Authors Note: Some people have contacted me about the songs at the beginning of the chapters, the M.L. Gore songs are from the Depeche Mode albums Exciter and Ultra, the Iggy Pop song was on a Depeche Mode single for 'Goodnight Lovers.' The song 'Little Heaven' was on the BtVS the Movie soundtrack, the Song 'One Way Mule' is on the Silverchair CD Diorama. 'I Shall Believe' 'Save Yourself' are from the Roswell TV Show Soundtrack. 'I Do Not Want This' is from the Nine Inch Nails CD The Downward Spiral. 'Pure' is from the Lightning Seeds 'Green' Album. Cursed is on Robbie William's latest CD. All future songs will have their artist and album listed with them. All of the above albums are highly recommended by me. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep reviewing, it inspires me to get off my lazy ass and write, and I need that. Check out my other stories, and check out my favorite stories and authors, they all rule and deserve many happy reviews!! I promise more Spuffy goodness is on its way, just be patient, it is well worth the wait! -Adrianna

Dig your polished nails into the dirt. Rip your skirt off, wipe the hurt off
You know it tears my heart out when you, Flirt with danger and any stranger
You're not as stupid as I look. Before I could read, you wrote the book
Cursed, since your birth dear
And your worst fears have all come true
Held my hand when I got my first tattoo. I was naked when it penetrated
Told everyone I'd slept with you. Thought you'd like it, knew you wouldn't deny it
St Peter's gonna be unfaithful. Tell God he's got a dirty Angel
Cursed, since your birth dear
And your worst fears have all come true
Babe you're not the first here on earth dear, 'Cause I'm still here and I'm cursed too,
Cursed like you
Hush, baby sleep now
We all love you we always did
Cursed, since your birth dear
And your worst fears have all come true
Babe you're not the first here on earth dear, 'Cause I'm still here,
And I'm cursed too, cursed like you
Hush, baby sleep now
We all miss you, we always will
-R. Williams, 'Cursed'

London to New York

The flight had been miserable. Not so much the flight as the events leading up to the flight. Before they left, Giles had stopped at his friend Robson's house. He was going to offer to pick up his girl, and take her with them, maybe offer Robson a chance to join them. He could have never imagined he was too late.

Giles had asked the girls to wait in the taxi, and went up to the door. It was slightly ajar, and so he went in. The first thing he saw was Robson's girl, Miranda, dead in a pool of blood, stabbed in the stomach at least once, mostly likely more. He had called out for Robson, hoping that he had escaped the same fate. He finally found him, leaning against an arm chair, holding his stomach, Giles could see the blood. He rang the medics immediately. Robson was still lucid, and responsive.

"Giles, gather them, its begun." Robson quietly told him.

"Now Robson, just hold on, you will be fine, who did this to you?"

Robson didn't speak, but his eyes grew larger in surprise at something approaching Giles from behind. Giles was still quick as ever on his feet, for he averted having his skull nearly split in two. Behind him he found a small creature, human in form, wearing a brown robe. When he grabbed the ax from its hand, the hood fell back, and Giles saw that the creatures eyes had been sealed with runes. He swung the ax and a moment later the creatures head, rolled across the wooden floor. He gathered the body and stuffed it in a closet so the medics wouldn't be shocked, he put the ax there as well.

"Robson, is that what got you?"

"I came home to her, it was training day, Miranda often arrived early so I left the flat open for her. When I arrived the door was ajar. Silly me, I began to rant about closing the door, when I saw her body on the floor. One of them was still standing over her, holding this." Robson handed him a silver knife, a very impressive silver knife. "It came after me, I grabbed the knife out of its hands, but it must have found the weapons chest, it put one clear drive into me with that ax, I thought it had gone when you arrived."

"Bloody hell, you know what that was, don't you?"

"It was a Harbinger. It has begun. The prophecies are coming true." Robson began to cough up blood.

Giles could hear the medics approaching. "I must go now.. You have my number at Buffy's if you need me."

