Chapter 9

The Scoobies van - Close to sunrise

"Are we there yet?" Buffy asked teasingly. Xander sighed. He was driving and somebody had asked that question every five minutes since they had left Sunnydale. The only one who hadn't asked yet was Spike. Great now I've jinxed myself. He said to himself. He heard Spike chuckle.

"Something funny bleached wonder?" Xander asked without taking his eyes off the road.

"Well, yeah. You're letting them get to you." Spike explained. He looked around the van at it's occupants. Xander was now drumming his fingers lightly on the steering wheel in time with the music, Willow had her nose stuck in a book, Dawn had her headphones on and was banging her head to the music she was listening to, her sword sitting next her on the seat, and Buffy was cuddled next to him. Xander turned off the highway and onto the LA exit and a few minutes later past a "Welcome to Los Angeles" sign.

"Hey guys, Welcome to LA." Xander said. They occupants, all but Spike, cheered. "Now to find the hotel. Willow, direct me please." Willow put a bookmark in her book and proceeded to direct Xander to the hotel.

They pulled up to the hotel just as the sun was beginning to come up. They all piled out of the van and walked up to the entrance.

"Should we knock or just go in?" Xander asked. Buffy pushed past him, with Spikes hand in hers, and opened the door. There was no body at the front desk or anywhere else they could see.

"Hello?" Buffy called.

"Buffy!" Cordila said running into the room. Buffy let go of Spikes hand and the two girls hugged. "Hey Willow." Cordy said as she detached herself from Buffy and gave Willow a hug. And then Xander and Dawn. She got to Spike and raised her eyebrows. He stuck out his hand and she shook it. They heard more people heading toward the lobby and Buffy grabbed Spike hand as the rest of Angels crew and Angel enter the room. Angel nearly tripped from the shock of seeing Buffy. Scratch that, the shock of seeing Buffy, holding Spikes hand.

"Buffy. What are you- How are- Hi." He stuttered. Spike smirked.

"Hi. How are you? Is that Connor?" Buffy asked pointing to the baby in Fred's arms.

"I'm good. Yeah, that's Connor." He told her. The hotel front door opened and Branna and Faith walked in.

"Dawn!" Branna screeched.

"Branna!" Dawn, too, screeched running to her friend and hugging her. The both of them started talking at the same time.

"How are you?"

"Did you tell him?"

"What are you doing here?" Angel looked at the two girls confused.

"Did I hear Branna come in? Buffy?" Neala said coming into the room. She hugged Buffy and asked one of the questions Branna had asked Dawn. "What are you doing here?"

"It's summer vacation, so we're on vacation." Buffy told her.

"Don't I get a hug?" Spike asked the oldest Huntress. Neala smiled and hugged him.

"Hey Spike." She said as she squeezed him and pulled away.

"Spike!" Branna crashed into him and squeezed him with all she had.

"'ello Bra." He Squeezed her back.

After everyone had hugged Angel spoke up.

"How do you guys know each other?" He asked.

"We stopped in Sunnydale for a little while before coming here. We helped Buffy dust some vamps and kill some demons, you know girl stuff." Neala explained.

"Do they know?" Angel asked suddenly feeling left out.

"Yes. They do." Neala told him.

It finally registered to Angel that Spike was holding Buffy's hand. He jumped at his Grandchilde and pinned him to the ground. Spike began to laugh hysterically in Angel's face.

"What's so funny?" Angel growled.

"You, you poof. Did you just now realize I was touching your precious Buffy? I thought you were suppose to be" Angel's fist connecting with his face stopped Spike from finishing his sentence.

"Angel stop!" Buffy yelled at him. Angel, now sporting his demon vintage, either didn't hear her or merely ignored her as he continued his assault on Spike.

She tried to pull him off him but pushed her away. Only he pushed a little to hard. She flew into Neala and hit the far wall hard and crashed to the ground. Neala flew into the weapons case, shattering the glass doors. Spike eyes widened when he saw his love crumpling to the ground. He vamped out and pushed his Sire off of him and kicked him in the face.

Angel ran at Spike but slid to a stop when Branna materialized in front of him. The look on her face said she stake him if she had to. He growled and shoved her out of his way. He felt a stinging sensation in his back and then another and he collapsed to the ground. Two tranquilizer darts were in his back and Faith was standing behind him with the gun in her hands.

Spike slipped back into it's human form and he ran over to where Buffy lay in Dawn's lap bleeding. Neala was already being helped up by Branna and Wes. She had several cuts and gashes on her face and blood in her hair.

"How is she?" He asked stroking Buffy's hair.

"I think she ok." Dawn told him.

Buffy's eyes fluttered open and she saw a lot of people standing over her. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and felt the back of her head.

"Ow." She quickly pulled her hand back and closing her eyes. "Someone help me up." She said holding her hand out for somebody to take. She felt a hand slip into hers and she knew who's it was before she saw him.

She felt herself fall into the man she loved and held onto him tightly.

"Where is he? Can I dust him? Do I have permission to dust him? Please? Did I hit someone on my way into the wall?" She asked out loud. No one answered so she squeezed Spike harder. He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"Faith knocked him out with a tranq gun. He still over there where he fell, but I'm afraid you can't dust him. He's still got his soul as far as we know and we wouldn't want his boy to grow up without a dad, would we?" Spike told her. She groaned and looked up at him. "And you took Neala with you into the wall."

"Are we having fun yet?" she asked before he locked lips with her. He pulled away and she groaned again.

"Come on, pet. Let's put something on that head of yours." He pulled her into the kitchen and Wesley followed to help him find stuff.