Buffy sat between Giles and Xander. Willow wasn't sure if the Slayer had chosen to stake out her territory consciously or unconsciously, but seeing the three together brought home all the more painfully how much she had missed, how much things had changed. Her heart beat painfully in her chest.

Angel noticed the small change in his friend's breathing and squeezed her hand comfortingly under the table. He glanced at her stony face wishing beyond anything that all of this had never happened and that her face would break out at any moment into the gentle and familiar grin he loved so much.

The blond Slayer sneered, her quick eyes not missing the movement of Angel's arm under the table. "So", Buffy said, "I see you two are doing quite well together."

Willow frowned her eyebrows knitting together. "Actually, we are. But this is the first time I've seen Angel in two years Buffy."

Buffy shrugged off the hacker's words. "Whatever, we don't have time to talk about what's truth and what's lies. We have more important things to discuss."

Giles cleared his throat, looking at his Slayer in surprised approval. 'Perhaps Buffy had matured a little after all', he thought. The blond
preened and smiled in satisfaction at her watcher's expression. Speaking aloud finally, Giles nodded and addressed the group. "Uh.. yes, quite. Buffy is correct. We have called you two here to discuss the very real possibility that some ritualistic killings occurring during the past few months are some dark force's attempts at readying the Hellmouth to be opened once more."

Willow nodded to herself in sudden understanding, she now knew the tack Buffy was taking. She still blames me for everything, but wants to come off as above it all, so as not to upset Giles or her fiance. 'So be it', the witch thought to herself.

"What kind of killings?", Angel asked, surprising everyone as he spoke aloud for the first time.

"Figures you'd want all the gory details Deadboy", Xander bit out bitterly.

Angel ignored the boy, flicking his dark eyes away as if the youth were nothing but a bit of manure on the bottom of his boot. Willow glared at the her former best friend, unable to believe Xander was still treating the ensouled vampire in such an immature manner.

"Grow up Xander", Willow said quietly. "Please continue Giles."

The ex-watcher's stormy blue-gray eyes catalogued the groups reactions. He supposed some things would never change. The thought saddened him. "If everyone's done... I shall. In answer to your question Angel, the killings are ritualistic in nature. Bodies of young men and women have been found in various locales in Sunnydale. The condition of the bodies is the same. They are found nude, lying on their back with their arms crossed over their chests. The victims hearts have been forcibly removed. In truth, we have very little information on whether that is the sum of their injuries or whether other... things have also been done to them. The little we know we have garnered from the newspaper stories and sadly, the fact that Xander found one of the bodies earlier this week."

Green eyes widened in shock and surprise. Willow looked at the dark haired youth, noting his suddenly downcast eyes and slumped shoulders. "Xander....I..... I'm sorry. How awful."

"It was bad, but I'm okay, really Wills", the youth replied his brown eyes searching the witch's face. He frowned slightly, realizing in a sudden flash of clarity that she looked much the same. Too much the same. The redhead hadn't seemed to have changed at all. A warm hand wrapped around his own, interrupting his thoughts. He smiled down at petite fiancee. "Buffy helped me get through it." The blond Slayer smiled, her face triumphant.

"Oh... that's good", Willow said quietly. She turned to look back up at her former mentor, her mind taking in everything that he had told them. "And why do you think this concerns opening the Hellmouth?"

Giles sighed, suddenly feeling much older that his forty odd years. "Because the bodies are being found in very specific locations around
Sunnydale. The are placed at various points which are directly in line with where the highschool was situated. When I placed them on a map, it became obvious to me that these locations all link together to form a pentagram. As you and I both know Willow, such a figure is used quite often in magick to focus magical energies."

The redhead nodded, and squeezed Angel's hand. The vampire had been silent since he'd asked about the bodies. She hoped he was okay. Sparing a glance in his direction, Willow noted his closed off, hooded expression. Tracing random figures on the back of his hand, she tried to convey her worry for him. As if he had heard her, the dark haired vampire looked down at his friend, his lips curving slightly in a small smile solely meant for her eyes.

