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Chapter One

Angelus was sprawled on his brand new leather sofa. He’d taken the liberty of sprucing up the soulled wonder’s hotel. He patted himself down, looking for a
cigarette. He could really use one. Damn, left them upstairs. Angelus glanced up. Wesley was still prattling on about something. The exasperating ex-Watcher was holding an ancient text, reading aloud with an almost feverish excitement. He was describing a Blogch demon ritual and what they do to their virgin
sacrifices.

Angelus’ ears perked up at that. He remembered lots of ‘virgin sacrifices’ from both his human and vampire days. Though, when he was human the virgins walked away from the encounter. His mouth twisted into a smirk.  And they usually walked back to him for more of the same. As a vampire, Angelus loved the way maidens tasted.  There was something to be said for purity after all. Some of his favorite hunting grounds were convents. Ahhh, those were the days.
Angelus had come back from Sunnydale, determined to become Angel. He was convinced that through his ‘better’ half’s connections, he could discover how to have this damnable chip removed. He’d told Wesley, Cordelia, and Gunn about his chip and they’d been angry on his behalf. Apparently, Angel had to infrequently rough up humans in order to get information. They had agreed to help him and they’d been researching it ever since.

They had all noticed an attitude change in Angel but had attributed it to his recent ‘dark period’ and subsequent ‘epiphany.’ They hadn’t even questioned his better mood or his renewed sense of humor. All of them had simply accepted him, welcomed him back into the fold.

Cordelia walked into the room. She held a bag emblazoned with a store logo aloft. “Guess what I found?”

Angelus sat up and patted the sofa. “Do tell.”

She sat down with a flourish and reached into the bag to pull out a pair of fine leather gloves. “Bought these for you, Angel. They were on sale.”

Angelus picked them up and put them on his hands. “Leather driving gloves.” He said reverently. He’d always wanted a pair. “Thanks, Cordelia. You’re a doll.” He kissed her on the cheek. In the past weeks, the ex-cheerleader had grown on him. They had so much in common. She was vain. So was he. She had
impeccable fashion sense. So did he. She was gorgeous. So was he. Cordelia and he had bonded quickly. After being in L.A. for two weeks, Angelus had begun to despair about Angel’s wardrobe when she had suggested a shopping exertion. She was the one who encouraged him to buy some leather pants.
He’d been afraid to wear them because everyone knew of his fondness for them. Now, they often went shopping together and even did lunch in trendy restaurants. She knew where all the sales were and she always made him laugh. He smiled at her, this was one positive thing to come out of his ‘chip fiasco’. To think he could’ve eaten this girl without a second thought. He found her honesty refreshing. He might even consider turning her after he got his chip removed. And she thought moisturizing was the key to younger looking skin! Yes she was lovely. Though, she wasn’t as beautiful as a certain redhead he knew.

Angelus had spoken with Willow on several occasions in the past two months.  Things between his childe and his love weren’t going as well as planned. Willow had recently increased her magickal abilities and that was frightening the other Scoobies as much as the hellgoddess they were fighting. He had offered his help but the Slayer had insisted that this was her problem and was happening in her town. Angelus had merely shrugged, his only concern had really been Willow’s safety. Willow had reassured him by saying that when she’d had the misfortune to meet up with this Glory woman she’d held her own. Pretty good considering the fact that she was a goddess.

“As I was saying,” Wesley harrumphed. He opened his mouth to begin again and was promptly interrupted.

“Wes was just telling me how to properly perform a virgin sacrifice.” Angelus leaned closer to her with a rakish smile. “Care to volunteer for a demonstration?” Then he raised one eyebrow at her. “Hmm. It was probably ‘sacrificed’ long ago.”

Cordelia screeched and smacked him on the arm. “Angel!” She reached into her bag. “Now, for the good stuff. Wait until you see what I got me.” She pulled out a classic ‘little black dress’. It would look perfect on her frame.

He nodded in approval. Then she produced a bottle of perfume. She held out to him, he sniffed obligingly. “Mmm. Jasmine and a hint of musk?”

“Yep. Like it?”

“ Very much. Good choices, Cordelia.”

“About those demons. . .”

“ Can’t you just tell me how to kill the demons and spare me the details?” Angelus was more of an action kind of vampire anyway. He honestly didn’t care how
these demons liked to eat their virgins as long as he could stop them and get on with his unlife. Unfortunately, performing good acts was a side effect of becoming Angel. He’d killed countless demons. Angelus had actually begun to like it. Demons were much more formidable adversaries than humans. It kept his fighting skills sharp and his wits about him. Angelus was convinced that this made him sort of a vampire’s vampire.  After all, he was terrorizing the things that terrorized humans. The only downside was that he couldn’t eat the victims he saved. And all of those humans were rude. Not a single one of them had offered him some blood for saving their worthless, mortal hides.

Gunn walked in, swinging an ax. “Are we gonna kill these uglies or what?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Angelus said, standing up and walking to his weapons stash. He had a grudging admiration for the self-appointed demon slayer. Gunn was quick on his feet and a fierce fighter for a human. He cast a speculative eye at the young man. He’d make one hell of a vampire one day. Once Angelus was restored to his former glory.

*******

Later on that evening, the crew walked back in the hotel.  The demons were dead, the women had been saved. Good had won. Again. Well, whoopdifriggin’do!

