I'm so sorry for the delay! Nothing at all was coming to mind until I finally just sat down and wrote and hoped for the best. And here's what I come up with. And to all of the people who loved the Barbie scene, I have to say, Love-el-ly Joy came up with that idea for somewhere else in the story and, while I went with something else for the scene in question, I decided I wouldn't rest until I could put a Spike-plays-with-Barbie's scene in the story! So many thanks to her! This was initially going to be all one chapter, but it got super long (much longer than I had intended) so I split it up into two. Not to worry though! Because I already have what is now Ch 10 written and I took so long to update this one, you'll get both posted tonight. Once again, thanks for reading and reviewing!

Oh - some suggestive thoughts going on at the beginning of this chapter. Nothing major though, still Teen rating.

"Thank you," said Buffy reaching for a towel.

"For what?" asked Angel, grabbing his own towel to wipe off his torso.

"Well everything, really, but I was talking about the Tai Chi sessions most recently," she said, pointedly not looking at his chest. Torso. Torso was more clinical. Detached. Torsos weren't all sweaty and muscular and… oddly delicious looking. Chests, on the other hand…

God she needed to kill something. She clearly wasn't burning enough energy.

"Are you okay?" asked Angel.

"What? No. Yeah. What?"

"You look flushed. I thought you were doing better."

She blinked a few times, then shook her head to clear it. "No. Sorry, I'm fine. All better. But I forgot how… nice… Tai Chi could be."

"Me too," he said looking down at her. Caught up in the moment, they looked at each other, that old connection sizzling back to life.

Her breath caught. She wanted to lay her head down on that (very comfortable, she knew from experience) chest. She wanted to grab his head and bring his mouth down to hers. She wanted to trace his abs. With her tongue. His eyes darkened as he looked at her. God, she wanted-

"Lookin' good," said Gunn, barging in with a smirk, making the couple jump apart. Fred and Spike followed behind him. "Very…"

"Fluid? Graceful?" supplied Fred.

"Poncy? Lame?" Spike put in.

Gunn chuckled as Angel glared at Spike. "Since when did this room get so much traffic?" he muttered.

"I'm just checking up on Buffy here," said Fred.

That got her (admittedly wandering) attention. "What? I'm not a patient anymore!"

"I know," said Fred, " but you get the funniest look on your face when I mention it."

Buffy scowled. "I used to like you, Fred," she said, handing Angel his t-shirt.

"Is there a reason you guys are here?" asked Angel, taking his shirt and slipping it over his head. Buffy looked on in mourning as his chest and abs disappeared from view.

Spike smirked. "Yeah, we came to stop you guys from jumping all over each other."

Both Angel and Buffy glared.

"Watch it, Spike. I haven't had a good slay in way too long."

"Okay, but seriously, you said to let you know if anyone calls?" said Gunn.

"Yeah," said Buffy, "Who was it?"

"The caller ID said 'Riley.'"

Angel glowered. Spike wasn't much better. "Any reason you're calling your ex honey?"

Buffy rolled her eyes at both of them. "Yes, actually. Your little puppet show the other night made me think of it."

"Good going," Angel muttered to Spike.

"It's not my fault!" Spike protested.

"Since there's not much info on the Doo-dad demon," she said, grinning as Angel twitched, "it got me wondering if it was some kind of exotic demon. Since Riley works all over South America and whatnot, I thought he might be able to help."

Gunn whistled. "It's like some sort of convention of your exes."

"Some of my slayers work with him, as long as everything's aboveboard and there's no experimentation going on," she said with a look to Spike. "Helps me keep tabs on them to make sure a Maggie Walsh situation doesn't happen again, and, honestly, it's a good opportunity for the girls."

"That's… kind of brilliant, actually," said Angel reluctantly.

"I do what I can," she said with a wink, before sobering again. "Two of the slayers on his team trained with Allison. If they can help, I know they'd want in."

"Unfortunately, it turns out they can't," said Fred.

"You answered it?"

"Yeah, sorry I just didn't think I'd make it to you in time and you said he was hard to get a hold of and…"

"No, that's fine. Thanks. What did he say?"

"They haven't heard of anything called a Dankaar, but they'll be keeping an eye out for any information," said Fred. "He also offered to come with some of the slayers to help if you need any help with the fighting."

"She doesn't." said Angel.

"Got that right," said Spike.

Buffy shuddered at the thought of Angel, Spike and Riley all in one place. Just add Xander and total chaos would ensue. "I hope you told him no?"

"I told him muscle wasn't the problem here, but you would call him if you felt differently."

"Fred, I think I like you again," Buffy said with a smile.

Fred chuckled in response. "I think Charles and I are going to grab some lunch at the cafeteria if you wanna come."

Buffy glanced at Angel, then took a deep breath. "Actually, I promised Anne I'd get some ice cream with her. But first, I need some time alone with a punching bag. I really need to beat something up."

Spike smirked knowingly. "You know, that might only make it worse, luv," he murmured in her ear. She elbowed him sharply in the ribs. Angel, having heard it all, just smirked.

"Oh man!" Buffy all but moaned, tasting her ice cream. She tucked her wallet back in her pocket. "I almost forgot about this place!"

"You can travel the world, but you'll never beat it," Anne agreed.

"Mmm, and I can vouch for that," said Buffy eagerly. "To two hot chicks, gorging on ice cream and saving the world!"

"Buffy, you're the one with the world saving experience."

Buffy arched her brows. "You think you don't?"

