Buffy secured the picnic basket on the back of her bicycle and set off at a brisk pace. She still couldn’t believe how much fun it was to ride a bicycle after all these years. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and she could feel it swaying from side to side as she pedaled.

For obvious reasons she’d decided not to get a car in Rome, and even though Dawn had been begging her to get a moped, she didn’t want to risk a relationship with any kind of motorized vehicle. When they’d seen others riding around the city on bikes, they’d given it a go themselves and were hooked. It helped that riding took her back to a time when she’d been carefree and happy; before becoming the Slayer, before Sunnydale, and before her parents’ split.

She was on her way to take lunch to her boyfriend. Boyfriend. She had a boyfriend. Who’d have thought it? She’d mourned Spike and declined all offers of dates which came her way in the months following his death. After they’d arrived in Rome and things had settled somewhat, she’d been approached by the Immortal and they’d been together ever since.

Giles had tried to warn her about his background; the ambiguous morals he’d displayed in the past, but he’d been nothing but upstanding and helpful since they’d met. If it was one thing she learned from Spike, it was that she should be judging people by their current deeds; not their past, and not their species, or race, or creed, or whatever.

She’d been thinking about Spike recently, and remembered the strange sensation that had come across her when she and the Immortal had been out dancing the other night. She’d felt the familiar vampire tinglies, but there had been two signatures; one faint, but familiar. Angel. And the other was Spike’s. She’d been caught up in dancing, and by the time she’d deciphered the feeling and looked around, nothing was there and the sense was gone.

When she’d arrived back at the apartment she shared with Dawn, and temporarily Andrew, there was a lingering trace of the same two vampires. But since Angel was busy in LA and Spike was dead, she wrote it off to her subconscious. She was finally letting go and moving on and she’d had doubts about burying the memories of her two former lovers.

All thoughts of anything but her new love fled her mind as she arrived at his office. She entered quietly, wanting to surprise him, and was relieved to find his secretary’s desk vacant. Probably out to lunch. She crept over to his door and stopped when she heard voices through the crack.

“….and you sent the head to the LA branch of Wolfram and Hart? Brilliant! I would have loved to seen their faces when it showed up!”

Buffy was going to knock and enter, but when she heard ‘LA’ and ‘Wolfram and Hart’ she paused. This had to do with Angel.

“Driving those two around the bend was fun a century ago and it was even better this time around. And I got their ladies last time, too! I’ll always remember my 6 hours with Darla and Drusilla.” That was the Immortal’s voice. Buffy’s heart began pounding when she heard the names Darla and Drusilla.

“I could hardly drive when I saw them on the scooter. It was like a bad Abbott and Costello movie. Angel was on the back, hanging on to Spike for dear life…” Buffy stopped listening when the other voice said Spike’s name. How could that be? Was he alive? She tried to slow her breathing down and paid attention to the voices behind the door once more.

There was hearty laughter and then the Immortal spoke again. “I almost feel bad putting those two through the wringer again, but I had to keep them away from Buffy. She doesn’t need those two butting into her life anymore, especially since she doesn’t know that Spike is alive, or rather, undead, again.”

Oh God. Spike was alive. And her boyfriend knew. And Angel knew. Everybody but her. The Immortal knew how much Spike meant to her. She’d told him about her past and had hidden nothing. Looked like she opened up to the wrong man yet again. She stormed through the door, eyes blazing.

“She does now. Were you ever going to tell me?” She stood in front of him, threw the basket on his desk, and put her hands on her hips.

“Buffy, darling. I don’t know what you think you heard, but…”

“Don’t ‘but’ me. Darling.” The last word was dripping with ice. “You know how much he meant to me, and you knew he was alive.” They barely noticed the other occupant of the office leaving quietly. No way was he going to stick around for this confrontation.

“Buffy, he didn’t want you to know.” The Immortal’s voice was soft and soothing. He’d seen flashes of the Slayer’s temper before, fighting with the occasional vampire or demon, and dealing with unruly Watchers or Slayers in Training. He didn’t want her sharp tongue aimed in his direction.

“Well isn’t that just great. I’ve had it with men who keep doing things in my best interest. Just once I’d like someone to give me all the facts and let me decide for myself.” She waited pointedly for him to say something and tapped her foot on the floor.

The Immortal finally drew in a deep breath and told her about Spike and Angel’s trip to Rome the week before. He told her what he knew of Spike’s resurrection and that he’d been working with Angel at Wolfram and Hart. He explained his past with them, and why he’d wanted to keep them away from her on this trip. When he finished, the silence was deafening.

“So there are the facts as I know them. Will you make a decision now?” The Immortal held his breath, hoping she’d decide to stay with him. Playing with Spike and Angel had been hard to resist. He’d no doubt that Buffy would have found out eventually, but was counting on the strength of their relationship to keep her from getting too upset. Obviously, he’d miscalculated.

“I’m going to LA. Your lunch is in the basket, don’t wait around for me.” She turned to walk out and the Immortal rushed in front of her, barring the door.

“Okay, cara, I can understand how you’re feeling right now, but let me…”

“No, you have no idea,” she interrupted. “And I suggest you let me leave. I don’t want to cause a scene.”

“As you wish,” he said dejectedly, stepping aside. “But first you need to know what’s going on there.” The Immortal knew about Angel’s involvement in the Circle of the Black Thorn and told her what he knew of it. “There’s going to be a confrontation, and it’s going to be ugly. This might not be the best time to show up.”

“It’s exactly the right time to show up,” she said, determination written on her features. “They’re not going to face that alone, and if Angelus is back, I can beat him. But most of all, Spike needs to know how I feel about him.” She touched his arm, caressing him gently. “I’m sorry if you’re disappointed. For what it’s worth, I was enjoying my time with you, and you helped ease my grief. But my heart belongs to Spike. I need to see if he still feels the same way.”

She left him without a backward glance. The Immortal almost felt sorry for the two LA vampires, having to deal with her when she arrived. But Buffy’s appearance would be the least of their problems, if what he’d been hearing was true. A very souled Angel was turning to the dark side, and his colleagues were headed for the fight of their lives.

TBC