Part 1

Running. Growing up in Sunnydale, one would think that she would be
used to running from things. Her legs ached, but yet she kept on going,
ignoring the burning sensation that was raging up them. Her breathing
was labored, large gasps that caused her chest to hurt every time she
took one in. Sweat poured from her brow into her eyes, blurring her
view, but yet she kept on running. She knew where she was going. Every
part of the journey had been memorized, even the small root that she had
forgotten to look for. Foot catching on it, she fell face first onto the
ground. Ignoring the pain from her scratched up palms and knees, she
pushed herself up and continued on.

Something told her she had to go to him. There was no other way to deal
with this. He was coming for her, she could feel it from the tingling on
her skin to the way her breath seemed to catch each time she thought of
it, and the only way to save herself from the monster was for another one
to claim her. Her dreams had told her there was no other way, and the
fact that her heart agreed didn’t help. It wasn’t that he could save her
from the other, it was that she had wanted him all along.

Stumbling again, she barely caught herself before she was able to break
through the door of Spike’s crypt. Spike, who had been watching
television with Harmony jumped up, yelling, “Slayer!” as the door was
thrown open. It was like her just to break in unannounced, but what he
saw left him speechless. Running to her, he caught the redhead as she
fell, tired and weakened. She was still wearing pajamas from going to
bed earlier in the evening. There were a few rips where tree limbs had
caught on her clothes. Her face also had a few scratches and her hair
was disheveled. Grabbing onto Spike’s shirt, she said, horror in her
eyes, “Spike, he’s coming!”

“Who? Angel?” He had been feeling like his grandsire would be visiting
for the last few days.

“What is this, twenty-questions? Why is she here, Spike? She’s the
slayer’s best friend.”

Spike turned and looked at Harmony. “Would you just shut up, go away
and pout or something.”

As Harmony took his last suggestion and fell onto the couch, her bottom
lip sticking out and her arms crossed, Spike asked Willow, “Who is coming
Willow?”

“The man in my dreams.” Pushing herself away from him, she started to
tell the tale, for some reason wanting to be separated from the blond
vampire as she gave this secret away. “They started when I was in junior
high. There would always be so much blood, and then he would take me and
force me to give him not only my body, but my soul. Just his gaze would
control me, and the things he would do to me in my dreams would haunt me
even in the day hours.” Placing her fingers on her neck, she added, “The
way he touches me, I can’t resist.”

Spike shook his head, not understanding what had brought the red head to
his door. “Then what is the problem?”.

She looked down at the floor, “He scares me Spike. Not only that, be
even when he has my body and takes my soul, the one thing he doesn’t have
is my heart. That belongs to another, and will forever, even though he
does not know it.”

“What about Tara?”

“The one I love, he doesn’t see me. To him I am nothing, just a child.
To Tara, I am so much more. She loves me with more depth than the man
who haunts my dreams, and until my true loves sees me, then she is who I
want to be with.” Leaning her head to the side, showing him her neck,
she remarked, “Help me. Claim me, Spike. I’m willing, so it shouldn’t
hurt you.”

Spike looked into her eyes and saw she was dead serious. What had
gotten into the red head before him. Turning, he glanced at Harmony
still sulking on the couch. “Harmony, go get the slayer.”

“But Spike...!”

“Harmony, shut the hell up and go do what I ask. We don’t have time for
your fuckin’ wining.”

As Harmony stomped out of the crypt, Spike asked, “Why?” The last thing
he wanted was to screw up the slayer’s best friend’s life. Buffy would
stake his sorry ass if anything happened to Willow because of him.

“He won’t take what one of his own family has claimed. As of now, you
are above him, an elder, and he is not going go against you.”

“Willow, I don’t understand.”

She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Standing
slightly on her tip toes, she brought he neck close to his face. “Can
you smell the blood, Spike? Can you hear it coursing through me, calling
to you? You know you want it. You have ever since you tried to bite me
in Buffy and I’s dorm room.”

Spike knew she was right, and he could feel the sensations she was
giving him pull at his demon. Praying against pain, his mouth found the
pulse point of her neck. For a few seconds, he just sucked on it,
savoring the sweetness her skin gave off. Then, he bit down.

Willow took in a deep breath and tried not to whimper as Spike bit into
her neck with full force. Her eyes widened and knees stared to buckle
from the pain, and pleasure, she was feeling. Wrapping an arm around
her, Spike bit down harder, wanting to make sure that the claim was set.
As he did this, Willow gasped again, but it wasn’t her gasps that made
him decide to pull away - it was the smell of arousal she was giving off.

As he released her, she stumbled and then steadied herself by holding
onto him. Weakly, she remarked, “Now I need your blood and it will be
complete.”

“That’s way too dangerous, Willow,” Spike answered her request as he
wiped the blood from his face.

Willow’s face clouded over. “I have to have it Spike, and if you won’t
give it to me willingly...”

“Then what, you’re going to bite me?”

Launching herself at him, she ripped into his chest, tearing his shirt
and biting down hard with her blunt teeth. Spike, surprised by the girls
strength, tried to push her away, but then stopped as she bit into him.
The pain was exquisite. How did this little red head invoke these
feelings inside of him?”

*****

“Now tell me why we are doing this again?”

Cordelia rolled her eyes at Gunn, “Because Angel needs us?”

“I thought Angel made is clear he didn’t want our help when he fired
us.”

Wesley commented from behind the wheel, “Angel hasn’t been himself
lately. He isn’t thinking right.”

Shaking her head, Cordelia asked, “And what gave you that idea, Darla
and Dru’s buffet at the Wolfram and Hart party?”

“He shouldn’t have left them there to be devoured by those two.”

“We all know that he has had a thing about Wolfram and Hart. They
deserved to go down, and Darla and Dru turned out to be a means to a
way.”

Cordelia looked sharply at Gunn. “What, you’re making excuses for him
now?!”

“Not making excuses, just saying that even though I don’t agree, I know
where he was coming from.”

Everyone fell silent a few more minutes until Gunn asked, “What are we
going to do when we get there? Angel told us he didn’t want our help and
so we can’t just go up to him and make him accept our help.”

Wesley answered, “Just what we are going to tell him if he asks. Since
he fired us and Darla and Dru are on the loose, we thought we would tell
Buffy and help her with the problem.”

Cordelia added, “And if rumors are correct, Darla and Dru are on their
way to Sunnydale, which is Buffy’s territory.”

“Why would they be heading to Sunnydale?”

Wesley answered Gunn’s question, “Probably for Spike, and if not that,
then the Hellmouth?”

“Who is Spike?”

“Yet another one of Angel’s family members. The last I had heard
though, Spike was chipped and can’t hurt humans,” Cordelia answered.

Looking out the window, Gunn asked, “And why doesn’t that help make me
feel any better about this?”

Not answering, Cordelia was happy that she wasn’t the only one that was
having second thoughts. Spike wasn’t what she worried about though. No,
her mind kept on wondering back to the article in the paper that had
discussed the mass murder. There was something wrong about the
description and lists of victims.

*****

“Buffy Summers, I don’t care if you had a bad day. Get your slayer ass
down here now!”

From the doorway, Dawn stood, taunting Harmony, “You can’t come in and
Buffy doesn’t want to see you.”

Screaming back to the window, Harmony added, “Spike has Willow, and
something is wrong!”

Buffy stepped up to where she was standing behind Dawn in the doorway,
“What is this about, Harmony?”

“Willow came by the crypt tonight, jabbering on about someone coming for
her and needing Spike to help her. He wasn’t sure what to do, so he
wanted me to come get you.”

“And why should I believe you?”

Before she could answer, a strange car drove up into the driveway and
Wesley, Cordelia, and someone Buffy didn’t know got out and walked to the
door. Ignoring Harmony, except for Cordelia who waved at her old friend,
even though Willow had told her about Harmony’s demon status, Wesley
stated, “Buffy, we have a problem.”

“Told you, but no one listens to me. No!” Harmony remarked.

Cordelia finished, “Darla is back and with Dru. We have a feeling that
they may be heading to Spike’s crypt to get him right now.”

Buffy looked down at Dawn. “I gotta go. Do you think you’ll be safe
until Xander can get here?”

“I can stay with her,” offered Harmony. When Buffy gave her an
exasperated look, Harmony added, “Do you think I’m stupid enough to hurt
the slayer’s sister?”

“Do you want me to answer that?”

“Buffy, I promise not to hurt Dawn.”

“Fine. Everyone come in and we can get weapons and call Xander.”

Wesley pointed to the car, “We’re already armed.”

Dawn looked up at Buffy. Where Willow was involved, Dawn was just as
concerned. Willow was the only one of the scoobies who seemed to
understand Dawn. “I’ll call Xander. Go on and help Willow and Spike.”

*****

Spike had laid Willow on the bed, where she had fallen asleep. It was
then that he thought he felt an odd sensation. About to check it out, he
stopped by the door when Willow said behind him, “They are here. Can you
feel them? They want you and he wants me.”

Going back to her, he took her in his arms, “I won’t let anyone hurt
you.”

Outside his door, he heard a voice calling to him. “Spikey, come out
and say hi to mommy.”

Willow got up with him and followed him to the door, where he turned
around and ordered, “Stay in here.”

She just looked at him, not able to speak for or against his order.
Opening the door, Spike shut it behind him, leaving her alone in the
crypt. Stepping outside, he saw himself looking into the eyes of his
sire, “Druscilla, haven’t you hurt me enough?”

Tilting her head, she remarked, “Mommy wants to make it all better, but
she can’t, can she? I can smell her on you. Her innocence is so potent,
her blood much stronger than a slayers for you. What happened to the
blond that haunted you?”

“She still does,” admitted Spike.

Druscilla shook her head. “Not any more. The witches blood has wiped
her away. I look at you now and all I can see is red.”

“Dru, why are you here?”

“I bring family.”

Darla stepped into the area and a man that he did not know. His eyes,
same cold blue as Spikes, bore into the vampire. They immediately sized
each other up, and it was then that Spike realized who Willow had been
speaking about. It was the man in front of him, and by the look on the
man’s face, he knew exactly who Spike was hiding in his crypt.

Before anyone could say anything, a voice entered the ring, “How nice, a
family reunion. Why wasn’t I invited?”

Spike looked over at the man who had raised him as his own. Angel may
not have been his sire in blood, but he was his teacher, and treated him
as if he was his own, not Druscilla’s. “You’re not the only one who
didn’t know about this, and it’s my place their crashing mate.”

Druscilla pouted, “This daddy isn’t wanted here. Where is the daddy
that left us to our fun?”

“That was a mistake.”

“And a beautiful mistake it was, Angelus,” remarked Darla. “Too bad you
didn’t stay to play.”

Looking over at the man Spike had been sizing down, he remarked, “If I
knew you were going to make him, I wouldn’t have left you there.”
Pulling out a stake, he added, “I guess I will just have to end what you
two started.”

Darla laughed, “Come now, Angelus, you can’t stand a chance against the
three of us.”

“That will be two against three,” remarked Spike.

