Anything recognizable is the property of the appropriate owners. I do not make any claim to ownership, nor do I make any money from this.
This fic diverges after Buffy ends and between season 4 and 5 of Angel.
Warning: There will be gore and smut along the way. Please don't read if you're not of legal age in your country.
January 18, 2005
A metallic clang caught Angel's attention as he crossed the lobby and he looked around for the source. Following the faint sounds, the vampire found himself in the kitchen. Spike stood in front of one of the industrial sized stoves, managing several dishes. The vampire let the pots on the stove simmer and turned to a pile of vegetables to dice.
As the brunet watched, the younger vampire moved seamlessly around the kitchen, preparing a large meal. Centuries before, Spike was the only one in their little family that ate for no reason other than he wanted to. They had argued about it when he was newly made, and Angelus accused the former poet of being soft and too human.
To the brunet's surprise, Spike didn't dish up a plate of the pasta for himself. The entire meal was scooped into portioned plastic containers and stored in the communal refrigerator. Angel slipped out of the kitchen before he was noticed. An hour later, Fred went looking for a snack and squealed with delight when she found the pasta.
Three days later, the brunet found himself following the scent of roasting chicken to the kitchen. Instead of lurking in the doorway, he approached the workstation. Spike continued to ignore his sire and rubbed seasoning into a second chicken. Angel watched him work silently, idly playing with a paring knife. The blond was so engrossed in the preparation that he hummed a few bars before tensing and silencing himself.
"I still don't understand why you eat." Angel tried to break the awkward silence.
"I'm not eating, I'm cooking."
"Right, but I still don't understand."
Spike took the knife away and began slicing red potatoes. "I don't expect you to."
The next time Fred opened the fridge and found the chicken, she did a little happy dance and shared it with Gunn. For the rest of the day, the couple could not stop raving to Angel about the kitchen fairy they seem to have acquired. He smiled when they started guessing what would appear next because he realized Spike might care about more than just the food.
When he found the younger vampire cooking next, he made a conscious effort to hand over whatever utensils were needed before they were snatched from his hands. Spike never told him to leave or asked why he was there, just worked around him in silence.
The timer dinged and Spike pulled a beautifully caramelized pork loin from the oven. "I used to cook for the girls when I had a chance."
Angel was taken off guard when his grand-childe spoke first. "What girls?"
"The potential slayers. There was only so many times they could eat Double Meat Palace and pizza."
"Double Meat? That stuff is disgusting." The brunet wrinkled his nose. Even if he were starving, he wouldn't eat anything that came out of one of the restaurants.
"Buffy got it free for working there."
"Working? Why didn't she just ask me for help?" He was constantly surprised by the things he didn't know about the slayer's life.
"You think she would've ever asked?" Spike shook his head disbelievingly. "God knows I offered enough."
Angel pondered how desperate the slayer must have been at the time. Mother gone, bills to pay, and suddenly the guardian of a dozen teenaged girls. "I'm glad you were there for her."
"I wish I could've been there for her more, but I was out of my bleedin' mind for most of it."
"Yeah, I remember how hard it was to come to terms with having a soul again."
"At least Fred doesn't think I'm trying to poison her." The joke fell slightly flat.
In fact, Winifred thought the pork loin was to die for, loudly telling anyone who entered the lobby that she could kiss the cook. Wesley refused to have any of the meal on principle.
An unseasonable cold front moved into the bay area a week later and Spike produced a selection of vegetables and shellfish. The blond never asked Angel to leave the kitchen while he cooked, so he continued to invite himself. When the younger vampire turned to the sink he was shocked to see his sire already scrubbing the potatoes. They quickly adjusted to sharing the space and even managed a few minutes of levity by flicking water at each other.
Satisfied that the chowder was simmering nicely, Spike leaned against one of the counters and crossed his arms. "You're better help in a kitchen than Buffy ever was."
"Thanks." Angel mirrored his pose. "I think."
"Then again, the Niblet made some serious culinary disasters." He smirked at the memories. "And Red couldn't cook without burning everything to a crisp."
"Thankfully Fred stopped trying to cook when we left Pylea."
"That girl is definitely odd. Sweet, but odd." Spike had liked the petite Texan the moment he met her. Well, after she had stopped threatening him and pointing a decidedly wicked looking stake at his chest.
Buffy crept around the doorway, ready for the hinges to squeal but even if they had, no one would have noticed. The kitchen was full of the sounds of boiling fry oil and Angel's curses.
"Oww, damnit. Oww, damnit. Oww, damnit."
Spike chuckled to cover his own grimace of pain. "Trust me, the burns are worth it."
"I don't understand why you go to all this effort for a stupid onion."
The blond man sounded scandalized and used his hip to bump the taller vampire. "It's not just an onion, its a bloody piece of art."
Angel bumped back, hissing as another fleck of hot oil landed on his skin. "This is just stupid."
Buffy watched in surprise as the vampires teased each other. It was certainly better than seeing them fighting tooth and claw constantly. The easy way they had begun to move together gave her hope. After she had left them, the blonde had spent a lot of time considering which man she would choose if she were forced to. The only thing she decided was she couldn't decide.
Angel was her first love, sudden, complete, and illogical as it all was, but she couldn't deny it. And the year she had spent with him after Sunnydale collapsed showed her just how thoughtful and caring the brunet really was. On the other hand, Spike drew out her wilder side, playful and daring. But he always had her best interests at heart, even if it meant his sacrifice.
Seeing the two again, Buffy wished it was as simple as having them both but she knew that was only a dream. Spike and Angel would never be able to share anything without squabbling like children, especially a woman. Suddenly, she remembered their original companion, Drusilla. The slayer knew they had both been with her separately, and her mind pointed out they had all been together for decades, quite possibly literally.
Before her mind could run away too much, the older men had fished the onions from the fryer and laid them out to cool. Oblivious to their audience, Spike pulled off a piece of the crispy treat and held it out for his sire. Angel rolled his eyes but took the offered mouthful before looking surprised at the onion.
"That is actually really good!"
"I told you so."
Buffy could practically hear the smirk in her sire's voice and suddenly missed his half smiles and the way he curled his tongue behind his teeth. "I hope you boys were planning on sharing."
It took her full effort, but she managed to keep a straight face as they lept apart and turned towards her. In an instant, Angel was at her side, pulling her into his tight embrace and kissing her temple. The slayer had missed how she had to stretch to reach his lips but she didn't linger. Buffy pulled back and held out her hand for Spike. When he came within reach, she surprised both men by greeting him with a kiss as well.
"I just have one thing to say." The blonde woman made sure she had both men's attention. "I will not chose between you two. If you try to make me, I will leave you both again."
Neither vampire was willing to make the first move for several moments. Eventually, Buffy gave in and smiled. "I think those onions are getting cold."
