Willow stretched, enjoying the companionable silence she was sharing with the brunette beside her. They had been in Spain for four days, spending
most of that time seeing the sights of Madrid and were due to be taking Angel's jet down to Ibiza when the boys returned from their nightly
escapades. She watched Cordelia flip through the magazine in front of her, the brunette's eyes flitting to the door every so often - looking for
Angel. The red head smiled, voicing for the first time the question that had been on her mind since they left France. "So...I take it you two
finally....?"

"Will!" Cordelia blushed at the directness of the question. She continued to stare down at the magazine, hoping the red head would just let it go.
She sneaked a glance in her friend's direction, meeting her laughing green eyes. No such luck. "Yes. There! Are you happy? We did *it*."

The red head laughed, delighted by the blush creeping along her friend's face. Seeing Cordelia Chase get this flustered over a little question was
something not many had ever had the opportunity to witness. She decided to push it a little further. "And it was good?"

The former cheerleader gave up, shutting her magazine with a sigh of mock exasperation and turning to face her friend. A small smile danced across
her lips as she contemplated the question. "It was more than good...it was....heaven." She closed her eyes, the last word a mere breath. "Hes the
most attentive lover I have ever had. Not that I've had many...but I think even I had...he'd still be best." She laughed softly. "Lets just say that
two hundred years of practice really does a man good."

Willow laughed at the dreamy expression on her friend's face. "Yeah that whole no-breathing thing really comes in handy doesn't it?"

"You can say that again." The brunette sat up. "That was one of the best parts of the night. Well, that and this." She swept her hair away from her
neck, pulling down on the collar of her shirt to expose the now healing bite mark.

"He bit you?" Willow gasped, shocked. She had heard that a vampire's bite could be, well, erotic. But had never experienced it for herself...or known
anyone who had for that matter.

"He *claimed* me." Cordelia emphasized. She brushed her fingertips lightly over the marks, her body tightening in response. She knew that
somewhere in the city Angel had just had a similar reaction. They were linked, joined together, and it felt so right.

"Claimed?" Willow was confused as she regarded her friend.

"You mean you and Spike...?" The words died on the brunette's lips at the look of utter confusion on her friend's face. "I guess I just assumed he
had done the same to you..."

"I dont get it, Delia. What is *claiming*?" She felt left out. Obviously this was something good, something special, something Spike should have
done to her? The word sounded familiar but for the life of her the red head just couldnt place it.

Cordelia couldn't help but feel as though she had committed some sort of mistake as she watched the emotions ride over the witch's face. She
smiled, deciding to try to make light of it. "Sheesh Willow, and here I thought you were research girl. I can't believe you haven't heard of this." The
sadness and confusion never wavered as the red head continued to stare at her. "Its when a vampire, usually in the heat of the moment so to
speak, bites the one he is with. The one he loves. It binds them together, sort of like mating. I can feel him, feel his emotions." {Its what you do to
someone you intend to turn.} She thought, deciding it better not to let the red head in on that small piece of information.

"Oh."

"I'm sorry Willow, I shouldnt have brought it up. I'm sure Spike has a very good reason why he hasn't..." She trailed off, the words falling on deaf
ears as the young woman seemed to shrink in on herself. "Are you ok?"

Willow heard Cordelia's words through a haze of pain. Why would Spike have not wanted to share that kind of thing with her? He had never even
tried to bite her while they were making love, never even hinted at wanting to. If it was so special....why didn't he want to do it with her? She
heard Cordelia ask again if she was ok. "Yeah, I'm fine." She replied, automatically.

Did he not want to be with her forever? Had she misunderstood the hints she had *thought* he had been giving her. They still hadn't managed to
make time for their 'talk' - was the talk just to let her know he hadn't meant eternity? She sighed, drawing what remained of her self esteem around
her like a shield. "I'm gonna go finish packing and take a short nap before they get back, ok?"

