Timeline

Chapter 40

Xander held Layton . Illyria told the two Watchers about the choice of worlds she could take Layton, Dawn and Xander to. One was a world where humans were worshipped and where peace reigned . Good choice .So it was decided that they should go there.
Xander and Dawn were nervous and everyone came down to say goodbye , albeit for a short while. Illyria took hold of Dawn , who held Layton, and Xanders hands and opened the portal. With one last look behind him , Illyria dragged them through . The portal shut behind them. Willow ran upstairs crying.Wesley felt the pull of grief , oddly , since Fred had become Illyria he hadn't mourned her that much.Now that the blue god had left it gave him a hollow feeling inside his chest that threatened to choke him. He reached the study and poured a large glass of whiskey and slumped into the chair.

Things were falling apart for them.


Angelus woke up feeling Buffy tracing kisses down his body. What a way to wake up he thought.
She reached his hip and bit with blunt teeth.
"Morning my temptress"
"Afternoon you mean sleepy head"
"What do you expect " He dragged her up into his arms " You made me work so hard last night"
Buffy purred
"Are you hungry baby , I could get room service to bring you anything you want"
Angelus reached over and picked up the phone
"I want another slayer , their blood is so potent , best get three " she giggled
"Send up three slayers and make it quick" Angelus slammed down the receiver .
Buffy got up and walked to the window , naked
Bathed in sunshine , Angelus almost forgot she wasn't human and he growled. She was beautiful, her hair shone gold in the sunlight.
Spike swaggered into the room and caught sight of Buffy in all her glory " Well there's a sight for not so sore eyes" He couldn't hid his smile .
"Get out Spike" Angelus hissed as he shot out of bed and wrapped Buffy in her robe.
"Calm down , not like I haven't seen it before "
A gentle knock at the door went unnoticed by Angelus
"Are you trying to anger me into ripping you a new one boy?"
"Now now boys" Buffy answered the door "Angelus , you have a case of nakedness , do you want to scare our guests?"
Angelus threw on his robe and glared at Spike
" Breakfast has arrived" Buffy ushered the girls into the lounge
"She's truly one of a kind isn't she " Angelus said as he followed her in , his arm round Spikes shoulders
"That she is " Spike grabbed the red head and swung the girl onto his lap and bit into her neck from behind.
Angelus and Buffy shared the blonde , once she was drained Angelus pulled Buffy onto his lap and kissed her with a passion.
The remaining slayer sat huddled in a corner crying and whispering prayers. Spike laughed at her
"No use praying , he aint gonna help you"
Angelus pulled back from Buffy , he stood up and carried her into their bedroom .
"Spike, take care of the slayer for a while , do not eat her. I need to work up an appetite for her" He slammed the door.


Willow finally found a spell that could locate the souls regardless of other magics or location. Giles and Wesley aided her and the spell seemed to be a success.
The spell glowed up over the location of the Wolfram and Hart offices.It wasn't a shock.The next plan of action was to retrieve them.Faith lead the girls into the lounge.
"We have found the location of the souls, Willow has broken any spells that were protecting them. There is a chance to retrieve them from Wolfram and Hart"
"That's suicide!" Faith said
"Not necessarily, there is a chance that it would be easy if there was an assault at night when the building is mostly empty"
"At night when the fang gang could well be there and active. Yeah really safe Giles"
" And during the day would be safer , how?" Wesley jumped in to defend Giles
"Okay , so night time attack , point taken , how do we find the souls?"
Willow smiled " I'll make a glow in the dark chrystal, if your close it will glow and bingo" Her enthusiasm was contagious.
"Cool , when do we go in for the kill then?"
"Tomorrow night"
"So we sit tight til then"

Angelus walked back into the lounge room . Spike had the slayer tied to the table . Her face looked swollen from punches and she was barely conscious.
"Had fun William?"
"S'ok , no use asking you judging your smile and she's glowing" He pointed at Buffy.
Angelus gave his cocky smile " Would you expect her not to be?"
"Well , I probably wouldn't be so quick"
Buffy giggled
"Shut it Spike"
He winked at Buffy. " What do you have planned with the annoying lil slayer then?"
"I thought I'd show Buffy how to break every bone in a human body with out killing them, then drain the bitch"
The slayer groaned
"Looks like it woke up just in time for the fun"
An audible crack was heard just before a blood curdling scream rang out. Then silence
"Now that's disappointing. So much for slayer stamina" Angelus smiled at Buffy " When you released the slayers essence to all of them it must have watered down the stamina , such a let down I must say"
Spike laughed " Didn't water hers let me tell you"
"If you want to loose those stones of yours carry on "
"Can't take the fact that I had your girl as well ?"
"Helloo I am here y'know"
Angelus and Spike looked at her and fell quiet
"The slayer seems to be out of it for the time being , is there something you want to do today?" Angelus walked behind Buffy and wrapped his arms around her , nuzzling her neck.
"Thought about shopping. I could do with some clothes that don't scream preppy "
" We could do that, Spike?"
"What?"
"Care to tell us what you are thinking ?"
"I was thinking about maybe going home"
"With that little red head pulling powerful magic I wouldn't suggest it"
"Willow has probably done an invitation reversal and put a barrier on the grounds"
" Can't I eat the witch or turn her?"
"If you could get that close Willy by all means. She would make a powerful asset" Angelus let go of Buffy and walked over to the slayer . Another loud crack of bone and a scream. " I never tire of that sound."

