Buffy and Angel walked down an alleyway in silence, and she looked around uncomfortably at anything but the vampire standing next to her, wondering how much longer they were going to have to spend walking down deserted streets before it would seem fair to say 'Okee dokee, let's call it a night'. Unfortunately, the longer that they went without speaking the more she doubted that either of them was actually going to be able to break the silence. From nowhere she felt a strange desire for a fight, knowing that at least then she and he would be forced to work together, in whatever bizarre capacity- and instantly felt guilty for thinking that way, squaring her shoulders and expelling a short breath before deciding that she should grow up and try, at the very least, to get some more information from him about why he was here- what he thought they might be fighting-

"Why do you think they're after you?" she blurted abruptly, unaffected when he only blinked down at her, seeming shocked that she had spoken. "And why did you come to me and Faith instead of to the Council? Why did you think-"

"Rupert made it clear years ago that I was on my own," Angel said after a long moment, kicking a trashcan out of the way in order to determine that nothing was behind it before he continued shortly, "For a long time I believed that he was speaking on your behalf, but the more I thought about it the more that didn't-" he paused as though searching for the correct words before finishing somewhat anticlimactically, "seem right. So I took a chance you'd offer me help where he denied it."

She looked at him as though he'd grown two heads before saying doubtfully, "Giles refused to help you fight evil?" Not waiting for his answer she shook her head vehemently. "I don't believe you."

"No," he said sharply, face growing cold. "Why would you possibly believe me?"

"You have a lot of nerve saying that to me," she retorted harshly before letting out a sigh, running a frustrated hand through her hair. "I'm not going to fight with you," she said quietly after a long moment, turning to walk ahead of him down the next deserted street. After a few seconds had passed, however, she continued, somewhat belying her words, "Giles is helping us now, isn't he? My god, Angel! I let Dawn go to England to be a watcher! Do you think I would have done that if I believed for a second that they would deny anyone help?" She shook her head again. "You must have misunderstood something, I don't know, but the slayers and the council are here to help people. I mean," she flushed slightly, "Generally the causes of the problems aren't so much supernatural anymore, but-"

"I didn't misunderstand," Angle said coldly in a tone of voice she still recognized as meaning that the conversation was definitely over, and she sighed in frustration again, bracing herself to go onto the next topic, stunned when he stopped her next line of questioning short with a sharp and unexpected inquiry of his own.

"How long have you two been married?"

She bristled, starting to say it was none of his business before deciding it really couldn't hurt anything to answer. "Almost three years."

He looked slightly surprised, but she couldn't tell if the expression was genuine or affected, or what it might mean as they turned into a cemetery. "You waited a while after the apocalypse," he finally observed levelly, and she fought to keep her voice as emotionless as his as she responded,

"Well, there was an engagement, and-" she flushed slightly despite herself, "We didn't want to rush into anything. I mean-" she paused for a long moment, actually ceasing movement, and he stalled beside her, looking at her in some confusion.

"What?" he enquired, not unkindly, sounding more like the person she had known so long ago than he had since bursting into her office earlier, and she met his eyes before saying carefully,

"Despite what some of my actions might indicate, I really don't like being a bitch. I don't want to say anything that might-"

He scoffed cruelly. "You think you can hurt me now? You really are full of yourself, do you know that?" he demeaned, and she lifted her chin defiantly before observing grimly,

"Good. We're on the same page," adding softly, "We wanted to be sure we were actually in love, not just caught up in the aftermath of a miracle- does that make sense?" She shrugged self consciously, not waiting for his answer before she offered a small, genuine smile. "The news was good."

He nodded stiffly, expression unreadable. "I gathered as much."

She wavered between asking him more about why he was there and asking him what, for better or worse, she actually wanted to know before questioning slowly, "And how is- Nina?"

A pained look flitted across his face before he could conceal it and she flinched at once, near-gasping, "Oh God, please tell me that whatever is doing this didn't kill her-"

Angel jerked his head back in surprise before smiling ironically. "Not that I know of, but thanks for the great mental picture."

She sighed in relief before shaking her head. "Then why with the tragic face?" she inquired as lightly as she was able, surveying the area carefully even though she had all but given up hope of actually finding anything lurking out there tonight.

