of her friends... she needed advice after all. "Okay. Deal."

~Part: 11~

~ Winter, 2006 ~

Spike awoke, and stretched, true face appearing reflexively as he allowed himself an unguarded moment of pleasant relaxation. Fangs glinted slightly in the gloom of the darkened room, blinds and heavy drapes protecting him from the dangerous rays of the sun. He blinked, turning his head to peer at the bright red digital numbers of the alarm clock by his head. It was noon. Damned early as far as he was concerned, but it was around the time that everyone expected he and his Sire to appear down in the office.

Sighing, the vampire flipped over searching out the scent of his love on the cotton sheets. With a grin he buried his ridged visage in Fred's pillow. It was sometimes overwhelming to him, just how much he loved the scatter-brained little physicist.

Taking one last long whiff of his beloved's fading scent, Spike threw the covers off and bounded from the bed, his beautiful human facade once more masking his demon's features.

He couldn't help the yawn that fought its way loose, as he walked through the suite, outside to the third floor hallway, and the linen closet down the hall.

Grabbing a towel, he slung it around his neck, idly scratching himself through the thin boxers he wore. Reentering the suite, Spike walked toward the bathroom, when the scent wafting faintly through the wood, permeated his sleep-addled brain.

"Winifred?", he called, turning the handle. "Shouldn't you already be downstairs working with Wussy on that new doohickey you were building?" Impatiently, the vampire pushed open the door, and blinked as all the borrowed blood in his body took a sudden detour-- south.

The physicist relaxed in warm, gardenia scented water, bubbles floating along the top of the liquid like wispy clouds, teasingly obscuring her lithe form. Fred's long, wavy hair was piled haphazardly on her head, only a number two pencil keeping the heavy mahogany tresses from becoming drenched. Her slender shoulders, long neck and pretty face were all Spike could really see, and he mentally cursed the bubbles for being in the friggin' way.

"Hi hon...", she said impishly. "Angel, Wesley and I finished that one already, I'm working on a new one. Gunn's testing it out for me today with Lindsey, maybe you'll want to go with them and kill things? Anyway, with this new one, I'm working on developing a Darik demon repellant that uses--"

"Ahh, luv, not that I'm not totally besotted with your brain and all, but I planned on taking a shower." An evil smirk appeared on his face. "Or I could join you luv....", the bleached blond suggested, even as he tried to subtly move closer, salivating at the thought of some early morning nookie.

Fred peered at him imperiously. "Uh uh, don't even think about it."

Spike frowned.

"Not that I wouldn't love too", Fred hastened to say, wanting to erase the petulant look on her mate's face, "its just that I have to be back downstairs in ten minutes."

"How about a quickie?", he asked hopefully.

Silence descended on the bathroom. The brunette just stared at him.

"Oh bloody hell! Fine", he grumbled, pouting.

"You can take a shower in the empty suite down the hall. Oh--", she added as an afterthought.

"What?", Spike asked.

"Could you take that dress hanging on the hook with you?"

"What for?"

"I want to wear it tomorrow but can't stand ironing the darned thing. Just stick it on the hook on the back of the bathroom door when you're showering and the steam will get out the creases", Fred explained patiently.

Turning, the chipped vampire snatched the dress off the hook. It was pretty. A pale pink color he thought would suit his Freddie well. "Alright, but you owe me", he muttered, as he left the room in a huff, clenching the dress and his towel.

Alone in the bathroom, Fred smiled. "That's what I'm counting on honey", she said sweetly.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike was still muttering under his breath about bossy, sexy mates and stupid, annoying bubble baths, when he stepped into the empty suite's bathroom.

Turning the shower to an almost scalding setting, the British vampire stepped inside.

"Ahhh...", he murmured, enjoying the pulsating spray as it pounded on his back. He really wished Freddie had let him stay. Images of his mate's slender form began to manifest in his still aroused brain. Spike's hand was just starting to move downward from his just-soaped chest when he heard a shout.

He froze, unsure.

"Spike!!!!"

'Winifred!', his mind registered. 'Was she in trouble, had Wolfram and Hart black hats dropped in on the hotel?'

"Spike you numbskull, I need you", Fred's voice came again.

'Hmmm...', the bleached blond thought, 'that didn't sound like a life and death emergency exactly, but it *did* sound like he was in trouble.' He groaned, wracking his brain for any possible clues as to what he could possibly have done this time.

Vaguely he wondered, if maybe Anya had found out he'd been the one to put all the bunnies in her room the month before. Her phobia induced screams had reduced him to hysterics.

"SPIKE!!!!! HELP!!!!"

Now *that* sounded serious. He was out of the shower like a shot.

