Wrote this for spring_spangel on Live journal,

Title: One Day a Year
 
Author: lilithangel

Email: abchainey@xtra.co.nz
 
Website: www.livejournal.com/users/lilithbint
 
Fandom: AtS
 
Characters: Angel, Spike, Ensemble
 
Genre: General slash
 
Warnings: none
 
Summary: AU Spike is living at the Hyperion with the others.  Cordelia has still gone missing but Connor did not sink Angel to the bottom of the ocean. 
 
Something very strange is going on in Angel's life.

 
* * * * *

 
Angel woke abruptly but stayed motionless in the bed carefully opening one eye to check the room.
 
Suddenly he rolled out of the bed, hit the floor and sprang to his feet landing with his back to the far wall.
 
Keeping his back firmly against the wall he hunkered down to check under the bed.  Satisfied that the room was empty he edged along until he reached the bathroom door.
 
Angel groped for the doorknob and flung the door open throwing his body across the opening and crouching over the other side staring into the bathroom.
 
He leapt into the small room and rolled to come back up facing the door, he yanked the shower curtain open and spared the cavity a quick glance without moving.
 
He backed over to the shower and turned the water on pulling his hand out of the way quickly.  He watched suspiciously and placed one cautious hand under the water.
 
He climbed into the shower choosing not to close the curtain this time.  Gingerly he opened his shampoo bottle and poured a small amount into one hand sniffing it suspiciously, and then he checked the consistency between his fingers and waited watching it for several minutes before checking the consistency again.
 
Finally satisfied Angel washed his hair quickly and performed a similar routine on the conditioner and body wash.
 
Switching the shower off Angel reached for a towel with two fingers, shaking it open and checking both sides before climbing out of the shower and drying off.
 
Carefully he inched over to the overhead cabinet and flicked it open with one finger cringing away from an anticipated shock.
 
Another painful round of checking his hair gel followed as he completed his morning toilet.
 
A large naked vampire burst back into the bedroom tenser now than when he woke up.  He knew something bad was going to happen today and he was determined to be ready.
 
Every drawer was opened from a distance; every piece of clothing was removed and shaken vigorously before he put it on.
 
Finally dressed Angel moved quietly to the door and flung it open ducking and flattening against the wall as he did so.
 
He waited a beat and then rolled through the door bouncing upright again and spinning around to cover all directions.
 
His progress down the corridor was a series of erratic bursts of speed dodging from wall to wall.  He reached the top of the stairwell and froze scrutinizing the ceiling, floor and walls.
 
A series of leaps and steps brought him to the first landing and then he leapt over the banister to land in the middle of the foyer.
 
There was silence from the occupants of the room who watched him rise to his feet.
 
"Are you alright Angel?" Fred asked him with concern.  At least he thought it was Fred, however she was wearing tight black jeans and a low cut halter neck top.
 
"What did you get up to last night Angel?" the sable haired young man sitting behind the reception desk asked.
 
Angel stared blankly at the young man until familiar features began to sink in.  High cheekbones, blue eyes and pouty lips, "Spike?" he queried carefully.
 
"Last time I looked," Spike answered looking at Angel with a funny expression, "you hungry, I can fix you some blood?"
 
Angel nodded in confusion and watched as Spike removed his gold-rimmed glasses and moved across the room.  He was wearing loose chinos and a soft blue tee shirt, not something Angel had ever seen in the blond's wardrobe.
 
"Keep your eyes off my boyfriend," Fred broke through his reverie with a very unlike Fred scowl, "you've got your own."
 
Angel turned to Fred in shock, "what?"
 
"Your boyfriend Gunn, remember the big black guy you swore everlasting love to at Valentines Day?" Fred rolled her eyes, "that must have been some party last night."
 
"Party?" Angel was becoming more and more confused.
 
"Connor's graduation party... you went along to make sure none of those army boys corrupted your supposedly pure and innocent boy..." Fred sighed, "you obviously need some blood in you to counter the alcohol you threw back proving your manhood."
 
Spike came back into the foyer carrying two mugs of blood and handed one to Angel.
 
Angel sniffed it cautiously but could only smell blood and drank it in a daze.
 
There was a clatter from the stairs and Connor staggered down wearing army fatigues and clutching his head, "why did we have to have my graduation party the day before I joined my unit?  Hey dad you look as bad as I feel," Connor wandered past Angel and headed to the kitchen.
 
"I did warn you baby," a slightly amused voice spoke from the doorway before Angel could react.
 
Angel spun around to be confronted by Gunn and Wesley.  Gunn was wearing what looked like a dark blue cashmere sweater with soft wool pants.  He walked straight up to Angel and kissed him tenderly on the cheek, "I knew I should have stayed to look after you but some of us had to work."
 
 "Some of us call it work, some of us call it fun," Wesley added striding down the stairs into the foyer.  This Wesley was wearing black jeans, black shirt and a dirty leather bomber jacket; he was carrying a gore covered axe which he tossed casually onto the reception desk.
 
"Why is Wesley going out hunting down Demons while Spike stays at the hotel?" Angel asked weakly.
 
"Because it's what I do," Wesley stared at Angel strangely.
 
"I'm the research guy you know that," Spike added looking at Angel with concern, "did someone slip you a micky last night or something?"
 
"No... I don't think so," Angel frowned trying to sort his mind out, "Wesley's the fighter, Spike hits the books... what does Gunn do?" he asked.
 
"Same thing I've always done," Gunn answered with a tolerant smile, "provide the money for this operation and look after your cute little butt," he leered at Angel.
 
"Not to mention fronting the money to get Connor into a good school and a placement in Wesley's old regiment," Spike added proudly.
 
"Nah, boy did that on his own," Gunn replied, "he's a good kid our son," Gunn beamed at Angel, "once he got over that whole I hate my dads thing."
 
"At least it wasn't because you were gay," Wesley interjected.
 
"Yeah so much better that it was because one dad is a vampire and the other is a hot shot computer millionaire," Fred snorted.
 
"But you're still a scientist right?" Angel asked Fred weakly.
 
Fred's peal of laughter answered the question, "me a scientist, oh yeah that would so happen."
 
"I don't know," Spike teased, "you'd look pretty hot in a white coat."
 
Fred purred and up against Spike, "you want to play some games do you?"
 
Spike grinned and looked embarrassed.
 
Angel jumped when a hand ran down his back and came to rest on his butt, "think they might have the right idea," Gunn purred in his ear.
 
"Um... actually..." Angel stammered and backed away, "I think I need to lie down for a bit, I don't feel well..."
 
"Want me to come and tuck you in baby?" Gunn asked solicitously.
 
"No!" Angel squeaked, "thanks but I'll be alright," he practically ran up the stairs.
 
On the landing Angel stopped and pressed himself against the wall totally confused about what had just happened.
 
Downstairs there was silence for a moment and then a low chuckle started quickly followed by louder laughter and giggles.
 
Angel peered around the corner to see all five gathered in the foyer, Fred was practically crying with laughter, even Connor was chuckling and Gunn had to hold Wesley upright.
 
A blond blur shot up the stairs and pinned Angel to the wall, "April Fool," Spike whispered in Angel's ear kissing him hard on the lips.
 
Angel growled and gave chase his impossible childe.  When he caught Spike he swore the blond would not be able to sit down for a week.
 
He hated this day he really did but he hoped he could talk Spike into wearing those glasses again.


 
THE END