"Gather them, protect them. Rupert, from beneath you it devours." Robson shooed Giles away with his hand, and Giles ran out the door.

When he got into the taxi, the girls would not stop their useless chattering, he finally lost it.

"Goddamn stupid bints! Can't you shut up for 10 minutes??? I am trying to save your lives and you can't shut up for 10 minutes! If you'd rather die, please continue, but if you'd rather not, I suggest you shut the hell up!"

Both of them stared at him, shocked, stunned, surprised. He had never lost his collection so easily. Things were about to get even worse. There was a break-in on the radio.

"This is an emergency message from BBC1, there has been a terrorist attack on the Western Council Savings and Loan Building. It is not apparent at this time who may have carried out the strike. We were notified that the destruction is near complete, and that the building was full of employees at the time. Please stay tuned to this station for any further updates." The radio went back to music.

"Bloody Hell, no."

"Mr. Giles, is something wrong?" Annabelle could see his distress.

"Yes, there is. I believe the Council was just blown up, while in session."

"My god." Both girls said in unison.

The rest of the ride to Heathrow was silent. The girls each boarded the plane, took their seats, and kept themselves busy. Giles just sat there in a daze, drinking little bottles of scotch until he was calm enough to sleep. The images of Miranda, Robson and the Council kept flashing through his head. They had broadcast images of the building over the televisions at the terminal. The Western Council Savings and Loan was a cover for the actual activities which went on in all but the facade of the building. It didn't matter now. It was gone, nothing remained. He had long ago learned to stop relying on their resources, but for once in a long time he was counting on them. Luckily they had given Giles a check for Buffy, her retroactive pay, it was nearly a quarter of a million pounds. Her salary now wouldn't be needed, or available. He just couldn't believe it was gone.

When the plane landed in New York, both Annabelle and Molly continued to behave. At the terminal to head to California, Giles was met by a fellow Watcher, Miss Renate Charles. She had her charge with her, a well trained but arrogant girl named Kennedy. The Council had been working with her since before Buffy was called. She had been in training for years, just waiting her chance, but all that time had made her cocky and painfully obtuse.

"Rupert."

"Renate."

"I heard what happened, once you take Kennedy here, I will be disappearing. If the smoke clears I will contact you. It is just too dangerous now."

"I know, you should try to get a job as a governess of a family of boys, that should provide adequate cover for now."

"Yes, I know, I have already made arrangements to head to Vermont, lovely family."

"Right then, so this is Kennedy." Giles eyed up the girl, who was already giving the other two a look of disdain.

"I know she is a handful, but she very talented, well disciplined, and very well ready for just about anything."

"I hope anything includes the Hell mouth."

Sunnydale California, Summers Residence

Afternoon had dragged on into evening. Wesley still hadn't arrived. Spike was overly engrossed in some book, Dawn was being a slave to the television, and Xander had never showed up to fix the dryer. Buffy had given up and hung the clothes outside just as her mother had in summers previous. The clothes always ended up smelling like the sun, that was the only way to describe that smell, because there really was nothing else that smelled that way. Just after dark there was a knock at the door. Buffy was upstairs folding clothes, Spike or Dawn answered it. Dawn came running up the stairs in a frenzy.

"Buffy, you better get down here fast, you aren't going to believe this."

"What is it? Is everything okay?"

"I think this is something I can't verbally do justice to."

Buffy put down the pair of jeans she had in her hand and cautiously followed Dawn downstairs. What she saw next would change things forever.

In the foyer were Wesley, Lorne, Fred, Gunn and standing outside the door was Angel. Spike was standing at the door, giving Angel the eye.

"Well dear, look who's coming to dinner." Spike said to Buffy, while staring at Angel.

"Angel?" Buffy let his name out like a sigh. She looked away to speak with Wesley, "Wesley, what is this? I was asked to have you come up to see Giles, not the whole happy family."

"We left Cordelia and Connor at home if its any consolation." Fred announced awkwardly.

"Man, I told you this was a bad idea. Wes, we shoulda stayed back, we got plenty of work in LA." Gunn piped in.

