AN: Thank you for all the continued reviews...they really motivate me to write faster!

Chapter 21

Angel stood from the couch and stared at Buffy in utter disbelief. "Buffy?" He said in a confused, hurt voice. As the Slayer looked away, Angel's anger started to build. He walked closer to her. "You knew?" He paused. "After all I just said, you knew that Spike was here and you were not going to say anything?" His eyes flashed yellow. "If the boy hadn't come through that door..." He trailed off to calm himself down.

"Angel..." She said quietly, not wanting to invoke a more rabid response from the upset vampire.

"What gives you the right, Buffy? And after the way you treated him..." Angel's eyes squinted.

"WHOA!" The Slayer yelled and practically adopted a fighting stance. "Hold it right there, Angel. I think you are way out of line here." She placed her hands on her hips. "First of all, last time I checked in on you two, you HATED his guts! Or do I need to remind you how you warned me to stay away from Spike right before the big Battle?" She angrily brushed a lock away from her face. "Secondly, Spike has been here for SIX months. He didn't WANT to be found." Her voice lowered when she spoke again with a bit of venom in her voice. "And thirdly, Angel. I wouldn't throw stones if I were you." She paused as she watched him practically collapse onto the sofa. She stared at the distraught vampire until he spoke. Her anger dissipated.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I was out of line." He looked up at his former love with tear filled eyes. "How did you find Spike?"

"Well, I didn't as much find him, as run into him." She laughed at the memory. "About six months ago, I went on patrol with a few of the new Slayers. We were cleaning out a standard vamps nest and I heard some commotion in the crypt. Next thing I knew, Spike was standing there dusting a few fledges." She shook her head. "I thought I was seeing a ghost at first! When I realized he was real, I started balling like a baby." She looked directly at Angel. "I'm sure Spike gave you the highlights of our 'relationship.' " Angel nodded. "Yeah, I'm not proud of all of it, but I do care for him. I never gave him a chance." She paused as she collected her thoughts. "When I met you Angel, you were good. The vampire with a Soul, atoning for his sins. On the other hand, Spike was always trying to kill me when we first met. So when he claimed to have been reformed, how could I believe that he could love me without a Soul? But, I think we both know that we are all capable of loving and hurting people with a Soul." Buffy paused as they both pondered that statement. "But, he stayed. He never wavered and he fought for what he believed in. I admire him so much. I wasn't lying when I told him that I loved him. But, I think he and I both know that we are not meant to be."

"You keep saying, he. Did Spike tell you what happened in LA?"

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, he told me about his gender change. By the time I ran into him, he was back to his male self. After Spike took the job here at the Council, we had a lot of time to catch up on things. We eventually worked through the hurt we caused each other. But, I knew something else was bugging him." Buffy sat beside Angel and sighed. "Spike is still Spike, but..." She paused.

"What wrong with him, Buffy?" Angel asked with concern.

"He's quieter than before. I mean, he still has his Spike-esque moments, but there is a sadness about him. It took him a few months, but Spike told me everything about LA." Her eyes saddened. "And not just LA, Angel, but from the beginning." Angel looked away. "He has been through so much and he accepts what he has done in his past; the accountability he has for his sins. He knows that he will work for his redemption, but may have to suffer for it." She placed her hand on his cool one. "As do you, Angel." She managed a smile. "He especially told me about you and what you have meant to him, Angel. He is devastated by your actions. He has asked me not to let you know where he is. I pleaded with him. I thought if you could talk, you could work out the issues."

A lone tear traversed Angel's cheek. He whispered, "Please, Buffy. I have to see him. I never got a chance to explain." His chocolate brown eyes pleaded with her. "Even if he can't forgive me, I need to see him. One more time."

Buffy watched as her heart broke for her former lover. "I'll go see if he'll talk to you, okay?" She stood. "Why don't you wait here." Before she left the room, she turned back to Angel. "Where are you staying?"

"Around." Angel answered quietly.

"Well, we have plenty of rooms and we could always use another trainer for the girls." She smiled. "Think about it. I'm going to go talk to Spike."

Buffy walked slowly to the gymnasium to find Spike. As she stepped towards the entrance, suddenly the door flew open. A myriad of Slayers walked out. Many of them were giggling. "He's sooo cute!" She heard a few of them say. Buffy rolled her eyes and chuckled at the girls. Once they departed, she found Spike replacing the weapons they had used for training.

"Hi, Spike." Buffy said as she waved at her friend.

"Slayer." He answered with a nod as he closed one of the weapons chest. "Was' up, luv? You just missed the session." Spike smiled as he turned to her.

"Um, nothing. Just wanted to see how you were." She forced a smile on her face as her nerves increased.

"Okay." Spike cocked his eyebrow a bit as he noted the odd behavior of Buffy. He shook it off momentarily. "'M supposed to meet your Boy tonight for drinks. Did he say where?"

"Well, maybe that's not such a good idea." Buffy replied as she bit her lip. Spike noticed this gesture. He knew Buffy only did that when she was nervous...or hiding something.

Spike stepped closer to her. "What's goin' on Sla..." Spike abruptly stopped when he smelled the air. He stood in place as his eyes widened. He was silent for a time. Buffy was taken aback by the painful emotions upon his face. He spoke quietly. "He's here." He whispered with a slight tremble to his voice. "How did he find me?"

Buffy was biting her lip again. "W-Well, he didn't exactly know you were here. He called me to come say hello and..."

"And you let him!" Spike's eyes flirted with a yellow hue. "Jesus, Buffy!" He threw his hands in the air and started pacing. "How could you?" Spike's heart started to ache at the betrayal of his former lover.

"Spike, calm down! I wasn't going to say anything, but Andrew barged in and spilled the beans." She crossed her arms. "Anyway, you knew this would happen sooner than later. You know how persistent Angel can be!" She was practically shouting to Spike who had turned his back towards her. Her voice softened as she walked over to the blond vampire and touched his shoulder. "Spike." She felt sadness for him when he turned around. He looked lost. "Angel is a mess, Spike. You really should go talk to him."

He snorted and crossed his arms in defiance. "Well, I'm glad the bastard is sufferin'. Doesn't mean I need to see him." Spike pouted as he continued to stand his ground.

"Remember how I told you that maybe you two should wrestle it out?" She squinted her eyes. "I could force you two, you know. I am strong and there are a hundred plus girls that would help me." She smirked evilly.

"That's blackmail, luv!" Spike said with shock. Buffy's empty threat almost made him smile. But that feeling was short-lived. He looked directly at her as his demeanor changed. He grabbed a cigarette from his pocket and shakily brought it to his mouth. After lighting it, he took a deliberately slow drag. He said quietly, "Don't know if I can face him again, Buffy. Not after everythin'..."

"Spike, whatever you decide, you need closure. You don't have to make any rash decisions. Just listen to what he has to say. Okay?"

After standing for a time in silence, he nodded his head.

"He's in my office." She said as she watched him slowly walk away. She started to laugh. 'When did I turn into a matchmaker for my two former boyfriends?' She thought to herself as she went to discuss a matter with Giles.

Spike slowly walked towards Buffy's office. His nerves were weighing heavily on him. He was not sure if he had the strength to face Angel. His hand rested on the doorknob for some time. He knew Angel could sense him, but that did not make it easier to take that all important first step. With a deep unneeded breath, he opened the door.

TBC...