*~ She woke up screaming, her entire body soaked in sweat, her eyes blind to everything but the strange room and the images still rushing through her mind. Gasping for breath, she struggled to sit up in the huge bed, pushing the sweat-soaked sheets off her overheated body.

*~ The door to her room crashed open and she screamed again, falling over the side of the bed as a tall, dark shape thundered in. She scooted herself back until her back was in the corner. Still half-asleep, she sobbed openly as the figure stepped closer, one hand reaching for her.

*~ "N- no, please," she whimpered, cowering in remembered fear. "Please, don't touch me. Don't hurt me, please..."

*~ "Willow?" the voice was different than that in her dream, deeper, quieter, gentler. "Willow, it's me, Angel..."

*~ "A-angel?" her voice was small, still scared but she knew where she was now. The haze was leaving her mind, replacing the sheer terror of the nightmare.
Angel. She was in LA. With Angel and Cordelia. She was safe. No one was going to hurt her. She was safe.

*~ Another, smaller figure appeared behind Angel and she relaxed even more. Spike. Spike was here. She was safe. Tears fell down her face as she allowed the blonde vampire gather her into his arms and into his lap. "Shh, luv, it's just a dream. You're safe. I'm here... You're safe."

*~ "Oh, Spike... It was h-horrible," she sobbed into his bare chest, clutching her arms around his waist as tight as possible. "I wasn't me in my dream. I was...
I was... another girl, smaller, younger. I... He... It was horrible. She hurt so bad... She trusted him..." her voice cracked and both vampires flinched visibly.
She looked up at Angel, who was standing awkwardly in front of the door. He was uncomfortable watching an obviously private scene, yet concern kept him from leaving.

*~ "Angel, I'm so sorry," she said, fresh tears falling. "I- I didn't know who you were... When I wake up from these dreams, I don't know where I am- or even
who I am at first. It takes a few minutes."

*~ "How long have you been having these dreams, luv," Spike asked the little redhead in his arms, his hands rubbing her back soothingly as he exchanged a look with his sire.

*~ "About a month or so," she whispered. "They started a few weeks after Oz left."

*~ "Fuck, Red, that was more than a bloody month!" Willow flinched and he held her closer, softening his voice some. "Why didn't you say anything before now?"

*~ "I- I tried," she stammered, "N-no one would listen. No one cared..."

*~ "I bloody well cared! Shit, Red, I'd do anything for you- anything to keep you safe." The blonde vampire clamped his mouth shut as he realized just what he'd admitted and in front of whom. If it was possible, he would have blushed. He scowled at Angel's knowing smirk. Bloody Poof, as if he didn't feel the same.

*~ "Really?" Willow asked, her eyes wide as she pulled away a little to look at his face.

*~ Shit. Who cared if his sire heard him. "Yes, really, luv. Why do you think I stayed around those brainless twits so long? I could've left a long time ago- there's plenty of other places I could hang around."

*~ "B- but I thought you hated all of us. Does 'happy meals with legs' mean anything to you?"

*~ "Never you, pet." Gol, he was sounding like such a sap. Well, in for a penny and all that crap. "I've never wanted to hurt you."

*~ The redhead snorted, sounding more like herself. "Only shove a broken bottle in my face."

*~ "And when, pray tell, did this happen?" Angel asked dryly, shooting a sharp look at his childe. Willow jumped and looked over at him sheepishly. She'd almost forgotten the souled vampire was still there.

*~ "Hell, it was my way of getting your attention, luv," Spike grinned. "I couldn't just come out and say 'I want to turn you and keep you with me forever' now
could I? Not with you being the slayer's chum. 'Sides, I was the enemy. Would you have trusted me then?"

*~ The redhead really thought about it for a second before nodding her head. "I always did trust the wrong people. Look at Buffy..." She clapped a hand over her mouth, looking over at Angel, wide-eyed. "I didn't just say that out loud, did I?"

*~ Angel smiled, his dark eyes twinkling at her for a second. "Buffy is a bitch, Will, I'm not arguing," he answered, making Willow's jaw drop.

*~ "Did I just hear you call *Buffy* a bitch?"

*~ "Yup," he nodded. "The blinders are off, you might say."

*~ Willow's grin was cut off by a huge yawn that nearly split her face in half. "You need to get in bed, Little One. Get some more sleep."

*~ "No!" her voice was a little panicked as she tightened her grip on Spike. "I can't go back to sleep! What if I dream again? What if I can't wake up!? I ca-..."

*~ "I'll sleep in here with you, luv," Spike offered, already standing up with her still in his arms. "I can wake you up if you start to dream." He laid her on the
bed, picking up the blankets from the floor and covering her with them gently before crawling in next to her, pulling her snug against him.

