On the first day, Oz was overwhelmed. He was - for Oz - very emotional at having Willow back safe, in one piece, and very completely alive. Each time he tried to bring up the subject of the mysterious vampire however, Willow nervously changed the subject.

On the first night, Buffy invited Willow over to stay at her house. She had to go visit her mum, and thought taking Willow with her would enable her to keep an eye on her. As she fell asleep, Willow could have sworn she heard Spike’s voice.

On the second day, when she wasn’t in classes, her time was again monopolised by Oz, who again tried to bring up the subject of the vampire. This time, he wasn’t so easy to put off.

"Maybe your nose was playing tricks on you."

"Willow…"

"Well, it was two nights before the full moon. Maybe your nose went on the skitz."

"I don’t think so Willow."

"Well then, I don’t know what it could be, because I certainly had no contact with a vampire" ‘not *a* vampire’ she thought, justifying her lie, ‘it was more like a *few* vampires.’ "Besides," she continued, without a trace of nervousness, "if I were with a vampire, wouldn’t it have bitten me?" And with that Willow got up and stalked away.

On the second night, Buffy and Xander took Willow to the Bronze, that teenage cure-all.

She didn’t like it there - too exposed, too noisy, too crowded. She told Buffy and Xander that she was leaving. They let her go. Two days coddling was enough for them.

On her way back to her dorm, she had the feeling that she was being followed, and couldn’t shake that feeling for the whole walk back. However, she made it back to her room with no harm befalling her, aside from nearly suffering a heart attack when a cat jumped out in front of her.

She had only been in her room a few minutes when there was a knock at her door. It was Angel.. Willow invited him in.

After ten minutes of hedging and mindless chitchat, Angel brought up the reason he was visiting Willow.

"Willow…I , uh well, don’t know how to put this, but…"

Willow just looked at Angel as he paused.

"I can smell him."

Willow eeped. "You can smell who?" she inquired cautiously.

"Spike."

Willow laughed nervously. "That’s silly. Why can you smell Spike? He’s not even in town."

"That’s what I thought. Willow, can you tell me why I can smell Spike?"

"I don’t know Angel. Maybe the shirt I’m wearing is the same one that I wore when Spike kidnapped me last year."

Angel looked suspiciously at Willow.

"Willow, I’m his sire…"

"Yeah, and I’m just a defenceless little wiccan girl who got very drunk and lost in the woods, and that’s ALL." She stood up, and motioned at the door. "Is that all Angel? Because I’m kinda tired."

"That’s all Willow." Angel stood up and walked to the door. "Be careful Willow. Don’t get into anything you can’t handle."

Angel walked out the door.

"I’m a big girl…" Willow whispered forlornly.

On the third day, Willow decided to move out (temporarily) of her dorm room. She didn’t feel safe, she felt too exposed to other people and …demons.

Needless to say, the Slayer had something to say about the move.

"Why, Will? Aren’t I good enough for you? I’m your best friend Will. Would you really rather stay by yourself, in a house that is almost always empty, than be here with me?"

"I’m sorry Buffy, but I can’t cope with all these people. I need some space."

"Fine!" huffed Buffy as she stalked out of the room. She would go take her anger out on a poor defenceless Giles, instead of arguing it out with Willow.

On the third night, Oz had another opportunity to talk to her, as he helped her move back into her own house.

"Willow, why won’t you talk to me?"

"We’re talking now."

"No, I’m talking. Willow, please."

"Oz…"

"That vampire…"

"Go away Oz."

The next day, she was back to her normal schedule. Classes, homework, research.

That night, she opened her door for a breath of fresh air, only to come face to face with the peroxide blond vampire who had been stalking her thoughts.

"Hello Red" he said with a grin, "who’s been a naughty pet then?"
 
 

~Part Seven~

"Spike!" shrieked the startled Willow, as she took the single step necessary to take her back into the safety of her house.

"Red" said Spike sternly, "invite me in."

"No!"

"Red…"

"No no no no no! I am *not* going to invite you in Spike. I don’t *want* to be your pet!"

"Red…"

"No!"

"Fine," said Spike, "I can be reasonable." He sat down next to the door, and looked up at her, his blue eyes suddenly pitiful and puppy-like. "But talk to me through the door?"

"Why?" said Willow suspiciously.

"I missed you, Red. There’s nobody in the bloody house to talk to. They’re all bloody morons. Do you know what they did to me the night you left? Some of them mobbed me. Some of them bloody well mobbed *me*! I’m the master, and they mobbed me! They mobbed me because you had escaped, and because you had been *able* to escape. Then, even after they accused me of being soft and weak, I *still* gave them all a good arse kicking. And *then* the bastards had the bloody nerve to expect me to accept them back!"

"What did you do?" Said Willow as she sank to the ground beside Spike, but in her house, interested in spite of herself.

Spike grinned.

"I staked them all, of course."

Willow gasped, but Spike carried on as if he hadn’t noticed.

"Well, I had to nip this ‘weak and soft’ rumour in the bud, and what better way to do that than by staking all the traitors?"

"Don’t you think that was a bit…permanent? How will you have a sufficient number of followers if you stake all the ones that displease you?"

