William shifted in his sleep and threw his arm over the place beside him where Will's body should have been. His eyes snapped open as he realized she wasn't in their bed, and he sat up, listening for the sound of her heartbeat. Hearing nothing, he slipped out of the bed and tugged on his jeans.

He pulled opened the door and stepped into the hallway at the same moment a soft cry broke the eerie stillness in the dark house. The vampire raced toward the stairs and flew down them.

"Damn it," Will's voice whispered from the living room.

He hurried into the room. His eyes were barely able to make out her huddled form on the floor in the inky darkness of the heavily curtained room.

"Luv," he spoke softly, not wishing to alarm her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she answered as he knelt beside her. "I thought I heard a noise, and I came down to
investigate. I walked into--something."

Placing a solid arm around her waist, he helped her onto her feet, bringing her with him as he went to the switch on the wall. Will blinked as he flipped it on and looked around the room.

"William," she said, looking up at him. "Did you rearrange the furniture?"

"I haven't touched anything," he told her.

She swallowed and turned her eyes back to the room, "Well, something did."
***
"Maybe you're being visited by the evil spirits of interior decorators who suffered untimely deaths," Willow suggested.

Giles grinned and looked from her to her mortal twin, "This is the first time anything like this has
happened since you moved into the house?"

"I'm not sure," Will answered. "We've only been there a couple of weeks. Once or twice, I thought something had been moved--a candlestick, a book I'd put down and couldn't find later--but I thought I was just imagining things, or being forgetful."

"But you didn't hear or see anything last night in the living room?" Angel asked.

She shook her head, "Just the noise that woke me up, but a roomful of furniture doesn't just rearrange itself."

"It isn't much to go on, but we'll see what we can find," Christina spoke. "Rupert, are they safe staying there?"

"Whatever it is, it hasn't tried to hurt us," Will pointed out.

Giles shook his head, "Even so, perhaps you shouldn't--"

"I'm not leaving!" she interrupted. "I love our house! I've always dreamed of living in a place like that. I'm not letting some insomniac spook chase us out!"

"All right, as long as you aren't in danger," he relented. "Just be careful."

"And it wouldn't hurt to take a look around the place," Angel added.
***
William pushed the front door open and stepped through, then whirled around at the sound of footsteps coming toward them from across the street.

"Vampire," he hissed and grabbed Will's arm.

Willow moved closer to Spike and let the stake in her sleeve drop down into her hand.

"Emily?" Joseph spoke as the small blonde melted out of the darkness.

"What is she doing here?" Ceara asked with an impatient sigh.

"I don't answer to you!" the vampire growled and looked scornfully over at her.

"Emily!" Jospeh barked angrily.

"What's the big deal? Hell, she's a slayer!"

Willow took a step forward and glared at the fledgling, "She's my friend. Watch your mouth."

Emily immediately lowered her eyes, "I beg your forgiveness, Mistress."

Spike snorted in amusement.

"And don't call me that!" Willow shouted. "Joseph, tell her to stop calling me that!"

"I have, Willow, several times," Joseph answered. "Em, go home."

"Oh, please, don't make me," she pleaded. "I won't get in the way. I just want to learn, and who better to watch than the Mist--um--Willow in action? Everyone says what a brilliant fighter she is."

"We aren't fighting anything," Willow scowled.

"Well, no. But you might be. Please? I'll be so quiet, you won't even know I'm here."

"That would be a first," the red haired vampire muttered.

Darnell grinned and looked over at Spike, "I'll keep an eye on her, Master."

Spike nodded and took Willow's hand as they entered the house.
***
The gang met in the living room after a thorough search of all three floors and the basement turned up nothing.

"Maybe Giles is right," Angel said uneasily. "Maybe this isn't the safest place for you, Will. Why don't you--"

"I can take care of her just fine," William snapped. "I don't need you telling her--"

"How the hell are you going to protect her from something you can't even see? You don't even have any idea what's going on here," the dark vampire snarled back.

"Stop it," Will demanded. "Angel, I appreciate your concern for me, but I'm not leaving this house."

"And has it occurred to either of you that she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself?" Willow asked.

"Yeah," the mortal nodded emphatically. "I don't need 'protecting.'"

"Right," her twin agreed. "She did just fine in Chicago."

"And I survived those vampires at the warehouse," Will added.

"And that demon," Willow continued.

"And being _dead_," Will looked at Willow. "Can you survive being dead?"

"I did," the vampire shrugged.

"Yeah, but you got vamped."

"Well, you survived it, too, and you didn't get vamped," Willow reasoned.

"Good point," Will said.