From the bushes a voice remarked, “And don’t forget us. We want to play
also.” Buffy, Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn emerged, surrounding the group.
Looking at Darla, Buffy added, “You should know better about coming to my
town.”

Pointing her crossbow at Darla, Cordelia asked, “What was that you said
earlier about my dead on aim, Wesley?”

Darla laughed, “Honey, I’ll have that bow out of your arms and my fangs
in your neck before you can move that trigger finger.”

“Yes, but you have more than just Cordelia aiming at you, and they tell
me my aim is even better. Something about being a slayer and all,”
remarked Buffy. Eyeing the three new vampires, Buffy then asked, “Who is
your new friend?”

Before anyone could answer, a small voice came from behind Spike.
Willow had snuck out of the crypt during the scene. Wrapping her arms
around Spike and then feeling him do the same in a protective gesture as
he eyed the newcomer with hate, Willow remarked, “Lindsey.”
 

Part 2

"Willow."  Lindsey stepped forward towards Willow, but Angel moved
between them.

As Lindsey growled, Angel's face turned to its demon visage.  "You can't
have her.  She's already been claimed."  Growling slightly, he gave Spike
a quick glance and then looked back to Lindsey.  "By family.  That is a
claim you can't break."

"I will have her, Angel.  It is destined that she be mine and there is
nothing you or your boy prodigy can do about it in the end."

Placing Willow behind him, guarding her with his body, Spike remarked,
"I think ramming a bloody wooden stake in your heart wood do just fine,
mate."

Druscilla started to laugh.  Playing with her hair, she remarked,
"Daddy's not happy with my boy, but he is more cross with Grandmummy's
baby."

Buffy, sporting a very unhappy look, locked her jaws as she listened to
what was going on.  What was Angel talking about?  How could Willow have
let Spike claim her?  Then again, how could Spike have claimed her with
the chip?  Could he have had it removed?  Her mind started to compute
everything, trying to grasp the situation, but had a hard time, for all
she could think about was Riley.

Glancing at Dru and then Lindsey after surveying their surroundings,
Darla made her move quick and precise.  One minute, Buffy Summers had
been alert, and the second her attention dropped, Darla had attacked.
The crossbow fell to the ground as Darla held onto her from behind.  Game
face on, she looked over Buffy's shoulder - over the shoulder of a slayer
who didn't have the will to fight.

Spike saw the look in Buffy's eyes, the look that he had seen in two
other slayers.  It shocked him to his soul.  This wasn't suppose to be
the time - wouldn't be the time.  In front of him, Angel shifted.  He had
to see the look to, and was probably wondering what had sent his blond
bimbo into a state where she would be willing to just give up.  Spike
shook his head and felt his demon face come on.  No, tonight wasn't the
time, especially if him and Angelus had anything to do with it.

Looking over at Lindsey, Dru remarked, "Grandmummy wants to play, but
Daddy wants to stop her.  He doesn't want us to play, especially with
your red siren.  Screaming, moaning, pain, skin tearing and dust."
Looking back at Darla, she asked, "What does Grandmammy wish to do?  The
stars whisper it, but will she say it?"

Darla growled, rubbing her fangs against Buffy's neck. She could feel
the slayer beneath her.  For some reason the slayer wasn't scared.  She
seemed oddly at peace at the moment.  There was no fun in destroying
someone who wanted to die.  Looking up at Angel, she remarked, "Looks
like a stalemate tonight, Angelus, but we will be back."  With that, she
released Buffy and disappeared into the night.  Dru just gave Angel and
Spike a small smile and followed, while Lindsey chose to glare.

As Cordelia lowered her weapon, Angel asked, "Why did you let them go?"

"Now wasn't the time," she answered.  When he didn't say anything, she
added, "But if you would of like, we could have just shut you in Spike's
crypt with them and let you have it out."

Wesley shook his head.  "Now isn't the time, Cordelia."

Angel was seething, and it wasn't because of Cordelia, but he lashed out
at her anyway, "Do you want to have it out right now, Cordelia, because
if you do, we can!  It has been a long time coming!  'We're the only ones
standing between you and darkness, Angel.'" he mimicked.  "Do you think I
don't know that?  Do you think that wanted to bring you, and Wesley, and
Gunn into this?  Well, do you?"

Cordelia, for the first time in a while, stood alone, with Wesley and
Gunn watching instead of backing her up.  "I think that Darla has clouded
your mind, and that you haven't been able to see the people in front of
your face.  While you shut yourself away, we worked for you, trying to
save you from what we saw coming, and how do you show gratitude for the
people that lay their lives on the line for you?  You fire us!  Well, no
one, not even you, fires Cordelia Chase."

From the side, Gunn remarked, "Actually, I think he did."

Both Angel and Cordelia spat out at him, "Not now, Gunn!"

Turning back to Cordelia, Angel remarked, "I never asked for your help.
I just wanted you safe, far away from what could happen."

Cordelia yelled back, stomping her foot, "Well, I never asked for you to
keep me safe.  All I want is to help, and damn Dru, Lindsey and Darla if
they get in my way!"

"Fine!"

She crossed her arms and glared at him.  "Fine!"

There was silence in the air for a few seconds and then Angel turned on
Spike.  "What the Hell were you thinking your doing?  I should rip your
heart out right now."

Willow stepped between Spike and Angel.  "You won't touch him, Angel.  I
asked him to do this."

"What?" asked Angel.

Buffy's quiet voice stated from behind him as she was walking towards
the three, a look of loss and regret on her face, "How could you let him
do that?  Was it something I did?  Was I not there for you either?"

Angel was lost, but Spike and Willow both understood what she was
talking about.  Reaching out at her friend and wrapping her arms around
her, Willow answered, "No, Buffy.  You had your own problems, and I knew
you needed to be there for your mom.  We all understood that."

Buffy cried into her shoulder.  They were in the middle of a graveyard
at night, and this was the time Buffy chose to talk since that night.
"Riley didn't.  Why couldn't he?"

From behind Willow, Spike answered, "Because he loved you Buffy.  All he
wanted was to be with you, for you to let him in and let him take care of
you during all this, and even though you tried, all you did was push him
away."

Raising her head, Buffy asked, "You saw it?"

Spike frowned as he remembered the plastic stake Riley had forced into
his heart.  He almost answered, "No, felt it."

Willow answered instead, "We all knew something was up with him."
Looking into her eyes, she remarked, "I'm not Riley, Buffy.  You haven't
lost me."

Buffy ran her fingers over the two holes in Willow's neck.  "Why?  How?"
 In that instant, she backed away from Willow and flew at Spike.  Pushing
him into the outside wall of his crypt, she took a cheap shot and kicked
him in the shin.  "Did you have a little chip removed?  Is that how you
planted your teeth into my best friend's neck?"

Angel hauled Buffy off of Spike, and Willow once again placed herself
between Spike and everyone else, trying her best to look intimidating in
her flannel print pajamas.  I already answered that Buffy.  I asked him
to.  His chip wasn't activated because I was willing."

"But why?"

Behind them, Wesley spoke up.  "Lindsey."

"What?" asked Buffy.  "He was the guy with Dru and Darla, wasn't he?"

"The newest member of my happy family - except for Willow that is,"
answered Angel.

"Willow's held back on us," added Wesley.

It all started to click in Angel's head.  The night of the wine tasting,
he had felt the fear in the room, but he hadn't felt it from Lindsey.
The lawyer had known, hadn't he.  He had known that they would turn him.
Maybe that was why he had wanted Darla so much, because he knew she would
be the key.  The key to what though?  How were him and Willow related to
each other?

Willow looked down at the ground and started to explain, leaving out the
details she didn't want to speak of, "Since I was in junior high, I had
dreams of him coming for me, to claim me as his own.  It was like it was
destined to be.  Then, when Buffy came, the dreams were muted, and I
hardly had them.  A few days ago, they came back in full force.  I could
feel that he was coming, so I ran to Spike.  I knew that if he claimed
me, then Lindsey couldn't have me."

Angel dropped his gaze.  Everything he was sensing told him that Spike
would protect Willow with his life, now that they had claimed each
other,.  However, that didn't calm the sick feeling he was having.
Lindsey had been strong before he was ever turned, and Angel had a
feeling that he would grow strong fast with Darla as a parent.  He would
grow powerful, yes, probably even more powerful than Angelus.  And when
that happened, because everything was screaming at him that it would,
Lindsey would come for Willow, Spike be damned.  As everyone else started
to approach, Angel remarked, "We probably should go get some rest."
Looking at Willow and Spike, he remarked, "I think Willow should stay
here tonight with Spike.  Lindsey won't try anything tonight."

Gunn knitted his eyebrows.  "You're going to leave her with a blood
sucker that has already bitten her once?"

"Spike won't hurt her."

Buffy rose an eyebrow and looked over at the bleach blond.  It was then
that she saw it in his eyes.  What had been directed towards her in them
just days ago were now focused on Willow, and they held something even
more deep than they had held for her.  Willow was now his and there was
nothing he would let by him.  Nodding, she realized Angel was right.
"Fine.  Willow can stay here."  Turning back to everyone else, she
remarked, "How about some hot cocoa at my house.  Mom isn't home yet, but
I've been told mine is just as good."

Turning, she started to walk away, but Spike caught her attention.
Turning to him, she met his gaze, as he remarked, "The time isn't right
yet, Buffy.  You have a little sister and mother to live for.  Don't
forget that."  Smiling, he added, "Because I can't bloody hell have
someone else slip in again if you lose your way."

"Nice to know you want my death to be all about you, Spike."  With that,
she turned and started for Wesley's car.  One by one, they started to
follow.  Angel, the last of the group, remarked before doing so, "Keep
care of her, Spike."

Watching them leave, Spike grabbed Willow's hand and led her to the
door.  As they stepped safely inside and he shut the door, Willow started
to falter.  Clutching to him, she muttered, "Too much acting.  Want to go
back to sleep.  So tired."

Smiling, Spike picked her up and carried her to the bed where he gently
laid her down.  Covering her up and tucking her in, he smiled down at the
red head.  How could someone he had not paid attention to in quite a
while suddenly have such a pull on him.  Laying down beside her, he
stretched out on his side and decided to watch her sleep, and for some
reason, it made him feel at peace - a feeling he hadn't had since waking
up in the arms of Druscilla after his death.

***

Anya sat at the window, pushing the curtains aside as she peered
outside.  Inside basically was Xander, Dawn and Harmony staring at each
other.  There had to be something more happening outside.  This was
Sunnydale.  Something was always going on, even though something usually
ended up being bad and evil.  A car drove up and she sighed, and then
gasped as another vehicle approached.   The first care was a rental car,
the name Hertz screamed out at her.  Buffy got out, with Wesley, Cordelia
and someone else she didn't know.  Behind them, Angel stepped out of his
car.  Behind her, Xander asked, "What is it?"

"Big and glowery is here with your ex-girlfriend."

"What?"

Dawn perked up a little.  "Angels here?"

From her seat, Harmony asked, "Angel, as in Angelus?"

The door opened, and after Buffy followed the answer to her question.
Angel's eyes darted to Harmony and he growled.  "Buffy, did you know you
have a vampire in your home?"

