Bend and Not Break

Author: Jami

Parts: 21 - 30

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~Part: 21~

Sunlight filtered into the master bedroom, past the light drapery that covered the two small windows. Willow muttered something incoherently and tightened her hold on what she thought was William. Through her sleep-addled mind, she realized that what she held was unusually soft. Blinking her eyes and squinting as the sunlight hit her, she stared at the pillow she clutched in her grip in mild confusion. Taking a moment to listen for any sounds that might tell her where her husband had run off to, she frowned when silence only met her ears.

Pushing the covers back, she slipped out of bed and went to her armoire, putting on a robe and moving to peek into the master bath. The room was empty to her dismay and she closed the door behind her as she left her bedroom and padded down the hall. She made her way through the sitting room and dining room before venturing into the kitchen. What she saw there, or more accurately what she didn't see there caused her to frown. She was about to leave when a piece of paper caught her eye.

Sitting in her favorite chair in the kitchen nook, Willow reached for the note that had her name scrawled across in William's handwriting. Smiling in surprise, she began to feel a little better. He obviously was trying to surprise her and she was truly beginning to love his little surprises.

She unfolded the note and her eyes drifted over the words so carefully thought of and written out by her husband. She knew he didn't like to write very much anymore. After Cecily's scathing opinions of his poetry, he rarely wrote anymore. He also didn't show her what he did write. He knew she would never treat him like her cousin did, but he was admittedly a very sensitive man and didn't know if he could handle it if she didn't like what he wrote. So it definitely took her by surprise when she found the note he had left her. It was beautiful and heartfelt and Willow cursed the tears that gathered at his sensitive expression of his love for her.

Placing the paper back onto the table, folding it gently so as not to wreck it, Willow now had an idea why her husband was conspicuously absent this early in the morning. He probably didn't want to be here when she found his letter, fearing the reception he might get. It was a silly unfounded fear, but he couldn't help his insecurities. Sighing at his actions, she reached for the small box he had left for her.

Opening the lid carefully, her eyes widened when she saw the gift he had given her. Her fingers traced the gold chain, skimming over the delicate diamonds and caressing the rather large emerald in the center. It was beautiful and so very her. Simple, yet stunning, definitely a good choice on his part. She considered putting it on now, but decided it best to wait. She wanted to bathe and dress first. Hopefully he will have returned by then and he could put it on her himself. Smiling at the thought, she grabbed an apple to munch on as she looked out her window.

The morning sun was shining brightly, causing the damp, dewy leaves of the trees surrounding her to glisten in the light. Clouds were sparse that day, giving way to the blue beyond them. Her gaze fell to the ground when she saw a flicker of light, like the sun had glinted off a shiny surface. Her brows knit in concentration as she moved closer to the window, trying to see what was lying on the ground just outside. Giving up, she stood and opened the back door, taking a deep breath of fresh air as she stepped outside. Walking slowly in an effort to keep herself from stepping on anything sharp considering she was currently barefoot, she moved along the small pathway.

Bending down at the knees, she cocked her head to the side in a curious gesture as she studied the item in front of her. Her hand reached out to pick it up, dusting it off as she just stared at it. It was her candleholder; the wax that had previously been her candle was melted down and was now unusable. Standing upright once more, she took a look around her, wondering what this could be doing outdoors. Nothing seemed amiss, not that there was much that could have been moved around or taken. Their landscape was rather sparse as of now. Leaves were scattered haphazardly on the ground, but that had to be the work of the wind.

Unable to think of a rational explanation for why the candleholder was lying on the ground outside, Willow shrugged and turned to go back inside. She tried to hold back the nagging feeling of worry that she was left with. William always told her she worried too much. He told her that they had been through so much and still got their happy ending, so she needn't worry anymore. Forcing a confident smile onto her face she returned to the kitchen, locking the back door securely behind her, never even paying attention to the fact that it had already been unlocked when she left only minutes ago.

She dropped the candleholder onto the table, leaving it there to remind her to clean it later on that day. Taking her necklace and the note William left her with her, she made her way through the house and back into her bedroom. She placed her gifts onto her vanity for safekeeping and took off her robe, tossing it across the bed as she prepared to ready a bath for herself. They didn't really have any servants around. She had to get used to mostly being on her own when it came to things like that again. There were small housing quarters quite a ways away where their driver lived. The gardener was scheduled to come every few days. Other than that, she and William would do all the necessary housekeeping themselves.

When the tub was properly filled, Willow stripped and sunk into the warm, welcoming water. Sighing in pleasure, she rested her head on the porcelain and let her eyes drift shut. Grabbing a washcloth, she dipped it into the water and rung it out before laying it over her eyes. Her muscles relaxed as she let the water soothe away any lingering worries. William would be home soon, he had to be.

Sunlight would have filtered into the master bedroom if it wasn't for the heavy, dark drapery that kept it at bay. It was nearing the middle of the day, only a few minutes until noon, and most good vampires were sleeping soundly, wiling away the hours until dusk when they could roam free once more. But Angelus wasn't like most vampires. Drusilla usually spent her nights in his bed, but he had sent her away a few hours before. She pouted a bit but did as told. She knew he had important things to take care of. After all, there was a new childe to contend with.

Angelus had already done his part as master, addressing the minions about the newest member to their ranks. He didn't foresee a problem with them. They were well aware that William was no minion, no ordinary fledgling made to serve the master. No, he was a true childe. He would eventually be a master in his own right. If they were smart, the minions would do their best to give him his distance. Angelus would be the only one to deal with him for the first few days, maybe Drusilla on occasion, depending on her mood that day. The first few hours were the hardest to take when you were newly made. Angelus remembered the confusion and bloodlust vividly. It took some getting used to but he had to say, he much preferred his current existence. Humanity was just so overrated. It was a real power trip when you realize you are now at the utmost top of the food chain.

He rested comfortably in a chaise, his feet propped up, crossed at the ankle. His shoulder length hair was loose and wavy, his shirt had been tugged on but not done up, and he had his arms crossed over his chest as he waited, not so patiently, for his newest to wake. The room was only illuminated by one gaslight in the far corner, keeping the light very dim. It would be easier on William when he woke, the light could be harsh when you first open your eyes. Angelus scowled as he looked to the man lying across the floor. He didn't place him on the bed, not wanting the blonde to be too comfortable. He may be family now, but Angelus would not reduce himself to niceties. It just wasn't in him. He was bored, annoyed that he was taking so long, and, oh yeah.bored. He tilted his head to the side as he saw fingers twitch. He moved to sit up straighter. It was about time.

Eyes fluttered open, blue with a hint of yellow. William struggled to force his limbs to move, he felt stiff and quite uncomfortable. He blinked before closing his eyes once more, taking a moment before trying to open them again. The light within this unfamiliar room was minimal but he could see perfectly. His hands moved to cover his ears as he was overcome with all these sounds. He could hear voices of people as they passed the manor, the footsteps of others moving around the house. But the sound that had him the most intrigued was that of a heartbeat. It was steady and thrumming in its delightful rhythm. He felt his face shift, ridges and fangs appearing, as he pushed himself off the floor. He scanned the room for the source of the sound and grinned around fangs when he spotted the shaking, terrified girl tied up in the corner.

His footfall was unnaturally loud as he headed in her direction, his pace quickening as he neared her. Reaching for her, he was pulled back harshly by a hand that had wrapped itself in his hair. Growling at the pain, he spun to glare at the one who stopped him. Seeing Angelus standing there, looking amused, one eyebrow raised, a smirk on his face, he bowed his head a bit in a slight sign of submission. Approval shined in the elder's eyes as he gave him the once over.

"I know you're hungry," said Angelus conversationally, "that's why she's here." he added, gesturing to the tied up girl. "But I want ya to be neat about it, got it? I hate messy eaters," he warned sternly. Unable to form words because of his thirst, he nodded furiously. Angelus chuckled and pushed him toward the girl.

William licked his lips as he grabbed the girl by her hair, wrenching her head to the side at a painful angle. He delighted in her muffled scream of pain. Only taking a moment to appreciate her long red hair and teary green eyes, he lunged for her neck, biting deeply and draining her in a matter of seconds. Pulling away with a snarl, he dropped her lifeless body with a satisfying thud.

"Feel better?" inquired Angelus with a bored tone. He glared at the blonde when he didn't pay absolute attention to him. William looked distracted, bothered even. "What?!" he growled in annoyance.

Blue eyes locked on his as his demonic façade melted away, a look of hunger and need on his face.

"Her." he hissed, "I want her."

"Who?" Angelus asked curiously, although he had a good idea who he was talking about.

"Willow." he growled. He was surprised by Angelus' wide smile.

"In due time, my boy," he chuckled, "All in due time."

~Part: 22~

"Now!" demanded an angry William as he glared at his sire. Angelus merely looked impassive at his display and rolled his eyes.

"Lesson the first," drawled Angelus, his face turning to stone. "You do not tell *me* what to do. In case you have not figured it out yet, boy, *I* am the one in charge here. You do not so much as leave this house without my permission. Understood?"

His only response was a furious growl. William didn't know exactly what he was feeling. He knew what he now was; it was inherently in his very being, but these feelings, the power, the anger, they were all new to him. All he did know was that he didn't take kindly to being ordered around.

"I don't thing ya are quite grasping the situation boy," snarled Angelus, "You *will* answer when I ask ya a question or ya will be severely punished. An' none of that pathetic growling, it doesn't impress me, so save it."

"Yes.sire," he responded, forcing the words out of his mouth as he fought to regain his human façade.

"There may be hope for ya just yet," Angelus commented with a snort. He watched as the ridges on the blonde's forehead melted away and his eyes returned to their normal blue. Nodding his approval, his eyes became cold once more. "Now.I know ya want your girl," he continued, "can't say I blame you. Right tasty morsel ya got there," he added with a smirk. He heard William's annoyed snarl and dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "But, there are plans to be made. I am not about to just let ya run out and kill the lass, that's no fun. This takes some finesse, my boy. Trust me; you'll regret just doing away with the girl when you're older. So I am afraid seeing dearest Willow will just have to wait."

"How long?" he demanded. Angelus groaned inwardly at his impatience.

