**********

Buffy looked around the room, and smiled slightly, despite the situation. "Okay, so we'll split up, and search in teams." She turned to her Giles. "You'll go with Xander and Anya. Riley will come with me, and I guess that means, Willow will go with Spike." She looked apologetically at the hacker.

Willow shrugged as she stood up. "Come on, Blondie, we have a demon to find." She headed out the door.

Spike smirked. He couldn't believe his luck getting paired with the witch. What was the Slayer thinking? It didn't matter. She would be his, and his alone.

Willow looked around the cemetery cautiously. "So, do you think we'll find this demon?" She asked casually, trying to fill the awkward silence. To the casual observer, it would appear she was nervous, and she was. But not for the reason's one might think.
She should have been afraid of him. Despite the fact that he had been helping them for over six months, Spike was still a scary guy. He was a vampire, a soulless killer. But truth be told, all of those things just proved to intrigue her.
Angel had intrigued her as well, but more in a scientific, he's-a-demon-with-a-soul kind of way. Spike was different. There was something about him. Something dangerous and it excited her.

She turned around to face him, when she realized he hadn't answered her question. Spike was leaning up against a tree, smoking a cigarette, and staring at her with this look in his eyes. A look she had never seen directed at her before, but one she recognized nonetheless. Desire. She stared back, feeling her heart speed up.

"What's wrong luv? Are you frightened?" He asked huskily as he took a step closer to her.

"No." She told him honestly, stepping forward.

"I can hear your heartbeat." He took one more step.

She smiled at him as she grabbed his hand and placed it over her heart. "Can you feel it, too?"

Spike bent down and brushed her lips against his. She opened her mouth to him, and he thrust his cold tongue inside, reveling in the feel of her warm mouth. Spike pulled her closer and pressed her body against his. They were so close, he could feel her heart beating against his chest.

Willow pulled her lips away, taking in deep breaths of much needed oxygen. She was about to say something when they heard a screech from somewhere behind Spike. Willow's eyes went wide as she saw the demon come out of no where and attack Spike.

Spike fought him off, but the demon was very strong. She had to think quickly. Willow tried to center herself, and blocked out everything, but the sound of her own heartbeat, which had now slowed to normal. She could feel her energy coming forth. Willow reached out with her mind. She grasped onto the demon and squeezed. She heard Spike get thrown to the ground as the demon collapsed in pain. Willow continued her assault on its senses. Soon, she could feel its power surging forward, and mingling with her own. And then everything exploded. There was a maze of colors dancing behind her eyes. And then nothing. Willow collapsed from exhaustion, landing on the ground with a thud.

*****

"Willow, luv." Willow heard Spike's accented voice from somewhere in the distance. She tried to open her eyes, but the pain in her head, prevented her from accomplishing the task.

"Red, you need to open your eyes." Spikes concerned voice drifted back to her.

Willow opened her eyes carefully, and saw ice blue eyes staring expectantly at her. She turned her head slightly, and discovered they were still in the cemetery.

"How long have I been out?" She asked.

"A few minutes. A few incredibly long minutes." Spike admitted.

Willow sat up, and allowed Spike to pull her to her feet. She noticed a wet stain seeping through the sleeve of his shirt. "Oh, Goddess, Spike are you okay?"

"It's nothin' Luv. I just need to feed. Are you okay to walk back?"

Willow reached out a hand to touch the wound. He flinched, and pulled it away. "Spike, let me see." She leaned against a tombstone and motioned for him to join her.

Willow gently removed his shirt, and moved him closer so that he was standing sideways between her legs. She gently lay a hand against the wound, trying to feel the blood flowing underneath her fingers.

Spike felt a wave of heat covering the wound. He looked at willow, and could have sworn there was a glow about. But then it was gone. He shook his head, deciding it was from loss of blood.

"You need to eat." She told him as she removed her hand. "You're weak."

"I'll be fine."

Willow gripped his chin with her hand and forced him to look into her eyes. "You're too weak. You lost a lot of blood. It's too far to go home." She brushed her hair aside, and offered him her neck."

Spike's eyes widened slightly in surprise. When he saw the determination in her eyes, he smiled slightly and bent his head towards her pulse point.

Willow braced herself for the pain, but when she felt his fangs pierce her flesh, she barely felt it. As he drew her warm blood out of her body, she could feel the power in it. The power in him. She could sense her blood giving him strength.

As he continued to suckle, Willow closed her eyes, and gave herself over to the sensations. She had never felt anything like it. Nothing so powerful, so erotic, and so completely pure. She could feel liquid seep out of her core, and she was sure he could sense her arousal. She didn't care.

She was almost disappointed when he stopped drawing her blood out of her body, and into his own. She felt him kiss and nip at the puncture wounds. When he lifted his head up to look into her eyes, she could see her desire mirrored in his own.

His lips claimed hers hungrily, as their passion erupted.

****

Willow lay on the soft grass and stared up at the stars. She felt Spikes eyes on her and turned to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted." He grinned.

