World Made New

Author: FemailoftheSpecies

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~Part: 11~

The answer was simple.  She had woken up in an alternate dimension, one where Spike and Cordelia laughed like friends and Angel floated by on his stealthy vampire feet squeezing the blonde’s shoulder affectionately.  She debated whether to say anything, not wishing to draw attention to herself here.  They could be unfriendly.  The younger vampire’s blue eyes, settling on her warmly, decided for her.

“Um, Hi guys.”  She looked around the dimly lit room for a clock but saw none.

“Willow.”  His voice was rich and deep as his gaze penetrated her.   She was surprised at how hearing him speak alleviated one tension building within her while sparking another.

“Hey Wills.  Come eat some…mashed potatoes.  Angel got them for us.”  She offered a spoonful to her favorite redhead with false enthusiasm.

“Hmmm sounds yummy.”  She said flatly, sitting on the other side of Spike.  “How long was I out?”

“Near twenty hours.  Why are you doing magic that’ll drain you like that, pet?”

She shifted away from him a bit, readying her nerves for his onslaught of reprimands.  He could get demonically protective.  “Can’t call on any outside powers or pull from the earth.  As soon as I do, we have to move and then what’s the point?”

“The point is you can’t go sacrificing yourself to save us.  It’s selfish.”  She gave him a sideways glance, defying the logic.  “What?”

“Look, you make with the magic and get yourself in another coma.  We have to lug your ass around.  And despite the end of the world coming and going, you have not been missing any meals.”  Cordy tossed in.

“I get that you’re trying to protect us, Willow.  I’ll sleep better knowing nothing’s getting close without a warning or in at all, but you gotta let us help you.  Giles can help you with spells and Angel’s pet too.”

“Angel’s pet?  Please don’t say you mean Wesley.”

“Sure I do.  He may seem a bit of a git, but he’s an all right guy.  And he can do shit.  Promise me you won’t do spells alone.  Not when you have power to draw on right under your nose.”

She had pulled from others before.  Kennedy’s scream still echoed in her head.  The young slayer had never completely trusted the redhead after that.  “It hurts, Spike.”

He frowned, head tilted.  “What hurts?  You okay?”

“No…it hurts others when I use them to boost my power.”

He grinned at her slightly, but held back a full smirk.   She was still human and might not understand the tingle going to his groin from the promise of a little pain.  “Then you use me.  Vampire, right?  Already magical just existing.”  The idea of a little harmless agony appealed to him.  That she would give it, even better.  She opened her mouth and Spike read the protest in her eyes as his slim finger pressed against her lips, effectively silenced.

“Not negotiable, luv.”

Her green eyes bore into him as she picked at his motivation.  She decided to take a walk in his mind, peruse his thoughts.  Peeking in, she saw a partially opened double-door of mahogany wood, adorned with brass fixtures that led to a long corridor sporting many more closed doors.  She approached slowly unsure of what she would find in a demon’s mind.  Soul aside it had to be a tricky place to be.  When she ventured here before it was under duress and she just did it.  The few times after that it had been with his reluctant permission and she only gave orders, never nosed around.  She reached out, pushing the door with her own mind for a better look when suddenly the door slammed shut with a resounding bang, driving her back into herself so quickly that she jumped from the undeniable force of it.

When she gathered herself and looked at him his gaze was cool and calculating.  It reminded her of the first day she saw him in the alley behind the Bronze.  He was menacing then and could still be now.  The air shimmered around him with the evil that he emitted, like the heat waves rising from the cement on a hot day, attracting you even as you burned.   Briefly she wondered if his soul has any clauses or conditions and speculated on the injustice of nearly all of Giles’ books being destroyed.

As abruptly as he went cold, the warm of the soul appeared, making the blue dance and sparkle.  Whatever he had been evaluating, with his demon’s consent, must have passed.

“How about you don’t do that again, eh?  Nasty bits in here.”  He did smirk now, allowing her to save face.

“Fine.  Keep your secrets, vampire.”

He chuckled, considered sharing a few of his darkest.  Her nightmares that would follow kept him silent.  “I’ll share something else.  Not as compelling, but fun just the same.”  He got up and went for his duster.

Intrigued, she tracked his movements as he draped the long leather coat over his arm, the pale flesh marbled with thin blue veins underscored by hard, unyielding muscle.  A day in Giles’ apartment cracked the ice of her scooby memories.  The vampire, not so friendly at the time, had been shot with a tracking device and they were trying to remove it.  It stuck out that he was gorgeous and his chest and back were covered in pretty veins as well.

He motioned for her to follow him into one of the bedrooms in the back.  Cordy was drifting off to sleep and Angel had not returned since she came into the room.  Briefly she pondered the others’ whereabouts, but stopped when the impatient blonde got huffy and went in, closing the door behind them on instinct.

He pulled out a thin white something, which for a moment she assume to be a cigarette until she took in its irregular shape, the occasional joint shared with Amy coming to mind.  It was a less painful memory so she allowed it to linger while she eyed the vampire evenly.

“I am not getting high, Spike.”  Her arms crossed, solidifying her position.

He flopped on the bed bonelessly, the way that vampires do. Or maybe it was just Spike.

“Why?”  He dug his lighter out of his front pocket, stretching his body taut to get into the tight garment.

“Huh?”

“Why. Won’t. You. Get. High?”

“Well for one, it’s illegal.  And not to mention… What?”  She sighed.

That eyebrow of his irked her, mocked her.  She made a mental note to find some Nair and remove it in his sleep.

“Do you see any police, luv?”  He lit up, difficult while lying down, but he was feeling languid already and wanted to enjoy it.  Willow enjoyed it as well, focusing on the strip of flesh visible between the hem of his shirt, which had risen up, and the low-slung waist of his black jeans.  He inhaled, the excess smoke curling and caressing his face before drifting upward, and passed it to her knowing she would take it.  She could never resist a challenge or a temptation.  It was a pattern in her life.  She always went for the forbidden.  Whether it was a wolf, a friend’s beau, a female lover or the lure of dark magics, if she perceived it as off limits, then she found some reason to have it, take it or do it.

The tiny hand reaching out did not disappoint.

~~~*~~~

“But was I still really scared!”  She laughed at his feigned pout.

“Please, Red.  It was the single most horrible day of my unlife.  At least then.”

They were lounging on the bed, Willow on her back, Spike on his side, arm bent, resting his head on his hand.  He was close enough that the heat from her warmed him. The joint was gone.  He had more, but felt right high himself and figured Willow had to be pretty floaty as well.

“I didn’t know what was wrong with you.  But every time you went to bite me my mind was screaming ‘Oh my God! This is it!’ over and over.  You were like an E ticket ride.  They scare me even when I know I won’t get hurt.”

He scowled at her, a slight hoarse whine slipping into his voice.  “You’re comparing me to a bloody Disneyland attraction?!”

“Yeah…no…I mean yeah.   Oooooh, this one time…it was after we beat Adam, no thanks to you, mister.”  She wagged finger at him.  It started out heavy then began to drift weightlessly, not a wag but more like a wave

“Hey, betraying you lot was expected.  It wasn’t like I didn’t remind you all daily that I hated you.”  He snatched her hand from its skyward journey, bringing it to rest on the bed, next to her head.   Their fingers remained entwined, caressing without intent.

He had her like that before.  Both hands pinned up by her wild red hair as he tried to make her his forever.  She had been speaking of that day in her offbeat way.

“Okay point taken.  So we all had these weird dreams and Giles said in his dream that you were renting yourself out as an attraction.  Like a ride.  Oh and Olivia was really pregnant, but that was just weird…”

“So the watcher used to dream about riding me, huh?”  The wiggle of those most irritating brows made her giggle this time and she squeezed his hand.

“Noooo!  He dreamed once. And certainly did not mention riding you.” She frowned suddenly.  “Or maybe he dreamed of you a lot and never told us. Maybe he was riding you in the dreams.”

“ Stop right there, Red.  I’ll scratch my eyes out not to get that visual.”  She laughed and he grinned.  “Did you dream of me then?”

What was there to say?  <No not that time, it was more a nightmare, you see and when I dreamed of you it was never a nightmare, although it should have been.  In my dreams the chip was never there.>

She was not that high.

Pretty blue eyes waited patiently for the answer, never doubting that he would get one.  She wondered if this was how he looked at his victims before killing them.  It was certainly appealing to be the focus of something so intense in its need for you.  <The question…>

“I dreamed about being in a play and I wasn’t ready.  Didn’t know my lines and everyone one was in it…”  She looked far away then turned to him.  “Everyone but you.  Even Harmony.”

“I’m hurt.  Harmony rated a spot in your subconscious over me?!”  And there was the pout again.  This time she was not sure of its authenticity until she realized her hand was not being slowly messaged in lazy circles anymore.

“But I did dream of you….other times.”  She whispered shyly, feeling so like the little girl she once was.  A burst of THC kicked in and she went with it, relaxing into the high with a sigh.

“Yeah, luv?  What about?”  The vampire’s interest was piqued, which was not necessarily a good thing.

“It was mostly that night…in the dorm…”  When his eyes darkened with guilt, she leaned over, turning her body on its side and held his chin.  “Do not be sorry.  It led you to here, okay?”  He nodded and went back to actively listening, instead of settling in for a nice Angel-like brood.   She went on.

“Most of what you did and I did stayed the same except…the chip.  You either never got it or it did not work.”

“So you dreamed I drained you?”

“Yeah, but you brought me back like you promised.”  She flopped back down with a great exhalation.  “Sometimes… do you think that’s what was supposed to happen, and we got…I don’t know…cheated?”

Both of her hands were her own now and she had them over her head, stretching.  She left them there to play with the headboard.

Spike watched her.  She was unaware of her sexuality, but it poured from her.  She could affect him, stirring his baser instincts, and had no clue.  “I still feel cheated about that one, Willow.”

She stopped tracing the designs overhead and shifted onto her side again, mirroring his position.  “So you really would have done it?  Turned me?”

She sounded awestricken and excited.

“Oh yeah.  Would have turned you, taken you somewhere safe to rise.  No coffin for my girl.  Besides we all know that Buffy would have been waiting by your gravestone, stake in hand.  Like she did her boy.”

“Her boy?”

“That Ford.  He wanted to be a vampire.  He said he thought it was cool, but I could smell the cancer rotting him alive.  I had Dru turn him so the prat wouldn’t be tied to me eternally, or until I staked him, whichever came first.”  He smiled at the memory.  It had been an interesting night and he had almost had the feisty blonde.  Bringing his Dark Goddess had been a bad idea, but she wanted a treat and he could never deny her anything.  It was a weakness.

“So you’d let him be with Dru?”

“Gods no…she would have played with him until she broke him.  That was the plan anyway.  But you….You would never have seen a grave and clawed your way out.  When you opened your eyes and saw the world, a world made new by the demon, I wanted you to see me.”

~~~*~~~

Angel came into the dim apartment.  He was tired.  It had been a long day, made longer by weird twists of fate and wild revelations. Therefore he, Wesley and Giles had spent the last two hours, planning quick escapes in case of unwanted and unfriendly visitors.  He slumped his way to the refrigerator and took out two bags of blood.

Human.

He had missed this treat.  The guilt he once associated with drinking human blood was gone.  He was glad because he and Spike would need to be at their strongest.

Over the hum of the microwave he could hear Giles and Wesley preparing to retire for the day.  Amusing how they were gradually adapting the vampire hours.  He took the mug from the microwave, grimacing at the yellow sponge shaped thing in shorts on the side, and went in search of Spike.

The scent hit him in the living room, and the fact that he had not smelled it before was a testament to his exhaustion.  Sipping from the mug as he followed his nose, ears, and bond, he opened the door without knocking.

Eyes, blue and green, surrounded with a red tint, gazed up at him sluggishly, low and slightly dazed. Their smiles were playful and dark, causing him to wonder about the topic of their conversation.

“Hey Angel.”  Willow said, patting the bed.  “Spike was just telling me about what a good vampire I would have been.  Come sit.”  She scooted back unaware of the bit of distance the blonde put between them upon seeing his sire.

Angel, however, did notice.  “Willow, you’re high?”

“Duh?”  She replied with a giggling snort.

“Spike! You know better.”

“Hey, don’t be mad at him!  He didn’t force it between my lips, ya know.  It was all my doing.  The weed I mean, nothing else went between my lips…”

“Spike, can you exercise that soul you have just a little and not corrupt Willow?”

“Ha!  Me corrupt her?!  The girl’s pretty bloody wild on her own, Angelus.”

“The girl’s right here.”  She countered.  “Angel, I’ve smoked weed before.   Just not lately.”

He backed down since she did not seemed to be harmed and Spike looked a bit upset at him.

“Fine.  I’ll stay up for a while and take the first watch.  Willow, can you and Cordy take it from noon for a few hours, until Giles or Wesley get up?”

“Sure Angel.  But you can sleep now if you want.  The spells will hold and we’ll get a good five minute warning if anything demony comes close.”

