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(Part 1)

Willow stalked down the street as she approached the Summers abode. The witch was grumbling to herself, contemplating the demise of her summer vacation. "Stinking Anya and Xander, going to Vegas to gamble and have lots of orgasms. Riley and Buffy are going to the land of farms to meet his folks. And have orgasms. Giles is even gone!" she wailed. "He has Olivia waiting for him in London. Probably gonna get lots of orgasms too," she sighed. "Joyce isn't even here." Willow shuddered. "Don't wanna know about her orgasms."

As she approached the house, she fished the keys from her pocket. "Nope, just me, alone, watering plants for my pals, fighting the undead, practicing new spells, no orgasms." Just thinking about the spells (and lack of orgasms) made her chest ache. Her girlfriend, and fellow Wicca, had left Sunnydale for the summer. Tara had left the Hellmouth to visit her sister on the East Coast. She'd be gone until the start of the fall term.

So that left Willow completely alone...........unless you counted Spike. And Willow didn't The neutered vampire was avoiding her, for which she was grateful. Evil or not, she couldn't help feeling totally betrayed by the vamp. After all they did for him, feeding him, offering him shelter, keeping him from suicide, he still tried to help Adam destroy them. Granted, the Scobby Gang wasn't the most hospitable at times, but Willow expected more from him. Well, she thought, at least I'll have some peace over the break.

How wrong she was.

Just as Willow was approaching Buff's house, a young woman sat on the living room couch, cracking open a beer. "This is the life," she muttered to herself. "Three weeks, all alone, no work, no family. Free rent," she added. "This is going to be one nifty vacation." She took a swig of her beer. Keep telling yourself that, kid, she thought. You hate being alone.

At that moment, the front door swung open, causing the stranger to jump up and spill her brew. Willow jumped back, herself, not expecting anyone in the house. But before her stood a young woman of average height, pale skin and a black Bettie Page 'do with fuschia streaks.

"Who in the Hell are you?!" the strange woman exclaimed.

Willow had no idea what was going on. "Um, I'm supposed to be here, looking after this house. And you are?" she queried warily. "I asked you first," the other woman stated firmly.

Willow sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Willow Rosenberg," she divulged impatiently. "I'm supposed to be looking after this house. And you are?"

The young woman looked at Willow with recognition. "Oh, geez, Willow!! I'm Amalia," she said, as if that explained everything while Willow continued to look at her like she were loopy. "Amalia Summers?" she pressed. "Joyce was supposed to tell you I'd be here while she and Buffy are away." She paused to study the witch. "I'm thinking that neither one of them told you."

"Darned tootin."

"I'm terribly sorry, Willow. Joyce told me that she'd call you or e-mail if she didn't reach you."

Willow's jaw dropped a wee bit. "E-mail, you say?" Amalia nodded. "Now it's my fault. Some of my messages got deleted and I haven't retrieved them yet. I am SO sorry for interrupting you." She began to back away. "I'll just go."

Amalia smiled at the petite redhead. "Please don't, Willow. I could use some company. If you don't mind, that is." What the Hell, Willow thought. She came back into the house as Amalia motioned for her to sit. She took a seat across from her and grinned.

"So you're related to Buffy, eh?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow couldn't believe it. Her potentially disastrous summer was taking a total turnaround. She and Amalia, who turned out to be Buffy's cousin, sat and talked for over two hours after Willow had taken a seat. The witch had been drawn in with Amalia's easygoing manner and big smile. She also couldn't help noticing how beautiful she was. Amalia was about average height with an awesome build. She was her cousin's total opposite. Amalia was ultra-pale where Buffy had the So-Cal sun's bronzed skin, a heart-shaped face and a feminine curvy body, all rounded hips and ample bosom compared to Buffy's thin build. But the eyes, their eyes were the same. Big, blue-grey eyes that could almost peer into your soul.

And she wants to hang out. Tonight at the Bronze. Willow couldn't help but rejoice. She had never connected to someone in that short span of time. During their getting-to-know-each-other chat, the redhead found out why she was in town and why Buffy had never mentioned her cousin.

"Once Buffy and I were very close," Amalia began with a wistful look in her eye. "We were each the sister the other never had, until my senior year and her freshman. She started high school and became miss instant popularity. I, on the other hand had nothing to do with that crowd. Buffy wanted so badly to fit in and I couldn't help her do that. I was a total Goth-tart," she said with a small smile.

Willow looked at her, confused. "A 'Goth-tart'?"

"Yeah. Goth, or at least my interpretation at the time. Every day I dressed in black, listened to Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails, had a crappy tortured attitude, and incurred the wrath of the popular lemmings."

"Why?"

"My mom was sick, she was Hank's sister. I was angry with everyone and everything. I wanted to show that anger." "Was?" Willow asked softly.

Amalia nodded. "Yeah. She passed on just before I graduated from Hemery. Buffy and I were strangers at that point, even though my wardrobe decreased in its drama more and more as my mother got worse. I realized nothing was going to make my mom better, and I stopped being so crabby and woe-is-me. It also made Mom feel better, not seeing me so angry. When the cancer finally got her, Buffy was at my side again, at least when we weren't in school, but I didn't want her there. If she couldn't be seen with me in public, I didn't want anything to do with her. It's remained that way for the last four years."

"Wow," Willow breathed. "I just can't see Buffy acting like that."

Amalia smile sadly at the redhead. "I'm sure Buffy isn't that way today. At least I hope not, but then again, you don't seem like the type that would take that kind of crap."

"No, she isn't like that now. If you don't mind me asking, why did you come here if you two have bad blood?"

"I've been overseas for the past four years, living with my father in Rome and working with Borders Books. I'd like to see my family again, try to patch thing up with the Summers clan. When my mother died, I ran away to my father and didn't speak to them for years after. They never approved of Mom's relationship with my father, a rakish Italian scholar. I was a love child," she added with a huge grin. "I've never seen two people more in love than they were. But when I was ten, Dad had to return to Italy, to take over the family business, but Mom had a promising career in L.A., so they went their separate ways, and I went with my mother."

'What kind of jobs did they have?"

"Mom had an art gallery and Dad's family has a business dealing with rare book and antiquities. I've been working for Borders as a store trainer. I get to travel wherever they're building stores. Now, I'm on vacation and trying to get an interview for the new store that they're building in Sunnydale."

Willow's jaw dropped. "A Border's is going up in Sunnydale? I never thought I'd see that."

"Yup. So I'm gonna be here a while."

"Good," Willow had found herself saying, smiling at the other woman. Amalia grinned back. "So, wanna hang out tonight?"

Willow shook herself out of her thoughts as she got ready. She was almost giddy while picking out her clothes. For the occasion she chose a long, flowing tie-dyed skirt and a white tank top, topped off with a pair of blue all-stars and a beaded choker. Well, well, she thought to herself as she looked in the mirror. I'm looking pretty cute. Time to party! With a swish of her skirt she left her home to get Amalia. On her way it hit her--What if we run into vampires?

Amalia was beaming. She already adored Willow. She was just so damned cute! And nice. Can't believe she's been Buffy's best friend for four years. She pondered the redhead while getting ready. Their long chat had told her much, including the fact that Willow was a computer diva that had blown off Ivy League schools to stay in Sunnydale.

"Buffy had needed me at the time," Willow had responded quickly when Amalia had asked. "The three of us, Buffy, Xander, who's been my friend practically since birth, and I, well, we had a rough high school experience. We weren't ready to give up our support system."

Amalia had been impressed. Willow was truly a loyal friend. I wonder why they all left her alone this summer. She shrugged to herself. Well, their loss is my gain. My fears of a friendless summer are over!

She gave herself one last look as the doorbell rang. Amalia had gone glam. Her outfit consisted of a black tank emblazoned with the KISS logo in rhinestones across he bosom, a black kilt that hit at mid thigh, sparkly silver and black fishnet stockings and boots that laced just below the knee. A velvet collar with silver stars was about her throat. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and thought sprang into her brain.

"Shit," she swore. "What about the vampires?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 2)

Through the dark streets of Sunnydale a very pissed off vampire stalked, looking for anything or anyone to pound his aggressions out on. He paused, just long enough to get a smoke from his pocket and light it. He inhaled deeply and continued on his trek.

The feared vampire, once known as William the Bloody and now known as Spike, was reduced to bagged blood, killing his own kind, and scaring humans (minus the bloodletting) due to a now defunct military operation and was feeling extra angry this certain evening.

Bloody fuckin' commandoes, he thought angrily. Damned Scooby Gang. "Will I ever be free of this blasted chip?!" he roared into the night. At that moment a gang of four vamps decided to surround the impaired Spike. With a grin the blonde vamp dropped him cigarette and mashed it out with his boot.

"Well, boys, you do have smashing timing."

The leader of this pack, a tall, biker looking vampire stepped forward with a wicked smile on his face.

"How's it going, Spike?" he asked mockingly.

"I'm sure you already know, mate. But things will definitely be looking up while I beat you and your whelps to a bloody pulp."

The pack growled in response.

"You really don't think that you can go on killing your own kind without serious repercussions can you, Spike?"

"Yeah. Most of those repercussions end up with my accusers dead or dust," he growled. "Ready to step on up?"

"More than." He looked at his boys. "Don't worry about this one. I'll take him myself."

Biker vamp launched himself at Spike, throwing him down, but he didn't notice the blonde take the stake out of his duster. Hiding it in his sleeve he then rolled his opponent into his back, but was thrown off. Spike jumped up readying himself for attack. The enemy came at him with a vicious roundhouse, his boot connecting with Spike's cheek. As Spike felt the blood well up, his anger too. As his opponent's hits came, Spike blocked them easily and then grabbed Biker by the collar. He punished him with few jabs to the face helped relieve some of his aggression, and then slid the stake home

"Hell," he exclaimed while getting up and dusting himself off. "That was a big letdown. So, you guys wanna try?"

Spike came away from the scene with a cut on his face, which was quickly healing, and nothing more, except four kills under his belt for the evening. Bleeding pansies. I could've dusted them all with one hand tied behind my back. He paused a moment. Hell, I feel better already. Guess I'll head to Willy's for a night cap. Then a thought occurred to him. Four pansy-assed vampires are one thing, but a whole bar full of various demons doesn't sound appealing. The Bronze it is.

The British vamp turned around and headed for the popular Sunnydale nightspot. When he arrived, he let the sounds and smells wash over him, inhaling the rich scent of young blood, relishing the beating of their hearts. Soon. Soon I will be made whole and the night will be mine again.

Across town, Willow was in front of the Summer's house, praying that no vampires would approach them this night. Sure, she could defend herself--she always carried stakes and a water gun filled with holy water, but how would she explain to Amalia? Well, if she finds out, it's meant to be, she told herself as she rang the door.

Amalia ran down the steps from the bathroom, stopping briefly to put some small weapons in her purse. All I can do is try to keep her safe. If she finds out, it's all for the better, especially living on the Hellmouth. I only hope that Buffy has been keeping safe, too. Well, at least the slayer is here. Too bad I have no idea who she is so that I can offer my services during my stay.

Banishing all vampy thoughts from her head, Amalia answered the door.

"Hey, Willow," she beamed. "You look great. I love that skirt. Come on in"

Willow blushed a wee bit and entered. "Thanks, but I feel a little underdressed next to you."

Amalia looked down at her ensemble and shrugged. "Don't. I kind of look like a drag queen with all the glitter and make-up."

The witch tilted her head and studied her new acquaintance. She had blood red gloss on her full lips and shimmery black shadow with a touch of silver glitter around her eyes.