Buffy watched the couple's interaction with growing anger. 'He smiled at her!', her mind screamed. 'He'd never smiled for me. Bullshit, they haven't seen each other for two years. They are so obvious. Do they really think we can't see, they're fucking.' Reigning in her anger, she spoke, "not to interrupt this tender moment, but you guys are here for a reason". Her voice was smooth and modulated, and managed to grate on every last one of Angel's nerves. He knew what the blond was doing, and he wasn't going to allow her to hurt Willow.

Deliberately Angel met the Slayer's eyes, he did not bother to hide the unhappiness and anger in his own. Buffy met his dark gaze, and almost gasped as golden flecks of swirling color appeared in their depths. Barely controlling her instinct to back away from the table, the Slayer grit her teeth and stood her ground. The urge to stake her cheating ex-boyfriend, taking route in her heart.

Unaware of the mounting tension in the room Giles continued to speak. "So we need you to find out if anything was left out of the newspapers about the conditions of the victims." Willow nodded in understanding. "I can hack into the S.P.D easily enough and we can find out what the coroner's findings were. After that we can figure out how we stop whoever's doing this."

"No, I'll stop them. I'm the Slayer", Buffy said. "We only need you two for information and to keep the Hellmouth closed, if it gets to that point." The blond glared at the witch and the vampire. "This is MY town. Got it?!"

Willow blanched, and Angel growled angrily. The dark haired vampire gently touched the redhead's shivering frame. "Let's go Willow. We'll start early tomorrow morning Giles, this has been a tiring experience. Breathing a sigh of relief the lithe hacker stood and moved to her friend's side, her hand automatically reaching for his.

Xander stood quickly. "But Wills, I really wanted to talk to you...."

Angel glared at the boy. "Not now." Something in the vampire's voice, stopped Xander from saying anything more. "Let's go Angel.", Willow said, extremely eager to escape this situation, even if only for the time being. Nodding in agreement the dark vampire escorted the smallish woman from the room and out into the Sunnydale night.

