Drusilla tugged her carved ivory comb through her thick hair before throwing it at the door.  "It isn't fair," she pouted.  "I never get to have any fun." Like a three year old child she stamped her foot on the oriental carpet.  Of course, throwing a tantrum wasn't effective if no one was watching.

Smoothing the wrinkles out of her dress Dru pulled herself together ans went in search of Spike.  He wasn't difficult to find since he was in his usual
spot in front of the television set.  She slumped on the couch beside him.  A pretty pout extended her lower lip as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"What's wrong, Princess?" he asked distractedly, flipping channels on the telly.  HE paused occationally to identify the picture through the lines of snow.

"Daddy went out to play with her again," she pouted.

Spike didn't need to ask who the "her" Dru refered to...the Slayer.  "He didn't want you to come along, Princess?"

Dru laced her arm through Spike's as she snuggled closer to him.  "Said it was a private play date."

Spike rolled his blue eyes and turned off the TV.  He knew she wouldn't leave him alone until he satisfied whatever she had running through her fractured brain. "So what would you like to do, pet?

She smiled up at him.  "Let's go have our own play date," she suggested.

"Sure.  Fine,"  he relented and tossed the remote on the coffee table.

"Oh, goodie," she exclaimed with a cheerful tone.  She pecked Spike on the cheek and ran to find her cloak.

****

"Are you sure you want to play here, pet?" Spike asked as he followed her through the crowed room.  "Wouldn't you rather have a nice romp through the park? Or the cemetery?"

Drusilla started up the staircase to the second level for a better view.  "Oh, no, Spike.  There are so many more yummy morsels here than in the park," she said over her shoulder.

The blonde vampire resined himself to choosing his dinner from the throng of people dancing below him. Dru found a table near the railing and hopping up on the stool.  Spike sat opposite her and lit a cigarette.  Her blue eyes danced over the people below.  She examined them as mortals would tomatoes in the produce section.  Once she had narrowed dwon her choices she turned towards Spike.  He had a strange look on his face and an inch of ash clung pricariously to the tip of his cigarette.  "Spike," she said.  When he didn't respond she snapped her fingers in front of his face.  "Spike!"

"What!" he said startled.  The still burning cigarette dropped from his lips into his lap.  "Bloody hell," he exclaimed as he jumped to his feet.

"What's wrong with you, Spike?" Dru asked.  She sincerely was concerned about him.  He'd been quiet lately, keeping to himself.  She'd thought it was because of her renewed relationship wiht Angelus.  But maybe something else was going on.

He finished brushing the ash off his lap.  "I'm fine," he muttered.  "I thought you wanted to go play."

Knowing she had been dismissed, Drusilla left the table quietly in search of her chosen snack.

Spike lit another cigarette and let his gaze wander the room.  Something important was going to happen. He could feel it.  He never had Dru's premonitions before, but the hairs on the back of his neck tingled.  Rubbing the back of his neck, Spike exhaled a cloud of smoke.

Irritable and frustrated, he crushed out his cigarette and looked for a place to wait for Dru in the shadows of the club.  He found a dark corner with an empty chair.

He waited and waited for Drusilla to finish playing. Occationally, he saw her lead a young morsel into the shadows.  She took a sip and let her victim stagger away.  Four bottles of beer later, Spike senced a change in the air.  The fine hairs of his arms stood on end.  He sat up and searched the room.

****

Willow trailed after Xander and Cordelia.  She felt like the odd man out, but Buffy had said she'd join them after a quick patrole through the park.  Willow knew her friend needed some down time.  The entire situation with Angelus had the Slayer stressed out and it occupied her thoughts to the exclusion of everything else.  The red head just wished there was something she could do to help.

"Hey, Willow," Cordy said, snapping her out of her wandering thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"What's the date today?"

"Um, the twelveth?"

"The twelveth of February, right?" the dark haired beauty asked staring directly at Xander.  Of course the teenaged boy didn't get the hint.