Willow laughed. "I meant because of your injury." She reached out to touch the wound on his arm. It had all but disappeared. "That demon got you pretty good."

Spike made no move to remove her hand as he stared expectantly at her. He was unsure what her reaction would be. Would she realize what a mistake she had made? Would she run and tell the slayer what had happened. If the events of the past several hours were any indication, he didn't think that her friends knew her as well as they thought. He was pleased that he saw a part of her no one else ever had, and he had no intention of giving her up.

"What?" Willow asked staring into his blue eyes.

"Hmm?" He asked.

"You're staring." She pointed out.

"Am I?" he asked with a grin.

Willow shook her head and stood up, gathering her clothes and putting them on. He was aware of Spike's eyes on her, heating her flesh as they passed over her body.

"So, what now?" She asked casually.

Spike leaned back and stared up at the night's sky for a second before standing up himself, and pulling his clothes on. It was several minutes before he spoke. The silence was deafening. Willow was about to ask again when he spoke.

"You tell me, pet."

"We need to get back. The others will be wondering where we are. They'll probably think you killed me." She smiled. "We won't tell them how close to that you actually came." She giggled at the double entundre.

Spike followed Willow out of the Cemetery towards the watcher's house. He let his mind wander back to the night's events. Willow had been everything he had wanted, and more than he had expected. She accepted him full, something he hadn't had in a mortal lover. Even Drusilla hadn't been with him completely. With her it had always been about her 'Daddy'. Willow was different. Despite the fact that she wasn't a virgin, and had had other relationships, for her, there was only him.
*Relationships? Where did that come from? This was sex. That's it. Nothing more. * Even as he thought the words, Spike watched Willow and knew that whatever had started on this night, was only the beginning.

*****

"Where are they?" Buffy stood up and paced around Giles living room one more time. She looked around at the four people worriedly. "You don't think he killed her, do you?"

Anya snorted, but shrugged when Xander glared at her, reminding her now was not the time to discuss what it was they thought Spike and Willow were doing. They had previously made a bet on how long it would take the couple to get together.

"I'm sure she's fine." Giles assured the Slayer.

"I'm confused." Riley admitted. He didn't understand exactly what was going on. He had recently learned that Buffy was they mythical Slayer, but that was where his knowledge ended. He was surprised when she had called and asked for his help in tracking down a demon. Even more surprised when she had told him to meet her at Mr. Giles house, only to discover Mr. Giles and four other people waiting there, apparently prepared to help with the search.

"About what?" Buffy asked.

"I still don't understand why all of you help Buffy." He looked around the room from Giles to Anya, finally settling his gaze on Xander. "Who are you people anyway?"

Xander grinned goofily. He looked to Buffy. "That's Buffy, the Vampire Slayer." He pointed to Giles, "G-man, Buffy's watcher." He patted Anya's knee. "Meet Anyanka, patron saint of scorned women, well formerly anyway, now she's just my girl." He shrugged, "I guess you could say I'm the Zeppo. At least according to Cordelia."

"Cordelia?" Riley asked, not recognizing the name.

Anya nodded. "She used to date Xander. She's now shacked up with a vamp and a demon." Anya looked up at the glare from Buffy. "What? It's true."

"You'll meet her later." Buffy told her boyfriend, hoping he would ask about Anya's comment.

Riley shook his head, trying to clear the puzzling thoughts. "And Spike and Willow? What are they?"

"A witch and a Vampire." Xander nodded his head, acknowledging the bizarre.

"Which is a lot better than a witch and a werewolf." Anya pointed out.

"Giles was about to admonish Anya when they heard a thump. All eyes turned to where Riley had fallen onto the floor in a heap, unconscious.

*****

Willow approached Giles house with a smile on her face. The entire way over there, she had been thinking about Spike's question. What now indeed. She turned to face the vampire in question. He was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her.

"So, pet," She drawled, "What will we tell Buffy we did all evening?" She raised an eyebrow as she took a step closer. "Somehow I think telling her we shagged until I thought I was going to pop won't go over well."

"Pop?" He smirked.

Willow nodded. "Yep." She pulled his lips down on top of hers, and invaded his cold mouth with her warm tongue. She pressed his body up against a nearby tree, and ran her hands underneath his shirt, feeling the cool skin underneath.

Spike groaned at her assault, and then moaned in protest when she stopped and moved away, walking towards the house, leaving Spike to stand there, stunned.

****

Willow chuckled to herself as she walked up the porch. Who would have though shy, meek little Willow would be such a brazened creature? When she entered the house, she found Buffy kneeling over a semi conscious Riley.

Oh, Goddess! What happened?"

"Where have you been?" Buffy asked turning to her best friend.

"I, uh…"

"We killed the demon." Spike said as he flopped down in one of the empty chairs.

"You did? How?" Giles asked, forgetting about the semi-conscious man in his living room.