Angelus had more pressing matters. His pants, for example. Angelus looked down at them. Covered in slime. What was it with demons and slime? They were always oozing it everywhere. And they always smelled. Disgusting! Another pair of perfectly good leather pants ruined for the sake of a few silly virgins.
Being good was expensive.

“Angel?” A tentative voice said.

Angelus looked in the direction of his office. She stood there framed in the doorway. Willow. She was here and she had tears in her eyes. “Oh, Angel.”

“What is it?” He asked gently. Had his thoughtless childe broken her heart? Was she coming to him for help? He could only hope.

“Buffy.”

Angelus gritted his teeth. The Slayer again. “What about her?”

She walked closer to him, her skin was so pale. She hadn’t been sleeping, judging from the size of the circles under her eyes. “Buffy’s d-dead.” He held out his arms to her and she entered them willingly, softly crying against his chest. “I’m so sorry, Angel. I tried to save her, but-“

”Shh. Let it out.” She did, sobbing against his chest. Angelus didn’t feel remorse for the Slayer’s passing. It was what she was born to do, give her life to save humanity. But he did feel remorse for Willow’s pain and obvious guilt.

“Buffy’s dead?” Cordelia whispered. Everyone had heard what was going on but wanted to give Angel a minute to adjust to the news. She embraced Wesley and they held each other. Both mourning a mutual friend and a brilliant slayer.

“She was a good fighter.” Wesley said.

“Yeah.” Cordelia sniffed. “The best.” She and Buffy hadn’t been friends but she still regretted her passing. Buffy had saved her life more times than she could count.

Gunn walked over to them and squeezed their arms. “Buffy was a friend?”

“Yes.” Wesley said. “She was a Vampire Slayer. The best I’ve ever seen.”

Gunn nodded, he’d heard of Buffy and what a Vampire Slayer was. He also knew that Angel and the girl had a ‘thing’ before. Right now, the big guy was
comforting the redhead who, Gunn assumed, was another friend of Buffy’s.

Willow pulled back from Angelus. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save her ,Angel. If we’d been able to stop-“

”Willow, you’re not to blame for this. Understand?” She nodded reluctantly. He had his work cut out for him on this one. “Why don’t you come upstairs with me? I think you need to talk about this.”

“Alright.” Willow agreed. She was still in a state of shock.

Angelus ushered her upstairs, waiving to his crew as they left for the night. He wanted to talk to His Willow, ease her pain and fear. Work his way back into her life. Once he was there, no one would take her from him. He'd given her time. Time to get over her infatuation with Spike. But she had come to him, he wasn't about to let her go now.

Something troubled him, however. What wasn’t she telling him? And why wasn’t Spike here comforting her?
 

Chapter Two

Angelus sat in a chair smoking a cigarette and watching Willow sleep. He still couldn't believe it.  She was here.  In his bed. . . where she belonged.

He'd given her the top of a pair of his pajamas to wear. They were far too large for her and the creamy skin of her left shoulder was revealed to him.  It took all his willpower not to walk over and slide into bed with her.  He began to sketch her sleeping form as he leaned back in his chair. Her chest was rising and falling in an even rhythm. She looked so peaceful as she was lying there, her hair spread on his pillow like a crimson fan.  Willow had drifted off to sleep easily two hours before, exhausted after their lengthy talk.

He had listened to her give him a blow-by-blow account of their fight with Glory. Willow and Spike were on the top of the tower fighting a demon named  'Doc'. Willow's powers were formidable but she'd become distracted when Spike was attacked.   The demon managed to throw both his childe and Willow from the top of a building.  Luckily, Spike had landed first, cushioning the witch's fall.  She'd escaped from the encounter with only a few bruises and cuts.
The demon had then cut Dawn and opened the gates to all the dimensions.

Buffy had managed to defeat Glory but Giles had actually killed her while she was in human form.  The Slayer then offered her own blood to close the gates.  They'd all wept when they saw her broken body but had been forced into action because of the many demons which had just been loosed on Sunnydale. Somehow 'Doc' escaped their wrath, they thought he might have skipped town. The Scoobies had fought valiantly  for two days, not stopping to eat or even sleep. After the last demon was killed they had mourned their Slayer.  They had made all the funeral preparations and had chosen a phrase for
her tombstone. . .   'She saved the world.  A lot.'  It was all they could think of.

Willow said to adequately express what Buffy meant to her, they'd have to write on every tombstone in all of Sunnydale's many cemeteries.  Despite himself, Angelus had been moved.  His Willow was capable of such a strong and true devotion to someone she loved.  When he was through, all of that caring and concern would be focused solely on him.  Angelus had patiently held her and stroked her back while she spoke in a small voice to him about the events of the last few days. She reminded him of a frightened little girl.  Which not only made her more appealing, but it also made his animal protective instincts rise.  He'd told her that everything would be alright and that Buffy was at peace, having earned her eternal reward.  But it felt so good to have her lean on him, need him. He'd bind her to him anyway he could.

Willow never volunteered information on how her powers had increased. Angelus suspected that she had probably aligned herself with some dark source. This fact didn't bother him, he always knew Willow had a dark side, he wanted to be there to help her explore it.

She had also refused to talk about Spike or why he wasn't here. He had heard that there were arguments going on between the two when Willow had phoned him over the past couple of months.  She would never give particulars, protective of Spike's privacy and his hatred of his sire.  Angelus had dropped
the subject of Spike, not wanting to upset her anymore than she already was. He would bide his time and get his questions answered soon enough.

