Willow forced her eyes open, then closed them with a groan immediately.
“Goddess, my head is killing me.” She moaned. “And what is that smell?”

Memory flooded back painfully and her eyes flew open as she scanned the dim
room. A strange feeling had her stretching out her hand and she found the
light switch where she had half expected it to be. Turning it on, she found
herself in what appeared to look like her bedroom but at the same time,
didn’t feel like it.

The absence of her soft toy collection, her magic books and her vast
collection of pictures of her friends strengthened her impression of being
in an alien environment. The missing painting of the vampire she loved
confirmed her growing suspicions.

“Please do not adjust your television sets.” She murmured irreverently to
herself as she slowly pushed herself to a sitting position. “I’m in another
dimension, that’s what it is. What other explanation could there be.”

She pulled herself off the bed and found her eyes drawn to the condition of
her clothes. “Oh bother! This was one of my favourites as well.” She growled
to herself, unconsciously imitating both vampires.

Taking a look round, she headed for one of the closed doors. “Right, the
room’s basically the same, let’s have a look in the closets and see what
they have to offer.”

She opened the doors and took an almost horrified step back. “Okay, this is
most definitely of the weird classification. I deliberately ruined that
dress two months ago.” She promptly did a swift search of all the closets
and drawers. The evidence (and sheer lack of trousers) led her to the one
conclusion that she hadn’t really wanted to reach.

“Bloody hell to quote Spike. These are all the clothes Black has commented
on. The ones I’ve never worn again just because he did.”

She swung round to look at the whole room again, registering all the things
she had missed previously.

“Right Willow, they don’t call you research girl for nothing, put all the
clues together. First of all, Black across the road just before the attack.
Second, a room identical to yours but devoid of everything that speaks of
your personality and which Black is know to disapprove of.”

She tapped a third finger against her cheek. “Third, clothes he is known to
approve of in the closets and drawers. Also noted is the severe lack of
trousers. Conclusion: Willow Rosenberg is in deep trouble. Trouble of the
deepest kind.”

She covered her face for a moment. “Dear goddess, Angel, I need you.”

Even as she said his name, she suddenly felt an awareness of the vampire’s
consciousness on the edge of her own and a feeling of calmness came over
her.

Starting to sit back down on the bed, she stopped as a mischievous spark
entered her green eyes. Moving to stand in front of the full-length mirror,
she closed said eyes and murmured a couple of words under her breath. A few
seconds later, she was wearing skin-tight black jeans and a green silk shirt
tied just below her bust leaving her midriff bare. Upon her feet, she wore
boots made for both comfort and action.

Opening her eyes, she grinned at her reflection. “Now this I can live with
and it will be a nice gift for Angel when he gets here.” She quickly
dismissed the cynical if.

The sound of a key turning had her spinning round, her stance alert and
fight ready. The door opened slowly and one of the small men who had
abducted her from Amy’s house cautiously put his head round. The redhead hid
a smile as she noted the black shiner he sported.

“Someone said you were awake.” He almost squeaked, watching her warily.

“Then someone has good hearing obviously.” Willow replied astonishing
herself with just how calm she suddenly felt. Once again she sensed the
nearness of Angel and she put in away in the far recesses of her brain,
mentally noting to look into it later.

“Do you actually want something or did you just put your head around the
door to be irritating.” She continued sarcastically.

The little man took a deep breath. “The Boss wants to see you.”

“Well, that’s just too bad.” She deliberately turned away and walked across
to the bed, sitting down with air of sheer nonchalance. “I don’t
particularly want to see him, so why don’t you run along like a good little
minion and tell him I’m otherwise engaged. There’s a good little fellow.”

“Now I would if I could, miss but you see, I can’t.” He opened the door
wider allowing her to see several more of little men just like him. “Orders
you see, miss. You either come of your own volition, or we, you see, have
to…”

“Help me.” She finished with saccharine sweetness. “Well if you must
insist.”

“Oh I do miss, I really do.” He responded, grinning at her. “So if you’d
like to come this way.”

Shuddering internally at the subtle threat, Willow walked out of the room
and promptly found herself surrounded by six of the strange little
creatures. As they started to move her towards the main staircase, she
looked over her shoulder, eyes curious. “Just what are you by the way?”

