Title - Strange Companions

Author - Paige

Rating - PG

Disclaimer - As. If.

Distribution - Just let me know.

Feedback - Please! I'll love you forever!

A/N - Hyped on NiteQuil & ibuprofen. Great stuff.

Buffy yawned and stretched, hating the idea of waking up, when her head encountered something too hard to be a pillow and too soft to be her headboard or a wall. She opened her eyes, meeting Angel's huge brown ones. "Oh, God, it was real," she whispered, pulling him close.

He nodded into her hair. "Yeah, it was."

The spent several long minutes holding each other before Buffy gently pulled away. "Where are we?"

"The mansion. Acathla's gone, but Spike's passed out downstairs." He smirked. "Did you hear Serafin say that he'd have a soul too, or was that just me?"

"I heard it to." Buffy smiled slyly. "I also heard her say you could be happy."

A slow, reverent smile spread across his face.

A few minutes later, he was attending to just that.

*

Two hours later, Buffy came down the stairs, smiling and running her fingers through her long blonde hair. Spike was sitting on the couch, glaring at her. "I see you and the poof have been getting in on."

She smiled, blissfully happy. "Yeah." She looked at him very closely. "What do you remember?"

"Everything," he said mournfully. "I've got a bloody soul, and it's all your fault."

*

Buffy nervously straightened her skirt and nervously raised her hand to knock on Giles's door.

A moment later, the Watcher's harried face appeared, looking ready to dismember whoever dared disturb him. Then he smiled, and yanked her into a hug. "Buffy! Where have you been?"

She laughed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

*

"Wow," Willow said softly.

"Yeah," Buffy agreed.

"Wow."

"You said that, Willow," Xander snapped. He obviously wasn't happy, but Buffy couldn't bring herself to care.

"That's 'cause it's very wow-worthy," the witch snapped.

"So we're just supposed to let those demons into the group?" the boy demanded incredulously.

"Maybe you can once you get past your petty goddamn jealousy," snapped a new, decidedly female voice.

They all turned to see a beautiful young girl with a nose ring and long dark hair sitting on Giles's stairs.

"Who the hell are you?" Xander demanded.

"And how the hell did you get into my house?" Giles demanded.

"My name is Serafin," the girl said softly, smiling at the Watcher. "And I'm an angel, Rupert. I can come and go as I please."

She turned warm eyes to the others. "You're all going to need to be very strong. And you're also going to need Spike and Angel, whether you like it or not. You don't have to worry about either one of them losing their souls. Steps have been taken."

Xander snorted. "Why didn't you take steps the last time."

"Because they didn't see me coming," Buffy said softly.

Serafin smiled. "Exactly. I see you actually listened to Whistler. I was worried you hadn't."

Buffy smiled gently. "I listened."

Serafin took the blonde's hand. "You're not alone anymore."

She nodded. "I know."

The angel straightened. "Cordelia?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't make any wishes."

The brunette looked confused. "Ooookay."

"And love him while you have a chance."

She turned to Willow and Oz. "Stay strong. The dark is coming."

They both nodded solemnly.

She looked at Xander. "Love her. You'll need it."

Finally she turned to Giles before Xander had a chance to make a comment. She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Jenny says hello," she said softly. "She also told me to say that she loves you, and that it wasn't your fault. It had to happen."

"Why?" he asked, sounding broken.

"Watch the signs."

He nodded.

"One other thing - don't trust Faith. And Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful on your 18th birthday. Just stay in, huh?"

"Will do."

TBC.