Buffy's funeral would be taking place in two days time. Willow had asked him to attend and Angelus had agreed but he wasn't thrilled at the prospect.  At least it would give him an opportunity to wear that black suit Cordy had insisted he buy on their last shopping excursion.   Oh, and his new Italian loafers with the silver buckles! The Slayer, at best, had been a worthy adversary. He had none of Angel's feelings for her.   Couldn't stand her at all. He had his
opinions on her death, but wisely kept them to himself.   He thought she merely fulfilled her destiny, she died to save the world.  Besides, most  Slayer's rarely lived to see eighteen years.  It was the kind of venerated end that befitted a formidable Slayer.  Still, he was sad that he could not have played a more crucial role in her death.  Sure, the "Scourge of Europe" was more than title enough for him.  But adding "Killer of the Oldest Slayer" had a certain ring to it.
Still, it couldn't be helped.  It was done, no use crying over spilled Slayer blood.

Willow had played right into his hands when she asked him to return to Sunnydale indefinitely.  He didn't have to invent an excuse to go back.  He had been
invited.  Invitations mean a lot to vampires. In the wake of Buffy's death, the Hellmouth's demonic activity heated up and they had been busy patrolling and researching to stop the hordes of demons who were jockeying for position in the Slayerless Sunnydale.

They needed someone to help  rid Sunnydale of 'beasties' until the demonic activity died down.  It was a daunting task but Angelus had eagerly agreed.  Anything for His Willow.

                             *******

"You should eat something." Angelus said, holding out a plate of eggs he had made for her using Soulboy's recipe.

"I'll try." She said, taking the eggs. She hadn't had much of an appetite lately. She still lay in his bed.  He sat down beside her at her hip.

"Feeling any better?"

"Yes.  I think telling you. . .just made it real somehow. I-I'm sorry to. . .for having cried like that. . .I know that you were special to each other.  You're probably
dealing with all this grief right now and babysitting me isn't helping." She took a fork full of food.

Angelus stroked her cheek.  "Buffy and I were over a long time ago.  "I do. . ." he gulped, trying hard not to choke on the words.  "Miss her but it's not the same thing."

"Angel, I know that she was with Riley, but she never stopped loving you.  Not really. You were always special to her, you touched a part of her that no one else could. You know that, don't you?"

He merely nodded.   Actually, from what Spike was saying, anyone with a nice smile and a ready compliment could touch that part of her, but he didn't think Willow would appreciate hearing that fact right now. This was the part he hated. . .pretending to care about the things that Angel did. He felt nothing for the Slayer but he had to give a convincing performance.  He knew he  was a great actor. After all, he fooled Gunn, Cordelia, and Wesley for a couple of months.  In fact, he used to trod the boards.  He remembered those days with fondness.  Darla would watch him from a private box.  He'd give a marvelous
performance, earning thunderous applause and a standing ovation.  Then, he'd take a few bows, collect the flowers that had been thrown to him, and then eat the other actors after the last curtain call.  Eventually though, he got tired of having to bite necks covered in greasepaint.  That stuff left a bitter
aftertaste to the blood.  And there were only so man theater troupes he could join and then devour.

Thank the Devil, Angel wasn't one of those 'new age' men who wept all the time. All he had to do was look sad occasionally and furrow his brow.

There was a knock on the door.  Angelus got up to answer it.  Cordelia stood on the other side and spoke in low tones. "Angel, I just wanted to tell you that I've made all the travel arrangements.  We leave tomorrow night."
 

Chapter Three

Angelus held a bloody axe at his side as he strolled out of the alleyway, black coat undulating around him.  He glanced over his shoulder at his handiwork, gratified to see bits o' demon were lying on trash cans and across empty boxes.   Everywhere really.  He smirked. This was too much fun.  Nothing like
carnage to add zest to a night on the town.  And he still had half the city left to patrol! He'd probably get to kill again before the night was through.   Then he could go  back to his hotel suite where Willow would be waiting for him.  This night couldn't get much better.

                             *******

Willow knelt by Buffy's grave.  With a slicing motion of her hand she temporarily released the  protection spell she had cast over the grave site.  She wanted
to protect Buffy's remains from marauding demons who might use the Slayer's remains in a spell or for some horrible trophy.  She opened the double chocolate mocha she'd brought with her.

"I got this for you."  Her eyes grew watery.  "I know you can't drink it,  but I think about you all the time and I wanted you to have it. " She choked back a sob. "It's strange, little things set me off.  Like drinking mochas, you and I used to do that all the time and then we'd talk. " She sighed. "Everything was so simple
then. But now you're gone, no more mochas and all day mall shopping. No more laughing 'til my sides hurt and crying together to ease the pain."  She sighed, letting the tears fall down her face.  " I want you to know that I haven't forgotten you.  I'll never forget you.  I miss you, Buffy, I don't care how many
Slayers come after you.  There's only one Buffy Anne Summers and she was my best friend."

She poured the mocha beside the grave.  It was silly,  but she felt like she was making a statement to Buffy with the gesture. She pressed two fingertips to her mouth and placed them on the headstone, a cool kiss.   She stood again and then put the barrier back up before turning to walk away.

It had been a week since Buffy's funeral.  Willow had managed to go about her daily routines.  The demonic activity had actually been helpful to her because it provided a distraction. Angel had been wonderful, always there by her side.  He'd readily taken on all the bad things that had tried to make trouble. Lately, she'd been going over to his hotel after he was done patrolling. He listened to her talk about her feelings and about Buffy but he never voiced any of his own
pain.  Willow understood though, after having been in a relationship with a laconic man like Oz.  She understood his need to keep that to himself.

