"So how many apocalypses does this make? Apocalypse-sis." Xander leaned back against the back of Giles' couch, crossed his arms and titled his head back, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "Apocalyptic event," he said with finality. "And if you stop five, is the sixth one a freebie? Plus how should some of them be counted? Like, the initial thing at The Bronze to unleash The Master and the final Buffy-died-for-a-minute-and-then-kicked-undead-butt. Was that two separate end of the world deals, or one that was just really stretched out over a long time?"

Willow gave her friend a look that was both impressed and disturbed. "Xan, you've really given this a lot of thought."

"The first time he's ever given anything a lot of thought and may he never do so again," Giles mumbled from his chair.

A ding was heard from the kitchen, and Buffy came walking out, carrying a big bowl of popcorn. "World saving snacks have arrived," she announced.

"Do not get butter on the upholstery," Giles pleaded.

"That smells delicious," Spike said.

"If you are hinting we should untie you, not happening," Angel said, barely sparing a glance in Spike's direction. Spike was currently tied to one of Giles' kitchen chairs in between the couch and the occasional chairs.

"Don't bloody see why not. I helped save the world."

Angel's mouth set in a hard line as he glared at him. "You almost ended the world. You were told not to throw the demon into the Hellmouth and you did anyway. Buffy had to jump in after it and she could have died. So, excuse me if I'm not feeling very charitable."

"Honest mistake. Can't help that I got excited over some violence."

After putting the popcorn bowl on the coffee table, Buffy had snuggled onto Angel's lap, and she could feel his body tense underneath her. "Leave it," she whispered in his ear. "I don't think Giles would appreciate his furniture getting destroyed."

Willow, in an effort to relieve the tensions, said, "It was nice to see the old high school, don't you think? Although it felt smaller."

Xander gave Willow a look of incredulity. "Probably because all the walls were gone and the floor was covered with roast giant demon snake. And on that happy note, I'm heading out."

Angel, Buffy, and Willow stood up to leave also, while Giles glared at Spike. "Are you taking Spike back with you?" Giles said to Buffy and Angel, a hopeful note in his voice.

"Giles, we did our fair share of Spike sitting. It's Xander's turn to be tortured."

"Hey," Spike's voice rang out. "What are you lot implying?'

"I don't have a lot of space," Xander complained.

"Well, I have plans," said Buffy, "And my plans have been on hold for the last week due to big ears over here."

"Plans, eh," said Spike with a smirk. "Sure I can't come over to your place, gramps?"

"NO!" stated Buffy and Angel in unison.

"I'll help get him over to your place, Xander. Anya may not mind that much." Angel was hoping that would help soothe Xander.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Xander grumbled.

Buffy decided to take pity on her friend. "Spike, I'm sure there's a nice crypt you can stay at, instead of crashing at Xander's."

"How am I supposed to keep up with Passions?"

"Welcome to the cruel world, Spike," said Buffy.

—-

Buffy was waiting in front of the lit fireplace when Angel returned. "I can't believe Spike is finally gone."

"So you said you had plans," Angel smirked.

"Well, now that that noisy pest is gone, I was thinking we could watch some TV."

"TV?" Angel's eyebrows lifted as he took a step over toward Buffy.

"Or maybe read a book."

"Book. I see." He took another step.

"Oh, I know. Now that the first floor bathroom is finally empty, I can clean it."

Angel was now directly in front of Buffy, his hands on her waist, under her shirt. He bent down so that his mouth brushed her ear. "You sure you want to clean the bathroom?"

Buffy giggled. "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, now that the bleached menace is gone, want to see how loud you can scream?"

Her lips were already seeking his out when she murmured, "I'm planning on making that screaming thing a two way deal."

—-

Body twisting until her back hit the armrest of the couch, Buffy's legs lifted off the floor, her bare feet landing in Angel's lap. Immediately, his large hand wrapped around both ankles and pushed her legs back to the floor. "Buffy," he admonished, "I'm trying to whittle stakes here."

She pursed her lips, eyes anime big, her very best pout. One leg was now bent, foot under her rear, the other leg extended again, on top of Angel's thigh as she proceeded to move it slowly upwards. "Can't you do that later?"

"Stakes are not created by magic." Before he could say anything more, there was a banging at the door. Sticking her tongue out at him first, Buffy opened the door. "Willow," she said. "Nice to see you, but why are you here? Don't tell me there's a crisis. We just had an apocalypse two days ago."

