SERIES: Passing Time (#20)

AUTHOR: Tisienne Blue

E-MAIL: tisatko@msn.com

DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt own everyone you know from TV. I am not either of those fine gentlemen, so I only own characters you DON'T know.

RATING: NC-17, overall.

PAIRINGS: A/W/Liam; S/C

DISTRIBUTION: The usual, and my site (once it's open... Jeannette is a GODDESS!!!)

FEEDBACK: would be really, really nice, seeing as I've hardly gotten any at all for the last couple weeks... is anyone still reading this stuff???

DEDICATIONS: to Di, for the challenge... to Jeannette (the Goddess), for the site... to Nat (for the graphics)... and to Nutmeg, the only one to send me feedback for the last part... thanks, honey!!!

NOTES: it's 2007. Willow lives at the Hyperion with her two Mates-- Angel and Liam (alternate timeline Angel-- Eternal, but human...). Spike is also there, along with Cordelia. The Powers have big plans for our little redheaded witch, but only if she can pass their latest test. Oh, and * *= emphasis.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

She smiled slightly as she finally ferreted out the memory she'd been searching for... her *Mates*! She could picture them suddenly, in her head-- both of them tall... and dark... with those identical deep brown eyes. They looked exactly alike, she realized with a good deal of surprise, but somehow she'd never had any trouble telling them apart. She still didn't remember their names, but at least she knew what they were to her, now.

She'd struggled against the encroaching darkness in her mind, and she'd managed to recall all manner of things, despite the increasingly annoying whispers, and she thought she was almost ready... almost. First she wanted to know their names, though... and her own.

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

Cordelia sighed as she hung up the phone, completely unsurprised at the weight of three pairs of eyes on her back. "You *can* just ask me, you know," she said loudly, into the still air of the huge lobby, "It's not like I won't *tell* you!" She shook her head disgustedly at the continuing silence, and spun her chair around, facing the two dark-haired men, and the bleached blond who was her own. "Somcre," she announced, standing and crossing the floor until she stood directly in front of them, "Won't let any of you come to his place. And he wouldn't agree to come here."

Spike smirked at the angry growl Angel was barely managing to hold back. "So what did you convince him to do, pet?" he purred, fully aware of the fact that his woman wouldn't be so calm if she hadn't managed to wrangle a concession or two from the demon in question.

The Seer smiled hugely and tossed her hair back over her shoulder, amazed that Spike could know her so well already. "I talked him into a compromise." She turned her eyes to her boss and his human twin, amused by the shock in their expressions. "What? I'm Cordelia Chase, after all! If I could talk the *phone* company into leaving the lines live after we didn't pay them for three months, one little *demon* is hardly even a *challenge*! Geez, guys! Have a little faith!" She quirked an eyebrow at them, her smile growing even wider at their shamefaced glances. "Okay," she continued, after basking in her success for another moment or three, "Angel, you're meeting him at Caritas in two hours. I know it's not open at that time of day, but Lorne still owes us for the time we spent in that hell dimension of his. Spike and Liam are going with you as your muscle. I'll look after Willow while you're gone." She turned away, still grinning at their stunned expressions. "Oh, and I had to promise Somcre you'd bring him a gift, in return for the incredible pleasure of actually *seeing* him, so... make it something *good*, okay? Maybe that Eye of Rhomboid thing..."

"The Eye of Romas?" Liam asked, startled, "You have the Eye of Romas, and you didn't *tell* me?" He stared incredulously at his Mate. "How in the *hell*...?"

If the situation hadn't been so serious, Angel would have laughed. "Sorry, Liam. Chalk it up to me being a... what was it? Oh, yes. An 'arrogant prick'. Wasn't that what you called me?" Serious or not, he couldn't resist teasing the human.

Spike rolled his eyes as the human pouf followed the vampiric one into the office again, snorting when they closed and locked the door. "So, pet," he purred smoothly, stalking towards his cheerleader's desk, "What do you want to do for the next hour or so...?" He raised his scarred brow at her, his lips twitching into a leer as his eyes raked over her entirely *too* clothed-- in *his* opinion-- form.