Buffy was tired and really didn't want to mess with this anymore.  All
she wanted was curl up on her bed and fall asleep.  "Harmony is not a
problem, and I promise to have Willow come over tomorrow and do an
uninvite spell.  Now, if you all don't mind, I'm going to bed.  Please
make yourselves comfortable."  Motioning to Dawn, she added,
"And you, young lady, need to go to bed also."

"But Buffy, I want to talk to Angel."

"Don't make me repeat myself, Dawn.  You can talk to Angel later.  Now,
up to bed."  Dawn sighed and rolled her eyes, but Buffy was the big
sister, and with Mom gone, she was in control.  Muttering to herself, she
went up the stairs, not hiding her dislike of being sent to bed.
 

Part 3

Part Three

Willow admired the sleek feeling her peach silk gown gave her as it grazed her body. Loving the way it moved against her, she danced around the
room. Soft candle light caused ripples to lightly appear and disappear with her every movement. Music swelled in her mind, and she moved about
more, swinging to it until she felt him.

Standing still, she stood with her back to him, feeling his gaze as it swept over her body. Even though she couldn’t see him, she knew exactly
where his sights lay. Slight tingling made its way up and down her body. It focused, and without even listening to his steps, she knew that he was
approaching. In seconds his arms were around her and she knew that if he had been alive, she would be feeling his breath on her neck.

In one swift motion he turned her around. Her eyes met his, and she felt a weakening in her knees as their gazes met. As one of his hands started
to slide down the side of her slip, the other pulled her closer to him. Reminding herself to breath, she lightly closed her eyes and tilted her head
back, moaning as she felt his burning gaze work its way down her body.

She felt his lips lightly brush her throat. Soft kisses made their way to her ear, were a husky voice called her name, “Willow.”

Her arms surrounded him as she leaned back up and opened her eyes. Their eyes met again. His searched hers and found in them a promise that he
would never had expected from the red head. A slight smile lighted his pale face. When she thought that he couldn’t get any closer in the position
they were in, he brought her even closer.

Demanding lips found hers. Opening her mouth to his, she let him think that he had dominance over her, but then fought back. Concentrating on the
sensation of the kiss, she felt herself start to grow even more dizzy as she started to run out of air.

A hand snaked up her legs, lifting the silk gown and then slipping beneath. In an instant, her leg wrapped around him. Light fingers brushed against
her, causing a ripple of sensations to travel up her body.
Gasping, she broke the kiss not only for lack of air, but from the feelings his simple caresses was causing.

As he worked his way down her neck, soft kisses becoming rougher, he picked her up. In only a few quick strides, he carried her to the bed. It
seemed that hardly a second passed from when she was in his arms to when she was laid out on the bed. Willow looked up at him as he discarded
some of his own clothes. A small smile formed on her lips as she looked upon the body that was hers.

In a stalking motion, reminding her of an animal moving upon its prey, he started up her body, kissing and nipping his way up, while his tongue
traced lazy circles. Hands worked their way up too, once again pushing up her gown as they played against her skin, trying to elicit small moans. By
the time he reached her face and once again met her gaze, her face was already flush with anticipation. A demonic face took over as he was
starting to lose control of the demon that wanted to claim her as his again. He grazed her neck with his fangs, drawing only a small rivulet of blood.
Willow’s fingers worked through his hair as she arched up, surprised at the sensations his fangs were causing her. She moaned and called his name,
“Spike.”

The vampire brought his face back to hers as their lips met, each ravage kiss growing in desire. Willow’s body screamed in need. Then, just as she
felt him move over, thinking that her need was about to be met, something happened. Someone was above her, but it wasn’t Spike. Her eyes
opened and she tore away from the kiss.

Red. Blood. Everything around her glared red - the walls, the lights, even the sheets on the bed. Oh, goddess, this couldn’t be happening again.
Looking up, her eyes met his cold, calculating blue eyes. A feral grin appeared on his face. Tossing her head back and forth and beating her fists
against him, she tried to push him away, screaming out at him. Lindsey grabbed her fists and held them over her head. Leaning his head down, he
whispered in her ears, “You are meant to be mine, completely.”

Willow’s eyes grew wide as she knew what was coming next. Crying out, begging, she found her words falling on silent ears as he forced himself
upon her. At first her cries were loud, but then they subsided as she gave up and stopped fighting. This was how it always happened, over and
over, and there was no way to break the events. A small trail of tears worked their way down the side of her face as she closed her eyes, falling
silent, giving up.

She didn’t want to open her eyes, but then, she found that she had to see if something would be different, if she wouldn’t see the bodies, their
bodies. Slowly, Willow opened her eyes, searching the walls for what she knew would be there. Battered bodies, some alive, some dead hung from
the wall. It was their trophies - Xander, Wesley, Cordelia, Angel, Spike, Buffy, Graham (Wait, when did Graham get here). Her mind thought about
the final person as she found herself face to face with blue eyes, holding only concern.

Spike looked down at her, his hands trying to sooth her shaking body. “Willow, are you okay? What’s wrong? Bad dream?”

*****

Soft moans pulled Spike from the slight bit of sleep he had just fallen into. Opening his eyes, he looked over at the red head laying under the covers
beside him. She had thrown some of the covers off of her and had turned onto her other side, facing away from him.

Leaning on his elbow and resting his head on his hand,
Spike smiled at her with amusement as he realized what she was dreaming. Her moans and the smell of her arousal were intoxicating. Quickly
reminding himself that he had to be careful with her - she was best friends with a slayer that at times was a little stake happy - he decided just to
cover her back up before going back sleep himself. Pulling the covers up her body, he stopped as she called out a name, “Spike.”

The covers dropped half of their way up, as he let go of them in shock. Willow, the sweet little witch, who seemed so innocent, was dreaming of
him, a vicious killer that would have rather ripped her throat out than anything else only a day ago. But that was now the past, wasn’t it. As soon
as he had bit into her, biting hard and taking enough just to claim her, something had clicked inside when it came to her.
When she bit into him, all thoughts of Buffy were erased, and all he could think of was Willow - her bright green eyes, her sweet smile, every aspect
of her body, and even the way she seemed to ramble at times. There wasn’t anything else he wanted, rather than her by his side.

His hands, hands that were capable of such murder and violence, gently brushed her cheek as she shuttered. Spike started to idly play with her
hair, loving the way it glistened in the slight morning light that made its way into his crypt. How could he have ever looked over her, when she had
been right there, in front of him the whole time?

As he started to ask himself this, something changed. The desire he had been feeling - smelling - from her switched to fear in a matter of a second.
Willow screamed out Lindsey’s name in horror and then continued to cry and shake till she seemed comatose. Spike tried shaking her, but nothing
seemed to happen. Holding onto her face, his thumbs lightly brushing her cheeks, he found himself begging her to wake up.

Willow’s eyes shot open, meeting his. At first there was fear and then all of a sudden relief. He asked her if she had been having a bad dream, a
nightmare. Willow nodded and jumped out of the bed, not saying a word. Reaching for her, Spike tried to coax it out of her, “Willow, you need to tell
me about it.”

Shaking her head, she answered, “I can’t. It’s too much. I just don’t want to discuss it. Okay.” Her hands nervously ran through her hair. How could
she tell Spike that she had been dreaming about him, only to have the dream turn into part of the nightmare that had plagued her for years?

Spike reached out and finally got a response, her hand. Holding onto it, he finally found her eyes, looking at him with fear and embarrassment.
“Willow, what can I do?”

She was about to answer when there was a slight knock at the door of Spike’s crypt. Letting go of her hand, Spike let Willow answer the door,
deciding to stay in safety from any damaging sun rays. Part of him wanted to join her though, to see who it was, to protect her if it was somebody
working for Darla, Dru or Lindsey. Who it was, though, he would have never guessed.

Tara tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and entered the crypt, shutting the door behind her. Looking at Willow, trying her best to ignore
Spike, she started, “I, uh, noticed you left last night, so I..I thought that you may n-need some clothes.” She held out a bag.

Willow frowned as Tara’s stuttering and shyness came back. It was also hard to miss the puffy eyes that stared at the floor, not wanting to meet
Willow’s gaze. “Tara, I don’t know how to explain, but Spike and I didn’t...”

Tara surprised Willow by actually looking up and speaking clear. “I know about the dreams, both of them.” When Willow looked at her in confusion,
Tara explained, “I was so scared of losing you when Oz came back, but shortly after that, I realized he wasn’t the one I could lose you to.” Turning
her gaze to Spike, a small tear fell down her face as she looked over at him, “I’m not the name you call out in your sleep.” Looking back at Willow,
she placed her hand on Willow’s cheek, now trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to take over, “You deserve to be with the one you
love.”

Stunned, Willow didn’t know what to say. She watched as Tara placed the bag on the floor and then slipped out of the crypt without saying
another word. Tears started to flow down her own face as she realized that she had lost her lover from the last year. Her knees gave in, and she
began to fall to the ground. Before she hit it, Spike wrapped his arms around her. Not saying a word, he just held her as she cried, letting out tears
that would not stop.
 

Part 4

“Here. Let me have the remote. I’m bored.”

Cordelia turned her head and looked over at Anya with a look that did
not mirror happiness. Anya had arrived at the Summer’s house about an
hour ago, and Cordelia had been stuck with her all by herself. Silently,
she wished that Gunn hadn’t spent the night at Xander’s and that Wesley
hadn’t left early to go visit Giles. Her and Anya had tried to come to
an understanding about Xander. The truth was that she was over Xander,
but Anya seemed to be very much the jealous type.

Smiling falsely at the ex-demon, she remarked, “I want to watch Regis,
so you’re just going to have to deal with it.” Turning her attention
back to the television, she frowned as they introduced the guest host.
It was another one of the “Survivor” members. Muttering to herself as
she noted the rerun, she remarked, “Who cares about the ‘Survivor’ cast.
Stick them with a whole bunch of demons and then I’ll be impressed.”
Scowl on her face, she handed Anya the remote. “Here. It’s all yours.”

Smiling, Anya started to turn the channels and then stopped on
Scooby-Doo. “How about this?”

“Fine, but you know what is going to happen.”

“What do you mean?” asked Anya, a little confused.

“First of all, the gang stops somewhere, usually to spend the night on
part of their long trip to Woodstock.” Stopping, she added, “Have you
ever noticed that they end up all over the globe on their way? I mean,
why would they be in Scotland or London when they are going to Woodstock?
Not only that, but there is the transporting of the Mystery Machine over
the ocean.”

“Huh?” asked Anya, lost at what Cordelia was talking about. “Why would
they want to go to Woodstock? It wasn’t all that great.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, there were a lot of scorned lovers at Woodstock. There was one
guy that I ...”

Cordelia brushed her off. “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know.
Remember, I have taken part in your little wish granting.” Getting more
comfortable in her chair, she continued, “Anyway, what I was saying
before. They’ll probably stop to stay the night somewhere, get forced
into solving a mystery. They’ll split up, someone will be kid napped,
Velma will lose her glasses, there will be a large chase scene with
music, they’ll talk Scooby into being a decoy so they can lure the
monster in, it will be screwed up but they will catch the monster anyway,
and in the end, it really won’t be a monster but some guy in a mask.”