Cordelia nodded, watching the witch leave the room, her own heart filled with sadness and confusion. Sadness at hurting one of three true friends
she had in all the world and confusion over why Spike hadn't claimed the red head. She sighed, turning back to the forgotten magazine. It was
definitely something she would need to ask Angel about.

** ** **

Angel heard Spike sigh and for the thousandth time wished he hadn't promised Cordelia not to say anything about the whole claiming issue. It was
obvious that Willow was hurting, even though she wouldnt admit it to anyone other than the brunette girl. He watched as his childe inhaled deeply
on a cigarette, pulling the thick smoke into dead lungs before releasing it with yet another sigh. The whole situation was almost funny, the dark
haired vampire decided. At least from his point of view. He knew Spike's intentions towards Willow - knew that the blonde was trying to make sure
he did things the right way for the red head. He also knew that Willow was feeling insecure at his childe for not moving faster. The irony of the
situation drew a small chuckle from his lips.

Spike glared over at his sire, momentarily drawing his eyes away from Willow and Cordelia's dancing forms. Why was the damn poof laughing? There
was absolutely nothing funny about the night. Willow had been withdrawn and distant since the night before, barely speaking to him. She had pulled
away the second they entered the nightclub, chosing to dance with Cordelia rather than even ask him to join her. He had tried a number of times to
get her to talk to him, tell him what was wrong, with no luck.

The vampire sighed, throwing back the rest of his drink without a thought and motioning to the bartender for another. If she wanted to be all
distant and withdrawn that was fine. Two could play that game. He took a swallow of the new drink, letting the liquid burn down his throat. The
warmth it left reminded him of her, of his Willow, the woman who didnt seem to want to be with him anymore. What had happened to make her act
this way? She was supposed to be his Red, his little witch, forever. And now she would barely speak to him. The drink was finished before he knew
it and another put in its place. Yeah. Two could play this game.

The dark haired vampire let out a sigh of his own as his childe began to drink into oblivion. This was not good. He could almost see the emotional
walls being erected inside the blonde's mind, reacting to the way Willow was acting no doubt. Cordelia had been right though, this was their
business and he had no right getting in the middle of it - the two of them needed to learn to communicate.

Damn he hated when she was right.

* * *

Willow growled under her breath as yet another too-happy club goer tried to work his way between her and Cordelia. She pushed him away without
a word, stepping closer to her friend as the hypnotic beat of the music swept through her. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Spike order
yet another drink. That had to make the tenth one he'd ordered since they entered the club an hour before. She lost the rhythm of the music, her
heart aching. He wouldn't be in the mood to talk when they got back to the hotel. As if there was anything to talk to him about. She had avoided
his questions all day when he asked what was wrong. She didn't like lying to him, but how could she tell him how she felt - the fact that she was
scared because he hadn't claimed her? That was a conversation that was bound to end badly. Either he'd laugh at her for it or tell her she had
every reason to worry.

Cordelia noticed the side long glances her friend kept throwing at the bar and leaned in close enough to murmur in her ear."You really should dance
with him. Or at least talk to him."

The with shook her head. "No. I dont want to talk to him about it. Not yet. Maybe not ever." {Might not be a reason to...} She sighed, trying to
lose herself in the music again. Without prevocation her thoughts turned to the last time she had been in a nightclub dancing with Cordelia. The
night that Spike had told her he wanted her. Her chest tightened with sadness as she recalled the word he had said afterwards, almost a question
*Forever*. A tear made its way down her pale skin. She had told him he could have her forever, knowing fully well what it meant. Obviously she
had misunderstoon the question though. He didn't seem to have any intentions of making her his forever.

And so she danced to lose herself in the music. To try for one moment to rid herself of the taunting thoughts that lurked at the back of her mind.
The ones that whispered that she was stupid for ever thinking he wanted her forever.

And the tears kept flowing, the music kept pouding, and still she danced.