"Nah. I dig the silver glitter."

"You're in luck. I've got some in my bag. Let's hit the road and you can put some on in the car."

After locking up the house, they headed out. Seeing no car, Amalia turned to Willow.

"Did you walk here?" The redhead nodded. "Well, if you don't mind, I'll drive to the Bronze. I'm sure it can be somewhat dangerous walking at night."

You have no idea, the two women thought simultaneously.

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(Part 3)

The two young women entered the club with a sense of exhilaration. They were christening a new friendship with a night out on the town and knew that night had limitless possibilities. Once the cover was paid, Amalia leaned over to Willow.

"I'm gonna go get a drink. Want one?"

Willow nodded.

"A mocha, please." She began to pull some cash out of her purse, but Amalia stopped her.

"It's on me. Why don't you grab a table?" The witch nodded and headed for a seat.

Spike was in a corner, nursing a beer when the two women entered the Bronze. His first instinct was to leave, as he didn't want to face the witch, but then, he saw the lovely girl that came in with her. 'Could that be her summer fling?' he thought. The vampire knew that she was the only member of the Scooby Gang left in Sunnyhell for the summer and that Tara had also gone. 'Looks like Red is headed for greener pastures.'

Spike knew he shouldn't approach the young witch, but he did dearly want to know who the bewitching young creature with her was. He couldn't remember seeing anyone like that in this town. 'Hell, I can't remember the last time Willow looked that beautiful.' Spike stood in shock at that last thought. "Red, hot?" he muttered. "The only thoughts I ever have about her have to do with blood and gore, and they're always hers." He thought a little harder. "Oh, well, there was that one Halloween when she was dressed like a hooker." He had to smile. "Yeah, she was bloody smashing. And she is tonight, her eyes twinkling and her skin all flushed. Kind of makes me want to.......Urrrrrgh!" He shook his head frustration. 'This is not right,' he thought. 'But then, who am I to care what's right?' Wiping all inklings of right and wrong from his mind, he approached her.

Willow had found an unoccupied couch near the right of the stage, where a local band was playing. She sat alone, listening to them cover Motley Crue's Too Fast For Love when she felt someone beside her. She turned around to see Spike with a huge smile on his face.

"How are you doing, pet?"

Willow had to restrain herself from throttling him.

"Gosh, Spike, for someone who was helping a human-demon hybrid try to kill me and my friends a couple of weeks ago, you sure seem to care a lot."

"What can I say, Red, I'm a giver."

"Yeah you give me a headache. Oh, wait, that's what I do to you," she quipped.

Spike rewarded her comment with a low growl.

"Just wait--"

"I know, Spike, I know. You're going to get the chip taken out and then you'll tear my throat out, rip me to shreds and do a jig in my blood." Willow smiled sweetly at him. "Did I get it right?"

The vampire thought a moment.

"Yeah, just about, except I'd probably do the macarena, I'd be so happy."

Willow shook her head. 'What a nut. Guess he's taking after Drusilla.' "What did you want, Spike? "'Cause I'm starting to tire from your presence."

Spike nodded toward the bar where Amalia was picking up their drinks.

"Her. Who is she?"

"You do NOT want to know Spike."

"Yes, yes I do. Could she be you're girlie on the side while the other witch is gone?" he purred while leering at the newcomer.

Willow glanced at Amalia, who had spotted them and was on her way over. She leaned toward Spike.

"That chick is Buffy's cousin," she informed him in a loud whisper. "So I'd get rid of any ideas really soon, because if anything happens to her, Buffy will have you greeting the sun. And how dare you accuse me of cheating on Tara!" she admonished in a harsher tone just before punching him in the arm. 'Just because she is really gorgeous.........where did that come from?' she questioned herself silently. 'Oh well, time to watch Spike squirm.' Willow grinned at the dumbstruck vamp. "Gee, Spike. Here she comes. Want me to introduce you?" she cheerfully asked.

"She can't be--"

"Oh, but Spike, my bottle-blonde friend, she is."

Amalia was seated next to Willow before the vampire could form any more words. She handed the redhead her beverage and glanced at Spike. Amalia couldn't believe she hadn't noticed him while in line at he bar, considering that she had totally been scoping the place out.

He was one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen. The cheekbones, piercing blue eyes and pale skin were a lethal combination, not to mention the lanky, but well-muscled build she couldn't help but notice from beneath his formfitting black jeans and black tee shirt. Willow couldn't help but see the looks the slayer's cousin was giving the vampire.

'Oh, no,' Willow thought, 'She had better not be getting the hots for Spike. What am I supposed to say, no, Amalia, you can't like him because he's a two-hundred year old murdering demon?' But Willow kept her thoughts from becoming words and introduced them.

"This is Spike, Amalia. He's, well, he's an acquaintance of mine and Buffy's. Spike," she said with saccharine sweetness," this is Amalia Summers, Buffy's cousin."

The vampire scowled at Willow and gave Amalia his best 'come hither' look as he stood before her to take her hand to kiss it.

"It's a pleasure, pet."

Amalia couldn't help the thrill that was going through her. 'Dear Lord,' she thought, I can't remember feeling this giddy about meeting a guy. But when that guy looks like this one, I suppose that's acceptable. Not to mention the beautiful accent. Down girl, she reprimanded herself.'

"Likewise," she all but purred.

Willow was fuming at Spike so much that she thought her ears would begin to steam. 'He had to turn on that charm. As if Amalia hadn't been drooling already. Not that I can argue that he's not drool-worthy.' Willow's thoughts shocked her. Never had she thought of the blonde vampire as cute or sexy. 'Well, there was the time when he cried on my shoulder in the crypt. He was all sensitive and hurting.........' Willow had to stop her brain. 'Spike is not hot, Spike is not hot, Spike is not hot.' The redhead went back to glaring, trying to deny that piece of inner-dialogue.

"So, Spike, how do you know Buffy and Willow?"

The vampire and witch sprang to attention and each looked at the other to answer. With a sigh, Willow answered.

"Spike was a friend of Buffy's ex-boyfriend. We run into each other every now and again. Unfortunately," she added under her breath.

Spike glared at Willow and continued to flirt with Amalia.

"So, what brings you to Sunnyhell?"

'A chance to get it on with a fine man like yourself.' Amalia surprised herself with that idea. She was very outgoing and quite matter of fact, but not so much that she'd jump into a total stranger's bed. 'Well, just that one time.' Amalia discarded her thoughts as answered him.

"I'm on vacation and I'm relocating to Sunnydale from overseas."

"Really? From whereabouts?" he asked with genuine interest.

"Everywhere, primarily Italy and Ireland. My family is from Italy and I had a loft in Ireland. When I wasn't traveling, I lived there."

"Where are you staying now?"

Before Amalia could answer that, Willow jumped up off of the couch and pulled her friend with her.

"Amalia, I need you in the bathroom, for a second." 'Damn, Will,' thought the redhead, 'could I be any less suave?'

She didn't let go of Amalia until they were in the girls room.

"What on earth was that about, Will?" queried a confused Amalia.

"I, um, well, I wouldn't tell Spike that you're staying in you're aunt's house."

"Why not?"

'Quick Willow, think of something.'

"He has a tendency to kind of barge in on Buffy and Joyce, that's all," she spit out quickly. 'And Goddess knows that the horny perv would sneak into the house all stealth-like and stalk you.'

Amalia looked at her oddly.

"You don't like him, do you?"

"No, Amalia, as a matter of fact I don't"

Amalia was startled by the harsh tone to Willow's normally soft spoken words.

"What did he do?" she asked with genuine concern.

"He, well, he's caused rifts between my friends and I. We're all past them now, but it still hurts that he did it. He was pretty malicious" 'Just a tad, helping Adam, kidnapping Xander and I, etc.'

"Oh."

Willow could see that Amalia was let down and suddenly had the urge to say something to revert Spike's fall from grace in Amalia's eyes. 'I really don't want to taint her point of view about him. Goddess knows why, considering that I pretty much despise the bastard. Saying that I'm cheating on Tara with Amalia. Ha. Like that would ever happen. That she would dig me like that. Not that I'd mind. Bad, bad, bad Willow.'

"I guess he can have his moments of being almost human," Willow caved. "You decide for yourself." 'I did not just give her leave to explore Spike. Now if she'd like to explore the both..............O.k.......I'm totally freaking myself out. She is not hot, Spike is not hot. There will be no exploration.'

Amalia saw Willow drift off. She touched Willow's hand in attempt to get her attention. 'She is so beautiful. No wonder Spike's been looking at her with that fire in his eyes.'

"Willow, you still with me?"

She came back from her thoughts and smiled warmly at her new friend.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go find the blonde wanker." Amalia kept Willow's hand in her own and led her back to their seat. 'This is gonna be an interesting summer,' she smiled to herself. 'Drooling over some blonde British fella I've only just met, leering at my cousin's best friend. Yup, definitely interesting.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 4)

Spike sat alone, beside himself with confusion. He, William the Bloody, hanging around the bleeding witch and her little friend, a little friend that happened to be Slutty's cousin kin, all of things, flirting like a schoolboy. Not to mention all these thoughts swimming about in his head about Willow, how beautiful she is, how much he's like to throw her down and do all sorts of wicked things to her, these things having nothing to do with playing in her viscera. And the raven haired goddess? He could think of a novel's worth of deeds to do to her. Or things that the three of them could do together. 'And now the two of them are in the ladies room, doing Hades knows what.' Spike groaned, the image of those two luminous creatures stroking one another, kissing--they were making him hard. 'Down, little Spike,' he willed himself. 'We'll have our way. I saw the two of them gazing at each other and I saw them gazing at me.' Concentrating on getting his anatomy to unfocus itself, he put all thoughts of perversion away, along with his questioning why he felt so drawn to these two women, so suddenly.

Willow and Amalia pranced out of the bathroom hand in hand, headed back to Spike. Neither one knew what was going on in their heads. Amalia was finding herself quite intoxicated with Willow, with her soft manner that yielded every so often to a fiery temper, to her fairy-like features, to the loyalty that she had shown her cousin. 'I've only known her a few hours and I can't imagine my time here without her.'

Similar thoughts were meandering in the witch's head. In the short time she had been in Amalia's company, she was more and more drawn to her. She was so outgoing, so friendly. Who else would reward Willow barging in on her with a mocha and a night out? And her thoughts about Spike? She was totally freaked. She hated the vamp, yet all sorts of lusty visions were appearing in her head. She took a deep breath, trying to clear all dirty thoughts away, but it didn't help her ignore the intense way the blonde vampire was staring at them as they approached.

"Get everything taken care of ladies?" he asked with a grin.

Willow sat next to him and glared.

"Yes, thank you kindly. All set. Ready to boogie." She paused as the band started it's next song and groaned. "At least I was until the band broke out with the bad KISS cover."

Amalia squealed and looked over at the band. She noticed the bass player smiling at her and pointing to her top. She grinned back and stuck out her tongue in true Gene Simmons fashion.

"Oh my god," Amalia breathed. "This is one of my favorites. It's cheesy '80's KISS, but they're my boys nonetheless." She glanced at both of them and smiled. "So who's gonna dance with me?"

"I think I'm gonna sit this one out," Willow replied, looking at Spike. "Go. Dance."

Spike arched an eyebrow in question at Red and she nodded. "Go ahead." The witch needed a moment alone to center herself.

The vampire stood and took Amalia's warm hand, wrapping his long fingers about hers.

"After you, luv."

Amalia led them onto the dance floor, stopping not far from the stage. He kept one hand around hers and wrapped the other about her waist. Amalia draped and arm over his shoulder and let him move them to the music.