"Not long," he appeased with a sigh, "Now I know you've got ta be hungry," he commented, looking to the girl he had just drained, "I know she couldn't have been that filling. And seeing as the sun has just set, I think it's about time we reintroduce you to London." William's face practically lit up in pleasure at his words, causing Angelus to smirk.

"So, tell me," Angelus continued conversationally, "Who do ya want ta pay a visit to first?" William's smile turned absolutely devilish as an idea came to him. He filled Angelus in on his plan and the elder finished dressing, preparing for the evening's festivities.

The dark vampire dressed in black and deep reds, knowing that he would no doubt get messy this night and he always had a difficult time getting blood out of his clothes. He figured he would stick to darker colors so as not to be so conspicuous when they walked the streets of London, dotted in blood.

Leading his youngest out of the bedroom and through the winding halls of his latest homes, he met up with Drusilla in the parlor. William watched, feeling like a bit of an outsider as the graceful brunette sidled up to the tall Irishman, slipping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his broad chest. A hand slipped under his shirt, idly tracing the lines of muscle over his stomach and chest as she studied her new brother.

"I like him," she declared with a dreamy smile. Angelus smiled indulgently at his insane childe, not acknowledging William's presence. "He's perfect." she purred, "All innocence and evil, dark and light, it's delicious."

Her arms fell from her sire's form as she slinked her way to the blonde, standing before him, swaying slightly to music only she could hear. Her hand reached up to trace a sharp cheekbone, frowning when he made no move to lean into her touch. She took a step closer, pleased when he stood his ground. Looking deep into his piercing blue eyes, she searched his very being. He didn't know what she was doing exactly; it was almost as if she could see into his soul, if he had one that is.

The frown marring her beautiful face disappeared, replaced with a wicked grin as she backed away from him, letting her hand fall to her side.

"Our boy doesn't want me." she pouted playfully, her bright smile betraying her angry words.

Angelus raised a surprised eyebrow at his girl, knowing not many, man and demon alike, could resist her charms. "Is that so?"

"Mmm hmm," she answered as she slipped into her sire's arms. "He only thinks of her.pollutes his mind, she does. He longs for her.his princess. I'm your princess, right love?" she asked, sticking out her lower lip playfully.

"My one and only, sweets," he confirmed in a low voice, kissing her quickly before looking to his youngest, pondering him silently. "So Dru, have the stars told you any new secrets? Does our boy get his princess?"

By now William was devoting all his attention to the lithe brunette as she grinned and cocked her head to the side. He had to admit he wanted to know the answer to that question as well.

"Of course," she said as if he should already know the answer. "He will have his happy ending. Oh I cannot wait, the air will be filled with lovely screams." she sang to herself as she pulled away from Angelus and began to spin in circles.

Seeing that she was now appropriately distracted, Angelus signaled to William that they should be going. Grabbing a small bag that sat by the front door, Angelus opened it, looking through the various weapons and implements of torture with a look of glee. Finding what he was looking for, he slipped a small piece of what appeared to be metal or iron out of the bag. Holding his hand out to the blonde and waiting until he took it from him, Angelus tossed the bag aside and strode out the front door.

William studied the item in his palm, a menacing grin tugging at his lips. He could imagine the fun that could be had with this deadly little toy. He always did have a thing for spikes.

~~~*~~~

A gentle knock sounded at the door and the men waited patiently on the outside as the butler took his time to answer the door. Opening slowly, the butler peeked outside, looking at the men with suspicion. His employer's were not expecting guests, especially not at this hour. He turned to the woman of the house who was looking on curiously. She moved from her perch at the doorway to the dining room and joined her butler's side.

Smiling in surprise, she quickly invited the young man and his friend inside, escorting them into the sitting room as her butler closed the door behind them.

William grinned as he took his place by the roaring fire, warming his now cold body as Angelus took a seat across from him. Their host finally took her place in front of them both, wondering what brought them by.

"What brings you and your friend to my home, William?" she asked cordially.

"Nothing really," he admitted sheepishly, "I just felt the need for a visit, Mrs. Adams."

~~~*~~~

Willow was pacing, she couldn't help it. It was now well after sun down and she had yet to see her husband. He had never just vanished out of thin air before and she was dumbfounded as to where he could possibly be. She had taken to waiting at the front door, occasionally peeking out the window to see if she could see any sign of his approach but was yet to.

Now dressed and wearing the gift he presented her with, her footsteps echoed in the quiet house. She fingered the pendant absently as she bit her lip in worry. Something had to be wrong she could feel it.

In frustration, she threw open the front door, walking briskly down the pebbled pathway from the front of their house to the dirt road. Her brows creased in confusion as she spied their carriage sitting in the same place it had been the day before, completely untouched. Her pace quickened as she headed to the cottage that held their driver. Knocking on the door loudly, she waited until the stocky man answered.

"Did Will leave this morning?" her worry causing her to forego any semblance of politeness. He shook his head in the negative. Her heart began to beat faster as she imagined what could have happened to her husband. She didn't have a clue as to where he could be.

"I need you to prepare the carriage," she commanded briskly, he quickly nodded his consent. He moved to ready the horse and turned to her when he was finished.

"And where are we headed Miss?" he questioned.

"Into London, I need to see my aunt," she answered as he held out his hand, helping her into her seat. She lurched slightly when horse began its trot but then sank into the cushions of her seat as she settled herself in for the ride.

She didn't know who else to turn to for help. Although she could have to deal with Cecily's presence, Marie was the only person she knew of that might be able to be of assistance in finding her missing husband. After all, she only knew a handful of people in the city as it was, and although William's mother would be more than willing to help, she didn't want to trouble the older woman because she was so unwell. She didn't want to be the cause of more stress to her health.

The ride felt like an eternity and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when she felt their speed slow and saw the familiar house they were currently stopped outside of. Exiting the carriage without even waiting for her driver's assistance, she bounded up the stairs quickly and pounded frantically on the door. The time spent on the ride over only allowed her to think up all the horrible reasons why he could be missing, causing her to lose her calm façade.

Knocking again, louder this time when there was no answer, Willow tapped her foot as she stood there. Giving up waiting, she reached for the doorknob, honestly surprised when she felt it give way easily, telling her it was unlocked. Opening the heavy door slowly, she peeked inside, frowning when she saw and heard no one. She couldn't even hear the servants milling about like usual.

"Aunt Marie?" she called out, stepping into the entry way and closing the door behind her. "Hello?" her voice carried, an eerie echo her only answer. Stepping into the sitting room, her eyes widened at the sight before her, her mouth hanging open in shock and disgust.

"Oh my God."

~Part: 23~

Willow's hand flew to her mouth as she tried to calm her now queasy stomach. She could barely comprehend the sight before her. She wanted to run away but her feet defied her brain, causing her to tentatively step forward, cringing as the stench of death assaulted her. She couldn't tell who it was that was laying there, her dress normally would have given her the answer, but the long skirts and bodice were absolutely covered in blood, making it completely unrecognizable. She found her handkerchief, using it to cover her nose and mouth as she leaned over the body. The only wounds she could see were two jagged holes in the woman's neck. Peering at her face, she could only make out her eyes; they were wide in fright, glassy, and not those of her aunt. Her relief was momentary as she took in the situation. Her aunt's maid, the sweet, middle aged woman who was always so nice to her, lay dead on the sitting room floor.

The redhead stumbled away from her, nearly falling onto the floor as she tripped over something lying behind her. She forced herself to look to the ground, gagging once she caught sight of the butler. He too had those distinctive holes in his neck, and he was decidedly less mangled than his counterpart. His jaw was slack, his eyes mercifully closed. They were each lying across the sitting room floor, only a matter of feet away from each other. Willow didn't take the time to appreciate the subtle, artful way they were laid out. So close to the other, hands reaching for the other's in an attempt to comfort each other in the face of eminent death.

Instead, she ran. Her breathing was harsh as she climbed the stairs, screaming her aunt's name, knowing she would receive no reply. She flung open every door she came across, each revealing an empty room. Willow came to a halt when she reached the end of the hall. She was staring blankly at the final door, her hand trembling as she turned the knob and pushed open the door.

She cringed when she took a step forward and heard her shoe hit something squishy. The rug beneath her feet was soaked with blood, leaving her feet and the bottom of her dress stained. She pushed herself onward, her throat closing up as she saw whom she had been searching for.

Marie could have been mistaken for dead, if not for the very slow, deliberate breaths she was taking. Willow could tell she was struggling, fighting the best she could to stave off her fate. The older woman didn't even realize her niece was in the room. Her total focus was on two things, keep breathing, and don't let go. She tightened her hold on the bundle in her arms; her grip would have caused the woman lying in her embrace to gasp for air if it hadn't already been stolen from her. Her hand moved to stroke her daughter's once beautiful curly brown hair, now cut to shreds and matted in her blood. She could feel her own pulse slowing, her strength fading, but she didn't want to leave. She had to warn her niece, spare her from a similar fate.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, small and shaking, Marie turned to gaze at the newcomer, her eyes shining with tears. She didn't relinquish her hold on Cecily as she looked to Willow.

"My God." the tiny redhead breathed, her eyes fell onto the limp form of her cousin. She barely resembled the girl she used to be. Her hair was cut, by a knife it seemed. There was a massive wound on her forehead, looking as if she had been slammed into a wall. There was a trickle of blood coming from her nose, dribbling onto her mouth. Her dress had been torn, slashed to rags that barely covered her form. There were bruises that had formed on her wrists and stomach, looking as if she had been brutally kicked in the ribs. There were none of those tell-tale holes in her neck, but seeing the odd angle which it was laying, she could tell it had been broken.

"Aunt Marie?" she questioned, choking on a sob. She saw her aunt struggle to keep her gaze, her eyes drooping, her grip loosening. From her position on the floor, sitting against the wall, she had to look up into the redhead's eyes. "What happened? Who did this?" she asked rapidly, needing to know what kind of monster would do something like this. Marie's free hand left her side, revealing the deep wound in her side, the weapon, a rusted railroad spike, lying next to her body. She caressed the girl's cheek as best she could before her hand fell away because of the lack of strength caused by loss of blood.

Marie opened her mouth, doing her best to form words, but only frustrated grunts could be heard. Willow gagged as she took a good look at her, seeing exactly why she had such a hard time speaking. Her tongue had been cut out.

