"Red!" a British voice roared in happiness when Willow and Xander walked into the lobby of the hotel Angel Investigations resided in. Willow squealed happily when a blonde streak rushed to her and pulled her into his arms, spinning her around. Spike set her down gently, a grin from ear to ear on his face. "If you ever tell anyone how I greeted you. . ."

"Yea, yea, I know, you'll string my entrails all over LA, cause you are the *chipless* Big Bad," she said, rolling her eyes, putting her fingers up and doing rabbit ears around the word 'chipless'. Ever since Angel found someone to remove the blonde's chip, he would go around, reminding people constantly about how he was chipless and could hurt them.

"God, I've missed you!" he exclaimed. "And how is the bloody prick you call husband?"

"Spike!" Angel growled, coming up behind his lover and popping the blonde on the head. "Hey, Willow." He hugged the redhead tightly, then stepped back.

"Harris," Spike nodded.

"Spike," Xander grinned at the blonde. He loved coming to LA - he felt much more at home there than he did back in Sunnydale. None of the LA crew liked Mark, all thinking he was a bad choice for Willow. If not for the redhead herself, Xander would have left the Hellmouth years before. However, he couldn't bring himself to leave the little witch who held his heart in her hands.

"Pet?" Spike asked, turning to Willow. "Two heartbeats? You are carrying a child?"

"You are pregnant?" Angel asked, lighting up with happiness for one of his dearest friends.

"Oh, shit, I forgot!" Xander exclaimed. He grabbed her arm and led her to the couch. "How long? Why didn't you tell me?"

Willow looked down, wringing her hands. "I. . .I wasn't entirely sure he was going to let me keep it," she whispered. "He still says that it's your baby. He swears up and down that you and I are sleeping together." She looked up at him, tears filling her eyes. "Sometimes, really late at night, when he's sleeping, I find myself wishing he was yours."

Xander's heart broke, thinking that it *should* be his kid. He put his hand on Willow's stomach gently. "Wills, you can't. . .you can't go back to him. One day he will go too far and he will hurt you *and* the baby. I can't lose you, Willow."

Willow sniffed and put her arms around Xander's neck, drawing strength from her savior, from her best friend. After a moment, she pulled away, wiping her tears. "I. . .I don't have anywhere to go though. If he finds me at your place, Xander, he kills you. He'd know where I was if I was with Buffy. . ."

Spike snorted, kneeling down beside the trembling redhead. "Peaches has about a million rooms upstairs, and we only shag in three of them. You can have your pick of any of the others. Well, unless you *want* to see us shag, or perhaps join in, then you can have one of the two that he doesn't call home."

Despite the situation, Willow started giggling. "Spike, I've missed you so much," she said happily, throwing her arms around his neck.

He hugged her back, smiling over her shoulder at Xander, who was beaming. He pulled away gently. "Now, let's go see if there are any glaring bruises or cuts *anywhere* on your body that I can soothe," Spike leered, standing up and pulling the witch up with him.

Willow hit his shoulder, following him as they walked towards the office. "Spike, you perv! You probably just want to see if you can get me naked!" Her laughter was like music, making Xander's heart pound faster, making the young man watch her with a dopey grin on his face. He was so enraptured by her happiness, it didn't even bother him that Spike was openly flirting with her and making her blush.

"Luv, I'm a soulless evil vampire. What would you expect?"

She giggled, disappearing into the office with Spike.

"Are you ok?" Angel asked softly.

"Deadboy," Xander whispered, staring straight ahead, not seeing anything, "when I woke up and he was yelling at her. . .I. . .wanted to kill him. I pulled the hyena out. . .I would have killed him if he didn't overpower me. I *had* to get her away from there. . .are you sure you don't mind us being here?" Xander looked up at the dark haired vampire.

Angel had grown to be very close to Xander over the years, happily calling the young man one of his best friends. "You know I don't mind, Harris." He sat next to Xander, bringing his hand up to rest on the back of his neck. He brushed his fingertips along his skin, trying to calm the man down further. "You know that I've been trying to get you to move here forever. And Willow? She's a joy to have around. Besides, I think Gunn's tired of Cordelia dragging him out to shop."

Xander chuckled. "I've dated the girl. I feel for him."

Angel's laughter joined Xander's, filling the lobby.

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