"Yep.  The twelveth of February.  All day."  Willow knew Cordelia was trying to remind her boyfriend that Valentine's Day was only four days away.  She made a mental note to remind Xander to buy Cordy something. Sutlty and Xander mixed as well as Angel and sex.  She blushed at the less than kind thoughts.

Cordy rolled her eyes at her oblivious boyfriend. "Come on.  Let's dance," she fumed as she grabbed Xander's arm and dragged him onto the dance floor.

Willow picked up an Orange Crush at the bar and found an empty couch to wait for Buffy.  She had a strange sensation of being watched.  It was rediculous.  Who would be watching her?  With a shake of her head she pushed the odd sensation aside.  She knew she was just being weird again.

****

Spike skipped over the dark haired couple, but gasped in shock when his eyes landed on the red head.  Memory like images flooded his brain.  He could hear, smell, touch every image he saw.

A russet haired woman, her curls tumbling down her back, smiled coyly at him.  Her soft hand brushed his cheek.  His strong broad fingers curled around her waist.  He felt the soft fabrick of her velvet gown, the cut and style of a time long past, long before he was even born.  He inhaled the jasmine of her perfume.

Her green eyes sparkled as she smiled up at him. "Come, my beloved," she whispered.  "The festival is about to start."  She pulled a lavishly decorated mask from her sleeve.  "We don't want to be late, Julian."

As suddenly as the memories started they stopped. Spike found himself back in The Bronze. His blue eyes focused on the titan haired teenager sitting by herself.  *It's you, my beloved.  After all these centuries we will finally be together,* he thought with a smile.  He rose to his feet, knocking beer bottles to the floor.  He took a step towards her.

Dru grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the exit. "She's here," she whispered.

"I know," he replied as he pulled free.  His entire focus was on the girl.

"Spike," Dru called as she grabbed his arm again. "The Slayer is not in the mood to play any more.  We need to leave."

He tried to pull free, but her grip only tightened. "Who cares about the Slayer?"

****

Willow shivered as a chill ran down her spine. Curious as to what was causing the sensation she stood and looked around.  She saw Buffy walking towards her, a very dirty Buffy.  And cranky, too, if the snear on her face was any indication.  "Buffy!" she said. "What's wrong?  What happened?"

Buffy took Willow's soda from her hand and drained it before answering.   "Angelus."

"Are you okay?"

She brushed her hair out of the face.  "I'm fine. Just pissed."

Willow wrapped her arms around her waist.  *Should have brought a warmer sweater,* she thought.  "Did you still want to sleep over at my house?" she asked.

"Of course, silly." Buffy glanced down at her dirty, torn jeans.  "I really need a shower."

"I've got hot water and everything," Willow replied with a grin.

"Ooh.  Hot water.  You know I've been trying to convince Mom to get some of that," she laughed.  "But she thinks its just a passing fad."  The teenage girls laughed before going in search of Cordy and Xander.

****

Spike growled as the girl walked off with the Slayer. *My beloved and my enemy are friends.  Oh, how cruel the fates are,* he grimiced.

Dru tugged on his arms again.  "Spike!"

Reluctantly, he turned in the oposite direction of the red head.  *Soon my beloved Romina.  Very soon.*

****

Spike and Drusilla entered the factory to find Angelus pacing restlessly across the floor.  Dru immediately dropped Spike's arm and skipped to her daddy, not that her childe noticed.  "Did you have fun on your play date?" she asked.  Angelus snarled at her.  "Spike and I had our own play date.  Didn't we, Spike?" she asked.

The blonde vampire ignored her and headed to his room.  Even in his irritable mood, Angelus noticed the odd behavior.  "What's wrong with him?"

"I'm not sure."

