FADING SHADOWS (1/?)
 

Willow heard the door open and glanced up. Smiling, she stood and
wrapped her arms around Spike. "Missed you" she said softly into his
shirt.

"I was only gone a few hours" Spike said, enjoying the feel of her warm
body. He hated the cold night air that went along with being in England
again.

"Too long" Willow said, pulling back and kissing him softly.

"Oh no. Not again. Can't you kids go to your room to do that stuff?"
Angelus asked, amusement in his voice.

"Go to hell" Spike said, barely breaking the kiss.

"Nah, I hate the heat. Don't think I'd like it there too much." Angelus
moved around the twosome and sat on the sofa, sighing contentedly as the
fire began to warm his cold flesh.

"Hell is not a nice place" Dru said, agreeing with her sire as she
smiled fondly at Willow and Spike.

"Come here woman" Angelus called, pulling her onto his lap. She kissed
him slowly.

Dru had never been happier. She loved the small town that they had
settled in. The house was lovely and they saw the water every night.
There was plenty to eat and she didn't miss the death. Since Willow had
joined their family, none of the vampires fed to the death anymore. They
knew Willow would be disappointed and they didn't want to face her
wrath. The human had them completely wrapped around her slim finger.

Besides Willow's disapproval, Spike couldn't kill. The part of his soul
that was left wouldn't allow it. He could feed on humans now, just not
kill them. Angelus constantly teased him about it, but the older vampire
had easily slipped into the same procedure. Drink until they were full
then they let the person go. No deaths in the small town to be blamed
for. No one ever saw their faces. It was almost more fun than simply
draining them completely.

Willow pulled away and moved to the chair she had been curled up in.
They had been in Chestershire for six months. The residents thought very
highly of the redhaired american, her husband, her sister in law and
brother in law. That had been their cover story. Spike and Drusilla were
siblings. Angelus and Willow their respected spouses. People were more
than fond of them, inviting them to several dinner parties and such.
Willow had never felt happier. She rarely missed Sunnydale, having
settled in nicely in her new home.

She still heard from Giles weekly. He didn't know where they were,
thinking it better to be ignorant of that knowledge. She also spoke to
Xander and Cordelia often. They were in their senior year of high school
and were enjoying the festivities. Willow knew that Buffy had remained
with her father in LA. Her mother had left Sunnydale and joined them,
reconciling with her husband. A new slayer had been sent to Sunnydale. A
rough brunette that went by Faith. Xander and Cordelia said she was good
at slaying, but very different than Buffy. To Willow, she sounded like
an improvement.

Spike's hand rubbed her neck as they told her about their activities.
She always sat and listened to them describe what they had done. She
hated hearing details, but thought it better to hear from them than
someone else if anything went wrong. She was so proud of them....their
sacrifices that they had made.

"We have an engagement tomorrow evening at Mrs Harsham's. It is her
birthday bash." Willow reminded them.

"Stuck up society bitch" Spike said under his breath.

"Don't worry, Willow-mine. We shall be charming and polite" Drusilla
said.

"Charming? The woman propositioned me last time" Angelus said, outrage
in his voice. "Like I was some randy youth. Do we have to go?"

"Quit whining. It would be rude to refuse. Besides, we have to maintain
our image." Willow pointed out.

"Everyone in town thinks we have wild orgies as it is" Spike reminded
her. "How could it hurt our reputations if we don't go to some crochety
horn bags party?"

"Spike, it helps make us look human if we're seen with others outside
our family once in awhile."

"Aye...she's right there. Fine. We go. BUT, if that woman pinches my
arse again..." Angelus let the sentence dangle, a gleam of mischief
entering his dark brown eyes.

Willow sighed, "Fine. If she pinches you again, we can cut ourselves off
from these damn dinners. Trust me, there are millions of things I'd
rather be doing...."

"Why don't we go upstairs and start on that list?" Spike said huskily.

"Kids" Angelus muttered, a smile on his face as he watched them walk
upstairs.

*****

FADING SHADOWS (2/?)
 

Dru walked in and looked at Willow. She smiled as she watched the girl
move in her sleep. She glanced at Spike and saw him watching her through
half closed eyes.

"She's beautiful" Spike said.

"Yes" Dru agreed. She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Spike.
"Have you forgiven me?"

"For what?" Spike asked, confusion in his eyes.

"The spell. Making her immortal."

"Did you think I hadn't?"

"You never said."

"Dru, love, I wouldn't be here with you and Angelus if I hadn't. I love
Willow. I'm thrilled to be able to be with her for eternity. I admit it
took a while to understand it all, but I know you meant well."

Dru smiled, "Thank you. I didn't know...."

"Did you have your tea with the neighbors?" he asked, running his hand
through Willow's hair. She mumbled in her sleep and moved closer to him.

"Yes. Delightful women. I seldomly had the urge to bite one." She said
proudly.

"You've already bitten them all at one time or another" Spike pointed
out.

"You know what I meant. I haven't killed anyone in the eight months
since we left Sunnydale. Does it make me strange to not miss it?"