Faith and Wesley took the van and parked it a few blocks away from the offices . The slayers walked into the underground car park . Willow had hacked into the security system and had shut off the camera's .She had cast a spell that would make the guards see the last hours activity replayed on the monitors.
The slayers and Wesley took the elevator up to each floor until the crystal started glowing.
They exited the elevator and Faith stood before each door hoping the crystal would glow outside an empty room.
The crystal glowed brightly outside a double door office. She could hear voices inside the room. No such luck with the empty room and easy take then she thought.
She signalled the rest to join her and held the door knob in her hand . Ready for the attack.
The slayers and Watcher burst in and started the attack.Faith immediately sliced at the largest guard , taking his arm off , green slime oozed from it. The demon guard thrashed at her with it's teeth, it met with the butt of Wesley's gun. Wesley pulled the gun up and shot the demon approaching him from behind and it fell to the floor dead. The other girls pulled another demon off Faith and Kennedy broke it's neck and Vi decapitated it. Faith struggled to get the large beast off her and then ran the sword through it's gut. It fell to the floor in a pool of it's own slime.
She wiped the sweat from her brow and signalled to Wesley to start unlocking the safe.The other girls regrouped and watched the door for any intruders.
Wesley set up the explosives and stood back . The door to the safe opened and there inside was three urns.
"Great work girls" Wesley said as they grasped the fragile urns.
They retreated to the elevator and hoped they could get out as easily as they got in.
The elevator doors opened in the car park and the group walked out slowly.
"Hold it right there" A voice shouted from the dark
"Hate to quote Xander here but Oh crap" Wesley said.



Angelus and Spike strolled behind Buffy as she cruised through the mall.
"Great idea this.... shopping with a twenty five year old vampire bint " Spike lit up another cigarette
"She's happy , I'm happy" Angelus said
"Poof"
"What do you think ? Is it too slutty?"
"No , it's perfect" Angelus looked at Spike " Maybe it is getting a little tedious. Go and find someone to help her"
Spike laughed " Not like the days where Darla would just take herself off with Dru"
"That's a good idea, go, make her a playmate , oh and don't forget the help"
Spike wandered off in search of the help and to find a nice bit to make a companion for Buffy.
"How do I look " Buffy said as she came out of the changing room
"Good enough to eat again"
A middle age woman approached them " Can I help you"
Buffy smiled sweetly " You sure can" Game face slipped and she growled before biting into the woman's neck.
"Your not supposed to eat the help Buffy" Angelus huffed as the woman fell to the floor lifeless.
Buffy dragged him into the changing room and jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist" Guess I just have to make it up to you then"
"Guess you do. Maybe shopping trips with you aren't so dull after all "
Buffy ground her ass against his leather pants . Angelus slammed her against the wall and nuzzled her neck , growling softly .

Spike wandered around the mall and stopped outside a lingerie shop
"Anne Summers eh .. looks promising and very coincidental " He walked in .The whelp would shoot his load in his pants if he came here, he smirked . Must bring Angelus in here, would love to catch Buffy in some of this.He tugged at a lacy thong . Yup definitely getting him in here.
"Can I help you sir?"
The girl must have been about the same age as Buffy , slim , average height,red head , blue eyes, same preppy look as Buffy , yep , potential playmate.
"Sure , looking for something fun, not trashy but sexy" Spike looked her up and down with his tongue curled behind his teeth " Something like you would wear"
The girl blushed and smiled at him " Just the thing over here " Spike followed her to the back of the shop.
She held up a black barely there set . Spike took his eyes off the set and looked around . No customers and one other chit that was out the back . That's when he spotted the ' toys' , could be fun too.
"You fancy a drink after work?"
"Um ... not sure if I do , your not my usual type"
Spike huffed , trying to do this the easy , non screaming and alerting the whole mall way here.
"Live a little, try something new , you might surprise yourself"
The girl laughed "What's your name?"
"William, but mates call me Spike"
"Okay Spike, meet me at five"
"Good girl , five it is then" he smiled at her " Oh and wear that set" he winked at her and left
Lets hope Angelus and Buffy have finished their shopping

Angelus had just finished pulling his pants up when Spike pulled back the curtain
"God can't you keep in them for five minutes"
Angelus sighed " Did you do as I said "
Spike looked at the dead woman and said " Theres the help you wanted and as for the playmate , working on it"
Angelus looked at his watch " It's almost sundown , how much longer?"
"Five tonight , found an interesting shop you might like to take little miss too"
"This isn't like the last one is it?"
"No , although it was funny" he laughed at the memory
"Toys are us was not funny"
"Sorry" Spike held back another laughing fit.
"This shop ? "
"Wait and see "
"Buff , you ready to go ?" Angelus' tone was harsh now that Spike had had his fun.
Buffy gathered the pile of clothes and headed to the check out.
"Babe , what prey tell , are you doing?"
"Paying"
Spike roared with laughter
"Buff " he pulled her from the queue " We don't pay, we're vampires , we take what we want and to hell with it."
"There are security guards over there " she pointed from under her pile of clothes
"So we eat them if they dare to approach us" Angelus rubbed his forehead and temples " This shop of yours had better be good Spike. Lets go"

"Could this be any worse" Faith whispered to Wresley
"Yes it could, The three vampires we are trying to restore could come round the corner "
"It was a rhetorical Wes"
"Hands where I can see them" The potentials all put their hands up , Wesley and Faith couldn't as they held weapons and the urns
"What's in the glass jars?"
"And we explain this how?"
"It's a spiritual mist , my friend is ... um ... religious, new age stuff , she's from the states"
"Good one , why don't you just tell her their bongs , unno it amounts to the same thing here, I know that and I'm not even Britsh" Faith whispered.
"Stop talking" the police officer walked towards them " Place the jars on the floor and back up three paces" "Drop them" Wesley whispered
"What!"
"The urns , drop them"
"Your joking right?"
"No, the souls will be released into the ether, Willow can still channel them"
Wesley and Faith dropped them and they smashed in contact with the concrete floor . The souls dispersed into the air
"Oops , butter fingers" Faith said
Wesley weighed up the situation " We can get out of here. Police aren't armed here , and they only have limited weaponry. There's four of them and well , us"
"Can't believe I'm going to end up a fugitive here as well" Faith sighed " You so owe me " She ran for the woman and knocked her flat on her back unconscious, without a break of stride she launched at one of the male officers, Wesley took out the other male and the girls attacked the other male in the second car. The fight took all of five minutes .
They got in the van and sped off back towards home.