"Nothing," he replied shortly. "It's just that- I don't know how Nina is. I haven't seen her in a little over five years."

Buffy stopped short, mouth forming a small 'o' as she inquired gently, unsure why she cared, "What happened?"

He visibly wavered before meeting her eye, confessing softly, "I thought about whether I was actually in love with her," before offering a small, self-deprecating shrug of his own. "Turns out the news wasn't as good."

"I'm sorry," she said slowly, confused about the fact that what she was feeling most sharply was simple relief for reasons she couldn't understand, and even if she did she wouldn't be willing to admit to herself-

He shrugged. "I guess- I always viewed it as a temporary-" he began before stopping abruptly, and one look at his closed off face let her know that was all she would ever hear from him on the subject, at least for now, before he moved the conversation to what he evidently hoped was safer ground, observing casually,

"You and Faith seem close."

"It surprises you?" she asked lightly and he shrugged ambivalently.

"Yes and no," he replied shortly and she fought the unexpected urge to laugh still with the cryptic before deciding to throw him a bone in good faith, hoping it would help make the situation between them less awkward, especially since she had no way of knowing how long they might need to work together-

"Things were pretty awkward until my wedding, actually…" she sighed, "Which is a much longer story, but basically…I think the whole problem was always that we were a little jealous of each other, and suddenly there was this moment of" she paused, trying hard to think of the best way to describe it before shrugging. "I guess understanding between us and- not that it was all suddenly resolved after that, but it had been slowly getting better for a long time, and then when we realized we both really just wanted to be done with slaying- I mean, with the council in any capacity, really- it was like- I don't know," she shrugged, "Platonic soulmates or something. And not that anyone could replace Willow exactly, but-" Buffy stopped suddenly, noting the interested look on Angel's face but deciding it was her turn to get with the cryptic, inquiring casually, "So. What makes these demons so special?"

He blinked at the abrupt change of topic before saying slowly, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what's their thing," she replied as though he were a child, waving a hand in the air expressively. "What's their goal? What's their super-power? What are we looking for?"

He shook his head slowly. "Believe me when I say I wish I could tell you. They seemed totally ordinary to me-"

"Right," she said eagerly, nodding as she took an unthinking step closer to him before flushing slightly, unexpectedly at their proximity and backing away, pretending to look around her for anything unusual as she continued, "That's what I thought too, when I started fighting them, but-" Her brow furrowed and he looked at her in concern before saying coaxingly,

"But?"

She looked up at him, and he was alarmed to see something resembling fear in her eyes as she said slowly, "They were strong, Angel. I mean-" she gulped, looking down before forcing herself to meet his eyes again. "We didn't get to finish the fight, the police showed up and they bolted but- the thing is-" she flinched slightly, "I think they were winning."

He looked at her in surprise before shrugging. "That doesn't sound so unusual. You were outnumbered three to one and you haven't been training-"

"No," she cut him off before amending, "I mean, yes, that's true, but- I'm not talking about skill or numbers or anything like that. I'm talking about brute strength. They were stronger than me." She bit her lip slightly nervously. "And- I mean, not to sound conceited but-" she flushed. "Almost nothing's stronger than me. The only reason they weren't kicking my ass was that they didn't have any clue how to improvise whatsoever- it was almost laughable-"

"You would have won," he said softly, cutting her off, and she recoiled slightly before saying softly,

"I'm not sure."

"I am," he said shortly, meeting her eyes, and they both stood silently for a long moment before he broke the eye contact, leaving her slightly disoriented for reasons she didn't quite understand as he frowned slightly, demanding, "How bad are you hurt really?"

"I'm okay to patrol, if that's what you mean," she replied slightly indignantly after a beat, pleased when he shook his head in the negative.

"It's not."

"They beat me up pretty bad," she shrugged nonchalantly before paling slightly. "Don't tell Will- he worries." She flushed, ashamed she had just asked anyone, much less Angel, to help her keep something from her husband-

But he seemed to take it as a matter of course as he shrugged. "I don't think I'll be talking to him more than necessary. Your secret is safe with me."

