Title: Strange Companions

Author: Paige

Rating: PG

Distribution: Ask first.

Disclaimer: Ha. Ha. Ha.

Please, please feed me, cause this part is kinda.weird. Still.

There was more pounding on the door as Buffy and Liam dressed. He swore and slipped his shirt on over his shoulders and opening it, glaring at Lil and Spike. The former was leaning lazily against her lover, yawning and blinking sleepily.

"You two done boinkin' so we can go?" Spike demanded tactlessly.

Buffy blushed to the roots of her hair. Liam hardly reacted at all. "Give us ten minutes, will you?" Without waiting for an answer, he closed the door.

She smiled as he leaned over the bed to give her a brief kiss. "We better get ready before those two break down the door."

She nodded and slipped out of bed, pulling on her clothes even as she watched Liam dress. The exchanged a couple more kisses before heading out the door.

It was afternoon, dark, cloudy.rainy

(like my birthday)

with the requisite thunder and lightning.

Spike rolled blue eyes towards the sky and frowned. "Wasn't like this earlier."

Lillia yawned and fished the keys of the battered black car out of Spike's duster pocket. "Oh, well."

Spike nodded, noting Liam's arm around Buffy's waist as they headed for the car. He leaned over and said something softly to Lillia, only his English lilt coming through.

(that voice and accent and even his eyes.so familiar why so familiar)

Buffy shrugged off the feeling and snuggled into Liam's

(not angel not angel not angel)

arms as they settled into the backseat.

Spike cranked up the radio and he and Lillia started to sing along with it. Meredith Brooks, Bitch.

(definitely a cordelia song)

***

Buffy yawned and stretched. Spike was driving now, Lillia dozing with her head on his thigh. Liam was settled back against the seat, eyes closed, head to the side. She leaned over, kissed his cheek, reveled in the warmth of his skin

(not cold not like angel's not cold)

and smiled, studying his face.

It was amazing how much he looked like Angel. They could be brothers, really.

She snuggled back up against him and then stared at Spike for a long, quiet moment.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?"

"What's your real name?"

"William, why?"

Buffy paled.

William.

Like the other Spike.

The accent, the voice, the eyes.

Lillia raised her head and glanced at the Slayer with terribly sad eyes.

"Do you know them now?"

TBC...