Email: leslieketchum@hotmail.com
Rating: R
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~Part: 21~
The plan was for Spike to escort Willow and the Giles to the opening of the new Gilbert and Sullivan opera. The journal hadn't said where Malcolm would see Willow just that it was on his way to the theater district.
Willow allowed her power and darkness to come closer to the surface, which turned her eyes darker. She wanted Malcolm to get the full effect of her as bait. They knew that he wouldn't try for her tonight. He would just see her and want her. Angel was going to drop hints in the demon community about a powerful witch in the area. They were all hoping he would take the bait or at least Ethan would seek her out.
Albert, Hannah and Willow were to meet Spike in the public gardens a block before the district. As they entered the garden on a well-lit path Willow spotted Spike up ahead. When he walked under a lamp, Willow stopped and stared. It was the first time she had ever seen him dressed formally and he was breathtaking.
When Spike saw Willow approach, he stopped under a light and stared. She was dressed in an off the shoulder midnight blue silk dress. Her hair was upswept in the style of a Gibson girl and it showed off her long neck. He couldn't wait to put his mark on her and claim her. He wanted every vampire, demon and human to know that this witch belonged to him.
Spike and Willow continued to stare at each other. Neither one taking their eyes off the other. Albert and Hannah just smiled at them. He put his arms around Hannah in a tight embrace and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Do you remember what it felt like when we thought we were the only two on Earth?"
Hannah leaned back into his embrace and turned her face for a kiss, "What do you mean, do I remember? We're still the only two on Earth."
"I hate to break this up but we need to get to the opera." Albert said.
Albert's words broke Willow and Spike out of their stupor. Spike offered Willow his elbow and they followed the Giles out of the gardens. He leaned in to whisper, "You look beautiful. Too bad we have to bait Malcolm, I'd like to have you all to myself."
Willow leaned up and nipped him on the ear, "Mmmmm, later."
Spike thought it was good thing the overcoat he was wearing was long. His pants were getting tighter by the minute.
~~~~
Ethan watched as Malcolm left the lair. He remembered tonight was the night Malcolm would see Willow and become obsessed. He had waited until this moment to investigate Ripper's newest trophies. He didn't want any chance of Ripper returning while he was there. He had followed Malcolm home the other morning but he couldn't make out what he had taken.
He slowly made his way into the deserted building and towards the shelf that held the prizes. As he got closer he noticed a kidney that had been cut in half. Ethan had heard rumors while he was healing that George Lusk had received half a kidney and a letter from Jack the Ripper. Setting the jar down he moved closer to where the newer items were.
He heard Mary Kelly's room had been very bloody with body parts strewn all over the room. He couldn't understand why Malcolm had mutilated the body more than the others. From the description of the scene Ripper had been in a fine temper. Since the body had been so badly mutilated he didn't know what Malcolm would have taken as a trophy. In the corner of the shelf was a box. Hmm, that's new, he thought. Ethan opened it with shaking hands and hoped it contained a heart.
~~~~
Malcolm decided to target the West End of London next. He knew they felt safe in their homes and in their lives. Jack the Ripper had targeted the women of Whitechapel he wouldn't come to their area. He smiled in anticipation of finding his next victim among them and upsetting their lives. The thrill of the hunt and the fear in the air was just as intoxicating as the kill itself. Sometimes more so if a worth opponent could be found.
He thought the theater district would be a good place to find a victim. They would feel safe attending the opera and there was a new Gilbert and Sullivan opera opening tonight. There would be a lot of women to choose from. Maybe he would target an innocent next. A nice young girl would be a good contrast and shock to the police.
As he approached the district he felt power . . . a lot of power. He scanned the crowd surrounding him but couldn't find the direction that the power was coming from. Malcolm closed his eyes and concentrated on the location of the power. His eyes popped open. Vampire. He felt another vampire near by. He saw a small group of four walking towards him. As they approached he felt the power radiating off the beautiful red head being escorted by a vampire. He had to find a way to meet her and take her away from the vampire by her side. He smiled in anticipation. She would soon be his.