"So, she can certainly survive a furniture-moving whatever-it-is," Willow turned her gaze back to William and Angel.

"Exactly," the mortal nodded. "Thanks, Willow."

"Anytime, Will."

"Has anyone else got a headache?" Angel asked with a small grin.

"I want to be her," Emily murmured, her wide eyes riveted wonderingly on Willow.

Willow brought her hand to her face and moaned softly.

"She's just so--"

"Joseph," Willow cut her off. "Can't you take her home and handcuff her to the bed or something?"

"Oh, could we?" Emily turned hopeful eyes on her sire.

Spike laughed and threw an arm over his lover's shoulders, "Face it, sweetheart; you're worshiped."

She glared up at him.

"Better get used to it," he grinned and dropped a kiss on her lips. "She isn't the only one who feels that way."

"Can we get back to the subject?" Ceara sighed.

"We turned the house upside down. We didn't find anything," Angel said. "We'll have to wait and see if Giles and Christina come up with an explanation."

"You'll let us know if anything else happens?" Spike asked William.

"Yeah," his double nodded and tucked an arm around Will. "I'll let you know."
 
 
 

Willow uncurled herself from around Spike and reached out for the mug Darnell handed to her.

"Joseph?" she spoke as he stepped away. "What's wrong?"

He hesitated for a moment, and she shot a concerned look at her sire.

"She's in the way, isn't she?" Darnell finally said.

"Emily? No, not exactly--"

"Yes. She is. I'm sorry about last night. I told her to stay here, but--"

"She didn't listen," Willow nodded understandingly.

"Sounds like someone else I know," Spike muttered.

"Be quiet, you," she responded.

He quirked an eyebrow and stared silently at her.

"Please," she added with a quick smile and leaned over to kiss him. "Anyway, she hasn't been tagging around behind me today."

"I locked her in our room," Joseph told her. "I know she's driving you crazy. I swear, she wasn't like this when she was mortal. I think I'm too young to have a childe."

"Joseph," Willow said, ignoring Spike's chuckle. "She's a fledgling. Give her time. This existence isn't always an easy adjustment. I know it wasn't for me."

"But in the meantime, she's making a nuisance of herself," he persisted. "And it has to stop. I've told her if she doesn't start behaving, she'll have to leave."

"You shouldn't have said that!"

"Yes, he should," Spike contradicted her.

"Spike! He doesn't want--"

"He's her sire. He has every right to expect her to do as he says."

"Oh, yeah?" she glowered defensively.

He took her chin in his hand, "We're not talking about you. You're an entirely different creature. She hasn't your experience or your intelligence."

"Oh," she smiled happily.

"I'm not firm enough with her," Darnell said.

"No, you're not," Spike agreed. "If Willow disobeyed me for no other reason than sheer defiance, I'd discipline her. In fact, I've had to do just that, once or twice."

"Mmmm, I remember," Willow nodded dreamily.

Spike grinned and continued, "Other than locking her in your room, did you punish her for following you last night?"

"Well, no," Joseph admitted.

"Then go give her your ultimatum, and make it hurt," the Master vampire advised.

"Right," Darnell nodded, his countenance brightening considerably.
***
A loud crash from the dining room brought Will up off the sofa.

"What the hell was that?" she asked nervously, dropping her book onto the coffee table.

William took her hand, and she followed him out of the living room. They came to a halt at the entryway into the dining room. All eight of the chairs around the long table had been toppled over. Without warning, one of the heavy silver candlesticks that sat on the sideboard flew through the air, heading straight toward the redhead. William's arm shot out, and he
grabbed it in mid-air, a split second before it slammed into Will's face.

"This isn't funny, anymore," she whispered as a shiver shook her body.

"No, it isn't," he agreed. "Maybe you should spend a couple of days with Willow and--"

"No," she refused. "I'm not going to let whoever—or whatever--this is win."

"Baby, I don't want you to get hurt," he told her.

"This is our home. I've never felt like I belonged anywhere the way I belong here, with you. I'm not going to let a ghost with a temper tantrum take it away from me."

"This is more than a temper tantrum, luv," he insisted, raising the candlestick. "It's dangerous."

She shook her head resolutely, "I'm safe with you. I'm not going anywhere."

"All right," he conceded. "But if anything else happens that threatens your safety, you're out of
here, even if I have to drag you out. Understood?"

Reluctantly, she nodded her agreement. William replaced the candlestick and righted the chairs. Will looked at the clock on the fireplace mantle.

"We're supposed to be at Giles' in an hour. Maybe we could show up a little early?"

"Yeah," he agreed.

"I think we should just keep this little incident a secret," she suggested.

