Chapter Eight
Los Angeles

"Darla could you come in her please?" Angel asked over his intercom.

"I'll be right there." Darla answered back.

A few seconds later Darla came walking through the door with a stack of case files in her hand. "What can I do for you Mr. Montgomery?"

Angel walked over and took the files from her and set them on a near by table then closed the door to his office behind them.

"I need your help with something." Angel said as he took his seat behind his desk once again.

"What is it?" Darla asked.

"I need you to find out all the information you can about William Cavanaugh."

"Sure."

"Also check under the name Spike."

"Spike?"

"It's a nickname he goes by."

"Alright." Darla said writing down both names on he notepad.

"Thanks."

"How soon do you want the information by?"

"The sooner the better."

"I'll get right on it. Can I ask you why?"

"I want to know everything I can about the man who can destroy everything I've worked so hard for."

"What do you mean?" Darla asked not quite understanding Angel's meaning.

"He's the only other man in this world that holds Buffy's heart."

Darla nodded her head as she finally understood what Angel was talking about. "I'll go start now."

As Darla neared the door Angel called her name. "Yes?"

"Don't forget about tonight." Angel said looking down at some of his paper work.

A small smile escaped Darla's lips. "I wont."

Angel looked up at Darla. "Good, and wear something sexy."

*****

Madison walked into her grandmother's living room as slowly as she could making sure she didn't spill a drop of the drink she was carrying over to the couch where her mother and the man was sitting.

"Do you like hot coco?" Madison asked.

Spike looked up to stare at her. "I do, but only when it has those lil' marshmallows in it."

A smile spread across Madison face as she handed the man the drink. "That's how I like it too. Mommy always says that I remind her of my father when I ask for the little marshmallows in my hot coco."

Spike just looked at Madison in shook. 'Buffy tells her things about me?'

"Madison will you do Mommy a favor?" Buffy asked as she leaned forward on the couch.

Madison nodded her head. "Anything."

Buffy smiled at her daughter's willingness to make her happy. "Why don't you go up to your room and play while us grownups talk."

"Okay." Madison said before giving her mother and grandmother a hug she then stopped in front of Spike. "It was nice meetin' you Sir."

Spike nodded his head in agreement as Madison ran up the stairs to her room.

After a few moments Spike turned to face Buffy. "She lives here?"

"No, she lives with me and Angel." Buffy stated.

"But you told her to go play in her room." Spike said confused.

"She has a room her because my mother helps look after her when I have to work, and sometimes she spends the night here." Buffy explained.

"Oh." Spike said nodding his head in understandment.

Joyce stood up from the chair she was sitting in and grabbed her purse. "Buffy I have to run to the store for a few things, will you be alright here?"

"We'll be fine." Buffy said as she also stood up from her spot and walked over towards the door and reached into her own purse. "Take my car, since I'm blocking yours anyways." Buffy handed her mother the keys to her SUV.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Joyce asked looking past her daughter to the man that was sitting in her living room.

"I'll be fine. Everything will be fine."

"I'll give the three of you a few hours before I come back." Joyce said before pulling Buffy into a hug.

"Thanks." Buffy said pulling away from her mother and walking back into the living room.

"You tell her things about me." Spike mumbled as Buffy walked back towards him.

"What was that?"

Spike looked up at Buffy. "You tell her things about me." He said louder this time.

"Who?" Buffy asked, not knowing if he was talking about Madison or her mother.

"Madison."

"I don't lie to her about the small things." Buffy stated.

"Like her father only liking lil' marshmallows in his hot coco?"

"Yeah, like that."

"What else?"

"I tell her that she has her father's smirk, and that all she has to do is look at me with those deep blue eyes and I would do anything for her."

Spike locked eyes with Buffy. "Anything?"

"Anything." Buffy whispered as she took a step closer to Spike.

"What else?" Spike asked taking a step closer to Buffy.

"The way she sees the world and the things in it reminds me of you. She can wait until she can get out into the world and make her own mark. And of all the things in the world to be scared of, she's only terrified of one thing." Buffy said moving closer to Spike.

"What's that?" Spike said as he reached out to pull Buffy to him.

"Losing me." Buffy whispered.

"I know the feeling." Spike stated before bring his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

After pulling away from each other's lips Buffy looked up into his eyes again. "Would you like to go play with your daughter?"

"What if she doesn't like me?" Spike asked felling worried that his own daughter would turn him away.

"She'll love you. Besides, I'll be there with you." Buffy stated trying to reassure him.

Spike nodded his head as Buffy took his hand and led him up to his daughter's room.

*****

The Magic Box

"Rupert?" Joyce called out as she walked into the shop.

"Joyce? Is that you?" Giles called as he walked out of the back room.

"Yes." Joyce said as she walked over towards the table in the middle of the shop and took a seat.

"What can I do for you?" Giles asked as he took a seat next to her.

"I needed to get out of the house for a few hours."

"Well, you know you're always welcome here." Giles said placing a hand over hers on top of the table.

"Thank you Rupert." Joyce said as she placed her other hand over the hand he had just placed on hers.

"What did you need to get out of the house for?"

"Buffy brought Madison's birth father over to meet her."

"The writer?" Giles asked.

"You knew he was here?" Joyce questioned.

"He's here for the next few days doing a book signing. Buffy stopped by earlier to do a photo shot with him for a magazine that hired her. I didn't know who he was until I saw the two of them together."

"Why didn't you call me?" Joyce asked.

"I thought you knew, and if you didn't know I didn't think it was my place to tell you. It had to be up to Buffy."

Joyce nodded her head. "You're right, I'm sorry. It's just that I'm worried she's going to throw away everything she has in order to be with him again."

"Would that be so bad?" Giles asked rubbing his thumb over her hand.

"I do like him more then Angel, and I just met him." Joyce said with a small smile on her face.

"Well that's a start."

*****

Madison's Room

"Can Mommy and her friend come join you or is this a private party?" Buffy asked from the doorway of her daughter's room.

Madison looked up at her mother with the biggest smile on her face. "You can join me."

"Good." Buffy said as she pulled Spike in with her and took a seat on the floor by the toy house next to their daughter, pulling him down with her. "What are we playing?"

"House." Madison said as she held out two figures, one was a man and one was a woman. "You can be the mommy." She said handing the woman figure to Buffy. "And you can be the daddy." She added handing the figure of the man to Spike.

"And who are you going to be?" Buffy asked, knowing that Spike was still a little overwhelmed at being this close to his daughter.

Madison held out two figures. "The kid, and the dog."

"I see, what are our name's?" Buffy asked Madison.

"You're Mommy, and he's Daddy." She said pointing to the figures in the grownup's hands.

"Ohhh. And what's the kid's name?"

"Madison." Madison stated.

"Very realistic. And the dog?"

"I don't know." Madison said thinking for a moment before looking up towards Spike. "What do you think the puppy's name should be?"

"Is it a boy or a girl puppy?" Spike asked, feeling comfortable enough to talk for the first time since he and Buffy had entered the room.

"I don't know." Madison said.

"What do you think it should be Buffy?" Spike asked turning to face her.

"It's up to you." Buffy stated with a small on her face from watching the two of them interact with one another.

Spike turned back to face Madison again. "Name, name, need a name."

"You're silly." Madison said as she began to laugh at him.

"Am I?" Spike asked the laughing girl.

"Yep." She said popping her 'p' like always.

