Spike entered the house just as the first rays of sunlight began to peek
over the horizon. He frowned at the mess that cluttered the kitchen. <
Would've thought the witch had cleaned this up already. >

He shrugged. < I'll give her a little leeway, what with her condition and
all. > He whistled a jaunty tune as he made his way through the clutter to
the fridge. He'd just gotten laid, and a laid vampire was a happy vampire.
He pulled open the door and reached for his blood, but there was none left.
He frowned.

Spike slammed the door shut, a little bit upset. He could understand that
Willow was having some feminine problems, and he could excuse the messy
kitchen, but he needed the blood to survive. Why hadn't she made the trip to
Willy's to get it? Just as he was about to walk away a new paper sticking to
the fridge caught his attention. He pulled it off, ignoring the magnet that
clattered to the floor. Willow's neat print covered the page.

~ Spike,

I know there's no blood, but how was I supposed to know to get it? You never
told me. You'll just have to get it yourself, as I'm going on vacation.
You're pushing me to insanity here and I need to get out before I explode.
Anyway, I'll be gone for a few days. Don't try to find me; I don't want to
be found. I'll see you when I've calmed down enough to face you without
attempting to kill you. Good luck living on your own.

Willow

P.S. If I come home to a messy house, I swear to God that I'll vacuum up
your dust along with the rest of it. ~

Spike simply stared at the note. She couldn't do this!

********************

Willow knocked on the door. She waited for a few minutes, and, getting no
response, knocked again, louder. When no one answered she began to pound on
the door. < C'mmon, c'mmon. >

>From inside, a masculine voice called, 'I'll be right there,' somewhat
impatiently.

The door flew open and Willow gaped in shock at the sight before her. There
was Angel, clad only in a towel wrapped around his waist. She admired his
sweaty body a moment before turning her attention up to look at his face.

"Angel." She managed to squeak out.

Angel would've flushed if he could have. "Willow."

"Umm, Angel," said Willow, "could I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, sure."

"What're you doing naked in Cordy's apartment?"

It was just then that Cordy rounded the corner, tying a robe together. Her
hair was mussed and sticking out in every direction.

Willow's mouth hit the floor. < The cheerleader would never look like that
unless. > She turned to the pair. "YOU TWO ARE FUCKING??" She accused
shrilly.

Angel grabbed Willow, dragged her into the apartment, and slammed the door
shut.

Cordy patted her hair down. "Willow, nice to see you," she got out, her face
flaming red.

"How long," asked Willow, "and why didn't any of us know?" And then she
added as an afterthought while taking a few steps backward, "and what about
his soul?"

Angel smiled, a genuine smile, and it shocked Willow. "Anchored,
permanently."

While she was happy for her friend, the news seemed to only infuriate her
further. "Gee, thanks for telling me." She held up her hands. "No, that's
okay, it's not like I had an investment in it or anything. I mean, it's not
as if I originally anchored his soul or anything.." She ground out,
sarcastically.

Angel cringed. "Look, Willow, we did want to tell you. It was just that I
didn't want Buffy to find out, and want to resume our relationship.. I'm
happy with Cordelia. Can you understand that?"

Willow nodded. "Look, guys, I'm really sorry. For how I'm acting, for
dropping in like this. I hate to impose, but.."

Cordy nodded. ". You need to impose. No problem, Willow, you know that
you're welcome here anytime. You can have the guest bedroom, and we'll talk
in the morning."

Willow nodded, smiling at the girl gratefully. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

********************

Willow, Angel, and Cordelia sat around the breakfast table munching on toast
and eggs and sipping orange juice. "So," said Angel, "not that it's not good
to see you, but what brings you here?"

Willow sighed. "I guess I just really needed to get away from things. You
know how I'm living with Spike?"

Both nodded.

"Yeah, well, he's driving me crazy!! He's such a.. a.. VAMPIRE!" She
exclaimed. "Sorry, Angel."

Angel shrugged. "I know what you mean, I've lived with Spike before."

"Yeah, well, it's really beginning to get to me. I leave the house in
perfect condition in the morning, and when I come home it's a hellhole!! He
doesn't even bother to throw away empty containers or make a shopping list.
He doesn't give me my phone messages. He doesn't respect my privacy. Just
last night I was trying to take a bath when he just barged in! I could have
killed him."

Angel quirked a brow at her. "When I do that to Cordelia, she doesn't seem
to mind too much."

Willow dropped her face into her hands. "More information than I needed,
thankyouverymuch!"

Cordelia grinned. "So, it basically comes down to trouble in paradise, huh?"
She asked.

"WHAT?!" Willow's head snapped up. "We are *not* dating, or fucking, or
whatever." She shuddered at the idea.

"But you like him," stated Cordelia.

"*Like* him? Like *him*? God no! I *hate* him."

Angel and Cordelia exchanged a knowing glance over the witch's head.

"Willow," said Cordy, temporarily dropping the subject, "how would you like
to take the day off to do a little shopping with me? It'll be good for you
to get out and relax."

"That actually sounds really nice, Cordy," said Willow.

"Great," Cordy turned to Angel, holding her hand out. He grudgingly removed
a credit card and placed it in her hand. She leaned over and kissed him on
the cheek. "Thanks, Angel. We'll be back when we're back."

With that the two girls were out the door.

********************

The girls were gone barely five minutes when the phone rang. Angel picked it
up. "Hello?"

"Peaches?" Came Spike's familiar voice over the line.

Angel groaned. "Spike," he acknowledged.

"Don't sound so enthusiastic to hear from me, Peaches," Spike said.

"Gee, Spike, last time I saw you I was having hot pokers shoved through my
chest. Since then, you've tried to kill my friends repeatedly. I do so
apologize if I happen to be lacking in enthusiasm." Angel ground out
sarcastically.

"Well," said Spike, "as much as I'd love to exchange barbs with you, I'm on
a mission. I need to find my redheaded witch. She's missing."

"*Your* redheaded witch?" Angel repeated.

Spike growled. "This is fucking serious, Peaches, she's missing. And I'm
worried," he added as an afterthought.

"Do you know why she left?" Angel asked.

"I.. I don't.. she's mad at me, I guess." Spike admitted reluctantly.

"So how do you know that she wants to be found?" Angel asked.

"She doesn't want to be found."

"So then why should I help you? I'm sure that she's fine."

"Look, Peaches," said Spike, "I need to find her so I can apologize. Okay?
You happy? I'm going to grovel at her feet until she comes back to her home.
With me."

Angel grinned, happy for the couple to be (because it was so obvious to him
that they were going to get together), but he still couldn't help but take a
jab at his rebel childe. "Awww, isn't that sweet. Spike's in love."

"Shut up. I bet you're just as knickers whipped by the ex-cheerleader."

Angel's mouth dropped open. "How.. how did you know?" He could hear his
insolent childe's grin.

"Gimme a break. My fucking horny sire? She was available."

Angel's jaw clenched. "That's not what it is."

Spike's voice softened. "I know. Peaches, please help me. If Cordy ran off,
you'd do anything you could to find her. Please."

Angel relented. "She's here, Spike. She's here."

"I'll be there in two hours." CLICK. Spike hung up the phone.
 

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