"No."

"But he'll freak if he--"

"No," he repeated more firmly and placed his hand on her back to guide her to the front door.

"Oh, I hate it when you get all unreasonable," she grumbled.

"I haven't even started on unreasonable, yet," he told her.

"Well, can we just leave out the part about the candlestick?" she asked.

He chuckled and pulled her into a kiss, "Absolutely not."

"Stubborn vampire," she scowled.

"Don't pout," he grinned and opened the door. "It makes me horny."

"Really? Remind me of that later," she giggled.

He took her hand and started down the sidewalk as, inside the house, the mirror over the sideboard dislodged itself from the wall and crashed to the floor.
***
"This is definitely bad," Willow decided. "Redecorating is one thing. Hurling heavy objects at
your skull is another thing entirely."

"I agree," Giles nodded. "Will, I insist you move out of--"

"Don't start," Will warned him. "The next person who makes that bloody suggestion is going to get smacked."

Christina's eyes shifted from Willow and her sire to Will and her lover as she murmured, "Oh, gods, not you, too."

"You do realize your stubbornness could get you killed," Ceara mentioned.

The little redhead shrugged, "So, William will turn me."

"Does your mortality really mean so little to you?" Angel wondered.

"No, of course not. But we can't fight whatever this is by running away from it," she answered. "Look, I'll make a compromise. I won't stay in the house alone. If William goes out, I'll go with him. And if I can't do that, I'll go to Willow. Fair enough?"

"I suppose it's the best we're going to get," Giles sighed heavily.

"What about your research? Did you find anything?" Ceara asked Christina.

The woman shook her head, "There just isn't enough to go on, yet. I'm going to look into the history of the house tomorrow. I'll try to find out if anything like this has happened before."

"Check out all of the former owners, as well," Giles suggested. "You may find something useful there."
***
Darnell and two minions caught up with the others as they neared the house.

"What's up?" Will asked Spike.

"I phoned him and asked him to meet us," the vampire answered. "I think you should have a couple of the boys staying here while we're trying to figure out what's going on."

"I don't want vampires in my house!" she objected.

"What was that, sweetheart?" William asked.

"Oops," she blushed. "Actually, you know, we'd love to have visitors. Um--they won't bite, will they?"

"Not unless they want their fangs pulled out of their heads," Spike replied.

"Give us a call if you need anything," Willow requested as they stopped at the end of the driveway.

William nodded, and the two minions followed behind as they went to the door and disappeared inside the house.

"So, how's Emily?" Willow asked as they continued on toward the mansion. "I see she didn't follow you tonight."

"I don't think she's in any shape to do much following," he answered and glanced around her to
Spike. "Thanks for the whip."

"Whip!" Willow squealed. "You didn't beat her!"

He nodded, "And refused to let her feed."

"Oh, Joseph--"

"Willow," Spike cautioned her.

"But that's just--"

"Willow," he repeated and squeezed her hand firmly. "Do you know what happens to fledglings who don't learn to obey their sires?"

"What?" she asked.

"They usually end up dusted. You want that for her?"

"No, but--"

"Then let him do what he has to."

"You never whipped me," she argued.

"Not the same. You have a soul. You control your own demon. Besides, I found other ways to make you listen," he reminded her.

"Yeah, but I liked those," she grinned.

"I'm not so sure Em minded that much," Joseph said.

"What do you mean--Oh!" her eyes widened in understanding, and Darnell chuckled softly. "Still, not to let her feed--"

"Stay out of it, pet," Spike demanded. "Do you hear me?"

"I hear you," she grumbled.
***
Willow turned the key in the lock and peeked around the door. Emily lay sleeping on the bed, and the redhead moved quickly over to her. The blonde vampire opened her eyes as Willow sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Does it hurt very badly? Here, I brought you this," she helped Emily sit up and handed her a mug of warmed blood.

The fledgling accepted it gratefully and took a long swallow before answering, "Not too bad, really. Joseph said I'd heal quickly."

Willow nodded, "That should help, too."

"Thank you," she smiled shyly and drank the rest of the blood.

"Willow," her sire's voice spoke from the doorway.

She closed her eyes and moaned softly, "Bloody hell."

"Where did you get that?" he asked, eyeing the now empty mug.

"Joseph fixed it," she answered without looking at him.

"For her?"

She turned to see Darnell standing beside Spike, holding another mug in his hands.

"No," she said softly.

"And you drank it," Darnell said to Emily.

Willow got to her feet, "Don't blame her! She didn't know!"

Spike stepped toward her and reached out his hand, "Come on, pet."

She hesitated, and he took her wrist and yanked her over to him.