She was also trying desperately to stifle the attraction she had to Angel.  The love of his unlife  had just died and she was thinking about. . .well, she was a terrible person. Ever since he kissed her the night he'd gotten his soul back Willow had been thinking about him off and on.  It was so strange, she'd never
thought of Angel in that way before. Sure, she admired him physically, he was a handsome man.  The way she was feeling about him now was similar to her reaction to Angelus.

She had been talking on the phone with him frequently. Sometimes, after Spike had gone to bed she felt the urge to call Angel.  She'd take the phone out on her balcony and had listened to the deep rumble of his voice.  He was witty and sexy. . .and so much like Angelus she wanted to come to L.A. and kiss him again.

Or give him a few chocolate bars until. . .bad witch!

She'd also been haunted by Angel's comment about Spike not completely being a demon anymore.  What did that mean exactly? She'd researched it on the sly and hadn't found out any known cases of spontaneous demon reversal or whatever you could call it.  She hadn't mentioned it to Spike either. Knowing him, she'd have to keep all wooden objects away form him for a few weeks after she'd told him.  Spike loved his demon qualities.  Willow kinda liked them to.
It was horrible to admit having feelings for a demon. What attracted her to Spike, attracted her to Angelus.  Buffy had been very angry with her because of the Angelus incident but their friendship was stronger, they had persevered.  Willow had explained to Buffy that it wasn't Angel she was attracted to but Angelus. Then she had closed her eyes and waited for the Slayer to freak out. Instead, she'd gotten a  lecture from Buffy on what demons are. She could practically hear her voice now. Remember the demon the mayor turned into?  That's what Angelus would look like if he weren't hanging out in Angel's body!  Yep, Wills, you want to get it on with a scaly snake guy.

Then there was the Spike factor.  A relationship with him was proving more difficult than she thought.  They had kept it secret from the other scoobies and it was putting a strain on their relationship.  But neither one of them wanted Spike to end up a pile of ashes.  She couldn't win.

"Red?"

Willow looked up, momentarily startled. "Spike."  Her voice was neutral.  She looked up to see him resting against a headstone.  Spike had been staying with Dawn since the Slayer's death. They had finally reached her "father" only to find that he had no memories of her.  The monks had evidently left a loophole in their manufactured memories. Dawn was crushed, she felt she had no one.  But Spike had stepped in, it seemed that he had grown to care about her somewhere in the middle of his Buffy obsession.  He had moved in the Summers' house and was caring for her. "How are you?"

"Fine, just fine.  And you?  I know that Angel is here. Rupert mentioned it to me."  Spike had stopped interacting with the Scoobies for the most part, Dawn was his only concern now.  He didn't come to meetings anymore. Never even stopped by the Magic Box.

"Yes, Angel's here.  He's been patrolling every night." She sighed, tears were starting to form in her eyes.  She felt the careless facade she'd carefully constructed to mask her pain begin to disintegrate as she stared at him. "Spike. . .w-w-what happened to us? Ever since. . .ever since Buffy's death you've been distant. I know that things weren't always easy between us before.  I know that we had a lot of fights,   but I thought you cared enough about me to at least try. "

Spike felt his own eyes begin to tear up. He reached forward and grasped her shoulders to pull her into his embrace.  She sobbed into his chest and he felt his heart break.  "I'm sorry, luv, I just can't do this anymore.  I can't stand here and let you. . ."

He broke off before he said too much.  He put a hand to her chin and forced her to look him in the eye to bring home his point.  "Never doubt that I care about you. Always. But, I'm going to move in with Dawn, she needs me right now." Willow felt curiously numb. He walked away from her swiftly before he lost his nerve.

                             ********

Spike rolled his eyes heavenward, staring at the deceptively beautiful night sky. Spike had faced some harsh realities as a result of the Slayer's death.  Willow was mortal.  One day she would die.  She'd be lost to him forever. Losing Dru had nearly killed him, he didn't even want to contemplate what losing
Willow would do.  Spike didn't even consider the possibility of turning her.  He didn't want to.  He wanted her, Willow.  Everything that made her so very special belonged to the soul.  The demon that would inhabit her body would merely go through the motions. And even if he did give her the soul back, she'd be doomed to an existence devoid of true happiness.  Just look at Peaches. Could he really do that to the woman he loved?

Of course not.  She needed to marry a normal, human man and have children. It didn't matter that the thought of seeing her walk down the aisle and say 'I do' to some silly human who would never appreciate her made him want to put his fist through a wall. He had to do what was best for her. Be cruel to be
kind and all that.   She needed to forget about him, move on.  He cursed violently as he continued to walk. Spike even made up new curse words because the many words that he knew didn't do this situation justice. He was well and truly love's bitch.

This realization of mortality even extended to the scoobies. Bloody hell.   He was starting to care about them too.  These attachments made him uncomfortable.  He was used to only having Drusilla depend on him.  But she was immortal, at one time he'd though that she would never leave his side.  They were supposed to be eternal, from the night she changed him she had always been there for him. Now look at him.  No Drusilla and there would be no Willow either.  He couldn't suffer the agony of loss again. The only one who was safe to be around was Dawn. She was immortal, just like him. She would never ever leave him willingly.

