Tara rung up a sale on the register, thanking the goddess she had been able to steer the young customer to a less poisonous spell component than wormwood for a love potion. The blond sighed in relief. Shifting her weight on her feet for a few moments, she managed to position herself near the slightly open door of the store's back room.

The spell she'd cast to make her hearing more acute, was still working. 'In fact', she thought, grimacing a little, 'it was working a little too well.' Every time a customer asked her a question, or she pressed a button on the noisy, new electronic register, the sounds seemed to go right through her ears and straight to her brain. The witch busied herself placing incense sticks in the holders by the cash register, making sure to pay attention to anything that was said in the other room. So far, nothing of importance had come to light.

"Oh Goddess... Giles, come here!", she heard Willow gasp suddenly. The redhead had been seated at a computer almost from the moment she had arrived, almost two hours before. Tara wished she could see what the other witch was looking for or at.

"What is it Willow?", the former watcher asked, walking quickly over to peer over the slender girl's shoulder. He gasped in shock, realizing his protégé had hacked her way into the Sunnydale Police Database. The older man knew that this was what Willow did when she researched, but after five years without her, he had forgotten just how quickly, and how well the young witch could use the hell-spawned computer contraptions he hated so much.

Reading aloud quickly, Willow surmised what the reports on the deaths had brought up. "Well, it says here, the victims be they men or women, all had their hearts removed."

"Yes... yes, that we know, anything else?", Giles replied hastily, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Umm... oh and here it mentions the eviscerations, and then....oh goddess, I'm going to be sick", the redhead said suddenly, clapping her hands to her mouth, and surging to her feet.

Giles watched the red witch leave in surprise. Curiously he peered back at the screen and slowly read aloud what Willow had been skimming. "Good Lord", he murmured to himself, "they were also brutally raped, and a sigil was carved into the palms of their hands and heels of their feet."

Shakily, the ex-watcher came to his feet. He had recognized the sigil, it was a high level necromancer's rune. It meant "devour". His stomach churned. 'Those poor people', he thought, 'they aren't finding sanctuary even in death, their souls are being used to either feed the Hellmouth, or more likely, to feed this necromancer's own thirst for power.' He shuddered, the thought of keeping a soul captive for one's own gain was reprehensible.

In the next room, the blond witch stood by the register in shock. She had not been able to hear much, once Willow had fled to the bathroom, but Giles had been murmuring to himself. The one thing she had caught seemed to be the most important. Giles' had said something about necromancy and the rune for the spell "devour".

Her mind shied away from what that meant, but she couldn't remain calm. It was too much.... and so much was riding on her. A small sob, escaped her mouth and a wave of heat seemed to flow over her body. She fainted dead away, never realizing a pair of strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.

Angel stared at the blond girl in his arms in surprise. He had gotten to the store through the network of underground tunnels which littered Sunnydale, and just walked in, when he saw the shopgirl he'd met last night start to fall. With a burst of the supernatural speed, vampires were infamous for, he'd made it to her side before she'd hit the ground. If it hadn't been so strange, he may have even cracked a smile. After all, it had been quite a while since he'd had a woman fall at his feet. 'At least it had been a while since one had done so without severe blood loss', he thought darkly.

"Uhh.. Giles", the dark haired vampire called.

"A-a-a-aaa-Angel?!"

"Could you come here Rupert? Your clerk just fainted."

"Tara? Oh dear...", the bespectacled man said hurriedly, running into the next room. "What's wrong with her?"

Angel quirked a dark eyebrow at the younger man, as if to say, how am I supposed to know. As he carried the unconscious girl to a couch in the back room, the vampire couldn't help notice that something about this girl felt familiar somehow.

At that moment, Willow came out of the bathroom. The redhead was still pale, her eyes rimmed with red. "What happened to everyone?", Angel demanded to know, immediately picking up on the fact that his friend had been sick.

"Oh Angel!", the wiccan cried, "its just awful... what they've done to those people...." Running toward the tall, dark haired vampire, the young woman threw herself into his arms. At that moment, what had felt familiar about Tara clicked inside the vampire's head. 'The blond felt a little like Willow. She's a witch', he thought. He frowned slightly, something told him that was only part of it.

The slender woman in his arms pulled away, finally noticing the unconscious girl laid out on the couch. "What happened to Tara?", Willow asked.