"This really amuses you doesn't it" Angelus looked up at the shop sign and then to Spike
"Can't help it if the shops called that can I ?"
"I think it's cool " Buffy said "Can I paint Buffy in front of it , in blood obviously"
"Your adorable but no" Angelus said
Angelus walked in , the two vampires walked in after him.
"Maybe I was too quick to judge" he said as he scanned over the lace and satin .
Buffy blushed
Spike made his way towards the young girl
"Hello pet"
"Spike , you came , I wasn't sure if you would"
"I always keep my word luv" he smiled " What's your name , rude of me but didn't get to ask earlier"
"Trudy"
"Pretty , mind if I just call you Tru"
"Most do , even my mum"
"I want you to meet a couple of close friends Tru" she followed him " This is Angel and Buffy"
Angelus gave her his usual half smile and Buffy said a "Hi"
Angelus nodded his approval to Spike and carried on looking at the bits of lace that somehow qualified as underwear . Now that made him feel old fashioned . He smirked .
He leant towards Buffy " Would love to see you in this later " He twanged a minuscule thong..
Buffy picked it up and smiled " You'll have to take it off with your fangs lover"
"Oh boy" Okay he thought maybe not so old after all. He growled at her , earning him a glance from the girl Spike was trying to sweet talk.
"Shhh with the feralness" Buffy whispered.
"Spike my boy , are you ready to leave?" Angelus' tone was stern
"Are you ready pet?"
"Yeah just got to say bye to my boss and I'll be right there"
Spike smiled at her and turned to Angelus "Be there in a bit mate"
Buffy walked out of the shop and watched as people hurried about in their mundane lives. How small they seem she thought. Happy meals with legs , Spike had once called them. She laughed.Angelus walked out followed by Spike and his new girl , well she would be come sundown tomorrow. Just hope I can stand her Buffy smirked . Oh crap she thought , we still have the half beaten slayer tied up at home . Guess she'll make a snack for her and Angelus while Spike snacks on preppy . Maybe I'll just call her puppy. Bet she yap yap yaps, would be fitting for her then.
Angelus leant in and whispered to Buffy " Play nice now baby" .
Great now he can read my mind. She rolled her eyes and smiled sweetly at him.
" Tell me about yourself Trudy " Angelus said as he drove them home.
"Not much to say really , I go to college locally and took the job at the shop to make some money, I plan to go on to university and study art. I live at home with my mum. My father died when I was young but mum says he was a waste of space. I don't remember him though so no loss right? I have a brother who works in a law firm and a sister that is a full time mum. "
"Thank god " Buffy mumbled , Angelus gripped her hand tightly.
"Shh "
Buffy raised her eyebrows
"What about you guys?"
Spike pulled her into his shoulder . "Not much to say apart from we live in a huge suite in a hotel and we live the good life, wouldn't you say Angelus?"
" Most definitely"
"Are you related"
"That we are " Spike said with a smile on his lips. " Buffy is Angelus' 'wife' and I'm his 'brother' , younger and more handsome one at that"
Buffy laughed
"As you can tell , Spike got the delusional humour"
"Oi!"
Trudy sat quiet, just answering questions when she was asked.
"You feel cold Spike , you okay?"
"Poor circulation , had it since he was a young boy" Angelus said. "We're home"
He parked the car up and lead the way up to the penthouse suite.
They all entered and Angelus showed her through to the lounge area. Spike and Buffy went to see the slayer . She was completely out of it. So no worries about screams just yet , well not from her anyway.
Angelus called out to Spike " Make your guest at home boy , fix her a drink and put on some music"
"Excuse me , I have something I have to attend to, I won't be long" Angelus looked at Spike as he past him.
He shut the door and returned to the slayer. Buffy was standing over her and looking at her broken body.
"What are you thinking my love"
"Her broken body, my body must have looked like that when I jumped off the tower to save Dawn"
"Enough of that , your here and as vibrant as ever , more so in fact"
"Do you miss them?" she asked
"Humanity is a curse that came with the soul , something I have been released from. Do you miss them"
"No! But I feel drawn back for some reason"
"It will pass"
"Can we go out tonight"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Hunting , dancing , just go wild"
Angelus smiled and nuzzled her neck "Sounds perfect. Now slayer , where were we?"
Buffy and Angelus bit down and drank slowly , once she was drained they threw her into the kitchen area. Not like they needed to cook anything.
They couple joined Spike , much to their amusement Spike hadn't wasted time and she laid on the couch , her head tilted to the side , Spikes mark clearly visable.
"Bloody woman's a maneater. The second you two left she pounced on me."
"And your complaining?" Angelus smirked
"Not on your unlife mate"
They laughed
"Did you two take care of the slayer problem?"
"She's in the kitchen as we speak , though I doubt she's making us dinner, more like she was dinner" Angelus checked his nails " We will be going out tonight , are you joining us?"
Spike looked at Trudy " Why not , last night of freedom so to speak"
"Good man"
"Pigs" Buffy said from the bedroom.
They laughed