*~ Angel turned to go and was just about to shut the door behind him when a soft voice stopped him. "Angel? Where you going?" He smiled softly and turned back to the couple on the bed.

*~ "Nowhere," he answered quietly as Spike lifted the edge of the comforter for him to crawl in next to them. He curled up behind Willow, spooning her back,
his arm going across her waist to rest on his childe's hip. The sleepy witch snuggled down between her vampires and was almost instantly asleep, feeling safe in her dreams for the first time in months.

*~ The vampires watched each other for a long time before dropping off to sleep. They both knew that they had just went past a major point in their renewed
relationship. Trust. Acceptance. Something beyond the friendship they were slowly rebuilding. And not a bond of sire-childe, but a bond of old lovers  reunited. Reunited because of the tiny redhead sleeping soundly in their arms.
 

Part 7

*~ Willow woke up slowly, finding herself nestled between two cold, hard bodies. Smiling, she reveled in the safety of their embrace, knowing exactly where she was and how she got there. This was another first- waking up without the usual terror of the demons in her sleep.

*~ Spike was on her left, his body lean muscle and bone, an endless bundle of energy and strength. And Angel... Angel was behind her on her right, a big
mountain of solid flesh that made her feel both tiny and safe. No one could touch her when she was with them- with one or together.

*~ "G' morn, Little One," Angel mumbled sleepily, his voice rumbling in his chest against her back. She smiled, leaning back against him more as his lips
touched the back of her neck. "Sleep well?"

*~ "Yup," she chirped, feeling almost alive for the first time in months. "It's the first full night's sleep I've had since Oz left."

*~ "We'll just have to sleep with you all the time, then," Spike chimed in with a crooked grin, kissing her forehead softly.

*~ "Good idea," she replied happily. Then her smile faded slightly, "If you guys don't mind. I mean, I don't want to..."

*~ "Little One," Angel interrupted, rolling her over onto her back and wrapping his arm across her waist, moving to where he was almost lying on her. "I- we-
want you here. There isn't anywhere I would rather be. For longer than I can remember, you have been the reason I fight. Do you have any idea how easy it would have been for me to give in?"

*~ Willow was about to reply when a pounding came at the door, making them all, vampires included, jump. Angel groaned and rested his head on Willow's chest. Spike laughed and got out of bed, his lean form moving gracefully covered only by a pair of boxer shorts. He opened the door with an annoyed flourish, "What?"

*~ Cordelia wasn't even fazed. "Vision. Sunnydale. Huge blue and green demon with horns and five eyes. Slayer. Xander. Anya. Giles. Lots and lots of
bloodshed."

*~ "Should we go?" Angel lifted his head up just enough to look into Willow's face. Cordelia snorted from the doorway.

*~ "If it didn't involve death, I'd say let's let them deal with it on their own. But we can't let them die," Cordelia said, crossing her arms over her chest.

*~ "Little One, what do you think?"

*~ Willow ran her hands through his sleep tousled hair, smiling at the softness of it, before sighing. "We'd better go. But if they're planning on me being
their little pet, it won't wash. Not anymore."

*~ "Of course not, pet," Spike said deliberately, making them all roll their eyes. "You're ours now. They can't have you back. They didn't know what they
had, but we do."

*~ "We always knew." Willow smiled softly as Angel kissed her.

*~ "Enough of the sugar overdose," Cordelia sounded annoyed, but she was grinning as she turned to go back out the door. "We have to get there tonight."
 

Part 8

*~ The trip started out happy enough. Angel was driving, Willow situated firmly between him and Spike, with Cordelia in the back seat by herself, quietly
humming along with whatever song was playing on her diskman. But the closer they got to Sunnydale, the more nervous Willow got. And the more nervous Willow got, the more nervous Spike got. And a nervous Spike was an obnoxious Spike.

*~ "Spike, sit still or I'll tie you to the bumper," Angel finally snapped, reaching out to slap his childe's fingers- which were reaching to turn the radio station for the millionth time.

*~ "Bugger off," the blonde grumbled, slouching down in the seat, crossing his arms over his chest in a pout. "I hate this song."

*~ Willow sighed and rubbed the middle of her forehead where a headache was starting. "Goddess, I wish we weren't going back. After the way I left, they must be pissed at me. And Buffy... Shit! I destroyed the dorm room! She's going to kick my ass!"

*~ "She won't touch you," Angel promised darkly, his chocolate brown eyes flashing amber at the implied threat to his chosen. "No one will ever touch you in
anger, Little One. *That* I promise you."

*~ Willow bit back tears at the muck she made of her life. "Thanks Angel," she whispered, taking his large, cool hand in hers. "But she'll hate me. I'd rather
have her physically hurt me than have to listen to her berate me. I don't know if I can handle it."

*~ "The bint may talk big, but she can't touch you, luv," Spike said, his own tone smoothing out into a barely concealed threat. "If she does, we'll just have
to add another slayer to my list."