****

Three hundred years of memories flashed through his mind.  Several lifetimes raced around each other in circles.  Spike could barely keep it all straight yet he understood everything.  He entered his room and kicked the door shut.  He shrugged out of his leather duster and allowed it to fall to his feet.   The unending desire to write everything down drove him to search for a pen and paper.

"Nothing," he fumed.  "Not even a bloody matchbook cover."  He nearly ripped the door off the hinges when he opened it.  One of the minions startled at the suddenly open door.  "You.  What's your name?" he demanded.

"M-M-Marcus, Master Spike," he stammered.

"Get me a pen and notebook," he ordered before he slammed the door shut.  Changing his mind he opened it again.  "A dozen notebooks."

"Y-yes, sir," Marcus replied to the solid door. Quickly, he ran off to get the requested supplies.

Spike ran his long fingers through his hair.  The bleached strands separated and curled radically around his head.  His emotions were rattled.  So many thoughts and decisions he needed to get straight.  He had to find her.  Soon.  He spotted a pack of cigarettes on the night stand.  He tripped over his jacket on the floor.  Kicking it into a corner, Spike picked up the smokes and with shaky hands lit one. "Four hundred years.  Nothing shall keep us apart again.  Not the Slayer, not even time.  We will be together for all eternity."

****

"Romina, may I introduce you to Sir Julian DeMarco?"

Politely, the lovely red head extended her hand. Julian lifted her delicate fingers to his lips. Romina laughed lightly.  "Oh, we need no introduction,
Mama," she said.

Julian paused and gazed into her brilliant blue eyes. "We don't?"

"You don't?" Romina's mother asked.

She smiled as she rested her hand on his arm.  She looked up at his handsome face.  "We have known each other for many lifetimes."  Romina knew in her heart that this was true.  They had been lovers in many life times.  This life time would be no different.

Isabella smiled at her daughter.  She knew the young girl had inheritied the family talent of sorcery and magic.  That she would know her soulmate at first sight was no surprise.   Confident in the love between them, Isabella left the young couple alone.

Julian twisted a fiery curl around his finger.  While he didn't understand her ideas about having known each other before, he felt an ease and comfort in her presence.

****

Willow stretched and smiled in her sleep.  Buffy stared at her friend in amazement.  How could she sleep so peacefully?  Had her life ever been that
simple?  With a sigh, she sat up and examined the cut on her knee.  It was healing nicely and shouldn't leave a scar.

Buffy noticed a picture album poking out from under Willow's bed.  Board and not able to sleep she pulled it out and went into the bathroom.  She waited to turn the light on ofter the door was closed.

Opening the book she smiled at the red head in pig tails.  The little girl sat in front of a birthday cake with six candles ablaze.  The little boy beside
her with icing on his face could only be Xander.

Buffy looked throught he pictures of Willow's childhood.  Xander was always by her side along with Jessie.  The Slayer couldn't remember having friends like Xander and Jessie when she was growing up, someone to lean on and depend on.

The last few pages contained the most recent pictures of Willow's life.  Jessie was gone, but Buffy found her face in almost all the pictures.  Some of the more candid shots, she prayed never saw the light of day. She stopped at one picture.  She didn't remember anyone taking the picture, but it was of herself and Angel.

Buffy touched his face as tears welled up in her eyes.  As hard as she tried to push the feelings away, she still loved him.  Unfortunately the physical expression of that love turned him into a monster she knew she had to destroy.  With her sleeve she wiped her fallen tears off the plastic sheet protecting the photos.  "I'm sorry, Angel.  I'm so sorry I did this to you," she sobbed quietly.  She set the album on the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees.

"Buffy?" Willow's voice called through the door.  "Are you okay?"

Quickly, Buffy dried her eyes.  "I'm fine, Will."

Willow pushed open the door and stuck her head inside.  Seeing her tear stained cheeks and blood-shot eyes, the red head pushed open the door, knelt beside her friend, and pulled her into his arms.

Feeling the warmth and love in those arms, the Slayer let down her guard and leaned against Willow's quiet strength.  "I'm sorry," she sobbed.

