The Crypt: Lonely No More by angelspike69 and anamcara42

Rating: Adult. This story contains M/M sex. If that isn't your cup of tea then go away now and don't read any farther.

Warnings: None. This story takes place after the final scene of "Not Fade Away".

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Angel and Spike don't belong to us. If they did, they'd be following up all their fighting snarking with each other with lots of shagging (lol).

Spoilers: None, unless you haven't seen Angel the Series at all. This story goes totally AU after the screen darkened in "Not Fade Away".

Notes: This story is written for the Forging_Ghost Ficathon. The idea for this story is based on Challenge #200 issued for our fantabulous leader Ghost_Forge. Songs used in this story include in order - Let Me Love You by Tim McGraw, Maybe It's Love by Trisha Yearwood, Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas, The White Cliffs of Dover by Burton and Kent, I Melt by Rascal Flatts, Here for the Party by Gretchen Wilson, This Love by Maroon 5, Lonely No More by Rob Thomas, and Forever and For Always by Shania Twain.

Summary: The only survivors, Angel and Spike have relocated. They attempt to lay low in Middle America together. For the first time, they get a shot at a "normal life", doing "normal things." The fact that everyone thinks they're together was unexpected.

The next day when Angel awoke and opened his eyes, he could see shapes in a gray fog. "Spike, Spike, I can see. I can see."

The blonde vampire rushed into the room, Rose close behind him. Angel reached out his hand, "I can see where you are Spike. I can't see you clearly, but at least I'm not in the dark anymore."

Spike grinned but snarked, "Angel, you're a vampire; you're supposed to be in the dark!"

Rose hurried over to the bed and felt Angel's head. "The swelling is almost gone. That is releasing the pressure on your optic nerve. By tomorrow you should see clearly." Her kind face was beaming.

Bill Reilly walked into the room pushing a wheel-chair. "What's all the hub-bub?"

Spike noticed Angel's face clouding. "This is perfect Angel. I was going to sing tonight. You can go with me."

Angel didn't answer for a long moment. "I'm grateful Bill; I can use it around the cabin, so you all don't have to wait on me." He paused and a look of sadness ran across his face. "Spike, I can't come to Duffy's. I...I don't want everyone to see me like this."

Spike knew he needed to put his snarky self on. "Bollocks Angel, stuff that pride of yours. You need to get out and I'm tired of answering everyone's questions about you. Jenny Dawson's especially. If ya don't want her comin' out here, you better come with me tonight."

Bill was shocked at Spike's remarks but Rose put her hand on his arm, shaking her head. She was used to the way Spike talked to Angel and knew it was the best way to draw the older vampire out of his somber moods.

Spike answered in a testy tone. "Yes, you git. I've been holdin' her off saying you were still unconscious, but I know she was getting ready to ride out here. To give you her loving attention I expect."

"You mean the one that's so tight it's a wonder she can breathe?" Spike responded getting more annoyed.

"Yes. I've often wondered how soft it really was." Angel laughed and reached out his hand to his Childe. "I'm teasing Spike. You do that to me all of the time. I'll go with you tonight if it won't be any trouble. But how are we going to carry the chair on your bike? We don't have the jeep anymore."

"Well we don't have the jeep, but we have transportation. Wait till you see it." Spike replied and then could have kicked himself, worrying that Angel would lose his good humor being reminded that he couldn't see.

Angel smiled slyly at Spike. "Okay, I'll come with you. Is my suede shirt clean? Jenny told me I looked sexy in it."

"No it's not wanker. Haven't taken it to the cleaners. You'll have to wear somethin' else. Maybe that big old flannel shirt." Spike realized Angel was playing with him and was happy to continue the game.

Angel laughed again. "That's too big and it's really ratty. Not the thing to wear for my adoring public."

Bill and Rose had watched the banter fondly for a few minutes and then she drew the man out of the room and closed the door.

Later that evening, Spike wheeled Angel outside. The older vampire squinted his eyes. "Is that a convertible Spike?"

Spike grinned, happy that Angel's sight was becoming clearer. "Yep, Jack had a friend who wanted to sell it. It's a Plymouth, 1969. But it's in beautiful condition."

"What color is it?" Angel asked excitedly. Spike didn't immediately answer. "Spike, what color is it?"

Angel grinned mischievously. "Well you're always telling me to be more outgoing and a flashy yellow car will get me noticed. I'll get lots of attention from chicks."

Spike bent down and growled against Angel's neck making the older vampire gasp. "No chicks Angel. Pheromones remember? I'm the only small blonde that you'll be getting involved with. Got it?"