“I’d rather someone be up and Spike will take watch at sunset…”

“Okay.  Just come wake me up.”

He nodded and stood by the door, not leaving.  Spike felt him there and got up from the bed, crossing over Willow’s body slowly.  He planted a kiss on her soft lips, her eyes closing as if this was natural to them.  Not sure what to do, she did nothing except kiss him back, a familiar fluttering in her belly making her smile into it.  And then his mouth was gone.  When she opened her eyes he was hovering over her.

“Peaches is demanding the pleasure of my company.  But you can wake me later if the cheerleader bores you.”

With a quick twist of his agile frame he was off of her and the bed, standing next to Angel, who gave her a heated stare before demanding that she, “Let Spike sleep.”

~Part: 12~

Spike followed Angel into the other bedroom.  This one was smaller and where the other had two twins, this room had only the one full sized bed.   He suspected that the seer would wake up and find her way to the room with Willow.

The clicking of the lock stirred him from his thoughts.  He shuffled to the bed and sat gingerly on the mattress, bending in half to remove his boots, his back to the other.  Angel felt dismissed and swallowed a growl.

The brunette pulled his own shirt over his head revealing pale hard muscle.  He was whiter than Spike, having been dead over a hundred years longer.  The younger vampire made the effort to not look in Angel’s direction, thus was not subject to the temptation that was his sire.

The blonde stretched out lazily, wiggling his toes and wondering if smoking would put Angel off enough to derail his obvious desire.  He could use the shag but the rest of the baggage that came with what Angel had in mind was more than he could handle.

“What are you thinking about?”  The brunette was sitting now, the worn mattress sagging beneath his great form.  Spike had not heard him move and sighed.

“I’m thinking that you want something from me that I don’t have anymore.”

He was bemused, chocolate eyes staring into nothing and everything.  “And what is it that you don’t have anymore?”

The blonde shrugged noncommittally.  “Faith.  Trust.  I don’t know…”  He cursed under his breath, realizing that his coat was in the room with Willow as were his smokes.  Resigned, he stood and headed to the door, only to be crushed from behind by a hulking mass of vampire.

“Don’t leave.”  The growl was demanding, although there was an unmistakable hint of a plea buried deep, crushing something in Spike’s chest.

“Not leaving,” he spoke calmly, “just forgot my smokes.”

Sheepishly, Angel turned his childe, but kept him trapped against the door.   “Oh…sorry.  I just…”

“Look Angel…”  His next words were cut off by hungry lips, dominating him thoroughly.

And Christ….it felt good!

He kissed his sire back with equal fervor, the urge to possess and be possessed by this creature that made him striking an unfamiliar balance in the vampire.  It was something akin to peace.  A shudder ripped through him, disrupting the new feeling, but bringing another one, just as delightful as Angel stroked his cock skillfully.  He moaned into the mouth devouring him and thrust his hips eagerly.

The brunette tore away from those precious lips, teeth and tongue, an orifice that could spew venom that came off like silk, and focused on his creamy neck.  He used his head to nudge under his childe’s chin, gaining more access and bit, claiming him again.  This time he swallowed a small amount of the red liquid, letting some drip down his chin.  He rocked against the blonde, feeling a residual high from the marijuana and his boy, rubbed his cock into Spike’s belly and leaned back to look at him.

His childe opened hazy eyes, waiting.

“Let me in, Spike.”  Angel began kissing him again, tender caresses of his blood stained lips marking the younger demon’s forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.  “Let me back into you, your demon.  I won’t hurt you again.”  He whispered, now tracing the path his lips made with his tongue.

An agonized groan escaped Spike.  It spoke of his turmoil.  Angel could smell the want on his boy, knew he needed his sire, but the human in Spike found it hard to let go of the old and not so old grievances.

“Listen to me…I’ve lost so much.  Darla.  Buffy.  Connor.  Dru.   And I’ve never been good at expressing my true feelings, Spike.  But you…I have you back now in a way…and it drives me crazy.  My soul is not capable of denying what it always felt for you and the demon is no longer angry about loving you.”

“Loving me?”  Spike chuckled.  “Angelus, you loved to hurt me.  Humiliated me and fucked me.  And you want to do it now.”

“That was before.  Everything has come together Spike and I don’t know how I know, but they’re merged. My demon and my soul.  No more battling for control. Both are in control and I can think clearly now that the constant bickering is gone. Before the soul, my love for you was a poison to me, weakening me.  I was afraid that if my enemies knew they would take you and destroy you, and thereby destroy me.   Darla was my biggest worry.”

“Well she got her claws in me after you left us.”

Angel dove for his mouth again, latching on and melting as Spike relaxed into him.  Large hands tangled in curly blonde locks, deepening the kiss, and Spike felt small against him, protected.

“After the soul, my loving you felt wrong.  I wasn’t supposed to love a demon.  What did that make me?  It was stupid and I’ve spent all this time denying who I am.  In the end I lost.”  He paused, wanting to say this correctly, clearly express what was in his heart.  “I would gladly let them all die again as long as I can have you.  With me forever.  Do you understand?”  He let his hands drop to strong shoulders, angular and powerful, shaking him.

“Yes…”  He swallowed hard, not sure the words would come.  “Now kiss me some more before I change my mind.”

Angel growled.  “Oh, I’m never letting you go.”  He mumbled into his childe’s mouth, savoring him.  “You taste like Willow and weed.”

“Yeah…it's good, eh?”  Spike had been avoiding this confrontation, but now that it was upon him he was ready to deal with Angel.

“I like the taste of you better…”  More pecks and nibbles.  “You like her.”

He was not in the mood to guard his feelings.  “Yeah…I think I do.”

“Sweet girl.  But you do know she’s gay.”

“I know I wanna shag her senseless, make her mine, but that’s the demon talking.  Been wanting that since I tried to turn her.”

“She’s an interesting vampire.  Quite the handful.”  Angel chucked, deftly unbuttoning the blonde’s jeans.  Spike hissed as a cool hand pulled at his hard cock playfully.  “Not like you, though.  No one was ever like you.”

Done talking, Angel tossed the shocked vampire to the bed, managing to stalk toward him in the tiny room.

“Take them off.”

For a few seconds he thought the boy was planning to bolt.  Wide blue eyes still held hidden calculation and cunning.  Spike was a master and it would be hard for him to be topped again.  But he just lifted his ass and slid the denim down slender hips, kicking the jeans to the floor.

Angel stared at his childe; it had been so long since he had been gifted with this view that he had to breathe.  The younger demon was well aware of his effect on his sire and waited prettily for the next command, comfortable in his flesh.

Angel loomed over the vampire, delving into those deceptively innocent orbs and told him to be still as he explored every inch of his childe, kissing new scars, searching for old ones that were long since healed.  Spike allowed this exquisite anguish for as long as he could before he began to wiggle with need.  Having Angel so close without being allowed to touch was unnerving and he was ready to jump out of his skin.  It was not unpleasant.

“Be still or I will tie you up.”

The blue-eyed demon lifted his head to gaze languidly at the brunette currently licking his knee.  “Is that supposed to deter me or encourage me, mate?”

~~~*~~~

He was still.  No longer on the move.

Ethan could sense that he was getting closer to Giles, but had no grasp yet as to how much further he had to go to reach him.

The highway had been cleared somewhat and it was travelable here in a way that it was not on other roads.  It was a relief and he did not waste energy questioning his good fortune.  Consequently he unknowingly followed a path unwittingly left by the one he sought.

The sun burned hot through the slightly tinted windows of the Nissan as he drove and he let the warmth lull him into a feeling of safety.  It was June and not particularly scorching in the Golden State, but the intensity of the rays more than made up for temperature and when inside a glass and metal bubble it got and stayed heated.  He enjoyed the safety of day, knowing it would be gone with the bright yellow ball.   Only the truly desperate demon showed its ugly face in daylight, but the darkness of night held different rules for different creatures.  It was then that he was the intruder.

Demons had a supernatural distrust of witches, sorcerers and warlocks, the latter being the most hated and rarest.  His journey thus far had been riddled with incident.  This calm was welcome, but he was afraid to hope it would last.

Bored with the road and its few remaining obstacles, his thoughts drifted to a happier time in his youth.   There were days, before the magic took them over, that they played innocently, basking in the mystery of it all.   He had often tried to pinpoint when it had turned into something dark.  Several events were candidates, but one day in particular starred in his mind as the culprit.

It had been a long weekend and they were on holiday.  There had been four of them that Sunday.  A small picnic in the plush meadows of his uncle’s estate.   A soft breeze whispered through the brambles that lined the south walls of the property, prickly and full of sweet, ripe berries.  The girls, Martha and Grace, had insisted on picking a basket full for eating with the wine and cheeses.
 
 

Rupert watched them from under a willow tree about a hundred feet away where he had laid a large blanket. He enjoyed the view as skirts were lifted and dropped in the undulating wind.  Ethan saw him, lost in shadow and darkness, chasing away the small fragments of light that filtered in, demanding to touch him.  He hoped to be rid of their female companions sooner rather than later.  It was not that he did not enjoy the gifts of a woman or that he liked men more.  It was just all about Rupert Giles for him and he knew that the other felt the same.
 
 

Finally convinced they had enough berries to feed an army, Ethan trailed behind the giggling girls, his eyes meeting Rupert’s briefly, but too long to be a casual glance. He did not miss the nod.
 
 

Everything was prepared.  It was the day of their first serious spell.  It required sex magic and the blood of two virgins, hence the slightly irritating company.
 
 

The future watcher poured wine for all, crystal glasses clinking in an impromptu toast to health and prosperity, while Grace expressed a desire for some of Uncle Albert’s scrumpy.  Ethan advised her that the old man kept a close watch on the spiked cider and never shared except on Christmas.
 
 

As the day grew older, Martha and Grace, pissed from too much wine, warmed to the romantic advances of their charming suitors.   Eventually, they had their way with the young women who were by then too inebriated to understand what was happening around them.  At one point Martha cried, afraid when the spirit the budding mages conjured became restless and made the willow tree shake wildly.  Ethan gave her more wine and hushed her while Rupert bargained with the spirit for the information they sought.

His meandering thoughts were interrupted by his spying an ARCO sign from the highway and heading for the exit.  It would be dark within the hour and he did not want to run low on gas in the middle of nowhere.

California had a lot of nowhere.

~~~*~~~

It came out as a whimper, which really annoyed the blonde.  But it could not be helped.  Angel’s cool tongue laved at a dusty pink nipple as Spike arched into the touch, hoping for more.  The brunette eased off, chuckling at his boy’s pout.

“Wanker.”

It was a breathy whisper, no intent but to express his impatience, yet it sent a tingling bolt straight to Angel’s shaft, which was already hard enough to dent steel.

“Not today.”  He retorted.

Spike pumped his hips, fucking the air.   “Come on Sire, do me right and proper.  We can play the bloody day away later.  I want you inside me now.  You won’t hear that often.”

He hovered over his boy and nudged his legs apart with his knees.  The blonde pulled Angel’s wrist to his mouth and bit, drawing in just a taste of the blood and using the flow to coat his sire’s erection.

“Do it.  You can court me like the pouf that you are next time.  Fuck me now.”  Muscular legs came to rest on the older vampire’s shoulders, challenging.

Nodding, Angel pressed into the blonde, slowly, amused by his bossy bottom behavior.  Spike pushed against him, muscles tensing and flexing at the invasion.  The boy was incredibly tight, forever a virgin, and Angel growled and panted, conflicted.  He wanted to slam into him and make him bleed as well as gently enter and stretch him.   The compromise was gently now and violent and wild once the tight ring of muscle opened up a bit.

Finally, he was buried completely and began moving, pumping his hips and angling for the nub of flesh inside.  Spike gasped and cried out, a litany of curses falling from his lips when Angel brushed the head of his cock over his prostate again and again.   He put his full weight on his childe, bending the supple being nearly in half, as he took his mouth in another kiss, swallowing moan after moan with demonic delight.  This was what he had been missing for a hundred years because the soul and demon could never agree.  Rage over lost time fueled the new more violent pounding as Spike tore at the sheets, shouting Angel’s name while milky ropes of sweet and salty fluid spewed from the blonde’s pulsating cock.  Angel followed him a few strokes later and bit into his mark again, drinking deeply.

The resultant high made him go rigid and whimper helplessly, brown eyes unfocused.