Spike turned to look at Buffy. "Do you think I'm silly?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

"If Madison says it then it must be true." Buffy stated as she also began to laugh.

Spike looked back and forth between the two laughing girls. "Huh." Spike sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest causing both Buffy and Madison to stop laughing and look at him.

Buffy saw that the smirk was still on his face and knew that he was just playing and decided to play along even more. Buffy looked over and Madison who nodded her head, and then back at Spike who still had his arms crossed over his chest. "Madison I think you and I are the only one who have been laughing, do you think we should do something about that?" Buffy asked.

"Yep!" Madison replied.

Spike looked at both of them with wide eyes and uncrossed his arms and held his hands out in front of him. "Oh no you don't."

"It's only fair." Buffy said as her and Madison inched closer towards him.

Before he knew what was happening he was being attacked by little hands as Buffy straddled his lap to keep him from being able to get away from Madison.

"Not fair, not fair." Spike yelled over and over again as Madison continued to tickle him, while trying hard not to react to how Buffy was positioned over him at the moment.

After a few minutes of torture Madison stopped tickling Spike do to the fact that she had to go pee from all the laughing that she was doing. After she was out of the room Spike flipped Buffy over so that she was on her back and he was on top of her.

"You cheated." Spike stated in a low whisper.

"But it was fun." Buffy replied with a smile on her face.

"I could think of more ways to have fun with just the two of us." Spike whispered into her ear as he trailed kisses down her neck.

"Now not really the place for this." Buffy panted.

"Do. You. Want. Me. To. stop?" Spike asked in between each kiss.

"Not really." Buffy stated before pulling his face to hers and crashing their lips together.

The two were pulled out of the moment as a scream ran through the upstairs. Buffy pushed Spike off of her, and they both stood up.

"Madison." They said at the same time.

They were both out the door of the little girls room and down the hall to the bathroom in seconds. Spike was the first to get there and pushed it open do he and Buffy could step in and see what had caused the child to scream that way.

"Spider." Madison cried out from her spot on top of the toilet seat as she pointed to the creature that sat in the middle of the floor unmoving.

Both Buffy and Spike let out the breath of relief that neither knew they had been holding as Buffy walked over and picked up Madison who had tears running down her face and carried her away from the toilet while Spike took care of the spider.

After flushing the toilet Spike turned to face both Buffy and Madison. "All gone."

"Thank you." Madison said in a low whisper.

"No problem lil' bit." Spike said as he walked over towards the two.

"I think it's time for your nap." Buffy told Madison as the three of them walked out if the bathroom and back into the bedroom they had just ran out of.

"Okay." Madison said as she crawled into her bed.

Buffy pulled the covers up over her daughter's body and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Sweet dreams Baby. I'll be right downstairs if you need anything."

Madison curled into a ball and snuggled further into the bed.

After a few moments of watching their daughter falling asleep Buffy pulled Spike out of the room and back down the stairs.

*****

Chapter Nine
Los Angeles

KNOCK-KNOCK

"Come in." Angel called from his desk.

"I thought you'd like to know what I've found out so far." Darla stated as she walked over to Angel's desk and took a seat on top of it.

Angel looked over towards Darla slowly moving his eyes over her legs and up her thighs until he reached her face. "What did you find?" Angel asked with a grin on his face.

"Here you go." Darla said leaning over to hand the file she was holding to Angel making sure he got a clear look down her blouse.

Angel took the file from her hand keeping his eyes on her breast. "Thanks."

Darla sat back up as Angel opened the file. "There's not much to fine on him. It appears that he keep out of trouble as much as he could, but there are a few incidents that might be useful to you."

As Angel read through the file he looked up at Darla. "A few parking tickets isn't going to do the trick."

"There's more." Darla said as she moved a couple of sheets of paper away from the file.

As Angel read over the information an evil grin spread across his face. "Prefect."

*****

Sunnydale

"You did good up there." Buffy said as she led Spike back into the living room.

"I got so worried when I heard her scream." Spike stated as he took a seat next to Buffy on the couch.

"Welcome to parenthood." Buffy said. "I'm glad you were here to save her."

"It was only a spider."

"Yes, but her mother has a bigger fear of spiders then she does."

"You didn't seem like it."

"It was all an act. A brave front for a scared little girl, if you haven't of been there to deal with the spider it would still be walkin' around up there and Madison and I would be outside waiting for my mother to come home and save us both."

A laugh escaped Spike's lips. "Poor Buffy scared of the big bad spider." He teased.

"It's not funny." Buffy stated lightly slapping him in the arm.

"Ouch." Spike said in between laughs.

"Big baby." Buffy said going to slap him again but this time he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him positioning them so that Buffy was once again trapped under him.

"Is that any way to treat the man who saved you from the big bad spider?" Spike whispered in her ear.

Buffy shook her head. "Guess not."

"I think I deserve a reward for being so brave." Spike said wiggling his eye browse.

"What did you have in mind?" Buffy asked with a small grin.

"Not sure." Spike stated before kissing her neck.

"You do know that this is very wrong." Buffy stated.

Spike brought his hand between their bodies and ran it under her skirt and up her thigh causing a small moan to escape Buffy's lips. "Does it feel wrong?"

Buffy's eyes drifted close as his fingers pushed her panties aside to give him better access. "No, but it is."

Spike slipped a finger into her center. "Do you want me to stop?"

Buffy shook her head no. "Yes."

Spike slid another finger into her opening watching the way her head was moving and not listening to her voice. "Are you sure?"

Buffy shook her head no again. "Yes."

Spike placed a third finger into her center causing her to moan once again.

Buffy could take anymore of this. She wanted him, and she wanted him right now. Thoughts of her husband and his wife left her mind as she reached to unzip his pants and pulled out his hardening member.

"Buffy." Spike gasped at the feel of her hand wrapped around his cock.

"I want you in me." Buffy panted as she guided him to her opening.

Spike removed his fingers and positioned himself in front of her center rubbing his head against the wetness.

Just as Spike was about to thrust into Buffy Joyce walked into the living room.

"Buffy I'm. . .Oh my god!" Joyce said as quickly turned away so that her back was now facing the blonde couple on the couch.

Buffy and Spike both froze and looked at each other with wide eyes at hearing the older woman's voice.

"Oh god!" Buffy gasped as she pushed Spike off of her and fixed her clothes. She waited until Spike was done fixing his pants before speaking again. "You can turn around now."

Joyce slowly turned back around to fine the couple now standing a few feet away form one another both looking anywhere but at her. Joyce set her bags down and walked further into the living room. "Are you both crazy? You're both married people. What were you thinking?"

Buffy and Spike looked at each other.

"No, don't tell me. I don't want to know." Joyce said holding up a hand. "Where's Madison?"

"She's in her room taking a nap." Buffy stated.

"And what if she had walked in on the two of you?" Joyce asked. "How would you have explained why her mother was about to have sex with another man?"

"She's to young to know about sex." Buffy stated trying to lighten up the conversation.

"That's not the point Buffy and you know it."

"I know, and I'm sorry."

"And what do you have to say for yourself?" Joyce demanded from Spike.

"I. . .um. . ."

"It's not his fault it went that far." Buffy said interrupting Spike.

"It takes two to tango young lady." Joyce stated.

"Grams why are you so mad?" Madison asked as she walked down the stairs and into the living room and over towards her mother.