There were a lot of cars in the parking lot of Duffy's. Spike helped Angel into the wheel chair and then pushed him up the ramp. He opened the door and then pushed the chair inside.

Angel sat perfectly still and stared at the increasingly clearer shadows. Mr. Duffy rushed over. "Everyone's here Angel. This is your welcome back party."

Angel stiffened but smiled. Spike bent down and whispered in his ear. "They wanted to do this Angel. I tried to talk them out of it."

Angel nodded and squeezed Spike's hand. Although he was embarrassed by all of the attention, he was touched that these humans cared so much about him. People kept coming up shaking his hand, wishing him well.

After a few moments, Spike whispered again. "Gotta go sing. You'll be okay?" Angel tensed, never comfortable to be in the midst of a crowd.

Joe Jones took hold of the chair from Spike. "Come on Angel. Sit with the old crowd."

Angel smiled and relaxed, happy to sit with his friends in the back of the room. The music started and soon Spike's voice filled the pub.

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you,
Or tell you that.
But if I didn't say it, well I'd still have felt it
Where's the sense in that?

I promise I'm not trying to make your life hard
Or return to where we were

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender.
There will be no white flag above my door.
I'm in love and always will be.

I know I left too much mess and
Destruction to come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again.
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
Then I'm sure that that makes sense.

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be.

And when we meet
Which I'm sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on....

I will go down with this with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender.
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be.

For the rest of the evening Spike sang love songs, country, rock and roll, and tunes from World War II. It was obvious to everyone that he was singing to Angel. Several young women were very, very disappointed.

Angel was exhausted by the end of the evening. Spike finished his final song and came over bending low to whisper. "Ready to go?"

Although the older vampire's sight had returned, his legs were still paralyzed. Spike wheeled Angel into Duffy's the next two nights. The third night Angel begged off, saying that he was really tired and that Rose was coming over.

Spike hid his hurt and asked, "That the one where those two dudes go off in fog saying "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship?"

"Watched it once with Giles when I was livin' there. The tosser should've gone off with the bird. Bugger that noble shit." Spike remarked with a shrug, waved and left the cabin.

An hour or so later he was singing Bonnie Tyler's "It's a Heartache" when the door to the pub opened and Angel walked in. Stunned, Spike stopped singing and everyone turned to look where he was staring. Suddenly everyone in the place was clapping. Spike came down from the stage and walked over, a huge smile on his face.

Angel grinned. "It was hard keeping the secret since you're always hovering around me." He winked. "I tried to stand when you were in the shower last night. I was a bit wobbly but I knew I could walk if I could practice a bit. I called Rose and she agreed to come pick me up tonight. Happy?"

"Happy. I'm thrilled. Won't have to hover around you anymore. Goin' out drinkin' with the guys again." Spike was smirking as he spoke but gasped when Angel grabbed his wrist. He spoke low so that only Spike's vampire hearing could understand.

"You. Will. Not. Go. Out. Drinking." Angel bit out and then he laughed. "Unless you take me with you."

"Bit possessive aren't ya? Now, go over with the old folks. It's my turn to be the center of attention. Oh and you're gonna pay for keepin' the secret." Spike quirked his eyebrow, laughed and turned to go back onstage happy to hear Angel's response following him. "Counting on it blondie bear."

With the last of the patrons leaving for the night, Angel watched from where he was standing behind the bar as Spike joked around with his fellow band mates. His eyes honed in on the blonde as he had done all night. He tried to remember when his feelings started shifting for his errant Childe. It began slowly but intensified after they traveled together to the Deeper Well to try to save Fred. After the battle in the alley, they were the only ones left and though neither of them would have ever admitted it, they clung precariously to each other. The real change occurred after they left LA. The road trip east had brought them closer, despite their snarky arguments and silly, selfish snits. He smiled as he saw Spike turn around and wink at him. He noticed then that it was just he and Spike left. He had been so deep in his thoughts, he never saw Spike's friends leave.

He watched as Spike sauntered towards him. God but he looked good. He wasn't wearing his hair slicked back any longer. It had grown quite a bit and it now curled on the ends. He liked the look – the darker roots tipped with blonde. He imagined himself running his fingers through it, pulling his head back so he could look directly into Spike's devastatingly radiant blue eyes.

He was startled out of his musings when he heard Spike calling his name. "Yo, Angel!" He shook his head to clear it, and saw that Spike was standing in front of the bar. Smiling sheepishly, "You said something?"

"How 'bout a beer? Where were you just now? I called out your name a couple of times. Not brooding again were you?"