"I’ll have loyal followers, that’s what I’ll have Red." Spike fell silent and looked at Willow.

"What?" asked Willow, startled.

"There is one I can talk to in the house. I got a major domo. His name is Tom. He's not as much a moron as the rest of the morons in the house."

"Tom?" Willow questioned.

"Thomas." Spike started laughing. "He was a bloody bean counter before he was turned. The demon was a government worker, and yet he’s still bloody brilliant at what I set him to do."

"And what’s that?" hedged Willow.

Spike’s eyes flashed amber and he growled. Willow jumped further back.

"Well, I would tell you, *Pet*, but then you would run off and tell the Slayer, wouldn’t you?"

Willow scrambled up and slammed the door shut, and the curtains were quick to follow. Spike smirked as he heard the lock snick into place.

Spike got up to leave, the smile never leaving his face.

"See you later Pet" Spike singsonged loud enough for Willow to hear as he strolled off.

Inside the house, Willow shuddered, and ran about to check the locks all over the house, even though her rational mind told her that the vampire could not get in.

***

"Pe-et. Pe-et." Willow awoke a few nights later, to a whispering beyond her door. She got up and drew back her curtain. Spike waved. Willow dropped the curtain back into place.

"Pet!"

"Don’t call me that!" yelled Willow through the door and the curtain.

"Re-ed!"

"The name’s Willow!"

And she refused to say anything more that night.

***

"Willow" said a stern voice from outside, the next night. "Come and talk to me."

There was no reply from within.

"Willow, I know you’re in there. I can smell you."

Still no reply.

"Red, why won’t you talk to me?"

Silence.

"Fine. I’ll just talk to myself then. Sign of going mad and all. Red, you should have seen what I have been subjected to these last couple of nights. As if the attempted mutiny wasn’t enough, apparently Dru is on the prowl."

"On the prowl?" said a voice from within.

"Yeah. On the move. Word is, she’s looking for me."

"But…you left her…"

"Yeah, only apparently the torture I did on her before hand was a bit too good. She wants me to take her back. So I need your advice Red. What should I do?"

Willow opened the curtains and the door, so she could better talk to Spike.

"Shouldn’t you be asking the advice of your major domo?"

"Nah, he doesn’t get it. I told you before Pet, he’s a bean pusher. No emotions."

"Well, um, do you love her?"

"No. Well…a little. You stay together for a hundred years, it takes a while to readjust. But I do *not* want her here, ruining it for me."

"Ruining what?"

"Everything! If Dru comes back, it will only mess up everything I want to do, and everything I may decide that I want to do. So…a solution?"

"What? Oh, yeah. You know, I’m not the best person to ask about this, considering my record."

"What, you’ve never had to fend off ex’s?"

"I’ve never *had* ex’s."

"Try anyway Pet. Be a fountain of good advice."

"Well...um...sit her down and tell her that the two of you need to talk. Explain that you don't love her the way you used to...and that you can still be friends-"

"Friends?! No Pet, that won't work. Got a plan B?"

"Well, you could always have her staked, or run out of town, or - hell! Why don't you just send her to Angel and let him take care of it!" cried out Willow, infuriated.

"That's a good idea Pet. Thanks for that. Maybe I will."

Willow looked at Spike, mouth agape. Spike laughed a genuine laugh.

"I'm joking Red! I can't send her to the old poof! He doesn't know that I'm back in Sunnyhell yet. Which moves me to ask - why didn't you tell him?"

"Tell him what? That you're back?"

Spike nodded.

"I - I didn't want to."

Willow had her resolve face on, as if daring Spike to call her on her decision.

He didn't.

Instead, he moved to go.

"You're a doll, Pet" he said as he left.

"My name's Willow!" she yelled as he disappeared out of her sight.

***

Two nights later, Willow was prevented from entering her house by Spike.

"Pet" he said reproachfully, "where were you last night?"

"All nighter!" eeped Willow. "Researched at the library. Big demon!"

"And..."

"And?" Willow was incoherent with fear.

"Did you destroy it, Red?"

Spike was amused. He, of course, as Master of Sunnydale, already knew all about the big demon Willow had been researching. He had infact, endorsed the demon's blood bath. He was also aware that the Slayer had defeated the demon earlier that evening.

Willow, however, wasn't aware that he knew it.

"Uh - ye - yes. Well no. I mean, Buffy killed it, not me."

Spike leaned against the door.

"And how are you this evening Pet?"

"I'm...okay" said Willow, hesitating.

"What is it Pet?"

Willow had been thinking about her little Spike problem over the last couple of days. And, foolish though it may be, she had come to a decision which she couldn't completely understand, but which she would stand by. It was weird.

The weirdness was - she enjoyed talking with Spike. Over the last week or so, he had come to talk to her every night. Some nights it was just a discussion, other nights he asked for her advice.

Willow was realistic. If Spike had desperately wanted to take her back to his lair and chain her up, he would have done it sooner.

After her friends had stopped coddling her, they had fallen back into their routine of ignoring her unless they needed a favour, or research.

Driven to desperation, Willow reached out to the only creature who had willingly had a conversation with her.

"Uh..." Willow had a dilemna. How do you tell a demon that you are willing to talk to them, without said demon taking it the wrong way?

