A/N There's a little plot twist in this chapter ! Please bear with me, its going to cause a little angst, but nothing our heroes can't handle.

Angel was now straightening up from his crumpled position, he was still rubbing his jaw, "Buffy."

His voice was soft and apologetic, "When did you, why are you here?"

" Dawn talked to Harmony, good secretary you've got there Angel. She filled Dawn in about the list of people who aren't allowed to talk to Spike. I thought maybe I should come see exactly what was going on." Her cheeks were red with anger.

"How did you know where to find Spike?" Angel asked softly, glancing at the other man.

Two of Spike's neighbors peeked out their front doors to see what was going on in the hallway. Buffy stood beside Spike, an embarrassed look on her face. "Nothing to see here, folks." He told the neighbors as he put his hand on Buffy's back and guided her towards the door. He turned to Angel, "Guess you better come inside too, Peaches."

Angel frowned as he followed the couple into the apartment, his eyes glued to where Spike's hand lay on Buffy's back, Angel repeated his question, "How did you know where to find Spike?"

"He found me, he was at the airport." Buffy answered softly her eyes on Spike.

"How did you know she was coming to town?" Angel asked slightly confused.

"Well, it was definitely not with any help from you, " Spike glared at him, "I was going to London to find her. I had a feeling something wasn't right with your story."

Angel turned his attention to Buffy again, "Buffy, I can explain."

"I'm not sure you can explain this time, Angel. You lied to me and to Spike." She crossed her arms and tapped one small foot.

"Buffy, it was for your own good. You and Spike will only hurt each other, I was trying to save both of you," He glanced at Spike, "some pain and heartache."

Spike rolled his eyes at Angel, "Because you care so much about my feelings."

"I do care about Buffy's feelings."

"Why thank you, Angel. I should have known this was done for our own good." Buffy took her finger and poked him in the chest punctuating each word, " I am so tired of people doing things behind my back for 'my own good'. You, Giles, my friends. Newsflash, I am an adult, I've faced many apocalypses and I can make my own choices now. Including who I want to get involved with." She took a deep breath and turned to Spike, "Why are you so calm?"

"You're doing a great job on your own here ." Spike smiled at her as he sat down on the couch.

She sat down beside him on the couch, smiling softly at him, she took his hand in hers.

Angel had never actually seen the two of them together like this and it shook him that Buffy was touching Spike with such genuine affection. It dawned on him suddenly, this wasn't a joke , they truly cared for each other. Spike sat on the couch a smile on his face, his usual strutting bravado replaced by calm Spike, calm Spike letting Buffy lead. And Buffy...was that Spike's shirt she was wearing, they didn't waste any time did they?

"Until I saw you together, I couldn't grasp it, you actually care for each other." Angel shook his head resignedly.

"Angel, back in Sunnydale, I told you that Spike was in my heart. You knew I cared for him." Buffy

raised her eyebrow at him, "You can't have it both ways Angel, you can't let me go and still get to make my decisions for me."

"Well, Spike, I guess you've won." Angel rubbed his temples.

"And just what is it that he won, Angel?" Buffy tensed. Spike stroked the back of her hand with his thumb trying to calm her. As much fun as watching Buffy pummel Angel had been, he really didn't want to her to do anything she would regret later.

"He won...." Angel's voice lowered, "...you."

" I'm just a prize then?" She looked between the two men.

"You know you're more then that to me, pet." Spike answered evenly, his anger at Angel rising once more.

"But that's what I am to Angel? Just a prize - funny I didn't even know you wanted to win me anymore. What with the breaking up with me in a sewer right before the prom and the leaving without a goodbye. And lets not forget the whole coming to help me that Thanksgiving and sneaking back to LA or the whole Faith thing."

Spike turned to Angel, "You broke up with her in a sewer, Faith thing? "

"I did that for her , I wanted her to find the normal life I couldn't give her. Unlike some people, I'm not selfish enough to stay, I love her enough to leave." Angel turned to Buffy, "You know why I did it."

"Yes, it was for my own good." Buffy replied sarcasm dripping, "Buffy can't make her own decisions, so I will make them for her."

"Buffy, I understand why you're angry, I do. I thought I was doing the right thing then and now. As I said I love you enough to let you go." Angel pleaded with her.

"No, Angel you didn't prove that you loved me enough to leave, what you proved was that you didn' love me enough to stay. Spike and I may end up hurting each other, but he's willing to stick around and find that out, he's not afraid of trying, he's not hiding behind excuses." She stood up to face him, "He loves me enough to stay."

"That may make me as selfish as you claim, but as long as she'll have me, I'm gonna be right here." Spike tightened his hand around hers.

"I think it's time for you to go now, Angel." Buffy lowered her eyes, "Please just go."

Angel started to argue, "Buffy, ..." He threw his hands up in the air, "You know what, I'm just going to leave now, we'll talk when you've calmed down." He turned to Spike, " I know you're enjoying this Spike, but it's not going to last." Angel told him as he stomped to the door.

Spike followed him to the door his voice was low and calm, "Angel, I won't lie, I'd like to stake your ass. But I won't because eventually she's going to calm down and I know her, she'll forgive you. But I am warning you now, you ever do anything like this again...I won't hold back ."

"Let me offer my own warning, you hurt her and I'll make it my job to hurt you. " Angel snarled back.

"If I hurt her.....I'll give you the stake." Spike replied softly, his words full of emotion.

Angel was shocked by his sincerity, "You mean that don't you?"

"Yes, I do." Spike told him as he closed the door.

****

"That was fun." Spike sighed as he walked back to the livingroom.

"He's gone?" Buffy asked, she was curled up on the couch her feet under her, her arms wrapped around a sofa pillow.

"Yeah, he's gone. You doing okay?" He hesitantly sat down beside her, not wanting to push.

He smiled when she reached for him, "Thank you." She whispered as she cuddled closer looping her arm through his and lying her head on his shoulder.

"For what?"

"For not staking Angel, for letting me vent , for making sure I didn't go to far. For knowing me so well......for loving me ." She looked lovingly into his eyes.

"Your welcome." He kissed the tip of her nose, " I'll admit that staking Angel was tempting. But the loving you part, it's the easiest thing I've ever done."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him tenderly, "Loving someone never seems to come easy for me, but I'm learning."

*****

Angel walked out of the apartment building slowly. When did I become the bad guy? He could not get Buffy's voice out of his head, how hurt she had been, and the image of her holding Spike's hand, and Spike....he obviously really did love her. Could he be wrong, could they actually make each other happy?

The underground garage was dark and quiet, he heard the footsteps too late behind him, he felt the prick of the needle before he could fight back, Angel fell to the ground unconcious.

TBC