Chapter 9: Whom the bell tolls

Buffy and Angel were laying on top of the comforter snuggled to each other. Buffy was tracing mindless patterns on his arm and he was stroking her hair. She let out a comfortable sigh and turned to look at him.

“You know, tomorrow is Thanksgiving”, she started and Angel gave her a murmur of confirmation. “I was thinking of having a big dinner thing at Giles with the gang. And you”, she continued and looked at him expectantly.

He shifted nervously and started: “I don't know, Buffy.”

She sat up and turned to look at him. “No excuses. I want to have a great holiday, there hasn't been many of them, always some big evil comes and screws everything up. Mom is out of town and Willow is still grieving after Oz. I want to have something normal and you are going to participate”, she said leaving no room for arguing. Angel sighed and nodded in defeat.

“Okay, that's settled. You come to Giles' right after it's dark. Don't worry, it won't be that bad and I'll reward you afterwards”, she said with a smile and leaned closer to him.

“Oh, how can I refuse now”, he said with a small smile playing on his lips.

“You can't”, she whispered and kissed him.

Buffy spend the whole day in Giles' kitchen while the others researched the murders that seemed to be done by Chumash spirit. To everyones surprise Spike showed up to the door and pleaded for help. Willow confirmed that he couldn't bite and just because he knew about the commandos, he was allowed to come in and he got tide up in a chair.

Buffy was on her way to the store when she her name called. She turned around and saw Riley.

“Riley? Where'd you come from?”, she asked in surprise and smiled politely.

“Just across the street. And couple of blocks down”, he answered and smiled nervously. Buffy's presence always made him feel like a young school boy.

“That's a long coincidental meeting.”

“Eh... So what are you doing here at this time of night. It's Thanksgiving you know, shouldn't you be having dinner with your family?” he changed the subject.

“Oh. My mom is out of town, at my aunts. I'm making the big dinner and spending the night with my friends.”

Riley smiled, she didn't mention a boyfriend and it gave him some hope.

“So what about you?” she asked and he felt like flying, she was keeping the conversation going.

“I'm going to catch a flight to Iowa. I'm spending the holidays with my family”, he answered and watched her face closely, hoping some trace of disappointment.

“That's nice. But I guess you should go catch that flight of yours. And I have to run to the store for some last minute shopping”, she said and started to turn away. He took hold of her arm and she turned around looking at him expectantly.

“I'll see you after the holidays”, he said hopefully and she smiled nodding.

“Yeah. Have fun”, she said and left without noticing Angel standing in the shadows with very grim look on his face.

Buffy went back to Giles' and found a very sick Xander but no Angel. She started to feel angry that he hadn't shown up. She threw the food into the fridge and left to the mansion.

She stomped into the mansion and found very agitated looking Angel.

“Why are you still here? You were supposed to show up in Giles'. I even actually cooked” she said trying to keep her anger in check but not having much luck with it.

“What do you need me for in there? It's not like I can eat anything, I'm a vampire, remember. Why don't you ask that boy for dinner?” he said vehemently and Buffy forgot her own anger, she just looked at him confused.

“What? What boy?”

“That college kid that always follows you like a lost puppy.”

“Riley?” she asked still confused but then started to feel the anger again. “You didn't come because of Riley? What has gotten into you? I'm not interested in him.”

“You two seemed pretty cozy to me. I saw you talking with him.”

Buffy's face darkened. “Stop being such a Neanderthal! I have no interest in Riley. He's just the TA. I'm with you if you haven't forgotten or do you think I'm so loose that I'll jump the first guy I see now that we can be together?!”

“No! I don't mean that. But that guy has a thing for you”, he defended and ran his hand across his hair nervously, it wasn't going as he had planned, well he hadn't planned it at all.

“That's ridicules, he doesn't have a thing for me”, she laughed without humor.

“I know what I see, the way he looks at you, he wants you.”

