by Rob Sorenson

The Scooby Gang, minus one member, cruised toward Florida six miles above the Earth. The ride itself was scheduled to take about two and a half hours. They were currently about an hour into the flight. Willow had surprised everyone by cashing in all the combined frequent flyer points that she and Xander had accrued over the past year. As a result the Gang enjoyed the comfortable surroundings of first class travel.

Each row had two roomy seats instead of the three that the Gang was accustomed to. Even more fortunate was the lack of passengers in the section. They literally had First Class all to themselves on this flight.

Faith was seated on the aisle, with Wesley at the window. This arrangement hadn't entirely pleased her--nothing against Wes, but she wanted to be with Xander--but her man was directly across the aisle, which placated her somewhat. He and Willow were in deep conversation. <Probably talking business stuff. The only business I ever discuss is what kind of detergent works best on demon blood. Me and B need something to do with our lives outside of Slaying.> Faith smiled slightly to herself. She couldn't remember ever contemplating actual employment before. After a couple of attempts to make conversation with Wes (Mr. Excitement was doing the airline magazine crossword) she decided to pay attention to the two best friends' conversation. They were huddled together in front of the redhead's laptop.

"Damn, Wills, how many projects do we have going at once?"

"Seven, currently. Well, technically six," she corrected herself, "because they haven't broken ground on the new amphitheatre in Anaheim. Once that's done, we'll have seven."

"Can we handle this much of a load?"

"I think so. In fact, I know we could if you were there to supervise over the sites. It seems like we've been gone forever, but it's really only been a couple of weeks. We hired good people, Xand. I visited the sites while you were....away." She hesitated awkwardly for a moment. Xander took her hand briefly and smiled. She grinned back and continued.

"Everything is right on schedule."

Xander frowned. "I like being ahead of schedule. Makes for a nice cushion in case we get called away for Scooby stuff."

"Ummm, Xand? We ARE doing Scooby stuff. That's why we're not ahead. I figure we've got another couple of weeks before it becomes critical for us to be there...in more ways than one."

Xander quirked an eyebrow at that, but Willow just smirked. Oh, how she loved to play games with him. Always forcing him to be more proactive in the decision-making by paying attention to detail. Clearly she had something to tell him, but he was going to have to remember it for himself.

He admittedly leaned hard on her when it came to boardroom matters--Xander was a builder, not a bean counter--but Willow always wanted him to strive for more.

"My crew is probably missing you already. They always tell me the best part of working for us is getting to see you visit in your little Daisy Dukes and hard hat."

Willow rolled her eyes.

"First of all, I've never worn Daisy Dukes in my life. Second of all, construction guys can be such pigs."

"I don't recall specifying gender, Will."

She reddened. "Oh. Really?"

"Nahh, not really. They all think you're a skank."

Faith almost laughed out loud as Willow smacked him on the arm.

"Can we get back to business again, please?"

"Sure. Ok, so once the Anaheim project gets rolling we have what, five projects in the LA area?"

"Yes, sir. Throw in the new UC Sunnydale Arena and the redesign of the Sunnydale Airport and that makes seven. It's nice to have them all so close together. That housing development in Portland was a long flight to make every week."

"Yeah. Ok, so...short version, everything is on schedule with current stuff."

She nodded silently, clearly holding something back that she desperately wanted to share. He shook his head and grinned at her. Willow was so much fun to work with.

"God, Will, just tell me whatever it is before your head explodes."

"Do you remember the new football stadium project?"

Xander's face lit up.

"No way. We GOT that?"

"We're in the running. No guarantees, though. We couldn't even begin to work on something of that magnitude until all our other projects are done. If we get it, though..."

Xander finished for her.

"We're talking two years. Minimum. In one spot. They still wanting to use the site of the old LA Coliseum? We have to demolish that first?"

Willow confirmed this with a nod. "I've got a rough draft finished for the new one. Eighty-eight thousand seats. I even created space for extra wide seats by

streamlining...."

Faith nearly tuned out at this point. When they got technical, it was over her head and she felt a little stupid. Still...the old Coliseum being rebuilt would be cool. Faith was a huge Raider fan. Maybe when they came down to play the new LA expansion team Xander could score them some tickets.

"...and I have some pretty neat ideas for the exterior too. Sort of a grand archway. Check this out...."

Willow tapped a few keys, bringing forth a simulation. Xander let out a whistle in appreciation.

"Nice. Have the new team owners seen this?"

"Yes. They said my design was the best they'd seen. Now it's just a matter of the bidding process."

"May I ask what our bid was?"