* * *

"You've had enough." Angel growled, grabbing the half-empty glass from his childe's hand. He ignored the snarl the younger vampire sent his way,
repeating himself more firmly. "You've. Had. Enough." The demon was dancing behind his childe's eyes, eager for a fight. Angel snorted. Fine if he
wanted a fight, he'd give it to him. But not here, not in front of all these delicate, dancing mortals. "Wait here." He stood from the barstool, hearing
his childe order another drink as he made his way towards Cordelia. He'd have to be punished for that.

"Hey, sexy." Cordelia purred, allowing the dark haired vampire to slip in between her and Willow much to the consternation of the males around
them. She saw Willow start to back away from them and reached out to grab her friend's hand. She could share Angel for a dance or two if it would
make the red head smile.

Willow grinned, momentarily forgetting her sadness as she moved closer to Angel. her hands lightly tracing along his back. She hoped Spike was
watching, hoped he saw her dancing with his sire - hoped above anything else that it would make him realize that he wanted her. With a silent
prayer of those hopes she abandoned herself to the music, letting her eyes slip half-closed.

Angel smiled slightly, turning so that he could see both girls at once. They were truly a sight, one dark and lovely, the other pale and beautiful. And
they were both dancing with him. He knew this wasn't going to help the situation with Spike but for once he didn't care. He could feel the warm
press of their bodies against his as they continued to dance, and as much as he loved Cordelia he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to
get both of them in his bed. His gaze flitted to the bar as the bartender served Spike yet another drink. "As much as I hate to leave you two lovely
ladies, me and my drunken son need to have a talk." His lips brushed first Cordelia's then Willow's cheek. "The hotel is only a block away, I'm sure
you two can get back okay."

Willow stiffened at the name of the blonde vampire she had managed to erase from her thoughts for the past five minutes. With a brave smile
plastered to her face she answered Angel. "We'll be fine. Now go before he drinks himself to a second death."

Angel smiled down at the red head, ignoring the warning look his girlfriend was shooting him. The look spoke volumes - if he told Spike the reason
Willow had been so sad he was dust. "See you later, Delia." He kissed her lips before pushing back through the throng of dancing humans, leaving
the two girls to dance alone together, again. "Come on, my boy." He gripped Spike's arm hard, pulling him stumbling to his feet and out of the doors
to the club before the blonde could even protest.

Spike's mind worked frantically as tried to pull his arm from the dark haired vampire's steel grasp. He hadn't even finished his bloody drink. How dare
the ponce yank him out of the bar like some sort of teenage son? He opened his mouth to protest, cut off suddenly by his sire's next words.

"You disobeyed me by ordering another drink." Angel tightened his grip on his childe's arm to a point where, if he had been mortal, there would be
bruising. "And for that I *will* punish you, William. But for now. We are going to have a little talk."

** ** **
 
 

Spike gave up struggling against his sire's grasp after a few minutes, allowing himself to be dragged cursing to one of the smaller beaches on the
island, all but deserted in the moonlight. They walked for a ways, further away from the light of any buildings, and into a small cove of sorts, the
sound of waves crashing against the rocks the only thing to be heard. Well, that and the growling of one irate blonde vampire.

"Sit." Angel pushed his childe towards an outcropping of rock.

"Like hell." Spike glared at the dark haired vampire. He crossed his arms over his chest, daring his sire to force him. He was aching for a good brawl
and seeing as how there didn't seem to be any demons around to vent on, the older vampire would have to do. Provided he would take the bait.

"I. Said. Sit." Despite his best efforts, Angel could feel his demon pushing forward, wanting to punish his petulant childe for disobeying him yet
again. There would be time for that later, though, now was the time to talk.

"Back to ordering me around huh, Peaches?" The blonde shot his sire a look of pure contempt. "So much for putting the past behind us. You're still
the same dominating wanker you've always been."

