Good Enough

By MsBigBad

Chapter 5: Fine

Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy or any of the characters from the show. They belong to UPN, FOX, Mutant Enemy, and the wonderfully talented Joss Wheedon whom I love and adore! I'm just using them for some entertainment cause I'm an obsessed freak! Any original characters belong to me and may not be used w/o my permission. (I'd be happy to let you borrow but please no stealing!) Series title belongs to Sarah Mc Glaghlan, and is used w/o permission." Soul" is by Matchbox 20 and is used w/o permission. Any quotes and/or poems will be disclaimed in the text. Flashbacks are in italics.

Ships: Spike/Buffy, Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Wesley/Cordelia, Gunn/Fred, Clem/Lorne, and Connor/Dawn.

Spoilers: Through "Seeing Red" on Buffy and " " on Angel.

Summary: After overhearing a prophecy concerning the chosen one, Spike decides to return to Sunnydale leaving Africa and the 15 years he's spent there behind.

Note: From the time of "Seeing Red" and " " this story is A/U. Which means there was no death of Tara, No nicely boxed Angel at the bottom of the ocean, no vainy Willow, and absolutely no flaying of Warren! If you want to know what has replaced that part I suggest you read my timeline (which I promise will be done soon! Sorry!).

Feedback: Please! I'd love to know what you think! You can reach me at .

Thanks: I want to thank my best friend Lauren for always believing in me and for giving me this little obsession! You are what keeps me alive! I've never had such a good friend that I could laugh and cry with till it hurt! And of course have long LOTR discussions and kinky fantasies of parts (he, he, he!) of the fellowship. You know what I mean I need to stop now cause then they'll be reading this for too long to even think about reading the story! I want to also thank my other friend Heather for wanting to read my stuff and for making me laugh enough to forget some of the angst in my stories! To everyone who archives/reviews my fics! I'm soo grateful for all you've done! Of course I need to thank Joss and his crew of talented writers, producers, directors, actors, and special behind the scenes guys! Thank you guys so much for the 2 best TV shows ever in existence! Really wanna thank James Marsters for being my snowman! (Don't worry if you don't get that! It's a seriously disturbing inside joke!) I love James! Good luck in everything that you do. And I really wanna thank you for reading my fic! Especially if you read through all this nonsense and bonus points if you actually pondered the snowman thing! (Seriously just let it go! It'll drive you insane and your head will explode! Yuck!) Lot's of luvs! Enjoy! Mwahhh!

Hang out my window and over your head

Stare at your feelings to see where they end

You're waiting here for someone else

To break you from the inside

You've been so composed

It's her. He can smell it. Even after 15 years, or after a thousand, he'd never forget it.

A blonde head turns the corner and briskly struts away in search of her abandoned car. He runs to catch up. He's so close and then everything goes dark. When he wakes up he finds himself lying flat on his ass in the middle of the alley.

He goes into full defense mode. Game face appearing and fists at the ready.

He looks up at the outstretched hand of the attacker. He hesitantly takes it and is on his feet again.

"Sorry man, it's just, you really shouldn't be going after her. She's got enough problems."

"Is that right?" He dusts himself off and continues. "You're strong for a mortal, not so strong for a vampire." Spike comments letting Conner know that he's not being fooled.

"Stronger than most." Conner replies.

"Is that why your da.."

"Yeah, but we weren't exactly the best of pals before."

"I can't believe you just did that!" Gunn says in a sort of shocked amusement.

"I can." Wesley informs him.

"What! He called me old! You really didn't expect me to let it go!"

"I seem to remember him calling us both old, but you didn't see me overreacting like that!" Wesley retorts.

"Wesley you are old! Me on the other hand… I may be old by some people's standards, but I still kick ass!" Cordelia brags.

"Well, I'm just glad that police officer was so understanding!" Fred sighs.

"I think I dated him. I can't remember? I think maybe he was before Johnny but after Margo?" Cordy asks herself.

"Margo, yes he was a winner!" Wesley criticizes.

"Oh, would you shut-up! Jealousy will drive you mad and I think we all know what comes with that!"

"Cordelia!" He whines.

"What! I'm not looking forward to being chased by axe murderer Wesley any time soon!…. And I know Fred's not."

Fred would blush, but she was too busy looking at the taco joint across the street. Charles and she hadn't eaten yet. They'd been running late to dinner and arrived at the height of the ass kicking and red flashing lights.

"Hey yall! Let's get something to eat!"

We all know there's always something tearing you apart

It's always so much longer than you thought

But you don't worry, you don't worry

Cause you've got soul

"Why did you come back? I mean Africa seems pretty cool."

"For Buffy." Spike answers Conner's rather direct question.

"She doesn't want you."

"I didn't mean to be with her. I need to talk to her. Warn her. Something's coming and it had her name written all over it."

"Well, before you find her you might wanna open that box." Conner warns.

"Why? What's in it?"

"Something that might change your mind about her." Conner simply replies.

"And what might that be? You don't even know what I think about her in the first place."

"Believe me, I know."