Cordelia laughed out loud at the incredibly obvious thoughts he was having, and leaned against her desk. "Well," she said silkily, meeting his hot eyes, maybe we could... *talk*?" She plunked herself down in her chair and stared at him expectantly.

He almost groaned when he realized she was serious, and he seriously considered just throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her off to his bed again, but... She'd probably scream, or at least shriek a little, and that would-- beyond question-- bring the poufs running, so he sighed deeply and leaned against the spot on her desk that she'd so recently vacated. "Fine, love," he said grudgingly, "What did you want to talk *about*?"

"Well, for starters," she said intently, "I'd kind of like to know what's going on around here, and why it is that no one's watching Willow all of a sudden, after three days of constant vigil! And what's up with Wesley? Usually he'd be all *over* something like this, but... Pfft! Big magic happening, and Wes is nowhere to be seen!" She could see the answers to her questions lurking in his eyes, and she crossed her arms, hardening her expression. "*Spill*!" she demanded.

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

"Angel," she said aloud, hearing her own voice for what felt like the first time, "And... Liam! Angel and Liam!" A huge grin split her face, and she realized... this was what it meant to be *happy*!

Not completely, of course, because she was still stuck in where ever she was, but... she'd remembered their *names*! She could see them so clearly in her mind, now... and she loved them!

That surprised her, just a bit, mostly because she hadn't been entirely sure of what love was until just that moment, but... She was sure *now*! There was nothing she wouldn't do to ensure their happiness, and she knew, with every fibre of her being, that they felt the same. "Angel and Liam," she said again, eyes wide with wonder, "And I'm... *Willow*!"

It was that knowledge, that realization of her own self, that opened the gates of memory completely, and she cried out loudly as the images flooded her brain.

She sighed in relief a few minutes that felt like years later, surprised to find herself curled into a ball on the cold gray earth, and she stood, her eyes hardening as she glared around her.

"I don't know who you are," she said coldly, "Or why you're doing this, but I'm not gonna *take* it anymore! Show yourself and explain, or *let* *me* *go*!" She could feel the shock flowing from the landscape itself, and she straightened her spine angrily. "What ever this place is, I'm still a *witch*, you know! I can break my way out if I have to!" She waited another moment or three, and when she got no response, she began gathering the power that was so abundant in this place. It almost felt like it was made specifically for *her*, the power surrounding her. She pulled all she could grasp into one sleek bolt, and braced herself to release it into the steel-coloured sky, when...

'Stop!' she heard, in a vaguely familiar voice, and when she turned in the direction the cry had come from, she *did* stop, stunned. "Mathry...?"

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

Angel stared, hard-eyed, at the small orange-skinned demon. "I understand that it's a prized piece in your collection, but..."

"No," the demon, Somcre, interrupted, "It's *more* than that. It's the one that got me *started*, you see. I hadn't even considered collecting anything until it came into my possession, and... I'm sorry, Angel," he said, meaning it sincerely, "But I don't see how I can give it to you. It's too important to me." He jumped slightly when the vampire growled and flashed yellow eyes at him, glad that he'd brought his own bodyguards with him. This was *not* the sort of thing a pacifist like himself had any business getting involved in. "I'm sorry..." he said again, leaning back in his chair.

Liam's hand shot out, fastening tightly on his Mate's shoulder. "Wait," he hissed, entirely sure that the vampire was about to do something stupid. "Somcre," he said, more loudly, "What if we don't need to *keep* it? What if we can use it, somehow, and then give it back to you?"

The little demon thought about it, and was about to respond when the white-blond vampire jumped into the conversation for the first time.

"Oh, forget it!" Spike sneered, rolling his eyes, "This bloke obviously isn't interested in seeing any of his little toys in action. You were *right*, Sire; we should have done it *your* way!" If he'd needed to breathe, he'd have had a huge breath held while he waited to see if his little ploy was working.