Anya frowned. “Great. Now you ruined it for me.”

Cordelia was about to retort when the door opened up and Xander and Gunn
both entered. For some reason, Gunn seemed just a little cleaner cut and
Xander seemed a bit more grungy. Both were holding a biggie drink and a
bag of chips from the super mart down the street. Cordelia frowned at
the sight. “Xander, you’ve corrupted him.”

“No I didn’t.”

Looking over at Gunn, she asked, “What did you do last night?”

“Fixed some pizza, watched a movie, slept for a few hours, worked out
some and then got ready to come here.”

“Gunn, you haven’t watched a movie since ‘Malcom X,’” Turning back to
Xander, she added, “See, you have corrupted him. Xander, you made him
watch a movie.”

Xander ignored her and plopped down in a chair in front of the
television. Turning his hat on backwards and placing his feet on the
coffee table, he remarked, “I have no idea what you are going on about.”

Gunn sat down on the floor in front of Xander, and together they cried
out, “Scooby Dooby Doo,” scooby style.

Anya crossed her arms, “I don’t see what the big deal is guys, when we
know what is going to happen.”

Xander frowned at Cordelia, “You told her about the guy in the mask at
the end, didn’t you.”

Before she could answer, Gunn remarked, “Man, that’s low.”

Shaking her head, Cordelia remarked, “Great, you’re friends. How
quaint. The next thing we know, Xander’s going to be calling Gunn G-dog
and Gunn will call Xander... call Xander ...hmm.” Smiling, she finished
with, “I just can’t think of anything cool to call Xander.”

“Hey, I have you know that I am all kinds of cool.”

“In what universe?” asked Cordelia.

She was about to add more when a tired Buffy walked down the stairs.
Rubbing her puffy, swollen, red eyes, she asked, “Where’s Dawn?”

Cordelia answered, “School. When she got up, I saw that she got
breakfast and all that, and then Wesley took her to school before heading
over to see Giles. Oh, and Wesley I camped out here for the night.”

Buffy looked confused. “School? Dawn’s gone? What time is it?” She
started to freak out as she came down the stairs. “Time. Time. Time.
Did I forget to pick up Mom? Oh my gosh, she is probably sitting in
front of the hospital, wondering where her incompetent daughter is.”

“Chill, Buffster,” commented Xander. “It’s only nine-thirty. You still
have a few hours before you need to be there.”

Nodding, Buffy took a deep breath and calmed herself down. Looking
around the room, she asked, “Where did Angel stay last night?”

Cordelia tried not to laugh as she answered, “He stayed the night with
Harmony. You know how he worries. He didn’t want her to come in and
have a little snack while we were sleeping, so he kept a close watch on
her.” Finally busting up, she tried to edge in, “He called me this
morning before heading to the magick shop to say next time, he’s bringing
a stake to save himself from her random prattle.”

Buffy was about to remark on the fact that Harmony and Cordelia used to
be best friends when there was a slight knock on the door. Opening the
door, two sets of swollen, puffy eyes looked at each other. Tara wiped a
stray tear that was sliding down her face and remarked between sniffles,
“I...came to... help. The magick shop...is...clo...closed right now, so
I c...came here.”

From the side, Cordelia stated, “Giles wasn’t going to open it till ten
today.”

“Which means sleep in time for me,” added Anya.

Taking Tara’s hand, Buffy led her into the house and motioned to the
people sitting in her living room. “Tara, this is Gunn and Cordelia.
They work for Angel in LA, who you should meet later with Wesley.”
Turning to the others, she added, “Everyone, this is Tara.”

Cordelia jumped up, surprising everyone. “Oh my gosh, Willow has told
me so much about you in her emails. Now I can place a face with the
name.” Going up to Tara, she grabbed her elbow. “Come on. Let’s head
on over to the magick shop. They should be open by the time we get
there, and then we can start researching.” Without waiting for an
answer, she pulled the unsuspecting girl out the door.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Cordelia let go. “So, how much did
you know?”

“Wh..what do you mean?”

“You and Willow are close. She should have told you, or maybe you might
of heard something.”

Moving a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Tara answered Cordelia’s
inquiry, staring straight ahead as she did so, “She called their names
out in her sleep. He would make her cry.”

“They?”

“Him...and Spike.”

Cordelia stopped. Willow called out Spike’s name in her sleep? She had
Spike claim her. Was staying away from Lindsey her only reason, or did
the red head have an even deeper purpose? Could it be that she had a
thing for him, for a blood thirsty vampire? Not only that, but if she
did, then how long had Tara known, living with the knowledge that her
love may actually dream of another? Turning to Tara, she stated, “Oh,
my, I am so sorry. I didn’t know about Spike.”

Trying to keep back the tears, Tara answered, losing the stuttering as
she concentrated on the sobs taking over, “She needs him, so much more
than me, but together we can keep her safe.”

Cordelia Chase, known for her cold shoulder, wrapped her arms around the
small girl, comforting her. “Nothing will happen to her. I promise.”

*****

Lindsey played mindlessly with the blond hair sprayed out across his
chest. Just a week ago, he had dreamed of playing with her hair like
this and now that dream had come true. The only catch was that even
though he wanted her then, he had known that she would just be a means to
a way, that she could lead the way to the red head that had been haunting
his dreams. Now that dream was coming true, and with every minute, he
could feel himself getting stronger, growing closer to the siren of a
witch.

“I used to dominate your thoughts, and now you’re thinking of her again,
aren’t you?”

“I’m drawn to her. The need to take her, to dominate her fills my demon
with such pleasure.”

“And what do I give your demon?”

Flipping them over, he loomed over her. Leaning down, he whispered,
“Oh, Darla, you have given me more than you could ever know.”

Her demon face came on as he bit down on her neck. As he took in blood
that seemed to be more than just sweet nectar to him, she screamed out
more as his bite turned harsher. It had been so long since she had the
feelings that were racing through her body from a bite. Part of her
wished that it would have been Angelus that brought forth those feelings,
but Lindsey would do for now. Yes, this childe had a potential to
surpass her former favorite.

From the door, a voice interrupted, “I’m sorry. I just wanted to show
my lovely what we have set up for the slayer and her playmates.”

Sitting up, Lindsey wiped away Darla’s blood from his mouth and let his
human visage return. Darla, doing the same, threw on a robe and walked
to the doorway. “My darling can show the pet all she wants.” Drusilla
smiled as Darla caressed her face and then let her enter.

Lindsey smiled as he put a shirt on but didn’t bother to button it.
Drusilla entered, leading her pet with a leash. The pet wore her hair
up, showing off as much of her soft skin as possible. She wore a long
black silk gown and a collar at her neck. Her pet looked over at him
with hollow eyes. For a split second, he thought he saw a spark of
pleading in them, but then they glassed over again, hardly taking in the
room that Drusilla wanted to show so much.

Leading the woman to a seat, Drusilla forced her into a sitting
position. Dancing to the wall, she started to rhyme in a sing-song
voice, “Oh Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?”
Playing with shackles along the wall, she added, “With a little slayer
and all her friends in a row.”

Darla nodded. “Yes, we have made them quite a room, haven’t we?”

Drusilla smiled. Taking a brush, she walked over, took her pet’s hair
down and started brushing it. “Such pain, sweet pain.” Looking up at
Darla she added, “And a new addition. So hurt, agony, such hate against
us all, but he could be so much more. A demon would love to feed upon
him, gnawing, ripping that soul to shreds, rags, tatters. He could be a
daddy.”

Darla looked on in interest. Drusilla had never mentioned this before.
“Tell me more.”

“Tugging, pulling, his soul is wounded. He hates her, but is obligated,
wants, lust.” Drusilla stopped and dropped the brush she was using on
her pet’s hair. She gasped and covered her face. “But the witch...”

Picking up the brush and handing it back to her, Darla asked, “Willow?”

“No. Quieter, so much so the eye looks over her.” Looking at Lindsey,
she added, “She wants to stop you from taking what was hers from my
little one. Tip-toe, teeter-totter, the future weighs back and forth,
here and there, live or die, snip snip.” Still eyeing Lindsey, she
remarked, “Dust.”

Lindsey jumped up from his seat. “We have to strike before they can
prepare.”

Wrapping her arms around him, Darla remarked, “Spike’s claim is strong.”

“Yes, but I am growing stronger.”

In front of them, Drusilla cooed, swaying back and forth, “The slayer
finds comfort in captured souls tonight, frozen in time. Alone, her
friends will find themselves.”

Licking his neck before turning her face back to its demon, Darla
remarked, “Just the thought of blood makes me...”

Looking past her, to Drusilla, Lindsey asked, “Dru, why don’t you take
Lilah
upstairs and fix a bit of tea.”

Lilah looked up at him, once again an emotion, this time hate, flashing
through her eyes. For the second time in her life, she was praying that
Angel would come and save her. How things could change in such a small
amount of time. Her hand brushed up against the bite marks on her neck.
If only the crazed vampire would take to much, then she could at least
have peace.

*****

Angel paced back and forth. Stopping by a computer where Cordelia was
searching the internet, he asked, “Have you guys found anything?”

Wesley looked up from over Cordelia’s shoulder. “Not since the last
time you asked five minutes ago.”

Growling, Angel remarked, “Well find something. Lindsey is going to
come after Willow, our Willow. You know that don’t you?”

“Yes,” answered Cordelia, “but Spike has his claim on her now.”

Flexing his hands, Angel stated, “Yes, but Darla is Lindsey’s sire. She
may be a new vampire, but there was something in her from her previous
self. Her powers, her strength is fused into what she used to be. That
makes her almost as powerful as she was. Now that she sired Lindsey,
those powers have been passed on. In any amount of time, he may be able
to gain enough power to surpass Spike in the family. When that happens,
we may be the only thing standing between him and Willow, so now I ask
again, have you found anything?”

From the Magic Shop’s table, Tara remarked, “We..we really need Willow
here.”

Giles nodded. “Yes, we really don’t know what to look for here when it
comes to dreams, unless she can shed some light on it.” Taking off his
glasses, the watcher started to clean them as he always did when he was
worried or nervous.

Across the table, Xander remarked, “I have a feeling that Willow doesn’t
want to tell us much about them. I’ve been her best friend for years,
and she had never mentioned them to me.”

Gunn nodded, “The vibes I got from her last night, they weren’t pretty.
No wonder she doesn’t want to share them.”

“Well, you could just ask her about them instead of sitting about
wondering,” remarked Anya from the register. She pointedly looked
towards the door where Spike was opening the door for the object of their
conversation.

Willow, slightly pale, covered fresh bite marks on her neck out of
instinct before remembering that they knew about the claiming. Moving
her hand, she slowly walked into the shop. Spike followed her, guarding
her every move. Helping her into a seat, he asked, “What have you
found?”

Placing his glasses on his nose, Giles remarked, “We were hoping that
Willow could help us out on this.”

“How?” asked Spike.

Tara took in a deep breath. “W...we need to know about the dreams.”