Feeling herself fading away, Marie did the only thing she could think to convey her message of warning. With a final burst of strength, she grabbed her niece's left hand, tugging on the delicate wedding band that graced her ring finger. Willow watched in morbid fascination as her aunt's hand fell away to rest limply at her side, her wedding ring clattering to the floor beside her. Marie's eyes fluttered a bit before closing and she let out a ragged breath, her last one before succumbing to the pain and letting go.

Willow backed away from the mother and daughter; her breathing had changed from labored to sharp gasps as she realized they were all dead. The servants, her family, they had all been murdered. Forgetting that her ring was currently laying on floor along side her aunt and cousin's now cold bodies, she turned and ran. She made it out of the bedroom, barely closing the door behind her before falling to her knees, the contents of her upset stomach spilling out onto the floor as she lost all control.

She pulled herself up off the ground, absently reaching for her skirts and lifting them to her knees as she stumbled down the stairs. Her feet were slick as she slid across the entry way, reaching for the front door blindly, tears marring her vision. She threw the heavy door open, her eyes darting to her carriage. Her driver spotted the woman's frantic movements and jumped from his perch. He ran to her side, pulling her down the front steps, noticing the blood stains on her dress and hands. He lifted her into the carriage, not even taking notice when she slipped off the seat and moved to curl up into a ball on the floor.

"Go!" she called hoarsely, spurring him into action. He wasn't one to question her but he couldn't help but wonder what on Earth happened in that house. And he was pretty sure he really wasn't looking forward to finding out the details.

Willow remained on the floor, completely ignoring the feel of the bumps along the road. Her hands were rubbing together, her fingers entwined. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, focused on some spot in the darkness in front of her. Her entire body was shaking from shock. Her mind acutely aware of the missing ring that belonged on her left ring finger; it was like a security blanket for her. She had forgotten that it had fallen to the floor and she was not willing to return to that house to retrieve it. Her erratic breathing slowed a bit as the carriage slowed to a stop.

Her head turned as her driver opened her door. She ignored the hand he extended to her, knowing she would only get him dirty, she scooted across the floor and hopped out onto the ground. Her wide eyes caught sight of an unfamiliar carriage and her heartbeat once again began to race. She could see quite clearly in the night, there was a full moon out that night and it cast a bright glow on the woods around her.

She scanned the area, her eyes wide like those of prey. She saw a man's form move from the shadows, the lean body a welcome sight. She moved faster than she ever thought she could, crossing the path from their carriage and practically running toward her house and the man in front of it.

He knew the second she arrived. With his now enhanced hearing he heard the sound of the horse's hooves nearly a mile away. He couldn't enter the house so he remained outside, hidden the shadows. And then she was there, looking so beautiful in grief. Her green eyes were luminous with tears, her cheeks were flushed and tear-stained, and she bit her lip in a nervous gesture he loved so much. Her hair was in disarray and he didn't think she looked more delicious than she did right then, spattered in blood; filled with a mixture of deep pain and relief at the sight of him.

Moving slowly, he walked to her, outstretching his arms and pulling her trembling form to him. She sobbed and tightened her grasp on his shirt that was clenched in her fists. He smiled indulgently over her head, so she never saw the action. Pressing a soft kiss to her hair, he shushed her, rocking her back and forth in a soothing motion.

"What happened, sweet?" he murmured gently, knowing full well what she was witness to.

"Will." she hiccupped, pulling back slightly to look him in the eye. "Oh, it w-was awful-l.they are gone-e.who c-could do this-s?" she whispered in desperation.

"Shhh." he cooed, laying her head on his chest and holding her tightly, delighting in the feel of her warm body against him.

Willow was so relieved to see that he was here and alright. She feared that he had suffered the same fate that her aunt and cousin had and couldn't bear to think that he could be dead. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the fact that even as he held her close, his chest didn't rise and fall, his heart didn't beat, and he was so cold.

"You can't leave me." she pleaded, more tears pouring unbidden from her eyes. "They're all g-gone.but.you c-can't leave me."

He stroked her hair lovingly, doing his best to force down his demonic façade. It was becoming increasingly harder with every moment that passed. He didn't know how much longer he could remain as he was with her soft, warm body pressed against his.

"Don't worry, love," he assured her, his tone menacingly mocking, "I've got you."

~Part: 24~

Willow held onto William for dear life, reveling in the fact that he had not been taken from her as well. She couldn't imagine what kind of monster would have such vial acts to her family. Heaven knows Cecily had her fair share of enemies, but no one deserved to die like that. It was brutal and merciless, and God help her it looked like the fiends had fun. She couldn't stop shaking, she tried honestly but she couldn't. It was a combination of absolute terror and freezing cold.

They were nearing the last of winter in London but the nights remained bitterly cold, much to her disliking. But even in the cold, William could warm her, at least on any other night. He felt chilled to the very bone, his body radiating no warmth against hers. Willow tried to ignore it. Maybe he had gotten locked out of the house. He could have been stuck outdoors in this weather and was now cool to the touch. But something felt wrong, just.off.

After all, here she was, completely incoherent and distraught, and he was so eerily calm, so unaffected. He couldn't have had any idea what she had seen that night, but he made no real move to question her; to demand of her what was so upsetting. And when he spoke, after she had pleaded with him not to leave her, he seemed almost amused. The situation was hardly funny; in fact she strained to comprehend what could bring one amusement when another is so obviously grieving. She struggled to push away her fears. This was William, her husband. The man couldn't hurt a fly, wouldn't even. She had nothing to fear from him, he rarely raised his voice to her let alone his hand. But that nagging sense of wrongness lingered on and she had a hard time ignoring it. Her emotions were on overdrive so she couldn't seem to manage to control a single one. And grief was quickly being replaced by something more intense, fear.

William almost cursed when he smelled it. There was salt in the air, created by her tears that were beginning to ebb. But there was another scent beginning to pervade his senses. It was sweet and he could almost drown in its very essence. He could practically taste her dread and apprehension. He involuntarily licked his lips and tightened his hold on her, his hands moving to grip her hips. He barely repressed a growl of disapproval when she shifted to pull back from his embrace slightly.

Willow released her death grip on his shirt and looked up at him with glassy eyes. She needed to see him; after all, his eyes were like a book. They were the windows to his soul, to borrow a phrase. She blinked in worry as she gazed up at him, her heart sinking at what she saw. Or more precisely what she didn't see. His normally expressive eyes were dulled, icy. She swore she could almost see flecks of amber in them but ignored that as a trick of the moonlight. His eyes held no love, no caring, they could be called.inhuman. She bit her lip in suppressed fear as she took a single step away from him.

He didn't move, knowing she was looking for something, what he couldn't tell. She just stood there, only inches from him, looking him over with wide eyes. He did his best to look concerned but knew he was most likely failing miserably. He was still so young and was having serious difficulty controlling his hunger at the sight of her. When she first arrived at their home that night, he thought that was the most enticing she had ever looked, drowning in sorrow. But he had been wrong. Because right here, right then, an aura of grief clouding her as her pulse thrummed with anxiety and a trace of terror, was the most beautiful he ever had the privilege to see her.

The redhead maintained her distance from him, her senses on alert. It was the way he watched her that unnerved her really. He studied her really, his eyes calculating, measuring her distance with every step she took. It was extremely unnerving. She was looking for the one thing, the one definitive sign that something was wrong with him; something to cement her suspicions. And when she found it, it made her want to cry once more. The night wind whipped around them, occasionally stilling. Her breathing was harsh, and she could see the cloud that her breath produced when she exhaled. But upon looking at him more intently, she realized, he produced none. Not even the tiniest puff of a cloud. She tried to tell herself he was just breathing much slower than she, considering she was a bit panicked at the moment. But she knew there was no rational explanation for what she was seeing. His breath produced no cloud because he was not breathing. His nostrils didn't flare as he inhaled. His mouth didn't open or close to exhale. He stood there, in front of her, still as a statue, never moving to take in vital air.

She was crazy; that was the conclusion she had come to that moment. There was no other explanation for it. The lack of warmth, the fact that he wasn't breathing, it all didn't make sense. It was almost as if he was dead. She tentatively reached out a tiny hand, placing it on his chest as if testing her absurd theory. There was nothing, no heat, no rising of his chest, and worst of all, no heartbeat. She moved to back away, her hand flying back from him as if she had been scalded but she didn't get very far.

His strong hand gripped her wrist, cocking his head to the side, silently questioning her nervous movements. Her green eyes darted to his pale fingers, trembling at what she saw.

"Will? How.there's blood." she whispered, staring at the streaks of blood dried on his hand. She knew she had a little bit on her, but no where near the amount he did. His head shot up and he stared at her, trying to figure out how to play that off. She took the chance to twist her arm and release his now lightened grip.

Blue eyes were clearly tinged with amber as he saw her back away from him. A low growl came unbidden from his throat and she stumbled when she heard it. He registered that she was trying to get away from him and moved to stop her. His arms came up empty as he lunged for her and she darted away from him. She spun away from him, running for the house. She didn't know what was going on, or what happened to him, but he wasn't in his right mind, that was all she did know.

The doorknob turned easily under her harsh grip and she tripped into the house, barely making it over the threshold before he could reach her. She gasped as he ran for the door, seemingly slamming into an invisible wall, blocking him from entering.

"Let me in!" he demanded furiously. He couldn't control his features any longer and knew the moment his face changed because he registered the widening of her eyes and the 'O' made by her mouth. His eyes were blazing as he pounded on the barrier, unable to think that she might be able to get away from him. She was his, damn it! He wasn't about to let her get away. "Damn it, Willow! Invite me in!"

"What happened to you?" she sobbed. His face, the beautiful, kind face that she had fallen in love with was horribly distorted. There were prominent ridges on his forehead, his eyes were now glowing a threatening yellow, and his teeth were elongated and jagged. She noticed with a chill that his canines, fangs if you will, looked as if they could cause severe damage, like, say, two holes in the neck. She had flashes of the maid and butler laying on the sitting room floor. The two deep wounds in their necks, wounds that could have been caused by those teeth. She couldn't believe it, any of it. The teeth, the wounds, the blood on his hands, it all told her he had killed her family. But her William would never do that. Sadly, she feared she didn't know the man standing before her. That is if you could call him a man.

