Coming Home

"So do you want to come to our house?"

"Soda, whether Mom wanted to admit it or not, our house is not that big…"

"They can stay on the floor or something. I'm sure Pony wouldn't mind giving up our bed for the girls… Though there are a lot of them… You should give up yours, too!"

"That's okay! We've all slept on the floor at one time or another," Buffy broke in, eager to end their bickering.

"Why would girls have to sleep on the floor? You don't look like Greaser girls," Two-Bit mumbled.

"There really aren't Greasers and Socials where we live… Just… gangs."

"What kind of gangs?"

"Living and Undead," Spike muttered

"Are those what they call themselves?" Two-Bit asked, staring at the bleached vamp in confusion.

"Um…"

"That's what we call them," Buffy broke in.

"How are you involved in it?" Ponyboy asked as the group began to walk towards the Curtis neighborhood.

"It's my… job to make sure there are more Living than Undead."

"Why does it matter?"

"Everyone involved in the Undead enjoys killing people for the sake of killing them. They find some pretty unique and grotesque ways of doing that. The Living kill people too, but not using such painful method," Angel explained. Suddenly he stopped, looking around at the buildings and landscape. "Where and when did you say we were again?"

Darry shot him a confused look before repeating the earlier information. He decided it was a California thing when Angel suddenly smiled and the rest of that group looked shocked. Buffy and Dawn exchanged a worried look when they saw Angel's smile, and Spike took a few steps away from his Sire.

"Last year I bought a house on the other side of town."

"Good for you," Xander finally spoke up, "but how does that help us?"

"No, last year as in '65. I bought it in case I would ever need it. I can't remember at the moment how to get there, but- "

"No surprise there. You have a worse sense of direction than Dru."

"That could be because Darla would take me to the worst places she could think of, get me beaten up, and then leave me for a few hours to find my way home. Then she would come find me before I had a chance to figure out where home was…"

"Huh… What's wrong with Dru, then?"

"She's insane."

"No argument there. Remember when she decided to jump off the boat on our way to Japan?"

"And then decided it would be fun to talk to one of the sharks surrounding the boat? Yes. I remember that."

"I miss her," Spike pouted.

"And I miss Darla. Why pout?"

"Because she may have been insane, but she was the only girl who would talk to me for over a century."

"Exaggerating a little, don't you think? He means most of his life!" Buffy cut in. "You two can have your touchy-feely, bonding moment later, okay? Right now we need to find Angel's house."

"You said it was in the richer neighborhood?" Dally asked suddenly. Angel nodded. "I'm pretty familiar with the place. C'mon."

"No fighting, Dal."

"And if you do, don't get caught."

"Yeah, yeah… Like I would be dumb enough to start a fight on their turf."

§

"Wow… this place is huge!"

"I could fit three of my house in there."

"Your house, or your basement?"

"Yes."

"That… wasn't a yes or no question…"

"I know."

Eventually the group quit staring at the house and entered it. Spike snorted back a cackle when Angel pulled the keys from his pocket. Angel merely raised an eyebrow at him and led the way inside. The house was completely furnished, and there were plastic sheets covering all of the furniture to protect it from the elements.

"It's a little dusty, but other than that it's okay… We'll need to clean it up some tomorrow… And I also need to get a car… But this will do."

"This will do?" Dally asked, still struggling to keep his awe in check. He had never been inside a house that size legally in his life. Illegally was another story entirely.

"Yeah, Peaches. This place is big. Unless of course you own your own entire bloody hotel!"

"At least I don't sleep in a crypt."

"Believe it or not, those places are comfy as soon as you add electricity and indoor plumbing."

"Most people wouldn't bother to do that with a crypt."

"Hey! People of modest means have to live somewhere within their budget."

"Wow, Spike; did you have to read the dictionary to come up with that sentence, or did it just come out?"

"Shut up, Slayer."

"Goodbye, Dally. I hope we'll see you again soon!" Willow called to the retreating figure. "Now, how many rooms does this place have, Angel?"

"Five. That's why I said it will do; not that it is perfect."

"So who's bunking with who?" Xander asked, rubbing his hands together.

"Xander and Anya, Willow and Tara, Buffy and Dawn, and Spike and Giles can fight over the spare room."

"You're willing to share with someone?"

"I'll be taking the largest bedroom. Oh, and whoever sleeps alone will take the smallest bedroom; it's right over there. It's also the only one downstairs."

"I say the vampires should sleep together since they're like some kind of family," Dawn suggested. Spike fought it until he realized that it was one against seven. Angel really didn't seem to care.

"Fine, but I'm not sharing a bed with the Poof."

§ § §

A/N: What did you think? I know they were way OOC at some points, but my fingers just wanted to write it, and I decided to let them have fun. Please review and let me know what you think of it? Thanks.

ThankYous:

sweetypie 15 – Thanks! I get these weird ideas… and then they won't leave me alone until I try to write them…