Author's note: I hope no one cried a river for Spike! Becaues there is NO way that I am ever going to kill of Spikey. Love him WAAY too much.

Hey everyone, here is a nice long chapter, that basically tells you nothing. I just wanted to have a nice long Angel, Buffy, Spike reaction chapter. Sorry If this is a little drawling, I'll probably come up with my next chapter real soon. Happy Birthday, Schnabes! This one's for you!

Chapter XVIII – Amsterdam: Reactions

Buffy didn't even have time enough to scream.

Angel felt the gravity of what he had done only as he knew his projectile had hit home.

Kat let loose a shrill shriek that nearly distracted the other two from what happened next, Both Angel and Buffy turned to see the little girl had jumped to her feet.

Spike, however glanced over his shoulder at the piece of wood sticking out of his back and scowled at Angel.

"Oh, yeah, I'm the mighty Angel." He said sarcastically as he pulled the stake out. The wound closed immediately. "I can beat my grand childe, I'll just stake his arse when his back's turned and he can't see me coming. You never did follow the rules of proper combat, you broody old fool."

Both Buffy and Angel's attention whipped back to Spike. Angel felt his jaw drop. Moments later he had gained enough composure to actually speak.

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded.

He had regretted his decision the instant he had staked Spike and wanted to take back his action as soon as he felt the wood penetrate. This did not in the least, however, prepare him for his wish to come true.

There was his Grandchilde, standing in the darkening sky holding the stake that had just a few moments earlier been buried in his heart. He stood tall, the stake in hand and a smirk on his face.

No one answered Angel, but Buffy walked up to him and smacked him on the head as hard as she possibly could. All of them heard the sickening crunch as the power of the Chosen One cracked a few bones in Angel's mandible. The vampire cried out in pain and his hands flew up to clutch his jaw.

"That," she said angrily, "is for staking Spike."

She brought back her arm for another punch but Spike caught it.

"S'all right, love." Spike said, "I'm still standing."

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Nevertheless." She said, "He staked you, scared me to death and Kittie-" she turned and gestured to the house where the little girl was standing, her face was white with shock.

"Papa!" she called out from the top of the stairs. Her blue eyes-so like her father's-were watery and she looked terrible shaken. But despite all of this, she had not let one hair on her head pass through the invisible barrier that separated the house from the rest of the world.

She had been taught well.

"It's a long story, Angelus." He said then turned away from his grandsire effectively dismissing him, He turned to Kittie in the door way and nodded. "C'mere, Bit." Little Kittie didn't need to be told twice, she took a running start and launched herself into her father's arms burying her face into his shoulder. He noted with displeasure that she was trembling and bugger if it didn't make him hate his grandsire more. "M'fine, Sweet, Don't worry 'bout your ol' Dad. Nothin' wrong, see?"

Kittie nodded, her face was still unsteady. She did not however untwine herself from her father's embrace.

"She speaks English then?" asked Angel.

At this point Buffy intervened. She could sense her Husband's rising anger at Angel's intrusion. It warmed her to know that Spike had not gotten angry at Angel because Angel staked him, but more because Angel staked him in front of Kit.

"Wow look, we've got lots and lots to discuss." She said. "Let's not make with the petty conflicts, obie kabie?"

Both Spike and Kit looked at Buffy incredulously.

"Please don't you ever use that word, pet "He considered this for a moment. "Or so help me, I'll take care of Kit's education myself."

"Right, no bad word usage I got it, I got it," She said. "But let's boil down to the actual story telling?"

"Ready when you are, pet." Spike said hitching Kit up higher into his embrace.

"Okay." Buffy said, he glanced at Spike meaningfully and waited for his nod before she continued. "Then let's take this inside."

She yanked open the door and stomped down the stairs followed by Spike holding little kit in his arms.

Angel made to follow, but was stopped by the vampire barrier. He coughed pointedly and Spike looked over his shoulder and gave a long suffering sigh.

"Come on in, Angelus."

Angel thought of correcting him, but decided against it. Spike knew well who he was, Spike was just reminding him of who had been.

And just like that he wished he really had staked his grandchilde.