Somcre's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing in thought. Did the vampire mean... "You'd let me be there. Let me *see* it working... Hmmm..." His short, stubby fingers twisted repeatedly around each other as he closed his eyes. He'd never had the nerve to actually *use* any of the items he owned. Of course, he told himself, that wasn't the point of his collection! It was to be looked at, and touched, and kept purely for his own satisfaction... not to mention that many of the items he kept locked away were far too dangerous to be let out in the world. But the item the vampires and the human were asking for wasn't one of the dangerous ones. "Hmmm..." he said again, small shivers of anticipation racing up and down his short, knobby spine, "And what do I get out of this?"

Spike smirked to himself and waved his Sire out of his chair. "Well," he said smoothly, sitting down and crossing one ankle over the opposite knee, "Aside from seeing one of your objects in *use*? What do you *want*?"

The orange-skinned demon smiled widely, displaying all ninety-six of his sharp green teeth. "I want you to get me something I haven't been able to find. It would complete one small portion of my collection..."

The blond frowned for a moment before replying. "If its possible, without any of us dying...?" He nodded. "What is it?"

The little collector smiled again, fingers twitching once more. "A Cupermic Orchid," he said softly, the longing clear in his voice, "I want a Cupermic Orchid for my collection..."

Once again, Liam stepped in, glad that he could help somehow. His role in this little negotiation thus far had been to simply stand there and look formidable, but... Willow was *his* Mate, too, and... "I can get one," he murmured, before Spike could respond. "It might take a few days, but I can get one."

Spike nodded at the muttered words, and smiled. Still, it wouldn't do to just accept without trying to bargain, so... "Might be a bit *tricky*, mate," he answered, "And I'm not entirely sure that would be an equal exchange..."

Somcre swallowed hard, his desire for the blossom outweighing his innate greed. "A Cupermic Orchid, and I'll give you back the Eye of Romas..." His hand slipped out to caress the large amethyst crystal on the table. He wanted the Eye, but... the Orchid would be even better...

The blond vampire glanced at the human version of his Sire from the corner of his eye, relieved when the man nodded almost imperceptibly. "Fine. You let us use the amulet, we get you your bleedin' posy, and you give us back the Eye. Done." He almost smiled at the glee in the demon's expression, but forced himself to keep a straight face. "But we need the amulet today, and it might take a little while to get you your flower."

The small demon considered for a moment before nodding. "All right, but I want Angel's word on it that I'll have my Orchid by the end of the week."

Angel glanced swiftly at his human-self, reassured by the confidence he saw in his eyes, and he turned his gaze to the collector he'd planned to rob. Spike had been right, he told himself, still surprised, but he nodded at the demon. "My word on it, Somcre," he said seriously, "We'll get you your Orchid." He leaned across the table, shaking hands on the deal.

Somcre smiled almost happily, and jumped down from his chair. "I'll go get the amulet, then," he announced, gesturing for one of his bodyguards to lift him up, "And we'll be at your Hotel in two hours." He watched the three he'd dealt with as he was carried to the stairs. "Pleasure doing business," he stated, as he and his entourage left the bar.

"Well?" Spike demanded, as soon as the little demon was gone, "I'm smarter than you thought, aren't I, Peaches?"

Liam laughed out loud, and slung an arm around his Mate's broad shoulders. "You did good, Spike," he answered for the both of them, "Now come on. I still need to figure out how to get my hands on that damned flower." He ignored the sputtered comments from his Mate and the bottle-blond, more interested right then in getting back to the little witch he loved.

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

"Choices have been made," Mathry said simply, sitting down on the gray, rocky ground, "And still more remain." He waited until she sat beside him, the anger still clear in her eyes. "This time, the choices are yours, Willow, and they will affect more things than you know."

"What choices?" the redhead demanded, "What exactly am I supposed to choose *between*? And if you say my Mates, I'm gonna have to kill you!"

The Oracle couldn't help himself; he laughed. "No, Willow," he said after a moment of deep, body-shaking chuckles, "You don't have to choose between them; that would be impossible, I think. No, you have to choose your path now. The methods you will use to accomplish your tasks." He swallowed hard, his chuckles dying out. "It's not a decision I envy you."

