Hopeless Series

Pairings: W/S, A/C

Summary: Buffy is staying dead, Angel had sex with Darla but there is no Conner/Stephen – just tired of that storyline – and the rest you'll have to read to find out. (Feel rest assured - Naked Spike and naked Angel are a definite part of my world!!) Also, not Beta'd, so be kind.

Spoilers: Up to The Gift

Rating: NC-17 (Duh! Did you not read about the naked Spike and naked Angel?)

Feedback: Need it – should I continue? Or am I hopeless?

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~Part: 1~

      "Anyone home?" Willow yelled when walking in the door.

      "Just us mice."  Willow and her new roommate had been up the previous night watching old Disney movies, laughing and joking until the sun had come up.  Willow giggled to herself at the Cinderella joke as she closed the door and dropped her bookbag in the hall.  She followed the sound of noise coming from the kitchen.  She turned the corner and saw a very old blond vampire in a purple kitchen apron – hers – looking through about two dozen recipe books – her moms – seemingly simultaneously.  She stayed in the doorjam, looking over her new roommate and wondering over the past months events.

      After Buffy had done her swan leap and saved them all, the Scooby world became a living hell.  Without Buffy, the energy had left the group. Buffy wasn't their exact center, but she breathed life into them and gave them the energy they needed to face the next battle.  Xander had completely forgotten any past they had had and taken Anya and bolted. She still received letters from the ex-demon from the new home in Utah where the two were raising sheep and lambs. Anya's last letter had talked about how the normalcy was driving her batty but that she'd stay cause she was married. Hell, Willow thought to herself, they didn't even stay in town long enough to be married here. Nope, just up and elope and a sweet note saying `We're married' to let old reliable Willow know what's the scoop.

      Tara, although recovered from the mental torments of Glory, was never the same. She left in the middle of the night to return to her father and brother. Willow had talked to her once, asking how the blond witch could return to that hell. Tara had calmly informed her that in comparison to what she had been through with Glory, this place was heaven. She was looked after and magic was no more a part of her life. With that, she had calmly hung up on Willow and the red- headed witch ended that chapter of her life with a simple nod to the fates. She had shed enough tears over Buffy and had none left for her ex-girlfriend. That in itself had told Willow's inner mind that their relationship had never held the substance that she craved from a mate.

      Giles had been called back to London for a briefing of the events and to make his own Watchers' Diary become a permanent part of the Councils' collection.  Willow heard from him regularly but missed the long nights discussing the various theologies and how they were related and yet weren't related. With Giles, Willow had found a father-figure she had never known, as hers was constantly absent from her life since puberty.

      With Xander, Anya and Giles missing from the picture, that had only left Willow and Spike.  Willow was running the magic shop for Giles and taking early evening classes. She had continued with patrols, even though she was alone.  She never once had let herself believe she could replace the slayer, but with her growing powers, she had taken out quite a few of the baddies.

      "Penny, pet?"

      Willow jumped as the voice broke into her mind-rambling. She looked over at Spike and grinned.

      "Not worth the copper to print them one, Bleach-Head," Willow shot back, using one of the nicknames she had created to irate Spike with.

      Spike had been watching the witch since she walked in the kitchen, watching her fall into memories. He knew she missed her mates and he just wanted to be able to relieve some of the stress being alone could do to a body.  And great gods below, when did the little red-head begin to have such a great body? And when did she start dressing in a way to torment his poor system? The blond vampire dragged his thoughts away from those waters. The waters he knew he could never tread in.

      He realized he loved the witch months ago. They had been sitting and talking on the couch. She had been laughing at something he had said, with her red hair thrown back over her shoulders, a genuine smile on her face and teeth slightly parted allowing the laughter to flow. At that moment, Spike realized that the lust he had always felt for her had turned to an all-consuming passion to love her, be loved by her. Hell, to finally claim her.

      "I don't know, Red. Most of those thoughts of yours seem to be worth a bit. Share some and let's see how much I owe."

      Willow grinned and joined Spike at the table, which was beginning to buckle from the weight of the books.

      "What'cha doin'?" Willow pointed at the books, ignoring his question.

      "Bored," he sighed.

      "When are you never?" Willow had come to realize that Spike was many things, and ADHD was uppermost on the list.  It wasn't that Spike never thought through plans, or did really evil things on purpose. He was just so hyper he could never follow through with the consequences of actions in his thoughts. And since he was a demon, he never felt guilt afterward for screwing up people's lives because of lack of planning and goal setting.

      "There are plenty of times I'm not bored." The blond was almost pouting now, thinking Red didn't believe he had any self- control. I could show her self-control, he thought lustfully. Got to quite those thoughts about Red, he told himself.

      "Like when?"

      "Last night," he retorted. "You had me in stitches, talking on about that bloody poof beast. Only decent time in the whole feature was when he took out that macho walking chin."

      "The beast was not a poof!" Willow cried out, though they had had this same argument not fourteen hours ago.

      "He damn well was a poof!" Spike hurled back, trying to supress a grin working itself up to be bantering back and forth with Red again. She was such fun!

      "Give me one bit of evidence that he was a poof."

      "His whole existence, pet," he strained the word pet teasingly, "was based on the life of a bloody rose. Hell, and you thought I was a bad poet. Damned sad, great power he had. Just sat around and moped and brooded…" A thoughtful look entered Spike's eyes as he looked up at Willow with a slight glee as he suddenly grew very quite.

      "Whatever you're thinking, No!" Willow stood up and walked to the coffee pot to make herself some.  As she did, Spike bounced from his chair and followed her, hovering around so she had to keep pushing him out of the way.

      "But Red," he whined, "you don't even know what I was going to tell you."

      "Don't want to."

      "But it'll be good," he promised.

      "No." Willow refused to look at him. She knew he was doing the puppy dog look, trying to make her give in. She tried to change tactics. "You never told me what you were doing with all the cookbooks."

      "Oh, just trying to find a recipe for bananas foster, but that's off the subject."

      "And when have you ever stayed on subject for more than five minutes?" Willow joked back, pulling down the filters and coffee grinds from the top shelf.

      "I stay on subject all the time. What is this, Annual Pick On Spike Day?" Spike leaned over Willow, grabbing the items that were too high for her and setting them on the counter without even thinking about his actions but continuing on with his plea.

      "Listen, Red, this would be so much fun."

      Willow had finally finished making her coffee, turned the pot to brew and turned to see Spike slightly pouting.

      "Only if you beg..." she teased the former Master.

      Spike straightened up to his full height, walked within inches of the witch and placed his hands on either side of her against the counter.  He leaned his face next to hers and spoke softly, "I never beg, Witch."

      Willow could only look into his eyes; she was so lost in being so near the blond vamp. She tried to form words with which to speak but nothing came out.

      "Now do you want to hear this plan of mine, Witch, or not?" He pushed himself off the counter and strode back to the chair. Spike had not meant to get so close to the witch. He had self-control, he reassured himself, but he didn't feel like testing it today. Willow's hands quickly replaced Spike's on the counter, giving herself support. Remember, she told herself, only a roommate. He loved Buffy. It will probably be long after your dust that he will ever get over the Slayer, so just keep in mind he is only your roommate. She stressed the word only to herself very loudly.

      "Fine, Oh Brilliant One," Willow countered back, "what is this great plan of yours?"

      Spike smirked. "The beast. Reminded me of someone."

      "Who?" Willow searched her mind but came up blank.

      "Big..clumsy...smells and looks like a wet rug," Spike tried clueing her in, but was obviously delighting in the game as he was practically bouncing in his chair.

      "Nope, nothing," Willow grinned at him. She knew exactly who Spike was thinking of, she was the brains of the former Scoobies anyhow.

      "Oh, come on pet. You're supposed to be the genius. A big poof…likes to brood," Spike was actually rotating both hands now in a way to say, you know. Willow grinned widely and Spike suddenly realized she was playing him.

      "You little minx," he laughed.

      "So what's the plan? That I figure out there are similarities with the beast and the King of Brood?" she walked over and sat at the table with him. She began closing and stacking the cookbooks away while Spike talked.

      "No, although that was fun," he added stoically. "Nope, the plan is to see if old Daddy can see the similarities."

      Willow looked up with her brows furrowed together. "I don't think Angel is going to sit through a Disney movie Spike."

      "Of course he's not, little one. But he will go the theatre. Anything for the theatre."

      "And your point?"

      "Well, bored again today. Called around and found that Beauty and the Beast, the Musical, is coming here to Sunnyhell next month. Got us four tickets. Can't wait to see the poofster's face at realizing that he's a bloody cartoon."

      Willow began laughing lightly, "But dear roomie, how do we get him here? And have you thought about how we will have to explain to him that we are now living together?"

      With her last two words, Spike swallowed hard and pushed down his demon. Living together? Hell, the witch would know if they were living together. No, they were sharing the same bloody house, not living together.  Spike quickly shoved his demon's base instinct to truly show the little red head what living with him would entail.

      "Hadn't thought about that, pet."

      "I don't think he'd approve, Spike."

      "To hell with him!" Spike stood up and began pacing the small kitchen. "I don't need approval from Angel. And what do we need approval for anyhow? It's not like we're doing anything!" Spike continued pacing, missing the emotions run quickly over Willow's face.

      No, nothing that needs approval, she grimaced. But goddess, how she would like there to be.

      "Spike," Willow's voice was soft as her eyes stayed focused on the pacing vampire. Spike stopped mid pace and turned to his roommate. The little witch had to have put a spell on him. In the past four months he had lived with her, just her voice would be enough to calm him down. That in itself was a major breakthrough for the violent demon.  Even Drusilla couldn't calm him down. Sure, she'd pet him and love on him, but he had controlled his violent tendencies. But Willow...simply hearing the chit's voice could calm the fury that spun around inside his body.

