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Title: A Perfect Fit. Chapter 11 of 19
Genre: General, Romance, Humor, bit of action
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel: the Series
Pairing: Spike/Other, Buffy/Angel
Rating: R for sexual situations and language.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Buffy and Angel. Candy is my own original character and I do own her. This story is for entertainment purposes only. I'm not making any money off this.
Summary: Begins three months after the final battle in the alley in Angel, Not Fade Away. What's left of Angel's crew has moved back to The Hyperion, including a restless Spike. Someone interesting comes to LA, when Faith suggests that only Angel can help her. Many characters from both shows will make appearances. Angel, Harmony, Gunn, Illyria, Lorne, Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Angelus, Willow and others.
(Previous Chapters Here)
Thanks to my wonderful beta:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
raynedanser
Chapter Eleven ~ A little Talk
After cleaning up, they all made their way out of the kitchen. The phone rang and Angel went to answer it. Connor had to get back home so he said his goodbyes. Buffy sat on the couch in the lobby watching Angel behind the counter. Candy and Spike were sitting on the stairs together. He really wanted to go upstairs with her, but it was a little early for that.
“So, gorgeous, do you have a song picked out for tomorrow night?” Spike asked her. He'd teased her with song suggestions for days, but she never said what she was going to sing.
“Yes, I have one picked out, but I'm not saying. It’s a surprise.” She gave him a sweet smile and changed the subject. “The one thing I don't have is an outfit to wear. I didn't bring much with me. I really hadn't planned on being here long and I left my 'going out' outfits at home.”
“Shopping!” Dawn shouted. “Oh, I so need a new outfit for tomorrow. Where's the nearest mall?”
“There's a big one not too far from here,” said Spike. “If I can get Angel to loan me his car, I can take you both in a few minutes.”
“Ooh, Buffy needs to come to. She has the money and her wardrobe is definitely lacking,” Dawn stated.
Buffy shook her head while she dug into her purse. She pulled out a credit card and held it out for Dawn. Buffy stared at Candy and yanked her hand back before Dawn could take the card. “I could stand to get out. And shopping? Who could turn down that?” She flashed Candy a smug smile. “Maybe Angel will want to come too.”
He was just hanging up the phone when Gunn came in. “Gunn put on your lawyer suit. We've got a job and I'm going to need that brain of yours,” Angel told him.
“Are you going to need me?” Spike didn't fancy getting into a suit.
“No, you don't quite fit the image for this one, Spike.”
“Can you take Gunn's truck? The girls wanna go shopping and I offered to take them.”
“Actually we're going to need a limo for this one,” he said and tossed the keys to Spike. “I need to get changed. Can you call the limo service for me? With my secretary on...vacation.” He looked over at Buffy.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Spike let out a sigh of relief when they arrived at the mall. The ride over had been strained, and the only one who seemed undisturbed was Dawn. She talked continuously and while he loved the girl, he could only take so much. Buffy had made a comment about Spike's taste in music, which was just her way of bringing up fun memories. Candy was not in on that though and she came to his rescue by telling the slayer to shut up or get out. He liked that. He wasn't used to having anyone take his side. He could see Buffy in the rear view mirror and she had her battle face on.
Dawn was more perceptive than he gave her credit for. When they entered the mall, she grabbed Buffy's hand and suggested that they go separate ways. They only had two hours before the place closed, so it would be much faster this way. Spike readily agreed and he was happy to have Candy to himself. There were a few things he wanted to get without the others taking a gander.
First thing, they went in search of a dress for Candy. She insisted that Spike choose it. She remarked that she was surprised at what great taste he had, considering he only had one look of his own that he varied only slightly. They finally decided on a lavender dress with a tight waist, full past the knees skirt with a plunging v neckline with up turned white collar and white up turned cuffs on the long sleeves. They added a white belt and a new pair of white heels. She didn't need new shoe, but he insisted.
Next he steered her towards the house wares section where he picked out a frilly pink and white apron. He made her try it on for size and he stared at her for a long moment before he kissed her soundly. A saleswoman cleared her throat and with half closed eyes she could only nod when he whispered, “Tonight?”
They walked out of the department store and into the mall section hand in hand. Spike carried the bags over his shoulder. They had not gone far when Candy suddenly stopped and dragged Spike to one of the window displays. It was a leather goods and bad-ass type of store. The window artfully displayed some leather goods, a few dog collars and some hats, but the focal point was a pair of shiny, black, steel toed Doc Martens. They were raised up on an angled platform.
