::How will we know if the spell works?:: Xander shouted to Anya over the call of the Essence Demon.

::Well, if it doesnt, we will all likely be dead so it wont really matter.:: she answered.

He had to remind himself of the reasons he was dating the ex-demon.

If he could come up with one.

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

::How are we both going to get through the portal?:: Angel asked the Watcher. They were staring at the blue and silver tornado rapidly bearing down upon them.

::We are going to have to...er...link somehow.:: Giles answered, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

::Oh...I guess..I could...I mean...Ill just bite you a little.:: Angel couldnt meet the bespectacled eyes if his life depended on it.

::Bite me? My word, I should think not! Is that the only way you and Spike managed to travel together through this Essence manifestation?::

Angel swallowed, and fixed his eyes firmly on a spot above the Watchers head. ::Uhm, no..we ..we had sex.::

A blink.

::Right then. Do you prefer the left or the right side of the neck?::

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

The mortals gathered in the Vampires apartment watched as the portal grew larger, and began to suck objects from the room into its ferocious whirl. Finally, only that within the safety of the circle remained.

The humans covered their ears as the hideous wailing grew to maddening proportions. The temperature dropped sharply, and a light, gray mist covered the walls. The blinding light grew in intensity, and hands moved swiftly from ears to burning eyes.

Only the vampire stood watch now over the growing tornado.

When at last the swirling light and wind seemed to eclipse the whole of the room, and the group of humans were huddled together against the noise and the cold, and even the soul-less demon was offering up prayers to all the dieties he could imagine...

It stopped.

The room stilled. The wailing was silent. The tornado was once again gone.

And in its place stood Giles.

Spike hardly noticed as half the group ran to the Watcher. He kept his eyes firmly focused on the bed, where Angel still lay.

Slowly, he crept over toward it, and leaned down. ::Angel?:: he whispered, uncaring that Cordelia and Wesley were staring.

And that they were going to notice the tremor in his hands as he reached out to touch the side of Angels face. Or the tremor in his voice when Angel opened his eyes, and he said the only thing he could think of --

::You goddamn poof! You pushed me!::

*****
Part 20:

It was hours later, and the bleary eyed group had dragged themselves to Cordys apartment. The interior of Angel Investigations, along with the owners living quarters, was essentially destroyed. As for the exterior, the partial lack of walls would present a bit of a problem come sunrise for the resident vampires.

The negotiations for sleeping arrangements seemed to take precedence over any sorting through of the past days events. It was not without difficulty that Spike and Angel were convinced to take the Master bedroom. If Angel had to think about it, it was likely Cordelias assertion that ::noone really wants to watch you two do the whacky:: that was most convincing.

So now the two male vampires were surrounded by lace and finery, and Angel was trying to figure out exactly how amusing Spike was going to look tucked under a sheet laden with posies.

The blond vampire did not appear to notice the decidedly feminine tilt to the room. Instead, he began to strip, tearing off his jacket and tossing it where he stood, needing nothing more at this moment than a warm bed and a pillow.

Angel was staring at him, and the smaller man recognized the look.

He groaned. ::Oh gods, you wanna talk, dont you?::

Angel grimaced. ::Is there a problem with that? Its been quite a day...or two...or...a hundred...::

::Yea, Peaches, and we aint gonna get it all sorted out right now. So just shuddup and come to bed, will ya?::

Angel didnt move. Spike sighed and stopped disrobing, walking closer to the taller man. ::You wont let me get any sleep until we do this, will you?::

Angel just raised a brow.

::Fine, lets get it over with. What do you want to yammer about?::

The dark vampire prayed for patience. And fluency. ::I- I just- I mean, Spike will you stand still for two seconds!?:: Apparantly, he had achieved neither.

::Look, I said Id listen to ya, I didnt say Id enjoy it., :: the peroxide blond retorted, continuing to pick up and study various objets de beauty from Cordelias dresser. Amazing shit, really. The eyelash curler would make a helluva torutre device if properly utilized....

::Then LISTEN! Youre not even listening!::

Spike turned to face his obviously annoyed Sire, and matched the older mans pose, arms folded across broad chest, eyebrows shot up to the hairline. Any minute now, ridges were going to appear there.....

**((Christ he is so exasperating!))**

Mutual laughter.

::What is it pet, eh?:: Spike took a few steps to where Angel stood. The mans posture was stiff, but his look was softening a bit as Spike crossed the remaining distance between them, a small smile playing on his thin lips.

::Are you staying?:: Angel asked, the words tumbling from his mouth before he could hold them.

::What? Where?:: the younger man appeared genuinely confused.