"Oh, good. I didn't miss it," called a cheerful voice. She saw a man step out from the shadows, absently wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. She saw the outline of her driver laying on the ground a few feet away. "Didja hear tha' William? She wants to know what happened to ya." taunted Angelus as he joined the blonde at the doorway, tracing a finger idly along the barrier. His mood seemed to shift abruptly as he lashed out, slamming his fist into the blonde's face, causing him to fall from the strength of the hit.

"Messed that up, boy, letting her get inside the house," he growled with anger and disappointment. "Ya could 'ave had what ya wanted, but ya buggered it up right good," he sneered contemptuously. "Now get up, you ponce!" William pulled himself up, longing to focus once more on his wife but forcing himself to look to Angelus, keeping his head down in an act of submission.

"Now, I think your girl wants answers," he continued in a jovial tone. "That right, sweets?" She nodded hesitantly, her eyes darting back and forth from Will to the stranger, one who looked unusually familiar. "Smart girl." he cooed affectionately. "Well, you're dear husband here went through a bit of a life changing experience. Actually, he just plain lost his life," he said with a smirk.

"D-Dead?" she murmured in confusion. He wasn't the same, that was for sure, but he couldn't be dead. He was standing there, right in front of her, moving and talking.

"You are the clever one," Angelus snickered with a roll of his eyes. William's eyes narrowed as he mocked the woman, growling in warning as he glared at his sire. Angelus whipped his head around to stare at his childe, giving him a silent warning. "Your mother ever tell ya stories.of demons.monsters?" questioned Angelus as he gazed at Willow with an indulgent grin.

"Mmm hmm," she stammered, looking anxiously at the darker man.

"Well, lass, we are what goes bump in the night." he informed her, moving his taunting face closer to her, as far as the barrier would let him. "Stuff of nightmares, I tell ya. Now you're a smart girl, so you tell me, what are we?"

"V.Vampires." she whispered in shock.

"That's my girl," he said with feigned approval. "Now it seems we're at a bit of a standoff," he considered with a smile. "We.can't get inside," he continued, tapping on the barrier, "and I doubt you'll be joining us out here," he smirked. "So we best be going. But we will be seein' ya, you can count on that, love." Angelus turned to William, patting him on the back playfully. "Say goodbye to yer wife, boy. For now."

William locked eyes with Willow as he moved to kiss the tips of his fingers before reaching out and laying them on the barrier, in line with her lips. With a bowed head and a wink, he faded into the shadows once more, leaving Willow huddled on the floor, silent tears making their way down her face.

~Part: 25~

Green eyes blinked, squinting as they took in the harsh glare of the morning sun. Willow was confused for a moment, unsure of why she was laying on the floor. She absently rubbed the back of her hand against her cheek, her skin still damp from tears. It was all coming back to her, various pictures flashing in her memory. It was all too much; finding her family, then seeing William, or what used to be William, the other man, the blood. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying her best to will away the truth, but it was to no avail.

She pulled herself off the floor, grimacing as she took in her dirty and stiff appearance. She stumbled down the hallway and made her way into her bathroom, reaching for the bowl of water that was lying to the side of the tub. Ripping off a small piece of her dress, she dipped it into the lukewarm water and glided the damp rag over her face, then hands, eager to dispose of the blood that remained. She cursed her shaking hands, clenching them into fists before resuming her cleaning.

When she was finished, she nearly tore of the soiled dress she was wearing, and threw open her armoire to find a more suitable replacement. She slipped on the midnight blue gown, noting that she could easily maneuver in the fabric if need be. Moving to the mirror by her bed, she finished her laces and ran her fingers through her hair, trying her best to look decent. Her eyes fell to the pendant hanging from her necklace, the gift from her husband. Her eyes welled up with tears but she forced them away. Her fingers reached to undo the chain, but stopped. She just couldn't do it; it was the only thing she had left from him. Even her ring was gone, lying on the floor in her aunt's house, next to her body.

Willow turned away from the mirror, sifting through the armoire once more until she found some luggage. Throwing open the bag, she thrust some light clothing into it, ignoring the mess she was creating. She placed a few mementos into her bag, anything small enough to fit before shutting it with difficulty. She grabbed her things hastily and rushed out of her house, affording it one last look before returning to her task.

She froze when she saw the body of her driver lying in the bushes, where that man had left him. She had forgotten that he had been attacked. The grip she had on her bag loosened and it fell to the ground. She was now in the middle of the woods, too far from the city to walk, and her driver was gone. She was stuck, which is probably what they wanted. Her thoughts were so mixed at that moment. She didn't know what William could want with her now, now that he was a vampire. Probably wanted to kill her, she thought morbidly. Now all it seemed she could do is sit and wait to find out what fate he had planned for her.

Rustling only feet away caused her to glance to her left. Relief was evident on her face as she spied the form of their gardener; she had forgotten that it was his day to work. She grabbed her luggage and ran to him, surprising him when she gripped his forearm.

"Please, I need your help," she said urgently. The older gentleman, in his mid-fifties, observed her through gentle eyes. "I need to go into London."

"Is your driver unwell?" he inquired with a frown.

"He is.gone," she replied somberly. "Please. I just need to reach London, and then I will find another driver. But right now I need your help." He smiled warmly at the woman, nodding his agreement.

"Are you going on holiday, Miss?" he wondered.

"No," she said, her voice thick, "I'm going home."

He led her to her carriage, helping her inside. He moved to close the door, but her soft voice halted his actions.

"Victor?" she said softly, "Do not ask questions, just.stay away from this place," she told him sadly. "And if you see my husband.run as fast as you can." He looked at her curiously, but agreed, knowing she would never lead him astray.

"Whatever you say, Miss," he replied, closing the door and climbing to his seat in front, readying the horses and beginning their journey.

~~~*~~~

"Did my boys have fun tonight?" asked Dru as she saw Angelus enter the mansion they now called home. Angelus granted her a wide grin, but William was much more subdued, not even glancing her way.

"Wasn't bad," replied Angelus with a shrug. "Had a nice slaughter, finished the night off with some old man. Very productive, I would say."

"Waste of bloody time, if you ask me," muttered William as he threw himself into a nearby chaise. "Offing that stuck up bint was good fun and all, but the rest of the night was absolutely useless."

"What's the matter, lovey?" drawled Drusilla as she glided to him, caressing the side of his face with her icy fingers. "You did get to see your little redhead, did you not?"

"That's all he got to do," growled Angelus as he strode over to her, pulling her back against him, arms wrapped around her waist. "Let her get away from him. Honestly Dru, what did you see in this one? He can't even manage to snatch up a little girl. Although," he added with a smirk, "I did admire his technique when he played with that uppity brunette. Vicious," he said with a chuckle. "And the boy's got talent with a railroad spike. I reluctantly admit, I was impressed.a little," he conceded.

"Spikes." she giggled, "Sounds like fun.like tea parties and pretty dresses." she murmured, her eyes clouded. "I like that.Spike." she continued as she looked at the blonde in front of her. She cocked her head to the side, a half-smile on her face. "That's what we should call him, our darling boy.Spike. 'Tis fitting, dontcha think?"

"I don't know, Dru," said Angelus with a smirk, "What do ya say, boy? New name for a new man?"

A slow grin spread across the face of the youngest. "I like it." he commented with a raised eyebrow. "Spike.makes me sound-bad." Angelus snorted in amusement.

"So," said Dru, deciding that conversation was done, "you didn't get to play with the little redhead.and she looked like she could be so much fun," she pouted.

"She's got spunk, that one," said Angelus with a leer. "You should have seen her, Dru. Her scent, her tears," he whispered softly to her, "they all called to me.she's a fiery temptress." An angry growl caught the eldest off guard.

Spike shot out of the chaise, knocking Dru out of Angelus' loose embrace and pinning his sire to the closest wall.

"You don't touch her," he snarled, "she is *mine*." Angelus' hearty laugh surprised the blonde.

"You don't get it, do you?" he countered with a grim chuckle. "You own nothing. Nothing belongs to any of us. We take what we want, when we want it; that is all. You haven't claimed her, and until you do she is fair game. And in case you didn't figure it out, anything.or any*one* that 'belongs' to you, belongs to me as well. Right of sire," he finished with a threatening glare.

"Now, now." growled Drusilla as she gripped Spike's wrist tightly, pulling his hand away from their sire's throat. "Play nice," she commanded, her eyes flecked in gold.

"You need my help," informed Angelus as he glared at the blonde. "Face it, boy. You screwed up. You had her, oblivious and all, and you let her get away. Now she knows what you are and you lost the element of surprise. She's not daft, Spike. She's not going to run to you with open arms knowing what awaits her."

"Poor child," cooed Dru as she swayed slightly, as she gazed off into the distance. Both men stopped arguing. Angelus knew she was seeing something so he waited, as patiently as he could, for her to share. "She's so frightened.mourning the loss of her William. But she's being naughty.bad, bad girl," she scolded no one in particular.

"What is she doing, love?" asked Angelus gently, walking up to her and caressing her face with both his hands.

"She runs.far away." she murmured dreamily. "She's hiding from our boy. Tsk tsk.she must be punished."

Spike glanced nervously at his sire, unsure as to what to do. If she disappeared, he wasn't sure he'd have a clue as to where to find her.

"We'll check the house tonight, after sundown," informed Angelus with a decisive nod. "If she's not there, we'll deal with it. Someone, somewhere will know where she went. And when we find out, we'll find her. She's not going to get far."

~Part: 26~

Willow watched Victor ride away with her carriage and her shoulders slumped. She looked around anxiously, even in the safety of the day she couldn't help her nervousness. She remained on the busy London street corner, her jittery demeanor occasionally garnering her looks of curiosity from passer-bys. Clutching her belongings tightly in one hand, she hailed a carriage, instructing the driver briefly about their destination before climbing in and settling down for the long ride.

They would be traveling for the rest of the day and most likely well into the night. London wasn't that far from her home, luckily, but it was far enough to give her a bit of distance, at least for now. She found herself relieved that she and William never had a serious discussion about her previous life, before London. Sure he knew a lot about her, that was a given, but they had never visited her home just outside of Peckham and she didn't think he'd have a clue as to where she was headed.

She certainly wasn't looking forward to seeing Xander and Cordelia. She missed them terribly, but their meeting would only force her to recount the previous days. The redhead wasn't thrilled about reliving all the memories of seeing her beloved with the face of a monster. And she truly didn't want to remember that it was he that was responsible for her family's gruesome fate. But right now, the only people she could turn to were her old friends and they needed to know what happened, it was for their own good. After all, what was to stop William from coming after the couple?

That thought worried her. She didn't know what he was capable of, how far he was willing to go to get to her? Part of her hoped that with her disappearance, his need to seek her out would fade. It broke her heart to even think that he could forget about her, but if that meant she and her friends would live to see another day then she would deal with it. But the more logical part of her knew, innately, that this wouldn't end, not yet. Not until one of them was dead, or dust in his case. She vaguely remembered what the darker vampire had said, something about William having what he wanted, that they would be seeing her soon. No, this wouldn't be over; she wouldn't have the luxury of an unnoticed escape. By the end of the night, they would know she was gone and then they would be coming after her.

Her only advantage was that no one in the city knew of her whereabouts. That would allow her a decent head start. But she knew she probably shouldn't remain in Peckham for too long. But leaving Xander and Cordelia behind would be difficult and risky. She needed a plan of action, sadly though, that was one thing she was lacking. Right now she was focused on one thing, getting out of London as fast as possible.

What she hadn't counted on was Angelus' resourcefulness and cunning. Her head start wouldn't give her the time she thought it would, because as soon as the sun had set, she had three vampires on her trail. Home provided an illusion of safety that would soon be demolished by one she used to think could never hurt her.
~~~*~~~
 