“So just because you think he wants me, you start acting like jealous teenager. You think I'm just going to jump into his arms because he's interested in me?”

“No. But he's normal. He's human. I'm not”, Angel answered and looked away.

“We're not going to this again. I don't want a normal guy! I want you! Why doesn't that sink into your big head?!” she said placing her hands on her hips. They looked fiercely into each others eyes before he lunged at her and pulled her into a burning kiss.

After a long kiss he pulled back, she was breathing heavily but she wasn't any less angry. “I'm still angry at you. You're not getting away with it that easily”, she said right before he attacked her lips again. His hands quickly working on her clothes, trying to pull and tuck them off to reach the smooth naked skin under. He trailed hot kisses down her throat and fell to his knees, taking her breasts into his large hands as he licked and sucked them. She moaned and threaded her fingers in his hair, her anger was soon replaced by lust. She yanked his head up and leaned down into a passionate kiss, quickly pulling his shirt off his shoulders, the buttons ripping apart from the shirt. She nibbled at his neck before biting down, making him growl deep in his chest. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her flush against him before flipping her on her back to the floor.

“Angel”, she whimpered as he pressed his hardness against her center. They were both still worked up from the fight and without any gentle caresses, he ripped her panties down her legs as she quickly opened his pants and pushed them down to his thighs, freeing his hard cock. He attacked her neck with his lips and pushed inside her wet heat, making her mewl in pleasure of the forceful intrusion. Without giving her time to adjust, he started pumping inside her as her arms wrapped around his shoulders and her legs wound around his thighs, pulling him deeper inside her. Her fingernails raked the skin on his back and her fingers wrapped around his short hair in the back of his neck as she pulled his face closer to hers, hungrily claiming his lips.

“Mine”, he growled and thrust hard inside her tight channel before biting her neck with his blunt teeth.

“Yours”, she whispered and pulled his head up for another hungry kiss. Without breaking the kiss, she flipped them over, with her straddling him. His hands grabbed a hold of her hips and guiding her movements. Slowly they drifted up her stomach and cupped her breasts. He lifted himself off the floor enough to wrap his lips around her other nipple and sucked it roughly before biting it at the same time as he pushed inside her. She yelped at the pain and pleasure mixed together. He licked the breast soothingly before flipping them over and wrapping her other leg around his hip as he thrust inside her tight channel.

They both were pouring every bit of jealousy, frustration and lingering thought of doubt into the brutal mating with such force it would have hurt a normal person. But they felt no pain, not the cold, hard floor under them, only the pleasure from each other. Buffy could feel the first peak approaching but she refused to come without him. She tilted her head to the side, offering her neck to him and he was still too worked up from the fight to struggle against the demon inside him. With a low growl, his face changed and he pressed his face against her neck, inhaling her scent, feeling the blood rushing under her skin. Slowly his tongue snaked out of his mouth and he licked her damp skin, making her shiver. He pressed a soft, wet kiss to the spot before baring his fangs and sinking them into her skin, all the while he was still moving furiously inside her.

She felt the first prick of his fangs but the slight pain was soon replaced by pleasure and she whispered his name as she reached the first peak. As the powerful nectar filled his mouth and her inner muscles rippled around him, he released his seed inside her. He wrapped his arms around her more tightly and slowed his movements but didn't stop. Buffy squeezed her eyes tightly shut and let out a silent scream as she reached another peak. He pulled his fangs out of her neck and gave the wound couple soothing licks before kissing all over her face. She opened her eyes and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him into a demanding kiss. She could taste the coppery flavor of her blood on his lips and tongue but she didn't care.

After a long moment, Angel pulled back, leaving her breathless and with a final quick kiss to her lips, he rolled off of her landing next to her on the cold floor. For a moment he stared at the ceiling trying to get his mind working again. He turned to look at Buffy, she was breathing heavily, her hair tousled and glued to her skin by sweat, her lips red and puffy. She turned to look at him. He reached his hand and smoothed her hair back.