She watched Spike practically drool over those boots. She looked down at the ones he was wearing. They were very similar, but scuffed and worn. “You could do with a new pair.”
“It would be nice, but since I'm through with nicking things...there was a time I could just walk in and take what I wanted,” he said wistfully. “Since I can't do that anymore, I'm trying to be careful with the money I have.”
“But you just bought me an apron and a pair of shoes,” she argued.
“See. My point exactly. If I'm not wise with my money, I won't have any to spend on my girl.” He smiled at her and took one more look at the display. “Come on then, we have one more store to go to. You’re going to need a pair of knickers to go with that apron. I was thinking pink.”
When some of the store clerks began pulling the cages down over the shop windows, they met up with Buffy and Dawn. Both of them had their hands full of packages. Candy and Buffy openly sneered at each other. It was going to be a fun ride home.
“Did you find something for tomorrow?” Dawn asked Candy in an overly cheerful voice and looked warily at her sister.
“Yes. Spike picked it out for me,” Candy answered.
Dawn rolled her eyes. “Oh no. Let me guess, red leather pants and a black and red bustier?”
“Hope you remembered the dog collar,” Buffy snarked.
Candy jerked forward. She'd felt the need to unleash some violence many times over the years. It was in there and any excuse to go off would do, but this was at the top. She wanted to tear the strumpet's head off. It was all she could do not to vamp out in the middle of a mall full of people.
Spike grabbed her hand. “I think it's time to go now.”
Candy shook her head to remove the tingling sensation in her eyes. That always happened right before her face and hands morphed in to her monster visage. She thought he'd be upset with her but he was staring at her as if she was wearing that apron in the bag he was carrying.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Candy grabbed her bags from the trunk as soon as they arrived home. “I'm going to take these upstairs,” she told Spike.
Dawn grabbed all of her bags and all of Buffy's, too. Spike and Dawn walked together and Buffy locked up the car. “You need to talk to her,” Dawn told Spike in a low voice out of the corner of her mouth.
“Me? Why the hell does it have to be me?” He didn't want to talk to a pissed off slayer. His days of taming slayers were over.
“Because, Spike. If anyone can get her to see reason, it’s you. You’ve got to get her to back off on Candy or they are going to kill each other. It's so stupid. Besides I kind of like Candy. She's cool and no one will have any peace around here if they start a war.” Dawn could say no more as Buffy caught up to them at the door. Spike caught one last glimpse of Candy as she went up the stairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawn was making her way up them as well. She met Angel on the second floor landing. She asked him to hold off going downstairs and told him that Buffy and Spike needed to talk. Angel was more determined to get downstairs then. “Let them talk, Angel,” she insisted before she passed him to go to her room. Angel stayed on the landing and peeked around the corner so he could watch out of sight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy flopped down on the couch in the lobby. She was staring at Spike petulantly and he paced before her. His movements were short and choppy. He stopped suddenly before her.
“What's your problem, Slayer?”
“I don't have a problem. Completely problem free here.” She sat up and put her hands out wide.
“That's a bleeding lie and you know it,” he said quietly. “What is it? Is she evil playing nice to further a diabolical plot that she cooked up?” He turned away from her. “She trying to get us all to trust her and then kill us while we sleep?” He looked back her and she rolled her eyes at him.
“I'm serious,” he said as he stopped in front of her again. He leaned down so they were eye to eye. “I trust you, Buffy. You have the best instincts of anyone I know. If you say she's out to get us, I'll trust your judgment. Seeing as I'm too close to the situation to step back and see it for what it is,” he told her. “You say the word and she’s out of here.” He didn't add that he would go with her. Evil or not, Candy was the one and he'd follow her any where.
Buffy looked down avoiding the intensity of his eyes. “No, I don't sense an evil plot brewing.” She looked up at him when he straightened up and backed away again. “I just don't like her is all.”
“I know what your problem is,” Spike said suddenly as it hit him. Why didn't he see it before? He stared at her with steady eyes for a moment and folded his arms.
“Oh this should be good,” Buffy stated flatly.
“See at first I thought you were jealous. No, I did. But that's not it, is it. You don't like her because she's not afraid of you and she's not in awe of you. People either fear you or revere you, but she does neither. This is all about your bloody ego.” His eyes went wide with that revelation.