::I mean....after all thats happened...I ...I dont want you to stay out of some sense of duty or... obligation. I dont want you to be here just because....Im your Sire.::

::Where exactly did this come? I missed something, yea? Your neuroses are on total overdrive, here, Angel.::

They were standing almost nose to nose at the point, but Angel couldnt lift his eyes to meet the others. Spike was amazed, and more than a bit puzzled. The man was genuinely tweaked here, and damned if he could figure out why...

Well, there was the whole losing conciousness and bleeding like a stuck pig thing. And the remembering Hell thing. And the nearly dying. And his apartment exploding. Oh, and the Watcher being in his *head*. ((Shudder)).

And Buffy. There was still Buffy.

There would always be Buffy.

::She still loved you, you know.::: Spike said quietly.

Angel twitched slightly, but made no reply.

::I never told you this. I didnt think youd wanna hear it. But...the Initiative didnt kill that thing. The thing that killed her, I mean. They didnt take it out. I did.::

Angel lifted startled eyes to meet the faraway gaze of his Childe. There was no chance for him to formulate a response, as Spike was continuing. He rocked back and forth on his heels as he spoke, and Angel recognized the familiar sign that the younger man was nervous. He laid a hand on a black clad shoulder to still the motion, and whispered. ::Tell me...Please::

::She was happy with soldier-boy. She was..content. They woulda made it all right.:: Spike caught the tiny twitch on the well defined cheek, but pressed on. ::But she never got over you. When I attacked the demon...he asked me...he asked me if I knew how she died. We were fighting ya know, and I wasnt paying much attention to what all he said. I was too busy tryin to kill him. And, not to get killed. But then he said......that she died calling for me.::

Angels eyes were shining, and he was battling hard to keep human countenance. ::Buffy - she died asking for you?::

Spike grunted. ::No, ya poof.:: His voice softened. :: No. All he knew was that I was a vamp. He thought I was you. It was you, Angel. She died...crying for you. ::

It broke then, the fragile hold Angel had on his control, it shattered into thousands of tiny pieces, and he could feel it happening, could feel it all welling up inside him, and he couldnt stop it, he didnt want to stop it, he wanted to scream, wanted to rage, wanted to...

He picked up the first thing his hands claimed, a small music box. The ballerina inside twirled madly about as he grabbed it, and slung it into the far wall. It exploded in a shower of twisted wood and resin and metal, the music shrieking and fading into the loud *bang* as it collided with the cement.

Then Angel sunk to his knees, and let his face shift to true form. Fangs bared, yellow eyes blazed. In full demonic countenance, he wept.

He wept because he remembered Hell, he wept because he had lost Buffy, and Doyle, and himself, he wept because he had nearly lost Will. He wept because despite all this, no, *because* of all this, he had come to believe something new and wholly different.

He suddenly thought that maybe, just maybe, he deserved some small measure of happiness. And it scared the hell out of him.

Spike hunkered down in front of him, his hand hanging impotently above the crouched shoulders for a moment. He watched unmoving as Angel hid his face in his folded arms. Then, he let his fingers drop, to brush along the thick silky strands of hair along Angels neckline, and he caressed gently. He rubbed the muscled shoulders as they shook, and he could feel the soft, rumbling purr beginning in his own chest.

The large vampire grabbed him, held him close, and felt the comforting sound ripple through him. Under the heavy sobs was a low answering purr of his own.

Long minutes later, Angel looked up. His face had slid back into its handsome human mask. Spike released his firm grip on his Sires neck, and met the wet gaze.

::Sorry.:: Angel mumbled.

Spike just grinned. ::S'ok mate. The whole weepy thing dont bug me near as much as the lets-analyze-our-lives-now thing.::

Angel rose to his feet, and managed a grin. ::I still have no idea what the hell you expect from me.::

::Im a simple fellow, Angel. I got simple tastes. A nice spot of violence, a bit o warm blood, ya know, a mind boggling climax or three. A bottle of Jack when its done. I dont do this whole *why am I here and where is this relationship going* swill. Thats your gig. Ya can keep it.::

::Youre really a pain in my ass.:: the taller vampire retorted, the spunk returning more quickly than usual. He figured all this time with Spike would rub off eventually....

Incorrigable grin coupled with a wink. ::Sorry, must not be doin it right then. Out of practice n all.:: Spike walked to the opposite wall, and began unbuttoning his shirt.

:: You cant stay serious for even two seconds, can you?::

::Why?! Were demons, pet. Weve four hundred some years among us. Youre still in love with a Slayer and Im still in love with a lunatic. Both of whom happen to be oh, *dead*. Much as youd like to believe otherwise, Peaches, it aint never gonna be hearts, flowers n poetry between us. Difference is you wanna do a dance about it every coupla days.:: Pause, then, :: And, I hate poetry.::

Angel smiled, an odd unreadable little smirk. He leaned in toward Spike, and placed a hand on the wall on either side of the mans shoulders, effectively trapping him between them. Spike quirked a brow at him.

