~*-*~

One Week Later

Angel sat at his desk in the office heavily engrossed in a periodical. He was finding himself growing annoyed with a report about crime in Los Angeles, knowing full well that the police were doing little to reduce the strange murders reported and yet were being accredited with the success. Although he knew it would never be possible, a part of him wanted some of the praise. Angel Investigations had stepped up its work, especially since they had more employees now. Angel continued to read and annoy himself, so into the article that he didn't notice Spike wander in until he threw some papers under his nose.

"What's this?"

"Receipts. I went shopping."

"Right."

Since everyone, bar Wesley, was living at the Hotel, it had become easier for everything to be bought directly through the company. Since nobody minded, this was the way it was done. Angel skimmed through the receipts, as Spike had clearly run through a lot of shops.

"First Aid stuff... yada yada yada... blood... maple syrup?"

He stared at Spike who was perched on an opposing desk, flicking through a translation of the Codex.

"What?"

Angel lifted up the piece of paper, drawing Spike's attention to the item in question.

"Maple syrup?"

"I fancied something sweet."

"*Three* bottles?!"

"I fancied a lot sweet."

Angel sighed as he took a brief check of the prices.

"Why is it that introducing one blood-drinking vampire makes the bills multiply at an alarming rate?"

Spike shrugged, not really having an answer.

"I like food, that's all."

"Why can't you be normal and just drink blood like the rest of us?"

Gunn's voice permeated into the office from the lobby.

"Happily here in the non-blood drinking capacity thank you!"

Angel was forced to grin as he continued checking through the receipts.

"Sea salt... sea salt... sea salt... unusually expensive whiskey..."

Glare. Mock.

"And sea salt!"

"You think your face is a picture? You should have seen the woman at the checkout."

Angel gave off a short smile before getting back to the task at hand.

"Yeah, I'll get these to Wes. He's kinda acting as accountant these days."

Silence quickly ensued in the small office. The clock began to tick obnoxiously, however neither vampire paid it much attention. They sat, both entranced in their own thoughts. Spike's thoughts however, soon got the better of him.

"Angel..."

He lifted his head from the page.

"Yeah?"

Spike continued to sit, not looking at Angel, but resting his head on his fist that was in turn balanced by his elbow on the table. He stared straight ahead, speaking airily, clearly figuring out his own mind processes at the same time.

"You know Connor."

"Of course I know Connor."

"Yes, well if he was sired by some random vampire, would he still be of Aurelius?"

Angel frowned, partly confused and partly annoyed.

"What?!"

Spike clarified his query.

"I'm just saying. I mean, it's Aurelius blood that flows through him right? So what would happen?"

Angel just stared him down.

"I'm speaking hypothetically Angel."

"Yes, well hypothetically I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about my son becoming a vampire."

Spike realised from the harshness of his sire's tone that his tactless comment was out of line. He'd been too harsh and now he was suffering the consequence: Guilt. Spike hated guilt. It was a disgusting feeling that he couldn't bear living with. It slowly dissolved his insides, and at its worst would often make him dizzy. The remorse had been growing slowly day by day, but it was now getting worse. Spike felt an inner urge at times to simply chew his own arm off, just to dull the throbbing pain in his heart. He wasn't accustomed to the true pain of his soul yet. That would take years.

Spike watched Angel working (Working? Ha! He was *so* doing a crossword...) and analysed his situation. Here he was in a healthy atmosphere. He had family and friends around him... but he wasn't happy. Why? Guilt. Residual guilt for what had happened with Buffy and Anya was still gnawing at him, and all his time here in LA was just giving these feelings an opportunity to root and fester. Spike knew what he had to do if he was ever going to shake it off.

He approached the desk where Angel sat, and as he stood there awaiting Angel's attention he almost sat down on the floor. The weight of his soul ached, and he wasn't sure he could take it much longer. Angel raised his head slightly, looking out from under his brow at the figure standing before him.

"What?"

Spike gave a weak half smile, considering the best way to explain his new decision. Angel just frowned at him, wondering how many other ways he could put his foot in his mouth in one hour.

"Angel, you've been great."

"But..."

Spike decided to just suck it up and say it out loud.

"I'm leaving."

"What?!"

Fair to say this did take Angel by surprise. Spike was taken aback by his outburst and quickly clarified.

"Not yet, but on Thursday."

Angel thought for a moment, trying to think what was so special about Thursday.

"Why Thursday? That's Halloween."

"Best time to travel as ever. Won't get caught up in any mystical nonsense on my way."

Angel understood that notion as he stood up. He thought this over as he walked around, finally coming to sit and perch on the side of the desk.

"Why now?"

Spike looked skyward and sighed, clearly disappointed in himself.

"I've been here about a month and a half, and I'm not making progress."

Off Angel's look, Spike explained further.

"Okay fine, I can actually sleep now, but it's not helping. All I'm doing is trying to avoid going back."

Angel sighed. He knew that his pain would get worse, he could see it. Angel could almost parallel his situation with Spike. Spike was running away, and he couldn't bear it much longer so wanted to go back. Angel knew how that felt. It'd happened to him. However it had ended in much heartache when Darla rejected him. He didn't want the same for Spike. Angel didn't know what Spike was running away from, but whatever it was it was too soon for him to go back to it... right?

"You know, it feels weird to say this but I like having you around. I'm not the only one of the undead persuasion. It feels good to know there's someone else out there who understands."

Spike listened and shook his head with a smile.

"You've patched things up with your Watcher out there now. Your little one is not so little, and things are looking up for you two. You've got a great business and two pleasant... okay, one pleasant mermaid and a disagreeable wench as information sources."

Feeling the need to break it down further, Spike slowly emphasised his point.

"You've got your life near sorted. Now I've got to sort mine."

Angel almost needed confirmation. He knew he had to accept it, but that didn't mean he wanted to.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Because this could be your home if you wanted it to."

"I know."

They shared a look of understanding. Angel realised the necessity for Spike to resolve whatever issues needed resolving, meanwhile Spike was glad just to know there was a place where if anything went wrong, he'd always be welcome.

"But why now Spike? I thought you were happy here. I mean yes, you piss me off, but you seem to enjoy making me miserable."

"I am happy here. I do enjoy making you miserable."

Angel rolled his eyes at Spike's statement of fact.

"But it's not like I'm never coming back. We'll meet up again."

Angel raised an eyebrow.

"This century?"

Spike laughed and opened up an invisible date planner. Skimming down the non-existent page, he smiled.

"This century is good for me. I'll be in touch."

Spike left out of the side office door and made his way towards the stairs. He was on his way up the stairs and not out the doors of course, as he still had to pack what little things he had. Those few things he had with him when he arrived, the things he had collected, and not forgetting the numerous trinkets that Angel had bought him off with every time they had an argument. Spike also wanted to say his proper goodbyes to Connor, his partner in hotel mischief, and of course Fred, who was someone he would definitely miss. Angel leant on the doorframe and watched as Spike walked away from him.

"Where will you go?"

Spike smiled, as he didn't have to think about the question. He knew the answer. He knew exactly where to go.

"Where I belong."

~*-*~


Author's Note: Yo. Was planning on updating Monday, except my Leavers Ball (for my foreign friends = Senior Prom) was on Tuesday and I kinda went crazy over the whole dress and hair and blah stuff so... You understand!

Well, I guess with that it's official. School and that entire chapter of my life is over. Finished. Done with. Boy, I do feel funny...