The Hart of L.A.

Buffy and Xander were walking to her car. He didn't look too pleased with her at the moment. Maybe it was just the fact that he was having to stay because of Angel. He didn't have to stay at all, but he did because of Buffy. He loved Buffy, but he didn't LOVE Buffy that way anymore. She was one of his best friends, though, and if she wanted him to stay...then he would. They walked to her car and got in once she unlocked it. Once they were in she looked over at him.

" Xander, why are you upset? Don't say you aren't either, I can read you like a book. I know you don't want to stay here, but just come to this meeting, and i'll personally buy you a ticket to San Diego."


Xander sighed. He hated making Buffy feel bad. It's not that he didn't want to be around Buffy, but he hated Angel. Hated him with a fiery passion of hell that Angel had been in.

" Buffy, it's so not that." He turned to where he was facing her. " I really don't want to go to San Diego, but you know I don't like Angel ( understatment), and you made it sound like he was ordering me about like his faithful dog. Of course I'll stay, Buff. Willow has Kennedy, Dawn, and Oz now. You've got yourself and Faith. I'd love to stay here and help you." She started to say something, but he stopped her.

" Buffy, I'm not angry with you, and I never really could be. I just don't like the fact that he thinks he can order everyone around. Granted he's 300 and is now in charge of an evil corporation, but still."

Buffy had to laugh at this. Xander always made her laugh, even in the most weird situations.

" He's only 248, thank you very much, and it's not an evil corporation anymore."

Xander glanced at her. He couldn't help but to laugh along with her.

" Ok, I'll listen to him, but only because your my favorite slayer."

***********************************************

Faith was on her way to see Angel. She had to tell him about a new demon that had totally kicked her ass. The only people in the building were Lorn, Wes, Fred, and Angel. The lobby looked deserted. She was almost to the elevator leading to Angel's office when all of the sudden it got really dark ( in the building). It got very windy, and loud noises like Thunder sounded from out of nowhere. There was a really loud thunderclap when someone came flying down from the ceiling....completely naked. Faith looked at the man lying on the ground, when suddenly he jumped up.

" Where in the bloody hell am I? Why is it so freaking cold in here? Wait a tick...WHERE THE HELL ARE MY CLOTHES!!!!!"

Faith scrambled out from under the desk she'd been hiding under to stare at the creature in front of her. " Spike? Oh God, is it really you?" Just then she realised that he had no clothes on. She started to grin. " Well, no wonder B. liked you so much." She couldn't help but laugh at his expression.


He grumbled to himself. " This is just bloody brilliant." He looked around a bit and then glared at her. " Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to get me some clothing?"

Before she could say anything the elevator opened and Angel, Wes, and Lorn walked out. " What the hell was that?" He was looking around when he spotted Faith. " Are you okay? You didn't get hurt did you?" Once again Faith was cut off, but this time it was by Spike.

" Um, excuse me, naked vampire here!" Wesley, Angel, and Lorn all turned to face him. Wesley was the first to speak. " Good Lord! Spike? They said that you'd died."

Spike smirked. " It'll take more than a necklace and a Hellmouth to stop me." This made Angel speak up then.

" What are you doing here, Spike?" Spike shot Angel and icy look. " Now, how would I know that, mate? If I was just going to stop by and say ' Gee, Hi Angel, I really hate you, you bint' would I show up with no clothes on?"

This left everyone silent...except for Lorn. " Um, Angel cakes, maybe you should give him your coat...just until we can get him in proper clothing, that is." Angel jerked his head around towards Lorn. " Are you crazy?! I'm not giving him my jacket! He's naked!"

Wesley sighed. They were acting like spoiled little babies. " Precisely why you should give him your jacket, Angel." Faith jumped up then.

" You know, Spike looks just fine to me." They all just ignored her comment. Angel grudgingly gave over his jacket. " I just want you to know, that I'm burning that."

********************************************

Buffy was glad that Xander was staying in L.A. Sure, she had Faith to talk to, but they really weren't the best of friends. After all, Faith had tried to kill her on more than one occasion, taken her body once, and Buffy had actually stabbed Faith and put her in a coma. Xander was one of her best friends, and she was glad to have him with her. She knew what Angel wanted. She really hoped that Xander would at least consider it.

They were going down a back road, when suddenly a person came flying out in front of Buffy's car. Luckily, she stopped the car just in time, before she could run over the civilian. Unfortunatly, by stopping it made her miss a huge Demon that popped out after the person. Buffy looked over at Xander.

" Stay here, Xander! No matter what happens, I want you to stay here!" Buffy leaped out of the car, and blocked the Demon from hitting the guy again. She hit it hard on the jaw, but that only made it mad. It howled at her like a wounded dog, and hit her so hard she slammed into the brick wall behind her, and broke pieces of it. She got back up and swung at it, but he just caught her throw, and bent her arm to where Xander swore it was breaking it. He smashed her head up against a nearby metal dumpster. This made Buffy stay where she was and not get up for more. Xander jumped out of the car when the Demon left, and ran to Buffy's side.

" Geeze, Buffy! Are you alright?"

She nodded

" God, he was strong. We'd better go and tell Angel, so we can do some research."

************************************************

Willow and Dawn were in the living room watching a movie, when the doorbell sounded. Dawn popped up to answer it, and Willow pushed pause so she wouldn't miss anything. She wondered who it was. No one knew where she was...Unless it was Buffy!!!!

Dawn let out a huge squeel, which made Willow think it really was Buffy. She got up to go see, and she saw Andrew.

" Hey Andy! Did Xander come back with you?" Andrew smiled at her. " No, but someone did come to see you."

Andrew moved aside and Oz stepped in. Willow could not form a coherent thought. " Oz? Oh my God, Oz! What are you doing here?!" He smiled at her and walked towards her.

" Xander and Andrew here came and got me. Buffy told me that you wanted to see me, so here I am."

At this Dawn smacked Andrew...hard. " OW! What was that for?" She glared at him. " You lied to me!" Willow stayed quiet, and noticed when Dawn and Andrew left the room. She motioned for Oz to sit down.

" Well, How've you been? I did want to see you. I wanted to see how you were. I really thought that we were going to die down there, so I wanted to see you. Wait, I thought you couldn't be around me...how has that changed?"

He looked down at his feet. " You know...it's sort of a long story."

***************************************************************

Faith, Lorn, Gunn, Fred, Wes, Spike, and Angel were all in Angel's office when Buffy burst in with Xander. " Angel, I've got to tell you about this..."

She stopped talking when she saw everyone...and they were silent.

" I'm sorry, should I have knocked?" Angel looked at her, and shook his head. He still didn't say anything, though. She didn't know what was going on.

" What? Why aren't you guys talking?" She looked over at Xander and noticed he was looking at something, too.

" Wha......."

That's when Spike stood up. ( Sorry, he has on clothes now.)

She was speechless. " Spike? How?"

He walked up to her and kissed her.

" Hello, Luv."