Thank you Honey-B for giving me the necessary kick in the ass to start writing this again. I don't want to stop writing but sometimes my brain just dries up and I can't think of anything good to write, or anything at all, and then when I leave it too long I get lazy and then I leave it longer. And then, fortunately somebody comes along and tells me that they really like my stuff and asks when am I going to update, if ever? So here I am writing again. Sorry about the delay. Honey-B - I promise I will finish this story, I'm not sure about 'The slayer and the sleuths' just yet - but I will try and get going on that again too, I know where that one should be going, it's the middle I can't quite figure out.

This chapter isn't the most wonderful I have ever turned out, it was written at guilty speed in the wee hours of the morning, but I hope it's okay; more will follow soon.

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Faith picked at her third slice of cake and rolled her eyes at Spike as he stomped past her for the fortieth time, seemingly intent on wearing a hole in the carpet.

"What do you think dad said to him?" he ranted, "What do you think he said to dad?"

Faith ignored him and reached over to scoop the fudge off Spike's own abandoned piece of cake.

"What if mom and dad are really upset?" he murmured grinding to a halt with a horrified look on his face.

Faith's bored expression softened, "They might be a bit disappointed Spike but these things don't always work out and they'll get over it soon enough and be relieved that you realized things were wrong before you made a trip down the aisle."

Spike pulled a face, "Buffy tried to tell me this was a dumb idea. I should've thought about what mom would be like over all this, of course she'd bloody well go to town, everything gets celebrated to the point of insanity around here."

"Well beating yourself up doesn't help."

There was a knock at the door.

Spike headed full steam for the bathroom and closed the door, then opened it again, "I'm not here if that's my mom."

Faith rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day and said "Duh, Spike, Your room remember? Should I sashay over and open the door to your room dressed in your shirt?" She stood up gathering the material closer around her slender waist and took a step towards the door, "Cause I can, though it would also tell her what I spent the night and much of this morning doing without even saying a word."

Spike groaned and dashed back across the room ushering a chuckling Faith towards the bathroom, "I get it, I get it!" She laughed disappearing out of sight. "You aren't ready to stop with the bull just yet."

Spike cleared his throat and bravely opened the door with a charming smile. "Oh, its only you two." He said.

"Fraid so." Agreed Angel shouldering his way into the room past Spike closely followed by Buffy who was sneaking covert glances over her shoulder. "What do you mean, only you two?" huffed Buffy shutting the door smartly behind her. "You've been pestering us all morning. Now we're here you don't wanna see us?"

"Hey B." Faith said from the bathroom doorway. "Spike is sliding into madness, you came just in time."

"Oy!" protested Spike.

Faith just grinned cheekily.

"Ooh, food." Buffy said happily delving into the picnic basket, she retrieved food for both herself and Angel and they made themselves comfortable together on a handy sofa and were munching contentedly before Spike had time to think or disagree.

"Okay, well you're here." He said slowly. "What did you say to dad? He didn't catch you together did he? I thought it was too quiet for him to have done but I didn't see that, well." he trailed off.

Angel and Buffy grinned and nudged each other in the ribs. Then Angel planted a small kiss on her cheek and Buffy blushed and explained, "Relax Spike, your dad didn't catch us together, though it was a bit of a close thing." She giggled up at Angel and ruffled her fingers into his still scruffy bed hair. Angel beamed back and caught her hand, bringing it to his lips to nibble playfully at her fingers.

Spike stared at them, "Excuse me, I was going to have something else to eat but you two are making me want to heave. Am I going to have to put up with a flamin' pukefest of googly eyes and smacking noises whenever you two are together from now on?"

Angel grimaced, "Spike." He growled warningly.

Buffy wrinkled her nose, "Okay, way to ruin the moment Spike. But yes, I think you will have to put up with way too much PDA in the future. Mainly because I'm in love with your brother and he's moving to California to be with me."

"I'm saved!" Yelled Spike, punching the air gleefully.

"Wow, B. Congrats guys." Murmured Faith with a big grin.

"Yeah, congrats," echoed Spike distractedly. "Wait a minute!" he exploded, "You're in love with him?!"

Buffy nodded, her face scarlet.

"And I'm in love with her." Angel added quietly. "We both know it seems a bit mad to fall for each other so fast but it happened and here we are."

"Bloody hell! That's just, bloody hell!"

"Bloody heaven actually." Buffy shot back mockingly around a mouthful of cake.

Faith winked at her, "I see you followed some excellent advice."

Buffy grinned shyly and snuggled closer to Angel, "Maybe."