~~~~
As they walked towards the opera building Spike stiffened and leaned down to whisper in Willow's ear, "He's close. It's the same feeling I got the night at the Workmen's Club."
Willow's hand tightened on his arm, "Ripper?"
Spike scanned the crowd to see if he could spot where the feeling was coming from. He saw a short, stout, dark haired man watching them intently. Looking at him Spike knew this was Ripper. He saw the madness just below the surface. He also saw the arrogance, which he could exploit.
"We're just passing him now. The short dark haired man with the bowler."
Willow turned her head back to scan the crowd and her eyes lit briefly on Malcolm. That's him? He's a little nondescript man. She always imagined Jack the Ripper to be tall and ruthless looking. That vampire didn't look like an insane amoral psychopath. But then again, Angel didn't look like the torture loving Scourge of Europe either.
~~~~
Malcolm discovered to his joy that the red head sensed his presence. She knew he was there watching her. She would be a worthy companion not like the pet that had left him. He abandoned his need for a victim. He had found something better. He walked back towards the wharf reliving the sensation of her power and darkness. It was a heady combination and he couldn't wait to harness it. The vampire at her side was inconsequential. He was young and could easily be taken care of. Malcolm dismissed him from his thoughts except to wonder why such a powerful witch would align herself with a young vampire.
As he entered his lair he felt that someone had been there recently. He stopped at the entrance and allowed his senses to take over. He felt the presence of his pet. He entered the lair and wondered why his pet had come but not stayed. He must have wanted something that Malcolm had. He knew that Ethan had been up to something earlier but since it didn't involve him it hadn't really bothered him. Now, it involved him and Malcolm wanted to know what Ethan had been after. He searched the building but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
He walked over to his shelf and looked at his trophies. They were all there so that hadn't been what Ethan had been after or if it was he hadn't taken any of them. Sometimes he liked to just look at his trophies and relive his memories of the events each one evoked. His hand gently caressed each jar as the scenes flashed in his mind's eye.
Malcolm reached for the last item on the shelf. It was a box that contained one of the many prizes he had taken from the last victim. That night had been glorious and he had celebrated by taking many prizes. There had been so many to choose from. He had laid her out like a buffet. He had taken his time deciding what the prizes would be that he would take. He had finally decided to put her eyes in this small box for his trophy shelf. He sometimes imagined the eyes still contained the fear that he had put there. As he opened the box to look at her fear filled eyes he remembered celebrating the night by dining on a delicacy. Malcolm smiled at the memory of all the blood that her heart had contained.
~Part: 22~
With Malcolm taking the bait, the plan had been set in motion. The next step was put in place when Albert and Hannah helped Willow rent a small town house. They had argued with her about this but with her Resolve Face firmly in place she had won the argument. She hadn't wanted anything to happen to them in case Ripper had found out where she was staying. She knew nothing would happen to her. She would be alive in 2004 to come back to 1888 London. But in no way would she ever take the chance that something bad would happen to Hannah or Albert. Not only because that meant something would happen to HER Giles but she cared deeply about Hannah and Albert for themselves. Besides she had told them, she wouldn't be alone. Spike and Angel would be with her.
She turned from the window and saw Spike standing in the doorway just looking at her.
"What?"
Spike smiled, "Just thinking about how much my life has changed since that night I tried to bite you."
Willow grew serious. He had no idea how much his life changed since that night. She sat down shakily on the bed, her eyes unseeing. God, how much have I messed up my reality? Or should I say everyone's reality. Now that Spike brought it up she was dreading going back. She remembered some science fiction story about a man that traveled back in time to see dinosaurs and accidentally stepped on some bug. When he got back, Nazis were in power and people were illiterate. She had done way more than step on a bug.
Spike grew concerned when Willow didn't smile or answer him. Instead she sat on the bed and Spike heard her heartbeat begin to race. "Here now, that was a compliment."