"Master, it really doesn't matter. I was bringing some to Emily, anyway," Joseph spoke.

"Which is completely beside the point," Spike told him.

"But--"

"See to your childe," Spike barked impatiently and dragged Willow down the hall.
 
 
 
 
 

Spike slammed the bedroom door shut and turned to see Willow looking up at him with wide, fearful eyes. He took a step toward her, and she took a step back.

"I was only trying to help," she said, attempting to defend herself.

"Help who?"

"Emily! I felt so sorry for her--"

"You really thought Darnell would let her starve?"

"Well, no, but--"

"Than you have no excuse for what you did."

"I wanted to help!"

"How? By taking her punishment out of her sire's hands? That's hardly your place, little one. What he did was done to protect her."

"But Joseph wasn't angry with me," she argued.

"First of all, you could hand Darnell a glass of holy water, and he'd willingly drink it for you," Spike responded. "And second, Darnell isn't your sire. I am. I told you to stay out of it, didn't I?"

She shifted uneasily and broke eye contact with him.

"Didn't I?" he shouted.

"Yes," she said softly.

"Sometimes, that soul of yours is a pain in the ass," he told her.

Her eyes snapped back to him, "Well, you gave it to me!"

She regretted her words the moment they left her mouth as Spike's amber eyes flashed angrily at her.

"Strip," he said, his voice low and commanding.

She shook her head slowly. He snarled and grabbed her, holding her in a hard grip, and she whimpered as he roughly tore her clothes off of her. Willow squealed as he threw her back onto the bed, and she crawled backwards, away from him, as he dragged off his own clothes. She tried to scramble off the bed, but he wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her back. She cried out as he landed one solid, hard smack with his open palm on her bare ass. He flung her back onto the bed and straddled her, pinning her hands to her side as she wriggled to get free.

Spike pried her legs apart, and she gasped as he shoved a finger into her dry channel. The struggling redhead growled, more in anger at her body's reaction than at him, as the probing digit coaxed her juices from her core. He removed his finger, and red tears pricked her eyes as he slammed his rigid cock inside her. His thrusts were fast and brutal as he pounded
into her, and Willow moaned and bucked up into him.

He rode her hard and lowered his mouth to her breast, biting into her rounded flesh as he continued to move inside her. Her walls clamped around him, and sensing her impending climax, he shoved even harder into her. Willow groaned as he snarled, emptying his cold seed
deep within her. He licked clean the blood that trickled from her breast, and she whimpered as he suddenly pulled out of her. She was close, so close; the fire in her belly was nearly unbearable.

"Please," she begged, her voice little more than a jagged whisper.

"No," he refused, rolling off of her to lay close beside her.

She snarled angrily and flung herself onto her side, facing away from him. He latched onto her wrist as her hand snaked between her legs, seeking to provide her release.

"You touch that, and we'll start all over again," he warned her.

She moaned in defeat, and he kept his hand around her wrist as he reached for the lamp and plunged the room into darkness. Spike dragged her close to him, pressing her back to his chest, and wrapped a strong arm around her. A few seconds passed before he felt her shoulders tremble against him, and he groaned softly as he heard her sniffle. He lifted his head and nuzzled her cheek, capturing her tears with his lips.

"Willow," he whispered against her hear.

Her only response was one soft, quiet sob.

"Don't, baby," he spoke comfortingly.

She rolled over into his arms and laid her head on his chest as she wept silently. He pulled her against him and brushed his fingers soothingly through her hair.

"I can't stand to see you cry," he murmured.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled as her tears continued to flow.

Every fiber of her body was still raging for him, screaming for the release only he could give her, and she clung to him desperately.

"Please, please, don't leave me like this," she whispered.

He hushed her and placed a kiss on her head.

"You can beat me," she offered in a frantic attempt to sway him.

Spike chuckled at the statement--the childe giving her sire permission to beat her. He shifted her onto her back and propped himself on his arm to look down at her.

"I don't want to beat you, luv. Seeing you hurt does not give me pleasure. Even when it's probably what you deserve."

Willow sniffed sadly, and he brushed a finger along her wet cheek.

"Bloody hell," he mumbled, though his lips curled into a smile. "Those tears are more lethal than sunlight."

Fresh tears began to spill from her eyes, and he kissed them away before taking her lips in a slow, tender kiss. He raised himself over her and entered her slowly this time, not wishing to cause further pain to her already bruised flesh. His strokes were long and deep, and Willow's eyes fluttered shut as he pushed her over the edge. She screamed his name as her senses exploded, overtaken by the intensity of her orgasm. Spike drew her mouth to his neck, and she
pierced his cool flesh and drank as her body slowly recovered from its mind-numbing climax.