The witch stared at him for a moment, confused. "Is that what all *this* is about?" she asked, gesturing at the sullen landscape surrounding them, "And... what I went through here, finding my memories again, was that a *part* of it?"

Mathry nodded slowly. "It was necessary," he explained, "To see if you were strong enough. And you *are*," he continued after a moment. "You're stronger than they... *we*... had any right to expect. You may well end up being a force to reckon with."

"Depending on my choices..." she murmured, mostly to herself, "But I still don't know what my options are, do I?"

He sighed deeply, closing his eyes for just a minute. "You must choose the places your powers will be grounded. Anger, or fear, or hatred... You must choose your direction, while in this place, and... Willow," he said warningly, "Know this! What you decide here will not ever be changed. It is a decision that can never be adjusted, or taken back. You can't reconsider at a later date." He shook his head slowly, pulling his eyes from her suddenly worried ones. "The place you ground your powers-- your *gifts*-- will be with you forever. There's no going back, no wishing for a second chance. And it will affect your life, as well as your abilities." He glanced at her once more, from the corner of his eye. "I hate to do this to you, Willow, but... I have no choice in the matter."

Willow sighed, closing her eyes. "No... I don't suppose you do. All the choices are apparently *mine*." She sighed again. "Okay. So how do I do this?"

Mathry was almost relieved that she wasn't fighting him, although there was more he could have told her if she'd asked the proper questions, but... He couldn't *volunteer* the information; that was one of the rules. "You must search yourself, and find the emotions you wish to work from. The stronger the emotion, the more use your gifts will be, so..."

She focused herself internally, examining all the things she'd felt in her life, and... Anger was definitely upper-most in her heart... anger that the Powers would do this to her; anger that she'd never been given a choice about her role in things... But fear was there, too. Fear that she'd fail, or that she might make things worse by trying to help... Fear that it was all some big mistake, and that she was too weak to be effective. But all that, she soon realized, was transitory. The strength of those emotions fluctuated wildly, never actually being steady or sure. And so she search further, a slight frown creasing her brow.

He watched her, amazed at the thought she was giving things. Somehow, he'd expected her to just grab hold of a base or two and go with it. He thought that perhaps the Powers had expected as much, as well, based upon the swiftness she'd displayed in Mating the two Warriors. But she was actually considering her choices deeply, and... that boded well. She might pass this little test, after all. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed the colours trying to leech into the uniformity of the gray world around them, and a sense of panic filled him when he saw her 'body' starting to blur at the edges. "Now, Willow!" he cried desperately, "You must choose *now*!"

She heard the panic in his voice, and felt the pull of something tugging hard at her, and although she didn't know what, exactly, was happening, she trusted Mathry enough that his demand for her decision pulled the choices from her lips, even as she felt herself fading.

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

Angel glanced swiftly around the room he shared with his Mates, eyes taking in the angry form of his childe cradling the cheerleader in his strong arms. It had been frightening, to say the least, when the three of them had walked back into the hotel and found her collapsed in a heap on the lobby floor. It had been *terrifying* when he and Spike had detected the smell of Wesley, and sensed his heartbeat coming from the upstairs.

They'd raced up to their floor, and had only just been in time to keep the crazed former watcher from poisoning the redhead with adulterated tea.

Now Wesley was tied up in a corner, gagged to stop the spew of filth he'd been screaming from the moment they'd tackled him and knocked the mug from his hand, although if the way the man was glaring at them was any indication, there would still be trouble coming from that direction.

Fortunately, Cordelia had begun to rouse, so he'd been able to keep Spike from killing the 'rogue demon-hunter', but he wasn't entirely ruling that out as an option. The man *had*, after all, tried to kill one of his *Mates*! His eyes flew to the door when he heard Liam coming down the hallway, accompanied by what could only be Somcre and his men. "Good," he said intently, as they appeared in the doorway, "You're here. You brought the amulet?"