“Now there’s a question we’ve been expecting from one with your reputation,
miss!” The leader responded almost jovially, making her shiver in revulsion
internally. “We’re what you might call Greystone gnomes, miss or even stone
dwarves.”

“I’ve never come across any creatures called by that name in the books
before.” She exclaimed, her innate sense of curiosity raised.

“I doubt you would, miss, I really doubt you would. We’re the last of our
kind you see.” They had now reached the main staircase and down below in the
hall, she could just make out the form of a man in the shadowed entrance of
the living room. “Down stairs now, miss, if you please.”

“I kind of got that.” She murmured, steeling herself as she started down the
stairs.

Reaching the bottom, the little man gently pushed her forward. “Here you
are, Boss. One nice little package safely delivered as promised and
completely unhurt.”

“Leave us.” A familiar voice replied. “I will call you when I need you
again.”

Willow waited until the gnomes had scattered silently away before choosing
to speak. Folding her arms, she slowly tapped her foot. “Well, well, why am
I so not surprised to see you here…Black.”

“You are the genius of the group.” He replied. “You’ve always known that
this would happen.”

“What would happen!” The redhead moved her hands to her hips, eyes blazing.
“Know that you would abduct me, have my friends hurt. Oh yes, I can really
say that I knew that was going to happen not. Now how about letting me go
and Angel might just consider letting you live.”

“My dear Willow, why would you want to leave me. Especially for one of
those… those things.”

Let’s see now, perhaps it has something to with the way he makes me feel
when I’m with him or his clothes sense. It might even be the fact that I
happen to be deeply in love with him and he with me.” Willow folded her arms
again and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “It might even have something to do
with the fact that I just can’t stand you.”
Her sharp response drew an admiring chuckle from the hidden listener just
outside an open window. “That’s tell him, Red. I better go tell Peaches
you’re in fine form.”

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Standing in the driveway of the house, Angel turned at the familiar sound of
the musician’s van drawing up. The Watcher got out immediately and moved to
his side.” Angel, we got here as quickly as we could.”

“Did you find out anything else, Giles.”

“Just a journal.” He replied retrieving a thick, leather bound book from his
pocket. “Would you believe the bloody idiot had it hidden under a floor
board.”

“You’ve read it.” Angel said calmly.

“Enough to know you were right in your assessment.” Giles frowned heavily.
“Angel, he’s been following her since before he was assigned to Laura.
Stalking her to put it bluntly since she began University.” He shook his
head. “I can not believe how we managed to miss it. Willow even said that
she thought she was being followed at one point.”

“We all missed it, Giles.” Angel touched the older looking man’s shoulder.
“He managed to fool us all. Did you find out anything else, anything that
might explain why he’s taken Willow now.”

“The latest entries repeatedly speaks of something he refers to as ‘The Time
of Joining’ and some kind of ceremony he is going to perform. A ceremony he
believes he needs Willow for.” Giles returned the journal to his pocket.
“Unfortunately, it’s the only the only subject he doesn’t go into detail
about.”

“So how are we going to deal with this.” Doyle asked as he and Oz joined
them.

“Storm the castle, kill the bad guy and rescue the beautiful damson in
semi-distress.” Spike replied suddenly as he emerged from the shadows. “They
just brought Red downstairs and she’s ready to hang him out to dry… with his
own tongue.”

“You’ve seen her.” The dark haired vampire turned to his childe, eyes
blazing. “Spike, was she alright.”

“All right!” Spike repeated grinning nastily. “Peaches, just wait until you
see her. She looks dressed to kill and sounds ready to do so. She’s also
being down right sarcastic.”

“Willow!” Doyle exclaimed in pure disbelief. “Spike, Red’s never sarcastic.”

“Not openly.” Angel disagreed, smiling at a memory. “She’s just very subtle
in her use of it.”

“So subtle, you don’t even realise that she has been until it hits you
later.” Giles murmured, before turning to the younger vampire. “Did you try
to get in, Spike?”

“Of course I bloody did.” His grin faded quickly. “Do you think I’d be here
if I could, Watcher.”

“Damn! That’s all we need. How are we suppose to get her out if we can’t
even get in.” With a growl of desperation, Angel swung round, moving away
from them.