Spike knew the moment they stepped foot on the property that she was gone. There was no heartbeat, her scent only lingered on the breeze, she had been gone for quite some time. He was reluctantly proud of her. It only angered him that she wasn't here, but he had to admire her strength. They all had assumed that she would be too frightened to even think about making a plan and fleeing the city. But he had underestimated that wife of his, they all had.

Angelus shook his head in amusement as he took in the scene. The front door was wide open, most likely left that way as she fled in haste. This girl was more than he had bargained for; he had to admit with a rueful smile. He always liked dealing with the unexpected, and this girl was a walking surprise. Now all they had to do was figure out where she could be hiding.

Drusilla took the time to amble around the house, since she couldn't enter. Her fingers skimmed the masonry as she circled the home, her eyes closed in concentration as she tried her best to talk to the stars. They would tell her where their little poppet was, she was sure of it. She cradled Miss Edith in her other arm securely. Her doll was her treasured companion; she was always there for Princess when Angelus was too busy or distracted to play with her.

"Come on, lovey," she whispered to Miss Edith, her fingers moving to run through her hair. "Tell Princess where the fiery little girl is.I've been ever so good." She moved her ear closer to the doll's mouth, pouting when she remained silent. "Now, now pet, I know you know where she ran off to.if you don't share then you will be punished. No tea and cakes for you, love."

Dru's eyes lit up when she heard her precious finally divulge her secret. Miss Edith had been naughty, keeping this from her, but she would forgive her. Moving away from the house, she joined Angelus by their carriage.

The elder vampire immediately noticed the secretive smile on his childe's pretty face and raised a quizzical eyebrow. Resting her head on his broad shoulder, Dru looked up at him with laughing eyes.

"What is it, love?" he wondered, causing Spike to glance their way. The blonde stepped closer to the couple, feeling acutely alone as he observed their closeness. These were the times he hated, when he had to sit back and watch his sire and Dru together. He wasn't jealous of them, but he longed to share that same closeness, to have someone by his side for all eternity who was devoted to him. He wasn't particularly interested in temporary company, like his sire had suggested. It was all empty and frivolous, and while a good massacre had its perks, with no one to share it with, unlife felt a bit trivial.

"Do you want to hear what Miss Edith told me?" she teased with a sly grin. Angelus glared at her, in no mood for her playfulness. "Poppet has gone home.to her family, those who care for her, who are willing to die for her. Just might, too."

"She went back into town?" questioned Angelus with a doubtful look. "There is no safety in London, especially in that house she shared with that wretched little brat. We have invitations already. She can't possibly be that daft," he scoffed with a frown.

"She's not," interrupted Spike with a thoughtful expression. "London isn't home," he informed his sire with a wicked gleam. "She only came here a few months ago. Bloody hell, why didn't I think of it? She went *home*. She's from a small town, past London, just outside.damn it, I can't remember the bleeding city!" he exclaimed in frustration.

"Relax, boy," drawled Angelus, "No use in getting yourself all worked up. She can't be far, after all, she's only been gone a matter of hours. We'll find her soon enough and then she will just have to be punished for leaving before the games could begin."

"Come here, pet," cooed Dru as she crooked a finger at Spike. He glanced at Angelus and the brunette merely shrugged and stepped aside so the blonde could have a clear path. The lithe brunette stood in front of the blonde and smiled dreamily.

"Look into my eyes." she murmured, her gaze never leaving him. "Be in me." Spike felt his mind give way as he stared into her haunting eyes, seemingly lost in them. Angelus moved closer to the pair, watching them intently as he observed his childe work her magic.

He didn't know what she was doing to him, it almost felt like she was searching his mind, his memories. What she was looking for exactly he didn't know. Pictures flashed in his head, disjointed and spanning various times. He saw Willow when he first met her on the street walking with her aunt, saw when he offered to recite some of his poetry, when he proposed, all of it merely pictures that faded as quickly as they came.

Along with the images came Willow's voice, "I know it is your life, and I have no right to judge, but you deserve better," "I feel like you will always keep me at a distance," "People tend to find me a bit boring and unimpressive," "Promise me we can stay like this, forever?" But last, and most important, he heard her voice once more, as clear as day.

"I always expected to return to my home, just outside Peckham, and back to Xander."

He felt his head clear again and his gaze returned to the scene around him. Drusilla was smiling widely, knowing he understood what had happened. Angelus was standing to his side with an impatient frown.

"Peckham," Spike said softly, a smirk finding its way onto his face, "She's near Peckham, about a half a day's ride, if we make good time."

"Well then, apparently we are going on a trip," decided Angelus with a grin. "Peckham is lovely this time of year, or so I've heard."

Spike, Dru, and Angelus all climbed into their carriage, the eldest rapping on the roof to signal their driver to leave. The quiet human spurred the horses into action and they were well on their way to the country. While Angelus had never been particularly fond of working with humans, they needed a mortal driver; after all, it was extremely important that they continue traveling during the day. Besides, once they arrived at their destination, they could always eat the poor sod.

With renewed zeal, Spike leaned back in his seat, his gaze unwavering as it focused on the landscape that passed them by. Willow wouldn't evade him; he'd let her run while she could, after all, he had all the time in the world.

~Part: 27~

The rhythm of the horse's hooves as they beat on the ground was quickly causing Willow's eyes to droop. Day had given way to night by now and she had closed the curtain inside the carriage, enveloping the small space in darkness. Her head rest on a small pillow, her hand clutching her pendant as she allowed herself to rest. She had a feeling that she would not have many more occasions in the near future to rest calmly.

She wasn't happy with their progress on the road today. They had to make a couple stops along the way, once when the axle broke and another when the driver felt the 'call of nature'. Normally it wouldn't have bothered her, but she was on borrowed time and couldn't afford to continue at this leisurely pace.

Her eyes shot open when she felt the carriage shudder. Groaning, she waited until they stopped to step out and see what the matter was now. Her driver granted her a sheepish smile as he showed her the problem.

"We hit a bit of a bump," he told her, strands of long brown hair slipping over his eyes as he looked down at the damage. "It's not bad, just knocked the wheel outta place. Should be fixed in no time." She nodded her understanding and backed away to allow him space to work. His muffled curse caused her to glance in his direction.

"What is the problem?"

"I need something small, to push it back into a place. I have to align the wheel but without maybe a stick or something, I'm afraid it won't work too well." Sighing, Willow pushed him aside as her hands reached for her hair, searching for a pin. Upon finding one, she crouched down, taking a look at the situation as the driver held a gaslight behind her so she could see. She slipped the hairpin into the tiny slot, pushing with all her strength until she heard it pop back into place. Her hand lost its grasp as her hairpin snapped and the sleeve of her gown snagged on a sharp edge of a bolt. Groaning in discontent, Willow pulled her arm back as she stood, cringing when she heard the fabric tear even more. She looked to the young driver, silently telling him that she was done and he escorted her back into the carriage.

She completely ignored the rather large piece of fabric that now lay on the ground, her silver cufflink glimmering in the moonlight. Willow dropped her head into her hands as she felt the horse begin its journey once more. If she was lucky, they only had a little more than an hour before arriving at Xander's. But she feared that her night was not meant to go as planned.

The redhead remained in that tired position for so long that she lost track of the time. To her relief, they had not had anymore accidents along the road and continued at a decent speed. Feeling the horse begin to slow, she pushed the curtain open and peeked outside. Her eyes began to fill with tears as she took a look at all the familiar buildings that she had missed. Everything here caused her to fondly remember all the good times spent in the small village.

To her right was a small patch of open land that was dotted with a few trees, that was where she and Xander used to play tag or hide-and-go-seek when they were little. Just past that was their humble church where Cordelia and Xander were married. They had passed most of the actual town and were now headed toward the houses that were clustered at a comfortable distance from each other.

They came to a stop outside a small two-story house, made mostly of brick and stone. The gaslights by the porch were the only lights that currently illuminated the home. The door to her carriage swung open and a strong hand was held out to her. Slipping her hand into his grasp, Willow stepped down onto the dirt and pebbled path. Her driver handed her the rumpled bag that was her belongings. He stepped aside as she whispered a quiet thank you and paid him in full for his service. She walked tiredly up to the house, her hand pausing in mid-air as she raised it to knock. Taking a deep breath, she rapped on the wood, waiting a moment before doing it once more. She knew it was late now, probably some time close to midnight now and no one would be awake.

Hearing a commotion as Xander descended the staircase and made his way to the door, Willow straightened. She tried to give off an expression of calmness on her face, but she knew that did nothing to change her posture, which screamed of pain and heartache. The front door swung open swiftly and brown eyes changed from cautious to worried as they took in the form of his best friend.