Buffy slammed a fist down on the table. "This is never going to work Giles", she hissed. "I can barely stand to look at the two of them." The watcher flinched at the harsh sound. Xander ignored them, his mind going over and over two facts. One, that he had hurt Willow bad enough that she couldn't even stand the thought of his hugging her. And two, that that was all somehow Angel's fault. Somehow that damned vampire had managed to take his rightful place in Willow's heart.

~~~~~~

Silent, salty tears streamed from the red witch's eyes as she and the ensouled vampire walked quickly away from The Magic Box.

"I'm sorry Willow, I am so sorry."

The spellcaster shook her head, biting her lip to keep from allowing sobs to escape. "Its not your fault Angel, I don't care what Xander says or thinks. And now that I know where I stand with Buffy.... I had hoped....", the green eyed woman allowed, her voice to trail off.

Angel stopped walking and turned to face her. Gently he caressed her face, allowing his fingers to carefully brush away the flame hued tresses which whipped around her features in the slight wind. "I had hoped the very same thing." He pressed a kiss to her forehead wishing with all of his might, he could take this painful burden from her shoulders. He tugged gently on her hand. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"I still keep an apartment here", the dark haired vampire responded. "And before you ask, no, its not the same one. Its one they don't know about." Willow sighed in relief, glad that they wouldn't have to worry about unwanted guests. Without another word, the witch and vampire walked away, hand in hand.

>From a nearby alley, two figures came out of the darkness. "See I told you they had returned", Tara said quietly. The other figure nodded shortly, staring off into the gloom where the dark haired vampire and the tiny ruby haired woman had walked off in.

"I never doubted you. I just had to see them for myself." A flame flared to life, as the man lit a cigarette with a silver lighter. Taking a deep satisfying pull on the cigarette, he sighed. 'Looks like things are suddenly going to get right interesting in good ole Sunnyhell", Spike
thought, a smirk forming on his face. Glancing at the blond at his side, the vampire made a small gesture with his head. And then they were gone.
 

Part 7

Willow and Angel walked down the street in companionable silence. Abruptly the vampire stopped. Willow shivered and glanced nervously around. "You felt it too?", she asked.  Angel nodded shortly, his eyes alert for any sound or movement. She could feel him relax suddenly, sense the relaxation of formerly contracted muscle. "Someone was watching us", he said quietly.

"They're gone now though", Willow whispered back.

The ensouled vampire glanced quickly at his friend, slightly taken aback that she too had sensed what he had. Shrugging, the witch reached up and grabbed his hand once again. "Lets go Angel."

Quickly and efficiently, the couple made their way through the darkened streets of Sunnydale. Willow half expected something to happen. It had been so long since she had last been here, that she was actually surprised when they made it to Angel's new apartment without being accosted by some horrid monster straight out of her nightmares.

Angel used his keys to enter a building. The door was made from what Willow surmised was steel. Inside, there was a short corridor. She blinked slowly, almost doubting her eyes when she saw her suitcase and bags sitting propped up against the wall. She glanced at the dark haired vampire curiously. "How..."

"A friend owed me a favor", he responded cryptically.  The redhead rolled her eyes. "Now don't go starting that again." Angel's eyes crinkled slightly as a grin formed on his face.  "What?", he asked, one eyebrow arching upwards.

"The Cryptic Guy routine... it gives me a headache."

"Can't have that now can we, headachy witches can be bad for my health", he chuckled as he walked down the short hallway to another steel door. On the right, a panel with a number pad was placed about level with Willow's head. She watched in amazement as he punched in a code. She frowned, almost doubting what she had just seen. The door clicked and swung open.

"Angel?"

The dark vampire had grabbed her bags and was moving them inside, he paused.   His face was once again in its familiar stoic formation. "Yes, Willow."

"Is your security code, my birthday?", the redhead inquired a huge smile splitting her face.  Angel's mouth dropped open. It seemed as if he wanted to say something, but nothing was actually getting out. Finally he managed a, "well... I ... you know...ummm, yes actually." For a second, the cyberwitch almost swore he was blushing. Of course that was impossible, he was a vampire.

"When the system was installed I couldn't think of anything else to use as the code. I guess you were on my mind that day", he admitted allowing the small woman into his newest dwelling.

"That's sweet", Willow said quietly, cocking her head and looking around at the large airy apartment. She smiled, this was so Angel. The room she's stepped into was the living room, for lack of a better term. A large black leather sofa sat in front of a fireplace with a beautiful brass screen. A rug sat beneath the sofa, quite large, it almost covered the entire room. To her slight surprise the floor covering was actually quite colorful, although the colors themselves were muted by time and wear.

Angel watched as his friend took stock of his newest dwelling. He was glad to note the small smile on her face, he was happy to see that she had apparently shrugged off the tension from their encounter with the others at Giles' shop.  Walking through the apartment towards the back, the vampire continued down a short hallway and placed Willow's bags in his guest room. It was a  comfortable, peaceful room, decorated in blues and light greens. He knew that he had decorated it with her in mind. He had even placed candles all around the room to please her.

He turned and suddenly found a warm body pressed into his chest.  "Ooops, sorry", Willow said, "I thought you knew I was behind you."  The dark haired vampire's eyes warmed with tender affection. "That's alright." He looked around the room, gesturing with his head. "So I thought you would like this room. Is it okay?"

"Its lovely Angel, thank you. Where's your room?", the redhead asked.

