Disclaimer: yet again I remind you that I do not own these characters, that privilage belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc, etc.

Part 5 – 'Splainy?

After Willow had departed, Buffy turned to Angel with a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

"What?" Angel asked somewhat apprehensively.

Buffy looked him in the eye, "Well," Buffy started, "with all the surprises we've been having, we haven't got around to the whole 'Why, how, when' part of your new found humanity"

"Oh, that…" Angel said, visibly relieved.

"Not to mention the Spike coming back from the dead, and your little visit to Italy. Let's start with that." Buffy's voice was dangerously calm.

"Oh." Angel sighed, eyes darting towards possible exits. "I was hoping we could avoid this."

"Avoid what, Angel?" Buffy's voice was deceptively sweet, "Now… 'splainy?"

"Well Spike… how did you know about Spike?"

"Ah… Andrews tongue loosens when he's held upside down over yonder balcony."

"What?"

"Faith, Dawn and I felt we weren't getting the whole story." She said in explanation.

"Oh. What did he tell you?"

"That Spike was back and working with you." Buffy stepped closer to Angel, "What he didn't tell me was why neither of you felt the need to inform me of this development." Angel, struggling not to look intimidated, started to explain;

"Spike had his reasons, and it wasn't my place to tell you before he was ready to do it himself."

Buffy observed him for a second, "You were jealous?" her question sounding more like a statement.

"I-" Angel started, then, "maybe a little…"

"You don't need to be." She said, her voice softened.

"I don't?"

"I love Spike-"

"What?" Angel interrupted

"- As a friend." Buffy finished, glaring at him. "He was there for me when I needed someone." Angel flinched. "He… was good to me, even though I wasn't to him." Buffy's eyes darkened with some unidentifiable emotion, "I'll have to talk with him sometime."

"Right. Next item for discussion is; you two spying on me."

"We weren't spying on you."

"Uh-huh. You were coming to rescue me weren't you?" Buffy said, half amused, "I told you I can take care of myself

"The Immortal is not a good guy, he seduces women among other things. I – we were worried." Angel said defensively, and slightly angrily.

"You guys have a history?"

"Yes." Angel affirmed, making no attempt to elaborate.

"He didn't mention it." Buffy mumbled looking at the couch beside Angel.

"Are you still with him?"

"No! We broke up not long after you guys came here."

Angel let out a breath had barely noticed he was holding.

"We didn't sleep together you know. It was just a fling." Buffy added quietly, still avoiding his eyes.

"I had a girlfriend." Angel admitted, "Nina." Buffy tensed at his words. "We broke up just after the apocalypse in LA."

"Oh" Buffy said in a small voice, "Why?"

"She wasn't you."

Buffy met Angel's intense gaze, and for a few seconds they both froze. Angel opened his mouth to say something and hesitated.

"Always." Buffy whispered and stepped into his embrace.