Willow looked at him strangely.

"Considering that you own half of the company, I'd say you're allowed to know."

"Right. So much of this seems like your deal, you know?"

Willow took a deep breath. "Someday, Xand, you're going to have to understand that we are totally 50-50 in this. It's not just 'I point to it and you build.' You're better than that. Seriously, you should consid--"

"Will, can we save the speech, please? Just give me a number."

Again Willow took a deep breath. "Three hundred seventy-seven million."

"Dollars!?"

"No Xander, pesos. Yes, dollars. It's a new LA Coliseum. It's a huge project."

"What are our chances?"

Willow shrugged. "I can only speculate at this point."

"And..."

She smiled. "Nobody underbids us, Xand. You know that."

Xander blinked a few times before speaking.

"Are you saying we're going to get this thing?"

"I'd say the chances are 80-20 in favor, yes."

"Man. Wow."

"That's what I said. Well, I used a few more words like woo-hoo and yippee, but that's pretty much it."

"What's the 20, Will?"

"Say again?"

"What's the 20% against us? You just said nobody underbids us. I know your design kicked ass, because it always does. How could we lose?"

She hesitated a moment. "The bidding takes place tomorrow. If we get it, we have to be in LA in three weeks to sign the contract. I don't know how long we're going to be in Florida. More specifically, it's fairly important that we're both alive to sign it in the first place."

"Ah. I see your point."

Neither said anything for the moment. Xander turned to face her.

"I don't want to jinx us, but I have to know. How much would we clear from this deal?"

She looked at him with an almost embarrassed grin. "Fasten your seat belt."

He looked at her expectantly.

"After material costs and crew salaries are factored in, as co-owners you and I would share a profit of forty-two million dollars."

His eyes widened. He tried to respond, but words weren't coming. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of Slayers had been paying attention.

"Holy shit!"

"Are you serious?"

Xander and Willow looked up from their conversation. Faith had been unable to contain herself, and Buffy's face was looking down at them from the seat directly in front of him. He threw up his hands.

"Why don't we just bring you guys in as corporate spies? You're both natural talents."

Buffy gave a half shrug.

"Sorry, guys. Dawn's asleep and I got bored."

Faith snorted.

"I'm not sorry. Forty two million friggin dollars?! That's like a giant lotto drawing or something."

Xander smiled. "Well, that's one way to put it...except for the fact that we'll be working our butts off for two years to get that money."

Faith was talking to herself in an awed tone.

"My boyfriend is set for life. He's gonna be loaded. I have a sugar daddy. I am so turned on right now."

"Motor down, Faith. We really shouldn't be counting our chickens," Willow cautioned. "There's no way of knowing for certain that we're going to win this thing."

It was Buffy's turn to snort.

"Have you guys ever lost?"

The redhead hesitated a moment. "Ok, you may have a point there, but this is different. This is a project on a massive scale. If we get this and finish it on time and on budget, we're about to get into global territory. We could literally compete for jobs all over the world."

Faith leaned back into her seat. "And they'd all be worth as much as this one?"

Xander chipped in, voice slightly dazed at the implications.

"Not necessarily....but once Will and I became more in demand on smaller stuff, like housing and museums, we

were able to raise our bids a little. Companies will pay bigger dollars for people who come in on schedule and under budget. They save money in the long run by choosing us. If we can pull this off..."

Willow nodded.

"That's where Xander earns his half. I design it, and I handle the bidding and accounting, but he has to get the thing done. If he does, then we can come in with a higher bid and still get the project because we save them money on possible cost overruns. We've come in under budget every time so far."

He sighed. "This is a big one, though. I've never tried to build anything like this."

Willow smiled at him. "I wouldn't have made the bid if I didn't think you could do it."

"Thanks."

"Sure. Just don't screw it up. It's only our future on the line."

Dawn's head popped up next to Buffy's.

"Did I miss something?" Her sister turned her head toward her.

"Willow and Xander are going to be even more rich than they already are."

"Cool. How much do I get?"

Willow considered for a moment. "Well...Xander and I could use a personal assistant. Somebody to handle correspondence, make appointments and generally run the office in Sunnydale while we're out of town."

Dawn grimaced. "Wait a minute, does that mean I have to work?"

Buffy tilted her head and spoke as if she were dealing with a four year old.

"Yes, Dawn. In the real world people are expected to actually do things to earn money."

"Huh. Well, that stinks. Who made up that rule?"

"I don't know, though I agree it does indeed stink. Look on the bright side, though: who would you rather have for your bosses than Xander and Willow?"