"I love you," he whispered as he rolled her over into him.

She nuzzled against his neck as he curled her around him.

"I'm really sorry I disobeyed you. I'll stay out of Joseph's and Emily's private business from now on. I promise," she said softly.

"I believe you," he grinned and folded her closer in his arms as they drifted into an exhausted sleep, their bodies still connected.
 
 
 
 
 

Will was waiting nervously under the watchful eyes of Spike's minions for William to return. He had spent the day close to her, and no other unnerving events had occurred. She had felt confident when he had left the house to feed, but as the clock struck the hour, and the minions continued to hover over her, she found herself wishing he'd hurry up and come back.

She heaved an audible sigh of relief and jumped up off the sofa as the front door opened. One of Spike's boys blocked her exit from the room and looked around the entryway. He stepped back as he saw the blonde vampire come through the door, and Will darted around him and
practically skidded into William in her haste to greet him.

"Hey," he spoke, steadying her with his hands on her waist. "What's wrong? Has something else happened?"

"No," she shook her head. "I just missed you."

"I've been gone 45 minutes, pet," he told her.

"I know. I missed you, anyway. Sorry," she smiled sheepishly.

"You'd better not be," he grinned and bent to kiss her.

His hands dropped to her rear end, and he pulled her closer into him as their tongues collided. William moaned as she nipped at his lip before pulling away to catch her breath. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. William snarled softly at the minion who was openly watching them from the entryway.

"Let's take this somewhere more private," he suggested, whisking her up off the floor and heading for the stairs.
***
Will moaned her her sleep and shifted closer against her lover. William's eyes flew open, and his demonic features emerged in response to the prickling sensation along the back of his neck. He let his gaze drift over the room. Although his vision told him they were alone, his sharper, inner instincts told him otherwise. Someone else was in the room.

Suddenly, his eyes caught a quick flash of metal, and he snarled and grabbed Will. She awoke with a startled cry as she found herself being rolled off the bed and onto the floor, with William's body on top of her. She clutched his arms and stared wildly up into his amber eyes.

"Stay," he ordered, pushing her firmly down and raising himself off her to kneel, facing the bed.

"What is it?" her voice quivered as he turned and pulled her up next to him.

She peered over the bed, her gaze following his.

"Oh, goddess," she murmured as his arm stole protectively around her.

The curved handle of a dagger was sticking up out of the mattress, its wide lethal blade embedded into the very spot on which she had been sleeping.
***
The redheaded vampire was digging frantically into the rich loose soil under a rose bush, and the large grey dog beside her, in turn, was shoveling it right back in.

"Trouble, stop it!" Willow scolded and gave him a gentle thwack on the nose.

Getting his own back, the pup waggled his tail, plopped down next to her, and stuck his nose in her ear.

She squealed and wrapped her arm around his furry neck to give him a quick hug, "You're not helping, you know."

"Willow, what the hell are you doing?" Darnell's voice spoke from behind her.

She scrambled to her feet and busied herself with brushing the dirt from her pant legs, "Um, nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing," he grinned, eyeing the mound of dirt sitting atop the dog's nose. "Are you two burying a body out here?"

"It's going to be my body if I don't find the bloody thing," she murmured to herself.

"Find what?"

Her eyebrows shot up, and her tongue darted out to lick nervously over her lips, "I didn't say that. You didn't hear me say that...."

"Oh, yes I did," he shook his head. "Now, spill, or I'll go find Spike--"

"You wouldn't!" she gasped and reached for his arm. "I said I was sorry about interfering with-"

He cut off her statement with a quick wave of his hand, "This has nothing to do with that. Besides, I told you I wasn't angry. I can't help you find what you're looking for if I don't know what it is, can I?"

"Oh, yeah," she nodded and flashed him a smile. "It's just a locket thingy. Gold, with a diamond set in it."

"Locket thingy," Joseph repeated. "With a diamond...oh, gods, not the one Spike gave you for..."

"Yeah, that one," she nodded. "It I don't find it--"

"Absolutely," he nodded and crouched down to start searching under the rose bushes.

Trouble, completely put out at seeing the vampires digging around in his flower bed, began bouncing between the two of them and barking his discontent. Spike stepped out of the French doors and onto the terrace and watched the calamity for a moment.

"What the bloody hell--"

"Spike!" Willow squeaked and leapt to her feet, dragging Joseph up with her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

She plastered herself next to Darnell's side, attempting to block her sire's view of the rather
large holes they had uncovered, and stammered, "I...we..."

"Aphids," Joseph blurted out.