      "Yes," he bit out, trying to make himself still sound angry.

      "I don't mind Angel knowing we live together. I would just rather deal with the emotions before he comes and is full of enough emotion for all of us."

      Spike walked over and sat at Willow's feet. He put his hands on her knees, just needing to touch her, even in a non-sexual way. "How'd you get so damn smart, Red?"

      Willow placed her hands on top of Spike's, "I ate all my spinach instead of Popeye," she joked with the vampire.

      "Oi, luv, that was bad," Spike grinned back at her. He didn't move from his position, loving the feel of her hands on top of his. She was slow rubbing her thumbs over the top of his hands and the joy he felt was incredulous. "You're totally hopeless, pet."

~Part: 2~

      Cordelia Chase, former May Queen and ruler of all that was fashionable and beautiful in Sunnydale, looked down at the horror before her and was appalled. How did this happen? How did she get to this point? Cordelia attacked the clothes, trying to fine anything that looked respectable, and not what it was. Year old fashion that she had purchased at an outlet. How could she of all people be the owner of clothes over a year out of fashion? She groaned loudly when she realized she owned nothing to wear on her day off tomorrow. A day she had planned on window shopping on Rodeo. Not that she could afford anything, but trying on the designer outfits, knowing she still looked good in them, always boosted her spirits. But she had nothing to wear. It was a little known fact that you had to look as though you owned better pieces being sold to be treated decently in those stores. It was a mark of those who were given the full treatment versus those that were dismissed the moment their hand opened the door. If she wanted to have those saleswomen wait on her, she had to look the part, but the clothing she owned would not allow that. Cordelia was slowly coming to the realization her day off was going to be spent with rented videos and a pint of Chunky Monkey. A loud sigh escaped her throat without her realizing it.

     "Cordy? You ok?" Angel's voice came from the other side of the closed door, concern dripping in the tone.

      Cordelia rolled her eyes at the sound of Angel's question. Since Buffy's death, he had become more possessive of "their family" as he liked to call them. He wanted to know where everyone was all the time, didn't let anyone go anywhere alone and he was always at her apartment.

      "I'm fine," she called back before the vampire stormed into her room to find out what little thing was bothering her. He had not let her have a moment's peace since their return from Pylea.

      Pylea. Groo. Cordelia shook her head over those thoughts. She had told everyone she was in love with Groo. Gods, but they were blind. Let's see, he's a warrior for the good fight, he was gorgeous and he had said he loved her. He was Angel, but without the love part. The young seer had known since she had awoken from her endless vision over a year ago that she had loved Angel. But there was no way she was heading down that road. Even without the whole soul-clause thing, his past relationship with the late Buffy was never what Cordelia would have called healthy. She personally didn't see that him being a vampire was that big a deal. Hell, she had read some of the books Giles had told them not to back in school. She knew about the sexual drives of vampires, so dating one was not a draw back. Unless they didn't have souls, she reminded herself.

      But him in a relationship, that was a joke!  He had no social skills, no people skills – just how did she expect him to be in a relationship? He couldn't, she deducted. Plus, he'd never age and in a few years, she'd look older than him. Not a situation she wanted to find herself in. So what that his grin sent tingles to her toes. That his voice sent shivers down her spine. She could never be with him.

      "Cordelia?" Angel questioned again from the other side of the door.

      "What?" Cordelia strode across the room and yanked the door open. "What?" she demanded again.

      Angel just stood there staring at his seer. Gods above and below, control yourself, he mentally slapped himself. Cordelia was standing before him in a pair of shorts that showed every bit of leg and a little tank top with straps he could break with a flick of his wrist. One of her hands was on her waist and the other holding the door.       "Um, well  ... I just thought you might like some dinner," the two hundred plus vampire stammered out at the gorgeous woman standing before him.

      Cordelia's look of impatience melted into a soft smile, "I'd love that. Omelets?" She questioned hopefully.

      "Omelets," Angel agreed, turning to liquid at her smile.

      "Ok, I'm just going to finish in here and then I'll be right in."

      "Alright," Angel watched as she walked back into the room and closed the door on him. As soon as the door closed, an unneeded pent up breathe escaped him as he leaned against the doorjam.  His young seer was slowly killing him. He sometimes wondered if he had been returned to hell since seeing Cordelia Chase every day, walking around in her tiny outfits, slight brushes against him, was certainly a high form a torture. And since he had prided himself on his extensive knowledge of torture, he knew this was one of the most unimaginable ones he had ever known.

      Not less than six months ago, he had heard the words he had been waiting for come out of her mouth. But they weren't meant for him. She had yelled to stop, she loved him. He knew it was meant for him. It had to be after everything they had gone through together. But this place was not where he imagined hearing the words for the first time. He had stammered out something, he couldn't remember what. He just knew that when he said that he loved her for the first time, he wanted to be buried deep inside her, hearing her pant the same, right before he claimed her.

      At the thought of claiming Cordelia, his demon roared and Angel could not figure out if it was in a good or bad way. He knew that both his soul and his demon would have to be in complete agreement to claim her and the twinge the demon gave him whenever he thought about claiming the seer bit around the edges of his mind. Like he should be remembering something.

      "Angel?" Cordelia had come out of her bedroom and was staring at the vampire.

      "Huh?" Angel looked at her like he didn't know what he was doing in her apartment.

      "Omelets? Remember?"

      "Oh, yeah."

      "Where did you take off to?" Cordelia stated more than questioned as she made her way into the kitchen. She busied herself taking out ingredients for the omelets. She may not be able to cook, but knew what went into omelets. It was just up to Angel to put everything together to make the omelets.

      Angel followed Cordy into the kitchen, his eyes glued to her swaying backside. A flash of an image of the seer on her knees, his large hands on that curvaceous ass as he pounded into her from behind was enough to make the vampire bite back a moan. He continued watching as she entered the kitchen and headed toward the fridge.

      Holy lords! She was bent over taking out eggs and such but all Angel could see was that luscious ass. He had always been a man, er, vampire that appreciated a curvy backside and damned if his seer wasn't blessed with a perfect one. He slowly walked up behind Cordy, not allowing their bodies to touch but close enough to fuel his imaginations as his groin was almost at a perfect level to her ass.

      Cordy quickly straightened when she felt Angel move behind her. What the hell is he doing? Her heartbeat quickly sped up and she did her best to hide it, trying to control her breathing. I can't let him know he's affecting me, she told herself. But Angel was so caught up in his imagination, he didn't notice the quickening pulse or the hint of arousal that now lingered in the air.

      "Cordy…" Angel breathed her name as more than a sigh than actually saying it.

      The brunette turned to face her boss and realized that only a few inches separated them. No, she told herself firmly. First, he doesn't feel that way about you. You are only a good friend, a sister to him. Second, soul clause so no sex. Third, he's horrible at relationships. Fourth, no sex cause of soul leave-age. Fifth, Buffy was his soul mate and you'd just be a substitute. And finally, he's not interested in you dummy.

      Cordy quickly moved away from Angel, pulling out pans and making a racket in doing so. The noise pulled the vampire out of his daydreams and if he could have blushed, he would have. He had been standing almost on top of his friend, thinking about fucking her. Like she'd ever have you, he confirmed his fears to himself. She was born to something better than you could ever give her. Plus, she's not interested. See, she won't even look at you. You embarrassed her, you old fool.  Quickly, got to change the mood. I will not have feel uncomfortable around me. Not when I need her presence so much.

      "Hey," Angel walked over to his friend, "let me."

      Cordy handed the pots and utensils over to Angel, never making eye contact, embarrassed by her thoughts. A soft rumble of laughter from Angel made her look up though.

      "What?" she demanded as he looked from her to the pans she had handed him.

      "Cordy," Angel muttered between laughs that were starting to grow louder, "you don't make an omelet in a sauce pan."

      "A what pan?" Cordelia looked at him as though he had spoken another language. At that, Angel's laughter went from being held in as a rumble to all out laughter. Cordelia couldn't control the smile that lit her mouth and eyes.

      "I have vehemently claimed to know nothing about kitchens and have on purpose made sure I have learned nothing over the years." The seers smile was just as bright as the laughter that filled the small apartment from the soul-having vampire and his friend.

      "Just be sure to remind me that if a demon ever threatens our lives if don't cook him something, that you are not anywhere to be found," Angel kidded with her. He felt quite happy to be a vampire right now, especially as it gave him the quick reflexes to duck the utensil Cordelia had lobbed at him.

      "You're hopeless Angel! Can't even make a good joke," Cordelia kidded back with him.

~Part: 3~

Two weeks later

      "Ok, guys. I'll just be in the office," Cordelia called over her shoulders to Gunn and Wesley, who had just told her they were headed to the basement to clean their weapons. They had just returned from cleaning out a nest of vamps. Angel and Lorne were returning home the victims they had found alive.  She was tired and wanted to go home to Dennis and a hot bath but the desire for business lead her to the answering machine in the office instead.

      Her head still ached from the earlier vision but she had made her decision in Pylea and she'd live (or not live) she thought to herself.  The young woman knew the visions were slowly killing her. She had secretly been seeing a neurologist and the news hadn't been good. She had kept the news from her boss, knowing Angel would go to any length to protect her, even taking the visions away from her. But that was something she couldn't allow. If she didn't have the visions, she wouldn't be of any use to Angel. And if she wasn't any use to him, she would have no place in his life. Cordelia had witnessed first hand how those without something to add to the good fight were put on the back burner. She herself had spent years there. Even Willow had been more important than she had been. Not that she still harbored ill-will toward the witch. Since leaving Sunndale, the two had traded emails. And since Buffy's death, they had IM'd or emailed daily. Willow was a life line and without conceit, Cordelia was able to say she was the same to the red-head.