Spike's words brought her out of her musings. She tried to smile, "Just thinking about what my reality will be like when I go back to my time."
Spike didn't like to think about her going back. He knew she would go back so that she could come back here. This time travel was very confusing. The only thing that was keeping him from saying Sod all and keeping her was that she said they were family in her time. He knew that would never change. They would always be involved in each other's lives. It just felt too right to not be true no matter the timeline.
Spike went to the bed and lay down next to Willow. He pulled her into his arms trying to comfort her and himself.
~~~~
Angel smiled as he made his way through the pub that catered to demons. Someone had approached him earlier to tell him the latest rumor on the powerful witch that was in London. He loved it when a plan came together. A couple of days ago Willow made the rounds in the demon community with Spike showcasing her magick.
Angel and Spike had decided that they were going to spread the rumor that Willow came to town and formed a Triumvirate with them. Angel thought this would also cover his torture of Ethan if news of that got back to Malcolm.
The rumor that was in the pub tonight was that Willow had forced Darla and Drusilla out and that they went to the Master because no one else would have them. No one wanted to anger the powerful witch by letting them into their clan. Angel couldn't wait to get back to the town house to tell William and Willow that one.
A short, stout dark haired vampire slowly made his way towards Angel. "I hear you are in a Triumvirate with the witch."
Angel smiled inwardly but turned toward the voice with no expression. "I've formed an alliance with her."
"What of the other part of your alliance? He's a little young to have in such a powerful union."
Angel just quirked an eyebrow and gave a half smile. "William? You're right he is young but Willow seems captivated with him." He shrugged and leaned in with a conspiratory whisper, "Time is irrelevant to a vampire. She'll tire of him soon enough and then I'll have her to myself."
Malcolm inwardly seethed. Neither one of the vampires were good enough for his witch. He would enjoy taking the witch out from under their noses.
"I understand you were the one that tortured my pet."
"He was yours? It didn't take much to make him scream, it wasn't really worth the effort to torture. But, Willow enjoyed listening to his yells from the other room. And I like the rewards that come with making Willow happy." Angel winked at Malcolm.
"Why did she want you to torture my pet? He has some magick but not enough to be a threat to her. He's got some manipulative abilities but nothing on the scale of either you or me."
"Your pet never told you?" Angel tsked, "He was jealous of Willow. He saw her the first night you killed in Bucks Row and knew that you would dump him for her once you saw her power. He spread rumors among the humans in Whitechapel hoping to get her burned as a witch for helping Jack the Ripper. There was even talk that George Lusk thought Spike, Willow and I killed Annie Chapman. Ethan was taking away one of your kills and giving the credit to us. Being the gentleman that I am I denied all involvement in your honest kill. I happily volunteered to hunt him, kidnap him and torture him for Willow. She has a kind of obsession where he's concerned. I let him go thinking I would catch him again but so far he's eluded me. I can't imagine how happy Willow would be to have Ethan to torture for herself."
Angel watched the emotions flit over Malcolm's face. He knew that he had taken this bait and would probably hunt Ethan down to present to Willow. This part had been Spike's idea and Angel was impressed. Spike had pointed out that Ethan wouldn't come anywhere near Willow if Angel were there and Angel had no intention of leaving Willow. So, this plan had been the compromise. Sort of kill two birds with one stone, Malcolm hunting and bringing his pet to the trap that would catch them both.
"If I could get my pet for Willow where would I deposit him for her?"
"You would do that for Willow? Turn your pet over for more torture?"
Malcolm just smiled and thought offering her something that you can't deliver would show her how much I have to offer. "He means nothing to me and if Willow wants him she is welcome to him."
Angel looked at him like he was testing the truthfulness but he just wanted Malcolm to sweat. "We are staying in a town house near the theater district just bring him there."
"I can bring him tomorrow night if that isn't too soon."
"You have him?"
"I know where I can get him."
~~~~
Malcolm entered his lair and with an unneeded sigh, "Why must you always disappoint me?"