Angel just laughed as he reached down and got a beer. Spike grabbed it from his hands, hopped up on the bar, and spun around so that he was now facing Angel. As he cracked the bottle open, Angel had moved down the bar wiping the spills. Spike watched him as he took a few slugs from the bottle.

When Angel got within reach of Spike, he put the bottle down on the bar, reached out and grabbed Angel by his arm, yanking him between his spread legs. Grasping a fistful of shirt, Spike pulled the surprised vampire towards him, leaning down to kiss him softly. Both bodies trembled at the contact. Spike brought the dark vampire closer by wrapping his legs around him and locking his ankles together, drawing Angel in tightly. Raising his head, he looked into the chocolate brown eyes, seeing the same heat that he could feel in his own. He released his hold on Angel and slid off the bar, still keeping Angel close to him. "Good. Hurry up. I'm ready to go." Laying another kiss on Angel's lips, he walked away, grabbing his suede jacket that was behind the bar. "I'm going outside for a smoke. Don't take too long, 'kay."

Angel, his body still quivering from the kiss, softly mumbled "Okay," as he watched Spike stroll out into the cool night air, whistling a tune.

When Angel finished up, he grabbed his jacket and left the bar. Locking the door behind him, he turned around and saw Spike leaning nonchalantly against his bike, smoking. As he walked towards him, Spike flicked the still burning cigarette and grinned mischievously.

"Ready to go pet?" He jumped onto the bike and started it up. "Hop on and I'll take you for the ride of your life."

Smiling, Angel climbed on the bike behind the slender, supple body. Wrapping his arms around the slim waist, he nuzzled into the body seated in front of him. He felt Spike shiver and he slid closer, tightening his hold, until his hardening groin was pressed against Spike's backside.

Revving the engine a few times, Spike tried to calm the excitement coursing through him at the feel of Angel pressed so closely against him. Smiling in anticipation of the coming night, he sprayed gravel as the bike sped out of the parking lot.

Angel found the ride exhilarating – nothing like the ride with Spike on the Vespa when they were in Italy. He understood now why Spike wanted a motorcycle so badly. It was so different from riding in a car. It was freeing, just as Spike said. Feeling the wind like fingers caressing your skin and tangling in your hair, and the bit of danger that came with riding a vehicle, out in the open, totally exposed. Of course, he was sure it wouldn't have been as exciting if he were riding it by himself. There was something definitely erotic in the way the machine vibrated beneath his body, all that horsepower between his legs, and the feeling of being tightly pressed up against the sinuous body he was gripping. He felt Spike lean with the bike as he steered it around corners. He knew he wasn't alone in his excitement when he felt Spike's body press back into his now fully erect cock. He reached down with one of his hands, and cupped Spike's dick with his hand. Like his own, the younger vampire's cock was hard, straining against the fabric of the denim.

Feeling a bit daring, Angel nuzzled again into Spike's slender neck, nipping at the scar he left there over 120 years ago. As Spike tilted his head to the side just a bit, Angel popped a few buttons, opening the jeans slightly. When the younger vampire trembled, he moved his hand and grinning at Spike's lack of underwear, felt the part of the hard cock that was now exposed. He wrapped his large hand around it, stroking it, all the while continuing to lick and nip at Spike's neck.

By the time Spike pulled the bike to a full stop in front of the cabin, both vampires were lost in a sea of lust and excitement that was coursing through their bodies. Spike threw the kickstand down quickly, spinning around so he was facing the older vampire. He drew up his legs as Angel's arms enveloped him and pulled him close. Spike wrapped his lean legs around the larger vampire as he was pulled into his lap. Lips plundered lips, as each of them tried to devour the other. They did not feel the nip in the air as they tore off their jackets; their attention focused only on the body before them.

Two pairs of hands were everywhere, touching, grasping, stroking. It was as if each wanted to crawl inside the other – they just couldn't get close enough. Separating suddenly, they stared at each other; panting heavily although neither needed to breathe. Deep brown eyes locked onto cool blue ones. Their lips mashed together again forcefully. Spike tugged at Angel's shirt, coveting the feel of the cool skin beneath it. Angel did the same – wanton desire fueling him on, fueling Spike on – a consuming passion neither had felt before – with each other or anyone else, and it shocked them both.