“God…Jesus…Spike…what…”

Spike was unable to do anything but feel as aftershocks kept him tingling.  Soon enough Angel moved and flopped onto his back, content to have his scent once again embedded in his childe.   He pulled Spike close, not bothering with the sheet, and they snuggled in an undemon-like fashion, sire and childe, until much needed sleep took them over.

~~~*~~~

Willow flinched awake, hearting thrumming harshly, sleep now a thing of the immediate and irretrievable past.  She let her wide eyes dart around the unfamiliar setting as her memory filled in gaps.  Things were foggy as she was still high, but she understood the important parts.  Her heart slowed its wild dance as she tried to grasp why she felt scared, but nightmare remnants came to her aid so she gave up, tossing the sheet back and padding barefoot to the window.  It was still morning and the sun had not yet filtered to this side of the building.  She pondered when she began to define her day in relation to the sun's physical travels and smiled.

He kissed her.  It was loving and sweet and full of a passion that she could not remember having with Tara, Kennedy or Oz.  It was also too short and she wished to do it again.  His mouth was soft and cool and tasted delicious.

Jumping back she nearly tripped over her shoes, the muffled shout from down the small hall frightening her.  She had to push the urge to use magic away and remain confident that whatever the trouble was, it was not caused by an outside force.  Her barrier would hold.

Another sound and she regretted smoking so much weed with the vampire.  She felt impeded and slightly off, like she was teetering on the edge of a one-foot drop, unreasonably afraid and wanting to jump all the same.  She stayed still, not daring to go hunt alone until she heard Spike scream for Angel.

Trembling she left the ill-conceived safety of the bedroom, realizing she had no idea where the vampires were.  The sleeping arrangements had not been finalized before she and Spike went on a drug-induced vacation.  She headed for the living room and found the still sleeping Cordelia wrapped around a pillow, the DVD player’s remote control still in her delicate hand.  Despite the panic that flirted around the edges of her mind, or perhaps because of it, Willow decided that the seer needed a manicure.  The Cordy she knew would never been seen with chipped polish or torn cuticles.  It just was not done.

“Cordy.”  It was a whisper, meant to keep attention away from her if, in fact, someone or thing had actually gained entry into their little compound.  “Cordy, come on, where are Wesley and Giles?”  She shook her friend.

No movement, just a warm sigh, flitting across Willow’s arm.  Apparently the girl was just as selfish and greedy about her sleep as she was about most everything else in life.   The redhead glanced around nervously.  It was either go into the other apartment, which could be where all the trouble was occurring or check the back bedroom.   She was a brave girl, but brave did not equal stupid so it was the back room for her.

She padded silently, proud of her acquired stealth, and reached the closed door.  The knob did not turn when she tried so using a small bit of the power she had managed to recharge she broke the lock and cracked the door open an inch.  Nothing was clear to her so she opened it wider and stepped in.

Blinking, she tilted her head, loose strands of hair falling to her face, not sure of what she was seeing, but certain her perspective was wrong.  Her curiosity made her forget herself for a few seconds as she approached the bed.  The bright blush overwhelming her skin signaled her comprehension and she backed up too quickly, tripping on a pile of discarded clothing.  Her back hit flat on the carpet and she wanted to giggle, but instead cringed from the muted thud and small pain.

She pulled herself up onto her elbows, yelping as two sets of golden eyes glared at her from the mattress above.

“Um…hi guys.”

~Part: 13~

"I'll.ah.just be going."  Willow tried scrambling to her feet, but in her rush she tangled in the clothes and tripped again.  It was truly embarrassing and she was amazed that she hadn't died from it.

Spike took pity and moved to help her, more of his pale flesh coming into view in the dim lighting.

"No!  No.stay there."  She closed her eyes and counted to five, sure that she would never last till ten.  <I AM gay, right?>

Angel and his childe observed her theatrics, amused.  She opened her eyes, but did not dare look up.  Spike instinctively moved closer to the brunette as Angel's fingers danced along the base of his spine.

"Okay, I'm going now."  Somewhere in the back of her mind she contemplated this recent and unfamiliar clumsiness.  Methodically, she took the jeans, shirt and boots and placed them far enough away not to be a danger and carefully rolled to the side and onto her knees, giving the vampires a pristine view of her panty clad behind.

Angel had a ridiculous urge to slap her round little buns, and grinned stupidly at the imagined reaction.  Spike, on the other hand, was nowhere near as good at controlling his impulsive nature.  Smelling her arousal and seeing the wet patch darkening the center of her panties proved to be more temptation than he was willing to ignore.  With demonic speed he leaned over before she maneuvered her feet under her and embraced her from behind, pulling her to the bed until he was flat on his back with a wiggling, shrieking Willow laying on top of his naked body.  The thought sunk into her mind that he was pleasingly cool to her searing flesh.   His mouth brushed her ear and she froze when he spoke, low and lethal.

"You're a naughty girl, Red.  Barging in like that, smelling like you smell, looking like you look."

Angel was just as shocked as the redhead, but quickly warmed to the game Spike wanted to play, ignoring the soul in favor of the demon, for a nice change.

"What? Naughty?  Me?  I'm not. I didn't.There was screaming a-and I was worried."  She felt silly looking at the ceiling as she denied the accusation and protested her treatment.

"Did you like what you saw?"  Angel this time and the dual assault of a vampire in each ear brought a flood of juices to her center.  She crossed her legs, seeking friction to ease what was building within her.

"Goddess." she cried as Angel's fingers ghosted over her trembling thighs, pulling them apart again.  Her eyes drifted shut and the high took affect once more.  It was never really gone, but now she felt it coming back anew.   She wondered how long it would be before she came down and thought to compliment the blonde vampire on his supplier.  Fingers tracing the edges of her underwear brought her back to the present.

"You want it, don't you?  So bloody ready for it."  Spike rubbed the damp spot on the sensible cotton bikini briefs that corresponded to her dripping core, his mouth watering to taste her.  She whimpered when he moved on.

She could only manage the delicate process of heavy breathing while cool, talented hands cupped her breasts through thin fabric, stroking lazily to the point of her nipples where they circled slowly.  In no rush.  Another set of hands lifted up her bedshirt to expose the hot flesh underneath.  She raised her arms over her head to assist in removing the garment.  She wanted to be as naked as they were.

Both of them.

Vampires.

Naked.

As in no clothes and having all kinds of kinky sex in just a few minutes naked.

Her arms slammed to her sides and she jerked her shirt down, ending the slow seduction of Willow.

"I.Guys.I can't do this."  Spike helped push her to a sitting position and she scooted off of him, swiftly but not in a panic.  "I want to. I mean Goddess, you're hot."

They watched as she stood and backed away, careful not to trip. "I'm sorry for bursting in."

"No worries, my naughty girl. I owe you a spanking.  We'll just settle up later, then."

She spun around, redder than he'd ever seen her, and ran from the room.

~~~*~~~

Spike woke up and laughed, immediately remembering the look on Willow's face when she bolted.   He and Angel had fallen asleep only minutes after her comically hasty departure and had been asleep all day.  Not needing a clock he knew it was close to five and wondered why the redhead had not come to wake him.  Well, he knew why, but still.he had wanted to spend the afternoon teasing and, with any luck, tasting her.

He untangled his limbs from his sire's.  Angelus had always slept with him or Dru practically chained to him.  With William it was to keep him from getting into trouble while the family slept since the childe inevitably rose first.  Consequently, the younger vampire had learned how to extract himself from the sometimes crushing embrace of his sire and find the trouble he was supposed to avoid.

Today's trouble was spelled W-i-l-l-o-w.

He stood and stretched, feeling Angel's mark on his neck as the skin was pulled taunt.   He ached pleasantly inside and wondered how long this truce would last before they started fighting again.

"I'm not asleep, you know."

Unfazed, the blonde bent over to pick up his pants.  He was intent on having a smoke and a shower very soon.

"And is that your amazing feat for the day, Peaches?  Waking up?"

"Heh.very funny Spike.   And why is it that Willow didn't come wake you up?"

"YOU scared her off last night, trying to strip the girl too soon.  Let me lead next time, okay?  I know her."

Angel sighed.  "Should we be doing this at all, Spike?  With her I mean?"  He added quickly before his childe took it the wrong way.  He had an uncanny ability to do that.

He shrugged.  "She's an adult, a very powerful witch, and nowhere near as naïve as you like to think.  Her and that chit, Kennedy, were never quiet enough for my hearing.  Red's quite the screamer."

"That's not the point.  I think we're confusing her.  And .I'm not all that anxious to share you."  He glanced over at the fully dressed demon who was scowling at him.  "Yet."

"I'm your childe, Angelus, always, but I'm not a fledge anymore.  If I want to take the girl to bed, I'll do it and I won't ask your permission."

Angel felt very growly about that, repressing the desire to grab his boy and fuck him into the ugly blue carpet until he submitted to him.  The humans were awake and Spike would pitch a fit, bringing them running.  And of course they would see him as the bad guy, not Spike.  Which would be correct, more or less, because exactly how much at fault could you really be with a cock up your ass?

He decided to save that little treat for later and temporarily ignore his insolence.  But he was keeping score.  They would have alone time eventually.

"I'm sleeping in unless they need me."  He turned over and snuggled into the sheets, hunting in vain for a little warmth from Spike's vacant spot.

~~~*~~~

The scent hit him before he saw them.  Both girls were stretched out lazily, doing each other while moving slowly to the music.  The Smashing Pumpkins - one of his CDs, he noted.

"Hey.who's gonna do me?"  He questioned.

Two sets of wide eyes smiled up at him.   "I'm so ready to do you, Spike.  Right after Willow finishes me up, okay?"

He nodded and sat between them, watching each stroke.  They both were good.  He crossed his legs Indian style and picked up a file, shaping his nails as Drusilla had taught him.

"Is there any black?  Mine is in the soddin' RV and it's still light out."

Willow finished the last toe, blowing on the seer's foot while she answered.  "Yeah, we got it earlier.  Cordy already declared that you needed a manicure most of all.  The Big Bad without his polish is like the Pope without that hat.  Or the Pope-mobile, with the cute little bubble and him waving to everyone."  She scowled and stuck her tongue out at his blank stare.

"Careful, luv.  I've got plans for that little pink tongue of yours."

"Alllll righty then.  Spike, your turn.  Come here.  Sit."  Cordelia did not intend to sit idly by and listen to them flirt.

He did as instructed, handing her the file.

"So.just your fingernails?  I can give a you handjob and a footjob as well."  She smiled as his blue eyes widened and Willow's green eyes narrowed.  She could flirt with the best of them.

~~~*~~~

"What do you think?"

Kyle asked as he sat on a rock high above the freeway.   The bridge, Carquinez, stood behind them, a massive effort of iron and steel.

"I'm not picking up much.  Just that she's closer.  She's not using magic. Or she's not drawing upon the earth for power."   She was next to him, using a stick to draw random symbols in the dirt until she thought better of it and scratched them out quickly, lest a spell be cast accidentally.

He listened and frowned.  "How can she do that?"

"Stronger than me."  She shrugged.  "Has power inside her, but it gets tapped out so she'll need to recharge.  But that can't be detected from a distance.  She's hiding."

Kyle nodded.   If the other one was stronger than their witch, he definitely wanted to find her.  His family, the people with him now, they were what was important.  He would do anything to protect them.

"Are you sure you can trust her?"

"No, I'm not.  She went pretty bad for a while, but got it together with the help of her friends.  But I think they're all dead now.  She could be with demons now. Captive or captor?  That is the question."

He glanced down at the children playing in the abandoned road and smiled ruefully.  This stretch of highway had once extended across the country, from coast to coast.  Now it was just rubble, like everything else that was familiar and comforting and home.  He envisioned reclaiming and rebuilding their world, snatching it from the dead claws of the vile creatures that rose from Hell and stole it.

"So we find her.  Then what?  I don't want the children in danger."

"When we get close, I'll do a spell to see what's around her."  She squinted into the late afternoon sunlight, the wind whipping her hair so that it danced, lovingly, around her face.  He imagined her ethereal.  "She may be alone, but I doubt it."

~Part: 14~

Angel cuffed him on the back of his head.  It was one of those ridiculous things Angelus had done as a warning, a precursor to a severe beating if it went unheeded.  The blonde's immediate and instinctive reaction was, therefore, understandable.

"Oi, wanker, what the bloody hell did I do now?"  He rubbed the not-so-hurt spot angrily, pleased, but surprised, when Willow took over for him.  Her caresses were delicate and soothing and would have been useless had he really been injured.  That not being the case, they just felt.nice.

He had been lying across the sofa on his stomach, his head in Willow's lap, his senses swimming with her presence, while his right hand was not his anymore.  It belonged to Cordelia as she carefully applied a second coat of black polish to wickedly sharp, yet blunt nails.

"Get up.we need to talk."

The blonde twisted his neck to get a better view and Willow stopped her ministrations.   He glared at Angel, speaking slowly and clearly.

"I'm busy."

"He is not leaving until I'm done and these are dry.  Do you know how impossible it was to soften his cuticles?"  She asked, blowing on them to assist in drying quickly.

"What?"  He stared blankly at the seer who only shooed him away.  Spike grinned, but would not give Angel eye contact.  He would pay for it later.  He was counting on it.

"When you're both done fawning over his royal highness, please let me know.  I'm going to find Giles."

"They're gone."  Willow chimed in.  "Went looking for the study room.  Every dorm has one.  I guess they need to study?"  She ended and took up massaging the vampire's sore spot again.

"Thanks."

He spun on his heels quickly and left the apartment in search of the watchers.