Giles shrugged, completely at a loss. Angel told the hacker what had happened when he came into the store. Brow furrowing, the ensouled vampire, turned to stare at the blond girl. He had figured out why she felt familiar, but he still couldn't pinpoint why she smelled familiar. It was as if the scent of someone he'd known clung to her somehow....

Sighing, and sitting down heavily in a chair, the former Scourge of Europe pushed the random thought aside and listened as Willow explained what she had discovered. Angel listened in growing unhappiness. He wished yet again, for perhaps the five hundredth time, that he had not had to bring the lovely redheaded witch back to Sunnydale.
 

Part 12

Willow looked over Tara's now rousing form. The young woman had been unconscious for over five minutes. Something about her niggled the back of the hacker's sense. She had assumed that the blond was a witch, when she met her. Not only because she worked in a magic shop, but also because of the
small silver pentagram she wore around her neck, and the aura of serenity which oozed from her pores.

Now, gazing at the blond woman, Willow wondered if there weren't more to that assumption. Closing her eyes, the witch centered herself and whispered
a short incantation. As she spoke the last word, her green eyes opened. Tara was ablaze in light. The redhead gasped in amazement.

The unconscious wiccan chose that moment to awaken. She realized immediately what the other girl done. She had discovered one of her secrets. "Wha---?", the blue eyed blond whispered.

"You know I thought you where a witch working here and all, but now I know you are.... you’re pretty powerful too", Willow said, offering the blond a smile. She could feel Angel hovering behind her, ready to catch her should she fall. She laughed under her breath. Silly vampire seemed to forget that a simple spell like that, hadn’t been draining for her since after she’d been released from the hospital nearly three months after graduation and the closing of the Hellmouth. All things which had happened years ago.

She smiled inwardly, a part of her extremely pleased with his continued concern for her. More things hadn’t changed between them, then had. Which in
hindsight should have been very odd indeed. Especially considering, they had gone from tentative friends when he’d first returned to the earth plane, to
good friends who looked out for each other. Then finally, after the Hellmouth had been closed, and the near disaster averted, the whispers of awareness that had always been there between them since she had restored his soul, flared to all too intense life. It demanded expression. So they had spent more time together easing the pull that existed between them. Just touching eased the need, silenced the urges.

However, the longer it had gone on, the harder their closeness had become for the others to deal with. It had been Buffy in a jealous snit who had insisted that there was something more to the relationship, and Buffy in a rage, that had driven Willow from the safety and comfort of Angel’s embrace, out into the night. She’d walked away from the only solace she’d ever known. Despite, the current circumstances, Willow knew that she was extremely happy to be back where she now knew she belonged, at her friend's side.

Shaking herself from her reverie, the redhead gazed at the blond curiosly. "Are you okay?", she asked finally. "Should we call someone? Or have someone
pick you up? You shouldn't be here if you're sick."

"N-n-nnn- no", Tara stuttered, "I-I--I'm fine. I don't know what happened to me... I mean, I've never fainted before."

She looked around noting the concerned fatherly expression on Giles' face and the small, thoughtful frown on the tall, darkhaired man she knew was Spike's Grandsire. She swallowed heavily at the look on his face and moved to stand. Her legs wavered and suddenly she found herself leaning against said vampire.

"Uhhh.... wow, thanks."

"Sit down Tara", Giles instructed, "let me get you a glass of orange juice. Maybe you just need to raise your blood sugar...." His voice trailed off as he walked to the other side of the room, there, by the sink, a small refrigerator sat on the floor.

The red witch smiled at the nervous girl gently. "So, are you wiccan?"

Tara blinked, and shook her head. "I guess... but not really. I think I'm actually closer to pagan than anything else."

"Cool", Willow said enthusiastically, "we should get together some time, and compare notes and stuff."

The blond grinned. "That would be great." It would be to, she hadn't really had any contact with anyone other than the Scoobies and Spike since she'd
gotten to Sunnydale. A new friendly acquaintance would be nice.

Giles came back and handed his employee a cool glass of orange juice. "Here, this should make you feel better."

Angel was sitting at the computer, frowning at something on the screen. "Willow, I don't understand this case here, it seems different than the other deaths."

The cyberwitch frowned at the ensouled vampire. "Angel", she hissed warningly, gesturing to the other girl with her eyes. Why was he acting so strangely around Tara? Did he know something?