Angel still stood outside of the house.

"Angel?" Buffy was just in awe.

"Bugger this." Spike walked back towards the kitchen, Buffy heard the refrigerator open, then a bottle of beer, and finally the back door open.

"Buffy, I need an invitation. I think you may have cleansed the house since the last time I was around."

"Oh, God, yeah, Angel, come in. Sorry, I forgot, Spike can't invite you in, not that he would."

"Buffy, I apologize for bring the whole group up here, but I figured if it was as bad as it sounded, collectively our resources could more efficiently get the job done."

"Yeah, it's okay Wes." Buffy was lost in her own world, having Angel there was like having the air sucked out of her.

"I believe though there are some introductions in order, as well as some explaining to do."

"Yeah, I'll call Xander and Anya and have them come over."

"Get Willow too, she will be of immense help."

"Yeah, she won't be back for a while, had to go to England after trying to destroy the world, I guess she's in Wicca rehab."

Buffy headed to the kitchen to grab the phone. Angel followed her.

"Buffy? How are you?"

"Shocked and amazed, yup, that pretty much sums it up. No, I don't think there are words for what I'm feeling right now"

"I didn't want to surprise you like this. I told Wesley to tell you. But he sounded so concerned, saying Spike was on the phone, and that Giles had told you to stop patrolling, I figured the situation was dire."

"Yeah well, a little notice before the circus rolled into town would have been nice."

"We won't stay here, we'll find someplace to go."

"No, it's fine, there is plenty of room. Without Willow here mom's room is empty, there's the couch, a roll away bed in the basement, we'll work something out. Xander's got room over at his place too."

"Hello Angel. Nice of you to stop by, its always such a pleasure to see you." Spike was back in the kitchen, he had opened the doorway and was standing in it. In one hand a beer, in the other a smoke.

"Like wise for you I'm sure. What's with the make-over? Come to the realization you aren't a natural blond?"

"Nice, cutting back on the Nancy-boy hair gel are we? The brown hair? See funny story there, but maybe it should wait."

"Buffy what is he doing here?" Angel turned to look at her. She had just hung up the phone.

"What?"

"Why is Spike raiding your fridge, and smoking on your back porch, why is he here?"

"It's not like I'm invisible" Spike muttered resentfully.

"Um, he lives here?"

"Yeah love, why don't you tell my grand sire why I'm here?"

"Spike, please..." Buffy was pleading with him, if only with her eyes.

"Love? Oh this only gets funnier. Is this a joke? Some sort of sick twist? Cos Buffy I can't imagine why in a thousand years you would let that live in your house." Angel was laughing.

"In her room actually." Dawn announced as she cut through the kitchen for the refrigerator. "He lives in her room."

"Dawn!" Spike and Buffy unanimously yelled at her.

"What? It's true, not like it's a big secret around here."

"Niblet, get your drinks, and go entertain the guests."

"Fine, but I didn't think it was a big secret. Apparently I forget how many of those we keep in this house." With her arms full of cans of soda and a sigh Dawn left.

"Buffy is this true?" Angel looked like he was about to boil over.

Spike went over to touch her, give her the confidence she needed to face this. She only pulled away when he put his hand on her shoulder.

"What the... You know Buffy, I knew this was going to happen. The second he walks back into your life, all of a sudden I'm nothing to you. God! I knew it! You're just like Drusilla." Spike turned to Angel. "What do you do to them? What is your secret, cos I'd bloody well like to know. Is it the hair? The billowy jacket? Your propensity to wallow in self pity and isolation? What is it?"

Buffy got a blank look over her face. "He's here because I want him to be here. Giles sent him back to me, and I wouldn't let him leave."

"Why Buffy? What could he possibly have to offer you that would make it okay to put him in this house, with your little sister around! I mean he could snap any day and eat her for fun, I've seen what he can do to a girl her age."

"I learned from the best dear Angelus, don't go there." Spike was starting to get up in Angel's face.

"He has a soul." Buffy was barely audible, stuck in shock.

"What?" Angel's state of disbelief was growing by the second.