Dawn eyed Xander suspiciously. "Hmmm. Boss, huh?"

"That's right, Dawnie. You better keep my desk full of Ho-Ho's and learn how to make coffee."

"I guess I could deal with that. As long as I don't get shot or anything in the meantime."

No one had any response to that for a moment. Dawn's face was slightly embarrassed for bringing it up. Buffy spoke in soft tones.

"We're going to make sure that doesn't happen ever again."

"That would be nice. It'd be tough studying for midterms."

Dawn turned abruptly and resumed her sitting position. Buffy hesitated a moment, then addressed her best friends.

"Guys, if we end up stuck here for a while, I don't want you missing out on this chance. Once we get Spike and Angel down here--"

Willow and Xander shook their heads.

"Uh-uh. No way. We're not leaving you, Buff."

"You should know us better than that by now, Buffy. We do this together. I don't care about the money."

"I send Will's emotion. Screw the money. I owe these Watcher guys. Plus, wherever you and Faith go, I go. Simple as that."

Buffy wondered if she would ever be able to keep the tears from her eyes when her friends spoke like this. After a moment, she merely nodded with a slight smile and joined her sister.

"Dawn? You ok?"

"Yeah."

Neither spoke for over a minute. At last Buffy broke the silence.

"Spike said you guys talked."

Dawn nodded. "Yeah."

"You two are ok, then?"

"Yeah."

"Are you going to say 'yeah' every time I ask you a question?"

A pause. "Yeah."

Buffy gave her a comic scowl and Dawn couldn't help but grin.

"Buffy, I'm sorry about what I said before."

"You mean everything you've ever said to annoy me before, or is there anything specific?"

"You know when I mean."

"It's forgotten. Plus, you had a point. I should have told you right away. I thought I was protecting you." She paused a moment. "I guess I'm doing a pretty sucky job of that right now. First Xander, now you..."

"Buffy, we're all in this fight. You can't feel like you're

responsible for us all the time."

"I can't help how I feel, Dawn."

"You know, someday you need to realize that we feel as burdened as you do. When I thought Xander was dead, I blamed myself. So did Faith. So did Spike. We all felt like there was something we could have done. Your problem is you think you're the only one who feels responsible for anything."

Dawn took a deep breath and continued.

"We're all on the hook together. Once you understand that we bear this weight along with you it might make you feel a little lighter. You deserve to be happy. For God's sake, give yourself a chance. None of us are going anywhere, as much as you try to push us away sometimes."

Buffy said nothing for a moment as her stomach rolled a bit as the plane began descending toward Orlando. Finally she reached out and touched her little sister's cheek.

"I'm getting better at the pushing away thing. I really am trying. When it comes to you, though, I'm supposed to feel responsible. That isn't going to change."

"I feel responsible for you too, Buffy. You are not alone. Ever."

Buffy smiled. "Thank you. Can you promise me something?"

"Depends on what it is. If it involves housework, nope."

"No. No housework. For now."

Buffy hesitated a moment, searching for words.

"In New York, you had to do some things that I'd hoped you never would. It's not that I didn't believe you could do whatever you had to; you're capable of so many amazing things. Sometimes, though, it royally sucks being a hero type. For better or for worse, you're a member of the Scooby Gang now, with all the baggage that comes with that. So...I want you to promise me that you'll always know how proud I am of you, regardless of what you have to do."

Dawn's eyes welled suddenly and she turned to look out the window.

"Spike talks too much."

"And this is a surprise to you because...?"

Dawn turned back with a grateful smile. Buffy leaned over and pulled her sister close, whispering.

"I almost lost you. I swear to you these people will never hurt you again."

"Same here...but you have to promise me something too. We face this together. No more trying to baby me. Agreed?"

They pulled back and faced each other. Buffy nodded firmly. "Done. The Summers women are on the case."

"Cool. I have only one more question."

"Shoot."

"Why did Xander and Faith just go into the bathroom together?"

Buffy put her hand over her eyes.

"Oh, God."

Dawn started laughing. "It's ok. I do know about the mile-high club."

Buffy peered at her sister.

"You better not know too much or some boy is getting his legs broken."

The Key shook her head. "The way you guys act I have no chance of keeping a real live boyfriend. I can handle myself, you know. Remember last time I had a boy over? Spike growled at him like a Doberman."

Buffy began to laugh, but it died in her throat. Dawn looked at her in a concerned way.

"What?"

"I'd totally forgotten that Cordy's already left for California. That means Spike and Angel are alone together."

"Your point is?"

"I really would rather avoid Willow teleporting any dust. They can really be macho jerks around each other...especially when I'm in the room."