Spike swayed her slowly at first to the mid tempo song, feeling the lyrics Paul Stanley was belting.

// I look at you and my blood boils hot, I feel my temperature rise
I want it all, give me what you've got, there's hunger in your eyes
I'm getting closer I can feel you breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you'll never leave
Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire//

It was true, being so near her, feeling her warmth, feeling her pulse. It made him feel warm for the first time since his death. As they danced, he quickened their pace, bringing her our of their embrace for a spin-out or a turn, after each returning her to the safe circle of his arms, eager to experience the heat of her body against his chilled one.

//I got a fever ragin' in my heart, you make me shiver and shake
Baby don't stop, take it to the top, eat it like a piece of cake
You're coming closer, I can hear you breathe
You drive me crazy when you start to ease
You could bring the devil to his knees//

Amalia couldn't believe what she was feeling as she shared her dance with Spike. Each time he would let her go, all she craved was to be in his arms again, being held close. Her hands began to move of their own accord, one caressing the hand that held hers, the other moving over his back and traveling to his broad chest. Delicately she slid her hand down, all the while gazing into his deep blue eyes, until she met his waist. Sharply she stuck her finger in his belt loop and pulled him closer to her, so that not a sliver of space remained.

//Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire

O-oh, Heaven's on fire, O-oh, Heaven's on fire
I'm getting closer baby, hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you'll never leave//

Spike's demon roared with the intimate contact and the scent of Amalia's arousal. It had been growing since her delicate hands began their travels, their exploration of his torso. Her eyes revealed need and lust, he knew that his had to reflect the same. He tangled one hand in her magnificent hair while the other held her close at the waist, with no intention of letting her go, at least not before he had tasted her ruby lips. As if she had read his mind, she tilted her head up, licking her lips.

"Kiss me, Spike, now," she demanded

He needed no further invitation. The onslaught that was his kiss bruised her mouth mercilessly. There was no gentleness, no love--just passion and need. He traced her lips with his tongue, desperately the entrance that she granted hastily. Their tongues dueled with urgency, halted only when she broke away to take a ragged breath. They disentangled their embrace, looking at each other with confusion.

"What is going on?" Amalia whispered. "I've just met you and all I want is to maul you."

Softly Spike smiled.

"I know what you mean. You and Red. And I don't even like her."

The mention of Willow gave Amalia a fresh rush of arousal. She turned to see her friend's eyes dark with passion, the flush of her skin making it obvious that she had liked Amalia and Spike's small display. Amalia took Spike's hand and led him to the redhead.

"Let's leave," she suggested, "before I take the both of you right here."

Willow looked at her in confusion.

"Me?"

Amalia bent over and brushed a soft kiss across her friends lips.

"Yes, you."

"But Spike..........." she stopped cold when the vampire took her hand and pulled her up to his chest.

"Yeah, Red, big, bad Spike wants you too. I can't explain it, but all despising aside, I'm needing you right now." He punctuated his statement with a brutal kiss that left her breathless.

Willow knew exactly how her two comrades felt. All of a sudden she could think of nothing other than possessing the both of them. All hatred for Spike was replaced with a lust she had never before felt. It was as if Amalia's arrival had completed them, had allowed Spike and Willow to face up to attraction neither one wanted to admit. And the fire she could feel traveling through her body was proof of that attraction. 'Thinking later,' Willow admonished herself. 'Thinking can wait until after the smoochies.'

They headed out of the club and towards Amalia's car across the street. Unfortunately their plans were put on hold when they were faced with a group of men with disfigured visages.

"Damn it!" Amalia cursed as she brought a stake that she had hidden in the waistband of her skirt into view. "Vampires."

In shock, Willow and Spike looked at each other and then at Amalia, in a ready stance.

"How," Spike began incredulously, "in the Hell do you know about vampires?"

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(Part 5)

Amalia looked at the both of them, now ready for combat, having pulled out weapons of their own. Her eyes grew wide at the picture of Spike in the ready, bearing a stake and Willow brandishing a stake and a cross.

"You know," she breathed.

"Yes, Amalia we do. We live on the Hellmouth." Seeing the vampires advance on them, the witch knew that this was no time for explanations.

"Let's dust these boys and then we'll have a heart to heart."

Spike surveyed their attackers and groaned after recognizing one of them. One of the vamps who had surrounded him earlier in the evening must have run before meeting the blonde's stake.

"Bloody hell man!" he exclaimed. "I thought I got all you nancy boys earlier." He let his handsome features dissolve into his demonic visage.

"Guess I"ll just take seconds then."

"This won't go on forever, Spike," a female vampire informed him. "We may not stop you from your betrayal, but you will be stopped nonetheless. Hiding behind your human pets won't save you."

Amalia was in total shock. First, the man she was about to hop into the sack with was a vampire. Two, Willow knew all about vampires, and about Spike. And thirdly, Spike had attacked a group of vampires earlier in the evening. A demon killing his brethren was an unforgivable act, one punishable only by death. 'Well, Malia, you're in for an interesting night.' The demon in Spike roared at the insult.

"I am not hiding, nor will I ever hide behind any human," he bellowed. He lunged for the first vamp he could get his hands on, Willow and Amalia following suit.

*******

Willow and Spike couldn't believe the skill with which Amalia fought their opponents. The raven haired woman moved smoothly, blocking and ducking blows with ease. Her kicks and punches were powerful, aiding her in a quick dusting of the vampires she took on.

When all of the demons were dust at their feet, the three heroes slowly approached one another. Spike and Willow gazed at their third warily. She looked a tad pale, even for her, and shocked. She lifted her head to look at Spike, who's human mask was firmly in place. 'A vampire,' she thought. 'How on earth could Willow cavort with a demon?' Her next thought chilled her to the bone. 'Unless she's a demon or a servant to the dark ones.'

"You're a vampire," she stated softly. She gazed at Willow next. "And you knew."

Willow was startled by the accusatory look in Amalia's eyes, the way her body withdrew from them. 'Her thoughts must have turned dark, trying to explain this, thinking that I must be evil.'

Spike gazed at the two women, his lust from the club roaring again through his body. 'Sod the explanations. I want to fuck.' He neglected to voice his thoughts, knowing they would earn him a stake through the heart. The vampire sighed and defended the witch.

"She's not evil, Amalia. Just an innocent that knows what goes bump in the night."

Willow nodded.

"Sadly, I know more than the average person does about the dangers of the night. As do you."

"But, friends with a vampire?" Amalia was bewildered with the thought. 'Sure. I've had vamps and other demons for informants. Maybe had a beer or two with them, even danced............O.K., I overreacted. I suppose when the vamp is this hot....' Amalia bit her lip, the passion she felt not too long ago being re-ignited within her body.

Spike snorted, ignoring the lust in Amalia's eyes.

"We are NOT friends, Amalia. Far from it."

"Spike is right," Willow conceded. "We've been forced into helping each other, but we're not friends."

Amalia forced the naughty images of Willow and Spike away once a thought hit her.

"Buffy. What does she know about all of this? Is she involved in any way?"

Willow and Spike glanced at each other. Neither wanted to tell Amalia that her cousin was the Chosen One. Especially since all they wanted to do was jump into bed and ravage one another. Willow too, had found the attraction to Spike and Amalia returning, her mind taking all sorts of wicked little turns. But brushing all naughty deeds aside, she stepped forward. "Buffy knows," she confessed, "because Buffy is the Slayer."

Amalia stared at Willow like she had just grown another head and began to laugh, a loud, echoing guffaw that caused the witch and vampire to stare at her.

"Buffy," she managed to spit out as she caught her breath. "Prissy little blonde thing? Likes short skirts and low cut shirts? Fighting the things that go bump in the night? You must have the wrong chick in mind." The silence was deafening as Willow and Spike looked at her sorrowfully. She got the picture and stopped her laughing abruptly.

"She is," she whispered. "All this time she's been fighting the darkness and I could've helped." 'And all I can think about is fucking these two senseless. I am a bad, bad person.'

Spike took a chance and put his arm about her, the contact overloading his senses. 'I have to have them soon. Very, very, very soon. Hell, her skin is so warm. I haven't been with a human in ages. Can't wait to sink into..........'

"She's had plenty of help. I should know," he broke in. "They almost staked me enough times. Let's get out of here, kitten and you can tell us your story." 'And relieve me of my aching hard-on'

*******

The drive to the Summers house took place in dead silence, but their minds reeling. So much needed to be said, explained, but an unknown force was pulling the three individuals together. Willow sat up front with Amalia. The witch was trying to ignore the ache between her thighs, knowing that her feelings for the man and woman with her were wrong. 'Tara. I have Tara who loves me and will not he happy knowing that I had wild monkey sex with Buffy's cousin, whom I've know for all of one day and Spike, one of our worst enemies. But if I think about it he's really not that bad any--BAD, BAD Willow. No sex with Amalia and Spike. Not even if she makes a pouty face with those beautiful lips and he--' She had to turn her brain off.

When they reached their destination, the three got out of Amalia's Explorer wordlessly and went to the door. She hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should invite the vampire into her aunt's home.

"I already have an invite, Amalia," he stated as if reading her thoughts. She glared at him, half wanting to pounce on him, half wanting to beat answers out of him. How did a vampire get an invitation to the slayer's home, kill his own kind and hang out with the best friend of the chosen one? She put aside her questions for the time being, knowing that they would have their own for her.

"Then come on in."

Amalia locked the door behind them and sat on the couch. Willow sat next to her while Spike took the rocker across from them. Before she could be asked, Amalia began her story.

"The two of you want to know what I know, don't you?" Willow nodded.

"Please. This is just WAY too bizarre, even for the Hellmouth. I mean, you, being Buffy's cousin, knowing about vampires but not that she's the slayer." She paused and blushed. "And this whole thing with you being attracted to Spike and myself."

Spike glared at the witch.

"Bizarre being attracted to me? I think not. You maybe," he grumbled. 'Who's she kidding. She knows I'm sexy. Nothing wrong with the two of them wanting to shag me, letting me bite them as they--' The vampire stilled his thoughts. 'I'm gonna bloody come in my pants without any physical contact in about five minutes. Get a move on.'

"Shut up," Amalia demanded the vampire and witch. "I'm spilling my guts to you two, no bickering. There will be no naughtiness unless you get along." Amalia glanced at Spike, noting the bulge in his jeans and licked her lips. She was rewarded with a low growl as her stared at her. 'Aw, fuck the explaining. I can't behave any longer. I need naughtiness now.' Willow's thoughts were on the same wave length. 'Yes, I do love Tara, but this indiscretion is going to take place. I can't stop myself........want to have Spike sink into me and drink of me...........to feel Amalia's soft, smooth flesh, kiss her breathless.' The witch let her hand creep to Amalia's thigh, caressing it gently.

"Malia, I think that we can talk later." She was surprised by her brazenness. "I wanna be bad," she whispered to her new friend, punctuating the statement with a swirl of her tongue about Amalia's ear. Willow looked over at Spike, who's eyes had turned a lusty midnight blue. She beckoned him over with a crooked finger. "Come, be bad with us, Spike."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 6)

Amalia stood, beckoning Willow and Spike to follow. "My room," she explained. "Don't want to soil any of Aunt Joyce's belongings." She led them up the stairs to the guest room that she was inhabiting. After lighting a few candles to bathe the room in a soft glow, she turned to them. Cocking her head to one side to gaze at her soon-to-be lovers, she felt a confidence infuse her, one she never knew she could possess. She had two people, two absolutely stunning individuals practically trembling with desire for her. Before the dawn, she would have her fill of Spike and Willow--she had to. They were being drawn together for a reason. What reason she had no idea, but she would find out. After she got some action, that is.