To distract himself, he took in his surroundings. He had always been an appreciator of fine art and he had to say that the house was decorated tastefully, if a little different from what he was used to. The floor was a cherry tones hard wood that rose to a half panel on the wall. The wall paper was warm toned cream striped with gold and forest green that complimented it very well. The floor was covered with a Persian runner, Angel could have focused more, but Buffy led him through the hall and past the exquisitely taken photos. She briskly led him on into the living room full of Scandinavian furniture.

Angel was grateful he didn't have time to examine the photos. Each depicted a happy smiling member of the family of herself, Spike and their daughter. Sometimes even Buffy was in it. He just couldn't see them. It was too painful.

So they settled around the over-stuffed couches and as soon as Buffy opened her mouth, the door burst open and a man dashed in. he went straight for Buffy and Spike, he didn't seem to see Angel.

"Buffy, Spike, He's coming! You're sire, He's on his way!"

Spike's eyebrow quirked.

"Seems to me you're a little on the tardy side, mate." He said slight a slight smirk and a jerk of his head towards his seated sire.

"Oh."

"Doyle?" Angel said.

"You know him then?" asked Spike with a curious tilt of his head.

The raven haired Irishman nodded.

"Foreteller of Destinies emissary of the Powers remember?"

Buffy smiled and shook her head gesturing for Doyle to take a seat.

"And big with the whole ambiguous thing." She said. "Really, Doyle, does the mysterious thing come with the emissary package or do you just use it to pick up girls?"

"Hey, slayer, I just tell it like I'm told. S'not my fault the news isn't cheerfully received." He waved away Buffy's offer and looked around for his Godshild. He saw her fearfully clinging to her father. "What happened to Kittie Kat?"

Kit seemed to snap out of whatever stigma she had of seeing her father staked and bounced back with a resilience that seemed only able to come with children.

Or slayers.

"Kittie!" she corrected haughtily. She was always trying to get rid of the nickname 'Kat'. She insisted that she was not a cat and therefore should not be called one. She scrambled off Spike's lap and presented herself to her uncle Doyle, waiting to be carried.

As he picked her up, Doyle was forced to pick up on something else. There was a palpable tension in the room. He really should have known. This situation took 'the ex from hell' to a whole 'nother level.

"Ah, right," said the emissary. "Listen. I'll take Ka-" it took one pointed look from his charge before he corrected himself. "Kittie, to the next room and fix her some ice cream." She perked up at the ice cream. "And you all can sit here and talk things out, Yeah?"

"Hey, Doyle," Angel spoke up before half demon disappeared into the kitchen with Kit. "You came all the way from Sunnydale to warn them?"

Doyle shrugged.

"They needed to know." He said before ushering the little girl into the kitchen for the promised ice cream.

Angel turned to Buffy and raised a questioning eyebrow at her indulgent smile.

"Oh please, he hitched a ride with one of some friends," she explained sagely. "Anyanka. She teleports." And then off Spike's look she sobered up. "And you're here. So Why is that?"

Angel cocked an eyebrow, as the pair seated themselves on the couch. Knowing it would give Angel a major wiggins, Buffy didn't snuggle into her husband's embrace, instead she just reached for his hand illicitly under the cover of his duster and entwined their fingers. This was going to be a difficult visit to say the least and she needed his support just as much as he needed hers.

"What do you mean?" the elder vamp asked.

"She's wondering what the hell you're here, peaches." Spike supplied as he searched through his pockets for a pack of Marlboros.

Buffy nodded.

"What sort of un-speakable evil is wracking Sunnydale?" she asked as she reached over and plucked a pack from his right duster pocket and handed it to him. He smiled gratefully. "I mean something's got to be going on for you to tap me right? What gives?"

The intimate gesture didn't loose itself on Angel, who narrowed his eyes. Everything about this place made him feel like he was back in hell. Well, actually hell was better then this.

Spike smirked as he slipped the fag between his lips and lit up.

"So?"

Angel took a deep breath. They weren't going to like his answer, but he needed to say it.

"There's nothing really going on Sunnydale." He said quietly.

Silence.

"Huh?" Buffy said, she got up from her seat. "I'm sorry. I meant, HUH?"

