Chapter Six: This went better than last time.

The night sky seemed to hum.

Silence the only sound as the masked men broke into the Magick Shop. Wesley, Gunn, Spike and Angel worked quietly in trying to pick the lock of the shop. Gunn quickly took over the task, his days "borrowing" things from the shops in order to feed his people making him a pro at picking the little dead bolt lock. No one said a word as the security system was pulled apart by Angel. The book was under lock in the owner's office. That lock was rapidly picked as the book was lifted out and handed to Wesley.


Wesley quickly skimmed the book in order to figure out what type of supplies they need. Thank the PTBs most of it was already in the Magick Shop. There was no need to wait to get supplies. Wesley whispered the names of the roots, herbs, candles, and resources that they would need as they all grabbed them and gave them to Wes. Soon the black backpack that Wesley brought with him was filled to capacity. They had all that they needed.

The men, still quiet, locked the doors and walked out. The masks shed to reveal the hottest guys any girls had ever seen. The black shirts also taken off, as the men walked around town seemingly just out for a stroll.

"Hey, you know this went better than the last time we tried to steal something. Remember the shroud where we all went insane or that pyramid thing that helped us find Cordy. 'Cause I got fried by Gwen trying that one. Or the time…" Gunn was interrupted by Wesley who liked to think of the glass half full, "Yes, but we did get them. We stopped the insanity and rescued Cordy from the 'boring white place' as she calls it. And now we have pulled the heist off without a hitch."

Ahh. They groaned. That did it, Wesley jinxed them.

"Now, you did it you dumb poof. We're never gonna get out of here now."

They started to walk more quickly walking past one of the many graveyards that Sunnydale had. They had just gotten to the edge when all of a sudden there was a quick flash of something dark that launched itself at Spike and tackled him to the ground. A stake was held against his chest.

"Buffy, NO. Don't stake him. He won't hurt you." Angel pleaded.

She looked at him, shock clouding her eyes. How could he tell her to stop? Spike tried to kill her. Many times. He deserved to be staked. He was evil.

Spike underneath her, looked at his former lover. How young she was. How utterly selfish. Blind and Stupid. She never saw anyone besides Angel during these years. She'd never love him, but the love for her still burned inside of his cold un-beating heart. He longed to touch her, to kiss her, to make her forget about Angel. To tell her that Angel didn't love her anymore, that he loved Cordy, his princess. That he'd moved on without her, started a family without her, and hardly thought about her anymore. He longed to express his love for the strong slayer. But instead, he just stared. Waiting until the past became the present and he'd be with her, even for that short while.

Buffy, looking down with disgust on her face, quickly got off Spike. "What the hell are you all doing out here? I tried to find you, but you all disappeared. I thought that you left already. I mean come on, you freaking fall out of a portal, then you just leave us in the library without an explanation. Who are you? What are you? Are you some sort of shape shifters or something?"

"I believe the question you should ask is when are we? But we really don't have time for you, Buffy. So why don't you keep on patrolling for vampires or something and let us go on our way," Wesley lectured. He couldn't believe her. She was the stupidest girl. Why couldn't she just leave them alone.  He waved her away with his hand and continued to walk towards the hotel.

Wesley wasn't the only one getting sick of Buffy's insistent nature. Angel wanted nothing more than to check on Faith and Cordy. He was worried about them both. Faith because she'd gone through an awful lot in such a short time and Cordy because she seemed so sad after the baby was born. He couldn't understand. His wife was wonderful. She always knew what to do. He smiled thinking about the times that she patched him up. How she always called him a dork, but how her eyes would also have that worried glint in them, afraid for him, yet not letting that fear show by laughing and smiling at him. He didn't know why she was so sad; She saved Faith's life. Never once did he think, how did she know what to do? He just knew that she was special.

Buffy tried to get in their way, but Angel had had enough. "Buffy, leave us alone. You have other things to worry about. Go. We don't need you now. I don't want to be mean to you, but you need to go away." She once again tried to stop him, "Angel…"

"I said, go away! I'm serious. Go back to Giles, or go home. We're fine."

"But…"

"Yo, girly, Leave. Go wash your hair or something." Gunn got tired of just watching. "We're busy."

They pushed past her again, this time she let them. How dare they talk to her like that? She needed to talk to Giles, something was really wrong with Angel. She needed to tell him she found him in the mansion acting like an animal. She needed to tell him that she was seeing him again. Buffy just hoped that Giles would understand. That's it, she'd tell him in the morning. She walked back towards the graveyard, wanting to forget the other Angel and those weird guys he was with and continued patrol for new vampires.

[Authors Note: the next morning that whole thing with "Beauty and the Beasts" happens and she doesn't tell Giles until "Revelations."]