Faith and Wesley explained the situation they had run into at the offices. Giles mumbled something about the police causing problems now. Willow was pleased that the souls had been released , saying it made her job easier. It was decided that she would try and give Angelus his soul back that night , as he seemed like the bigger threat, Buffy would be next and then Spike. They gathered for some dinner , while they went over the ritual Willow would be using.
"Are you sure it will work?" Giles asked
"I'm pretty sure , I found a sharmans text from the early seventeen hundreds , it said he used it to curse a vampire with its soul after the vampire killed his family. Sounds very much like Angel doesn't it"
"Yes , very well Willow, you will proceed with caution though"
"I'm not going to go into this type of magic without double checking it. Been there before and we know how it always turns out"
"Yes I'm afraid we do" Giles looked at the young witch and smiled .
He was worried about Buffy , Angel had been through this before and so had Spike, yet Spike was the last on his worry list. Buffy was like a daughter to him. He wouldn't or couldn't think of the killing she must have done , and under Angelus' and Spike's tutoring . Would she ever forgive herself , should she even try? Giles rubbed his temples .
"What do you think?"
He snapped back to reality" Sorry would you repeat that?"
"Wesley just said he felt that I should do a memory spell on Buffy , to help her forget that she lost her soul"
"Possibly , but then she wouldn't feel the remorse and what would stop Angel or Spike telling her or from slipping up at some point"
"Ah yes good point Giles " Wesley slumped back from the table " I have lost my appetite now"
The food on all their plates was barely touched .
Later that night they all gathered in the lounge ready for Willow to perform the spells.


Angelus had taken Buffy to the beach . A nice moonlit walk , a little hunting , a few young lovers that met with them had provided dinner. Now they stood on the rocks in each others arms , facing the ocean.
"Is this how you spent your first days as a new vampire?"
"No , Darla took me underground to meet the master, he had strict rules , as the newest to his line he kept me under close watch"
"That must have sucked"
Angelus laughed "Yes , it did"
"I wish we could stay like this forever"
"Nothing says we can't my love"
"You know better than anyone , they will replace our souls"
"Lilah has alot of power protecting them , It won't be easy for them, if it is possible at all"
"I just feel so free right now , I still have you and I have Spike there too , and not a care in the world"
"Life is good now Buffy , but life as a vampire can be .... restricting"
"My life as a slayer wasn't a bed of roses either , I more or less lived by the same rules, only I had the weight of the world on my soul. Now that I no longer have my soul that pressure has been lifted"
Angelus took her into a tight embrace and kissed her with a passion she had never felt before. How had she been so scared of him before?
"Come , lets find that wayward childe of mine and see if he has stirred up a hornets nest yet"
The two lovers ran off into the dark.


Willow started the chant and Giles rang the blessed bell while Wesley waved the stinky herbs around Willow .
She nodded to them and continued the chant.

Spike had found a nice quiet pub near the beach and had settled at the end of the bar. Angelus walked in and saw him .
"William , I see you found my old haunt. " Angelus patted him on the back and ordered the drinks.
Buffy waved the cigarette smoke out of her face
"Dare I ask what you two have been up to"
"We went to the beach and had dinner"
Buffy rubbed her stomach " Yep I'm all full and warm"
"Adorable , really " Angelus passed her drink to her and kissed her nose.
Buffy sniffed it and screwed up her nose
Spike sniggered " I got her drunk on jack once , not a pretty sight mate"
"I won't be getting her drunk " Angelus winked at her.
Buffy took a sip "Blurrghhh" her face screwed up and her tongue hung out
"Told ya Angelus "
"Maybe not the best thing for you?"
"I'll survive"
"Stubborn minx"
Another sip "Blurrghhh"
"Okay that's enough of that" Angelus took the offending drink from her and ordered her an orange juice " There, one more of those blurgh faces and I would of ended up slapping you woman."
"You would have tried"
Buffy looked around the bar and sneered "You spent your youth in bars like this one getting shitfaced and laid?"
"Yep"
" I can see why becoming a vampire was a step up in the world"
She walked over to a table and sat , leaving Angelus and Spike speechless.
"Maybe this wasn't a wise move on your part Angelus "
"I think for once you may be right"
"Modern bint's are usually higher maintenance "
"Higher than Darla was ?"
"You have no idea" Spike turned to Angelus " When I was all soulled and lived with the bint in Sunnydale I got a good feel for her. She was down to earth in a roll about the cemetery way and I was down with that , but once you got past that it was all new clothes and shoes to match , I mean , you must have seen the wardrobe , and the spoilt brat routine that came with getting her own way? God knows how the soulled version dealt with that. Too much of a poof to stand up to her"
"Then I will have to get her around to my way of thinking"
"Bloody good luck with that , you'll need it" Spike downed his jack
"Haven't we got to drop by that annoying lawyers tonight?"
"Yes , lets go now" Angelus downed his drink and called to Buffy" We have an appointment with a lawyer my love"
The three of them left.