Buffy knelt down so that she was face to face with her daughter. "I thought you were sleeping."

"I was, but I heard Grams yelling so I came down." Madison stated looking around at the group of grownups.

"I'm sorry Maddie, I didn't mean to wake you up." Joyce said walking over towards Madison and pulling her into a hug.

"It's okay." Madison said returning the hug.

"Spike, do you think you could help Madison go pack her bag so we can head home?" Buffy asked standing up.

"Sure." Spike said nodding his head to Buffy. He looked over towards Madison and held out his hand. "Led the way."

Madison took Spike's offered hand and led him up to her room.

After Spike and Madison were out of hearing range Joyce walked over to Buffy and grabbed a hold of her upper arm. "How could you be so stupid?"

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen. It's just. . .It's just that whenever Spike and I are around each other for a period of time our old feelings show up and it's like we're the only two people left in the world."

"And what about your husband?"

"I love Angel." Buffy stated.

"It didn't look that way when I walked in her a few minutes ago."

"It complicated."

"Does Angel even know that Spike's here?"

"No." Buffy whispered looking away from her mother.

"Buffy, look at me."

Buffy looked back up.

"I just want you to be happy."

"I know."

"And to tell you the truth I can remember the last time I've seen you this happy. If being together makes the both of you this happy then it's not fair to the people you married to stay with them and be unhappy."

"Angel makes me happy."

"Not this happy Buffy. You love watching the way Madison and Spike interact with each other. It's like the missing piece of your heart is being filled."

"You're right. I just don't want to hurt anymore people then I already have." Buffy said taking a seat on top of the coffee table. "I've hurt Angel so much already. I had an affair and got pregnant by another man, and now I'm lying to him by not telling him that Spike's here in Sunnydale or that he's met Madison. And I've hurt Spike by not tell him he had a daughter in the first place. He's missed almost five years of her life, and there's no way I could ever make that up to him. And even if I did hurt Angel by leaving him there's no telling if Spike would leave his wife for me."

"Buffy the two of you were about to have sex on my couch. I think he still wants to be with you." Joyce stated.

"But what if it's just physical and nothing more?"

"It's more." Spike said as he walked back into the living room followed a few seconds later by a giggling Madison.

Buffy stood up and locked eyes with Spike. "It's more?" She whispered.

"Always."

"I'll go help put Madison and her things in the car and meet the two of you out there." Joyce said walking past the two blondes and picking up Madison and her bag.

"Thank you." Buffy said as Joyce walked out the door.

After a few moments of silence Buffy spoke. "Always?"

"Always. It's always been you, and it always will be." Spike stated.

"Where are you staying while you're in town?" Buffy asked.

"At a motel along the highway." Spike stated a little confused.

"Would you like to stay with Madison and me?" Buffy asked a little worried he might say no.

"Do you think that's such a good idea after what almost happened here?"

"I just thought that it would give you more time to be around Madison before you went back to L.A."

"And what about Liam?"

"He's in L.A. until Sunday." Buffy stated. "You don't have to if you don't want."

"I'd love to."

*****

Chapter Ten

On The Road

"Where we goin'?" Madison asked from her car seat.

"To go get Spike's stuff so he can spend a few nights with us. Would you like that?" Buffy asked looking in the review mirror to see her daughter's reaction to the thought of have Spike in the house with them.

Madison thought about it for a few moments before nodding her head. "Yep."

"Good." Buffy said turning her attention towards Spike. "Do you have a car here?"

"No, a limo brought me here." Spike stated as the scenery pasted him by.

"Alright, we'll pick up your stuff and then head home."

"Sounds like a plan." Spike said in agreement with Buffy.

*****

Montgomery Mansion

"Here we are." Buffy said driving up the half-mile driveway to the mansion.

"Do you think it's big enough?" Spike asked in a sarcastic tone.

"It's the biggest home in Sunnydale." Buffy stated turning the engine off of her car.

"It's bigger then the bleedin' high school we pasted." Spike said still looking at the house in shook as he stepped out of the vehicle.

"Can you get Madison out of her car seat?" Buffy asked choosing to ignore Spike's statement about the place she still wasn't use to calling home.

Spike picked Madison out of her car seat and closed the door.

"We have two pools. One inside, and one outside." Madison stated.

"Why didn't you just have the banquet here, it's big enough." Spike said as he followed Buffy up to the front door with Madison still in his arms.

"Because Angel was having one of the wings remodeled at the time." Buffy mumbled.

"Wings?" Spike asked in shook.

"Four." Madison said with a smile on her face.

Buffy placed a hand over her eyes. She loved how smart her daughter was becoming, but sometimes she wished she hadn't taught her to talk.

"Four what?" Spike asked Madison.

"Wings." Madison replied.

Spike looked back up towards Buffy who had stopped in front of the door. "You have four wings to this place."

"Yeah, but we use them all." Buffy stated. She was getting ready to continue when the door was opened to reveal a woman in a maid's outfit.

"Mrs. Montgomery, welcome home."

"Thank you Holly." Buffy said to the maid.

"Would you like me to take Ms. Madison to get cleaned up before dinner is served?" Holly asked.

"That would be great." Buffy said taking Madison out of Spike's arms and handing her to Holly. "Could you also tell Margaret that we have another person for dinner."

"Of course Mrs. Montgomery."

"Thank you."

After Holly was out of sight Spike spook. "You have a maid."

Buffy nodded her head. "We have a full staff."

"Full staff." Spike repeated in shock.

"It's a big house, you said it yourself."

"Mrs. Montgomery is there a problem here." A man in a suit asked as he entered the room looking at Spike with utter disgust.

"No, there's no problem here. Mr. Cavanaugh will be staying here for the next few days."

"Very well. I'll have one of the maids set up a room for him in the guest wing."

"Thank you Bryant. Could you also make sure that his bags are brought in from my car as well?"

"Of course Mrs. Montgomery." Bryant stated before walking off to do the job at hand.

"So, would you like the tour now or after dinner?" Buffy asked hoping Spike wouldn't pick up on the whole guest wing of what Bryant had said.

"Did the man in the suit just say guest wing?" Spike asked.

'Damn.' "Dinner it is." Buffy said quickly pulling Spike towards the dinning room.

*****

"Madison finish your vegetables." Buffy told her daughter as she watch the young girl pushing the green things on her plate around.

"I don't wanna." Madison stated.

"If you don't finish them then you don't get any dessert." Buffy replied.

"But. . ." Madison started only to be interrupted by Spike.

"How 'bout we finish them together?" Spike said picking up his spoon and placing more vegetables on his plate so that he and Madison could eat them together.

"Okay." Madison said with a small on her face.

Buffy placed her silverware on the table and sat back in her seat and watched the two of them interact with one another. After a few minutes both Madison and Spike had cleared their plates of all food.

"All done." Madison told her mother.

"I can see that. Was it good?" Buffy asked.

"Yep. Can I have dessert now?" Madison asked giving her mother a pouty lip.

"She defiantly gets that from you." Spike told Buffy as he looked at Madison.

"Yes, you can have dessert now." Buffy told Madison.

"Yeah!" Madison yelled bouncing up and down in her chair.

Margaret walked out of the kitchen and pick up all of the dinner dishes before returning a few minutes later with three pieces of chocolate cake.

After the three were done eating Holly took Madison up to her room so Buffy could give Spike the grand tour of the mansion.