Spike looked to Willow for a second, remember how the demon had died. "Not sure really. One minute we were fighting it, the next… poof."

Giles next question was cut off, as there was a knock at the door. "Bloody Hell! Now what?" He groaned as he went to open the door. He looked at the new arrival in shock.

"Oz."

*****
 

Willow turned around at Giles' voice. She felt more than heard the growl that erupted from Spike. She wasn't sure how that was possible, considering there were standing on opposite sides of the room. But she sensed it none the less.

Oz entered the house and took a look around at the people seated around the room, his gaze finally falling on Willow. "Hi." He smiled slightly.

Willow looked at him carefully, taking in his appearance, and marveling at the incredible lack of emotions seeing him brought forth. There was none of the pain, none of the tears, waiting to burst forth. None of the happiness she thought she'd feel when he finally returned. Instead, all she felt was anger.

She knew she shouldn't be angry. He had done what he had to. He had needed to find himself. But now that he had, Willow found she no longer cared. She had moved on with her life.

Where there was once love for the werewolf, now only anger remained. She was not so much angry because he had left, although there was that, more so in the way he had done it. And in the fact that he had never tried to contact her. Not one phone to let her know he was still alive, or to check and make sure that she was as well. That infuriated her.

She looked past Oz, to the opened doorway, and then tilted her head slightly towards Buffy. "I'm gonna head home." She walked out the door without so much as a backward glance to Oz, or anyone else in the room.

Buffy nudged Spike. "Go make sure she gets home."

"Me? Why me?" He asked, wondering if the Slayer knew about what had happened earlier.

"Because," Buffy started between clenched teeth, "We have things to discuss, and this doesn't concern you."

"Fine." Spike stood up, "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I'll make sure some big bad nasty doesn't get the chit." He left, leaving the group in muted silence.

*****

Oz stared at the remaining five people in confusion. "I think I might have missed the part where Spike became a good guy."

"That would have happened after you skipped town." Anya spoke, barely concealing her amusement at the situation. Both at Oz's return and at Willow and Spike's recent couple. She wondered idly how long they would keep it a secret. The thought of what they were probably doing right now made her smile. She turned towards Xander as she stood. "Come, Xander. I want to go have lots of orgasms now."

Xander nearly choked as he stood up and shrugged, following Anya out the door.

"And then there were three." Buffy muttered under her breath, causing Giles to smile.

"Would you like to tell me what I've missed?" He asked the slayer. "What was Spike doing here? Why would you trust him to keep My Willow safe, and, "He pointed to Riley, "Who is he?"

Buffy answered his questions in the order he had asked them. "No, I really wouldn't, it's none of your business, she stopped being your Willow when you walked out on her, and" She pulled Riley out of his chair. "Riley, this is Oz. Oz, Riley."

Oz watched astonished as the last two left the house, leaving him alone with Giles.

"Maybe you should sit down," Giles offered. "Would you like some coffee?"

Oz shook his head, "No, just information."

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Very well. Where would you like me to start?"

*****

Spike caught up with Willow in the cemetery, not far from where they had spent a good portion of the evening.

"Willow, Luv, are you alright?"

Willow spun around and faced the vampire, a small smile quirking on her lips. She pulled him closer and planted a hungry kiss on his lips. "I'm all better now." She purred.

Spike growled at her boldness, but pushed her away reluctantly. "Willow."

"Hmm?" She asked absently as she traced a pattern along his chest, through his clothes.

"Willow." He gently removed her hands. "I will not be a replacement for the wolf."

Willow looked up at him, her green eyes boring into his blue ones. She sighed when she realized he was serious. She stepped away from him and turned towards a nearby tombstone.

"You're not a replacement. You could never be." She turned to face him and saw a brief flash of pain and then anger, and realized he had misunderstood her. "You are so much more than he could ever be." She grabbed his hand and placed it over her heart. "You complete me. What I feel for him could never compare to that."

"What do you feel for him?"

"Anger mostly." Willow spun around wildly, pacing circles around the tombstone. "Who the hell does he think he is anyway? Coming back here? What does he want? Does he think he can come back here, and everything will be the same?" She was nearly shouting now.

"Luv, Shh." Spike grabbed her before she could make another circle around the grave.

Willow smiled at him slightly. "Take me home?"

"To the dorm? Or to your house?" He asked wanting nothing than to take her home to his bed, and never let her leave.
"Take me home" Willow repeated.

Spike grinned when he realized what she was asking him. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, chuckling at her delighted squeals.

*****

Willow watched with glazed eyes as Spike crawled up her body, leaving a trail of kisses on her scorched flesh. She moaned as she felt his cold lips caress her skin. She arched up to meet his talented tongue as it entered her core, driving her wild with need. She dug her fingers into the silk sheets as she neared her fourth orgasm of the evening.
She screamed his name as she came. Spike claimed her lips in a bruising kiss, as her body shook from her release. She could taste herself on him, arousing her more. She moaned slightly in protest as his lips left hers, only to sigh in pleasure as he licked a path down her collarbone, to her chest. He took one pert nipple in his mouth and rolled it under his tongue, nipping lightly with his teeth. She heard him groan as she dug her nails into the skin on his back, as she felt his hard shaft at her entrance. She arched up to meet him, silently begging for contact.