Buffy sat in the back with Angelus, while Spike drove .
Angelus was kissing her neck and whispering lovingly in her ears .
The stench of herbs filled his nostrils.
"Pull over Spike" He started panting and clutching at his shirt.
Spike parked up near the beach, Angelus got out and ran to the beach and sank in the sand. Buffy ran after him.
"What is it Angelus talk to me"
"Get away from me bitch, you did this " He back handed her and fell to the sand crying.His back arched and a light flew in through his mouth and lit up his eyes . Angelus clutched his chest and passed out in the sand.
"Spike !"
Spike came running across the sand and fell to Buffy and Angelus' side
"Help me get him back to the car, we need to get him home"
"What the hell did you do to him ?"
"Me? I didn't do a thing!"
"It's his bloody soul again innit?"
"Oh god no" Buffy started crying "Why now, we were happy"
"Let's get you two home pet"
Spike put him on the back seat and Buffy cradled him, crying and stroking his hair.

Willow felt the soul flow through her and leave. She knew it had worked . Her hair paled from it's red to a pure white and she slumped into the couch." That was neat"
"Are you feeling alright my dear?"
"I feel great Giles , lets get Buffy all souled up"
She looked at him and smiled
They began the second ritual

Angelus was still knocked out by the spell . Buffy laid him on their bed and laid next to him. Spike came into the room and watched her care for him.
"He won't want to be here come morning , or when he wakes"
Her tears fell again " Don't say that , he loves me , he won't leave me"
"He has his soul , he won't want to be around us because of it. Trust me pet, it's what he did last time we were a family"
"But he said he didn't love Darla, he loves me , he told me he does"
Spike sat next to her and held her hand " Buffy , you don't have your soul and he does , he will feel the guilt again and he won't want to be around us"
"Then we'll go to Wolfram and Hart and get his soul taken again, help me Spike"
"No"
Buffy punched him across the room "Fine I'll do it myself"
Angelus stirred
"Baby , Angelus , can you hear me " she stroked his face tenderly
He twitched and pulled away from her as his eyes opened "Buffy"
She smiled through her tears , Spike rose from the floor and watched
"Buffy , where are we ?"
"At the hotel room , we got you home , are you okay?"
"Hotel room?"
"The one Wolfram and Hart provided for us"
Realisation hit him . He shot off the bed and pressed himself against the wall.
Buffy smelt fear rolling off him.
"Oh no ... no ... Buffy no . Tell me we didn't , we didn't " He could smell the blood and the stench of death in the room.He couldn't sense her soul or Spikes soul.
"Angel?"
He fled the room .




Willow chanted the spell in Latin and the light hung above her , she repeated the chant and the soul entered her , turning her red hair white. It coiled around her heart and shot out of her mouth.

Buffy fell on the bed sobbing , she had never cried so much. She felt a tingle , something was happening . She felt like her chest was being constricted and she began to sweat. The tingle soon become a pain and she clutched her chest. A light shot in through her mouth and lit up her eyes . She fell to the bed , still sobbing .
"Soddin' hell!"
Spike hugged her to him and rocked her while she sobbed .
"Two down eh, guess I best wait for mine then" He whispered to her. Buffy was delirious. Her soul was there, but she was overwhelmed by the guilt.
Spike looked over and saw Trudy laying there.
"Buffy , I'm just going to put you in bed luv, Spikes just got to do something and I'll be back in a minute pet" He tucked her into bed and went into the lounge. The bint was well on her way to becoming a vampire , but not far enough to stake her before she rose. The only thing Spike could do now was to decapitate her.
He knelt beside her
"I'm so sorry luv" he kissed her cheek and held her head between both hands . One twist and a pull and the job was done. Spike rang the Wolfram and Hart offices and made up an excuse as to why they hadn't been back to sign the contract , then he informed them that there was another body to clean up.
Spike returned to Buffy and crawled into bed with her and held her.

Willow was tired . Her energy was running low , only Spike left. She could do it couldn't she?


A knock at the door snapped her out of it .
Wesley answered the door and held a cross up. It must be Angel.
It was . He looked worn , ragged and confused. Tears ran down his face
"Let me in Wes"
" Where's Buffy and Spike ?"
"I left them , they didn't have there souls" Angel was crying and it was hard to understand what he was saying .
"You left her there with him?"
"Why not, she was soulless , what have you done?"
"Willow has done the spells , she gave Buffy back her soul. What hotel where you staying in?"
"I'm not sure" Angel collapsed onto the floor " I need her Wes , she's not safe there"
"Tell us where she is"
"I don't know"


Spike woke up with Buffy still wrapped in his arms. He could see the tears had stained her face. It was still dark and he couldn't 'smell' the sunrise. He gently tried to wake her up. She stirred and looked at Spike through half closed eyes.
"Did he come back?"
Spike shook his head " Don't worry pet, we're going home now"
"But you don't have your soul"
"I didn't have one for the first two years I helped you pet"
Buffy smiled and stroked his face " True , you told me love was enough"
"Still is now go get your stuff together , can't have those damn lawyers figuring this out"
Buffy rushed to get a few bits together , Spike lit up a cigarette.
"C'mon pet , need to rush here , sunrise isn't far off"
Buffy came into the room with just her toothbrush "Figured this is all I need from here"
Spike smiled .
They ran a few blocks before hailing a cab.


