Angel stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist.

He was en route to his room when there was a knock at his door.

"Better be the witch, or Harmony is so fired."

He moved swiftly to the door, towel clutched around his waist.

"Yes - - Willow?"

" Hey, Angel." Willow waved and smiled.

"Uh... come on in. Is- is there something wrong?"

Angel led her into his living room.

"Well, I was hoping you could tell me. Your secretary called me, she said you needed a powerful witch."

Angel groaned, sitting on the couch and rubbing his face. "I'm going to kill Harmony."

Willow sat beside him. "What's wrong?"

"I can't tell you."

She touched his arm. "You can tell me, I'll help you if I can, I swear."

"Oh hell... I'm in love with Spike and he's leaving with Buffy."

"Oh... I never knew you... I'm sorry. What do you want me to do?"

"A spell. I can't lose Spike, Willow. Not now. I haven't even told him." He hung his head in shame. "Just... please help me."

Willow bit her lip. She didn't know what to do. Buffy was her friend, but Angel was so heartbroken.

"I can cast a spell. But, it will only last one week. It'll make Spike like you more. Kinda mellow him out. You have a week to convince him to love you. After that, if he chooses Buffy that's it."

Angel nodded vigorously. "Can you also keep him here? Buffy wants to take him away."

"I'll handle that. Just... good luck, Angel." Willow stood. "The next time you see Spike, the spell will already have taken hold." She knew she was insane for agreeing, but she couldn't not help. She swore she would, and Angel was so happy that she was... Maybe she'd also look into anchoring in Angel's soul.

With a smile Willow left. Angel wasn't sure whether he wanted to brood over the trouble and possible failure he was facing, or happily consider the good that might come of it.

He chose the latter, and listened to music as he dressed. He could kiss Willow for helping him.

He hummed as he left his apartment and headed back to his office. He heard and crash in one of the rooms, but ignored it. He didn't notice when Lorne stuck his head out.

"Oh boy, Angel cakes has a hankering for our Blondie Bear," he said to himself.

Angel waited on edge the next morning, desperately trying not to seem desperate to see Spike.

Wesley, Fred and Gunn were in his office already, Spike was late.

The door opened. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic sucks in L.A." He smiled at Angel. "Good morning, Angel."

Gunn raised his eyebrow. "Wait, no snippy remark or nasty nickname? Are you okay, Spike? That slayer of yours do something to civilize you?"

"Shove it, Road Warrior," Spike said to Gunn.

"There's the Spike we all know and love... well, we all know, anyway," Gunn joked.

Angel smiled to himself. It worked. "Come on. Spike and I will share a car, and you three share one."

Fred whispered to Wesley, "Are we sure it's safe to leave the two alone? One might kill the other."

"Would you want to be between them if they tried?" he whispered back. She smiled and he swore his breath was taken away.

Angel and Spike walked to the parking garage in compatible silence until Angel broke it.

"When are you and Buffy leaving?"

"I don't know. Willow has Buffy working on something, so we'll be here a bit longer."

They both called out as the reach the Viper, "I'm driving."

Their hands touched as they both grabbed for the handle. Angel felt his fingers tingle from the contact. He was sure his heart would have raced if it still beat.

Spike smiled and dropped his hand. "All right, you win. You get driver's seat."

Angel shook himself from his musings as Spike walked to the other side.

"Yeah, I'm driving. Right. Okay."

Angel wiped demon sludge from his face. "Some things I really hate this job."

Spike laughed as he walked up, sword on his shoulder. "Green looks good on you, though."

"You know what would look better? A shower. A nice hot one that washes away all the slime. I think that'd look great on me."

"I bet it would," Spike nearly purred the words, but the following chuckle kept Angel from reading into it too much.

Spike brushed his palm over Angel's face, wiping it clean. "There, good as new."

"You're dirty to," Angel blurted out.

"Yeah, mate, what of it?" Spike seemed to find him very amusing.

"You could come back to my apartment and clean yourself up. Shower and put on some clean clothes."

He braced himself mentally for rejection.

"Sure. Thanks for the offer. Now you'll see that showers look good on me, too." Spike winked and walked away, catching up to Fred.

Angel groaned softly. The image of Spike in a towel, wet and in his apartment was almost too much to bear.

Angel showered first, and he could have swore Spike checked him out as he headed towards his room to dress.

Spike was next. Angel could hear the water running. He could picture Spike naked, under the water, soapy and slick.

He knocked. "Spike, I have some clothes for you." The water shut off.

"Come in."

Angel entered, his eyes eating up Spike's image from head to foot. He was gorgeous. All taunt muscles and creamy white flesh. And those stunning blue eyes...

"See something you like?" Spike lifted his scared eyebrow and Angel cursed his sloppiness.

" I brought you a shirt and sweats." He handed over the blue tee shirt and black sweats.

"Thanks, mate."

"There's blood, if you want any. Or scotch."

Spike pulled the shirt on. "Both."

Angel nodded and left to allow him to finish dressing.

He poured them both a glass of blood with a healthy dose of scotch, and sat on the couch, sipping his until Spike came out.

"Here." Angel handed him the drink as he too sat on the couch.

"Ta, you're angel, Angel."

"I try... do you want to order food?"