"Where are we going?" Willow asked from the front seat of Spike's car.
"Far enough away so Angelus won't trip over you, but not so far we can't get back quickly," Spike answered.
"Oh, that clears things up," she said dryly. "Where's Drusilla? Do you think she'll stay in South America without you?"
Spike looked over at her, "Dru's here."
"Here? In Sunnydale?" Willow screeched.
"She doesn't know that I know, but I know," he grinned.
"That looney bitch is running around Sunnydale--"
"Careful, pet. That looney bitch may very well be your salvation," he warned her.
Willow considered this for a moment, "That's kind of a frightening thought."
"Kind of," Spike chuckled.
"How do you think she'll react when she thinks you and I are--"
"Doing it?" he asked. "She'll either be furious, or she won't give a damn. Doesn't matter; either way, she'll run to Angelus, which is just what we want."
"Of course we do," Willow replied uncertainly.
"Trust me, luv. I know what I'm doing."
"I hope so," she moaned.
***
"Where is she?" Angelus bellowed as he stomped into the library.
"Where's who?" Buffy asked innocently.
"Don't play games with me, bitch. You'd better hand her over now, or--"
"Or what?" the slayer asked coldly. "You'll give us all fatal hickeys? You know if you kill us you'll never find her."
"She's with Spike," Drusilla stated from behind Angelus.
"That she is," Giles nodded. "Spike seemed oddly concerned for her well-being. We were reluctant to let her go with him."
"But then we decided, what the hell, he can't be worse than you are," Buffy added.
"I'll kill him," Angelus seethed. "I'll rip out his heart and shove it up his ass."
"Willow will love that, watching you murder her rescuer," Xander said. "Better than a Hallmark greeting card."
Angelus glared at him, "I'll find her, and then I'll come after you, one at a time."
"We'll look forward to it," Buffy replied.
"And then we'll kill the little witch," Drusilla added, putting a hand on Angelus' arm.
"The hell we will," he snarled. "Willow's mine. You'll keep your claws off her."
"Angelus," Dru looked at him, her eyes filled with pain. "You don't need her. I'm here now."
He flung her hand off him, "Why would I want you when I can have her?" *** "What are you doing?" Willow asked as Spike dropped down onto the sofa and wrapped a cold arm around her shoulders.
"I open my mouth; you open your mouth; I stick my tongue down your throat. It's called kissing," Spike explained.
Willow scooted quickly away from him, "Are you crazy?"
"Probably," he grinned. "Dru has to believe we're lovers, ducks. She has to see visions of me all over you when she looks at--whatever the hell it is she looks at when she has her crazy revelations. Come here."
He pulled her back to him and fastened his lips to hers.
"I love him, Spike," she said as she pulled away.
"I know you do, but who do you want? Angel or Angelus?" he asked softly.
"Angel," she admitted.
"Then help me get him back," he asked as his mouth recaptured hers. *** "They're together," Drusilla wailed. "My Spike is in bed with your little witch. I can feel her warm heartbeat against him."
Angelus' dark eyes looked down at her, "Where are they, Dru? Can you see where they are?"
"In a bed, a big bed. It's very dark, and he's holding her very close. I don't like it, Angelus. She's too warm and soft," the beautiful vampire said sadly. "He wants to--"
"Shut the fuck up," Angelus demanded and grabbed hold of her arm. "Tell me where they are!"
"I can't. I can't see. His lips are on hers and--"
A deep growl echoed from Angelus' chest as he turned and stalked out of the room. *** "Spike!" Willow shouted and pushed herself away from him.
"Take it easy, luv," he said. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"That's not what I'm afraid of," she told him as he rolled over on top of her. "Get off of me!"
"Look, do you want Angel back or not?" he asked.
"You know I do," she answered. "It's just--"
"Close your eyes and think of England," he suggested.
"Huh?"
"It's what Victorian women used to say when their--oh, never mind," he said. "Stop fighting me, and it'll all be over before you know it."
She looked at him doubtfully.
"Okay, I lied," he grinned. "But, there's only one way to undo this curse. I'm it, Willow."
"Okay," she grumbled and squeezed her eyes shut.
He heaved a great, unneeded sigh, "For someone who's been screwed every way imaginable and several ways no one's every dreamed of, you certainly are being a prude about this."
"A prude!" her eyes flew open and glared into his. "I'll show you who's a prude, you conceited son of a bitch!"
She grabbed a handful of blonde hair and yanked his mouth down onto hers. Spike smiled to himself and thrust his tongue into her mouth as his body covered hers.
Willow felt Spike's cold hands roaming over her body, teasing her and coaxing an unwilling passion from her. Her mind flooded with visions of Angel. His fingers in her hair. His mouth on her breasts. His hips grinding against hers. She called out his name as Spike entered her and rode her inexorably toward climax. He whispered to her, entreating her to come, imploring her to surrender to the rapture both souls within her craved.
