Accidental Meetings

Disclaimer: I own nothing but... hmmm, well nothing. Damn.

Summary: Meetings happen but no one expected who they found.

Reviews: Yes please. Loving the symmetry of the review totals per chapter. (Inside joke) Thanks for the awesome responses! Readers Rock but Reviewers RULE!

A/N: Well, here it is. At long last. The latest chapter of this fic. Hope you all like it. Next up will be another bit of 'The Demon Within'. Demon Spike has completely captivated the muse but I promise regular updates of this story as well.

Thanks as usual to WayWard Childe for his suggestions and encouragement. Hugs and snuggles to you Partner!

Macy's Bar and Grill...

Cindy flashed Spike a smile as he wended his way through the crowd in the bar. He grinned at her and settled into the chair at the table he'd had the night before, happy that it was empty considering how busy the place was. She cocked a shapely eyebrow in question and he nodded.

"Hey, Handsome. How are you tonight?" Cindy asked as she placed a mug of cold beer in front of the vampire.

"I'm fine, Pet." He answered, sampling the alcohol with a sigh of satisfaction.

"Want the Blooming Onion?" She asked as she waved her hand at a loudmouth drunk at a neighboring table. The intoxicated customer didn't realize that the hand motion was the signal for the bouncer to come over and gently encourage the over-imbibed to leave.

Spike thought about it for a moment. "Sure, why not?" He finally accepted.

She nodded. "Won't be but a few minutes." She grinned when she spotted the Dan the bouncer urging the obnoxious drunk towards the door. A familiar blonde walked up as the drunk was handed into a cab that waited to be summoned for just such a passenger.

Dan Sanders was tall, at least six feet and solid. He was a sheriff's deputy by day and moonlighted at the bar most weekends to keep the peace and prevent accidents before they had a chance to happen. It was an advantageous situation for everyone. He let his strong arms slip around the newcomer and pressed a quick kiss on her forehead, smiling down into her big brown eyes.

"Thanks for coming over." He said, his voice full of affection. "I know how much you hate being out at night."

"It's okay." She assured him. "It's better than making Monica take Brittany out this late." Brittany was Dan's eight year old daughter and as a single father, he relied on friends and neighbors to watch her on the few nights a week he worked. The only reason he'd needed extra help tonight was that his car had decided to go into a mechanical coma earlier in the day. The blonde gazed around the bustling bar with interest. "I see the regular group of people are here drinking way too much." She observed with characteristic bluntness.

A broad white smile split Dan's rugged face. "We have a newbie or two around. Chuck sent over a new project for Cindy to check out last night." He pointed to the secluded table where the slender man with platinum hair was consuming his Blooming Onion with a blissful expression on his lean face. A gasp from his companion drew his worried deep hazel eyes down to her lovely face. The sudden paleness of her features had him tightening his brawny arm around her tiny waist. "Hey, are you all right?"

He followed her gaze to Spike. "You know him?" Dan asked.

Her blonde hair bounced as she nodded, speechless. "Well, go over and say hi then." He pushed her gently toward the table.

"Um, yeah. I'll do that." She said faintly, shakily.

A very familiar scent wafted across Spike's nose seconds before its source moved into view. He blinked when he looked up at the woman making her way though the crowd toward him. Her blonde hair swung against her delicate shoulders and her brown eyes sparkled with tears that surprised him by their presence. He stood as she neared his table. She looked up at him as if gazing at an apparition she'd never expected to see. She inhaled.

"It is you. I saw you last night but I'd seen you so many times that I thought it was just another optical illusion. Do you know how many guys dye their hair that color? It's amazing but I never noticed until you..." Her voice trailed off as the reality of him struck her once more.

Spike smiled. His dark blue eyes fondly amused at the completely Scooby-like babble he'd never expected to hear from her. "Why, Anya, I didn't know you cared."

Wesley and Fred's room...

Lorne had let the vampire go as he sat in shock over what his gift had shown him. He'd made his way quickly to his colleague's room and knocked frantically on the door until a rumpled Wesley had pulled the door open with a half-formed threat on his lips. The peculiar cast to the Pylean's green complexion had stalled the irritation in the former Watcher's cool blue eyes.