Ethan looked up through the slit in his eye as Malcolm approached.
"I have to find out from a stranger that you knew a powerful witch. That you had in fact knew about her since Bucks Row. I am relieved now that I gave in to the whim to keep you alive." Malcolm squatted down next to where he kept his pet chained. He wanted to see his eyes or what he could see of his eyes through the swollen mass that used to be Ethan's face. "It seems she formed a triumvirate with the one that tortured you. It should have been me that she formed her union with." He paused, "Oh it soon will be me, as soon as I deliver you to her tomorrow night she'll see what I have to offer."
Ethan shivered at Malcolm's words. Ethan had let his guard down after going to Malcolm's lair and not finding the heart. He thought for sure that Malcolm would obsess over Willow and forget all about him. What he hadn't counted on was that Malcolm viewed his abandonment as a slap in the face. No one would fear Malcolm if he couldn't even handle his own pet. Ethan's torture and imprisonment was a lesson to others that Malcolm would not be trifled with.
Malcolm left Ethan to go to his special hiding place. "I feel so good about tomorrow night that I think I'm going to celebrate with the last of my favorite delicacy."
He came back to the table that was in front of Ethan carrying a box. He reached in and pulled out what was left of the heart.
Ethan watched in horror his one chance at immortality disappearing as Malcolm devoured the last of Mary Kelly's heart.
~Part: 23~
Angel had waited until the early morning hours before telling Spike and Willow that their plan had succeeded. When he had returned home he saw Spike and Willow curled into each other on the bed still fully clothed. From their positions it looked like they were trying to protect the other from something. Angel hadn't wanted to disturb them.
Willow was nervous. Tonight everything would fall into place and that meant that she was closer to the time the she would return. She had included Ethan in the plan because there was no way in hell she would leave him to his own devices here in the past. She wanted him with her when she went back.
The plan rested on her shoulders now. Well, her's and Spike's. She was supposed to be impressed with Malcolm's present of Ethan that she would drop Spike from the union and pick him. They had decided on Spike because none of them thought Malcolm would believe she would drop such a powerful ally as Angelus.
Willow remembered the time that Spike had kidnapped her to do a love spell to get Dru back. She had edited that story heavily for Spike and Angel. She just told them a vampire but didn't know the name. Spike thought he could act all grieving and nuts when Willow dropped him.
Spike and Willow thought it would be a nice poetic justice if the "baby vamp" was the one to kill Malcolm. The one that was too young and inexperienced to hold the interest of Willow.
Willow smiled as she felt cool arms encircle her waist. "Ready for tonight?"
"Getting there. Ready to act all crazy cause I dumped you for the big bad new vamp?"
Spike turned Willow in his embrace so they were facing. "Won't be much of acting but I am looking forward to killing him."
Willow smiled. "You can take the soul out of the vamp, but you can't take the vamp out of the soul, huh?"
"Does that bother you? Even though you returned my soul I still crave the blood, hunt and kill."
She reached up and caressed his features that had vamped with his emotions. "Nothing about you bothers me. Does it bother you to know that I could send the world to hell and almost did once? That I have to fight every day not to succumb to the easy temptation of eliminating people that annoy me."
Spike smiled and rocked his hips into hers, "Nope, frankly it turns me on."
Willow laughed and pulled him closer, "Everything turns you on."
Spike began unbuttoning Willow's dress, "No, just everything about you."
He leaned in to nuzzle her neck and his fangs lightly scraped the skin. Willow shivered at the sensation. Who would have guessed that the light scraping of fangs against her neck could be so erotic?
Spike loved to hear the sounds that Willow made as he kissed and caressed the skin he exposed as he undressed her. He was trying to memorize each sound, feel and taste fearing this would be the last for quite a long time.