"What do you want?" He purred as he moved his mouth to her other nipple.

"Fuck me. Now!" Willow snarled, unable to stand his teasing any longer.

Spike chuckled as he thrust deeply into her. Willow met him thrust for thrust, her climax building steadily. Her vaginal walls tightened around his member, bringing him closer to the edge. Willow felt his fangs pierce her throat, sending her into another orgasm, the force of which took her to places she had never been before. She bit savagely into his shoulder with her blunt teeth as he sent his cold seed into her womb. The taste of his blood on her tongue was unlike anything she could describe. It was intoxicating. She felt her body shudder as another orgasm over took her.

Spike pulled her against his chest, his body exhausted from the nights activities. He listened as her heart rate slowed, and slipped into a fitful sleep. He wondered what it was he had done to deserve such a creature. She was everything he had ever wanted, and more than he had ever hoped to find. She was his, now and always. Soon he followed her into contented sleep.

*****

Oz looked at Giles in shock. A lot had happened since he had left Sunnydale. He had needed some time away. Time to think. Think about who and what he was. About what he wanted. Now that he had made some decisions about his life, he had returned to Sunnydale, to Willow, only to find things were not as he had left them.

He had expected to come back and find Willow waiting for him with open arms, eager to take him back. That had not been the case. Not only wasn't she waiting for him, she didn't even seem to care he was back. She hadn't even acknowledged his presence. She had just left. That hurt, more than he could express.

Oz stood up. "I should go."

Giles nodded. He didn't know what to tell the boy to make him feel better. He wasn't even sure he should if had known. Oz's departure had wounded Willow deeply, and Giles' found himself hoping she wouldn't run back to him so quickly. She seemed to have found herself in the werewolf's absence and was afraid any reconciliation might disturb the balance she had found with in herself.

Giles watched wearily as Oz left his apartment. He sighed heavily, thinking about the day's events. His mind brought him back to the demon they were hunting earlier. He wondered how it had died, and made a mental note to ask Willow about it.

*****

Willow awoke to the feel of a body pressed up against her. A cold, hard body. She smiled to herself as she remembered the events of the previous day. She was happy. For the first time in a really long time she was happy. Happier than she had ever been. She realized with a contented sigh that Spike had given her more pleasure in twenty-four hours than Oz had given her in two years. She growled softly under her breath as she thought about Oz. She wasn't happy about his return. She had accepted that he wasn't coming back, and then, when she finally moves on, and finds someone new, he comes waltzing back into her life. She didn't know what he wanted, and she didn't care.

Willow turned to look at the clock and gasped at the time. She shot out of bed and hurried into the bathroom. She had less than an hour to shower and change for school.

Forty-five minutes later, Willow was sitting in a chair at the foot of Spike's bed, watching him sleep. His still form fascinated her. He was her mate. Her other half. She knew that without a doubt. She smiled wistfully at the vampire as she placed at tender kiss on his lips before turning and heading out of the apartment, into the day.

*****

"Wills, Hey!" Buffy waved cheerfully as she made her way over to the table Willow was sitting at in the cafeteria.

"Hey, Buff." Willow smiled.

"How goes it?" Buffy asked. "I've been looking for you."

"I've been in library, studying for a test in American history. What's up? Is there evil afoot?" She asked, hoping there wasn't she really wanted to get back to Spike's place before the sunset.

Buffy shook her head. "Nope. Just thought we could hang. Catch up. We haven't talked much lately."

"And whose fault is that?" Willow teased her friend. "One of us has been otherwise occupied." She grinned, glad that Buffy had found some happiness.

Buffy smiled sheepishly, but then frown slightly when she caught site of Oz. She stood up. "I hate to chat and run, but… Riley is waiting for me."

Willow nodded her head. "Sure. Later." She watched at Buffy walked away, wondering what that was all about.

"Willow." She heard the voice, but didn't move.

Oz came around and sat in the seat Buffy had occupied moments before. "We need to talk."

Willow shook her head. "No, we don't. You said all that needed to be said months ago."

She stood up, grabbing her bag and started walking off. She hadn't gotten more than a few feet when she felt a hand grab her wrist forcefully. Willow spun around angrily, her eyes flaring.

"Let. Go." She snarled, through clenched teeth.

Oz took a deep breath to calm himself. He hadn't meant to grab her, but her attitude was frustrating him. As he breathed deeply, his sensitive nose picked up on a scent he hadn't noticed before. He growled low in his throat.

"You've been with… him." He spat the last word.

Willow looked at him blankly for a moment. When the meaning behind his words hit her, her face became expressionless. "And?"

Oz let her wrist go and took a step back. "How can you be with him? He's not even human."