"Wha-? Willow?" he asked timidly, unsure if she was really standing before him. She looked exhausted, her eyes had bags under them and her sleeve was torn.

Taking one look at the face of the one person who meant the world to her and she lost all semblance of control. Her green eyes filled with tears and her hands began to shake as she felt herself be engulfed in Xander's comforting embrace. Her body was racked with sobs as she clung to him tightly, only furthering his intense worry.

"Xander?" called an inquisitive voice from the top of the stairs. Cordelia tentatively took a few steps down before her face became a mask of concern as she saw her husband comforting a shaking Willow. She could only wonder what could have possibly happened to the slight redhead to cause such sad, desperate cries from her friend. She knew there was only one person that could be responsible for such grief, William. The trouble was, she had no idea what could have happened between the couple. William would never hurt their friend, so that only meant that something must have hurt him. "Oh Willow."
~~~*~~~
 

The carriage trotted along, never once stopping as night once again became day. All the curtains were closed to protect the trio inside from the harmful rays of the sun. Angelus and Drusilla sat on one side, facing away from the driver, Spike on the other side. Angelus had his eyes closed as Dru ran her fingers through his silky brown hair, delighting in his purrs of satisfaction. Spike watched them for a moment before glaring at the pair and turning his attention to the floor, his feet tapping in boredom.

The silence was deafening to him. Ever since his change, he had noticed traits in him that had lay dormant while human, one of them was impatience. He was eager to be out of this carriage, he was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic. Plus he was simply tired of watching his sire and sister pawing each other while he was forced to keep himself company. It wasn't right. Part of him couldn't believe he was going to so much effort for a girl when he could easily be spending his time pillaging, causing general mayhem and destruction. But he knew there would be time for that later. This wasn't just any girl, even Angelus had taken notice of his wife.

That thought certainly didn't settle well with him. His sire had Dru, she should be enough. He wouldn't have Willow as well, Spike simply wouldn't allow it. He knew that he was in no position to make demands on his sire, but this girl was his, hell she was his wife. There would be no sharing, of any kind. Once he found Willow, he would make sure she soon realized that her place was still at his side. Being a vampire didn't change anything, except maybe the desire to play with her mind a bit. All that really changed was before he promised her forever, now he could follow through. And Spike was always big on follow through.

The blonde wasn't even sure that they would find her once they arrived in the small town. She was resourceful, she may have even thrown them off her path entirely. He, for one, didn't particularly trust Dru's visions. For all they knew, Willow could be heading in the opposite direction. He barely stifled a growl at the thought of her getting away again.

The edge of the curtain flapped a bit when he shifted positions and a glimmer of unnatural light caught Spike's eye. Rapping on the roof sharply, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. Angelus glared at Spike as he rubbed his head that he had hit on the side of the carriage when they came to a stop. Spike tentatively lifted the fabric of the curtain, thankful that the sun was currently shining in the opposite direction, keeping him from bursting into flames. A curious gleam entered his eyes as he tugged on the sleeve of his shirt, making sure to cover most of his arm and hand as he prepared to open the door. Angelus and Drusilla were protected from any stray rays of light by the door and Spike reached outside quickly, gripping the item that caught his attention and flinging himself back inside, slamming the door behind him.

His hand was smoking slightly but the burns were not bad. Angelus turned up the light in the carriage and he leaned closer to his newest childe to see what he found. Spike handled the piece of midnight blue cloth carefully, his thumb casually brushing over the silver cufflink engraved with a 'W'. Smiling devilishly, he signaled for the driver to continue on as he gazed at his precious find. He recognized the small piece of silver, remembering when he bought Willow that dress that accented her red hair beautifully. He finally had no doubts. They were definitely heading in the right direction.

~Part: 28~

Xander silently ran his fingers through Willow's long red hair, trying his best to calm her. She had been in an almost catatonic state since she revealed what had happened to William. He didn't know what to make of her story, finding parts of it hard to believe. After all, there were no such things as vampires, were there? But then again, this was Willow, she didn't lie. It wasn't in her nature. And she was in pain right now, that much was obvious. This had to have been the longest day in his existence.

After being woken to the sounds of Willow's arrival in the middle of the night, he and Cordelia had been keeping the girl company, doing their best to show her that she wasn't alone. Cordy went to bed around noon, at Willow's insistence that someone should get some sleep. She tried to get him to sleep as well, but he wasn't about to leave her alone. She told him not to worry about her, that they were safe.as long as the sun was out.

Now sundown was quickly approaching and he could feel the redhead tense under his ministrations. His Willow had never been scared of the dark, even when she was little. Now even the thought of it terrified her. It pained him to see her so scared, so withdrawn. He longed for her to speak to him again, to let it all out. But she remained stubbornly silent. When she had told them of the recent events in her life, she was so detached, her description almost clinical in nature.

Hearing footsteps coming down the stairs Xander knew Cordy was awake. With just the three of them in the house it wasn't difficult to figure out who was there. Taking one look at her husband who remained diligently at their friend's side, Cordelia took a seat on the other side of Willow, taking up the left over space on the sofa. She slipped her arm around Willow's waist and pulled her to her, resting her head in her lap and brushing her hair away from her face.

"Go to bed," she ordered gently, granting Xander a sad smile. "I'll take care of her." He stood, placing a grateful kiss to her forehead and left the two women alone to get some rest.

"Everything will be okay, Wills," she whispered to the tiny redhead, tightening her hold on her slightly. "You're safe here, you know that? We will all be okay." Her determined comments were met with a long strain of silence, although that was what she expected.

"We're not." countered Willow, her voice harsh from disuse. "Safe, that is. We're not."

"Why do you say that?" Cordy asked with a concerned frown.

"Because it is true," she replied, pulling herself into an upright position. "You didn't see it, that look. Leaving London did nothing but buy me time. And how much I'm not even sure of."

"What look?" the brunette questioned, increasingly confused. "Willow, you got away. That's what is important. He doesn't know where you are."

"Doesn't matter," she shrugged impassively. "He knows I'd run to you. All he has to do is find out where you live. He won't give up; I saw it in his eyes. He is determined to.I don't know what. Kill me, like he did my family? I don't know what he wants from me, but he won't just let it go. He won't just.forget."

Willow rubbed her face with the back of her cheek, sighing at the wetness left by her tears. She seemed to be crying a lot lately, she thought with an inward shrug. She was just so tired and hungry. She hadn't eaten in nearly two days and yet the mere thought of food made her nauseous. Maybe it was because she hadn't eaten anything that the idea of food made her stomach rebel, it's a vicious cycle.

"I shouldn't have come here, I'm putting you in danger," she sighed in frustration. William didn't hesitate to kill her family, why would he have any reservations about hurting her friends?

"I'll worry about myself," declared Cordelia, making Willow look her in the eye. "You need to be with people who love you. I wouldn't have you anywhere else."

"And if he finds us here? What then? We're like.lambs being led to the slaughter, Cordy! Are you content to just sit back and wait for him? And he's not alone either. There's another.thing.with him. We don't stand a chance against them. These are our lives I'm talking about. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's death. Especially not yours or Xander's."

"Wills, we can take care of ourselves. They can't get in here, not without an invitation and we are not about to issue one."

"So we are supposed to live out the rest of our lives like.like hermits?! Only venturing out during the day and scurrying inside the minute the sun sets. Too afraid to even step out onto the porch after dark, knowing he could be there. That's not a life, Cordy, and you know it!" Willow stood abruptly, shaking off Cordy's hand as the brunette reached for her. She spun away from her friend, putting her hand to her mouth to stave off the sudden need to heave. Walking quickly, Willow placed herself in front of the bay window in the sitting room, pulling back the curtains to stare out into the darkness.

"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered around tears, her eyes lost. "I'm not the strong one. I'm not the fighter. You," she said, referring to Cordelia, "you're the strong one. You're brave Cordy. Even now, in the face of possible death, you're not worried. And Xander, he's so.there's no one like him, you know? But me, well look at me. I'm a basket case. You're brave, and he's strong, and I'm terrified."

"You have every reason to be," Cordy argued bluntly. She kept her distance, knowing Willow needed space. "This is your husband, Wills. The love of your life who is now.well, he's not who he used to be. You've lost so much, in such a short period of time. You have every right to be scared. And to be honest, I'm frightened myself. But you need me, to be strong, to be there for you. You are my best friend; you mean the world to me. I would gladly put my life on the line to save you. But don't think yourself weak, Willow."

The brunette observed her friend carefully, frowning as she took in her hunched form. She was sleep deprived, refused to accept any food, and this was the most she heard her speak since she arrived. One hand cradled her head, which had to be throbbing, while the other rested across her stomach. Her tears had dried by now but her face was damp and flushed from the exertion.

"You need to lie down, Willow," she informed her softly. "This isn't healthy; you need to take better care of yourself."

"Can't sleep," she replied in a hushed tone. Her fingers traced the glass idly, the coolness chilling her. She knew Cordy was only going to argue with her so she stopped her with a suggestion. "You should check on Xander, make sure he's sleeping well. Please," she finished with a tired sigh.

"Okay," she agreed hesitantly. "But promise me you'll at least rest soon. You can't go on like this."

"Sure," Willow agreed with a nod. She watched the brunette ascend the stairs through her reflection in the glass. Stepping away from the window, the redhead curled up into a chair that faced the fireplace, close to the glass window. Rolling her head back to rest it on the soft cushion, her eyes drifted shut as she tried to shut out all her conflicting thoughts.
~~~*~~~
 

"I can practically feel her pain from out here," whispered Angelus as he and Drusilla observed the redhead from the cover of darkness, hidden from view.

The threesome had arrived in town in the middle of the day, hastily finding shelter from the sun as they scurried out of their carriage. As soon as the sun went down, Spike insisted that they scour the town that minute looking for his girl. Her scent was easy enough to recognize by now and they had finally caught whiff of it outside of a modest two-story home. There were only three people in the house, one definitely being their girl. Spike scouted the perimeter, observing their surroundings closely, checking for any ways in or possible hiding spaces if the need ever arise.

"She's darling," purred Dru as she leaned into her sire, smiling as she saw Spike round the corner and join them near the porch.

