Willow was busy gathering the books for restoring Angel's soul and she sighed. She and Oz had been talking more but things were still strained. She glanced over at Xander who was starring at Cordelia with naked desire on his face.
"Can we leave yet? Doesn't anyone else remember what when we were all in the library last time we were restoring Angel's soul?" She looked at them with disdain. What was her damage last year, wanting to hang out with them? Just then Wesley walked in with a book. Oh…well there was a good enough reason to stay for now.
"Willow, I would like to talk to you about the ritual you did last year. There are no references to it in my Council archives on vampires." Wesley said without looking up from his book. Giles rolled his eyes but Willow merely nodded and walked over.
"Hello, can I go now?" Cordelia said again.
"Yes oh shallow one. You can go. Or you can research and do something to help others but that would mean that you actually had to care about someone other than yourself!" Xander sniped at her. Cordelia looked at him murderously.
"Feelings?! What would you know about that Xander Harris?"
"Geesh Cordy! It's always about you isn't it?"
"Me? Whatever Xander. You're the one who can't even decide what he wants."
"What are you even talking about?"
"Oh! You are such a moron! You want everything! You want Willow and Buffy and me to all be in love with you. No one else is allowed to be happy but you! God. I'm going now."
The library was deadly silent and tense as Cordelia stalked out towards the door. She was halfway there when Buffy, Spike, and Oz entered the room.
"Cordy what's wrong?" Buffy asked.
"Xander Harris. Buffy if you decide to go all evil can you eat him first so I can watch?" Buffy sputtered a reply and Spike burst out laughing.
"Uh…Cordy?" Buffy asked her.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Anyway. I'm going home. You know somewhere Angelus can't get into." And she began to walk towards the door again.
"Cordelia wait! Uh maybe Spike should walk you to your car?" Buffy offered. Spike looked at her skeptically for a moment and sighed.
"Yeah c'mon cheerleader. I'll bloody well protect you." And the two of them began to walk out together but Wesley intervened.
"Spike?! To keep her safe? I've had enough of this nonsense. We can't trust him with Cordelia." Spike growled at the Watcher and Buffy narrowed her eyes at him, close to vamping out.
"Oi! Who are you, you bloody poofter?"
"That's barely brave Sir Wesley. He almost got me and Faith killed on his first day in town." Buffy answered. "He's my official council approved Watcher." Spike looked over at her confused.
"I thought ole Rupes was your Watcher pet."
"Long story. I'll tell you later."
"Yes. Er. I am your Watcher and as such I say that William the Bloody can not be trusted." Wesley stated interrupting them.
"Please Wesley. I trust Spike more than I will ever trust you." Buffy muttered. Spike was surprised. He had her trust? He couldn't help but let a goofy grin spread over his face.
"Well I must protest!" Wesley began but Giles stopped him.
"I must respect Buffy's judgment on this. She does not put her trust in just anyone." Willow nodded her head in agreement and Xander looked sullen. Cordelia huffed in impatience.
"Whatever. Spike's walking me to my car. C'mon bleached wonder, let's go." Cordelia started out the door and Wesley's voice stopped them again.
"Well I must insist on accompanying you." And he grabbed a stake and cross from the table and walked over to Spike warily. Buffy sighed.
"Fine Wesley. Just try not to be annoying…oh wait, too late." Buffy said and Spike smirked at her and kissed her on the cheek before exiting behind Cordelia and Wesley who were chattering incessantly. As he pulled away from Buffy, Spike slipped a note in her hand and winked at her.
"See you soon luv." And the three left the library. A wide smile broke out on Buffy's face as she looked at his leather clad back and then at the note in her hand. The sound of a throat clearing quickly brought her back to reality.
"What?" Buffy said innocently as she tucked the note in her pocket. Before Xander or Giles could say anything, Willow jumped in.
"Buffy can you help me er- find that, uh, book? I-I think it's in the stacks."
"Uh…sure Will." And the two walked off into the stacks leaving the three men looking at each other quizzically.
"Well. We should gather the materials to do the spell and proceed to Buffy's house. Joyce was expecting us tonight." Giles said.
"Right." Xander said. He absently began to gather texts together while Giles looked for the Orb of Thessela.
*****
"So Buffy…you and Spike seem close now." Willow started hesitantly.
"Oh yeah. Actually, I've been wanting to get your advice Will."
"Oh? Yeah I mean that's what best friends are for right? I guess it's just you know…Spike…and"
"Willow, calm down. Spike's…well, he's difference than we thought." The two girls sat down in the back of the stacks to talk about the odd turn of events in their lives…and unlives.
"What do you mean different?"
"Well, just talking to him last night er today. He-he well, he loves me Willow."
"WAHAT?!"
