"Well it's looking like a little love nest in here isn't it?" Lorne barged straight past and started handing out blood and coffee to the people scattered around the table.
Angel stood dumbfounded, not noticing as Lorne took the cups from him. Willow sat cross-legged on the table with her computer on her knees. Andrew and Giles sat at opposite ends of the table leafing through papers with tribal symbols scrawled on them. Wes was stretched across two leather recliners with his arms wrapped around a sleeping Fred and Gunn sat with his head in his hands, gazing at the book in front of him, his gaze never leaving the same spot. Angel didn't even notice them. He was watching Buffy, curled up on another chair with Spike who was kissing her head as she leafed through a volume, talking to him and giggling as he blew in her ear.
Even after their emotional reuniting Angel hadn't truly let himself believe that Spike actually meant something to her.
Spike stopped his teasing and looked up when Lorne handed him a cup of warmed blood, noticing his grandsire standing in the doorway.
Seeing the look of shock and distain for himself brought a smug smile to Spike's face and he held Buffy closer to him. She's my slayer you bleeder, he thought, maybe you had her once but this is now and forever.
Angel looked away from the two blondes and sat down at the end near Giles.
"I, uh, take it we're not getting far?"
"No not really, to be honest I think of us are feeling the strains of jet-lag." He motioned over to Willow whose eyelids had closed and her head lolled over her computer.
"You're right. We should really get some rest, we can't afford to lose anyone at a vital moment."
Angel got up and went to where Wes was nursing a sleeping Fred. "Take her to bed."
Wes looked at the vampire and nodded, laying the book he was holding down and picking Fred up with him, stood up and moved over to the door. Angel continued round telling everyone to get some rest.
Willow jumped from her dazed state when Lorne tapped her on the shoulder. "We've arranged suites for all of you. Come with me."
Joining Giles, Buffy and Spike at the doorway to the now vacant conference room, Lorne took them to one of the upper floors where their rooms were. After giving them each a key and wishing them goodnight he retired to his own room down the hall.
"Well goodnight everyone." Giles said going into his room and locking the door behind him. Willow had already gone into her room, next door to Lorne's leaving Buffy and Spike alone in the hallway.
"Where's your room?" Buffy looked at Spike.
"Well I, uh, kinda don't have a room pet."
"What! You've been here a month and they never gave you somewhere to sleep?"
"This is Angel 'luv. Archrivals remember?" Seeing the concern on her face "Don't worry sweetheart, I sleep on the couch in his office, just don't tell him." He cupped his hand round her cheek. "I'll be fine. I'm just like an extra security measure."
"Can't you be my own personal body guard?" Buffy moved her hand to take his hand and pull him with her to the door of her room. Spike quirked an eyebrow at her and grinned mischievously. "We're not gonna do anything, I'm too tired, I just need to make sure that when I wake up you'll still be here and this wasn't a dream."
By this time they had reached the centre of Buffy's small living room. Spike pulled her into his arms, leaning down to kiss her tenderly. He picked her up and carried her through to the bedroom setting her down on the edge of the bed. Kneeling down in front of her, Spike took Buffy's two hands and looked up into her hazel eyes.
Buffy felt herself been pulled into the blue depths and saw the love and happiness deep within the vampires soul. She felt her own eyes filling with tears of happiness and felt her heart speed up and get ready to explode with her love for him. You never felt like this with Angel. How could you say you didn't love him anymore? Ok you've made you're point, she thought to herself.
"Buffy, I love you. I love you more than anything in this universe, any universe. You hold the key to my heart and without you I'm nothing. I pledge to you that no matter what, I will never stop loving you or leave your side. We're in this together and even if the ground fell from beneath your feet and tried to swallow you up…. I'd never let you go."
Buffy giggled slightly at his words, but the tears fell from her eyes and she tugged at him to get him next to her. Standing up Spike sat himself at her side; taking her face in his hands he kissed away her tears. Catching him in a long, passionate kiss Buffy clung to him as if he would disappear from in front of her. Eventually pulling back to breath she looked deep into his eyes.