"A what?" the confused blonde vampire questioned.

"Aphids!" Willow latched onto Darnell's excuse. "We were just looking for...um..."

"Aphids," Joseph nodded. "The roses have been looking rather sickly of late, and we thought maybe...."

He sputtered to a stop as Spike reached out and plucked one large, perfect, blood red blossom from the bush behind Willow.

"Sickly?" he repeated, raising one skeptical eyebrow.

"Would you believe that rose is supposed to be white?" Willow tried.

Spike's shoulders shook with unvoiced laughter, "No, I wouldn't. Luv, what _are_ you two up to?"

The redheaded vampire was saved from a reply by the sound of her mortal twin's voice coming from across the lawn, "There has to be another way."

"There isn't, for now," William told her as the two of them approached the others.

"Did something else happen?" Willow asked, her voice mirroring her concern. "Will, are you okay?"

"She's okay," William answered and proceeded to tell them about the incident in their room.

"He's absolutely right," Willow said when he'd finished. "You can't stay there. It isn't safe."

"I hate running away," Will grumbled.

William took her hand, "You agreed that if anything else happened, you'd get out of that house. So, get used to it."

She scowled at him, and Willow patted her shoulder, "Oh, come on. It isn't that bad. It'll be nice to have you around for a few days. I could use an extra pair of eyes, anyway."

"Why? Have you got evil spirits, too?" her twin asked.

"No, just Trouble," she grinned.

"Speaking of Trouble," Spike said, preparing to pick up their former conversation.

"Let's go pick out your room," Willow suggested quickly to Will and virtually dragged the little
mortal toward the house.

The Master vampire turned to her accomplice, "Darnell?"

"Ah, yes, right. I'll go make up a bed," Joseph nodded eagerly, pretending to misunderstand him, and took off for the terrace.
***
"So, what's so important about this locket, anyway?" Will asked Willow as she helped Darnell smooth the comforter over the bed.

"It was a gift from Spike," her double answered.

"Can't be the only gift he's ever given you," she shrugged. "He'll understand--"

"He'll kill me," Willow muttered. "See, it has this...picture, sort of...inside it."

"Picture, of who?" Will asked. "Not Spike. He's a vampire!"

"It's a little sketch of the two of us," Willow explained. "He asked Angel to draw it."

"And he never heard the end of it," Darnell added. "Angel went on about it for weeks."

"Ah, so he _will_ kill you," Will said.

"No, he won't," a female voice spoke from the doorway.

The trio turned around to find Emily peering into the room, a gold chain dangling between her fingers.

"You found it!" Willow squealed and flew over to her.

"Well, not exactly," she answered, handing the necklace to the redhead.

"Not exactly? What do you mean?" she asked, clicking open the locket and passing it to Will so she could see the picture inside.

"Oh, goddess! It's exquisite! How did he get so much detail into something so tiny?" the mortal wondered.

"Where did you get it?" Darnell questioned his childe as he stepped around the foot of the bed.

"I was bored. Everyone had gone out to visit that watcher, and I was here all alone," she began. "I was just looking around. I wasn't going to keep it, honestly! It was laying right out in plain sight."

"On my dresser," Willow nodded, her eyes growing stormy.

"I only went in to have a quick look," the fledgling insisted. "You have the most wonderful sense of--"

"You were in our room?" the redhead snarled. "By whose permission?"

"I told you. I was here by myself! I didn't need permission--"

Willow grabbed Emily by the throat and slammed her into the wall, "You're forgetting yourself, bitch."

"But you helped me that night! I thought you wouldn't mind if I just--"

"I helped you because I felt sorry for you. I thought Joseph had taught you your place. Looks like it didn't sink in."

Emily slipped into game face as the grip on her throat suddenly tightened. Willow tugged her away from the wall and slammed her fist into the fledgling's face before hurling her out the bedroom door and into the hallway. Will ran to the doorway and felt Darnell's hand on her arm. She looked up at him, and he shook his head.

"You'd better get over this bloody idol worship, or whatever it is," Willow growled from the hall as Emily pulled herself to her feet.

"I just wanted--"

"You messed with my things," Willow continued, shoving the blonde vampire back as she spoke. "You took what didn't belong to you. AND you let me blame my DOG!"

Willow brought up a booted foot and landed a hard kick to Emily's stomach. The fledging grunted as she flew into the wall.

"I thought he was your dog," Will said to Darnell as his childe crumpled to the floor.

"I like to pretend," he answered and stepped out of the room.

Willow stormed down the stairs with Will on her heels as Joseph knelt down beside Emily and pulled her up into a sitting position.