"So," she broke the silence, "do we need foreplay or can we just get to the animalistic rutting? Because I know that I've been ready to go since we left the Bronze." She emphasized her point by divesting herself of her top, leaving the witch and vampire free to gaze at her leopard brassiere bound breasts.

'Animalistic rutting?' Spike grinned to himself. 'I can do that. Not a problem.' The vampire pulled his snug tee over his head and tossed it aside. "Bring it on, Amalia. No, wait." He turned his attention to Willow, who was frozen in place, a look of utter lust in her eyes. 'Perfection,' she thought, leering at Spike as he approached her. The vampire divested her of her tank top unceremoniously and smiled wickedly. "There. We're all caught up." He then moaned as the witch began stroking his chest, playing with his sensitive nipples, smiling to herself once they hardened to stiff peaks. Amalia moved behind Willow, kissing her swanlike neck, nipping and licking at her pulse-point, using her skilled hands to remove the redheads bra, leaving her small, but perfect bosom open for Amalia's enjoyment. One hand kneading a breast, reveling in it's smooth firmness, the other sliding down her flat stomach, into the waistbands of her skirt and panties. She was rewarded with a gasp as she cupped Willow's weeping sex, bringing one finger inside to gauge her friends arousal. Willow was wet and ready. "All ready for us, sweet Willow?" she whispered huskily in her ear. All the witch could do was nod as Spike knelt before her, taking the breast that Amalia wasn't fondling into his wet mouth. "Good, because I have this terrible need to have my way with you. Now." Amalia, with a whimper of disappointment from Willow, released her friend from her touch and knelt next to Spike. "Look at me, Spike," Amalia ordered gently. "Taste her sweetness." The vampire relinquished his hold on Willow's breast and obeyed Amalia. He suckled the proffered digit, his tongue rolling around it, making the raven-haired beauty moan softly.

"It's fucking heavenly," he replied after letting Amalia's finger go with a loud smack of his lips. He then took Amalia's mouth in a brutal kiss, letting her taste Willow.

Watching Amalia and Spike share her essence turned Willow on even more. 'Yup, gonna die if I don't come really soon.' Her sex ached, begging for release. 'Haven't even had much contact and I can honestly say that I've never been this horny.' As if hearing Willow's thoughts, Amalia broke the kiss she had shared with Spike, biting his lower lip as they parted.

"Go to the bed Spike," she commanded.

"After you, kitten."

"Now Spike," she purred in is ear, caressing his aching hard-on through his jeans. "I'm going to taste our Willow now. I think she's going to explode if she doesn't get some release." Before the vampire could protest, Amalia went on, more firmly. "Be a good boy and sit on the bed and watch. You can take your pants off if you want, but no orgasms yet. Wait for us. You'll be glad you did," she added teasingly.

Much to his surprise, Spike did as he was told. The demon within him wanted to take them each and fuck them into oblivion, but something, he couldn't tell what, struck a deeper part of his being. It told him to wait, wait and he would be rewarded. Clenching his jaw, he attempted to control his raging desire and removed his confining trousers. 'Don't worry little Spike,' he thought almost apologetically as his rock-hard erection sprang free. 'We'll have our fun. It can't take Amalia that long to make Red come.' He smiled wickedly at the two lasses in front of them as they gazed at his nude body. "All right then, you two. Waiting for the rutting now." Amalia returned his grin, her eyes worshipping his naked form. 'It's as if he were sculpted from marble. A fucking masterpiece, he is.' With a little willpower, she removed her eyes from his body and looked up at Willow, who was staring lustfully at the vampire herself. Amalia took the distraction to her advantage and had Willow's skirt and panties off before she knew it. The older woman breathed the scent that was Willow and began her assault. The redhead gasped as her friend parted her with her tongue, one hand caressing her rear, the thumb of the other caressing her swollen clitoris. "Oh, goddess," she moaned breathily, taking Amalia's head in her hands for fear she would stop. Amalia entered her with one finger, then two, licking at Willow's warm, wet folds, drinking the juices that seeped from her like nectar. Knowing that Willow needed to come, as did Spike, she circled the witch's clit with her tongue while speeding her hand. As Willow's walls began to grasp at her fingers, she suckled gently at the small bundle of nerves until the younger woman grasped her hair tighter and began to moan, one continuous sound that grew louder as her body finally spasmed in release.

"Amalia," she screamed as she came, drenching her friend's face with her essence. Amalia carried her through her orgasm, pumping her fingers into her as she lapped up Willow's release. When Willow came down, the redhead drew Amalia into a kiss, tasting herself on her lips.

"Thank you."

"No need. Let's go play with Spikey."

Spike's eyes were just about to pop out of his head while he had watched Amalia pleasure Willow. The redheads little moans, the way her head was thrown back in ecstasy, how her eyes would stray to his every so often as he watched.

The vampire was desperate. He could only hope that Amalia would allow him to sink into one of them soon. 'Allow. Fuck that. Since when did I ever wait to be allowed to do anything? Well, when Angelus was still my Yoda, but he was my sire. That doesn't count." His thoughts were interrupted as a partially clothed Amalia and completely nude Willow approached him.

Amalia looked at him with lust darkened eyes as she straddled his body and pressing herself against his torso.

"You're waiting for permission, aren't you Spike? You want to fuck Willow into the bed, don't you?"

He growled as she wrapped a hand in his short hair, yanking his head back to look her in the eye.

"Yes. I want to sink into her. And you."

She smiled sweetly at him just before licking her way up his neck.

"Take her," she whispered. "Fuck her and drink of her and please her."

Spike needed no further prodding. Once Amalia rolled off of him and onto the other side of the bed, he had a smiling Willow pinned beneath him.

"Forgive me, Red, if I don't last too long. This time," he added.

"Don't care, Spike. Just fuck me," she whined, her arousal returning in full force.

The vampire couldn't suppress his moan as he slid into her tight, wet walls. "Bloody hell, Red...so warm." He stilled a moment, letting her body adjust to the intrusion. When Willow began to rock against him, he took it as a sign to begin pounding into her, reveling in the marvelous sounds of their flesh slapping together. She wrapped her legs around his hips, driving him deeper into herself. 'So good. I can't remember it being this way with Oz. I can't remember oral sex being as good with Tara. I think I've just spoiled myself forever.' Willow was taken from her thoughts as Spike quickened his pace. She retaliated by sinking her nails into his back, drawing blood as her orgasm began to mount. Sensing her impending orgasm, Spike wormed a hand between the two of them to stroke her clit. At his touch, Willow lost herself to release, her walls clamping down on Spike's cock. With a whimper of his name she came, holding the vampire close to her. The spasming of her pussy around him squeezed the orgasm out of the vampire causing him to empty himself into her with a guttural moan. Willow bared her neck to him as he filled her womb. "Drink, Spike," she murmured. "Drink and be whole."

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(Part 7)

Spike the let demon within him break through and sink his fangs into Willow's waiting throat. It was ecstasy, almost as much as being sheathed in her, having her hot, passion-laced blood flowing down his throat. He drank as though a man starving until he felt Amalia's hand upon his back. "Enough," she scolded gently.

He removed his fangs and pulled out from Willow's body silently, lapping the blood that seeped from the wounds he had inflicted. Amalia lifted his head so that she could kiss him, tasting the coppery sweetness of Willow's blood on his lips and tongue. When she broke the kiss, she removed her hand from his back, the blood from the scratches Willow had inflicted staining her pale flesh red. She brought her hand to her mouth and lapped every drop off of it, almost feeling Spike's raw power enter her with each stroke of her tongue.

Willow and Spike watched her in confused amazement as she cleaned her hand. She was a woman possessed, concentrating on that task and nothing else. When finished she flashed them a wide smile. "Well, that was a nummy treat." All of a sudden her long denied desire reared its ugly head and she moaned as Willow pressed against her side.

"Poor Amalia hasn't come yet," she taunted as she stroked Amalia's breast through the thin satin of her bra. "Would you like Spike and Willow to help you out?"

"Please," she choked as Spike unexpectedly kissed his way from the center of her throat down to her navel, his tongue dipping in and out briefly before removing her skirt. He smiled when he saw what was underneath. Her fishnets were held up by garters, her panties matching her bra.

"Hope you don't like your knickers too much, pet," he commented as he ripped them from her trembling form while Willow removed her bra, leaving her clad in boots and her stockings. "I think I like this look," he quipped. Amalia glared at him.

"Quit gawking and make me come," she ordered the vampire. He cocked an eyebrow at the quaking woman beside him and smiled.

"You wish is my command, luv."

Spike settled himself between her thighs as Willow busied herself with Amalia bare bosom, the redhead taking one pink nipple into her mouth, sucking, biting, teasing it until it reached its peak. Once the deed was done to the first, she repeated her actions on the other, grinning against Amalia's flesh as the older woman whimpered and gently cradled the witch's head to her breast. She let go of Willow with a gasp as Spike began his torture of her weeping sex. The vampire stroked her wet folds gently, knowing that he was killing her by not putting any pressure on her swollen clit. Amalia moaned in agony as the pressure kept building within her, positive that if her didn't grant her release she would die. Taking pity on her, Spike lifted her to his mouth, drinking her as if she were the finest of wines. Taking her clitoris into his mouth, he swirled his tongue around it, applying much needed pressure. Amalia began to babble as her climax began, her juices starting to flow more freely.

"Suck me, Spike, please, make me come, oh please......."

The vampire gave into her and suckled her, the woman grabbing his head and holding it to her as she moaned his name, her body arching off of the bed while her nectar flowed into his greedy mouth, marking her orgasm. He lapped her release in earnest until two words came out of her mouth.

"Mark me."

Without a pause his demon rejoiced and bit her thigh, her blood and release mingling together to make the most delightful cocktail. He stopped himself before she could do it for him and offered his kiss to Willow, who took it eagerly, growing warm at the taste of her lovers cum and blood. The witch curled up beside Amalia and gazed at her friend. Amalia had already recovered from her climax and the witch knew that she would be witnessing the joining of Amalia and the vampire. A sight she knew that she'd enjoy. She glanced at Spike, who was hard and ready once more. He crept up Amalia's body, his erection brushing against her dark curls.

"So, kitten, you ready for another round?" he asked softly, brushing gentle kisses across her collarbone. She felt herself growing moist once more, wanting nothing more than to feel him deep within her body. Amalia moaned as the head of his cock nudged her entrance.

"Fill me, my bloody warrior."

'But he isn't the One.' The thought flashed in Amalia's mind as Spike drew back slightly, just before slamming into her. Then, before he could become trapped within her tightness, Amalia gasped in fear and pushed him away. "No, no, Spike, please, I can't," she whimpered.

The vampire looked at her, shocked and slightly annoyed by the interruption. His shock grew as he looked into her eyes. They registered absolute horror. Gone was the woman who had taken control of their escapades, the woman who had ordered him to fuck the witch, the woman who had propositioned him in the Bronze. In her place was a terrified girl who had scampered as far away as she could from him on the bed.

Willow stared at Amalia. She couldn't believe that she had gone from a wicked lust-kitten to a frightened little girl. The redhead wrapped her arms around her as tear made its way down Amalia's cheek. "Malia, what's wrong?" Amalia, took a deep breath, scared and confused. 'Why couldn't I let Spike make love to me? Of course I do,' she told herself She glanced from Willow to Spike, the vampire looking at her with concern and just a touch of irritation.

