Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy.

A/N: Sorry for the long update I had a case of writer block. For the record, this story takes place on the seventh season of Buffy. I'm still not sure whaere exactly to go with this story so let me know what you think.

Buffy walked into the kitchen and saw Spike sitting on the counter. He had two red hand-shaped marks on his neck and cuts and bruises on his arms from the earlier fight with the bringers.

"How as the big talk with peaches?" looking at her for the first time since she entered the kitchen.

"His name is Angel and how do you think it went?"she asked grabbing the ice cream out of the freezer then getting a spoon. She sat on the counter next to Spike.

"So, not good then?"e asked taking the spoon from her and taking a bite of ice cream. She just gave him a look that said 'duh'. Mind if I ask you a question?"

"No." she said taking the spoon and repeating his previous actions.

"Why did peaches attack me?"he once agian grabbed the spoon from her.

"Because Willow accendtily mentioned our not so little secret that occured about two hours before you left Sunnydale for a month and a half."

"Right then. Listen Slayer I never really apologized for that." he said hopping off the counter and standing in front of her.

"You don't need to I kinda deserved it." she said looking down at the carton of ice cream.

Spike's tone instantly became more angry. "Slayer Look at me." When she didn't he put his finger under her chin and made her look at at him." That was in no way your fault. I love you and I let it get the best of me. I was angry because you didn't feel the same but it's not your fault. I was an ass and I'm sorry. You are not to balme for that so don't you dare think it even for a second."

"What am I supposed to do?" she asked tears forming in her eyes.

"What do you mean luv?"he asked using hi sthumb to wipe away the tears that fell from her eyes.

"With Angel I mean Do I believe him? Do I let myself get hurt agian becasue we all know that he's only gonna be here a couple day, a week at most then he's going to leave agian."

"What do you wanna do?"

"I wanna not get hurt. And I know that if I admit to myself that he's till in my heart I'm gonna get hurt again because he's in love with Cordy. And waht abou the fact that he has a son. With Darla! The one thing we could never have and he has it with Darla!"

"I think you need to talk to him about it. Cause it seems to me the questions you have can only be answered by him." said Spike cleaning the spoon and shoving it into the dishwasher.

"I will I guess, but I"m gonna get some sleep. Thanks Spike." Buffy jumped off the counter and kissed Spike on the cheek." Night."

""Night." he whispered after she left. ' Get yourself together Spike, She doesn't think of you like that anymore. Not that she ever did.'

Buffy went up the stairs and met Willow in the hall.

"Hey Wills, Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure,Buff, what is it?"

"Please go downstairs and untie Angel. Tell him that he's more than welcome to sleep here as long as he sleeps on the couch."

"Ok. You got it."

Buffy continued upstairs to her room and closed her door. Willow continue down the stairs then walked into the living room.

"Hey, Angel." she greeted him then started to untie his arms from the chair."Sorry about the ropes just a safety percausion. Buffy says your welcome to stay you just have to stay on the couch but,I'm not sure that's a great idea."she said standing up and walking over to the wepons cabniet to put the ropes away.

"Willow can I ask you something?"

"Of course."she said turning to face him.

"Why did you lie to Buffy?"

"What about?"

"About the fact that I'm in love with Cordy."

"Well, aren't you?"

"No, why would you think that?"

"I'll be right back."she said running up the stairs to her room. She came back a minute later with a tape in her hand. She stuck it in the answering machine and hit play.The next thing he heard was Cordy's voice.

"Hey Buffy! How are you? Probally a stupid question but I just want you to know that I'm really happy that you are back! I mean from the dead. I also wanted to share with you my great news. Me and Angel well, we officially became a couple a month or two before you died and I really love him. we are an amazing pair most say anyways I'll call you later to give you more great news. Bye."

Angel waited a few seconds to let the anger and betrayle pass. When it didn't he had the sudden urge to hit a wall. He refrained however because he didn't think it would help his cause when it came to Buffy.

"Has Buffy heard this?"

"Yeah, she was home she just couldn't find the phone. I wasn't but when I got home Buffy was a mess. I asked her what was wrong and she pointed to the answering machine. I listened to the message and that's why I actually came to L.A. to talk to you about. But when I got there you had lost your soul. I figured that you lost it from ya know with Cordelia. I didn't want to tell her Angel but she asked and I figured I had lied to enough people this year so I told her."

"You didn't think to ask me about it after I got my soul back?"

"I really never had time. Every second we were near each other you made sure someone else was in the room also." She said taking the tape out.and putting the tape that was in the machine earlier back in.