"I told you she wasn't going to stand for this obsession of yours," he reminded her impatiently.

She groaned and leaned her weight against him, "I think I've got it, now."
 
 
 
 
 

"The original house was leveled in the fire," Christina was explaining from across the table in Giles' library. "The one you're living in was built on the old house's foundation."

"So the guy who owned the warehouse is the only other owner?" Ceara asked.

"There was one other. A young couple. They only lived there for a few months. She took off with another man, and he moved away from Sunnydale a few weeks later."

"So much for history," Will said. "What about the warehouse guy, then? Anything interesting there?"

"I'm still looking. He seems to have been a rather secretive man," Christina answered. "The people who knew him won't say much about him. I haven't given up, though."

"This is going to take forever," the redheaded mortal complained. "I want to go home!"

"That's out of the question," Giles told her. "It's far too dangerous. We will find the answers. Just give us some time."
***
"Will?" Willow spoke up as her twin's footsteps suddenly veered away from the rest of the group. "Where are you going?"

"Back to the house," she called over her shoulder.

William moved to go after her and felt Willow's hand on his arm, "Let me."

He nodded and kept his eyes on her as she ran to her double's side.

"You can't do that. You heard what Giles said," Willow warned her.

Will stopped and turned toward her, "Someone—or something--is trying to keep me out of my own house. It's thrown things at me, tried to stab me while I was sleeping. What would _you_ do in my situation?"

Willow's eyes held Will's for a moment before a slow smile curled her lips. She squeezed the mortal's shoulder and turned around to where the others were waiting.

"We're going to the house," she called out.

"Bloody hell," Spike muttered.

"Will, you can't--" William stopped as the two redheads began to walk away.

"They aren't listening," Spike commented.

Ceara looked up at Angel, "We can't let them go back there alone."

He nodded and followed after the two blonde vampires who had taken off to catch up with their retreating women. Will stopped in her tracks as they neared the towering house and looked nervously at William.

"We didn't leave a light on, did we?" she asked as her gaze returned to the living room window from which a soft light was spilling.

"No," he answered and moved in front of her as they ascended the steps to the porch.

The door swung open with a light touch, and he reached back for Will's hand as they stepped inside. Angel and Ceara headed for the living room as Willow and Spike moved toward the stairs.

"What the hell?" the words tumbled from her lips as she looked up at the top of the stairs.

"What is it?" Will asked as she and William came up behind them.

"It's blood," Spike answered.

Having heard their puzzled voices, Ceara and Angel emerged from the living room. The slayer gasped as her eyes moved to the wall of the landing above them. The word "BITCH" had been scrawled in dark, red liquid, thick trails of it trickling down to the floor.

She looked over at Spike, "Are you sure it's--"

"Blood," Angel confirmed.

Spike's foot hit the first step and stopped as the front door suddenly slammed shut from behind them. They whirled around to find nobody there.

"This is really starting to piss me off," Willow hissed and brushed past her sire to stomp her way up the stairs.

"Phone Darnell and tell him to get over here," Spike said to William as he started up after his childe.

Angel and Ceara followed behind him, and the small chandelier in the corridor suddenly came on as Spike moved to Willow's side.

"Very impressive," the redhead raised her voice angrily. "Do you change light bulbs, too?"

Without warning, the doors along either side of the hallway flung themselves open simultaneously. Angel curled his hand around Ceara's as they followed Willow and Spike down the corridor, stopping to look inside each room as they went. Will and William rejoined them
as they came to the last door on the right. The faint glow of a candle reflected off of the brass bed in the room. The moment Spike stepped over the threshold, a window on the far wall slid up, and the soft night breeze extinguished the flame from the candle on the nightstand.

"Is this your room?" Ceara asked Will.

"No, it's the other one--across the hall."

The slayer walked the few paces to the open door on the left and snapped on the light.

"Damn," she murmured softly.

The others joined her and stepped into the room, momentarily silenced by the mess around them. The mirror above the bureau had been cracked. Dresser drawers had been pulled open, and Will's clothes lay in shredded tatters about the floor.

"Whatever this is, it definitely has it in for you," the slayer spoke. "I wish Christina had come up with something."

"You and me both," the redhead nodded soberly.

"Why you, though?" William wondered aloud. "Because you're mortal?"

"Possibly," Angel answered.

The red haired vampire shook her head, "We're missing something. I can't believe we wouldn't have heard about this before if the previous owners had experienced the same kinds of things."

"We need to get her out of here," Ceara suggested.

They turned and followed the slayer out the door and down the hallway, stopping at the top of the stairs as Darnell climbed toward them. Willow's eyes drifted back along the still-lit corridor and came to rest on the ceiling at the far end.