"Lorne? What's wrong? Wasn't it your turn to watch the unknown vampire? Did he do something? Do we need stakes?" Wesley ushered the big green demon into the room and helped him sit in the chair. Fred came out of the bathroom where she'd gone to put on a robe. She tightened the belt on the silk garment and turned right back around to get a glass of water for the shaken demon.

He accepted the cool water gratefully and sipped it slowly. He was still trying to process the surprise he'd gotten when he'd heard the vampire singing.

"Lorne, what's wrong?" Wes repeated his question as soon as he saw that the Pylean had at least partially composed himself.

"Well, it was my turn to watch the new neck-muncher. I thought he'd called it a night but he came out of his room." He closed his red eyes and shivered when he recalled the smooth mellow voice of the vampire.

"Lorne. What happened?" Fred asked anxiously.

"He was singing." The peaceful demon explained.

"Fascinating. What did you see? Do you know who he is?" Wes hovered closer as he went into full-blown watcher mode.

Lorne waved his hand. "I didn't hear that much, just a couple of lines. And oh, what lines they were. I can only hope he goes pro and lets me rep him."

Wes sighed in exasperation as he watched his friend get distracted yet again. "Lorne. What did you see? Is he a threat?"

Lorne sipped more water, then shook his head. "Not a threat at all. He has a soul."

Wesley blinked at the news. "Another vampire with a soul. Oh, my. I wonder why the firm didn't have him targeted."

"Could be because he was brought back under the protection of the Powers That Be." Lorne dropped the second bombshell from his reading. "He's their Champion."

Macy's Bar and Grill...

Anya launched herself into Spike's arms as soon as she heard the familiar accent. Her tears spilled over onto his shoulder and soaked into his t-shirt. He was briefly thankful he'd taken off his new jacket and draped it on the back of his chair. He saw Cindy start toward them with a concerned expression on her pretty face and nodded briefly indicating that everything was all right.

"You died." The ex-demon murmured into his neck.

"Yeah, I did. Didn't take... again." He whispered back. "They don't know I'm a vampire. Ok, Luv?"

She nodded and wiped at her eyes as she backed out of his arms. He held the other chair for her as Cindy brought over a soda.

"Anya? Are you all right?" Cindy asked anxiously.

Anya nodded with a watery smile. "I'm fine. I haven't seen Spike in a while. I'd heard he was dead. Guess I heard wrong." She took a bracing sip of her icy drink.

"That's a good thing." Cindy smiled with relief and went back to the demands of her customers.

Spike looked around the bar for the mop of shaggy dark hair that belonged to Xander. "Where's Harris?" He asked, turning back towards her. He was shocked at the anger in her pretty face.

"He followed Buffy again. He refused to even consider staying with me. He called me shallow and only concerned with appearances. He had the chance to get it fixed but he refused. He called them evil." She ranted, leaving Spike completely confused.

"Pet, what are you going on about?" He asked.

"Xander! Angel offered to have his doctors fix the eye but Xander refused to even consider it. He said they were evil and he'd rather look like a pirate the rest of his life before he'd let them touch any part of his body." She took an angry gulp of her drink.

"Wait a minute. Back up. Angel's doctors? Peaches has evil doctors working for him? How? What the Bloody Hell happened over the past year?" Spike demanded.

Anya took a deep breath and took another sip of her soda. She lowered her voice. "About the same time we were getting ready to fight the First, Angel was taking over Wolfram and Hart..."

"Son of a bitch!" Spike swore quietly. "Wolfram and Hart? Why the hell would Angel take over that cesspool of evil?"

"It's where he got the amulet that you wore when you... you know." Anya flapped her hand when she hesitated over her wording. She didn't want to verbalize what Spike had gone through the year before.

Spike's sapphire eyes darkened with grief when he remembered where he'd been the past year, the peace, warmth and love he'd had lavished upon him. He shuddered as anger washed through him. "I see." He murmured. "But he didn't do it just for that. Not Angel. He had another motive." Now the reasons for his resurrection were becoming clearer. His instructions echoed in the back of his mind but he shrugged it off with a defiant glare upwards.

