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.

On Friday night the crowd in Duffy's was even larger and Spike began the evening with a rousing song by Gretchen Wilson, "Here for the Party." By the time he got to the chorus almost everyone in the bar was singing along.

Well I'm an eight ball shooting double fisted drinking son of a gun
I wear my jeans a little tight
Just to watch the little girls come undone
I'm here for the beer and the ball bustin' band
Gonna get a little crazy just because I can.

You know I'm here for the party
And I ain't leavin' til they throw me out
Gonna have a little fun, gonna get me some
You know I'm here, I'm here for the party.

As he sang, Spike moved from the stage and started roaming amongst the patrons, flirting with them, sitting in their laps. The crowd ate it up.

I may not be a ten but the girls say I clean up good
And if I gave 'em half a chance for some lousy romance
You know they would
I've been waiting all week just to have a good time
So bring on them cowgirls and their pick up lines.

You know I'm here for the party
And I ain't leavin til they throw me out
Gonna have a little fun, gonna get me some
You know I'm here, I'm here for the party.

Don't want no purple hooter shooter
Just some jack on the rocks
Don't mind me if I start that trashy talk.

You know I'm here for the party...

They continued with a few songs for the older crowd. When they sang "Bye, Bye Blackbird, the older patrons joined in. They finished up the first set with Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Till Then," one of their most requested ballads from the World War II era.

Spike left the band and walked outside for a smoke. He knew someone had followed him and turned to face a stooped old man.

The vampire stared at the man and something familiar pulled at him, but he couldn't grab onto the memory. "Hi. Enjoy the show?"

Spike peered at him more closely. Again the tug of the past. "Can't place ya mate."

The vampire wracked his brain. After Angel had made him leave the sub, he was picked up by a fishing boat from Newfoundland. He managed to get to Scotland and then headed south. He stayed for a while in North London, near a pub that was popular with the military boys from a nearby US Airbase. The drunken soldiers were easy pickings. Suddenly his eyes opened wide. "Joe...Joe Jones?"

"I live here now, ever since the war. Met a girl at the USO. Her dad was a doctor. Gave me a job at the community hospital."

Spike had shared a table with Joe quite often in the country pub. The man knew after a few moments that Spike was a vampire. He was from New Jersey, the Pine Barrens. He knew about vampires and other demons. The barrens were a safe haven for them, since the land was uninhabitable and filled with mires and quicksand that kept most humans out. Unsuspecting hikers, hunters and animals provided food. As a teenager, Joe had rescued an injured vampire trapped in a bog and learned about the creature as he healed in a secluded cabin. The vampire made sure the demon community knew the young man was, if not a friend, at least not an enemy. He had gone to England before the United States had entered the war and became a fighter pilot. Eventually he was stationed with the 8th Air Force, 379th bomber group at a base in Kimbolton Village about fifty miles from London. He and other airmen patronized the pub, The Hand and Shears in North London, where he met Spike. Joe managed to secure human blood for Spike, on the promise he would not attack any of the men from the base.

"You look exactly the same except your hair isn't dark. How did you get here? Lake Geneva is not exactly a huge metropolis." The man looked at the vampire expectantly.

"Long story. I'll tell you sometime. I'm here with a friend. We're renting a cabin out on the lake."

Spike laughed. "You are good Joe. Yes. That's Angel. We've known each other for a long, long time."

As if on cue, Angel walked outside. He paused and Spike motioned him over. The older vampire was shocked when he heard the history that Spike had with the older man. A wave of guilt washed over him as he remembered making Spike get off the boat telling him to try to make it the twenty miles to shore before the sun rose. He hadn't known if the younger vampire survived until he showed up in Sunnydale. As Spike had said as he climbed the ladder to the top of the sub, he really was a dick.

Angel was so startled he couldn't respond so Spike answered. "Pig mostly, maybe a human treat once in a while." Spike felt the older vampire stiffen at the request for human blood, but he remained quiet.

The man nodded. "Look, I'm retired. I fish and sit around. I'll deliver it to your cabin. Just put a cooler outside." He reached into his pocket. He found a battered card and wrote his number on it and handed it to Spike. "Call when you need it? Where are you exactly?"

The younger vampire told him and the older man knew exactly where they were. "Last cabin on the left, set back from the road right?" Spike nodded. "Need some now?"

"Put the cooler out when you go home. I'll drop ice and blood by tomorrow." The old man said goodnight, got into his car and drove off into the darkness.

Angel still hadn't said a word. He turned and looked at Spike, his eyes filled with wonder. "You amaze me. I envy your...your way with people."

