~Watchers place. Drop the keys on the table. Here comes old Rupert.~

"Welcome back, Spike."

"Ta, mate."

"Did everything. I mean to say. er. uh, how is Angel?"

"He's good. How was everything here?"

"Fine. fine. So Angel's back in order?"

"Yeah. uh. I need to have a chat with you, could use some advice."

"Certainly. I'll do what I can."

"See. Here's the thing. Bein' a Watcher, I'm sure you know what Vampires do.uh, yanno. in regards to sex, an' all."

"Uh... erm... well, yes. It's a widely known fact... that... well, you know..Sires... uh, Spike, I'm rather uncomfortable discussing your sex life with your Sire... I don't know how much help I'm able to manage in this capacity."

"I'm not askin' you for bleedin' advice on how to have sex with Angel..."

"Well, I thought... yes... well, carry on, then."

"Bloody well know how to have sex with Angel... I mean... come on! S'not like ya look at me an' think 'choir boy'... or maybe you do..."

~Eyebrow lift~

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have presumed... I apologize Spike... please carry on with your... uh... whatever it is you need advice on. And no, I don't think about choir boys when I look at you..."

"So, when do ya think about choir boys?"

"Never... I mean... If I see them... I think... Oh... stop this! You are insufferable at times. Is there something you need to ask me? If so, can we please move on with it?"

"Right, jes' checkin'. So... like I was sayin'... Me an' Angel... reckon ya know what we're doin'... an'... what with you leavin'... well, I wanna go to LA. There. Problem is... gotta make sure someone's there for Niblet an' Slayer..."

"Well, I'm not changing my flight plans because you've decided to move in with... move away... ahem... yes, and well, I think you needn't worry too much about Buffy, she needs to learn to manage on her own. She needs to be responsible for herself and her charge. She'll never learn that if I... if *we're* always there for her to run to."

"Hear me out?"

"Spike. I."

"Please?"

"Right. yes, well. carry on."

"She *is* a responsible girl. There's not one of you. of *us* that's more responsible than her. Got the weight o' the world on her shoulders. You runnin' off cause ya think she's irresponsible is. well, for lack of a better term, retarded. Ya know what that girl has to face on a daily basis, an' yer expectin' her to hold down a job, tend to LittleBit's needs, pay the bills, watch over her friends, an' stop the world from endin' every few days."

"Spike. she *is* The Chosen One."

"Yeah. Birthright. They really effed her up on that one, mate. So she's got super-strength. what of it? She was supposed to live, fight an' die young. An' she has. a few times now. An' she's done it well. She's a warrior. But she's got a heart. an' no one's accountin' for that. Everyone leaves her. Her Mum. gone. Angel. couldn't bear to give her a dead man in her bed. Captain Cardboard. runs away when the goin' gets tough. Her Dad. give's a flip about her, that's what. but she's got you. The only thing in her life that's dedicated to keepin' her sane. whose sole purpose is watchin' over her, as she's watchin' out for everyone else."

"And what of you? You're leaving her."

"Rupert. What am I? I'm muscle. An extra pair o' fists an' fangs when the big ugly goes down. I'm replaceable."

"You're her friend."

"She's got lots of friends. She's got exactly *one* Watcher."

~He's quiet. Reflectin' I reckon. I'm right. He knows that.~

"LA isn't that far."

"Right. an' if she needs me, I'm here in an instant. That doesn't change. But it's not me she needs."

"She's strong. She's resilient."

"You keep tellin' yerself that." ~Grab me jacket, an' turn to walk out.~ "Maybe one day, you'll believe it."

~Bloody hell. When did Droopy show up.~

"And for those of us in the listening audience that just joined in. Can I just say - what the hell is going on here."

"Xander. Spike was. he was uh."

"Nothin' bum bandit. was jes' givin' Watcher a hard time."

"Why?"

"I'm evil. what can I say?"

"Are you leaving again?"

"Not straight away, no."

"Oh."

~Starin' at me. What?~

"I'm sorry Xander, Spike was on his way out. Is there something the matter?"

"No. Uh. Anya left her purse. I just came back to get it."

"Ohh. got somethin' for ya. wait a tic. where's me sack o' goodies, Rupe?"

"Over there, in the corner."