Willow tried again. "Spike..."

"What is it Pet?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, but..."

"What, Red?" Spike was suddenly worried. What could have his witch so nervous? This was not part of his plan. Neither was his use of the term 'his witch', but he filed that away for later dissection.

"If you would stop interrupting me" spat Willow, "I would tell you!"

Silence from both parties.

"Well, Pet?" said Spike as he lifted an eyebrow.

"You don't have to coerce me into it anymore. I will willingly talk to you. Hell, I'll even shop with you."

"Shop with me?" questioned Spike.

"Spike, those clothes. I may not be Cordy or Buffy, but I have gained some fashion awareness."

Spike laughed.

"Fine Red. I'll shop with you."

"Not tonight though. I have homework to do."

"Red..."

"No. Tomorrow." "

Bouyed by new found confidence, Willow pushed Spike off the door and walked into her house. Once inside, she shut the door and fell back against it, as all the air escaped from her, and she realised what she had just done.

"Oh Goddess!" Willow cried aloud. "I'm a master vampire's fashion consultant!"

***

The night Spike and Willow were due to go shopping, Willow was still stuck at the library when the sun set. She began to get very worried, fearful of what Spike would do if he got to her house and she wasn't there. Suddenly, however, thoughts of that problem were pushed out of her head, as a new one arose.

Angel burst into the library.

"Spike's in town!" said Angel, no preamble.

Willow dropped her pencil. It clanked on the floor loudly, in the midst of the silence which had descended after Angel's announcement. Willow shrugged nervously.

"H-how do you know?" asked Giles politely, as he took his glasses off.

"It's street scuttlebutt. And word is, he's set himself up as Master - not just of vamps, but all the demons in town."

Willow had a heavy coughing fit.

"Wills, are you okay?" said a concerned Buffy.

Willow looked up. Her eyes were watery with tears from coughing so hard.

"Buffy" Angel interrupted quietly, "Spike kidnapped her, remember?"

"Oh my God! Willow I forgot! I'm so sorry!"

"No Buffy, it's okay."

***

"It was all I could do to keep from laughing! I coughed so hard, I started crying! Why didn't you tell me that he knew?"

Willow had escaped from the library immediately after that, saying she couldn't deal with Spike just now. Buffy had made sympathetic noises, and Angel had offered to escort her home, much to Buffy's chagrin. Willow declined however, and ran all the way home, arriving just as Spike did. And she proceeded to hit him as she yelled.

"Pet" said Spike, grabbing her arm, "could you stop hitting me?"

Willow glared at Spike mock angrily.

"I don't know if I can go shopping with you now. I mean, it's just too risky..." Willow started to turn away.

"Red" said Spike, mock sternly, "I don't appreciate this sort of insolence."

"What about other sorts of insolence?"

"Oh, very funny Red. I'm laughing my socks off. Can we go now?"

"Yes, sure, let's turn you into a fashionable vamp."

"Are you saying that I'm unfashionable?"

"Did I say that?" said Willow with an innocent look on her face.

"Yes."

"Did not!"

"Did t- Pet, I am not having this argument with you. Let's go." Spike grabbed her arm and dragged her off. They started walking.

"Ow! Spike, can you let go? That kinda hurts."

"Sure thing Pet."

"So, how much money do I get to spend?"

"However much. You can use my credit card."

"You have a credit card?"

"Yeah - why, do you have a problem with that, Red?"

"No..." Willow's voice drifted off, as she thought, and her eyes widened and lit up.

"What's your limit?"

"Five Grand."

"Five Grand" whispered Willow.

Willow started skipping. This meant that she was moving faster than Spike, and called back to him.

"Spike, come on. I have five grand to spend."

"Pet" started Spike warningly, then gave up. He started walking faster, to catch up with the energetic hacker.

***

The pair were resting momentarily.

"Spike..."

"Yes Pet?"

"How did the Drusilla problem go?"

Spike glared at Willow, and then sighed.

"I had her staked. She wanted to go tell my poof of a sire that you were my pet."

"I'm not your pet!"

"Whatever you want to believe, Red. Come on, let's get up now."

***

"What about this shop, Red?"

"No Spike. We are not going into a leather goods shop. You have enough leather in your wardrobe."

"How would you know? You've never seen my wardrobe. For all you know, these pants and my duster could be the only leather items I own."

"Fine!" spat Willow in exasperation as Spike dragged her into the leather shop by the hand. Once inside the shop, Spike didn't drop Willow's hand, just showed her around the shop.

Willow never realised it until she was in the shop, but she quite liked leather.

"Uh...Spike?"

Spike paused in his enthusiasm over leather, and looked at her.

"Can I buy something for me?"

"Depends on what it is, Red."

"It's, um...well, it's this" she said, lifting a leather jacket out from the rack. It was a 1950's leather jacket, tight to the top and loose from the waist to where it ended just below the knees. Spike smiled, let go of Willow's hand, and folded his arms together.

"Try it on, Pet."

Willow tried it on, and it was a perfect fit.

If it was at all possible, Spike's grin got wider.

"Yes Pet, you can buy it for yourself."

Willow smiled back at him.

"Now, as much as I love clothing you, can we finish shopping for me?"