Willow paled even more. As Spike placed a comforting hand on her
shoulder, she asked, “What do you want to know?”

Giles leaned forward. “The dreams, you, uh, are they always the same?”

At first Willow nodded, but then she started to shake her head. “The
people were different?”

“What people?” asked Angel, a little roughly.

Spike glared at him. “Don’t push her.”

Placing her hand on Spike’s and squeezing, Willow started, “The people
on the wall. First, it was only Xander and Cordelia, but then, two weeks
before she showed, Buffy joined them. They were on the wall, pinned in
place. Blood would be everywhere.” As tears came, she fought through
them and kept on. “Sometimes, even Angel and Spike would be there. But
then, last night, there was someone new.”

“Who?” asked Xander, not crazy about the idea of hanging on a wall.

“Graham.”

From the cash register, Anya remarked, “But he took Riley with him to
Belize.”

Willow shook her head. “But he was there this last time. He was
covered in bruises and had a huge gash stitched up on his right arm.”
 

“Could it be possible that the future is in such a constant motion, that
this dream is changing with it?” asked Wesley.

Tara handed a book to Giles and then Giles commented after reading it,
“If so, then we may be able to break its tie.”

“Will that go both ways, to Willow and Lindsey?”

“Why do you ask?”

Angel looked over at Giles, “Because last night Lindsey knew her.
Something tells me he has been having the same dreams.”

Giles was about to reply when Tara paled. She tapped his arm and
pointed to the door. Everyone turned around to see another enter the
shop. The new addition remarked, “I see that the shop is closed, but
Dawn said I could find Buffy here.”

Xander pointed at the man’s arm, which was in a sling, “What happened
there, Graham?”

Graham looked down with a bruised and scratched face at the arm.
“Knife. Went right through muscle to the bone. The doctor said to keep
it in a sling so the muscle can heal faster.”

“And Riley?” asked Willow.

Graham looked down, his face clouding over. “I need to speak to Buffy.”

Xander was already heading to the back. “I’ll go get her.”

The room fell silent. Everyone watched as Buffy emerged from the
training room. Her face looked even paler than Willow’s as she saw who
was waiting for her. They silently looked on as Buffy and Graham quietly
talked to each other.

Buffy approached Graham. Her mouth opened to ask the question she knew
she needed to ask, but her mind cried out that she already knew the
answer. No words coming out, she asked, “Riley?”

Graham’s eyes started to water. “Gone.”

Her hands flew to her mouth. It just seemed days ago that she watched
him fly away in the helicopter, and now Graham was telling her that he
was gone. Why didn’t her legs move faster? If only she had gotten there
quicker. Then she wouldn’t be here in so much pain. She was the slayer,
she was suppose to help people, but she had let him leave, let him go to
his death. Why hadn’t she gotten there in time?

Graham reached out with his good arm and took her hand in his. “I’m
here to clear his place. If you want to talk....”

Buffy shook her head as tears started to flow. “No. Leave.”

Nodding, Graham turned and walked out of the store.

In a flash, Angel was at Buffy’s side as she started to fall to the
floor. She screamed and beat on his chest as she sobbed uncontrollably.
“Why didn’t I see it? I killed him. It’s all my fault.”

Angel stroked her hair. “No Buffy. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Looking up at Angel, she sobbed, “I just want to go home.”

Gunn walked over to the two. “Why don’t I take you? There isn’t much
for me to do here right now.”

Buffy looked up at the man she hardly knew and saw concern in his eyes.
“Okay.”

*****

Buffy thanked Gunn for agreeing to stay with her and started up the
stairs. Each step seemed to take forever as she walked to her room. She
stopped in the doorway and looked in. Only a few days ago, she had been
here with Riley, celebrating the success of her mothers surgery.
Brushing more tears away, she turned and headed for a different room.
Slipping in, she walked over to her mother’s bed. From the darkness,
Joyce asked, “Buffy?”

Joyce lifted the covers and let Buffy slide in beside her. Settling
down beside her, she wiped away some of her daughter’s tears. “What is
wrong?”
Buffy closed her eyes and settled in closer to her mother, wishing to be
the child she used to be, a child whose mother could erase the pain.
“Riley’s dead.”

Holding Buffy in her arms, Joyce tried to soothe one of the most
precious things in her life as her heart cried out for Riley. Part of
her had hoped Riley would return and the he and Buffy would somehow
resolve things. He had been good for Buffy, for everyone, and now that
element was gone so quickly. Would anything ever be good, stable in her
daughter’s life, or would being the slayer be a curse upon them all?
 

Part 5

Buffy Summer's slid out of her mother's arms.  Sneaking out of the room, she went down the hall to her own room.  Looking around it, still feeling the need to just leave, she hurried to her dresser.  Pulling out a sweater and some of her training clothes, she got what she wanted and quickly left the room.  Stepping in the bathroom, she quickly changed clothes.  She was going for a little walk, alone.  For some reason, she just needed to be by herself so she could hear her thoughts better.

      *****

Tara looked up at the red head witch reading the book above her shoulder.  "Well, what do you think?  Could it work?"

Willow rubbed her drowsy eyes.  She was so tired.  Words blurred in front of her.  Trying to focus, she sighed and rubbed her hands through her hair.  "It looks like it could work."

Giles pushed his glasses up on his nose.  "We might as well try it, being it has been the closest thing we could find."

Anya frowned as she peered at the spell.  "Ribbon, we don't have ribbon like that around here."

Looking up, Tara smiled, "I think I have some in my room that would work, but we might want to stock up before heading over."

Cordelia started to gather some of the ingredients.  "Yes, doing the spell somewhere where we don't have to worry about being interrupted is a bonus."

Frowning, Anya asked, "Are you making note of how much you're taking?  That is stock you know."

Getting up, Giles remarked, "Just put it on our standing bill."

Clapping, she went to the desk and watched Cordelia carefully, writing down everything that she took.  Nibbling on the end of the pen, she asked, "So who is going on this little trip."

"Tara and I," started Giles,  "and how about you and Cordelia?  The spell can work with three, but it is best if there is four of us."

Angel, who had been quiet during the conversation, asked, "Do you need anyone else to go with you?"

Pulling a stake out her pocket, Cordelia remarked, "Don't worry, Angel, we're armed."

"I can't help worrying, Cordelia.  There is no way I could forgive myself if something happened to you guys because I wasn't there."

Sitting the  items down on the table, she walked over to him.  Placing her hand on his arm, she replied, "And what if something happened because you weren't here?  Willow needs you and Spike both.  We'll be okay."

Looking into her deep brown eyes, he nodded.  "Fine, but make sure you watch yourselves."

At the table, Tara placed her hand on Willow's.  "You're tired.  Maybe you should go rest in the back."  As Willow smiled, Tara added, "We will win this one, all of us."

Tightening the grip Tara had on her hand, she answered, "I know."

Angel looked over at Spike, seeing his grandchilde staring at the scene.  He had expected to see him seething with jealousy, but instead, all he saw in Spike's eyes was concern.  Spike watched Willow carefully, her every movement - from the way she kept on running her fingers over the twin holes on her neck to the rising and falling of her chest.  For the first time since Drusilla, Angel was seeing Spike looking at someone as if there was no one else in the world.  Placing a hand on Spike's shoulder, he commented, "Tara is right.  We aren't going to let anything happen to her."

Watching her pass by, Spike followed Willow with his gaze till she disappeared into Buffy's training room.  Turning back to Angel, he stated, "She is safe with me.  You do know that, don't you?  There is no way I can hurt her, but he...he will."

Angel, with worry clear on his face, asked, "Did she tell you about them in more detail - the dreams?"

Shaking his head, he answered, "No, but she scared the bloody hell out of me screaming and crying in her sleep."  Looking off to the door she had left through, he added, "And I couldn't even wake her up, or comfort her when she woke up."

Nodding, Angel replied, "Maybe you should comfort her now.  Something tells me that she may need it."

Angel watched Spike leave and then turned to the others.  Cordelia walked over to him as Tara and Giles finished up packing up their stuff.  She smiled up at him, trying to reassure him.  "We're going to be fine.  I'll call you when we get there."

Anya threw on her coat, and then gave Xander a kiss before meeting the others at the door.  "Be careful.  I definitely want you in shape to make up for all the time we are missing helping with this situation."

Xander gave her a small kiss.  "That goes the same for you."  Not commenting any more, he turned back to the maps of town he and Wesley were studying.

Cordelia pushed the other three through the door, hugging her bag close to her, and then stuck her head back in the door.  "Oh, and guys, try not to have to much time till we get back, okay?"

Wesley shooed her away, "Bye Cordelia."  As soon as she closed the door, he looked up at Angel, the only one left with him and Xander.  "It would be helpful if she would have one of her visions to tell us where they are."

Xander nodded.  "Well, they could be in Graveyard A, B, C or even Z.  Nothing like a town who gets over half of its size from it's underground population."

Shaking his head, Wesley pointed to a prominent part of town where Cordelia had lived.

"My vote is actually for a wealthier habitat."

Angel nodded, "When we were together, we always stayed at the finest establishments."

"Yes, but, uhm, the fact is other than that and graveyards, we aren't really narrowing the field."

Xander yawned and then looked to the back of the store where he knew Willow and Spike were.  "True, but there has to be some way to find them before they find us.  I can't let them get to Willow."

Wesley sighed.  "Unfortunately, the truth is we may not be able to do anything about this."  Everyone fell silent at his remark.  That was the one thought they were all having but no one seemed to have the courage to say it, and now that it was out there, it seemed to weigh their souls down more.
 

      *****

Buffy stopped in front of the door, his door.  Not even a week ago, she could have knocked on this door, knowing he would answer.  Now, he was gone.  However, someone was there.  She could knock, and there probably would be a reply.  The light was on, he had to be awake.  Taking a in a deep breath, she decided she had to do this, she had to hear how he had died.  Her knuckles softly rapped the door.
Why was she doing this?  Her heart beat widely in her chest, scared of what was to come - even more scared than she was used to, fighting the dark side of Sunnydale.  She was about to turn away, to run from everything, when the door opened.  His tired blue eyes held her in place.  Eyes that used to seem so cold, so cryptic, now held something else - mournfulness.  They searched her own, and then he asked, "Can you forgive me?"

Buffy asked back, "What?  I was the one that didn't run fast enough, didn't stop him."

Graham looked down.  "I saw you."

Understanding worked its way into her and then was followed by a flash of anger.  She slapped him hard and then took a step back as she realized what she had done.  "Oh, Graham, I'm sorry."

He just looked at her, silent for a while, and then when she thought he wasn't going to say anything and she should leave, he started, "I saw you, but I wanted my friend back.  It angered me that he chose the slayer over me, and so when I found the chance to take him away from you, I did."   Lowering his head and looking down again, he added, "I did tell him before we went in.  He just looked at me and nodded."  Fishing his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a locket.   "Rye said that he had took this as a reminder of you.  He asked that I would give it back if something happened."

Buffy took the locket and started to cry as she looked at it.  Riley had given it to her over the summer.  After he had left, she had looked all over for it, thinking she had lost it when she was slaying.  Graham broke her concentration, "I should have known."