Willow quirked an eyebrow. "Neither are you." She turned to leave.

"Willow, wait." She hadn't gotten more than a few feet when Oz's voice stopped her.

Willow turned around and faced Oz, an irritated look passing over her features. "No, Oz. I will not wait. I'm through waiting. I waited. For several longs months I waited. I'm done now. No more waiting. Not for you, not for him, not for anyone."

Willow left the stunned werewolf as she headed away from the campus, wondering how long it would take him to share his newfound knowledge with her friends. She sighed. It didn't matter. She wasn't giving him up. Not now, not ever.

****

Oz watched her walk away, feeling something akin to disgust. How dare she just give up on him so easily. He turned and headed in the opposite direction. He was going to get her back. He was going to make her understand he did what he had to do.

Realizing it was still early, he decided to go and see Xander first. When he reached the house, he found himself wondering how long Willow had been involved with the demon, and if anyone knew about it.

He knocked on the door and waited. He wasn't surprised to see Anya open the door, looking bored. She made no move to let him in.

"Can I come in?" He asked rather impatiently.

Anya stepped aside and let the werewolf in. "Xander isn't here." She told him flatly.

"Where s he?"

"Work." Anya flopped onto the couch and started flipping channels on the television.

Oz watcher her silently for several minutes, before deciding to speak to her about what was on his mind. "She's sleeping with that bloodsucker." He spat.

Anya didn't look up as she spoke. "And?"

Oz looked at her incredulously. "He's a demon!" He ground out angrily.

Anya raised her eyes to meet his, barely repressed anger showing. "And?" She asked again, feeling her anger rise. She had never liked the wolf to begin with, and his betrayal of Willow had only enforced her belief he wasn't worth her time. And now here he was, in her home, of sorts, snarling about demons.

Oz took a deep breath. "No offense, but Spike is a vampire. He'll hurt her."

Anya turned off the TV and turned to look at the wolf. "And you? You won't? I think you've got me confused with someone who cares about how you feel."

Oz sighed. "What is your problem?" He didn't understand where all her anger was coming from.

"I don't like you." She told him honestly. "I do like Spike, and more to the point, I like Willow." She stood up and turned on the stereo, turning up the volume, so as to drown out anything Oz was about to say.

Oz watched her with disbelief, trying to understand why she didn't like him, when he realized something. He walked over tot he stereo and turned it off. "You don't seem surprised." He accused.

Anya looked at him blankly.

"I told you Willow was sleeping with Spike and you don't seem shocked. Why is that?"

Anya shrugged as she heard the door open.

"Hey." Xander stopped as he noticed the werewolf standing in his makeshift livingroom. What he noticed first was the barely repressed irritation of his girlfriend. It wasn't something that was apparent to most people, but he had been with the former demon long enough to judge her moods.

"Oz." He nodded stiffly at the werewolf, afraid to find out what he had walked in on.

Oz turned to Xander sharply. "Did you know that Willow is fucking the undead?"

Xander blanched slightly at Oz's words as well as the hate in his tone. "No, I didn't." Xander told him, "But I'm sure, if she is… it's none of your business." He turned towards Anya. "I assume he means Spike?" He asked his girlfriend. When she nodded he smiled and headed towards the stairs. "I need to shower, and then we can go." He spoke to Anya, seemingly ignoring Oz, who stood confused.

"Are you all insane?" Oz asked incredulously as he turned and left. His mind played over the conversation as he headed towards Giles. He had expected to find an ally in Xander, and instead had found something else entirely.

He hadn't been prepared to find that Xander knew of Willow's relationship with Spike. He hadn't expected anyone to know about it. It didn't seem like something she would share. But, despite Xander's claim that he hadn't known, he didn't seem surprised.

When Oz reached Giles' house, he knocked on the front door, his mind still grasping all the information he had taken in.

"Oz?" Giles stepped aside, letting the boy enter. "What can I do for you?"

"Willow." Oz spoke quietly. Noticing Riley and Buffy sitting on the couch. For a moment he thought about keeping quiet, but then realized that Buffy would be appalled by his new information maybe he could get her to help him.

"What about Willow?" Buffy asked, growing concerned. She had believed it was important for Willow and Oz to talk. That was why she had left Willow at the school, hoping they could reach some sort of understanding. But now, seeing Oz's strange expression, she wondered what had happened.

"She's… she's with Spike." He spoke with a twinge of distaste.

Buffy looked at the clock. "With Spike?" It's only two. What would she be doing with him?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what it was Oz had meant. S he shook her head. "No. You're wrong. She would have told me."

Oz smiled to himself, knowing that Buffy would be an ally in his quest to get Willow back.

*****

Willow stormed into the apartment angrily. She paced around the living room, throwing her bag on the floor. She went into the kitchen and made herself a pot of coffee, slamming drawers and cupboards.

"What the Hell has you all riled?" Spike asked as he entered the kitchen. He could feel the tension coming off of her in waves.