*****

"What do you think?" Buffy asked returning to the place they had started the tour.

"It is bigger then that high school." Spike stated.

"Not by that much." Buffy defended.

"Whatever you say Pet. Whatever you say." Spike said grinning at Buffy.

"How big is the house you live in?" Buffy asked.

"Dru and I live in a loft apartment in New York."

"How big?" Buffy asked again.

"Probably the size of your guest wing." Spike stated.

"Oh." Buffy said; the guest wing was the smallest wing in the entire mansion.

"How do you live in a place this big?" Spike asked looking up into the night sky.

"I don't." Buffy stated stepping next to him and looking up into the sky as well.

"How's that?" Spike asked looking down at Buffy.

"This isn't home to me. This is just the place I sleep in and keep my clothes at, nothing more."

"Then why live here at all?"

"Angel likes big homes. He says that you can never have to much space to live in."

"What type of house would you like to live in?"

"A house like my mom's. It's homey, and big enough to have two or three kids running around it. It's got a nice back yard to play in, and it's in a good neighborhood. What about you?"

"I like your mum's house too. And I like the idea of my children being able to ride their bikes around the neighborhood and not having to worry about being in a big city like New York."

Buffy turned to face Spike fully. "So, we agree on the type of home we would like to live in and what type of neighborhood it would be. How many kids?"

"Already got one." Spike stated.

"Other than Madison."

"Two, after Madison."

"So three."

Spike nodded his head. "Yeah, three."

Buffy smiled up to Spike.

"What?" Spike asked.

Buffy looked over towards the swimming pool then back towards Spike. "How 'bout a swim?"

"Don't have a suit." Spike stated.

"We have extra." Buffy said pulling him over towards the pool house.

*****

She was a goddess plan and simple. The way her hair and body shimmered in the moonlight. There was no way you could tell that this woman had a child, she was perfect.

"What do you think?" Buffy asked as she stopped in front of Spike.

Spike looked her up and down again and took in the small black bikini she was wearing. "Perfect." He stated.

Buffy ran her hands up and down Spike's pale chest. "Not so bad yourself."

"What can I say, I'm perfect." Spike stated with a smirk on his face.

"Is that so?" Buffy asked with her hands still placed on his chest before pushing him into the pool. "'Cause the way I see it you're all wet." Buffy stated when he resurfaced.

"That anyway to treat a house guest?" Spike asked running a hand through his hair and wiping the water away from his face.

"Guess not." Buffy said with a small smile on her face as she reached a hand out to him in order to help him out of the pool.

Spike took the offered hand and locked eyes with Buffy. As Buffy looked into his eyes she saw the smirk return to his face and tried to move her hand away, but it was to late.

"Turn about is fair play Luv." Spike stated pulling Buffy's body closer to his own.

Buffy placed her hands on top of Spike's shoulders in order to help her stay above the water. "Is that anyway to treat the person who's home you're staying in?" Buffy asked turning Spike's earlier question around on him.

"Guess not." Spike stated moving Buffy even closer.

Instantly Buffy wrapped her legs around his waist not thinking anything about it. "How should you be punished?"

"How 'bout a good old fashion spankin'?" Spike asked.

"You would enjoy that to much." Buffy stated.

"So would you." Spike replied, lowering his head and placing kisses along her neck.

Buffy moaned at the feel of his mouth on her neck and placed her hands in his hair and pulled him towards her lips.

As the reunited lovers continued kissing a man stood off in a dark corner and pulled out a cell phone.

"Sir I think it'd be best if you returned home."

"What's wrong?"

"A Mr. Cavanaugh Sir."

"I'll be there in an hour or so."

"Yes Sir."

*****

Los Angeles

"Who was that?" Darla asked as Angel placed his cell phone back on the night stand next to the king size bed they had just spent the last few hours having sex in.

"Bryant." Angel stated turning back to face Darla.

"What did he want? Is something wrong at the mansion?"

"You could say that." Angel replied sarcastically.

"What is it?" Darla asked.

"William Cavanaugh."

"What does he have to do with this?"

"He's in 'MY' home with 'MY' wife." Angel said as he got out of the bed and began to out on clean clothing.

Darla wrapped the sheet around her and got out of the bed as well. "I'll have a car waiting downstairs for you in fifteen minutes to take you to your jet."

"Thank you." Angel said as he began to place his belongings into his bags.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Darla asked as she hung the phone back up and began to put on dress back on.

"No, I need you to stay here and get everything ready for the surprise." Angel stated turning to face Darla.

"Are you sure? I could go with you, I know it's going to be hard for you to see them together."

"I'm sure. As much as I would like you there by my side it would bring up to many questions."

"I understand." Darla stated looking away from Angel.

"Hey." Angel said as he walked over towards Darla and placed a hand under her chin and titled so she was forced to face him. "You knew what you were getting yourself involved in when we started this."

"I know." Darla said nodding her head.

"I'll send for you on Friday. Do you think you can have everything ready by then?"

"Of course."

"Good. I've got to get going before something happens in Sunnydale." Angel said moving away from Darla and grabbing his bags. "William Cavanaugh is in for the surprise of his life."

*****

Sunnydale

"We should stop." Buffy said pushing Spike away from her so she could swim past him towards the sallow end of the pool where the stairs were.

"Don't want to." Spike stated as he swam after her and trapped her between the steps of the pool.

"We have to." Buffy stated trying to push him away again.

"Why?"

"Too many people are in this house for starters."

"Make them leave."

"I don't have that type of power." Buffy whispered.

"You're the lady of the house, course you do."

"No, I don't. They only take orders from Angel. . .and Darla."

"Darla?" Spike questioned.

"Angel's secretary."

"So let me get this straight. You're the lady of the house and they won't do what you ask, but they'll do what the secretary asks." Spike stated moving away from Buffy.

"Yeah." Buffy whispered again as she walked out of the pool and began to dry off her body.

Spike walked up behind her and took the towel from her hands and began to help her dry off. "Doesn't make much since Luv."

Buffy returned the favor and began to dry him off with a towel as well. "That's just how it is."

"The Buffy I knew would never take this much crap from anyone."

"A lot can happen in five years." Buffy stated wrapping the towel around her waist and headed back towards the mansion.

Spike reached out and grabbed Buffy by the arm and turned her to face him. "Are you happy here?"

"What's not to be happy about? I have a loving husband and a great home. I have everything a girl could want."

"Then why is it that the only time you seem alive is when I'm touching you?" Spike asked as he ran his hand up Buffy's arm.

A tear ran down Buffy's face before she pulled away from Spike's hold on her. "I shouldn't have asked you to stay here."

"Why did you then?"

"I wanted you to be able to spend time with your daughter." Buffy stated before turning her back towards him.

"Why else?" Spike asked stepping behind her.

"I missed you." Buffy whispered.

Spike turned Buffy around to face him again. "I missed you too."

"We're married."

"That doesn't change the way we feel for one another."

"It should." Buffy stated before turning away from him again and walking towards the room she shared with her husband.

*****

Spike spent the next twenty minutes thinking in his room about everything that Buffy had said and had come up with one thing and one thing only.

He stood from his bed and walked out the door of the room and headed for one of the other wings. He would talk this out with her if it took him all night, and this time he wasn't going to let her walk away.