“I'm sorry that I broke my promise, and that I acted like a jealous school boy”, he said and she gave him a small smile.

“I'm sorry too. And you didn't exactly promise to come so you didn't break a promise. But you really should get over the normal thing. All I want is you, I don't care that you are a vampire, I got over it and you should too”, she said and pulled him into a kiss. After a while she pulled back and jumped up from the floor looking for her clothes.

“We better get to Giles', we still have a Thanksgiving dinner and some revenging spirits to deal with”, she said while pulling her shirt on.

“Buffy...” he began to protest and started to rise from the floor but she threw his pants to his head.

“No protesting, you're coming. Besides, I've got blood for you so you're eating too”, she said with tone that told him there was no room for arguing. Slowly he got up and pulled the pants on. After they were dressed, they headed to Giles' apartment.

Buffy walked inside and Angel stepped in also, but he was feeling awkward about just walking in. He turned and saw Spike tide to a chair.

“What is he doing here?” he asked surprised.

“Oh, Spike, he's neutered by the commandos. He came to us for help”, Buffy answered and headed to the kitchen.

“Well, if it isn't the big poof. I figured you'd gone on a killing spree by now or left the chit. For her own good of course, for sunshine, real human boy and all that crap”, Spike said cockily even though he was in no position to defy his grand sire.

“Shut up, Spike”, he said angrily since that was just what he had been planning before his soul was made permanent.

“And I see you didn't turn into Angelus even though last time I saw you, you two were doing it like it was end of the world soon. The girl doesn't do it for you anymore, eh?”

“Shut up, Spike! My soul is bound”, Angel growled and then realized what Spike had said. The though of Spike seeing Buffy naked made his blood boil and he lunged at Spike but before he reached him, he was stopped by Giles. Angel looked at Giles and then turned his gaze down, feeling embarrassed but still fighting to keep his anger in check.

“Why don't you come to the kitchen before Buffy destroys it”, Giles suggested and lead him to the kitchen. Once seeing Buffy concentrated in cooking, he started to calm down. He smiled and went to her. He wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on her shoulder.

“How is it working out?” he asked and she gave him a scolding look.

“I'm no cook. I have experience in eating food, not making it. But nothing is going to stop me.”

He smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “That's my girl.”

“You could help me out. I remember you talking about idle hands”, she suggested and almost let out a moan when he pressed a kiss to her neck where his mark was. His hands were trailing her arms and he whispered with a soft but low voice to her ear: “But my hands are not idle right now.”

Her breathing started to speed up and her thoughts started to get muddled. With the last strength she had, she pulled away and looked at him like mother telling little boy that he had been naughty. “Stop that. Were at Giles' house. Peel a carrot or something”, she said and threw a raw carrot to his hand. He smiled and started to do what he was told.

Buffy and Angel set the table and everyone were trying to ignore Spike. “Hey! How 'bout some blood! I'm starving!”

“Spike, shut up”, Buffy said to him and continued what she was doing.

“I demand to get food, I came here to help you people and this is how you treat your ally”, Spike continued.

“You came to us because you had no one else, you're not a ally so stop whining or I will gag you”, Buffy threatened and Spike was about to shoot a comeback but was interrupted by a arrow flying across the room. Everyone ducked down and the arrows kept on coming. Angel was about to jump up but Buffy pulled him down.

“Angel, those are made of wood”, she said with fear in her eyes, but the fear was not for her.

“I can't just stay still when you're in danger”, he answered.

“And I don't want you to get killed.” She glanced at the weapons chest and tried to make a run for it. She dodged arrows and slid across the floor to the chest. She grabbed it and ran back to cover but she was hit with a arrow to her forearm.