"Across the hall. The bathroom's right next door to you."

"Great. Well I'm kind of tired, I'm going to get ready for bed."  The ensouled vampire nodded and moved to leave. A pair of warm arms encircling his waist stopped him. "I'm so glad to be here with you Angel", the wiccan whispered, before releasing him.  "Me too", he breathed, exiting and closing the door behind him.

Hours later, Angel found that he couldn't sleep. He lay on his bed stiff as a board unable to relax, his thoughts on the tiny redhead sleeping across the hall. It had been so long since they'd seen each other. They had been apart for so long... and now they were here, in the same place... and it just felt so WRONG to not be together. He wondered anxiously what she would think if he crawled into bed with her. She probably wouldn't mind after all they had often wound up dozing next to each other all the time, back in happier times, but... unhappily, he groaned and readjusted the pillow beneath his head.

Willow was just amazing... she always just made him feel better. More at calm, at peace with himself and even his demon, if only for the short periods of time they were together, especially when they were in physical contact.  Sighing and vainly trying to get comfortable, the dark vampire tossed and turned finally throwing an arm over his eyes. His thoughts were so chaotic, he almost didn't hear the hesitant, light knock on the door.

"Willow?"

The door swung open, the lithe redhead walked in and closed the door behind her carefully. Angel could hear the sound of her silky, long nightgown swishing against her legs.  "Willow?"

"Angel I can't sleep", she said quietly.

"Come here", he said holding his hand out to her. Willow grabbed her friend's hand almost desperately, allowing him to lead her to his side. Gratefully she slid onto the bed, wrapping her arms around his large form. Burrowing her head into his shoulder, she let out a small sigh.

"Thank you Angel", she murmured quietly, sleep quickly overcoming her senses.

"No, cara, thank you", Angel whispered, kissing Willow's forehead. Finally able to relax, the vampire also slipped away into blissful repose.
 

Part 8

Tara watched the blond vampire for a long moment, not sure what she was waiting for.  He hadn't spoken since they had left the spot where they had seen the flame-haired witch and the dark haired vampire. She wasn't sure where Spike's mind was or what he was planning. The witch knew he figured that he would have to seek his Grandsire out, and tell him that he was in Sunnydale, despite the fact that he'd said that he couldn't feel Angel's presence. Which was why she was sure he had doubted her, even though he said he hadn't.

She tried to explain that there was a strange energy that moved about the elder vampire and that it was somehow connected to the redhead.  It was no surprise to her that he couldn't sense his Grandsire.

Spike wasn't happy. Tara knew that, he had issues big issues about losing his vampire identity.  Most of that stemming from a piece of electrical computer science that nestled neatly in his skull, put there by people who would learn the hard way that demon's could be harmed and taunted for only so long before the underworld struck back.

The wiccan leaned back into the blond vampire's touch, still not sure how they had gone from enemies to tentative friends, or even when exactly she'd fallen in love with the foolish vampire. She knew he still harbored feelings for the one who sired him, and that she understood. He'd loved his Sire for over a century. Apparently, Spike didn't believe in short term romances. Tara smiled softly to herself, despite being nervous at the train of her own thoughts.

"So... the Great Poof and the little witch.... back at the scene of the crime, eh?", Spike asked, a smile evident in his voice. She knew that
particular smile would not reach his eyes. She sighed, not sure how much of what she'd seen when she'd glanced at those two, had been true. She'd seen a great deal of tenderness, fierce protectiveness and no shortness of love between the dark haired vampire and small wiccan, and yet she found nothing that would lead her to believe that they were lovers or had even been in the past.

"You don't think they did what the Slayer accused them of, do you pet?", Spike asked suddenly.  If anything that proved to Tara that they had indeed been spending too much time together, if he could read her so easily without a word spoken.

"I don't really think it matters much what I believe or what is true. Or even what was true.  It doesn't matter, they will either work together and stop the Circle, or they will fail, the Hellmouth will be opened, and all hell will break lose." Tara settled into the curve of the vampires arm. Neither of them questioned the closeness that existed between them, or why she knew where he was with out having to turn to see him.

"So where does that leave us pet?" Spike's voice wavered with some unknown emotion, and Tara turned to look at him curious to see what that emotion looked like.

Tara stopped short, not sure what the look in the blond vampire's icy eyes meant. She shivered as a teasing smile curved his lips suddenly. Abruptly he leaned down, brushing his lips lightly against hers, surprising her. The blond girl drew back, her hand settling on his chest to keep him a safe distance, the teasing gleam in his gaze had become even more prominent.

What was he up to?

"So where does it leave us, witch?", Spike asked again, closing the distance between them.  His fingers threading themselves into her blond locks. He leaned down bringing her closer.  He drew in the warm scent of her hair, and of her skin, as he wrapped his arms lightly around her drawing her into an embrace.

"I don't know", she whispered, only remembering his question after a moment. She rested her head against the vampires chest, allowing herself to relax in his arms, not sure what to make of the blond, or his strange actions. She was used to strange actions. Six months of his almost exclusive company did that to you.

The only other people she saw regularly were the tattered remnants of the Scooby gang. Spike seemed to get some twisted perverse sense of pleasure out of watching how disorganized and disgruntled they had become. Tara knew that on at least some level he felt knew expulsion Willow and Angel was the cause of there dissension.  It amused him to no end.

