A/N: Ok guys, sorry it took so long. Things have been crazy! Anyway, it's short, and rougher than I would've liked, but I wanted to get it up so I don't neglect it forever. The next one will hopefully be up a little faster! Please Read and Review!!

Buffy was getting sick of riding in a car and sleeping in hotels, so when she and Angel pulled up to their last stop before Chicago, she groaned. Angel looked at her and quirked a brow.

"What's wrong?" Buffy slid out of the car and stretched, her muscles tight after three months in a coffin and four days in a car.

"Stiff and wired," Buffy sighed. Angel smiled and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"We'll try to get a big room and spar for a while, if you want."

"Yes please."

After Angel got them checked in, they set about moving the furniture. Even with everything in the room rearranged, the space was still cramped. They would have to keep their fight compact.

"Ready?" Angel asked.

"Ready."

Angel lashed out with his fist, but Buffy blocked and countered with a quick jab to his stomach. He grunted and then aimed a kick at her head. She ducked. They fought for an hour, and Angel didn't land a single blow.

"Wow," Angel sighed. Buffy had always been stronger than him, but he'd at least been able to hold his own. Now, Buffy was a force of nature. She'd been a blur, something he could feel, but couldn't grasp.

"Yeah, I'm pretty spry for a corpse," Buffy laughed. She wiped her face with her tank top. Angel frowned, but let the comment slide. Instead, he went to her and leaned down for a kiss. Buffy wrapped her arms around Angel's waist and deepened the kiss.

"Feel like a shower?" Buffy asked. Her voice was husky and seductive, something he'd never heard from her. He realized how much she'd grown up.

"Only if you join me." Buffy smiled and led him to the bathroom.

#

The water was warm, spilling over both Buffy and Angel as he held her pressed against the wall. She moaned as he thrust into her, trying to get deeper with every push. The need to feel complete, to feel as one, was overwhelming.

"God, Angel," Buffy gasped, raking her nails down his back, drawing blood. Angel kissed her hard, slamming into her harder. He pulled away, staring into her eyes. Without breaking contact, Buffy tilted her head to the side, exposing her scar. Not questioning her offer, Angel slid his fangs into her scar.

Buffy screamed as she and Angel came together. Their breathing was ragged as they both slumped against the wall of the shower stall. Angel pressed a few light kisses to her nearly healed scar as she ran her fingernails up and down his spine.

"Have I told you how much I love you?" Angel asked.

"Not in the last few hours."

"Well I do."

"I do too."

# # #

"Got any threes?"

"Go fish," Spike drawled. Dawn reached into the pile and pulled out a card. The rest of the gang was out, again, leaving Spike to look after Dawn. There was a knock at the door and Spike cast it a wary glance. No one that belonged at the Summers' house would knock.

"I'll get it," Dawn sighed. She walked to the door, pulling it open with disinterest. When she screamed, Spike launched himself from his chair, just in time to see Dawn disappear from the sight, the open door blocking his view.

"Dawn!" He rounded the corner and stopped when he saw Dawn in Giles' arms. "Damn it, Nibblet, don't scare me like that," Spike growled. Giles released Dawn and stepped inside, giving Spike the cold shoulder.

"Giles is back!" Dawn squealed.

"Oi, Watcher, what gives?" Spike asked as he followed them into the living room.

"I assume you would know. Dawn, would you give Spike and I a moment? And no listening from the stairs." Dawn frowned and then made her way upstairs. Giles turned his cold glare on Spike.

"What gives Rupert? What am I supposed to know?"

"About Buffy." Spike frowned.

"Alright, I'm really confused now Watcher. What about Buffy?"

"Willow called and said she tried to resurrect her, but that she's missing. They found her grave empty, the top of the coffin ripped off." A growl began to rumble in Spike's chest and his eyes flashed gold.

"What?" Giles paused, realizing that maybe Spike hadn't known. He sighed and began to clean his glasses.

"Willow, Xander, Tara, and Anya did a spell the resurrect Buffy. Now Buffy, or her body at least, is missing."

"I can't believe Willow would be so bloody stupid! The bint never had a clear head when it came to Buffy."

"I've already lectured Willow on the mistake she made. It's done now, the best we can do is hope to find Buffy."

"Where do you think she'd go?" Giles paused, taking a breath. He replaced his glasses and leveled his gaze on Spike.

"To Angel."

# # #

As Buffy worked on a few new Tai Chi katas, Angel phoned the Hyperion. Now that he knew where they were headed, he wanted to let Wesley and Cordelia know. Someone should know where they were, in case of emergency.

"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless," Cordelia answered, her voice chipper.

"Cordy, it's Angel."

"Angel? How are you? How's Buffy? Is everything okay? Wesley!" Angel winced and held the phone away from his ear.

"Cordy, everything's fine. Buffy is doing a lot better, she's a lot stronger. Almost back to her old self. And I'm fine. I just wanted to give you guys an update."

"Where are you?"

"We're almost to Chicago."

"Is that where you're staying?" It was Wesley's voice now.

"Yes. Once we get there we're going to try to find an apartment. When we get settled I'll give you a number and an address."

"Alright."

"How are things going?"

"As well as can be expected. Fred is a little dismayed that you left so suddenly, but she's come out of her room once every day since you've been gone. We're busy, but it's been nothing we can't handle," Wesley explained.

"Good. Listen, Wes, do you think the Council called another slayer?"

"I don't know. Probably not. After Buffy's death…the first one, the power transferred to Kendra. Now it should rest with Faith. Until she dies, I doubt there will be another slayer." Angel frowned, casting a glance at Buffy. She flashed him a grin and a wink.

"Sunnydale needs to be protected, there needs to be a slayer out there. I hate to ask this, but do you think you could break Faith out of prison?" Angel was met with silence.

"Faith? You want us to break the murderer out of prison?" Cordelia's voice was sharp. Angel winced, knowing that this was the last thing any of them wanted to do.

"Cordy, I know how you guys feel about her, but she's gotten better. I've been visiting her, she's really grown. Please, will you just do it? I'll call tomorrow and speak with her." Buffy came up behind Angel and squeezed his shoulders. He glanced up at her to see her give a reassuring smile. She quickly swept in a kissed him.

"We'll do it. But if she kills us all, I'm haunting you," Cordelia huffed.

"I can deal with that. Talk to you tomorrow." Angel hung up and turned his chair to face Buffy, resting his hands on her hips.

"Come on baby, come to bed. We've got a long haul once the sun sets." Angel followed his love to their sanctuary.