***

Loaded down with shopping bags, Willow and Spike left the mall.

"Where to now, Oh fearless leader?" said Willow playfully.

"My lair."

The smile faded from Willow's face.

"Your lair?" she said nervously.

"Well, you can't expect me to carry all these bags by myself. I may officially be a master, but I need to at least keep up the facade of dominance."

He smiled tentatively at Willow.

Willow had her stern face on - and then she beamed at Spike.

"Okay" she said.

The two walked in silence.

"Pet" said Spike.

"Mmm?" replied Willow, not really paying attention.

"I'm going to make sure you can come and go freely from my lair."

"You're what?!" Willow almost dropped her bags.

"Didn't you hear me?"

"No, I heard you. I'm just a little freaked, that's all. Ah - what would it entail?"
 

Willow was worried that it would involve more biting. Whilst Spike's previous claiming bite had healed almost immediately, due to the exchange of blood, Angel was getting suspicious, so Willow didn't wish to be bitten again.

"I'll just send out a memo."

Willow looked at Spike's serious face, and burst out laughing.

"A memo!" she gasped between laughs, as she tried to catch her breath. "You almost had me there! A memo!"

And this time, Willow did drop her bags as she fell over and laughed. Spike looked at her, and sighed in mock exasperation.

"What did I do to deserve a pet like you?" he sighed.

Still giggling, Willow replied "Hey! I resent that!"

Spike reached down to her, successfully juggling his bags as he lifted the giggling girl up.

"Come on Pet. Let's go."

Willow picked up her bags, and the two wandered off, Willow occasionally giggling.

***

Arriving at Spike's lair, Willow and Spike took Spike's new clothes to his room, and wandered back down the stairs.

Halfway down, Willow stopped.

"Maybe I should just wait here. I - I mean, what do you really need me here for? I'll just be a useless weight, a distraction from the task at hand! Or, they may not believe you, and I won't be safe. I mean, they mutinied once, they might again. And is mutiny really the right word to be using? I don't think it means what you think it do-"

"Pet" said Spike as he put his hands on her shoulders, "You are coming downstairs with me, and you are going to skulk beside me, and the minions are going to listen to me, and then I am going to prove my dominance over you by biting you" Willow gasped "and then I am going to escort you home."

Willow was not-quite speechless.

"Bite me? Bite me?! I think not, you mmpph"

Spike put his hand over her mouth.

"It won't hurt much Pet."

Willow glared at Spike, and pulled his hand off her mouth.

"Fine, I'll get bitten by you - but only because I understand vampire shows of dominance. But what if Angel can tell?"

Spike growled at the mention of his sire, and his gameface momentarily descended.

"Then just avoid the great bloody poof!"

They had reached the bottom of the stairs, where Thomas was waiting.

"Master, there you are."

Spike grabbed Willow by the elbow, and held her as she made a motion to bolt.

"Tom, this is Red, my Pet. Red, this is Thomas, my major domo. Tom, go assemble what minions there are in the area. I have an announcement."

Five minutes later, Spike dragged Willow into a large room filled with vampires.

"This is my audience chamber" explained Spike as he lead her up to a dais at the front. There was a chair on the dais, which Spike stood in front of, still holding Willow's elbow. Willow started trembling as all the vampires glared hungrily at her.

"Hey!" yelled Spike. All the vampires turned to look at him.

"This is my pet, Red. There will be *no* biting or raping of her, AND she is free to come and go from this house if she, or I, so choose. The punishment to any vampire for touching her will be violent and painful, and something along the lines of bloodfilled and messy. Is that understood?"

The vampires started muttering.

Spike sighed, and pulled Willow in front of him whilst he vamped out. He brushed her hair aside, told her:

"This will only hurt for a bit Pet", and bit her.

Willow gasped and sagged. Spike's arms went around her waist to support her as her head lolled backwards, where there was no support. Spike withdrew his fangs, and said to his minions:

"Claim proven. Violate her, and I will make you wish the Slayer had staked you."

He lifted Willow in his arms, and carried her out of the room. Just out of the door, Willow began to regain consciousness.

"Spike?" said Willow groggily.

"Yes Pet?"

"Not that I don't love spending time with you, but can I go home now?"

Spike snickered.

"Of course you can Pet," said Spike as he ushered her out the front door.
 
 

~Part Eight~

"Come on Spike!"

"Pet…"

"You *have* to help me with this!"

"I don’t see why one of my minions can’t help you."

"Because I don’t trust them."

"So, you trust me?" Spike raised an eyebrow.

"I trust you not to muck it up. Now, hurry it up."

"Look at me" mumbled Spike, as he picked up the herbs, "a master vampire helping a mortal witch cast a minor spell designed to help the Slayer."

Willow pretended not to hear.

"Hurry it up!" she snapped.

"Yes mistress" said Spike meekly. Willow giggled.

"Be a good vampire now, or I’ll whip you."

"Promise?"

Willow sighed. Why she put up with the master vampire, she really didn’t know. It was confusing to her that she could feel such…affection…for a cold blooded killer with no heart - literally, no heart.

But she did feel affection for the vampire, and had been quite content to see him every night.