Angel sighed. He hadn't come out here to fight with Spike. Though at this point it was looking like a gone point. "I just wanted to talk to you about
Willow..."

Spike growled, feeling his demon rise to the front. "What about the chit? Gonna take her from me like you did Dru? I saw you all over her in the
bloody club. " He took a step towards his dark haired sire, instinctively wanting to fight for what he saw as his.

"Fine!" Angel snarled. He was tired of the bickering. "You wanna fight? Then lets do this. Maybe then you will shut up long enough to talk to me
about why..." His sentence was cut off as Spike's fist connected with his jaw, snapping his head back. Golden eyes flared in the moonlight, the
ridges of Angel's true face coming forward, snarling into the matching eyes of his childe. His right arm snapped out in a violent swing, bringing blood
to his childe's mouth, and felt himself rewarded with a sharp jab to the ribs.

Spike fell to the ground with a rush of air as the taller man swept his feet out from under him, knocking him to his back. He growled, kicking up and
managing to connect with his sire's knee. The older vampire stumbled back, his knee already aching from the sharp kick, as the blonde climbed off
the ground. Swinging wildly, Spike managed to land another punch to his sire's face, anger clouding his judgement.

Angel fell back onto the sand, the fight leaving him as his childe continued to pummel his face and chest with wild, angry punches. Through
half-shut eyes he watched the blonde haired creature he had created vent his frustrations the only way he knew how - with his fists. He allowed
the pain to ride him, dimming the screams of his demon to throw his childe down and teach him a lesson the way he had so many years ago. The
swings slowed, finally ceasing, and he opened his eyes again, his face already sore and bruising.

Rolling off of his sire, the blonde pulled his knees to his chest, staring out into the dark night water. "Why?" The blonde moaned softly.

"Because she's worried you..."

"No. Not talking about Red." He turned ice blue eyes on his sire, their edges rimmed with blood tinged tears. "Why can't I hate you for what you've
done to me. What I know you will *always* do to me?"

Angel kept his mouth shut. This wasn't a question he was meant to answer and he knew it, his childe needed to think this out for himself. Resisting
the urge to pull the shaking vampire into his arms, he pulled himself into a sitting position, absently massaging his aching jaw as he waited for him to
continue.

"It was different back then," Spike whispered, his gaze returning to the water. "In the beginning - it was all about a good shag. You and me. The
good ole days." His laugh was bitter. "And I loved every minute of it. You were my world. You were the reason I chose this miserable life, after all.
Even when you were beating the bloody hell out of me, you were still my everything. And somewhere, in the middle of all that, I had to start
caring."

Crystal blue eyes darkened with sadness, the moonlight shining in them as he continued to watch the waves break upon the shore. "And then came
Dru...and she turned my merry little life upside down." He sneered. "You broke her and brought her home, my new 'sister'. And I was forgotten
quicker than your last meal. I remember all the days I laid awake, listening to you shag her in the next room, wishing it was me." Another bitter
laugh. "But you were still there, my sire, still there to whip me senseless - or shag me senseless - whatever your mood bloody well was. Even
though most nights you left me frustrated and never spared me a word. And still I couldnt hate you."

"*Then*, you wanker, you had to go and snack on a little gypsy girl. And, unknown to me and dear old sis, you got all soulful and guilt ridden. But
did you tell us? No. Did you think for one effin minute to send us a bloody letter letting us know you were alright? NO!" The blonde was on his feet
now, pacing back and forth, his eyes on the sand. He was yelling now. "You left us. You left me to take care of a creature I couldnt damn well
stand. But she was all I had and despite my better judgement I fell in love with her, too! I listened to her whine and moan about her daddy being
lost to her for decades before she finally gave up."

Angel met his childe's eyes as the blonde came to stand before him, looking down at him with a mixture of rage and confusion. He knew this was
hard for him. Knew what it was costing him to finally admit things that he had held in so long. He had been wrong to think that by not talking about
the past they could forget about it. It would never be forgotten. He could only hope to make up to his childe for it.