"Did you forget our study date?"

"Study date? Will, it's winter break."

"And you have an English paper due that I know you haven't started. Also, remember, Psych test on the day we come back?"

Buffy pushed her hair back in annoyance. "There should be a law against that."

Angel looked up from the half finished stake in his fist. "Want me to drive you two back over?"

"Thanks," said Willow.

As Buffy gathered up her textbooks, Angel headed over to the broom closet and pulled out the vacuum. Plugging it in, he quickly cleaned up the wood shavings he had just created. Willow looked on in surprise, then turned toward Buffy, who sported an expression somewhere between amusement and resignation.

Buffy shrugged. "I know. Beneath that hunky exterior, Felix Unger is lurking."

"Who's that?" asked Angel, his tone indicating he suspected he was being made fun of. "I don't know why it's a big deal that I like a clean space."

"Willow, if in twenty years, I'm found murdered, assume Angel did me in because I squeezed the toothpaste from the middle."

"I would never kill you," Angel said, a hurt expression evident. He looked at Buffy for a second longer, his expression changing to a radiant grin. Buffy couldn't help it, her heart beat faster. He was just too damn pretty. "Light torture only," he said, his grin even wider.

"See what I have to put up with?"

Willow simply shook her head. "Let's go, you two, before I wind up in a diabetic coma from your flirting."

Angel slipped his arm around Buffy's waist as they left the mansion. "Was that flirting?" He mumbled into her hair. "I don't think that was flirting." He gave her a quick kiss as they headed to the car. "That's flirting."

As they approached the library, Willow leaned forward from the back seat. "Can we head to the dorm first? I just realized I forgot something."

"No problem," Angel said, as he smoothly turned down a different road so he could park closer to Willow's building.

As they walked in the building, Willow stopped short next to the third floor commons room. "Do you feel that?"

"Feel what?" asked Buffy.

Willow placed her hand against the door. "Mystical energy is pouring out of here. Something isn't right."

"OK, stand back," Buffy said, as she and Angel pulled out stakes. Buffy squared her shoulders, pushed open the door…

And stood frozen as everyone in the room screamed, "Happy Birthday!" The couches and chairs in the room had been pushed to the sides. On the opposite wall from the door, several long tables had been set up with drinks and food. There were streamers, balloons and confetti everywhere. Buffy found herself unable to speak for a moment.

"You knew?" she asked Angel.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think I told you I'd rather create stakes. I knew Willow was showing up any second."

She turned to Willow as the three of them walked into the room. "Does this mean no paper and no test?"

Willow sighed. "Sorry, those are both true. I was going to suggest an actual study session for tomorrow."

"Fine," Buffy said with a put upon expression. She headed over to the food table. "Xander! Anya! Hi" She grabbed a handful of chips.

"Congratulations on making it another year without being murdered by demons," Anya said primly.

"Ah. Thank you?"

"So, Buff. Ready for some birthday punches?" Buffy gave Xander a death glare. "I meant birthday punch. A nice glass of fruit combo goodness."

Buffy and Angel headed over to where Giles was sitting, on one of the couches. Giles stood and gave Buffy an awkward hug. "Happy birthday, my dear." At that moment, a dance tune began blaring out of the speakers and Buffy perked up, her posture mimicking a dog that had just scented a rabbit.

"Go dance," Angel told her.

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all." He watched as Buffy, Willow and Xander began to bounce around together.

"It looks like Buffy is having fun. She seems happier over all," Giles observed.

"Better than the last birthday where you betrayed her. Or the one prior where I betrayed her," Angel said, stone faced.

Giles didn't take the bait. Instead, he simply said, "Buffy said you got a job."

Angel leaned back against the couch, his posture relaxing a bit. "A small ad agency that does work for non profits." He couldn't help the pride in his voice. It was helping people, differently than his night job, of course, but still helping. And it was his. It was the first time he ever did something on his own, not manipulated by some other force. Not that he was sorry about being manipulated to help Buffy.

"And what are you planning to do when your job conflicts with your other activities?" Giles' tone was non-threatening, friendly even. But you didn't survive two hundred and fifty years as a vampire without being an expert in body language. Angel knew that Giles was insinuating that he wouldn't put slaying or Buffy first, and his body stiffened as he forced air in and out, as he opened his mouth.