'Where the hell was his bloody towel?', he wondered vaguely, before grabbing the only other item in the room to cover himself with. Even if his love's life was being threatened he was completely certain, she'd find a way to stake his butt if anybody else got a free show of what she considered hers. It amused him that Fred was, if anything, more possessive than he was.

So it was without conscious thought, that he grabbed the dress off the hanger, and donned it, as he ran out of the bathroom through the empty rooms and out into the hall towards the room he shared with his love.

If someone touched a single chestnut strand on his Winifred's head, he was going to tear their throat out, demon, human, animal or mineral.

Unaware of how the pale pink material clung to his damp, naked flesh, Spike crashed into the wooden door to his room, desperate to get to his mate.

"Oh my God!! Wow!"

Spike blinked. "Delia?" Why was Cordelia in his room? In fact, why was everyone in his room? Everyone was there, staring.... at him. "Bugger!!", he squealed rather effeminately.

The grins on his friends faces widened as their eyes began to move downwards.

Horrified, Spike's own gaze went to his body, encased as it was in the damp, practically transparent pink cotton dress. His hands went to cup his crotch protectively even as his cerulean eyes met those of his Sire.

"Smile Spike!", Anya cried, appearing in front of him with a camera.

His eyes widened to the size of quarters. "N--!", he started to say, only to be blinded by the bright flash of the camera. It took him what seemed of a full minute of blinking as the Fang Gang laughed, to be able to focus again. The bloody bastard was casually leaning against the far wall, an enormous smile plastered on his poofy face.

The elder vampire was holding a large, black boom box.

Spike had a sinking feeling. It was in desperation that he held up a hand and shook his head.

"Awww come on Spike", Willow giggled. "Dance for us." The comment, sent new peals of laughter through those assembled. The British vampire sagged under mum's reproving eye. He certainly deserved this for the way he'd guilted her into helping him with his prank on Angel; not that he'd ever admit that.

Tara watched the proceedings with her eyes covered, fingers split so she could see, of course. Lindsey was practically rolling on the floor with laughter besides his fiance. Spike made a note to not go easy on the traitor when they trained later.

His blue eyes narrowed. 'Speaking of traitors--', he thought, searching out his mate. He spotted her quickly, giggling with the rest, her dark eyes twinkling as she leaned on Gunn for support so she wouldn't fall down. She looked beautiful. He was gonna *so* get her for this later. Not that he was kidding himself. He was fully aware Fred would just *love* that.

Spike shook his head ruefully. 'There was no way he could stay mad at her, not that he was going to let her know that at any point in the near future', the vampire mused, as water dripped down his face.

"Gee Spike", Angel said, "looks like your all wet." And with that, the dark vampire pressed play.

As the Macarena began to pour from the speakers, Spike felt himself grin. By the time everyone in the room started to join in singing the song, he was laughing. Unwilling to look a gift horse in the mouth, Anya took more pictures.

~Part: 12~

~Present 2008~

Faith sat with the 'family album' in her lap, Anya was seated next to her with a sleepy Jesse in hers, while Gunn stood behind.

Tears of hysterical laughter were streaming down Faith's face.

"Oh. My. God.", she managed to gasp.

Anya nodded, a fond smile on her face.

"That dress was so totally x-rated", Faith observed, unable to tear her eyes away from the picture of Spike holding his privates protectively, an enormous scowl grafted onto his features. She wiped her eyes.

"What else is in here?", the Slayer asked, after she got her breath.

"Take a look around", Gunn suggested. "There are some pics of lots of the good times 'round here."

Faith flipped to the beginning of the book. The first photo featured Angel caught snoozing in his favorite leather chair, a research book forgotten on his lap. The next two were group pictures of the original surviving Scooby Gang and the Fang Gang respectively. The picture that followed was a combined group photo. Cordelia stood by Anya, the ex-demon stood by Xander, while he was next to Gunn. Seated in front of them were Fred, Wesley and Spike. In the back, on some steps, Willow stood next to Angel, while Tara stood next to the redhead. The two women's hands were clasped.

The dark Slayer shook her head, her fingers touching the spot where the witch's held hands. "Wow... it's hard to believe now, those two were ever involved, you know?"

Gunn grinned. "Yeah, especially considering how much things have changed." Winking at Faith, he gestured subtly across the room where Willow sat on Angel's lap, the vampire's head tucked into the redhead's shoulder. Near them, Tara sat talking to Fred, while Spike joked around with Lindsey. Neither male could keep their eyes off of their women.

"Its funny how everyone coupled up and stuff."

"I suppose", Anya agreed. The ex-demon shrugged. "I always kind of assumed this was what was *meant* to happen though. Why else would we have decided to come to L.A.? Plus, this whole process did take some time...."

