Splinter

"He did what?!"



The three men winched at Cordelia's screech while Fred looked saddened.



"It's like your only family telling you they don't want anything to do with you, like you're not worth them. Who would do something like that?"



Wesley looked down his eyes hooded and face emotionless.



"Angel is such a bastard!" the actress gritted out, eyes narrowing as she planned a payback on Spike's account.



"Isn't there anyway for us to stop it? Legal wise?" Gunn asked, his enhanced lawyer brain - left from when he had the notion that he needed something 'else' to be useful - wanting to find someway to help his new friend.



"It's not that easy, Charlie," Lorne said sipping from his Margarita. "This is nothing solved by the Super Lawyer or anyone outside the Vampire Court. You witnessed two Master Vampires of their order dealing with something that rarely happens, and that no one else can say a word about let alone have a decision in."



"You mean Spike doesn't have a say in it?" Fred gasped.



Wesley nodded finally out of his dark thoughts. "Yes. Now he doesn't. Perhaps before the claim fully was revoked he could have… and I'm guessing he did. Seeing that they already know each other."



"Yeah, rather too intimately," Gunn commented remembering the way the vampire touched Spike and how the blonde-haired vampire seemed quite accustomed to it.



Fred and Lorne looked at each other sadly. They both knew how much Spike cared for Angel. Lorne from several readings he did to Spike as the blond sang inadvertently in his presence. And Fred because of the many hours she and Spike talked before and after his time as a ghost.



Cordelia opened her mouth, intending another tirade but seeing the look of hopelessness on her friends' face she took a deep breath and let it out as she let herself fall on Wesley's couch feeling herself fall in their pit of gloom as well.



After the group had given Angel different kinds of disappointed and deadly glares, they had gathered in Wesley's office where the ex-watcher and Lorne gave them a summary of everything they knew about what had just occurred. Explained that since Angel had spent an unknown number of centuries in Hell that when he returned his claim on Spike… to put it in plain terms, expired.



Wesley silently fingered his summoning book. With new resolve, he picked up the large volume and held it to his mouth. "Hravolen, Raven."



Everyone looked on as Wesley opened the book. White pages stared back at him for a second before words as if they were small spiders began spreading all over the pages. Silence reigned in the room as the English man lost himself in the book, his eyes devouring the words searching for something helpful.



Three minutes later . . .



"Ugh! This is hopeless!" Cordelia jumped up off the couch and smoothed down her expensive yet very stylish outfit. "I, on the other hand, am going to do something productive." On the questioning gaze of her friends, she gave them her all teeth grin. "I'm gonna cheer Spike up!"



Fred took a couple of steps closer interested. "How are you going to do that, Cordy?"



"Gonna take him to try out his suit for the party! And maybe pick out some other stuff. Wanna come with, Fred?"



Fred shrunk back and looked anywhere but at her peppy friend. "Uh, no, I think, Wesley needs my help… right Wes?"



Wesley wasn't paying much attention only hearing the words but not the underlining meaning. "Uh, no, Fred, you can…. Ow! Bloody hell!" The English man rubbed his ankle and glared at Fred.



"Jeez, Fred, You're worse at tact than Giles." Cordelia rolled her eyes at the physicist act. It wasn't like their shopping day ended *that* badly the last time. They'd had a great five hours, checking out every shop and double-checking the shoe stores. If it weren't for that Lynen demon attacking them, they would've went for makeovers later. Cordelia frowned. Now that she thought about it, Fred was too eager to call the guys for demon control, then leaving on the pretence of needing to dissect what was left of the body even though that it required a fire torch to defeat it.



Cordelia glared at Fred who gave her a wobbly smile in return. The seer spared a similar glare to the others before turning on her heels and exiting the office.



Lorne swallowed the drink that he had been holding in his mouth fearing the wrath of Queen C.



"I wonder if one of us needs to cheer Slim later after Princess finishes her way of cheering him up."