Willow cried out as the ecstasy of her illusion swallowed her senses. A sharp wave of pain washed over her as she came, and she screamed out in agony and went limp under Spike's hard body.
***
Giles completed the incantation and turned to look at Buffy.
"Did it work? Can you tell?" the slayer asked.
The watcher shook his head, "There's no way of knowing until we see Willow, or Angel. If Spike followed the timeline, the curse should be broken. I just pray Willow's all right."
"And that Angel won't hate her for what's happened," Buffy added.
"You surprise me," Giles admitted.
Buffy shrugged, "I lost Angel a long time ago. I love both of them. If they can be happy together--"
Giles stifled her comments with a crushing hug.
***
Angelus' halted his furious pacing as a white hot pain seared through his body. He howled and collapsed amidst the dead flowers in the garden.
Drusilla rushed out from the mansion and kneeled over her unconscious sire, "Angelus?"
She placed her hand over his chest and wailed pitifully, "Angelus, don't leave me!"
***
Spike dressed Willow with uncharacteristic gentleness and carried her limp body out to his car. The drive back to town seemed miles longer than their departure had been.
He entered the library, cradling the little redhead in his arms. He lowered her carefully onto the table and turned to the watcher.
"It's done," he murmured as his hand caressed Willow's brow.
"And Angelus?" Buffy asked.
"Is gone," a ragged voice breathed from the doorway.
End Part 10
The dark vampire lifted Willow's body from the table.
"I don't think you should--"
He looked over at Giles, "She needs to be with me, and I need her. Spike, can we take your car?"
Spike nodded, and the others watched in silence as they took Willow out of the room.
***
Willow awoke and looked up at the vampire's concerned face. She lifted her hand, and he took it in his.
"Angel?" she whispered.
He bent to kiss her, "No, kitten."
Willow gasped and tried to sit up as the dull pain in her head took on a more urgent pounding.
"But, we--I thought that--"
"Whatever you thought, you thought wrong," he told her calmly.
She sat quietly for a moment before speaking, "Angel, you're not here anymore, inside me."
Angelus nodded grimly, "I know. I feel it, too."
"I don't understand," she whispered.
"He's here," Dru spoke from behind her sire. "In me."
Angelus stood and turned to face her.
"It was the only way. I couldn't let them take you away, Angelus, not again. You were bound to the little witch. I had to make them believe they'd be restoring your soul to you. I stayed close to you, all the while she was with Spike. I had to keep your mind, your emotions open to me. We had to convince the slayer and her watcher that the incantation would work to restore your soul."
"Why didn't it?" Willow asked.
"It would have, if Angelus had been alone," Drusilla answered. "So, I stayed very close to him. He was so angry he couldn't feel what was happening to you. A moment of pure bliss, that's all it took. His own anger forced his soul away, and into me, just as the incantation demanded."
"No," Willow moaned. "It isn't true."
"I'm sorry," Dru said sadly. "I wasn't before, but it's different, now. I'm sorry this had to hurt you."
"I love him," Willow said weakly.
Drusilla moved to the sofa and sat down beside the redhead.
"I know you do, but I've loved him much longer," she replied.
"You knew, and you helped her?" Angelus glared at Spike.
Spike nodded, "You're all she's ever wanted. Even after you nearly sent us all to hell, you were all she wanted. She's got you now. I'm done with it."
"Come with me, Angelus," Dru asked.
Angelus raised a hand to her cold cheek, drawn to her by the unrelenting pull of their newly-formed bond. A sob broke from Willow's lips as she moved off the sofa. Angelus stood and grabbed for her.
"I love you, Willow," he moaned.
"But you want her," Willow said as a great tear slid down her cheek.
"I want you both," he whispered.
"You can't have us both!" she shouted as her grief overtook her. "Damn you, Spike! Damn the both of you!"
She wrestled her arm out of Angelus' grip and fled. Spike moved in front of Angelus, blocking his exit.
"Stay here. You two need to talk. I'll go after her," he said.
Angelus nodded reluctantly as Dru's fingers laced themselves through his.
***
"Willow," Spike called out as he ran to catch up to her.
"Leave me alone," she demanded.
He put a hand on her shoulder, halting her, "No. Listen to me."
"You bastard! I let you fuck me! You must have gotten a good laugh over that whole sorry--"
"I didn't," he shouted. "Do you think I like this? I've dealt with what you're going through for two centuries."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she hissed. "You made me your whore so you could be rid of that bitch."
"It isn't like that," he groaned. "You're upset. I understand, believe me."
"Upset? Upset! That doesn't begin to describe what I feel!" she fumed. "I hate you! I hate her! I hate him! I hate myself! How could I have been so stupid? Go away, and leave me the hell alone!"
