A/N: A big thanks to Geliot99 for all the beta help! If you haven't already, you really should checkout her work. I also want to thank Dreaming Haven for your continued words of encouragement!

Oh What a Night: Part 2

Angel made his way into the pub and sidled up to the bar. There was a band playing tonight and the place was loud but it was better than the club. The crowd here seemed much more manageable. He took a seat and waited for the bartender to come over, which didn't take long since there were two. A redheaded, freckled version of Callum was at the other end of the bar and his much older graying doppelgänger stood in front of him. "What can I get ya?", he asked in a jovial tone.

"Scotch, please."

"Something troubling you, son?"

"It's nothing, just a rough night."

He nodded, "I've had a few of those. You American?"

He was about to say, 'No, not really,' but stopped, "I— hum yeah, I'm here visiting some friends."

"Friends ditch you after you come all this way?"

"I— sort of, not exactly. They all just kinda paired off, I'm on my own tonight. I asked them to drop me off here. One of them is actually supposed to be upstairs with her guy," he pointed to the ceiling, "Family resemblance would say you're probably his father."

Mr. Ross nodded and took on a curious expression, "You'd be Faith's mate then?"

"Yup. We go way back."

"Not here for trouble are you?"

"Just the Scotch. Callum seems alright. As long as he's good to her, I have zero interest in what they're doing up there. I just didn't feel like going back to the castle tonight."

He nodded, "None of my business then."

Angel nodded and sipped at his drink.

A pretty woman with Asian features came up to the bar and sat down one stool away from him. Her black curly hair was cropped up to her chin and had multiple streaks of emerald green pulled through it. It somehow looked natural on her even though it couldn't have been. Angel noticed she had floral tattoos covering the upper half of each arm and wore a simple green tank top.

Angel picked up a discarded pen on the bar and started doodling on a napkin. He had always enjoyed drawing faces. Darla, Buffy, even Faith once or twice. He sat down and started sketching a picture of Fred and suddenly found himself strangely missing Illyria.

The girl across from him leaned over examining the drawing, "That's pretty good."

Angel looked up, "Thanks, I've had a lot of practice."

"You're an artist?" she asked.

"I don't know if I can say that. It's just a hobby, something to keep me busy."

The girl nodded, "Yeah, I get that," she sipped her drink, some bright green concoction that looked very tropical. He was noticing a theme with this girl. "So who's the girl? Is she your girlfriend?"

Angel looked down at the picture of Fred and cleared his throat, "No just a friend. She— she died a couple months ago."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry."

Angel rolled one large shoulder in a shrug.

She was silent for a long time but Angel could feel her eyes watching him. After several minutes she finally spoke, "Want to know what I think?"

"No offense but not really… No wait. Let me guess, 'I need to lighten up and have a little fun', am I close?"

"Guess you've heard that a few times."

"Seems like it's all anybody ever tells me these days."

"In my experience when you keep hearing something there's usually a reason for it, like maybe it's true," she said matter-of-factly and went back to sipping her drink.

Angel looked up at her, "I don't even know what that means anymore, 'fun' I used to think I had a good idea what it was. But I was wrong."

The girl eyed him, "Got a friend a little bit like that. Well at least he used to be. He used to think the only way to have a good time was drinking and fighting, taking girls back to his place. Fortunately he finally woke up. I'm taking it you haven't quite woken up yet."

"Oh, I'm awake. I just don't know what to do now. It's been so long since— I don't know… I just don't know—"

"Well what do you like to do in your spare time," she asked.

"When I'm not working? I mostly read and draw."

"Workout too I bet?"

"Sorta goes along with the job but yeah. Martial arts. Tai Chi helps me relax, I enjoy that sometimes."

The girl grinned at that, "My mum and I do tai chi together," she said, her Scottish brogue a little stronger now from the drink.

Angel eyed her a little bit more curiously.

"Do you got a name there Tall-dark-and-brooding?" she asked casually.

"Angel"

"That can't be your real name."

He just eyed her over his drink.

"Ok then, Angel. I'm Gemma. What brings you out here tonight? Just drowning your sorrows over the loss of your friend?"

He shrugged again, "No not really, just thinking. I'm here visiting some friends. Found myself on my own tonight."

She leaned an arm on the bar, "Yeah, I sort of heard you telling Mr. Ross a bit about it."