Wesley nodded taking a seat to take some weight off his throbbing ankle. "I fear that Cordy isn't the least of Spike's fears. However, Spike loves interacting with people and being the life of the party – would explain why Cordelia asked him over the rest of us- it might do well to distract him for a while."



"Don't go tempting fate, man, that never ends well."



Wesley raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement before burying himself back in the large book.



The remaining three friends exchanged glances knowing that was their friend's way of saying 'let yourselves out… unless you want to help research'. So they did. Each still filled with troubling thoughts about their blond friend and their dark-haired friend-slash-boss, and headed off to their separate jobs.







*~*~*~*~*~*









"What's with the sour face, Cupcake?"



Angel sighed. "I really don't have the time for pastry talk, Lorne. I'm busy." He pointed at the papers he was looking at unseeing for an hour to prove his point.



Lorne nodded and sat down in front of the desk. "Well that's nice. So… let's talk." The green demon clasped his hands in front of him and donned his serious face, something seen very rarely. Angel instantly noticed and started to look for exits.



"Talk? About what? Uh, Lorne it'd better not be that modeling job… I told you…"



Lorne waved his hand at him dismissively. "Nah, have Dave for that now. I'm talking about a hard fact pounding here."



Angel sighed relieved and leaned back. "About what? Do you want to open your bar again?"



Lorne had a faraway look on his face. He quickly shook his head to snap out of his reverie. "No… Johnny keeps me grounded… boy does he… uh where was I?" Lorne asked with a lost look on his face.



Angel shook his head amused at the green demon's antics. "You were going to talk about some hard fact if I caught that right."



Lorne straightened up. "Yes, facts and the pounding of them…" he said looking for a way to start.



Angel sighed finally at the end of his rope. "What is it, Lorne? I've got a job to do. What do you want?"



The seer seemed annoyed at the repeated mantra of 'job to do'. That seemed to be enough to get him right to the point, "It's not what I want, Pumkin, it’s what you need," well as close to the point as Lorne was capable of.



The vampire behind the desk crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes not liking where this was going. "And 'what' do I need then?"



Lorne shook his head with a sigh at the defensive manner.



"You know I've heard of 'doth protests too much' but what you've been doing needs a new analogy!" The green forehead creased. "Or is that a metaphor?"



Angel remained silent. The demon leaned forward a concerned look on his face.



"Angel, why are you doing this to Spike AND yourself? At first with the barbs shooting back and forth, it was fun being in the middle of a UST supercharge… but this is pushing it way too far. It doesn't take a seer to see what you guys have for each other, unless you're as repressed as Charlie-boy… and well clearly you if what you've done has a chance of making any sense whatsoever!"



Angel rolled his eyes to the heavens marveling at the fact that he had understood what had been said to him. Sunnydale had been good for something after all. "And here I was worried, expecting that any moment Cordy'd come down on me for being 'too mean'." He pushed away from the desk to loom over Lorne.



"But you see she doesn't have anything near your delusions. Spike and I have nothing between us but acknowledged hate. If there're two vampires who your imagination had *not* conjured up, it's Spike and that 'Evil Vampire' no one had been doing anything to stop. Except they lack the 'fun' barbs," he snapped.



Lorne remained calm. "Things have been done… research which you missed coz of those *very* interesting papers you've been clearly memorizing. Hrafen . . . or Raven as Spike called him - a name that really fits his yummy-ness if you ask me - and his clan had been in hiding for several years now. It seems that they had stopped 'making new members' for years… how long and why we can't be sure. Rumor has it that the Clan had been lying wait for something… or someone." He raised an eyebrow at that.



"Oh and yeah, I'm all you're gonna get of our delusional little party… Wes is nose deep in one of his musty books and Freddykins is filling our super lawyer in our shared 'delusion' as we speak… as for your awaited Hollywood Queen, she is indulging in her shop-holic-ness with our very own blue vampire, thanks to *you*, in preparation of the up and coming Holly-party." Lorne stood up and met Angel's eyes actually looming over him with a few inches.