"I--well, I've never," she faltered. "I'm a virgin."

'And who knows what horrors would happen if I don't give myself to the dark angel.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 8)

Willow stared at Amalia. She never would have guessed that Amalia had never known the love of a man, wasn't completely experienced in the ways of the boudoir. The way she took control of the situation, her confidence all said that the woman was practically a dominatrix. And dominate the witch and the vampire Amalia had done. Hell, she had ordered William the Bloody about her bedroom!! But the sensual, confident woman was gone and in her place was a frightened girl, whimpering, staring at the bed.

"Shh," she soothed, stroking Amalia's hair. "It's O.K."

"Oh, god," Amalia whispered. "What in the Hell just happened."

"Let me fill you in, pet," Spike started harshly. He removed himself from the bed and put his trousers on before continuing. "You gave Red a good tongue fucking, commanded me to sink into her, to bite her, made me give you oral pleasure and made me stop once you had come and I was rock hard and about to pound you into this bed." He cocked his head in mock thought. "Yeah, that's about it."

Willow glared at him. "Shut up, Spike. You aren't helping."

Amalia shook her head. "No, it's not his fault. It's mine." She disentangled herself from Willow's embrace and crawled off the bed. "Please, excuse me." She left the room, leaving Spike and Willow to stare at each other.

'Damned insensitive vampire. Has no idea what it's like to be a woman.'

"Did you have to be so harsh, Spike?"

The vampire scowled at her. "Red, don't blame this all on me. I didn't instigate this fiasco."

"No, but you willingly joined in. Amalia didn't just decide she was gonna get all pushy and throw us together. The three of us were drawn to each other." She glared at the vampire with her resolve face. "Now go and apologize to her."

Spike growled at her, but took off after Amalia. 'Yup, just call me Peaches. I have definitely gone soft. The chit refuses me and instead of ripping her apart, I go to comfort her. A virgin..........couldn't tell by looking. Hell, she charged on into this mess like a bitch in heat. Can't blame a vamp for wanting a piece of her.'

He found her sitting on the back porch wrapped in his duster, a lit cigarette dangling from her lips. Wordlessly he sat next to her and lit a cigarette for himself.

"I wish that wasn't me in there earlier." Her voice was so soft he wouldn't have heard her without his super-vamp hearing.

"Why, luv?"

"Because at least if I had been possessed I'd have an excuse. But I don't. I wanted Willow and I wanted you." She turned to face Spike, the sorrow in her eyes nearly making his undead heart ache for the chit. "I wanted to feel you inside of me, more than I had ever wanted a man before in my life. But it always happens.......I'm just about to make love, let the man I'm with be the first to be with me and I freeze--a voice goes off in my head, telling me that the man I'm with isn't the one, that something terrible will happen if I sleep with him. And so I leave him after promising him myself, just like I did to you. Only this time the voice said not only that you weren't the one, but that one day I would have you, that you would be mine, but that tonight was not that night." Amalia stopped herself before she told him about the dark angel that had just clouded her thoughts before Spike could enter her. Taking a deep breath she continued. "I've never behaved that way, how I did with the two of you, in my life. I mean, I've had female lovers before," she stated bluntly, "that wasn't new, but how I commanded you, made you take Willow, and took control. I've never done that. At first I thought that I was being possessed. But no. That was all me. I wanted to taste Willow and I wanted to see you take her and I wanted to share your blood. When I saw you in the club it all came together, the three of us, we were meant to be together tonight." She stopped and shook her head. "I must sound like a loon."

The vampire took her chin in his hand and forced her to look him in the eye. She was shocked by the understanding and compassion she found in their clear blue depths.

"No, kitten, you don't. Believe me, I know what loony sounds like." He smiled wryly. "But this," he paused. "Hell, Red is one of my least favorite people on this earth and I couldn't wait to shag her breathless. There is something going on, what I have no idea. Bloody Hell, I actually wish that Buffy's watcher were here," he sighed. He took a final drag off of his smoke before putting it out. He stood and offered her his hand. "Come now, Malia, let's go inside and see how Willow's taking the fact that she let her enemy of three years shag the hell out of her."

******

Willow lay on the bed, deep in thought. 'What just happened? I'd love to rule it a case of possession, but it wasn't. At least not in my case. I wanted Spike. I utterly enjoyed having him inside me, drinking from me. And Amalia..........it was incredible, all of it. We completed each other. And I'm sure that if given the chance I would repeat all of this again.' She groaned and covered her face with a pillow. 'Why can't three people have mind-blowing sex without all of the complications? Ugh, so many.......Amalia being Buffy's cousin, Spike being an utter bastard whom I'd love to see dust......well, most of the time that is. He's O.K. when he's making me come..............oh, Goddess, and Tara. I can't believe that I just cheated on her. And that Amalia gives much better head.' The witch groaned again, peeling the pillow from her eyes when she heard a low chuckle. Spike and Amalia were leaning against the doorway, watching her, the vampire with his arms around the young woman.

"Looks like she's not taking it well, Malia."

Willow glared at him.

"And how are you feeling, Spike? Do you have a nice fuzzy feeling about sleeping with me?"

"You were an excellent shag, Red, why shouldn't I?"

Amalia stepped from his side and toward Willow.

"Please, no bickering," she pleaded.

The redhead removed her gaze from Spike and looked at Amalia with concern.

"Are you all right?"

"Better, Willow, I'm better. But now, I want sleep. Tomorrow we talk and try to figure this out."

Willow nodded and left the bed to gather her clothing.

"I didn't say to go, Willow," Amalia stated softly. "On the contrary. I don't want to be alone, not now. Stay with me," she beseeched them, "both of you."

Willow hugged Amalia lovingly. "Of course, Malia." The two women crawled on the bed, their vampire companion gazing at their absolute beauty. 'Mine,' he thought. 'They belong to me and I to them. I don't know why, but soon, soon all will be told.'

"Coming, Spike?" Willow queried softly.

He shook himself from his thoughts and nodded.

"Indeed, luv."

He got under the covers, between his two lovelies, holding them both firmly to him.

"Sweet dreams, pets," he murmured as sleep came upon him. And dream they did.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 9)

Smoke. Fire. Death.

Willow woke to find herself standing in the midst of darkness, illuminated only by the light of the flames licking at everything in her sight. Buildings threatened to collapse at the damage of the blazes. Trees, shrubs, all plant life were on fire or reduced to smoldering ash. Not a person was in sight. The wicca slowly turned in a circle, soaking in the mass destruction.

"Horrifying, isn't it?"

Willow jumped at the voice in her ear. She turned to face her companion, paling when she saw her.

"Miss Calendar?" she whispered.

The deceased technopagan smiled brightly at Willow, tucking a stray hair behind her student's ear.

"Indeed, Willow. I'm sorry that it's taking this," she gestured to the flames, "to bring me to you. I do so miss all of you."

"And we miss you. Especially Giles."

"Rupert," she whispered. "He is forever with me. But now we must focus on other matters. You, Spike, and Amalia."

"What happened to us last night? And what happened here?"

"The three of you will keep this from happening. You were destined to come together last night. But I guess that you figured that out already," she grinned.

"Um, yeah. I normally don't jump on people I've only just met and one of my biggest threats."

"Willow," Jenny stated gently but firmly, "the three of you we prophesied centuries ago. The Blessed Three. I can't tell you much more than that," she added regretfully. "I'm lucky that the Powers That Be deemed me worthy enough to come to you. In you there lies great power, great wisdom. It only needs to be unleashed. And that time will come soon."

"But, Spike?" the witch asked incredulously. "Why him?"

"He's helped to save the world before, Willow. There is much more to him than meets the eye. It too, will be revealed in time."

"And Amalia?"

"The Dark Virgin, the Dark Flame. She binds you. She will lead you to the Warrior you are to aid."

"And if we don't act, the world will come to end in flames?" Willow was frightened by the look of horror on her companion's face.

"It will not end, but be reborn. Think of Acathla and what would have happened had he swallowed the world. And add the Mayor's Ascension. Then multiply it times infinity."

"I'm getting the picture."

"It will not happen overnight. Small battles must be won before the war is fought. But it will happen eventually." She took the young woman in a firm embrace. Blessed be, Willow. I have faith in you. All will be well." With a kiss on the forehead she let Willow go and backed away. "Have faith in yourself," she whispered as she and the blazing Earth faded away.

********

"Wakey, wakey, Spikey." The vampire woke with a roar as he felt himself sprinkled with what felt like flame itself. 'Where in the fuck am I.' A quick look around told him he was no longer in the slayer's home with his two lovers. His surroundings were dark, dreary, and mildewy. 'Bloody Hell. The factory.' Another brief burning sensation hit him, drawing him out of his thoughts.

"My lovely is awake."

"Dru?" he asked quietly.

The dark vampiress straddled his body, stroking his chest with a gloved hand while the other held a bottle of holy water.

"You've found another dark goddess," she cooed in his ear. "Another ripe, wicked plum. And the red witch. You've got your hands full with those two." Drusilla giggled and kissed his forehead. "But I'm not upset with you. You need them and they need you.

"If you're not angry pet, then why the bloody holy water?"

Drusilla smiled sweetly at him. "I had to wake you up somehow, pet.

"I can think of other ways," he grumbled.

"Hush now, Spike. Listen. The heavens opened up to me last night." She whispered conspiratorially to him, looking at her former lover with innocent eyes.

Spike stared at her in utter confusion. The current events of his unlife could not get any more bizarre.

"What did they tell you?"

Drusilla shook her head and removed herself from Spike's body. "You and those two mortals, my Spike, are destined for greatness." She shook her lowered head and chuckled. "But not the kind of greatness you once had in you." Dru looked at him sadly. "But there will be no blood, at least not the kind I long for. The life of the innocent, that's what I enjoy. But you will be their champion. I remember when you used to give me such lovely gifts, pretty dresses with pretty ladies in them. You've gone too soft for that. You've gone beyond me, I'm no longer in your heart. You're a different Spike now and you're going to save the world." She paused wickedly. "Again."

"Why does the world need saving, Dru?"

The dark vampiress cocked her head to the side and stared at him. "I can't tell you that," she whispered. "You do need some surprises, my Spike. The Hand of the Goddess, the Dark Flame. Look to them for what you seek, lovey."

"Why are you telling me this? I would think that you would like to see the world go to Hell."

"Not this time," she whispered. "The flames will burn high and a new world will be born. They know not what they unleash, Spike." The vampiress shuddered in genuine fear. "But there is time, my love. Use it wisely. The Blessed Three and the Warrior of the Powers That Be shall overcome." Drusilla smiled gloriously at her former love. "Go to them now, your new loves. You are bound now. Take care of them. And Spike?"

"Yeah, kitten?" he asked dazedly. 'Me, Blessed. Must be a typo.'

"Don't let me down. Or I'll have your guts for garters." She kissed him on the forehead and turned away, her figure fading as she walked, the blonde vampire letting sleep claim him once more.

********

"You've grown up so much, my Malia."

Amalia snapped awake, but kept her eyes closed in the guise of slumber. 'No. Never........it couldn't.......'

The voice continued softly. "I knew that great things would come from you. How great I had no idea."

Amalia couldn't pretend to sleep any more...........she had to know. Slowly she opened her eyes, choking back a sob.

"Mama?" Amalia found herself looking into the gentle blue-grey eyes of her mother.

The ghost of Sarah Summers opened her arms to her daughter, thanking the Powers That Be for giving her chance to see, to feel her baby. Amalia fell into her mother's arms, sobbing. "Oh, God, I can feel you, Mama."