"What was that about?"  She asked as she lifted his hand, taking a finger and licking the nail.

"Nothing.Angel's just a bit demony today and wants to take it out on me.  And are you feeling kinky?  What's with the licking?"

"Shut up."  She huffed with no venom. "I can tell if the nail is dry by how much I can taste of the polish."  She dropped his hand.  "You're dry... Turn over so I can do the other."

"If I let you do my feet, you plan on testing the dryness then?"

~~~*~~~

They were all over him.  Touching him and caressing him.

Stomping past the breezeway between the two structures, Angel following the senses that were leading him to his prey.  He supposed that prey was not a politically correct term for the two humans that he sought, but his demon did not agree.  At the moment the demon was not agreeable to much, other than that Spike was his and no one else should be touching him without Angel's consent.

The fact that the blonde was very aware of what was bothering him and did nothing to change the situation infuriated the older vampire.  He could not just snatch him up and away from them either.  Cordelia would squawk.  Although he still had unresolved anger about her and Connor, he was not up for a battle with the seer over this.  He did not want to contemplate what Willow would do if she thought he would hurt Spike.  And he planned on hurting him.

Rounding a corner, he climbed the cement stairs to the second floor and once at the top he headed to his right, which took him even further from the apartment side and deeper into the suites.  Almost halfway down the walkway he stopped in front of a door.  Two hearts beat behind it, the muffled conversation of the humans those hearts belonged to was easily heard.  He smiled. It was damned good to be a vampire.  This was a belief that was a long time coming after the soul, but now he honestly reveled in his preternatural powers without guilt.  To him it was but another indication of the soul and demon accepting each other.

He knocked lightly before entering, not because he needed to, but to avoid startling the pair.

"Angel.  Hello.  Did you sleep well?"   Wesley inquired, his eyes filled with their usual reserved compassion and concern for his friend.

Suddenly they were not prey anymore.

"Yeah.better than I have in a long time."  He did not mention the why.   "Giles."  He greeted the man that he had once tortured gleefully.  Angelus still looked upon that day fondly and it was hard for Angel to disassociate from the demon's emotions.  He had respect for Buffy's watcher, to be sure.  He kept the petite blonde alive so much longer than could be expected and is perhaps the most legendary watcher because of it. Yet Angel also felt a vague threat from the man, always subtle, but real nonetheless.  He, unlike Wesley, was unwilling to ever fully trust the vampire.  This reservation did not anger Angel, in fact it added to the demon's opinion of the human.  It was just something he wanted to discuss with his childe later.  Spike spent a great deal of time with the man and would have insight into his psyche and quite possibly an emotional attachment.  Angel needed to know where the blonde's loyalty lay.  They needed to be in agreement on certain matters.

"Angel, we found that there are data ports here.  Perhaps they still work and Willow can get on the internet."

"Hmmm.I better send her over then.  It would be nice to find out what's going on in the world."

Happy to have a legitimate reason for interrupted the pamper-Spike pleasure party, he fled the room.

~~~*~~~

Willow and Cordelia were gone, headed to the study room, each with an armful of computer equipment.   Spike watched as his sire easily manipulated both girls, playing on Willow's love of technology and Cordelia's love of self.  Now he was decidedly alone with said sire, who was looking too much like an angry, caged tiger for the blonde's liking.

The older vampire paced the small living room, agitated.   It grated on Spike's nerves as it was intended to do.  The blonde needed Angel to act or react, not angry contemplation.  He looked up from his perfectly manicured hands ready to mouth off and get things started and stopped.

"Did you like it?"

"Huh?"

"When they had their hands all over you.did you like it?"

Fuck.

This was some typical, life-with-a-new-childe, Angelus behavior.  His possessiveness knew no limits.  He had not suffered even Darla touching his newest creation.  That he was behaving this way now certainly put a damper on Spike's plans for Willow.

"The seer can be a little rough with a bloke.  Under certain conditions, though, that might be inspiring."

Angel was upon him and had the blonde pinned to the couch within seconds.  "Don't mock me, boy.  I've had enough your insolence."  Spike, at the mercy of his astonishment, tried too late to fight back.  Angel had straddled him and held his powerful wrist firmly over the younger vampire's head. He could not buck his sire off of him so he did what he did best when cornered.  He glared.

"What's this then, Angelus?"

"This is about you remembering that you belong to me."  He voice was tainted with traces of the demon and although he still wore his human mask, the badness within him was bubbling under the surface.  He was so close that Spike could taste the malevolence like blood on his tongue.  It was delicious and something he should not want, but he did.  He wanted this version of Angelus.  Softened somewhat by the soul's presence, his sire was still in there, wicked and wonderful, just like the blonde.

He hoped Angel, after one hundred years of brooding, was finally and absolutely beyond the pain the soul inflicted.  Spike refused to wallow in his past sins as if he were sorry for them.  He was sorry now only because it hurt.  Once he decided to not allow it to hurt him anymore he got over it and now enjoyed the benefits his soul had to offer.

It allowed him a freedom.  He was free to know the humans in life that he chose to be his, instead of just through the blood.  He was free to make a choice and if he killed it would be his choice and he would not regret it.  The soul gave him options to control the demon.

Right now, he chose to tamp down the demon that wanted to rise and challenge his sire.

"And you think I've forgotten?  I wear it, Angel."  He tilted his head, exposing the pale expanse of his throat.  "I'm not hiding the mark.  I smell you all over me and it's a good thing.  Why are you so faithless?"

Sighing, the brunette sat back on his haunches, releasing his hold on his childe.  He ran a tired hand through his ungelled hair, frowning.  "I'm not.  I just.I'm tired and I need to know that you're with me, no matter what."

"I'll stand by you Angel.  But what's brought this on?"

"Nothing!  Everything!  I'm responsible for these people."  He laughed bitterly. ".and I don't really know what I'm doing here, Spike.  We're trekking across the country like it's a fucking vacation to get to the enemy's safe house.  We're demons for Christ's sake!"

"I had noticed.  And is that a paradox?"

He received the obligatory scowl as Angel continued.  "This," he fingered the claim lovingly as Spike squirmed beneath him. "You are all that matters to me now.  I love them.well not Giles, but I really like and respect him.but I'll choose you over them.  Remember that."

~~~*~~~

The front door burst open and Wesley skidded to a halt.  Angel sat back, rather relaxed and amused at the ex-watcher's discomfort.

"Oh.um.  I didn't realize it was playtime for the undead."  He recovered his wits pretty quickly these days which said something about the situations to which he continuously found himself exposed.

Spike thrust his hips and Angel rolled his eyes and lifted off of him to stand.  Wesley was more amazed at how unconcerned his friend was about being found in a compromising position than he was by the compromising position itself.

"So I take it you came to tell us something?"  Spike pulled himself up to sit as he looked for his cigarettes.  He was certain he had left them on the coffee table, but they were nowhere to be seen.

"Yes, Willow seems to have found a site with a live chat.  You both should come."

"I was trying."  Angel mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing.Spike what are you doing?"  He frowned watching the blonde demon toss the sofa cushions to the floor.  Irritated blue eyes narrowed as they tracked Angel's movement.

"Have you seen my smokes?"

~Part: 15~

The room was quiet at the moment.  There was not even the quiet hum of the air conditioner because no one had thought to flip the little dial on the wall.  Willow was seated in the middle of a long table, a bead of sweat making its journey from her temple to the spot below her ear, with the laptop in front of her.  To the left lounged Cordelia.  Her interest had been piqued once contact with other people had been made, otherwise she remain uninvolved.  Giles stood behind the redhead, still not comfortable with the technology of the times, but absolutely willing to use it and whoever wielded its power whenever it was needed.   The light tapping of her thin fingers was punctuated by questions or comments tossed to the redhead by her companions.

There was a group of six people in Portland, trapped in the downtown area due to the abandoned cars and debris that littered the streets.  It struck Willow as odd that they just did not pack up and walk out until they could find clear roads.  She continued typing as she glanced up at the vampires who had made an entrance with Wesley.

"Hey guys...so far we have people in Rio Vista, Portland, Arcadia and a place call Swayback in Kansas."

"So what's it like in their neck of the woods?"  Spike asked, leaning over her and smelling her hair as he scanned the screen.  He picked up faint traces of the shampoo they all had been sharing and a good amount of marijuana.  He hid his smile.  Angel wanted to elbow him, but again there were too many humans that would take offense over what they would consider an unprovoked, blatant attack on the blonde.  Sometimes the soul did indeed suck.

Willow was unaware of Spike's attentions or Angel's envy.  She was in her element and happy to have something productive to do.  Sitting around talking and making plans was okay, but not exciting.  Living the life she had on the Hellmouth had her spoiled.  Normal things were, by comparison, boring. Getting in contact with others; finding out that there really were others, made her giddy.

"Well," She turned her face upward to speak to him, suddenly very aware of his closeness.  She licked her lips and kept eye contact for a few seconds before dropped her gaze back to the monitor.  "These guys in Portland had a hard time.  Demons have wiped everybody out and they are low on food.  They are stuck because of cars and garbage blocking the streets. Giles was saying we could maybe go get them."

Spike yearned to kiss her, devour her, but the moment was gone.  The astonishment of the humans would have been second only to Angel's rage.  He wished he had done it, if only for the entertainment value. He hadn't seen Passions in weeks.  A volatile Peaches made for a suitable substitute.

"Portland is a bit out of the way, don't you think?"  Spike asked as he pulled away from the scent of her and stood, facing Giles.  "And who are they that we need to go fetch them?"

Angel watched carefully, trying to pick up on the dynamics of the relationship between his childe and the watcher through this interaction.  He had been inattentive before, but than was then.

Giles tore his glasses from his face and began to polish them.  "It's not that they are anyone of particular importance, they just seem to be in a fix and will die if they don't leave.

"Hmmm.they'll die anyway.  Humans always do."

Willow gasped, slapping his arm.  He moved away quickly, feigning a pout.

"Spike, don't be a complete prat.  The idea is to die of natural causes."

"What's unnatural about starving?"  When Giles only glowered at him he rolled his eyes.  No one would fight with him today and his sire was determined to cock block him with regard to Willow.  "We're not going to Portland.  It's too far and could be a bloody trap."

Angel had already let that thought make a home in his mind and determined that he would not back any plan which involved them actively going to find anyone.

"Why don't they just walk?"

Willow slowly looked up, her typing coming to a halt, as Angel gave voice to what nagged at her.

"You said they were trapped because of cars and debris not some demons running around making it impossible to leave."  He faced Willow as he spoke.  "So why don't they just walk out?  They'd come across a car within a day, easy."

He looked around to find confusion and understanding blended in equal measure over everyone's face.  All except Spike and Willow.  Spike looked unaffected, as if he had already gone over this mentally and moved on to the next thing that interested him.  Willow's expression was more one of anger, tinged with betrayal.  Computers were her power.well, one of them.but she was now having to second guess information and people.  It was not the first time, but it seemed like this was when it mattered most.  There was no other way to know what went on in the rest of the world.  That someone could be feeding them false information in hopes of what, she was not sure, weighed heavily on her.  It took away her previous feeling of euphoria, leaving resentment.  She looked at Spike, knowing that she would seek him out later.

Angel saw the fleeting glance and wondered what it meant.  He intended to keep an eye on those two.  They had their secrets.

"So what should we do?"  She asked.

"We don't give away our position or destination.  Tell them to walk out and find a car, then food.  They can IM once they've found a safe place.  Somewhere off the beaten path.  That's all I want you telling any of them.  Don't give any names out."

Giles was about to protest when Wesley stayed him with a hand on his elbow.  The younger watcher knew Angel.  The vampire was not telling them everything.  He would eventually once it was sorted out, but arguing about it now would prove useless.  He was also aware of the more demonic traces in the vampire's attitude.  Wesley had attributed it to Spike's presence.  The blonde's influence on the vampire cut both ways so Wesley accepted him without question.  Later, when Angel was alone, they would talk.

~~~*~~~

The hot water soothed her nerves, frazzled as they were.  Hours of sitting and typing played across her spine as the tension fused itself into her muscles.  The result of all that chatting was that all those she managed to contact today would try to contact any others they had spoken to online and get them to meet in a private chatroom that Willow set up tomorrow evening at 8 o'clock.

The Jacuzzi had been Spike's idea.   When exploring the place upon arrival they discovered that each building had a pool and Jacuzzi, but no one made much of a fuss over it at the time.  Now she basked in the luxury of it, knowing these types of comforts would not be around for long.

Feeling him, she turned to see the blonde slip gracefully into the pool.  He dove from the side instead of the board, cutting through the water at an angle that produced almost no splash or sound.  Even in the water he was stealth.  From where she sat she could see him doing laps underwater.  He arrived at the opposite end of the pool and turned, pushing off slightly, yet the power contained in his compact frame propelled him over halfway across before he began to actually swim again.  He changed directions suddenly and reminded her of the sharks she saw on that nature channel.  In effect he was a shark, he and Angel, and the people were the fishies.  No matter how big and bad humans thought they were, the sharks were still there, scenting them, waiting for them to screw up.

