Spike laid on his back, his head rested on one arm, while the other held a snoozing Angel against his side. The spell had worked, and he and Angel were nearing the mark of two months as a couple.

Spike stared at the ceiling. He didn't regret his decision. Even when they fought there was love, and usually hot and heavy make- up sex. He wondered how he ever denied himself the joy of loving and being loved.

He sometimes thought of Buffy, and that always sent a pang to his heart. He missed her, but he wasn't willing to give up Angel. Not for anything. They survived so much together, and finally found a somewhat normal existence.

"What are you brooding over?" Angel asked, kissing his chest.

Spike smiled and ran his fingers through the hair at the nape of Angel's neck.

"Not brooding, pet, just thinking. Did I wake you?"

Angel propped himself up on an arm. "Not really. Are you okay?"

Spike brushed his lips over Angel's cheek. "I'll be fine. Just thinking about the future."

"Oh, well, if you're thinking of kids you've got another thing coming, I don't plan on ruinning my figure for that," Angel joked. "The future, huh? Pretty scary thing."

Spike knew he was right. The future was terrifying. The was a war coming to L.A., and he had his doubts about his chance of surviving it.

"Yeah, scary."

Angel had already made up his mind; he had too protect Spike. He timed and planned, and he'd make sure that Spike was gone when the big battle came.

"Oh, Spike, I forgot to mention, Faith and Wood need help with their hellmouth. I can't go, so I promised you'd help."

Spike shook his head. "I'm not leaving. You'd be alone, what if you need me here? What if your big fight happens? I'm not going."

Angel stroked his cheek, he loved him so much. That's why he had to lie. He had to save him. He kissed his lips softly.

"You're plane leaves today, and you'll be back in one week. I'm planning this war, I'm triggering it, don't worry about it starting prematurely."

"I don't know..." Spike sighed. "Are you sure I'll be back in time?"

"Trust me, Spike, the timing is perfect."

"Fine, I'll help the dark slayer and her honey."

Angel kissed him, slow a sweet. He didn't care what happened to himself as long as Spike was safe. If he could ensure that, then he'd die willingly.

Spike hated Cleveland. He spent his week fighting various demons, and he was eager to get back to the man he loved.

"Uh, Spike, you might want to see this," Faith called from her living room.

Spike zipped up his bag and went to see what she was talking about.

"What's wro-" He felt like someone punched him in the stomach. The tv showed an image of L.A. in ruins. The newscaster went on and on, but Spike didn't here anything.

The battle, it happened, Spike thought in horror.

He stumble forward, falling to his knees in front of the tv.

"No. No, no, no. Angel, you idiot, you better be alive. You better not be dead. You can't be dead." Tears burned his eyes as he looked at the demolished city that used to be his home. That used to hold his lover.

Faith touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"He's not dead. He wouldn't do that, he wouldn't leave me." Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pressed his forehead against the screen. He knew the truth, he could feel it, and it killed him.

"Look, it only happen yesterday, they're still looking for survivors, maybe they'll find him," Faith tried to reassure the broken vampire, but it wasn't something she was good at.

"The watcher's council is looking into it too," Wood said in an attempt to help his fiancée. "They're using magic to track people down, I'm sure they'll find Angel."

A knock on the door sent Wood our of the room to answer it.

"It'll be okay," Faith said.

Wood came back in somberly. "Faith, Buffy's here. She... she knows... she knows."

Faith felt sorry for Spike. She's never seen him cry before. "Let her in."

Buffy's heart broke when Spike looked at her with hopeful, tear glossed eyes. She dropped to her knees in front of him, her own tears blurring her vision.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Spike fell apart. He wrapped his arms around her and sobbed in her neck.

She held him. "I'm so sorry," she said wetly as she tried to soothe him. It broke her heart to see him in so much pain.

Spike didn't know what to do, so he clung to Buffy, crying out in anguish and pain and heart break.

Buffy closed her eyes against the tears. "I've got you, Spike, you can cry. I've got you."