Spike grabbed her as she stepped away and threw her over his shoulder.
"Put me down!" she screeched, pounding her fists against his back.
"No, I need to talk to you about this, and you're going to listen," he insisted. "Stop fighting me before I hurt you."
"You've already done that," she shouted.
Spike could feel the strength draining out of her as the effects of her ordeal and her overcharged emotions began to take their toll on her.
"If you want a knock down, drag out fight," he said calmly, "I'll give you one. But not here, and not now. You're coming with me."
He carted her back to the car, tossed her inside, slid in next to her, and pulled away.
***
The presence of Angel's soul dwelling inside his childe gave her a clarity of thought she had not experienced since Angelus had broken her mind and drained her body. Angelus looked into her clear eyes as she held onto his hand.
"Why, Dru?" he asked. "You had Spike. Why did you do this?"
"We belong together. We always have; you know that. I'd have done anything to get to you. I was glad the little witch who took you away would be hurt. It's strange to feel sad for her now. I understand her loss," Drusilla said.
"She hasn't lost me," Angelus told her. "I still love her."
"Angelus, you're my sire. That's always been our bond, but it's even stronger, now that part of you is in me. We need each other. You can feel it, too, can't you?"
Angelus pulled her next to him and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ground her hips against his growing erection.
"Our bond is permanent. I made sure of that," she purred against his chest. "You'll forget her, in time."
"I'll never forget her," he snarled as he lifted her and carried her to the bedroom. "I'll make you hurt for what you've done."
She smiled up at him as his strong hands ripped away the bodice of her dress to reveal the pale white mounds of her breasts.
"Hurt me, Angelus," she begged. "Hurt me until your pain is gone, and your little witch is an unimportant memory."
He growled as his eyes filled with an uncontrolled lust. He tore off the remainder of her clothing and quickly removed his own. Drusilla reached out for him as he flung her back onto the bed and buried his aching shaft in her cold, wet channel.
End Part 11
"Willow, stop it, damn you," Spike growled and clutched at the hands that threatened to claw at his eyes.
"Let me go!" she yelled. "You don't have anything to say that I want to hear!"
"Angel will be," he stopped with a groan and twisted her away from him. He wrapped his arms around her, pinning them to her sides and lowered his mouth to her ear, "back."
Willow suddenly fell very still, "What?"
"Angel will be back, luv," he repeated. "Tonight."
"How do you--what do you mean?"
He heard the tiny woman's heart racing in her chest and drew her back against him, his arms still firmly wrapped around her.
"He'll be back tonight, Willow. I promise," he said.
"You're lying," she whispered.
"I'm not. Will you listen to me?"
She nodded, and he turned her carefully, braced for another assault. She stood motionless before him, and he thought he had never seen anyone so young look so tired.
"Angelus will go to Dru. He'll have to; the bond will force him to want her." He stroked her hair as a tremor shook her body, "It'll be everything she's wanted for longer than I care to remember. When she--has him, Angel's soul will leave her. Angelus will be gone."
"But she said--"
"I know what she said," Spike smiled. "Dru's very clever, but she has an annoying habit of underestimating me when she gets on one of her Angelus rants. The incantation was changed before the watcher ever got it. Their bond is not permanent, but once Angel's soul is returned to him, that will be permanent."
"Oh, Spike," she murmured and blinked back tears. "Is that true?"
"It's true. Even after hours of torture, I never really believed she'd give Angelus up. I had the curse altered before I crossed the border."
Willow threw her arms around him and hugged him fiercely.
"I'm sorry I hit you," she cried. "I'm sorry--"
"I know," he chuckled. "As obsessed as Dru is with her daddy, I can't let her go. She's everything. So, I really do know how you feel, pet."
She drew back and looked sadly at him, "She'll be furious with you. She'll never forgive you."
"Sure she will," he shrugged. "It may take awhile, but she'll get over it."
***
Angelus shoved Drusilla away from him with enough force to send her tumbling off the bed. His body tensed from the overwhelming pain that gripped him.
"Angelus?" Drusilla whimpered as she rose to the side of the bed.
Angel wiped bloody tears from his eyes and moaned softly, "Willow."
"No!" Drusilla cried out. "Please, Angelus--"
Angel pushed back his pain and scrambled from the bed. He tugged on his clothes and raced out of the room. Blind need drove him from the mansion and straight into the body approaching from the garden.
"Umph!" Willow groaned as his hard body sprawled over her.
Angel reached for her and dragged her into his arms. He covered her face with soft, urgent kisses.
"Angel," she whispered.
"I love you, Willow," he murmured as he crushed the breath from her. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about everything."
"Shhh," she smiled and clutched him to her. "It doesn't matter anymore. None of it matters. You're back."