Behind him, the others exchanged a concerned look and Spike moved to his
sire’s side, standing there in silence. The look the two vampires shared
showed they shared the same sense of hopelessness and the same desire to
wring the neck of the man who had taken the little redhead from them.

Giles on the other hand pulled out his own cell phone. He dialled a number
from its memory and put it to his ear. “Cordelia, tell me you found it.”

“You were right on the ball, Giles. He is obsessed enough to do it. I just
found the record.” She took in a deep breath. “Bring her home, Giles. We
need her.”

“Found what?” Spike demanded as he and Angel rejoined them, curiosity rife.

“The house is registered in Willow’s name. I’m sure that I don’t have to
explain to you what that means.” He watched with tense amusement as the
realisation sank into the vampires. Doyle and Oz weren’t very far behind
them, grim grins appearing almost simultaneously on all their faces.

“Then let’s go get Angel and Spike invited in.” Oz murmured.

The sudden explosion of the front door into thousands of pieces had them all
turning and the vampires ducking out of the way. Where once there had been a
heavy ornate door, there was now nothing but a clear entrance… and the
visible silver signs of intense magic.

“In the name of Finn!” Doyle exclaimed taking a step backwards. “Is Red that
strong?”

“I don’t know?” Giles replied equally taken aback.

“Believe me she is.” Angel put in.

“And who else would cast a spell to get out of the bloody house.” Pike
added.

The nest sound to emanate from the house had them all running for it, the
vampire far ahead of the others, Angel ahead of Spike. Both of them were in
game face for the sound had been a scream.

A scream of pain that had come from Willow.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

“My dear love, that was a foolish thing to do.” Black held Willow’s arms in
one hand behind her back, running his fingers down her face as she struggled
to get free. “Why do you continue to fight against what is clearly your true
destiny.”

“Only in your mind, Black.” The redhead spat back, using her legs to free
herself. Managing to put space between herself and him, she rubbed her
wrists. Looking down she saw that the bruises were already beginning to
appear on her pale skin. “My destiny has already been decided and it’s at
another’s side.”

“And just who could this person be?” He asked still with that pleasant tone
that was more frightening. “Other than myself of course.”

“You know who it is, Black, and believe me, Angel will come for me.”

In the very second she mentioned the ensouled vampire’s name, the pleasant
demeanour of the man she had known as a colleague vanished. In his place was
a creature she had never seen before. His eyes turned an opaque black, his
skin dark purple and his mouth appeared to grow larger, teeth sharpening and
lengthening.

“That… vampire!” He growled in a voice that sent a shiver of pure terror
down her spine. “That vampire will be the first to be destroyed once we are
joined and you will rejoice with me. I will even allow you to destroy that
annoying childe of his.”

“Never in a thousand years!” She spat back venomously.

He grabbed her again, holding her by the chin. “You begin to annoy me,
Willow. I will not have the Elders proven correct in their unfounded
accusations as to your unsuitability.”

He hit her across the face with the back of his hand, knocking her to the
floor. She cried out in pain as the signet ring he wore cut deep into her
face. The cry the others had heard outside.
Willow drew herself up into a crouched position, one hand covering her
painful bleeding cheek. Her eyes were widened in both stunned pain and shock
as she caught Angel, then Spike and the others out of the corner of her eye.

Taking a deep breath, she threw her gaze back to Black. “You are so going to
regret that, Black or what ever you are.”

“What are makes you say that, my love!” He asked in the voice she actually
felt more scared by. He towards her pulling her up from the floor and
digging suddenly sharpened fingers into her arms. “You still can not believe
that vampire will come for you. Even if he did, it would not be of much use
to you.”

Having his back to the door, he did not see the sudden pantomime that was
going on behind him as he started to pull her towards the living room.

Willow dragged her heels looking back over her shoulder at her friends and
shaking her head in slight confusion. She returned her attention back to the
man pulling her, digging her own nails into his hand. “What makes you say
that! Nothing would stop him coming for me!”

“My dear girl, he is after all a vampire.” Black replied as he threw her
into a chair. He ran a long nail down the side of her face and she
shuddered, flinching away. “So put him from your thoughts, beloved and
prepare your mind for the our joining.”

He started to move away, then stopped, a thoughtful expression crossing his
face “But just in case… “ He waved his hand and a chain materialised out of
thin air, tying her into the chair just as she was about to make a dash for
it.