"Should have known what?" asked Buffy a little harshly.

Graham looked up and met her gaze, "That Rye knew he wouldn't make it."

Glancing down at his arm in a sling, he remarked, "He died for me, Buffy - died saving my ass.  If he hadn't of been there, I would be dead now."

"Is that suppose to make me feel better - feel happy that he died for a cause, died saving someone when he should be here?"

"God, no.  I just thought you deserved to know how he died."

Buffy started to cry as she felt the locket in her hand.  Graham might have taken Riley away, but it was Buffy that had ran him off.  If she had only known.  All of a sudden, strong arms surrounded her.  She could feel his own tears running off his face into her hair.  Looking up, she asked, "Why did this happen?"

Graham shook his head, "I have been asking myself that every minute since."

Pulling away, he asked, "Would you like to come in?  I have been going through some of his pictures."

At first Buffy wanted to turn and run, but then, all of a sudden, she felt compelled to stay.  Nodding, she answered, "If it would help?"

"It would.  Mrs. Finn wants me to take out any that are significant to me, and she was hoping I could find some for you.  Looking at them all alone hurts so much.  It would be nice to have someone to talk to."  Buffy nodded.  This was something she needed to do.  It was time to stop running from Riley's death.
 

      *****
 

Willow, tired, looked up from one of Buffy's training mats where she was trying to rest.  For some reason, she felt like she hadn't slept at all that night.  It must have been the nightmares.  Plus, because of them, she had spent the day trying to stay awake as Spike slept.  Every time she would close her eyes, all she could see was him, smiling above her.  Not only that, but the feeling that had sent her running to Spike  - the feeling that Lindsey would succeed - was getting stronger.  The only thing holding her from going to him was Spike's claiming her.  Now she felt another pull towards the blond vampire.  At times, it was dizzying, making her feel like she was being pulled back and forth. In the beginning, Spike's pull was the strongest, but now, as the day went on, she could feel Lindsey getting stronger, almost to the point that the two feelings were pulling her apart.

Above her, Spike looked down at her with concern in his face.  "Are you okay, pet?"

Sitting up, she looked at him with uncertainty in her eyes.  "Spike, you don't have to play protective.  I know the only reason your helping me is because you don't want Buffy on your case."

Spike's mouth dropped open.  Is that what she really thought?  He had to let her know that it wasn't so.  Then again, if he did tell her how he felt, would she dismiss him right out like Buffy had?  Deciding the only way to know was to give in and tell her, he sat down.  Sitting across from her, he took her hands in his hands and tried to make eye contact.  "Look at me, Willow."  As her eyes met his, he commented, "Do you understand what you have done to me by making me claim you?"

"Inconvenienced you?"

Spike's eyes opened wide in astonishment.  At first, his mind wondered why she would think that, but the answer was always there.  He had never given her attention, not even the light of day, and when he had, it was always cruel words.  She thought that she was nothing to him, just a fly to swat at.  How could he make her see what she had become, what the claiming had done?  "Willow, sometimes when you claim a person, it awakens something inside of you, something that the demon may have pushed back into you conscience.  Do you understand?"

Willow started to nod, but then changed it to shaking her head.  "No."

"Most of the time, when a vampire claims someone, it is just a form of control, but if there were any type of feelings the vampire might have felt for that person, then those feelings take over the vampire's very senses.  That is what I am talking about."

Something clicked in Willow's tired mind.  "Is that what happened to you, Spike?  Have I awakened something?"

"I close my eyes and all I see is red, a fire that you have set inside me.  Your look, your smell, and even your touch fills my every thought.  I can hear your rambling, your laughter, your quiet whispers singing into my ears.  It has wakened a need, a want, a love that has never been matched.  Now do you understand?"

Taking one of her hands back, she covered her mouth.  Tears started to fall, something that was happening a lot lately.  "You love me?" she softly asked.

Taking his free hand, he wiped the tears away.  "Yes, luv."  As she kept on crying and he continued to wipe the tears away, he asked, "What is wrong?  Does this upset you?"

Willow frantically shook her head, "Oh, goddess no," and then slowly started to nod again.  "Actually it does.  He is coming to take me away.  I have wanted your love so long, and now I am going to lose it.  Only to receive something and then lose it so quickly..."

Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered in her hair, "I will go through Hell itself to keep you safe beside me."

She shook her head.  "It won't be enough.  They know Buffy isn't here.  They're close, so close, ready to strike.  I can feel it."

Almost on cue, Spike looked up as he heard yelling and crashing erupt from the front of the store.  The back door flew open and Lindsey strolled in.  "I think you have something I want."

Helping Willow to her feet, Spike remarked, "Willow, run.  Get Angel."

Lindsey laughed.  "Where should she run to?  Darla and Dru are dispatching Angel and your friends right now.  Give it up, Spike.  She was promised to me well before you claimed her."

"You know bloody well, boy, that I will not let her go with out a fight."
Lindsey smiled, "I was hoping you would say that, because the I've grown quite strong even in a day.  It will be nice to show it off."  With lightening speed, the two vampires went at each other, their demonic visages growling and snarling. Willow took in the sight, and then fell to the ground.  She was somehow linked to both of them, and with every move they landed on the other, Willow felt it.
 

      *****

Cordelia stopped in front of Tara's dorm as a vision came upon her.  There was pain everywhere, but they were still alive, would still be alive.  Usually, what she saw in quick flashes went by her slowly this time, letting her see every scene as the Magic Shop came under siege.  She could hear every word said, could feel every punch and bite, and in the end, all she could do was convulse on the ground, surrounded by Giles, Tara and Anya.

As the doors to the magic shop flew open, Xander and Wesley scrambled out of their seats.  Angel stood calmly, acting collected as Dru, Darla and a minion they didn't know walked in.  Smiling at the three, Darla remarked, "I hope you don't mind, but we thought we would stop by and play."

Drusilla licked her teeth.  "Grandmummy said I could have a sweet snack."
Xander remarked, trying to call up some sort of courage, "Just try it and see us wipe this floor with your butts."

Leaning over, Wesley stated quietly, "Do you think angering them is going to do any good?  You do know we are good as dead."

Nodding, Xander replied, "Yep, but I thought I would give myself a pep talk - go out with great false retorts instead of crying like a baby man."

Turning back to the vamps, Wesley added, "Yes, we'll beat the crap out of your dead, uh, selves."  Looking back at Xander, he asked, "Well?"

"Maybe you should leave the pep talks to me."

Dru pointed to Xander, "Can I have that one.  He just looks yummy."  Walking up to them, a minion following, she asked, "If I make you mine, will I taste the passion you set inside of her."

Pulling a stake out, Xander remarked, "Why don't you taste dust instead."

Beside him, Wesley whispered, "Xander, maybe we shouldn't tease the vampires."

Before Xander could remark, Dru and her minion attacked, each throwing themselves at the two individuals.  A fist connected with Xander, and with hardly a fight, he fell to the ground, only to have her jump on him.  Grabbing his hand holding the stake, Dru beat it into the ground till he let go in pain.  Smiling down at him, she remarked, "That isn't nice.  Maybe I won't keep you."  With that, she leaned down and bit into his neck.

At the same time, the minion lashed out at Wesley.  Ducking, Wesley tried to run, but the vampire kept on coming.  Moving his head to the right, he barely missed getting hit in the face by a fist that actually ended up in the wall behind him.  Twisting away, he started to run.  The vampire, not happy with the miss, struck out and hammered him in the back with his foot.  Falling backwards, Wesley fell into one of Giles's glass displays.  Trying to shake it off, he was about to get up when the fist collided into his face, knocking him out.

As all this was happening, Darla was circling Angel.  "Do you think you can beat me, Angelus?"

"I've done it before."

"Yes, and by the way, I still haven't forgiven you for that.  Maybe it should be my time to return the favor."

"Why?  So Lindsey can take my place as your most powerful childe?"

"He's almost already there.  If I'm correct, he is probably in there, showing Spike who is the actual elder in this family."

"So he can take Spike's claim away?  Is that the plan?"

"How else can you take a claim away from someone else in your family?"

"You may be dismissing his claim too lightly.  She loves him, more so than she ever will Lindsey."

"Yes, and sometimes, love can be the downfall."

"In the end, you won't win this, you know."

At this time, Drusilla sneaked up behind with a large piece of wood from the glass case Wesley had fallen on.  Slamming it over Angel's head, she giggled in delight.

Darla smiled as Angel fell to the floor.  "No, my Angelus, I think that we will win."
 

Cordelia grasped at the hands holding her as Darla disappeared from her vision.  Trying to catch her breath, she pushed herself back in a standing position to where she could breathe better.  She had to stop it.  Looking at Giles, she ordered, "Get Tara to her room and do the spell now."

Anya crossed her arms.  "You can't order us around."

Balling up her fists, Cordelia remarked, "They're either being attacked or going to be.  I have to help.  However, everything will be in vain if we can't break the ties to the dream.  We have to stop it, ward it off.  Do you understand?"

Without waiting for an answer, Cordelia took off to the shop at a dead run.  It was so terrible, the vision.  There was no way they could survive, but that wasn't what the vampires wanted.  No, they wanted to hurt Buffy, Angel and all their friends. Cordelia had felt the hatred, the need to torture.  It had to be stopped before it was too late, and even though she knew she couldn't help, she had to get there, she had to delay the enevitable.

      *****

Lindsey and Spike struck out at each other with a speed Willow hadn't seen before.  It was like they both were putting their best behind it, Spike trying to save Willow and Lindsey trying to take her.  Sitting up, she tried to sift through the thoughts and feelings coming to her from Spike.  It was like as soon as he became very passionate, the link grew stronger, letting her sense everything he was thinking, feeling.  Some might think this a good thing, but in this case it wasn't.  As soon as Lindsey's fist came in contact with Spike's face, Willow felt herself being thrown to the ground.  She screamed at the pain as it felt like the fist had actually connected with her.  Sitting up, she wiped away a small stream of blood from her broken lip.

Her first reaction seemed to escape the two, but when Spike's foot connected with Lindsey and knocked him down, Spike stopped at the crying coming from his red head.  Racing to her, he stood between her and Lindsey.  "Willow, what is it?"

Cradling her swollen leg in her hands and rocking back and forth on the ground, Willow answered, "My leg, it hurts."

As Spike realized what was going on, Lindsey stood up and laughed.  "Ah, how sweet.  Both of our claims are so strong, that she feels every blow we land on each other.  Now what are you going to do, great-nephew?"

"I am not your nephew."

"Ah, but you are.  Why don't you just give her up and then maybe I will actually share with you.  We could be one happy family, taking turns with her - sometimes at the same time, and hey, maybe we could even have some time for each other."

Spike clenched his jaws, for a second, trying to find a control with in that would keep him from striking out at the new vampire.  Keeping his cool, he answered with a chill in his voice, "I already did that, and there is no way I'm going back."

"Ah yes, Drusilla.  What was it like watching her with Angelus?  Didn't it drive you to make a deal with the slayer?  What a low point that must have been for you."

Glaring, Spike just growled.  For some reason, this vampire knew just how to get under his skin, but he had to get control.  There was no way he could let anything happen to Willow.