                             *******

Willow walked to Angel's hotel in a daze.  It was over with Spike.  She couldn't believe it ended like this, on the edge of a graveyard a few feet from her best friend's grave.  Buffy.  Goddess!  I was here all the time and I didn't realize it.  He was still in love with Buffy. He probably hadn't gotten over her, she'd
noticed that Spike was intense.  He either loved something or he loathed it.  He couldn't have cast the Slayer from his heart so easily. Maybe she'd been a stand-in, a way to help him get over her.

No wonder he'd taken her death so hard.  That's why he couldn't seem to look at her anymore. That was it, he loved Buffy.  Just like Angel.

                             *******

Willow knocked on Angel's door.  He answered it wearing a towel, moisture clung to his body and his hair was wet.  "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you'd be-" What? Be half naked and wet? "busy."

"I'm never too busy for you. After all you're my friend. " She thought she saw a devilish gleam in those black eyes of his when he opened the door wider and  the towel at his waist accidently slipped an inch and a half.  She looked at the opposite wall as she walked in.   Poor Angel, here he was in the middle of a
shower and she was bugging him yet again.  She looked forward to the talks they had though.

Angelus watched the nervous redhead blush beet red as she sat at the small table in his room.  If he had known he could have provoked this kind of reaction from her  so easily he would have gotten naked a lot sooner.  Deciding to test his newfound power, he walked into the bathroom and put on the white terrycloth bathrobe provided by the hotel.  It left a generous portion of his chest exposed. She looked up at him and then down again, fidgeting with
her hands. "Uh, don't you want to get dressed Angel?"  Please, please, please get dressed. Before, I do something stupid.

"No, I'm comfortable.  Unless I'm making you.   .  .?"

Hell, yes. "Oh.  Don't be silly, of course not."

"Good.  Now, tell me what's bothering you."

She met his eyes again and already started to tear up.  "I ran into Spike.  H-he broke up with me."

Angelus reached across the table and took her hands in his own.  He had tread very carefully here.  "I'm so sorry, Willow."  He brought her soft warm hand to his face and brushed a kiss across the knuckle.  She stood up shakily, never breaking eye contact with him and threw her arms around him.  Then she started to sob, really letting it out all out.  She cried for Buffy and for little Dawn.  She cried for Spike, and most of all for herself.

Angelus pulled her down into his lap and she didn't protest.  She just clung to him, seeking his support.  She'd fallen right into his hands.  Yes, this night couldn't get much better.
 

Chapter Four

"It’s all my fault." Dawn said miserably.

"Nonsense." Spike intoned, sitting on the edge of her bed and patting her hand awkwardly. He was having a terrible night, wanted to run to the liquor cabinet and drink the contents of it down after running into Willow like that. He hadn’t been prepared to face her yet.

But he needed to comfort Dawn. Wanted to her ease her mind."Now, I know the Slayer. She knew what she was doing. She loved you so much that she sacrificed herself for you, wanted you to go on with your life."

"That’s just it, Spike. I’m not real. Not like all of you. I should have jumped." Her voice grew smaller. "Maybe just this body would have died. I-I would still be alive as The Key."

" You are just as real as any of us."

"Everyone misses Buffy like I do, I think they. . .h-hate me now. "

"They don’t hate you, sweet bit. I promise. Buffy did what she wanted to do, everyone knows that. Now, you can’t think about the past all you can do is focus on the future. You are immortal and you will go on, like me."

"Like you." Dawn repeated. "Spike?"

"Yes?" He could tell from the widening of her blue eyes that this question would be a doozy.

"Do you hate me because she died? I know that you. . .that you loved her."

Spike shook his head. The Slayer was long gone from his thoughts, replaced by a red haired witch that he couldn’t have either. "No, nibblet, I could never hate you." He took her by the shoulders. "Not ever. And I’ll be around to help you." His voice grew quieter. "You can’t leave me, can’t wither and die and leave me all alone. We are forever."

"Forever." She whispered. It boggled her mind. At 14, a few weeks sounded like a lot of time. "What will I do with myself?"

"Well," Spike said, seeking a way to distract her and lift her spirits. Couldn’t stand anymore angst for a while. He gritted his teeth. "Why don’t you put on those Back Street buggers and listen to them. Might lift your spirits." He keep quiet and endure the sugary pop songs.

"Will you stay and listen with me?"

"Yeah." He agreed reluctantly, at least it would distract them. You can’t think about a beautiful red haired witch when those wankers were singing.

"Will you sing along?" Spike’s face became mutinous. But she knew how to handle that. "You’ve got such a great voice."

The vampire’s face broke out into a small smile. "Alright, for a while. Then off to bed with you."

Dawn jumped up and put on the C.D., listening carefully to the opening strains of a song. "Will you dance too?" She shook her hips. "Shake your booty?"

Spike’s look spoke volumes. Something along the lines of ‘I’m a master vampire, I do not shake my booty to the Back Streets sods. I torture people for fun, I break bones and drink blood. I’m a dangerous creature.’ Not that he would ever hurt nibblet, he just wanted some respect. But he only said, "Don’t press your luck."

She gave him her best puppy dog look. He sighed, it was only a matter of time before he agreed.

Across town, Angelus was comforting the sobbing redhead . She leaned against his chest as she sat on his lap. "B-breaking up with me isn’t even the worst thing he did." He patted her back, soothingly. "H-he used me."

Angelus’ eyes lit with an unholy fury. Used her? As in for sex? Or to get back at the Slayer? Or to get back at his sire? "How did he use you?" He said, deadly calm, already starting to plot his childe’s demise.

