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All women in the table turned around to look at Angel who was behind Buffy.

- Ok! I win! Anya?

Anya handed Fred five dollars. Angel and Buffy were looking stunned at both women.

- Hey! What? We bet on you two. I told her you were interested in our girl here, but Anya did not believe. Thanks to you two, I finally won one. Now, let's move on! So, you two are serious, huh?

Angel made a face to his sister and took Buffy's hand.

- Come on! Leave my two meddlesome sisters here and walk with me to the pier.

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- Did you like everything?

- Yes. I had a really wonderful day.

Buffy could not believe she was this happy after having arrived in States just five days before. She and Angel walked in the beach and stayed for a while in the Santa Monica pier. They had kissed a lot and Buffy found out Angel was quite known around the place. She did many childish things with him like eat cotton candy and ride the carousel. Angel won a teddy bear for her. The day ended with a ride in the ferris-wheel.

- Do you want to go inside?

- No, but I want something else?

- What?

- One more kiss.

They kissed at the door softly and tenderly, unlike the hungry, passionate kisses from before.

- Buffy!

The couple broke apart and Buffy looked annoyed at the man behind them.

- What hell are you doing here?

- Buffy… we have to talk, I want to explain…

- Spike. How did you enter here? I'm calling…

He tried to hold Buffy, but Angel got into his way.

- Who are you by the way?

- Boyfriend. And you are?

Spike looked shocked from Buffy to Angel and back to Buffy.

- How could you? You… you just arrived.

- Spike. If I hear you, you will leave me?

- I just want you to hear me, that's all?

- Buffy, no.

- No, Angel. Let's get done with this. Don't worry. I can take care of myself.

- I won't go anywhere.

- So, now you want to stay… you aren't really gay, are you?

Buffy smiled sheepishly at Angel. He knew she was trying to settle the moods. He smiled back. She turned around when the door of the house opened.

- SPIKE! What are you doing here? I already told you to stay away from my daughter.

Buffy and Angel held a very angered Sean, while Willow and Mary came at the door.

- Please, Sean. No. I will talk with him so we will end this once and for all.

- Buffy?

- No. I'll be ok.

- I won't go anywhere.

- Ok. You can keep company to Angel then. Let's go, Spike.

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Buffy lead Spike to the old swings in some trees far from the house where they would be able to talk without interruptions.

- I am all ears. So, talk.

- It is true… he is… he is your boyfriend? You got a boyfriend already… here?

- Yes. Spike. He is my boyfriend. Is that all you want to talk about?

- Buffy. I want you back.

- WHAT? Are you crazy? I *have* a boyfriend?

- Buffy. What happened last year was terrible, but you can't blame only me. You didn't want to sleep with me. You wanted to wait for the marriage. We were together for three years and I am a man, I have my needs.

- Oh, Spike! Please! Are you hearing yourself? Every word you said is nothing but a lot of crap. Were you held by a gun with me? As long as I know, I can't remember putting one at your head to make you stay with me. I told you how things were from the beginning and you stayed with me because you wanted it. You could have left, find someone else who wanted to do it. Leave me alone. Beside everything, I caught you with your secretary in OUR BED, OUR APARTAMENT… ONE WEEK BEFORE OUR WEDDING! I can't understand what sort of horrendous need would make an almost married man take another woman to the bed he would sleep with his future wife. I can't understand why the said man would beat his future wife in front of the said secretary because SHE FOUND OUT THE TWO TOGETHER? I surely can't understand what sort of man would come after the said ex-fianceé one year later to try to explain all of this. You know… I have to thank that woman because she helped me. Thanks to her, you showed your true colors and I won the time to let myself out of the wrongness our marriage would be.

- Buffy, I love you.

- No! No, Spike! You don't. You are obsessed with me for some reason. My advice to you is for you to get some sort of counseling and move on. I already did. I don't want to see you. I don't want to hear your voice. I don't want to talk to you. Don't come near me. You had me, but you lost me. Well, I can only think of how many times you cheated on me and you know what? I am too good to be with a cheater like you. Now, get out!

Buffy turned around to leave, but Spike held her arms so she'd turn to him again. That was enough to set Angel and Sean into motion, but they didn't have time to do anything. Buffy slapped Spike's face hard. He tried to beat her back, but she held his hand midaction and punched him in the face, kicking him in the waist and sending him flying to the floor.

- Wow!

- I told you two I could take care of myself. Nothing a little self-defense class can't help.

Angel wrapped Buffy in his arms under the vigilant eyes of Sean. Several of the securities guards arrived and picked Spike to throw him out of the property. Spike didn't say anything, but looked at the couple in front of him.

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Mary, Willow and Sean, besides Buffy and Angel were in the kitchen. Mary was preparing coffee for everyone. After checking Buffy was ok, the three left the kitchen to give the couple a minute alone.

- Are you sure you are ok?

- Yeah, but my hand still hurts. And I feel bad about it.

Angel kissed every finger on Buffy's hand and then kissed her mouth softly.

- Why?

- I don't like violence, Angel. I know it was to my defense, but I still don't like it.

- I could have taken care of that for you, but… you slapped him pretty hard. How did you do that?

- What? Afraid I'd kick your butt?

- You can kick my butt any time you want.

Angel kissed Buffy's softly again.

- You are a pretty strong chick.

- I took self-defenses classes back in high school. I liked it and just continued to train. It helps to keep me fit. One year ago, I couldn't defend myself at first because I couldn't believe Spike did that. I didn't expect him to do such a thing. The shock took some seconds and when I tasted my own blood in my mouth I reacted. I threw everything around at him so he'd not get to me and would stay away from the door. It worked.

Angel kissed Buffy again and wrapped his arms around her.

- I have to go.

- huh huh.

- Just take some coffee and sleep. Tomorrow everything will be good. I'll call.

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Buffy bid farewell to Angel at the door after a long passionate kiss and went to her bedroom where she found Willow sat in her bed.

- You. Have. To. Tell. Me. Everything!