Angel gave her a little smirk, he already suspected she heard him, "What about you?"

"Came by to visit a friend, he's not answering his phone. I guess he's ehh busy—" she pointed upward towards Callum's apartment, "New girlfriend using him shamelessly," she smirked.

Angel smiled, "Probably. I've known her for a long time. I've never seen her like this over a guy."

"Funny, he never shuts his gob about her and yet I haven't even met her."

Angel shook his head, "I'm sure you will. I don't think she's going anywhere anytime soon."

"Hope you're right. I haven't seen him smile this much in ages. I'm just glad he finally plucked up the courage to ask her out. He'd been talking about the girl that'd come into the Hardware store nonstop for months."

Angel gave a noncommittal grunt of agreement.

"Want to play billiards?"

"I'm not really looking for—"

"I'm not hitting on you. I just want to play a game. You know, have fun?"

Angel looked down at his now empty glass and the picture of Fred, "Sure, I'll give it a try."

Angel was surprised at how easily Gemma got him to loosen up. She teased him relentlessly during their game. Until he stopped letting her win at least. Then she got competitive. Even so, she smiled easily and kept up a running stream of hot and cold quips that often had him chuckling in spite of himself. In a small way she was sort of reminding him of the way Cordelia could get him to enjoy things. It was nice to just hang out with someone again. It seemed like ages since he did that. They were having such a good time that they barely noticed when the band started packing up.

"Alright you two. You don't have to go home but you can't stay here," Mr Ross's voice rang out as Angel sank another ball. Angel and Gemma looked up at him.

"Oh come on Mr. Ross, just let us finish this round would you?" Gemma pleaded.

"Go on then, Lass. Not like I'm going to throw you out. Cheeky, little—" he grumbled but smiled all the same.

"Don't mind him. I'm practically family," she grinned at Angel as she wanted for her turn.

"I really should be getting back. I'm leaving for Rome."

"A jet setter ehh?"

"No, I have friends down there. It just seemed to make sense to visit them while I was on this side of the ocean."

She laughed, "Oh sure, it's purely logical."

They finished their game and Angel extended his hand, "Thanks for reminding me what it felt like to just have fun, it's been a long time."

"It was my pleasure. We should do it again sometime."

"I eh, I don't really come to Scotland that much."

"You have friends here. I'm willing to bet you'll be back before long," she smiled.

"I'll let you know if I do."

"Good."

"Good," he allowed himself a grin before heading back to the castle. The sun would be up before long. At least the night hadn't been a total wash.

After they returned from the club, Buffy brushed out her hair letting it fall around her shoulders as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing the little black babydoll nightie she had gotten at the lingerie shop in town. It was the first time she had really bought anything that didn't exactly go under clothing. She had all sorts of sexy little things but this one was a little different. The triangle cups and matching panties were made of faux leather. The bottom of the babydoll top was a sheer black material that left very little to the imagination and it made her feel exceptionally sexy. She couldn't wait to see Spike's reaction.

Buffy switched off the light in the bathroom and padded into their bedroom. Spike had been busy lighting candles. He had taken off his shirt, boots and socks already and stood there clad in only leather pants. True to his word Spike had pulled up Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of The Moon' on Buffy's laptop. His eyes lit up when he saw Buffy standing in the doorway.

"Bloody hell, I'm a lucky sod."

Buffy strode towards him, "I guess that means you like it?"

"Like it? I could rip it off with my teeth," he hooked a finger under one of the shoulder straps.

"I thought you changed your mind about your music choice. Weren't you going to put on some punk playlist you made up or something?"

He looked at her distractedly, "Thought about it, this was quicker," he grinned.

"I've been waiting all night for this," Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a long kiss. She pulled back breathlessly and started nipping at his neck. Spike threw his head back giving her room to play. He ran his hands under the shear fabric of the nightie and over the soft skin of her back.

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" he murmured.

"All things considered, yeah. I really did. It was really neat seeing you the way you were when you were human."

"Neat? Gee-wiz," he smirked.

"You're an idiot. It was weird but cool. I liked seeing you like that."

"Not sure how I want to take that."

"Just shut up and kiss me you dolt."

Spike crashed his mouth to hers, tasting her. Mint and just the slightest hint of the beer she had earlier. She must have brushed her teeth after the club but it was still there. He wanted to drink her in.

