Previously: 'I didn't sing' Angelina stated.

'That was my attempt to make you feel better' he admitted.

'Thanks ever so' She grumbled as she picked up her trackies and began pulling them on.

'They are a nice red though' Lorne confessed.

'Shut up!' Angelina called after him as Lorne walked to the bathroom.

'Today might be all right' thought Lorne.

At least, he hoped it would be. Angelina's underwear had just been a bright red highlight.

Chapter 33

Not much changed after that. We all lived together in peace. Even Angel and I. we figured it was best to stay out of each other's way, but we were as polite as possible to each other. Only because Buffy was in the room at the time or if Lorne got upset by how we were treating each other.

Willow was back and she was 'normal' again, with no one but Angelina and I knowing where she had been. She felt bad keeping secrets from Buffy but she didn't want to burden her, when there was troubling already brewing.

There had been an increase in vampire attacks, no pattern was emerging and this put the whole gang on edge.

Halloween was fast approaching and Buffy was worried that another random attack would occur Halloween night.

Angel and I tried to explain that it was to cliché for vampire tastes, but she wouldn't listen. She had a feeling that would be when they would strike.

Buffy, Angelina, Peaches and I would head down to the store and train whenever we could. I thoroughly enjoyed this, as I occasionally got to beat the crap out of old Peaches, much to Angelina's delight. She didn't like him that much, after the understandable, but very 'un Angel' like way he had snapped at Lorne. It had left Lorne shaken for days. Angel didn't notice this much, but everyone else had; especially Angelina. It was funny to watch her grease Angel off. I reckon if she got a chance to try and stake him, she would. Even if she were to die straight after; she'd still stake him.

Lorne had noticed her sudden hostility towards his former boss and had tried to tell her it was alright, but deep down I think he was glad someone cared so much. they'd gotten really close over the time. So had Carly, Candice and Dawn.

When Candice wasn't trying to eat people, and Carly wasn't wreaking vengeance, they were inseparable. They were always somewhere. Either gossiping on the couch in Buffy's apartment, or pissing Angel off in the store, it was god damn hilarious to watch, but sometimes they just got in the way. They were getting better at that though. They tried to be as out of the way as possible; especially when it was 'Buffy's planning time'. She would gather the whole gang round a table and discuss areas vampires could strike, at what times and when it was best to patrol there.

God it was cute to watch her take charge.

At the current time, just Buffy and I were in the training room. Angel had gone to patrol the sewers, Dawn and her friends were at Buffy's, Willow was hanging out with Angelina and Lorne; no doubt shopping and Giles, Xander and Anya were outside running the store.

Buffy swung her leg round to aim a kick at my middle; I spun to avoid the foot. It was like a dance, only with kicks and punches and an added bonus; the winner got to have sex with the loser. That was the way we played it.

A hand came flying towards my face; I swatted it away and threw a punch of my own. Buffy ducked and swung out with a leg; I jumped and struck out with mine. I hit her in the stomach.

Buffy grunted and stumbled back a few steps, but within seconds was flying kicks and punches my way. One kick she aimed at my groin and I dodged, making her miss. I spun around behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, throwing both of us to the ground.

We lay there for a while, Buffy getting her breath back; me just enjoying not having to move yet.

Buffy tried to sit up, I wouldn't let her though. I kept her pinned to my chest.

'Spike, let me up'

'Sorry pet, I won the game'

'Did not'

I rolled on top of her and pinned her legs and arms to her side. 'Have now' I smiled a crooked smile.

Buffy laughed 'Ok you win. Now or later?'

'Hmm… I pick now pet' my hand sliding up her thigh.

We were just about to get serious when there was a knock at the door and Faith strode in

'Hey B!' upon seeing us on the ground she then said with a laugh 'is now a bad time? Cos I can come back later'

I rolled off Buffy. She'd owe me later.

'Faith! How did you get here?' Buffy's cheeks flushed a light red.

'Plane, how else?' Faith pulled a face. Maybe she didn't like flying?

