Chapter Two

Buffy meandered across the grass, glancing from side to side. So far the vamps and damsels in distress have been a no show. She did come close to staking a bird that was fluttering in a bush.

Buffy was dressed in dark, bootcut jeans, a white t-shirt and a long, black leather jacket. She held a stake in her right hand and was twirling it around while her back up stake rested securely in her jacket pocket.

The sudden noise of footsteps caught Buffy's attention. They were quick, as if running. She pressed forward to reach the possible culprit or woodland creature. She came to an abrupt halt, recognizing the two men running towards her. They were watching each other to see who was in the lead and paid no attention to their oncoming collide with her.

Angel and Spike turned their attention towards her just in time to stop. "Buffy," they both said.

Buffy glanced back and forth at the daft sight before her. "What dimension did I walk into?"

"Buffy I need to talk to you," Angel informed.

"I need to talk to ya more."

"Get lost Spike."

"I was here first."

"No, I was here first. I was here many years before you."

"But then ya left and now it's my spot of land now."

"So you own all of Sunnydale you David Bowie rip off?"

"I was around before David Bowie ya stupid ponce."

"Hey, Bonnie and Clyde!" Spike and Angel turned their attention to her. "Can you stop the five year old banter?"

"He started it," Angel mumbled with his arms crossed.

"Enough!" Buffy intervened. She put her left hand to her forehead in frustration. She took a deep breath and asked, "What are you doing here Angel?"

"Ha!" Spike said in triumph.

"And where have you been Mr. Disappearing Act?"

Spike was shocked. "Were you worried 'bout me pet?"

"I was worried, but for my friends and sister."

"Ha!" Angel said back to Spike.

"Either of my questions getting answered or are you two gonna continue to swap one syllable retorts?" Buffy questioned. She was feeling kinda awkward. Things between her and Angel were always confusing but now she started a thing with Spike and they left off with brutal discord. And what were they doing together? They have nothing in common besides the undead thing and… her. Oh god, they were swapping Buffy stories!

"I came to talk to you," Angel repeated.

"And where I've been is personal. Only you get to hear this one pet," Spike enlightened.

"Go to a Spiderman convention?"

"You'd know all 'bout that wouldn't ya Angel?"

"Forget this," Buffy sighed. She pushed her way past them and continued her patrol.

"Buffy," they said in unison.

"Piss off," Spike warned Angel.

"Isn't there a grave you should be robbing?"

Spike punched Angel in the face and ran to Buffy. "Buffy."

"Why are you two all buddy buddy?"

"Me and Captain Forehead? Nothin' buddy buddy 'bout that one Slayer."

"Then why were you two together?"

"We're not!" Angel called from behind. He whacked Spike on the back of the head with a branch he broke off a nearby tree. Spike fell to the ground.

Buffy snatched the branch from Angel's hands and threw it to the side. "Then can I get an explanation?"

"I was on my way to see you when Spike here decided to run me over with a motorcycle."

"It was an accident," he defended as he rose from the ground. "I was on my way to see ya."

"Well I have a job to do right now so why don't we put all the conversation off for another time?" Buffy left the graveyard and walked down through town. Spike and Angel maintained their pursuit.

"Do you want to talk tomorrow," Angel asked.

"Mine's more important," Spike intervened.

"Shut up Spike."

"Make me."

Buffy punched Angel in the face, which made Spike laugh, but then she turned and punched him across the face. "Now do you get it? I don't want to talk with either of you right now. And you're both clearly more interested in complaining about each other. Now, I am going to finish off my patrol and I will figure things out tomorrow morning. Clear?"

"Yea," Angel confirmed.

"Crystal," Spike seconded.

"Good."

Buffy made it home within an hour and a half. She came across two biker vamps, one teenage girl vamp and a well-dressed lawyer type. She caught a few punches but came home with only one gash on her arm. She went to the bathroom and cleaned it out as best she could and patched it up.

"Buffy," Tara observed in her half-asleep state.

"Tara. What're you doing up?" she whispered.

"I need to use the bathroom." Tara took notice of the white gauze on Buffy's upper left bicep. "Are you okay?"

"Yea. A vamp just got in a good throw. Into a stone wall."

"Oh. Well, at least you're okay." Buffy nodded. After a minute of silence Tara mentioned, "I still have to use the bathroom."

"Right, sorry." Buffy moved out into the hallway and let Tara go in. She walked into her room and plopped down on her bed. She kicked off her caramel colored boots and rolled over the top cover. She lied on her side with her eyes open; her mind was racing about Angel and Spike. What did they want to talk about? Should she even bother? Her relationships with both of them were rocky and she wasn't in the mood for more emotional and mental stress.

"Good night Buffy," Tara yawned.