      "You have three messages," the answering machine told her after pressing the retrieve button.

      Beep. "Yes, I would like to talk to someone about trolls and how to get rid of them." Gunn, Cordelia thought to herself as she made notes as the message continued.

      Beep. All the brunette could make out was crying. It didn't sound drastic so she dismissed it.

      Beep. "Cordy, it's Willow. Call me when you get in. Don't worry about the time. My roomie has turned me into a nocturnal owl anyway."

      A grin spread over Cordelia's features. Willow sounded as though she was laughing on the message. The seer did notice that the witch had not named her roomie in the message. The two girls had both agreed that Angel need not know yet about Willow's set up with Spike. Angel was more act first, then think about what was done and finally question. No, the two girls did not think Angel should be filled in on the details until absolutely necessary.

      Willow wanted her to call. Cordelia wondered briefly what was up. The seer looked out in the lobby and thought she'd have enough time to call the red-head before Angel returned. She wasn't trying to hide the phone call, but every now and then, when the girls talked, Spike would get bored not having Willow's attention and grab the phone to talk to Cordelia. Cordelia had actually begun to like Spike. Plus knowing that Willow was harboring was major crush on the blond helped Cordelia to look past his previous actions and get to know him. He seemed to be good for her friend and actually appeared to genuinely like the witch which was all the validation Cordy needed. If he took care of Willow, he was ok in the seer's book. Willow and Cordy were the only ones left fighting the fight that had begun so many years ago and they needed all the support they could get, the seer rationalized.

      Cordelia picked up the phone and dialed the memorized number.

      "Thank you for calling Amazing Tittilations. How may I tittilate you?" Spike's voice purred over the line.

      "You can't, Que-Tip," Cordelia laughed at the vampire's behavior. It was always the same. Spike answered the phone with some new and strange greeting, never a hello. "Where's Willow?"

      " `Ello cheerleader! Hey Red, it's the cheerleader," Cordy heard Spike yell out to Willow.

      Cordelia listed hard to the conversation on the other end of the line.

      "Spike give me the phone."

      "Don't want to."

      "Spike, Cordelia is waiting to talk to me."

      "Don't care."

      "Yes you do."

      "Don't."

      "Do, now hand over."

      "Nope."

      Cordelia cut in before this went to far, having experienced first hand how those two could tease each other for hours. "Hey!," she yelled into the receiver. "Someone waiting to talk to Willow here."

      "Oi, luv, the beauty queen's getting snippee. You should talk to her."

      Cordelia heard Willow snatch the phone. "I've told you Bleach- Head, she was May Queen, not a beauty queen. Hey Cordy," the red-head finally acknowledging the seer on the other end of the phone.

      "Hey Willow, what's up?"

      "Wait a sec, Cordy. Spike," Cordelia heard Willow speak to Spike. "I need to talk to Cordelia. Why don't you go and patrol. I'll meet you in Bransford Cemetary in one hour."

      Cordelia heard mumbling on the other side, knowing Spike was unpleased being dismissed.

      Willow finally returned to the phone. "Hey, I'm back."

      "He's going to be in a snit now, you know," Cordy told the witch.

      "I know, but I'll talk to him. He'll be fine. Plus, I didn't want him eavesdropping on our conversation."

      "Oh, does this mean we get to discuss your crush on the dead blond?" Cordy asked almost giddy, desperately needing simple girl time.

      "I do not have a crush on Spike. And you should talk, Ms. Lusting After My Boss. Isn't there some law about bosses and sexual harassment?" Willow joked back to her friend.

      "I do not lust after Angel. And the sexual harassment is if he made a move on me, not if I attacked his muscular body."

      "But no lusting, right?"

      "I'm choosing to ignore that comment."

      "Fine, but you can't live in denial forever."

      "Yes I can. I have you for company. So what's up."

      "Oh, yea," Willow remembered why she had left a message for the seer, "we want you and Angel to come to Sunnydale."

      "I really don't think I could convince Angel to get away," Cordelia had for a brief moment lightened at the thought of seeing Willow and having a few days off the whole hero way of life, but the instant the thought came into her head she knew Angel would never leave unless it was a dire emergency.

      "Oh please," Willow begged. "I just want to hang out with you guys and visit. Maybe watch some movies. Spike is the only one I can talk to now, and even though I love spending time with him I really need a female to talk to. And I can't really talk to him about everything, you know. Those are things you can only tell a best bud and that's you. I mean, I haven't seen you in months and I've got so much to tell you about. And I know we email all the time but you have to admit it's not the same and – "

      "Woah! Willow, breath! I haven't heard you ramble in a while. You know I would love to, but I really don't think I can convince Angel to take the time off. Maybe I can go down myself, if I can get away. But again, that would require convincing Angel to let me out of his sight for more than an hour."

      "Ah, so if Angel's not leaving your sight, who's in your bed Cordy?" Willow teased her friend.

      "Gutter much! I told you there's nothing like that going on."

      "But you want there to be, don't you?"

      "No! He's Angel and he's just a friend and my boss."

      "Whatever. Just try, ok? Promise me?" Willow pleaded. "I know you can't see, but I have on my resolve face."

      "I can hear it just fine. But I really don't think Angel will do it. And I don't think I'm one to persuade him."

      "Persuade who of what?" Angel's voice asked from the other side of the office counter.

      "Eep!" Cordelia looked up to see Angel looking at her, with his arms leaning on the counter, looking quite yummy. "Got to go. Angel's here," the seer whispered into the phone, then hung it up without saying goodbye.

      "Who was that?" Angel asked.

      "Who? On the phone?" Cordelia stammered, taking in his sexy appearance. Damned vampires and sexy bodies and leaning on the counters looking good enough to attack.

      Angel's nose caught a slight change in the smells around him. Arousal. God, Cordelia was aroused. Whoever the hell had turned her on was going to pay. He would slowly pull out their intestines –

      "Oh, that was Willow," Cordy informed him calmly. She was starting to get her emotions under control. But he should know better than to walk up on her, draping himself around her, looking so good.

      He watch as drop after drop of blood ran out of their – Wait, Willow!? Cordelia was aroused by Willow. He knew that the witch had switched teams at one time, but was she trying to turn his Cordelia away from the male species also? His Cordelia, ha! If Willow had her way, she'd be Willow's Cordelia. Not that he didn't love the red- head, but Cordelia was his. There would be no Willow and Cordelia. Oh no!

      Angel realized that Cordelia was talking to him.  "….so she asked if we could come up for a visit. I told her you wouldn't be able to and that I didn't think I could persuade you – "

      Oh sweet Cordelia, if you only knew what I could be persuaded to do to you, by you, for you.

      "…so I told her it would probably just be me. I didn't think you'd mind if I took a few days. And I could always call you if I had a vision – "

      Cordelia, alone with Willow. Not just no, but Hell No!

      "I'd love to see Willow again," Angel cut into Cordelia's explanation.

      Cordelia's mouth dropped open. "Are you actually taking time off? Not going to fight any baddies? Going to possibly have fun?"

      "There are demons in Sunnydale also, Cordy," Angel softly reminded her.

      "Oh, of course. It's not like you deserve a vacation or anything. It's not like you don't live and breathe - well, not breathe but you know what I mean – the good fight day in and day out.:

      "I don't think a random patrol will hurt any visiting time," Angel reminded her gently. Did she not want him to come? He couldn't figure her mind out, which was not anything new.

      "I just think you need some time for yourself Angel," Cordelia had come around the counter and was standing in front of the vampire. She had laid a hand on his upper arm in trying to convince him to take a full vacation, just not a do-the-same-thing-only-at-a- different-location vacation.

      "Do you not want me to come?" He muscles tensing at her words and her touch.

      "No, no!" she quickly fixed the misunderstanding, "I just don't want you so obessed with cleaning out the newbie vamps you forget why you will be going there."

      "And why am I going?" Angel relaxing a bit from realizing she wanted him there, but still tense from her hand which was still on his arm.

      "To bond, silly," Cordy grinned and turned around and file some papers. She didn't know what had made her touch him. Every time she did slip and gave into the temptation of touching him, she instantly regretted it, wanting to feel more, touch more, taste more.

      "Oh, bond. Sounds like fun," Angel dead-panned. He turned to walk upstairs and take a cold shower, his seer's touch sorching him. He stopped half-way and turned back, "Will this involve chick flicks?" he asked, wincing at the chick flick reference.

      Cordelia cast the vampire a quick glance before rolling her eyes. "You're hopeless Angel, you know. Completely hopeless!" And with that, returned to her work as Angel went to his cold shower, her laughter washing over him better than any water or soap.

~Part: 4~

      Willow walked carefully through the cemetery where she was to meet Spike. She knew he was mad she had dismissed him when Cordelia called. But she hated that he always listened in on her conversations, then acted that he didn't. Besides, after getting off the phone with the brunette had given Willow a few minutes of alone time to think, something she hadn't had much lately. When she wasn't at home, and therefore with Spike, she was at the Magic Shop and customers, and usually Spike showed up, or she was in night class with other students. She had no alone time anymore. And for someone who had spent eighty percent of her life alone, being bombarded with people all the time was uncomfortable for her. She loved spending time with Spike, but she needed some time alone. Love, yeah, that's why she had needed the time alone.

      She was still not closer to figuring out how to continue in her present situation. She was in love with Spike and yet she knew she'd never have him.  He had loved Drusilla and Buffy and she was not in their league. And the pain that ripped through him when Buffy died, well Willow was surprised he hadn't staked himself then and there. Spike would never love her like that, or even more than. No, she was his friend, his roomie, his buddie.