Willow loved the feel of his lips and hands on her skin but she was getting impatient. Spike was still dressed. Well, she could change that quickly enough. She gently stepped out of his embrace and began to unbutton his shirt. As each button opened, she gently placed a kiss on the revealed skin. She pulled the shirt out of his pants and gently removed it. With shaking fingers she caressed his chest, arms and stomach with her lips following the trail of her fingers. She wanted to commit everything to memory in case this was the last time she would have this opportunity. Who knew what would happen later? For her it would only be a day before she saw him again. For him it would be over a hundred years and with a soul he could meet someone and forget all about her. Stubbornly putting negative thoughts out of her mind she went back to the task at hand.
Her fingers reached for the buttons on his pants but she was in such a hurry that she kept fumbling.
Spike stepped back, "Let me." With his eyes never leaving Willow's he slowly unbuttoned his pants and carefully removed them.
Willow just looked at him with love and lust. He was so beautiful and she marveled that he would want her. She reached out and touched him.
Spike eyes turned yellow and he grabbed Willow in a powerful kiss. He put his hands on her hips and raised her up. As he raised her, Willow wrapped her legs around his waist. Never breaking contact he gently lowered her to the bed.
"Spike?"
"Right here, love", and to emphasize that point he nudged his hips so he barely entered her.
She moaned, "Quit teasing."
He looked into her eyes, "I want to make it last."
"Next time. But right now, if I don't feel you inside me I'll explode."
Spike closed his eyes on her words and promised himself next time he'd go slower. He watched her eyes turn darker as he entered her. Not knowing what the future would bring he made up his mind to lightly mark her to show others she belonged to him. He wouldn't claim her . . .yet. He felt his fangs lengthen and he pierced her skin.
Oh my god, Willow had never felt anything as erotic as Spike's fangs in her as they made love. With each thrust he suckled her neck. It was pleasure and pain rolled into one and Willow was sure she could become addicted to it.
"Willow!" "Spike!" They each yelled their release.
~~~~
Ethan's heart began to beat faster as Malcolm approached with the keys to the chains. He roughly jerked Ethan to stand up while he unlocked them. Malcolm knew his pet would stay put and not leave. He had been taught his lesson and Malcolm had confidence that Ethan wouldn't soon forget it.
Malcolm jerked his pet behind him, "You had better not destroy my chance with the witch."
Ethan thought about Willow and how different she must have been from the girl he knew before. There had been rumors about her past and her power but Ethan had put that down to gossip. Now he wasn't so sure. If she had formed a triumvirate with Angelus and was dark enough to entice Malcolm, he had sorely misjudged her. He was regretting using her to come back here. Nothing had gone according to plan. His torture by both Malcolm and Angelus had definitely not been in the plan, neither was the fact that little Willow Rosenberg had managed to capture the obsession of both Malcolm and Angelus. If the rumors about Willow had been correct and she does form a union with Malcolm he couldn't begin to fathom what the new timeline would be like. He just hoped he survived it.
Malcolm and Ethan slowly approached the town house that Angel had indicated. As they were getting ready to knock a young brown haired vamp threw open the door.
"Fine. Just bloody fine. I come home after a nice late night snack and to what. You and that stupid, git."
An exasperated sigh could be heard from inside. A pale feminine hand appeared and began to stroke the vamp's chest and move lower. He closed his eyes and gave a small growl.
Ethan was shocked to see that Willow was attached to the hand that was stroking the vampire. She definitely wasn't the girl he remembered.
"Come back inside, lover. We'll make it up to you." She purred.
Angel walked up behind Willow and Spike and he lightly caressed them both. "Mmm, I'm afraid we can't right now. Looks like we have company."
Spike and Willow turned their heads like they noticed their audience for the first time. Willow's eyes narrowed at Ethan, "You, what are you doing here?"
Malcolm spoke for the first time, "He's with me. A little welcome to the community gift." He was more determined than ever to have Willow. He could see that Angelus was right. She was losing interest in the younger vampire already.
Willow turned more fully to Malcolm and swallowed her revulsion. Now or never. With a seductive smile and letting her power roll over them all she said, "Oh, I just love presents."