She wavered, hating how easy it was to confide in him even now, the way she was sure he understood far more than she would ever actually say before letting out a sharp cry as something tackled her out of nowhere.

"Buffy!" Angel exclaimed in concern before being tackled himself.

--

"Oh god. Do you think we lost them?" Buffy enquired breathlessly nearly an hour later as she huddled with Angel behind a dumpster.

"I do," he said shortly, and she looked at him, something halfway between confusion and fear in her eyes.

"We should probably get back to Faith's."

"Agreed," he said shortly, placing a hand unconsciously on the small of her back as they stepped out from behind the clutter and instantly regretting it as she flinched and stiffened before stepping away from him and wordlessly starting to jog in the direction of Faith's apartment.

--

"B!" Faith exclaimed in something resembling relieved alarm as Buffy and Angel burst into the small apartment. "We were starting to get worried-"

"We're okay," Buffy said shortly as she picked a leaf out of her hair. "Did you get the book?"

"Over there," Faith nodded briefly, gesturing to the kitchen table, and despite herself Buffy smiled at the massive ten volume collection atop it.

"And they couldn't have just needed, I don't know, Harry Potter or something," she groused, but her voice was teasing as she looked around the room, face puckering in concern as she inquired, "Did Will go home?"

"No," a voice sounded blearily from the couch, "But some of us do need to get up early tomorrow without the additional help of super-powers."

"You were taking a nap?" Angel demanded incredulously before letting out a grunt of pain as Buffy elbowed him sharply.

"Well-" Faith said, looking uncomfortable, wondering, not for the first time, what the world was coming to when she was the one constantly needing to be the mediator, "I mean, Angel, it is four in the morning. If I could be napping I would be."

"No use trying to reason with him," Spike quipped, looking suddenly much more alert as he sauntered over to Buffy. "After all, he is on vampire time-"

"Okay, can we maybe concentrate on the objective here?" Buffy exclaimed in frustration. "We're all tired, we're all confused, we all think that this- well, sucks."

"I'll second that," Spike muttered, wrapping an arm gently around her waist, and Angel flinched as she had the exact opposite reaction to his touching her earlier, leaning gently into it as she offered Spike a small smile.

"Faith, how are we getting the books to England?" Buffy demanded suddenly, and Angel was awed by her take-charge attitude, ashamed to have forgotten how easily she could whip a group of people to attention, reduce a situation to its essentials, and forget the rest.

"Oh. Uh," Faith looked at Angel uncomfortably before saying, "William and I found someone who's willing to deliver them personally. He's leaving tomorrow at around noon- he'll stop by to pick them up in the morning."

Angel was relieved when he wasn't the only one who appeared confused, and Buffy blinked at Faith in obvious confusion before demanding,

"Huh? Does this someone have a name, or are we just supposed to-"

"Faith GAVE HIM a KEY to the place," Spike interrupted Buffy, meeting her eyes for a long moment, seeming to try to impart some knowledge to her- and Angel frowned slightly as it evidently worked, Buffy's face clearing as she said slowly,

"Oh! Uh, someone. Got it," before shooting Faith a look that still seemed confused, but Angel recognized as being almost accusing, only serving to heighten his own uncertainty as Spike gently squeezed Buffy's waist, asking softly,

"And how was patrol, then?"

Buffy looked at Angel, slightly frustrated when he simply gave her a you go ahead shrug before she replied, "Not great. Some demons attacked us and we ended up bolting." She bit her lip before saying slowly, "They were strong."

"How many?" Faith questioned sharply and Buffy looked at Angel again before answering,

"I don't know? Seven or eight?"

""Distinguishing marks?" Spike enquired, and Buffy looked to Angel, discouraged when he shrugged yet again and she shook her head in the negative.

"No. Just strong." She looked at Angel uncertainly before venturing, "Angel? How many do you think there are?"

He looked at her, something resembling surprise on his face. "I would have corrected you if I thought you'd been wrong. There were seven or eight-"

"No," she said, looking slightly sheepish but continuing, "How many do you think there are- total."

His expression grew bleak as he seemed to contemplate for a long moment before replying unhelpfully, "Don't know. Speculation isn't going to get us anywhere."