Anya watched her companion closely, seeing the emotions flashing through the deep blue eyes. Wondering why he seemed so sad and angry at the same time.

He cleared his throat and drained his beer. Raising the mug slightly, he signaled Cindy for a refill and smiled at Anya. She noticed it didn't reach his eyes. "Let's we change the subject for a bit, yeah?"

She nodded and beamed. "I bought a house. Do you want to see it? Where are you staying? Oh! Dan said that Chuck adopted you. Does that mean that you're staying at the motel? Why don't you stay in my spare room?"

A rich laugh rolled up from Spike's chest as he processed her 'Scooby babble'. "God, it's nice to know some things never change." He gasped. Cindy brought his beer with a refill for Anya.

"You guys okay?" The waitress asked.

Spike nodded, letting his laugh slide easily into another smile. Watching the perky server walk away, he thought about Anya's offer. Maybe Whistler would go away if he disappeared. He snorted at the thought. The Powers would make sure the annoying little twit could find him. He scowled internally and shook himself slightly. "You bought a house? How'd you manage that? How long have you been here?"

He settled back to listen as she began her explanation about how she got her house. "I was hurt in the .... Thing. It took me a couple of months to recover. Angel's medical section took very good care of me. I don't understand why Xander... oh well. Anyway, I still had contacts in the magical retail business and they helped me set up an internet website and I make lots of money on it. The state paid me a settlement for the shop and helped me get the house at a discount. It has three bedrooms, a living room, dining room, two full bathrooms and almost a quarter of an acre. And I have a very nice car." She told him proudly.

Spike listened in bemusement, having come to the surprising realization that he'd missed the girl. She was refreshing to talk to and wonderfully blunt in a guileless way. Harris was a fool to let her go. She told him about her new life in the small town and the new friends she'd made in the past year, some of whom he'd already met. He asked more questions, chuckling at her responses. They chatted amicably until Cindy wandered over to tell them the bar was closing.

Anya stood up and, to Spike's surprise, rushed across the now-empty floor to talk to the bartender. He nodded and disappeared into the back of the house, returning quickly with two flattened boxes. She returned to the perplexed vampire and studied the floor with unusual shyness.

"I don't know if you have anything to move and I know you haven't said if you wanted to stay in my guest room but I'd really like it if you did. Wanted to stay with me, that is. So I got some boxes for your stuff and I...." She trailed off uncertainly, clutching the flattened boxes to her side.

Spike stood up and placed a gentle finger under her chin. "I'd like that." He whispered. She gazed up into his deep blue eyes, momentarily getting lost in the sapphire depths. A relieved smile spread slowly across her lovely face.

Cindy, who'd watched the exchange with an indulgent smile, looked up at Dan. "I think you need a ride home, Pal."

Dan nodded, his straight black hair flopping down into his eyes. "Yup, looks that way. Won't give Jack any heartache, will it?" Jack was Cindy's on-again off-again fiancé who got insanely jealous of the pretty waitress's male friends. They were currently 'on' so everyone was careful to keep their distance.

She shrugged, curvy shoulders moving gracefully underneath the forest green t-shirt. She blew a raspberry and waved a hand negligently. "Screw him."

"No thanks." Dan shuddered theatrically. Their shared laughter attracted the attention of the two blonds. Anya led her newly recovered friend over and realized she'd forgotten her previous commitment, the reason she was even at the bar in the first place.

"Oh, Dan! I'm sorry! I forgot I promised you a ride home." Anya clutched at the boxes guiltily.

"I've got him." Cindy told her. "What's with the boxes?" She thought she already knew the answer but wanted confirmation. She really liked Anya even though the blonde was a bit blunt and more than a little odd. They could never get her to explain why she hated to be out after dark and after a while accepted it as just another quirk.

Anya glanced up at Spike and fiddled with a piece of tape sticking to the edge of the cardboard. "Spike's gonna stay in my guest room until he decides what to do from here." She beamed. "He's back." She announced, thoroughly confusing her friends.

"Back from where?" Dan asked, momentarily going into 'deputy' mode. His hazel eyes scanned Spike for evidence the smaller man had been in jail, possibly posing a threat to the quiet little town.