~Grab me bag - Where's Shaggy's? Here. Toss him the Sno-globe.~

"Cool! Thanks! Heh. Shaggy. A ghost. I like it. What's in Santa Barbara?"

"An old friend."

"Ahh..."

"Got one for you, too, Watcher. Catch."

"Spike I. A girl?"

"Hold it upside down."

"Oh Heavens!"

~Gotta laugh. Tight arse. Even Shaggy's laughin.~

"Buggery. Buggery Bollocks, eh?"

"I'm glad you find this amusing."

"Oh, I do."

~Smirk at him some.~

"C'mon Spike, it's not nice to taunt the G-man."

~Heh, yes it is.~

"No, it's not, and please stop calling me that."

~Wonder if he's like that in bed. 'Oh, darling. don't touch me there. wouldn't be prudent.'. heh!~

"Right then, I'm off. Think about what I said, Rupert. Shaggy? Need an escort?"

"Yeah. Can we stop at the Quick-E Mart. I'm having a Twinkie-fit."

"Reckon we could. "

~Walk out in the street. Quiet. Odd for the Hellmouth.~

"So. you're moving away?"

~Not up for gettin' into this at the moment.~

"Not for a bit. Few things to settle up here before I can leave."

"Does Buffy know?"

"Not yet. an' don't say anythin'. let me tell her."

~He's quiet. Dunno what he's thinkin'.~

"She's been. uh. relying on you a lot lately."

"Yeah."

"Is that why you're leaving?"

"No."

"Where are you moving?"

"LA."

"By Angel?"

"You could say that."

"Why?"

~An' there's the million dollar question. How to do this delicately. Do I care? Bugger. Reckon I do.~

"We've come to an. understanding."

"What's to understand? You guys hate eachother."

"Ever hear the sayin' that it's a fine line between love an' hate?"

"So you're gonna go what? Be his Boy Wonder? I think he's got his gig down pretty well, heard he's got a posse. Cordy told me."

"I'm nobodies Boy Wonder, kid. An' 'posse'? Should I start callin' ya 'Snoop Shaggy Dogg', then?"

"Tu-pac will be fine."

"One-pac. got his knacker shot off, remember?"

"No-pac. he's dead."

"Right then, No-pac it is."

"Well, if you're not gonna be his back up. Why are you going?"

~Uh. thought the whole love/hate thing woulda tipped him off. Not that bright, are ya, Whelp. Don't make me work fer this.~

"Goin' because. Uh. Tell me, ya ever read any o' those old books o' Ruperts'?"

"Tons. Research. Duh."

"Right. an' about the whole Vampire bit. Reckon ya done yer fair share o' lookin' into the old ways."

"The ol.oh."

~Right. you remember now. Hey there, pheromone boy. Glad to see yer back in action.~

"Yeah. so. uh. we came to understandin'."

"You already said that."

"So I did."

"Have you guys. you know. done it?"

~This could be fun. Got nothin' but time. make him squirm some.~

"Done what?"

~Dunno if the innocent bit's gonna fly. Throw it out there. see what happens.~

"You know.*it*."

"No. tell me what *it* is. must be a language barrier. you kids today."

~Ha! Ha Ha!~

"Well Spike. when a man and a woman. or a man and a man. or a woman and a woman. but not so much with a woman and a woman. because there's not a whole lot of this going on."

~He's made a fist outta one hand, an' he's pokin' through it with his finger. Oh Bloody Hell. This is classic. I'm gonna die. again. HA!~

"Oh yeah. exactly. Angel an' I sit around pokin' our fists with our fingers. that's what."

"You're such a dick."

~He's grinnin' at me. he knows how ridiculous this is.~

"Oh I'm bad. yeah."

~In front of the Quick-E Mart now. Get me some piss-water. head back to the crypt. call Angel.~

"I think I need something stronger than Twinkies."

"Choc-O-Diles?"

"I can appreciate how your mind works, sometimes."

~An' yer wonderin' what it'd be like to have me slammin' it home on yer backside, Cor. can smell it on ya. ~

"Right. I'll be at the beer case. get me some o' those honey buns. like those, I do."

"Roger that."

~Huh? Oh. Soldier-boy flashback. Are you now, or have you ever been. best left unsaid. So what we got, then? Yanno. there's a number of American beers that are highly underrated. sadly, I'm not faced with any o' those at the moment. Grab a sixer. head to the register.~

"Got your buns."