Dawn rolled her eyes.

"You know you like it."

Buffy frowned at her.

"No, I don't."

Dawn stared at her, arms folded. Buffy couldn't stop the prideful grin from appearing.

"Ok, it's a little flattering, but it's uncomfortable too! I love them both and I don't want them to get all stupid and hurt each other."

"I wonder what they're saying right now?"

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

"Gin."

Angel reached down and opened the door of the honor bar. "We don't have any. Some white zinfandel, two bottles of beer. All the hard stuff is gone."

"No, you stupid git."

Angel looked over as Spike pointed down at his cards.

"I have gin."

"How did you go out so fast? Are you cheating again?"

"I don't have to cheat with you, Peaches. You're a miserable gin rummy player. Always have been."

Spike had already conned Angel into drinking far more than he normally ever would. Three empty whiskey bottles lay at their feet.

"Gin was never our game anyway."

"True. You still play poker for animals?"

Spike grinned at him.

"Nope. Buffy's an animal lover. Couldn't deal."

"And she allows pig's blood?"

"She makes allowances."

"Ok, then. Well, if I had any money..."

The blonde raised his eyebrows.

"You looking to play some five card draw, then? Gotta get some more alcohol for that."

Angel hadn't had this much to drink for as long as he could remember...and that was quite a while. He wasn't certain why he felt the need to do so tonight. As he sat in the room with Spike, it had occurred to him that his old running buddy might just have some booze stashed away. For his part, Spike had been pleasantly surprised by the question. Watching Old Woe-Is-Me get schnockered just might be an interesting diversion while waiting for Willow to mojo them down to Florida.

"I just said the honor bar is almost empty."

"Sod that. Check the mini-fridge."

Angel, already more than a little unsteady, made his way across the room and found two large chilled bottles of Crown Royal lying on their side. He quirked an eyebrow Spike's way.

"You've been holding out on me. This is the really good stuff."

Spike shrugged. "Yeah, well, figured Willow wouldn't teleport it anyway, so why not share?"

Grabbing both, Angel half lurched back to the table, handing one bottle to Spike.

"So...if I don't have money, what exactly do you want to play for, Spike?"

Angel shuffled the cards as Spike contemplated for a moment.

"Truth. We play for truth."

"Meaning?"'

"Meaning, whoever wins a hand gets to ask whatever question they like, and the loser is honor bound to answer with complete truth."

"I always answer with complete truth."

Spike rolled his eyes.

"Well then, this should be rather simple for you then, right Boy Scout?"

Angel held his gaze for a moment. "How would the betting work?"

Spike reach into his pockets and pulled out two Cuban cigars, tossing one Angel's way.

"Let's keep it simple. Forget Poker. We cut the deck. High card wins and gets to ask whatever he pleases. You have to answer no matter what."

Without taking his eyes off Spike, Angel bit off the end of his cigar and dipped the remainder in the whiskey, placing it in his mouth. Spike handed him a match, and Angel lit up as Spike did the same.

"Makes sense."

Angel laid the deck on the table, motioning for Spike to cut first. Reaching out, Spike took a small section of the deck and waited. Angel took his own and smiled, drawing a king of spades. Spike had an eight. He took

a swig out of the bottle and waited. Angel took a slow drag on his stogie, contemplating.

"I can ask you anything?"

"That's the game."

"You have to answer truthfully."

Spike just stared in response.

"Did you ever sleep with Darla?"

The blonde vampire smiled. "That's an easy one. Nope, never slept with her."

Angel tilted his head. "You can't lie, right?"

"Right."

Angel cut first this time, drawing a four to Spike's seven.

"Right then. You still fancy Buffy?"

"That didn't take long."

"No reason to waste time."

Angel hesitated, taking another pull on his cigar to go with a long swallow of Canadian whiskey.

"I think a small part of me always will. There's something about her that stays with a man."

Neither said anything for a long moment. At last Spike briefly shuffled and allowed Angel to cut first. This time he pulled a nine to Spike's ten. The blonde vampire didn't hesitate with his follow up.

"Would you ever try to be with her again?"

"No."

If Spike was expecting Angel to elaborate he was sorely mistaken. This time he drew a deuce to Angel's queen and waited for the elder vampire's question..

"Do you ever wish you hadn't retrieved your soul?"

Silence.

"In moments of weakness, yes. There are times when it overwhelms you...the guilt. The burden of conscience. Honestly, that confuses me. Hitler had a soul. Stalin had a soul. They were responsible for more suffering and death than either you or I could do in a thousand years. Yet I feel regret these days for hurting someone's feelings, much less killing them. Makes no bloody sense."