Standing up and unpacking her nightshirt from the suitcase that had been delivered she saw the shirt of Spike's that she'd kept, and picked it up instead and went into the bathroom.
Spike followed her movements around the room. When she'd gone to change he pulled off his boots and went into the living room to call Harmony's desk and leave a message that 'she'd better have a new duster for him (he'd been through several already) and that it was on her desk by 9 or else.'
Going back into the bedroom Buffy emerged with her hair pulled back and the scent of mint toothpaste floating from her. Spike furrowed his brow when he saw her in a faded black shirt until it clicked that it was one of his.
"I would of thought that you, of all people 'luv, would never wear black with green."
Buffy looked down and saw how funny she looked in his shirt and her grass green pyjama bottoms with sheep on. She grinned at him and shrugged her shoulders. Turning round she climbed onto the bed and slid between the covers. Spike pulled his shirt off and crawled in beside her.
"Your jeans are itchy."
Raising an eyebrow he looked at her. "Well I can take them off but I don't have any other clothes."
"I never said that would be a problem," Buffy replied seductively, running her hands down his torso. Reaching his pant line she undid the button and zip letting him wriggle out of them and kick them out of the bed before snuggling into his chest.
"This really isn't fair."
"What?"
"Well I'm feeling cheated on. You get all of me and I don't get anything."
"I'm not good enough for you?"
"Now I never said that," Spike said instantly on the defence.
Buffy stuck out her bottom lip in a pout but managed to ruin the affect by yawning. Instead of saying anything else Spike pulled her closer in, feeling her breathing against his bare chest. Kissing her fore head he closed his eyes and whispered to her. "Sweet dreams Goldilocks."
The next morning Fred marched down the corridors of Wolfram and Hart. Coming to Wes's office she poked her head around the door. Seeing his desk empty she turned and carried on to the room where everyone had been researching last night. Deciding in the day it would be easier if they were researching in Angel's office, all the books and papers had been moved back, along with the many complaints of probably having to move back that evening. Seeing the table clear and the room back to normal Fred continued on until she got to Angel's office.
"Has anyone seen Wesley?" She asked on her entrance.
"No sorry, wasn't he with you last night? I thought you moved into his room?"
"I did but when I woke up this morning he'd gone. As far as I know, no one's seen him."
"He'll be about. Maybe he popped out for a bit." Said Giles removing his glasses and automatically wiping them on his tie.
"Wouldn't blame the guy, I'd of done a runner if I'd been trapped at this place as long as he has," quipped Spike.
"Ooo maybe he's getting breakfast!" Willow said eagerly.
"I doubt that. Harmony always makes it quite clear that she gets the breakfast at early morning meetings." Said Angel from his desk. "Even if she didn't she'd find a way to drive me crazy before 10am." He added under his breath.
"Now that you mention it, has anyone seen Harmonica this morning?" asked Lorne from his perch on the sofa arm.
"She wasn't at her desk this morning, and Angel's blood hasn't been delivered 'bam on time', so no." replied Gunn.
"Don't worry Fred. I'm sure he'll turn up." Buffy had been the only one to notice the worried expression on her face. Though Giles didn't really see much without his glasses and Willow didn't care less if she hadn't been fed. Angel probably hadn't noticed – he'd been in a strange mood since she arrived and Spike was in too good a mood because he got another duster, whether Harmony was here or not, to care.
Fred gave a half-hearted smile and sat down next to Andrew at the table. Angel came over from his desk and sat at the head of the table addressing them all.
"So…. anything?"
They all exchanged glances, Lorne eventually turning to Angel;
"Sorry Angel cakes we've checked all our records and, well, nothing."
"We're still waiting on a reply from the watchers council and haven't even started trying to get anything we don't have." Fred told him.
Angel rested his head on his hands and stared at the desk. "The sooner we work out what's having this effect on demons the better. All over town they've been having mad frenzied attacks getting together in huge packs and attacking train stations, museums, anywhere."
"So it's not just us sensing something?" Spike said. "But we're not been affected by it in that way 'cos we're the good guys."