      Which left her in the position of how to continue. It was slowly eating away at her – the light touches, the innuendos, the glances, the laughter, the silences, all of it. Willow realized she was sinking into a slow depression and needed to do something about it before it became a full fledge in too deep to pull herself out of. The depression she had felt when Oz had left would be nothing, she knew, to when she finally admitted that she couldn't be in Spike's life, in any form because it hurt too much. It already hurt more than anything she had felt toward Oz, so she wasn't relishing the day she had to leave him. But leave him she would. Having resolved that issue, she also resolved that she would enjoy each and every moment she could with Spike. Live off the good times before he would softly tell her he no more room in his heart for a computer geek. That she was the greatest friend, but not his type. She knew he would be nice, trying not to hurt her. Willow knew Spike cared for her and would be as gently as could be, but that his answer would be a definitive no – that she knew was the eventual outcome with all certainity. So until then, she'd love their laughs and silences and time together.

      Speaking of said blond vamp, Willow heard British mumbling off in the distance and headed that way.

      "Stupid bint. Tellin' me, William the Bloody, the Big Bad, to leave the house. She just wanted to have her girly talk with the cheerleader. Talk about how a master vampire became this sad excuse. Stupid bints."

      "Speaking of me in such a high manner will not earn you chocolate chip cookies when we get home," Willow teased the vampire as she walked up to join him.

      Spike, still mad, wouldn't look at her. "What? Come to join the pitiful vampire on patrol? Had enough of your girly talk? Had a good laugh over the helpless vampire?" Spike had sat down on the bench and was kicking rocks with the toe of his shoe like a kid who had been told they can't go out and play.

      Willow couldn't help it. Here was the feared Spike, throwing a temper tantrum because he didn't get to stay at home and eavesdrop on her conversation. And she really couldn't help it when the laughter bubbled forth.

      Spike shot her a scathing look then jumped up and started to stomp away.

      "Spike," Willow yelled to him, unable to follow as she was clutching her sides in laughter. Just trying to speak was more than she could do. "Spike, come back!"

      Spike stopped and turned to face Willow. He saw her holding her sides, bent over with tears running down her face from laughing so hard. Who did the little witch think she was? He was William the fucking Bloody. Feared by thousands. And she had the audiacity to sit there and laugh at him. He'd show her.

      With all his vampiric speed, he was immediately upon the red- head, having yanked her up and pulled her back to his chest with fangs bared and just a few lashes shy from her jugular.

      "It's not nice to laugh at master vampires, pet," Spike tried to growl out the words, trying to induce fear in the chit, but he hadn't. He couldn't smell the fear he needed so badly. Her pulse had sped up a bit, but there was no fear. He couldn't understand what was happening, but at least she had stopped laughing at him.

      Oh goddess, Willow's brain went on overdrive. Her backside was pressed quite intimately on Spike's pelvis. Oh goddess, oh goddess, oh goddess. Can't let him know, can't let him know. Ok Willow, got to calm the heart rate, he'll definitely hear that. No arousal, no arousal, nope. Have to think of something else. School, work. Oh, that miserable little man that came in today and I was able to fill his order completely but was he happy? Oh no, just `well, if that's the best you have'. Ok, good, not thinking about Spike pressing into me so tightly. Damn!

      "Where are you  Red?" Spike's voice purred into her ear.

      "Huh?!" Willow was startled by his voice.  "What?"

      Spike quickly dropped his hold on her, spinning her around and plopping them both back down on the bench. He pulled out a smoke as he asked her again, "Where'd you go? Cause it won't on the fact my bloody fangs were seconds from plunging into your sweet neck." Spike was irrated with Red. If he had been a real vamp, she'd be drained now instead of talking to him.

      Willow looked at him incredously. "But Spike, you wouldn't drain me. So I wasn't scared."

      "I know that. Couldn't smell anything on you. So one more time, what were you think of luv?" Spike's eyes searched hers, marveling at their beauty and falling even more into the precipice.

      "Oh," Willow had finally caught on to his question, "I was remembering this awful customer that came in today. I had to spend over an hour with him, finding ingredients and nothing I had in the store was to his liking. I just couldn't please him." Willow ended her story with a grin directed toward Spike.

      The blond vampire on the other hand did not have a grin on his face. Rather a hardness had creeped over all his features. That's what the girl was thinkin' of when I was about to kill her. Not that I would have killed her. Claimed her, turned her, mated with her, but never just kill her.

      Willow's grin died on her face as she saw the hardness come over Spike. Oh goddess, what have I done now, she thought.

      "Pet," Spike said the word coldly and slowly, "you have to be more careful out here. You know better than any one the dangers. And by you having your guard down, laughing like a hyenia, well hell, something could have happened to you."

      A small smile came over Willow. He had been worried about her. When the day came that he was no longer a part of her life, the day that they would be far away from each other, she'd look back on this night and remember. He cared that she might get hurt.

      "It's alright Spike," Willow laid a hand on his arm reassuringly, "I knew that you were here. You've always protected me."

      Spike looked down at Willow's hand and felt anything but reassured. He felt on fire from her heat. He was experiencing a head rush from her nearness. Her perfume mingled with her own smell. She smelled of patchouli and sage, roses and honey. But she also smelled of the earth. It was her touch, her smell, her nearness that was causing a tightness in his already tight black jeans and he very much did not want the little witch to notice. After all that she'd seen in her life, she'd probably still blush at seeing me aroused. Gods but I have to get away from her.

      Willow was getting worried when he didn't say anything. "Spike? Are you really mad at me?" she asked temidely.

      Spike's gaze was jolted back to her, "Of course not, luv. But I do want you to be better aware of your surroundings. You never know what type of pillock is out there." Spike let out a small sigh that he was able to even remember what they had been talking about before she touched him.

      "So," Willow had removed her hand and stood, beginning to walk. Spike joined her, his pace matching her slow one. "Did you find any baddies tonight?"

      "Not a one, pet," Spike chuckled.

      "Oh," Willow sounded a little sad that no vamps had been killed that night. "What shall we do then? Movies? Popcorn?"

      "Sounds good. But no bloody cartoons tonight, luv."

      "You liked those cartoons, buddy," Willow reminded him.

      "Like hell I did! I'm William the Bloody. I do not like cartoons," Spike voiced outloud to her and anyone else watching.

      "Whatever. You can pick tonight," Willow relented, loving that Spike still tried to portray himself as evil when all along, his heart was bigger than most humans she had met.

      "Something bloody and gruesome then," Spike told her, as he started to walk in his trademark large stride. Willow stopped and watched him for a moment. He walked as though he wanted to consume the earth itself. Willow's breath caught; he was a walking sex god.

      "Red?" Spike had stopped and looked at her questioningly. "You comin'?"

      "Oh yeah. Sorry, got lost in thought there. Popcorn and movies. Right," Willow covered and quickly caught up with him.

      "Didn't I hear you mention something about chocolate chip cookies, Red?" Spike asked quietly.

      "You're hopeless, Bleach-Head," Willow giggled at the vampire.

      "Maybe," Spike agreed. Maybe I'm just hopeless where you're concerned pet, he thought to himself.

~Part: 5~

      "Reeeddd," Spike was calling out Willow's name and she wasn't answering him. I could always kick the door down, he grinned to himself. Spike was on the outside of Willow's closed door. They were getting ready for the Poof and the Cheerleader to arrive. Willow had spent the day cleaning and running to the market and running to the butcher's to stock up for both him and the Poof. Now she was behind a closed door getting ready.

      "Reeddd," Spike called out again. Kick the door in, his demon screamed. She's probably only wearing a towel. That's it – kick the door in, stalk over to the red-head, rip the towel off and show her that she belonged to him. Yea, that'll work mate, he corrected himself. About that time you'll be receiving a floating pencil in your back and it'll be you floatin' in the wind.

      Suddenly the door flew open and his Red emerged, floating past him as though he had not been standing there for ten minutes trying to get her to talk to him.

      "Spike, what are you doing standing in the hallway?" Willow asked, trying to look innonence, instead looking like the proverbial cat.

      "Witch," Spike hissed, grabbing her hand and pulling her down the steps and into the living room. Spike had to pull her away from the open bedroom door. On one side of him was Willow, wearing some frilly green thing cut way too low and black pants that were way too tight. Out of the corner of his eye on his other side, through the bedroom door, Spike could clearly make out her bed. Nope, this was much better as he stood with her in the living room. Temptation taken away, cause if he hadn't taken that away, he'd be taking her. On that bed.

      "Did you get order the limo and make the reservations?," Willow asked as she did a final straightening of the living room. Spike couldn't see anything out of place, but Willow wanted everything perfect.

      "Already told you I had," Spike gruffed. Did she believe he would forget his list of chores for Peaches arrival? A week ago the witch had presented the chipless vamp with a list of things to do before Angel and Cordelia's arrival. Spike had balked at the list but Willow had insisted that since all of this was his idea, he had to join in on the fun of preparations.

      "Don't get snippy. It's not becoming on master vampires," Willow joked, seeing him brood when she glanced at him over her shoulder. He was slouched in an armchair, boots on the coffee table and glaring at the floor. Yea, he had nothing in common with his grand-sire. Yea, sure, Willow smirked to herself.

      "And what are you going on about over there?" Spike snipped at her, his voice a little more whiny than he had planned.

      "Nothing," Willow sang out, teasing the vamp.

      "Nothing, huh?" Spike stood, facing her. Willow turned and immediately drew in a sharp breath. Willow knew the look that had come over Spike's face. It was the look he gave those about to be his next meal. It was a look of power and cockiness and determination. What is he doing, she thought.

      Spike started to move towards her – slowly, menacingly, hunting her.

      "Why do I believe that you are enjoying this too much?" He was moving closer. She began to move back.

      "Enjoying what?" she moved back, he moved forward.