Buffy ran from the cab and knocked at the door. She hoped Angel had made it back safely.
Spike came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her in a protective embrace.
Angel swung the door open and sensed Buffy's soul , then his gaze caught Spikes arm.
"Suns up in a few minutes , are you going to keep us out here to fry or what?"
"Your dangerous Spike, you don't have your soul"
"Let him in" Buffy said sternly
"Come in Buffy "
"I'm not unless you invite Spike in" She folded her arms in front of her chest.
Angels jaw clenched
"Fine" he spat out "Spike come in"
Both vampires entered the house
Angel grabbed Spike by his throat and lifted him off the floor " You best not have touched her or else I will kill you. You so much as look at anyone in here like they're a snack and I will stake your ass to the wall , got it!"
"Put him down Angel. "
He glared at Buffy
"Don't give me that look , three hours ago you were no better than him, neither was I"
Angel let him go and he dropped to the floor . Angel walked away, leaving Buffy to pick him back up.Once Spike was brushed down and sat at the kitchen table, with Wesley and a stake were watching over him and chained to the chair, she went looking for Angel.
She found him in the study , standing in the dark.He had his back to her and turned his head slightly to watch her come to him.
"Why did you run?"
"I couldn't be near you Buffy , not while you were like that"
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. " Why not?"
He didn't answer
Silence

It was a long ten minutes

"If I had stayed with you I would have wanted to lose my soul again. I was free and you were free, like you said that night on the beach, we had no restrictions, no worrys, we weren't the champions everyone expects us to be, we didn't have the weight of the worlds safety on our shoulders. We could just be Buffy and Angelus."
He turned to face her
"I want that freedom Buffy , to at least be free sometimes , to just be us."
"If we take the offer at Wolfram and Hart we might be able to get that. I read that contract and we can put our on clauses in " She looked up into his eyes
" I already thought about that and I think it would be the safest option for us now"
"I think Willow is doing the spell on Spike now. Do you think he will join us and come to Wolfram and Hart ?"
"I think he's like a love sick puppy and will follow you around til the end of time" He kissed her nose " Who can blame him"
She smiled and held Angel's hand as they went back into the kitchen.
Spike was crying and panting
"Have you been unno ,,, all souled up ?" Buffy asked
"Yeah but that not why I'm crying"
"Care to share?" she raised a brow
"You two bloody gits ..... and I'm not a soddin love sick puppy!"
Giles stood at the kitchen door
"Touching as it is we have work to do and questions that need answering"
"Can't they wait Rupert" Angel didn't look towards the Watcher.
"We need to know why Lilah decided to extract your souls"
"Because she thought that by getting us to take over as the unsouled vampires , Wolfram and Hart would stay evil"
"Now leave us please Giles. We need to bond as a family again. Where's Layton?" Buffy asked
Giles stood silently staring at the floor
"Where is he Giles , where's my son?" Angel had a hint of anger
"Illyria took him to another world so that you couldn't harm him , she's there with Dawn and Xander"
"Do you know how to get them back?" His eyes glittered with yellow
"Of course, It will just take Willow to locate Illyria and then Illyria will come back through the portal"
"You had better hope he is okay" Buffy held onto Angel
"You should have known that we wouldn't of harmed him , soul or not, he is my son"
Giles felt terrible and left the kitchen.
"So , now the lot of you are back to normal and all warm an' fuzzy , any chance of me getting untied?"
" Think you look good in chains , maybe we should try them , what do you think Angel?"
" I think you have been corrupted by my alter ego " Angel had a grin on his face
"So that's a yes then" She said as they walked out of the kitchen


Buffy walked out of the bathroom and sat on the end of the bed. Angel was under the covers waiting for her .
" I can't stomach pigs blood now , it was bad enough before , now it's repulsive"
"Unfortunate side effect.You will get used to it again, and the demon may try and rebel against it"
"Great so not just a growling stomach but a growling demon too"
"Lots of growls ahead " He reached out and pulled her close " Now about those chains"


Willow managed to reach out across the dimensional plains and contact Illyria. Illyria told her that it would take a day to bring Layton back , dimensional time didn't always run on the same scale as the human world. Willow assured her that all three vampires were safe and had their souls.


Things were finally getting back on track.


Lilah was fuming. How the hell had the team of idiots foiled her plan to keep the offices at Wolfram and Hart evil?They were above small minded people that held no real power. She had Angelus, Spike and the turned slayer in the palm of her hand and was reap the benefits, so how had it been ripped from her so easily.Someone was going to pay , and pay dearly.
Her phone rang and she answered it.
"Angel"
"Lilah, thought I'd let you know that we are still interested in your offer, with a few clauses of our own"
"Fine, come by the office later "
"Oh and Lilah, no funny business or I will let Angelus out on you , and trust me when I say he is less than happy with you"
"You don't kill humans , part of your redemption , remember" she said smugly
"One more won't matter to me now, especially when it comes to you , I don't think you qualify as human , do you?"
He hung up.
Lilah threw the phone across the room. Once she calmed down she picked it up and replaced the handset.
She really needed to have that witch of theirs killed.


"Was that Lilah on the phone?"
"Yeah I rang her to let her know we were still interested"
" I'm guessing she was less than happy at our new found souliness"
Angel laughed and pulled her into his lap "No, I think homicidal covers it"
" Best get Willow some protection , and the rest of the team"
"I think they can protect themselves, they managed to when we were ...... Evil"
"Yeah"
"Buffy?"
"Hmmm ?"
" Do you prefer Angelus or Angel?"
"Angel"
"Why?" he asked
"Why are you asking me?"
"Call me insecure"
"Okay insecure "
"I'm not going to get an answer am I?"
"Nope"