He had only calmed down slightly, his fists clenched when he turned to the other man and in as pleasant a voice as he could muster said, "So, now that Buffy no longer requires a watcher, what have you been doing with yourself? Sitting around?" He held Giles' gaze for a moment, and then got up and stormed over to the food table, where he shoved something in his mouth, not even looking to see what it was.

"Angel?"

He swallowed (based on what was left on the table, it was a bruschetta), grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth and smiled at Willow. Her face was red and was covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Obviously she had just finished on the dance floor.

"I want you to meet a friend of mine. Tara, this is Angel, Buffy's boyfriend. Angel, Tara."

"Pleased to meet you." The other girl gave him a tiny smile, dipping her head forward, which caused her face to be swallowed by her hair.

"Tara's a good witch. I mean she's good at witchy stuff. But also a good witch." Willow giggled a bit at her wordplay.

His waist was encircled as Buffy sidled up to him, picking her head up for a quick kiss which he happily bestowed. "Having a good time?" he asked.

"Mmm."

As he lifted his head, he realized that Tara was staring at the two of them. "Is something wrong?"

Tara ducked her head again. "Sorry," she mumbled.

Angel looked at her carefully. There was definitely something she had seen. "Tara? What is it?"

The young woman shifted her weight from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable. "Your auras. When you're together, they merge and it looks like a rainbow is surrounding both of you. I've never seen that before." The words were said haltingly, as if she was expecting them to be angry.

Instead Buffy squealed in delight. "We're Skittles."

Angel wasn't completely sure what Skittles were, but a rainbow sounded nice, so he smiled back at Tara. "What about when we're apart?"

"Pure white. Really bright."

Angel stared at her stunned. "My aura is bright white?" Without thinking about it, he stepped forward and clasped one of Tara's small hands between both of his. "Thank you," his voice thick with emotion. "That's…just, thank you".

—-

"We should do this more often," said Willow. She and Buffy were seated across from each other around the mansion's dining table. Willow looked over at Buffy's meal. "Don't you think you should be eating something a little healthier?"

"This is perfectly healthy. Fruit Loops with milk and two slices of bacon. Dairy, grains, fruit and meat. The entire food pyramid. Meanwhile, you're having yogurt with strawberries."

"Pretty sure you're having grease and sugar," Willow mumbled under her breath.

"Say something, Will?"

"Just wondering if you enjoyed your birthday surprise party."

Buffy's smile was as bright as the sun. "Totally awesome. But you guys shouldn't have gone to all that trouble."

"No trouble, " Willow said with a dismissive wave. "Everybody helped. Even Anya."

"Anya? Really?"

"I think there was some hijinx first." Willow shuddered slightly, and her overall expression was a bit judgmental. "No worries. I cleaned all the tables with bleach." Willow leaned over toward Buffy and said in a low, conspiratorial voice, "What do you think Angel is going to do for your real birthday?"

"I tried to get him to spill but he wouldn't budge."

"A true man of mystery," Willow intoned.

They were putting their breakfast dishes in the sink, when a loud pounding interrupted them.

As Buffy opened the door, Xander and Anya rushed in. "Buff, Will, Buffster." Xander's hair was disheveled, his shirt misbuttoned and his breathing was heavy. Buffy prayed it wasn't because he and Anya had been up to something.

"A demon broke into my apartment," Xander continued.

"Xander was extremely manly and saved me," Anya beamed. "But he refused to take advantage of our heightened adrenaline and insisted we come straight here." She glared at Buffy. "Fix this."

Willow was now standing next to Buffy, plainly worried. "What did it look like?"

"Big, ugly and demony," said Xander.

"We need to head over to Giles. He'll know what to do," Buffy said, as she shrugged on a coat.

Twenty minutes later all four stared in alarm at the door to Giles' apartment, as it had been ripped off its hinges. They worriedly stomped up the stairs noting the destroyed bannister, the holes in the wall, and the general obvious destruction.

"Giles." Willow's face crumbled.

"It looks like the demon may be targeting us. First Xander, now Giles." Buffy looked at the other three in turn. "We're going to find him."

Anya picked up a shredded shirt. "In what condition?"

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm going to get Angel. He might be able to tell what kind of demon it is, so Xander and Anya, try to remember as many details as possible. All of you go back to the mansion, it's safe there."