Willow stroked her blonde hair and held her while she cried.  "You don't have anything to be sorry for," she shushed.

"It's all my fault."

"What's all your fault?" Willow asked.

"Angel.  Angelus.  Your fish," Buffy listed.

Willow kissed the top of Buffy's head.  "That wasn't your fault, Buff.   No one blames you for any of that."

"I blame myself."  Buffy sniffed back more tears.  "If I hadn't slept with Angel...."

"None of this would have happened," Willow finished. She'd heard it before.  "Buffy, you didn't know that would happen.  No one did.  Well, except Ms. Calender.  Anyway, you can't help who you love.  What's happened, happened.  We just need to deal with it and move on."

"I know.  I know, but it doesn't make me feel any less guilty," she explained.

Willow knew all about guilt.  She felt guilty about what happened to Jessie.  She didn't necessarly do anything to cause the guilt, but she felt it all the same.  She knew there was nothing she could do to make Buffy feel better.  So she said the only thing she could.  "I love you, Buffy," she whispered.

Buffy snuggled closer to her friend.  "I love you, too, Willow."

****

Angelus woke mid-afternoon.  His first thoughts were of the Slayer and what he could do to make her pay. The next thoughts that were quick to follow was the absence of Drusilla's curvacious body beside him.  Her mindless humming drew his attention to the far corner of the room.  She sat on the floor of the room in her silk dressing gown.  "What are you doing?" he asked.

She curved the shears through the red paper before pulling apart a string of hearts.  "Making decorations," she said.

"Decorations for what?" Angelus asked, leaning up on an elbow.

Dru drapped the string of hearts around her neck. "For St. Valentine's Day, of course.  It's tomorrow."

"Valentine's Day?" he asked.   He'd forgotten all about the dreaded holiday.  A new plan began to dance around his brain.

Crawling on her hands and knees, Dru made her way to the side of the bed.  "Are you going to get me a prezzie, Daddy?" she asked.

"A present?  Yes, a present would be in order.  But what should I get her?" he asked himself.  Distracted, he threw back the covers and paced around the room naked, mumbling to himself.  Drusilla watched him with narrowed eyes.  She knew he was thinking about her.

****

"Xander!" Willow called as she spotted her friend walking down the hall.

He stopped and waited for the red head to catch up. "Willow.  And how are you this fine morning?"

"Pretty good.  So what did you get Cordelia?" she asked.

Xander stared at her blankly.  "Huh?"

"Cordelia.  Your girlfriend."

"I know who she is, Will, but what are you taking about?"

She signed and rolled her eyes.  "You know, Xander, sometimes I wonder how you're able to dress yourself."

He paused and reflected on her words.  "Cordy says the same thing."

"I don't doubt it."  She waved her hands around at the pink and red decorations.  "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, you duffus.  Did you get your girlfriend a present?" she asked, knowing his answer.

Xander looked around as if seeing the decorations for the first time.  "Uh oh."  A glazed panic took over his expression.  "No wonder she's been moody."

Willow hung her head in shame.  "I figured as much.  I ordered a dozen rosed in your name.  They'll be delivered tomorrow."

Xander breathed a sigh of relief.  "Oh, thank you, Willow.  My bestest friend in the whole world.  I owe you," he exclaimed as he hugged her.

"That's right.  You owe me a hundred bucks."

His brown eyes widened.  "A hundred dollars? American?" he asked.

The warning bell rang and students rushed around them to get to class.  Willow turned towards her next class.  "No one said love was cheap," she said over her shoulder.

****

Angel walked into the room carrying a dozen white roses.  He dropped them on the table.

Spike smirked as he lit a cigarette.  "Looks like Cupid found another victim."  He glanced at Drusilla pouting in the shadows.