Spike was still chained to the chair in the morning. His back was stiff , his neck was stiff and ached and personally , he was sick of being the 'chained to a chair Spike'.Hadn't Buffy and Angel done just as much damage? Why was he the one being punished?He was hungry and after having human blood , he was bloody cranky cos of it.He could hear all the hearts beating away , pumping all that delicious human blood around their puny bodies and it was driving his demon crazy. Not helping yourself here mate , he thought to himself, god help the next human that walks in here .Great now my ass is numb!
Angel and Buffy were the first to come downstairs. They were laughing and every now and again she would yelp and then he'd hear Angel growl.Soddin hell he thought they are all loved up and I'm left here to starve and grow old age pensioners bones.
"Oi! ANGELUS!"
"Don't call me that"
"Let me out of these bloody chains"
"Patience"
"I think spending ten hours in the soddin chains qualifies as patient you git"
"Let him out Angel" Buffy still couldn't hide her laughter.
"Where'd I put the key?"
"That's not even funny" Spike spat
Angel threw Buffy the key so she could let him out while he prepared their blood.
"About time" Spike stretched and cracked his aching and sore muscles and bones. "Better, now I just need my grub" He reached for the weetabix and grabbed Angels mug of blood and went into the lounge.He propped his feet up on the table and flicked on the T.V.
Buffy and Angel watched as he sauntered off.
"What time shall we go to sort out this Wolfram and Hart thing then? " Buffy sipped the warm pigs blood
"No blurgh face?"
"Tease me all you like but you still have the leather pants upstairs , don't make me use them against you Angelus" She poked her tongue out before he could retaliate


The house started coming to life and hectic. This was another reason to push for the Wolfram and Hart take over. More space.Angel knew that the company owned alot of property around the offices , and they would put them to good use.
"Are we goin' to sort out the lawyer mess today?" Spike asked Angel
"Yeah, we'll go soon,I haven't told Lilah yet"
"Any reason?"
" If we just turn up she wouldn't have had time to plan anything"
"Good thinkin', for you that is" Spike smiled.
Buffy walked into the study holding Layton. " So back to the offices later?"
"Yeah, will you be okay Buff?"
"Yep , just worried I won't be able to control myself, I have an overwhelming urge to hurt that bitch for everything she's put us through"
"I think we all feel like that" Angel kissed her and stroked his sons head "You'll be fine though?"
"Yeah course , I'm not about to go terminator on her or you again, promise"
Angel gave his son and 'wife' a kiss each "Good to hear" and went to get showered.

Lilah wasn't having a good day. Lindsay had slammed into her office and slammed a file down on her desk. He had stood there expecting a good explanation as to why the firm had paid out a huge bill for services rendered to a trio of deadly vampires , and got squat for it. He was grinding his teeth and she was sure the vein in his temple was fit to bust.
"What can I say?"
"Nothing obviously. For God sake , you know who this will reflect badly on , don't you"
Lilah rocked back on her chair with a smug grin, her pen resting between her teeth as she held it "Well not me, I died for this firm, at the hands of Angel , so I'm thinking that it must be you ... Boss" Lilah reached for the file and flipped through a few of the print outs , finally settling on the final total then pulled a who cares face " Is that all , I actually thought they would have caused more damage than that"
" That's just for the restaurant massacre"
" A quarter of a mill?"
"Yeah , turns out they were clients, only Angelus could pick the only Chinese restaurant on the payroll "
"Have you finished?"
Lindsay sat on the desk "When do you expect them to turn up?"
"I don't , but soon, hopefully"

Angel, Buffy and Spike waited til sundown and then got in the car and drove off.
They arrived unexpected and they were shown to the same office as before. The three of them were nervous, not that Angel or Spike showed it. They had probably been in situations like this over their vast lives. Angel and Spike flanked Buffy, and as soon as Lilah and Lindsay walked into the office , both vampires had put their arms around her and had morphed into game face.
"Graced with the bosses presence tonight , boy , you must have blown it royally Lilah" Angel laughed at her
Lindsay pulled up a chair and sat back with his arms behind his head.Lilah looked nervous and the scent of fear rolled off her.
Fuel for my fire Angel thought
"Please sit , I believe we have lots to discuss" Lindsay said.
" First thing we wish to discuss is the offer. "
"Of course, here's the proposal, any amendments you wish to include or retract , just let me know" Lillah handed all three a copy of the contract.
The three of them read through the contract and put them on the table. Angel had a smug grin on his face and leant against the table .
" What makes you think I want to be C.E.O of this ... "
"As we discussed before , the resources at your disposal will make your 'good fight ' alot easier and you will have the firms employee's to help , we have a great deal of power here. Why don't we give you a tour"
Lilah rose from her seat as did Lindsay.The three vampires stood looking at each other . Spike shrugged and was the first to follow them , Angel and Spike remained in game face , Buffy stayed in her human guise , almost looking lost. Angel pulled her into his embrace and whispered to her.It seemed to calm her down and they all followed the Wolfram and Hart employee's.
Regardless of what they thought, Wolfram and Hart was an impressive business. The resources would help them immensely. The only reason they held back was the fact that they were evil. Spike had said that they would soon change that once they were in control , which meant that he was considering his part in the take over , he just wanted to wait and see if the other two were giving it serious consideration. Would their combined teams want to come , after all they had been there in the thick of it from the start of this war.
Angel sat back in the office , Buffy on his lap swinging her legs. Spike stood looking out of the window. Lilah had stood behind Lindsay as he sat at her desk. It appeared that the vampires were now dealing with him and Lilah was no more than a glorified secretary.
"Why don't you make yourself useful and get our ... guests a drink , Lilah"
She glared at Lindsay and left the room.
"I have to tell you this while she is absent but the Senior Partners wanted you all here from the beginning . Although they wanted the evil versions, this could still work"
"Tell us something we don't already know Lindsay. Why would they want the 'good ' us to take over this firm?"
"You earned it. Defeating them proved you are worthy enemies and they concede . Doesn't mean they wont try again but then we live in hope" Lindsay smiled , glad that he had planted that seed.
"We destroyed them" Spike said from his spot at the window
"Is that what you think?"
"You mean we didn't beat them and kill them?"
"No, please .... they aren't corporeal, not in the same sense of you and I. They use mystics to come to this plain, but they exist elsewhere. The beings you defeated are shall we say , reflections. As long as their are people here they will be. Didn't Holland tell you that once Angel?"
Angel just glared.
"As I thought , you forgot that titbit of info did you big guy"
Angel was fuming at his own stupidity , how could he forget that.
"So how does that effect us taking over? Will we become part of the problem or part of the solution Angel?" Buffy was catching on.
"I'm not sure babe , rest assured if we do take this farce for a law firm over we won't bend to their will , we will still fight for the powers "
Lindsay smiled " Wouldn't have you any other way " Lindsay threw a pen onto the contracts and slid them towards the couple sat opposite him.
Angel stared at the contracts.
"Before we sign , a few things need to be changed"
"Name it"
"I noticed that even after her death , Lilah still works here , you best remove any clause that means my teams are trapped here in that manner. I want Spike and Buffy to be free as well , no more reanimating them should they die." He stroked Buffy's hair as he said it.
"As you wish, anything else?"
Angel sat staring at Buffy "Anything you wish to add ?"
"Yeah, I want Lilah gone" Buffy morphed into her demon guise , signifying her anger " If I see that vapid bitch here I won't be responsible for my actions"
As much as Lindsay would love to watch Buffy tear Lilah to shreds, he agreed to have her transferred to another office.
"So is that everything?" Lindsay rubbed his face over with his hands . This was tense and they were dragging this meeting out. He just wanted to get back to his apartment and deal with the Senior Partners so that he could relax. Not that he got to do much of that lately .
"Not quite, This might seem like a good idea and the Senior Partners may think they have us where they want us but " Angel patted Buffys ass and she stood up. Angel leant over the table and got Lindsay by the shirt collar, holding him mere inches from his own face " The first sign of any attempt on our lives and we will kill you and everyone involved with this company " Angel growled loudly. "Trust me when I say that even Angelus will seem weak in comparison. Don't think my soul will stop me either. You have my word , no need for me to sign anything."
The three vampires left
"Handled that brilliantly as usual then Lindsay " Lilah sat with a smug grin on her face.