~~~~~~~~~

The night air was cool. A self satisfied smile played over the thin lips of a man holding the bloody dagger. He grinned down at the still conscious form that was bound head to toe to the altar stone beneath her. He sighed, almost saddened. She had had such potential. If only she'd been willing to do as he asked.

He reached up and brushed long blond locks away from the woman's tiny features. She had proven to be a more then insatiable lover, however, his current mistress would simply not allow her to continue on in the Circle as maiden. Not that it was a post that she truly had the right to possess in any case, especially in the oldest sense of the word.

He glanced up at his lover, smiling. It was almost too convenient; the moon phase, combined with the hour and date of this one's birth. She had ceased to be important to them as a member of the Circle when she had questioned. That had angered him, no one was to question.  They were to obey him without a second thought.

The man drew the dagger across the pale ivory column of the blond's throat a final time, cutting fatally into the tender flesh. She tried to cry out, but no sound emerged as her life's blood flowed freely from the open wound.

They would have to go quickly, he knew. Vampires would be drawn by the sent of blood, and he had no desire to fight with demons this evening. Besides, he preferred their purer relatives as it was. Vampires where tainted by the human host that housed their darkness. He preferred true evil to the tainted variety.  He glanced heavenward, knowing that the next full moon would drip with blood. Once the Hellmouth was open no one would doubt the power of the Midnight Circle again. He grinned. He couldn't wait to see those foolish
do-gooders that walked around Sunnydale, trying to help those too stupid to help themselves, fall beneath the wave of darkness that would come on the heels of the opening. The shadows would return. Sure Sunnydale still had vampires, but the true evil of the demon realms had moved on when the Hellmouth had been sealed those years before.

He hadn't been in a position to do anything about it then. He had watched silently as everything the previous elders had worked for went down the drain. He wouldn't allow that to happen this time, and there was nothing the ragtag band of good doers could do to stand in his way. The sorcerer almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.

As they neared the large abandoned house they had been using for their center, he and his lady both sighed in relief. They walked toward each other, shedding clothing as they went. He wondered fleetingly if the sensation he felt at this moment was akin to true blood lust. The site of her face, hands and clothes caked with the sacrifice's blood, heated his own. Dark desire whispered though him in waves, and he reached for his chosen.
 

Part 9

Willow awoke the next morning a little out of sorts. The events of the past couple of days soon came back to her in an overwhelming rush, and the wiccan closed her eyes. She sighed softly, wishing she could just go back to sleep and forget for a little while longer.

As she became aware of her surroundings, a deep thrumming drew her attention. Opening her eyes, she felt the arms of the vampire at her side, tighten around her waist and draw her closer. The redhead blinked, realizing that the low hum she was hearing was actually emanating from Angel. Willow's curiosity got the better of her, and she turned in his arms to face him.

The lithe witch took that moment to observe her friend, admiring not for the first time, his dark beauty. Sighing and rolling her eyes at the direction her mind was wandering, she decided it was time for her to get up. Willow knew she had to go to Giles' store to begin researching. The thought made her extraordinarily nervous. She groaned, and leaned her head against Angel's chest, taking strength in their nearness. Blinking abrubtly, the redhead realized that the hum she'd been hearing was actually rumbling from the vampire's chest. It reminded her of when her cat, Zoe, would purr.