Buffy grabbed the back of his neck pulling him into her. She raked her fingers through his hair, releasing his curls and making him moan into her mouth. His fingers skimmed the top of the little panties and he let out a little growl. Buffy moved her hands to his belt buckle and undid it. Slowly.

"You're going to drive me mad, woman."

"I'm just taking my time."

"Slow and easy is it?"

"Stop talking," Buffy said, pulling his pants down.

She pushed him down onto the loveseat and finished stripping him. Buffy bent low kissing him as she sank down onto her knees, pressing her breasts to his erection, rubbing herself against him as she laid kisses to his chest and stomach. Spike moaned as he sat listening to the music and let Buffy roam freely over his naked body.

She worked her way down licking and nipping. She licked a sensitive patch of skin on his inner thigh and gave a little bite. Spike hissed in pain and pleasure as she ran her tongue around the teeth marks she made. She ran her hand over his length and held him firmly.

Then, maddeningly slow, she ran the tip of her tongue from the base of his erection to his firm tip, her hot breath driving him crazy as she teased him. She looked up at him before taking him into her mouth and moved her tongue in swirling motions as she moved up and down his length. Spike put his strong fingers on the underside of her chin and lifted her head.

She let him go and looked up at him, "I believe you won a bet," she said a little breathlessly.

Spike nodded as he cleared his throat, "That I did, Pet. But I rather thought I'd collect my winnings a little differently."

"What did you have in mind?"

Spike pulled her up to him kissing her. He bent his head down and nipped at a breast through the faux leather covering them. Then he pulled her up to the seat with him and very carefully moved down onto his knees in front of her. He brought his mouth down, dragging his teeth along the outside of the little leather-like panties. Buffy bucked and gasped at the sensation. "Liked that did you?" he purred.

Buffy let out a barely audible whimper that turned into a moan. Spike looped his fingers into the side of the little panties, pulling them off completely. "You're going to want to spread for this, Love."

"What about the bet?"

"Oh, I'm about to collect. Don't worry about me, I'd rather see to you first."

"A gentleman always sees to his lady?" she teased.

"Something like that, Pet," he grabbed her by the hips pulling her towards him. She spread her thighs wide for him. But he wasn't ready for that yet. He wanted to play. Tease her. Make her want him in all the right ways. He ran his fingers along her breast, down her rib cage until he brought his mouth to her navel. He ran his tongue around the outside then moved down to the sensitive skin at her hips. Licking and kissing his way slowly to her thighs. He nipped one thigh lightly, releasing a gasping moan from her. The sound mixed with the music playing in the background.

His fingers glided over her and down over her clit rubbing slowly. She threw back her head with a sigh, "Ohh, ahhh, William!"

He felt inside of her, grinning, she was so wet for him. Like a ripe peach begging to be picked. Spike grinned a little wider and dipped his mouth for a taste. Experimenting with his tongue, he lapped at her slowly making her squirm and writhe beneath him. She grasped the back of his head again, dislodging more of his curls and burying her fingers in his scalp as she let out a little shudder. He tasted her as fresh moisture rushed to meet his tongue. He took his time, driving her wild because it drove him wild.

For a moment he thought about setting up their mind-scape and taking her in both, but the thought dissolved when she wrapped her leg around him to pull him into her deeper. She might have crushed any other guy with the force of it but Spike growled in glee letting the sound reverberate against her opening.

He repositioned her legs around him and went up on his knees, pulling her up with him. Her back arched and he ran a hand up to her breast caressing her through the leather-like fabric covering them. With one last shuddering cry Buffy signaled Spike that it was time.

He released his mouth from between her thighs and rocked back onto the floor. Then he took himself in his own hand stroking himself as she settled down onto the floor with him. The album Spike had put on had started playing over again sometime while he collected on his debt and was nearly halfway through again.

Buffy's eyes burned with desire as she watched him slowly and deliberately stroke himself. She pushed him back roughly onto the rug covered stone floor before swatting his hand away and taking him deeply into her mouth for a moment before positioning herself on top of him. The events of the last several hours made her feel like she had been waiting for this for days.

Even still, she worked herself down slowly. He had taken his sweet time building her up. There was no way she was going to let him get off so easily. Pun intended.

With an impatient growl he thrust into her, matching her movements. She held herself back just a little, teasing him. Spike gasped, "What are you doing, Love?"

