Title: Admitting Series: Everybody Knows (4)
Author: Miz Thang
Characters/Pairing: Angel, Spike, Angel/Spike
Rating: FRM
Word Count: 1091
Warnings: Angst. Melodrama. Slash. Romance. Fluff

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the little story's idea. Everything else belongs to who it belongs to.
SummaryAngel won't admit any feelings for Spike. Spike admits that he can't act like Angel.

Author's Note: If you're tuning in after November 2, 2005, then you should know that I've combined the ficlets, so that there are four longer parts instead of eight supremely short ones. It just didn't sit well with me before. Each part has an Angel pov and a Spike pov. Enjoy! As of June 20, 2006, the story has been completely edited.

Everybody Knows

Angel admits that getting Fred to go undercover for him was sneaky. He admits that he should have told Spike how he felt in the beginning, instead of waiting until he lost him. He admits that he's nervous as hell and that he hopes Fred's plan works. He admits that he's grateful that Fred decide to help him after finding out, otherwise he'd still be miserable. And tonight, he'll tell Spike how much he loves him and hope for the best.

There's a knock on the door, which Angel finds unusual when you consider who he's expecting, and he goes to open it. Spike's there, hands in his duster, looking every bit uncomfortable. But Angel doesn't really care, because at least Fred managed to get him to come.

"Fred said you had something to talk to me about."

"Oh. I-I did. Come in." Angel wants to hit himself because he feels stupid. But then, maybe that's what love does (he hasn't felt so uncomfortable and out-of-sorts since Buffy). He closes the door behind Spike and turns around as Spike notices the arrangements made to the office.

"He said that he likes candlelit places. You know, almost like a dark, romantic restaurant. Lots and lots of candles, Angel, all over."

Spike freezes and turns to look at him. "What is this, Angel?"

"Your perfect night." Angel replies.

"Now, he didn't say that he would imagine the office, but since this is the vibe I was getting, I think we should do this there. In your office. After hours."

Spike turns away from Angel and roams the office, shaking his head. Angel is right behind him, trying to guess his reaction as he enters the conference room and spots the other arrangements. Angel would say what they were, but he likes the look of surprise on Spike's face, and the look he gets after-he'd like to keep everything involving it to himself. "I, uh, got these for you. Fred, she told me-"

"Angel, guarantee you. If you do this right, you won't even touch any of the extras. Not that I'll think you'll eat it anyway, you might drink the wine, but…"

Spike kisses him. Angel didn't see it coming, and it happened so fast when Spike turned to face him. There had been something in his eyes and Angel hurried to explain, only for Spike's lips to be on his.

Not that Angel's complaining. He doesn't care why Spike's kissing him. He just knows that he's kissing him and that he's back. And Angel doesn't want to let him go ever again.

He pulls away, only to look into clear blue eyes and say, "I should've told you this a long time ago. Now I don't know why I didn't say it earlier. But…I love you."

"Nice to know." Spike replies. He sees Angel's frown. "I knew. I just needed to hear you say it."

"Oh," Angel then gives Spike a small grin. "So why are we still talking then?"

"Don't rightly know. You're the one that tends to jabber on and on about-"

Angel cuts him off, silencing him with his lips in a sweet kiss.

-

It's starting to be a pattern. After Lorne's first little party-slash-mixer turned out to be a disaster, Spike had decided that he needed to spend every mixer after that one attempting to be completely plastered, or unnoticeable. By anyone. Tonight is no different.

And he's doing the greatest job of it so far. No one's noticed but Angel and Fred. He's grateful for that, because he just wants to be ignored right now. Tonight, the last thing he wants is to be is the center of attention.

Angel's not trying to pretend he hates Spike. And maybe that's a start. It's a start because the others, everyone except Fred that is, are starting to take notice that there's this civility in the air when Spike and Angel are in the same room. Of course there's tension, but Fred always jokes that it's sexual tension, at least to Angel and Spike. A good kind of tension, in her opinion.

"Are we being a wall flower?" Fred asks cheerfully as she takes a seat beside him.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere with Percy, trying to coax him into taking you on your dream date?" He adds emphasis on the last two words, knowing that she told Angel about his in order to help them make up.

"I would, but he and Knox are arguing. For once, I'm finding you and Angel more interesting than science." Fred gushes with a smile.

"Glad I can be of entertainment." Spike remarks dryly. He takes another gulp of his beer. "Where's Angel anyway?"

"Staying away from Lorne and Eve." She replies. "Other than that, he said something about making sure everybody knew something."

"Why am I suddenly worried?"

"Because it's Angel. And he has a plan." She surveys the crowd. "You should mingle-"

"I don't mingle."

"You're like the first…guy?...or something."

"Fred, do me a favor and find Wesley."

"But-"

"Push off."

"I'm still happy you two worked it out," she says, giving him a hug and two thumbs up before leaving.

He wants to go and get more alcohol, but that involves actually leaving. He's not ready to do that so he settles for sitting there empty handed, watching everyone else have fun.

"I can't wait until this is over. Who let's Lorne have these anyway?" Angel asks, taking the seat Fred vacated, two beers in hand. He hands one to Spike.

"Thanks." Spike gives Angel a sideways look. "I think that would be you signing the forms, Angel."

"Right." Silence lapses. "I had a plan for tonight."

"Did you?" Spike downs the contents of the bottle. "Am I supposed to like it?"

"I was hoping you would. It's this." Angel leans forward to kiss Spike. Only they're in public. In front of everyone. And at that exact moment, Lorne's talking about Angel to the crowd. This also means that the hideous spotlight that Lorne insisted on having is on them (where the hell it came from, Spike doesn't know, but it's in his damn eyes).

Angel pulls back and smiles a bit, and suddenly Spike couldn't give a damn about the light in his eyes. So only Spike can hear, he says, "I wanted to prove to you that I didn't care who knew."

"So you made sure everyone knew?" Spike asks incredulously.

"Yeah. Bad idea?"

Spike reaches for Angel's beer and takes a sip. "One of your best."

End series.