Buffy was standing by now and straightening her clothes. Guess it was time for the 'Big Bad' to get up too. No point lying here if I wasn't getting anything.

As I stood and brushed stuff off my clothes I heard someone else's laugh in the store. Who were the others talking to? It couldn't be…

I strode out to investigate and there I found Robin, joking around with Xander and Giles. Anya was nowhere to be seen. Vengeance no doubt.

Robin stopped at my appearance 'Hello Spike' he was polite but you could see the hatred burn in his eyes.

'Wood' two could play at that game. He tried to kill me too.

Faith and Buffy walked out a moment later, Buffy quickly catching Faith up on the vampire kills, etc.

Faith and Robin together explained that Robin had survived, obviously, but was still healing and wouldn't be much se in a fight. He looked fine, but under his shirt, I could smell antiseptic of some kind and could see a thick white bandage. That wound would take ages to heal.

We were all listening to Faith and Robin's story when Angel walked through the back door. A sewer entry was just behind the store, so it was easy access for both him and me, though I preferred to run with a blanket.

'Let me guess, another vampire?' Robin said. 'Buffy aren't you meant to be staking those?' he joked.

Rage flickered across Peaches' face, but it was gone as quick as it came.

'Nah. I'm special' Angel retorted. He reported to Buffy that he hadn't found anything of interest down there. No dead people, nothing. They all seemed to believe him, but I had a feeling he was hiding something. Something he didn't want to get out.

The bell over the door rang and Dawn, Carly and Candice walked in.

'Faith!' Dawn cried. She walked up and hugged the slayer glad to see her safe. She greeted her principle and introduced them to Carly and Candice. The girls were polite and explained a bit about themselves when Robin, who had been joking at the time, asked them if they were demons. He looked surprised when answered with a 'yes'.

After a few stories, Giles filled in Faith and Robin on the patrolling routines and weapons they had with them at the moment.

Dawn piped in with 'Angelina's a slayer too!' and we then had to explain to them about her and Lorne. Robin seemed troubled by the amount of demons we had for company.

I looked out the window. Late afternoon. Soon I would be able to walk the streets.

Dawn asked Buffy if she could stay over at Candice's with Carly. Stone and Bonnie had said it was ok and in turn, so did Buffy.

'Ok so most faces I know here, who are the other new ones?' Robin enquired.

'Well there's Carly, Candice, Lorne, Angelina and Angel' Dawn explained.

'Angel? What kind of name is Angel?' Carly scoffed.

'Angel would be shortened version of Angelus' a voice sounded from behind her.

Carly turned half expecting to see a girl standing there, another slayer perhaps, but that wasn't the case. Standing in front of her was Angel in all his broody glory. He didn't seem to impressed with her either. she had after all just dissed his name, which I did frequently, but I didn't matter.

'Oh so you're Angel!' she said.

'Yeah, I'm Angel' his eyes narrowed. He really wasn't happy. It was laughable really.

'I see you every now and again and I never knew your name was Angel. My bad' Carly admitted.

Ok I couldn't help myself then, I had to laugh. Angel turned his broody glare towards me and explained to Buffy that he was going to go back to the apartment; if anyone wanted him, that's where he or she could find the sod.

He turned on his heel and vanished back down into the sewers.

Carly turned back around 'Oops'

Everyone laughed. It really was funny, even though at Angel's expense.

'I really did think Angel was a slayer name' Carly admitted.

'Don't worry pet. Angel's girly, the name fits him well' I had tears coming on.

We laughed and joked and talked for a while, and then Dawn and her friends said that they were leaving so Dawn could grab some things. Buffy didn't like Dawn wandering around in the dark and so she let them go.

Faith also said she was leaving, only to find somewhere for her and Robin to stay and then she was leaving him there and coming back in time for patrol. There was no way she was going to miss that.

I was hungry so I also left, in order to swing by the butchers for tea. Had to keep my strength up if I was to go on patrol and 'wrestle' with Buffy.