Title: Of Frogs and True Love

Rated: PG-13

Author: Etoile

Email- Buffy/Spike. During As You Were. Buffy breaks up with Spike before Riley and Sam leave. The actual "doctor" was the Troika. They strike back at the Scoobies after Buffy blew up the eggs. Please review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sunnydale or anyone that lives there. They all belong to Joss Whedon.

A/N: I never did watch Angel but I did a tiny bit of research. So for that time line, this is after Loyalty but before Sleep Tight. All that means to me is that Angel's been a little cranky and craving human blood.

Chapter Three

Buffy liked to imagine that Angel was driving at breakneck speed to save her from the frog state she was in. But as the time stretched from one to two hours, she just imagined he was obeying the traffic laws. When the elapsed time began getting closer to three hours, she decided he was taking his sweet time.

"Is the poof even coming?" Spike said, exasperated. He looked worse than a six-year-old on a road trip.

"It's not like you have anything better to do," mocked Xander, who was half asleep at his seat.

Dawn, Tara, and Willow were all asleep in various locations around the Shop. Anya looked like she wanted to do the same. She kept looking for the clock to strike nine so she could officially close shop.

The upcoming reunion wasn't affecting Buffy the way she thought it would. When her friends had thought of calling Angel, she surprised herself by her complete lack of emotions at the idea. She wanted to think it was just comfort. That she knew Angel always came to the rescue and there was no need to be excited because it was expected. But that wasn't the case, and Buffy knew it. Things really hadn't been the same for a while now. If there was any proof, it was the awkward meeting they had after earlier in the fall. They had met in some random motel, sat around, and had a stuttered conversation. Maybe it was in part due to her distance. But there was a detachment from him too. Buffy had shrugged it off and figured the next time would be better. Now it was next time and she still felt odd about it.

Her one true love. I hope they're right. She felt bad for thinking it, but she just wasn't so sure anymore. She unconsciously glanced over at Spike. He had spent the first hour trying to get her attention and making moon eyes when he didn't. She had used Dawn as a shield then. He had gotten mad and spent the next hour outside, and probably smoked himself to a frenzy because now he was almost vibrating with unused energy. Buffy almost smiled at how ADD he could be. The only time he isn't ADD is in bed. Oh! She felt really bad for thinking that. She was supposed to be working on the lust.

The lull in the shop was interrupted by the cry of a car screeching to a halt outside the Shop. The sleepers were startled awake. A heavy feeling dropped in Buffy's stomach. She should be happy. She really should. Everyone else seemed happy now. Well, except Spike. He looked tense and ready for a fight. Letting him stay might have been a bad idea.

A figure could be seen coming closer to the entrance. Willow jumped from her seat to welcome Angel in. "Hey! We're so glad you could make it."

Angel nodded and walked in the room, giving a silent hello to the other people in the room. He didn't really look much different physically, but there was a weariness around him that subdued everyone's spirits a little. His eyes finally landed on Spike. Spike shifted and stood a little taller. Angel merely turned away and asked, "Where's Buffy?"

Willow pointed to the table in the back of the room. "She's sitting back there."

Angel nodded again. "Okay. What do I do?"

"Um, we set up some blankets in the training room. She'll be, ah, naked when she emerges. So, just take her back there and kiss her. On the head or wherever," Willow explained.

"Alright," said Angel and he walked over to pick Buffy up.

Spike watched the events take place with bile filling up his throat. It was just like the bastard to come in and save the day. Save the day and get the girl. For the millionth time, Spike cursed his luck. Why did he have to fall for the girls that would never fall for him? What a terrible dysfunction. Others had sex or alcohol. He was stuck on unrequited love. Cecily was too bitchy to love him. Dru was too mad. Buffy, though, Buffy was too scared. And that was the worst of the bunch. Because he was sure Buffy could love him, if she only let herself. There was little to nothing he could do to change her mind; he found that out recently. Stupid clichés aside, the ball was in her court and the next play was hers.

That didn't mean it didn't hurt to see Angel take her in there. The great big melodramatic love of her life. She would be turned back and then they'd cry and probably make love right there on the mats. And then Angelus would emerge and she would cry some more. People and puppies would die. Then the witch would magic his soul back and the damn thing would start over. It made Spike want to heave. So immersed was he in his depressing thoughts, that he didn't notice Angel come back out with a Buffy-frog still in his hands.

"It's not working, Willow. Is there anything else I have to do?" Angel asked, looking a little put out.

Willow looked mighty confused. "No, no. All I did was kiss her. Xander?"

"I just kissed her too, man." Xander shrugged.

"Well, it's not working." Angel repeated slowly.

Anya spoke up, "Aren't you supposed to be Buffy's true love? I mean, one would think so with the way the stories are told."

There was a great uncomfortable moment in the Shop. Spike smirked. "So this great love is no more?"

"Spike!" Buffy spoke his name sharply. There was a shine to her great big frog eyes that he hadn't seen before. It lodged any more jeers in the back of his throat. But the damage was done. With a flash of vampiric speed, Angel grabbed his throat and slammed him against a wall.

"Get off me you great ponce!" Spike choked out.

Dawn ran over and ineffectually pulled at Angel's right arm. Angel's eyes glinted gold. He raised his left hand and began swinging down towards Dawn. He suddenly stopped as if he was coming to his senses. He dropped Spike to the floor and strode to the front door of the Shop. "I, I don't have time for this. I'm sorry," and with that, Angel left as swiftly as he had come.

Spike could hear everyone's elevated heartbeats in the room. Dawn looked the most scared of everyone. He reached over and rubbed the back of her ear. "Thanks, Sweet Bit. You okay?" He asked softly.

"Yeah," Dawn whispered. "I think he was gonna hit me."

"Um, how about next time we don't call the psycho vampire?" Xander said.

Willow came out of her trance. "Well, it wasn't Angelus. That was Angel. I could sense the soul."

"H-he s-seemed k-kinda preoccupied when he first came in."

"Yeah, preoccupied with killing us."

"Xander!"

"He almost hit Dawn!"

They began arguing among each other.

"Guys!" Everyone stopped and looked at Buffy. "I'm still a frog."

"Oh gosh! Sorry, I forgot." Said Willow.

"What are we going to do? I'm starting to freak out now. I really hate these geeks."

Anya agreed with her. "Me too. Who knew their plan would work? I would have—"

Xander stopped her by placing a hand on her arm. "Maybe we should close up, Ahn?" She shrugged and went about the Shop business.

Spike spoke up, "Well, what's the great plan now, witches?"

They looked confused. "I guess," Willow started. "If Buffy hasn't met her true love yet we'll just have to find some other way to break the spell."

"I think I'm gonna go into the training room."

Willow looked chagrinned. "Buffy, are you okay? I didn't apologize about the Angel thing. We just naturally assumed…"

"Yeah, I know. I'll be fine." Buffy hopped slowly into the training room, Spike's eyes following her every hop.