"Eighty years we worried about you! Eighty bloody years! Only knowing you were still alive because we could feel it through our little connection.
Not knowing why you left us to fend for ourselves." His eyes softened slightly. "I never thought I'd see you again. And when you waltzed into that
high school on the Hellmouth years later, I wished you had just stayed gone. Would've been easier. Suddenly the one true bright spot in my unlife is
back, and he can't stand me - cant stand his own children. And still, I couldnt hate you. I would've taken whatever scrap of a relationship you
threw to me. But you were too busy chasing the skirts of the Slayer to give a damn about the family you abandoned."

The darker haired vampire flinched, the words hitting close to home. Chocolate eyes broke from the blue ones, his eyes filling with their own tears
as he listened to his childe lay bear the feelings he had kept locked up for over a century.

Spike kneeled down, forcing his sire's eyes back to his. He would look at him for this, damnit. He would pay attention and know just what he had
done to him. "We moved on, though, we accepted. But, as usual, you pillock, just when things were getting to some semblance of good...you fuck
it all up. Shagging the Slayer. What a twit." His cold blue eyes were unwavering. "You took her from me. Dru. You left us to fall in whatever kind of
love two demons can have, and then you came back and took her from me. And *still* I couldnt hate you!!"

The blonde fell back on his heels, sinking into the warm sand as he continued to stare at his sire. "You taunted me, teased me, tortured me, made
me feel like less of a demon. And still I couldnt bring myself to hate you. I thought when I sided with the Slayer, sent you to Hell, I thought maybe
then at last I would find some bloody peace. I should have known better. The whole Ring of Amarra thing? Thought if I tortured you enough, made
you hurt badly enough, it would make it all go away. But it *didn't*. It just made you hate me more. And now its all going to happen again, right?
You'll take Willow. Then you'll disappear again. And I will have nothing. Again."

"I never hated you."

Spike couldnt believe he had heard him at first. The words were spoken almost too softly for even a vampire's hearing. Unbelieving blue eyes
watched the face of the creature in front of him. It was his sire's turn to talk - he had already said more than he ever intended.

"I never hated you and I'm not taking Willow from you and I'm not going to leave you!" Angel sighed. "I've told you before that I am sorry. And I will
continue telling you until you believe it or until it stops hurting you so badly. I never meant to hurt you. Not with leaving. Not with Dru. You are my
childe....my favorite and you know it." He reached out, tentatively taking the blonde in his arms. A mix of surprise and joy went through him when
the younger vampier allowed himself to be held. "I'm sorry for everything I've done. But I've changed, just as you have. Damien coming after Willow
was a bad thing, true. But it put you back in my life, and I'm not going to let that chance slip by."

Leaning into his sire's embrace, the blonde couldnt help but feel old emotions begin to stir in him. The front of his jeans suddenly became
uncomfortably tight as he took in the hardness of his sire's chest and arms and... "Sire.." Mischievious eyes flashed playfully in the dark. "I see some
things are still the same with you." He reached out a hand to trace lightly over the older vampire's leather encased erection.

Angel sucked in a breath of unneeded air. He longed to feel his childe's body beneath him, longed to feel those soft lips on his, longed to hear that
husky voice scream his name. But, he couldnt. "We can't do this...the girls...."

"Bloody hell.." Spike pulled from his sire's arms, his arousal cooling with the reminder of the red head who wouldn't even speak to him. "Willow. You
know whats wrong with her right?" The dark haired vampire nodded. "Well, mate, going ta tell me?"

"Nope, Cordelia would kill me. Besides, I told you I would punish you for disobeying me...and this is it." He smirked at his childe. "All I'm going to say
is this - I'm taking Delia out tomorrow night, you and Willow are not invited. Make her tell you whats wrong. Its no big deal. Here's a hint though -
you need to go ahead and have that talk with her." He stood, brushing the sand from the back of his pants before offering the blonde a hand up.