"Oh don't worry Willow, Tara here has helped us before", Giles volunteered. "The uhh.. Scoobies have had need of magickal assistance since... well, since you left."

"Oh...", the redhead replied, her voice a little sad. Shrugging the feeling that she had been replaced away, the slender wiccan decided that it was good the others had found someone to help them. Still, she didn't think Buffy, Xander or even Giles had any idea just how powerful the other witch was.

"What's weird about it Angel?", Willow said finally, walking towards her seated friend. "Or at least what's weirder than usual?", she mumbled under her breath. The dark vampire had heard her and she noticed his arched eyebrow with a sigh.

Angel pointed to the screen. "This one, this woman, wasn't killed like the others."

Willow shuddered, remembering with sudden clarity, the torture and manner of death of the other victims. She almost hesitated to even look at what had
garnered his attention. She peered at the screen and frowned.

"Tara", she called over her shoulder, "could you come here?"

"Sure", the blond stood and finished her orange juice. She placed the empty glass on a table and walked over to where the other young woman was bent
over the large form of the vampire.

"What do you make of that?", Willow asked.

Tara's eyes quickly skimmed over the report. The details were sketchy. 'Attractive blond women, between the ages of eighteen through thirty. Was found bound and naked on what was thought to be a stone altar. Her throat was slit.'

"Yuck", the witch remarked glancing over at the redhead, her nose wrinkling. "That looks like a siphoning ritual.... someone wanted to add her life force or magickal power to their own."

Willow nodded, that's what she had thought. She looked down at Angel, who was seated between the two young women. He appeared stiff and ncomfortable.
She wondered what it was about Tara, that had him so wound up. Glancing at the clock, she started in surprise. It was almost five in the afternoon.

"Darn", she muttered under her breath.

"What?", Angel asked.

"I don't really want to deal with Xander and Buffy right now, but they'll be getting out of work any minute now, and probably head straight over here."

Giles cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Actually, yes, they do make a habit of seeing me before they go home to change, eat, and finally, patrol."

"Want to get out of here?", Angel asked, eyeing his witch with concern.

Willow nodded. "Yeah, plus I kind of forgot to eat, on top of everything else."

"I did offer you a scone with clotted cream", Giles reminded the young woman. The wiccan made a face, causing the older man to shake his head ruefully.

Willow nodded at Angel, and headed towards the door to leave.

"Wait, Willow."

"Yes Giles."

"So are you saying this last death, had nothing to do with the others?"

The redhead looked at Tara and grimaced, the two girls shared a look of understanding. "No, I think its the same group or person, and I think maybe she pissed him off, and it was decided she could be useful for something after all."

"Oh", the former watcher gulped, his face stoney.

"Tara, I'll see you soon okay? We'll make plans", the hacker said, smiling at the blond. Tara nodded, her lips curving slightly.

The cyberwitch and the ensouled vampire continued through the store to the front door. Willow reached for the doorknob, before Angel's voice stopped her.

"Ahhh.. Willow, could you hold on a second. I need to make sure I don't go up in smoke." So saying, he tugged his long black trenchcoat over his head. "Oh and follow me, we're going to have to take the sewer tunnels back to my apartment."

The wiccan wrinkled her nose, her eyes glittering mischeviously. "Damn, there's nothing like a sewer crawl. What else could say 'Welcome home to Sunnydale' better than that?"

Angel stared at the little redhead, a sardonic smile finally emerging on his face. With an eloquent shrug, the vampire darted from the store to a small
alleyway. Giggling, Willow followed.
 

Part 13

Angel and Willow found themselves wandering Sunnydale later on that night. Both of them wanted to patrol. Neither one of them had been idle during their years away from the small California town on top of the Hellmouth.

They spoke quietly, often finding themselves gazing into each others eyes. Smiles and laughter punctuated their conversation.

By unconscious agreement, the duo avoided Buffy's favorite patrol route. The Slayer was a creature of habit. So they veered around the larger cemeteries,
focusing instead on the smaller ones and the warehouse district near Angel's new apartment.

Occasionally their discussion was interrupted by some of the stupider denizens of Sunnydale. The more intelligent, took one look at the tall, dark master vampire and his redheaded witch companion, and ran in the other direction. It wasn't smart to go after two who radiated such auras of power.