‘It’s funny’ she thought, as she ground the herbs that Spike passed to her, ‘how I’m having a more enjoyable time with Spike, then I do with the others. I haven’t seen them very much lately - only to research, not on a social occasion. I wonder if they’ve even noticed? I seem to be clinging to Spike, like a child, or…a pet! He’s made me his pet!’

Willow swung around and hit Spike, causing him to drop the bowl he was holding. Willow didn’t even give the bowl enough time to hit the floor before she yelled at hm.

"You stupid vamp!" she yelled. "You’ve turned me into your pet!"

"Yes Pet, that was the plan. I told you that when I first kidnapped you. And I was right kitten, you have come to enjoy it." He smirked.

"Don’t you ‘kitten’ me, you…you…you…vampire!" blustered Willow in the face of this obvious truth.

"Pet-" Spike stopped, the blistering retort dying on his lips. "If we’re going to throw nasty insults at each other, we should at least make sure that they’re insulting."

"Ooh" steamed Willow, whilst Spike snickered at her.

"Well," she said, composing herself suddenly, as if the tantrum had never taken place. "We’ll just have to make sure that Angel never realises that then, won’t we?"

"That we will Pet, that we will."

Willow giggled.

"Well then, Mr Spike My Master Sir" she said, bowing obedience whilst giggling so hard she was shaking, "you had better come into my house."

Spike looked on as Willow got up, and walked to the door that lead to her bedroom. They had been doing spells outside her room. Willow opened the door, stepped inside, turned around, and beckoned to Spike.

"Come in, Spike."

Spike stood up, astonished, as Willow put on a grumpy face and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Are you coming in or not?"

"Coming, Pet"

"And bring the herbs with you. We still have a spell to cast, to help Buffy."

"But I don’t want to help the Slayer." Spike pouted.

"Spike! Get your cute little ass in here right now, or I’ll tell all your minions about the big bad vampire who helps his pet wicca cast spells to help the Slayer!"

Spike scrambled through the door, and slammed it shut behind him.

***

Willow was running. It was almost sunset. She wasn’t running because she was afraid of all the nasties that came out after dark - Spike’s public claiming had put a stop to that. Rather, she was afraid of the wrath of Spike, who was sure to get angry if she was late. She had told him to meet her at the store where she bought all her supplies, and if she wasn’t there, he was going to be pissed off.

She skidded to a halt in front of the store five minutes after sunset. She looked around as she caught her breath - and there was Spike, lounging indolently against the door frame, puffing on a cigarette.

"Why am I here pet?" he inquired lazily.

"Because it’s night time, and the shop is closed, and in your position as bad ass vamp master of all Sunnydale, he’ll open for you."

"I’m being used!" despaired Spike.

"Yes, you are" comforted Willow, insincerely. "But look at it this way - you get the assistance of a beautiful and talented wicca if you want it."

"What if I told you that I wanted the assistance of a beautiful and talented wicca to destroy the Slayer?"

"I’d tell you to think very carefully before you asked for that assistance, unless you want to end up as a bat."

Spike turned to the door and opened it, and descended the steps.

"We’re closed" said the man behind the counter, without looking up.

"Do I look like I care, mate?" said Spike as he jumped the last step and landed on the floor, gameface on.

The man behind the counter looked up in fear.

"And, while we’re looking at me, do you know who I am?"

The shopkeeper nodded rapidly.

"Bloody good. No explanations needed then -oh, except for one. This -" and he indicated Willow as she came down the stairs "is Red. And this shop will never be closed for her. Do you understand?"

Willow gathered up what she needed. Whilst Spike looked on and smoked, and the shopkeeper trembled, Willow dumped her supplies on the counter. She looked up when she realised the shopkeeper hadn’t tallied up the cost yet, and sighed.

"Just ignore Spike" she said. "He’s a big old softy."

"Pet" Spike winced, "do you mind?"

Willow just grinned at him in reply.

"Is that everything Pet?"

When she nodded, Spike turned to look at the shopkeeper, who hurriedly tallied up the total, which Willow paid for, then they left.

"Take this back to the lair for me please Spike" said Willow.

"No Pet. I’ll help you, but not carry it by myself. I do have an image to maintain."

"Fine. Come on then. I have to hurry though. I’m supposed to be at the library already."

Willow had started storing her supplies at Spike’s lair, because the Scoobies had started getting a little too interested in her practice of magic, and she was worried they would realise just how far she had progressed.

***

Because Spike had exerted a show of dominance over Willow, she was very late getting to the library. When she did arrive, it was to a very solemn Scooby gang.

"Willow" said Giles in greeting.

"What’s wrong?" asked Willow, worried.

"Deadboy has some news" said Xander.

"It’s about Spike" said Angel, after glaring at Xander for use of the hated nickname. "He’s been seen. Around town. Apparently with a well known Wicca."

Willow’s legs collapsed beneath her, and she fell onto the floor. Oz stood up to help her back up, but she just batted him away and remained on the floor. She looked up at Angel.

"Did your source say who this well known Wicca was?"

Giles jumped in.

"No, and that’s where we thought you could help us. Use your ties to the Wiccan Community to find out who it is, and what Spike’s up to."

"Because we know it can’t be good" said Buffy.