::Is that so?:: the dark vampire whispered.

The blond was non-plussed, ::Yea. To whichever you was referring.::

Angel was still grinning. ::About the poetry.::

::Most definately about the poetry. Romantic rot, that.::

The taller man bent closer. His breath was sweetened by the recent feed, and not inches from Spikes ear, the small rush of air causing bumps to rise unbidden along the flaxen hairline. Angels voice was hushed, low pitched, the mere suggestion of speech. There was a subtle rythym to the words...

::Under the harvest moon
When soft silver
Drips shimmering
Over garden nights::

He began, running the tip of his nose over the ridges of the ear he whispered softly into. The smaller man shifted his weight onto one foot.

::Now youre gonna recite me poetry? What do I look like, a --::

Silenced by the continuing hypnotic voice ...

::Death, the gray mocker,
Comes and whispers to you
As a beautiful friend
Who remembers::

Light flick of the tongue over the pulseless vein in the neck. Soft puffs of air over the wet skin, raising more flesh.

::Not gonna work, Angelus.:: Slight quiver in the voice. Blue eyes falling closed.

::Under the summer roses
When the flagrant crimson
Lurks in the dusk
Of the wild red leaves::

Hands feathering over the lean flank, lazily brushing aside cotton and denim to caress smooth, faultless skin. Fingertips teasing over slim hips. Then gripping both sides, pressing the smaller man back, into the hard wall.

::Youre a right prick, you know that?:: Shudder barely suppressed. Hands dug stubbornly into pockets.

::Love, with little hands,
Comes and touches you
With a thousand memories,
And asks you
Beautiful, unanswerable questions.::

Each of the last punctuated with a gentle kiss on the mouth, tongue-tip barely stroking over the others parted lips.

::I bloody well hate you:: sighed against the mouth, opening to an eager duel.

::Its Ok, Spike. You dont have to like me,:: the last coherent uttereance before the hungry kiss steals away all breath necessary for speech...

Fangs in the softest part of the dark mans neck. :*Can you love me though?:* Shimmer of a question, asked only through the feast.

A low moan against the skin, then the blond head tilted back to offer the same. Sharp teeth piercing the layers of flesh, and the answer there, clear and pure. In the blood. ((I do. I always do.))

Angel removed his fangs from the exposed neck long enough to stare down into gold-blue eyes. ::So...you wanna practice?:: he quipped, the half grin tugging the corner of his lip upward.

It took Spike a moment to get the reference. By then he had tossed the amused Angel onto the large four poster bed, and neither of them gave a damn about the posies.

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

::Personally, I found this entire experience quite anti-climactic.::, Anya was saying. She was curled around Xander on Cordelias couch. Willow lay at the foot of the large sofa, Cordelia was covered up in a cozy chair, and Wesley and Giles were reclined on the floor.

All had wisely chosen to ignore the loud crash earlier.

Giles shook his head. ::It was more than climactic enough for me, thank you.::

Xander shot him a worried glance, just as another strange noise resounded from behind the door of the bedroom. It sounded suspiciously like a howl. Muffled somehow. A gagged howl.

Xander shivered. ::K, lets not use the climax word anymore this evening.::

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

::Youre doing that just to make em wonder....:: Angel was gasping as Spikes open mouth worked its way down along his chest. He had barely gotten the blonds pants off before hed started that odd little yowling sound. Angel had heard just about every noise the vampire made during sex. That wasnt one of em.

Spike just grinned. ::Who...me!?::

::Grr...Ahh..:: was torn from Angels throat as the blonds mouth at last closed around his aching shaft.

::Well now, *that* was lyrical.:: he taunted, swirling an expert tongue around the head.

::At least i-i-t was *quiet*...:: Angel panted, digging his fingernails into the floral sheets as that luscious mouth engulfed him tip to root once more.

::Mmmmmm..::, reverberated along the rapidly heating skin, then Spike released the delicacy with another dirty smirk. ::Well. That wont last long. Youre a noisy fuck, Peaches.::

::Who? Me!?:: Angel tossed back, then fell into breathy moans again, as the lips and tongue once more claimed him.

:::Mmmmm..:: again, and the dark vampire had to gnaw on the back of his hand to keep from calling out.

Laughter around his thickly engorged cock. ::Hmm..wonder if the Prom Queen has any lube in her bedtable....::

Angel sat up. ::What?!::

Spikes grin easily covered two states. ::Unless you wanna get blood on her pretty pink sheets?::

Angel appeared to contemplate the options.

::I could ask her, pet.......:: another feral grin.

::No!! Well just go on the floor.:: Angel replied quickly.

::Fine. Youre bottom anyhow, :: Spike winked, and Angel was going to growl at him, except he was tumbling off the edge of the bed with a loud thump.