Angel felt as big as those very inches separating them. He wanted to say something… to deny the 'delusional' accusations… that he was *too* busy to notice that his friends had looked up the other source of his sleepless nights. To make some fuss over him being the boss and that they shouldn't question his judgment… particularly concerning Spike, who means nothing to him more than a pain in his ass, that he means nothing to that 'vampire'. However, that seemed useless even in his head, especially when it came to his crew who knew him too well. He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say but knowing that if he didn't say anything, his menacing figure would seem insignificant.



Of course, one could always depend on his own people to aid him in that front.



"Just don't say a word! I usually stay out of these things… not get caught in the cross fire." Lorne reached inside his shiny coat and Angel held himself from flinching away from the imaginary gun he thought was going to be pulled out.



~ That's what I get for not sleeping… and watching those gangster movies ~



"Here." Angel looked at the offered small envelope. "Cordy is taking Spike to this VIP shindig as you know… no one uninvited is allowed and there shouldn't be Paparazzi with in a snap shot range… I should know they hired us for security. Thing is, we got a complementary ticket… I'm thinking you should go, and see where the evening takes you."



Angel blinked and opened his mouth for another try.



"Just… don't… just take it." So much for that try. He looked into pleading red eyes and reluctantly took the envelope. Lorne grinned his white teeth clear against his skin. "Just keep an open mind, talk maybe, you can do that without a hassle in neutral ground… right?"



The vampire took the easy road this time and only nodded.



Lorne nodded back enthusiastically. "Great! Don't forget to dress up!" He turned to leave but stopped when his hand touched the door. Angel held back a whimper of depression that he wiped any evidence of when the red-eyed demon turned to look at him. "Oh, and try not to scare any celebs… in fact try not to talk to any… Cordy told me what happened the last time."



The mouth quickly slammed shut in the same split second it took to open it. Lorne nodded satisfied, "You won't be sorry… you just gotta *see* him," and exited the office, head high.







*~*~*~*~*~*







"C'mon Blondie, chin up! Gotta look pretty," Cordelia practically ordered Spike through one of her sunny grins. The wide smile wasn't directed at the vampire next to her but at several celebrities across the room.



"You know, pet, if you wanna go hang with them starlets you can." Spike raised his eyebrow and returned a forced smile of yet another nameless tall skinny blonde.



Cordelia blinked at him incredulous. "I'm an 'A' rated celeb too, you know. If they want to talk with me *they'll* have to come here." She nodded then discreetly checked her make up, making sure that there wasn't any lipstick on her teeth.



Spike rolled his eyes and sipped his champagne. He grimaced wishing they were serving something stronger… other than the shrimp. He shuddered.



The rising actress was personally invited to a private party that a high-class director had organized, only inviting the famous and most beautiful of people. Singers, actors, writers, directors and producers all well known as well as a few unknown faces most likely the dates/escorts like Spike was. Cordelia didn't doubt that some were millionaires that had a hobby of investing in a new film. She had already spotted two men and one woman though she only was interested in the men. Even though she was now rich herself, she still couldn't let go of old habits. Too bad the man she had her eye on had a wedding ring on, the other wasn't bad, in fact he was more attractive. Unfortunately, he seemed more interested in getting Spike to say a few words to him than her. That was a lost cause right there. Spike seemed to clean up too well.



"Well, why don't you 'lower' yourself to the guy you sobbed over for drowning coz he didn't have enough bleedin' sense to push his bird off a piece of wood and take 'er place."



"Bitter much," Cordelia huffed but still had the happy look firmly placed on her face. She reminded Spike of those annoying stewardesses. Of course, he had never met any since he had never been on a plane. But he did see enough movies to know as much. "You wouldn't know real romance if it bit you on the ass, Spike, literarily in your case!" The brown-haired woman was determined to defend her favorite movie and its hero.