Spike noticed the changed demeanor of the bouncer and wondered about the man's day job. "Was out of the country for a bit, visiting the family and all that."

Anya's dark eyes widened as she translated the explanation and her heart broke when she understood where Spike had spent the last year. The vampire mentally kicked himself when he realized what he'd let slip.

"Oh, God, Spike..." She gasped only to have him interrupt her before she could reveal too much.

"They're all fine. Mum's health has gotten much better since last time I saw her." His tone was bland but his eyes blazed with grieved rage. "I'll tell you all about it later. Okay, Pet?" He felt her small hand slip into his own, curling around his cool fingers comfortingly.

"Let's go get you moved." Anya said. "They want to get this place closed up." She yawned. "It's late. Let's go." She felt a little battered by the surprising discovery of Spike in the town she'd settled in. She liked all her new friends but sometimes she missed being able to talk about the old demon days. She really wanted to know why Spike had been brought back and somehow she knew it was not a story her new friends would comprehend.

Cindy slipped away to retrieve Spike's jacket, handing it to the blond with a smile. He reached into his pocket for his wallet only to have her wave the gesture away.

"I've got it." She grinned. "I like seeing old friends find each other."

Spike hesitated as if to argue but the glint in her sparkling brown eyes stopped him. "Thanks, Kitten."

"Anytime, Handsome." Cindy made a shooing motion with her hands. "Go. We're good. Get Spike settled in." She and Dan watched from the doorway as Spike and Anya walked out to her car.

At the motel....

"Hey, Chuck. I'm taking one of your customers away." Anya announced as she led Spike into the motel lobby.

The clerk looked up from his battered paperback. "Anya. Damn! Sunnydale! I should have connected it sooner. Spike, if I'd known you knew each other I would have made sure you two got together. Where'd you hook up?"

Anya smiled. "Macy's. I was supposed to give Dan a ride, his car died again."

"I guess I'm checking out. Don't need those monthly rates after all." Spike said quietly.

Chuck nodded. "I'll take care of the paperwork. I know where Anya lives so I'll bring your supplies over there."

The blonde ex-demon glanced at both men. "Supplies?"

Spike scratched his chin sheepishly. "Yeah, kinda let Chuck know what I am." He admitted.

"Oh! That's fine. He won't tell." Anya grinned. "Chuck knows a lot of things." She confided to Spike. She looked at Chuck again. "Spike is moving in with me but not for anything fun. We shared very pleasant orgasms once but it caused a big fight and now we're just going to share space as friends."

Chuck burst into laughter as Spike thanked all the gods that vampires didn't blush.

The vampire cleared this throat in an attempt to hold in his chuckles. "Only pleasant? I believe I'm insulted. And now you know why you never got any more of that. But it's nice to know that some things never change regardless of what happens. Come on, Pet. Let's get the space sharing started."

The couple waved at the still laughing Chuck as they left the lobby. Using tape from Anya's trunk, it only took a few minutes to assemble the boxes and pack Spike's possessions into them. Less than an hour later, Spike was completely settled into the tastefully decorated guest room of Anya's house. She'd given him a short tour, promising a more thorough showing the following day. In the kitchen, she stored his blood in the bottom of the refrigerator and put his snacks in a spare cupboard.

Spike noticed that she was beginning to droop and yawn. "It's late, Pet. Let's go to bed."

She smacked him lightly on the arm. "I didn't invite you here for that."

A smirk crossed his handsome face. "In our own beds." He clarified.

Her dark lashes dropped and she smiled. "Oh, right. Well, then good night." They walked down the short hallway and parted at the bedroom doors. They opened their doors and she paused.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, Luv?"

"I know where you were and I'm sorry but I really am happy you're back."

His sad dark blue gaze met her sober brown one. He nodded shortly and they entered their individual spaces. That was the night his sleep went from merely disturbed to nightmare ridden.

The next morning...

Giles was in the lobby reading a newspaper and waiting for the rest of his group to show up for their trek to the Sunnydale crater. He heard someone enter and turned.

"It's about time... Wes?"