Disclaimer: Not mine etc.

A/N: I think that last chapter was the last we'll be seeing of Angel, any complaints? No didn't think so. Ok before I forget, I was asked where the evanescence lyrics from earlier in the story came from. They're from their album Origin – I've had a hell of a job trying to find it and downloaded the songs instead. Hope that answered your question. Thanks for reviews – still love you all!

Chapter 20: Can of worms

"Are you sure about this luv?" Spike asked as he and Buffy stood outside the magic box. He was sure if he were human his palms would be sweating by now. This was it, the moment of truth.

Buffy sighed and grabbed his hand, as much to reassure herself as to comfort Spike. "It's now or never." she lamented.

With a deep breath, one needed, one for show, they walked through the door hand in hand, and were met with six pairs of eyes immediately fixed on them.

Dawn looked excited, bouncing up and down on her seat.

Giles looked apprehensive, wiping his glasses.

Anya looked curious.

Tara looked...supportive seemed the only way to describe it.

Willow looked concerned.

Xander looked positively livid!

Buffy let out a long-suffering sigh. "I guess you did hear from Angel then. What is he like five? Running to tell on me because I did something he didn't like...Wanker." She mutters, unconsciously imitating the vampire at her side who chuckled in response.

"Angel informed us of the situation because he was concerned Buffy." Giles told her primly. Buffy could tell from his tone of his voice that he was trying very hard to remain calm.

"Well there's nothing to be concerned about." Buffy stated matter of factly. "Spike and I are together. End of story."

"Buffy, I think there's a bit more to it than that." Said Willow, trying to keep the peace, Xander however, had other ideas.

"A bit more to it?" He practically yelled. "Buffy how could you be so stupid?"

"Don't you dare talk to her like that whelp." Spike growled. Buffy could feel him tense next to her and she knew that Xander was skating on very thin ice.

"I'm not stupid Xander." She said as calmly as she could manage. "We're not hurting anyone and we're not doing anything wrong!"

Xander sneered. "Right because boinking the undead isn't doing anything wrong!"

"Xander!" warned Willow as she saw Spike's eyes flash yellow.

"I'm sorry Will," Xander continued, heedless of the threat to his life "but I don't see where she can get off putting us all in danger and claim she's doing nothing wrong!"

"And how exactly am I putting you all in danger by being with the man I love Xander?" Buffy asked through clenched teeth. She felt Spike's fingers grasp hers just a little bit tighter in support and she smiled at him gratefully.

"Well that's just it isn't it." Spat Xander "He isn't a man at all. He's an evil killer!"

"He's changed!" Buffy insisted. She was sure she'd had this conversation before with an equally thickheaded soldier boy.

Xander snorted. "Angel was bad enough! But at least he had a soul!"

"Meaning I haven't got one to loose monkey boy." Spike spoke at last. "And if I haven't killed you yet after what you've just said to Buffy , I don't think I'm likely to do it anytime soon...but please keep trying to prove me wrong."

"See!" Xander exclaimed, "He just threatened me!" Even Giles rolled his eyes at that point.

"Buffy surely you can understand why we would be concerned for your well being." Giles spoke carefully, not wanting to anger the vampire and slayer further.

"Giles, nothing is going to happen to me!" Buffy insisted, "I know what I'm doing. Spike isn't going to hurt anyone."

"I think it's cool!" Dawn announced out of the blue, causing her sister and the vampire at her side to smile.

"Dawnster, how can you say that?" Xander cried, incredulous.

"Oh quite easily." Anya contributed "Vampires make very pleasing orgasm partners. They have incredible stamina!"

Everyone in the room, except for Spike who was nodding, went bright red and stared at the floor.

"We haven't...erm...we're not..." Buffy tried to articulate, but she had been struck speechless by Anya's usual bluntness.

"You're not having sex yet?" Anya asked, surprise evident in her voice. "But Spike is a particularly pleasing specimen don't you think?"

If possible, Buffy blushed even more. Xander on the other hand looked positively repulsed. "Come on Anya." He muttered grabbing his girlfriend's hand. "We're leaving!" And with that he marched out of the shop dragging Anya behind him, throwing a last disgusted glance at the blond couple who glared right back...

"They're never gonna accept us are they?" Buffy asked Spike quietly as he walked her home.

"I don't know pet." He replied honestly. "Does it really matter?"

"It shouldn't." She said miserably. "But they're my friends Spike, I don't want to loose them."