"But hey" interjected Xander. "This is Willow here. Our Wills. She wouldn’t hurt a fly. How would she know which of her friends was evil and hanging out with the Grand High Poombah of the Hellmouth?"

Willow glared at Xander, and opened her mouth with a sharp retort, but Angel spoke first.

"The weird thing was, everyone kept laughing."

Everyone looked at Angel. He clarified his statement.

"I was beating any information out of Willy that I could, and he told me about Spike and the Wiccan girl, but when I tried to get a name, he backed away and said he didn’t know, and everyone in the bar snickered."

"That is peculiar" said Giles, taking off his glasses. "Buffy, Angel, perhaps the two of you had better go and see what you can get out of Willy. Angel, why don’t you go now, and if you can’t get anything out of him, Buffy can go back during the day."

"But Giles-"

"Buffy, please. Just go and patrol."

Buffy sulked off.

Willow shakily stood up. Oz was at her side in an instant.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think- I think I might just go home."

Willow staggered out the door and left the library.

***

‘Spike!’ thought Willow. ‘I must tell Spike!’

Willow had left the library and straight away headed for Spike’s lair. She was very, very worried. If Angel had found out that Spike was hanging around with a Wiccan girl, and all the demons in town knew that she was his pet, then it was only a matter of time before some demon mentioned it to Angel - whether it be out of spite towards Spike, or spite towards Angel and the Slayer. And then what would happen? All her friends would be furious, and Spike - Spike would probably lock her up and never let her out again. Willow paused mid step. She knew they had joked about it, but could she really cope with being Spike’s pet? Willow resumed walking. She decided that she would just handle Spike later. Her powers had improved considerably, so she felt that she would be able to handle Spike, when the time came.

‘Huh’ thought Willow suddenly, ‘I’m a well-known Wicca.’

Willow reached Spike’s lair and knocked. The door swung open to reveal Thomas.

"Good evening Red. The Master is not in."

"Oh. Okay. I won’t stay. I only had to see him. Tell him…tell him that Angel knows that he’s been hanging around with a witch, but he doesn’t know who the witch is. And um…I’ll be at home if he needs me."

Willow turned around and headed home.

‘So, Spike is the problem’ Willow thought as she trod down the roads home. ‘How to prevent Spike from locking me up in his lair after Angel and Buffy find out? I know that he will, for fear that Buffy and Angel will hide me away from him. But - is he really that fond of me, that he’ll risk the wrath of his sire and the Slayer? How can I find out if he feels that way? I know - a revealing spell!’

Willow’s feet lead her up to her front door. She walked into her house, searching for what she needed for her spell. Fortunately, she had everything that she needed in the house.

As the spell required rather stinky ingredients, she went outside to perform it. She sat down, checked her translation over once more, and began.

She dropped a herb into a bowl filled with liquid, and began chanting slowly. She was so involved in her spell, that she didn’t hear the rustling behind her.

Suddenly, her world went black.

Willow dropped down beside her bowl and her book, and was dragged off by her feet into the night.
 
 

~Part Nine~

Willow was uncomfortable. She tried to move her arm, but it wouldn’t move. There was something heavy on it. She opened her eyes, and couldn’t see.

After concentrating and panicking, she realised that she could just make out outlines. She looked around. She was in a dark room…

….and she was chained to the wall.

Willow screamed.

***

"Giles, I have to ask you something."

Giles looked up from his book.

"What is it, Angel?"

"Has Willow been acting…different, recently?"

"Different how?"

"I don’t know, different to how you would expect her to act."

"I don’t know, but you might want to ask Buffy."

"Ask Buffy what?" asked Buffy as she strode into the library, Cordelia and Xander behind her.

"If Willow has been acting differently" said Angel.

"No. Why, should she be?"

"No, it’s just that….she smells different-"

"Ew! Why are you smelling Willow, Deadboy?"

"Could you not call me that? Look, when I hugged her, I thought she smelled different, but I’ve been away so long that I could be wrong."

"I’d say."

"No, no, don’t be quite so quick to dismiss Angel. Angel, are you going somewhere with this?"

"Yeah, I uh, well…I think that she might have been claimed."

"Claimed? Giles, why are you making that face?"

"This is not good. Angel, can you tell for sure?"

"No, because a huge part of claiming is public ceremony, and for obvious reasons I won’t be able to find out about that."

"How long have you suspected?"

"Since she came back after getting drunk and lost."

Buffy flew out of her chair.

"Why didn’t you tell us then?!"

"I had to be sure, and-"

"Hey, has anyone seen Willow?" Oz strolled into the library.

"No, why?"

"Well, I tried calling her, and no-one answered."

"Well, she’s probably just not feeling great, and chose not to answer the phone. But back to this claiming thing…"

"*If* she has been, then it would have to be a vamp, because the only smells I have ever picked up on her have been vampires."

"What’s this?" asked Oz.

"Deadboy here thinks that the Willster’s been claimed by a vamp."

"Would that make her smell different?"

"Ew! What is it with you two and noses?!" exclaimed Cordelia.

"Yes, it would," said Angel, ignoring Cordelia.

"Because she does smell different."

"Uh, ahem" coughed Giles. Everyone turned to look at him. "Doesn’t claiming involve biting?" Angel nodded. "And has Willow been bitten?"