Buffy smiled, raking her nails across his chest leaving tiny scratches in their wake. Spike shuddered under her. She grinned as she plunged herself down hard onto him, taking in the rest of his length, filling her up completely. She let out a little gasp. Then leaned in to kiss him hungrily as she allowed herself to adjust to the feeling of him inside her. She felt him pulse within her and gasped again.

Slowly she began to rock, moving carefully, feeling every inch of him gliding in and out of her. She felt her muscles clamp down a little tighter and moved a little faster. Spike growled, he grabbed her roughly and flipped them so she was on the bottom. The force of the flip sent a pleasant shockwave through Buffy's body.

Spike didn't wait, he pumped himself into her. A primal sound like a howl escaped him as she met his thrust. Buffy scratched at his back and dug her nails into his sides hard. He hissed with the pain, "Ahh! Buffy!" He screamed her name and bent his head down, biting her neck with blunt teeth.

"Spike!" Buffy screamed as her muscles clamped down sending them both over the edge. Spike continued to thrust slowly as they rode out the wave together.

"You're incredible, Buffy," he kissed her as she struggled to catch her breath. "I know I've said it before, but it bares repeating, I've never been with anyone like you. The way you move. The way you make me feel. The way you combine pain and ecstasy. God, you're amazing."

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing about you. Sort of a fallen-angel vibe with those sexy curls."

"Big 'A' or little 'A', I'm no angel, fallen or otherwise," he said, pushing himself up.

She pulled him back down, "I was talking about your hair and your smoldering good looks. That's little 'A', fallen-angel, as in an angelic demon. My demon, my man. That's not, Angel. Angel could never love me the way you do. I need someone who's a combination of gentleman and monster who loves me for me. All of me. Someone I can give myself to completely. That's you. Only you."

"You really are my perfect mate."

"Birds of a bloody feather," she grinned using his own words against him.

Spike grinned and kissed her hard, then said, "I think this sexy little nightie is going to have to go."

"Maybe we could even find the bed?"

"What'd that poor thing ever do to us?" he grinned.

It was raining the next day which meant Angel could take an earlier train into London. He would arrive in plenty of time to catch an evening flight from London to Rome. Faith had no more than got back to the castle before Angel had finalized his travel plans.

Spike stood in the doorway of Giles's room. It was almost dinner time and Zara had gone home hours ago. He leaned against the doorframe watching Angel pack. Angel zipped his bag shut and looked up at him knowing that whatever it was he wanted he wouldn't go away until he got it.

"What do you want?"

"A truce Liam. I wanted to talk to you man to man before you go."

"If you're just going to—"

"I'm not here to fight. Got it out of my system. I'm good."

Angel nodded once, "Ok, so talk."

Spike crossed into the room and sat down heavily on one of the chairs with his elbows on his thighs and hands clasped in front of him. Spike took a deep breath, "If I could have this conversation with anyone else I would. Just to be clear. I feel like a sodding git asking about this."

Angel sat on the edge of the couch with his arms folded over his chest, Spike actually looked distressed. He waited expectantly, refusing to give him an inch.

"I wanted to ask you about Darla and— and—"

"Conner."

"Yeah…"

"You want to know how— how Darla and I—"

"Made the little Junior Mint. Yeah. Is this a soul thing? Is it a prophecy thing? Is this something with our bloodline? Is it something Buffy and I need to talk about? Because right now we're operating under the assumption that dead men can't shoot live ammunition—"

"Spike—"

"We need to know what we're dealing with here, and since you're the one with the kid and—"

Angel picked up a newspaper laying on the coffee table and threw it at him, "Spike! Would you shut up?"

Spike swatted the paper away, "Forget about me; Buffy has the right to know."

"Conner was part of a much bigger plan, a god wanted to be born into our world, it…" Angel paused, nearly choking on the words, "It made a lot of things happen that shouldn't have. Darla came back, they had to have someone in our line re-vamp her—"

"Que Drusilla—"

"And she was just crazy enough to do it. Then they took Cordelia— she was— they used her— Connor was born so the beast that killed her could be born. It was all— it was all a sick game. All of it. The thing used all of us," he spat.

"You mean— "

"Unless someone's got big plans for a slayer-vampire mix, you're still shooting blanks man."

"Seems there would be easier ways to get that mix. Got a castle full of 'em after all. All it would take is for one of our lot to change one."