Willow spun on her heel. "Who the hell does he think he is? Telling me to wait? So you're not human, big deal. Hello Veruca?" She growled.

Spike leaned against the wall as he watched her snarling. He had to stifle a grin at her rage. "You saw the wolf." He guessed.

Willow's eyes narrowed. "I'm sure he's off telling everyone about us." She stopped and calmed down for a moment before continuing. "But, I don't care."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "You don't?"

"Nope. They can deal… or not." He walked over to him and claimed his lips in a ferocious kiss before pulling away.

"I'll be back." She told him as she grabbed her keys and headed back towards the front door.

"Where you going, pet?"

"Giles. I'm gonna deal with this. She turned to him, a playful smile on her lips. "See you after sunset?"

She turned and headed out of the door, leaving Spike to think about how beautiful she was when she was angry.

****

"You're wrong." Buffy repeated for the third time since Oz's announcement. "She can't be. She wouldn't. She isn't."

Xander and Anya entered the apartment, and cast furtive glances around the room. Anya snorted when she saw Oz. "Figures."

"He's wrong." Buffy turned towards Xander. "Tell him he's wrong."

"Wrong about what, Buff?" Xander asked with a goofy grin, hoping to play off his ignorance.

"Tell me Willow isn't with Spike. Tell me it isn't true." Buffy looked pleadingly at her friend.

Xander smiled sheepishly, not wanting to verbally tell her what she so desperately did not want to hear.

"It's true."

Buffy spun around at the sound of Willow's voice. She had just entered the apartment.

"Willow? No. You can't be with him. I won't allow it!" Buffy exclaimed.

Willow rolled her eyes. "What gave you the impression you had a say in this?" She took a step further into the room and smiled at Xander apologetic look.

Oz took a step back, trying to blend into the furniture. He inched his way towards the door. He had almost made it, when Willow's cold voice stopped him.

"You couldn't leave it alone, could you? You couldn't be content to know that I was happy." She turned around, her green eyes glinting dangerously.

"Happy? Happy? How can you be happy with that… that… monster!" Oz spat the words distastefully.

Willow was about to speak when Buffy's voice brought her attention back to the others.

"Oz's right. Spike is evil. He isn't good for you." Buffy told her.

"Says you?" She looked from Buffy to Oz and then back again. She noticed that Giles had retreated to the kitchen and Anya and Xander had taken a seat on the couch, apparently content to watch the show. She turned her attention back to Buffy.

"What do you know of what I need? Of what's good for me. You stopped paying attention to who I was almost as soon as you met me. You were content to believe I was the person you wanted me to be. The research girl, the reliable friend, the homework buddy, but did you ever see past that?" She shook her head sadly. "For a long time I was okay with that. Being what everyone wanted, needed from me. But not anymore." She turned to Oz. "When you left, I was a mess. I wasn't even the loser I was before, I was just a shell of a loser. It was then that I realized that I had ceased to be me, if I ever really was. It was then that I became… myself."

Willow sighed heavily and flopped down on the couch, exhausted, but fearing they wouldn't accept what she had said. She was right.

"What has he done to you?" Oz's voice was sad as he left the apartment.

Willow snapped her head up, staring indignantly at Buffy, who clearly shared Oz's sentiment. "*He* hasn't done anything to me. This isn't about him. It never was."

"I… I don't know you anymore." Buffy whispered.

"Did you ever?" Willow stared expectantly at the Slayer. "Did you ever know any of us?" She shook her head. "Buffy, I love you dearly, but you don't have a clue, do you? There are things going on all around you. Things you don't see, things you refuse to see."

Buffy shook her head, refusing to believe what Willow was saying. "Willow, I need you to…"

"You need me to what? To be quiet? To allow you to live in your delusions? This isn't about what you need. This is about other peoples needs, My needs, Spikes needs. Hell, even Angel's needs."

Buffy's eyes flared angrily at the mention of her former love. "What do you know about Angel's needs? You don't even know him!" She snapped.

Willow laughed then. She couldn't help it. The irony of the situation, coupled with the ridiculousness of Buffy's statement caused her to lose her control. She was laughing so hard she missed it when Spike entered the crowded apartment.

"What's so funny, luv?"

Willow stopped abruptly as Spike made his way over to her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. "What did I miss?" He asked with a smirk.

"Buffy just told Wills she didn't know Deadboy." Xander supplied.

"Would you Not call me that?" Angel's voice came from the door.

Buffy paled. Riley scowled. Spike grinned, and Willow leapt up to give the vampire a hug. Angel noticed with mild interest the new scent Willow was giving off. He raised an eyebrow at Spike over Willow's shoulder.

Angel pushed willow away gently and entered the apartment, making room for Cordelia and Doyle to follow him in.

Cordelia looked around the room carefully, quirking an eyebrow. "We didn't know you were having a party. We would have brought dip." She grinned at Willow.

Willow grabbed Spike's hand. "We were just leaving. C'mon" She walked past the three new arrivals and into the night air.