      "Enjoying the fact that I have to put up with Peaches and the May Queen, knowing that I'd rather be staked to a cross in the noon sun." He moved forward another step, she backed up two.

      Willow wasn't scared of him, not in the `I'm going to kill you' kind of way. No, she wasn't afraid he would hurt her physically. She was scared of that look though. Scared of the promise it held, knowing it wasn't meant for her.

      "But it was your idea, Spike." He moved another step, she moved back a step – and fell on the couch she had previously been fluffing.

      Spike leaned over, placing both hands on both sides of the back of the couch, leaning over until his face hovered mere inches from her own. Blue eyes locked with green, holding them captive.

      "Yes, it was my idea witch. But you should have talked me out of it. You know I hate Peaches." His face had moved to rest by her ear, his voice sending ripples of pleasure through her as each word vibrated into her.

      "I…I..um…I..thought it would be a good bonding experience," Willow stammered, her voice thick and shallow.

      "GET OFF HER NOW!"

      Both the blond and red-head snatched their head to the door that had just burst open. Angel was standing in the doorway, fists curled by his side, breathing heavy. Willow looked to Spike, back to Angel, then again at Spike.

      With a roll of her eyes, Willow pushed the blond vampire off her and walked to the door. "Angel, everything's fine. Spike was just teasing me."

      Angel's fists were still curled, ready for action but unable to attack Spike as he had not been invited in to Willow's new place.

      "Willow," Angel said softly, "I want you to come over by me. Now!"

      Willow stood with her hands on her hips, staring at Angel as though he had grew a new head.

      "You can't boss me around!" Willow practically screamed at the brunette vamp.

      "Yeah, you can only boss me around, but only during working hours," Cordelia explained as she walked around the fuming vampire. The former enemy of Willow walked into the house and hugged the red- head.

      "Hey! You look great Willow! And I love the place. Of course I thought everything would be done in black, considering your choice in roommates, but I'm pleasantly surprised." Willow hugged the girl back and walked her into the house.

      "Willow! Cordelia!" Angel yelled at the two girls from the porch. "Invite me in."

      Willow turned to face the souled vamp, looking back at Spike who had plopped back down in his armchair and had lit up, knowing Angel hated cigarette smoke. "Can you behave?" the red-head asked the still uninvited vampire.

      "Can I what?" Angel spit out.

      "Behave, you nonce! Cause you're not walking through that door until you promise not to upset Red here," Spike jumped up and started toward the door. He had been so close to Willow, her smell still lingered on him. It was probably a good thing Angel and Cordelia had arrived when they did, the earlier fantasy of taking Willow and then being so close to her had left him with little self- control.

      "Why is Spike in your house, Willow?" Angel asked, trying to understand why the red-head wasn't fleeing from his grand-childe.

      "Because it's also his," Willow stated flatly. Both girls had turned to look at the vampires in their life, eyeing them as though they were children. They were both just waiting until they had to separate the two.

      "How can it be his house," Angel still didn't understand.

      "Cause me name's on the deed, Peaches," Spike smirked.

      "Shut up, Spike. Willow," Angel tried to get the girl's attention. "Willow, are you telling me you are living with Spike?"

      "She's not telling you anything, you great bloody Poof. I'm telling you we're roomies," Spike watched Angel's face, hoping the souled vampire caught his underlying meaning. Please, Spike pleaded, let the trotter have gained some sense.

      Understanding finally dawned in Angel's eyes, understanding that his grand-childe cared for the witch, otherwise he'd have not worried about her being upset or he'd simply have said he was living with her. But Spike hadn't. Instead he had let Angel know that they were simply roommates.

      "Sorry," Angel murmured softly, "I just saw Spike leaning over your neck and I reacted."

      "Yeah, well, that's always it, ain't it Peaches," Spike grumbled. The blond turned away from Angel to sit back down. "Now you've ruined the beautiful weekend Red here planned for your pooncy ass."

      Guilt crept into Angel's eyes, looking at Willow for forgiveness.

      "Oh no!" Willow ran to Angel. She walked through the invisible barrier and hugged the brunette vamp. "I'm glad you came. I've missed you both so much. I'm just sorry it started so badly. Please Angel, come in."

      Angel watched Spike's face, seeing the blond flinch and look away when Willow hugged him. Oh, Angel thought, it's like that.

      Cordelia had seated herself on the couch, watching the by- play. She just rolled her eyes when knowledge finally materialized on Angel's face. She knew he would keep her up the rest of the night questioning her and how long she knew about Willow and Spike. She didn't mind staying up all night with him, but discussing the red- head and bleached vampire was not why she'd like to stay up with him. A wave of arousal hit her as she briefly thought about a night in Angel's arms and his bed.

      Spike sniffed the air, smelling arousal. He looked around and realized the cheerleader was all hot and bothered. Seeing her eyes on his grand-sire, Spike quickly deducted that Cordelia wanted Angel. Well, well, he thought, goin' to have fun with this. Yes, definitely going to have fun with this information. His grand-sire was hopeless against one of Spike's plots, of that the blond was certain. Yep, Peaches was hopeless against him.

~Part: 6~

      "So, Willow," Angel looked over the kitchen counter at the petite red-head making coffee and dinner for Spike and himself, "roommates with Spike?"

      "Yeah. So?" Willow rolled her eyes, watching the coffee brew. After much grumbling, Spike was bringing in Angel and Cordelia's bags and Cordelia was exploring the house.

      "I just thought, you know," Angel was searching for the words to describe how he felt about Willow living with Spike. Willow was the only one left and he wanted her safe.

      "You thought what, Angel?" Willow asked, turning to him. "That because Buffy died and everyone else left that I would leave too? That because Spike doesn't have a soul, he doesn't feel lonely or need friends? That because I am a human and Spike's a demon we can't co-exist together? That because I am some simple little girl that Spike couldn't be friends with me? That because you dislike Spike, no one should like him? Which of those things was it?" Willow had moved around the counter and was no standing in front of the tall vampire, poking him in the chest.

      "Ouch!" Angel moved back from the girl but she simply followed. "No, Willow. I just thought it was weird."

      Willow stopped poking him, putting her hands on her hips. "Weird why?"

      "Cause he's Spike. I lived with him for a number of years and just about went crazy. I don't see how the two of you could stand each other. That's all."

      Willow grinned and returned to the coffee pot and microwave. "We actually have a lot in common. He's good for me, Angel."

      "I don't see Spike being good for anyone," Angel sat down on a barstool by the counter, watching her.

      "That's because you knew him over a hundred years ago. People change."

      "He's not people, Willow. He's a blood-sucking demon that if given the chance will ripe out your heart and eat it." Angel was getting upset that Willow couldn't see Spike for what he was.

      "Then demons can change too," Willow turned back to look at Angel, handing him the blood she had just taken out of the microwave. "I know what he used to be and there's still some of that in there. But it's different. It's not so much needless violence at anything and everything. It's more focused from him now."

      "Fists and fangs, Willow. That's what he told me once. That's how he lived over a century, just barging in and taking what he wanted with fists and fangs." Angel was watching Willow, looking for some sort of reaction. If he saw or smelled any fear from their decision about Spike, he'd stake the blond vampire before he left. Willow was part of his family. Maybe the extended part he didn't see often, but he still thought of her as family.

      "Well maybe over a hundred years of doing the same thing over and over again gets old. Maybe he was ready to evolve from that." Willow was in turn watching Angel's face. If she didn't see that Angel was willing to give Spike a chance, she'd kick him out tomorrow and do an uninvited spell the moment his feet hit the sidewalk. Angel would always be Willow's friend, but she wasn't about to let anyone, not even his grand-sire hurt him or her.

      "Demons don't evolve."

      "Apparently they do, as I see Cordy's been able to get you out of the black on black ensemble," Willow pointed out, having already noticed that with Angel's black pants, he was wearing a dark burgundy pullover shirt with long sleeves and a t-shirt neckline.

      Angel laughed, "Yeah well, I just couldn't stand to listen one more time about my clothes from her."

