There's No Place Like Wolfram and Hart

As Angel circulated, he quietly gave the word to the rest of the team there. When he got to Val, though, the younger vampire looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Val," Angel said tiredly. "I know you didn't have anything to do with it. And you probably couldn't have stopped Spike if you'd tried." He gave a half-laugh. "The way he's been fighting this week, I don't think I could have."

"What do you think will happen now?" Val asked nervously. He'd been a basket case ever since Spike had walked out with Rose.

Angel shrugged. "Hard to say. But since a lot of people saw them leave together, McDaniels can't very well accuse anyone of abducting her." He got a sour taste in his mouth as he realized that Spike's methods might actually be better upon this particular occasion. "On the underhanded and mystical front, it's anybody's guess. But as soon as this shindig is over, I want everybody making a beeline for my office. That's where..," He stopped, realizing now that that was where Spike and Rose, if Spike made any attempt to obey orders at any time tonight, would be. Then, he heaved a sigh of relief as he remembered that Rose still had amnesia. They wouldn't be getting up to anything in his office. He hoped.

&&&&&&&&

They had actually made it to Angel's office. To the door thereof, at least. Spike had Rose pressed up against that portal, kissing her.

"Be hours before the rest of the crew get back," he murmured seductively, reaching behind her to open the door. "Plenty of time for us to..,"

"Excuse me," came a voice from inside the office.

Rose jumped like she'd been bitten, and even Spike started. But Spike wasn't flushed crimson the way the light of his existence was.

"Should have known," Spike said disgustedly. "This is all your fault, you know, Watcher. If you hadn't gone and broken your leg, you'd have been the one to go off to merry olde England." He cuddled Rose close.

"That's not entirely fair, darling," Rose protested. "Who exactly coaxed him to go along on a demon hunt? Against both Fred's wishes and mine, I might add."

Wesley sat gaping at them, utterly dumbfounded. "I thought you had amnesia, Rose," he finally spluttered. "So why is it that you seem to remember now?"

Spike looked insufferably smug at that moment. "Just call me Prince Charming."

Wesley goggled at him and Rose giggled delightedly. When it finally dawned on the Watcher, he shook his head resignedly. Where Spike and Rose were concerned, he should have known, he thought, he really should have known.

"You want me to run up and fetch the kids, babe?" Spike inquired. Since he couldn't have her to himself even for an hour or two, might as well let the kids have some time with their mum.

Rose beamed at him. "Please do." She reached up to kiss his cheek. "Who's watching them? Harmony?"

Spike shook his head. "Harm is supposed to be keeping our bird with the broken wing company," he explained, gesturing towards Wesley. "Oz volunteered to hold the fort with the kids." He looked around the room. "Where is Harm?"

The door opened, and Harmony entered, pushing a cart bearing several covered containers, and a large teapot. "Hi, Spike." It didn't even register that it should have been Val with Rose and not Spike. "Here's your tea, Wesley."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Tea, dinner and midnight snack by the look of it," he remarked. "Oh well, the kids can help out with it." He gave Rose one more lingering kiss, as though afraid to let her out of his sight.

"Go ahead, Spike," Wesley urged, feeling a little sentimental. "No one's going to take her away while you're fetching the children."

&&&&&&&&

"What's he doing?" Angel asked Gunn.

"Panicking," Gunn replied. "In a very cool, calm and controlled way. Showing how level-headed he can be in a crisis. Even when it's his own."

"Has he mentioned calling the police?" Angel queried. "A lot of people would, and the police might even check into it just because she does have amnesia."

Gunn shook his head. "Has amnesia is not the same thing as lost her mind," he pointed out. "And over two dozen people saw her leave with Spike willingly. There were even some that said they saw her smiling at him." He paused and rubbed his chin. "Are you sure she doesn't remember anything?"

"That's what the kids said," Angel answered. "Besides, can you imagine her going off with any guy other than Spike if she did?"

&&&&&&&&

"What a fiasco." Richard pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his forehead. "How are the media handling it?"

Sharkey grunted. He was balding, with squinty little eyes, a piggy nose, and a mouth that made him look like he was perpetually pouting. He was almost perfectly round. There was also an air about him that suggested if you wanted someone you could really rely on, you'd do far better to find yourself a used-car salesman. "One of the very small advantages to not being too well known yet." His voice sounded as unpleasant as he looked. Which at least kept him all of a piece and spared people having to struggle to reconcile a melodious voice with his appearance and personality. "The media aren't making too much noise about it at all, yet. If you had already drawn a lot of attention to yourself, then, they'd be having a field day. Rising young politician having his new bride walk out on him at his first fund-raiser. As it is, I doubt that you'll be more than a footnote. Not even a nine-days wonder."

Richard looked thoughtful. "Is there any way we could nullify the marriage? After all the trouble we went to making it seem legit too," he suggested. "You know, put it out that I was set up, and that she just used me to get into the country legally or something?"

Sharkey considered the notion. "I'll put some thought into it," he replied. "In the meantime, you did good, kid. You set just the right tone. Concerned for her, but not losing your cool. You have a natural gift for politics. Just don't let it go to your head. Even the best need someone behind the scenes to keep the ball rolling."

Richard laughed weakly. If he was the one in the spotlight, why did everyone tell him what to do? "I'm still new at this, Sharkey," he said. "I wouldn't know what to do without you."

&&&&&&&

"Do you think it might jar Rose's memory if she sees me beat Spike to a bloody pulp?" Angel asked hopefully. They were even later than anticipated due to all the fuss that had been raised by Rose's abrupt departure. Right now, Angel needed someone to blame it on, and Spike was convenient.