Angel dusted two vampires easily, while Willow dusted three. Well, technically two since she had cheated on the last, simply whispering a spell and tossing a ball of blue flame at the fledgling. He'd disappeared in a flurry of ash almost immediately.

Willow's companion had jeered. "That was cheating Willow", Angel murmured amused.

"I was tired Angel, so sue me", the witch had replied.

The handsome vampire rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "I don't want to sue you Little One, I just want to see you do some more of those moves you
pulled on the last two. Those martial arts classes you've been taking have turned you into the Terminator."

The cyberwitch giggled, a small flush blooming on her cheeks. Angel grinned, enjoying the rosy glow his gentle teasing had caused. She was absolutely
radiant.

"Wait..", Willow said, "Hold on. Did you just say Terminator? Did I just hear a pop culture reference come from your lips? Oh Goddess... we're doomed, the apocalypse is upon us."

"Ha ha funny", Angel chided. "What? You didn't think working with Cordelia for all these years would have any influence on me? Puh-lease! Dumb much."

The small impression of the former May Queen was too much for the wiccan. Her laughter echoed through the darkness and small tears escaped her eyes.
She couldn't believe there'd been a time when no one had thought the ensouled vampire had a sense of humor. She'd realized quite early on that he did, but it had never been so open and overt. Usually his humor was sharp, dark and understated.

"Oh Goddess, Angel...", she said grabbing his arm, "Give me a minute to catch my breath." Willow sagged against him, her slight form occasionally still shaking with muted laughter.

Angel smiled, enjoying the mirth he'd managed to pull from his friend. He ran his fingers through her silky red hair, and looked down. Large, sparkling emerald eyes met his gaze, and in that moment if he had breathed, his breath would've been caught in his throat.

"Oh...", Willow breathed, the joke forgotten. Her heart beat loudly in her chest as chocolate hued eyes which were as familiar as her own, suddenly did
something they never had before. They darkened. "Oh my", she repeated, her lips parting slightly as her friend's head slowly bent to meet her own.

Her eyes fluttered closed and the red witch felt the gentle almost butterfly like caress of Angel's lips against her eyelids and cheeks. The contact sent a shudder of intense feeling through her. Thoughts flickered through her mind. 'He was so close. I never thought he'd ever be this close. He smelled so good-- mmmmm, sandalwood.'

Angel's fingers tightened fractionally in the flame hued tresses of the woman in front of him. He needed her to look at him, he needed to see into her eyes. "Willow", he whispered, "Look at me ionuin."

The wiccan's eyes opened almost reluctantly. Her gaze was soft, clear and trusting. Satisfied, Angel's head dipped again, his lips finally brushing against Willow's own. It had barely been a kiss, more of a caress. Just as he moved to repeat the experience, and kiss the redhead properly, a loud crash sent the witch and vampire jumping apart from one another almost guiltily.

"What the...?", Angel growled, turning quickly. He caught sight of movement as the periphery of his vision, and took off after whatever it was he had seen.
 

Part 14

Spike couldn't believe he'd tripped over that. "Bloody hell!", he snarled to himself, as he ran for cover. This was a mess, he couldn't be caught. His GrandSire wasn't supposed to know he was here. Not yet, anyway.

The blond had been watching the redhead and the elder vampire together. He'd just come to the conclusion that Tara had been right about their relationship, or lack thereof, and was wondering whether the get-the-girl-laughing-and-then-kissing her routine would work on his own witch, when he'd tripped over the garbage can cover. The metal clang had been extremely loud.

The chipped vampire veered around the corner of a building. He realized his mistake immediately when he found himself in a small parking lot. "Shit!"

Angel followed the figure. Something about it was familiar. The other man passed beneath a streetlight before ducking around a building. 'Spike!', the dark vampire recognized. If his Childe was here, trouble was sure to follow. He would end this tonight, one way or another. He owed the blond. There was no way he would allow Spike to continue roaming free, and risk him getting his hands on Willow the way he had when she was in high school.

"Spike!", Angel growled, catching sight of the other vampire at the other end of the lot.

The bleached blond froze, and turned to face his Grandsire, unconsciously responding to the authoritative note in the all too familiar voice of Angelus.

The ensouled vampire nodded in satisfaction at his Grandchilde's actions and stalked toward him quickly.

