Spoiled & Rotten Spoiled & Rotten Epilogue Three Months Later

"It's not Lurconis, Wesley. Trust me on this one. Your demon database is wrong." Xander said as he pulled a soda from the office refrigerator.

Wesley frowned at the computer screen. "But the signs all point to him. How can you be sure he's dead?"

Xander popped the top of the can and took a sip. "Because Buffy killed him with a makeshift flame thrower. So if you saw a demon and he didn't look like a BBQ Demon-ka-bob, it ain't Lurconis."

"Ah. Well then, clearly I must continue my research." He bent his head and began typing on the keyboard.

Xander grinned over at Angel. It continually amazed him how much his life had changed. For the better.

He had an apartment, which was above ground, a few blocks away from the office. He had a job that he loved and that helped people in need. It surprised him how much he enjoyed working at Angel Investigations. Here he was part of a team; a feeling he'd never had in Sunnydale. Wesley was actually an okay guy once you got to know him. Especially now that he'd removed the British flag from his ass.

Even Cordelia had been great. When Angel explained that Xander would be staying and working with them, she looked at Angel and asked if that meant she had to take cut in pay. After Angel said no, she gave Xander a big hug and welcomed him to LA. She had been somewhat concerned that Xander might be looking to get back together with her.

Until Xander grinned her and planted a big kiss on Angel's surprised lips.

Screaming something about images burned into her retinas for eternity, she fled the office. Xander and Angel were both thrilled to discover a way to get rid of her when they wanted privacy and used the technique on many an occasion.

Angel. That was the best thing about LA. He and Xander were taking their relationship slowly. They had become good friends, which surprised Xander even more than the two of them dating. Wesley and Cordelia had both encouraged Angel to talk to the Oracles about his curse and he'd finally given in. The Oracles had told Angel that as long as he remained a warrior for The Powers That Be, his soul could not be taken from him.

Xander was looking forward to testing that theory. Soon.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of the telephone. Cordelia answered it and then turned to Xander in concern as she placed the call on hold. "Psycho Slayer #1 on line two for you."

The smile slid from Xander's face as he glanced at Angel. Buffy calling here. This cannot be good, he thought.

With trepidation, he went into Angel's office and shut the door. He stared at the blinking light for a moment before picking up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Um...hi." Buffy's voice was soft and uncertain.

"This is a surprise."

"I read your letter."

"Oh?" Xander's voice was hopeful. He'd written that letter before he'd left Sunnydale. He'd wondered if she'd ever read it.

"I can't say I understand, Xander. It hurts too much. Knowing two of you...that you're...it hurts."

"I know. I'm sorry that you were hurt. Especially that way—"

Buffy cut him off. "Do you make him happy?"

Xander thought about how to answer that question. He didn't what the correct response was. He decided to be honest. "Yes. We make each other happy."

"Giles told me that his soul—" Her voice broke.

"No, his soul isn't going anywhere."

"That's the part I'm having trouble with. Why can he be happy with you and no threat hanging above his head and not me?"

Xander sighed softly. "Because he could never be what you needed him to be Buffy. Your world is all black and white. Right and wrong, clearly defined. And his isn't. He isn't. He turned himself inside out trying to be what you needed. But it almost destroyed him and a lot of other people."

"I never asked him to." She whispered.

"I know that. You didn't have to. You just looked at him like he was this white knight in a fairy tale. And he didn't want to disappoint you so that's who he pretended he was."

"So who is he really?"

"He's Angel." Xander replied simply. "And he's not black or white. His soul isn't like some big cosmic light switch that turns his demon on and off. He chooses to be good. He chooses to help people. And he struggles with that choice every day. But that's not a struggle you would ever have been able to see, much less understand."

"But you do?"

"I try. I'm not always successful...but I try."

"Well...I wish I could say I was happy for you guys but---"

"You're not there yet. It's okay."

"I'll try, Xander. Can...can I call you next week?"

Xander smiled into the phone. "That would be nice."

"Oh, I sent you guys something. I didn't know what to do with it and thought the two of you might. It should be there any minute."

"Thanks, Buffy! I appreciate that."

She chuckled. "Don't thank me yet. You haven't seen what it is."

"I'm glad you called."

"Me too. I'll talk to you next week. Bye, Xander."

"Bye."

Xander set the receiver back on the hook and stood. He opened the office door and walked outside to three people watching him with concern. He grinned widely, vastly relieved. "It's okay. She's not thrilled but we won't have to worry about a pissed off Chosen One showing up on our doorstep."

A smiling Angel began to say something but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. The others stared at the doorway, wondering who would be arriving at the office this time of night.

Xander waved off their concerns as he moved to the door. "It's okay. Buffy said she sent us something. This is probably it." He swung open the door and his mouth fell open in shock.

"Hello, cutie."

Spike stood on the threshold, a battered duffel bag in his hands. He pushed past Xander and strode into the office. "So where can I dump my stuff?"

As they all stared in horror at their new arrival, Xander uttered the words on everyone's mind...

"Fucking bitch!"