Author: Spike 'n Cordy

Summary: When Angel's soul becomes permanent but he neglects to tell the group and they hear it from Spike. How will they react?

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Authors notes: Buffy and Willow find a cure that will make Angel's soul permanent. So the Scooby gang minus Giles come to LA. Spike comes later on his own.

Dawn, Giles and Joyce are not mentioned so you can make up your own reasons for them not being there. Buffy no longer has to stay in SD. They found a spell and closed up the hell mouth for good. Willow and Xander are together because I'm just not good at writing a lot of people so Anya and Tara are not in this story.

Authors notes: Just a quick note. I started this last year so it does not relate to this season at all. Enjoy and please review.

Timeline: Set after Reunion and Crush.



Chapter One

Cordelia Chase ran a hand through her short brown hair and let out a frustrated sigh. "I can't find anything on third eyes in these books. But I could sure use one, mine are killing me."

"Yes, I know what you mean," Wesley Wyndam Pryce, her associate, agreed. He wiped his glasses on his shirt and replaced them on his face.

"Man, this is just nasty," Charles Gunn, the former vampire hunter voiced his disgust. "This demon here, eats puppy eyes."

"Eww," Cordelia cringed, "Mark that page, I want to kill anything that will hurt innocent puppies."

All three leaned back in their chairs and sighed.

"We should go home and get some rest."

"Yeah, it's not like that third eye's going any where."

"That sounds dope. I should check on my crew any way."

They all went to the back room to gathered up their belongings and didn't notice Spike slip in the door.

"Hello all," he greeted from his perch on their desk.

"Spike," Cordelia gasped and reached into her bag for a cross.

Gunn just gawked, "That's a bad ass vampire? Hey guy, Billy Idol isn't really what one would call cool any more. Or are you just trying to look like one of those boy band kids."

Spike just glared at him. He gave Cordelia a slow sexy smile, "Hello luv, there's no need for that."

"We beg to differ," Wesley stepped in front of Cordelia, with his crossbow aimed at Spike's chest.

Laughing Spike stood up causing all three to take a step back, "What the Scoobies didn't tell you? That's been going around I guess. They don't tell you a lot of things." He pulled out a cigarette.

"This is a non-smoking environment," Wesley informed him, gripping the crossbow tighter, "So I suggest you leave."

Ignoring him Spike lit his smoke and took a long drag. "I'm, what you would call, fixed. The government put a chip in my head. Can't hurt humans."

"Why should we believe you?" Cordelia asked.

Spike blew the smoke in their faces causing them to choke, "I don't care much if you do. Just thought I'd let you in on something Nancy Boy didn't tell you."

"What about Angel?" Spike noticed the concern in Cordelia's voice and raises his eyebrow.

He smiles at her and let's them in on the secret, "It's just that his soul is permanent. Has been for a few days now. I guess he was to busy shagging Buffy to let his friends in on his good fortune."

"You're lying," Cordelia whispered, "If that were true, which it's not, Angel would have told us right away."

"Well, maybe he has his priorities messed up," Spike counted his fingers, "Shag Buffy, tell friends I'll never go evil again. Sounds like he's got them right to me."

Cordelia looked at him and slowly lowered the cross. "He's not like you, he has a soul and would always come to-"

"What? Come to you and tell you everything would be all right? Or would he rather tell that to the love of his life?"

They all looked down, "Face it. Angel's got the Scoobies and no use for you."

"What do you mean, 'the Scoobies'?" Wesley questioned, bringing the crossbow closer to his body, still aiming it at Spike.

"Another secret? Well it would seem that our slayer managed to seal the Hellmouth for good. With my help of course, and in the process found a cure for Angel's curse. The entire gang packed up and moved here. Willow's going to university and Xander has some sort of job lined up. So everyone is at the hotel living the good life, while you're all cramped in this one room sharing a desk."

Everyone's gaze went to the desk that was living on borrowed time.

Cordelia was the first to break her gaze, "Wait. What did you mean that you helped close the Hellmouth. Even if you are neutered why would you help Buffy?"

Spike seemed uncomfortable under their stares, "Well, I.I can hurt demons. S.so I like to hurt things, and so I hurt demons."

Cordelia's eyes widened in understanding, "You love her."

"What? Do not. I would never." Spike's stammering confirmed it for her.

"You're in love with Buffy, that's why you helped." She was smiling her full-watt smile, "You're a Nancy Boy."

"Am not, and do not. I would never love a slayer. That.that's just sick and wrong," he looked at all of them and their amused faces. How he hated humans, "Fine. So what? Angel didn't tell you his soul was permanent and left you and.and.so there." He flopped back on to the desk mumbling.

Wesley, Gunn and Cordelia all sit around the desk Spike occupied.

No one had spoken for five minutes until Wesley shouted, "Fantastic."

They all glanced at him, "What's 'fantastic'?" Cordelia finally spoke.

"Angel's soul is permanent."

"You just getting their bro, cause we figured that out about-" Gunn was cut off.

"No, I mean that there is no longer a threat of Angelus. Angel fired us because he was going dark," Wesley sat straight in his chair, "But now he can't. He won't. We can go back to work for him and not have to worry about his demon."

"One little thing Wes," all eyes turned to Cordelia, "He hasn't told us. He's known for what? Three days," At Spike's nod she continued, "and he still hasn't told us."

"Maybe he just wanted some alone time with Buffy?" Wesley defended him.

"Oh, and we wouldn't give him that. We would just say, 'No Angel, we don't think you should have some time alone with the love of your life, we think we should get straight to work.' I mean, we're not complete bastards."

"I'm sure he's on his way over right now."

Four pairs of eyes drift to the door.

"It doesn't matter if he does finally show up, the point is, we were his best friends and what does he do? He fires us. Kicks up to the curb and now that he's going to be soul boy for the rest of eternity were suppose to go running? I don't think so."

"Cordelia, he was going through a rough time. We have to take his feelings-"

"His feelings? His feelings? What about all the people in my visions? The visions that were meant to guide him. He could turn his back on them. I couldn't. We couldn't. Yes, we have bad days too. We can have the worst day of our lives but we show up. We help. We save souls. Buffy fights the big bad and saves lives. I can't fault her for that. She does what she has to. But with her here in LA, Angel won't do what he's suppose to. It will be high school all over again. Buffy dishing out orders, Angel doing whatever she says. Me being the major bitch. I've changed and can't go back to that. I won't." Cordelia who had paced through her tirade sank into a chair.

Wesley and Gunn both went to her side, "Cordy, you aren't the person you were in high school and don't have to turn back into her."

She stood and reached for her bag, "I won't. Because I'm not going back." She turned and walked out of the office.

Wesley sighed, "We just need to give he a couple of days. She'll come around."

"Yeah," Gunn murmured not quite believing it.