“Buffy”, Angel said frantically and pulled her closer. “It needs to be taken out”, he said and Buffy gave him her consent with her eyes and a nod. He grabbed the base of the arrow and quickly pulled it out. She winced but didn't let out a sound. He tore his shirt and swiftly wrapped the scrap around the wound. Angel took a axe from the chest and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before jumping up and running outside dodging arrows.

“Angel!” Buffy yelled after him but it was too late. Buffy grabbed a crossbow from the chest and started shooting towards the spirits. But it was no use. The leader attacked with a war cry and Buffy grabbed a knife from the chest.

They fought aggressively but she didn't seem to manage to harm the spirit. She didn't even notice the other warrior approaching before he collapsed to the floor when Angel threw one of the warriors knife into it's back.

“It's the weapons”, Angel yelled before he was grabbed from behind but Buffy understood. She kicked the spirit and grabbed the knife from the air, slicing him to the arm. Blood pooled around the wound. The spirit let out a angry scream and slowly he started to turn into a large bear. Buffy looked at it with wide eyes but didn't have time to react when it knocked her across the room. The bear turned when it was hit by a raw potato.

“That's for giving me syphilis!” Xander yelled angrily and kept throwing things at it. Buffy sneaked behind it, hit it to the back and once it turned, she dived the knife into its heart. Slowly the bear changed into the human form and he turned into mist. All the warriors disappeared into the air.

Angel came to Buffy's side and looked at her checking her injuries. “I'm okay”, she assured and placed her hand to his cheek. He pressed a soft kiss to her wrist but the moment was interrupted by Spike.

“Hey, what about me!? I'm not okay, I've got bloody arrows sticking out of me!” he yelled and the others turned to look at him. He had several arrows in his body and all of them had missed the heart.

“Let's clean up and start the dinner”, Buffy said ignoring Spike.

It had been a week since thanksgiving and school was back on. Buffy was trying to drag some information out of Spike but it didn't seem to be working.

She was sitting on the edge of the tub that Spike was tide into with chains. “You saw the commandos, what did they look like?” she asked tired of this conversation.

“They were humans.”

“That's a big help”, Buffy said rolling her eyes.

“What about the lab?”

“It was underground. I came out through an air vent, I don't know exactly where. I'm done. Put the telly on“, Spike demanded. Giles stepped into the bathroom with a cup of blood in his hand.

“Anything?“ he asked but Buffy just shook her head.

“'Bout time. Hope you got it warm enough.”

Buffy took the cup from Giles and offered it to Spike. He started drinking greedily and she just looked at him disgusted. “Don't know why you're so dainty all of a sudden. You've done this for Angel. You must've”, he said and she pulled the cup away from him, the straw left hanging between his lips. “Hey! Give it!” Spike protested the straw swinging between his lips. “That's it. The invalid amnesiac routine is over. Kitchen closed 'til you tell me something useful about the commandos”, she said with tone that gave no room for negotiation.

“I'm trying to remember. It was very traumatic.”

“How long are you going to pull this crap?” she sighed.

“How long am I gonna live once I tell you?” “Spike, we've no intention of killing a harmless creature. But we need to know what's been done to you. We can't let you go until we're sure you're impotent”, Giles joined the conversation.

“Hey!”

“Sorry. Poor choice of words. 'Til we know you're...” Giles said feeling slight sympathy for the vampire.

“Flaccid?” offered Buffy taunting him more.

“You're one step away, missy...”, Spike threatened and Buffy gave him a fake fearful expression.

“Giles, help! He's gonna scold me!”

Spike lunged forward but the chains didn't give him much room to move.

“You know what? I think you don't want us to let you go. Maybe we made it too comfy here.”

“Comfy? Do I look comfy? I'm chained in a bathtub drinking pig's blood from a novelty mug!” “You want something nicer?”, she said almost seductively and leaned closer to Spike bending her neck giving him the full view of the skin. “Ooh... look at my poor neck, all bare and tender and delicious...”, she taunted him gliding her finger across the skin up and down. Spike licked his lips and leaned closer. He was like hypnotized.