"Leo – I mean Jack sacrificed his life so that the woman he loved could live." She sighed dramatically remembering when she saw the movie the last time… for the 273 time.



Spike smiled bitterly and pretended that the sissy drink he was holding was old aged whisky. He was a romantic. Thing was, he had always placed the person he loved first and then only received frozen emotions in return, if any. It reminded him very much of that kid freezing to the death before sinking alone for eternity. He hated that movie because the lad was lucky; his love was returned, and he was reunited with his love in an afterlife.



~ Corny much?! ~ Spike inwardly flinched at his own words. ~ Bugger I've been around them kids far too long! ~



Spike knew romance! And it never ended that well. The kid was frozen but he was alive inside because his woman loved him in return. Spike was frozen all over. Though in Buffy's case, he burned to a crisp and the 'cold' comfort she gave him while his insides were burning had only made him realize what he could never have.



Cordelia bit her lip as she observed the play of emotions on Spike's face. She shouldn't have opened *those* gates.



She opened her mouth to apologize but instead said, "Oh, there's Cameron and Kate. Maybe they could introduce me to Leo. You stay here… don't want them getting distracted!" And she was off.



Spike barely registered her words. He also didn't notice the anxious look she cast at him as she was walking away. He did notice though when what stood as a poor excuse for a drink in his hand finished the following moment. He deposited the empty glass unconsciously when one of the serving trays passed by. His eyes still cast down in thought.



Another glass was presented to him. Reflexes kicked and he was sipping before he knew what he was doing. His eyes closed in pleasure before they opened and shot up to be greeted by an amused face.



"I take it you like the whiskey?"



Somehow, deep down, even though Spike was too distracted by the strong perfumes as well as his raging emotions to sense him, he wasn't surprised to see the other vampire. He always seemed to find him when he needed him.



"Ray."



"Will, it's always great to see you."



"Well. . ." Spike blinked and sipped more of his refreshing drink. "I see you're not talking all that stuck up anymore."



Raven shrugged in his elegant suit. "It works well for rousing fear and respect."



Spike rolled his eyes. "Can't believe how you and Angel gave up your accents for Americans."



Raven looked indignant. "I with certainty am not as bad as that!"



The blond scoffed.



Gray eyes narrowed. "What did he do to you now?"



Spike drew back surprised. "Why would you think he…"



"You wavered when you spoke his name. Don't you remember my teachings about knowing a person's thoughts and feelings from their tone of voice?"



Spike had a far away look in his eyes and a smirk found its way on his face. Remembering when he had turned the Scoobies against each other, now that was the fun part of being evil! Those children had been so easy to read. He wouldn't have done it if it weren't for his natural sneakiness and Raven's old lessons.



"Good old memory I presume?" Raven and Spike shared a smile.



"Have I had otherwise with you behind it?" Spike asked grinning before the thought made him somber.



"Is it so bad that memories of our time together cause you sadness?"



Spike hated that he was the reason of the miserable look that fell on Raven's handsome features, even if it were fleeting since his companion was like him in so many ways. He looked down.



"You know it's not you, Ray. It's the parallel with…"



Spike felt his head being lifted by a long finger.



"Did I release you to such misery, Leif?"



"Why do you keep calling me that? I never asked you about it before," Spike whispered chokingly.



Raven tilted his head in a very familiar way. "And pray tell, why is that?"



"Afraid of the answer?" Spike said unsure with a small smile.



"That you are? My leif… my beloved?" Raven stepped even closer and Spike forgot that they were in a room full of people. Not that it mattered. It was Hollywood after all.



"Why…?" Spike's eyes were full of wretchedness.



"They were all blind. Your passion and life shines like fire itself… they fear it and seek it all the same. They pleasured themselves with your warmth but with difficulty pulled themselves away in fear of burning themselves."



A soft hand caressed the angled face.



"But I do not fear the fire… the burn… I endure it for the prize at the end."