“To keep you safe, beloved. I would not want you to hurt yourself now we are
in the final stages.” He informed her as he moved away.

“Gee thanks! How considerate of you.” Willow replied sarcastically under her
breath as she struggled against her bonds. Eyes widened as his statement
about Angel and the other’s strange behaviour a moment ago suddenly began to
make sense.

“Want to explain that statement about Angel.” She asked politely curious.
“Because you sure don’t look like a human to me, and this place is yours
isn’t it?”

“My dear girl, this house is in your name, and what is yours is mine.” Black
replied as he began to lie out black candles in pattern she didn’t
recognise.

“So you’re saying that if I was to say Angel come in.” She raised her voice
on the last three words, her agile mind already working out a way to invite
Spike in. “And he happened to be in the general vicinity for example and
heard me, he could enter.”

“It is indeed a possibility, and as it is highly unlikely he is even aware
of this place, it is not going to happen.” He lay a black dagger in the
centre of the symbol, engrossed in what he was doing.

“So I suppose the same could be said for Spike as well.” Willow continued.
“I can’t just tell Spike come in either because he’ll be in the dark as
well.” Once again she raised her voice slightly on the three most important
words.

“Yes, I am happy to say. Discontinue this line of questions, Willow. I would
hate to have to mar the perfection of your other cheek in my annoyance.”

“Touch her again and I will make sure that you understand real annoyance.”
Angel’s voice came from the doorway, his tone more reminiscent of his alter
ego, Angelus.

“And you really ain’t going to like seeing Peaches furious as it is.” Spike
added, catching Willow’s slightly relieved gaze as she looked over the back
of the chair at them. He nodded at her. “Nice work on the door, Red, you
almost got me with a couple of pieces though.”
“I wasn’t exactly concentrating at the time, Spike.” She threw back as her
gaze turned to the vampire she loved. “Angel.”

“I’m here baby. Spike, watch him.” The younger vampire nodded fixing ice
blue eyes on the creature glaring at them.

Angel was at Willow’s side a moment later, grabbing hold of the chain and
breaking it on one try. He pulled her up into his arms, kissing her almost
desperately.

“Oh goddess, Angel.” She breathed as they broke apart. “What took you so
long?”

“I’m here now sweetheart, that’s all that matters. Go to Giles. Spike and I
will deal with Black.” He put a finger on her lips as she started to object,
then ran it over the cut on her cheek. “This is for me to deal with now,
Will. I’m going to make him pay for this tenfold, and for daring to take you
from me.”

She raised her hand to his cheek. “Angel, be careful. He’s not human anymore
if he ever was. You don’t know what he could be capable of now.”

“He doesn’t know what I’m capable of, little one. He should never have
touched you.” He growled as his game face emerged completely.

She drew him down for another kiss before he gently pushed her towards Giles
and the others. “Don’t you dare get hurt now, Angel.” She warned him as she
obeyed the subtle command.

He nodded turning to face Black. “Spike.”

“I’ve got your back.” The younger vampire responded, grinning cockily at the
redhead as she passed him, ruffling her hair. “You’re looking good enough
eat, pet.”

She promptly hit him, then threw herself into Giles’ arms. After returning
his hug, she looked up at him, eyes questioning. “Laura?”

“Woozy. She’ll be better once she’s seen you.” He replied, embracing her
again. “Damn it Willow, how do you manage to get yourself into these
messes.”

“Luck!” She suggested as she drew back slightly to look at the others. “Oz,
are you alright? I saw them tie you down. You have to be if you’re here
though, don’t you. You wouldn’t be if you weren’t now, would you. Even
though I wouldn’t put it pass you.”

Grinning in relief at her sudden burst of rambling, the werewolf covered her
mouth with his hand. “I’m fine, Willow, I promise. So is Amy.”

“Shouldn’t we be leaving now.” Doyle inserted suddenly; just he caught sight
of the men he had seen in his vision. “We’re getting company of the
abducting kind.”

“Oh goddess!” Willow looked up at the Watcher. “Giles, have you ever heard
of greystone gnomes or stone dwarves?”

“A legend when I was younger.” He turned round bringing her with him. “I
take it that’s what they say they are.”