"It's not about the soul. It's about the quality of the person the soul inhabited. I was a useless drunk as a man, but I wasn't a killer. Neither were you."

Spike began shuffling again without comment. Angel drew five, Spike six.

"Why would you not want to be with Buffy again?"

Angel looked away, taking another pull on the bottle.

"It's not about who I want. It's about who she wants. That isn't me. Not any more. Plus...everything changes. I don't really have a better answer than that."

Angel won the next draw. He stared at Spike, now squinting with suspicion.

"Ok, so you never slept with Darla. Did you ever have sex with her?"

"Oh, Hell, yeah. Lots of times. Just never slept with her afterwards is all."

Angel tried not to return Spike's smile, but soon both were giggling like schoolboys. The best whiskey always kicked in faster than the cheap stuff.

"I should have never let you convince me to drink this much. I haven't done this in a long time."

"You need to loosen up, man. Even when we ran together back in the old days you were wound too bloody tight. Doesn't do any good to mope all over the place all the time. Bad for morale, and all that."

Angel sighed. "Whatever. Cut the cards."

Spike got his first ace, just nudging Angel's king of diamonds.

"You do realize that Cordelia is as interested as you, yes?"

The dark haired vamp showed no _expression. "Yes."

Spike won again.

"Knowing you like I do, you probably haven't even made a move, right?"

"You don't know me as well as you think you do."

Spike's eyes widened.

"I thought I smelled her on you. You shagged her last night, didn't you?"

"That's two questions."

Spike reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. Angel completely failed to keep the satisfied grin off his face as Spike began peering at him closely, looking him up and down. Angel shifted uncomfortably.

"What?"

Spike shook his head and indicated the now shuffled deck; Angel hit a nine to Spike's seven.

"What are you staring at?"

"Just checking. Soul still intact? You're not gonna try to destroy the world when no one is looking, right?"

"Oh. Yeah, soul is very much in play."

"She wasn't too good, then?"

"Kiss my ass."

"Whoa, hold on there, tough guy. Watch the language, now. It was a fair question."

"We didn't cut cards. You hadn't earned an answer."

"Sod that. This is starting to get interesting."

"She was great. She was incredible, actually. I haven't felt that way since...."

Spike held up a hand. "Right. Got it. Back to the soul question. Wouldn't it be logical to assume that things weren't as...intense? Otherwise..."

"No. Intensity wasn't the issue. It was more like.." Angel stopped himself. "Why the Hell am I telling you this?"

"Got to tell someone, mate."

"No I don't. I can deal with it on my own."

Spike rolled his eyes.

"Hence your hangdog look half the bloody time. Just talk, already."

Angel took yet another drink, searching for words within his alcohol clouded mind.

"It's a couple of things, actually. First of all, I'm less naive this time around. I love Cordy, and I know she cares deeply for me. Still, I don't breathe. When I hold her she doesn't feel warmth. When we brushed our teeth together this morning I wasn't in the mirror with her. I think I've come around to the idea that true happiness can't exist."

Spike looked down, surprised to find tears close as he responded.

"When I'm with Buffy I feel like I can do anything. She's my light." He snorted. "Christ, I'm not sure I can explain it either."

"What was it you said to me? Just talk already."

Spike put out the cigar and took one more massive drink, emptying his bottle. He spoke quietly, as if he were telling a secret..

"When I first got my soul back, I was in a cave. African shaman returned it for me. I remember how dark it was. Everything was dark. Like a huge railway tunnel....the kind they blast into mountains, d'you know what I mean? When you're in there at night, you can't see a bloody thing. I feel like I'm walking through a tunnel that is so long it may never end. I'm blind. I can hear,

though. I can hear everything. Everything I did for a hundred years. The screaming...the begging. Fathers telling me to take them and not their children....so I tie them up so they can watch."

"Spike." Angel's own tears were now very close as they ran down William's face.

"I did those things...I remember them like they were yesterday. Yet they terrify me because it's so dark. I can't see them clearly; it's as if I'm hearing myself doing these things and I can't stop it. Nothing stops

it. I imagine nothing ever will...but Buffy makes it easier. When Buffy touched me for the first time after I got my soul back--I don't mean sex, I mean just...touched me--everything changed. The tunnel was flooded with light. It was brilliant. I could see everything I'd done, and I could face it. I could try to make peace with it. Even when we argue, or when she's far away, I can still see that little pinpoint of light. I can bear the darkness if I know that light is coming back to me."