"Spike's in love with me. I know. I found it hard to believe too. Actually I laughed in his face."
"Oh poor Spike. I mean- hey did I just say poor Spike?" Willow asked amazed. Buffy laughed at her friend before continuing.
"He does sorta grow on you."
"Yeah. Kinda like a blonde fungus." At that both girls burst out laughing.
"He's different now. He started crying when he found out I was turned."
"Crying? Spike?"
"Yeah don't tell anyone though. You know he has that whole 'I'm evil' thing going on." They both giggled again. "He's sweet." Buffy said as she thought back to the time that they spent together.
"Well, I guess I can see that. He did always take care of Drusilla. But is it weird? You know what with the trying to kill you in the past?" Willow looked thoughtfully at Buffy. Buffy thought about what Willow had said. Even though it was only last year she thought about how much had changed since the last time she had seen him and how he was still changing. She didn't think of him the same way at all.
"No. It's not weird. Maybe that makes it weird but, Will, he makes me feel so special and loved. If I hadn't ran into him last night I would have waited for the sun."
Willow looked at her friend thoughtfully. "What about the hunting though Buffy? I mean you deserve happiness and all, but I know that you would feel guilty if your boyfriend went out at night to go kill people."
"He said he would stop hunting." Buffy said quietly. Willow gasped in shock. That was not something that she had expected.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Both girls looked at each other in silence mulling over their conversation.
"Buffy, do you love Spike?" Willow asked studying Buffy's features. They sat starring at each other in silence as Buffy contemplated Willow's question. Suddenly they heard yelling coming from the library. It was Wesley and he sounded panicked. Looked like girl talk would have to wait.
*******
Wesley staggered into the library holding his hand over his bloody neck. "Angelus has taken Cordelia!" he yelled before collapsing onto the floor. Xander was at his side in an instant. Giles, Oz, Buffy, and Willow soon ran over too.
"What happened?" Xander asked pulling Wesley up into a chair."
"We were almost at Cordelia's car when several fledglings jumped out at us." He paused as his breathing became heavier. "Spike began to fight them then Angelus and Drusilla came, they knocked Spike out from behind and Drusilla grabbed me and began to bite me and- and Cordelia hit her from behind but Angelus lifted up Spike from behind. He told Drusilla not to bother with me and to grab Cordelia. They-they…" and with that Wesley slumped over the table, finally slipping into oblivion.
The group sat in silence, contemplating this turn of events. They needed to step up their plans.
"Right. I'm going after them. I have to save Spike and Cordelia." Buffy said quickly blinking back her tears.
"Don't you mean Cordelia?" Xander asked bitterly. "You can't actually think that Spike is still on our side?"
"Yes, he is. I know he is. Xander, you heard Wes. They took Spike by force. He didn't betray us. He would never betray me." Buffy really didn't think she had the strength to fight him about this right now.
"Buffy's right." Willow said. "Spike's changed." The two girls looked at the group determinedly.
"I gotta say I had a chat with the guy and he gave me some pretty good advice." Oz added.
"Yes, well be that as it may, we really do not have time to discuss this. As a previous victim of Angelus' methods, we must get Cordelia out of there as quickly as possible. I doubt she is very much acquainted with torture." Giles put in.
"Right. So Willow, Giles, and Oz, go to my house and start the spell to restore Angel's soul. Xander take Wes to the hospital and meet at my place. See if you can get Faith to come over too. I'm going home to get some weapons and then head over." Buffy said.
"Buff, what about back-up? I mean they have minions and you'll still have to fight Angelus, Drusilla, and Spike…" Xander trailed off at their glare. "Ok maybe not Spike."
They all paused for a moment looking at each other with trepidation about the upcoming fight of the evening. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch they all sprang into action gathering majics and rushing out to try to save their friends.
******
Buffy was silent the whole way to her house. Willow, Giles, and Oz didn't know what to do. She was focused and intense. As they approached the house they were attacked by a group of minions. Buffy didn't even blink when she took them out.
"Uh. Buffy? Not that that wasn't impressive and all…but are you ok?" Willow asked.
Buffy starred at her blankly for a moment and she seemed to blink out of her daze as tears filled her eyes. "I can't loose him now." Buffy answered and Giles and Oz shifted uncomfortably, but didn't say anything to her. They all quickly went inside the house.
"Buffy…sweetie…I was expecting you a little later." Joyce said but trailed off as Giles and Willow began to set up a spell. Buffy turned on the stairs and looked down at her mom. It was then that Joyce saw the tears in her eyes. "Buffy, what's wrong?"
"Angelus." Her daughter whispered.
"He- did he take someone? Where's Xander?"
"No. Not Xander. He-he took Cordelia and- and Spike." And with that Buffy rushed upstairs to her room to get her weapons.