~Eyebrow lift.~

"Do ya now?"

"Can I just say . Gross. Thank you. Drive through. problem with this?. Write your Congressman."

"Must be dark in that closet."

"Shut up."

"You shut up."

"I said it first."

"Technicality."

"That's not the rules!"

"I don't play by any soddin' rules. I'm the Big Bad."

"Whatever. I'll have you know. I'm. powerful and strong, too."

"Oh right. The Gods themselves do tremble."

"Hey!"

"Jes' yankin' yer chain, Shaggy. Yer tough as they come."

"Thank you."

~Don't look so smug. I'm yankin' yer chain right now, too.~

"Pay for this."

"You have money!"

"Bought you a Sno-Globe. an' this is the thanks I get?"

"Fine!"

~Ha!~

"Eighteen dollars, please."

"You're an expensive date, you know that?"

"Yanno what they say. nothin' good comes cheap."

~Walk outta the store, headin' towards the Whelp's flat now.~

"So. will you come back.you know. for visits and things?"

"'Course. You can come see me, too."

"Who am I gonna play pool with?"

"Red plays a mean game."

"Yeah."

~In front of his flat. He's quiet an' lookin' down at his feet.~

"Gonna miss me?"

"Like I miss ice cream headaches."

~Still lookin' down.~

"Right then, best get in before the nasties get ya."

"Yeah."

~Bugger. don't jes' stand there. Say somethin'. or move yer arse.~

"Waitin' for a peck on the cheek, then?"

~That got him laughin'.~

"I hope. things work out. with you, you know."

"Ta, luv. Go on with ya. get in."

"Still waiting for my peck on the cheek."

~Now we're both laughing.~

"C'mere."

"I'm here."

"Always wondered, did ya?"

"Kinda."

~Lean in, press my lips softly to his. Nothin' obscene. Jes' somethin' soft for him.~

"Now ya know."

~Face is flushed an' he's breathin' heavy.~

"Guess so."

"Go on, five finger shuffle's waitin' for ya upstairs."

"Yeah."

~Watch as he opens the door, an' turns around to look at me.~

"And Spike."

"Yeah?"

"I miss ice cream headaches already."

"'Course ya do. yer a shirt lifter."

"A what?"

"Nothin' pet. Sleep tight."

"'Night, Spike."

~Turn towards home, punch in Angel's number.~

"Hello?"

"Angel."

"Will."

~Miss him. so much already. fuck.~

"So where are you?"

"Caritas."

"Karaoke joint?"

"Yeah."

"Yer chums around?"

"Lorne and Cordy."

"When ya leavin' for home?"

"Miss you."

~Jes' a whisper. but I can hear it.~

"Miss you, too pet."

~Hear the Princess babblin' on in the background about somethin' or other.~

"Uhm."

"What?"

"Cordy wants to.talk to you. You okay with this?"

"Sure. put her on."

"Hang on. Here."

"Spike?"

"Yeah, luv."

"Okay. first off, the Sunnydale standard shovel speech. I have one. I know how to use it. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Second. If anything happens to him, if you hurt him. You thought Angelus was bad? Try suffering the wrath of a pissed off homecoming queen."

"I have no doubt."

"Thirdly. The irony of using a phallic shaped weapon. not lost on me."

"Saucy little thing. Got it."

"Fourthly. Is that a word?"

"Doesn't matter. go with it."

"Okay. so fourthly. We're doing something about your hair."

"Oi! What's wrong with me coif?"

"Uhm. split ends are tres tacky. I'm thinking deep oil treatment, some conditioning shampoo. Paul Mitchell makes the greatest dry hair repair leave-on conditioner. and some non-alcohol gel. and have you thought of going honey-blonde? I mean. platinum. cool look and all. If you're Billy Idol. or a rock star. anyway. but peroxide is really damaging."

"Wow. that's a lot o' words. what's with the whole acceptin' me, Princess?"

"Lorne just read Angel?"

"Huh?"

"He's like a psychic vending machine. You sing, instead of inserting money in the slot."

"Sounds like an' interestin' enough bloke."

"He's great. you'll love him. Anyway, he said Angel was on the right path, and that there wasn't any darkness surrounding your. uhm. what did you call it again, Lorne?"