"He has a soul, are you deaf? I thought vampires had super human hearing, apparently it's just the creepy smelling thing." She repeated louder.

"Ooo Well isn't that special, everybody's got a soul now. It's the in thing to do is it? Spike gets a soul and it's time to make with the kissing? So, what, you're just going to wait for the 'true happiness' clause to kick in? Because it will and when it does you're going to be..."

"Who said anything about kissing? There's no clause, no loop hole, no exceptions, his soul can't leave." Buffy interrupted Angel.

Angel mumbled to himself, "I had one first."

A silence fell over the kitchen. Buffy stared at Angel, Spike could tell what was going on. He could feel it, he knew Angel could too.

"I think I'm going to leave you two alone. Buffy if you need me, you'll know where I'll be." Spike turned to leave the kitchen but stopped, "Don't hate her for this, she doesn't deserve it."

He went through the swinging doors. In the living room it was a mass of people. Some time during his time in the kitchen, Xander and Anya had showed up. As Spike walked into the room it fell dead silent. All eyes were looking at him.

"What?"

"Where's Angel?" Xander asked.

"The tall, dark, brooding and irate one is in the kitchen with the slayer. I'd think leaving them alone is a good idea right now."

"Well I think proper introductions are needed, seeing as not all of you know each other." Wesley stood up, taking charge. "I take it you are the infamous William the Bloody, Spike, one member of the quad who cut a swath of suffering and death across Europe."

"When you put it that way, you make it sound so lovely. I take it you're the watcher."

"I was a watcher, but that is long in the past. Like Giles, I am sort of a free lancer now. It's quite nice, but the benefits are awful."

"Terrific. So why am I missing Giles' coolness factor right now?" Spike just rolled his eyes.

"I can't wait to hear about the chipping and all of those things I missed once I left here."

"Oh bloody hell." Spike dropped into an arm chair.

"Okay, hi. I'm Anya Christina Emannuela Jenkins, I'm originally from Indiana, small farm town, not small in an inbred way, my parents were in no way related. It was very pleasurable to be a child there with all the cows and the corn fields..."

"Anya cut the crap, they won't care." Xander just glared at her.

"Fine. I'm Anya, formerly known as Anyanka, former demon, former human who is once again a vengeance demon. If you get dumped, and you're a girl, I'm at your service. I am considering branching out to scorned men. I also like money and capitalism and sex. My turn ons include..."

"Okay then, An, why don't we stop right there?"

"Xander Harris you just stop right there, you are no longer my future husband, actually you are nowhere in my future so stop telling me what to do."

"Xander, you were engaged? Congratulations!" Wes broke in.

"Oh its over watcher man, he dumped me at the altar because he is a coward."

"Oh, sorry, and it's Wesley."

"Okay! I'm Xander, I'm the guy who left Anya at the altar offering her the opportunity to return to the vengeance fold. Please, ladies, stop with the applause." Xander's sarcasm was cutting.

"I'm Dawn, Buffy's little sister."

"Lovely Dawn. I am Wesley Wyndham Price, former watcher, former rouge demon hunter, I now work for Angel Investigations, and I find it quite fulfilling."

"Bloody Hell, I feel like I'm at the AA meeting from hell." Spike growled.

Gunn stood up. "Well I really don't know the Sunnydale crew, I'm Gunn, I work with Angel, and have for a while."

"I'm Fred, Winifred, but everyone calls me Fred. Angel, Gunn, and Lorne saved me from Pylea and my life as a fugitive cow." Fred didn't know what to say.

"I am Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clam, perferrably known as Lorne. I used to own a club in LA, I love karaoke, and if it wasn't painfully obvious from my dashing shade of green, I'm a demon. Mind you I'm an empath demon."

"Krevlornswath? Oh my god! It's been too long! I thought I recognized you!" Anya changed into demon face.

"I thought that name sounded familiar! How are you cinnamon buns?" Lorne and Anya embraced.

"How do you two know each other?" Xander asked.