Angel gave Spike a moment to collect himself before responding.

"She's pretty amazing, isn't she?"

"My whole world. I don't know how you..." Spike trailed off, suddenly unwilling to finish. Angel did it for him.

"How I managed to get over her?"

Spike said nothing. Angel stared at the wall as he tried to explain.

"Let me try to use your analogy. When I started doing what I'm doing now, it was for the sole purpose of helping Buffy. She was like you said--this great light amongst the darkness. Apparently falling in love with her wasn't in the cosmic plan or whatever....not that I care about that now. The point is I was focused on her and her alone. Just like you're focused on her now. When we made love that one time, nothing else mattered. I had no other priorities. At the risk of being overdramatic, I felt complete. The Gypsies would call that a moment of true happiness--and the world nearly ended because of it. You might recall that time."

Spike simply nodded.

"It took me a while to figure this out, but it boils down to this: I made it all about Buffy. That was my biggest failing at that time. I loved her so much that I lost my own purpose. I was completely wrapped up in hers.

At some point, I guess, you come around to the idea that there are other lights in the world. Most importantly, you and I have our own light now. We can make it happen. Let me ask you something. After you got your soul, did you start helping people for Buffy or yourself?"

Spike gave this some thought, absently taking a pull from an empty bottle, droplets barely making their way out.

"Buffy, I suppose."

"There's your answer. There's an innate sense of right and wrong within us all. The soul is each person's reflection of their own morality. You're not doing this for Buffy...not really. Buffy doesn't do what she does for any particular person either. Xander, Dawn, Cordy....deep down, they do this because they don't know any other way to react. It's more complicated for Faith and Willow because they know what lays in wait out there when the soul is gone. The demon's been inside them, if only for a

while. In our case, that demon doesn't leave. It's still in there. We fight to prove to ourselves that redemption is real and our soul is strong enough to make our own judgments, enslaved by no one.

THAT's your own light, Spike. That's what you need to find. It's too much to ask for Buffy to do that for you. In my case, I literally lost mine because I asked too much of her. She can help you--we all take care of each other, that's what families do--but in the end it comes down to you. You may have acquired your soul in a different way, but you still have to decide how you're going to use it. If you attach so much to Buffy's well being, you won't survive if something were to happen to her. The world can't afford that."

Angel took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.

"Anyhow, that's how I managed to survive without her, and that's why Cordy doesn't cost me my soul. She means a tremendous amount to me...and if we get together in a more permanent way she'll be my top priority. But she can never, and will never, be my only one."

Neither spoke for a moment, breathing deeply and collecting themselves. This had not been in the plan. Finally Spike found his voice.

"So Cordy was good, then?"

"Oh, yeah. Spike, you have no idea. She is so hot. It was unreal. Just realizing that I probably shouldn't be sharing this with you."

"Oh, come on! Tell you what." Spike checked his watch. "We've got thirty minutes. I'll tell you some stuff that'll curl your stuck-up hair, but you gotta go first."

Angel stared at him a moment.

"Oh, what the hell."

Spike clapped his hands together.

"That's the spirit. Speaking of which, pass that bottle over here if you can't drink like a man. Poncet."

Angel passed him the bottle and started to share.

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

"So Will, we have what, 15 minutes?"

"Yup. I'm giving a couple minutes of leeway, just in case things go really wrong and I send them somewhere north of here."

Buffy and her best friend were seated in the lobby of the Contemporary Hotel, going over maps of the park. The Slayer looked up in alarm.

"Willow, don't tell me your not sure. If they pop into sunlight..."

"Buffy, I'm just being extra careful. They'll be fine. Hey, why don't we do this tomorrow. You look pretty exhausted. Did you not sleep very much?"

"Ummmm. I guess not." Buffy looked away. "You know, stress and all."

Willow smiled while Buffy's head was turned, maintaining her concerned tone.

"Of course. That's understandable. Poor Xander and Faith already went to bed."

Buffy grimaced. "Yeah, I know. Believe me, I know."

"You should take off. Get some rest. I've got clothes for them. By the way, did you ever notice that they dress pretty much the same?"

"Gee, Wills, that never crossed my mind before. Thanks for bearing the obvious."

"Right. I guess you would know. Anyway, lots of dark colors. Long black dusters for two. Boxers for Angel, briefs for Spike. Why does the underwear even have to be black, by the way?"

Buffy frowned. "I don't know. It's their thing."

"Interesting choice of words, Buffy."

The Slayer smiled. "Willow..."

"Sorry. Too easy. Seriously, you go up to your room. Watch UPN. Their shows are so bad I nod right off."

