A Perfect Fit

Chapter Nineteen~The V.E.T.H. Members

Spike went stomping down the stairs, pausing every now and then to stare at his new boots. He didn't know if shoes made the man, but he felt new like the boots. Candy looked so pleased with herself and well she should be. She'd done good. They were probably the best gift any one had ever given him. They stopped when they reached the door.

“You do it,” Spike told her.

“They're your friends. You knock,” Candy argued.

They had no intentions of disturbing the love birds when they got up that evening. The plan was to go down stairs and see if Willow or Illyria had seen them yet. As they were leaving their rooms, Spike realized that his duster was missing. Candy reminded him that it was hanging up in Buffy's closet. So here they were not knocking on the door. Spike felt stupid, so he knocked loud enough to wake the dead.

Angel opened the door a crack and peeked out. “What do you want, Spike?”

“Ah, it’s good to see that you are still with us,” Spike said cheerfully.

“Yes,” Buffy said from behind the broad vampire as the door opened further. “Angel is still among us.”

“We're kind of busy,” Angel told them.

“I'm sure you are.”

“Go away.” Angel made to close the door, but Buffy stopped him.

“Be nice to Spike, Angel. We'd have nothing to celebrate if it wasn't for him.”

Candy tried not to laugh at the resigned look on Angel's face. “Sorry to bother you. We just came to get Spike's duster. I hung it up in your closet yesterday, and you know how he can't live without it.”

Angel made what sounded like a grunting noise and Buffy went to the closet. “Thank you Spike, for what you did,” Angel practically forced out.

Spike shrugged. “I'm just the bloke that made the call. Willow did all the research and work.” When Candy elbowed him in the ribs he added a quick, “You're welcome.”

“Well I think this is an occasion for a celebration,” Candy suggested brightly.

“Caritas?” Angel threw out.

“That's perfect. We'll go call everyone with the good news and invite them all to party with us. Say around ten?”

“We might be there a little later,” Buffy told them. “We have to take Willow to the airport soon.”

*******

There was a collective sigh of relief all around when they called everyone. They had a bit of time to kill before Gunn would be by to pick them up. With Spike down in the kitchen, Candy dialed one last number.

“Hi Faith,” Candy said when the girl pick up on the other line.

“Candy! I was beginning to get worried. I almost called you myself. How did it go?”

“All is well here and Angel is back, with a new and improved, guaranteed-for-life soul.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Well Angel and Buffy have been busy testing it out.” She waited for Faith to finish laughing. “Do you think you can pick us up at the airport tomorrow night?”

“Sure. What time?” Faith asked.

“The plane is due to land at 1:00 am. You wouldn't have much time to patrol,”she said with an apology.

“I'll be there,” Faith promised. “So, did Spike like the boots?”

“He loved them. He's proudly stomping around in them now, trying to break them in.”

“You know I sent you out there hoping you and Angel would hit it off,” Faith confessed.

“I'm not stupid, Faith. I knew exactly what you were doing. I'm glad you did, or I would have never met Spike.”

“You two really are a perfect fit.”

“Hey, that's what Spike said about his boots,” Candy laughed. “But yeah, I guess we are.”

“I can't wait to see Spike again. I'm gonna kick his ass for not letting us know he was alive.”

“He had his reasons and I know he already it explained it to you the other day. He is concerned about staying out of Robin's way though.”

“Don't you worry about Robin. I'll keep him in line.”

“I don't doubt it. You have that poor man wrapped around your little finger,” Candy observed.

“I do, don't I? Anyways, I've got to go. Tell Spike that Vi and I will be at the airport to greet you guys tomorrow. She's jumping up and down now. I need to get her out of the house. Geez.”

Candy smiled and said her goodbyes. She was still smiling when Spike came in with some blood for her. He smiled back at her and his gorgeous eyes sparkled. She nearly swooned thinking that he was all hers.

“You're awful jolly. Here,” he said as he handed her the mug. “I thought you might be a bit peckish.

“Thanks. I just got off the phone with Faith. She and Vi will be at the airport tomorrow to pick us up.”

“While we are there, I'll look into getting us a set of wheels. We're going to need a car if we are going to travel.”

“I have a car we can use.”

“You do? What kind?” he asked. He was sure it was some kind of girly car.

“A Volkswagen Rabbit. A white convertible one.” She frowned when he started laughing. “What?”

“There's no way I'm driving around in a white rabbit. I ain't no Alice.”

“No, I see you more as the Cheshire cat. And I love that car. I'm not getting rid of it.”

“We'll discuss it further when we get there,” Spike said attempting to end the subject. She started to protest and he cut her off. “Will you look at the time. Gunn's probably down there complaining about tardy vampires right now. Let's go.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

The pounding in her head woke her up the next morning. Candy sat up and gripped her head. She had drunk a lot last night. She glanced over at a passed out Spike with half-opened eyes. They both had stumbled in early that morning and crashed. She was still wearing her slinky black dress. There was the pounding again, only she realized it was just someone knocking on the door. It wasn't even noon yet. Didn't folks around here know that vampires sleep in the day?

She grabbed a robe and had it tied by the time she opened the door. Buffy stood there with a package. “This just came for you from FedEx. I signed for it. It said over night so I thought it might be urgent.”