Taking his sire's hand, Spike allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. He grinned impishly at the darker haired vampire, turning his sandy backside to
him. "Not going to brush me off, Peaches?"

Surprising both the blonde and himself, Angel brushed off the sand, leaning in close to whisper into his childe's ear. "Take care of Willow. Get nice
and settled in your relationship. When we get back to the states, I'd like to work on making us *one* *big* *happy* *family*." He emphasized
each word with a tiny lick to Spike's earlobe, making the blonde groan softly. Angel smirked. It felt good to be this close to his childe again and he
had every intention of at least trying to take things to another level within their little group when they got home.

Spike let out a sigh of frustration when the dark haired vampire moved away from him, walking along the sand back towards the city. He had missed
this familiar ache that only his sire could bring to him. He would definitely need to start working on Willow when they got home. The love he felt for
her was unconditional. If she didn't want to play then it wouldn't happen. But he could still hope.

First things first, though. He had a little 'talk' to have with a certain red head.

** ** **

Willow sighed, her laptop beeping to life and the familiar chime letting her know she had mail ringing in the silence of the room. She smiled, pulling
open the letter from Giles. She sighed, scanning the text quickly. Buffy was now avoiding any mention of her, it seemed. And Xander was missing
her more than life itself...more than even twinkies! She laughed, surprised that Giles had put that in the email. She read on, seeing the watcher
inquire about Angel, and Cordelia, and Spike.

The smile that had lit up the red head's face disappeared at the mention of her blonde haired lover. Tears threatened to once again spill down her
cheeks. With a small sob she shut the laptop, vowing to respond to Giles's email later - much later, when she knew what, if anything, was going on
with her and Spike. Her body shook with tears. Why couldnt she just admit to him what was wrong? {Because he may laugh at you and tell you
how silly you are? Or maybe he'll just tell you things arent working out after all.} The voice of doubt whispered in the back of her mind.

"Little one, are you okay?" Angel moved up behind the petite girl, his hands coming up to absently massage her shoulders. She jumped slightly
beneath his ministrations, startled by his sudden appearance behind her. He could feel the tension in her body as she tried in vain to hide her
emotions from him. "It will be ok, Will, I promise." He turned her towards him, brushing a light kiss across her forehead. Images of dancing with her
the night before flashed through his mind and he felt a small stirring of lust flare in him.

"I dont know Angel..." She knew that the dark haired vampire knew what her problem was, but trusted him not to say anything to his childe. It just
wasn't like him to interfere in others business.

"Delia and I are going out tonight." Angel moved away from the red head, willing his body back to the state of calmness it normally resided in. This
wasn't the time or place to be having these feelings for Willow. Better to help her through her problems now, and work on making her happy later.
Much later. "Try to talk to Spike, you might be surprised by the results."

Willow stared after the vampire, wondering when he had gotten to be all Cryptic Guy again. *You might be surprised by the results*. What did he
mean by that? Was it a hint that she was overreacting? She shook her head. No, it was probably just his way of saying to talk, deal with it, and
move on to someone who would treat her better. As if anyone could treat her better than Spike. As if anyone could treat her better than the
blonde haired vampire did. Well, better than he had been doing until the past few days, that is.

A door shut somewhere in the suite as Angel and Cordelia left, the rooms suddenly seeming eerily quiet. She knew Spike was still there. Knew that
he was in the other room, lying down on the bed they had shared each night. She licked her lips, tasting the tears that had spilled onto her cheeks.
The feel of Spike's arms around her was a distant memory, something she hadn't experienced in days. She missed the feel of his cool flesh, his soft
lips, the way his eyes darkened when he was about to... She squeezed her eyes tight, trying to fight back the flood of tears threatening to
cascade anew down her face.