She stood up. “How do you know I'm not jealous?” she asked. “Maybe I am.” She was trying to come off all flirty, but he guessed that she honestly didn't know what she was feeling and it was wigging her out. It always pissed her off that he could see right through her. He was backing up now and she followed him. She closed the gap between them and gently placed an open palm on his chest.
“Don't mess with me, Slayer,” he ground out through clenched teeth. He grabbed her hand and removed it, but he held on to it.
She half closed her eyes. “What if I'm not messing with you, Spike?”
“What do you want me to say?” he asked her and pulled her close. “Should I go tell Candy to take the next flight to Cleveland? Sorry, but Buffy wants her play thing back.” He was unable to say that without bitterness and pushed away from her.
She stared at him with big expressive eyes. They were saying I'm hurt and confused. He knew that look. It was one he'd caused her to have many times. He couldn't feel remorse for it. “You should be jumping for joy that I'm over it. You don't have to worry about me stalking you and generally getting in your way. Not to mention that your friends won't think you’re completely off your bird for getting it on with a demon. Then again there's always Angel.”
“This is not about Angel.”
“Oh come on. I can't hold a candle to him in your estimation. What do you want? You want us fighting over you? Does that make you feel special? For god sakes woman, I don't want to fight with him! We've been civil to each other and can actually stand each other sometimes. The last two years have done that. For once we've been on the same side and I like it that way. He's blood slayer. I know you can't understand what that means. It means a lot.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.
“Not only that, Candy isn't just a fleeting fancy for me. I'm happy, Buffy. I'm allowed to be happy, yeah?”
“Yeah, you are,” she said softly. “But really isn't this more about sticking it to me than a vamp you just met a little over a week ago?” He stared at her with his jaw set and the muscles there ticking. "I can't see how you could be this head-over for a girl you just met. And remembered that vamp groupie that you brought to Xander's wedding in that poor attempt to make me jealous?"
“The world doesn't revolve around you, Slayer,” he sighed. “And besides I think this is more about you not really wanting me, but also not wanting anyone else to have me, right?”
“What? No,” she protested. She folded her arms and actually stomped her foot. She glared at him.
Changing gears he asked, “You know what I missed most about you?” He cocked his head to the side and looked at her with longing.
She shook her head.
“The times when we were just friends fighting the baddies together side by side. Especially that last year after I came back from Africa.”
“I...I miss that too.”
“When you told me you believed in me,” he paused to get control of his emotions, “My life began in that moment.”
“We made a good pair then didn't we?” she said. “I don't want to lose your friendship.”
“I'll always want to be your friend,” he told her. “I want you to be happy too. Which leads us back to Angel, doesn't it.”
“You said once that Angel and I would never be just friends and you were right. We can't be around each other.” She looked down and studied her bracelet.
“But we all know that if he wasn't cursed, you'd be together right now.”
“We'd be together right now if he hadn't walked away after graduation.” The pain from that abandonment was still there.
Spike watched her and he could feel her sorrow. He truly wanted her to be happy. He hoped Red would come through. On impulse he did something he would never have done a few years ago. He embraced her with a hug of comfort. She didn't fight him. She buried her head in his chest and let one sob escape. He tightened his hold on her.
~*~*~*~*
Candy came down the stairs, but stopped when she came upon Angel skulking in the shadows. She came up behind him, curious as to what he was doing. She wished she hadn't. They had a bird’s eye view of the lobby. Spike and Buffy were hugging. She backed up and Angel noticed her. “It's not how it looks,” he whispered. She just backed away and went up the stairs and out of sight.
~*~*~*~*
Down below, they broke apart and smiled at each other. “Now about Candy.”
Buffy's smile faded and she wiped at her eyes. “What about her?”
“Back off a little please,” he begged.
“Alright.” She sighed. She smiled again when Spike visibly relaxed. “I still don't like her, but I won't provoke her.” She continued when he kept looking at her. “And I will try not to let her get to me.”
“Good,” Spike said with a nod. “Now I need to bow out here and go find her. She's probably wondering what happened to me.” He took the steps two at a time. He nearly mowed Angel down when he rounded the corner of the landing. “Sorry 'bout that mate,” he told him. Angel said nothing and it was odd how he avoided looking him in the eye. He let the thought pass as he made his way to his suite. He was hankering for a little less drama and whole lot more of some sweet Candy.
Chapter Tweleve: Who Needs That Crap?
Genre: General, Romance, Humor, bit of action
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel: the Series
Pairing: Spike/Other, Buffy/Angel
Rating: R for sexual situations and language.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Buffy and Angel. Candy is my own original character and I do own her. This story is for entertainment purposes only. I'm not making any money off this.
Summary: Begins three months after the final battle in the alley in Angel, Not Fade Away. What's left of Angel's crew has moved back to The Hyperion, including a restless Spike. Someone interesting comes to LA, when Faith suggests that only Angel can help her. Many characters from both shows will make appearances. Angel, Harmony, Gunn, Illyria, Lorne, Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Angelus, Willow and others.
(Previous Chapters Here)
Thanks to my wonderful beta:
raynedanserChapter Eleven ~ A little Talk
After cleaning up, they all made their way out of the kitchen. The phone rang and Angel went to answer it. Connor had to get back home so he said his goodbyes. Buffy sat on the couch in the lobby watching Angel behind the counter. Candy and Spike were sitting on the stairs together. He really wanted to go upstairs with her, but it was a little early for that.
“So, gorgeous, do you have a song picked out for tomorrow night?” Spike asked her. He'd teased her with song suggestions for days, but she never said what she was going to sing.
“Yes, I have one picked out, but I'm not saying. It’s a surprise.” She gave him a sweet smile and changed the subject. “The one thing I don't have is an outfit to wear. I didn't bring much with me. I really hadn't planned on being here long and I left my 'going out' outfits at home.”
“Shopping!” Dawn shouted. “Oh, I so need a new outfit for tomorrow. Where's the nearest mall?”
“There's a big one not too far from here,” said Spike. “If I can get Angel to loan me his car, I can take you both in a few minutes.”
“Ooh, Buffy needs to come to. She has the money and her wardrobe is definitely lacking,” Dawn stated.
Buffy shook her head while she dug into her purse. She pulled out a credit card and held it out for Dawn. Buffy stared at Candy and yanked her hand back before Dawn could take the card. “I could stand to get out. And shopping? Who could turn down that?” She flashed Candy a smug smile. “Maybe Angel will want to come too.”
He was just hanging up the phone when Gunn came in. “Gunn put on your lawyer suit. We've got a job and I'm going to need that brain of yours,” Angel told him.
“Are you going to need me?” Spike didn't fancy getting into a suit.
“No, you don't quite fit the image for this one, Spike.”
“Can you take Gunn's truck? The girls wanna go shopping and I offered to take them.”
“Actually we're going to need a limo for this one,” he said and tossed the keys to Spike. “I need to get changed. Can you call the limo service for me? With my secretary on...vacation.” He looked over at Buffy.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Spike let out a sigh of relief when they arrived at the mall. The ride over had been strained, and the only one who seemed undisturbed was Dawn. She talked continuously and while he loved the girl, he could only take so much. Buffy had made a comment about Spike's taste in music, which was just her way of bringing up fun memories. Candy was not in on that though and she came to his rescue by telling the slayer to shut up or get out. He liked that. He wasn't used to having anyone take his side. He could see Buffy in the rear view mirror and she had her battle face on.
Dawn was more perceptive than he gave her credit for. When they entered the mall, she grabbed Buffy's hand and suggested that they go separate ways. They only had two hours before the place closed, so it would be much faster this way. Spike readily agreed and he was happy to have Candy to himself. There were a few things he wanted to get without the others taking a gander.
First thing, they went in search of a dress for Candy. She insisted that Spike choose it. She remarked that she was surprised at what great taste he had, considering he only had one look of his own that he varied only slightly. They finally decided on a lavender dress with a tight waist, full past the knees skirt with a plunging v neckline with up turned white collar and white up turned cuffs on the long sleeves. They added a white belt and a new pair of white heels. She didn't need new shoe, but he insisted.
Next he steered her towards the house wares section where he picked out a frilly pink and white apron. He made her try it on for size and he stared at her for a long moment before he kissed her soundly. A saleswoman cleared her throat and with half closed eyes she could only nod when he whispered, “Tonight?”
They walked out of the department store and into the mall section hand in hand. Spike carried the bags over his shoulder. They had not gone far when Candy suddenly stopped and dragged Spike to one of the window displays. It was a leather goods and bad-ass type of store. The window artfully displayed some leather goods, a few dog collars and some hats, but the focal point was a pair of shiny, black, steel toed Doc Martens. They were raised up on an angled platform.
She watched Spike practically drool over those boots. She looked down at the ones he was wearing. They were very similar, but scuffed and worn. “You could do with a new pair.”
“It would be nice, but since I'm through with nicking things...there was a time I could just walk in and take what I wanted,” he said wistfully. “Since I can't do that anymore, I'm trying to be careful with the money I have.”
“But you just bought me an apron and a pair of shoes,” she argued.
“See. My point exactly. If I'm not wise with my money, I won't have any to spend on my girl.” He smiled at her and took one more look at the display. “Come on then, we have one more store to go to. You’re going to need a pair of knickers to go with that apron. I was thinking pink.”
When some of the store clerks began pulling the cages down over the shop windows, they met up with Buffy and Dawn. Both of them had their hands full of packages. Candy and Buffy openly sneered at each other. It was going to be a fun ride home.
“Did you find something for tomorrow?” Dawn asked Candy in an overly cheerful voice and looked warily at her sister.
“Yes. Spike picked it out for me,” Candy answered.
Dawn rolled her eyes. “Oh no. Let me guess, red leather pants and a black and red bustier?”
“Hope you remembered the dog collar,” Buffy snarked.
Candy jerked forward. She'd felt the need to unleash some violence many times over the years. It was in there and any excuse to go off would do, but this was at the top. She wanted to tear the strumpet's head off. It was all she could do not to vamp out in the middle of a mall full of people.
Spike grabbed her hand. “I think it's time to go now.”
Candy shook her head to remove the tingling sensation in her eyes. That always happened right before her face and hands morphed in to her monster visage. She thought he'd be upset with her but he was staring at her as if she was wearing that apron in the bag he was carrying.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Candy grabbed her bags from the trunk as soon as they arrived home. “I'm going to take these upstairs,” she told Spike.
Dawn grabbed all of her bags and all of Buffy's, too. Spike and Dawn walked together and Buffy locked up the car. “You need to talk to her,” Dawn told Spike in a low voice out of the corner of her mouth.
“Me? Why the hell does it have to be me?” He didn't want to talk to a pissed off slayer. His days of taming slayers were over.
“Because, Spike. If anyone can get her to see reason, it’s you. You’ve got to get her to back off on Candy or they are going to kill each other. It's so stupid. Besides I kind of like Candy. She's cool and no one will have any peace around here if they start a war.” Dawn could say no more as Buffy caught up to them at the door. Spike caught one last glimpse of Candy as she went up the stairs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawn was making her way up them as well. She met Angel on the second floor landing. She asked him to hold off going downstairs and told him that Buffy and Spike needed to talk. Angel was more determined to get downstairs then. “Let them talk, Angel,” she insisted before she passed him to go to her room. Angel stayed on the landing and peeked around the corner so he could watch out of sight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy flopped down on the couch in the lobby. She was staring at Spike petulantly and he paced before her. His movements were short and choppy. He stopped suddenly before her.
“What's your problem, Slayer?”
“I don't have a problem. Completely problem free here.” She sat up and put her hands out wide.
“That's a bleeding lie and you know it,” he said quietly. “What is it? Is she evil playing nice to further a diabolical plot that she cooked up?” He turned away from her. “She trying to get us all to trust her and then kill us while we sleep?” He looked back her and she rolled her eyes at him.
“I'm serious,” he said as he stopped in front of her again. He leaned down so they were eye to eye. “I trust you, Buffy. You have the best instincts of anyone I know. If you say she's out to get us, I'll trust your judgment. Seeing as I'm too close to the situation to step back and see it for what it is,” he told her. “You say the word and she’s out of here.” He didn't add that he would go with her. Evil or not, Candy was the one and he'd follow her any where.
Buffy looked down avoiding the intensity of his eyes. “No, I don't sense an evil plot brewing.” She looked up at him when he straightened up and backed away again. “I just don't like her is all.”
“I know what your problem is,” Spike said suddenly as it hit him. Why didn't he see it before? He stared at her with steady eyes for a moment and folded his arms.
“Oh this should be good,” Buffy stated flatly.
“See at first I thought you were jealous. No, I did. But that's not it, is it. You don't like her because she's not afraid of you and she's not in awe of you. People either fear you or revere you, but she does neither. This is all about your bloody ego.” His eyes went wide with that revelation.