Spike's mind eye saw a hand as it sizzled and shook in a stream of sunlight as blue eyes turned from it to gaze into whisky brown seeking approval. He had wanted *his* prize from the beginning.



"You, a creature that is believed to be lifeless and cold, carry the most life in your ways, you burn for it yourself... for what *you* seek. Evil, good, it never matters … you live it all relishing every moment as if it were your last."



Spike pulled his head back, his eyes shut firmly as he shook his head to clear away the feeling of his last moment… still seeking. He coughed taking a deep breath as he opened his eyes to meet worried gray blue eyes.



"See that's it. When I was… with you, I was all-evil. With the killings and the maiming… I don't do that anymore… that's not me anymore. I *seek* different things now."



"You think that would deter me? Silly boy. You are thought a legend across the land. You have proven to the world that you held the choice in your hand and to pass the Trials… a new era of choice had started with what you have achieved, that is more proof of how you reign above all. Yet I was never surprised to hear what you have done. You were always exceptional. Masters live in their time even after it passes, they move with the discoveries in their own pace never relinquishing their hold on their Old Ways. But you, Will, move with the time. You adapt and bond…"



"Which some say is my Achilles Heel."



"Some are fools." Gray eyes flashed for a split second into pure gold. Spike was struck at first. He had known Raven to be the most levelheaded vampire he had ever met. For his anger to flicker even for a moment meant that whatever provoked it was something he felt strongly about.



"I know about you and the slayer…"



"Been keeping tabs on me, have you, mate?" Spike tried to change the subject with humorous words and a smile. Raven, however, didn't fall for the bait.

"…I also know that you had sacrificed your life for her and *your* cause… and I never thought ill of you. It was the path you had chosen… even if it had meant your end…" the last words were softly spoken.



"Hey." Spike laid his hand on Raven's shoulder. "But back I came… nothing can keep me down," he said reassuringly squeezing one last time before pulling back.



Raven smiled. "Ah, but you see if you were a week later we wouldn't be having this lovely conversation."



Spike frowned not liking what that implied. "Meaning?"



"I intended to follow you," the words were stated.



"You, bloody, what?" Spike said between clenched teeth. It seemed that hadn't forgotten about their audience after all.



Raven didn't seem disturbed. "True. I have lived for many a millennia… ruling my clan… seeing the world around me change… nothing new no matter what these humans discover next. It was all meaningless… after your mourning, I had intended to see if the sun had changed after all this time."



"And me being back put a hinder in that jolly plan of yours, mate?" Spike glared.



"It gave me my reason back…" He shrugged. "You choose not to believe me, Will. But this world had become wearisome for me… I care for nothing nor no one in it save you… to have what we once had… to have more..."



Spike didn't know what to say. It wasn't right that his friend lost all reason to live. He couldn't be the reason this beautiful creature who could have anyone he pleased chose to take a rain check on his date with the sun. The thought in itself was ludicrous, Spike's own mentor didn't want anything to do with him, there was no way that Raven would. Therefore, he once again tried to play the soul card. If that wasn't what Raven wanted with him maybe it would be the thing to push him away… find someone more worthy.



"I keep telling you, Ray, I'm a full fledged white hat now. We can't have what we had before… my still shiny yet not so new soul won't let me live with myself if I let you keep killing people on my watch."



Raven grinned and Spike felt that he had lost his trump card. The blond knew he had trapped himself in a corner that his dark-haired companion had built. Spike had forgotten how good Raven was at making plans and executing them in the right time.



~ Something I never had the patience to do… bugger. Guess I'm in for a long one. ~



Raven pulled Spike to the side after placing their drinks somewhere. Spike didn't know where, he was too worried about what Raven was about to tell him. The other vampire knew him well, even with the soul, it seemed. Not that he had changed much with it… except with the blood lust. He was anxious about what he was going to hear… he knew it would be something to tempt him even more to the easy loved life with Raven and away from his long wait for Angel to wise up.