"T-to get over B-B-Buffy. I was a j-just a substitute. He must’ve hated, every m-minute he spent with me."

Angelus felt the tension drain from his body. He almost felt like laughing. Spike had obviously wanted the redhead last time he’d checked. There was zero chance of the redhead being a replacement for Buffy. Damn if he’d plead his ignorant childe’s case though. This would only work to his advantage. "Willow, I’m so sorry. That must be so painful. Do you want to talk about it?" While I stroke your soft skin and hold you close?

Willow’s sobs began to quiet, a combination of Angelus’ soothing motions on her back and his calming tone of voice. She laid her head down on his broad shoulder."No, just being here helps. I still need to sort some things out. Thank you for being here for me though."

"You never have to thank me, Willow. I like being here for you. After all, aren’t we friends?"

"Of course we’re friends." She sighed, missing the catch in his voice. "It’s funny, it took a visit from Angelus and you moving to L.A. to make us close."

"Angelus certainly leaves an impression." He watched her carefully, wondering what she would say about him.

"You could say that." Willow looked into his eyes, felt goose bumps begin to form on her skin. Angel had never ever watched her like this, his eyes were admiring."We never really talked about that subject."

He smiled. "Maybe because you avoided it?"

Willow ducked his all-knowing eyes. "So did you."

"I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable." Or tip you off to exactly who were talking to! Angelus had never been able to speak about himself and not brag.

"You wouldn’t be. I was kind of afraid you’d be mad at me."

"Why?"

"For not telling Buffy at first. For. . .uh, other things he and I did." She blushed.

He slid a hand down her leg. "Did you like what he did to you? What he made you feel?"

"Yes." The word was whispered. Almost involuntarily, she leaned closer, her lips inches from his. His mouth haunted her. It had felt so right somehow.

"Would you like to feel that way again?" Angelus’ hand cupped her cheek.

Suddenly, she was aware of her position on his lap. Aware of the hard muscles of his thigh and another bulge that she wasn’t going to think about. And aware of the curse. . ."N-no. I’m uh, sorry for. . .sitting on you. Not that you weren’t nice to, uh, sit on. Not that I enjoyed it! I mean. . .not that it was horrible." She shook her head. "I must be very tired, Angel. That’s it. We’re just tired and lonely." She tried to ease off his lap but his hands stayed around her waist, holding her in place. "I should go now. G-goodnight, Angel."

"What if I don’t want you to go? What if we could ease each other’s lonliness?" He purred.

Willow’s eyes grew wide and her breath caught. Something about that tone of voice. . .the look in those eyes. Angelus? No, the others cursed him. Truthfully, they’d all agreed not to discuss the issue further. They were still mired in their battle with Glory and dealing with a motherless Slayer. "I really have to go , Angel." She said, he was only seeking some comfort. A moment of weakness.

"No, you don’t. You could stay a while." Angel brushed his lips over the corner of her mouth.

Did he try to kiss her cheek and miss or was he too afraid to kiss her mouth directly? "I have to go, Angel!" Willow said more loudly, straining against his hands.

"Alright, Willow." He let her go. She scampered to the door, but Angel’s voice forestalled her. "I’m sorry, Willow. I don’t know what came over me. I’m didn’t mean to . . ." He ducked his head, trying his best to look chagrined.

"It’s okay, Angel. We’re under a lot of stress. Goodnight." Willow said softly before she left, closing the door behind her.

Angelus smiled to himself. Run while you can, little one. Sooner or later I’m going to catch you.

"Cordy, have you noticed anything. . .different about Angel lately?"

The ex-cheerleader frowned as she contemplated the question. "Well, he’s been shopping a lot lately. He’s become a much better dresser since I started helping him."

"Shopping?" That wasn’t what she wanted to know. " What about his moods, does he seem happier?"

"Well, yes. But not ‘Angelus happy.’"

"Hmm. Has he eaten any chocolate lately?"

"We’ve kept him away from it because of you warning." She regarded the witch carefully. "Something you want to talk about?"

She took a deep breath and blurted it out. "Angel kissed me."

"Wow, you poor girl. They should have a support group for that." Cordelia said dryly.

"You think it’s a joke? Ask Buffy or Drusilla if they felt they needed a support group after some physical contact with him."

"That was after they met up with Angelus, not Angel. There’s a big difference."

"Getting physical with Angel leads to Angelus! Hence, my problem with the smoochie he gave me."

"What kind of a kiss are we talking about? A deep, opened mouth one? A light kiss on the lips?"

"It was a kiss on the corner of my mouth."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Geez, we should report him for sexual harassment."

"Cordy!"

"What’s the big? He was just being friendly."

"Exactly. We’re just friends and he kissed me. This is Angel we’re talking about, it’s hard to get him to speak to you, let along some physical contact."

Cordy had witnessed the sparkage between Wills and Angel. She thought a steamy flirtation, with no big ‘happy’ moments would be healthy for both of them. Help ease their pain. "He’s changed since living in L.A. Maybe he’s been picking up things from Wes and me."

"Does he kiss you?"

"Well, no." Cordelia said carefully. "He probably feels close to you, you’re going through some things together right now, with Buffy’s death."

"Maybe you’re right." Willow muttered carefully. But she wasn’t sure of it.
 