Buffy sprinted to the office park where the ad agency Angel worked at was located. There was a series of one story buildings, and it took her a few minutes to find the one that had a door for the agency. As she walked in, a young woman sitting at a receptionist's desk smiled at her. "Can I help you?"

"I need to speak with-" Buffy almost said Angel, until she remembered they didn't know him by that name. "Liam," she continued. "I'm his girlfriend. It's an emergency."

The receptionist nodded, her face creased in concern. She walked down a short hallway into a large open room. There were four desks along with white boards, various posters on the walls, computers and other paraphernalia. Buffy only had eyes for Angel, who was standing at one of the desks talking to someone. "Angel," she said, practically flying over to him. The receptionist followed.

"Buffy? What's wrong?"

"It's…Niles, our cat."

"Our…cat?" Angel sounded very confused.

"Yes, our cat Niles." Buffy stretched out the name. "He's not in the house. I think a demon cat got him."

"A demon cat?" the receptionist asked.

"She means feral cat, right?" Angel said, having finally caught on.

"Exactly. A very large feral cat."

"You better go then. If something happened to Lulu, I'd be beside myself."

"Thanks, Melody," said Angel as he headed over to his desk and grabbed his jacket. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He slung his arm over Buffy's shoulders as they left.

Once they were at his car, he let go of Buffy and turned to face her. "What happened?"

"Xander and Anya were attacked in his place this morning by a demon. We went to talk to Giles about it, but," and here her voice wavered, "his apartment was trashed and he was gone."

"We'll figure it out."

Buffy's voice was steel once more. "I know."

—-

"Describe the demon." As soon as they had returned to the mansion, Angel had gone upstairs and retrieved a sketchpad and pencil. He was now seated at the kitchen table, across from Xander and Anya.

"Tall. Your height," said Xander.

"Curvy horns on the head," added Anya.

"Think ram. And very fuzzy ears."

"Tan skin with spots."

Angel bent down and began sketching. "Like this," he said, pushing the pad over to them after a few minutes.

"Yes. That's it exactly," exclaimed Xander.

Buffy and Willow crowded around to see.

"Fyarl demon," Angel said with a frown. "Very violent and strong. Not very bright though. They tend to be hired muscle. If it's attacking the scoobies, it's someone else's plan."

"How do we kill it? And how do we find the puppet master?" said Buffy.

"Silver kills it but our weapons are steel. We'll have to get something."

Willow had on her deep-thought face when she suddenly brightened. "Check the magic box! Maybe whoever is controlling it is using magic."

"Good thinking, Will. Angel and I will head over. The rest of you stay here."

As Buffy and Angel headed back to his car, she asked, "Can we stop back at Giles' place for a moment? Maybe there's a clue."

As they pulled up, Buffy gasped. "Giles' car is missing. The demon must have taken it."

Angel made a face. "I guess a Fyarl could drive, but why would it take that car?"

"What do you mean? It's a demon. It stole a car."

"There's a Porsche 911 two spaces down, that's why. One is an ugly machine that barely runs, and the other is a precision engineered thing of beauty."

Buffy snorted in amusement. "OK, car guy. I'll let the demon know that it offended your automotive sensibilities before I kill it."

They headed into Giles' apartment and took a look around. "Anything?" Buffy asked.

"Just that it looks like it was pretty frustrated. Giles put up a hell of a fight."

Moments later, they walked into The Magic Box. Buffy stormed over to the woman behind the counter. "We need to see your credit card receipts," she practically snarled.

The woman crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "That is not happening."

Buffy was about to lunge across the counter when Angel put a restraining hand on her arm. He opened his wallet and flipped it open for a moment, then closed it back up. "High priority investigation, ma'm," he said in clipped tones. "Could be life or death."

"Why didn't you say that," said the woman, clearly exasperated. She pulled out a drawer with the receipts and handed it over. "There's a table in the back."

"Sorry," said Angel, still emotionless. "My partner here is a rookie and gets a bit over excited."

Buffy tried her best to act contrite.

Once in the back, Buffy whispered, "What did you show her?"

"My PI license. If you show it fast, it looks like a police badge."

"You have an actual PI license?"

Angel's eyes shifted to the right then left as he lowered his voice."Not exactly," he said with a conspiratorial smirk. He split the receipts and they began to look through them.