~Part: 24~
Willow nods towards Ethan and asks Malcolm, "You don't mind if Spike takes him back to the special room for later do you?"
He just shrugs and hands the chains over to Spike. "He's yours now. You can do whatever you want to him."
When Spike takes Ethan out of the room Willow walks over to Angel and Malcolm. Angel reaches for her and settles her in front of him and nuzzles her neck. He wants to be able to thrust her behind him if Malcolm makes a move towards her.
"I can't thank you enough, Malcolm. When Angelus told me that he ran into you in the pub and that you could bring Ethan to me I didn't believe him. I thought if he eluded Angelus he would elude anyone." Willow gently disentangled herself from Angel and turned to give him a kiss. With a whispered, "I'll be fine" she took Malcolm's hand and led him into the sitting room.
Angel gave a small growl and his eyes turned yellow. Willow rolled her eyes, "Never mind him. He gets possessive sometimes."
"Angel and I have been discussing our options today while William was out. We agreed that if you did deliver Ethan to me we would offer you the option of joining us. Are you interested?"
"Do you mean you want me to join your triumvirate? I'm not interested in being a fourth. If I did join I would want the young one out. He's too young and not powerful enough. He is your weak link."
Willow smiled and reached up to kiss Angelus. It was a long and passionate kiss. When she finished she turned to Malcolm, "I apologize for that. I was just rewarding Angelus. I had begun to see that for myself and when Angelus suggested you join our group I hesitated. But he said that if you were as powerful and as smart as we thought, you would refuse to join with Spike in the group."
Malcolm smiled. This was easier than he thought it would be. He knew Willow and he would make an unstoppable combination. He was even beginning to warm up to the idea of Angelus. He would have to see about that. "Then I accept."
Willow gave Angelus a hug and reached her hand out for Malcolm to join them. The sitting room door flew open and Spike stood in the doorway. "So you're just going to drop me? For him? I knew you had feelings for my grand-sire and I could deal with that. But him? You think I'm your weak link? You think I'm weaker than he is? Not bloody likely." With that Spike threw two railroad spikes pinning Malcolm to the wall through his hands.
Willow jumped. She had no idea how Spike was going to kill Malcolm, he hadn't said. Angel tightened his hold on her and whispered, "Let him work. He's marvelous at this."
Spike stalked closer to Malcolm. "Thought you would take my witch away from me did you? No one takes her from me. If she needs me to be strong then I'll be strong."
Spike reached into his coat pocket and pulled out another railroad spike and a stake. Malcolm's eyes widened and he now realized he had underestimated the young vampire. With a flick of his wrist, Spike sent the last railroad spike into Malcolm's stomach. He walked until he was eye to eye with Malcolm and staked him in the heart.
Spike saw Willow shaking in Angel's arms and went to comfort her as well. They both stroked her hair and tried to give her comfort like she had comforted them the night she returned their souls.
~~~~
Hannah and Albert went to Willow's town house as soon as they received word that it was over. Hannah had brought the dress that Willow wore when she first came to London. Willow's note said that she was going to return tonight and she wanted to leave in the dress she came in.
Willow gave Hannah and Albert a hug goodbye. It would be hard for her to know that these two kindly people will have been dead over 50 years when she returns. The only thing giving her comfort was that she could see both of them in HER Giles. She saw Hannah's curiosity and intelligence and Albert's looks and kindness. She had asked Spike and Angel to look after them and protect them for as long as they could. They meant a great deal to her.
Spike and Angel followed Willow into the special room where Ethan was being held. The ingredients that were necessary for her time travel spell were all there and waiting.
She turned to Angel, "You will always hold a special place in my heart. I won't say goodbye because I know in my heart that I'll at least talk to you in a few hours." She had told him that he didn't live in the same town that she and Spike did. She whispered in his ear, "Please take care of Spike for me."
Angel tightened his arms around Willow. He didn't want her to go but he took comfort in the fact that we would meet her again in a hundred years. Time was irrelevant for vampires.