Chapter Five

"Chicken Soup for the Soul." Willow read the front cover of the book. "Hmmm. Soul food."  Her mother had sent to her via Fedex, they weren't
planning on coming home for another month.  Her mother thought it might help Willow get through her friend's death.  She certainly could use some sort of spiritual assistance at this point. Though, she doubted the answer to her problems when is this thin volume of stories. She put in her bookshelf dutifully, maybe she'd read it another time.

The truth is Willow was worried.  She'd really gotten in over her head this time. In order to defeat Glory, she'd gotten into Giles' private collection of spell books, the ones that contained dark magicks. It happened right after Glory's minion's had taken Spike back to the god's apartment.  Willow had been sleeping when the minions grabbed Spike from the balcony off of her bedroom.  She'd heard the struggle to late,
waking up only to find them dragging him off into the night.

She'd called Buffy in a panic state, saying that Glory had taken the blond vampire. She'd been forced to lie, saying she'd seen them take him from his crypt. Buffy hadn't cared and Willow had been forced to remind the Slayer that Spike knew who the key was.  Buffy had been spurred into action, vowing to find the god and kill Spike before he could blab the secret.  Willow was horrified but unable to explain that she cared about Spike.  She was afraid that she had just worsened the situation -- two blond women were trying to kill Spike. The young witch had turned to magick to help her situation, she knew of a book that Giles kept hidden.

So, she'd gone to the `Magick Box' by herself. If Willow closed her eyes, she could still see the pages of `Darkest Magic' turn by themselves. With calm resignation, she'd read the answer to her problem, found the power source. Then, she had dragged the heavy book down the ladder and used some of Giles' merchandise to cast a circle. After she'd lit several candles, Willow called on the arch demon, Azriel.  And then she promised him her soul in exchange for higher dark powers. . .and he had agreed.

"Wills?" Willow was thrown from her reverie to see Xander standing there looking at her. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Why?"

"Because I've been calling your name and banging on the door for about ten minutes and you didn't answer me.  Are you ready to go?"

"I'm ready. Sorry, I was just thinking."  They were going to see Giles, apparently there had been some mysterious deaths in town.   An impromptu
scoobies meeting was called.  She stood up and grabbed a book that she would need and followed him out the
door.

                             ********

When they arrived at Giles apartment, Angel was leaning against a wall smoking a cigarette and Cordelia stood beside him. "Hey, guys." Xander
called.  He hadn't seen Cordelia since the funeral.  Angel's crew and the scoobies didn't have much to talk about anymore.  Conversation had been stilted at best between the two groups and they had silently agreed to avoid each other while also working for the same goals.

"As you can see, one of us is clearly a lady." Angel said, gesturing to Cordy. His eyes drank Willow in.  "Willow, feeling better?"  The young witch
blushed and nodded silently. She looked from Cordelia to Xander and back again. The fireworks were about to begin.  She'd already seen them argue enough in highschool, she had no desire to do it again tonight.  Her nerves couldn't take it. With an apologetic look to Angel she ran inside.

"Thanks, Angel." Cordelia said, bending an eyebrow at Xander.  She couldn't' believe her ex-boyfriend was marrying an ex-demon. It was the stuff
of nightmares. She looked at the young man. "So, where's the vengeance demon?"

"Anya is at home, she has a cold."

"Wow, and her loss will be felt." Cordelia rolled her eyes and said sarcastically. "We all love hearing about your sex life so much."

"She's only been human a couple of years! She doesn't know how to act yet. And she came up with some very good ideas for defeating Glory! It was her idea to use the troll hammer and the dagonsphere."

Cordelia didn't see a way to win this argument, so she glanced up and down at Xander's bright clothes. "Nice ensemble, Xander.  Wear did you get
it?  Clown store have a `going out of business sale'? " With that, she walked inside with her head held high.

Angelus, who had watched the whole exchange with interest, laughed in delight at his beautiful assistant.  He loved it when she could reduce men to tears with just her sharp tongue.  When he turned her, they would go hunting together and he would watch her humiliate  men before she killed them. But for now. . .Angelus glanced down at Xander's dirt stained tennis shoes.  "And just a piece of advice, those don't match the rest of your tacky outfit."   He turned on his heel and went inside.

Xander walked in, muttering under his breath about `deadboys' and `prom queens'. Giles was already beginning to lecture about the deaths. Three witches had been murdered.  They all had been within protective casting circles and had been drained of their very lives.

"Are we sure that it wasn't some sort of a vampire?" Cordelia asked.

"I thought that at first." Giles said, putting his glasses on.  He retrieved the newspaper from his desk. "But the victims appeared to be physically
healthy at the time of death. No blood loss, no medical conditions. They simply died.

"You suspect some kind of demonic activity?" Willow surmised.

"Yes, I think that some kind of a demon is feeding on the witches."  He looked at Willow thoughtfully. "I want you to be careful, my dear.  If it uses
them as a power source, it might be after you as well.  I want you to suspend your magickal activities for now.  It'll only be attracted to your power."

"I will." Willow promised.  "Is it research time, then?" Since Buffy's demise the young witch was in control of the scoobies.

They all broke into groups.  Wesley, Cordy, and Gunn sat together researching any witchcraft practices that would attract a demon.  Angelus sat
next to Willow, reading over the Watcher's Chronicles with her, searching for some sort of reference to a demonic witch-eater .  Xander and Giles researched books on demonology.  Three hours passed and still they had found nothing.

"Well, I should go patrol." Angelus said, standing up to his full height. He tried to keep the glee out of his voice.  Killing would relax him, he looked to Rupert. "I'll call you if I see anything unusual."