Less than five minutes passed before Buffy held up a receipt. "Bingo. Ethan Rayne."

"Isn't he the guy from Giles' past who tried to kill you a couple of years ago?"

"A few other times too," she said sourly. "We need to figure out where he's holed up."

"I might be able to help." He pulled out his cell phone and then stared at it blankly. He looked at Buffy sheepishly. "How do I find someone I want to call?"

Buffy couldn't help but shake her head at Angel's complete incompetence when it came to technology. "Here, see. Press the phone icon. Then hit contacts. Then scroll until you get to the name you want. Then you can just tap the name and the phone will dial the number."

Angel watched carefully, then grinned when he managed to find what he was looking for. "Hey, Kate. It's Angel here." He nodded, obviously taking in what the caller was saying. "Yeah, it's kind of a long story." Buffy watched as Angel rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm human now. Yeah, I guess not that long of a story. I can fill in the details some other time but right now I have a favor to ask. I'm in Sunnydale and it looks like a dangerous sorcerer is running around. Can you possibly trace his credit card usage and tell me where he's staying? Name is Ethan Rayne." Angel proceeded to spell out Ethan's name and then waited, fingers unconsciously drumming on the table. Moments later he straightened up in his seat. "Thanks Kate, I owe you one."

"Who was that?"

"Kate Lockley. She's a cop."

"Why would you know a cop?"

"P.I., remember?" Angel was obviously miffed. "Ethan is holed up at the Sunnydale Motor Inn."

Buffy made a disgusted face. "That place is a dump."

They brought the drawer back up to the front. "Thank you for your help, " Angel said. "You may have just saved a life." The woman preened at Angel's words.

"Do you have anything made of silver?" Buffy asked.

The woman thought for a second, went to a cabinet behind her and took out a plastic package. 'Werewolf protection' it proudly announced. Buffy's eyes narrowed. "You shouldn't be selling things that could kill a werewolf."

"She's a big animal rights activist," Angel apologized. It was a very small knife, closer to a dinner knife than a dagger, and about as sharp. Buffy figured it would still do the job. Plus, not a lot of choice. "How much?"

"Twenty-nine ninety-five. Plus tax."

"Highway robbery," she muttered as Angel pulled out a few bills.

As they got into the car, Buffy glanced back at the store. "Did you see what this place is taking in on a daily basis? It's no wonder someone else is always willing to take it over, even though the prior owner was murdered." The words had scarcely left her lips when she remembered exactly who had murdered one of the prior owners. Angel's mouth was pressed into a hard line. She almost told him that what had happened then had nothing to do with him now, but she knew it would fall on deaf ears. Instead she reached out and grabbed the hand closest to her and squeezed it. He tensed even further and then gradually relaxed, as he turned his face toward her. Inclining her head, her hand caressed his cheek and drew him closer, kissing him softly. When she withdrew, she could see that his eyes were no longer shadowed, at least for now.

—-

The motel was somehow even shabbier and sketchier looking than when Faith was holed up here. Out of the car, they both looked around, trying to decide their next steps, when they heard a crash. Running, they found a room with the door flung open and a Fyarl demon with one hand firmly around Ethan Rayne's neck, slowly choking the life out of him.

One punch to the jaw from Buffy, and the demon let go of Ethan and turned on Buffy instead. Ethan slid to the floor, blinked a few times, and then stood shaking, back pressed against the wall as he tried to sneak out. He went two steps before he was looking at the very solid form of Angel.

"Don't know if you remember me," said Angel, pleasantly. "I remember you." His hand shot out and gripped Ethan's shoulder like a vise. "You're not going anywhere." Ethan relaxed under Angel's grip, then tried to twist out of it, his leg shooting out in an effort to kick Angel. Angel immediately responded by punching Ethan in the nose, causing him to sink to the floor, holding his bleeding, broken nose.

"My nobe, my nobe," Ethan moaned.

"Well, that was bracing," Angel grinned.

Buffy, meanwhile, wasn't getting very far with the Fyarl demon. No matter how hard she punched, it would get back up, a demonic version of a Weeble. Finally, he tossed her across the room, and Buffy came roaring back, getting him in a scissor kick hold. Reaching in her pocket, she took out the small knife, and with tremendous force, rammed it into his chest.

The demon made an angry noise and then gave her an annoyed look. Her eyebrows hit her hairline. "Giles," she said, stunned. "Angel, I think this is Giles."