Oz shook his head and replied. "Not that I’ve seen."

"So" continued Giles, "couldn’t we just assume that the different smell was something else?"

"Like what?"

"Maybe she’s fucking someone else" interjected the ever tactful Cordelia Chase.

***

Spike was worried, to say the least. After receiving Willow’s message through Thomas the night before, he went to see her at her home. When he arrived there however, he discovered her bowl, some herbs, and an unlocked house.

Spike’s immediate reaction was curiosity. He knelt down to look at the bowl, and sniffed. He smelt a smell not usually at Willow’s house. It was a familiar smell though. He paused to place the smell.

Spike’s second reaction was one of anger. No wonder the smell was familiar! It was the smell of a demon! How dare a demon take *his* pet! After all the trouble he’d gone through to publicly claim her, some demon had waltzed into town and taken her!

Spike’s third reaction was fear. The smell was *very* familiar. Not just familiar in an ‘I am a demon’ way, but familiar in an ‘I’ve met you before’ way. Spike thought.

And stood, rigid with fear.

A magic eater.

In simple terms, his Willow had been taken by a demon which ate magic to survive.

***

A noise woke Willow. She stirred, and opened her eyes. She focused on the light. The door was open, and Willow could see a shape in the doorway. She tried to focus on the shape. A faint odour reached her.

Willow wrinkled her nose in distaste.

***

Everybody looked disgustedly at Cordelia.

"Did she just say that, or am I imagining things?" asked Buffy rhetorically.

"What?" cried Cordelia.

"You’re talking about *Wil-low*. Remember Cordy? Willow, not yourself" said Xander.

"Thankyou. I know that. What I mean is, it would explain the smell, right?"

"It would" said Angel.

"How did you know that, Cordy?" asked Xander.

"Oh please. I’m not that stupid. It’s logical. Who you have sex with, affects your basic smell." Cordelia looked at everyone. "I have learnt something from working for Angel."

"I wouldn’t use the term ‘working’" quipped Angel.

"Excuse me. I work-"

"How dare you" whispered Oz.

"Huh?" Cordelia was confused.

"How dare you suggest that about Willow. She’s not a whore, unlike yourself!" Oz swiveled and left the library, before he could hit Cordelia.

"Over reacting much?" Cordelia shrugged.

***

Spike’s mansion was in a turmoil. Spike had come running back, and had started issuing orders. When Thomas had finally managed to decipher what was wrong, he took over from the frantic Spike.

But nothing could be done, so Spike spent the day worrying.

The second night fell, Thomas was out of the house, commanding the demon’s of the town in the search for the Master’s pet.

It wasn’t that the Master was weak, they understood, it was a matter of principle. A demon can’t waltz into town and take the Master’s possessions.

They had to ask nicely first.

***

"Buff, I’m a little worried" said Xander.

"’Bout what?"

"Wills."

"Why?"

"Nobody’s seen her in two days."

"Well, that is a little unlike her. Maybe we should go check on her."

"No need" said Angel as he strode into the library.

"What? Why?"

"There’s a demon in town that eats magic. So I went to Willow’s house, and I could smell it."

"Eats magic?"

"To survive, it needs magic. To eat magic, it eats the users."

"So Willow…"

"Is going to be eaten, unless we find her."

"Well, where could the demon be?"

"We should ask Giles. His books might tell us about where these demons live."

"Hey, where is the G-man?"

"Right here, Xander, and I’ve asked you before to not call me that." Giles came out of his office. "And I don’t need to consult my books. I know all about these demons. They live away from humans, away from magic, and away from noise."

"So…the abandoned part of town?"

"The abandoned part of town."

***

A wet digit trailed down Willow’s arm. Another one lifted her chin. Willow clamped her eyes shut.

"Look at me" commanded a gravely voice.

Willow felt compelled to obey. She opened her eyes, and came face to face with the ugliest demon she had ever seen.

Willow shuddered as the finger under her chin traveled down her neck, and the demon licked it’s lips.

"You will sate me well" said the demon.
 

~Part Ten~

It was very dark. Creeping down a street, Xander could barely see a thing. When Angel suddenly stopped, Xander bumped into him.

"Here" whispered Angel.

Oz sniffed.

"Yeah. That house there." He pointed to an old house.

"We’d better hurry though" said Angel. "It’s almost dawn."

They crept up to the house, Buffy leading the way.

***

Spike was pissed off, and very worried. It was almost dawn, and he had yet to find his witch. He had told all his demons to stop looking an hour before dawn, to give them time to get back to the mansion. He may have wanted Willow back, but he wasn’t stupid.

Spike stopped, and sniffed.

A familiar smell assailed his nostrils.

‘Willow.’

He followed the smell, and there was his witch…in the arms of his sire.

***

They broke in through a ground floor window. Oz sniffed the air.

"Down" he whispered.

The Scoobies crept down the stairs to the cellar. As they neared the closed door at the base of the stairs, a dull sucking noise could be heard. Angel quietly and slowly tried to turn the door handle. It turned. Slowly, he edged open the door. As it swung open, the Scoobies tried to focus on the gloom within. Dimly they could make out a large, slimy shape to one side hunched over something next to the wall. Then the stench hit them. The putrid mixture of faeces, urine, blood, and some other indefinable smell caused Oz to gasp as the smell reached his delicate nostrils. The creature turned, revealing an ugly, scarred and deformed demon, and the half dead Willow he was leaning over.