"I want *in*," growled Spike, disgruntled. He hated the blasted barrier that kept her away from him.

Drusilla giggled good-naturedly and tsked him with a grin. "Patience, my lovely boy.the air, it whispers.your sweet girl is troubled."

"That's ta be expected, Dru," pointed out Angelus dryly. She growled at his condescending tone and Spike merely rolled his eyes.

"Can't you hear it." she murmured dreamily. "One, two, three, four." she muttered to herself. "There is only supposed to be three, loves."

Spike glanced at Angelus in confusion and saw the eldest moving closer to the house, his ears straining to hear something that only Dru seemed to notice. He knew that his sire trusted the insane woman, knew that her visions or premonitions, whatever you want to call them, were usually true. Spike didn't think her as clairvoyant as his elder. But deciding it might be best to humor the chit while in his sire's presence, he did the same, his eyes widening in surprise when he heard it. Angelus' throaty chuckle broke him out of his thoughts and caused him to look into amused eyes.

"Well, well," taunted Angelus with a smirk, "that is certainly new.isn't it. Should have noticed before." he chastised himself with a shake of his head. Spike didn't know what to think, but he couldn't help grinning like an idiot. Just like Dru had said, there were four. Four heartbeats.

Trouble was there were only three people in the house. Right now, he could hear them. Two slow heartbeats coming from the resting couple upstairs. And surprisingly enough, two coming from the sitting room, in front of the fireplace.

"Seems congratulations are in order, my boy," the darker vampire commented with a slap on the back. "You're gonna be a daddy."

~Part: 29~

It was the laughter that did it. Willow had finally allowed herself some time to rest, reclining semi-comfortably in Cordelia's chair, eyes closed in an effort to be claimed by sleep. Her muscles began to relax as she sank into the cushions and the tension slowly ebbed out of her body. But when she heard it, the sound of boisterous male laughter, she was immediately on alert.

Her head shot up, her hands digging into the arms of the chair as she waited for any proof that the sound was not just a figment of her imagination. She thought she might just be acting overly paranoid. It was probably Xander, telling one of his stupid jokes that make him laugh in the middle of his story, ruining it for anyone else listening. Yes, that is what it was, she decided. No need to worry, it was only Xander. It had to be Xander. She hated to think of the possibilities if the noise had not come from her friend.

She ran a shaky hand through her hair, cringing when she accidentally pulled on a few tangled strands. Grimacing, she realized that she really needed a bath, and a hairbrush, and something else to wear. In general, she needed to clean herself up. Trouble was that took energy she simply didn't have right now. Standing, which took much effort on her part, Willow made her way to the mantle, leaning on the marble as her eyes dropped to the fire.

The reds and oranges flickered and intertwined, creating a mesmerizing picture in which she quickly lost herself in. She would have stayed there too, but the heat was beginning to overcome her. Pushing herself away, she walked timidly to the front door, glancing furtively at the staircase, checking if Cordelia was still upstairs. Satisfied that her friend was still distracted, she turned the knob on the door and stepped out in to the fresh air.

Her breath quickened as she found herself on their porch. It wasn't particularly spacious, just a small stretch of wood laden ground on which Cordy had placed an old rocking chair and end table, which held a small candleholder for light and a vase with a daisy in it. The floor creaked underneath her as she took the few steps from the doorway to the rocking chair and she bit her lip at the sound.

Sinking into the chair, she raised her eyes to the sky. The blackness that was the night was lit only by the multitude of stars, and Willow found herself enthralled by their beauty. She easily remembered a time when the night didn't bother her. She recalled when she would leave her home in the middle of the night to meet Xander by the small pond a little ways from his house. They would lie out on the grass, staring at the moon, telling stories. Some were funny, some were scary, or at least they were scary to Xander. Not much seemed to frighten her then. Now, being scared was becoming quite common, to her dismay.

Her fingers traced designs on the wooden arm of the chair, but she barely noticed her actions. She knew she could be taking a risk, being out of the house during the night. But she had not been in town very long and she was relatively sure that the probability of William and the other man already being here was slim to none. At least in her opinion, it was too bad she was beginning to question her own judgment.

She should have taken this time to think. She had no plans to remain here, but she was wary about leaving Cordelia and Xander behind. But she didn't think she could convince them to leave with her. She was just so frustrated. She knew they believed her, for the most part. She would never lie to them. But she really didn't think that they truly understood what they were up against. They didn't see the monsters that murdered her family, not face to face. She sincerely doubted that they would just pick up their things and follow her around England and possibly the whole of Europe running from men they had no connection to. If they wouldn't listen to her, if they wouldn't leave, then she would just have to leave without them, no matter how much she loathed the idea.

Pulling her knees to her chest, she curled up in the rickety chair, dropping her head to rest on her knees. She let out a shuddering breath and closed her eyes tightly. She rocked slowly, back and forth; the only sound was the movement of the chair.

A strong, yet soft hand swept through her wavy red tresses, causing Willow to jump a bit in surprise before relaxing under its touch. She had never heard the front door open or close, but she had been distracted. Sighing softly, she sank further into her chair before lifting her head from her knees, eyes still closed, but this time not so harshly. A tentative smile played at her lips as she reveled in the familiar feeling.

"Xander." she sighed in contentment. "I never heard you come out here."

"Not Xander, pet," replied a calm, slightly amused voice. Her eyes flew open and widened more than Spike thought they ever could. He tightened his light grip on her hair warningly as she tried to pull away and she flinched slightly at the pain. Smiling indulgently as she stilled, his other hand came up to caress her face, his thumb brushing across her cheek. "What were you thinking about so intently, love? Not paying attention to your surroundings. You should know better," he tsked.

"Don't hurt them.please," she pleaded softly, forcing her eyes away from his. His gentle touch disturbed her but she knew she couldn't pull away, he wouldn't let her.

"Couldn't if I wanted to, love. Can't get into the house. Besides, they aren't why we're here, and I think you know that. Don't you, pet?" At her continued silence, his patience began to wane. "Tell me," he demanded, barely suppressing a growl.

"I don't know why you are here," she answered desperately, a tortured sob coming from her chest. He only chuckled and shook his head as he pulled her to stand. She took the opportunity to yank herself from his deceptively light grip and tried to turn away and run to the safety of her friend's home. She didn't make it.

Instead she hit a wall of muscle, looking up into the chastising grin of the dark stranger she remembered from two nights ago. Large hands slipped around her to grip her shoulders tightly, turning her away from him to look back at Spike. She remained in his hard hold, causing her to struggle violently as she tried to escape him.

"Bloody hell!" swore Spike as he stepped forward helped Angelus restrain her. "Stop it!" he ordered, his voice furious but his tone low so as to not wake her friends inside. "Damn it, Willow! Stop it now! Before you hurt yourself, you daft bint!"

"No!" she said as she continued to fight the brunette and bat away the blonde's hands. "You just want to hurt me yourself!" Angelus growled in her ear as he finally managed to wrap an arm around her waist and pull her flush against him, trapping her arms ineffectually as she still tried to flail about.

"Keep up yer wigglin', lass," he teased with a devious smirk, "I'll only enjoy it."

The redhead immediately stilled at his comment and Spike let out an annoyed grunt.

"You're quickly becoming a real pain in the arse, you know that?!" the blonde snarled as he glared at his wife.

"I'm beginning ta think she's more trouble than she's worth," grumbled Angelus with a roll of his eyes.

"Shut your bloody gob!" growled Spike as he took a threatening step toward his sire.

"Make me, boy," he sneered contemptuously as he pulled Willow closer to him. "Although," he considered as he briefly smirked at Spike before moving to study the redhead's profile. "She is a pretty wee thing, ain't she? I can *almost* understand yer obsession with the girl. But if yer not man enough to take what ya want, I'll be more than happy to take yer place. What do ya say, kitten? Feel like playing?" he purred in her ear before biting down on her earlobe lightly.

Willow shrunk into herself as she did her best to make herself as small as she possibly could.

"Now, now," declared soft yet deadly serious voice, the dark haired vampiress stepping out of her place in the shadows to join her sire and brother on the porch. "There will be no playing with sweet William's poppet for you Daddy. You know the rules," she warned him with a venomous glare.

"Besides," she continued as she pushed past an angry Spike to rest in front of Willow, gently pulling the stunned girl from her sire's harsh grip and simply holding the young woman lightly. Her right hand moved to wrap itself around the redhead's elbow, holding her arm and pulling her into a half hug. Her left hand drifted through her long hair, slowly moving downward to graze the girl's neck, shoulders, and so on. "Lovey is in no condition to play, are you ducks?" she asked sweetly.

"Uh, no," replied Willow, unsure what to make of the woman who caressed her like a mother would her daughter. "I'm tired." she stammered, trying to think of what to say to please the stranger. "And-d I haven't eaten. So, yeah, um.I'm sleepy and hungry. That's no condition to p-play in."

"Silly girl," giggled Dru with a roll of her eyes. "Not that," she disagreed with a shake of her head. Her hand continued to travel down the redhead's body, moving from her shoulders, down her breastbone, continuing until she reached her lower abdomen. "This." she whispered, laying her palm flat on the trembling girl's stomach. "I've always wondered what it would be like to be a Mummy.you must tell me. All I have are my dollies, and they are always so naughty. They don't play nice."

"M-Mummy?" she asked in confusion, backing away from the woman with a shaky frown. "No, I mean, I'm not.I couldn't-I'm no one's mother." she denied fervently, fighting the need to run as Spike took a step forward; his gaze had noticeably softened by now.

"You're wrong, pet," he said gently, a half smile on his lips. He took Dru's place at Willow's side, one hand resting on the small of her back as he stared down at her. His free hand where Dru's had been on her stomach.

"We can hear it, love," he told her, never breaking eye contact with her. "Two heartbeats.one here," he added, his hand moving to graze her chest. "Another here." he finished, resting his palm once again on her abdomen. "No denying it."

"But you can't mean-I'm going to be a mother?" she squeaked nervously.

"Yeah, pet," he crooned, moving closer to her. "And I'm gonna be a father."

"You're not William," she said quietly, everything and everyone else forgotten in that moment as she focused only on him.