Spike blocked Drusilla as she stormed out of the mansion. She growled at the sight of Angel and Willow cocooned around one another. Her hand struck out at Spike, and he reeled backwards. She stepped around him, and Angel pulled Willow to her feet and wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"You're mine," Drusilla hissed. "You'll always be mine!"
"No, Dru," Angel said. "I'll always be Willow's. Go away. Take Spike, and go back to South America."
An evil smile tugged at her lips, "If I kill the little witch, you'll come back to me."
A low, deep growl issued from Angel's chest, "If you kill her, I'll follow her. I won't exist without her, Dru. I can't."
Drusilla slipped into game face and glared at Willow. Angel pushed her behind him as Spike moved behind Dru and flung her away. She snarled angrily and charged at the vampire. Spike's hand laid hold of the edge of a broken step and brought it down over her head. He rose to his knees and scooped her prone body up off the ground.
"All clear, ducks," he said to Willow.
"Is she--"
"No. She has a head as hard as Angel's. I expect the drive back should be fairly quiet, though," he grinned.
Willow walked over to him and placed her hand over his, "Thank you."
He smiled down at her, "He's still a wanker, and he sure as hell doesn't deserve you, but there's no accounting for taste, I suppose."
Willow reached up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Take care of her, you bloody sod," Spike said to Angel. "She's way too good for you."
Angel moved behind Willow and put his arms around her as Spike nodded a farewell and carried Drusilla to his car. The sound of squealing tires echoed back across the garden.
"We have to find Buffy and Giles," Willow spoke.
"Not tonight," he whispered. "Tonight is ours, Willow, as far as I can safely take it, anyway."
She turned to him with a wicked smile, "Boy, have I got news for you."
They spent the rest of the night, and most of the following morning, celebrating Willow's news.
End Part 12
Willow rested her hands on Angel's chest and propped her chin on her hands.
"Angel, are you in there?"
"I'm in here," he smiled, curling his arm around her and placing his hand on her ass.
"You're not angry at me? About Spike, I mean," she asked with a tremor of fear.
"That would hardly be fair, considering Dru and me, would it? No, baby, I'm not angry. I'm just grateful you're still here with me," he answered.
"He fixed it, Angel. Spike fixed it. You can't lose your soul again, no matter how many times we--" she stopped as a scarlet blush traveled from her cheeks down to her pale breasts.
Angel chuckled and moved her up to capture her lips in a soft kiss.
"You're the only woman I've ever known who could get embarrassed talking about sex while she's lying naked in her lover's bed."
"I'm hopeless, aren't I?" she smiled.
"No, Willow. You are hope personified," he told her. "Want to give my soul another test?"
"Or two," she laughed as her lips parted against his. "Or three."
He moved over her and entered her with agonizingly sweet slowness. She sighed as his hand found the sensitive flesh between her legs and rubbed against it gently. His mouth moved to her breasts, licking and sucking each nipple, and she arched into him, begging him to move within her.
"I love you, Willow," he whispered as their bodies began an urgent rhythm.
She came quickly, her walls clamping around his hard shaft and drawing him with her into an orgasm that left Willow panting under him. He slid next to her and pulled her close against him.
"I love you, too, Angel," she purred contentedly before her eyes closed and her breath grew slow and even. *** "I was so afraid you'd be hurt or angry," Willow said as Buffy took a chair beside her.
"I was, at first," she nodded. "It was hard to admit to myself that Angel and I will never be together, but I think I've known it for a long time. You've been through so much, the both of you, and you deserve to be happy. I want you to be."
Willow smiled at her friend, "I want the same for you."
"I am," Buffy said. "Did I tell you Xander's asked me to go to a movie this weekend with him?"
"Really?" Willow squealed. "You and Xander?"
"Well, I can't see it, myself. We've been friends for so long. But I figured, as long as you're all settled and happy, maybe I can help push Cordy back into Xander's arms. A good dose of jealousy could be just what she needs," Buffy grinned.
Willow was staring at her in amazement, "You're one hell of a friend."
Buffy's eyes glanced over at the door, "I think someone's looking for you."
Willow turned and smiled as Angel walked over to them. She rose to stand beside him, and their hands found one another's.
"Willow tells me you're going on a trip," the slayer said.
He nodded, "We could both use the time away, and she's never been to Ireland."
"Maybe we can bring back a handsome Brit for you," Willow suggested.
"As long as he isn't a peroxide blonde," Buffy grinned. "Take care of her, Angel."
"I will, Buffy," he promised. "Thank you for--"
She shook her head, "Get out of here. Go have some fun, and send me a postcard."
"See you in a few weeks," Willow said as she pulled the slayer out of her chair and into a hug.
"I'll be here," Buffy smiled.
The slayer stepped back as Angel took Willow's hand and led her out of the library.
"Be happy," Buffy whispered as a soft tear slipped down her cheek.
The End