On with the next chapter.

As everyone except Buffy sat staring open-mouthed at Spike, it was Andrew who spoke first.

"Good to see you again Spike."

"What do you mean again?" questioned Dawn.

"I... er... mean... um... since Sunnydale." Replied Andrew, getting more nervous and trying to cover his tracks.

"You knew he was back and you didn't tell me?" asked Buffy angrily whilst walking towards Andrew.

"Well when he and Angel,"

"Angel was here too. I am soooo gonna enjoy watching Buffy kill you." Stated Dawn.

"Thanks Dawn. Anyway as I was saying when they came to get that head thingy off the Immortal he made me promise not to tell you." Continued Andrew.

Buffy looked at Spike who gave her a look as if to say "We'll talk about it later." Buffy Silently agreed.

Dawn rushed towards Spike hugging him tightly.

"You're going to have to let go eventually, little bit."

"Oh right, yeah. I am just so happy to see you. Not as much as Buffy though cos there wasn't one day when she didn't say anything about you." Buffy blushed at this comment from her younger sister.

After about 5 minutes no-one had spoken.

"Suddenly gone mute have you?"

"Sorry Buff but it's kinda a shock to see a dead guy standing in front of you." Answered Xander.

"Hey. I'm not dead anymore." Said Spike. At that Xander looked up at Spike and before he could begin to speak Spike knew what he was going to say.

"Save it. I've already had the Hurt her and I'll kill you. speech from Angel, I don't need it from you too. Or you Giles." It was as if Spike could read the mind of the former watcher.

"I hope you know what you're doing Buffy but if you're happy then I'm happy for you." Came from Giles.

"That means a lot to me. Thanks." Answered Buffy.

Dinner had long been forgotten about as Spike was bombarded with questions from everyone in the room with the exception of Buffy.

"So it was just poof and you were in Angel's office?" asked Willow.

"What do you remember from before that?" added Kennedy.

"A dragon. Really? How extraordinary." Giles was still as super-naturally orientated as ever.

"So what was it like being a ghost?" questioned Dawn. Well that and: "Why didn't you tell us you were back?"

"Evil law firm, huh? I would have made a good lawyer." Everyone rolled their eyes at Andrew.

"You and Angel killed all those demons? Saving the world again?" Xander tried his best to offer thankfulness to Spike. They had never really gotten along that well. Xander thought that Spike was never good enough for Buffy and Spike hadn't forgiven him for that. Buffy loved Spike now though so they would try to get along for her sake maybe they would even become good friends one day.

They talked through the night, sharing their adventures (happy and sad) from the past year. As the sunlight threatened to make its way into the apartment, Dawn rose from her sitting position to close the curtains but was stopped by Buffy. Dawn shot puzzled looks at both her sister and Spike and then it hit her. It was as if someone had flicked on a light switch in her brain and a huge grin spread across her face.

"Oh my god." She shouted.

Spike and Buffy smiled at each other.

"What's with all the shouting Dawnie?" asked a sleepy Willow.

"It's Spike. He's human."

The group was shocked and each wore an amazed look on their face.

"Wow. Wow." Willow repeated.

"How?" asked an interested Giles.

"Well after we'd killed all the demons in the alley al bright light came down from the sky and out steeped one of the powers. It said humanity was our reward." Spike shortened the story of what happened after he and Angel had killed all the demons.

"We of course meaning you and Angel." Stated Giles.

"Yep." Answered Spike. Happiness made its way across all those in the room. Glad to see their friend getting what he had worked so hard to achieve. In their eyes and hearts Angel, and Spike, truly deserved their shanshu's.

"Poor guy. The deaths hit him hard." Added Spike.

"Deaths?" questioned Xander.

"They're all dead now. His friends. Cordy, Wes, Fred and Gunn." Said Buffy.

Everyone bowed their heads in sadness for those whom they knew and in respect for those they didn't. This news brought back painful memories of people they'd lost. Buffy and Dawn had lost their mother, Xander had lost Anya, Willow had lost Tara, Kennedy had lost good friends in the potentials, Andrew had lost his two best friend Warren and Johnathan, Giles had lost friends when the Watcher's Council had been blown up, Spike had lost many people (mainly at his hands) and of course they had all (except Andrew and Kennedy) lost Buffy at some point. They had gotten her back but that didn't stop it from hurting. They all knew what Angel was going through, to some degree at least.

Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for all the reviews and don't forget to add some more. In the next chapter I think I'm going to have Angel go back to Ireland.