"Advice?" Spike was confused.

"Never mind." Angel replied, we're here to get some kind of cohesion with the story we're going to tell people. I think that we were all agreed that the truth wasn't in order here."

"Definitely not." Spike said firmly.

"Well I gave dad a kind of edited version of the truth already."

"What?!" screeched Spike.

"Edited." Faith soothed absently as she stroked his shoulder.

Buffy and Angel exchanged brief glances, well it looked pretty cosy here too.

"Angel told your dad the truth up to a point, like that you and I didn't mean to get engaged, that we were swept up in the enthusiasm of others and that he had fallen for me himself so your dad is even now almost expecting us to announce our break up."

"Mix a little truth with the fiction and the lie is stronger." Angel said ruefully and quickly recounted the conversation he had held with his dad.

"Oh, right then."

"No offence guys but won't it look odd if Buffy just suddenly switches brothers?"

Angel pulled a face, "Probably, I suppose we could just start dropping bigger and bigger hints over the next few days and then pair off with who we really want."

Buffy scowled, "I don't like that plan, I want to be with you. Can I drop anvil sized hints over dinner and be with you again by bedtime?"

"Yeah, could you really stand aside and watch me and Buffy acting away and snogging - love affair as usual?"

Angel scowled, he'd half forgotten his brother's god-given ability to rile him more than any other being on earth. "There will be no snogging," he grumbled, smiling slightly as Faith smacked Spike on the head in response to that remark.

"Ouch. Well explain what you're on about then mate." Spike demanded rubbing his head and looking sorrowfully at Faith.

Angel sighed and took Buffy's hand in his, "I think we need to prepare the way, show people that you and Buffy aren't destined to be together. Faith and I can be really attentive and clearly interested in you two and then it won't be such a shock when the two of you announce that you're calling the whole thing off because you mistook liking and friendship for love and romance. Then you guys stay friends and start dating the people who made you see that what you had together wasn't enough."

Buffy sighed and nuzzled her cheek against Angel's shoulder, "Why are you so right?" she mumbled.

"Bro, you have a wonderful career ahead of you as a romance novelist, or maybe as an advice columnist, I can see it now, Ask Uncle Angel for help in all your love dilemmas." He snorted at his own joke.

"Shut up Spike!" Chorused Faith, Buffy and Angel in unison.

"Yeah, whatever."

"Maybe we should have a public disagreement?" Buffy suggested looking at Spike.

"Why? I haven't done anything, what have you, oh, yeah a disagreement. What about?"

"I don't know, besides not crushing on me why would you not want to go out with me?"

"Uh, dangerous ground there pet."

"Spike."

"Okay, okay. I'm just about to air what I see as your biggest faults, Angel, get a tight grip on her will you."

"Spike!"

"Yep, getting on with it, Um, You're very intense, you don't compromise easily, you're jealous, you love shopping to the point I can die of boredom, you're too driven and wound up for my pace of life. Um, why aren't I dead already?"

Buffy laughed, "It could have been so much worse, the stuff you just said aren't necessarily faults except the bit about compromise its just stuff not to your taste. Luckily for me I'm just about right for your brother's taste."

"Yeah, well he's just a male version of you, I told you that days ago remember? And I said you two would probably get on."

Buffy grinned, "You're a genius oh great Spike, I bow to your wisdom and superior knowledge, you should start a matchmaking service."

"Not if I have to watch the likes of you two slobs smooching and giggling all day long like lovesick kindergarteners on acid."

"Great visual Spike." Angel commented. "Now on that delightful note I think we should go and get ready for dinner, I'm sure Buffy wants at least three hours in the bathroom beforehand so we'll go and let her have five." Buffy smiled happily and hooked her arm through Angel's.

"Whoa, what are Buffy and Spike gonna fight about tonight?" demanded Faith as Buffy and Angel headed for the door.

Angel shrugged, "Wait and see what comes up in conversation and just take the opportunity to quibble over it if you can, if there isn't a chance we'll settle for getting on better with people we're not engaged to as opposed to the ones we are."

"Fair enough." Spike agreed.

Buffy cracked the door open and peered out of it, "Do you think the government would employ me for covert operations after all this?" she mumbled as she slid out of the door with Angel right behind her.

"Well, looks like you're off the hook." Said Faith with a smile as the door closed behind Buffy and Angel.

"Yeah, I can't believe it though. I mean they just took one look and did some daft Romeo and Juliet routine. I really never thought that they would, my brain hurts just thinking about it."

Faith smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Then don't think."

"You giving me something else to do?"

"Yeah, me."