      "I heard that," Cordelia called out as she entered the kitchen, followed by Spike. Willow walked to the microwave and took out his dinner, handing it to him. When he took the mug, his eyes met hers and Willow could have sworn that he had been crying. Naw, she scolded herself, probably just my imagination as she set about making coffee for her and Cordelia, then joining the men at the kitchen table.

~~~*~~~

      A few minutes before Cordelia had made her way into the kitchen, she had stopped to observe Spike who was standing in the hallway outside of where Angel and Willow were.

      "What're you doing?" Cordelia asked, seeing that Spike had leaned against the wall.

      "Sshhh," Spike put his fingers over lips and continued listening. The poof had immediately started interrogating his witch as soon as they were alone. But to Spike's joy, Willow had stood up for him, defending him to his grand-sire. Gods, she knew him so well. He was still violent, but had learned some control. He had evolved, thanks to her, into something quite different from who he used to be. He felt moisture on his cheeks and realized a few tears had escaped, the emotion of knowing that the one he loved so much thought so much of him. With Drusilla and Buffy, they both treated him like nothing. With Dru, he was only a way to pass the time until Angelus wanted her. With Buffy, it was only for his fighting ability, never because of just him. Shortly after her death, he had realized that he had loved her, but not that deeply. It was a love that craved acceptance, not returned loved. The love he felt for his Red though, he only craved her love in return. He was even willing to give her up, if she should fall in love with another. He just needed her to be happy. Gods, now I'm the pounce, he ridiculed himself.

      He noticed Cordelia heading into the kitchen. He reached to stop her, wanting to hear more of Willow's sweet words about himself, but he had been too lost in his own thoughts and she was in there now. He followed behind, thinking the weekend wasn't going to be all bad if Angel kept pressing Red and she kept talking about how wonderful he was. Yup, he could stand his grand-sire if Red kept talking such wonderful things about him. Hopeless, he thought to himself, taking the heated blood from Willow. Hopelessly in love with a red-headed witch that just wants to be your friend.

~Part: 7~

Willow was helping Cordelia unpack, well actually the red-head was watching Cordelia unpack, and listening.

"...and you wouldn't believe Fred. The two of you would get along so well. She can do these complex math things in her head. Hell, she might even be smarter than you," the brunette flipped to her friend, throwing a wicked smile her way.

Willow immediately sat up from her reclining position, having just caught the tail end of Cordy's non-stop talking. "Huh?"

"Fred. The girl we saved from Pylea. She might be smarter than you," Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed next to Willow.

"Well that's probable. There are lots of people smarter than me," Willow was picking at the hem of her green shirt, wondering if her spot as 'The Smart One' was going to be replaced.

"Hey silly," Cordelia waved her hands in front of Willow's face, "I'm just kidding. She knows about higher physics stuff, but knows absolutely nothing about demons or even the real world. And at least you eat more than tacos."

Willow smiled up at Cordelia - and began sobbing.

The seer instantly pulled the witch into a hug, rocking her. "Willow," Cordelia began trying to soothe her friend, "what's wrong? Everything's going to be ok. Just tell me what's wrong." Cordelia pulled back from the red-head, who began to wipe at the tears still streaming down her face.

"I don't know," Willow began through sobs, "everything's so messed up. I have a great life and the shop is doing well, even though I don't really like the customers all the time. And my classes are going good. I really like the Victorian history class I'm taking. And Spike helps me. I tell him what we studied and he tells me how it really was. And he's so great to be around. He makes me laugh. And he takes me with him on patrol, even though I think he'd like to be more violent. And he makes me crazy dinners. Like this one time, he thought I'd like something spicy, so he made gumbo. But since he can't really taste anything, it was way too spicy. But I kept eating it, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but I was crying it was so hot. And we both started laughing. And I drank a whole container of milk my mouth was on such fire. And goddess Cordy, I'm in love with him and I can't live like this."

At the end of her ramble, Cordelia simply stood, walked over to the desk and passed Willow the Kleenexes. She sat back down beside the sad girl and waited for her to blow her nose and dry her tears

"Finished?" Cordelia asked in her old-self briskness. When Willow nodded, the brunette continued. "Good. Now, they way I see it we both have a problem with vampires." By this point, the seer had stood back up and had begun pacing in front of the bed. "You are in love with Spike. I'm in love with Angel. Neither vamp considers us anything other than close friends, maybe sisters. What we need to decide first is if we're going to let them know our feelings. What our discussion is will affect our following course of action."

"You l-love Angel?" Willow asked, wanting to focus on someone else's problems but her own. Cordelia slumped down to the floor, squatting into an Indian position sitting style. Both her hands fell lifeless on her knees and two silent tears descended down her perfect face.

"It hurts. I crave to touch him, to feel him in any way. I know he'll never feel as deeply for me as he did for Buffy, but I need him. My soul turns dark when I don't see him. But it doesn't matter. He can never feel for me what he felt for Buffy. And I hunger after that. For him to feel as moved by me as I am about him. But you see, I already know my answer to the question." Cordelia looked up blankly at Willow. She had loved Angel longer than Willow had Spike, yet she knew that Willow felt as deeply for the peroxide vamp as she did for her souled version.

Cordelia's face was blank as she continued, "I can't do it anymore. I can't be with him and not love him, even if he doesn't love me in return. I'd give him my love, knowing it was killing me that I was second or third place in his heart. And it'd eventually destroy me. I just can't be that strong - to give him my love and not have any returned."

Willow slipped down onto the floor beside Cordelia. The red-head knew the brunette very well. They had grown up together, and even if they weren't friends then, they were friends now. Willow knew what Cordy was doing - drawing up inside herself, cutting off any emotion. Willow had seen the cheerleader do it when her parents had gone broke, and when the Cordettes had turned their backs on their former leader. Willow couldn't bear to see her do it again. It kills a part inside of you whenever you do that. The witch knew this - knew this for a fact, having done the same thing throughout her own life.

"We'll figure out something Cordy," Willow held the other girl's hand and patted it reassuringly. But from their perspective on the floor, feeling their hearts shatter, both girls felt hopeless at what could be done to fix their situation.

~Part: 8~

Angel was patrolling with Spike while the girls were 'catching up'.* Don't see what they have to catch up on*, he brooded. *Delia talks to her almost everyday on the computer. Yeah, the two haven't actually seen each other in months, but still*.  He had hoped that getting away from Wes, Gunn and Fred would help the two of them to talk. He was hoping that the two hour trip down would give them the time to retrieve their earlier friendship, but Cordelia had feigned sleep the whole way up. They hadn't really talked since they had returned from Pylea. Sure, she had helped him with the whole Buffy death but the two of them hadn't had one of their all night, simply talking until the sun rose talks. They used to sit up in the Hyperion, her eating ice cream, watching cheesy B-movies, or simply talking about everything and nothing. And once in a while, she'd fall asleep on the couch, near him. Angel would simply curl into as much of her as he could for a short period, eventually putting her to bed in what he had dubbed 'Cordy's room', which happened to be right next to his. It wasn't actually where she lived, not wanting to give up her freedom even after he had offered it to her rent free. But he had bought a few pieces of furniture and she had dressed it up a bit, even keeping clothes there. And it let Angel be as close to his seer as he would allow himself.

And now, he was in Sunnydale, kicked out of the house by the woman of his dreams and heart, to patrol with his grand-childe. Spike. The gods below were surely mocking him, making him pay for something, cause Spike was in a foul mood tonight, and his own mood topped the blond's. They had better run into some vampires to kill soon.

Spike snuck another look at Angel and huffed. The soddin' nancy-boy was brooding - on patrol! *Couldn't the pillock stop long enough for a good rough and tumble? No, not him. No*, Spike thought,* can't let some actual fun break into his brood time. Fuck! Stuck out here on patrol with Angel, kicked out of the house by Willow and nothing roamin' about to kill*. His night was definitely turning low.

"So," Spike just couldn't help himself, "how's LA? Hear the sun is nice there. You should try it sometime. Lookin' a bit pale there, Angel." A smirk crossed Spike's face. But only moments before Angel's fist replaced it.

"Look boy," Angel was standing over Spike, who had stumbled and fell from the surprise attack, "tonight is not the night to be starting something with me." Angel was itching for a fight. Maybe Spike would be his normal self and he could get one.

Spike instantaneously jumped to his feet, getting right in Angel's face. "Look here Peaches, you are here so we can find some mutual terriority to not kill each other in. Red's plan. I just wanted to bring you up to take you to the theatre."

The last bit of Spike's statement caught Angel off guard, "The theatre?"

"Yeah mate," Spike cocked his head back, taking his devil may care attitude, "the theatre. Know how you love all those namby-pamby types jumpin' round and singin'. Got me and Red some tickets and had two left over. Red thought of you and the cheerleader. I thought it'd be a hoot."

Angel watched Spike speculatively, "What play?"

Spike didn't want to let this one out. At least not before his sire was in the middle of the damn theatre, surrounded by people, before he realized his whole existence was nothing more than a bleedin' musical Disney movie. Nope, he wasn't budging on this one.

When Spike didn't say anything, cold fear crept up Angel's spine. "What play, Spike?"

"Can't tell. Red would have me intestines for dinner if I told you." The sneer on the blond's face was too much for Angel. He really needed to hurt something - now. The souled vampire quickly turned away from the violent temptation that was Spike and began patrolling again. Spike caught up with him, not quite finished having fun with his grande-sire.

"So, the cheerleader. What's up with her?" Spike taunted his elder. Angel spun around, grabbing Spike's arms harshly, "What do you mean what's up with her?" Yellow was tingeing the brunette's eyes.

But Spike had played this game with Angelus before. "Don't know. She just seemed distant when you came in tonight. Didn't really seem like the one I've talked to on the phone."

"When the hell have you talked to her?" Yellow was now the predominate color burning out of Angel's eyes.

"Just about every other time Willow did. Why? You didn't know? Hell, thought you two were tight or something? She didn't tell you she knew me and the witch were living together?"

*No*, Angel's hands fell dejectedly from Spike, *she hadn't*, he thought to himself. But what did Spike say?