"A gift from the Powers That Be, child. A gift for one of the Blessed Three."

She broke away from her mother to see that she was still in the bedroom where she had so wantonly seduced Spike and Willow, her lovers deep in slumber. Embarrassed and a bit scarred, she wrapped her nude body in a sheet.

"You know what happened tonight," she whispered

"Indeed. What happened was meant to be, Malia. It was foretold centuries ago that the Three would bind themselves in love and blood."

"What, who are the Blessed Three?" Amalia exasperatedly asked. "What does it have to do with us?"

"Everything. You, Spike, and Willow are the Blessed Three. Avatars chosen by the Powers That Be to aid their chosen Warrior. You will stop the impending apocalypse." Amalia raised an eyebrow to her mother. "Apocalypse?" she squeaked.

"All will be told in time, love, but now you must know that dark forces are rising."

"Dark forces are constantly rising," she countered.

"These forces want to see the Earth fall to flames, reborn from the ash. Only you and the Dark One of Justice can halt that."

Amalia chuckled darkly. "Only for me could a roll in the hay result in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy."

Sarah stroked her daughter's cheek lovingly. "You will succeed, I am sure of it. So is your father."

"Daddy knows?" the young woman asked in shock. Amalia's mother nodded sadly. "He's been searching for the scroll that seals your fate since the day you were born."

"The Scroll of Abergion," she breathed.

"Yes. He has had no luck in tracing it, but soon he shall. You will give it to him, for when you have found the Warrior, your dark angel, you will find the Scroll."

'Dark angel.' Amalia stared in shock at her mother. "How--?"

Sarah placed a finger across Amalia's lips. "Hush now, darling. Too much has been said already." She embraced Amalia with ferocity. "I love you, my Malia, even in death, always. You have made me proud, more so than I could have ever thought possible. I have faith that you will fulfill your post and win the battle."

Amalia clung to her mother for dear life. "Don't go, please, Mama. I can't do this without you."

"But you can," Sarah whispered. "And you will. Remember that I am always with you. Now I must go. I'm sorry that our visit was so short. Perhaps I will be allowed to see you again," she added wistfully before brushing a soft kiss to her child's lips.

"Perhaps," Amalia whispered as her mother faded away, tears streaking her face as sleep claimed her once more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 10)

When Willow woke the next morning, she found herself in a firm, cool embrace. Spike had draped an arm over her stomach as he spooned her to him. Flinching slightly, she allowed the events of the last 24 hours to come flooding into her memory. 'Meeting Amalia, going to the Bronze with Amalia, Amalia dancing with Spike, fighting vampires with aforementioned two, sex with aforementioned two, Amalia freaking out, dreaming of Miss Calendar and the destruction of the world. Fuck.' Willow rolled out of Spike's embrace gently, as not to wake the sleeping vampire. 'No Amalia,' she noted to herself as she gazed at the side of the bed her friend and new lover had occupied last night. After throwing her clothes from last night on she ventured down the stairs

She found Amalia sitting in the kitchen, leisurely smoking a cigarette.

"Morning, Red."

"Good morning, Amalia. You do know that Buffy's mom would kill you if she knew that you were smoking in her house, right?"

"Indeed, but after the night we had I'm not caring all that much."

A moments silence permeated the room before Willow broke it. "We are WAY too calm considering, well, you know."

Willow sat across from her new lover and continued rambling. "Yup. Way too mellow right now. Goddess knows it wasn't because of restful sleep. I guess I just don't have the energy to freak out yet." She noticed tear tracks staining Amalia's pale skin. "Did you dream too?" she asked gently.

Amalia looked away, not wanting Willow to see the tears that threatened to fall yet again as she thought about the message her mother had brought her. 'I'm not fit to be saving the world. That job is for the slayer and the watchers and the mystics of the world. I'm just a book store employee.' She wiped her eyes and smiled sadly at Willow. "Indeed I did. The Blessed Three, we are."

"Yeah. That's us. So, is there anyone to whom we can say take this job and shove it?" Willow queried in mock seriousness. Amalia groaned and shook her head. "No. I don't think that the Powers That Be would appreciate that." With a sigh she continued. "And neither would my mother." 'And she has so much faith in me,' she thought with a grimace.

"Your mother?"

"In my dream she appeared to me," Amalia whispered. "Told me that we are to stop the impending apocalypse--"

"To keep the earth from falling to the flames, to aid the chosen warrior," Willow finished, her eyes wide. "It is all real. You and me and Spike..............saving the world. I think we can commence freak-out now."

"Not before Amalia tells us who she is."

Willow and Amalia jumped at the near growl. Spike was lurking in the darkened doorway of the kitchen, clad in only in his half fastened jeans.

"She's Buffy's cousin, Spike. You know that," Willow spat at him.

"That she may be, but I think that there's more. For instance, you know about vampires, demons, the slayer, Amalia--but you did not know that your own kin was the Chosen One."

Amalia glared at the vampire for his lack of tact, not being able to ignore the questions burning in his eyes and the small dose of fear wavering in their blue depths.

"And what did you dream of last night, Spike? You weren't so impatient to know about me before now. Too busy in the sack with Willow and myself."

"That was before I was informed that I'm bound to the two of you bloody bints," he snarled. "You're what started this, Amalia. Before last night I never would have thought of shagging the witch and now I'm saving the world with her!"

"Fuck off, Spike," Amalia hissed. "If you think that my idea of a good time is hopping in the sack with two total strangers and finding out that I'm a part of some godforsaken prophecy? You're wrong. All I wanted was a nice, quiet vacation. Maybe make some new friends." She looked pointedly at Willow. "A witch, eh?"

"I'm a Wicca," she explained before scowling at the vampire. "And why wouldn't you think of shagging me? You screwed Harmony, Spike. And I know that I have more to offer than that waste of corpse.

"I knew that I'd dig you, Willow," Amalia grinned. "You got spunk. Lots and lots of spunk." The dark haired woman stood and walked to Spike, handing him a cigarette that she had lit for him. "And you are a pain in the ass." She let her eyes travel the path of his well defined chest. "But a beautiful pain in the ass." 'Now is not the time to be entranced with his fine body again, Malia. Time for talking, not shagging.'

The vampire narrowed his eyes at her before accepting the stick of nicotine. "Are you going to tell us about yourself or not, Amalia, because I'm getting very impatient."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The three were settled in the living room with the drapes blocking out the sunlight for Spike's sake. The vampire sat across from the two young women nestled on the couch, opting to sit as far from them as possible, while still remaining in the same room. He sat silently, glaring at each woman in turn 'Bloody chits...........had to be all beautiful and sexy..........couldn't just have fun in the sack.............has to be some fucking prophecy involved..........better include getting me bite back...........damn Dru had to be the one to tell me.........my unlife couldn't be any worse...........wait, it could..........Peaches could be involved somehow.'

"My mother died when I was eighteen, Spike" Amalia began. "Willow already knows that. When she passed on, I left the States to live with my father in Italy. I hadn't lived with him since he left us when I was ten, when his father died." She paused for a moment, knowing that she was going to utter the family name for the first time since she had met the father's kin. She straightened her posture, having been trained that to speak the family name, you must give it the respect that it deserves. Looking at Willow, then turning her gaze to Spike, she smiled wryly. "Gabriel, my father, had to take his father's place. To lead the House of Dragonetti."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 11)

Amalia lit herself another cigarette and took a drag, the action calming her. Never had she told anyone of her family. She never could. The friends she had managed to make weren't of the demonic variety, none of them knowing that a whole new world came out to play at night. To everyone who had ever known her, she was Amalia Summers, bookseller and rock babe. She was Amalia Lucia Dragonetti only to her informants, attackers, and fellow couriers. A force to be reckoned with. 'Friends. I haven't had a real friend since I left Ireland a year ago,' she thought bitterly. 'The last job I went on for the family had every vamp in the country hungry for my blood.'

Spike's snort pulled her away from her thoughts.

"You? A Dragonetti? I doubt that."

Amalia was out of her seat and had Spike by the throat in the blink of an eye. "Never doubt my blood, vampire," she hissed. Squeezing his neck a little harder, she continued. "And NEVER accuse me of lying. I am of Dragonetti blood, the patriarch, Gabriel Michael Dragonetti, is my father. Are you going to question me again?" Amalia let go of him, the vampire slumping back in his seat with a smirk on his face.

"No, pet. I needed a display such as that just to make sure."

"Are you satisfied?" she growled.

"Yeah, I suppose that'll do."

Willow watched the display in confusion. She had seen few people move that fast, especially to assault a vampire. 'She doesn't know that he can't harm her. I'm thinking that she fights vamps with regularity. Like I already hadn't come to that conclusion after last night's fight.' The witch wracked her brain for a moment, suddenly trying to recall where she had heard the name Dragonetti before. With a gasp it hit her. 'Giles' journals..............the Watcher's journals. An Italian family of demon hunters. Ruthless, goal oriented, deadly...........'

Spike and Amalia turned to her at her gasp, the raven haired woman looking at her a bit sadly. "I take it you've heard of us, Willow."

The witch nodded. "The family of a watcher whose own daughter was called to be the slayer. Buffy's watcher has journals speaking of the Dragonetti's."

"Correct. Luigi Dragonetti. He was a watcher in the 1700s. In 1710, his daughter, Carmilla was called. On her sixteenth birthday, in fact. A perverse twist of fate that led him to be her watcher. A father having to see his own child fight the darkness each day." Amalia shuddered. 'It's hard enough to for Daddy to see me fight the occasional vampire.' "Anyway." She got back on track. "As horrible as it was for him, he trained her to be a fighting machine. For four years they fought together, thwarting the end of the world countless times, keeping Italy safe from what goes bump in the night. On her twentieth birthday, Carmilla went up against the Master of the Order of Aurelius--"

"The Master," Willow breathed in shock. How small a world it was!

"Yes, the Master. Heinrich Nest. You've heard of him?"

"Buffy killed him three years ago. His Order had been plaguing Sunnydale."

Amalia smiled. "I'm truly impressed that Buffy is powerful enough to have defeated him."

Willow nodded. "Please, go on."

"He had brought his Order to Italy, hoping to make it their new home. Carmilla fell the first time she fought him and died in Luigi's arms. At that moment, he knew that the rest of his life would be spent hunting the demons that took his beloved daughter's life. He wanted the Council to open it's doors to all walks of life, to anyone who had a passion for the hunt. His vision was to see scholars, mystics, demon hunters, and even demons, the non-evil variety that is, to work together in guaranteeing the safety of the world. He knew that one council guiding one young girl was not enough--that evil walked the entire globe. Of course his ideas were shot down, therefore marking his decision to leave the Council. His family had always been involved in the occult, with his watcher status and all, but he involved them in a new way. He sought people the world over to help train his kin in the dark arts, in occult lore, and in the fighting arts. His clan eventually became the House of Dragonetti, one of the most feared and respected organizations in existence devoted to the occult.

"In every generation there is a patriarch or a matriarch to lead the family. It is their duty to see that the clan is tutored in the dark arts and occult lore. They also screen those who come to us and want to join the House. My parents had been together for eleven years before my father left. He had little to no contact with his family and never spoke of them. When I was ten years old, his father passed away and my father left us. He had to take care of his mother, he had told us. Not so. He had been called to become the head of the Dragonetti family and could not refuse."

"Why not?" Willow asked. "If he had been away so long, why didn't he just tell them to sod off?"

