Author: Bitten And Staked

Title: City of Angels - Chapter 20 - Stunned.

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Summary: Buffy interrupts Spike and Angels face off, sitting them down she explains a few things to Angel who is shocked to discover Buffy now lives with Spike, not only that but her father believes Buffy and Spike are a couple.

Timeline: set in between season 5 and 6, in my alternate world where Buffy didn't die. Spike's crypt is trashed during the final showdown and Dawn convinces Buffy to let him stay since he protected them both.

Series: Part 20 of ?

Pairing: Buffy and Spike. Romance, love and nooky.

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: everyone else owns Buffy and all associated with her.

Feedback: always welcome so email me - webmaster@talesoftheslayer.com

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Angel turned on hearing Spikes voice and stood up. "Buffy, don't move."

Here we go with the chivalry protect me crap. Buffy stood up and couldn't resist pulling a face at Angels back to make Spike grin. He smirked at her.

"Hello Angel cake. I've come for the Slayer." Spike growled at him, thinking he may as well have some fun, Buffy would expect a fight but he wasn't going to let it happen.

Angel tensed then squared up to Spike grabbing him by the neck. "Back off Spike."

"Sing me another one broody." Spike casually pushed his hand away then swung into his chair and lit up a cigarette.

"Get up you little…" Angel made to seize Spike by the shoulder but he dodged his hand and pushed his chair at him.

"Take a seat or sod off, choice is yours." Circling around to Buffy, Spike rubbed his manacles together at her teasingly.

"Get away from her."

"Make me." Spike growled, eyes flashing yellow.

"Fine." Making a movement towards Spike he started to throw a punch but found Buffy blocking it.

"Will you two both sit down and shut up before I die of testosterone poisoning." Buffy pushed them into seats opposite each other and then sat next to Spike, this caused him to pull a face at Angel, which caused Buffy to slap him.

"Sorry love. Just tall dark and forehead here seems to think he owns you."

"Spike, I lost you in the crowd, you're a bad…" Dawn threw her arms around Spikes neck from behind and then noticed Angel. "Ooh, rumbled."

"Dawn? Buffy? What the hell is going on here?" Angel frowned and Dawn waved in response then sat down on the other side of Spike. He gave Buffy a look that was so pained it was like being stabbed through her heart and for a moment she felt truly sorry for Angel.

Spike blew smoke in the direction of Angel, he was coiled up inside like a snake. Buffy rested her hand on his knee under the table and he slipped his fingers into hers. She could feel anger and fear reverberating through his body, one wrong move on her part and they would fight. Mine, always mine.

Treading the fine line between them Buffy tried hard to keep them both happy. She kept remembering Spikes dream talking about 'peaches' and something being 'always mine' and Buffy knew it was all about her, it was always about her.

"Spike is my house guest back in Sunnydale. He isn't going to kill me or hurt Dawn and me in anyway. He fights along side us now and the showdown between me and Glory trashed his place, I figured he's a good guard dog so I let him stay in the house."

"Are you insane Buffy? I know grief affects people but he tried to kill you." Angel was furious at the suggestion that Spike was welcome not only in her house but her fathers, and that her father thought he was her boyfriend.

"Funny that, seem to recall you trying to kill Buffy after having your wicked way with her." Spike tensed up further and Buffy worked hard to calm him but it wasn't happening, she felt like throwing up.

"That wasn't me." Angel ground out between clenched jaws.

There was only one way to resolve the situation, either Angel had to leave or they did. Buffy wasn't about to leave, Angel would not ruin a perfectly fun night out. Besides, Spike hadn't danced with her yet and she wasn't leaving without that happening. In a bid to relax Spike she slid her hand under his shirt.

"Spike… Angel…" They both turned to look at her with hurt faces but Spike had the distinct advantage of feeling her fingers on his skin tracing the heart of his tattoo. "You boys calm down now. Spike, Angel has every right to be concerned about my welfare. Angel, Spike is more of a man than you will ever know, he's protected me to the brink of a dusty ending and he's good to me. You both have a place in my heart, if you can't live with that then I can dust you now." She waved her stake for emphasis but continued tracing the heart on Spikes hip as she turned and looked to him.

"No problem pet." Spike puffed his chest up at Angel, the feeling of Buffy touching him in front of her previous vampire made him giddy even if Angel couldn't see.

"Fine, but I don't have to like it. See you around." Angel pushed away from the table and Buffys eyes followed him to the bar where he sat down next to Cordelia and leant over to say something into her ear. As he did so she smiled at him and placed her hand on the back of his chair. Buffy frowned then shook her head. Cordelia and Angel?

Angel turned back to look at Buffy just as she planted a thank you kiss on Spikes lips, he saw Spike look into Buffys eyes with such a passion that his feelings for Buffy were pretty clear. Watching them heading onto the dance floor, it occurred to him that Spike seemed more of a slow dancing guy, a little like himself but this song was heavy with a beat. Buffy was soon dancing about him with her hands in the air and her hips wriggling mischievously. Angel was stunned.