"Agreed," Spike said wholeheartedly to everyone's surprise before turning to Buffy. "Ready to go, pet?"

She nodded slowly, unable to shake the feeling that they were missing something. "Yeah. Let's go."

"Uh-" Faith said slowly. "Guys? What are we going to do with Angel?"

Buffy blinked at her before saying blankly, "I'm sorry. Can he not stay here?"

Looking extremely guilty, Faith shook her head in the negative. "Sorry, Angel, it's not personal," she offered, clearly meaning it and Buffy shook her head, sighing.

"We are SO having lunch tomorrow," she said, gazing at Faith meaningfully, and Angel felt even more confused as Buffy looked at Spike helplessly.

"No," Spike said firmly, correctly interpreting her expression as he shook his head. "I'm sorry, but he's not staying in our house."

Buffy frowned at him, something resembling annoyance on her face as she snapped, "Well then what are we going to do with him? Leave him on the street to die?"

Spike looked at Buffy, annoyance on his face as he said, "Well you don't need to get TESTY about it, there must be someone-"

--

"Mr Spike!" Harmony exclaimed, opening her door. "What brings you here at this- um, early-"

"Sorry, Harmony," Spike apologized somewhat sincerely. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"What? No!" she exclaimed. "I was totally awake. Would you believe that Tom Cruise JUST-"

"Yes," Spike said shortly. "Harmony, Buffy and I need you to do us a favor."

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Sure! I mean, as long as it doesn't involve, you know, too much overtime-"

"Oh no, nothing like that," Spike said reassuringly. "We just want you to put an old friend up for a few nights."

She shrugged. "Okay, sure. Who-" and her face suddenly grew horrified. "Wait, this isn't about how Angel came by earlier is it? Because-"

"Hi, Harmony," Angel said, suddenly appearing behind Spike. "Can I come in?"

The female vampire fainted dead away.

--

"So," Buffy said lightly, crawling into bed beside her husband before reaching over and turning off the light, "You think they'll be okay?"

He let out a small chuckle. "I'd say so. Who knows? Maybe she'll actually develop a work ethic, what with being scared to go home at night-"

Buffy laughed as his arm wrapped around her and he kissed her lips lightly. "You're terrible."

"I do try," he chirped and she laughed again before saying, voice more serious,

"Angel said he came to us because Giles told him he was on his own or… something... He made it sound like a while ago- do you know what he meant?"

His brow furrowed and he seemed to really contemplate for a long moment before sighing. "Sorry, love, I don't."

"I don't know if he even thought he was telling the truth or if-" she began before yawning, casually twining a leg through Spike's as she said softly, "I don't trust him."

"Maybe you don't have to," he said quietly before venturing slowly, "I would like it if you started training with him, though."

"What?" she blinked in surprise, propping herself up slightly as she looked at his face, slightly illuminated by the early morning light that was already spilling into the bedroom. "I mean-" she swallowed before repeating, almost more blankly, "What?"

"Much as it pains me to admit he might be good for anything, we have to face reality," he replied, running a hand lazily over her hip as she shivered slightly. "Whatever these demons are, they're strong, and you haven't exactly kept up with your training. Faith's too busy to really help you out, and unless Giles has been keeping something from us almost all the slayers and watchers are assembled in England now. Angel can help you, especially if what Giles said is true and we might have to eventually use him as bait-"

"Do I have to?" she asked, sounding all of five years old, and he smiled at her indulgently.

"No, but I think you should," he said, voice somber. "I don't want you hurt-"

She sighed, laying her head on his chest. "Okay. I'll talk to him about it tomorrow."

Spike smiled softly. "I think you mean today."

"God," she sighed, looking at the light spilling in through the window. "Do you think there's any point in even going to sleep?"

He ran a hip lazily over her hip again, pleased as she let out a small gasp and licked her lips, offering him an uncertain and sultry smile. "We should- sleep," she murmured unconvincingly as his hand slid slightly higher, thumb making lazy circles as his lips found her neck, sucking lightly.

"We should," he murmured throatily back, and she moaned as he gently slid on top of her.

--

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