* * * * * * *

The ceiling wasn't painted evenly, Spike decided. Crystal blue eyes wandered over the roughly swirled surface, taking in the change in hue from one
corner to the other. He heard the front door of the suite shut and knew his sire had left with his chit. It was now or never. Time to force Red to tell
him what was wrong. Time to have that little talk about eternity with her, if she still wanted to even be with him. He shifted slightly on the bed,
making no move to get up.

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he almost didn't hear her crying. If it had been possible, his undead heart would have broken when he
finally heard the sound. He took a deep, unneccessary breath, bracing himself for what was ahead. Dealing with female emotions had never been
one of his strong points, something that had not changed in over a century. Within his body the demon railed for him to just throw her down, claim
her, and be done with this sentimental crap. He couldn't though. Placing his feet on the floor he slowly made his way to the door, walking up behind
the oblivious red head.

He didn't speak a word, pulling her into his arms and cradling her head against his chest. She tensed, something he hadn't felt her do in months. Did
she no longer trust him? No longer want to be with him? Who was he kidding to think that she could ever love him? He was nothing but a monster
and it would be better on both of them if she came to her senses now. But, despite his better judgement, he continued to hold onto her, until the
sobs tapered off into silent tears and she finally relaxed.

Willow couldn't believe that he was holding her again. After days of barely speaking to each other he was there, offering her comfort. She wanted,
no -needed-, for things to be right with him, for them to get past this little speedbump in their relationship and live happily ever after. Yet she still
couldn't bring herself to voice her fears.

"Pet." Spike began, surprised to find his own voice shaky. He was scared of this - scared that when he confronted her he would hear things he
didn't want to. "What's wrong? I know you keep saying that its nothing. But we both know thats not true. The cheerleader and my bloody sire know
but they refuse to tell me. So now I am asking one last time. What is wrong?" He felt her body tense again and prepared himself for what he knew
was coming - rejection.

Willow laughed softly, her eyes staring ahead at the wall. It was a laugh of sadness, speaking volumes about how she was feeling inside. Angel had
said for her to talk to him. For good or worse, this was it. "What's wrong?" She smiled at his softly, pulling away from his arms to look into his eyes.
"I'm just a silly little girl. A very confused and unsure little girl." Her face was wet again, salty tears running in lines down her cheeks.

Spike brushed at the tears on one cheek with his thumb, longing to kiss them away instead. Somehow he doubted that was what she wanted or
needed, though. "Luv, you are not a little girl." {You're a woman, a woman I don't deserve. Who am I kidding?} Even his thoughts lacked the normal
cockiness he was so fond of displaying.

"Yes I am." She whispered, sniffling before changing the subject. "I had an interesting talk with Cordelia the other day. Learned a little more about
my favorite species of the undead." She was smiling, but her tone was bitter as she looked into his ice blue eyes. "Amazingly, Cordelia of all people
knew something about vampires that I didn't know. She and Angel finally got together. But I guess you probably already knew that what with that
mark on her neck proclaiming it to the whole fucking undead world!"

She was shaking with the effort not to run from the room, run from him before she or he said something that was irreversible. Something that would
end the one relationship she had been *sure* would be forever. "So tell me about claiming, Spike. I wanna hear it straight from the vampire's mouth
so to speak." Her voice broke, the next words gasped between sobs. "And then tell me why I'm so damn unloveable that you haven't claimed me."
There. It was said and there was no turning back.

Spike was shocked. This hadn't been what he was expecting to hear from the little witch. Though, in truth, he hadn't really *expected* to hear
anything other than her telling him she didn't want to be with him anymore. "Thats what this is about?"

{Here it comes,} Willow thought, waiting for him to tell her how stupid she was. Suddenly his arms were around her, holding her, crushing her to his
chest. "Spike?" She gasped, trying to get a breath of air into her rapidly bruising lungs. This wasn't the reaction she had expected. "Need. Air.
Please."