"Yeah, well I was trying to avoid talking about Buffy."

"I know." she said giving hima slight smile.

"Do you think she'll ever really believe me?" he asked looking into her eyes.

"I don't know. Buffy doesn't trust very many people anymore. Even less after Riley left."

"He left?"

"Yeah, where did you think he was?"

"I guess I just thought he was at his house."

"Yeah well, he left just before her mom died."

"Why?" he asked sitting down on the couch and putting his head in his hands. He wasn't sure he really wanted to know.

"Well, things between buffy and Riley were never good. Even from the start.But I think him leaving had something to do with the fact that he went to a vamp nest and was paying vamps to bite him."

"What?"

"Yeah I know. Buffy found out and the next day she tourched the place. Then some of his old buddy from the military came back and asked him to come woth them to south America. He and Buffy talked and then fought and he told her that unless she gave hima reason not to he was going to leave. She went after him but she was too late. When she got there the heicopter was in the air andshe called his name but he didn't hear her. So he left."

"Wow."

"Yeah well, to top it off he came back a year later with his wife. They asked Buffy for help. She helped him only to find out that Spike was the guy they were looking for. She blew up Spike's crypt."

Angel let out a soft chuckle. So did Willow.

"Ya, know Angel, I think you should go talk to her."

"But she went to bed."

"No, she didn't thats just her excuse when she feels like being away from everyone. But I really think you should talk to her."

"I will." he said getting up from the couch and walking up the stairs.

When he got to her room he knocked no one came to the door not even a noise

"uh, Angel ." he heard Willow say from behind him."wrong room. She moved to her mom's room."

"Thanks Will, no prob."

Angel went to What he knew as Joyces room. He didn't even to knock this time. When he walked into the room he saw he window open and she was sitting out on the roof. He went to the window and climbed out and sat next to her.

"What are you doing?" she asked still not looking at him. He could tell byt he tone in her voice that she had been crying.

"Sitting next to a beautiful woman who is crying." at this she let out a soft giggle and blushed.

"Why?"

"Because she looked lonely. and I'm told i'm really good at keeping company." he said smiling.

"Wow you should do that more often."

"What? Tell jokes?"

"Well, that would be an improvement but I meant smile."

"Buffy, There is something you need to know...What Cordy told you in the message she left on your machine, it was a total lie. Me and her have never and will never be together."

"It's okay Angel, you don't owe me an explanation we aren't together aymore. We haven't been for four years. You don't owe me anything." she said still not facing him.

"See that's the thing. Why are you so stubborn?"

"I'm not stubborn I just don't wanna get hurt."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Angel don't be naive it doesn't fit you. You sre going to leave again so I don't wanna get attached."

"You wanna know the real reason I came Buffy casue it wasn't just the fact you were ignoring my calls it was the fact that I miss you. I want you back. I screwed up and I can guarentee thqat I will probaly a hundred more time in your life time...That was meant to be more comforting."

"I got the message. If you want me back then what happens when you have to go back to work you can't just leave L.A. like that."

"Why not. The powers have screwed us both over so many times they really owe us."

"What about the Fang gang?"

"Fang Gang?"

"Ya know, Cordy, Wes, Gunn, Fred."

"How did you know about all of them?"

"Will told me all about them." she said avoiding the Conner situation.

"I don't know, maybe I can convince them to move here and we could combine our teams so we could save even more people."

Buffy then got up and went back through the window. Angel confused by her actions followed her.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked as he saw her pull out a big box from the back of her closet. She set it on the floor and opened it. Out of it she pulled out the leather coat Angel gave her. She then pulled out mr.Gordo and through him on her bed where he used to sit. She then pulled out a smaller box and opened it. Inside was the cross her gave her when they first met. She then pulled out a ring box and put om her ring that was a mate to his.

"I' Angelfiing my room and me."she said a small smile playing on her lips.

" So does this mean you are taking my offer?" he asked coming closer to her.

"I'd be a fool not to." she said smiling at his actions. He was now standing right in fronyt of her. Her reached into his pocket and pulled out his ring and put it on. He then kissed her with all the passion he had in him. A minute or two later they pulled apart and were both panting.

"Hold me?" she asked uncertainty in her eyes.

He lead her over to the bed and she laid down. They began to lay the way they would after patol when she was in high school. Angel grabbed Nr. Gordo and through him back in the box. Buffy laughed. Really laughed not the fake laughs she usally used with her friends.

"We will make this work right?"asked Buffy pushing herself closer to Angel. He wrapped his arms around her tighter and said

"We will."