"Wait just a minute!" Buffy ran outside after her. "I want to know what you meant earlier."

Willow gaped at her. "Which part?"

"Angel? What is it you think you know about him that I don't?" Buffy was completely oblivious to the crowd that had come out of Giles apartment. Angel and Doyle had followed Cordelia outside, and were now only a few feet behind the angry Slayer.

Cordelia snorted. "How about everything?" She asked.

Buffy spun around at the former cheerleader, shaking her finger threateningly. "YOU stay out of this. What do you know? Just because you work with him doesn't mean you know him!" She spat.

Doyle whistled under his breath and nudged Angel slightly. "You think we should stop this?"

Angel appeared to think about it, but after seeing Cordelia's dark eyes sparkling in annoyance, he shrugged.

"Listen hear, you little twit! Out of the six of us standing out here, guess which one of us knows him the least?"

Buffy stared at her in shock. She thought about the question. It was obviously a trick. To get her to say something dumb, but she couldn't not answer, so she choose the obvious. She turned to Doyle. "Him. He hasn't known him very long."

Spike chuckled. "She said the least, not the least amount of time, Slayer."

Buffy narrowed her eyes at the vampire. "Watch it, Blondie. I have a stake, and I know how to use it!"

Buffy turned her attention back to Cordelia, completely missing the faint glow that surrounded Willow at Buffy's threat.

"Wrong again Buffy. You. You don't know him. You probably never did. He risks his life every day, to help people. People who would fear him if they knew what he was. And why do you think he does it?"

"Because he's guilty?" Buffy guessed sarcastically.

"No, Buffy. He does it because it's the right thing." Willow spoke. "There was a time when you did too. There was a time when I thought you knew the difference between fighting because you have to, and fighting because it's right."

Willow turned and walked away, with Spike right behind her. Doyle followed them, leaving Angel and Cordelia alone with Buffy.

"You used to be good, Buffy. I never liked you, but respected you. Now…" Cordelia let the words trail off as she placed a hand gingerly against Angel face, smiling slightly. She turned and followed the path the others had taken.

Buffy turned to stare at Angel in disbelief. "You're sleeping with her." It was an accusation.

The tone Buffy had used reminded Angel of all that had happened since he left Sunnydale. "What I do is no concern of yours. Not anymore." He brushed past her, suddenly wanting nothing more than to leave her and the past behind.

"She must not make you very happy!" Buffy called after him. He kept walking.

****

"Well, that was entertaining." Anya observed after Riley and Buffy had left. "Can we go now? All that tension makes me horny."

Giles cleared his throat. "Yes, please do."

Xander grinned at Giles uncomfortable expression as he took Anya's arm and left the house.

Giles sighed and poured himself another drink. "I need a vacation." He muttered.

****

Willow leaned back against Spike and sighed. She tilted her head up so she was looking at him. "Now what?" She whispered.

She didn't want to wake up their guests, who had fallen asleep in various places in the living room. Angel and Cordelia were cuddled on one end of the larger couch, while Doyle had passed out at the other end. Xander and Anya were asleep on the floor in one corner of the room.

Spike ran a hand through her hair and gently moved her off of his lap so he could stand. "It's up to you, luv."

He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. After placing her on the bed, he lay down next to her.

"What do you want to do?"

Willow leaned in to his caress as his fingers danced over her flesh. She thought about his question. What did she want to do? She wasn't entirely sure.

"I don't know. Can we go away?" She asked pleadingly.

He smiled. "Where would you like to go?" He watched as her eyebrows crinkled in thought. She seemed to have an idea, he gathered as a slow grin spread over her face.

"You're not going to tell me you want to go back to LA with Peaches, are you?" He asked with a slight hint of concern.

"Good God no!" Willow giggled and then looked deeply into his eyes. "But if I wanted to, would you?"

Spike groaned. She was looking at him in that way she had. Her green eyes big and bright, pleading with him. He could refuse her nothing. "Yes, luv. Anything for you." She grinned and he rolled his eyes.

Willow leaned in for a deep hungry kiss. When she pulled away from him she was smirking at him. "Well, lucky for you I don't want to then, isn't it?"

Spike captured her mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue dueling with hers in a silent battle for dominance. Willow pulled away, gasping for breath. This time it was Spike who was smirking.

"Yes, lucky me." He chuckled. "So, where would you like to go? Paris, Rome, Nepal?" He smiled as her eyes went wide at his suggestions.

"Africa!" She jumped up nearly knocking him off of the bed.

"Africa?" He asked. OF all the places she could have asked, that was not the one he was expecting. He was about to protest when she stuck out her bottom lip, just the tiniest bit. He sighed needlessly. "Africa it is."

Willow sat back down and lay her head on his chest. "Spike?" She asked quietly.

"Hmm?"

"I love you." She whispered.

Spike looked down into her face, searching her eyes for something, although he wasn't sure what. He got lost in the deep green pools. He leaned down and claimed her lips in a tender kiss.