Spike smiled tapping his finger on the larger vampire's chest. "See, ya need me ponce. Break's over, gotta go sing." They walked back inside, Angel still shaking his head over what had just occurred and refusing to acknowledge the tingling he felt where Spike touched him.

Mr. Reilly was as good as his word. When they awoke near sunset, they found the cooler filled with several bags of pig's blood. After they ate, they left the cabin and drove into Chicago. Angel had found a 1950s era hotel, the Ohio House, near the Miracle Mile on the North Side. He had made reservations using his new credit card. They arrived, checked in, and left immediately for the Double Door, a club in the Wicker Park section that had live music. Famous bands such as the Rolling Stones had played there under fictitious names. Tonight the headliner was a group called the Disco Biscuits from Philadelphia. Angel spent the evening watching Spike enjoy himself.

When the club closed, the two vampires walked toward the car until Angel grabbed Spike and pulled them both into a small alley. The younger vampire was about to protest until Angel put his fingers on his lips and hissed. "There are two men standing next to my car. They seem very interested in it." Angel peeked out and saw that one man was talking on a cell phone. "Damn. They've gotta be from Wolfram & Hart. They recognized my car."

Spike walked further into the alley and whispered in a voice only a vampire could here. "Angel, we can get out this way." They hurried onto the next street and picked up a cab to take them back to the hotel.

Angel kept mumbling over and over. "I should have thought...I should have gotten a different car."

"Stop it Angel. No sense in brooding about it now. We'll leave it and get another car tomorrow. They'll think we left it to throw them off. The cops'll tow it soon enough."

The older vampire's good mood was destroyed both by the loss of his beloved Plymouth and his failure to foresee keeping the car as a danger to them. He sat awake well past sunrise brooding. He finally slept until awakened by the aroma of coffee. Spike was brewing it in the coffeemaker provided in the room.

Spike slammed down his coffee cup. "Listen Angel, you're not spendin' the night moping. There's another band playing at the club tonight and I want to go back. There's gotta be a used car dealer near here. We'll get another car."

Angel just nodded and headed into the bathroom. They left the room shortly after and took a cab to a car dealer that the desk clerk mentioned. Angel let Spike choose the car. He paid for the slightly battered red jeep and they drove back to the club. A band named Maroon 5 was playing. After they left, Spike kept singing the chorus to their song "This Love."

< style="font-style: italic;">This love has taken its toll on me
< style="font-style: italic;">She said goodbye too many times before
< style="font-style: italic;">And her heart is breaking in front of me
< style="font-style: italic;">I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore.

Angel said nothing. He just kept grinding his teeth as he drove back to their hotel. They stayed in Chicago until Tuesday night. Spike dragged Angel to every music store he could find and to a Jackie Chan film festival. The older vampire was fine browsing among CDs but he hated the movies. Spike could not hide his disappointment since he liked both the martial art stunts and the comedy. Although they enjoyed their trip both were happy to return to their cabin. Angel for the peace it afforded and Spike because he was anxious to get back to the band and his singing.

"Angel, you hated the movies we saw in Chicago. It's another like that. Colin likes the same kind of films I do. Hey. You can have the whole night to listen to Mozart or whoever." Spike strode out the door. A few minutes later the older vampire heard the roar of the motorcycle racing down the road. He put on Ravel's "Bolero" and sat for a long time staring out at the lake, feelings of jealousy warring with a sense of loss.

Spike was spending many of the nights they weren't working with his bandmates and Angel was rarely invited to join them. Colin was a budding filmmaker and he and the younger vampire enjoyed watching all types of films. Angel's tastes were far less eclectic. He liked the panoramic movies that Charlton Heston was in, like "Ben Hur," Alfred Hitchcock's mysteries, and 1930s Film Noir like "The Maltese Falcon." He'd seen some newer movies and he enjoyed fantasy like the "Star Wars" series.

He had gone with Spike once to Colin's house and they watched a movie called "This is Spinal Tap." The drummer, Spike and the others talked and laughed throughout the film leaving him totally confused. After the film, when he asked them about what he didn't understand, they laughed hysterically and no one really answered his questions. He felt old and out of touch. The few times after that when Spike asked if he wanted to join them, Angel had refused. He sat alone listening to music or watching the DVDs that he bought of those films he liked, his conflicting emotions shattering his solitude.

He must have finally fallen asleep on the sofa and he startled when he heard Spike coming into the cabin. He reeked of beer and cigarette smoke.

The blonde vampire turned and spoke. "Hey. Really tired, goin' to bed." He stumbled and fell half way up the steps and Angel rushed over.