~Hear him mumble somethin'.~

"Oh. Coupling. Ew. Anyway. So - you. Angel. hot monkey sex?"

"Uh. Ya might wanna take that up with him. Dunno how comfortable he is with the whole discussin' our. uh. thing."

"It's fine, really. He already told me. Anyway, Lorne wants to say hi. But remember what I said about the shovel and the phallic stick."

"Couldn't forget if I tried."

~Hear the phone bein' passed.~

"Well hello, hello puddin pop. You must be the twinkling star that put the light back in tall dark and menacings' eyes."

"The one and the same, pet. Yer the Host, then?"

"I am, Snookums."

~Okay. some of us are jes' demons. an' some of us are jes' gay. He's a poofter. a real one. not like Angel. But I'm alright with that. friendly enough bloke, he is.~

"So what'd he sing for the readin'?"

"The Pina Colada song."

"I'm sorry? Pina Colada?"

"You know sugar.'If you like Pina Colada's. gettin' caught in the rain.' ring any bells?"

"Oh Bugger!" ~ Howlin' out in laughter.~ "He didn't. tell me he didn't."

"Oh he did, sweet cheeks."

"Wager it was bloody awful."

"Oh it was, trust me."

"Poor Peaches. must be traumatized by his own voice by now."

"He's improving. marginally."

"I highly doubt that."

"I was going for polite there."

"And you were doin' a damned fine job of it, let me tell ya."

"Thank you, sugar plum. I'll give you back to Gorgeous George now."

~Once again, passin' me around like I'm a bloody tray of hors d'oeuvres.~

"Hey."

"Hey yerself."

"Have a good time laughing at me?"

"Oh. 'course not, Peaches. wouldn't wanna do that. never do that."

~Heh.~

"If you actually *attempted* to remove some of the sarcasm in your voice, I might be touched."

"Oh. I'll touch ya alright."

"Mmm."

"Love hearin' that sound. I'm home now."

"Go inside."

"Love to."

"Ssshit."

"Gettin' a stiffy?"

"Yeah."

"Ya gonna call me when ya get home?"

"Of course. Are you inside now?"

"Yeah, pet. Whatcha wanna hear?"

"You know."

~Sit down, undo me trousers. grip me cock. a nice hard stroke. an' moan softly into the phone.~

"That what, Angel?"

~Hear him breathin' softly against the phone.~

"Careful, pet. Won't do to have you all worked up an' no place to go."

"Yeah."

"Go on home. call me. I'll talk ya through it."

"Love you."

"Love you, too Angel."

*****
Part 17: Angel's POV

~I couldn't get home fast enough. Now I'm here. My bed. It looks strangely empty. The first night we've been apart in days. It was only days. Seems like we paved miles over those days. I had the dream in this room. in this bed. It was terrifying. It's what brought us together. Something so simple. Broke down a century of disconnection. Shattered everything. I can still smell him on my clothes. Take them off and lay them on the bed, crawl under the covers. reach for the phone. dial.~

"So yer home."

"Knew it was me, hmm?"

"An' who else would it be?"

"You tell me."

"No one, love. Jes' you."

"Are you in bed?"

"Yeah. you?"

"Just now."

"What ya wearin?"

"Nothing."

~A quiet moan. almost sounds like a breath. Close my eyes, try to picture him. In his bed. no. in my bed.~

"Are you on your back?"

"Yeah. you?"

"Yeah."

"Ya wanna do this?"

"Yes."

"Close yer eyes."

"Already am."

"What ya seein'?"

"You. your body. your smile."

"An' what am I doin'? Why am I smilin'?"

"You're on your back, looking into my eyes, smiling because. I'm spreading you apart. entering you. your body is rocking with my thrusts."

"Yeah. s'a good visual."

"Your hands under my shoulders, gripping my sides. mouth. slightly parted. head starts to press back into the pillow.fuck."

"Touchin' yerself, love?"

"Yeah."

"Same here. Tell me more."

"Kiss you. keep kissing you. every part of us. connected. Pushing you open. lift your legs over my shoulders, your hands around my neck, pull me closer. need me. Need me to make it deep. Pump you. long hard strokes. feel your sac against my stomach.reach for your cock.God.Will."

"Yeah love. yeah. more."