Spike snapped out of it when he felt long fingers trace his Claim.



"If you allow me to make you mine, my mate. My clan, yours as well then, would be sure to follow your every command. It's the human world we live in today, them and their changes. Such as it had been for centuries, even before my time. Yet, slayers now walk among them all. Thousands upon thousands. We need to learn how to live in peace with them, who they know and trust to make a treaty with them, however; at the same time, we need someone to guide us. You were always more human than any mortal that I have met and with a soul you grew even more unique."



The hand continued to stroke affectionately and the intense eyes bored into Spike so much that he thought the other vampire could see his soul. See him.



"I would always want you regardless, you know that, Leif. Always have since we crossed paths that nigh after *she* deserted you. You know how highly I value you… but here you are presented with a chance to help many… Of your kind and the innocent you now protect. I, and my fellow elders, am willing and capable of renouncing killing for food… unless necessary. For years, new turnings were brought to a halt for that reason. A new age has arisen even before the Time of the Slayers. We are in need to learn how to adapt. But vampires and slayers don't mix…"



Opposite eyebrows were mirrored rising up.



"Or that's what goes for the majority." They shared a smirk. "You have friends and others who are willing to trust you…you can make it better. And if that means that you would be with me then *alas* I have to suffer your most pleasurable presence."



Spike looked shocked at the long astonishing revelation and opened his mouth wanting to reply.



"Ray Van!"



Spike raised an eyebrow at that and didn't bother to hide his widened smirk. A middle-aged woman covered with diamonds and a wide smile approached them.



Raven donned a patient smile and turned to the woman.



"Ah, madam, it is always a pleasure." He bent and kissed her offered hand. He hid a wince when she giggled.



The woman waved her hand at him dramatically. "You, Mister Van, are always a charmer." Her eyes looked behind him and Spike felt self-conscious as her eyes raked up and down his body.



"Oh, and who's your *lovely* friend here." She grinned in what she thought seemed enticingly. Spike wished for his drink back.



Her eyes widened as she saw Raven pull Spike closer to him, his arm around the younger man's waist.



"This is Will," he introduced and Spike gave her a small shaky smile. "Will, this is our host's lovely wife."



She blinked a few times before she clapped her hands. "Oh, you two are so lovely together! You know, I'm thinking of hosting a charity fund for your people!"



Spike mouthed to Raven, "'Your people'?"



Raven whispered in his ear, "I think she means gay people, 'Spike'. You know because of your hair."



Spike scoffed. "We're really off our high horse aren't we, pet. And your pony tail is oh so manly?"



Rich Clueless Bint, as Spike had dubbed her, only caught one thing. "Oh, my, you're British! Johnny's British!"



"Johnny?" Spike asked confused.



The woman huffed. "Johnny Depp, silly." She waved at a corner and Spike smiled when brown sympathetic eyes looked at him and waved bored at the too cheerful woman.



Raven frowned. "Isn't he American?"



Spike nodded. "Though I'm sure the bloke has mick blood in 'im."



"What?"



"Nothing," the two vampires said in unison. Both of their eyes tinkled amused as they saw the previous figure slink away out of the woman's sight taking his chance to escape with her being distracted.



She frowned and opened her mouth to say something else but Raven interrupted her. "Dear." He pulled reluctantly from Spike's willing body and led her away. "I need you to do me a favor…"



Spike tried to strain his ears to hear what was being said but the noise in the room - not to mention the singer and the orchestra - was too loud. It didn't really matter since Raven was back in no time and had his arm back around Spike.



Spike smirked. "Comfortable, luv?"



Raven grinned back.



Spike opened his mouth and yet again he couldn't say anything this time because the music and the singer changed. A man's voice could be heard from the speakers. From the look in Raven's eyes Spike figured out what he had asked their hostess.





