"Let's go talk." Spike said, breaking eye contact to go put the mic back in the stand.

"Where?" Was all Angel asked.

"How about we try a table?" Spike said sarcasticly, as he rolled his eyes, and turned away from Angel, to go sit down.

"All right." Angel said, ignoring Spike's habit of being Spike.

"Where to begin," Spike said, drumming his fingers along the table. "where to begin.."

"How about the part were you sing karaoke for a club that is run, in part, by the Powers That Be." Angel suggested causticly, though relishing in being this close to Spike.

"Oh, that part." Spike said. "Well, it goes like this.

"I left Sunnydale for a weekend, planned on bothering you for a bit, when I was drawn to a club. This club. So, I decided to sing a little "Hound Dog," And the crowd loved it. So, they gave me a job."

"Uh huh," Angel said, nodding his head. "And the Powers That Be part?"

"They said I was needed. Redemption was mentioned, but I didn't play close attention. What had my attention was the money part." Spike fiddled with his fingers, and hoped Angel wouldn't be able to tell that he was lying, in part.

"So, you were needed." Angel said. "By the Powers. Hmm, that's interesting, since I happen to know that they don't like the bad guys."

"Well, apparently, I'm different." Spike said.

"How?"

"Well, I'm your childe, and they said a bunch of stuff, and I was basicly forced to agree with large sums of money."

"They bribed you."

"Yup."

"Okay. Let me see if I've got this straight. You were drawn to club, this club, to sing karaoke, because you're some part of my redemption, and the Powers wanted you." Angel said, starting to be a bit confused. "Why do I think that you're not telling me the truth?"

Spike avoided his gaze, knowing that Angel would know just how much he was lying by looking in his eyes. Unforturnatly it was a catch 22.

"Don't lie to me. You know I don't like it. Tell me the truth." Angel decided that cajoling Spike might be the way to go.

"The truth?" Spike questioned. "You can't handle the truth."

The movie line was lost on Angel. "Try me."

Spike heaved a sigh, tired of keeping secrets, and knew that the Powers didn't like it, if he didn't tell it know, and Cordelia wouldn't appriciate it either.

"It's like this. The Powers wanted me to sing, to draw you here, and help with your way on redemption. They want you to have a more humanizing affect in your work, and decided I was the best choice to help, because of something they read from my mind. Cordelia dragged you here, because she wanted to help in her own little princess way, and I was begining to think she had, but now I don't know, and I really needed to stay away from Sunnyhell, Red's contagious."

Angel smiled with the mention of Willow. Then something in Spike's little speech clicked.

"What did they read from your mind?"

The club had closed at this point, Spike had been one of the last acts of the night, and the last of the patrons had left.

"I don't want-"

"Tell me."

Spike looked around the club, and then met Angel's eyes.

"Just remember that I already warned you won't be able to handle it."

"I remember."

Spike nodded once.

There was a long pause.

"Spike?"

"Hold on, I'm coming up with the courage."

"I see."

Finally, Spike said, staring deeply into Angel's eyes. "They know I love you."

Angel was frozen in shock.

Spike took this as a bad sign, and started rambling again. "I told them that is wasn't true, but they didn't believe me. I told them that you would never feel the same, because of everything I've done to you, but they still didn't care. I'm sorry, Angel, I can't stop, and seeing you here every night just makes it worse."

Angel slowly shook his head, not believing what he had hoped to be true.

"Do you?" Angel asked after a bit.

Spike nodded, albeit a little reluctantly.

"Me too."

With those words spoken by Angel, Spike face lit up slowly, and he walked closer to where Angel had moved to in his shock.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Spike said. He nodded to John, who was hiding in the back, waiting for Spike's signal, and a waltz kicked in the background.

Spike moved him and Angel into the classic dance position, Angel leading, and laid his head on Angel's chest, as he started to sing the words of the song.

"Just one year of love
Is better than a lifetime alone
One sentimental moment in your arms
Is like a shooting star right through my heart."

Angel blinked his eyes, and lowered his head, until it rested on the top of Spike's.

"It's always a rainy day without you
I'm a prisoner of love inside you -
I'm falling apart all around you.
My heart cries out to your heart
I'm lonely but you can save me
My hand reaches out for your hand
I'm cold but you light the fire in me
My lips search for your lips
I'm hungry for your touch
There's so much left unspoken
And all I can do is surrender
To the moment, just surrender."

Spike and Angel rocked together to the beat, neither moving too much, just content in holding each other after so long a seperation, Angel enjoying the sound of Spike's voice.

"And no one ever told me that love would hurt so much
And pain is so close to pleasure
And all I can do is surrender to your love."

John watched from the bar as the two swayed together, and smiled softly to himself. He was finally glad all the mess with Angel was done, and he turned to look at the seer, who smiled as well, also glad.

Angel was talking to Spike during the lull in the lyrics.

"Come home with me?" Angel asked softly.

"Always." Spike answered, before taking up the song again.

"Just one year of love
Is better than a lifetime alone
One sentimental moment in your arms
Is like a shooting star right through my heart
It's always a rainy day without you
I'm a prisoner of love inside you
I'm falling apart all around you
And all I can do is surrender."

___________

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