AN: AU, All Human. Spike and Bufy meet and become friends after both being dumped by their significant others.
What happens as they become more involved in one another's lives?

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or the show. Everything belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Please don't sue.

Chapter 1
Home Sweet Home

Sunnydale, Ca
Present Time

He lit a cigarette before shoving the car door open and stepped out onto the street. A slow drag and exhale and he glanced down at the city welcome sign lying on the ground. He sneered at its cheery emblem and message in contempt. At least he'd taken it out. God, how he hated this town.

London, England
Ten Months Ago

"Don't you want me?" she pouted, gazing up at him with pleading eyes; swaying absently back and forth as her billowy skirt tossed about.

Spike smirked, "Always," he whispered, pulling her flush to his body, happily ready to plunder her mouth.

Her dark eyes twinkled with delight, "Then come with me to California," she beckoned soulfully, resting her forehead against his.

Spike pulled his head away, still clutching her hands tightly, "I can't Dru."

Drusilla stomped her foot, "But I want to go to California!"

"Dru," he warned gently; his tone indicating they'd had many similar arguments about this very subject, "My life is here, remember? School…my mum…"

The raven haired beauty wouldn't hear it. Ripping her hands violently from his and turning away, "You don't want me to be happy. You don't love me."

Spike rolled his eyes and sucked on his teeth; regrettable phrases threatening to surface.

"That's not true, pet. You know that's not true."

Drusilla spun around once more to face him, "Angel said—"

"Oh," Spike sneered, "Angel, is it? Is that why you want to go to America? For soddin' Angel?"

"Willy's pretty blues are turning green," Dru sang cryptically, a wicked grin appearing.

Spike snickered and made for the door; he didn't have time for the girl's insane drivel. Retrieving his beloved leather duster from the coat rack, he stopped at the door before spinning back to face his girlfriend,

"Go to soddin' California. Be with your precious poof…I don't give a damn."

Drusilla shrieked in protest as he slammed the door behind him.

Why was he back here, again? That's right.

Like a ponce, Spike had followed Drusilla to Sunnydale in an attempt to win her back after having walked out in a jealous huff. The plan had worked at first. He'd shown up four months post tantrum and found his grieving beauty pining for his return. He eagerly accepted her forgiveness and together they returned to the U.K. Not long after that, however, did the repercussions of Dru's brief stateside sabbatical begin to rear its ugly head. Spike's senseless paramour now grieved for the loss of Angel's company. She'd fled back to Sunnydale, and two months later, here he was again. Back in this godforsaken town; a reminder of his greatest failure.

He dug the scrap of paper out of his pocket and read the address on it once more; stamping out the unfinished cigarette and sliding back into the car. This wouldn't be the smartest idea ever, his actions motivated purely by retribution.

"Home, sweet home."

***

Buffy Anne Summers was not typically the jealous type; indeed, she'd had very few opportunities to experience the emotion. But her relationship with Angel the past few months had given her ample time for exploration.

He wasn't cruel; not intentionally. But he was moody, and aloof. Alone; he swore his devotion, reaching maudlin heights about his affection for her. But in public; he was dismissive, cryptic and much too casual for Buffy's liking.

And here begineth her dilemma; she liked Angel, a lot. She could go as far as to say love, though they'd barely known one another a year. He wasn't her first boyfriend, but he was most certainly the most serious one she'd had since high school.

And speaking of high school; that's technically where their troubles started. Drusilla was a public school chum of Angel's when he'd lived in Europe as a boy. The dark haired man had mentioned his association with the girl a number of times before, even indicating an unfulfilled affection the two had dallied with growing up. But never had the young woman been a tangible threat to Buffy; seeing as the girl in question was some five thousand miles away in a different country. And of course because, Angel was Buffy's, right?

Sort of. Yes, there was major sparkage; of the knee-buckling smoochies variety. But as Buffy had mused upon a number of times, Angel's displays of affection were fickle.

But even with his brooding demeanor; Buffy never considered her boyfriend would stray. That is, until his unrequited childhood crush came waltzing into their lives some four months prior.