//I, saw you with that look in your eyes

Did he come back to make you cry

I am the one to set you free

I need you love you so desperately//





Spike knew what Raven wanted to say. He wanted to tell him that he had released him years before so he could look after Drusilla after she became tired of yet another of her disgusting demon lovers. Spike had loved Dru. She had been his sire… his salvation… the last connection he had to Angelus. Angel came back and he felt hope once more, perhaps with the soul he could… but no. He only hurt him… somehow even more. All he did for his dark beloved… he tried to prove himself to him time and time again. He had become friends with his own. But that only made Angel resent Spike even more. The blonde-haired vampire figured that he would never do anything right… for anyone he loved… especially Angelus… Angel. However, he somehow did something right with Raven.





//Baby I just need you to take a leap of faith

Every promise I make I’ll never break

Let me take your hands, I’ll lead the way

I'll wait forever, baby//





He had waited a hundred years. He would wait forever. He needed Spike to trust his feelings for him. Raven clutched Spike's hand in his and led him out to the terrace. The singer's voice could still be heard from the outside.



The hostess approached Cordelia looking around confused. "Were did those two lovely boys go? I wanted to ask their opinion about decorating the pool house."



The actress ignored her disdainfully as her eyes followed the departing two from inside, gnawing at her lower lip. She was at a loss for what to do. Should she stop them?



It was better to allow things to take their own course. Hopefully, the Powers would do the right thing. For once!



~ Oh, There's Leo! ~ Cordelia started walking away, her movement showing how sure she was of her looks. She frowned. ~ Is that Johnny Depp hiding behind him? ~



The night outside was peaceful. Spike couldn't help but take a breath of fresh air into his dead lungs.



"I had to come and try. You knew that this day would come. And the look I saw in your eyes when you entered the room… it made me sure of my decision. He hurt you again Leif. You thought he had returned to you… you chose the same path as he and yet he harmed you again. I wish to free you from him."





//Until the stars come crashing down

Until the moon no longer shines

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you

You are the meaning to my life

And until the end of time

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you//





"Remember the moon that last night? I never truly lived until I met you and when you left me I began to die."



Spike only smiled sadly. He wasn't the only romantic. The moon not only resembled it but the sounds of the night as well, if one would overlook the music drifting out from inside.





//Don’t be afraid to get too close

I’m gonna love you like you’ve never known//





Spike didn't move when he felt arms circling his waist. He leaned back and closed his eyes. Was it so wrong to allow himself to be loved?





//Open your heart and come with me

I need you, want you, can’t you see?//





How strange was it that in Spike's mind those words the singer was so passionately speaking could perfectly describe what he wanted to tell Angel. However, here was Raven laying his head against his, begging for the same.





//Baby I just need you to take a leap of faith

Every promise I make I’ll never break

Let me take your hands, I’ll lead the way

I'll wait forever, baby



Until the stars come crashing down

Until the moon no longer shines

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you

You are the meaning to my life

And until the end of time

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you//





"I never forgot you."





//And if we are oceans apart

You will always be here in my heart

And I’ll always wait for you

I’ll always wait for you//





"I never gave up hope."





//Until the stars come crashing down

Until the moon no longer shines

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you

You are the meaning to my life

And until the end of time

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you//





"Don't need to wait no more."



For once it wasn't Raven that spoke. Spike turned to look into the gray hopeful eyes. He smiled and leaned in. He had made a decision. Their lips met.





//Till the stars come crashing down

Till the moon no longer shines

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you

You are the meaning to my life

And until the end of time

That's how long I'll wait for you

That's how long I'll wait for you//





Dark eyes bore into the passionately embracing two. The soft moon rays illuminated the sad features. Angel melted into the shadows once more.





*~*~*~*~*~*



//David Charvet's Leap Of Faith.// Okay so I never intended to put a song in this but I was having a writers block while writing A Place To Belong and I always found that music helps… so I picked this song to listen to. And instead of giving me ideas to write for APTB it gave me for Splinter *smiles sheepishly at Farah* don't you think that it was just perfect for Raven?!