Oz, Angel and Buffy flew into the room. Xander was the last to get over his shock, and therefore last to move. Being in front of Buffy and Oz, he tripped them over before he could move.

Alone, Angel ran up to the demon, grabbed it, and threw it away from Willow. With a roar, the demon punched Angel in the stomach. Angel doubled over, but as the demon tried to follow through with a hit to the back, Angel dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way. The demon followed it’s fist through and, lacking anything to hit, fell to the ground. Angel leapt up and jumped on it’s back, and held it down.

"Buffy!" roared Angel, looking up for a second, gameface on.

Buffy, Oz and Xander had, meanwhile, managed to untangle themselves. At hearing Angel call her name, Buffy leapt into the fray. She grabbed the demon’s head, pulled, and twisted. There was a sickening pop, and a dull thud as Buffy dropped the demon’s now limp head. Buffy and Angel were suddenly covered in slime as the demon spontaneously dissipated into slime.

"Ugh" said Buffy as she wrinkled up her nose. "This was a new top!"

"Willow!" cried Oz as he reached Willow. He pulled ineffectually at her shackles. Buffy, Angel and Xander turned to see Oz pulling and pawing at the shackles. Angel and Buffy both reached Willow and Oz at the same time. Angel pulled the shackles off her arms, and Buffy did the same for her legs. Oz pulled a shuddering Willow into his arms. Willow shied away from Oz, looking around wildly, as if searching for something.

"It’s okay" Oz whispered soothingly. "It’s gone. Buffy and Angel killed it." But still Willow refused his touch.

"Willow" Angel touched her shoulder. Willow stopped at his cold touch and looked blankly at him. "We have to go. It’s almost sunrise."

Willow nodded, and tried to stand. She fell back to the floor again, as her legs would not support her. So Angel hefted her up, and left the cellar, Xander, Buffy and a confused Oz trailing behind him.

***

‘The Prick! The stupid bloody prick can’t keep his hands to his own! My bastard of a sire! You know what you can do with your hands, you wanker? Yeah, that’s right, wank! Your own girl won’t have you back, so you decide to take mine, eh? It’s not my fault you’re a nancy boy. Get your hands off my witch!’

It was noisy in Spike’s head. This was because Spike had come upon the rescuing party, and his eyes did not fail to be drawn to his sire in the lead, carrying his witch.

Spike followed at a safe distance, so as not to alert the Slayer to his presence. Whilst he really needed to relieve the tension he felt, getting violent could wait until after he found out the condition of his witch.

Once again, Spike did not question his use of the possessive term ‘my witch’.

***

"She can’t stay by herself! I say I take her back to my dorm."

"And how would you explain her injuries? I’ll take her."

"Oh, no way, Dead Boy. I’ll take her."

"And let you have a half-naked Willow in your bed? Look, she’s my girlfriend, so I’ll take her."

"No! Look, you’re all very sweet, but if you’ll just take me home, I can look after myself."

"Willow-"

"Please?"

"Alright, but only if I stay with you."

Willow sighed.

"Alright Buffy. You can stay. But only for tonight."

"Sure thing" said Buffy cheerily. "Xander can stay tomorrow night."

***

Satisfied that Willow would be alright, and knowing that he wouldn’t be able to get to her before sunrise, Spike went back to his lair.

"Thomas!" he called as he entered the mansion. Thomas appeared at the base of the stairs.

"Yes Master?"

"Splendid news! Red has been found! Call off the minions. I’m going to bed.

***

"Hey Wills, I brought you some soup. It’s good stuff!"

"Thankyou."

"Anyway, I gotta go. Seeya later!"

After three days of coddling Willow, the Scoobies felt that they had atoned for their earlier ignorance of her plight.

Willow was fine with that. She had sent Oz away also, telling him that she was okay, and needed to be alone.

So here she was, she was telling herself, sitting around, doing nothing.

Which was a lie.

She was waiting for Spike.

She knew he would come. She could sense him, when the others weren’t crowding her, stifling her. She decided that it must have something to do with the claiming.

Night fell, and she stood by her open door, waiting.

He didn’t disappoint her.

"Pet" he smiled playfully.

To his surprise Willow launched herself into his arms, and started weeping all the tears she hadn’t wept. He wrapped his arms about her, and let her cry.

"Spike" she sobbed, "I hate this place."

"But this is your home" said Spike, confused.

Willow shook her head.

"No, it’s just the place I stay. Can I come and stay with you?" she looked up at Spike, eyes blurry and red with crying.

"Of course you can Pet" he sighed resignfully, crushing her to him as she started crying again.

Spike tugged Willow out the door, then stopped.

"Wait. An excuse. You have to tell your friends an excuse, Pet."

Willow dashed into her room, grabbed a pen and some paper, and scribbled a message.

"I’ll just lock up, and put this on the front door."

She shoved Spike out the door, and minutes later was out the front door. Spike grabbed her hand and lead her away.
 

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