He leaped up, breaking the water's surface and landed cat-like and predatory on his feet.  She rolled her eyes because it startled her.  He was sometimes too quick and that would always be his trump over magic.  Spells, even at her level, took time.  Some only seconds, but he was capable of subduing her before she uttered a sound.  He knew that, yet refrained from flaunting it since having the chip removed.  He usually moved at slow enough speeds to be seen easily by humans.  Tonight he was just showing off.  Showing off in just a pair of boxers.

No one had a proper bathing suit, except perhaps Cordy, but Willow was did not want to ask her.  She and Spike had slipped away unnoticed.  Angel and Wesley were going over a map trying to decide on a place to encourage everyone they would chat with tomorrow to gather.    The bra and boy short panties were all she could come up.

"How's the water?"

"Nice.  Not cold."  He stepped into the hot water, hissing as his body made the adjustment to the change in temperature.  "This is good."

"Feels wonderful."  She sighed.

"Come here," he instructed as he guided her between his legs and a step lower.  The water was now up to her neck.  He swept her wet red tresses to the left and over her shoulder to hang over one breast, revealing the pale expanse of her back to him.  His hands were still cool to her skin, but it was a welcome change from the heat, as he began massaging the muscle beneath.  The spray of freckles was distracting, pleasantly so, as he mused over tasting her flesh, lining his fangs up and sliding into the small tan dots.  He groaned, shaking away the face of his demon, and leaned over to whisper in her ear.

"How's that feel?"

"Mmmm.feels good. I'm all floaty."  Her brain was taking a little vacation, the heat and his hands lulling her.  It was like being high, but better.  He was better.

"Float away, luv.  I've got you."  He shifted so that her hips and ass were pressed into his groin, giving him better access to all her parts as his massaging became all encompassing.

She shuddered a bit, feeling his erection.  She had assumed it was there, but having it pressed against her was reassuring and frightening.  She was going to do this, whatever Spike had planned, and that scared her as much as it took her breath away.

He abandoned her shoulders, his pale hands sneaking around to brush over her breast.  The silk of the bra felt strange as his fingers played with her under the water and her nipples pebbled instantly.  A moan fell from her lips when she felt his mouth on her shoulder.  He was cool, but not as cool as last night.

"Spike.what are we doing?"  She gasped as the bra was torn from her skin and now floated in the water.

"Wanna taste you."  His voice, already beautifully deep, was husky and thick.  He turned her around, her movements buoyant and fluid, and she saw him.  The desire he had for her gave shadow to his normally ice blue eyes, making them dark like sapphires.

Then he was gone, below the water, and the tug on her panties provided proof of his intentions.  She lifted her slim hips, hoping he would not tear the garment anyway.  Fortunately, he only pulled them down her creamy legs.  They joined her discarded bra in the water, shifting violently where the air rushed in and formed bubbles.  His roaming fingers found her cunt, making her walls clench and ache for him to fill her.  It was such a foreign concept, but she was absolutely certain that she wanted everything the vampire had to offer and she braced herself, placing her arms flat against the tile that rimmed the hot tub, palms down.

This was happening.this was Spike.

It was a mantra in her head, becoming jumbled as his tongue joined the games.  She tried to keep quiet, not wanting the cavalry to come running.  She had no intention of allowing anyone to save her.  He licked and sucked at her clit, flicking it with his tongue once it was swollen and ripe for his attention.  Quickly, it became too sensitive and she cried out despite her resolve, her hand finding blonde locks and pulling him up to her mouth.  His eyes were hooded, the chlorination caused him no discomfort, not even the need to blink and he kissed her. It was hungry.  Dark and deadly, filled with sinful promise, and everything she had always wanted. She tasted her juices mixed with the taste of the water and something uniquely Spike.

"You are a wicked thing."  She laughed.

He was delicious, something to be savored.  She caressed his cheeks with her warm palms before plunging into his mouth and chasing his tongue with her own.  There was a deep vibrating sensation and Willow recognized it as a growl.  She pulled back and opened her green eyes, trying to will her heart to be quiet.  This was Spike.

He stared over her shoulder, tense.  She twisted to find herself face to face with Angel.  She yelped and clung to the blonde pressing her breast against him.  Her arms trembled around his neck as he caressed her naked back soothingly.  The older vampire was sitting Indian-style, unmindful of the water that escaped the hot tub and soaked his trousers.  His fingers were steepled and he seemed thoughtful, so she relaxed.

Spike knew better.  This was Angelus.

~Part: 16~

"Sire."  Spike's goal was to diffuse the situation.  A little submission was worth a try.

Angel did not look up from his hands.  The blonde could see the brunette's nose flaring as he picked up their scent, like the hunter that he was.  Angel would not hurt Willow, not physically at least, but the demon was running the show for the moment, apparently with the soul's consent.

The redhead had her own version of spider senses.  It was not as keen or telling as Buffy's had been, nor as accurate and invading as the vampire's, but it worked for her.  Enough so that she was all too in tune to Spike.  He was thrumming with iniquitous energy and it melted into her as they embraced, tempting her to ignore Angel's presence altogether and insist that Spike fuck her.  She refrained because it was just bad manners and whorish.  So she let her head fall back with a sigh and locked eyes with the original souled vampire.

"What?"

The brunette looked confused, eyebrows lifted so that his forehead did that scrunchy thing that Buffy had loved so much.   When he did not answer her small, but demanding question, she repeated it, twisting away from Spike and frowning when the blonde tried to put her behind him.

"Spike needs to come with me."  He finally replied and stood to leave, disregarding the look of disbelief she wore. "Now."  In his mind the matter was closed and his childe should be following him.

Spike glanced up at the demon. There was no doubt in his mind that his sire was completely brassed off and horny.  That made for a delectable combination, one that he had never been able to resist and it seemed to hold true today.  His insanely stupid cock pulsed and twitched and it had nothing to do with the witch that he still caressed.  He wanted her, but his blood called out for his sire.  It was his reason for existing and undeniable in its intensity.  He belonged to the vampire before him.  Angel knew this and was playing him.  But the blonde had not spent a hundred years on his own and learned nothing of self-control, despite what the Scoobies had believed.

"Not going anywhere for a while yet, Angelus."

"Spike.I mean it."  He barely held in the growl that bubbled beneath his calm façade.

"What do you need?  Is there some emergency?  Are we being attacked?"  She planted her hand on her hips and waited.

"Uh.no.  I just. he needs to come with me.  We have some things to settle."

"Like who he can and can't have sex with?"   A previously non-existent wind picked up and focused only on her.

"Uh, Red?"

"It's between me and him, Willow."  Angel did growl the words this time.

"Noooo, you're between me and him."  Her eyes became darkened orbs, like coal harboring bits of diamond.

The brunette took a step back, giving ground unintentionally.  It appeared that Angelus was not prepared to face off an equally angry and horny witch.

"Willow!"  Spike grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to him roughly.  Although Angel was being an utter prick, he did not want her accidentally dusting him.

She pulled away and he let her, "I'm fine," she mumbled, her green eyes once again inviting and wide.

"I know he's a bit overbearing, but I need him.  I belong to him.  It's just been a while and the sod's extra possessive."

She nodded in understanding and shifted in the water, her eyes on his sire.

"What is it about him that you can't share now?  You ignored him for years.  I did too, but I didn't make him into a demon.you did."

Angel tilted his head, studying her.  She saw the tension melt away as something clicked in his mind.  "Once you have him, you'll understand."

The two near lovers watched his impressive frame as he disappeared into the breezeway.

~~~*~~~

"I lost it!  Damn!"

They were in a place called Dixon.  There was an old produce market off the highway.  The children found bags of spiced nuts and dried fruit that were edible and were off playing in the parking lot.  Kyle grabbed her hand and squeezed it.  The desired effect was achieved as she relaxed and smiled.

Willow was close. That much she knew for sure. The flare-like blast of power lasted only seconds, but it was enough.

"So what happens now?"  He was so new to magic and the supernatural.  She stifled a grin.  He wanted everything to have an instruction manual.  A  To Do list would have pleased him as well.  In that respect he was a typical male.

"Now we do a locator spell."

She did a happy gallop to the bus and rummaged through her small stash of ingredients, handing him the items she needed.  "Where's the map?"

"Celeste was navigating."  He called out to the woman in question.  She came quickly.

"Where's the map?" He asked.  It was rare that she spoke to the others.  The children got hugs and kisses and, but no one got much in the way of conversation.  Kyle was better at dealing with them and keeping them in line.  They were not an unruly bunch or even rebellious, but given time and enough fear all things were possible.  If that occurred her voice would have that much more power over them when she finally used it.

The golden haired girl produced the folded document from a pack pocket and slapped it playfully into Kyle's palm, before flouncing back to watch the kids and eat more of the dried apricots.  He tracked her with his eyes, until a tree blocked his view.

The witch was looking at him.

"What?"

"You like her."

"I.I suppose.  Not a good time for romance."

"Anytime is a good time for romance."  She laid out the map and sat in front of it at its bottom, making sure the map's north was aligned with the earth's.  "Here.place these candles evenly in a circle around me and the map."

He did as instructed and lit the candles when told.  She said a few words in Latin and tossed a handful of sparkling dust over the map.  The candles flickered and then extinguished as the map began to glow in several spots.

"See this. this is us."  She pointed to a tiny dot of the dust lit up right next to the black dot designating the town of Dixon.  "And there is Willow."

This dot was much bigger and was surrounded by five more dots, two yellow, like Willow's, two red indicating a demon and one was a bluish color.

"So she's in Davis.  It's only a few miles from here."

"I know."

"What are the other colors for?"

"Two other's that are witches and two demons are with her.  I don't know what that blue thing means."

"Demons.  So she's evil then."

"Maybe.they may have taken her by force and that's why she's not been using magic.  She can't."   There were a few breed of demon that she knew were harmless and peaceful.  She could not rule that out.

"What about other demon's?  Why aren't they showing up on the map?"

"That means this is a clean area.  I only did a localized spell since I knew she was close.  No need to burn out my energy and I'd rather not call on the elements for power, probably for the same reason she won't."

"What are we gonna do?"

"We're gonna be careful."  She smirked.

~~~*~~~

"Well now I feel bad."  Willow pouted.

"Don't.  He was being a soddin' wanker.  He knows how I feel.he can sense it through the bond and it's damned annoying.  And he knows I'm not his little baby vampire anymore either.  It's up to him to come to terms with that.  Not me and certainly not you."

She gazed at him appreciatively.  "Oh you are wise beyond your years, grasshopper."

"Loved that show.Dru used to watch it for the sunrise in the credits.  She missed the sun." His expression was whimsical and far away.

"What about you?  Do you miss the sun?"

"No.never had much use for it when I was alive.  Although, I did enjoy kicking slayer ass in the sunshine.  That was just neat."

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be all sad and broody about the stuff you did?"  She joked.

"Nah," He kissed her shoulder.  "I have fond memories of those times.  Just like I'm making new fond memories right now."  She tilted her head back to lay against his chest.  "'Sides.it's something about being close to him.Angel.that makes me calm, fills me up where I had emptiness.  I missed that much more than I ever will the sun."

He'd said more than he had meant to say.  For the entire time that she knew him, he was spouting his hatred and disdain for Angel.  He had even gone so far as to change his siring to Dru.   A tiny smile played on his lips when I recalled Angel's reaction to that.

"So.How about we get out of here before you become a prune?"  He stepped out easily, reaching back to assist her.

"I guess the mood is kinda ruined, huh?"

She said the silliest things.

"Not at all.I'm thinking we need to go find Angel."  He wiggled his eyebrows, leering at her.   "Ask him to join us."

Soul or no soul he really was a wicked thing.

~Part: 17~

When they caught up with Angel he had recently left the apartment where Cordelia and Wesley were preparing dinner.  All of the food they found in the store room had been consumed save one huge box of instant mashed potatoes.  Wes went to the RV earlier to retrieve a few cans of salmon and planned to mix the fish with the mashed potatoes to make salmon croquettes.

Angel had taken an inventory of the blood supply.  There was enough for him and Spike to feed normally for about three weeks.  Before then they would need to locate another supply.  That meant leaving this place soon.  He was already certain that the two days they spent so far were more than enough for resting and regrouping.  The need to hit the road made his fangs itch.  There was more wrong out there than these people understood.  The sooner they found a defendable safe house and weapons, the better their chances of long term survival.  He did not worry for himself or his childe.  Not much in this dimension was powerful enough to destroy either of them, especially since they were now on the same team.  He fretted over the humans that put their trust in him and Spike.  They were fragile and could easily be killed.  Willow was the only one who could truly hold her own in a battle.  He pondered this as he traversed the third floor walkway, on a patrol of sorts.

"Sire."

Angel turned quickly.  He did not expect to see them so soon.  From the smell of them, nothing more had happened.  He was not displeased.