Dark brown eyes glared at the platinum blonde. "Careful, Spike, or I'll drive Cupid's arrow through your undead heart," he said as he pulled out a can of black spray paint from his coat pocket.  He shook the can vigorously before depressing the nozzle.  The pristine white blooms soon glistened under the black paint.  Tossing the can over his shoulder he stood back to admire his handy work.  "What do you think? Should I let her find them or should I deliver them in person?"

"In person.  It will save her the time trying to track you down to kick your ass,"  Spike said as he flicked the cigarette butt over his shoulder.  "As much as I'd love to stay and chat, mate, I've got plans."  He turned on his heel and left Angel to his demented Valentine's plans for the Slayer.

****

Giles stared at the pages in his hand as the Slayer and her friends filed into the library.  They chatted about their usual inconsequencial issues.  "Happy Valentine's Day, Giles," Willow said as she slipped a card decorated with hearts and stickers on the check out desk.

"What?  Oh, yes.  You, too, Willow."

"Whatcha reading, Giles?"  Buffy asked.

He walked over to where the gang sat around the library table.  "The Council faxed this to me this afternoon."

"If it's from the Council then it can't be good," Buffy said with a snap of her gum.

 "It's a prophocy although it is very vague," Giles muttered.

"Aren't they all?" Xander said as he bit into a piece of chocolate from the box he'd given Cordelia earlier.  Cordy slapped his hand as he reached for another. "What?"

"Stop eating my stinking present," she growled.

Buffy rolled her eyes at the couple.  "Giles, what does the prophocy say?"

"On the day of love, the eternally parted lovers will be united again," he read.

Buffy scrunched her nose.  "That's it?  That doesn't sound so bad."

Willow sighed, "It's kind of romantic.  Eternally parted lovers reunited again.  Do we know who they are?"

"No, it just mentions the blood and the light coming together to defeat the darkness," Giles explained as he scanned the passages for more information.

"You mean there are actually prophecies that help us?" Buffy asked.  "Why can't we have more of those?"

"I don't know about helping," Giles said.  "It speaks about the light being turned before the darkness falls."

"Well, it seems kind of pointless anyway.  Today's Valentine's Day.  That would be the day of love and nothings happened yet," Cordy said as she glared at her pseudo-boyfriend.  *And I do mean nothing.*

Willow smiled to herself as she thought about Cordy's surprise when she arrived home to see a dozen roses waiting with Xander's name on them.  She patted herself on the back at her idea to send Cordy the flowers when Xander had forgotten.

Giles sighed as he glanced at his watch. "Unfortunately, I believe Cordelia's right.  It's getting late.  I guess we'll have to wait and see what
happens," he sighed.

"What to you mean 'unfortuneately, I believe Cordelia's right'?  I'll have you know I'm right a lot of the time," Cordy said as she gathered her purse and box of chocolates.

Buffy stood up and slipped her bag on her shoulder. "I'll walk you home, Will."

"Okay," the red head answered.

****

Willow tossed her back pack on the bed.  She clicked on her radio.   Joan Jett came out of the speakers. "I love rock and roll.  Put another dime in the jukebox, baby," Willow sang along.  She danced around her room putting her books on her desk.  She was getting ready to settle down to study when she heard a tapping at her balcony doors.  *Buffy just left,* she told herself as she pushed aside the curtain to see who would be knocking at her window.

She stared in awe of the tall blonde standing on her balcony.  A cigarette dangled from his lips.  He leaned up against the door.  She knew instantly who he was.  Not his current incarnation of course, but she knew this was her beloved Julian.  With a radiant smile she opened the door.   "Julian.  Is it really you?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, my beloved.  My Romina."  He smiled down at her.  "Finally, we can be together.  Forever," he said as he put a hand up to the invisible barrier preventing his entrance.  "Pet, you have to invite me in," he coaxed.  He tossed his cigarette over the balcony.

"Of course.  Come in."   She opened the door wider to allow him entrance.  "What's your name?"