*****

Chapter Eleven

Montgomery Mansion

Buffy wandered down the hall thinking about what Spike had said as she made her way to Madison's room to check on her for the night. As she rounded the corner she ran into the last person she expected to see here this week.

"Angel!"

"Buffy."

"What are you doing home?"

"And here I thought you'd be happy to see your husband." Angel stated sarcastically.

"I am." Buffy stated a little to fast. "I just thought. . .I'm surprised is all."

"In a good way I hope."

"Of course." Buffy said before placing a kiss on her husband's cheek.

"Where were you headed?"

"I was about to check on Madison for the night." Buffy stated. 'Then I was going to go find Spike and tell him that he was right about what he had said and that I want him more then I've wanted anyone in my entire life.' Buffy added in her head.

"I'll come with you." Angel said placing his arm around her waist. "I've missed my little girl."

"She's missed you too." Buffy told Angel. 'That is until Spike showed up.'

"And you? Did you miss me?" Angel asked as they walked down the hall.

"Of course I did."

Just as they were about to open the door to Madison's bedroom Buffy heard a soft voice coming from inside. 'Spike.' Buffy thought in a panic.

"Are you going to open the door, or do you want me to do it?" Angel asked also hearing the voice from inside the room.

Buffy placed her hand on the doorknob and began to turn it open. "I'll do it."

As the married couple walked into the room the only person they saw was Madison lying in her bed with a remote in her hand. Buffy walked over towards the bed and took the remote from her daughter's hand. As Buffy turned off the CD player and placed the remote on the nightstand by the bed she noticed her daughter placing a finger over her lips as if to say 'Shush.' Buffy nodded her head and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead.

"Where is he?" Buffy asked in a low whisper so only her and Madison could hear.

Madison turned her head towards her closet for a moment before looking over to Angel who was looking around the room. "Hi Daddy."

Angel walked over towards the bed and pulled Madison into a hug. "Hey! How's my little girl doing?"

"I'm good." Madison stated.

"That's good, but shouldn't you be asleep."

"I was just listening to one of my bedtime stories before I fell asleep." Madison said pointing to her stereo.

'So that's where the voice was coming from.' "While, I think it's time for bed."

"Okay." Madison said snuggling down into her bed, mush like she had when Buffy and Spike had put her to bed for her nap at her Gram's house.

"Sweet dreams." Angel said walking back towards the door. "I'll be in our room when you're done here." Angel told Buffy before closing the door behind him.

After Buffy was sure that Angel was away from Madison's room she walked over towards the closet and opened it.

"What's the great poof doin' here?" Spike asked as he stepped out of the closet.

"He lives here." Buffy stated moving away from Spike. "And don't call Angel names when Madison is in the room."

Spike looked over towards Madison's bed. "Bits already fast asleep." Spike whispered.

Buffy pulled Spike further away from the sleeping child. "What are you doing in here?"

"I wanted to check on her for the night before I came to talk to you."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"Yes we do." Spike stated pointing to Madison's sleeping form, then in between them.

"Now's not a good time." Buffy replied.

"Then when?" Spike asked.

"I'll come by your room after I'm sure Angel's asleep."

"Fine." Spike stated as he began to open the door of the bedroom.

Buffy placed her hand over his. "Are you out of your mind? You can't just walk out of this room, what if Angel is around?"

"Should I care about that?" Spike asked.

Buffy pushed him away from the door. "Just let me check first before you go walkin' around."

After Buffy made sure everything was clear she let Spike walk out of Madison's room. "I'll see you later."

"I'll be waitin'." Spike stated before returning to the wing his room was in.

*****

Angel and Buffy's Bedroom

"What room is he in?" Angel asked over his cell phone.

"He's in one of the rooms in the guest wing." Bryant answered over the line.

"I want you to call me if you see my wife go anywhere near that room."

"Yes Sir."

Angel hung up his phone just as Buffy walked through the door.

"Who was that?" Buffy asked closing the door behind her and walking over towards the bed.

"Just someone asking about something for work." Angel answered as he got into the bed next to his wife.

"Oh." Buffy said pulling the covers over her body.

Angel began to place kisses along his wife's neck as his hands pulled her closer to him.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked trying to stop his hands from touching her body.

"I thought we could work on Madison's birthday gift." Angel stated pulling at the straps of Buffy's nightgown.

"Tonight?" Buffy asked.

"Why not?" Angel asked moving over her body.

"Aren't you tired from your trip?" Buffy asked trying to come up with something to just get him to go to sleep without making it sound like it was her idea.

"Never to tired for you." Angel replied.

After minutes of trying Buffy finally gave up and let her husband make love to her.

*****

Guest Wing

After hours of waiting for Buffy to show up Spike turned off the light next to the bed. Just as he was about to fall completely asleep he heard a knock at the door. Claiming out of the bed he turned the light back on before walking over and opening the door.

After Buffy walked into the dimly lit room Spike closed the door behind them.

*****

RING-RING

"Yes?" Angel answered into his cell phone with a groggy voice.

"Mrs. Montgomery just entered Mr. Cavanaugh's room." Bryant stated.

Angel turned over in his bed to look at the now empty spot his wife had just been in a few minutes ago. "Thank you for informing me."

"Of course Sir."

Angel hung up with Bryant and began to dial Darla's hotel room in L.A.

"Hello?"

"I need everything you have on William Cavanaugh sent to the Sunnydale office before noon." Angel stated.

"It'll be waiting for you when you get to the office." Darla told him.

"Thank you Darla." Angel said before hanging up and making his way out of his room and towards the guest wing.

*****

"What do you want to talk about?" Buffy asked pulling her robe tighter around her body and making sure she did make direct eye contact with Spike.

"You know what I want to talk about." Spike stated moving closer to Buffy.

"I don't know what you want from me." Buffy said moving away from Spike as he stepped towards her.

Spike reached out and turned Buffy to face him placing his hands on either side of her face. "Why won't you look at me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Buffy stated looking at everything but him.

Spike tightened his hold on her face. "Look at me."

When Buffy looked into his eyes Spike dropped his hands as if her face had burned him and stepped away from her.

"You slept with him." It wasn't a question as much as it was a statement.

All Buffy could do was nod her head as tears began to form in her eyes.

Spike was seeing red now and was trying his best not to throw her out of the room by her hair. "You slept with he, then you came to my room."

Buffy looked at Spike with tears now running freely down her face. "He's my husband."

"I'm getting real tired of hearing that accuse." Spike yelled.

"Keep your voice down." Buffy yelled back.

"Who's going to hear me? We're the only two people in this wing."

"No, you're not." Angel said walking into the room and closing the door behind him.

Buffy stared at Angel in complete fear as he made his way further into the room.

"You're just full of surprises aren't you Buff." Angel stated looking between his wife and Spike. "You leave my bed to come to his."

"Angel. . ." Buffy started only to be cut off by Spike.

"Maybe she wouldn't have to if you really knew what pleased." Spike bit back, not liking the way Angel was talking to Buffy. Even though he was mad at her himself he still thought Angel was out of line.

Buffy turned to face Spike. "Not really helping here."

"I've never had any complaints." Angel stated.

"Obviously you have if she's comin' to me for pleasure."

"Both of you stop this right now." Buffy yelled causing both men to look at her. "I've haven't slept with Spike. The only reason he is here is to meet Madison."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Angel asked.

"Because I knew you wouldn't let it happen if I told you." Buffy replied. "He's in town for a book signing and I told him he could stay at the house so he could be around Madison."