Now, Angel had not cheated on her; of that, Buffy was certain. But the dark haired porcelain doll had certainly recaptured his attention and as a consequence, had put major strainage on their relationship.

Sunnydale, Ca
Six Months Ago

"Why are you making a big deal out of this?" Angel sighed.

Buffy paced before him, eyeing the door to the living room conspicuously as their 'houseguest' remained silent on the other side.

"You didn't even ask me what I thought!" Buffy protested in return.

Angel grimaced, wishing the tiny blonde would keep her voice down, "It's not like I could just turn her away, Buffy. She's practically family."

Buffy snorted, "Yeah, like a sister who gives her brother creepy moon eyes."

Angel shook his head, "It's not like that."

"Then what is it, Angel? Cause right now all I'm thinking is going Carrie Underwood on your car."

"Buffy, she has nowhere else to go. I think she and Spike had a falling out."

The petite blonde gave him a curious look, "The boyfriend?"

Angel nodded, "She's pretty distraught."

"Couldn't she eat a pint of ice cream and Nora Ephron herself to death like every other girl on the planet?"

Angel rolled his eyes at Buffy's constant barbing. He'd noticed it before; her pop culture references went into full swing the angrier she became. He'd wanted to avoid that, for no other reason than he just sometimes didn't get them.

"Look, she'll only be staying here for a little while. If I know Dru, she'll want to make up with Spike as soon as possible."

Buffy calmed herself at the prospect of Dru's expedient departure, finally ceasing her pacing and collapsing onto the foot of Angel's bed.

"So, I guess I need to find my own place, again."

"I never said that, Buffy. We can still go through with you moving in here."

"You don't have the space for three," Buffy reasoned bitterly. "The two of us was pushing it."

Angel sighed in defeat, knowing he'd angered his girlfriend enough for one evening.

"Whatever you want to do, Buffy."

The blonde snickered. They were in trouble, she knew it. Angel's complacency with regards to the trivial obstacles they'd encountered along the way was one thing. Yes it was annoying, but forgivable. His complacency toward her now, was insufferable and nearly straw-breaking.

"Guess I need to make a few calls."

Sunnydale, Ca
Present Time

"How've you been?" Willow's voice crackled over the phone.

"Better," Buffy sighed. "I just can't believe he's really gone."

"I know, sweetie. But it's gonna get better. I promise," the redhead assured her.

Buffy twisted the cord around her finger, nodding silently as her friend attempted to console.

"How's the life of a Resident Advisor?" Buffy chirped suddenly, deciding to relieve the conversation.

Willow giggled, "It's a lot harder than it looked, lemme tell ya."

"Any pesky advisees trying to smuggle contraband hot plates or candles?"

"Not yet."

"Give it time."

The girls laughed good-naturedly over the memories of their own freshman exploits. They had been roommates their first year at UC Sunnydale, naturally wanting to extend the bond that had grown throughout high school. It had been fun, but their lives had led them in opposing directions. Willow had remained on campus during their sophomore year, developing a close relationship with a young man affectionately known as Oz. He was a year older; a musician living in an on-campus apartment with the rest of his band mates. He'd been a R.A. his sophomore year, encouraging Willow to pursue the same vocation for her junior term.

Buffy had met Angel around the same time Willow had met Oz, the foursome happily congregating on a regular basis. The girls' sole high school companion, Xander Harris; had taken a year off before finally applying for college. It was a bizarre omission in their lives freshmen year; receiving only the occasional postcard from their lovable boy as he attempted to visit each and every state in America.

But his travels had returned him safely home to California at the start of this year; a sophomore to their returning junior status. But Xander had no shame. He still plea- bargained Willow into helping him with his homework while Buffy attempted to expand his social circle.

"Have you talked to Angel since…" Willow trailed off, bringing the conversation back around to their previous topic, hoping Buffy wouldn't begrudge her curiosity.

Buffy sighed, "Nope. Stayed up until Dru went back to London with Spike like he said he would and then left…"

"Like he said he would," Willow muttered solemnly.

"Yep. At least he's a man of his word."

"Buffy, I'm sorry."