"Spike," he said as he caressed her cheek.

A chill ran through her body at his cold touch. "You're a vampire."

"Yes, pet.  And you're the Slayer's little friend.  We all have our faults.  I brought you something."  He dug into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.  He handed the red paper to her.

She opened the flap and pulled out a card.  "A Valentine?  For me?"

"Will you be mine?  Forever?" he asked.

She carresed his cheek with her hand, as she had so often in their past lives.  "I have waited four hundred years for you, my love.  I will wait no
longer."

Spike kissed her softly on her lips before lowering his head to her neck.  He pierced her neck with his fangs and her blood spilled into his mouth.  He could taste the power.  It was a rush to have that power flow through his veins.  He drank from her until her heart stilled.  Holding her upright he bit his own wrist and held it to her lips.  He watched the blood drip between the softly parted lips.  As the transformation began, Willow drank deeper of his blood.  Her eyes fluttered as she allowed herself to slip into unconciousness.

He lifted her slight frame into his arms.  He turned on his heel and leaped to the ground below her window.  Finally, she was his again.

****

Drusilla poured tea for her dolls as Spike kicked open the front door.  The tea pot shattered as it slipped from her slack fingers.  She rushed over to her childe.   "Spike.  What have you done?" she asked as she tried to get a closer look at the read head in his arms.

Protective of his treasure he turned away from Dru. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it, Dru." He carried his treasure to his room.

Dru watched him disappear down the corredor.  "Oh, Spike.  I don't think Daddy's going to like this," she whispered to herself.

****

Willow opened her eyes.  Everything was different. Her entire body tingled.  A new smell filled her senses.  A low growl escaped her lips.  She was so hungry.  Sitting up she noticed she no longer wore the fuzzy sweater and cotton skirt she had on earlier. *Goody.  Silk, how yummy,* she thought as she looked around her new surroundings.

The bedroom door opened.  Spike stepped into the room.  In his arms he held a struggling teenager.  "Look what I picked up for you, luv," he said as he dragged the boy closer to the red head.  Her face morphed into full game face.  She pulled the boy closer to her face.  "Happy Valentine's Day, pet," he said as he stroked her hair.  She drained him quickly.

As she let the body drop to the floor she licked her lips.   "How long has it been, lover?"

"Too long, luv.  We were parted around 1578, I think," he said as he sat on the bed beside her.  He stroked her long red hair.

She smiled up at him.  "My spell did work.  It just took longer that I expected."

Angelus burst through the door.  "What the hell do you think you're doing bringing her here?" he yelled.

Willow glared at the intrusion.  "I didn't invite you to enter my room," she said quietly.

He laughed at her.  "I don't need an invitation, my dear."

She climbed off the bed and moved to stand directly in front of him.  "Yes, you do."  She pulled her arm back and hit Angelus square on the jaw.  The force of the blow threw him out of the room and against the wall. He slid down the wall holding his aching jaw. Quickly, she followed him.  "You have no idea who you are messing with, boy."  Willow turned to her consort.  "Darling, do we have any chains lying around?  This puppy needs to be taught a lesson."

Spike chuckled as he joined his former and future lover standing over his grand-sire.  "I think I can dig some up."  He left to find the requested chains.

Angelus looked up at the enraged woman above him. "Who are you?  You're not Willow."

She crouched down to his eye level.  "I am Willow and a little bit more.  You see my lover and I were cursed.  Our souls were separated almost five hundred years ago by a jealous little twit.  She thought she could take my lover from me with a simple curse. What she didn't know is I had placed a spell on us. Our souls would be reborn again and again until we met.  Only at that time would we know what was meant to be.  No one will interfere with us again.  That includes you, dear grandfather."

Spike dragged a set of chains behind him.  His mind flooded with the memories of his lover's tortures. She was the best.  Drawing pain from her victims was an art form she had perfected.  He smiled at the thought of what she would do to his grand-sire.

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