Candy opened the door and invited her in. She'd want to see this. She giggled when she thought about the package. What a good company. She had paid for her order to be rush shipped and they sure did deliver. “Come on in. It's not urgent, but you have to see this.”

Candy sat beside Buffy on the couch and opened the box. “I should wait for Spike, but he's such a heavy sleeper. I don't think I could get him up this early.”

“Just throw one of his candles at him. Works every time,” Buffy offered.

“Nah, I think it will be more fun if we show these to the guys at the same time.” Candy decided.

There were three small boxes inside and she pulled one out and opened it. She pulled a red business card out of the pack and handed it to Buffy. Buffy read it and started giggling. “What is this? Angel's a secretary?”

Candy covered her mouth as she laughed. She didn't want to take the chance of waking Spike up yet. She told Buffy of Angelus' little joke about V.E.T.H. And how Angelus reacted to the idea of Angel being secretary. “I just ordered these yesterday. I didn't expect them until later today.”

Buffy stared at the card and Candy handed her Spike’s President version, and her V.P. Version. Buffy giggled, and then went into a full laugh. The two were leaning back, cracking up when Spike stuck his head out of the bedroom door.

He ran his hand through his curls and looked confused. He never expected to see Candy and Buffy having giggle fits on his couch. “Do you mind keeping it down in there? I need my beauty sleep.”

“Yes, Mr. President,” Buffy croaked out. And they both went into another fit of giggles.

“I think you two started in a little early on the sauce,” he told them with a frown. “I'm going to shower.”

When she could speak, Candy told Buffy, “I should have gotten you a card.”

“But I'm not a vampire.”

“True, but you could be the official human liaison. That's it! I'm going to order you a set of cards. They'll be here tomorrow.”

Buffy held her hand to heart. “It's an honor and a privilege to be asked to be a part of your organization and I accept.” They shook hands. Buffy stood up to leave. “I'll let you get some sleep now. When do you plan on showing these to the guys?”

“I was thinking right before you take us to the airport.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Angel tossed the last bag into the trunk, slammed it shut and jogged back to the lobby. Spike and Candy were saying their goodbyes to Gunn, Anne and Illyria.

“You're going to be missed, man. You better come home soon,” Gunn told Spike and slapped him on the back. “And don't screw it up with this one. She's the only one with the patience and sense of humor to put up with your shit.”

Buffy nudged Candy and she stepped up. “Speaking of humor, I have something here for Angel. Spike too.” She dug around in her backpack for the boxes. She handed one to Angel and one to Spike and then got her own box out.

Angel said thanks and pulled a card out. Spike starting reading one of his aloud. “Vampires for the Ethical Treatment of Humans...What the...,” he chuckled. He handed a card to Gunn, Anne and Buffy. “VETH,” he said proudly, “Not only am I a card holding member, but I'm the bleedin' president.” Spike smiled at Candy, “You are too much, woman.”

Buffy giggled when Angel just stood there staring at his card. He gave her a puzzled look. “I don't get it. I've never heard of this group. And why does Spike get to be president and I'm only the secretary?”

They all laughed at that. Candy told him, “Because you weren't there when I was passing out positions and see,” she handed him and the others one of her cards. “The Vice Presidency was already filled.”

“This was all Angelus' doing. He came up with the organization's name,” Spike said. “He recommends steering clear of PETA members. Once they get wind of the fact that we drink pig’s blood they are going to go on the war path.”

“Okay Angel, you have to give us each one of yours, too,” Anne said.

He slowly started handing them out. “Secretary,” he mumbled.

“Hey!” Spike said suddenly. “We're like the sharks on Finding Nemo. “Humans are our friends, not food.” Spike quoted with an Aussie accent.

“Man, you watch way too many Disney movies,” Gunn told him.

“I've been around a long time, Charlie boy. I've seen almost every movie made. Plus, Disney movies are the most pleasantly disturbing of them all. You gotta love those evil women with diabolical plots.”

“Let's go before he runs through them all one by one,” Buffy joked.

One more round of goodbyes and they were on the road. Spike was in the backseat with his arm around Candy. It was a pleasant summer night and they had the top down.

“So, about your car,” Spike said.

“We're not selling it. I love that car.”

“We could get a good price for it and buy a Desoto. A nice black one with a top of the line radio.”

“You aren't going to be able to convince me to sell my Rabbit.” Candy was all confidence and determination.

Spike gave her a charming smile and kissed her on the forehead. “We'll have to see what happens.”

The End

A/N: A/N: So this is finally finished. I know that most people don't go for OCs and most of the people I know don't like Bangel (Not a Bangel fan, myself). Still I enjoyed writing this. Especially the funny parts. I know I have a twisted sense of humor.

There will be no second book or continuation, so everyone can breath a sigh of relief. This was intended to be my version of the Spike movie that never got made. I dedicate it to James Marsters, who had the same ideas for what should happen to Spike (except I let Spike keep the girl). I looked everywhere for that Australian Q & A, where he mentions the elements he'd like to see in a Spike movie, but I could not find it. And for the record, I had this story plot lined out and several chapters written before I came across that transcript. James and I just think alike : )