"You are not going to beat Spike up," Fred declared. "And you really can't blame him for wanting to see Rose out of there personally. She is his wife, after all. And he and the kids have been missing her."

"And he could have screwed up the whole thing by not acting according to plan," Angel grumbled. "If something had gone wrong, none of us would have been in position to help since he decided to play it by ear."

"But nothing did go wrong," Gunn pointed out. "Are you pissed because Spike acted against orders, or because it worked?"

Angel glared at him, but couldn't come up with an answer. At least, not one that didn't totally rob him of dignity. "Where's Lorne?" he asked, changing the subject. "I'd think he'd be ready to get back now too."

"There he is." Fred pointed to the approaching figure.

"Sorry I'm late," the empath apologized. "Wouldn't you know, at the very last minute I just had to powder my nose."

"Let's just get the hell out of here," Angel ordered. "We've got to get back and figure out what we're going to do with Rose until she gets her memory back."

&&&&&&&

"I'm sure that isn't appropriate behavior in front of small children," Wesley muttered to Harmony and Oz. "In fact, I'm not sure that I consider it all that appropriate in front of me."

"Oh cut them a little slack, Wes," Harmony advised. "They've been apart for almost two weeks, they missed each other. And besides, they're just kissing."

"More like exploratory surgery," Wesley grumbled. "Couldn't they wait until they're alone?"

"I'd think you'd be used to it by now," Oz remarked. "It isn't bothering the kids, and they missed Rose almost as bad as Spike did."

The twins suddenly slid down off the sofa, where they had flanked their parents. They could 'hear' everything that Wesley had said, and decided that he needed to understand a few things.

Ariel looked at her twin. "Do you think we can?" she asked dubiously.

Alaric shrugged. "We won't know if we don't try," he pointed out reasonably. "But I don't think anybody really understands. 'Cept us."

Ariel smiled winsomely at Wes and held out her hands, which the Watcher took without a second thought. "Just close your eyes and let your mind drift, Uncle Wes," she directed.

"You two can too," Alaric said to Harmony and Oz. "Just put your hands on Uncle Wes' shoulders and close your eyes." He stood behind his sister and demonstrated what he meant.

For long moments nothing seemed to happen, then, the air in the room seemed almost electrically charged, as if each molecule hovering around them had become charged with the full depth of Spike and Rose's love for each other.

It was this atmosphere that prevailed when Angel and the rest of the team returned. They didn't even have to make physical contact with the others. The emotional atmosphere filled the room and seemed about to engulf the whole building. It was enough to make Lorne go weak at the knees and sit on the first article of furniture he came to. It was either that or hit the floor, and he was wobbly enough that it was a close thing.

Alaric and Ariel sensed the new arrivals, and reluctantly broke contact. It was enough, they'd gotten their point across.

Spike and Rose, oblivious to everything else, were still kissing.

&&&&&&&&

"So what do you think, sire? Damage control, or a spell of forgetfulness?" Sharkey was in the Master's subterranean lair.

"Damage control for now, I think, my boy," the old man murmured pensively. "A spell on so many people would be extremely difficult. Not to mention expensive in time and resources."

"Why don't we drop Richard now?" the piggy-faced man suggested. "Before the brainless little twit becomes a real liability."

"Patience, my son," the Master ordered gently. "He has not done that badly. His only error was one that I must admit even I would not have anticipated. And he has the necessary charisma to get into a position of mortal power. Charisma, I should point out, that you yourself are lacking in."

Sharkey's lower lip protruded even farther. "But I'm still the firstborn," he pointed out. "You won't favor him over me, will you?"

"Rest easy, my boy," the ancient replied. "Richard does not even know he is my son. And seeing as he is a human half-breed, I doubt that I shall ever bother to tell him. Unless he becomes intractable and that is the only way to keep his cooperation. For the time being, Richard is a tool to be used. Nothing more, nothing less." He craned his head around to look at a clock on the wall, and the creak of his neck was practically audible. "Being aboveground like that took a great deal out of me," he admitted. "Even with the spells I used. I shall not emerge again until the sacrifice is performed."

"It was supposed to be performed tonight," Sharkey remarked. "Was that Richard's doing, or yours? Meaning no offense, sire, but I did think the timing was a bit.., precipitate."

"And if you had been dwelling down here, completely out of touch with everything," his father sighed. "You might have been tempted to move too hastily as well."

"I meant no offense," Sharkey hurried to fill in.

"I know, my son," the old man muttered. "I know. Now, I would suggest that you kiss your mother good-night and leave. And try to keep your brother out of trouble."

"Half-brother," Sharkey grumbled. He stooped over the old man's shoulder to nuzzle against the spider that was his constant companion. He kissed the arachnid fondly and left.

"He's a dutiful boy, Corinna," the oldster mumbled. "We did well with him."

&&&&&&&

Spike surfaced enough to realize that there were more heartbeats in the room than there had been when he'd turned to give Rose a quick kiss. And came to the realization that the 'quick kiss' had been anything but.

"We've got company, babe," he murmured softly. As expected, the announcement was all that was needed for Rose to turn beet-red.

But it wasn't the assembled fang gang that Rose looked to, but rather her offspring. "I'm so sorry, my darlings," she apologized. "I've been gone so long and then to just ignore you like that. What must you think of me?"

"We know what they think, blossom," Lorne muttered in strangled tones. "What they know, that is."

Wesley turned a bemused expression the rest of the group. "You felt it too?" he inquired.

Gunn nodded wordlessly and headed for the bar, intending to play bartender when it occurred to him that it was redundant. If the rest felt the same way he did, the effect was better than a stiff double.

Angel, perhaps predictably was the first to recover from the general goodwill. "I suppose you're going to try to tell me that you kissed her memory back," he said sarcastically.