The blonde sniffled loudly, her emotional resolve crumbling slightly as she considered her recent break up all over again.

"It's okay Wil," she promised. "I'm just more in awe. He didn't even give me the satisfaction of yelling at him."

"So, are you gonna keep the apartment after all?" Willow asked after a moment.

Buffy shrugged to herself as she sat back glanced around the space in question. Wisdom would dictate her evacuation. It was after all, Angel's old place. A makeshift two bedroom loft that he'd basically handed off to her as a parting gift. Since the Drusilla appearance had botched their plans of moving in together; Buffy had been fruitlessly searching for her own space. When she still hadn't managed to secure one after Angel had decided to leave for Los Angeles, he offered her the place; free of charge for the rest of the year.

"I might as well," Buffy sighed, "It's paid for."

"You, me and Xander should find a place next year," Willow mused, "I bet Mrs. Harris would throw apartments at us to get Xand out of the basement!"

Buffy laughed in spite of herself. Xander had taken up living in his parents' house since after high school graduation. And despite his return to college, hadn't made the move to live elsewhere.

"What about you and Oz?" Buffy wondered, "You two are getting pretty serious, right? What if you two wanna…."

Willow giggled joyfully, "Yeah, but we still have a year of maybe. Besides, even if we did decide to live together, I bet we could find a place for all four of us. That'd be even niftier."

Buffy gave a dry chuckle, "Yeah that could be very of the good."

"Oh, umm, Buffy? I need to go. There's somethin' a brewin' down the hall."

"Right. You show 'em who's boss!"

"I'll see you in class tomorrow, yeah? Maybe we could Bronze it later?"

"Definitely. Night, Wil."

"Night."

Buffy sighed once more as she hung up the phone, giving the apartment another once over. Unbidden thoughts of Drusilla's sudden reappearance flooded her head. Angel had insisted nothing happened. And despite glaring evidence to the contrary; Drusilla was not his reasoning for moving to L.A.

She would never begrudge Angel his concern for a friend. She understood and respected greatly the loyalty he'd felt when Drusilla had arrived devastated and heart broken. But his care for a woman who he'd emphatically stated was 'just a friend', went beyond the norm. The barmy dark-haired temptress had left as quickly as she'd come; disrupting everything Buffy and Angel had been building for a year.

And Dru's boyfriend? Buffy had only met him briefly when he'd arrived like some Dark Aged knight come to 'rescue his beloved'. Yuck. Maybe it was a cultural thing she as an American couldn't understand. The melodrama of it all; and the couple's dated appearance.

Though she supposed she should have thanked him for relieving her of Drusilla's presence. Once the brunette had seen her bleached blond prince, Angel had seemingly become a fallen blip on the woman's radar. As it turned out, the damage had been done. She'd already lost Angel before Dru's knight in shining leather even appeared.

Still, the loft only served to remind her of what she'd had. But it was cozy, and paid for. The latter aspect much appreciated considering this space would definitely be above her means normally. She had intended to get a job once she'd moved in with Angel, despite his assurances that he could foot the rent bill. She hadn't wanted to take advantage of his hospitality. But now, she figured it was the least he could do, despite a lingering hatred of now somehow being indebted to the man.

Oh well. The money issue played second fiddle to the loneliness her current accommodations left her feeling. Bizarre love triangle aside; the space felt isolated with just her inside of it. It was moments like this one she wished she was selfish enough to beg Willow to quit her R.A. position and move in with her. She even considered Xander for a brief second before remembering how not of the good that would be.

She loved Xander; and the prospect of maybe renting a house with him and two other friends was appealing in a romanticized kind of way. But living in such close quarters with one of her closest friends that she knew still harbored some long unrequited mushiness for her? No thanks. She knew better than that. Though the irony of what could have happened if her situation with Angel had been reversed slowly came to mind.

Buffy snickered at the thought, falling back onto her bed as a loud, incessant knock came at the door. She sat up abruptly, glancing at the clock to see the strange visiting hour.

"Who the hell…" she mumbled, climbing down the half step toward the door; her eyes widening in confusion and surprise as she revealed the mysterious caller.

"Spike?"

To Be Continued...