"No. Not to me. Now, to others, maybe. I just don't think our main
purpose is to kill and feed. I've already shown we can love. You and
Angelus show that we can love. We just get a bad reputation."

She smiled softly, "Yes, we do. And that whole garlic thing is nonsense.
I love garlic."

They heard the phone ringing and Dru reached for it. "Hello?"

"Yeah, is this Willow?" an agitated female voice asked.

"No. She's sleeping. May I help you?"

"Wake her up. Please? It's Giles...he's been hurt...tell her that it's
Faith."

*****

FADING SHADOWS (3/?)
 

"Who is it?" Spike asked as Dru looked at him.

"The slayer. Something happened to the watcher. She wants Willow."

"Buffy?" Spike hissed.

"No" Dru shook her head. "The other one, Faith."

Spike nodded. He gently shook Willow. She opened her eyes and yawned.

"Spike? What is it?"

"Phone call, pet. The slayer. She wants to talk to you...Faith."

"Oh. I hope nothing is wrong" Willow sat up and smiled at Dru as she
took the phone. "Hello Faith."

"Willow. Hate to call but I don't know what else to do."

Willow heard the worry in the girl's voice. Something was wrong. Damn
it. "What is it Faith?"

"Giles. He was hurt. Almost died. I don't know who to trust anymore. We
think it may be the council."

"Is he ok?" Willow asked, her eyes wide with panic. Spike took her hand
and squeezed.

"He's doing better. He won't go to a hospital. Will, I know I don't know
you, but I couldn't think of anyone else to call. Xander said you might
have an idea of what we should do."

"You think it's the council?"

Faith sighed, "Yeah, those bastards. Someone is after us all. Cordy,
Xan, me and Giles. They just got Giles first. We're in hiding out here
and we don't trust anyone except you."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Is Xander there?"

"Thank you....Yeah, he's here. Just a sec. XAN...She wants you."

"Hello Wills." Xander said softly. She could hear the fear in his voice.

"God, Xander. What's happening?"

"I wish I knew. Things have been going well around here. G-man thinks
the tweed wearers are after us for some reason. I'd be inclined to
agree. Things have been happening....they're scared of how well we all
work together, Wills. They want us dead."

"I won't let that happen. Trust me, Xander. I'll think of something.
We'll save you. Give me a number where I can reach you. Is Giles ok?"

"He's hurt but stubborn. He'll be fine. Here's the number and thanks."

Willow wrote it down. Saying goodbye, she told them to be careful.
Looking at Spike, she noticed that Angelus was leaning in the doorway.

"I have to go back. They need me."

"We have to go back" Spike corrected.

"Four for the price of one. What more could a slayer ask for?" Angelus
said, smirking. He saw the tense way Willow was sitting and knew that
something big was happening. Oh well, he was getting tired of England
anyway.

"Back to Sunnydale?" Dru asked, leaning against Willow.

"Back to Sunnydale" Willow said, smiling at them gratefully.

****

FADING SHADOWS (4/?)
 

"Willow!" Xander came forward, holding the girl tightly. She hugged him
back, glad to be home in a way.

"How is he?" she asked, pulling back.

Xander smiled slightly, "Good. He's a stubborn one. He should be all
right. He's sleeping now."

"Hi Willow" Cordelia said, hugging her old friend. "Europe agrees with
you."

"Thanks" Willow said, her eyes settling on a brunette. "Faith?"

"Red." Faith came forward, shaking the girl's hand. "That was fast."

"I hurried back as soon as I could. Um..I need you to invite them
in...." Willow trailed off.

"William's here?" Xander asked.

"Yes. So are Angelus and Dru. They want to help...."

Faith sighed, running a hand through her hair, "We can use it. Come in."

Faith watched as the vampires entered the room. She was curious about
this group. She still couldn't believe that three of the most feared
vampires in Europe had taken in the human girl. Watching them, she
couldn't deny the love and friendship that surrounded the group.

Willow made introductions before sitting down. "What's happening?"

Together, the three teens explained everything that had gone on the last
few months. Willow felt Spike's arm around her, his hand comforting.

"You don't know if it is the council or what?" she clarified.

Xander got quiet. "Will...uh, something happened since we called...."

"What?" she asked, fear going through her.

"Buffy. She was killed. Her and her entire family. Their going after
slayers." Cordelia said softly.

"Buffy's dead?" Willow said. She knew she should feel remorse but any
feelings she had had for her friend had died when she had left
Sunnydale. "Anyone else?"

"We don't know. Giles won't let us contact us anyway. He said not to
trust the council. He thinks it's them. It could be them and someone
else. Who knows?" Faith said, making a face. "Some one wants us dead.
They already got Buffy. They tried to get Giles. We're next."

"Let me make some calls" Angelus said, sensing the sadness in Willow.
"I'll see what my sources know."

Faith saw the way the vampire looked at Willow and smiled. Damn. All
three of them were in love with the redhead. Here she'd heard that
Willow was the shy quiet one. She and Red needed to have a chat. She
wanted details. But, first, worry about the threat on her life. Nah,
details would make the countdown to her death more entertaining.
 
 

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