"Yes, I am," he countered, sounding unusually reasonable for a demon. "I am William, and so much more."

"No," she denied timidly, looking away from him. He growled when she replied and moved directly into her line of vision.

"Look at me!" he demanded furiously. She did so hesitantly, knowing how easily she could lose herself in his eyes.

"I am William," he started, staring straight into her expressive green eyes. "And I am a demon. Don't forget that, pet. And as such, I take what belongs to me, what is mine," he said warningly. His eyes fell to his hand resting possessively on her stomach and growled to himself, "Mine," he stated before returning his amber gaze to her glassy eyes. "Mine," he snarled, making sure she had no doubt that she and their child belonged to him, there would be no misunderstanding.

~Part: 30~

Drusilla watched Spike and Willow, who were obviously transfixed by each other, and the lithe brunette left their side, joining Angelus only feet away; whom was looking away from the scene. The eldest was too busy contemplating his ever growing hunger to pay any attention to the couple before him. Dru wrapped herself around him, her arms winding around his waist, head resting on his chest.

Spike held Willow's gaze without even blinking, not even bothering to change his eyes color back to their normal blue. He wasn't normal, not any more, and it would do her well to remember that. She was the first to look away, her green eyes nervously darting from his to her feet. He heard her mumble something under her breath and even with his enhanced hearing he couldn't make it out.

"Speak up," he ordered in a clipped tone, smirking when she jumped.

"I don't understand you," she cried softly, glancing at him quickly before looking away. "You tell me you're William, but he would never do this. He would never massacre my family, never stalk me, he wouldn't threaten me. I just.I don't understand you."

"Funny thing about that?" he started with a grin, "You don't need to understand me, pet. It doesn't matter. Understanding doesn't change a damn thing. Besides, if you knew all my reasons it would take the mystery out now, wouldn't it? All you need to do is listen and do as you're told. Comprehension plays no part in your life from now on."

"You're evil," she muttered contemptuously, annoyed by his sharp laughter when he heard her.

"Well, yeah," he said with a shrug. Angelus' amused snort was the only sign that the brunette was now listening.

"Can you hurry this up, boy?" drawled Angelus as he moved to lean against the porch railing, rolling his eyes at their dramatics. "I'm feeling a bit peckish. Finish with yer girl so I can find something to eat, already. Hearing all these heartbeats, drives a demon to distraction, I tell ya."

Spike glared at his sire and Dru smacked him lightly on the arm as she frowned at him. Her sire wasn't behaving. He was supposed to be quiet, simply observe, and let their boy take care of his girl. Instead he was impatient and rude, much like he was normally. But now was not the time for his antics.

"What do you want me to do?" Willow asked softly, trying her best to distract Spike. He was busy staring daggers at his sire and his anger would not make her situation any better.

"What's that, love?" the blonde asked as he returned his attention to his wife.

"You said I'm supposed to just listen and do as I'm told," she replied, every part of her screaming in rebellion at the thought of being ordered around by anyone. "So, what do you want me to do?" she ground out, trying to keep her expression impassive.

His wide, approving grin caused her to falter a bit, but she stood her ground.

"Knew you'd see it my way," he purred, his hand moving to graze her cheek and grip her chin lightly.

"Apparently I don't have much of a choice," she muttered unhappily.

"No, you really don't," he agreed darkly. "We are leaving this sodding one horse town, as of tonight. You get to come, that's all you need to know."

"Then I have to go inside to get my things," she reasoned. She knew if she could just get inside the doorway, she would be safe. She could wait them out, and the minute the sun rose she would be on her way out of town, again. She felt his grip on her chin tighten and grimaced in pain.

"Not gonna happen, pet," he growled. "How bloody thick do you think I am? You actually thought I would just escort you to the house, watch you hide yourself inside while I'm stuck out here. Sorry, Red, this is just not your night."

"Not my week apparently," she murmured with a pout.

"Keep that up," he warned with a scowl, "and the ride back won't be pleasant."

"Back?" she asked nervously, "Back where?"

"To London, of course," he answered with a roll of his eyes. "Where else would we be going?"

She was about to stammer some answer that wouldn't make her look stupid for questioning him, when she saw all three vampires still suddenly. There was a rustle of clothing and the sound of footsteps trailing down the stairs that caused the entire party to look to the closed front door.

"Willow?" the redhead heard her name called, the voice feminine, so she knew it was Cordelia. The footsteps quickened and the vampires could detect the woman's heartbeat escalating as she realized that the redhead wasn't in the house, which only left the front porch. The doorknob turned and Angelus exhaled uselessly.

"Finally," he grumbled, "maybe I can finally get a bite to eat."

"Willow?" asked Cordelia, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw William standing there, way too close to Willow for comfort if what her friend had told her was true. Without thinking, she moved to step outside, even if it was just to pull the obviously frightened girl inside.

"No!" Willow screeched before Cordelia could step over the threshold. "Don't come out here, Cordy. Please," she begged desperately.

"Will." the young woman started, her voice trembling. Turning her gaze to William, her eyes pleading, "Why are you doing this to her?" she whispered in fear.

"Sorry pet, this happens to be none of your business," Spike sneered, releasing his grip on Willow and stepping threateningly toward the brunette.

"If it involves her, it's my business," she countered bravely.

"Why don't you come out here and say that, ducks," he dared her with a smirk.

"Don't even think about it, Cordy," Willow warned as Angelus and Dru looked on in amusement. Taking a deep breath, the redhead moved closer to Spike, placing a gentle hand on his arm, tugging on it in an attempt to get him to turn around. She wanted his focus on her.

The blonde turned slowly on his heel, his blue eyes boring into her own.

"Please don't hurt her, don't hurt them," she amended, nearly shaking now. He looked at her, studying her intently before he allowed a wicked grin to slip onto his face. She took a reflexive step back when he approached her but remained rooted to her spot when she heard his warning growl.

"They mean a lot to you, don't they?" he considered softly as he slipped an arm around her waist. Pulling her flush against him, he let his free hand run through her hair, eventually finding its way to her neck, caressing the flesh there gently, his thumb resting over her pulse point. "You don't want them hurt, and yet you continue to fight me."

She flinched when he placed a whisper of a kiss on her temple, hating the overly intimate gesture when she was trying her hardest to ignore the feelings he elicited in her. His chuckle at her actions caused her to frown as she fought not to struggle in his embrace.

"You think I want to hurt you." he murmured in her ear, not wanting her friend to overhear their conversation. "But we know that's not an option, since you're in such a-delicate-condition," he teased. "But your friends mean nothing to me," he hissed. "Their deaths would only bring me pleasure. After all, you ran from me.to them. Hurts a bloke's feelings."

Spike pulled back a bit, turning her head to look at the nervous Cordy. Burying his head in the crook of her neck, he took a deep breath, simply inhaling the comforting scent of her. With a kiss to the base of her neck, he forced himself to straighten once more, his mouth hovering over her ear.

"Do you want that, sweetheart?" he wondered with a smirk. "Do you want to see precious Cordelia beaten and broken like your bloody bitch of a cousin? Or how about Xander with a spike through his heart, hmmm? They are sort of a trademark of mine," he shrugged with a laugh. "It would be a work of art, really. And you'd be there to see it all, wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun after all. That sound good, pet? Do you want that?"

Angelus watched the redhead through narrowed eyes, his arms firmly around Dru's waist now as he watched the couple. He had to admit, he approved of the blonde's technique. Dragging the girl kicking and screaming would do them no good. The child could be hurt in the process, and they would only gather a crowd at the sound of her screaming and yelling. He may be all for a good bloodbath, but that would only give the redhead time to escape them and he was quite tired of chasing this girl all around England. He understood the boy's obsession, he had been there before, but he had not bargained on having to track Willow down. He truly didn't expect her to be the fighter she had turned out to be.

"Their lives are inconsequential," Spike informed his wife with a smile. "Now, I know you want nothing more than to run inside the house and to the protection it and its inhabitants bring, but we know that won't be happening. You got away once, it won't happen again. It shouldn't have happened in the first place. You're coming back to London with us, no choice in that." He turned her once more in his embrace, cocking his head to the side as he contemplated her silently for a moment.

"But I might be willing to strike a compromise, of sorts," he told her, his tone giving her no idea as to what he expected from her. "You hold their lives in the palm of your pretty little hand. Now, you can fight me, which really will do you no good, you have to admit that. And if you do, I'll make sure your friends die a most painful death, I kinda like that idea. Or, you behave, come with us without a fight and I'll consider letting them live. Not too keen on that, but if I must, I will. What'll it be, love?"

"Promise me," she whispered in resignation, her gaze darting to Cordy before returning to him. "You said you'd *consider* letting them live, promise me you will let them live.and I'll go with you."

"Wills, no!" begged Cordelia, her eyes pleading, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. "Don't listen to him, don't do this. They can't get inside, you know that! We are safe, listen to me, please!"

"Safe, Cordy?" Willow said sadly, "Until when? Until they find a way inside? Until you mistakenly step foot outside your home at night?" her voice took on a nearly hysterical tone now. "There are no guarantees, Cordy. But if I go, you will be fine. I can't be responsible for your deaths, if you or Xander were hurt, it would kill me. I have to do this, please understand."

"Touching, really," Spike sneered as he wrapped a hand in her long red hair, tugging sharply so she looked at him. "Do we have a deal, pet?"

"You have to promise me," she demanded timidly.

"Bloody hell, fine," he growled, "I promise we won't off your pals. Now, do we have a deal?" He was growing impatient. He wanted nothing more than to be the hell out of this town, to be back in London. But he wasn't leaving without her, if he had to promise not to kill the ponce she considered a best friend and his wife, then so be it.

Willow bit her lip nervously, stopping the action when she noticed his eyes darken as they looked at her, staring intently at her mouth. She couldn't help but feel like she was literally making a deal with the devil, trading her life for those of her friends. But it had to be done, there was no other choice.

"Yes, we have a deal," she agreed with a stifled sob. He smiled indulgently at her trembling form before tightening his grip in her hair and pulling her into a possessive kiss.

Releasing her after a moment, he was aware that Angelus was currently leading Drusilla back toward their carriage down the street, but he paid them no mind. His hand moved to cup the redhead's cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. "That's my girl."

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