"Where you going to tell me?"

"No, I wasn't. I was going to let Spike get to know his daughter without you being around to pull her attention away from him. He had the right to know about her, and get to know her." Buffy stated.

"When did you tell him about her?"

"When we ran into each other at the banquet. Willow let us use her and Tara's room so I could tell him about Madison."

"That's where you were when I couldn't find you after the elevator incident."

"Yes." Buffy answered.

Angel turned to face Spike. "I want you out of my home within the next ten minutes."

Buffy placed a hand on Angel's arm. "I asked him to stay here. You can't just kick him out."

Angel pulled his arm away from Buffy's hold and walked over towards the door and opened it then turned back to face Spike. "Ten minutes. If you're not gone by then I'll have security remove you from the property." He then turned to face Buffy. "I expect you back in our room within the next ten minutes as well." After stated what he wanted he walked out of the room and slammed the door as he left.

"I'm not just walking away from this Buffy." Spike stated.

"I wouldn't expect you to." Buffy replied.

"I want to see her again before I go back to L.A." Spike said as he began to change into his jeans.

Buffy turned so that his back was facing him as she talked. "I'll see what I can do."

Spike turned Buffy to face him. "You'll make sure I get to see my daughter before I leave, or I'll find away to have her with me all the time."

"What? You can't take her away from me." Buffy yelled moving away from him.

"You find a way to make this thing work or I will." Spike stated as he grabbed his bag and walked out of the room.

After a few seconds Buffy went running after Spike. She got to him just as he was about to walk out the front door.

"SPIKE!" She screamed as she raced down the stairs and came to a stop in front of him.

"What?"

"I'll find a way." Buffy said as more tears ran down her face.

Spike pulled Buffy into a hug and kissed her forehead gently. "I'll be at the same motel I was at before."

Buffy looked up at him. "Do you want me to drive you there?"

"No, I'll call a cab. You should go back to your husband." Spike said stepping away and opening the door.

Buffy placed a hand on his arm to keep him from walking out just yet. "I'll be at my mother's if you need anything. Just give me a call."

Spike nodded his head and walked out into the night.

*****

"What are you doing?" Angel asked Buffy as she moved around their bedroom.

"I'm packing an overnight bag for myself."

"Why?"

"Because I can't be around you right now." Buffy said as she changed into a pair of low-rise boot-cut jeans and a white tank top with a light brown jacket over it and a pair of light brown boots.

"Are you going with him?"

"No, I'm going to stay at Willow's." Buffy said as she finished packing her bag.

"What about Madison?" Angel asked walking over towards Buffy.

"Holly is getting a few things packed so I can take her with me."

Angel grabbed Buffy by the arm and tossed her onto the bed and crawled on top of her holding her hands above her head.

"You're hurting me." Buffy cried out.

"Don't do something you're going to regret." Angel stated before pushing off of her and standing back up.

'I already have.' Buffy thought as she claimed off the bed and grabbed her bag heading for the door. "Call my cell if you need anything."

*****

Chapter Twelve

Joyce's House

"Buffy is something wrong?" Joyce asked as she moved out of the way to let Buffy and her sleeping granddaughter into her home.

"I need you to look after Madison for tonight. Will you do that?" Buffy asked as she handed Madison to her mother.

"Anytime, you know that." Joyce stated wrapping her arms around Madison and taking the overnight bag Buffy was holding.

"Thank you."

"Buffy what's going on?"

"Angel came home early and found out that Spike was there." Buffy told her mother. "We had a fight and Angel kicked Spike out of the mansion."

"And how did Angel find you?"

"I was walking in the hall way to go and check on Madison for the night."

"And how did he find out about Spike?"

"He walked into the room Spike was staying in when I was in there talking with Spike."

"So he did see you two together the way I did?"

"No, we were just talking."

"Where are you going to stay for the night?" Joyce asked her eldest.

"I'll probably go over to Willow's for the night."

"You can stay her. You could use Dawn's room for the night."

"I don't want Madison to be around me when I'm this upset." Buffy told her mother as she ran a hand over her daughter's hair.

"Alright. I'm off tomorrow anyways, I was going to spend the day with Rupert but I'm sure he would love to spend some time with Madison."

"Oh, I don't want to ruin your day with Giles, I can come and pick her up in the morning and take her to work with me." Buffy stated feeling bad about ruining her mother's day with her new boyfriend.

"Its find Buffy. Rupert loves having Madison around, he says it makes him feel younger."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Now go and get some sleep, I'll see you when you get off work tomorrow." Joyce said kissing her daughter on the cheek.

"Thanks." Buffy said before kissing her own daughter on the forehead and walking back to her vehicle.

*****

Sunnydale Motel

KNOCK-KNOCK

"Comin'" Spike called out as he made his way towards the room's door.

KNOCK-KNOCK

"Bloody Hell! Said I was com. . .What are you doing here?" Spike asked as he opened his room door.

"Is that any way to talk to your boss?" Anya asked as closed her umbrella and pushed her way past a somewhat shocked Spike and walked into his room.

"Sorry, just been a long day." Spike said casting one last look into the stormy night before closing the door to his room again.

After looking around the small room Anya turned to face Spike. "So, how was the book signing today?"

"It went well. Tomorrow will probably be better."

"How's that?"

"More people will probably be there."

"I see. And how was the photo shot?"

A look of happiness and pain appeared in Spike's eyes at the thought of the woman who had taking the pictures for the photo shot. "It was alright I guess."

"I hear that the photographer is very talented, one of the best in California actually. What did you think of her?"

"What's with the twenty questions Pet?" Spike asked.

"Just making sure my money is being well spent." Anya replied noticing how fast he was to move away from the subject about the photographer.

"And why are you here?"

"The same reason." Anya stated. "And I want to see how people respond to you in a public atmosphere."

"So you'll be at the signing tomorrow then?" Spike asked as he poured himself a glass of _______.

"Yes. The magazine that hired the photographer wanted to get a few pictures of us together." Anya told him waiting to see his reaction to knowing that the photographer was going to be around him tomorrow as well. All Spike do however was take a sip of his drink. Just as Anya was about to find another way to get a reaction out of him there was a knocking on the motel room door.

"Expecting someone?" Anya asked.

"No." Spike said making his way towards the door for the second time in the last ten minutes. As he opened the door he came face to face with a dripping wet Buffy. "Buffy. . ."

Buffy looked up into Spike's eyes as he whispered her name. "Hey."

For a moment all Spike could do was stare at her. He finally snapped out of his gaze when he saw that she was shivering from the cold rain. He reached out and pulled her into his room. "God Pet you're soaked." He stated before closing the door again.

"I'll get her a towel." Anya stated making her way into the small bathroom.

All Buffy could do was stare at the beautiful brunette that looked so comfortable in Spike's motel room.

"Here you go." Anya said handing the towel to the blonde woman.

"Thanks." Buffy whispered.

Anya turned to face Spike. "I should be going." She placed a kiss on his cheek and made her way back towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Spike nodded his head. "See you then Pet."

After Anya was out of the motel room Spike turned his attention back towards the soaking wet Buffy in front of him. "Let's get you dried off Luv." Spike said taking the towel from Buffy's hands and wrapping it around her shoulder's.

"Buffy?"

Buffy looked up towards Spike as he called her name. "What?" She asked in shock.