Spike raised an eyebrow at Willow's use of British slang. "Easy, luv. One just does not say no to the Dragonetti family. Especially if that one is being called to lead it. A choice of that magnitude cannot be taken lightly. They had their reasons for choosing him and he must have known that refusal was not an option."

Amalia nodded. "That's about it. He just couldn't say no. So, he left, but with a heavy heart, mind you. But he returned many times each year. He didn't ask us to visit him and we didn't offer. It was an unspoken rule. My mother was devastated, but went on, her art gallery becoming increasingly prosperous. Then Mom became ill and the question of who I would live with came up. At that point, my father was staying with me, knowing that Mom didn't have much time left. Daddy didn't want me to join him in Italy--he feared for my safety. Few people, and only those directly related to him knew that he had a daughter."

"You could have easily been a target of attack, " Spike observed. "No wonder few people knew. All over the world there are humans and demons that have a vendetta against your family."

"Don't I know it," Amalia muttered. "But my mother made him promise to take me to Italy and went as far as to order him to make me a full member of the House of Dragonetti, that I would become a great asset. Never one to back down on a promise, Daddy brought me to Rome, to the family's compound right after we buried my mother. And two days after we arrived, he sat me down in his study and told me everything. Of course I was in denial. And I was a wreck. I had just buried my mother, had been moved to a country where I didn't speak the language, had been introduced to a family I had never even heard of, one that despised me for being a reminder that their beloved Gabriel had left them for a decade, and I had just been told that demons walked the earth and had for thousands of years. I shut myself in my room for a week, speaking to no one. During that time I came to the realization that my father needed me and I needed him. I was willing to believe everything he had to say. The first thing I did when I came out of my self-imposed exile was to tell him that I wanted to know everything that he did. I wanted to fight with him, the way that Carmilla did with Luigi."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 12)

Amalia took a drag from the cigarette that she had lit during her tale and exhaled before continuing. "Once my father got over the fact that I was going to become as involved as possible in the family, he made arrangements for my schooling."

"Schooling?" Willow queried.

"Yup. I had to learn about the occult--the origin of demons, how to discern them from humans, how to defeat them, and the like. He called in a favor with the Watcher's Council--"

"But I thought that you family had severed it's ties with the council," the witch broke in.

"They did. But once the family had its bearings and was on its way to becoming the machine it is now, the Council realized that it did need some help from time to time, much to their chagrin. They now have a delicate relationship."

"And you didn't know that Buffy was the Slayer." Spike muttered sarcastically.

"Do you really think that my father would tell me that she was the Slayer, Blondie?" she asked harshly. "Think for a moment. A paranoid father letting his only daughter frolic on the Hellmouth with the Slayer? He knows me. He knew that I would get on the first flight to Sunnydale so I could help her. We may have had our differences, but she's my blood. I would have fought beside her then, and I plan on doing it now." She blew a series of smoke rings in the vampire's direction and smirked. "My father trusts in my abilities now, Spike. I've proven myself to him and the rest of the family. So here I am--ready to kick some demon ass and sell some books."

The bleached blonde shook his head at her bravado. "He lets you frolic without a baby-sitter on the Hellmouth and look at you," he drawled. "A member of the great Dragonetti family tied to a vampire and a witch. I'm sure that Daddy will be thrilled. Smashing job, luv." Amalia glared at him and rose from her seat.

"_Daddy_ knows that I can take care of myself, Spike. I've spent the last three years traveling the world for him. I am one of the family's most respected representatives."

"Traveling with an army of bodyguards, I suppose," he countered. "Doing the dirty work for your lily-white self." "Don't make assumptions, Spike. I can hold my own. You caught a peek of that last night." Amalia closed her eyes for a moment and took a few deep breaths. 'I may not he a slayer, but I am a fighter. Remember that.' When she opened her stormy eyes, she rested their steely gaze on him. "I'm done talking now. And if you'll excuse me I'm gonna take a shower. I'm feeling a bit grubby right now. 'Cuz I let a bastard like you between my thighs.'

"Way to antagonize, Spike," Willow berated once the statuesque woman headed up the stairs. "I think that it took a lot for her to tell us everything." The vampire met her emerald gaze and held it unfalteringly.

"What do you expect from me, Red? An evil demon, I am. 'What does she expect? I'm not going to embrace the two chits and welcome them into my life............maybe shag them into it.' He put all thoughts of shagging aside as the witch rolled her eyes at him.

"Whatever. How do you know about the Dragonetti family?"

Spike snorted for the second time that morning. "Please. I'm a demon, specifically a European demon that has been wandering about for over two centuries. I'd have to be deaf and dumb not to know who they are. 'Sides, Angelus and I ran into some of their kin in the late 1800s while in Venice. That's the closest I ever got to becoming dust."

Willow looked at him in surprise. "Really? I thought that Buffy was the closest to staking your skinny ass."

"You didn't seem to think that it was too skinny last night, kitten," he countered. "And no, Buffy is good. I will give her that. But these Italians have passion for the hunt. They have been born into a family lives for it. It isn't a duty to them. It's who they are and they accept that," the vampire explained to her.

The two were quiet for a moment, each lost to their thoughts.

The redhead tried to calm her torrential mind. 'Amalia is from a centuries old slaying clan..........sure explains her fighting last night. No rookie could have dusted vamps like that. Oh Goddess, give me the strength to get through this new trial. Amalia I think I could handle being bound to. Spike, on the other had, no. Unless we were in bed the whole time. Bad Will.......the world will not be saved by doing the horizontal cha-cha. Where is Giles when you need him? Oh yeah, in London having lots of orgasms with his girlfriend.'

Spike couldn't believe his lack of luck. 'Being tied to two beautiful women and saving the world is one thing. And having lots of bond-induced sex and scoring some blood is another. I'm totally fine with that. Doesn't matter who that's with. But Willow and Amalia.............fuck. It was one thing when Malia was the Slayer's cousin, but now she's Slutty's cousin AND a bloody Dragonetti to boot. Chick could probably rip my throat out. And Willow. Slayer's fucking best friend. I'd really like to know what the fuck is going on. I'm actually wishing the Watcher were here.'

Willow glanced at the vampire deep in thought and almost felt sorry for him. Almost. 'I'm stuck too and so is Amalia. He'll just have to deal. With a chick who has the power to turn him into a toad and another who can beat him into a bloody pulp.' She giggled, causing the vampire to glare at her.

"What's so bleeding funny, witch?"

"I was almost feeling bad for ya, Spikey," she confessed. "But then I thought what fun it's gonna be, with Amalia who can kick your ass and me who can dust it with one of my floating pencils. We'll always have something over you."

Spike smirked at her and shook his head. "Not bloody likely, Red. When people are bound, bad things tend to happen when one of them is injured or say, dust. We'll have to keep each other safe until we find out what the fuck is going on."

Willow's expression turned serious. "You're right. For the time being we need to watch each other's backs." She gazed at the vampire with a touch of concern before broaching the next subject. "I don't want to pry, Spike, but I need to know what your dreams held last night. They may be a key to our dilemma."

Spike turned his eyes away from the witch and let the memories wash over him. "Dru," he rasped. "Drusilla came to me, speaking of the stars.........they had opened up to her. They told her that I am a part of the Blessed Three, a force that will aid the Warrior of the Powers That Be in keeping the world from ending." He continued, leaving out Dru's observation of the lack of want in his heart for her. He wasn't ready to ponder that. "The Hand of the Goddess and the one of Dark Fire. That I should look to them for the answers I seek. And to use the time before the showdown wisely. That's all."

Willow couldn't help but notice his change in demeanor as he spoke of the dark vampiress. He slumped in his seat, resting his forehead against his palm, whereas before he had been sitting tall, head held high. 'He loved her...........loves her still. She was probably the wrong person to have come to him last night, considering she's not very sensitive to his feelings as of late.' In a fit of compassion she crossed the room and knelt before the vampire taking his hands in her own. Expecting him to pull away, she was pleased when he squeezed them gently. "Thank you for sharing with me, Spike," she spoke softly. "I'm going to try as hard as I can to see what's going on with us."

When he turned his head to her gaze, she saw the man who had brought her such pleasure the previous night. His eyes had warmed, their cerulean depths holding what looked to be a touch of caring....and some fear. "I know you will, Red," he stated, releasing one of her hands to stroke her hair. "I'm just scared," he confessed in a voice barely above a whisper. "For my kind, to associate with the Slayer and her friends, is in itself a cause for death. Not that I care about that. Most of the ponces around here aren't much of a threat to me. But now I've associated with a Dragonetti. Demons deal with the family, but what I've done, it's personal. That is strictly forbidden, always has been. By the family's standards and those of the demon world. I only hope that none of the locals find out who she is. There will be trouble. Lots of it. For Amalia and myself. I'm sure that they would love to get one of her kind under their belts."

Willow was taken aback by his open display of feeling and concern. The Spike that she knew had only been open about his love for Dru. He was the Big Bad. He took what he wanted, when he wanted it, and fuck all else. She saw the care reflected in his eyes grow as he spoke and smiled at him. 'Looks like shocks and surprises will abound during this episode of As the Hellmouth Turns.' And then something that Willow never thought she'd ever hear spilled from his mouth.

"I'm afraid of her, Willow. She came and she changed things. Last night, her word was my command. I have lost so much control in my unlife due to the fucking Initiative. One of the only places I can find a semblance of that lost control is in my bed and that was taken from me. I only wish that she was the non-threatening girl that I made her out to be. I can't give up any more control, not to her." The vampire halted his soliloquy for a moment, his eyes tearing for a moment. "And not to you. I need something to hold on to."

Willow was speechless. There was so much depth to the vampire, depth that no one could have ever thought existed. 'And I'm going to experience it first hand.' With words escaping her, the redhead did the first thing she thought of. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 13)

Spike sank into Willow's comforting embrace, wrapping his arms about her slight frame. "It's going to be all right, Spike," she whispered as she stroked his soft blonde locks. "I promise." The witch kissed his cheek before letting the vampire go. "I'm gonna head home now and see what I can find out." As she stood Spike followed suit and took her in his arms again.

"Thank you, Red."

Willow looked at him in pure innocence. "What for?"

'No one could have a bigger heart than this woman,' he thought as he cupped the side of her face with his palm, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "You listened when I needed someone. I haven't had that luxury in a long time." He paused a moment as he relished the soft flesh of her cheek against his calloused hand. "And you didn't laugh at me," he whispered. Willow's eyes widened in surprise.

"There's nothing to laugh at, Spike," she replied in earnest. "Nothing at all. If fact, I'm honored that you trusted me enough to share you feelings with me."

The vampire's eyes twinkled mischievously. "If you're anything, Red, you're trustworthy." He leaned toward her and let his lips brush against her ear. "And a bloody good shag." The redhead blushed as she remember the way his mouth felt as it had plundered hers, how her body had yielded so wantonly to his touch. His embrace had been utter ecstasy, making the sexual fulfillment she had received from Oz and Tara pale by comparison. 'The best sex of my life was provided by my not-so-mortal enemy. Yup. The Hellmouth is a big soap opera. I wouldn't mind a repeat..........Bad Will--aww, fuck it,' she thought, all self-admonishment gone as she leaned closer to him.

"As were you, Spike," she muttered just before she brushed her lips across his. The vampire ran his tongue across her lips, pleading for access to the warm depths of her mouth. She granted it and was swept into a gentle, yet breathtaking kiss, their tongues sweeping against one another, the act comforting, yet passionate. It ended only as Willow ran out of breath. The vampire relinquished his hold on her and smiled softly as he brushed a stray hair from her face. "We'd better cease and desist now, pet, or we'll have a repeat of last night in the Slayer's living room." 'And I pound your magnificent body into the floor.'