"When have you and Willow been living together? Seemed you're just roommates there Spike." Angel also remembered how to give as good as he got.

"Told you that earlier, Peaches." Spike scuffed the ground with his Doc Martins, looking at any where but Angel.

"No, you just said you were living with her. Earlier, you said roommates. Which is it, William?" Angel started to walk off again.

Spike followed, still stabbing the ground with his boots. "I protect her, s'all."

"Spike, I do believe you have feelings for the little one," an Angelus sneer crossed Angel's lips.

"What if I do?" Some of the dejection washing off Spike. "She's a good chit. Takes care of me, even though I'm just a demon. She's pure and innocent and able to take more hell on than you and I combined."

Angel's eyes twinkled with mischief, "Spike's got a crush."

"Bleedin' hell, mate. Gone beyond crush. I love the witch." Spike said it with dejection and wistfulness, drawing Angel's attention back to him. Spike was staring at the stars but not seeing them. "She sees me like her lost brother or some rot like that. Touchin' me all the time, huggin' me. Smelling sweet, like fresh picked wildflowers. But I'm just her friend."

"Is the poet going to be joining us tonight, William?" Angel tried to half joke, attempting to lighten the chipped vampire's mood.

"Gods lets hope not!" Spike half-heartedly laughed back at Angel's attempt, seeing it for what it was. "He was scarier than any hell demon I've ever met in my travels."

Angel good-naturedly clapped Spike on the back, letting his light laughter join Spike's.

"So, you love the witch?" It was more a statement than a question.

"Yeah, so what of it? You love the cheerleader," Spike balked back.

"Yes I do. More so than anyone else I've ever known."

"More than me?" Spike joked.

"So much more than you, you disruptive, pain-in-the-ass, destructive - "

"Ah, Angel, didn't know you cared."

"Let's head on back," Angel began pulling Spike behind him.

"But I haven't killed anything tonight. How am I supposed to sleep?"

"I could always kill you."

"But where would the fun in that be?" Spike grinned back.

"You're hopeless," Angel snickered, dragging the blond vampire back to the house.

~Part: 9~

On the way back to the house, Spike and Angel had ran into a group of vamps, feasting on college coeds who had been returning from a party. Though there had been five vampires, the former Scourge of Europe duo did not have a problem dusting the group. Both received a few wounds, nothing threatening, but certainly bloody. And in their bloody state was how they greeted Cordelia and Willow, who had moved into the living, watching chick flicks to forget about their problems until answers could be found.

Spike stumbled in through the door first, followed by a laughing Angel. Both girls jumped up when the vampires banged into the room.

"What the hell happened to you two?" Cordy asked, her voice carrying no emotion.

"Vamps. And it was bloody fun too," Spike grinned, flopping down on the oversized chair, his duster billowing around him. He started to search in his pockets for his smokes.

"Spike!" Willow yelled at him. She had moved to stand beside the chair Spike was currently occupying.

"What?" the blonde's face looked at her without a clue.

"Get off the chair. You're bloody and yuck! I'm not cleaning the chair just because you couldn't move into the bathroom and clean yourself off." Willow ended her lecture pointing her finger at all his wounds.

Cordelia had already been to the bathroom, found the first aid kit and was laying out the contents on the coffee table.

"Angel," Cordy called to her boss over her shoulder, never looking at him, "come over here and let me patch you up before Willow has a stroke from you guys spilling blood all over her furniture."

"But it's dried, pet," Spike looked up at Willow, not wanting to move from the comfy chair. One of the vamps had landed a solid kick in his back and he was sore. Couldn't the girl see he was in pain? *She should be fixin' me up like the cheerleader is doing the poof. But no, she's just standin' there, pointing her finger like I'm some little kid.*

"Spike," Willow continued, grabbing the sleeve of his duster, "get out of that chair." Willow tried pulling on his arm to get him up, but her strength couldn't touch his.

"Don't want to, Witch," Spike was grinning, loving the girl playing with him like this.

"Spike," Angel cut into the blonde's playtime, "get off the furniture."

Spike jerked his arm from Willow and stood up with a pout. "Fine. Goin' to go shower. Startin' to feel crusty anyways." Spike leaned over toward Willow, placing his mouth right by her ear, "Want to join me ducks?"

Willow pushed the vamp away and rolled her eyes. Goddess, if he only knew how quickly she'd beat him to the shower if his request had been sincere. It was this kind of bantering that was slowly killing her.

Cordelia looked up from Angel's back, which had a nasty scratch and looked at Willow, who was trying to brush off the dried blood from the chair. Cordy could tell that whatever the blonde vampire had said had affected the witch. *We've got to do something,* she thought.

"Ouch!" Angel suddenly yelled. Cordelia hadn't been paying attention to her boss and Angel could tell. So when she put the hydrogen peroxide on, he had acted like it hurt. He just wanted her attention on him.

"Ouch? You big baby. I've done this hundreds of time before and it's never bothered you." Cordy almost wanted to laugh. Angel always knew when something was on her mind, when she wasn't giving him her full concentration and he wanted her attention on him. It was little things like that, like him wanting all her attention focused on him, that were beginning to destroy her.  *How come he doesn't realize that even when I'm not thinking about him, I'm still thinking about him? Did that even make sense, Chase? Ok, now talking to yourself.*

Angel had just mumbled something under his breath to Cordy's reply. Her hands were on his back and he was in heaven. It was only when he got wounded that she willing touched him, and he savored every moment of it. Feeling her light touch, her warmth seeping over to him. To be buried in that warmth, he thought. It never failed to happen that Angel always walked away from her nursing him with a raging hard-on. But there was only one shower and Spike was currently using it. Damn it all, he cursed to himself when he realized he'd have to sit here with the girls sporting a hard-on until Spike finished in the shower. And if memory served, Spike liked to bathe and shower for long periods. *Got to get rid of this*, Angel thought. *Ok, what'll work. Holy water, crosses, crossbows, Cordelia's crossbow, Cordelia. Nope, not going to work.* Instead, Angel just changed leg positions to better hide it.

During all this, Willow had finished cleaning off the dirt from the chair and had plopped into it. From her vantage point, she could watch Cordy and Angel. Wow, they were beautiful together, she realized. Cordy was tending to Angel's back. The red-head watched Cordy's eyes float over all of Angel's shirtless back. Willow fully believed at that moment Cordy would willingly eat Angel up if possible. The hunger shining through the seer's eyes was so raw.

*How can Angel have never seen this? How can he simply throw that away?* "Stupid vamp," Willow muttered under her breath.

"Who's a stupid vamp?" Angel asked.

"Stupid vampire hearing," Willow said more loudly for Angel's benefit. "And Spike," she quickly covered. "He almost ruined my new chair." Angel and Cordy both smiled at the girl, but for different reasons. Angel because he knew Spike was simply trying to get under her skin, to want the blonde. Cordelia because of the long talk the two had had earlier about the vamps.

"Never could teach that boy any manners," Angel grinned.

"Yeah, well, he better learn some soon. Otherwise, I'm throwing out all the furniture, including the TV," Willow had ended up yelling the last part, knowing Spike would be able to hear her, even over the shower and the door closed. Spike had finished his shower and was getting dressed, not wanting to leave the poof alone with his Willow too long, not knowing what he'd say to her. Spike had heard Willow's threat. "You're not taking the TV, pet," he yelled back, finishing dressing. 'His' Willow. *Yeah, right, mate,* he told himself. *That'll never happen.* Spike finished getting dressed, and feeling a bit depressed over his thoughts, headed into the kitchen. Spike heard the shower running again and figured Angel was showering off. Spike commenced pulling bottles out from below the cabinet, followed by the blender.

"Spike," Willow had wandered into the kitchen and was watching Spike with curiosity. "What'cha doing?"

"Thought everyone would like some of those sunrise things you introduced me to," Spike told her, not turning around. He couldn't look at her right now. Not until he had some alcohol in him. Not when he just wanted to fall at her feet and beg her to love him, to feel his love, to let him make love to her for days nonstop.

"Oh," was Willow's only reply. She knew her roommate had liked the 'special' tequila sunrises she had introduced him to. Her's had been normal, but instead of grenadine, she had added blood to Spike's. He had downed five that night and was addicted to them ever since. But he wasn't pulling out the makings for just a few tonight. No, he was pulling out the gallon jugs of tequila. *Wonder what's up,* she thought. *Probably had a fight with Angel,* she finally decided.

"So you going to help me or what?" Spike asked softly over his shoulder.

"Sure," Willow bounced into the kitchen, determined to make him forget whatever fight he had had with Angel. Needing him to be his bouncy self. The red-head opened the door of the fridge, pulling out the orange juice and grenadine for the two girls. Spike took the contents and began making two pitchers of the stuff, one for the girls and one for him and Angel. Didn't want the girls to drink the wrong one, he thought, wouldn't hear the end of it.

Spike took the pitchers and Willow followed into the living room with the glasses. Angel had come back in the living room, his hair still damp from the shower

"What's all that," Cordelia asked as she saw the two roommates enter.

"Special little brew I whipped up," Spike joked.

"Brew?" Angel asked worriedly. "What kind of brew?"

"Mexican brew. It's wonderful. Cuts away the pain and leaves everything crystal clear." Spike knew his grande-sire thought he was talking of a spell.

"I'm not in pain, so I'll just skip," Angel murmured.

"Include me on that," Cordelia chimed in.

"Oh! Ignore the neutered vamp," Willow pushed Spike aside and set the glasses down on the table. "It's drinks," she announced.

"Oh," Cordelia grinned, "what'ch we drinking?" The seer had scooted up the couch to get closer to the coffee table that held the glasses Spike was currently pouring into.

"Tequila sunrises," Willow announced. "For us. The boys get the special vampire treated kind."

"Huh?" Angel asked.

"I came up with a vampire version of the sunrise," Willow began explaining. "I hated that I loved the mixed drinks but Spike was drinking straight from the bottle. It seemed off. Anyway, I was having a sunrise one night and it hit me. What if you use blood instead of grenadine. I tried it on Spike, he loved it and now that's all he drinks."

"Well not all, pet," Spike cut in, not wanting to seem housebroken in front of Angel. "I still head off to the pub and what all."

"Ok, Spike," Angel agreed, reaching for one of the 'vampire specials'.

"Alright," Willow's mood lightened when she saw that everyone was drinking. "Let's get drunk!"

"  'Let's get drunk'? " Spike picked on the witch.

"Yeah? So?" The red-head asked back, taking a huge gulp of her drink.

"You're hopeless, pet, is what. Completely hopeless," he mussed, downing his drink and pouring another.

~Part: 10~