Angel looked at his feet.

"I said there's nothing massacring Sunnydale." He looked up at Buffy. "And even if there was, Faith-Faith is a slayer, she can handle it. It's just, we've been searching for you for seven years, Buffy. I couldn't just-its you. We could never give up on you, Buffy. They assumed the worst when you and Spike disappeared after-uhm-after-"

"After I sent you to hell?"

Angel flinched and Buffy rolled her eyes.

"They've been searching for you-we-I never gave up on you Buffy."

Buffy crossed her arms.

"And did you think for a moment that I gave up on you?" she said. "Angel, I sent you to hell because you killed people, and if something happens you'll kill again, now, I can't let that happen. And Somehow you're back, and everything hunky Dorey? Do you think I'm the same girl as I was back in Sunnydale, the same person? A lot has happened since you left, Angel."

"Buffy, I-"

"You what? Hmmm? You come after me barging back into my life just when I was happy? Not even trying to contact me first or provide some sort of reconnaissance? No, once again you're Angel and you have to ride in on the damn white horse and ruin everything that I've-"

She knew she was babbling. She also knew that she was not making any sense she really wasn't being fair. But this was not the time for her to be sense-girl. She was just so confused and frustrated, and she really didn't want Angel to be here now. Staring at her like a kicked puppy. Reminding her of what she had left behind.

None of this should have happened.

It was just so unfair, the Powers just couldn't leave her alone. She was happy, she had made a new life after Sunnydale. She had Spike and Kittie and her friends. And now Angel was back to ruin it. She could feel the anguish wash over her and the floor rushing to meet her and the pounding of her blood in her ears all at once.

And then Spike was there, pulling her into his embrace and rocking her slowly. She melted into his embrace and felt the intense need for tears vanish.

She was safe in his embrace. Seven years, they had been together and Spike knew her better than anyone else-it was cheesy and corny but true. Knowing that he was around actually helped her a great deal.

"Spike-"

"Shhh, luv, I know." He whispered low and huskily in her hear. "I'm here."

"And so's he." She whimpered into his chest, feeling his arms tighten around her. She shook her head. "I don't want to deal with him, Spike I don't want to talk to him. I'm surprised I made it this far without turning into a complete mess."

"You're doing great, pet." He assured her. "No one should have to deal with ex's from hell."

Buffy nodded and relaxed. She could hear Spike talking to Angel over her head. Asking him if it was only him who had come to see them, and getting an affirmative, and then he was talking to her.

"I'll deal with, Peaches, luv." He said, he pulled away slightly and smiled at her. "I'll fill him in and send him on his way. You go ahead and get some ice cream."

She had never been so grateful to Spike ever in her life. She knew she was going to have to deal with him sooner or later, but before she did she was going to need some major ice cream. And a Kit-cuddle.

"I'll have to-"

Spike smiled and nodded.

"I know, pet." He said. "But take your time."

Buffy nodded, she stood on her tip-toes and pressed her lips to his, he responded instantly. And for a moment, everything faded into the background, and then Spike pulled away.

"Go on." He said. "I'll take him into the study."

Buffy nodded, with one last pissed off look at Angel she disappeared into the kitchen. Angel made a move to follow her but was stopped by a suddenly adamant and vicious Spike. He grabbed Angel's shoulder in vice grip and narrowed his frigid blue eyes.

"You take one more step and I'll be having your bones for my bread."

Angel seemed to have snapped back to his regular hostility towards the more volatile vampire.

"You and what army?" he demanded making to shrug off Spike's hand.

Spike, however, tightened his grip.

"Me and the Gem of Amarra."

Angel felt his jaw drop not for the second time that night.

He had thought it was a myth. They had all thought it was a myth, and yet Spike had found it.

Despite himself, Angel was interested. And despite his overwhelming, desperate pain he wanted to know what had happened with the two of them. Call him a masochist but he needed to know.

"You said you'd fill me in?"

Spike's mouth twitched into a smile that held no warmth and no mirth. He then opened a cherry toned door with the same flourish he had always used and waved him inside. He arched a challenging eyebrow.

"Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly."