A Perfect Fit

Chapter 14 ~ Daft and Nutters

Angel was trying to type some notes about their last case into the computer. It was hard to concentrate. He could hear Gunn and Anne talking at the lobby desk. Anne was filling in for the absent Harmony. He liked Anne and he was going to ask her to take the job permanently. Spike and Gunn had agreed that Harmony was the wrong creature for the job. All the time that she had been gone, she was probably feeding and they just could not allow her back in. It would be wrong.

He tried to focus on the computer. Even if he closed the office door and the blinds, he doubted he would get much done. Buffy and Dawn would be back soon. They'd spent the afternoon out doing last minute school shopping and saying goodbye to each other. Dawn was to move into her dorm tomorrow morning and classes the next day.

Getting his mind off Buffy was not easy. She had reservations to fly back to Italy tomorrow evening. It had been years since he'd spent this much time near her. It was a bittersweet agony. When they first met, she was just a little girl really. He had been drawn to her innocence as well as her beauty. She was more beautiful now as a woman. She'd been through a lot, but she was strong and confident. He was more attracted to the reality of the women than he ever was of the innocent little girl.

He watched her through the office window as she shooed Dawn up the stairs with a mountain of shopping bags. She walked out of sight, but he could hear her talking in a cheerful tone with Anne and Gunn. Buffy's burdens were less now. She had help in the fight against evil. A lot of help. She could be a parent and big sister to Dawn. She could relax and take time to get her settled at school. It would take all his will power not to beg her to stay. No matter how he felt about her the curse was still a part of him.

Everyone around him was happy. Gunn and Anne. Spike and Candy. Even his son and Buffy’s little sister. He was glad for them all, but it heightened the fact that he was doomed to a melancholy existence. One that he very much deserved and no matter how much good he did, no matter how much he preserved in this world, he could never give back what he had taken from it. Seeing Buffy this last couple of weeks made him feel like a fat man who had to walk by the sugar bakery every day to work. To see his desire everyday; it was too much.

He looked up and saw Spike staring out the entrance doors again. The sun was setting now and he was getting closer to the doors than he had been. He seemed nervous and he'd been doing that all day. Going to the doors and looking out. Candy was in the basement with Illyria, so he knew that Spike was not looking for her. Angel watched him pace by the door and stop. He was facing the office now. Spike had a wide stance. His arm was across his chest with his hand holding the opposite shoulder. Angel knew Spike well. He was unsure about something.

Angel sat up straight when Buffy walked in. “Hey Mr. Broody. What are you doing?”

The scent of her perfume mingled with her uniqueness assaulted him. She stood by the door, unsure if she was welcome. She was wearing a frilly white top and loose black slacks. He missed the mini skirts. He mentally slapped himself.

“I'm attempting to finish this report for Mr. Jackson, but Spike is distracting me,” he said dumbly. “You are a much better distraction. Have a seat.”

Buffy closed the office door and sat on the couch. “Looks like he's waiting for a delivery or something,” she offered as they watched him resume his pacing.

“Could be. He's been doing that off and on since he woke up. Did you get all of Dawn's shopping done?”

“Shopping is never done, but yes, she has everything she needs for now.” She leaned forward and changed subjects. “I'm going to miss you when I'm gone.”

Angel placed his hands on the edge of the desk. He wasn't expecting that. They had spent time together in the past weeks, but things had been awkward. “I'm going to miss you too.” Before he could stop himself he said, “You could stay.”

“You know I can't.” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand. “I can't be near you and just be your friend. I want more.”

She looked down and he closed his eyes. “I do too. It’s taking all my restraint not to go over to you right now.” When their eyes locked again, the heat was intense.

“Do you remember all those times we were supposed to be patrolling?” she asked him. When he nodded, she continued. “I wonder how many fledglings got passed us? Giles would not have been happy if he knew all the time we spent making out.” She smiled.

“I'm sure he knew. With all the lectures about duty and how I was there to help not hinder that I got.”

“You got the lectures, too?”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Where the bloody hell was she? Spike thought as he resumed his pacing. She said today. If she was delayed too long, Buffy would be gone. She had called him yesterday to say she was sure she had a solution. He'd pressed for details, but she avoided him and talked about flight plans. He would go stir crazy if she didn't get here soon.

He gave up and was on his way to the basement, when Candy and Illyria came out. Candy looked cute in her black sweats and sport tank. Her hair was pulled back in a serviceable ponytail. She looked young and fresh with wisps of hair around her face. He knew she wore a lacy red thong under those baggy pants. He flashed her a hot look and she smiled at him.

“Have a good work out, then?”

“Illyria is tough, but I gave her a run for her money,” Candy answered.

“Dream on vampire. Dream on,” Illyria said as she walked away and up the stairs.

Buffy laughed from the office door. Candy smiled and shrugged. “I've got her wardrobe beat at least. We really need to take that one shopping.”

“Yeah, that comic book costume can only be appreciated by Xander and he's not even here,” Buffy agreed.

When Candy looked confused, Spike informed her, “Xander is one of the Scoobies.” He was facing the office and once he got a look at Buffy's face, he knew another Scoobie was right behind him.

Buffy let out an inhuman screech and launched herself across the lobby. Then there was jumping up and down and lots of hugging. Time had been really good to Willow, Spike observed. She'd let her hair grow out long to the middle of her back. It bounced with her in soft, loose curls. She had a healthy glow about her and she carried herself with confidence.

Willow spotted Spike and she stopped jumping. Buffy turned to see what had gotten her attention. “It's Spike, he's alive. I'm sorry I didn't call you and let you know.”

With amusement, Willow addressed Spike, “You didn't tell them?” Spike shook his head no. Willow walked up to him and gave him a stern look.

“Tell us what?” Buffy looked quickly from one serious face to the other.

Spike had no idea how they would take his surprise. He supposed he should have said something after their last call. “I contacted Willow a while back for some help with something.” He looked Willow in the eye. “It’s good to see you, Red.”

She gave him a very quick hug. With their past of broken bottles and murder attempts, they both were uncomfortable touching each other. She noticed the woman with beautiful eyes standing next to him. “Is this Candy?” she asked him shyly.

Spike remembered his manners. “Willow this is my lady, Candy. Candy, this is Willow, one of the Scoobies that I told you about. She's one of the nicest, smartest and most dangerous witches I know.”

Willow playfully slapped his leather-clad arm. “Ow, see what I mean!”

“Hi Willow.” Candy held her hand out. “It's very nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you.” They shook hands.

Buffy had just finished introductions with Anne and Gunn when Dawn came down the stairs. They all got a repeat of the screeching and hugging. Then Connor showed up to take Dawn out for dinner. After the young couple left, they worked on getting Willow settled.

~*~*~*~*~

Willow sat across from Buffy at the small table in the room Giles had previously occupied. As soon as she got caught up with Buffy, she was going to meet with Spike in his room to discuss things. Now, she was just happy to sit across from her best friend. She told Buffy how good things had gone in Brazil. “I won't be able to stay here long. Much of the group is already on their way to Peru and they will need me soon.”

“More like Leeza will need you. I can't wait to meet her,” Buffy teased.

“Speaking of girlfriends, should I be hating Candy?” Willow asked seriously. She was a loyal friend and if Buffy wanted to be with Spike, she would hate Candy with a passion. She'd drool while she hated, but she would hate none the less.

“No. I give you leave to make up your own mind about her,” Buffy said with a wave of her hand.

“It must have been hard to see him again and find out he had someone new.” Willow knew her friend. There is no way she took that lightly. She was all with the sympathy.

“It was,” Buffy told her honestly. “To tell you the truth, what hurt the most is that he never contacted me.” The blond looked down. “I mean he was all with the excuses for why he didn't.” She did not physically shrug, but Willow could hear it in her voice.

“Are you still in love with him?” Willow knew it was a sore subject and Buffy had never said she loved Spike. They all just knew. None of them were happy about it, especially Xander, but they knew.

“Honestly, no. Not like you are thinking.” She played with the silk flowers in the bowl between them. “I'll always care about him. But truly we should have never gone past Friendship Street and we both know it now.”

“So what do you think of Candy then?”

“Let's just say that we got off on the wrong foot,” Buffy told her friend reluctantly. “She makes Spike happy. In fact I've never seen him so happy, ever.” She shrugged.

“Why do you think?” Willow was curious. Spike always seemed so carefree about things. Except for that summer after Buffy had jumped off that tower.

“The vamp practically worships him. She admitted to me one day that she is obsessed with him, which would make for some great poetic justice. Remember how annoying Spike was when he was obsessed with me?” Willow smiled and nodded so she continued, “Only it’s a mutual obsession so I don't get to see a pissed off Spike.”

“They're vampires so it’s got to be a little twisted though. It can't be all paradise and roses.”

“It's mutually twisty so I don't think it’s a problem for them. Angel says that Spike has never had someone return love and affection in equal measure. I know I never did. He says Drusilla dragged Spike around the globe like her personal slave. She knew how he felt and being the evil vampire she was, she exploited him to the fullest extent.”

“Well,” Willow added, “being the evil vampire he was, I don't think he really cared.” She paused a moment. She wasn't going to say anything to her friend until she talked more with Spike. “Speaking of Angel...”

Buffy rubbed her eyes and sighed. “There's not much to speak of. Things are just the same as always.”

“But you love him right?” Even if there was nothing between Angel and Buffy anymore, she was resolved to do the spell. It was not good to leave Angel in such an unstable state. He was a danger that should have been dealt with a long time ago.

“Yes. I will always love him. He asked me to stay here, but I can't. It’s just too hard. Dawn moves into the dorms tomorrow. I'm going to help her get moved in and then I have a flight scheduled back to Italy at eleven.”

“No Buffy!” Willow exclaimed. She calmed down and tried to think. “Y...you can’t go,” she pleaded. “I only just got here.”

Buffy always had a hard time saying no when she executed her big doe eyes. They were unfair weapons.

“Why are you here, anyway?” Buffy used the only weapon she could think of to counter the plea. Change the subject. Willow sighed and let it go for the moment.

“Spike called me,” Willow answered as if that was enough. When Buffy folded her arms and stared at her she added, “I just had to come and see him. Plus...best friend on the same continent...I...I had to come and see you.”

“There's something you are not telling me, Will. Spill,” Buffy demanded.

“Yes there is,” she admitted in defeat. She could never lie to Buffy. “I'm just not ready to talk about it. I promised Spike before we came up here that I'd talk to him first before saying anything.” She pleaded with her eyes for her friend to understand. “Please, just trust me on this. Cancel that flight and stay on for a while. I'm going to need your help.” Buffy would probably freak when she heard what kind of help, but right now, she couldn't think about that.

Willow was relieved when Buffy finally gave in and decided to postpone her flight by a few days. She gathered up her briefcase and her bag of books. Now she had a peroxide blond vampire to convince. It wouldn't be easy and she wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

Candy was the one to let her in the suite. She unloaded Willow's bags and placed them on the couch. She offered Willow a beer from the mini fridge that was next to the microwave and apologized for the lack of choices. Willow was glad that Buffy didn't require her to hate this one, because she could tell already that she was going to like her.

Spike came in and Candy excused herself. “I know you two have things to talk about.”

Spike followed Candy with his eyes until she closed the door. It was obvious how much in love he was.

“Looks like you hit the jackpot with that one,” Willow commented.

“You have no idea, Red.” When Willow looked amused he added, “The girl laughs at my jokes. Who laughs at my jokes?”

“It must be love.” She was glad to see him in such spirits. She opened her briefcase. “Now, let me show you what I've come up with.”

~*~*~*~*~

Candy turned on her ocean sounds, relaxation CD to drown out her enhanced hearing. Spike had given her an idea of what Willow was doing here. Something about making sure Angel's soul would stick. She'd hear details later. She grabbed her latest book off the end table and leaned against the pillows. It would be nice to have a few moments to get some reading in. She'd only read two pages when she was startled and drop the book.

Spike roared, “Bloody Hell!” She was up in a flash and out the door. Spike towered over a cringing Willow.

“Are you daft? You are, Red. You've gone completely nutters!”