“Indeed we do, sir, for indeed we are.” Their leader replied moving towards
them. “I take it we are about to lose the Boss, miss?”

The strange thing was he didn’t seem that particularly bothered by the idea
that they were.

Willow glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Black snatch up the
black dagger and attack Angel with it, drawing blood. Paling even whiter
than normal, she clutched the Watcher’s hand and forced her gaze away. “Oh
dear goddess, I hope so.”

“Why?” Doyle asked bluntly, his eyes alert and ready to fight if need be.
“Are you going to try and help him?”

“Indeed not, young master.” The little man replied waving his hand. The
whole hall was suddenly filled with men just like him and the four took an
involuntary step backwards. “If we had known that he was going to go up
against the Warrior, we would never have accepted this job. We are therefore
terminating our contract with him as of this moment.”

He turned to Willow and as one, they all bowed to her. “We’re going now,
Sorceress. Perhaps we will meet again one day.”

To their stunned shock, and Willow’s horror, the entire group started to
sink into the hall floor, almost as if they were dissolving into the stone
floor. As the last one vanished, Willow shuddered violently. “I so hope not.
That’s one group of people I can do with never seeing again.”

She immediately swung round just in time to see Angel being thrown across
the room, landing across the room, landing with a heavy thump in the middle
of a table. With a furious snarl, he jumped to his feet and launched himself
back into the fight. He was just in time to grab Black’s arm just as he was
about to thrust the dagger into Spike’s back.

He bent the arm backwards and the sound of snapping bones could be clearly
heard. It didn’t stop Black though. With a snarl, he launched himself at the
dark-haired vampire, trying to grab his neck with his other hand.

“She belongs to me, vampire.” He snarled.

“Wrong!” Angel growled back, eyes flashing furiously as he knocked him away,
then kicking him clear across the room as he came at him again. “She belongs
to me!”

“Possessive much!” Willow murmured as he turned to face her. She immediately
ran into his arms, clinging to him.

He lowered his head, resting his cheek on her soft hair and she wrapped her
arms around his waist. Neither saw Black rising to his feet, his opaque eyes
blazing with a strange light as he began to move towards the couple.

Behind them Doyle did and he called out a warning. “Angel look out!”

Angel swung round, pushing Willow behind him, kicking out at him.

“Will you just get the message and give in!” He growled impatiently, feeling
her small hands cling urgently to his jacket. “She’s been through enough,
thanks to you.”

“She is mine.” Black growled furiously. “I chose her.”

“Get over it.” Willow snapped from behind Angel. “If I belong to anyone, I
belong to Angel.”

“We belong to each other, little one.” He growled angering Black even more.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spike grab an axe from a nearby wall
and slowly moved towards them. Eyes widening, she subtly tugged Angel’s
jacket and he put one arm behind him holding her to his back, effectively
shielding her from what was about to happen.

Seconds later, a body lay on the floor and a head flew across the room from
the sheer force of the blow. Spike had neatly and swiftly separated them as
the false Watcher had lunged for his sire and his redheaded mate.

“I always said he’d lose his head one day.” The younger vampire murmured,
leaning on the axe.

“Spike, thank you.” Angel said quietly.
“For Red, anything.” He replied.

Angel turned round and pulled Willow into his arms. She buried her face in
his shoulder, shaking slightly. “It’s over, Willow. It’s finally over.” He
murmured against her hair. As she continued to shiver in reaction, he lifted
her into his arms and she hid her face in his neck.

“In that case, I think it’s time to leave.” Giles said quietly. “We have
people waiting for us.”

“And the body?” Oz asked equally quietly as he glanced towards it.

“We still have a lot of P.C.P gangs in Sunnydale, so I’m told.” The Watcher
replied as he followed Angel out. A broad grin graced his face. “Let the
police deal with it.”

“Let’s get Red home then.” Spike immediately joined Angel and Willow.
“Before anything else rears it’s ugly head.”

“I could say something here, but I won’t.” Angel murmured to Willow who
barely held back a laugh.

“I heard that you two.” Spike growled loud enough for the others to hear.

The werewolf actually chuckled. “Life returned to Hellmouth normality.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, would you Oz?” Doyle grinned as the
werewolf shook his head. “So like the Watcher said, let’s get going.”
 

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