You're so heavy, you're so misunderstood

And I spent all my wishes, wishing times were good

You've been here so long now

He slowly drifts back toward the Hyperion hands in his pockets and mind not at all on getting there. Which is probably why he's on his back on the street for the second time tonight.

"Stop following me." The petite blonde warns.

"Buffy?" He stumbles to his feet.

"Go away Spike." She says searching her purse for her keys.

"Wait." He says grabbing her hand and dragging her into the light.

She quickly draws the hand away and falls back into the shadows leaning against her SUV searching with more urgency for her lost keys.

"What's wrong with your face?" He asks with concern.

"I don't know what's wrong with yours."

"Buffy."

"Demon got the best of me the other night. Comes with the job." She lies.

"I know you're not the Slayer anymore." He informs her.

"Go away Spike. I have to get home. It's late."

"Did he do this to you? Did he hit you?"

"I'm not gonna say it again Spike! Go away! I don't know why you thought that coming running back here would solve anything. I have my own life now and you're not a part of it!"

"I know that. That's not why I'm here anyway." He goes on.

"Leave now!" She orders inserting her key into the locked door.

"No, no, no. It's not that easy!" He starts.

"Let me make it really simple for you." She yells over her rumbling engine "Fuck off!" She speeds away.

He makes no effort to follow her. He's had a bad night and he doubts it would help right now to go after someone who obviously wants to be left alone. He just wants to go raid the mini bar and rest. Maybe he'll pop open Angel's treasure chest.

We all know there's always something tearing you apart

It's always so much longer than you counted on

And it hits you so much harder than you thought

But you don't worry, you don't worry

Cause darling you've got so much soul

Darling, you've got so much soul

"Mhm." Fred closes her eyes in satisfaction.

"Good?" Gunn asks proudly.

"Wonderful." She glows.

"More?"

"Oh God yes!" Fred begs.

"Wes? Cordy?"

"Actually, I might just take some more! It was absolutely intoxicating." Wesley comments.

"Yeah it was pretty damn great!" Cordy revels.

"Hey! Can we get some more CK Deluxe's over here? Thanks!" Gunn calls to the waiter.

"I think that was the best taco I've ever ate!" Fred says, rubbing her partially exposed tummy.

Gunn's eyes have a glazed look of love and he decides that he can wait no longer.

"Fred?"

"What? Do I have…" She raises her hand to wipe away the non existent taco sauce on her face.

"No. It's just." He takes a deep breath. " I love you."

"Oh, well I love you too."

"No. I mean… I…." His hand goes to his coat pocket bringing out a small blue felt covered box.

He swallows the lump that's been forming in his throat and continues.

" Winifred Berkel, will you marry me?"

"Oh. Oh God! Charles!" She fans herself.

"Does that mean yes? Cause…"

"You dummy! Of course it means yes! Charles, I just can't believe…"

"That I waited this long?" He questions.

"No, well… yes, but I'm just so happy!" She says throwing her arms around her new found fiancé.

Cordelia looked at her very emotional friends and a wave of jealousy hit her. It was soon replaced by joy, but it had been there if even for a second.

It's weird how some moments can last a lifetime and others pass quickly and are forgotten.

Gunn and Fred had only gotten back together a year and a half ago. While Wesley and herself had been with each other for a little over five years now. Why hadn't he popped the question yet? Was she unattractive? Was he going to leave her? Was she too ditzy or outspoken? What was wrong with her?

Spike finally makes it back only to be welcomed by Angel.

"If you're staying here then you're fighting. 1324 Wilton St. Siltha demon terrorizing a few of the homeless."

"Siltha? Don't they?" Spike starts to question but is cutoff first.

"Why don't you find out. Take the tunnels, you'll get there faster. And Spike? Stay away from Buffy."

"Already been warned mate." He says gesturing to his beaten appearance. "Twice."

Angel doesn't hear or dissent's act like he does so Spike just grabs his bag and hit's the tunnels.

Siltha demons. Why'd it have to be Siltha demons? From what he'd heard they were not a great thing to fight alone. Which he was. Alone. No use dragging anyone else into the mix.

Well, there's always something tearing you apart

It's always so much longer than you counted on

And it hits you so much herder than you thought

Then you ever thought it would

All he really wants to do is find Buffy's husband and kill him. How could she let herself be treated that way? She was so strong even without Slayer strength she'd always had this inner strength.

Angel slams the door of his office. Conner's been there again. He comes about once a month to loot whatever Angel has lying about.

This time he's taken some money and some office equipment.

Not too bad considering.

The darkness conceals the tears that slowly make their way down the hard lines of his tired face.

"Conner." He sobs.

"What have I done?" He asks himself running his fingers through his ungelled hair.

His sadness quickly changes to anger as his fists clench.

"What has she done?" He whispers.

But you don't worry, and you don't worry

Cause you don't worry, you don't worry

Cause you don't worry, you don't worry

Cause you've got soul

Continued in Chapter 6 of Good Enough "Crestfallen Divergence"

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has followed and reviewed this fic! I'm do grateful for all the reviews I've been getting! Send me more to fuel the upcoming chapters!