"I doubt you'd want to know, she probably had sex with him during some sort of looting party." Spike muttered.

"Anyanka worked at one of my first clubs! Have you heard her sing? Oh such fun! Of course I had to fire her when I learned what she was doing with some of the female customers, you know bringing down her wrath and what not, but my did we have some fun times!" Lorne jumped in.

"We didn't sleep together if that's what you mean Xander."

"Not like I wasn't tempted after that version of 'Fever' you did!"

"Oh stop, you'll make me blush. Oh wait, don't stop I love hearing how great I am!"

"Why me?" Spike mumbled.

"What about you man, who are you?" Gunn nodded at Spike.

"William the Bloody, better known as Spike. I worked with Angelus before any of you, well with the exception of the demons, were even thought in the world. Spent a good hundred years killing, killed 2 slayers even, headed here to finish off the set. Then I got captured by the government and they put this chip in my head, gives me migraines when I try to hurt people, but not demons and vamps. If you didn't figure it out, I'm a vampire. Thanks to the chip I was forced to work with these freaks, and eventually I came to almost enjoy it. Over summer holiday, I got back my soul. Now I'm back here with the likes of you." Spike shifted in his seat.

"You forgot about the sex."

"Anya, shut up."

"Fine, god. You are all so uptight. I forgot that about humans. He had sex with..."

"ANYA, SHUT UP." Spike was giving her the serious face.

"I'm a bit confused, you said got back your soul?" Wesley walked closer to him. "Did Willow do it?"

"That's the funny thing, it's not a gypsy curse. I went and got it back from a demon, there's one that can do that. Giles can tell you about it, he knows. Red? Well I don't think they'd trust her with that right now, she's too busy learning the root of her power and all that rot."

"Remarkable"

"I heard about that guy, hides out in a cave in Africa or something. I always thought that was just a myth, you know some vampire story to tell around the campfire to put the fear back in the young ones." Lorne added, "I can't believe he's real"

"You saw Willow?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, she's marvy. Bit broke up about missing the lot of you, but other than that doing quite well."

"Did she mention how she will cover the damages to the Magic Box? I expect full compensation, as the insurance didn't cover act of Wicca."

"Sorry pet, she didn't mention that, but I'm sure she'll be happy to work it out when she gets back."

The conversation continued into the night. Angel and Buffy could occasionally be heard yelling at each other from the kitchen, but otherwise things went pretty well. Eventually people started to turn in for the night. Dawn offered to share Joyce's bed with Fred, and relegated hers to Lorne. Gunn took the basement, Wesley took the couch. Xander and Anya headed back to their respective apartments. Spike didn't know what to do with himself. Should he go up to that bed which beckoned him? Or should he grab a space on the floor? He headed to the kitchen to find out.

Buffy was a wreck. She had taken 2 days of nothing but surprises and arguments pretty well, but it was starting to show. Angel leaned against the wall and looked out the back door, she sat on the counter with her head in her hands.

"Buffy?" Spike broke the silence.

She looked up, "Yeah Spike, what is it?"

"Don't mean to be a pain in the arse, but it's pretty late and the troops have gone to bed."

"Yeah, I know, I should probably head up." She hoisted herself off the counter.

"I was curious as to where I am supposed to sleep, assuming prior arrangements are off."

"I'll grab some pillows and blankets and stuff for the two of you. I need to be alone tonight, gotta think about things."

"I could head out to the crypt, I should just go, I'm sure Clem hasn't destroyed it too much."

"No, its okay, stay."

"Buffy" Angel moved from his place on the wall, "I can head back to the mansion, I'm sure its right where I left it."

"Don't bother, there's plenty of room, besides, how would either of you get here tomorrow for the big family meeting?"

They both nodded, knowing she was right.

Buffy left to grab somethings for them. The room was again full of uncomfortable silence, neither of them knowing what to say. It had been so long since they were stuck together, and even so all they had ever really done was argue. They had never really been freinds, even in the loosest sense. More like partners in crime. Now they shared more than they ever could have expected to, both the soul, and the love of Buffy.