"Gonna need to get you out of these clothes or you're gonna get sick." Spike said before moving away from her and walking over towards his bag and pulling out a hooded sweatshirt and a pair of pajama pants. He then walked back over towards Buffy. "These should do until we get your things dry."

Buffy nodded her head and began to remove her jacket. After she had it removed she turned to take the offered items he was holding.

As she reached her hand out Spike noticed the marking around her wrist and pulled the hand closer to him. "What's this?"

Buffy looked at her wrist and tried to pull it away from him but he was having none of it. "It's nothing."

"S'not nothing Buffy. You've got a hand print wrapped around your wrists." Spike said as he pulled her other hand towards him. "Who did this?"

"Angel." Buffy whispered.

When Spike heard the name he dropped Buffy's wrists. "Who?" He asked again making sure he had heard her right.

Buffy picked up the hooded sweatshirt off the floor and pulled it over her body so he couldn't she her flesh anymore. "Angel." She stated a little louder this time.

Spike clenched his jaw trying to keep himself relaxed enough so that he didn't explode at the wrong person. 'Buffy's already been through enough tonight, no need to scare her even more you bloody wanker.' "Why'd he do it?"

"He didn't mean to. He was upset and he let it get the better of him is all."

"Pet, you have his hand prints wrapped around your wrists. What was he so upset about anyways?"

"He was upset because I was taking Madison out of the house for the night. I didn't want her to be around all of the negativity."

"Where is Madison?" Spike asked.

"She's with my Mother." Buffy answer as she walked over towards the window and began to look out into the stormy night.

Spike walked over towards Buffy so that he was standing directly behind her. "Why are you here Luv?"

"I didn't know where else to go." Buffy whispered her answer. "I was told my Mother that I was going to stay with Willow."

"Why aren't you there?" Spike asked placing a hand on her lower back.

"One moment I was headed that way and then the next I'm standing in front of your motel room door dripping wet from the nights rain. And then some woman is handing me a towel and kissing you goodbye saying that she'll see you tomorrow." Buffy stated.

"That woman was Anya, she's my boss."

"Oh."

Spike turned Buffy around to face him. "She's here for a photo shot tomorrow with me and my fans."

Buffy nodded her head. "I got a message on my cell telling me I had to go to 'The Magic box' tomorrow, I just thought that the magazine wanted me to get a few more pictures of you with the fans." She stated.

"Has he ever done this before?" Spike asked as he pulled one of Buffy's wrists towards him.

Buffy tried to pull free of his hold while looking away from his face.

"Buffy?" Spike asked as he placed a hand under her chin forcing her to face him again. "Has Liam ever done something like this to you before?"

"He was just upset. He doesn't want to lose me."

"Has he done this to you before?" Spike asked with more force behind his tone this time.

"Once before. When I first got back from England." Buffy told Spike.

"When you told him about us?" Spike questioned.

"Yeah." Buffy whispered her answer back to him.

Spike pulled Buffy into a hug and ran his hand through her slightly damp hair. "You need to get some rest."

"I don't think I can." Buffy told him.

Spike walked Buffy over towards the bed and pulled her down with him keeping her wrapped in his arms while reaching over to turn of the rooms light. "Just close your eyes."

After a few minutes both Buffy and Spike had drifted into a comfortable sleep both dreaming about better times when they were still in England. Neither having to worry about what was going on around them, all that mattered was that they were together.

Chapter Thirteen

The Next Morning

Buffy woke to the sun shining in her face and the feel of warm strong arms wrapped around her waist. 'This is nice.' Buffy thought snuggling into the embrace as she slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room. 'Okay, not my room.' Buffy turned to face the body that was holding her. 'Not my husband.' "Oh my GOD!" Buffy yelled as she sat up in the bed.

"What!? What is it?" Spike asked waking up to Buffy's yelling.

Buffy crawled out of the bed running her hands through her hair and looking back at Spike.

"Pet?" Spike asked throwing the bed covers off of him and crawling out of bed and stepped next to Buffy. "Are you okay?"

Buffy nodded her head. "I'm fine, just forgot where I was for a moment."

"Don't you just hate it when that happens?" Spike asked in a joking tone.

"Yeah."

"What time to you have to be at work?" Spike asked looking at the clock sitting on the nightstand.

"Um. . .When is you're book signing?" Buffy questioned.

"Not for another three hours." Spike answered.

"Then not for another three hours for me too." Buffy stated.

"I'll order us some breakfast then." Spike said walking over to the room's phone.

"Alright. I have to go out to the car and get my bag so I can get ready for work. Do you mine if I use your shower?" Buffy asked picking up her car keys and heading towards the door.

"Not at all Pet."

*****

"So, what's for breakfast?" Buffy asked walking out of the bathroom fully dressed and ready for the new day. She had on a pair of black dress pants with a matching black lace top. She had on a pair of black boots and her hair was down around her shoulders and down her back in light curls. Her make-up was done perfectly to match her outfit and the mood she was in. It was just the right amount of sexy but still appropriate for the daytime and the work place.

Spike was taken back for a moment as he watched her move across the room and towards him. 'Beautiful.' "What would you like? I ordered some of everything. You can have what ever you're in the mood for." He said moving over towards the table the food was resting on.

Buffy looked over the mass amount of food then turned her attention back to Spike. "You didn't have to order all of this for me."

"Not just for you." Spike stated taking a seat at the table. "Sides I'm not the one who's payin' for it, that's the publishing house's bill."

"Oh, in that case. . ." Buffy trailed off and joined Spike at the table.

"So, what are you in the mood for?" Spike asked as he poured two glasses of coffee for them.

"I think I'll start with the chocolate chip pancakes and work my way from there." Buffy stated with a small smile remembering the time Spike had made her chocolate pancakes while she was in England.

"Sounds like a plan." Spike said handing her the cup of coffee he poured for her before taking a sip from his own cup.

"What about you, what are you in the mood for?" Buffy asked taking a bite of the pancake.

Spike looked Buffy up and down before locking eyes with her. "It's not on the menu."

"Spike. . ." Buffy began but got cut off.

"Don't, just eat. We'll talk about the real world later." Spike told her before taking a bite out of his omelet.

"Okay." Buffy stated returning to her meal.

*****

Joyce's House

"Madison are you ready?" Joyce asked as she walked into her granddaughter's room.

"Yep!" Madison called out as she hopped up from her coloring table and walked over to Joyce. "Where we goin'?"

Joyce took a hold of Madison's hand and led her out of her room and down the stairs to the front door. "First stop is to open the gallery, then I thought we'd go see your Mommy at Mr. Giles' shop."

"Sounds like a plan." Madison said as her grandmother buckled her into her car seat.

"I'm glad you approve." Joyce told Madison in a joking tone.

After a few minutes on the road Madison spoke up again. "Grams?"

"Yes Maddie?" Joyce asked looking in her review mirror at Madison.

"Is Mommy going to be okay?" Madison asked in a small voice.

"I'm sure your Mommy is going to be fine. Why do you ask?" Joyce asked as she pulled into the parking lot of the art gallery.

"I know she was sad last night when she brought me to you. I don't think Daddy was happy about Mommy having a friend at the house while he was suppose to be away."

"What do you think of your Mommy's friend?"

"I like him. He's a lot of fun, and he talks really cool." Madison told Joyce as she was picked up from her car seat. "Do you think I'll get to see him again?"