"Bugger off, Angel. You're not my keeper. I like goin' out without you. You don't ever have fun. You're stiff, unfriendly and bloody boring." The younger vampire turned away and made his way slowly to the bed falling on it fully clothed.

Angel stood there, fury and hurt seething throughout his body. He turned and climbed out onto the roof. Once again all of the horrors of his life tumbled through his mind especially what he did to Spike. He knew everything Spike said was true. How could he have fun...with the threat of Angelus hanging over him, rattling the bars of his prison...wanting out all the time. He sat looking toward the lake. Sunrise was about an hour away. He spun around when he heard movement behind him.

Spike stood at the window. "Don't even think it. You're not going out in that sun. You bloody bastard. Leavin' me again. You're good at that!"

His voice broke and the anger went out of his eyes. Angel stood up and they looked at each other for a long moment, the distance between them a chasm of hurt and regret. Angel reached out tentatively and grasped Spike's shoulder. With his other hand he caressed the younger vampire's cheek as he looked into the blue eyes filled with terrible pain. Angel lowered his face and kissed Spike deeply. Spike clasped his hands around Angel's neck and returned the kiss with a frenzied passion. They slid to the roof without breaking the kiss. Suddenly they separated and stared at each other, uncertainty on both their faces. Spike had never been with a man except as Angel's victim. Angel had never been with a man except in a rage of power.

Angel pressed two fingers against the younger vampire's lips. He leaned in and rained gentle kisses on Spike's face, enfolding him in his arms. He paused and looked into the blue eyes that he had known for a long time; eyes that had looked at him in fear, agony and hatred. Now they were filled with desire and confusion.

Spike searched the older vampire's dark eyes and saw the same passion and uncertainty that he was feeling. He traced Angel's face with his fingers and the vampire he knew as his Sire leaned in to his touch, submitting his body as an equal lover. They came together again, the kisses tender and loving. Suddenly their bodies tingled from the approaching sunrise. They rose and went back inside, closing the shutters against the dangerous light. They stood still, both unsure until Angel spoke softly. "We'll take this...slowly." He reached for Spike's hand and kissed the palm. "Goodnight Will." Then he turned and walked down the steps and into his own room. Spike stood still for long moments, conflicting feelings racing through his body. Finally he lay down on the bed, fully clothed, closing his eyes but staying awake for hours, recalling what had just happened, remembering the past. His thoughts brought no answers. His body yearned for Angel's touch and it terrified him.

Downstairs, the older vampire was tormented similarly - the tenderness and peace he felt while in Spike's embrace, replaced by the nightmares of his past actions toward his Childe. Neither vampire slept. When they got up at sunset, both had strengthened the barriers that protected them from hurt, fearing the depth of their need. They showered, dressed and drank their blood without talking and drove into work in silence.

For the next few days, they went on as if the kisses had never happened; snarking and teasing each other as they had before, going to work. Then a serious battle erupted over Spike's many purchases from the Internet, using Angel's credit card without permission.

"You have money Spike. You're getting paid the same as I am. Use your money for this stuff." Angel demanded heatedly.

"You selfish sod. You have tons of money. The money you stole from Wolfram and Hart and Percy's money."

"I didn't steal money Spike. I earned it. I worked long hours. Did you ever work Spike? I seem to remember a lot of freeloading, back in the day, in Sunnydale, at the law firm, and now here." Angel growled.

"Freeloading? I worked, hard. I helped Buffy. She depended on me. I worked with Illyria, getting my head beat in. And I never got paid for any of it!" Spike shouted at the older vampire. "Bugger this. Get stuffed Angel. I'm going out." He flew out the door, hopped on his motorcycle and sped off into the darkness. He stayed away until the following evening.

When he returned, neither of them mentioned the fight, but things were strained between them. They spoke only to answer a question. Spike sat out on the deck as long as he could. Angel stayed inside reading. Often Spike rode in alone on his bike, going out with his friends after work and coming home much too close to sunrise. Their new friends noticed the coldness and worried about them. The small older crowd who came to hear Spike sing their favorite songs watched them and talked among themselves. Their own children were grown and many no longer lived nearby. Since they seldom saw their families, they had sort of adopted Spike and Angel. They knew the flamboyant singer and the dark, handsome bartender had a connection, even if the young men didn't admit it to themselves. A relationship between men didn't bother them. A few of them had younger family members who journeyed on that path and although none of them were certain if it was a choice or biology, they just wanted the young people to be happy. Angel and Spike were kind to the older people that many dismissed or mocked. They wanted their young friends to have someone in their lives to love, so they wouldn't be lonely. The older folks knew about being lonely and they wanted it for no one they cared about.