Willow nodded, inwardly pleased that her kiss had darkened his clear blue eyes with a touch of lust. 'He still wants me. Yay me! A gorgeous vampire lusting after me, yup, I like that............even if he's threatened me--' She stopped that piece of inner monologue midstream. 'It's all different now. I can't keep judging him on the past, now that we seem to have a future.' The witch accepted that notion wholeheartedly. 'Things, people, situations change. This is one of those times." Willow glanced up at the vampire and smiled softly. "There's plenty of time for that later. Now I need to go and begin my research. And change clothes." Looking briefly in the direction that Amalia had taken off in moments ago, she sighed. "Check on her, Spike," she requested. "And tell her I'll be back soon."

"Sure, Red," he promised, a twinge of guilt piercing him. 'Guilt............new feeling. Not liking it. Ugh........but I had no right making her feel like she's the one that fucked up.'

"And try not to piss her off. At least not until I'm around to watch your back." Willow could see the feelings flash across face as he thought and was truly intrigued. 'Behavioral changes in the Big Bad..........better make a note for the long hours of research ahead.'

"Gotcha. I'll be good. Now go and research like the wind," he commanded playfully. "I'll look after Malia."

"Thank you," she whispered before placing one more kiss on his lips. "I'll stop by Willy's on my way back--to get you some grub." With that she was gone.

And a scent hit Spike's nostrils at the same time his sensitive hearing picked up muffled sounds.

Tears. Sobs. Both coming from the upstairs of the Summers house. Steeling himself for a beating--physical or otherwise--he climbed the stairs, hoping that he would be able to soothe some of the girl's pain. 'Guilt............soothing someone's pain, hell. I'm becoming my fucking sire.' He smirked wickedly to himself. 'But at least my willy's not in solitary confinement.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Part 14)

The twin punctures that marred Amalia's perfect flesh stood out starkly on the expanse of her thigh. They had been bared to her sight as she stripped to enter the steaming shower. The sight of the wounds broke the woman and she sat on the edge of the bathtub, sobs tumbling from her body. "What have I done?" she whimpered. "I'm now marked by a vampire, belonging to a vampire." 'And a witch,' she continued in her thoughts. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I'm lost.........what to do, I don't know......I just don't know.'

Amalia didn't hear the gentle knock that hit the door nor did she notice Spike as he entered the steam-filled bathroom. The vampire knelt before the half-nude woman.

"Kitten, please, don't cry," he pleaded. He cupped the side of her cheek with his palm and directed her gaze to him. When she looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot, face streaked with tears. Fear and repulsion lurked in the depths of her swollen eyes. The vampire gazed at her with concerned eyes. There was so much to know about the young woman he had claimed the previous evening. She was of two lives, being before and after becoming a Dragonetti. 'Same as Willow. Their lives have been split in two, before and after demons. And now a new phase begins...........being bonded, mated with a vampire and another woman.'

"What else can I do?" she whispered, her voice cracking with the question. "When I feel stress or pain it's my thing. Or I hunt Considering that it's still daylight, the hunt has to wait, so I cry."

"Hit me."

Amalia looked at him in shock. The vampire's request had been gently spoken, his expression staid. "What?"

"Hit me. Take your aggression out on me. I'd rather you do that than see you cry."

"I can't do that." "Why not? I was a fucking bastard to you just a few moments ago, pet. Consider it payback for my earlier behavior." 'Yup. Soft, indeed. Practically begging her to beat me. Just so she'll stop her tears. Hell, I'd probably enjoy her kicking the shit out of me.' Spike forced air into his lungs and sighed. 'Now is not the time to be thinking about getting off, old man. Amalia in pain, that's what we need to focus on.'

Amalia cocked her head to the side and regarded the vamp for a moment. She took in the set jaw, his concerned gaze and realized he was serious. And a little piece of her wanted to do it. 'Come on, Malia, he wants this. Why not give it to him.' Before another thought could pass through her mind, an uncontrollable force in the woman lashed out, her fist backhanding the vampire in the jaw. Spike flew across the bathroom, landing on his ass. He couldn't believe the force of her blow. He knew that a bruise would form on his jaw and probably wouldn't fade as quickly as most did. Sitting up just as she rose from her place on the bathtub, he felt fear. The young woman stood, drawing herself to her not-so-impressive height of 5'5. With a manner that could only be described as stalking, she approached him. Her eyes gleamed as if she had the element of fire itself in her power. Spike fought not to cower in her presence, instead readying himself for the blows to come with his head held high. 'After all, I did ask for this.' Amalia crouched before him and caressed the spot that had taken the brunt of her blow. And then it was gone. The force that gave her the strength, the confidence......the same force that had fueled her the previous night. Amalia collapsed on her knees before him, her head hung low.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I didn't--"

"Hush, luv. Look at me."

Amalia raised her head and braved a look at the man she had attacked. He was smiling softly at her, no malice in his gaze, the fear he had felt gone just as her dominating presence had. "I'm all right. No need for apologies nor tears. Come here." He held his arms to her and she thankfully let him draw her into his embrace. The vampire stoked her hair as she buried her head in his neck, clinging tightly to him. "It's going to be O.K., pet. As we speak, Willow is looking for some answers. And Red is a research machine. She'll have something in no time."

With a gasp Amalia wrenched herself from her companion's arms. "I know what it is, Spike. My dream, in my dream my mother told me. The Scroll of Abergion. My father has been looking for it since I was born." She took a deep breath and continued. "It's been lost for the last twenty years. I remember him talking about it, even when I was a kid. Finding it has become his life's work." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I have to call my dad, tell him what happened. He's known all this time." The thought finally hit her like a ton of bricks. "He knew. He knew that this would happen. He never told me."

Spike had a feeling hysteria would become an issue, so he tried to soothe her before that happened. He took her in his arms again and kissed her on the forehead. "Pet, I'm sure he had his reasons. Fathers will go to great lengths to protect their children. He must have been trying to protect you. Give this some time. We have a bit of that. We'll talk to your father, get a hold of Buffy's watcher, we'll sort this out. Just relax. Please. Working yourself up will only work against you."

"For a vampire, you are way too nurturing, Spike," she commented as she sank against him. "I don't get it."

Thinking of Dru, the former master vampire smiled, for the first time the feeling of betrayal fading. "I've had practice, luv. Lots and lots of it."

"How come I'm the only one who's freaking out?" she quietly queried, the issue just coming to her. "Willow's fine, or at least seems to be, and you, here you are, holding me, telling me it will all be all right. Aren't you scared? I mean, I know that bad ass vamps such as yourself rarely, if ever, feel fear, but I believe that this would be an acceptable time."

Spike brought her closer to him and nuzzled his face into her soft hair. "Don't worry, Malia, I've had a few moments, and Red, well, she's always been strong. She's had to, growing up on the Hellmouth and all. Every day a new threat rears its head and she's helped your cousin fight them. I was once one of those threats and every time she had faced me, she was a force to be reckoned with. Maybe not in physical strength, but in mental and emotional power." Spike was sure that Willow would be their rock in this time of need. Amalia, on the other hand, was worrying him. Her bouts of strength, her drastic attitude changes were not normal. He was itching to get on the phone with Willow and the Watcher, and eager to hear what Amalia's father had to say about their predicament, but was hesitant to rush Amalia into getting the details from him. 'In due time, Spike,' he thought to himself. 'Got to take care of the girls first.' The vampire began to notice the sheen of sweat that was spreading along Amalia's flesh. The first thing to come to mind was a fever, but soon mentally kicked himself. 'The shower has been on the entire time, you moron.' He finally noticed the clouds of steam hanging in the room, causing the moisture that had formed on Amalia.

"Come on, luv, let's get you in the shower."

"Are you gonna join me?" Amalia asked innocently, her mouth against his neck.

Spike fought against the naughty pictures that flooded his dirty mind. "I think I'll take a raincheck, baby," he replied, then choked back a moan as she nibbled the column of his neck. "You keep on doing that and you'll start something I might not be able to stop." 'I've got a woman, in her tank top and panties in my lap, working wonders with her mouth and I refuse her. Bloody fucking soft I've gone.' Amalia pulled back and looked up at him with sorrowful eyes.

"You're right," she agreed as a flicker of dominance reared itself in her gaze. "But later on, you, Red, and I are gonna have some fun. Got it?" she pressed herself into his lap, feeling his sex stir against her.

"Yeah, baby, I've got it," he answered her, just before capturing her lips in a searing kiss. He plunged into the warm depths of her mouth, seeking her tongue. Upon finding it he wrapped it around his own, sucking, stroking trying to assert control over the situation. He wanted to leave her wanting, just as she had done to him. Amalia attempted to adjust her body so she could straddle him, but as she did, he released her mouth.

"Later, kitten," he admonished her. He stood and left the room, leaving her on the floor breathing heavily with desire. Amalia shook her head. 'This is insane. I am insane. All I want is to get into a vampire's pants. First I need to know what the hell is going on with the Scroll. Gotta call Daddy. He'll have answers.........I hope.' She sighed and shut the bathroom door. After she had stripped the remains of her clothing off of her moist body she entered the steaming shower. Amalia tilted her head under the shower spray, thoroughly drenching her hair before lathering with her sandalwood scented shampoo. As she cleaned her hair, nasty thoughts from the night before came flooding into her memory. She felt the desire that Spike had wanted leave her with pool between her thighs as she thought of her lovers. She rinsed the suds from her hair while caressing her full breasts, teasing her nipples to erection. In her minds eye, it was Willow before her, suckling her breasts, biting them as they swelled under his touch. Spike stood behind her, his mouth blazing a heated trail along her throat. His large hands slid over her slippery skin, settling on her hips as to pull her to him, her ass coming in contact with his erection. She snaked a hand behind her to caress his throbbing flesh and he moaned. Willow stopped her play on Amalia's breasts and kissed her heatedly. When she released Amalia she stood on tiptoe to ravage Spike's mouth for a moment, then backed away from the two. "Take her Spike," Amalia could hear Willow whisper. The vampire backed her into the wall of the shower and lifted her up by her ass. With a desperate kiss he plunged into her and Amalia came out of her fantasy with a wail.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Fuck," Spike growled as he walked, if somewhat painfully, to Amalia's room. The woman's squirming had brought Spike to full attention, making his jeans way to tight. He ambled into the bedroom and moaned, the scents of the last nights lovemaking still in the air. 'Fuck it. Nothing better to do.' He shimmied out of his jeans and sprawled on the bed. A piece of fabric caught his eye and he grinned wickedly. The remains of Amalia's leopard panties from the night before were on the bed next to him. He fingered the satin delicately before bringing it up to his sensitive nostrils. Her scent clung to cloth, making his cock twitch. He began to stroke himself, the bit of cloth in his hand, covering his member. He thought of Willow kissing his chest, her little pink tongue teasing his nipples to prominence. Amalia licking her way down his stomach, her tongue dipping briefly into his navel before continuing its path to his sex. The vampire whimpered softly as he imagined her engulfing him in her wet mouth, her head bobbing up and down as she suckled him. And in his mind the raven-haired woman stopped unexpectedly to kiss the witch just before Willow brought Amalia to her knees, leading her to straddle his body. Malia began to lower herself onto the vampire, Willow guiding his cock into her entrance. Just as she impaled herself on him, her tight, wet walls surrounding him, the vampire came with a howl, spilling himself onto Amalia's ravaged panties.
 

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