The small demon nodded, pulling said item from his bag. "I don't know exactly how it works," he said, a bit sheepishly, "But it should give her enough strength to pull herself from where ever she is... provided she *wants* to come back, of course..." He passed the gold and silver pendant to the vampire, still thrilled by the way the large emerald glittered in the light. "So," he continued, turning towards the bed, "This is your other Mate...?" He moved closer, ignoring the growls coming from Angel's chest. "Yesss..." he said, suddenly understanding, "I can see why she's so important to you. You've done well with this one." He stepped back, motioning for one of his men to bring him a chair. Odds were, the amulet would be useless after this, and he was for damned sure going to have a good view of it being triggered. Besides, after seeing the girl, it would be worth it even if he *didn't* get his Orchid. Hell, if he'd known what she was ahead of time, he would have just *given* it to them! He shook his head internally, knowing that was a lie. No, he'd made a very good deal, and if this actually worked? He'd get his flower, *and* have the Powers owing him a favour! "Well?" he demanded, "I don't have all *night*!"

If Spike hadn't been more concerned about Cordelia than he was about anything else that was going on, he would have laughed at the small demon's commanding tone, but... As it was, he was thoroughly occupied with the brunette in his lap. His fingers roamed ceaselessly over her face, his eyes locked with hers. He could have lost her, if Wussy had been even slightly stronger. He held in the growl building in his chest, and glared daggers at the trussed-up prig before returning his attention to the sweet girl in his arms. He could hear the poufs chanting something, but he honestly didn't care what they were up to. Oh, sure, he wanted Red to wake up, but he'd *done* his part for them. It was only when the bright green glow flashed through the room that he looked towards the bed.

It had taken a few minutes of study, but Liam had finally found the words hidden in the ornamental scrollwork around the edge of the amulet, and once he *had*, it had been only a matter of moments before they were written down. He placed the pendant's chain over Willow's head, and he and Angel had begun reciting the short incantation. The first two times, nothing happened, but he'd been expecting that. It wasn't until they were halfway through their third recitation that the glow had sprung into being. It swelled out from the center of the emerald between her breasts, and swiftly encompassed her entire form, almost like a cocoon of some sort, and as they spoke the final word, he felt a *snap* in the air. The glow faded, even as she sat up straight, eyes open wide.

"Love!" she cried, "And Truth!" Her eyes were wild as she stared around her, taking in the sight of her two Mates-- looking like they'd just been granted some sort of a reprieve-- Spike, holding Cordelia tightly to him, and Wesley, bound and gagged. Her brow furrowed for a moment as she focused on the little orange demon sitting in a chair across from her. "Um, guys?" she said curiously, "Who's *that*?"

Somcre jumped down to the floor, entirely certain that whatever was going to happen next in that room was something he didn't want to know about. He darted to the bed and yanked the amulet from about the girl's neck, snapping the chain. "I'll call you in a few days about my Orchid," he announced before trundling swiftly from the room, his men following behind him. It might take *more* than a few days, though, he told himself, if the look in the redhead's eyes-- and the eyes of her Mates-- was any indication.

Angel watched the demon go before turning his gaze to his childe. "Take Cordy and Wes and get out," he instructed him, in a tone that brooked no argument. "You can put *him*," he said, gesturing at the insane man, "In one of the unused rooms. I don't want to be disturbed for at least a day or two, got it?"

Spike smirked and let Cordelia climb from his lap. "Fine, Sire," he said smoothly, barely covering the laughter in his voice, "Cheerleader and I'll run the agency." He crossed the room and slung the angry former watcher over his shoulder, grabbing hold of Cordelia's fingers with his free hand. "Come on, pet," he purred, leading her from the room, "I want to check you over... make sure you're not hurt too badly..."

Cordelia grinned, even as the door to Angel's room slammed behind them. "Oh... *would* you? Because I think I might have a bruise or two that I don't know about..."

The blond smirked wickedly, even as he dumped the bound form of Wesley on the dusty bed in one of the rooms farthest away from his own. "Guess we'll have to make it a very *thorough* examination, then, luv..." He ducked down and quickly picked her up in his arms before dashing back down the hall to his own room.

End.
 

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