Long Way From Home - Chapter 35

Buffy laughed at the sight of Spike desperately trying to reset the trap, he was grunting with effort and it only served to make her laugh harder.

Spike grinned foolishly at her as he managed to prise apart the steel jaws. "Press the lock before we get into trouble but mind your fingers kitten."

She tentatively reached in and pushed the lock down, whipping her hand away quickly she smiled at Spike who opened his mouth to speak.

"Buffy?"

She looked quizzical at first and then saw Spikes eyes narrow as they fixed on something over her shoulder. Turning to face the voice Buffys eyes grew wide.

"Willow said you spent a lot of time here, I thought she was joking." Angel stood there with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Angel, what are you doing here?" Buffys heart raced as she pulled him harshly to one side, away from Spike.

"We arranged to meet up for your birthday remember? I thought maybe we could work our issues out face to face." Angels voice was low and she knew it was because of their current company.

"Um sure." Like a negotiation? Playing with her necklace Buffy didn't know what else to say, he had flown thousands of miles to be here for her birthday and she couldn't very well tell him to leave, or could she? After all, they'd arranged these plans before they'd broken up.

Angel's eyes followed her fingers and she hurried to cover up the necklace Spike had made for her, if he saw that it would mean more questions and that wasn't what she wanted right now.

"Who's your friend?" Angel nodded towards Spike who was busying himself with the traps.

"He works here." She hoped it would pass for an answer; it was obvious they wouldn't get on with each other.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Angel smiled patiently at her and Buffy looked pained for a moment then moved to tug on Spikes sleeve.

"Spike this is Angel and vice versa." Feeling like she was piggy in the middle, Buffy decided it was best to introduce Spike to Angel formally but only give Angel a vice versa, like a tiny brush-off.

"Her boyfriend from LA." Angel extended his hand and Spike just looked at it with an arched brow.

"Ex-boyfriend." Buffy corrected.

"So, Angels come to town for little bitty Buffys birthday, sounds like fun." Voice dripping with sarcasm Spike fought to remain calm, sizing up his opponent he calculated every possible outcome of his being in Oxford.

There was a chance, an extremely high possibility, lets just say it was definite that Spike was going to end up hitting this bloke at some point. Unfortunately, Angel didn't look like a whelp but Spike liked a challenge and taking Angel down was going to be fun. What was going to prove less amusing was keeping his kitten, well, his. He registered that it was going to be the hard part, Angel looked like he had a few tricks up his sleeve that could prove to be Spikes downfall in the romance stakes. Better to take him down quickly before he gets a chance to win Buffy back.

Angel watched Spike, he didn't like the look of this guy and he was pretty damn sure that Buffy and Spikes relationship wasn't purely platonic. Judging by this guy's accent he was the one Buffy was with in that so called 'beautiful café', the one she was out drinking coffee with and he was definitely involved in Buffys Christmas day phone call.

To him Spike looked like trouble and not just with a capital T, Buffy obviously liked him and he didn't look like the type that was going to roll over and lay down like a good little boy. He had a possessive edge to him that might prove to be Angels ruin if they came to blows, Spike would fight to the bitter end to protect what was his and what he cared about.

"How come you didn't come sooner?" Spike grinned maliciously at him.

"Business didn't permit it." Angel tried to keep his voice flat and emotionless, Spike was preying on Angel's weakness--the fact her had left Buffy alone over Christmas.

"Business." Spike parroted and gave Buffy a sideward glance; she knew he'd meant 'Always business with this bloke?'

"Yes, business." It was a lame comeback and Angel instantly regretted it as Buffy looked at him.

"Business that stops you from seeing your girl?" Spikes grin widened and he added mockingly. "Sorry, ex-girl."

"Buffy, come out with me tonight and we'll talk alone." Trying to ignore the look of thunder that crossed Spikes face--definitely more than platonic with Buffy--he looked down at the slight blonde girl in question with hope in his eyes.

"Um, okay." For a moment he felt like he won, then the world came crashing down around him. "Oh poop, I can't--sorry."

"Why not?" Angels voice faltered and he saw the corners of Spikes mouth twitch into a smile.

"We're all going down Zodiac for my birthday." Buffy smiled at Angel like they were just old friends.

"Come too if you want, can get your name on the door." Spikes voice was low as he grinned at Angel and saw Buffy frowning at him.

"I'm sure Angel doesn't…" She started.

"That would be great, you work there?" Angel felt challenged but at least he would get to see Buffy tonight.

"No. My bands playing tonight for her birthday and you can be my two guests--kitten and her ex. Just make sure you say that your kittens ex and we'll get along fine." With that Spike turned and walked off up the rows of cabinets towards the totem pole.

Angel felt sickened at having his suspicions confirmed. This guy was definitely the one Buffy was with in the café and they were definitely more than friends. Comfort kitten.

"I don't like him, Buffy." Angel had a hold of her arm but Buffy was facing away from him and watching Spike opening another cabinet.

"You don't like anyone. I like him and so does Willow, he's a great guy once you get to know him." Buffy still had her gaze firmly fixed on Spike, he was plucking the little note cards one by one from the cabinet and trying to read them without his glasses. Buffy giggled at how image conscious he was around Angel.

"I'm sure your father thinks he's wonderful." Angel's sarcastic tone caused Buffy to look around with a small frown knitting her brows.

"Mom likes him and that's all I need right now." Buffy stood defiant of him and it caught him off guard, she was so different these days.

"Lets not fight Buffy, I came all this way to talk about us not to talk about some guy." Angel rubbed her arm with his thumb and smiled as she relented.

"Fine, we'll get coffee, I don't have much time though as I'm meant to be meeting Willow. Stay here for a minute." Buffy turned away from him and smiled triumphantly as she heard him huff.

Spike was pretending to be busy when she approached, she looked like she was trying to be the white flag between two warring parties and was getting a little tattered in the process. He decided it was better if he let her do what she had to do to make peace with Angel, the quicker she did that the quicker he'd be out of the way.

"I'm going to be bored to death by Angel. It's only coffee and a chat but I know that you'll be feeling all protective and testosterony so I thought it best to let you know." Buffy touched Spikes arm and smiled.

"Borders?" He replied quietly.

"Correct, what a way to spend my birthday, feel free to drop by and rescue me. I am on the list later right?" Buffy couldn't help but feel worried that all this Angel business was pushing Spike away from her.

"Kitten is always on my list." Spike pulled her close and growled possessively in her ear.

Buffy instinctively leant her head back and closed her eyes. As his lips brushed against hers she felt her heartbeat quicken. Spike pushed his mouth possessively onto hers as he bent down slightly and slipped his arms about her waist. Buffy responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and moaned into his mouth.

Pulling away from each other they both felt overly aware of being watched by their current company. Angel was scowling at Spike and he just shrugged in response. Spike couldn't help but feel nervous as he watched his kitten and her ex walking off to get coffee, this could really ruin his plans.

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