"Speechless, huh?  Why don't you just give up?  If you do, then Willow won't come to any more harm here."

"Why?  So you can take her home and hurt her.  She doesn't love you, you know.  She never will.  In all those dreams, you may have owned most of her, but you never owned her heart, that belongs to me."

"Then I guess I will just have to take what I can get."

In a swift move, Lindsey tried to hit Spike.  Moving out of the way, Spike barely missed the fist.  The dance began.  Lindsey would swing and kick, and Spike tried to gracefully miss each one.  Luckily, the room was full of objects to place between the two.  The man Xander had made for Buffy to practice punches and kicks on actually found himself the recipient of many of the hits.  As Spike jumped over Buffy's pommel horse, Lindsey yelled out, "You can't keep evading me, Spike!"

Two voices rang out as Willow was picking up on Spike's thoughts.  At the same time, they yelled out, "You can't have her!"

Growling, Lindsey motioned with his hand towards the pommel horse and yelled out some Latin words Spike didn't know.  It was ripped from the ground and flew towards Spike, nailing him to the ground.  Standing over him with a grin on his face, Lindsey remarked, "Funny thing about being a vampire, it builds on your abilities, including magick.  Now, Spike, why don't we discuss this family structure again?"

Trying to pry the object off of him, Spike found that he couldn't.  Spike growled, not happy with the place he was in.  How did he let this happen? Lindsey laughed above him and then descended to let him know who now owned the claim.

Then, as Willow prayed it wouldn't end at this point of time, she felt the fangs in his neck.  Looking up, she met eyes full of horror, anger and astonishment.  With every harsh bite, she was falling farther and farther away from Spike and closer to Lindsey.
 

Part 6

Tara’s nimble fingers wove two broad strands of red ribbon together.
Her eyes darted back and forth, studying the diagrams in the book.
Everything had to be perfect. If she didn’t get it just right, then the
spell could be ruined. The small purse that she was weaving had to hold
all the ingredients. Any small hole, leak, would deteriorate the spell
before it couldn’t be finished. Looking up as she finished her work, she
commented to Giles, “I think I’m ready.”

Giles finished mixing most of the ingredients in a small bowl. Slightly
smiling at her, a smile that actually held anxiety about the outcome of
what was happening, Giles held the bowl over the small pocket and poured
it in. When he finished, Tara picked up a small knife. Cutting a small
bit of her finger, she held it over the mixture and squeezed a few drops
of blood onto it. After she was finished, she handed the knife to Giles,
who did the same thing.

Anya finished lighting the candles around them and then their own three
ritual candles. The only one she left unlit was a large candle in the
center. Finishing her job, she looked at the others and frowned, “What
is that for?”

“What?” asked Giles as he cut into his own finger.

“The ritual blood letting. I don’t remember reading blood letting in
there.”

Tara explained, “It was on the page before. It should strengthen our
spell, showing the god and goddess that we are willing to give something
- our essence - in return for what they may give us.”

Taking the knife from Giles and following suit, Anya remarked to
herself, wincing as she cut into herself. “Great. Nothing like giving
up of the essence. A little pain here, a little stab there - all in a
day’s work.”

When she finished, her drops of blood landing on Tara’s and Giles’s,
Tara tied the purse up. Looking up at Anya and Giles, Tara instructed,
“Now, are you guys ready?”

Nodding as she picked up her candle, Anya answered, “Let’s get this show
on the road.”

The three sat in the circle and in unison, started to light the main
candle with their own candles. As the flame started, Anya started, “God
and Goddess, hear our plea. Disrupt the scenes our friend does see.”

After lighting the candle, they each grabbed one of the ends from the
tie Tara had set - the fourth string being placed in the pouch. Pulling
the ribbons taunt, they hovered the pouch over the candle. Closing her
eyes and concentrating on the flame she knew was there, even with her
eyes closed, Tara chanted, “The canvas, the loom, which you draw our
dreams upon - sometimes the present and future collide, realities doth
bond. Tightly woven, strands connected from the start - cut the ties,
pull the ribbon, now they part.”

As she finished, the flame spurt up. Each pulling on their end of the
ribbon, the purse seemed to unweave, pouring the mixture upon the flame,
causing the fire to raise even higher. The three grasped hands as Giles
finished the spell. “A clean slate, now it be. Open eyes so they may
see. Mercy we pray to thee.”

For the final time, the flame of the candle blared, shooting up. A wave
emitted from it, knocking the three to the ground. As it did so, the
door to the room flew open and the windows were thrown open by unseen
hands. A breeze rushed through, blowing out all the candles and leaving
them in darkness. From the darkness, Anya’s voice
remarked, “Cool.”

*****

Darla smiled at all the mess around her. Closing her eyes, she found
herself falling in tune with it, the smell of blood and violence washing
over her. Opening them back up, she looked over at Drusilla. “Now
wasn’t that fun?”

Dru laughed and nodded, “Yes, and Lindsey had fun too. He is already
heading to the house with Willow and Spike. The stars are happy with his
success.”

“Yes, and now we must go get you a new daddy.”

Spinning in circles, Drusilla laughed, “Going to get a new daddy. He
can be so much more than Angelus, so cold and calculating.” Stopping,
her eyes widened. The stars were screaming a new tune. “Yes, but we
need to pick up. Clear the magic shop. The wind has changed direction,
an ill wind it is. Yes, the slayer will know and is going to come for
us.” Growling, she added, “The little witch has set something new in
motion. It hates us, wants us to blow away in the bad, tainted wind.”

Darla asked, “You want to go home instead?”

Drusilla nodded, “Yes. Let’s go fill our people cellar instead.”

*****

Cordelia was tearing into downtown Sunnydale, breathing hard and knowing
that even though her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her
chest, she had to get there. The gang was in trouble, and she had help.
Then, something caused her to freeze in her tracks. It seemed like
something had entered her mind, turning on the light and showing her the
way. Stopping, she stood still for a second, and then turned in the
opposite direction, running to an apartment that she had never been to.
For some reason, something told her she had to get there, and that
something was controlling her every movement.

*****

Lilah Morgan looked up from where she was sitting. For some reason, she
suddenly had more strength than she had in days. Getting up from her
corner, she looked around her master’s room. Silently walking on the
floor with her bare feet, she made her way to Drusilla’s dresser.
Quietly opening a drawer, she went right to the spare key, where the
voice inside her head was instructing her to look. For a second, she
just looked at it. Then, she slipped it carefully into her hair, hiding
it into the twist Drusilla had fixed. Closing the drawer, she went back
to her corner and sat back down, waiting for Dru and Darla to get back
home.

*****
 

“GET UP!”

Buffy sat up, looking around her. Riley’s apartment. Graham was laying
on the bed with her. Pictures were spread out with them. They must have
fallen asleep as they were looking through them. However, that wasn’t
what was on her mind. Instead, it was the words that had waken her up.
Who had yelled them and why didn’t Graham wake up from them too.

The unlocked door was thrown open and Cordelia halted in the doorway.
She looked from Buffy, then to Graham. Part of her wanted to give one of
her normal retorts, but instead she sagged into the doorway, catching her
breath.

Jumping from the bed, Buffy ran to Cordelia’s side. “Cordelia, what is
going on?”

Once again, Cordelia thought about asking back, “Shouldn’t I be asking
you that?” but decided that there was no time. Through wheezes, she
answered, “Magic Shop. Vision. Darla. Willow and Spike. Lindsey.”

Buffy turned around to Graham, who had woke up and was watching the
scene. “I’ll be back.”

Shaking his head, Graham remarked, “I’m going with you.”

“Your arm is in a sling. How are you going to be much help?”

Getting off the bed, he surprised her by remarking, “You just said that
you’ll be back, but you won’t. Haven’t you ever seen movies? I’ll be
back means that something is going to happen to you in the next few
scenes and you won’t be back, except in a final scene where you are just
a bloody pulp. Except if you’re on an airplane. Then you will be
stranded on an island for a few years, but I guess you would be back
then.”

Blinking at him, Buffy asked, “Graham, are you okay? I think I just
heard more out of your mouth than I have ever heard, and it didn’t make
sense.”

Running his hand through his hair, he remarked, “Sorry, I get strange
when I’m tired. I guess I just want to make sure that you do come back.”

Glancing at Cordelia and then back at Graham, Buffy remarked, “Fine.”
 
 

*****

“Lindsey, we’re home!” called out Darla in her small voice as she headed
down the stairs, dragging a body behind her.

Drusilla was actually carrying Xander in her arms like a precious toy.
“Look, we brought dinner.”

From where he was sitting on the bed, Lindsey answered sarcastically,
“Yummy.”

Walking to his side as Drusilla and their new minion helped hang their
victims on the wall in shackles, Darla peered down at the red head he had
laid out on the bed. “She doesn’t look like much if you ask me. Has she
been out the whole time?”

Lindsey played idly with her semi-short red hair. “Her link was so
strong with Spike, that she passed out.”

From Spike’s form, whom, Lindsey had already placed in shackles,
Drusilla remarked, “Ohhh, grandmummy. Lindsey showed my Spikey who holds
the true power over the red witch.” Her fingers brushed over the twin
holes on Spike’s neck, tracing circles around them.

Smile broadening, Darla remarked, “Now, that is my boy.”

Frowning, Lindsey asked, “What about the other guy you were going to
sire?”

“That fell through.”

Drusilla walked up to the two. “Things are changing. We need to haste,
fore the slayer hence come. She is so cross, and her anger is death upon
our heads.” Turning to Darla, she asked, “Should we leave?”

“The slayer doesn’t know where we are.”

“Where there is a will, there is a way, and her will is great. The
stars sing of her arrival. We still have time, but she will be here, yes
she will.”

Lindsey looked down at the red head he had worked so hard to obtain.
“No one is going to stop me now. I’m staying here.”

Darla nodded. “Fine. I think we may go check things out, lock up.
We’ll be right back.”

*****

The three stood in the middle of the magic shop, taking in the scene.
Cases were broken, glass littering the floor. There were even spots of
blood in places. Buffy shook her head, “We were late.”

Heading to the back, they looked around the training room as well.
Graham walked over to the pommel horse and frowned. “This was ripped
from the floor.”

Cordelia nodded. “Lindsey knows some magick. Maybe he used it to his
advantage, pulling this thing out of the ground and throwing it at
someone.”

Buffy shook her head as she wiped a bit of blood from the floor. “They
have to pay. No one huts my friends and gets away with it.”

“Problem. We have no idea where they are.”

Staring at the obviousness of Cordelia’s statement, Buffy thought for a
few seconds. Why she hadn’t thought of it before, she had no idea.
Looking up at the other two, “I think I may know some who does.”

“Willy’s out of town,” stated Cordelia. “We already tried one of his
bartenders.”

Buffy groaned, “No, I’m thinking of someone else.”
 

