A/N: I've neglected Joyce, through out my story, unintentionally, so I am starting to include her now. Sorry if it seems very random to introduce character in the middle of the story but I REALLY like Joyce! (I hope you do too).

Chapter 15

What I never expected...or did I?

Buffy opens up the door to her house, and slips in, hoping that she hasn't woken up her mom. She tiptoes up the stairs and slowly creaks open the door to her mother's room to check on whether she is asleep or not. As she inches the door open, she sees her mom's bed with no one in it. Buffy swings the door open, knowing that her mom had woken up, only to reveal a grief stricken Joyce with a bat in her hand ready to strike her daughter.

A wide eyed Buffy shrieks, "MOM!!"

Joyce is startled by her daughter and sighs. "MY GOD, dear! The award for BEST ATTEMPT TO KILL YOUR MOTHER DUE TO A HEART ATTACK goes to Buffy Summers. I thought you were a burglar! Say, isn't it 4 AM...and a Saturday? I thought you are at Angel's usually at this time!"

Buffy grins, "Oh...about that...I think I'm gonna break up with Angel and get together with Spike."

Joyce replies slowly, "So, you're breaking up with your boyfriend to get with his best friend?"

Buffy exhales, "No..it's really complicated. You see through out the year I was supposed to talk to Angel. But Angel didn't want an online buddy so Spike talked to me online as Angel. Well, the trick is, I fell in love with the guy I talked to online, which is Spike, but on the day I found out who my online buddy was, I found out it was Angel...which is technically correct...but really I was in love with Spike. I found out yesterday about all this. Do you get my drift......mom?"

Joyce is unmoving. She stands there gaping at her daughter until she finally speaks, while going down the stairs and into the kitchen to do the dishes, "You know honey, I didn't catch a word of what you said, and I really prefer not to. I'm sure you'll make the right decision, whatever it is. I hope you ditch this Angel guy, because from what I've heard from you during the past few weeks, Spike seems like a really sweet guy. Right now, it's four in the morning, and I really prefer not to think of such complex business. I'd much rather be sleeping." She ends her little speech with a smile.

Buffy jokes, "Soooo....in Mom-world, does sleeping equate to doing chores? 'Cause really, I have a HUMONGOUS pile of laundry downst-Ah! Mom!"

Buffy's little piddy-diddy is ceased by Joyce spraying water on her.

Buffy runs upstairs, laughing, and leaps onto her bed. As she lies there, she stares up at her ceiling recollecting the number of life changing events that had occurred through out the past year. Her lips curl up into a small smile as she remembers the sweet words Spike had spoken to her last night or rather to say... today morning. Her thoughts move on to things ahead and she groans as she thinks about how she has to tell Angel about her and Spike. As she thinks about everything – past, present, future, her eyes drift close and she falls into a deep sleep.

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Her eyes dart open as the phone rings for about the billionth time. She looks up at the clock which reads 11 o'clock and picks it up. With a groggy voice she says, "uh- Hello?"

"Hey Buff, it's Angel- listen"

"oh Hey Angel."

"Yea, listen I got your note. No hard feelings at all. Hey, I just called 'cause I sorta wanted to talk to you about something."

Buffy is perplexed as to what he would want to talk to her about but shrugs it off.

"Sure, I want to talk to you about something too. So when do you want to meet?"

"Umm how bout for lunch at Jack's Bistro?'(a little something for Three's Company fans ( )

"Sure Angel, I'll see you then. Bye."

Buffy turns off the phone and lays back again on her bed. She turns on her phone again, but this time she dials a different number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Willow?"

"Oh Hey Buffy. Watsup?"

"You'll never believe what happened to me last night."

"OH MY GOD. You and Angel HAD SEX!!?"

"WHAT!? No! Make yourself comfortable...'cause it's a lonnggg storryy."

-----After Buffy tells Willow everything---

Willow finally speaks, "Wow...that's just wow. So are you excited or kinda bummed that it's Spike you love instead of Angel?"

Buffy is taken aback by the question, which she had never really thought about before, but answers surely.

"I don't feel any disappointment at all. You know- it's strange I feel ... relieved...for some reason."

