Angel finally arrived at Buffy's house. The doors were both locked, but since he had watched her for so long, he knew where the key was. He knew she was home. He could smell her. And it smelt like she may be with someone. He didn't know why, but the thought of her with another guy made him jealous. No, not jealous. Concerned. There's a difference, he thought. He unlocked her door and made his way in. He heard noises coming from upstairs. Without thinking, he raced up the stairs. As he neared her door, the sounds got louder.

"Oh Slayer," a voice said. That sounded like… No… it couldn't be. He opened the door and saw something he wished he hadn't. He knew that peroxide bleached hair anywhere.

"Spike?" he questioned. "What the…"

"Oi, can't ya see I'm a bit busy?"

"Who is it? Oh, Angel," Buffy said nonchalantly as she peered around her lover.

"Yeah, oh me. What—what's going on?"

"Well, what does it look like we're doin', ya bleedin' idiot?"

"Angel, could you leave for just a minute?" Buffy said with forced politeness.

He did as was asked. He walked downstairs and tried not listen to the pair upstairs.

….

Buffy couldn't believe what was going on. She felt amazing. She felt like she was on Cloud Nine. I just had sex with Spike, she thought. She knew that normally she'd feel some sort of regret or at least guilty. Especially since Angel had walked in on them. But she didn't. She only felt elation.

He was still on top of her, resting his head on her chest. Buffy was the first to stir, though she didn't want to. There was a nagging feeling of something, like she forgot something. Oh. Angel's downstairs. "Spike," she breathed into his disheveled hair.

"Hmm?"

"I—I need to go."

"Why?"

"Angel's downstairs. He doesn't understand what's going on."

"So? What's it matter?"

She thought about the answer for a minute. Why did it matter? "I don't know," she said calmly. "I just feel like I should talk to him."

"Fine then," he said, slightly hurt and angry for her ruining the aftershocks. He jumped from her bed and began to dress.

"Well, you don't have to do that," she said, by his side again, a finger stroking over his toned chest. "I won't take long." She smiled with a tease. For about a second, Spike thought his heart would start again. He sighed and kissed her, a silent promise he wouldn't leave yet. She pulled on her bathrobe and darted down the stairs.

Angel grimaced as she saw him. "What's going on?" he demanded.

"Well I think you saw some of it," she said bluntly.
"I meant, why? Buffy… I don't understand. How could you have sex with him?" There was an underlying tone of hurt in his demanding voice.

"For one, he doesn't treat me like a child! And for another, I don't have to tell you my reasoning behind anything!" she said, her voice steadily rising.

He took a moment before retorting. He looked at her face and noticed something different. He listened for the thump of her heart, but there wasn't anything. He focused his eyes on her pressure points, and though he saw lots of bites from dull teeth, he didn't see the two holes he was looking for.

"Did he... are you—are you a vampire?"

"Yeah, I am. Some spell someone did. I don't know the specifics," she hissed. Her faced contorted as her anger rose.

"Well don't you think you should find out?" he said, his face changing as well.

All talking to Angel did was anger Buffy intensely. "Yeah, I'm on it. Why are you here anyway?"

"You wanted to meet me here, remember?"

Buffy scrutinized her own mind, trying to remember. When she finally did, she tried to remember why. Because you liked him! her brain told her. "Oh. Well is there anything you wanted to say? Because I honestly don't remember."

"Yeah. I was coming to tell you I'm leaving. Tonight. Just thought you ought to know." He walked past her and out the door. Buffy watched the older vampire leave.

She smiled, watching him leave, thankful she wouldn't have to look over her shoulder for him all the time.

She turned and bounced back up the stairs to the one she really wanted to be with.

….

Spike listened as Angel and Buffy talked. He couldn't believe he was in the Slayer's bedroom, and he wasn't here to kill her. I shagged the Slayer. Ahhh…. So much better than killing one. He licked his lips, thinking about the taste of her skin and blood. He found his pants suddenly becoming tighter.

He turned his focus on the two downstairs. He heard Angel struggling to keep his temper. Did he just say he was leavin'? He paced in the small room. He knew what he was doing wasn't rational. He didn't care. But what about Dru? She needs you. She needs you to take care of her. She's still weak. He thought about his future. Was Dru a part of it? Or was this new girl the one he was destined to be with? He remembered feeling drawn to her, even while he was with Drusilla. He immediately had an idea.

He walked out of her room, and into the hall. He almost ran into Buffy in his hurry.

"Spike!" she exclaimed. "You aren't leaving, are you?" Her heard the twinge of fear in her voice and saw worry in her eyes.

"No, pet. Just goin' to talk the great poofster. I'll be right back, luv," he gave her a chaste kiss and hurried after his grandsire.

He came upon the vampire quicker than he thought. Capitan sodden Forehead is sulking! "Angel," he began, "heard you were leavin' town?"

"Yeah," Angel said abruptly. "What's it to you?"

"I—I need you to do something for me." He couldn't believe what he was asking Angel—of all people!—to do him a favor.

"You need me to do you a favor? Have you gone crazy, too?"

"No," Spike said defensively. "I need you to take Drusilla with you."