She stood up. “How do you know I'm not jealous?” she asked. “Maybe I am.” She was trying to come off all flirty, but he guessed that she honestly didn't know what she was feeling and it was wigging her out. It always pissed her off that he could see right through her. He was backing up now and she followed him. She closed the gap between them and gently placed an open palm on his chest.
“Don't mess with me, Slayer,” he ground out through clenched teeth. He grabbed her hand and removed it, but he held on to it.
She half closed her eyes. “What if I'm not messing with you, Spike?”
“What do you want me to say?” he asked her and pulled her close. “Should I go tell Candy to take the next flight to Cleveland? Sorry, but Buffy wants her play thing back.” He was unable to say that without bitterness and pushed away from her.
She stared at him with big expressive eyes. They were saying I'm hurt and confused. He knew that look. It was one he'd caused her to have many times. He couldn't feel remorse for it. “You should be jumping for joy that I'm over it. You don't have to worry about me stalking you and generally getting in your way. Not to mention that your friends won't think you’re completely off your bird for getting it on with a demon. Then again there's always Angel.”
“This is not about Angel.”
“Oh come on. I can't hold a candle to him in your estimation. What do you want? You want us fighting over you? Does that make you feel special? For god sakes woman, I don't want to fight with him! We've been civil to each other and can actually stand each other sometimes. The last two years have done that. For once we've been on the same side and I like it that way. He's blood slayer. I know you can't understand what that means. It means a lot.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.
“Not only that, Candy isn't just a fleeting fancy for me. I'm happy, Buffy. I'm allowed to be happy, yeah?”
“Yeah, you are,” she said softly. “But really isn't this more about sticking it to me than a vamp you just met a little over a week ago?” He stared at her with his jaw set and the muscles there ticking. "I can't see how you could be this head-over for a girl you just met. And remembered that vamp groupie that you brought to Xander's wedding in that poor attempt to make me jealous?"
“The world doesn't revolve around you, Slayer,” he sighed. “And besides I think this is more about you not really wanting me, but also not wanting anyone else to have me, right?”
“What? No,” she protested. She folded her arms and actually stomped her foot. She glared at him.
Changing gears he asked, “You know what I missed most about you?” He cocked his head to the side and looked at her with longing.
She shook her head.
“The times when we were just friends fighting the baddies together side by side. Especially that last year after I came back from Africa.”
“I...I miss that too.”
“When you told me you believed in me,” he paused to get control of his emotions, “My life began in that moment.”
“We made a good pair then didn't we?” she said. “I don't want to lose your friendship.”
“I'll always want to be your friend,” he told her. “I want you to be happy too. Which leads us back to Angel, doesn't it.”
“You said once that Angel and I would never be just friends and you were right. We can't be around each other.” She looked down and studied her bracelet.
“But we all know that if he wasn't cursed, you'd be together right now.”
“We'd be together right now if he hadn't walked away after graduation.” The pain from that abandonment was still there.
Spike watched her and he could feel her sorrow. He truly wanted her to be happy. He hoped Red would come through. On impulse he did something he would never have done a few years ago. He embraced her with a hug of comfort. She didn't fight him. She buried her head in his chest and let one sob escape. He tightened his hold on her.
~*~*~*~*
Candy came down the stairs, but stopped when she came upon Angel skulking in the shadows. She came up behind him, curious as to what he was doing. She wished she hadn't. They had a bird’s eye view of the lobby. Spike and Buffy were hugging. She backed up and Angel noticed her. “It's not how it looks,” he whispered. She just backed away and went up the stairs and out of sight.
~*~*~*~*
Down below, they broke apart and smiled at each other. “Now about Candy.”
Buffy's smile faded and she wiped at her eyes. “What about her?”
“Back off a little please,” he begged.
“Alright.” She sighed. She smiled again when Spike visibly relaxed. “I still don't like her, but I won't provoke her.” She continued when he kept looking at her. “And I will try not to let her get to me.”
“Good,” Spike said with a nod. “Now I need to bow out here and go find her. She's probably wondering what happened to me.” He took the steps two at a time. He nearly mowed Angel down when he rounded the corner of the landing. “Sorry 'bout that mate,” he told him. Angel said nothing and it was odd how he avoided looking him in the eye. He let the thought pass as he made his way to his suite. He was hankering for a little less drama and whole lot more of some sweet Candy.
Chapter Tweleve: Who Needs That Crap?
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