"They had one show that was awesome. A classic, really. It changed my life."

"Yeah, but it's gone now."

"Right. I forgot. Ok, you win." Buffy stretched and yawned. "Meeting in my room in the morning?"

"Nine?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, ten?"

The Slayer's face didn't change _expression.

"Come on, Buffy, the world could be in peril if we don't get these guys."

She sighed. "Oh, all right Will. Ten-thirty."

"Done."

Buffy smiled and walked toward the elevator.

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

Angel was bent over with laughter.

"Wait a minute, just so I can get this straight....Buffy was invisible?"

Spike was on the floor, shaking.

"Right. The wanker walked in on us.....but he couldn't see her.."

Spike was laughing too hard to finish.

"So he thought you were--"

Spike nodded, unable to speak.

"Wh--what did you tell him?"

Spike caught his breath, trying to collect himself long enough to finish.

"I told him--" He lost it again, rolling on the floor.

"Told him what? C'mon, told him what?"

"I told him I was doing bloody pushups!!"

Angel fell off the bed.

Both men were shaking with mirth, unable to speak for a full minute.

"Oh, God." Spike was wiping his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Sundown in two minutes."

"Right then. Time to tell you what we gotta do."

Angel was still giggling. "What, some kind of ritual."

"Not really. Strip."

"Say what?"

"We have to be naked."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack, mate. Well, we can't have those, lemme rephrase. Serious as a beheading."

Angel stared hard at him.

"You're telling me this NOW?"

"I didn't know if you'd have the balls to do it otherwise."

"You're not kidding about this. We really have to teleport with no clothes on?"

"'Fraid so."

"Well. This is interesting."

"Really? I thought you'd be furious."

"If I weren't drunk I would be. But I am, so...what the Hell. We haven't been naked in the same room since, when, 1888?"

Spike started giggling again. "Thought we promised Dru we'd never speak of that."

"Oh, yeah. Things always slip my mind after about 108 years or so."

"Ah, well. Lemme call Willow."

Spike dialed the Wicca's cell.

<Teleport Central. How may I connect your body somewhere else?>

"Hold on. Angel has to get the giant stick out of his arse, then we'll be ready to go."

Willow heard cackling over the phone. She looked down at the receiver. <You guys ok?>

"Oh, yeah. Rough and ready, baby."

"Wait a minute. Seriously, Spike, she knows where we're going to end up, right?"

Spike spread his hands. "Haven't a clue, mate."

<Tell him I have a change of clothes ready for both of you and he'll be fine>.

"She says she has the edible red thong all ready for you."

<Spike!>

Angel leaned toward the phone.

"I thought you weren't into that any more. I'm flattered if you're making an exception for me."

<Angel? Was that you making a joke?>

"Brood Boy got laid, Will. Fixed him right up."

<Ummm. Sorry, I have to ask this, but..>

"Yes, I still have my soul!"

<Great. Now it's official. Everyone laid with no repercussions. Except me.>

"Little Bit hasn't either." Spike's tone turned dangerous. "At least she better not have."

<Down boy. I wasn't thinking about her. You guys ready yet or do I have to come down there and get you?>

"Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you? Take advantage of a couple of naked undead studs."

<Picture me rolling my eyes, Spike.>

"Right then. We have to stand still?"

<Yes.>

"Lemme hold Peaches up. He's a little unsteady. Ok, go."

<Enjoy the ride, boys>.

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

Buffy was taking Willow's advice and flipping over to UPN in her silk pajamas when a bright light filled the room. She was out of bed with a stake in a split second, ready for a fight.

She got the shock of her life instead.

"Hey there, luv. Oooh, you're wearing the black satin ones. You know I like it when we match."

"You wear black satin jammies, Spike?"

"No, she gets all hot and bothered when I wear the duster to bed with nothing underneath."

"Hmm. Never thought of trying that before."

Buffy just stood with her mouth agape.

"Spike, she's speechless. We should call the Guinness people."

"Don't want any stout."

"Not THAT Guinness, you idiot. The world records people."

"Oh, right. Not used to you making jokes yet."

"I'll probably stop when I'm sober. Don't get used to it."

<They're naked. Spike and Angel are naked. Correction, Spike and Angel are naked in my hotel room and they're apparently drunk off their ass. They would do whatever I want. NO!! NO!! BAD BUFFY! BAD BUFFY!!>

Angel tilted his head.

"You ok, Buffy?. You look like you're thinking really hard about something."

"Oh, she's thinking HARD, all right."

They started giggling. Buffy finally found her voice and said the first thing that came to mind.

