Spike was still pacing. Back and forth, back and forth, very rapidly. He was obviously very concerned about something.

< Do I still love Dru? Did I ever really love her? Yes of course I love her. Do I? Did I ever? Or is it as Raksha said. Did I just want Dru because she was Angelus'? The Forbidden Fruit. Damn. Why did Raksha start this? Why did I listen..... >

Suddenly Spike heard footsteps. He rushed back over to his chair and tried to appear like nothing had happened - that he was still engrossed in his novel.

< I've read this bloody Anne Rice novel a hundred times. I didn't like it the first time. Shit I threatened to kill the woman. See what boredom does to a man. Damn the sun. And while your at it, damn this wheelchair too. >

Angelus and Drusilla entered the room purposely. They looked very pissed. Drusilla, her face twisted with anger, crossed the room and scratched Spike across the face, leaving four nasty looking slashes.

"You've been a bad, naughty boy," Drusilla scolded.

"What is she talking about, mate?" Spike asked Angelus, the sanest of the pair.

"You know very well what she is talking about. Dru had a vision of you talking to that hunter," Angelus spat.

"She came for a little social visit. What was I supposed to do? Kill her?" Spike defended himself.

"Yes. Since it seems that you can walk. What else have you been hiding from us?" Angelus asked.

Spike silently sighed in relief. < She didn't see the whole conversation. Thank Satan. >

"I wasn't hiding the fact that I can walk. I was just trying to get really good at before I told you. A surprise - ya know?" Spike saved. < Hopefully. > "Plus you an' Dru seem to have better things to do."

"It's okay, luv," Drusilla accepted his apology. Then she admonished, "No more secrets!"

"I have none," Spike answered, sighing silently in relief.

"So what did that hunter want anyway?" Angelus inquired.

"Nothing much. Just some 'Stay outta my way' and 'Don't make me hurt you luv' crap. Just trying to keep me out of the game. Don't worry about it." Spike answered.

"Still gotta thing for you, doesn't she? You woulda thought she got over it." Angelus snickered.

"You would think," Spike commented.

Drusilla perked up when she heard that. "Who wants my Spike?" Drusilla asked.

"The hunter - Raksha," Angelus answered her.

"Your Spike? I didn't think I was *your* Spike anymore. It seemed that you had moved on," Spike his sarcasm connived his anger. "Here I was thinkin' that you went back to *your* daddy. I don't think *I* was *wrong*."

With that Spike got up out of his chair. He grabbed his coat and started to leave.

"Where ya goin'?" Dru asked, whimpering. "Your still weak."

"I'm strong enough. Its so *touching* that *you* care." Spike answered sarcastically. "I'll be back."

He walked out of the house without even a second look.

"Why is he mad? What did I do?" Dru asked Angelus, with innocent eyes.

"Don't worry about it baby. He's just jealous. He'll come around," Angelus answered. "Come now. Let's go reek some havoc on the good people of Sunnydale."

Raksha scanned the Bronze looking for Buffy, while sipping a cafe latte she had ordered. She was having trouble finding her. < I didn't know this place was so big. Or so crowded. I never saw crowds this big at any church service, in the old days. This is where people go to now that after they've abandoned God and the Church. They come here worship their new gods of passion, drugs and sex in places like these. Not that that's a bad thing. *Sigh* I'm getting too critical in my old age. Goddess! Well at least the days of the inquisitions are over. >

Finally, Raksha spotted Buffy sitting at a table with her friends. She somehow made her way gracefully through the crowd.

"Hello," Raksha said, when she reached them.

"So what did you do today? See the sights of Sunnyhell? Do the historical museum thing? The art gallery thing? Or all, considering what a small town we have here?" Xander asked.

"D - None of the above," Raksha answered.

"So what did you do?" Buffy asked, curious.

"I went and visited an *old* friend. And made some plans on how to kill Angelus," Raksha answered.

"Spike, huh?" Willow asked.

"Yep. You're Ms. Perceptive aren't you?" Raksha asked.

"Speak of the Devil," Buffy cut in.

The whole group turned to see that Spike had just entered the Bronze. He spotted Raksha and started over towards the group. Buffy and her Slayerettes watched every step he made - just to make sure it wasn't a trap.

"I figured I'd find you here. Bloody dreadful, isn't it?" Spike asked Raksha.

"What are you doing here? How many times do I have to chase you vamps out of the Bronze?" Buffy demanded.

"If I was you I'd worry more about your ex - lover than me. I'm here to talk to Raksha." Spike told her.

"So talk," Raksha said. She looked really bored.

"Can we step outside? Its kinda private," Spike asked her.

"Sure," Raksha answered. "This better be good."

Raksha started to leave. She threw away her cup of coffee and put on her coat.

"You're just going to leave with him? It could be a trap," Buffy warned her.

"Its not. I trust him," Raksha responded. "Even if it was I could handle myself."

Raksha left with Spike.

"Where to?" she asked.

"The park."

"This better be good."

"It is."

Spike was looking at her oddly. < What the hell is he staring at? >

"Is there something on my face?" Raksha asked, trying to find out what his problem was.

"No. Why?"

"You keep looking at me."

"Its just that I can't get over how much you've changed."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"In your case, its very good thing."

"Thanks. Coming from you it means *so* m....."

Raksha never got to finish. Spike had suddenly grabbed her and kissed her, cutting her off.