"Ok. I missed something." Joyce said turning to the group of three in her living room.
"You have no idea." Giles muttered.
"Can we leave yet? Doesn't anyone else remember what when we were all in the library last time we were restoring Angel's soul?" She looked at them with disdain. What was her damage last year, wanting to hang out with them? Just then Wesley walked in with a book. Oh…well there was a good enough reason to stay for now.
"Willow, I would like to talk to you about the ritual you did last year. There are no references to it in my Council archives on vampires." Wesley said without looking up from his book. Giles rolled his eyes but Willow merely nodded and walked over.
"Hello, can I go now?" Cordelia said again.
"Yes oh shallow one. You can go. Or you can research and do something to help others but that would mean that you actually had to care about someone other than yourself!" Xander sniped at her. Cordelia looked at him murderously.
"Feelings?! What would you know about that Xander Harris?"
"Geesh Cordy! It's always about you isn't it?"
"Me? Whatever Xander. You're the one who can't even decide what he wants."
"What are you even talking about?"
"Oh! You are such a moron! You want everything! You want Willow and Buffy and me to all be in love with you. No one else is allowed to be happy but you! God. I'm going now."
The library was deadly silent and tense as Cordelia stalked out towards the door. She was halfway there when Buffy, Spike, and Oz entered the room.
"Cordy what's wrong?" Buffy asked.
"Xander Harris. Buffy if you decide to go all evil can you eat him first so I can watch?" Buffy sputtered a reply and Spike burst out laughing.
"Uh…Cordy?" Buffy asked her.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Anyway. I'm going home. You know somewhere Angelus can't get into." And she began to walk towards the door again.
"Cordelia wait! Uh maybe Spike should walk you to your car?" Buffy offered. Spike looked at her skeptically for a moment and sighed.
"Yeah c'mon cheerleader. I'll bloody well protect you." And the two of them began to walk out together but Wesley intervened.
"Spike?! To keep her safe? I've had enough of this nonsense. We can't trust him with Cordelia." Spike growled at the Watcher and Buffy narrowed her eyes at him, close to vamping out.
"Oi! Who are you, you bloody poofter?"
"That's barely brave Sir Wesley. He almost got me and Faith killed on his first day in town." Buffy answered. "He's my official council approved Watcher." Spike looked over at her confused.
"I thought ole Rupes was your Watcher pet."
"Long story. I'll tell you later."
"Yes. Er. I am your Watcher and as such I say that William the Bloody can not be trusted." Wesley stated interrupting them.
"Please Wesley. I trust Spike more than I will ever trust you." Buffy muttered. Spike was surprised. He had her trust? He couldn't help but let a goofy grin spread over his face.
"Well I must protest!" Wesley began but Giles stopped him.
"I must respect Buffy's judgment on this. She does not put her trust in just anyone." Willow nodded her head in agreement and Xander looked sullen. Cordelia huffed in impatience.
"Whatever. Spike's walking me to my car. C'mon bleached wonder, let's go." Cordelia started out the door and Wesley's voice stopped them again.
"Well I must insist on accompanying you." And he grabbed a stake and cross from the table and walked over to Spike warily. Buffy sighed.
"Fine Wesley. Just try not to be annoying…oh wait, too late." Buffy said and Spike smirked at her and kissed her on the cheek before exiting behind Cordelia and Wesley who were chattering incessantly. As he pulled away from Buffy, Spike slipped a note in her hand and winked at her.
"See you soon luv." And the three left the library. A wide smile broke out on Buffy's face as she looked at his leather clad back and then at the note in her hand. The sound of a throat clearing quickly brought her back to reality.
"What?" Buffy said innocently as she tucked the note in her pocket. Before Xander or Giles could say anything, Willow jumped in.
"Buffy can you help me er- find that, uh, book? I-I think it's in the stacks."
"Uh…sure Will." And the two walked off into the stacks leaving the three men looking at each other quizzically.
"Well. We should gather the materials to do the spell and proceed to Buffy's house. Joyce was expecting us tonight." Giles said.
"Right." Xander said. He absently began to gather texts together while Giles looked for the Orb of Thessela.
*****
"So Buffy…you and Spike seem close now." Willow started hesitantly.
"Oh yeah. Actually, I've been wanting to get your advice Will."
"Oh? Yeah I mean that's what best friends are for right? I guess it's just you know…Spike…and"
"Willow, calm down. Spike's…well, he's difference than we thought." The two girls sat down in the back of the stacks to talk about the odd turn of events in their lives…and unlives.
"What do you mean different?"
"Well, just talking to him last night er today. He-he well, he loves me Willow."
"WAHAT?!"
"Spike's in love with me. I know. I found it hard to believe too. Actually I laughed in his face."