"Serious time for some people", Gunn volunteered, his eyes rolling.

Anya nodded. "You mean Cordelia and Wesley don't you?"

"What was it? Like six years of UST?"

"I think you're right", the ex-demon said.

"UST?", Faith asked in confusion.

"Unresolved sexual tension", they answered simultaneously.

"So why isn't Spike in this pic, or Lindsey?", the Slayer asked.

"They showed up later. Lindsey first if I recall correctly. He just showed up one day. Said he was tired of running", Gunn told her.

"Spike came later. I guess it just took him a while to work through Buffy's death, and the fact that he'd even fallen for a Slayer in the first place", Anya said thoughtfully. "Anyway once he was here, Fred pretty much blew him away from the get go. It was hilarious. I remember we came home one night and there he was... trussed up like a pig."

The tall black youth seated by Faith chuckled. "That's our Fred for you. Girl looks fragile, but has a will of steel."

The Slayer nodded and turned the album's page. There were several photos of Anya and Xander's wedding. "Wow", she breathed. "Nice."

"It was, wasn't it", Anya quipped.

"Tara and Wills were your bridesmaids?"

"Yeah, they were still together at that point. Things were changing for them though."

"It was all good though", Gunn noted.

The next photos were of Spike and Lindsey training. In reality both had been hamming it up for the cameras, trying to push the other out of the shot.

"What's this picture of?", Faith asked with a smile, pointing to a picture of a jean clad ass.

"That's Xander's butt", Anya said helpfully.

The demon hunter groaned. "That's when he was up on the ladder putting up streamers for that New Year's Eve party we had a few years back." He turned the page, and pointed to a picture of the entire crew together, all dressed to kill. "See."

"You clean up real good Baldy", Faith said gruffly, her eyes meeting Gunn's for a moment.

"Speaking of UST...", Anya mumbled, under her breath. Both Faith's and Gunn's heads swiveled to look at her. "What? Oh, darn", she said in mock innocence. "Did I say that out loud?"

By this time, the sight of the familiar 'family album' in Faith's hands and Anya's running commentary, was attracting the attention of the rest of those present.

"I remember that", Lindsey commented, looking at the group's New Year's Eve photo. He looked at the blond woman at his side. "You were so beautiful that night, I couldn't keep my eyes off you."

Tara blushed.

"Turn the page", Cordelia prompted.

Faith gasped, when the page did move, by itself.

"Dennis!", the Seer chided. "I didn't mean for you to do that."

"Nothing to worry about Faith. That was just Dennis, our resident phantom", Wesley explained.

"Oh."

"Look Angel there are pictures of some of those nighttime softball games we'd have", Willow said, pointing to a picture featuring Gunn sliding into home plate. "As I recall, we beat the pants off of your team that time", the redhead told her mate smugly. Gunn grinned, giving her a high five.

Angel rolled his eyes expressively. He gazed at the album and frowned. "What picture is that?"

"It's the hospital room", Tara said softly.

"Ahh...", the vampire replied, nodding.

Faith blinked. "Huh?"

"Lindsey almost died... that was the hospital room he was in", the blond witch explained.

"We practically lived at the hospital for weeks", Cordelia stated.

"So why take a picture of it?", the newest addition of their group asked.

"Cause its where Tara and I admitted we were in love", the dark blond lawyer said.

"Okay maybe its just me, but that is seriously morbid. Not that I actually have a problem with that or anything..."

Lindsey just shrugged, a smirk on his face as he winked at the Slayer.

Their attention was recaptured by Angel's groan.

"Now *that* is classic", Spike chuckled, gazing at a picture of his Sire on-stage at Caritas.

"It was pretty funny", Fred said. The souled vampire grumbled at the physicist.

"What were you doing?", Faith asked.

Angel mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that Peaches?"

The dark haired vampire's mumble grew louder.

"Eh?", Spike prompted again, blue eyes glittering with mischief.

"I was singing and dancing the Macarena, damn it!", Angel shouted finally.

Fred giggled. Lindsey and Xander grinned.

Angel folded his arms.

"Uh oh, he's getting all huffy, somebody turn the page", Willow teased, sticking her tongue out playfully at her mate.

"I am *not* getting huffy", Angel growled.

"Nope, he's not", Tara agreed, winking at Willow. "Sounds more like he's getting growly."

"Am *not*."

"Are too."

"Moving on people!", Cordelia huffed.

