A/N: Okay guys, seriously, I need MORE reviews. The two I got for the last chapter were great, and I'm so thankful for them, but I need more. I thrive on reviews. Don't make me beg.

The months passed quickly. Before anyone knew it, the house was finished, Angel had completely taken over the gallery, and Buffy was about to open her dojo.

"Buffy! Will you pack up the rest of the books?" Angel shouted through the apartment. Most of their things had been packed a week earlier, but the things they used every day had been set aside until moving day.

"Sure!" Angel carefully wrapped the dishes in bubble wrap and stacked them in a cardboard box.

A few minutes later Buffy came bouncing out of their bedroom, her ponytail bouncing behind her. Angel hadn't ever seen her so happy. She ran and jumped into his arms, kissing him.

"Well hello," he laughed.

"Hi." She let herself down but didn't unwrap her arms from his neck. "I'm done. The guys will be here any minute. How're things coming?"

"Fantastic. I'm done as soon as the last two plates are in the box." Buffy reached around him and took one of the two remaining plates, wrapping it quickly and setting it in the box.

"How do you do that so fast?" Angel asked with a playful frown.

"I have practice packing quickly…" Buffy said. Her smile changed to a slight frown and Angel grabbed her shoulders.

"Don't. Buffy, things worked out." Her sad eyes met his and slowly the sparkle returned.

Finally there was a knock on the door. Willow poked her head in, but covered her eyes.

"Are you two decent?" She called out. Buffy laughed and went to the door.

"We are, Will. Come in guys." Willow walked in followed by Kathryn, Tara, Xander, and Riley. Anya had stayed with the kids, and Buffy hadn't even invited Giles. He was getting so old, and he tired easily these days. Buffy worried about how much her Watcher took on, but didn't say anything. He would never listen to her.

"Man, for a tiny apartment you guys sure do have a lot of stuff," Kathryn grumbled as she lifted a box and carried it out to the car she had borrowed from Giles.

"We're doing this all in one trip guys, so be smart about how you pack your cars," Willow said, addressing everyone. Buffy stifled a laugh.

"Yes Ma'am," Xander saluted. Riley glared at the joke, but didn't push it.

"I'm going to clean a few things up," Buffy whispered to Angel as he picked up a box.

"Ok." He leaned down for a kiss before leaving. Riley hung back as well.

"So Spike hasn't escaped since that last time," Riley said with a smile. Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Took you guys long enough to figure things out. What are you doing with him?" Buffy asked.

"Using him as a training tool. The new chips were designed to be controlled by a remote. We can turn the electrical impulses off when we want him to be able to attack. It's a good experience for the newbies," Riley shrugged. Buffy frowned. Suddenly she didn't like the idea of Spike being caged up. He had a chip, he couldn't hurt anyone, why shouldn't he be allowed to enjoy the rest of his existence?

"Thanks for helping with all this Riley, and for being supportive. I know you and Angel have never really gotten along, but you've been really good about this," Buffy said softly. Riley put a hand on her shoulder.

"You're happy, Buffy. That's all I've ever wanted for you." Buffy slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. He hugged back, lingering a little longer than he would have if Angel were in the room.

"Ok, go load up your car before Willow yells at you," Buffy laughed, pulling away. Riley laughed too and grabbed a box. When he was out of sight, Buffy looked at her hand. In it was Riley's master keycard. She slipped it in her pocket for later, knowing that Riley was leaving for Africa the next day and wouldn't miss it until she was finished.

That night, everyone had dinner in Buffy and Angel's new house. Giles, Anya, the kids, and Brady had joined them.

"So Buff, are you going to give my kids free self defense lessons?" Xander asked. Buffy laughed.

"We'll see when they're old enough."

"I, for one, am very proud of you Buffy," Giles said from his seat at the head of the table. Buffy smiled and nodded slowly.

"Thank you Giles." There was a long stretch of silence until Kathryn cleared her throat.

"Um…Brady and I have something we want to talk to you about," Kathryn started. Buffy looked at Angel and then Riley, wondering if this was serious or not.

"What's up Kat?" Riley said carefully. Kathryn stood up, carefully shielding her left hand.

"Kathryn!" Buffy cried. She knew exactly what was about to come out of Kathryn's mouth, and it was the last thing she wanted to hear.

"Mom, it's ok. Guys…"

"Kathryn Grace Finn if one more word comes out of your mouth before you speak to your mother and I in private I will ground you for the rest of your life," Riley bellowed. He stood up and stared Kathryn down.

"Fine. Can Brady and I see the two of you in the other room please?" Kathryn hissed. Buffy stood up, looked meaningfully at Angel, who followed, and then looked at her guests.

"I'm so sorry guys, we'll be back soon. Keep eating."

Once the five of them were settled in Angel's office, Angel looked at Brady.

"Boy," he growled. "Is there something you want to ask the three of us?" Brady's face had gone white and his hands shook as he stood up.

"Mr. Finn, Ms. Summers, um…Mr. Angel…I'm sorry I didn't ask you first, it's just that it was so sudden."

"Then ask us now," Riley demanded. Brady gulped and nodded.