::Careful now, youll break the floor, luv.:: the blond quipped again, smart enough to then cover Angels lips with his own.

The kiss became urgent and demanding within seconds, elegant faces shifted to their demonic counterparts. Each eagerly swallowed the blood flowing from cut lips, moistening the kiss with its salty, hot flavor.

Spike held Angels head in his hands as he pressed him down onto the wood floor, and stretched out atop him, rubbing against him sinuously. Angel felt the cool, hard flesh of his lovers erection against his belly, and he groaned into the deep kiss.

Spike was working his way down his body again, biting now instead of kissing, opening tiny puncture wounds and feeding on the drips of blood which gathered and healed almost instantly. Angel shook under the fierce attentions, recognizing and instinctively responding to the almost desperate need.

They had survived again, despite everything. They were here. They were safe. They were together. And if it wasnt perfect, wasnt poetry, well, as Spike would say, so fucking what.

It sure as hell felt like it from where Angel was laying.

Spikes tongue was working along the sensitive skin between his thighs, covering him with kisses and blood. Angel moaned, softly, and tried to shift, to reach his lover and repay some of the caresses in kind.

Spike pushed his hands away, and sat back on his haunches, between Angels knees. His gaze was steady. The question unspoken.

Angel just nodded silently, and watched as the smile crept across the high cheekbones, and lit the gold eyes.

After all they had been through together, it was the last and best gift he could give to his Childe. He gave it readily.

Surrender.

The surreal coupling inside the world of the Essence demon did nothing to prepare either of them for the intensity of the moment. When Spike laid a hand on either of the dark vampires hips, and tugged him gently forward, Angel swore his heart had lept into his throat. The blue-gold gaze swallowed him, and he tumbled inside of it willingly.

Spike gasped as he fully sheathed his length inside the velvet heat of his Sire. He watched as the muscled chest beneath him rose and fell with pleasured whimpers, and soft, husky moans.

The stillness could not last. There was too much heat, too much passion flowing between the two to allow for more intoxicating prelude.

Spike pulled back mere inches, and Angel arched up. The blond never released his hold on the larger pair of hips beneath him as they thrust against one another in effortless rythym.

After many long moments, their joined cry had the other occupants of the small apartment wishing for the returned keening of the Essence demon.

By then, even Angel couldnt bring himself to worry about it.

*****
Epilogue

Angel was dreaming. He knew he was dreaming, because it was day. He remembered the sun, he daydreamed about it, he coveted it. But he never dreamt of it. Not anymore.

But he was standing in the sun now, looking at a large, empty playground. He looked down at his hands, and saw they were still pale. But the sun beat down, and still he stood.

Watching. Waiting.

They appeared then, on the far corner of the playground. And his field of vision narrowed to the See-Saw where they sat.

Two little girls, one fair haired, one with large, inky curls. He watched as they swung short legs into the air, and maneuvered the Teeter-Totter in a gentle rythym. The little blonde girl was up in the air now, patent leather shoes kicking in unrestrained glee. The green eyed one pushed off from the dirt, her bouncy curls flopping on her small shoulders as she switched places with her playmate, flying upward with a soundless laugh.

He realized he couldnt hear them. They were giggling and whispering to oneanother, and he should have been able to hear them...but he couldnt.

So instead he stood and watched. Their mirth. Their innocence. Their life.

Untouched and unfettered. They had never seen pain, never felt loss.

Somewhere in the distance, he heard a familiar song. Only this time, it held no malevolent undertones. It was simple, sweet. And pure.

**Playmate
Come out and play with me***

The little girls turned suddenly, and stared at him, in that unabashed way that children have.

***And bring your dolly three
Climb up my apple tree***

Angel moved to raise his hand, to bid them ---

**Slide down my rainbow
Into my cellar door***

::Hey! C'mon, wake up!::

The vampire came awake with a start, and Spikes hands on his shoulders. He realized he was panting.

::You awake now? Christ, what the hell was that all about? Ya gotta sing in your sleep too, mate!? Its bad enough you frigging snore....::

Angels face broke into a wide grin. ::I snore?::

::Yea, you snore. Like a goddamned lion in heat...::

The insult was cut off by a barrage of feirce kisses. ::Wha--:: mumbled against the crushing lips...

::I snore!!:: Angels voice was strangely satisfied, as he stared down into confused blue eyes.

::Youre a fucking fruitloop is what you are.:: Spike frowned.

::Yea.:: the dark vampire conceded. ::But you love me.::

Spike tilted his head. He was a bit of a loon, his Sire. And there was so much still unsaid. Unsettled. Between them and within them, and all around them.....

But one thing was true.

***And well be jolly freinds......****

::Yea. I do.::

**** Forevermore... ****

~Finis~