Faith chuckled and flipped the page again. The next pictures were of Willow and Angel's mating ceremony. The redhead was resplendent in a long, red silk slip dress with skinny straps that cris-crossed her back. Her ruby tresses were piled on her head, and her green eyes rimmed in kohl. She stood in the protective circle of Angel's arms. The vampire had been dressed completely in white. The rogue Slayer started in surprise, she didn't think she'd *ever* seen him in anything but black, ever.

The couple smiled at the camera, despite the red splotches that marred both their throats. Wesley and Spike stood behind Angel, while Tara and Cordelia had witnessed for Willow.

"You had to bite each other?", Faith asked.

Willow nodded. "Its the traditional vampire way. We claimed each other. Its like marriage."

Angel smirked. "She's mine."

"And...", the hacker prompted.

"And I'm yours", Angel said dutifully. Willow smiled brightly.

The brunette Seer made a noise in her throat, wrinkling her nose. "We had to leave immediately after that picture was taken. They couldn't keep their hands off of each other."

"We didn't see either of them for over a week", Fred added.

"Could bloody well hear 'em though", Spike muttered dryly.

The picture that followed, showed Wesley carrying Cordelia over the threshold to her room.

"Oh my God!", the Seer shrieked.

"Where did you get that?", Wesley asked in disbelief.

"That night", Anya said, "when you got together finally. Lorne called me and told me to get out the camera. He said I had to archive this for posterity."

Cordelia growled. "I'll kill him!"

"I think you guys look adorable", Tara said, looking at the picture.

"Yeah, but look at what I'm wearing", the former May Queen grumbled. "What the hell was I thinking?"

Everyone sighed in collective relief.

"What's that?", Faith asked pointing to another photo, and changing the subject.

"Oh that was the machine I made for our mating", Fred explained.

"Machine?", the Slayer repeated.

"Yeah, it had some razor blades in it and when you pressed that button the blades would come out real quick and cut you, if you pressed this part of the machine against you."

"But why?"

"Bloody chip wouldn't let me get my fangs into Freddie, no matter how willing she was", the platinum haired vampire said. "And drinking from each other is a necessary part of the ritual."

"I'm getting close to finding a way of getting rid of the stupid ol' thing though", the physicist said, before reaching out and turning the page.

The next photograph showed a laughing, happy Fred, gazing up into Spike's face. Like Angel, Spike had been completely dressed in white.

'It was funny how a demon that could look practically angelic, he was so beautiful', Faith mused. 'Fred on the other hand, looked slightly wicked.' Her long tresses had been straightened and reached her waist. Her mating dress, although also red like Willow's, was more a burgundy color. It had been strapless, short, and much to Faith's surprise, leather.

"Holy crap. You looked hot!", the Slayer crowed.

"Oh yeah... she was blazin'", Gunn agreed.

Spike growled. "Hey!"

"I've got eyes, don't I?", the demon hunter countered. "Like I could help it..."

"True... I really do love that dress, Fred-luv", Spike sighed, before whispering in the former slave's ear.

In the photo, Lindsey and Gunn stood behind Spike. As his Sire, Angel had also been present, giving an official blessing. The taller vampire could be seen slightly behind both Fred and his Childe. Fred's witnesses had been Cordelia and Tara.

The next picture was the aforementioned and infamous Spike in pink dress shot she'd seen before. That one got a collective laugh from the group.

The last photos in the album were of Anya during her pregnancy, and shots of Jesse in the hospital, and in his bassinet when they brought him home.

"So Anya you never did tell me, how you broke the news about being pregnant to Xander", Faith reminded the ex-demon after she closed the book.

"Well Fred advised me to broach the subject gently. You know, maybe hint around, by buying baby clothes and letting him find them or something....", Anya began.

"But...", the rogue Slayer prompted.

"Tact isn't something I'm exactly good at."

Cordelia humphed.

"Neither is she", Wesley commented unnecessarily, a small smile gracing his features as he pondered his lovely fiancée.

"So one day I just *told* him."

"That's it?", Faith said, slightly disappointed.

"Yep", Anya nodded, "once he regained consciousness, he was ecstatic."

Faith giggled. Angel and Spike chuckled.

"In the meantime, those two", Gunn said, pointing at the two vampires, "wrote all over his face with magic marker."

Seeing that the album was at its end, and giving the sleeping form of Jesse in his mother's arms a long look, Faith spoke.

"Thanks for showing it to me. You guys have some great memories in here."

"We do, don't we?", Willow said with a smile.

"You'll be in it soon, too", Anya reminded, the ex-con.

"And hopefully, you'll be in it repeatedly", Gunn murmured, his eyes on Faith's face.

The Slayer's breath caught in her throat. Turning her head, her eyes were caught by the intensity of his gaze. "Yeah", she sighed, "me too."

~The End~

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