"I love you too, Red."

She sighed and leaned against him once again, closing her eyes.

Spike traced lazy circles along her skin as he listened to her fall into slumber. He didn't know what had happened, or even when it had happened, but he had fallen in love with the little witch, and if she wanted to trek halfway across the globe, he'd lead the way. He realized he was no better than his poof of a sire, but fore some reason, that didn't bother him nearly as much as it once would have.

*****

Three Weeks Later….

Willow slammed the door to Spike's trunk. And turned around to face Xander and Anya. They had come to say goodbye. She grabbed them both in a fierce hug.

"I'm gonna miss you guys." She felt her eyes well up with tears.

"You too, wills. Tell Blondie he had better take good care of you." Xander smiled, knowing that she couldn't be in better hands.

Willow smiled back. She turned towards the front of the car. "I had… I should go."

"Drive carefully." Xander called after her as he got into the passenger side of the car. He then turned to Anya as he heard the car start up and loud blaring music come through the speakers. "Why do I bother?"

Anya smiled at her boyfriend as they watched the couple drive down the street. The car had just disappeared beyond their view when they turned and when back into the house. Spike had told them they could stay there while they were away. It was better than Xander's basement, and they could live there rent free, so the couple had gladly taken him up on his offer.

Anya flopped down on the couch, pulling Xander with her and kissed him deeply. The two sat on the couch, completely oblivious to the outside world for nearly thirty minutes before they heard the screech of tires and the slam of a car door.

Anya sat up and groaned softly just before the front door was swung open and Buffy entered the house with Oz hot on her heels.

"Where are they?" Buffy demanded as she looked around the living room and discovered that neither Spike nor Willow was there.

"Gone." Anya said simply. S he stood up and made her way into the kitchen. She had no desire to see either the Slayer or the wolf, and made a mental note to remember to keep the doors locked.

"What do you mean gone?" Buffy asked.

"Gone where?" Oz added.

Xander tilted his head slightly, pretending to think. "I think they were going to stop in to visit Deadboy on the way to LAX." He shook his head, "and I know she said something about stopping in some country I didn't even know existed, but ultimately they'll end up in Africa."

"Africa?" Both Oz and Buffy asked incredulously.

Anya returned from the kitchen with a couple of cans of soda for her and Xander and a bowl filled with snack food which could hardly be considered food. She handed both the drink and the bowl to Xander before turning around and glaring at their uninvited guests.

"She told you she was going. Now she's gone."

Buffy's shoulder's slumped visibly in defeat. "I never thought she'd actually leave." She whispered.

Anya snorted. "What did you expect? The way you treated her?" S he looked carefully at the Slayer. "She told you she was going over two weeks ago, and you're just now coming here? You're too late."

Buffy stared blankly at the wall, not wanting to hear Anya's words.

"Why are you still here?" Oz asked.

"We live here." Anya told him. "Now if you'll excuse us, we were about to have sex." She turned back to Xander and kissed him around a mouth full of Twinkie. She wiped her mouth of the substance and turned slightly, pleased to see both the wolf and the Slayer rushing out of the house. She knew that they wouldn't doubt that she would have sex with them standing in her living room. She counted on that.

"They're gone." Xander noted after he had swallowed the snack food. He pulled Anya down to the couch with him. "Whatever shall we do to pass the time?"

*****

Oz parked his van in front of Buffy's dorm. "I'm sorry, Buffy. This is all my fault."

She shook her head. "No, not all yours. Mine too." She turned to look at the werewolf. "They weren't wrong about what they said that night at Giles."

"What did they say?" Oz asked, remembering he hadn't stuck around to watch Willow with Spike.

"Just a lot of stuff I hadn't wanted to here. But it was all true, and I knew then, I just wasn't ready to face it." S he turned to look out the window to the darkened sky. "And then after… I was so shocked about hearing about Angel and Cordelia and Doyle that I didn't want to deal with anything. I blamed Willow and her relationship with Spike for me learning of what it was Angel did in LA. I didn't want to face that he had moved on, even though I was doing the same." She turned back to Oz. "So I waited, and now it's too late. She's gone, and I may never get a chance to say I'm sorry."

"She'll be back." Oz told her confidently.

Buffy opened the car door and climbed out. "I hope so." She smiled weakly. "Thanks, for listening to me." S he closed the door. "Take care of yourself."

Oz nodded and backed his van out of the parking space. He drove away knowing he wouldn't be returning to Sunnydale, not again.

Buffy watched him drive away and realized that everything had changed. Willow was gone. Angel was lost to her. Xander probably didn't want to see her. Everything had changed on her, and she hadn't even seen it happening until it was too late.

She had been involved in her own life too deeply to pay attention to anyone else's. She shook her head sadly as she climbed the steps up to her lonely dorm room. Once inside, she shut the door behind her and collapsed onto her bed. She let her tears claim her as she drifted into an uneasy sleep, filled with regrets and tears.

*****

The End

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