*****

“Well, the other day I was talking to Anna - she used to date Brian
Murphey, the star hitter on the baseball team - and she said that she had
heard that Morty - he was sired by Jessica, who used to be a little band
nerd - had said that Jennifer - Oh, her mom used to work for Mr. Jethers,
you know, who was married to Principal Snyder’s sister - anyways, she had
mentioned that she had noticed some new people moving into the old
Deever’s house - you know, the one on Maple Drive. I think it may be
down the street from where you used to live, Cordelia. Anyway, all I
have to say is that Anna sense of style is so wrong for a vampire. She
is so last year in her wardrobe. It’s like, ‘Oh, I used to be all hip
and stay with the trends, but then I became a vampire and color
coordination just went out the window.’ I am so happy that it didn’t
mess up my sense of style.”

Buffy listened through the ramblings. Crossing her arms, she asked,
“Harmony, are you sure that the people moving into the Deever’s house are
vampires?”

“The word is that they moved in at night and have no tans. Not only
that, but no one saw the Deever’s move.”

Buffy tried to fake a smile. “Thanks, Harmony.”

*****

Drusilla’s hand shot out and grabbed onto Darla. “The stars are
screaming. We must go.”

“Don’t be so silly. We are just fine,” remarked Darla.

A scream erupted behind them. Turning around, their (unnamed) minion
disappeared in a cloud of dust. Buffy smiled on the other side. “You
know, something tells me that you might actually want to listen to her
sometimes.”

Growling, Darla’s face turned to a demon visage. “Slayer. Have you
come to play again? If so, we might actually work on that death sentence
thing you had going the other night.”

Behind her, Graham, turned and looked sharply at Buffy. What was this
Darla talking about? How could someone as strong as Buffy, or even
Riley, decide to give up?

Drusilla let out a small laugh. Moving into a predator type position,
she remarked, “Oh, look, she brought he who has such potential. He can’t
fight though. A crutch! Why must it get in the way? Throw it out, out
with the rest of the broken toys.”

From behind Buffy, Cordelia asked, “Can you ever make sense?”

Buffy ignored them, focusing mainly on Darla. “Actually, I have it on
good authority that I’m not supposed to die now - something about Spike
wanting to do the deed.”

Throwing back her head, she laughed, “Yes, he always had a thing for
slayers.”

“Maybe, but now he has a thing for my best friend, and if I’m correct,
you have her in that house of yours. So if you don’t mind, lets stop
this stalling shit and get this the hell over with.”

Cordelia looked at Buffy with surprise evident in her face. “When did
you start talking like that?”

Not answering, Buffy initiated the fight by kicking out at Darla,
catching her jaw as her foot made an impact with the vampire’s face.
Laughing, Darla licked at the small bit of blood in the corner of her
mouth. “Goody. You’re going to make this fun.”

The palm of Buffy’s hand hit Darla square in the nose, causing her head
to fling back, blood spurting out. “Anything to make this enjoyable,
Darla.”

Darla shot out with her hand, grabbing Buffy around the neck and
throwing her. “Thanks.”

Leaning and rocking back, Buffy flipped herself back up into a standing
position. Jumping up, she did a round kick, one kick landing in Darla’s
stomach and the other across her face. Landing back down, she started
forward, fists flying. Somehow, Darla was able to block most of them,
along with letting a few of her own land on Buffy.

Elbowing Buffy and catching her off guard, Darla landed her own kick.
Connecting with Buffy’s chest, she kicked the slayer back and to the
ground. The stake flew away from Buffy and Darla landed on her.
Hovering over Buffy, Darla remarked, “What was that about not dying
tonight?”

A stake found its way to Buffy’s hand, via Graham. In a swift move, she
rammed it through Darla’s back into her heart. Dust falling on her, she
looked up to see Graham. “Thanks.”

Getting up, she brushed herself off and looked over at a very battered
Cordelia, who was jumping up and down at the edge of the yard. “Fine!
Run and hide, but we will find you! And when we do, you’re dust! Hear
that, O’Wacky One?! Dust!”

Shaking her head, Buffy called out, “Cordelia, get over here. We have
people to find.”

Turning around, they headed to the door. Buffy reached out and went to
turn the knob. Locked. Looking over at Graham, she asked, “Door’s too
think to kick in. You were special military. Any lock picking learned
there?”

“Actually...” The door opened before he could answer completely. A
tall woman, dressed in a black gown and sporting a collar around her neck
looked at them with hollow eyes. Reaching for her hair, she pulled out a
key. Handing it to them, Lilah spoke her last words of the night before
passing out, “Basement.”

*****

It felt like her head was going to explode. Opening her eyes slowly,
Willow tried to blink away the bright light. Trying to cover her eyes,
she went to move her hand but found it bound. Fretting as everything
started to come back with her focusing sight, she went to move her other
hand and found it tied to. Turning her head, her eyes stopped blurring
as she focused on the walls. Her heart pounded as she realized where she
was - in a room full of red. Eyes drifting, she searched the walls,
seeing some of them hanging there - Xander, Angel, Wesley, and Spike.

Out of all of them, Spike seemed to be the only one conscious at the
time. Seeing her eyes as they met his, he started pulling at the
shackles, trying to get loose but not being able to. Willow saw in them
a fear, not for himself but her. She tried to follow the link of the
claim he had set on her, but found it gone. Lindsey had took that away.

Lindsey. She felt him before she saw him. Turning her gaze up, she met
his blue gaze. His eyes held her, entrancing her. “Welcome home, my
Willow.”

The noise Spike was making got louder, along with his shouting out at
Lindsey. Willow blanched as she felt his hand on her leg. She had been
changed into a peach silk gown and his hand was lifting it. At first, it
burned, and then she felt it calm her, his touch almost taking over her
being. This was like the dreams she had first had. He would control her
very being, and there was nothing she could do as her body reacted to his
touch.

Tears started to come to her eyes as she heard Spike. Goddess, she
loved him. How could she let Lindsey do this in front of him to her? It
would tear at the soul he did not have, as she felt it doing to her own.
She had to stop it, but couldn’t move. Her body had other ideas.

Willow gasped as she felt Lindsey’s nimble fingers. They started a
rhythm while teasing her at the same time. Sensations racked through her
body, sensations her body reveled in but her mind wanted to shut away.
Her gasps and moans intermingled with her crying and begging for him to
stop. As she careened, screaming out, Lindsey stopped.

Crawling over her body, he smiled down at her. Wiping hair from her
face, wet with perspiration, he remarked, “See, I know your body, every
part of it. I can play it, getting any reaction I want.” His face
turning, he added, “You belong to me, all of you.” He started to descend
upon her, fangs working their way to one of her breasts.

At the wall, Spike screamed, outraged at what he was watching. He
didn’t want to let this happen, but there was nothing he could do.
Pulling at the chains, they would not bulge, leaving him a captive,
locked into the position of an observer. Why couldn’t he stop this?
This couldn’t happen. Wait...

Willow pushed her mind away from Lindsey and focused on Spike. There
was a slight pause in his screaming, nothing significant, as she felt
Lindsey’s fangs embed themselves into her breast. Closing her eyes, she
screamed, trying to get away. Then, something strange happened. Lindsey
was no longer there. Willow opened her eyes to see dust settling on her
body. On the other side of the floating ashes was a stake. Buffy looked
down at her, her face filled with worry and hate. “No one hurts my
friends.”

Staring up at her friend, Willow asked, “How did...did?”

In a second, Spike was at her side, having been released by Cordelia.
Placing her hand at Lindsey’s mark on Spike, Willow asked, “What now?”

Wrapping his arms around her, Spike answered, “I take you home and make
everything better. There is no way that I am going to let anything
happen to you again.”

Buffy smiled down at the two and then turned her attentions to the
others. Cordelia and Graham were working on undoing everyone. Turning
to Buffy, Cordelia remarked, “They are all alive, But Xander and Wesley
should be taken to a hospital right now.”

“And don’t forget the woman upstairs,” added Graham.

Buffy nodded, “I’m on it.”

*****

Everyone was congregating in the Summers’ living room two days later,
sipping on hot chocolate. Lilah Morgan stirred in her seat, still
looking pale from loss of blood. Getting up, she remarked, “I hope you
don’t think me rude, but I’m just a little tired.” Looking over at
Angel, she added, “Angel, uhm, about all of this...”

“What are you going to do?” asked Angel.

“Take a long vacation. After this, the last thing I want is to be
around demons. I think I’ve had my fill.” Turning, she headed out of
the house, not paying attention of the byes that were being called out to
her.

As the door shut, Anya remarked from beside Xander. “Oh, a vacation
sounds nice. We could take off from our jobs and go have sex. Doesn’t
that sound relaxing?”

Xander looked at her like she was crazy. Holding up a battered hand
that was wrapped, he remarked, “I just got the crap beat out of me and
then had my blood drained to near death. I think I might spend my
energies getting better.”

Smiling from where she was sitting on the floor, Tara added, “Not only
that, but Mr. Giles says that we need to get the store cleaned up. That
will take a while.”

“A vacation sounds so much better,” pouted Anya.

“Yes, but cleaning the store means business, which means money,”
Giles reminded her as he pushed his glasses back onto his nose.

From the recliner, Wesley winced in pain as he moved. He had been the
worst off of the group. The kick to his back had ended up causing
massive bruising. There had even been talk of surgery to fix a disk that
might have been jostled a bit. “A vacation does sounds nice.”

Cordelia batted her eyes at Angel, “To bad we’ve been fired. You may
have been able to talk workman’s comp out Mr. Broody.”

Angel shook his head. “Fine. You’re all hired back, but don’t expect
me to shell out a lot.”

“Never asked for it in the first place,” remarked Gunn.

Looking to Buffy, Cordelia asked, “So, what are you going to do?”

Glancing over at Graham, who was standing away from the group, she
answered, “Graham and I are going to Riley’s funeral. I should be gone
for a few days.”

Giles looked over with concern. “What about your mom and Dawn?”

Willow remarked from Spike’s lap, where she seemed at home. “Spike and
I are going to stay here to make sure they are okay.”

Spike added, “Willow says the crypt is out, so this way we can have a
place to stay while I look for a home elsewhere.”

“Oh, so Willow wears the pants in this relationship?” asked Anya.

Tara stood up, blushing, “There is somethings you just don’t know about
Willow.” Bowing her head, she left the house.

Outside, Tara turned as footsteps sounded behind her. Cordelia asked,
“Are you going to be okay?”

Nodding slowly, Tara answered, “Willow’s happy, happier than she was
with me. It just hurts a little, but I’m also glad she is happy. I
think it is just going to take a while to get used to things.”

Cordelia smiled. “Things are constantly changing, and it is hard to
keep up at times, but we’re Scoobies. You will get through this, with
the help of friends.”

Tara shook her head, “I’m not a Scooby.”

“Oh yes you are. You’re in deep, and trust me, no matter how far you
run, things catch up with you. Angel, Wesley and I all ran, and look
where we ended up.” Holding out her hand, Cordelia added, “Friends? I
would like that very much.”

Tara took it, and followed her back into the house, into a world that
had changed drastically in just a few days, but yet was still home. The
people were the same on the outside, though different inside. Some
things were old, some new, but everything was welcomed and drowning in
several cups of Joyce and Buffy’s hot chocolate.
 

THE END!

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