The bike was balanced precariously with only the kickstand holding it up. Angel dropped his feet to the ground to help balance the shaking bike. He released Spike's mouth with a moan. Reaching behind him, he unhooked the legs that were locked around him and got off the bike. Spike quickly followed. As soon as they both had feet planted firmly on solid ground, Angel reached for Spike encircling him with powerful arms. The younger vampire felt demanding hands cup his ass and lift him up until his hard, aching cock was pressed firmly against the thrusting organ before him. Again he wrapped his legs around Angel as hungry lips once again devoured (feasted on, engulfed) his own. He tangled his fingers in the dark hair, as Angel carried him towards the cabin – up the steps to the front door.

When Spike felt the solid mass behind him, he reached down for the doorknob, thankful they hadn't had a need to lock it. The door flung open. As Angel stepped inside, he kicked the door shut with his foot, never releasing the hold he had on the writhing body in his arms.

Once inside, Angel spun around and crushed Spike up against the closed door. When he had something solid behind his back, Spike dropped his quivering legs to the floor. As his feet made contact with the floor, his knees almost buckled as Angel continued the impassioned assault on his mouth. The only thing that held him up was the strong body crushed to him. Spike placed his hands on broad shoulders as Angel's questing mouth moved to his neck, shoulders, and finally latched onto the hardened nipple protruding from the thin material of his t-shirt. Spike thrust his chest forward yearning for every touch.

Angel continued to move down until he was at the waistband of Spike half-opened jeans. Pulling the t-shirt from the confines of the pants, he slipped roaming hands under the thin material. As Angel stood back up, he brought the shirt up with him, removing it completely and tossing it way carelessly.

Taking Spike's mouth again, he ran one hand down the lean body, cupping the pulsating organ with his hand and rubbing it through the thick denim. Spike thought for sure his legs were going to give out. Reaching down, he released Angel's shirt from his pants. He had to get his hands on the bare skin, needed to feel it against his own over stimulated flesh. When he had the shirt free of the jeans, he pushed Angel away from him slightly. Angel looked at him questionably, confusion marring his handsome features. Grinning, Spike started unbuttoning the shirt, but his hands were shaking so badly it was almost impossible.

"Fuck it!!!" He ripped the shirt open, listening to the sound of the buttons as they scattered across the floor. He tore it from the glistening body before him, letting it fall to a heap on the floor at their feet. Spike moved down Angel's trembling form, leaving behind a trail of moisture as his tongue slid effortlessly along the slick skin. Down he went until he was crouched in front of Angel's hard cock. He could see it straining against the fabric. He felt hands in his hair as he reached for the button, snapping it open. The only sound in the room was their harsh breathing, and then the sound of the zipper being pulled down, slowly releasing Angel's throbbing cock inch by inch from the confines of the denim and the silk boxers. Spike licked his lips and leaned in, running the point of his tongue along the length of the shaft, pausing at the tip to lick some of the pre-come. He closed his eyes as the salty flavor hit his taste buds. Somewhere above him he heard a groan as hands reached for him, dragging him up the quivering body in front of him. Large hands gripped his, pulling them up over his head and pinning them to the door behind him.

Shifting his hold so he could free one hand, Angel reached down and pinched one of the protruding nubs while he attacked the column of Spike's neck with his mouth and tongue. He moved his hand down and popped the rest of the buttons, opening Spike's jeans. His cock burst forth. Angel gripped it with his large hand, stroking it and using the pre-come as lubrication. It pulsed in his hand. Spike tilted his head to the side, giving Angel better access to his neck. He tried to say something, but couldn't find the words.

He felt a cool puff of air against his ear as Angel ran the tip of his tongue along the rim, following the contour, biting the fleshy lobe.

"God, Will...I want you...I want to devour you and fuck you until you scream. Will...I need you."

Spike managed to clear the passion induced fog from his mind, replying "Not Will...Spike."

Angel was so carried away need that he didn't hear Spike's soft plea. "Please Will...need you now..."

Spike felt like he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. He freed his arms from Angel's hold and pushed him away. He looked at Angel with hurt etched on his face, warring with the passion that was now ebbing.

"I'm not Will." Spike hissed, a trace of disappointment coloring his words. "I'm Spike. Say it!"

Still not comprehending what was wrong, he reached for Spike, only to have his hands batted away. He tried to step closer to him, but Spike reached out with an arm and held him at bay.

Hurt more than he could have ever imagined, he reached down and buttoned his jeans. "Fuck...should have known this wouldn't work. It's not me you want. You want Will, compliant, adoring Will, not me, Spike, your equal. I'm sorry Angel, but I can't be Will. Haven't been him in a long time."

Stunned, Angel watched as Spike turned and raced up the steps and disappeared into the loft, leaving him standing totally bewildered in the room below.