"I sure you will." 'Spike doesn't seem like the type of guy to let something as important as family go.' Joyce thought as she carried Madison into the art gallery.

*****

A Few Hours Later

"Are you ready to go?" Buffy asked Spike as he walked out of the bathroom fully dressed. He had on a pair of black dress pants and a medium blue dress shirt that went well with his eyes. His hair was gelled back, but not so much that it actually looked gelled.

"Yeah Pet, I'm ready." Spike said walking over to the dresser and picking up his wallet and watch.

"How do you want to get there?" Buffy asked picking up her bag and keys.

"I have a car coming to pick me up in about five minutes." Spike stated looking around the room one last time to make sure he had everything he needed.

"Oh." Buffy whispered a little disappointed.

"Do you want to ride with me?" Spike asked noticing Buffy's disappointment.

"I can't. I have to stop by my shop to pick up some more film before the photo shot." Buffy told Spike.

"I can have the driver stop by on the way to 'The Magic Box' if you like." Spike said as he and Buffy walked out of the motel room.

"That's okay. I should keep my car close by in case I need to go anywhere."

"Alright. I'll see you in a bit." Spike said as he walked Buffy to her SUV and closed the door for her once she was inside.

"See ya." Buffy called as she started her car and pulled out of the motel's parking lot.

*****

Chapter Fourteen

The Magic Box

"Spike what took you so long to get here?" Anya asked as she made her way from the table in the middle of the shop towards him.

"What are you talkin' 'bout? I'm right on time." Spike said making his way to the table he would be signing his books at.

"That's my point. You should always be here early that way the fans get to look at you longer and spend more money." Anya stated taking a seat next to Spike at the table.

"Hello Mr. Winthrop. How are you this morning?" Giles asked as he walked back into the shop from the back room.

"I'm good. And please call me Spike. How are you this morning?"

"Very well thank you." Giles told Spike before addressing Anya. "And you must be Ms. Jenkins, I believe we talked on the phone quite a few times these past few months."

"Yes we have Mr. Giles. You have a lovely shop here, I'm sure you make a lot of money." Anya stated shacking Giles' offered hand.

"Um, thank you." Giles said pulling his hand back and removing his glasses to clean them.

"That's Anya for you." Spike stated with a small laugh. "You get use to it after a few years of knowin' her."

After a few moments of silence the bell above the door rang out as Joyce walked in with Madison in her arms.

"GILES!" Madison yelled with excitement and ran over towards him after Joyce put her down.

"Hello Madison." Giles said as he gave the young girl a small hug before standing up strait again and giving Joyce a light kiss on the check.

"SPIKE!" Madison called out as she moved from Giles and over towards Spike.

"Hey Maddie." Spike said standing up from the table and around to his daughter.

"Are you here to see Mommy too?" Madison asked.

Spike nodded his head. "Yeah, she's gonna be takin' my picture while I meet with fans that like the book that I wrote."

"You wrote a book?" Madison asked in wonder.

"Yeah. It's called 'Meant To Be'." Spike told her.

"Oh." Madison turned to face the only person in the shop that she didn't know. "Who are you?"

"I'm Anya. I'm Spike's boss." Anya said holding out her hand and shacking Madison's small one.

"It's nice to meet you." Madison told Anya.

"It's nice to meet you too. You look just like your Mother."

"You know my Mommy too?"

"Yep. I meet her for a few moments last night." Anya told Madison.

"Oh. Thank you. Mommy always says that I remind her of my Father."

"How's that?" Anya asked only being able to see how much she really looked like the blonde she had seen show up at Spike's motel room late last night.

"She says I have his eyes." Madison said pointing to her right eye.

"Oh." Anya said looking at the color of her eye before turning back to face Spike. "Oh!"

"Anya." Spike stated in an even tone noticing that she must have figured out that he was Madison's father.

"Oh my god!" Anya stated in shock.

"Madison why don't you come help your Grams and I in the back room while we wait for you Mother to get here." Giles said noticing the way Anya was looking back and forth between Madison and Spike.

'Thank you.' Spike mouthed to Giles as he and Joyce walked towards the back room waiting for Madison to join them.

"Okay! I'll see you later." Madison called as she followed her Grams and Giles into the back room.

After Giles, Joyce and Madison were all in the back room Anya turned to face Spike. "Oh my GOD!"

"You already said that Anya." Spike stated trying to lighten the mood.

"She's. . .She's yours. You and the girl from last night." Anya rambled on. "I didn't notice until she mentioned her eyes, but then I knew. She's your."

"Yes." Spike stated. "Madison is my daughter."

Anya looked at Spike as if he had turned into some type of demon for a few moments before regaining her ability to speak. "Does Drusilla know about any of this?"

Spike shock his head. "No, I didn't even find out myself until a few days ago."

"What are you going to do?" Anya asked.

"Not sure yet. All I do know is that I'm not losing them again."

"Them?"

"Buffy and Madison."

"And what about your wife? You're willing to just walk away from Drusilla after three years together."

"I've never loved anyone the way that I love Buffy. It's not fair to stay with Dru when I feel this way. Dru deserves a person who can give her his whole heart. I can't." Spike finished the last part in a low voice turning away from Anya.

"So you're going to leave Drusilla for Buffy and the daughter you just found out about?" Anya questioned.

"Yes." Spike stated turning back to face Anya.

"Isn't Buffy married too?"

"Yeah." Spike sighed. "She's married to Liam Montgomery."

"Montgomery?" Anya asked in slight shock.

"Yeah." Spike replied slowly.

"She's Elizabeth Montgomery?"

"Yeah, what's your point?"

Anya slowly shook her head. "Liam Montgomery is never going to let her leave him. He just became a Senior Partner for one of the best law firms on the West Coast, he doesn't like to lose."

"It's not up to him." Spike stated not liking the way Anya was telling him all of this.

Anya stepped closer to Spike and placed and hand on his arm. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but no matter how much Buffy loves you she'll never leave someone like Liam Montgomery for you."

"The ladies right. Elizabeth will never leave me." Angel stated as he walked into the shop and towards the table.

Anya took a few steps back as Spike closed the distance between him and Angel. "We'll see about that."

"You really don't want to fight me on this." Angel stated in a even tone.

"Is that a threat Peaches?" Spike asked in fake fear.

"I'm a very powerful man William, with an even more powerful family. I always get what I want." Angel stated with an evil grin on his face.

"Is beating your wife one of the methods you use to get what you want?" Spike asked inwardly smiling when he saw the grin on Angel's face disappear almost as fast as it had shown up.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Angel stated trying to keep his voice even.

"You know, for a lawyer you're not a very good liar. If you have a problem with myself I suggest that you solve them with me instead of taking them out on Buffy."

"Who the Hell do you think you are?" Angel asked taking a step closer towards Spike.

Spike locked eyes with Angel. "I'm the Father of your wife's child and the only man she's ever been truly in love with."

"Really? Then why is it that she's 'My' wife? Why didn't she let you know that she was pregnant with your child five years ago? Why did she except my engagement offer? Why'd she take my hand in marriage?" Angel asked. After giving Spike the chance to come up with and answer Angel spoke again. "I'll tell you why, you were nothing more than a summer fling. Something to be able to tell her grandchildren about when they asked what she was like when she was their age."

"You're wrong." Buffy stated as she walked into 'The Magic Box'.

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