'Angel's purring', she thought to herself. A huge grin split the young woman's face. 'Wow, I make Angel purr...' Green eyes widened perceptibly as the dark haired vampire suddenly shifted in his sleep, placing his face in the crook of her neck. The movement caused cool lips to brush against her throat, and the hacker could hear him mumble what sounded like something in his native tongue. Whatever he said, it sounded lovely, and Willow wished desperately that she understood Gaelic.

She became aware that her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. That was odd. She trusted Angel completely. She knew he would never hurt her, why was her body so... so aware of him all of a sudden? Her brows knit together in confusion.

Shaking off the odd sensation, Willow braced herself to face the day. Carefully easing out of the ensouled vampire's arms, the redhead stretched langorously. She smiled when her name tumbled from her sleepy friend.

"S'okay Angel, go back to sleep. I'm going to see Giles."

Still feigning sleep, the dark vampire gave a convincing sleepy groan, and cracked one chocolate brown eye open. "Be careful Willow."

The witch touched his cheek tenderly. "Come by later, okay?"

Angel nodded and closed his eyes. He heard the shower turn on moments later, and sighed. He enjoyed having the hacker in his arms too much. The vampire had been awake long before she awoke, but he'd found that he didn't want to move. She was too warm, too soft and sweet smelling.

Groaning, the vampire decided he'd give Willow two hours alone with the former watcher, before following. He'd take the sewer tunnels.

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

Willow walked into The Magic Box thirty minutes later. A small brass bell rang overhead as she opened, entered and then closed the door. Slightly nervous, the wiccan wiped her suddenly moist palms on her dark blue jeans.

Almost immediately, the witch spotted the blond girl she had met last night. Willow frowned, trying to recall her name. 'T- something, I think.... Tonya, no....Talia, no....Tara maybe. Yes, that was it.'

"Hi", Willow spoke approaching the young woman. Tara blinked, "Oh hi, Willow right?"

The redhead nodded. "Yeah."

"Giles is in back, I'll let him know you're here okay."

Without waiting for a response the ex-watcher's employee slipped toward the back of the shop. The slight tinkle of bells sounded whenever she stepped, and curious the redhead peered over the counter to find out what was making the noise. She smiled when she saw that Tara had a silver Nepalese ankle bracelet decorating one dainty ankle. Tiny bells attatched to the piece jingled with every step. The sound was pleasant, and Willow decided that the blond was probably an extremely interesting person to get to know. The slight tinkling sound returned as the blond witch padded softly back into the front room of the shop, her long patchwork, handkercheif hemmed skirt
swirling about her legs.

"Giles said for you to come right in. He says he's been waiting for you."

Willow swallowed. "Is he alone?"

Tara cocked her head, gazing down at the smaller woman. "Yes", she said, her lips curving slightly, "Buffy and Xander are at work."

"Oh good", Willow murmured aloud. She blushed when she saw that the small grin on the blond's face had become a full fledged smile. The red witch turned to leave, only to be stopped by Tara's voice.

"By the way, Willow?"

"Yes", the redhead said quietly.

"I love that shirt."

The hacker glanced down at her black tee shirt. A large silver pentacle decorated its front. She smiled at the other girl. "Thanks."

Tara watched the redhead go, amazed at the sense of sheer power she gave off. Absentmindedly twirling one of the four braids that decorated the crown on her head, the blond witch stationed herself near the door to the shop's backroom. She whispered a small spell, that would sharpen her hearing and waited.
 

Part 10

Spike sighed, turning over. He really needed to start sleeping days again. This staying up nearly twenty hours a day wasn’t working for him. He knew though that his little witch was doing the same. Despite his penchant for teasing the innocent girl, while trying to deny his feelings, he knew he couldn’t say he minded that they usually took an afternoon nap curled up in front of the tv. The vampire knew he shouldn’t like the feel of her warm, soft form pressed easily against his own. He knew he shouldn’t be thrilled that somehow she trusted him in spite of their first meeting, or that she wasn’t grossed out by the bags of blood that sat on the top shelf of her fridge.