"Turn to the side, and onto my back, pull you on top of me. Oh God.Watch you. Blue eyes. so blue. biting your bottom lip. my hands on your thighs. watch you rock yourself on my cock. watch you stroke yourself. that sweet thick delicious cock of yours. see it throbbing and red, the tip greased with your wetness. your hand keeps moving."

"Angel. yeah love. like that. on top. Want you so bloody much. want you. fuck. wish you were touching me. "

"I am, Will. moan for me."

~Stroking my cock hard, hand gripped tightly and arcing up towards my stomach, sweep the tip with my finger. and listen. hear him moan. ~

"Fuck me, Angel. Fuck me."

"Tell me how you want it."

"Bent over. all fours. ahh make it hard for me."

"You want it fast?"

"Yeah. use me to get off, right?"

"Turn over, Will. Get on your knees for me."

"Ahh. done."

"Bend you over, slam into you. fuck that sweet little hole . our sacs swinging together with each thrust. hear the thud of my hips slapping against your perfect ass. Taking you. my hand in your hair, gripping and steadying myself so I can hammer into you again and again.can you feel me, Will? Feel me fucking you hard?"

"Yeah.God."

"Reach back, feel it for me."

~Strangled moan.~

"Angel. ahh. God. want you. inside."

"I'm there, Will. I'm in there."

"Need you. so much."

"I'm there. feel me."

"Touch me . "

"Will. touching you everywhere. let me hear you come."

"God.Angel.Now."

"Coming Will. I'm coming for you.Will."

~My eyes are still closed. I can hear him groaning quietly on the other end. Slow my hand to a lazy stroke, feel my spent wetness on my stomach. Wish he was here. Wish I was there.~

"Still with me, luv?"

~Sounds so breathy. miss him.~

"Always."

"Gonna be hard. this. sleepin' without you."

"I wish I was there."

"I wish you were, too."

"Friday?"

"Comin' for a visit?"

"Yeah. you have room for me?"

"Make room. but."

"But what?"

"What about if you pick me up. take me back with you for a few days."

"I'd love to."

"Right. better do it that way. Never know who's gonna pop in on us around here."

"I see. So, how did everything go tonight?"

"Hmm. talked with Rupert and Xander. Wager Rupert's gonna stay, after all."

"Did he tell you that?"

"No. but I put up a pretty convincin' argument."

"And Xander?"

"He won't tell. Now it's a matter of callin' in a few favors. get Slayer some backup, somethin' big an' slimy, I'm thinkin'. an' then.'the talk'."

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"I dunno. what d'you think?"

"I think. She'll be hurt, regardless of which one of us tells her."

"I know."

"Look, I don't know much about what's been going on there. I get the gossip reports from Cordy. but that's about it. From what I gather, you and she have developed some sort of. closeness. And I'm glad you can be there for her. But I'm not really armed with enough information. so I'll leave it up to you. I'll do it, if you want. It's your call."

"We kissed."

"I figured as much. anything more?"

"No."

"So what do we do?"

"I dunno, Angel."

"Maybe we should sleep on it. Take it as it comes."

"Right. so how about you? From the sound o' things at the pub, your troop's alright with this."

"Well, Cordy and Lorne, so far. There's still Fred, Gunn and Wes. Fred won't be a problem, she's a sweet girl. you'll like her. she'll be here on Friday when we get back. Gunn. another story, but I don't anticipate there being any real problems with him. since he's always seen me as a demon, anyway. I think the only one I'll run into issues with is Wes. Ex-Watcher."

"Yeah. that'll be a bit tricky. We could always have Rupert ring him. "

"You really found your place there. and I'm just yanking you out."

"Nah. s'not like that."

"Isn't it?"

"Not really. Got me group of chums, an' that's fine. Everyone has their own gig goin', though."

"Still. you'll be starting over here."

"Bloody well right. an' I'll expect compassion, an' lots o' great shaggin'. got it?"

"I think I can manage that."

~Love hearing him laugh.~

"Be a nice change o' pace. "

"It'll be more than nice, Will."

"What'll it be, then?"

"Us. Together. That's more than nice."

"S'perfect."

"Agreed."

"I don't wanna hang up."

"Neither do I."

"Tired?"

"Exhausted."

"Can't wait to see you."

"I'm always with you, Will. remember that."

"I do."

"So how close are we to doing this?"

"Anyday."

*****