"Gaah!"

Xander would've been proud.

Buffy turned and flung herself on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. Her first intelligible words were therefore muffled.

"You guys need to cover yourselves up....like RIGHT NOW!!"

"Pet, do you really want me to put clothes on?"

Buffy hesitated a moment.

"Well, not normally, but this is a special case."

"Right then. We'll just find someth--"

There was a knock on the door. Buffy leaped out of bed.

"Oh, God. Oh, dear God."

She turned to the two naked vampires and shuddered at the sight.

"Again I say, Dear God."

Angel started stumbling forward. "I'll get it."

"NO you will not get it!! Are you out of your friggin mind?"

"I'm pretty drunk. That's close."

Buffy held up both hands.

"Just....ok, I have an idea. Both of you get into my bed right now."

Everyone froze as the door knocked again. Buffy raised her forefinger.

"Let me rephrase that. You guys cover yourselves up and I'll get rid of whoever that is."

"She wants us in bed, Spike."

"Thought she'd never ask."

Giggling again, they leaped on the bed like Buffy had, slipping under the covers. When Buffy was satisfied that they weren't completely visible, she went to the door and opened it.

"Hey, Buffy. Need these?"

A smiling Willow was holding two sets of black clothing.

"Oh, thank God. How did you know--"

Buffy stopped a moment, wheels turning. Angel's voice called out from within.

"Who is it? Can she join the party?"

Buffy's eyes were slits. "You....bitch."

Willow couldn't hold her laughter.

"Hey, I brought you the clothes quickly. I didn't know they'd be drunk until a minute ago. Want me to bring the clothes back later?"

Buffy's face was stone. "I believe I warned you not to mess with a Slayer in Central Park when you dressed me in your bunny sweater. I gave you that one. But you know what? You may rest assured that I will get you....and it will be very bad."

"C'mon, Buffy. I have to get my kicks somehow. You two made so much noise in New York I couldn't sleep. This is what you get."

"You can get your kicks in here, Witch!"

"Shut up, Spike," Buffy barked, eyes remaining on Willow. "Remember what I said."

"See you in the morning. Have fun."

She slammed the door in the laughing witch's face. Buffy walked back in with the clothes.

"Ok, clothes for both of you. Get dressed. Now."

"Mine are the ones with the edible red thong."

Ok, let me check--" Buffy stopped herself. "Angel, did you say--"

"Hey, Willow picked 'em out. Don't blame me."

"Right. Ok, that's it. Leaving now. You guys are about to pass out right where you are. I'm finding a new place to sleep tonight."

Angel started to rise. "It's ok, Buffy, Willow got me my own roo--" The brunette vampire collapsed back on the bed in mid-sentence. Spike raised his eyebrows.

"Nice call, luv."

"Just stay with him. Try to be sobered up by tomorrow morning, 'kay?"

"Sure you don't wanna stay?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Actually, I'd get Angel's key, but if I see Willow again tonight I'll have to throw her out the window. I swear I will get her for this----Spike?"

Spike had joined Angel, sleeping peacefully on the bed. Shaking her head, Buffy straightened their legs on the mattress, covered them up and prepared to leave. Just as she had grabbed her toothbrush she snuck one more glance under the sheet, just for old times sake, and scurried out of the room.

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

"Who the Hell is that?"

"How would I know? You call room service?"

"No. You want to get it?"

"I'm naked, Xander."

"Yeah, I know, but I am too... plus you're not embarrassed about it."

She rolled her eyes.

"You got nothing to be embarrassed about, babe....aw whatever, I got it."

Faith wrapped a sheet around herself and got the door, unable to get a word out as her sister Slayer brushed past.

"I need a place to stay for the night."

Xander's face was concerned.

"You and Spike..."

"He's sleeping with another man."

Xander and Faith exchanged looks. Buffy held up a hand.

"Don't ask. I have to crash here."

"B, normally I got no problem with helping you out, but we've only got one bed."

"It's a king. I don't take up a lot of room. Come on, don't tell me you weren't going to sleep. Four times isn't enough for you guys?"

Faith's eyes narrowed. "Xander, how does she know..."

He grimaced at Buffy. "Um, honey, there's something I should tell you...."

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

"Colonel?"

"Yes?"

"Sorry to disturb you sir. We've picked up paranormal activity near the Kingdom. Has a teleportation signature."

"That doesn't disturb me, son. That makes me very satisfied. We need to make contact as soon as possible. It's time I meet the Slayers face to face.'

Yes, sir. Good night."

- End Chapter Nineteen -