Two hours, and two gallons of tequila, later, found the witch, the seer and the two vamps spread out throughout the living room, laughing at something but having no clue what. The red-head was stretched out before the fireplace, with a blazing fire behind her. Spike was nestled into his chair, giving him a perfect view of his roommate.

Cordelia had taken over the floor in front of the couch, where Angel was laying on his side. Cordelia had two of the throw pillows under her head and was talking with Willow about something - Angel wasn't paying attention to their conversation. Instead he was watching his seer, who lay almost beneath him. With just a slight movement to my right and I'd be on top of her, her below me, under me. With a shaky breath, Angel let his eyes wander down Cordelia's body. She had dressed relaxed for their drive down. A soft golden top, cut very low and very conforming to her figure. The material clung to her breasts, showing Angel how perfectly they would fit into his hands. His eyes traveled further down, taking in her black pants and long legs. She had kicked off her shoes and Angel almost gasped at the red toenail polish he saw. He had asked her three years ago to never wear red around him. Not nail polish, not clothing, nothing. Red was too much like the blood that coursed under her skin. Red was passion and sex. Red was love and lust. And she must have forgotten, for there on her perfect toes was blood red nail polish. Her toes looked like she had dipped her toes into blood. And Angel desperately wanted to lick the blood right off and out of them. He wasn't a foot fetish kind of guy, but the color of those toe nails was too much. Thank the gods she hadn't done the same to her fingernails. Those long brown fingers, tipped in a blood color. Angel tore his eyes away from Cordelia and snickered at the sight he found.

Spike was hunched down in his chair, eyes glued to Willow, who was clueless that the blonde vamp was devouring her with his eyes. Willow was on her side, still talking to Cordelia. Behind her was the perfect frame - a strong fire roaring, casting heat flames that brightened her hair and enclosed her body. Spike had been watching with detail how the flames accentuated her small waist, the flare of her hips, and the length of her legs. But most importantly, how the flames and the alcohol made her seem a bit paler yet flushed. Spike's mouth went dry and he poured himself another drink, catching Angel watching him with a grin. *Damn poof, making fun - heh, what's he thinking now?*

Angel had decided it was time to end his and his grande-childe's worries. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the heat from the fire, but most likely, it was having Cordelia Chase a foot away and almost beneath him. Or maybe he was fed up with waiting for something, anything. He wasn't a beggar, waiting for hand outs. He was still Angelus, and damn it, he was feared throughout half the world.

"...so when Giles started to talk about me training for the council, I told him that I'd have to seriously consider it. I mean, a whole life with those tight wads. I don't know if that's me. Maybe used to be, but I'm not so sure anymore," Willow continued telling the former cheerleader about her latest phone call with the former watcher.

"Nope," a slightly dazed and tipsy Cordelia responded to Willow. "Can't see you wearing one of those horrible outfits. Tweed might have been working for you back when you and Sears were such good friends, but you have obviously found the Gap and it just wouldn't work for you anymore."

"Beyond the clothing thing," Willow tried to steer the conversation back, "I definitely don't hold their views. Hello, living with a vampire here!" Willow fell back onto her back, shaking her head at the dumbness of the council.

Spike's eyes refocused upon Willow's last statement. He was in all probability the drunkest here, as whenever he went to make a new pitcher, he'd down a four or five or seven or ten gulps of the tequila straight, needing to lessen the pain of being around the witch tonight.

"Whose livin' with a vamp?" Spike's voice angry.

Willow rolled over to face Spike, "I am, silly. You. Me. Living together."

"Witch," Spike's voice was close to a growl. "We're not livin' together. We're roommates."

Willow crawled over on her knees to Spike, feeling a bit light headed from sitting up and the alcohol. "I don't understand the difference," she asked, having reached Spike's knees.

"There's just a difference, Red," Spike's voice was a barely controlled growl, his eyes feral as they took her in and what she had said.

Cordelia had sat up and watching the interplay between her two friends. *Please don't let her say something while she's drunk,* Cordy silently prayed. Angel, seeing his secretary sit up, moved to slide down on the floor next to her. He leaned over to whisper in Cordy's ear, "Leave them be. They need to get this out," he warned.

Angel's voice in Cordy's ear sent silent waves of arousal down her spine and to her toes. She hadn't prepared for that. The seer hadn't had time to steel herself against his closeness, his voice, his breath. She closed her eyes as the feeling washed into every muscle and vein.

Angel was shocked when the wave of arousal from Cordelia hit him. *What the hell?! What's getting Cordy so excited?* Angel looked into her face for some clue as to what was going on with his seer, but her eyes were closed. Angel saw red, wanting - no needing, to know what had turned Cordelia on so much. Using his vampiric speed, Angel snatched Cordelia's shoulders until they were facing each other.

Cordelia had just closed her eyes for a second, but upon opening them she found herself face to face with her desire - Angel. And something was pissing him off. Yellow flashes crossed his eyes and she could have sworn she heard a growl deep within him. What was going on?

"Angel?" Cordy questioned.

"Who, Cordelia? Who's turning you on so much? Spike? Someone else? Who the hell is turning you on?" More of Angelus was coming out than Angel and Cordy didn't mind at all. The soulless version of her boss didn't bother her as much as she had protested over the years.

"What? Turned on? What are you talking about Angel?" Cordelia tried to squirm out of his grip, not looking into his eyes.

Angel shook her hard, bringing Cordy's eyes back to his. "I can smell it. It envelops the air around you. Gods," Angel paused, closing his eyes, "it's so sweet smelling."

"Angel!" Cordelia's voice was rising in octave and becoming a bit desperate. "I'm not turned on."

But Angel had crossed some line within himself. "Is it watching Spike and Willow? It better not be cause there is no way in hell I'm going to let you watch them." Harsh growls were rolling off Angel continuously now.

"What!? I don't want to watch Spike and Willow!"

Cordelia began to squirm again. Angel was having none of that though. He pushed his seer onto her back, following her. He grabbed her hands that were pushing at his shoulders and pinned them above her head. Cold silence fell over Angel's features. "You're not joining them, Delia." Angel's voice was chilly. Cordelia realized something was going on with Angel. Not that she minded being in this position. He was laid out fully on top of her, his hard body pressing into her softer one. When she squirmed again, she realized all of him was hard. She felt his impressive feeling cock pressing into her stomach, only a few inches above where she had always wanted him to be.

"Get off me, Angel," Cordelia was able to regain some of her detached self. Her voice was calm. *Got to get back in control of this situation,* she thought. Her eyes flew over to Willow, hoping to receive some form of help from her friend. Oh My God! was the only thought that crossed her mind at seeing what Willow and Spike were doing.

"There's just a difference," Willow heard Spike say the words, ignoring the growl coming from him. He continually tried to scare her off a topic with that growl. But she had gotten used to it, along with him. And the alcohol was having such a nice effect on her. She hadn't kept track of her drinks but it was way more than she normally had. *I'm tipsy*, she confirmed to herself. *Good. Just relaxed enough to really talk to Spike, who's being a complete grump. What's his issue? What were we talking about? Oh yeah, the roomie thing.*

"What's the difference?" Willow asked wide-eyed and innocent, her hands having moved to his knees. She placed her chin on top of her hands, waiting patiently for his answer.

At her touch, Spike's eyes rolled closed and he took an unnecessary breath to calm himself. When he looked back at her, she was still watching him with that look of innocence.

"Roommates share the same flat. Two people living together are living together." Spike's words came out stretched and taut, just like his nerves. He watched his witch, seeing she didn't understand. *What!? Do I need to draw her a friggin' picture?!*

Willow, in her drunken state, stared off into space, processing what he had said. She looked back at him with that naive look again. "Nope," she announced, "I still don't get it. Roommates live together. If you live together, you're roommates."

The former growl returned in Spike's chest. *Daft witch! She's the smart one - I can't believe she doesn't get it! She's got to be toyin' with me. Well fine. She wants toyin' with, I'll give her toyin' with.*

With that decided, Spike slid onto his knees from the chair before the kneeling Willow. He abruptly pulled her up against him, her body flushed up on his. Willow's breathe caught at the move, the alcohol not letting her process what was happening yet.

"The difference, Witch," Spike began to explain, as one hand held her at the small of her back while the other started to stroke her face and hair, his eyes drinking her in, never resting on any one place. "The difference is that roommates don't do this."

Willow was having a great dream, she deducted. She convinced herself she had fallen asleep in front of the fire and was now having one of her wonderful Spike fantasies. And since it was just a fantasy, she'd play.

"Do what, Spike?" Willow's eyes full of put on innocence. Spike saw the playfulness in her eyes and smirked. His eyes traveling down to her sweet mouth.

"Do this, Witch," and with those words, Spike slammed his mouth down on hers. His tongue forced itself into her mouth. He controlled the kiss, just as she knew he would. It was her fantasy, so he was exactly as she wanted him to be, Willow thought briefly before succumbing to the kiss.

The hand Spike had on her back pulled her in tighter and his other hand wrapped itself around to the back of her head as he dominated her mouth and her senses. His tongue was exploring every nook inside her mouth, commanding a response she was only too willing to give. Her own hands were busy, attaching onto his shoulders and pulling him closer. Willow was drowning in Spike's kiss. But it was only a fantasy, so she could die and be brought back in the kiss.

Spike had lost the ability to think clearly, if at all, once he touched his cold lips to her hot ones. He craved her mouth, her touch, her skin like no blood before. The silkiness of her hair wrapped around his hand as he cradled her head sent shivers as the image of her silken folds flashed into his brain. The petite waist his hand was stretched about made him want to move it, taking in the flare of her hips, the curve of her ass. His mouth moved from hers, hearing her gulp in air, but the taste of the witch was embedded in him now, as his lips traveled over her throat.

"Mmm, Spike," Willow moaned when his lips attached themselves to her throat. "More," was the only word that she could come up in her alcohol and lust fried brain. She only wanted this fantasy, her best to date, to continue. It felt so real. He was cooler than in her fantasy. And she was more turned on then any dream she had ever had prior. "More, Spike," Willow pleaded.

"Much more," Spike growled against her neck, wanting to taste her blood, her skin, her juices as she came. "Much, much more," he confirmed, knowing that going back was a hopeless cause at this point.

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