***********************************************************

      This was killing him.  Angelus looked down at the blond
head against his chest.  He was considering going back to
hell.  A weepy slayer?  This wasn't right, she wasn't
supposed to be this weak.  How could he exact his vengeance
from her when she was like this? HE was the one who was
supposed to make cry. She wasn't a worthy opponent now, and
Angelus despised weakness in all it's forms.
      "Oh Angel, I'm so glad you're here." She sniffled.
      "Me too." He gave her an awkward pat on the back and
looked down at Soulboy's grey sweater with disdain. This
was one of Angel's brighter colors.  And it was wet now. He
hoped it was tears and not some other disgusting substance
that was always leaking  from humans. The only one
exception was blood. He shook his head, not that he liked
Soulboy's drab wardrobe, but how could he walk out of the
slayer's house with a big wet patch on his chest? Oh well,
he was planning on shopping anyway.
      He wondered how long he had to stay here.  He got the
feeling that Soulboy would probably have stayed all night
with her.  Angelus didn't possess that much restraint, he
was having a hard time being in the same room with her and
not killing here.  This could make dating difficult.  Maybe
he should try to keep their relationship on a friendship
level. Although, being friends with the slayer didn't
appeal either.
      She gave him a watery smile. "Thank you for coming, Angel.
I really need you."  Buffy tilted her head to the side and
slowly leaned towards him.  She was going to kiss him?
Angelus stood up so quick, she lost her balance and fell
face first on her bed.
      "I'm sorry, Buffy.  I just don't think that's appropriate.
You are overwrought and I don't want to take advantage of
your emotional state." Angelus managed to keep his voice
low and sincere and his face straight.  He just didn't
think he could kiss her. Slayer germs.  He really hoped he
didn't have to date her. "I must go-"
      "But-"
      "Right now.  But I will see you tomorrow evening." He left
the stunned slayer gaping at him on the couch.
      Angelus had managed to pry himself away from Willow
earlier in the evening.  He knew the clever witch was
already analyzing their conversation.  She didn't know that
he was back due to Angel's convenient mood shift, but she
could tell something was amiss.   He felt more free to be
himself around her. She was so beautiful, more so than when
he'd last seen her.  He shook his head. But did the soulled
wonder notice?  No, of course not.  Unless it was blond and
slayed things, his soul was oblivious.
      Angelus knew that his soul enjoyed Willow's company but he
had never been able to think of her as more than a child or
as the slayer's best friend. What an idiot!  Willow had
been so close to him that evening.  He had been on her bed
again. Listened to her speak. He was almost skipping down
the street, this was working out so well.  He couldn't wait
to get to the mall.
      *******
      Spike watched his sire walking away from the slayer's
house.  So, Peaches is back.  He closed his eyes, steadying
himself against a tree. He was a little drunk.  Angel had
probably been in Buffy's house, on her bed while he held
the weeping slayer. She had probably clung to him, cried on
his shoulder.  Maybe even kissed him.  How many years of
his unlife would he give to trade places with him?  But
Buffy didn't want him.  In fact, she despised him. Spike
lowered his head and continued walking.  Spike knew he
should try to get over his obsession, but he just couldn't
bring himself to do it.
      "Spike!" A voice called.
      He whirled around hopefully. His face fell. "Willow."
      "Spike.  Still watching her?" She said, not unkindly.
      "Yes. No."  He dropped his eyes from hers.  "Yes."
      "Spike, I just wanted you to know that I don't have any
hard feelings, okay? Actually, I'm sorry it didn't work out
for you."
      "You are?" Spike was honestly shocked.
      "Well,  I know what it's like to love someone and not have
them love you back." Willow thought of all that time she
had loved Xander from afar. "I know how difficult it can
be, how hurtful."
      She understood. "Pet, why don't you walk with me a while?"
She had always been kind to him.
      "Sure." Willow had only meant to offer her sympathies, not
become vampire therapist but Spike's face was so forlorn.
She put away thoughts of doing her psychology homework and
walked with Spike.
      *******
      Angel inhaled.  Leather.  And it was everywhere. Coats,
shoes, gloves, wallets.  And pants.  His fingers nearly
itched to touch them.  Tight black leather pants, he
remembered the feel of them.  He pulled a pair off the rack
and took it into the dressing room.