“All that blood just pumping away...”

“Giles, make her stop!” Spike pleaded to the watcher.

Buffy sat straighter and continued like nothing had happened: “You wanna start again?”

Spike glared at her. “You're inhuman.”

Giles sighed rolling his eyes and stepped out of the room. He was startled when he came face to face with Angel. “Angel, you frightened me”, he said while steading his breathing.

“Sorry Giles. I just came to make sure Buffy was alright”, he said and looked away.

“She's fine. She's taunting Spike”, Giles answered and gestured to the bathroom door.

“I'm going to go see her”, Angel said and went to the bathroom. He came inside right in time to see Buffy with her neck bare, her finger gliding along the pulse line. He let out a jealous growl while seeing Spike looking hungrily at her. She turned to him and smiled with twinkle in her eyes.

“Hello, lover”, she said with a seductive tone in her voice.

“Come on, Angelus. Make her stop. The chit has been on my back all evening. I want to watch Passions!” Spike said from the tub but Angel just send him a cold glare. Angel grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her standing up.

“Time for patrol”, he simply said and pulled her with him.

Buffy and Angel were laying on the bed snuggled into each other. “She's hurting so much. And I don't know how to make her feel any better. Like tonight she was actually drunk, I've never seen her drunk before”, she said while her finger was making circles on his skin.

“She's trying to find a way to relief the pain. But soon she'll find out that the alcohol doesn't make it go away.”

“I know. I think she'll find that out in the morning when she has the hang over. I better start leaving soon, I need to be there before she wakes up. I don't like this sneaking around but I don't want to make her feel any worse cause I have you, to remind her of what she had with Oz. When did everything become so complicated”, she said and sighed deeply.

“She'll get over it in time. Her feelings may not but she'll feel less pain”, he comforted and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Have I ever told you how much I love you?” she asked and turned to look at him. A small smile played on his lips.

“One or two times.”

“Just so you don't forget, I love you, Angel”, she said and pulled him into a soft kiss full of love.

Buffy sneaked into the dorm room before dawn. She changed into her pajamas and went to bed without knowing that Willow had been wake all night and she had heard her sneaking in.

The next day they were both busy with school and Giles visited Willow, feeling very disappointed when she hadn't filled her promise of making a truth spell on Spike. Willow tried to have some girl time with Buffy but Giles called that Spike had escaped. To both Buffy's and Spikes surprise he was found right outside the dorm house.

Buffy dragged Spike back to Giles' apartment and threw him inside. “Hey! Watch it! Are you always this rough? This is a whole new look on you, Angelus been teaching you bondage?”

Buffy looked at him disgusted and snapped: “Shut up, Spike! Or I'll...”

“Or you what? You haven't got the balls to stake me, girly”, Spike taunted and Buffy started to feel anxious.

“I let you know, I've got plenty of... balls.”

“You're all talk.”

“Giles! I accidentally killed Spike! That's okay, right?” she yelled into the apartment. They were both steaming and ready to strangle each other.

”Once this bloody thing is out of my head, you will meet your maker, I will torture you so good that you will pray me to kill you”, Spike threatened through gritted teeth.

”Oh you're so full of it. Just try it now, I'm itching for some good dusting”, she shot back.

Neither of them knew what was happening elsewhere. ”She's always spending time with Angel, sneaking out and sneaking in. Even Spike's more important than Willow. I get it”, Willow ranted feeling more hurt by the minute.

”Buffy's gotta find out what's up with those commandos. Right now she needs Spike”, Xander tried to reason, he didn't like it either and the news about Buffy sneaking out to spend a night with Angel made his jealousy bubble, he had never liked the vampire.

”Well fine! Why doesn't she just go and marry them?” Willow said and her eyes flashed with light.