"Unless they needed one that was alive…"

Spike sat up slowly, bracing his arms on the armrests, "That's a cheerful thought," he didn't sound cheerful at all.

"You're telling me… although— Darla and I just had a one-night-stand. I didn't even know she was pregnant until she showed up about ready to pop. The way you two have been going at it you'd probably know it by now. Unless—"

"Unless the wankers are bidding their bloody time."

"In which case—"

"No amount of birth control would make a bloody difference anyway."

"They're not usually known for using the same tricks twice. Not for the big stuff anyway. And Connor was definitely part of something big. God big."

"I'm still going to talk to Buffy about all this. She's a smart one but I dunno if she's thought through that angle yet. Hasn't mentioned it."

Angel pressed his lips together and nodded once, "I'm going to regret saying this," he paused clearing his throat, "If I'm not the guy, I'm glad it's you over some frat boy or that stupid GI-Joe. At least I know you'll take care of her and- and I know you'll treat her the way she deserves—"

"As much as I appreciate the sentiment, you better stop there before we trigger a sodding apocalypse or something."

Angel smiled bitterly and thrust out his hand. Spike shook his head but stood up to take it. "We've both been through a few of those. I think we can chance it," Angel said.

"So hummm, friends?"

"More like family, but you know, weirder."

"That's what I told Buffy," Spike smirked, "Promised I wouldn't call you 'daddy' though, sorry big guy."

Angel let out a snort of derision, "Yeah, please don't."

It was a few hours later when Buffy and Spike settled back into Giles's car after dropping Angel off at the train station. There was something about having closure watching him leave that gave her some solace. She sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. Spike started the ignition and turned to her a little curiously, "Everything alright, Pet?"

She nodded tiredly, "You know, even two years ago, if you would've told me I would've been this happy to see him go I would've thought you were insane."

"Two years ago I was insane," he raised an eyebrow.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Humm yeah, school basement kinda made an impression, Honey. The hair might've been sexy if not for the super crazy— that definitely did not give me the warm fuzzies. I just meant it's weird that all I can think of is how relieved I am to see him go."

"Yeah well I suppose with the two of us at each other's throats I can hardly blame you for that… We eh sort of made nice earlier."

She looked at him sideways, "Of course you did… But like, it's not even just that. I mean yeah okay you two are idiots and it's exhausting sometimes to be around that but just in general he can be so glum and moody and… I just can't wait for a nice normal week, no demon baby, no moody-broody vampire, just us. We can just get back to teaching and slaying the old routine and then over the weekend do something fun," she puffed out a breath and closed her eyes.

Spike cleared his throat, "I talked to Angel."

"Humm hmm?" she murmured, she didn't even open her eyes when she asked, "About?"

"How Conner came to be."

She opened her eyes and looked at him, "Yeah?"

"Definitely some serious mojo involved there. Like god level stuff."

"Figured there must have been something big."

"Yeah of course. Even still I sort of thought it could have something to do with the soul having bit or maybe our bloodline."

"You were worried about me getting pregnant when I told you it's something I don't want."

"Something like that."

She hesitated, "And what did he say?"

"Basically that the chances are about one in a zillion. Sounds like this thing had to stack the cards pretty carefully to make Connor happen and he wasn't even the endgame, this god thing was. Had a disturbing thought though, Slayer-Vamp combo."

"A Slaypire? Humm yeah, not a new idea," she shuddered.

"You'd be right, unless they needed it to be alive for some reason."

"Now that is a creepy thought."

"Yeah… worse still is the fact that if they want it to happen, it's going to, no matter what we do. Connor was conceived during a one-night-stand between two living corpses."

They were both silent for a while as Spike drove along the country road leading to the castle. Buffy finally broke the silence, "Seems pretty obvious then doesn't it?"

"What's that?"

"It doesn't change anything. We're not talking about the normal rules here which makes it like the biggest question mark ever. So it's really stupid for us to start worrying about it now right?"

"Thought you might say that."

She searched his face for a moment, "You wanted to make sure I knew, so I could make my own choices. So I could— Spike— " she said softly.

"Just want us on the same page, that's all, Love. Even ground. That's all I want."

Buffy reached for his hand, clasping it tight in hers, "Just when I think I couldn't love you anymore than I already do, you prove me wrong."

He gave her a little smirk, "It's what I'm here for. Always."

So ends Part 1; to be continued in Bound: Part 2