      When he emerged, he almost felt like himself again.  In
another store he had bought some satin shirts. Well,
Soulboy actually payed for them.  He loved the way he
looked in a dark wine color, it complimented his skin
color.  It was a pity he couldn't look at himself in the
mirror. His stomach growled a little, Angelus hadn't fed
today.  He'd managed to choke down a bag of blood from
Soulboy's stock yesterday.   It was atrocious but he needed
to feed and there hadn't been time to stalk any prey in his
rush to get here.  He must be careful in Sunnydale, though.
He didn't want to attract the slayer's attention.  The
sales woman came up behind him. "All set, sir?"
      "Oh, yes."  He smiled, she was a nervous little creature.
And working all alone.  Angelus watched the dwindling flow
of humans outside the shop.  He smiled, this would require
a little finesse.  He picked the woman's hand up and placed
a kiss on her wrist.  "Your help has been invaluable to me,
my dear lady." She blushed like a schoolgirl and looked
down at the floor even though she was in her late forties.
He continued to hold her hand and look into her eyes as he
changed.  He bit down on her wrist and she gave a startled
gasp but he pulled her by the waist until she was close to
him.  He could feel the pounding of her heart as her blood
roared through him. When she was drained he pulled her
behind the counter.  He was whistling as he left the shop.
      *******
      Willow inspected Spike's crypt while he sat drinking from
a bottle of wine.  "Do you really think that the answer to
your problems is in that bottle?" She asked softly.
      "No, luv. But it numbs the pain a little.  I'll be
alright. Got over Drusilla, didn't I?  And we were together
for over a hundred years.  I'll survive a little
infatuation with the slayer.  I only fancied her for a few
months, right?"
      "Of course, Spike. You'll be fine."  But he didn't look
fine. He ambled over and sat down on the concrete slab next
to her.  He lay his head on her shoulder.
      "This brings back memories, doesn't it luv?"
      "Memories?"
      "Yeah.  Me cryin' on your shoulder over some woman.  Drunk
out of my mind. All that's missing is that idiot friend of
yours and a love spell."
      He was thinking about that?  "Oh, sure."  Willow had tried
to forget the incident. She didn't know why.  Well, maybe
it was the blind panic and terror.
      "Did you know what I planned to do to you that night?"
      "D-d-do to me?"
      "Uh-huh.  Before you distracted me with that delicious
blood of yours."
      "I don't know."  She moved away from him, looking away.
"Probably hit me or something." Why was he telling her
this?
      "No."
      "No?"
      "That's now what I had in mind for you at all, pet." Spike
reached his hand out and smoothed her silken hair.  "I
remember how soft."
      She turned to face him. "What?"
      "I was planning on seducing you.  Dru had played around
with all of those demons.  Making me jealous.  I wanted to
make her pay for it. By being with you."
      "That's disgusting, Spike. And it wouldn't have been
seduction." She jumped down and  placed her hand on her
hips.  "I would have said no."
      "No, you wouldn't have, luv. I can guarantee that. I would
have made sure you enjoyed every second of my attentions."
      "I'd better go now, Spike."  Willow chalked his comments
up to too much alcohol and not enough Buffy.
      "Fine.  I'll let you run away, for now."
      Willow darted out the door without giving him a backwards
glance.
      ********
      Angelus was still hungry.  A pitiful excuse for a human
was huddled on a bench in the park.  By the smell of him,
he hadn't bathed in weeks.  Angelus wrinkled his nose in
disgust.  He kept going, he had high standards when it came
to feeding.  Nothing but the best.  It was too bad that
Americans didn't have royalty. They tasted quite good.
      He wandered by the fountain as he thought about the
blood-soaked nights he'd spent in Europe. Out of the corner
of his eyes, he spotted a young woman.  She was a
delicious-looking mortal and she just stood there, staring
at the water as it cascaded down to the moonlit pool below.
She had absolutely no idea what he had in store for her.
No idea she'd attracted the attention of a monster.  He
came up behind her.  He loved this part. Loved playing with
them "Lovely, isn't it? Almost as lovely as you."
      "I have a boyfriend." She said haughtily, not sparing him
a glance.
      The impudence!  Angelus shifted into demon face and placed
his hands on her slim shoulders.  She didn't put up much of
a struggle.
      As Angelus finished his meal, he decided that he'd better
find a place to stay for the day. He chuckled as he walked
off into the night, he knew just the place.

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