Back in Giles' apartment, Giles walked into the living room rubbing his forehead feeling frustrated. ”Now if you two can remain civil long enough to...” he started but stopped dead on his tracks when he saw what was happening before him. Spike was on the floor on one knee holding Buffy's hand. She was smiling widely but clearly moved and trying to hold back the tears.

”It's just so.. So sudden! I don't know what to say!” she said blinking back the tears.

”Just say yes, and make me the happiest man on earth”, he answered and placed a soft kiss to her knuckles.

”Oh, Spike! Of course it's yes!” she answered and Spike smiled widely, pulling her to him and into a passionate kiss. When they broke apart, they looked at each other smiling like a happy couple and then she turned to Giles.

”Giles! You'll never believed what's happened! Spike and I are getting married! Isn't that great!?” she said clearly ecstatic. Giles looked at the couple even more confused than he had been a minute ago.

Giles was on the phone trying to get a hold on Willow while Buffy was sitting on the couch snuggled into Spikes side.

“What are we going to tell Angel? I'm not leaving him”, Buffy said tracing his features with her finger. Spike frowned and gave her a hard look.

“I'm not sharing my woman with the poof and I don't care what he thinks!” Buffy straightened up and shifted a bit away from him.

“I am not giving up on Angel. I may get married with you but Angel is part of the deal. Don't worry, it doesn't make me love you any less”, she said and added the last seductively, running her finger along his lower lip. He looked at her still frowning but gave in.

“Fine. Anything to make you happy. But I don't like it”, he said and she gave him a bright smile before leaning into a passionate kiss. Before the kiss deepened further, they heard a angry growl from behind them. They pulled away and turned to see a very pissed off Angel. He was barely keeping his anger in check.

“Guess what honey, Spike asked me to marry him”, Buffy said smiling widely while Spike smirked gleefully.

“What?!” Angel growled out. Buffy got up from the couch ignoring Spikes protest. She walked to Angel and placed her hand on his chest.

“Come on, honey. Don't be that way. Nothing's gonna change between us”, she said and pressed a kiss to the side of his mouth.

“Thank God, Angel. Maybe you can talk some sense into her”, Giles said walking into the room after he had finished his phone call.

“You're not marrying Spike, cause you're marrying me”, Angel said, bent into one knee and pulled out the claddagh ring. Tears came into Buffy's eyes and she placed her hand above her heart.

“Oh Angel”, she managed to choke out.

Buffy was sitting on the couch in between Spike and Angel while Giles was sitting in a armchair nursing a drink. He couldn't believe what was happening and he had been living on a Hellmouth for several years.

“I'm gonna keep my own name cause Buffy Bloody O'Roarke sounds like something Spike would say”, she said while doing the wedding plans on a piece of paper.

“And my mom is so gonna freak”, she added with wide eyes as she realized it.

“Cause of Angel she is. She likes me”, Spike said and all but stuck his tongue at Angel while saying it.

“She'll learn to live with it”, she said and got up from the couch, sitting next to Giles to the arm of the chair.

“Giles, I'm not crazy and I know you probably don't approve... and my Dad's not that far away, I could probably... but this day is about family, my real family. And I want it to be you that gives me away”, she said feeling little nervous. Giles turned to look at her clearly touched and feeling honored.

”Buffy, I... That's so...”, he started clearly out of words from the emotion but then he stopped. ”Oh for God's sake! This is nonsense! Something is making you act this way! Don't you realize what you're doing!?” he said feeling a little agitated. Buffy turned to look at the two vampires with a dreamy look on her face.

”Living the dream.”

”He's going to have to take a bit of time to get to used to it, pet”, Spike assured and Angel turned to glare at him.

”He's not going to get used to you, you aren't the dream son in law for anyone”, he said and Spike just gave him the finger.

”Guys, no pickering. If you picker before the wedding, there will be no wedding night”, she threatened. The vampires glanced at each other and then Buffy.

”And how are you planning on doing the wedding night?” Spike asked but before anyone could say anything Giles raised his hand stopping them.