"G'night Tara." Buffy took a deep breath before closing her eyes and going to sleep.

Spike opened the door to his old tomb. He was taken aback when he saw Clem crashing on his ex-recliner. Spike walked between him and the tv and kicked the bottom of the chair. Clem jumped up, dropping the rest of his popcorn on the floor.

"Spike. You're back."

"Whatcha doin' here Clem?"

"Well I knew where your place was and when I saw you weren't here I figured I'd stay and make sure no one claimed it. Tombs as nice as this one go pretty fast when demons think they're vacant."

"Well thanks for the favor and droppin' your popcorn on my floor."

Clem took notice of the small clumps of popped kernels that surrounded the chair. "I'll clean it." He bent down and started scooping it back into the bucket.

"When you're done with that, feel free to sod off." Spike walked over to his bed and pulled a liquor bottle out from under it. He went to take a swig and nothing came dribbling down. Spike shook the bottle and found it was empty. He held it up as he glared at loose skinned demon hunched over his floor.

Clem looked up and noticed Spike found the bottle. "And I'll replace that." Spike tossed the container into the wall. Clem shot up from the floor. "I can go now."

"What's her problem?"

Clem stopped at the sound of Spike's voice. "Who?"

"The Slayer. She tells me she doesn't love me, so I go halfway across the globe to get my soul. I fought for it. Angel didn't want his. His was a curse, but she still loves the filthy bugger."

"You have your soul?" Clem asked with a hint of intrigue in his eyes. "How does it feel?"

"Like a bloody fireball burnin' in my chest."

"Well that's unpleasant."

"She slept with him!" Angel yelled as he punched a vampire in a blue suit. He was in a graveyard separate from Spike's. "He hasn't done anything good!" Angel grabbed the vamp's jacket and tossed him over a grave. "He hasn't saved the world!" Angel broke off a branch and staked him. "And I'm the one with the soul. Spike just has a chip in his head. That's not the same thing."

The next morning Buffy welcomed the day with a yawn. She stood from her bed and groggily walked downstairs. Willow and Tara were in the kitchen. They were watching Willow's computer screen and their fingers were locked. As Buffy rounded the corner there was a knock on the door. She opened it, receiving a bright sunny glare.

"Mornin' Buffster," Xander greeted.

Anya had her arm wrapped around his. "Good morning Buffy. You look dreadful."

"Goin' for a new look," Buffy said as she shut the door behind them.

"Hey, girls, no sex in the champagne room," Xander said, seeing Willow and Tara all cuddly. "Take it upstairs."

"Good morning Xander," Willow acknowledged.

"Good morning Anya," Tara jumped in.

"We didn't get bagels because there was promise of eggs and toast."

"You got the bread?" Willow asked.

"Yes," Xander lied. "I got it from the invisible aisle but I heard it was just as good."

"The bread's in the fridge sweetie," Tara informed Willow.

"Oh." Willow took notice of Buffy's entrance. "Buffy you're wearing the same clothes."

"I was exhausted and extra movement was just out of the question."

"Vampapalooza last night?" Xander asked.

"Did The Trio show up?" Willow inquired

"No. Actually I'd rather wait for Giles to-"

As if on que Giles entered the Summers household. "Hello?"

"Speak of the Watcher and he doth appear," Xander quipped.

"Good morning everyone." Giles had another handful of books held securely under his arm. "I was up most of the night and I found-"

"We want to hear Buffy's story," Anya interrupted.

Xander seconded her. "Yea Buff. What's with the eerie?"

"Well, I was patroling last night and… I saw Spike."

"Damn!" Xander exclaimed.

"And Angel."

Everyone was shocked. Buffy looked around at the stunned faces.

"Together?" Willow cleared.

"Well not 'together' together but apparently they were both looking for me and Spike ran into Angel with his motorcycle."

"Spike has a motorcycle?" Anya asked.

"I'm sure it's a sticky fingers motorcycle." Xander cleared. Anya looked at him with confusion. "He stole it." Anya nodded.

"What did Angel want?" Giles asked with concern. They all knew that when Angel showed up it was usually for business, which included Apocalypses and End of the Worlds unlimited.

"Well, apparently they both have something to talk about but I wasn't in the mood."

Willow got up from her computer and walked over to Buffy. "Are you okay?"

"Yea. I mean… it was weird seeing Angel again."

"But you weren't disappointed."

"No, I think I only felt shock."

Willow smiled and gave Buffy a hug.

"Scrambled, over easy, or poached?" Tara asked, holding up the carton of eggs.

"Scrambled," Buffy suggested. Everyone agreed, giving Tara the go ahead. Buffy wore a smile but on the inside she was freaked out. Why is Angel here? Maybe I should go talk to him. After breakfast of coarse.