"Exactly. If the power grows to a high enough proportion eventually it will gain all control and kill all humanity, bringing a demon reign."
"Hang on a sec. When did you guys start to feel the presence?" Willow had her laptop out in front of her and was typing away madly. "If it matches this posting than we might have something."
"A posting where?" asked Buffy.
"Demon chat room. I managed to break the firewalls to it last year when we were researching on the Hellmouth in Sunnydale."
"Well strongest time was probably the morning of the day you guys arrived. Spike and I both felt it at the same time but I hadn't noticed before then." Angel said glancing at Spike in questioning.
"Like he said. I only felt it once or twice since but not as bad."
"Well maybe it's not directing at you anymore. It sees you're both on the good side and it doesn't yet have the strength to over come your demons until it's gained more power." Buffy said. "We'll have to watch out though, just in case it does take over you."
"I'm not lettin' no bleedin spirit take over me. I've been controlled and tied to enough high 'n mightys and evil beings to know not to listen to any weird vibes sent my way." Spike said firmly. "Won't let them add 'helped in apocalypse' to my job application."
"Maybe not, but if this thing gets enough demons on it's side it will gain power to take over slayers, witches, anything that has an inch of mystical spirit or strength to help it on its way." Wes stormed through the doorway, papers flying from books he was carrying.
"Wes! Where did you go?" Fred jumped up and walked over to where he'd deposited the books on a table, placing a hand on his shoulder and leaning over to see what he'd found. "And where did you get that?"
"What is it?" asked Giles, jumping up and joining them. "O my Lord."
"What?" the question echoed from around the table.
Turning to face them Giles removed his glasses and wiped them on his tie as he began to explain. "The book that Wesley has is probably one of the most dangerous books known to the mystical world. 'Aaykeinasja' or 'The Book of Darkness'." Turning back to Wesley. "How did you get it?"
Looking back at them all now crowding around him Wesley simply said; "Contacts."
"That book has to be kept in the tightest vault we have and guarded at all times." Angel gave instructions Gunn who took the book and headed down to the basement.
"The book didn't indicate any way that we can stop this… thing being able to take over?"
"It only appeared to explain what was happening and what was to happen, it didn't mention an antidote. Closer scrutiny may give a lead to a source, but for now we're stumped."
Wesley and Buffy stood at the window in Angel's office. Wes could tell that the whole thing was troubling the small blonde. It scared her that this thing would be able to take over her and, as far as they knew, she would be helpless against it. Being the slayer was a big responsibility, and a great power, and with the number there were catered across the globe would bring even more danger.
"Wes you said that it could posses anything with mystical substance?"
"Yes."
"I think it would be a good idea if I got my sister here. She's with Xander in Zimbabwe and if anything happened he wouldn't be able to cope."
"Ah, The Key?"
"Yes. She's deactivated now, but I don't know…"
"No, you're right. I'll contact Xander and get them both here, he could also be in danger considering he's known in the demon world for fighting the good fight and all."
"Thanks Wes." Buffy smiled at him and turned away. Spike looked up as she walked over towards him and Will, slipping an arm round her waist when she was close enough.
"You alright pet?"
"Yeah. Wes is calling Xander and getting him to bring Dawn here. Since she's a big ball of energy she's a certain target for this thing to feed off."
"Hey I can understand getting the bit, I mean red here can put protections and stuff round her, but the whelp!"
"You can do that?" Buffy asked Willow, ignoring Spike's last comment.
"I've been researching and it looks like, if I can get enough materials, I should be able to put charms around Wolfram and Hart to stop it been able to draw energy from us, or at least allow us to sense the power and be prepared."
"Well isn't there already a ton of mystics around anyway. I mean, sure, evil law firm and all but I don't think the top pricks are completely stupid." Quipped Spike.
"According to Lorne, no. When they were all based at the hotel they had to set charms of protection about, but they were broken through – not enough power – but when they got here and did a check there were none. They haven't had the power to do it."
"But you do?"
"Yes, and no evil witch, it's good magic. Plus I seriously don't suit black!"