Willow , Giles and Xander were up once they had arrived back home. They were mentally , emotionally and physically exhausted. The three of them retired to bad as soon as they arrived home , giving Giles and Willow and Xander a brief run down of the nights events before retiring.
Since their short time without souls and the feasting on human blood , the pigs blood had left them all with a hunger that just wasn't getting quenched.This lead to restlessness at night when it was quiet and the only thing they could hear was the human heartbeats. Their demons growled and churned , begging for the crimson liquid that ran through their veins. Angel could control it , after years he had to learn to get past the craving. Spike was just as adept at denying his demon, Buffy however was having a hard time of it. She knew it was going to be hard , she knew the slayer in her was mortified , but the vampire in her was begging , pleading with her to just take it.Angel held her while she went through the withdrawal and whispered to her to keep her calm. Finally she fell asleep.Angel gently slipped from her bed and went to see Spike. Spike was awake and listening to what he thought passed as music,it tortured Angel's eardrums .
"Can I come in ?"
Spike merely left the door open and resumed he place on his bed, still engrossed in his music.
Angel raised his brows at Spike's nonchalant attitude.
"You think you could turn that 'noise' off?"
Spike huffed and turned it down " satisfied?"
Angel sat on the edge of the bed and rested his elbows on his knee's and hung his head.
"Buffy's having a hard time with withdrawal, I need you to help her "
"How?, an why aint you doing it , your her knight in shiny bloody armour now"
Angel sat quiet for a while
It dawned on Spike
"Oh that's just bloody class that is"
"I'd go but......."
"But what , you don't want to risk your own path of redemption or is it that you don't want the scoobies to stake your bloody ass for it, but it's okay if it's Spike"
"I have to be here should she wake , I need to stop her from taking one of the others"
"How 'bout I Buffy sit and you go out and hunt"
"Not gonna happen Spike"
"How the soddin hell did I end up here with you again?" Spike grabbed his duster and left.
Angel sat on the bed with a smile on his lips "Buffy" .
Angel returned to his room and sat on his bed and cradled Buffy.
"We'll get you what you crave baby , just hold on til Spike gets back"
Spike returned after a couple of hours and ran straight up to Angel and Buffy's room. He entered after knocking and hearing Angel grant him entrance.
"Did you get what she needs?"
Spike threw a paper bag onto the bed
Angel frowned his confusion
"You didn't think I was gonna bring her back a live victim did you, c'mon you might be bloody dense but your not completely stupid are you?"
"Angel opened the bag and saw packs of human blood that had come from a local hospital
"And thanks would be nice you ponce"
Angel opened the first pouch and offered it to Buffy . " Take the rest downstairs and mix them with the pigs blood "
"Now I'm your lackey? Don't bloody think so"
Spike walked out and left Angel to it. He wasn't happy with the way Angel was shutting him out of Buffy's life and was expecting him to run around doing his dirty work for him , and using his closeness to her as a way to manouvre him into it. If the bloody moron wanted anything doing for her he'd have to do it himself from now on. Spike was sick of it.
So things were tense between Angel and Spike , nothing new was it? Buffy thought she could deal with vampire jealousy , but in her current state of mind , it proved hard.
"Go after him and make good, we need him on our side and Angel?"
"Hmmm?"
"Don't go using Angelus as a one up on him, he's our equal"
"When did you get so wise?"
"When you got so pig headed"
"Someone else once said that to me.."
"Colour me surprised"