Spike resisted the urge to run. He'd be a sitting duck that way. The murderous gleam in Angel's eyes was enlightening. The younger vampire realized that he'd been too close to his the redhead for the elder vampire's peace of mind. To Angel, he now represented a threat to Willow's safety. He'd never seen the ensouled vampire like this, not even when he'd been Angelus.

"Angelus...", Spike began.

"Shut up Spike!", Angel snarled, backhanding the shorter male. Spike staggered backwards from the force of the blow. The dark vampire's eyes widened with what the British vampire could only call dawning comprehension, and he sniffed the air deliberately.

"You. You're what I smelled on the blond witch. You're the scent I found so familiar..."

Spike remained silent, slowly coming to his feet. His own rage suddenly becoming ignited. First, because Angel had connected him to Tara, and he wouldn't allow his Grandsire to go anywhere near her. And secondly, because it had suddenly become very clear to the younger vampire that his Grandsire actually meant to dust him this time.

The chipped vampire snarled and lunged, using his shoulder to knock Angel back. Using the advantage he'd gained from the momentum of the blow, Spike
followed up with a kick to the dark haired vampire's midsection. The metal tipped boots connected solidly with his ribs, causing a slight distinct, cracking sound that made the shorter vampire smirk.

The pain was jarring, but the elder vampire's didn't even flinch. His fist shot out, catching the other male beneath the chin. Spike was propelled backwards, by the force of the blow and tried to retaliate with another kick. But this time, Angel caught the boot-clad foot easily and pulled, hard. The chipped vampire fell painfully onto his back and watched as a hidden stake slid from its place in his Grandsire's sleeve to Angel's waiting hand.

"Angel no!!", Willow screamed. She had only witnessed the tail end of the fight, but had come to a realization.

"Why, Willow?"

"He's not evil....I mean he is evil, but he's not bad....Oh I don't know what I mean. Don't stake him Angel", the redhead said.

"How about I stake him and then we figure out what you mean?", the dark vampire quipped bringing the stake back up in preparation to plunge it into the bleached blond's dead heart.

"NO!", a voice screamed desperately. Willow looked up in surprise. It was Tara.

With a gesture, the blond witch sent Angel flying to the far side of the parking lot. "Spike..", Tara cried, running to her fallen companion's side.

Angel stood, his body stiff with anger, and stalked toward the couple. He needed some answers. Tara turned to face the vampire, her face a cold mask.
"Pain", she said quietly. A bolt of blue energy tore from her fingertips toward the ensouled vampire, only to stop short suddenly as it hit some kind of barrier.

"I don't think so", Willow growled. "Don't touch my Angel."

Tara stared at the redhead in shock, completely amazed that the young woman had managed somehow to stop that bolt. The blond witch may have had a mild and slightly nervous manner, but she knew with complete certainty that she was very powerful. But somehow Willow had managed to interfere.

"He hurt Spike", the blond girl said cradling the younger vampire's head on her lap. "I'm okay pet", the chipped vampire said softly, completely amazed that his witch had just jeopardized her entire reason for being in Sunnydale on his behalf, to protect him.

"Angel and Spike have a lot of unresolved issues", Willow said, eyeing the other girl distrustfully and watching as the couple came to a shaky stand. "You leave my vamp alone, and I'll leave yours." Green eyes sparked to life with some internal fire, for a brief moment.

Tara nodded, staring at the tall, dark haired vampire as he came to stand at Willow's side, his fingers winding together with the hacker's. "We're here to help keep the Hellmouth closed", the blond witch said finally.

"Why didn't you just say so?", Willow queried.

"Why all the sneaking around? And why are you with Spike?", Angel asked, his eyes searching his Grandchilde's face for answers.

Tara sighed and turned around, ignoring the vampire's question for the moment. Spike's arm came around her shoulders and his lips whispered lightly
across her forehead. "I owe you Tara."

The blond girl blinked. 'Tara? He said Tara. Wow.'

Shaking her head, the witch gestured to the redhead and the elder vampire. "Come with us. Its a long story."

"How do we know its not a trap?", Angel quietly asked the slender girl at his side.

Willow stared at the two blonds quizzically, her head cocking to the side. "Its not", she said finally, and tightening her grip on Angel's hand, she moved to follow.

Satisfied with her answer, the dark haired vampire allowed himself to be led. He didn't let himself dwell on the kiss that had almost happened, or why it felt so right to have Willow's hand in his own.
 