He realized he had more in common with his bloody Grandsire then he’d ever wanted suddenly. 'I've turned into a right softy', Spike thought. 'Well only when it came to blond hair and blue eyes', he amended ruefully.

Not that he would ever let the nervous little witch know how soft he’d gotten on her, but it still didn’t change the fact. The platinum blond
sighed, turning over again. Something wasn’t right, he needed to sleep so that tonight he could make sure Tara-pet was safe. He knew his Grandsire wouldn’t let anything happen to the girl on principle, and the fact that she was a part of the Scooby gang. However, the chipped vampire was sure that if it came to saving the tiny redhead or his own little witch, that Angel would not hesitate to save his beloved companion.

Spike wondered fleetingly if what the blond witch had said was true. Was the connection between the elder vampire and the red witch merely that of deep friendship? One that had simply not been given the chance to become more. Even he could tell they cared for one another. The tender, careful way Angel had ushered the girl from the shop proved that.

Giving up on sleep, he growled and stood. The British vampire went into the kitchen, walking though the small apartment. He had to admit that it was better then the crypt he’d been going to stay in. When Tara had insisted that he could stay with her, he hadn’t realized how much he would enjoy knowing that he’d have someone to come home to when he went out nights. Not that he was able to do much. The bloody chip in his head saw to that.

He sighed, recalling just exactly how he’d happened on his little witch. She’d gotten into a fight with her father, and run out into the darkness crying. He’d caught her, drawn by the sound of her tears. The sight of her tear-stained face had brought forth a strange reaction in him. It was equal parts glee and worry. Spike had been both pleased at her pain, and also strangely angered that someone had dared to make the blue-eyed angel cry. That’s what she’d looked like that night, her white dress wrinkled and dirty. Her long blonde hair in a riotous shambles about her face while her pretty pink lips parted on sobs. Spike never seen anyone who begged for a vampire’s touch like she did. She was so pure.... and after the week he’d had, the girl had simply been too much to pass up.

She’d allowed herself to be drawn into his seemingly comforting arms before she realized he wasn’t as friendly as he seemed. He’d tried to bite her, only moments after wiping away the last traces of her tears. Pain and fear would have made her blood like ambrosia to him. Only, he was stopped by the most excruciating pain he’d ever felt. It paralyzed him, causing him to release his hold on the lovely young woman. Tara had scrambled out of his reach. Her eyes were clear of fear, instead they held concern. Well, concern and wariness to be more precise.

He didn’t really remember much after that. Not until the scent of fresh blood had awoken him. It was animal blood. Spike had been surprised to find himself inside a mausoleum, and more so, that the person standing over his prone form still had a heart beat and wore a worried expression.

The vampire grinned to himself. 'Yes, fate did make for strange partners that was for sure.' Still he found himself strangely grateful, and more then a little intrigued by the strange, sweet smelling blond-haired creature. She was quiet. At first he’d thought it was fear that held her tongue. Later after having spent more time with her, he understood that it wasn’t fear, but the simple fact that she was painfully shy, that kept her quiet. She'd proved herself more than trustworthy, not telling anyone of his whereabouts, and managing to keep him in warm blood.

The bleached blond had been surprised when he realized, she was a witch. Not just any witch, but a witch who if she’d been thinking clearly the night he’d attacked her, could have fried him. It was only later that Spike realized he owed his life to her in more ways than one. She had saved him from himself not long after. It had nearly been too much for him, realizing he couldn’t hurt humans any longer. Not that hurting her had remained on his list of things to do for long, but the idea that even if it stuck his fancy he was denied the one outlet his demon screamed for, had been nearly too much.

But Tara had given him a purpose, and for one so quiet, she had no shortage of the need of a protector. 'Gods', Spike thought with a groan, 'he was turning out just like the Bloody Poof.'

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