"Will."  He wanted to apologize.  The boy had been on his own for so long and if he wanted to take a human lover then so be it.  But that was the soul talking.  The sire in him could not begin to understand him choosing the witch over him.  He sighed.  Even as he thought it he knew it was wrong.  Spike was not choosing anyone.  He was taking whatever he wanted, like the demon he was.  It did not weaken their bond.  He had to get over this and quickly.  He leaned over to his childe and whispered, unable and unwilling to resist brushing the fine down of his ear with moist lips. "I'm sorry I interrupted you earlier.it was rude."

Of course the tingling went straight to Spike's cock.  He swallowed and frowned. His sire did these things on purpose.  Two could play that game.

Spike grabbed him by the back of the head, pulling him close, and bit into the flesh of his neck.  He swallowed a mouthful of blood as he leaned away from him.  "It was rude not to offer her to you first.Sire."

Willow watched them, wide-eyed and disadvantaged.  She had no clue regarding what was being said and when Spike bit Angel she was sure that a fight was in the making.  The kiss that followed was more shocking than anything she had witnessed between them thus far.  It was tenderly possessive, never allowing doubt as to who owned whom, yet the aggressor exhibited a vulnerability that made her vision blurry.

Angel was touched and tempted, but Willow needed to belong to Spike alone.  The blonde would always feel insecure about her otherwise.

"Maybe later, Will.  She's yours, just as you're mine.  I'll share you today."

~~~*~~~

The suite must have been home to someone in a band.  Guitars and keyboards littered the living room.   Spike played around with a Fender while Willow picked through the drawers and closets for anything interesting.  She was finally getting the hang of the whole scavenging thing.

"So he turned us down, huh?" She shouted from inside a bedroom closet.  The findings had been slim at best, but it gave her something to do besides think of how she wanted him.

"Amazingly, yes.  Not like the poof gets much action."  Pouting, he tossed the guitar on the sofa and joined her in the bedroom.

"So was it a flat out no?"

"No. more like a 'you shag her like crazy now and I'll join you later' which is bloody stupid of him.  I might not be willing to share you later."

"I get to say whether I wanna be shared."  The closet lost its appeal.  Gazing at Spike was much more.stimulating.  She stood and dusted off the fabric at her knees.

He chuckled and sucked on his bottom lip, tilting his head.  "Are you sharing now.with me?"

Crooking her finger, she nodded.

His approach was slow and intentional and more than a little scary.  He was not chipped and the soul did not seem to work the same for him as it did for Angel.  He felt no need to be remorseful or redemptive.  Yet she did not back away.  She was a little scary herself.  He stopped an inch from her, leaning in and inhaling deeply.

"Bloody Hell, Red."  His left hand slipped into her hair, cradling her head as his mouth descended upon hers.  He tightened his grip on the red tresses until she whimpered into his mouth and he pulled away, gazing at her flushed face.

"Spike."

"The things I could teach you." His nose tickled her as it brushed against her neck, trailing behind cool lips that teased her throat with little bites that she felt in her cunt.  Her lashes fluttered as green eyes closed, all the better to feel what he was doing.

She was hot in his hands, a steamy little engine waiting for him to ride her hard.  He let his tongue linger on her collarbone, tasting her desire, need and just enough fear to please him.  Standing became a burden so he led her to the unmade bed and they tumbled to the mattress, coming apart only for a few seconds.  The short time that they were not touching seemed to fuel some insane craving for the other and they fell upon each other in a violent crash.

And he devoured her, consuming her whole, her soul not hers anymore, but his, shared.  Yet he did not share.  It was a taking and he was making her his.  He pulled away so that she could breathe when he realized that she would not and she cried out, lunging for him.  He stopped her, tiny wrists gently wrapped in powerful hands.

"What is this, Spike??"  Her words came in gasp-like breaths, her eyes wide and wild.

"Don't know.  Don't care."  He kissed her again, pushing her down flat on the bed.  She had changed from the wet bra and boy shorts and now wore denim capris and a purple tank top.  He tugged at the bottom of her shirt, inching it up slowly while his fingers danced over her flat belly.  She wiggled, afraid he would find a ticklish spot and exploit it, and then relaxed as he moved on to more interesting things further up her torso.

"Lift up."  She did, becoming bare to him from the waist up.  Once upon a time she would have crossed her arms to cover herself.  Kennedy cured her of that.  She wanted Spike to see her and she wanted to see him.

"Your turn."  Her voice was just a bit deeper, filled with lust, and it made his cock jump.  He pulled his shirt over his head quickly, tossing it to the floor, and stood to remove his jeans and boots before diving for a taunt nipple.  He sucked hard, laughing into her as her back arched and a moan was torn from her lips.

The scent of her filled the room, permeating him as well until he could smell nothing else.  Not that he wanted to smell anything other than the deadly little witch.  She was his sole purpose.  For now.  Later it would be Angelus.  He had no doubt that he would spend the day tomorrow resting and healing from what his sire planned to do to him.  A growl rumbled in his chest and he bent at the waist, grabbing the base of his dick to stop the flood that threatened.

It was insane.  His plan had been to fuck her for hours until she was raw inside and out, until she came and passed out again and again.  Yet he was sure he could not last more than two minutes inside of her.  It was emasculating and he wondered if she had worked a spell, but his senses told him no, and they rarely lied.

Her small hand caressing the velvety smoothness of his shaft brought him back to her.  He rolled off and lay on his back as she climbed on and straddled him.

"Take them off, luv."  She rolled over to one side and stayed on her knees, pushing the fabric past her hips and then off, one leg at a time.  They joined his clothing on the floor and she lifted her leg over his hips again, her wet lips sliding over his dick as she settled her weight on him.  His hand snuck out to play in her curls, periodically flicking her clit with a finger, smirking when she bucked into him.

Her fingers skipped lightly over his chest, drinking in his hardness.  He was like marble, tiny blue veins making him beautiful and complex.   He allowed her time to explore him as he would take his time getting to know every inch of her later.  He wondered if she understood and for a moment thought it unfair that he had not told her first, before this.  After she would be his, just as surely as they all had been, but he would keep her, but not forever.

At least not yet.

~~~*~~~

He had been driving all day and needed to rest.  Or crash into an abandoned car at 55 mph and end his loneliness.  The town was Vallejo and it was pretty large from what he could tell.  He pulled off the freeway and found a 7-Eleven.  They were open twenty-four hours now, or they were before the demons came, so he wondered why they still called it 7-Eleven.  Why not 24-Seven or something else ridiculous and equally catchy to the American people?

The store was unlocked.  He made his way through the toppled shelves and empty display cases until he got to a door.  He opened it and as presumed it was an office, with a small couch and a half bathroom.  No windows and a tightly sealed door guaranteed that he would be undetected in the imposing darkness. He turned on the faucet, sighing happily when he found that it still worked, then went back to the car and grabbed a small holdall and two empty water jugs.

The store itself was devoid of food, but there was soap and other toiletries.  He gathered a few necessities and placed them in his bag.  Through sheer luck he found an unopened undamaged package of chocolate Zingers and took them to the room to have for dinner along with a lot of water.just to fill up the empty spots.

He was not worried about food. He had a few snacks and some pears he found growing in a roadside orchard.  Rupert was close enough and what he had would last until he caught up to his old friend.

He shut the door leading to the store and turned on the lamp that sat on the small desk in the corner.  He tried the phone, no longer disappointed by the dead air.  He laughed briefly, wondering who he would call if it had been working.  He had Rupert's number in Sunnydale and was sure the watcher did not know that.  He was sure of a lot of things, just not how well he would be received by the other Brit.

He decided not to dwell on it.  He would deal with the man's doubts when faced with them.  Now was the time for him to get cleaned up, change clothes, eat his meager meal and get in a few hours sleep while this place was safe.

~~~*~~~

Her legs fell open, trembling and bruised, unable to stay wrapped around his form any longer.  He lifted her hips slightly, angling for her clit as her head fell back, resigned to the orgasm that he would inevitably wring from her shortly.

It had never been like this.  Not with Oz or Tara, who had been tender and reverent in their lovemaking, nor with Kennedy who was adventurous and bold.  Spike was sex.  Raw need, and she felt like an animal with him.  There was nothing he would not do to her and nothing she would not allow.

Willow had thought that she would be in control of their relationship.  Nothing was further from reality.  He ruled her.  She knew that now.  She also fancied that she understood Angel's perspective.

His mouth met hers and she moaned into it as he ground into her clit.  It turned into a scream when her walls clamped down on him again, the muscles fluttering around him as he continued to pound her small frame.

"Goddess." she muttered.  He was never going to stop and she wondered if she could die from this.

"You're the Goddess."  He began sucking on her throat as his hips continued their assault.  "Taste so good.eat you alive.eat you alive."

She came again, this time silently, but her body bucked, screaming in its own way.  Spike could smell her blood rushing past his lips, delicious and spiced with magic.  The demon slipped forward and he sank razor sharp elongated fangs into her flesh.  She screamed again, shock and fear, rushing into the mix of yet another soul splitting orgasm, and he came, gasping around the wound, sucking her essence into him.  He bit down deep enough to claim her, and the redhead lost consciousness.

~~~*~~~

There was cotton.in her mouth.  Her tongue was heavy and she had the vague impression that she had been doing drugs again.  Working her mouth to generate some saliva, she licked her lips, amazed how swollen they were.  Everything was swollen.  She was one huge mountain of sore.  Something cool behind her moved.Spike.  Her eyes flickered open. They were dry as well, and she had to again question whether she had been drinking or smoking.  His arm was draped across her tummy so she turned slowly.  He was still asleep, or appeared to be.  It was hard to tell and in the end it did not matter.  He gave the impression of being asleep either intentionally or truthfully.  Either way, she would treat him as if he were asleep.  Carefully she slipped from his loose grasp and went to stand.  Her legs buckled immediately and she sunk to the floor, her complete nudity an issue because of the dust that wanted to invade her most private of parts.

Gnawing on her bottom lip she attempted to stand again, this time aware of her limitations.  The bathroom was only a few feet away and she made it there gingerly.

She flipped the switch and leaned on the formica countertop for support as the fluorescent light flickered to life.   She glanced up and saw another girl in the room.  A redhead like herself, but this one sported scratches and bruises on her legs, arms, breasts and neck.   She also had an angry and deep bite on the right side of her throat.

She remembered him biting her.  It had hurt at first, mainly because she did not know it was coming so she tensed up incredibly.  Figuring he did that intentionally, to pump up her fear, she had relaxed a bit, enough to enjoy it before apparently passing out.  She was still alive and not of the fangy variety so everything was good.

Turning away from the mirror, she had seen enough of that creature, she bent over and turned on the tap with a squeak to run a bath.  She wanted to soak for a while.  The vampire had certainly had his way with her and she needed to recuperate so that he could do it again.

~Part: 18~

The water had begun to cool and after a few seconds of debating she twisted the hot water knob until a steady stream of heated liquid poured into the tub.  She removed the plug, letting some of the tepid water out before replacing it when the level was a little lower.

As it filled up, warming nicely, she sat back and relaxed, the porcelain above the water decidedly cold and familiar.  Part of her continued to deny what she had done, while that other voice, which was getting much more air play these days, spoke of nothing but more debauched and depraved things to do with the vampire.  She leaned up to turn the water off and winced, her back aching from the brutally sweet fucking.  Carefully, she twisted the handle and eased back to soak for a while.

She had planned to think, dissect and analyze all that had transpired between her and Spike.  She had no idea how he ended up between her legs, inside her body, squeezing her soul.  Well she knew exactly how, but not why.  She glanced to her right, looking for soap or shower gel and jumped back, nearly banging her head on the tiled wall to her left.

"Geez  Spike!"  She splashed water at him with her left hand, clutching at her heart with her right.  She had not heard him move, not even the mattress creak.  "What?"

His gaze was level, if not curious, as he leaned in the doorframe in perfectly nude splendor.  "Missed you.  Come back to bed."  His voice slid over her, commanding and possessive.

She nodded.  "Water's cooling again.  I'll be out in a minute, okay?"  She smiled up at him, unnerved by how intense he could be just standing there.  "You bit me."  It was a statement, not accusatory, yet packed with veiled interest.

"Yeah.about that."  He smiled sheepishly, running a hand through his wild blond curls.  She waited.  Patience was something the coven had taught her.  It helped her learn to deal with real life on its own terms without magical assistance.  "I won't say I didn't want to or didn't mean to, because I did."

"Which one?"  She leaned up, pulling at something, and lifted her arm from the water, bringing the stopper out with her hand.  He saw the scratches and bruises.  They swirled over her pale skin, red and purple.  Entranced, he wanted to make more.