Part 15

Willow and Angel had followed Tara and Spike to an apartment nearby. The lack of windows led the redhead to conclude that it had been rented with the bleached blond vampire in mind. Clearly, Tara had met up with Angel’s Grandchilde before coming to Sunnydale.

For his part the dark haired vampire stared at Tara and Spike distrustfully. Feeling the need to remain alert, he refused the offer for a seat, and instead stood behind his best friend, his hands on her slender shoulders.

Willow patted Angel’s hand absentmindedly. She could feel how on edge he was, but there was nothing she could do. The path had been set and she could only follow it now. Her green eyes stayed riveted on the couple across from her.

Tara and Spike had sat together on the couch. The blond witch’s face was still a bit ashen and she had yet to let go of Spike’s hand since she’d rescued him from meeting his end at the business end of one of his Grandsire’s stakes.

Taking a deep breath, Tara closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. She sighed wearily. Nope, they were still there. This was awful, she had to do some damage control and quickly. She was certain that whatever she said couldn’t be an outright lie either, Willow would pick up on any untruths.

The blond could feel her vampire’s hand holding her own. Their fingers had become laced together, and she could feel his thumb begin to trace patterns on the sensitive flesh on the back of her hand. She shivered delicately, and stiffened slightly when her eyes locked on the dark, unreadable eyes of the elder vampire.

A low growl escaped Spike’s throat. He didn’t like the way Angel was looking at his witch at all. The chit had done nothing wrong. She was pure, innocent and good, like the driven snow practically...

The British vampire's muscles tensed in readiness. But the redhead’s deliberate throat clearing interrupted his thoughts and his growling. There was a small smile on Willow’s face that bothered the chipped vampire. It was as if the girl knew a secret.

“So what did you mean, you two are here to help us keep the Hellmouth closed?", the hacker-witch asked finally.

Tara sagged against the form of the male at her side. She thought quickly and decided she should tell them at least some of the truth. “Well, as long as I could remember I would have these dreams... no, nightmares. They were awful. Nightmarish creatures emerging from pits or fire... filthy creatures with flesh rotting off their bones... even, vampires...”, she whispered finally, casting a sidelong glance at Spike. The bleached blond made no comment and simply pulled her closer. His presence at her side was a balm to her soul. It terrified her just how close she had come to losing him today.

“My mother would try to help me with the dreams, teaching me about lucid dreaming and sleeping spells which let me sleep dreamlessly, but my father, my father just thought I was a spawn of the devil. He thought both mom and I were actually. He despised wicca and witchcraft. He was afraid of it... and to a certain extent I think he resented the sense of accomplishment and self worth it engendered in both of us. But then... well, mom died. He threw away all her spellbooks and everything else that I ever could have possibly used to worship the goddess.”

Angel could feel his redhead stiffen with outrage. He didn’t need a crystal ball to know Willow was pissed. He almost wished Tara’s rotten father was there so Willow could turn him into a toad. He had to fight down the urge to sit at her side, pull her into his lap and purr soothingly.

“What happened?”, Willow asked.

“That was the way it stayed for a few years. It was awful, I was practically his slave. I think if it hadn’t been that school was mandatory, and they would’ve sent someone to check on me if I stopped going, I think he would have just kept me home.” A few silent, salty tears had slid down the blond girl’s cheeks as she told her story. She didn’t even it until she felt Spike’s hand gently brush them away. Bright, cerulean eyes seemed to peer deeply inside of her, and a small flood of warmth pooled in her belly. It took all of Tara’s willpower to pull her gaze from the sexy vampire’s and bring her attention back to the redhead and her friend.

“I started to take books out of the library, hiding them from him and scraping together change that I would find, to buy things. It made me feel closer to my mother.” She sighed.

“A teacher in school took an interest in me and it turned out she was a witch too. She taught me a lot. When she learned of my dreams, which at this point had gotten worse and were occurring practically every night, she blanched. She told me that many people had been looking for me, that I was to be important in keeping what was happening in my dreams from actually occurring. I was essentially going to be a guardian for the Hellmouth. So, eager to get away from my father, I was here in Sunnydale some months later. I met Buffy, Xander and Giles like two weeks after I moved. Giles’ shop is the best magic shop in town and I liked it there. Plus I needed a job. They ended up needing my help a few times and that’s how I found out about the Slayer...”, the blonde’s voice trailed off.