Willow bit back a sob as she made her way to Spike. Hoping this wasn't the last time she saw him and determined to be strong if it was. God this hurt as much as losing Tara had.
Spike gently caressed her face, "Don't worry, pet. You'll see me in a few minutes and I'll wait for eternity to see you again."
Willow was very grateful to the fates or her goddess or whoever that had let her find William. She turned to Ethan, "Let's go back."
Ethan gave a huge sigh of relief. He was ready to go back to his time and get as far away from Willow as he could.
Willow cast the circle around herself and Ethan. Taking the knife and cutting her palm and Ethan's, she dripped their blood along with the herbs in the bowl. Looking into Spike's eyes for what she hoped wasn't the last time she began her chant.
There was a shimmering in the air and white lights surround her and Ethan and soon they disappeared from Angel and Spike's sight.
~~~~
Ethan opened his eyes and looked around the park. His memories of his life before the spell were fading and being replaced by the events in this timeline. His memories of London and his time with the Ripper were still clear though. Maybe he would write a time travel book. Visions of millions danced in his head. He was so preoccupied that he didn't notice the vampire stalking him before it was too late.
~~~~
Willow took in the surroundings of her attic/computer room. Well at least that hadn't changed she thought. As she looked around, her memories of her time in Sunnydale were being replaced by the ones that happened in this timeline. Dawn and Anya fading from her memories like they never existed.
She felt cool fingers helping her as she stepped out of her dress. She turned towards him when his arms encircled her waist and familiar fangs gently nipped her neck.
"Why didn't you tell me that we really first met in 1888 London?"
Spike rolled his eyes at her, "Oh I can see it now. When Rupert introduced us in the library that first day I should have said oh no Rupert no need for introductions, I've already met Willow. You see, we met in 1888 London as she was tracking Jack the Ripper."
Willow snorted. "Okay. No need to be snotty about it."
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to wait until you were a senior to claim you as mine and know that eventually Ethan would send you back in time?"
"Want me to do a spell and turn him into a rat now that we're back?"
Spike bent down to give her a lingering kiss, "Mmmm, very tempting. But right now I can think of something I would rather do."
"You always did bring out my dark side."
Spike raised her up to carry her out of the room, "And you always love the fact that I do."
"Willow, hurry up. You're going to miss your favorite part."
Spike nuzzled her neck and whispered, "Oh I don't know. I think we're just getting to your favorite part."
"Coming, Jessie." Willow yelled down the stairs. With a laugh she kissed Spike, "Well almost coming anyway."
Willow changed into shorts and tee shirt and with Spike made their way down the stairs to where their friends were waiting.
"Angel!" with a cry of delight she ran and jumped in his arms.
With a smile Angel hugged her close and whispered, "Willow anyone would have thought it was over a hundred years since you saw me last."
A voice said behind Willow, "You know if it was anyone else hugging Angel I'd take off this glove and melt their insides."
Willow smiled and turned to her friend, "Gwen. Are you and Angel still giving ulcers to Wolfram and Hart?"
Gwen smiled at her friend Willow. She was the first of Angel's friends to have accepted her. Freak and all. "Yep, just last week we stole an amulet that they have been wanting for years. You should have seen the look on Lilah and Lindsey's face when we took it."
"Come on everyone. Cordelia's show is about to start."
Willow just rolled her eyes at Jessie and looked at her friends. Gwen was nestled in Angel's arms. Buffy was sitting on Xander's lap. Jessie and Amy were next to each other on the floor. Spike pulled her down on his lap.
They liked to meet at Spike and Willow's to make fun and generally ridicule Cordelia's television show. They never made fun of their friend Cordelia just her goofy show. I mean could you ever see snarky Cordelia as playing a private investigator that used witchcraft and had a vampire as a partner? Spike and Angel liked to make fun of the vampire. Gwen and Buffy like to make fun of the stunts. She and Amy liked to make fun of witchcraft and Xander and Jessie made comments in general about the show.
End of story