"I'd appreciate that."  The Watcher said gravely.

Cordy and Wesley stood up, saying they were going back to the hotel, Wesley wanted to cross-reference some books he'd brought with him.  Gunn
pulled a mace from Giles' weapons collection. "You want some company, Angel?"

"Love some." Angelus said warmly.

Xander stood, glaring at Angel.  "I'll be going home then." As the young man reached the door, the dark vampire's voice forestalled.

"Be careful, Xander, there are plenty of vampires out there."  He flashed a wolfish sneer. "Wouldn't want you to get bit."

Gunn looked at Angel in askance.  "That guy just bugs me." Gunn shrugged and went outside, hoping the boss would be out soon.

Willow pulled the Watcher into a corner and began talking with him in hushed tones.  Angelus couldn't make out what they were saying because he
was distracted byt the Watcher's diaries.  He reached over and ran his fingers along them, noting the years emblazoned on the spines.  One spanned the years of 1780 - 1840. Perfect.  He slid it into his coat.  "Coming, Willow?"

She turned from the Watcher and smiled. They both looked at him speculatively. "Yes, I'm ready."  She followed him out the door. "  Do you mind more company tonight?  I thought I'd stop over later, after your patrol."

"I don't mind at all."  Anxious to see him, was she?  Good.

"What were you talking to the Watcher about?" Angelus asked curiously.

"Stuff."  She smiled airily and then walked over to Gunn.  "Ready for some demon killing, Hellmouth style?"

Gunn looked down  at the young witch, he'd grown to like her a great deal in the short time he'd known her. She had grit and she made Angel happy. . .but not too happy.  And that was good enough in his book.  "Ready as ever."  He smiled over at Angel. "You ready, old man? We need to stop and get you a cane or something?" It was familiar banter between the two demon fighters.

"Oh yeah?  Maybe we should pick up a wash cloth, you're still wet behind the ears." Angelus strutted over to the pair.

"No, maybe we need some Bengay for those creaky old joints."

"Or some diapers for you."

"Or for you." The banter continued and all three laughed as they walked to the parking lot.

                             *******

Angelus settled into bed wearing his bath robe. He and Gunn had killed a few fledglings and killed a couple of Heqler demons. The young man was
nothing short of amazing, Angel had no qualms about letting Gunn watch his back.  They were quite an effective team.  He was still keyed up from the kill.

He cracked open the book he had taken from Giles and scanned the reference page in the back, looking for his name.  Then he began to read
aloud.  "Angelus, the vampire with the angelic face." Got that right, he rubbed his jaw. Pretty good for being 200+ years old. "Also known as the Scourge of Europe." Now those were good times! "Sired by Darla, see page 157." Who cares about her? "Killed his entire village when he was first turned, including his family."  They tasted good. "Known for plotting out his victims' deaths with fiendish precision."  I'm nothing, if not an artist. "Frequently–"

"Angel?" Willow called from outside the door, she rapped on it.

"Coming." Angelus called and then gave a naughty smile at his words as he opened the door. "Hello, Willow."

"Hi, Angel." She had a bag in her hand.

"What's that?"

"Dessert for us." Angelus looked on in delight as she unloaded two containers of ice cream from a local ice cream parlor onto the table in his room.  "For you, I got vanilla ice cream with caramel topping.  Mine's chocolate ice cream with mocha fudge and topped with pieces of oreo cookies."

Angelus' mouth began to water.  "That looks good."  He was eyeing her sundae not his.

She gestured to the other seat and took out two red plastic spoons.  She popped the lid off of hers and Angelus could smell it clearly.   He opened
his and groaned as he took a spoonful of vanilla ice cream in his mouth. Flat.  Tasteless. Nothing compared to the dark decadence of chocolate.  But he couldn't eat any with her here.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked, taking a bite of ice cream "Why did you groan?"

"Hurt my leg tonight." He lied.

"Poor guy.  Least you heal fast, right?"  Willow took another bite of ice cream, closing her eyes to savor the taste.

Mocha.  Chocolate.  Chocolate covered Willow. Licking the chocolate off of chocolate covered  Willow. How much can one vampire stand?"Yeah, I heal fast."

She spooned up another portion, scooping the fudge from the sides of the container.  "You aren't eating yours.  Doesn't it taste good?"

He followed the movements of her tongue on the spoon as it swirled around, searching for the last traces of chocolate on the utensil.  Tease!
Angelus stuck another spoonful of the confection into his mouth.  Sometimes being Angel pushed him to his limits.  "It tastes fine."  Make her stop!  Somebody make her stop before I throw her to the floor and spread the ice cream all over her body and then lick her from the tips of her little toes to the--

"You sure are quiet tonight.  Wanna talk about it?"

Angelus stood up from the table.  "I"ll be right back." He said carefully as he rushed into the bathroom.

Willow grinned as she spooned another bite of ice cream into her mouth. Hmmm. . .the subject had a very interesting reaction. More tests might be necessary in order to prove this researcher's theory.

Angelus heaved a sigh of relief as he found his hidden stash of dark chocolate bars hidden in a bathroom drawer.  He ripped open the foil wrapper
and bit down viciously, sighing in relief as the rich substance coated his tongue. He took another bite. Any minute now he'd have to go out there and he'd better have a good excuse because vampires' don't go to the bathroom.   He took yet another bite. This was going to be a long, tempting and trying night.
 

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