“That doesn’t explain him though”, Angel said, speaking finally and staring pointedly at his Grandchilde.

Tara grinned. “Spike was... well Spike was an accident. He tried to eat me.”

Willow gasped, and the dark vampire nodded as if he’d expected that answer.

“Well I just had had a huge fight with my father. I decided to leave for Sunnydale at the end of the week, I was going to run away. I couldn’t wait any longer, I had to get away from him. I remember that I was crying and running through the swampy marshes around my house when I practically ran over this gorg--, umm, this guy. He was charming and put me at ease and I was so out of it I didn’t even notice that his aura was all wrong or that he didn’t breathe. The next thing that I knew, I was in his arms crying my eyes out. And then his face changed and he bit me, or rather he tried to bite me, because suddenly he screamed in agony and fell, passed out on the round.”

“Why?”, Angel asked, looking at his grandchilde.

Almost embarrassed, the bleached blond looked down at the floor. “I’d been captured by some bizarre group of wanna-be GI Joes. They did something to me, put something in my head. I couldn’t feed; not on humans... Still bloody well can’t”, he snarled under his breath.

“They neutered you, so you couldn’t feed and then let you go? “, his Grandsire’s voice boomed angrily. “What the hell were they thinking?!” Angel was angry and confused. Sure he’d wanted to stake the younger vampire, but that was different, it was personal, he’d wanted to protect Willow. But the fact that someone had, in essence, made the blond harmless and thus unable to fend for himself, doomed to slowly grow insane as starvation and bloodlust ravaged his body, pissed the dark haired vampire off to no end.

Willow could feel the rage practically radiate off her friend’s body, and she knew that Spike and Tara felt it too.

“I’d been wandering around that humid swamp for days, and I was starving. Suddenly this beautiful angel comes out of nowhere and rams into me. I mean, I thought I was stark raving mad at this point and I stared at her in awe”, Spike recalled.

Tara blushed. She hadn’t known Spike thought she was beautiful. Her cheeks burned and her grip on the vampire’s hand tightened. Spike winked at his blushing witch and continued his story. “I remember the little chit was crying, and for some reason it bothered me that she was so sad. She hugged me and buried her face in my shirt and suddenly I realized I wasn’t crazy. Here was this lovely, warm, human girl in my arms… The next thing I knew I was lunging for her neck, and pain like I’d never felt before slammed into me so hard, I thought I’d been hit by a mack truck.”

Tara took up from where he’d left off. “I dragged him to safety. When he woke up, he was in a mausoleum. I knew what he was and I couldn’t just let him die. He was unconscious and I knew what the sun would do to him. So I took care of him, brought him blood. Eventually I snuck him into my basement.”

“Why would you do that? When he just tried to kill you?”, Angel asked, his brow furrowed.

“Honestly, I don’t know. But it felt right, he felt right. Like I was supposed to meet him, like I was supposed to be at his side. He called to
me...”, the blond witch paused before whispering, “... and he needed me. I’d never felt needed before, not for real. My father just always made me feel used.”

“A feeling I’m quite used to myself”, Spike said, smirking nastily at the dark vampire, “right Soulboy?”

Angel frowned remembering with great clarity how he had abandoned Spike and Drusilla when he’d regained his soul. He wasn’t proud of that, but after Darla had expressed such disgust and thrown him out, he hadn’t wanted to see that same hatred in his childer’s eyes. So he had run. His thoughts were interrupted by the melodic sound of the blond witch’s voice.

“We’ve been together ever since. He just naturally came with me when I ran away to Sunnydale to do what I felt I had to”, Tara concluded.

“Guard the Hellmouth?”, Willow clarified, her face thoughtful

Tara nodded. “Yes.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tara sighed in relief when the couple finally left, twenty minutes later. She found that she liked the two a great deal, despite tonight’s fiasco. She groaned, she couldn’t believe that she’d jeopardized her entire reason for being in Sunnydale. ‘Goddess!’, her mind whispered, ‘What would the Circle think?’ Not that she planned to tell them of course, despite the fact that they seemed to somehow know everything that happened sooner or later. ‘Still’, she thought, coming to a realization, ‘I’d do it all again, if it meant saving Spike.’ He’d come to mean so much to her so quickly. The depths of her feelings for him astounded even her. And when she’d seen him prone and helpless on the ground...