”Could you please not discuss that subject with me present.”

“Yeah. He's like a dad to me and no father wants to know what happens during the wedding night”, Buffy added and rolled her eyes when she saw Spike smirking.

Giles was sitting on the chair holding the glass in other hand and bottle of scotch in the other. “So the plan is to cure my total incapacitating blindness tomorrow, is it?” he asked without looking at the others since he couldn't see them or right now didn't want to either.

”Yeah, Angel visited the magic shop. They were out of Taggis Root. They'll have more tomorrow. I'm completely on top of this”, Buffy assured and placed the three cake people to the coffee table. ”Aren't they perfect. But we'll need to dye the others hair. He's not blond enough”, she said and placed them so that the bride was in the middle.

“The other isn't broody enough. He needs a good deep frown to pass as the poof”, Spike said and Buffy smacked him playfully.

“Remember what I said about the pickering and wedding night?” she reminded and Spike went quiet.

“So, strawberry or chocolate cake?” she asked getting back to the wedding talk.

“How about both? No need to choose, I want you to have the best”, Angel whispered into her ear and sucked her earlobe into his mouth.

“Hey! No making out with my future wife”, Spike yelled and Giles sighed feeling like her was going to loose his mind any second now.

“Please stop it! All of you! It is a damn spell!” he yelled frustrated and that's when Xander and Anya crashed through the door.

“Barricade! Demons, lots and lots of demons!” Xander yelled. Then he turned to the others and saw that Buffy was sitting between Angel and Spike holding hands with both.

“What's going on?” he asked confused.

“I guess this is the time tell the news”, Spike said and Buffy turned to Xander smiling brightly.

“I'm getting married! Spike proposed”, she announced and with Angels pointed look she added: “And so did Angel. So we're getting married.”

Xander stared at them stunned. “What? How? What?”

“Three excellent questions”, Giles piped up.

”They'll get used to it”, Spike assured her and pulled her into a kiss.

Xander turned to look at Giles and said: ”Can I be blind too?”

Angel pulled Buffy away from Spike breaking the kiss and puled her into a passionate kiss. ”Can't have him have the last word”, he whispered to her ear and placed a small kiss next to her ear.

”I hope you're going to be this rivalry through the marriage”, she said smirking. Then something hit Xander.

“Wait. Married. I know something. What is it? This is all so familiar. Work, brain, work. Oh! Oh-oh! Willow!”

“What about Willow?” Buffy asked turning to Xander.

”Something about Willow and her grief-y poor-me mood swings. So, so tired of it.”

“You mean I don't have to be nice to her anymore?” Anya asked hopefully.

Buffy rolled her eyes and asked: “What's it have to do with what's going on?”

“She told me I was a demon magnet. And.. And she said you two should get married to dead boy and dead boy Junior.”

“And that I didn't see anything”, Giles said the realization hitting him.

“She did a spell.”

“Yes, to have her will done. Whatever she says is coming true”, clarified Giles.

“And both you guys were affected. I probably only escaped it because I'm the Slayer. Some kind of natural immunity.”

“Yeah. Right. You're marrying Spike because you're so right for each other”, Xander said sarcastically.

Angel turned to Buffy and squeezed her hand. “I hate say this. But I think Xander is right, it must be the spell affecting you.”

Buffy looked at him not believing him. “Are you doubting my love for Spike? Just because you're jealous of him doesn't mean...” she started but was interrupted by Angel.

“I'm not jealous of Spike!”

“People... Willow's still out there, and she probably has no idea what she's doing”, Giles said as the voice of reason.

“We've gotta find her...” Xander started and Buffy finished for him: “Before someone really gets hurt.”

Buffy, Angel, Spike, Xander and Anya went to the dorm room but didn't find Willow. The room was empty and Anya confirmed that a demon, D'Hoffryn that had made her a demon, had taken Willow into another dimension. They went to a cemetery where Anya tried to summon him but they were interrupted by demons that attacked them. They fought the demons that seemed to be coming more and more by the minute and they were loosing the fight.