"Oh poor Spike. I mean- hey did I just say poor Spike?" Willow asked amazed. Buffy laughed at her friend before continuing.
"He does sorta grow on you."
"Yeah. Kinda like a blonde fungus." At that both girls burst out laughing.
"He's different now. He started crying when he found out I was turned."
"Crying? Spike?"
"Yeah don't tell anyone though. You know he has that whole 'I'm evil' thing going on." They both giggled again. "He's sweet." Buffy said as she thought back to the time that they spent together.
"Well, I guess I can see that. He did always take care of Drusilla. But is it weird? You know what with the trying to kill you in the past?" Willow looked thoughtfully at Buffy. Buffy thought about what Willow had said. Even though it was only last year she thought about how much had changed since the last time she had seen him and how he was still changing. She didn't think of him the same way at all.
"No. It's not weird. Maybe that makes it weird but, Will, he makes me feel so special and loved. If I hadn't ran into him last night I would have waited for the sun."
Willow looked at her friend thoughtfully. "What about the hunting though Buffy? I mean you deserve happiness and all, but I know that you would feel guilty if your boyfriend went out at night to go kill people."
"He said he would stop hunting." Buffy said quietly. Willow gasped in shock. That was not something that she had expected.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Both girls looked at each other in silence mulling over their conversation.
"Buffy, do you love Spike?" Willow asked studying Buffy's features. They sat starring at each other in silence as Buffy contemplated Willow's question. Suddenly they heard yelling coming from the library. It was Wesley and he sounded panicked. Looked like girl talk would have to wait.
*******
Wesley staggered into the library holding his hand over his bloody neck. "Angelus has taken Cordelia!" he yelled before collapsing onto the floor. Xander was at his side in an instant. Giles, Oz, Buffy, and Willow soon ran over too.
"What happened?" Xander asked pulling Wesley up into a chair."
"We were almost at Cordelia's car when several fledglings jumped out at us." He paused as his breathing became heavier. "Spike began to fight them then Angelus and Drusilla came, they knocked Spike out from behind and Drusilla grabbed me and began to bite me and- and Cordelia hit her from behind but Angelus lifted up Spike from behind. He told Drusilla not to bother with me and to grab Cordelia. They-they…" and with that Wesley slumped over the table, finally slipping into oblivion.
The group sat in silence, contemplating this turn of events. They needed to step up their plans.
"Right. I'm going after them. I have to save Spike and Cordelia." Buffy said quickly blinking back her tears.
"Don't you mean Cordelia?" Xander asked bitterly. "You can't actually think that Spike is still on our side?"
"Yes, he is. I know he is. Xander, you heard Wes. They took Spike by force. He didn't betray us. He would never betray me." Buffy really didn't think she had the strength to fight him about this right now.
"Buffy's right." Willow said. "Spike's changed." The two girls looked at the group determinedly.
"I gotta say I had a chat with the guy and he gave me some pretty good advice." Oz added.
"Yes, well be that as it may, we really do not have time to discuss this. As a previous victim of Angelus' methods, we must get Cordelia out of there as quickly as possible. I doubt she is very much acquainted with torture." Giles put in.
"Right. So Willow, Giles, and Oz, go to my house and start the spell to restore Angel's soul. Xander take Wes to the hospital and meet at my place. See if you can get Faith to come over too. I'm going home to get some weapons and then head over." Buffy said.
"Buff, what about back-up? I mean they have minions and you'll still have to fight Angelus, Drusilla, and Spike…" Xander trailed off at their glare. "Ok maybe not Spike."
They all paused for a moment looking at each other with trepidation about the upcoming fight of the evening. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch they all sprang into action gathering majics and rushing out to try to save their friends.
******
Buffy was silent the whole way to her house. Willow, Giles, and Oz didn't know what to do. She was focused and intense. As they approached the house they were attacked by a group of minions. Buffy didn't even blink when she took them out.
"Uh. Buffy? Not that that wasn't impressive and all…but are you ok?" Willow asked.
Buffy starred at her blankly for a moment and she seemed to blink out of her daze as tears filled her eyes. "I can't loose him now." Buffy answered and Giles and Oz shifted uncomfortably, but didn't say anything to her. They all quickly went inside the house.
"Buffy…sweetie…I was expecting you a little later." Joyce said but trailed off as Giles and Willow began to set up a spell. Buffy turned on the stairs and looked down at her mom. It was then that Joyce saw the tears in her eyes. "Buffy, what's wrong?"
"Angelus." Her daughter whispered.
"He- did he take someone? Where's Xander?"
"No. Not Xander. He-he took Cordelia and- and Spike." And with that Buffy rushed upstairs to her room to get her weapons.
"Ok. I missed something." Joyce said turning to the group of three in her living room.
"You have no idea." Giles muttered.