*~ "Our list," Angel corrected, squeezing Willow's hand reassuringly. Willow's nerves were settled a bit, but she was still worried.

*~ "And the bitch had better not *say* anything to you either," Cordelia jumped into the conversation, leaning over the back of the seat to fold her friend
into a half-hug. "When she messes with you, she messes with me too. And I, even if I do say so myself, can out-bitch anyone, anytime, anywhere."

*~ Willow laughed and squeezed Cordelia's arms quickly. "Thanks Cordy. I'm glad I have you guys on my side."

*~ "I was never on anyone else's side, luv," Spike told her, kissing her lips softly.

*~ Angel smiled grimly and parked in front of the Watcher's apartment building, shutting the engine off. "We're here."
 

Part 9

*~ "I can't do this," Willow balked halfway down the walkway, coming to a complete halt, forcing the two vampires and Cordelia to stop. "I- I just can't. Not
after the way I acted."

*~ "Let me talk to her for a second," Cordelia said, seizing Willow's hand from Spike's and pulling her a little ways away from the vampires.

*~ "What?"

*~ "What happened to the strong, bitchy Willow that told them all off? What happened to the Willow who was sick and fucking tired of them walking all over her? What happened to my best friend, who has changed so much over the past year and a half and just got the balls to show them all just who and *what* you've become?" Cordelia's voice started out in a harsh whisper, but grew to a whispered shout as she became more emotional. "Don't let them win this time, Will, please. Don't become what you've outgrown."

*~ Willow looked solemnly at the now silent brunette for a long couple of moments before nodding with a wry half-smile. "Nothing happened to me," she replied quietly, but the fear had gone from her stance and from her expressive green eyes. "They're *not* going to push me around. And I am *not going to be their little chew-toy."

*~ "That's my girl," Cordelia beamed, hugging the redhead fiercely. "Now, let's go in there and tell them all we're here to help and if they don't like it, then they can all go to hell. Deal?"

*~ "Deal," Willow returned the hug, then let the brunette go, turning back to her vampires. "Sorry about that. Old insecurities coming back. I'm ready."

*~ Angel and Spike reclaimed her hands and allowed her to pull them towards the front door, exchanging a proud look. Angel rang the doorbell, then stepped back to stand with the others, waiting for someone to open the door. They didn't have to wait long.
 

Part 10

*~ "Willow!" the blonde slayer looked stunned at the sight of her best friend standing defiantly between her ex-boyfriend and his blonde childe, with Cordelia
standing not too far away.  "What are you doing here? I thought you had class today? And what are they doing here?"

*~ "What?" Willow asked through her teeth, the old anger rising at the casual way the blonde slayer was acting after their fight the day before. Goddess, it
*was* just a day ago that she left Sunnydale in such a fuss. Buffy probably hadn't even gone back to the dorm yet. "I went to LA last night, Spike went with me, and we stayed with Angel."

*~ "You bitch," Buffy hissed, her anger instant as she took a step towards her 'best friend'. "You're just trying to get back at me, aren't you? Well, you don't
have to make up lies to do it. You probably didn't even leave Sunnydale."

*~ "Shut up, Buffy, and let us in," Angel said, his own tone quietly angry. His hand never left Willow's as the slayer stopped, looking at him with a shocked
expression on her face. She wasn't expecting *Angel* to talk to her like that. He'd never used that tone with her. Ever.

*~ "Angel?"

*~ "Buffy," Angel said sarcastically, "Now we know each other's names. Can we come in? Cordelia had a vision and you guys need our help."

*~ "No," the slayer said, making a split decision, immediately stepping back out of reach as she started to close the door.

*~ "What?" Angel growled, his eyes flashing. "We're here to help."

*~ "No. You're Angelus, and you're trying to get an invitation. You're not going to get it," Buffy said haughitly, her voice strained as she slammed the door
in their faces, the click of the deadbolt sounding loud in the sudden silence outside.

*~ "Well, I think that answers our question as to whether or not we help them," Spike ventured dryly, squeezing Willow's hand gently.

*~ "We can't just let them die," the redhead sounded close to tears as she turned to bury her face in his chest. "As hurtful as they are, I can't just let them
die."

*~ "Let's go back to the mansion and talk this over," Angel suggested softly, his eyes dark as he looked at his childe meaningfully.

*~ Cordelia laughed suddenly, making all of them turn to look at her funny. This wasn't exactly a laughing matter.

*~ "What's so funny, Cordy?" Willow asked, quirking her eyebrow at the brunette.

*~ "B-Buffy's s-so s-stupid. Angel a-already has an i-invitation," Cordelia choked out between chuckles, causing everyone to start laughing with her as they
started back towards Angel's car.
 

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