"What?   Oh.uh both," he relied distractedly.  "Actually. I planned to do it."  Her eyes narrowed and he chuckled.  "Told you that already.  I just didn't turn you, is all."  He turned away, shaking his head as he headed back to the bed.  "Hurry on up then.  Need to shag you some more before Peaches comes looking for us."

~~~*~~~

It was not a large building, perhaps just three or four stories high, but it was large enough to provide hidden dangers.  It was dark and they did not dare use any lighting.  He glanced back at the bus parked down the street, as far away as they dared, and hoped that they would be safe.

"Don't worry."  She had already cast the protection spell for them.  If things turned out badly, she would do whatever necessary to get herself and Kyle back to the others safely.

"I can't help it.  These kids.they may be all that are left.  We've seen no one and are following your phantom witch, who, for all we know, may be consorting with the enemy."

"I won't let them get hurt, okay?"  She took the lead and marched up six stairs to the huge double-doored entrance.  Reluctantly, he trailed behind, not unconfident in her assessment, but naturally hesitant when approaching the unknown.

The door proved to be an easy obstacle to overcome.  It was unlocked and opened with a heavy creak.  She stepped over the threshold, extending her senses.  The wave of power, pushed her back in a springy motion.  It did not cause pain, yet shocked her nonetheless since she had not felt the magic there.

"Shit."

"What?"

"A ward.  A really good ward."

~~~*~~~

Her face was in a pillow, muffling her shouts and pleas, as he pounded into her from behind.  He was deep inside her, hitting bottom with every stroke, shattering her frame along with her mind.  She vaguely wondered if a human was meant to endure this before she came again, clutching at the air.

Spike slid out of her immediately and aimed higher, for virgin territory.  His cocked, slick from her juices, was pressed against the tight ring.  She tense quickly and shook her head, lifting her face.

"No."  She breathed, eyes full of desire and doubt..

"Yes," he countered, pushing in a fraction.  To his delight she squealed and tried to scoot away from him.  A firm hand and bruising hold halted her movements.

"Spiiiiike.. please don't."

He was nodding his head, but she could not see.  "Willow, I won't hurt you, luv."

She gasped as he pushed in another inch, trembling beneath him.  "I'm scared."

That made him smile and she did not need to see him to know it.  "I know and I appreciate it.  Now relax so I can make you come until you pass out."

A moan, part whimper, part grunt, slipped past her lips, which needed licking, as he progressed another inch.  His hand snuck around, deft fingers manipulating her clit, forcing her to relax certain muscles while others began tensing in preparation.  The head was in and the rest followed swiftly.

"Oh my God."  She chanted as the vampire closed his eyes, hoping for control.  She was hot and tight and it drove him crazy, being in her, but her body was only human and he had to take care.  If she could walk after tonight, he would be amazed at her recuperative powers.

He left her clit to slide three fingers inside her cunt.  Strong walls gripped him, clamping rhythmically as she fell over once more.  The waves extended to the muscles in her ass, fluttering around his cock, and he flooded her, his voice harsh and hoarse in her ear.

Too much.it was too much and she clawed at the mattress, wanting to be free of this sensory overload, wanting to drown in it as well.

"Shhhh."  He cooed, sliding out of her and turning them both.  She still trembled, aftershocks taking away her breath.  "You're okay...I've got you."

They lay together for a while.  Her panting was, at first, erratic, but that gave way to a deeper, measured breathing as her heart slowed to something like normal.  He brushed sweat soak hair from her face, stroking her skin as she drifted into sleep.

The knocking and shouting was distant and did not penetrate either ones conscious immediately.  Spike heard the noise eventually and came up from his light slumber slowly.  He nudged the redhead, but she was out of it.  The sound of wood splintering reached his sensitive ears and he heard the molecules screaming in protest.  Footsteps, running and more shouting; for him and Willow.

If he had not been sleepy, he might have been a little more prepared when the inevitable occurred.  As it was, he lay covering his sleeping consort, blinking at the astounded watcher who just burst in, frantic.

"You.dear Lord!"  Giles exclaimed, gawking at the naked couple.

"Not precisely, Rupert.  What's got you so riled?"

"Spike, if you've hurt her, I'll."

The vampire was standing before him in the time it took to blink.  "You'll what?"

His proximity and nudity were unsettling. He sighed.  "We don't have time for this.  Someone has crossed the ward.  Get her up.now!"

~~~*~~~

Giles waited in the living room while Willow dressed.  She had been mortified that he had found her and Spike naked and was now not speaking to the blond.  She was not angry with him.  She just needed to think and any interaction with the vampire made rational thought nearly impossible.  With a strange gait, she made her way to the bathroom.  She winced, her labia swollen and irritatingly sensitive, as she emptied her bladder.  The yelling between Spike and Giles had escalated, and she hurriedly splashed some water on her face before rushing out to stop the arguments progression.

"Hey!"

The two males turned to her, one very human, the other barely maintaining the facade.

"Where are the others?"

"At the Mexican standoff, of course," he quipped.

Curious, but unwilling to ask neither spoke as Giles led them to the lobby entrance, where his statement became self-explanatory.

Angel held a young man from behind, his arm a steel band restricting the human's breathing, his fangs grazing the boy's neck perilously.  While a young woman held Wesley suspended, magically, inflicting minor damage, albeit major pain on the ex-watcher.  Neither seemed ready to concede any ground.

"Amy?"

The blonde witch spun, startled, and nearly loosing her hold on the brunette.

"Willow.It's really you."  She spoke almost reverently with obscured sarcasm.

"Let him go, Amy."  The redhead demanded.

"Ah ah.not before the vampire lets Kyle go.  Hey.Is that Angel?"

"Yes, it's Angel.  Both of you stop before someone gets hurt!"  The black was bleeding into her eyes even as she rolled them.

All looked on as the intruder slumped to the floor, revealing Cordelia and a two-quart pot in her hand.  She smiled hugely, checking a nail for damage, and shrugged.

"There ya go.democracy, Cordelia style."

~Part: 19~

Kyle proved to be a handful.  He fought like a wild cat and while no one wanted to hurt the boy, Spike grew annoyed with the bloodless struggle and made the green-eyed blonde agreeable with a few swift and incapacitating blows.  Yet his spirit was far from broken and as he sat trussed rather nicely on a cheap, blue sofa, he spewed venom and threats that fell on bored ears.

"Oh, please!  Just stop!"  Cordy finally snapped.  Spike and Wesley had a bet on whether it would be the cheerleader or Giles.  Wesley won.  "We're not going to hurt her or you so shut up with the threats that you obviously don't have the means to back up!  You're giving me a headache."

"You hit her with a PAN!"  He yelled, the veins in his neck swelling up, much to Angel and Spike's mutual distraction.  Each glanced at the other smirking, and the brunette shrugged guiltlessly.

"It was a little pot," she defended, "and she was frying Wesley!  Did I mention my HEADACHE?"

"She had to!  Your demon was gonna eat me!"

"Pfft, he was not."  She waved her hand, dismissing the notion.  "You came here, uninvited, and he was protecting us.  We didn't know it was Amy."

"Amy."  That was her name.  She had never told them and he felt like he was privy to a secret.  He whispered it again.  It was a simple name, beautiful, yet unfitting for the one who saved his family and friends.

"Look," Willow interrupted.  He flinched and instinctively shrank back a bit.  "We're very sorry that Cordy knocked her out with the little pot, but I'm glad she can't do any harm.  The last time I saw Amy she cast a really bad spell on me that almost got me and a friend killed.  So I can't say that I trust her or that I'm even happy to see her.But we don't intend to hurt her.or anyone that isn't trying to hurt us."  She locked eyes with the young man, holding his gaze until he looked away and nodded his understanding.

"I need to go to the children."

Everyone froze.

"Children?"  Wesley asked, clearly hopeful.

"Yeah, and others, but we left them in a bus about a block back and they are alone out there."

"Spike, Wes, go with him and bring them here.  Park the bus in the lot."  The brunette vampire spoke to the boy as he untied the ropes.  "There is a lot of room.  How many are in your group?"

"Fifteen.nine kids."

He smiled glancing at the young blonde.  "I think we can handle that."

~~~*~~~

The vampire kept careful watch over the boy as they trekked down the blackened street.  He detected no duplicity in his intent and the human's heart remained steady.  Wake Forest Drive curved a bit, revealing a monstrosity.  It was a San Mateo county school bus, bright and yellow; and although it was much smaller than the motorhome, it exuded such a huge ugliness that it seemed much larger than it was.

Wesley glanced at Spike, who nodded impassively.  From within he heard a multitude of tiny heartbeats, dinner in another life when he was a different demon.  Kyle motioned for them to go first, but Wesley declined.

"Drop the ward or have them come out.

The boy narrowed his eyes.  "I don't know how.  She put it up to protect them."

"Sod this."  Spike took Kyle by the shoulder, squeezing him.  It was enough to hurt.  "Get your crew and your gear off the bus now and follow us back or stay out here.  It's no difference to me either way.  Wes.I'm heading back.  Since I am your eye and ears, I suggest you hurry along as well."

Kyle stared at the other blonde for a few seconds more before doing as told.  Spike was mentally counting to sixty and had every intention of leaving once the time was up.

~~~*~~~

"Your demon tried to abandon us."  The boy tattled to Willow upon his return as the vampire gave him the finger from behind, turning and leaving him in the room with the redhead.  Kyle was flushed and breathless.  Spike had set a brisk pace and offered no assistance in carrying their belongings.  He reclined on the stairs at the far end of the breezeway as far from the noise as possible.

"He is not my demon and he did not try to abandon you.  If he wanted to leave you, you'd have been left.  Now come on."  Angel and Giles had decided to put them in the two units next to their own.  More than that and they would be too scattered for safety.  She was able to find seven blankets and a few sheets.  Later she would check some of the other units for more linens.

"This is all we have for now.  Do you have food."

"Yeah, in those boxes.  That's it."

There was not much, considering the amount of people.

"When did you last eat?"

"Tonight.a produce stand had some nuts and dried fruit.  Everyone ate some and the rest are in one of the boxes."

"We have some powered milk for the kids.  I'll see what we can cook up for breakfast."  She turned to leave when his hand on her upper arm stopped her.

"You said he is not your demon.  Who's in charge here?"

She smiled at him, green to green.  "I'm not sure we have a leader exactly.  We all have a say in what happens.  But I guess Angel is more or less making the hard choices."

She watched as he processed that.

"And he is a demon, like the mouthy one."

She laughed.  "They're vampires.  They help us fight the other demons."

"Why?" "It's a choice."  She shrugged, looking away, not willing to say more.

"You're not like she said you would be."

She faced him again and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.  He was young, maybe nineteen.  She was not so much older that she felt justifiably wiser, but she had lived so much more.  His world of black and white was just beginning its bleed into grey.  "You'll find that most things aren't what someone else says they'll be."  She sighed when he seemed confused.  "Your life, your mind.form your own opinions."

~~~*~~~

The vampires had been delegated to going to the RV and bringing in enough food for the day.  Sunrise was within the hour and no one wanted to have to venture out without them.  That Amy had been able to detect and track Willow was discouraging and it created conflicting emotions.  They were now more wary about their safety, yet hopeful over finding fifteen humans.

"I smell her all over you."

"Yeah."  The blonde was not in the mood for Angel's petty obsessions.

"She's pretty banged up."

"Didn't hear her complaining."  He smiled.  It was not quite the truth.  She complained and begged a lot, but he chose not to listen.  Eventually she got past her fears and let herself enjoy every bit of pain and pleasure he gave her.  There had been considerably more begging as well.

"You claimed her."

The blonde stopped, rolling his eyes.  "Are you going to dictate a litany of my daily accomplishments?  I shagged her, all right?  There's not much more to it than that."

Angel put his load down and leaned against the building.  Claiming a human was a lot more than just 'shagging'.  "Got a smoke?"

He raised a scarred eyebrow.  "You?"  He asked while setting his burden down as well.  He pulled a pack from his shirt pocket, extracting a cigarette, lit it and handed the burning object to his sire.

Angel took it, bringing it to his mouth and inhaling deeply.  He closed his eyes and let his head fall back to rest on the wall.  Spike gaze at the exposed neck hungrily.  Angel allowed it.

"Been a while."  The brunette finally broke the silence and passed the cigarette to his childe.

He took a drag, staring into the sky, which was now graying with the coming of the sun.  "Yeah.we did this lot before."

"I know.  I'm sorry."

"I know.  Me too."

~~~*~~~

Spike's griping about the presence of sodding rugrats got him banned from both apartments.  Angel sent his childe packing before announcing that he was going to sleep.  Not one to suffer alone, the blonde snagged Wesley along the way and they were currently playing darts in the lounge under the pretense that they were in a London pub.

Breakfast was being prepared for the newcomers' benefit.  Willow made pancakes, while Cordelia, in her usual over-indulgent manner, prepared a vat of powered milk using a large pot, since she could not find a pitcher.  She stuck it in the refrigerator, struggling with its awkward weight before turning to Willow.

"We can't afford to feed them for long."  She placed a hand on her hip, glancing behind her.  "And Amy gives me the creeps," she whispered.

"They need help and we can't just kick them out.or, or leave them.  She would just track me down again.  And I sooo get it about Amy.  She is creepy, but she's gotta be scared too.  If she's really not here to cause trouble, it would be good to have another witch around."

Not for the first time, nor would it be the last, the brunette wished for Lorne.  His empathic abilities had been invaluable and were needed.  She hated to mourn him in this practical sense.  It seemed crass.

Willow noticed a strange expression on her friend's face and then it was gone.

"Get Angel."

This was a serious change in subject and it perplexed the redhead.  "What?"

"Vision.  Get Angel," she said through clenched teeth before collapsing to the floor.