With obvious reluctance, the blonde released the woman enough for her to breathe a little easier. He couldn't get over the fact that she wasn't
leaving him. "Sweets, you should have just asked me." He held her gaze. "Do you really want me to explain about claiming or do you just want to
know about the last part?"

"Just the last part please." The red head waited anxiously. The vampire didn't seem irritated by her questions, didn't seem like he was going to
laugh. In fact, he seemed relieved himself.

"Would it sound too cliche to say that I was waiting for the right time?" He grinned. "Because thats all it was. I wanted to wait until we had our
bloody talk. Wanted to make sure that you understood what I was asking of you." He squeezed her hand lovingly. "I wanted to make it perfect and
special for you. Not something done in haste." The blonde snorted, a sparkle of humor in his eyes. "Imagine that, William the Bloody wanting to take
the rational approach to something."

"Yeah, imagine that." Willow smiled softly, It seemed almost too good to be true. He had just been trying to take things slowly. Her heart ached
over the misery she had caused to them both. "I guess I need to learn to communicate better, huh?"

"We both do, pet." His lips met hers in the briefest of kisses. "So, can I assume that you got upset because you *want* me to claim you?" He
teased lightly.

A blush spread across her face. He was going to make her admit that she wanted to be his. She smirked slightly, she could handle that. "Well, yeah.
But I like your idea of taking it slow."

Spike smiled. "Not too slow, I hope, luv. In fact, lets start now. With that talk." He pushed her back, away from him, holding her hands as he met
her eyes , suddenly completely serious. "I want to be with you, Willow. Forever. Not just a a few years, Not even a lifetime. I mean until time itself
ceases to bloody well exist."

"I'd like that, too." The red head whispered shyly.

"Would you? Are you sure? Its no picnic being what I am, pet. Its about blood and death and having a literal demon inside you every bloody second
of every bloody day for the rest of your existence. Its about watching everyone you know die and watching the world change from something
familiar into something you never thought you'd see. Its about new tastes and sensations, things I can't even explain now. Never seeing another
sunrise. Never having children. Its..."

"Its about being with you forever? Being in your arms for the rest of my existence? Waking up each day to make love to you for the thousandth or
millionth time? How about seeing the world with you...over and over and over again - seeing the world change and seeing what new technology we
come up with? Is it about discovering the joys of the night with you?"

Spike watched the red head with amazement as she continued to enumerate the finer points of spending an eternity with him. "Pet...?"

"And I get to keep my soul when it all happens right? Because as much as I think the whole soulless demon thing is sexy on you...I dont think I
could pull it off...I'm much cuter with a soul." Willow continued to ramble, caught up in her happiness.

The blonde laughed, a full happy sound. "Of course, ducks. The cutest thing about you is your soul - the innocence that just won't bloody die." He
leaned over to kiss her, whispering. "But your lips are cute too, and your face, your eyes...every single thing about you is adorable."

"So..." Willow shifted nervously when he pulled away from her. "When?"

"The claiming? Not too much longer. Turning you? At least a few more years." He watched her face for any sign that this wasn't what she wanted
to hear. He found none. A slow, lazy smile spread across his features.

She couldn't help but marvel at the nonchalance at which he said these things. She supposed they were, to him. A stray thought flittered across
her mind. "Does that mean Angel will be my daddy-in-law?" She snickered softly.

The vampire laughed. "Yeah, luv, I guess it does." He couldn't wait to see his sire's face the first time she called him that. It would be priceless.
This little slip of a mortal girl calling one of the most feared vampires in all of history 'daddy'. He laughed suddenly, echoing the words his sire had
spoken to him the night before. "One big happy family."

"I like the sound of that."

"So do I, pet." He pulled her into his arms, kissing her firmly, his mind reeling that she was his. She had agreed to be his forever. Knowing who he
was and what he wanted from her. She still wanted to be with him. It was amazing.

Just bloody amazing.
 

next