Buffy got knocked on the ground. “Buffy!” Angel and Spike yelled at the same time and rushed to her side. Neither of them noticed Willow appearing into the crypt and undoing the spell. A bright light flashed through the room and the demons disappeared.

Buffy opened her eyes and stared into Spikes eyes, her eyes growing larger with the realization. “Oh God! I kissed Spike!” she screamed and started to wipe her mouth.

“Slayer!” Spike bit out in disgust. He jumped up but didn't get far when Angels fist collided with his chin. He fell to the ground and stared into the angry eyes of his grand sire.

“It was the bloody spell!” he defended himself, Angel looked dangerously too close to Angelus for his liking.

“Hey guys”, Willow said weakly and waved her hand.

The gang was sitting in Giles' living room, Spike was tide to a chair and Willow was making more cookies than anyone could eat.

“Eat a cookie, ease my pain?” she said and offered a chocolate chip cookie to Buffy. She took a cookie from the plate and took a bite from it.

”Better?” she asked still a little concerned.

”Well, baking lifts at least thirty percent of my guilt. But only seven percent of my inner turmoil. That'll take a while, I guess”, Willow answered and Buffy squeezed her arm in comfort.

”It'll happen”, she assured.

”Now I'm going to take some cookies with me and go to Angel. I think he's having some trouble with the fact that he was about to get married with me and Spike. More like having trouble with the Spike part.”

“What about you?” Willow asked feeling a little guilty. Buffy sighed deeply.

“It was weird, it's still weird. I was actually in love with Spike. I can't even stand him.”

“At least you two were getting along”, Willow offered.

“No, we weren't. But even if I was totally in love with him, it wasn't even close to what I feel for Angel.”

“Maybe it's because it's the real thing with Angel”, Willow said understandingly and gave her best friend a small smile.

“I love you, Willow. And I'm going to go and forget Spike, And try to make Angel forget him too.”

Buffy and Angel were sitting in front of the fire wrapped only in a blanket. He was stoking her hair and placing kisses on her shoulder every now and then.

“Feel better?” she asked and pressed a kiss to the back of his wrist.

“Some. But I'm still fighting the urge to go and stake him for touching you.”

Buffy smiled like it was the sweetest thing he had ever said to her. “Yeah. Me too. But we still need him to find out about the commando guys.”

“Yeah, but I don't like it. I have never been jealous of him. Before now. He got to kiss you”, he said with a small voice. Buffy turned in his arms and looked right into his eyes. She trailed his chin while speaking.

“It's never going to happen again. It was the spell. You are the only guy I will ever want. Even with the spell, I didn't feel even a half for him what I feel for you”, she said and pressed a soft kiss to his chin. Angel pulled her into a more thorough kiss and after he let go of her lips, he smoothed her hair looking at her thoughtfully.

“You turned my world upside down, Buffy. When I'm with you, I feel things I have never felt before and jealousy is one of them.”

Buffy gave him a small half smile and kissed him softly. She looked down at her hands and saw the claddagh ring still in her finger. “Where did you find this?” she asked with a small emotional voice. Angel looked down where her gaze was and covered her hands with his bringing them up and placing a kiss to her ring finger.

“When I returned from Hell, it was the first thing I saw. Later when I was tidying up this place, I found it in a corner. I think it's what brought me back”, he answered and went quiet for a while before continuing: “And I'd like you to keep it on. If you want.”

Tears rose to her eyes and she stared at him. Angel felt the fear invade his heart before a small smile broke into her lips as the tears slipped from her eyes.

“Of course I want to”, she said with a tear strained voice and pressed her face against his neck. He wrapped his arms around her more firmly and pressed his face into her hair. He closed his eyes and pressed a kiss to her head.

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