Willow replies, "Well, anyone can see why he's not a disappointment. I mean, he's so sweet and handsome – what every girl wants! – not that I'm jealous! Hey! I've got Oz. There is NO reason to be jealous."

"Hahaha right Will. So how is it going with you and Oz? I'm sorry I haven't been there for you a lot these past few weeks – you know with all this Spike/Angel confusion."

"We're doing great! Thank you for asking. Well, actually two weeks ago, we did have a little trouble. I got unnecessarily mad about him for hitting on that girl Veruca. But he calmed me down and I realized I was worrying about nothing. And Buffy- I totally understand that you've been real busy. There is no need to apologize. That's what best friends are for – to forgive before their friends even apologize. Listen, my mom has been nagging on me the whooleee day. I'm gonna have to call you back later, is that okay?"

"Yea, sure. Thanks Wills for everything. Bye."

Buffy looks up at the clock. It reads a quarter 'till twelve.

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Buffy sits down in a booth at Jack's Bistro. Soon after she sees Angel walk in and he comes and sits across from her.

"Hey," he greets first.

"Hey, yourself," she says with a smile.

They both sit in an awkward silence for a minute until Buffy speaks up.

"I think we should talk before one of us graduates."

"Let me go first........See, Buffy...I know we've been going out for a few weeks now, but I really have to come clean about something. All we've done is kiss a few times. We haven't even made out. I'm not trying to be harsh, but I don't find chemistry between us. I mean, I really like you as a friend, and I used to think I liked you as more, but I realize now that I never did. And you – I think you just think you love me because I talked to you online the whole year and you fell in love with me then."

Buffy is about to interrupt him, but before she gets the chance, he continues.

"Buffy, the thing is. (He takes a deep breath). I never talked to you online. It was- it was Spike. The person you really love is Spike, not me."

Buffy gives him a wide smile and lifts up her hand across the table and holds his cheek.

Angel, really confused now asks, "Wait...umm I was expecting any reaction but happiness from you and this," he says pointing to her small hand caressing his cheek.

Buffy pulls back her hand and says, "Angel, I know about Spike. That's what I came here to talk to you about. I came here to tell you about me and Spike before getting together with him so I wouldn't technically be cheating on you."

"Oh okay. Well good, now that that's over with," he says with a nervous smile.

"So, are we done here?"

"No, that was only half of what I wanted to come clean about."

"Shoot."

"Well, back to our lack of chemistry. See, even when we were sort of together, I was kinda going out with Cordelia."

Buffy stares wide eyed at him.

"Hey! You cheated on me! I came trying to respect what we had...or didn't have... you cheated on me!" She pauses for a few seconds and realizes that there is no point on fighting over this. It's not like they really ever loved each other. Abruptly she exclaims, "But cheating on me for Cordelia of all people!?! Hah...It's okay, I am totally over it...so you wanna order our lunch now?"

"Hell yes. I'm starving."

"Great. Me too."

"I bet I can eat more than you."

"NO wAY!"

"Yes too. Miss Skin and Bones."

Angel smirks.

"Mr. Flat Sticking up hair."

Buffy smirks back.

"Miss I like to watch sappy movies like While You Were Sleeping."

Buffy giggles.

"Mr. I cheated on my girlfriend!"

Buffy gives him a cocky smile.

Angel surrenders, "Ooohh! That was meannnn!!!"

"I am damnnn gooodd. Got you in that spot."

"Listen Buffy, the whole Cordelia thing. I didn't mean to hurt you...if you're hurt."

"Angel no..no I'm totally fine. Don't worry about it. You're really a great guy. I'm glad we're cool now."

"Yeah.....................................................where the hell is the stupid waiter?"

End of Chapter.

A/N: I didn't want to make Angel super evil but I did want him to do something out of character from on the show, that makes him a guy .lol. Sorry about that to all ppl who wanted me to stick with the show's perception of the character. I just want Buffy and Spike to stay on friendly terms with Angel. Sorry if you didn't like the ending. I remember in one of the episodes of Buffy in season 7, Dawn finds out an easier way she could have done something and forgives it easily, knowing that it didn't make too much of a difference. I just thought that Cordelia and Angel while Buffy was with him didn't make THAT big of a deal. I hope I did a good job. Please critique.