“Tara”, a voice said gently by her ear.

The young woman turned and found herself face to face with the object of her recent thoughts. “Spike...”

“Tara-pet”, he sighed gently, tugging her into his embrace and leaning his forehead against the girl’s. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For putting you in this position luv. I didn’t mean for the Great Poof to discover me, I screwed up.”

“What’s done is done Spike. I’m just glad you’re here and not...”, Tara’s voice trailed off, her eyes becoming liquid her voice scratchy.

“Do you care about me witch?”, he asked looking deep into her eyes.

“I- - I- - Yes”, she said finally, amazed that he could make a word that her father had used so often as a curse, sound like the loveliest of
endearments.

The blond vampire smirked. “Good, because I feel the same way”, he stated, before lowering his head and capturing her mouth tenderly with his own.

Unfamiliar sensation swept through her body. The feeling of his mouth on hers was indescribable. Instinctively her arms moved to wind about the vampire’s neck, and as Spike deepened the kiss, seeking entrance into the hot cavern of her mouth, Tara held on for dear life.

She’d been kissed before. Not often, but once or twice, and yet nothing compared to this. Those young, innocent moments of fumbling exploration did not compare. This kiss was a leisurely, erotic and highly skilled exercise in turning her into jelly.

Tara’s moaned, her knees buckling. ‘Oh Goddess what is this? What am I feeling?’, she wondered. She groaned in displeasure as the bleached blond pulled away.

“You have to breathe pet”, the chipped vampire smirked, blue eyes twinkling.

“Spike, I... wow...”, she gasped, her lungs burning for air she hadn’t even realized she was missing. She didn’t want this to end, she realized. The witch licked her lips, amazed when his eyes followed the movement, becoming even bluer somehow. Hesitatingly, but before her nerves gave out, Tara pulled his mouth back down to her own.

The bleached blond groaned. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He couldn’t believe that this good, warm, beautiful human girl who’d been haunting his dreams for months, was actually in his arms. She fit so perfectly, soft and curved in all the right places. He almost came undone in her arms when she innocently nipped his lip. He scrambled away from her quickly, not wishing to embarrass himself or push her too fast.

“I’m sorry”, the witch mumbled, “I didn’t hurt you did I? I didn’t mean to bite you...” A hot flush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. ‘I’m so stupid. Why did I do that?’, her mind whirled. She felt humiliated and bereft, and turned wanting to escape to the comfort of her room.

“No, I’m sorry”, Spike began grabbing her arm. “I had to stop pet. I was going to embarrass myself, and that just wouldn’t do for a man who’s technically older than your great grandfather.”

“I don’t understand”, she whispered, lifting her head to meet his gaze.For a moment, the chipped vampire was stunned. Could it be? He’d never really thought about it. “Tara luv, are you a virgin?”

Tongue-tied, the young woman nodded.

“This is what I mean pet”, he said, pulling her against his hard form, and arching slightly against her softness. “This is what you do to me witch.”

She gasped. “Oh.”

“Its okay luv, but I think you should go to bed now, its late.”

“But, but...”, Tara began, a little confused.

“I want you luv, but I want you to be sure. Once you’re mine, you will always be mine”, the vampire said quietly.

Tara cocked her head, her face thoughtful for a moment. Abruptly the moment passed, a decision had been made, and a small smile appeared on her lips. “Will you at least stay with me?”

Spike nodded, following the girl into her bedroom. ‘Gods he was just such a sucker for punishment. Can you say love’s bitch?’, his mind screamed.

Resigning himself to the torture of sleeping chastely by his witch’s side, he contented himself with watching her hips sway hypnotically as he followed her to her room.

Soon they were lying together, loosely ensconced in one another’s arms. They kissed repeatedly, occasionally stopping so she could take a breath or he could make another biting comment about his Grandsire’s hair.

“Honestly, pet. Did you notice? It was sticking straight up!”, the bleached blond proclaimed.

Tara giggled, the laughter becoming a yawn.

“Sleep luv, I’m not going anywhere.”

That comment got Spike a huge smile and another kiss. She yawned again, her eyelids starting to inch downward. “I love you Spike”, she mumbled sleepily.

Startled and pleased, the vampire hugged the witch tighter, burying his face in her fragrant tresses.

"I love you too, Tara”, he whispered, almost shocked to discover that it was the truth. He was in love with a human.
 

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