~~~*~~~

"I thought you said the bint was half demon or some such, and the visions didn't do this anymore," the blonde blurted.

After waking Angel, the older vampire sent her to get Spike and Wesley.  Giles had been overseeing the move-in of Amy and her refugees.  They left him to that task and would call for him if needed, or fill him in on what occurred later.

"She was.I mean she is.I don't know why this is happening."  He felt her forehead, knowing that a fever was not present, but needing something to do.

"Red.can you do that mind thing?"

She bit her bottom lip, eyebrows raised.  "I'm not sure.  I did it when Buffy.when she went all stupor-girl after Glory took Dawn.  But she was awake."  She placed her hands on the seer.  Everything that the witch sensed told her that her friend was just sleeping, and not too deeply.  "I think she's okay.  We should just wait."

Angel nodded and paced, looking a lot like Spike in a funk, and Willow wondered if it was hereditary.

"Does anyone know what this means?"  Wesley inquired.  They all looked to him expectantly assuming the question was rhetorical.  "Oh, right.well, her getting the visions again means that the Powers That Be are not out of the game.  Perhaps they are trying to guide us and whatever vision she's received may be the key to what we are expected to do next."

"Or it could be a demon yanking her chain again?"  Spike interjected.

"Yes, well there is that."

"She'll be up soon and we won't know anything until then."  She glanced at Amy who was still on the sofa, knocked out.  She needed rest to deal with her whenever she woke.  "Help me cook this stuff so we can get those kids to bed soon.  They're gonna to have conform to vampire hours so we might as well start now."  Willow was tired, sore, had a massive headache and about thirty more pancakes to make.

~Part: 20~

The new additions to their little community were elated to have a hot meal of something other than seafood, and the pancakes and milk disappeared quickly amidst a plethora of appreciative humming and groaning.  Giles volunteered to help Willow clean up the mess while Wesley made sure all the children found their way back to the other apartments and into a makeshift bed.  Angel had gone to bed, deciding that vampire hours were looking appealing, if it meant not being surrounded by the tiny people.  Oddly, they made him nervous.

The watcher observed Willow closely, taking note of the bruises on her arms and the bite that she tried to hide with her hair that never seemed to lose its shine.

“What are you doing, Willow?”

She turned to look at her surrogate father as he dried the last of the dishes.  “Oh, I saved a few pancakes for Spike and Wes…and I thought I’d get stuff out for dinner.  I didn’t have a taste for pan…”

“No…I mean…What are you doing with Spike?”  He cut her off, shaking his head.

She glanced down, setting the cans of ravioli on the counter.  “Oh, it was just a thing.”  Adding that she would be doing that thing again very soon was probably not a great idea, so she left that part out.

He rolled his eyes.  “Do you understand?  What this means?”  He stepped closer and brushed fingers over her wounded neck.  She shuddered and tried to suppress the blush that was creeping into her skin.

“Nothing really.  He said he’s been wanting to do it since he…um, tried to turn me.  But…well, the chip…”  She trailed off.

“Tried to turn you when?”  He snatched his glasses from his face as Willow winced, wanting to remind him to be careful with them; that they were delicate and irreplaceable.

“Back in…goddess, freshman year.  When he got chipped.  You know…he came to the dorm.  I told you that day he show up at your apartment all hungry and sporting the hobo vamp look.”

“No, you did not.”

“Yes, I remember.”  She sighed.  “He asked me to tell you what happened to prove that he couldn’t bite anyone so you’d let him in.”

“You told me he tried to bite you… to kill you.  You never mentioned that he was planning to make you into a vampire.”

“I don’t get why you’re so upset, Giles.  He couldn’t do it.”

He let out a lungful of air in a rush.  The yelling he was about to start deflated with that action.  It was his fault.  He had kept so much from them, hoping to protect them, and now she was paying the price.

“No wonder he stayed around.”  He whispered to himself, staring off at nothing, but she heard him clearly enough.

“What’s happening?”

He let his gaze fall to her face and smiled wryly.  “Sit down while I make some tea.”

“Whoa…if it’s tea time, then it’s bad, really bad.”  She pouted, sinking into a chair.  “The world ends, but Giles still finds tea.”

“Yes, well, semblance of normalcy,” he remarked as he started a pot of water to boil.  He got two mugs and found his tea in the box from the RV before facing her again.  “Some vampires turn humans to make servants, minions.  Some want companionship, sometimes they want both.  According to the records Spike never made the minions.  That was Darla’s, Angelus’ and Drusilla’s doing.  Spike would only consider turning you as a companion, for eternity. A childe.  And now so many things are explainable.”

“For instance?”  She was frowning, thinking, which Giles considered to be a good thing.

“Why he never went to Angel after the chip?”

“He had just tortured him?”

“Please… that’s foreplay for those two.”

“Oh…I’m still not seeing the problem.  He won’t turn me.”

“He put his mark on you.  He will turn you.”

“He said he wouldn't.”

“And he’s never lied.”

~~~*~~~

“So…”  The blonde started, leaning back against the headboard.  Angel was on his stomach with his head turned to the right facing his childe.  He had been waiting for him to come to bed, although not expecting it.  His boy had options and was likely to exercise them frequently.

“So…”  His smile was non-committal.

Sensing that Angel was attempting a waiting game, he went in a different direction.  “What are we going to do with all these humans, Angel?  I mean besides eat them.”

“Don’t even joke…”

“What?  We won’t have blood bagged up forever.  And I am not hunting down bunnies and such.  It’s undemonly.”

“What about that cow?”

The blonde smirked.  “That was a bit of fun, bringing that big beast to the ground, but it lacked the passion of human blood.”

Angel only nodded slightly, drifting off to sleep unintentionally.

“We had blood cows before.”

Apparently, his childe was not tired.  He turned over onto his side, bending his elbow and bringing a hand up to support his head.  “We did a lot of things before, Spike.  Too many of them are not acceptable now.  It will only make us feel guilty.”

“I won’t feel guilty, I’ll feel full,” he retorted as he lit a cigarette.  Angel crinkled his nose, but said nothing.  “Red knows.”

“She knows what?”  The brunette asked frowning.

“She knows what needs to happen.  She told me she already talked to your seer.  I’m sure your watcher will be happy to let you sink you fangs in him.  He’s such a good pet.”

“Spike, I never know if you’re being mean or just obnoxious.”

“Mean…if there is ever a doubt, go with mean.”

Angel gazed at him expectantly.

“What?  Oh…well Cordelia was reluctant, but she’ll do it.”

“And you’ve already claimed Willow…”

“Not as some cow!”

“Why then?”  Angel sat up and Spike wondered briefly how the conversation gotten around to a subject he was skillfully avoiding.

The blonde took a breath and opened his mouth to speak, but stopped, rolling his eyes before starting again.  “She was mine for so long and I could never do it.  That damned chip got stuck in my head and screwed me all up.  Made me love a damn slayer, so how is that for a cock up?”

Angel refused to comment, just watched his boy with covert passion.

“I waited around, hoping the Scoobies would fix me.  I would take her then.  It had to happen after the soul!  By then, I was too invested in loving Buffy and helping her.  But my head is clear now.  And I’ve finally claimed what was mine all along.”

“Does she know, Spike?”

He laughed.  “Ha…That would be no.”

“You have to explain it to her.”

“I know.”  He crushed out the cigarette in a small saucer that he had been using as an ashtray and went to stand.

Angel grabbed his arm before he could make it out of the bed and pulled his childe to him.  “Where are you going?”

“Uh…to tell Red what I did?”

He pulled his childe, who was only slightly resisting, until his back was flush with Angel’s chest.  The older vampire purred in his ear.  “It can wait.  Aren’t you sleepy?”

“Nah, not too much yet.”

Lightening stuck, but it was only the demon’s teeth sliding into the blonde’s neck, drawing small sips as his lips caressed pale skin.  Spike’s cock immediately sprung to life.

Pulling back slightly he retracted his fangs, licking the twin holes.  “Let’s see what I can do to tire you out.”

~~~*~~~

The quiet was nearly deafening, but greatly appreciated.  Wesley had not realized how much noise children were capable of making.  Growing up in his home had been…challenging.  His parents were not the type to play games with him and appearances took precedence over feelings.  He carried that philosophy with him through life, dismissing what he felt for what he thought others would accept.  He became a watcher instead of a writer because his family deemed it proper for him to follow in his father’s profession.  Of course, he excelled.  He was a bright boy and it was expected.  Thinking back, he supposed that if they had expected him to be a doof, then that is what he would have been.

He stood and padded over to the sofa where Cordelia was stirring.  He was very glad that she was the one waking up and not the girl, Amy.  He helped Willow cast a simple binding spell on the girl’s powers, but magic could be dodgy.  He knelt before the seer and waited as the girl opened her eyes, blinking slowly.

“Wes…”  She grunted, the effort of sitting up exhausting her.  “What happened?”  She wiped at her eyes with shaking hands.

“You…well, you had a vision.”  His voice was soft and appealing.

“Oh…yeah,” she frowned.

“What is it?”  All pretenses aside, he cared for Cordelia.  They sometimes fought, and their verbal battles held an air of sibling rivalry, but he would do anything for her.

“I can’t remember the vision,” she whispered.

“Nothing at all?”

“No…I just have the feeling that we need to leave.  Soon.”

He stood, his long legs unfolding to bring him to an impressive height.  He was taller than Angel, although it never seemed so when the vampire was present.  “We’ll get Willow and the others up in a few hours.  She is supposed to go online tonight.  I don’t think we can leave before that.”

She stood, a little shakily at first, and wondered what was happening to her.  “Did you guys eat all the pancakes?”

~~~*~~~

He never meant for it to happen.

That was not entirely true.  He did mean to do it.  He set up the whole thing.  But he felt bad afterwards.  The girls were sweet and trusting.  Sacrificing them to gain the favor of a spirit was an unexpected hitch in their plans, but Rupert was more than ready to adapt to this change.

It was the turning point, when they slipped from merely deviant to dark.  Surprisingly the two felt remarkably similar so there was no period of remorse or guilt at that time.  Later when the news papers spewed the gory details and utterly stupid investigative theories, Rupert had a twinge of regret.

He sought Ethan immediately and found him at a local pub, playing poker.  Watching from a distance, he lingered until the players took a break before approaching the young mage.

“Hello Rupert.”  He greeted without turning around.  He could feel him.

“Ethan, we need to go and talk.”

The smaller man swiveled in his chair to face his friend.  “I’m winning and can’t leave yet.”  He motioned to the pile of money in front of him with one hand while taking a sip of whisky with the other.

“Sod the bloody game.  Let’s go.”

“What’s wrong with you?”  He inquired.  “If I leave, I’ll never be allowed in a game again.  Now stop being a prat.  Sit over there and wait.  The game is officially over in two hours.”

Most often Ethan submitted to Rupert’s demands.  It was a pattern of behavior they both enjoyed immensely.  This defiance was out of character for the hazel eyed man and Rupert was amused.  And hard.  But he did as told, shifting uncomfortably for the first thirty minutes while his cock took its time returning to a non-aroused state.

Eventually the men stood, some shaking hands, others shaking heads.  Ethan stormed past the future watcher, his pockets filled.  He followed and met him outside, catching up to him as he stopped to light a joint.

“What was the emergency, Ripper?  Think I’ll tell?”  He spat through the smoke that drifted from him.

“Yes…perhaps.  I can feel it.  In ME!  Your bloody guilt.”

“Well I happen to think we could have found another way.”

“There was no other way!”

“So says Ripper the Great!”

“Why are you doing this?  We got what we wanted.”  Rupert’s tone softened.  Obviously, Ethan was in a snit and bullying only encouraged him to lash out.

“I’m not doing anything.  I was playing poker, trying to forget that we slaughtered two virgins, shagged in their blood, and removed their eyes and tongues.  All for a spell to gain more power.  And what do I do with my power?  Cheat at poker.”  He laughed and started toward his home.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll bet you are, but not about them.”

Giles sat up, damp with sweat.  He had forgotten to turn on the air conditioner again.  That excuse made him feel a bit better, allowing him a few seconds of not acknowledging the dream.

Everything that he and Ethan did changed from mischievous to malicious after that.  He slid his legs over the side of the bed and noticed that Wesley's bed was still made.  Getting up to find the other watcher and immerse himself in a bit of distracting conversation, he was overwhelmed by the sensation of being pulled, the unmistakable lurching of his body to the right seizing his attention as invisible tendrils of his other half caressed and flowed through him.

“Ethan.”

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