Angel looked at Ethan. "Move and I'll break a leg."

Ethan nodded in understanding.

Angel walked over to where Buffy was still standing over the Fyarl demon, which began grunting, sounding very guttural.

Angel looked at Buffy. "It's Giles. He said,'bloody hell.' Then a few words I'm not going to repeat. And then, 'Buffy, please remove the knife, it stings.' Also, 'please let me have a minute alone with Ethan, that arse.' "

"Oh no, I am so sorry Giles." Buffy looked completely stricken as she yanked the knife out. "Thank goodness for cheap overseas imports. You," she said, whirling around to face Ethan. "You are going to change Giles back right now or I will break more than your nose."

Ethan gave her a smug look. "I know you have a no kill policy."

"You're right, I don't. I am not sure about my boyfriend."

Angel took a menacing step toward Ethan. "All right. No need for further violence. Hand me the bag over there."

Buffy, Angel and Giles all watched as Ethan scattered some herbs, chanted a few words and waved a lit candle. Giles was covered up by smoke, and when it cleared he was Giles once more.

Angel rifled through Ethan's suitcase, ignoring his protests and handed Giles a shirt. The thing was so tacky even Xander wouldn't have worn it, but there wasn't much choice. "Do not tell anyone, ever, that I wore such an abomination."

"Our lips are sealed," said Buffy.

"So what do we do with him," said Angel, inclining his head toward Ethan.

Buffy sighed. "Good question."

At that exact moment, Riley burst through the open door. He walked over to Ethan and slapped a pair of cuffs on him. "This man is now under the jurisdiction of the US military. He is being taken to a secure holding facility."

Buffy, Angel and Giles watched as Riley loaded Ethan onto some kind of transport that had barred windows, which then drove off. The three looked at each other.

"Are we ok with that?" Angel asked.

"The military being judge, jury and executioner? Not really, but not sure there is anything we can do," answered Buffy.

The three stared down the highway for another minute and then left the room. "My car should be down this way," said Giles, as they walked to the main road.

Five minutes later, they found Giles' Citroën, crashed into the side of a building. Angel rushed over and opened the door. "Spike? Why is Spike in your car wearing a burlap burka?"

Spike stumbled out. "Think I have a concussion."

"Why are you driving Giles' car?"

"The librarian asked me to. Not like he could drive himself with those claws."

Giles sighed. "I did foolishly ask for Spike's assistance."

"But you are wearing a burlap sack."

"Notice the sun," Spike said sarcastically. "Human two bleeding months and he forgets everything. Can't drive if I'm a pile of ash."

"Spike, you can't see anything," said Buffy. "How could you drive?" her voice rising in pitch during the conversation.

"Rupert here told me when to turn."

"My thought processes weren't at their sharpest," said Giles shamefacedly.

"I forgot you spoke Fyarl," said Angel.

"We both learned in Estonia," said Spike. "Good times," he said with an air of reminiscence.

Angel fought hard against a smile but finally both ends of his mouth ticked up a bit. "Kind of was," he admitted. "You two ok calling for a tow? I have to walk back to my car and get to the office."

"Hey, what about me?" complained Spike.

"What about you, Spike?" said Buffy, as she rolled her eyes.

"The only reason I'm here is because I was trying to help out Rupert in his hour of need."

"The only reason you're here is because I said I'd pay you two hundred dollars. Of course, since you crashed my car, that's no longer happening."

"Not my fault at all. I was trying to outrun the police."

Angel shook his head in disgust. "Wait here while I get my car, and I'll drop you off at the cemetery. No touching anything in my car or the deal's off."

"You're going to make me listen to Lite FM. Just stake me now."

"Can I, Angel?" Buffy asked with glee.

"Your choice, Spike. Stake or The BeeGees."

Spike sighed dramatically.

A few minutes later Angel pulled up and Spike got in. "I'm warning you. Touch anything and I will open the door and push you out." As Angel drove away, the two could be heard bickering.

"I can't believe they spent twenty years together."

Buffy shrugged. "Maybe the evil thing helped."

Giles cleared his throat. "How did you know it was me back at the hotel?"

Buffy grinned. "You gave me the Giles look of extreme disappointment. Impossible to duplicate."

"I see," he said dryly.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," she said, suddenly turning serious. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

He gave her a warm smile. "I'll do my best."