Anne just looked at her questioningly.

"I've talked to some of those kids at the shelter. I'd say you've saved some of their worlds."

Anne just smiled at her. "Okay, so I bribed you with ice cream. You have to spill."

"Spill?"

"How are things with Angel?"

Buffy groaned. "God I almost jumped his bones earlier today. We were working out and he didn't have a shirt, and dear god, I was about to tackle him to the ground right then and there."

Anne smiled slyly, making Buffy shake her head vehemently.

"No! That's not something to smile about. Bad, remember? Heartache, pain, soullessness?" said Buffy.

Anne frowned. "You'd think, with all the crazy new power people on our side have these days, someone would find a way to fix that."

Buffy frowned. "I… yeah, you'd think."

Anne inwardly smiled. "What else was keeping you apart again?"

"It was… I don't really remember. Sunshine and picnics were mentioned at one point. I just remember a lot of pain." She scowled at Anne. "Hey, you trying to play matchmaker? I thought you were the one who told me to develop without a man."

Anne smiled innocently. "I was just wondering!"

"Uh huh."

Anne sobered. "I think you each have your own… tasks to perform right now, but you have a real connection. That means something."

"Yeah," said Buffy on a sigh. "Someth-"

She was cut off as someone ran right into her.

"Oops, sorry!" said the kid.

"Lucas?" said Anne. "Hey, how are you? I haven't seen you around the shelter for a while."

"Oh, you know, doing fine," he said with a too-bright-to-be-genuine grin.

"Okay," said Anne, doubtfully. "Well if you need anything, let me know."

"Yeah, will do. Bye!" said Lucas before running off.

Anne sighed. "I worry about that one."

"Why's that?" Buffy frowned.

"He was such a bright kid. His sister was all but raising him, and they were in a tight spot, but then she got sick."

"How bad?"

"Leukemia," said Anne. She sighed. "We did everything we could to find her medical help. Lucas's whole world revolved around taking care of her." Anne looked down. "She died about three weeks ago. Lucas… well he hasn't been the same since. He blows off school, started getting into trouble, and lately, stopped coming to the shelter."

"Understandable," said Buffy in sympathy.

"It is, but no one can reach him. Ruining his life isn't the way to honor his sister's memory."

Buffy stuck her hands in her pockets as she walked. "It's a tough age to…" she trailed off, searching her pockets.

"What is it?" said Anne.

"My wallet! It was in here when we paid for…" she trailed off as she looked in the direction Lucas had gone.

Comprehension dawning on Anne, she sighed. "Oh no. I'm so sorry, Buffy. I'll find him."

Buffy started to agree, before she abruptly changed her mind. "You know, Anne, let me get this one."

Anne looked at her doubtfully, making Buffy chuckle.

"I'm not gonna go all Slayer on him, don't worry. You're better with the whole 'troubled kids' thing, but I think with this one…"

Anne nodded in understanding as Buffy took off.

It was only a minute before Buffy caught up to the kid and tackled him to the ground.

"Hey, what's your problem?" the kid whined.

"My wallet," she said tersely.

"Did you lose it?" Lucas asked innocently.

"Look kid, I know it sucks to lose someone, but you can't just go around stealing to cope. Now give me back my wallet." Buffy inwardly cringed. Smooth. Real smooth.

"I didn't-"

"Don't play innocent with me. Turn out your pockets."

"Look, lady," said Lucas, sounding closer to 19 than his 12 years. "I don't know what-"

"Okay, you've got till the count of three to either turn out your pockets or give me back my wallet before I get violent. One… Two…" She advanced menacingly. "Th-"

"Here!" said the kid, thrusting the wallet back to her.

She took it and looked at him for a minute. "Okay, I'm going to give you a break this time because I know how you feel, but-" Wrong thing to say, she thought as his whole body stiffened at her words.

"You don't know!" Lucas almost screamed. "You… you can't… She was my sister! How could you… I…" He paced angrily a few times. "I just… I want…"

"You want to rail at the world. You want to scream and yell at the world until someone listens. The universe hurt you so badly and you just want to hurt it right back, but there's nothing to hurt, because there's no one to blame. And you cling to your anger and frustration because part of you is terrified that if you don't have that, you'll just stop. You'll just go all catatonic. And everyone's telling you it'll get better in time and you just want to hit them for their empty platitudes… for not getting it."

Lucas was quiet for a moment. "Does it?"

"What?"

"Get better in time?"

Buffy took a deep breath. "Yes and no. You learn to live with the pain and eventually, you can think of her without feeling like your insides were torn out. It's never easy, but it gets manageable."

"And until then?" said Lucas, sounding like the 12 year old boy he was.

"Until then," said Buffy slowly, "you focus on putting one foot in front of the other."

They sat in silence for a moment. "I'm sorry I took your wallet."

Buffy smiled. "Alright. Let's get you back to Anne's."

Lucas opened his mouth to reply, but no sound escaped his lips. Instead, his eyes went wide as he stared at something just past Buffy's shoulder. Buffy turned around just in time to catch a fist to the face. Unprepared for the blow, she fell to the ground.

Her attacker advanced at her, and realization dawned in her eyes as she stared at the demon. She quickly glanced at Lucas to find him still standing there, frozen.

"Lucas!" she hissed desperately to get his attention. His eyes snapped to hers. "Tell Anne," she told him. The boy nodded and ran off.

She turned to face her attacker, staring into the insolent face of Kennedy.