"Wait, no! Stop it Brady. He doesn't have to ask you three! He already asked me and I already said yes. Brady and I are getting married," Kathryn said defiantly. She thrust her chin into the air.

"Kathryn, sit down." Buffy said softly, but with enough force that Kathryn sank into the couch.

"Would the three of you object if I asked Kathryn to marry me?" Brady asked.

"Yes." It was so in unison that Brady had to look at their faces to make sure he'd heard right.

"You guys!"

"Kathryn, hush, and let you fathers and I talk to your…Brady," Buffy sighed.

"Look, Brady, I like you…ok no that's a lie, I don't really like you. But I could, if you spent more time around us. I want you and Kathryn to be happy, but not like this. Not yet. You're both much too young for this kind of responsibility," Buffy explained.

"You and Angel were married when you were seventeen!" Kathryn yelled. Buffy glared.

"Not legally. Besides, look how well that turned out! He left me for a year, then came back, then died before we got to where we are now!"

"Wouldn't you have married him then though?" Kathryn asked, knowing the answer.

"He never would've asked. Not until I was much older, if ever."

"Kathryn, why do you want to do this now?" Angel asked quietly. Kathryn looked at him and was silent for a moment.

"I don't know," she whispered.

"Does this have something to do with all the changes that have been going on this past year?" Buffy asked. She reached out and touched Kathryn's hand.

"I don't know."

"Kathryn, do you really want to marry me?" Brady whispered. Kathryn's head snapped up and she looked into his eyes.

"Yes. But…maybe not now. Maybe they're right."

"I promise that if you guys come back in a few years engaged, I'll throw the biggest engagement party ever," Buffy smiled. Kathryn squeezed her hand.

"Thanks mom. And Dads."

"I did something very, very bad today," Buffy confessed as Angel slid into bed next to her. He frowned.

"What?" Buffy grabbed the keycard from the bedside table and held it up for Angel to see. His frown deepened.

"It's Riley's master keycard, to the Initiative. He leaves for Africa tomorrow, so he won't miss it." Angel's eyes went wide.

"Why did you take it?" Buffy sat up, excited.

"I want to break Spike out. He's harmless, he doesn't deserve to be cooped up like he is. Will you help me? I already talked to Willow, and she said she would." Angel couldn't deny the look in her eyes.

"How will we get in unnoticed?"

"Willow's going to cast a spell that shields us."

"Ok. When?"

"Tomorrow." Angel couldn't believe he was going to help Spike escape.

Buffy, Angel, and Willow were hiding in the bushes outside the Initiative the next night. Willow had magic supplies all around her, and a book opened in her hands. Buffy and Angel were swathed head to toe in black.

"Okay, if you guys can make it in inconspicuously and stay that way for about a minute, I can work this," Willow promised.

"Can do."

"Alright. Go. And good luck." Buffy started towards the main door, with Angel following closely behind. At the door, Buffy pulled out Riley's keycard and slid it through the reader. The small red light switched to green after an instant and the two slid through the door.

It was a few minutes before they ran into anyone. It was a young looking woman in her standard fatigues. Buffy and Angel turned a corner, almost hitting her, but the woman didn't notice.

"Way to go Will," Buffy whispered.

Finally they reached the new cage that the Initiative had built for Spike. He was sitting in the corner, staring at the wall. It struck Buffy that Riley had said something about Spike being heavily sedated.

"Spike," Buffy whispered. The vampire didn't look up, didn't give any indication that he'd heard her.

"We're going to have to carry him, at least part of the way," Angel pointed out.

"Great." Buffy and Angel slipped their arms around Spike and lifted him as best they could. His feet dragged slightly on the cement floor, creating resistance they really didn't need.

"What're you doing?" Spike mumbled.

"Shh. We're getting you out of here," Buffy hissed. Spike groaned slightly.

It took them ten minutes to get out of the building, but they didn't encounter any problems. Willow really had worked her magic. Buffy and Angel dropped Spike once they had traveled a few blocks. He was beginning to wake up.

"Spike. Are you paying attention?" Buffy asked, leaning down to look into his eyes. His head lolled a little bit. Angel reached forward with speed that Buffy had almost forgotten he possessed and grabbed the lapels of Spike's jacket.

"Spike!" His intensity brought Buffy instantly back to Angelus, and for a moment her chest tightened with dread. Then she shook free and reminded herself that Angelus was gone forever.

Spike groaned. Angel shook him and growled. Finally Buffy saw the dullness leave Spike's eyes and his body stiffened.

"Get off!" He shoved at Angel, who didn't even falter. Spike stood up and brushed his pants off.

"Spike, I'm serious about you leaving town this time. Go away and never, ever come back. I see your face in Sunnydale again and I will gladly give you back to the Initiative," Buffy warned. Spike cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Is that right Slayer? Why did you rescue me in the first place?" Spike asked. He grinned.

"Because I don't like the Initiative, and I think you're about as dangerous as a kitten. So like I said, get out of town." Spike laughed.

"I'll be seeing you eventually, Slayer. Take care of Peaches for me."