"Do you want me to stay out of the way for a while?" Spike asked sadly. "Give you time to think about what you want to do?"

"No." Buffy was quick to reassure him. "No Spike I need you with me. It took us so long to get here I don't want to loose you now."

Spike smiled at her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "You'll never loose me pet. I love you too much. You couldn't get rid of me if you tried!"

Buffy smiled against his chest and tried to get just a little closer. "Love you too." She told him before pulling back and lifting her head up to his, bringing their lips together for a tender kiss. So lost in each other were they that they never noticed the several pairs of eyes watching them from the bushes...

Spike was happily lighting candles around the crypt, waiting for Buffy to show up for their 'date' (read: make out session) when Xander walked in. Spike rolled his eyes, as if he hadn't seen this coming!

"What do you want whelp?" he growled. "I'm kinda busy here."

"I want you to stay away from Buffy." Xander announced without preamble.

Spike laughed. "Yeah that'll work. Say pretty please!"

"I mean it Spike!" Xander continued. "Stay away from her, she doesn't need you!"

"And what does she need?" Spike growled, his amusement turning to anger. "You?"

Xander grabbed the front of Spike's shirt, getting right in his face. "We're her friends Spike, and we love her very much."

Spike decided right at that moment he was sick of people trying to push him around, sod whether they found out about his chipectomy. He roughly pushed Xander away from him and grabbed him by the throat, pushing someone else against the pillar for a change! Xander's eyes went wide as he realised that he really could be in trouble.

"I love her too whelp." Spike spat. "I love her so much that no matter how much I want to kill you right now I'm not going to because I know it would hurt her!" Spike let Xander go but didn't back away.

Before Xander had a chance to respond however, the crypt door burst open and about ten of Glory's scabby hobbit like minions rushed in.

"Friends of yours?" Spike asked a very surprised Xander. His question was answered when the first minion to reach them hit Xander over the head, rendering him unconscious...

"They took Spike." Xander told the Scooby's assembled in the magic box. "They're taking him to Glory!"

"But Spike knows Dawn's the key!" Willow gasped.

Buffy stood and went to the weapons chest in the training room, handing everyone who followed her a weapon. "We have to get him back!" She announced calmly.

"But Buffy if he tells Glory about Dawn..." Giles started but was cut off by a look from Buffy.

"We. Are. Going. To. Get. Him. Back." She reiterated, daring him to disagree with her.

"There's no way he's not telling!" Xander exclaimed. "It'll be safer to stake him!" The slap he received from Buffy and the shocked glares he received from everyone else in the room were enough to keep him quiet until after they had rescued Spike...

Spike didn't think he'd ever been in so much pain as he propped up the bar in the bronze a week after his rescue. That Glory had really done a number on him. He felt like an articulated truck had hit him. So here he was trying to numb the pain with alcohol while Buffy hung out with her friends. She'd asked him to come along if he felt up to it when Willow had announced a Scooby outing. He knew she was trying to get the Scooby's to used his presence in her life, but their uncomfortable looks when he and Buffy had walked in were enough to let him know that they were a long way off from acceptance. So he had told Buffy he would hang out at the bar and let her be with her friends.

He was on his fourth or fifth imported beer when he felt a presence beside him. He was surprised to see it was Xander with an expression other than the usual anger or disgust he had when looking at the vampire. Spike didn't speak. If Xander had something to say he'd come out with it in his own time.

"I don't like you." Xander told him after several minutes of simply studying the vampire.

"The feelings mutual whelp." Spike replied, wondering exactly why Xander had gone out of his way to tell him this.

"I'm never going to like you and I think Buffy's insane not to stake you." Xander added.

"Did you just come over here to insult me?" Spike asked.

"But I do believe you don't want to hurt her, otherwise you wouldn't have let Glory mess you up like you did." Xander continued as if Spike had never spoken. "I wont forget that."

Spike just looked at Xander curiously, unsure what to make of this little admission. He didn't have chance to ask since Xander quickly walked off. Spike considered following him but he ached too much to move that far yet. Instead he just watched him walk back to the table where the rest of the Scooby's sat. Buffy noticed him looking at sent him a bright smile that Spike eagerly returned. All was right with the world once more...

A/N: I know that chapter kind of jumped about a bit but I think I got the important stuff in. I really didn't think it was realistic to have all the Scooby's welcoming Spike with open arms and I wanted to show that. Hopefully I pulled it off. If not...well I'll think of something. Long life Spuffy and I love you all!