"What's that?" she asked, pointing.

William's eyes followed hers to a rectangular panel, "The attic. We haven't been up there."

"Then maybe we should," she replied and headed back down the hallway.

"You'll need a ladder to reach it. There's one in the basement," Will told her.

"I'll get it," Angel offered and started down the stairs.

As Willow stopped under the panel and looked up at it, the light in the hallway suddenly flickered and went out.

"Somebody nervous?" she asked the air, then jumped as all the doors slammed shut.

Ceara tried the light switch on the wall, to no affect, and William barked angrily, "You can either turn the light back on, or I'll rip the bloody thing out of the ceiling!"

The light immediately flickered back to life.

"Cool," Willow grinned.

Angel returned, carting a step ladder, and set it up under the attic's opening. He held it firmly as Willow climbed up. Just as she reached the top step, Angel felt an unseen hand shove him forcefully back against the wall. The ladder, with Willow atop it, suddenly hurled itself into the opposite wall. Darnell flung the broken ladder off of her and bent down beside her.

"Willow," Spike said softly, kneeling at her other side.

Ceara's concerned eyes traveled over the little vampire as Spike and Darnell helped her up onto her feet, "Are you okay?"

"I think so," she nodded and winced at a sharp pain in her shoulder.

"Somebody doesn't want us up--" the slayer's words were obliterated by the chandelier on the ceiling behind them as it suddenly crashed to the floor, sending iridescent shards of glass flying in every direction.

William pushed Will against the wall, pressing his body firmly against hers to protect her from the tiny missiles. He felt her hand tremble as she clutched at his shirt, and he squeezed her closer to him.

"Out of here, now," Angel barked as an antique mirror on the wall began to rattle.

Spike wrapped an arm around Willow's waist and virtually hauled her to the stairs. Every object in the house seemed to be quaking under the force of a malevolent anger, and the gang flew down the stairs toward the front door.

Darnell waited until the last of them was out before following behind them and slamming the door shut. The second their feet landed on the front lawn, all the lights inside went out, and the house returned to a normal state of calm.

"I'm sorry," Will spoke softly as she looked at her twin who was clutching at Spike's hand in obvious discomfort. "I guess coming back here wasn't such a hot idea."

"Yes, it was," her double replied, trying to ignore the searing pain in her shoulder.

Will looked at her in surprise.

"The attic," Ceara spoke, nodding at Willow. "There's something in the attic we aren't supposed to see."
 
 
 

"Will, come back to bed," William spoke to the redhead's back as she sat at the dressing table.

She turned to face him, "Do you think I'm just being stubborn? Is it unreasonable to want our house back?"

He reached out a hand to her, "Come here."

She went to him, and he slid over, pulling her down onto the bed and flipping the covers over her naked body.

"Stubborn, yes," he said as he pulled her into his arms. "Unreasonable, no. I don't think so."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I kind of got the feeling you'd just as soon be rid of the place."

"I may have had that thought, once or twice, but no--not really. I want to know what's going on. I want to kill whatever it is that's so bloody bent on hurting you."

Will snuggled closer in his embrace, and he tilted her face to his and brushed his lips over hers.

"I really got Willow hurt bad, didn't I?" she said softly.

"You didn't hurt her. That--thing did," he answered. "She'll heal quickly. Spike will see to that."

"I hope so."

He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead, "I think you just want an excuse to do this."

"Do I need one?" she asked.

"Never," he grinned and placed a kiss on her nose before moving his mouth to hers.

He slid her under him as her lips parted, and her tongue slipped inside his mouth. His hand cupped her breast, lingering there to toy with the nipple. She moaned as his shaft found her opening and thrust inside. Her inner walls stretched to accommodate him, and he began a slow rhythm, his long strokes filling her until a soft pant broke from her lips.

His movements quickened, and he lowered his mouth to her pebbled nipple, nipping at it as she drove into him. He felt himself nearing the edge and took her clit in his fingers, rolling it between them, sending hot sparks jolting through her body. He bit into the soft flesh of her breast, and she cried out as she came, clasping his head to her. William growled and emptied his seed in her tight channel and trailed his cold tongue over her breast, cleaning the blood from the wounds he had made.

She curled into him, her body instinctively seeking the hard comfort of his, as he moved off of her. He enfolded her tightly in his arms and caressed her back
softly as she drifted to sleep.
***
Willow caught a brief flash of long blonde hair and heard light footsteps dashing up the back stairs as she entered the kitchen. She plopped down at the table as Darnell took some blood from the fridge and poured it into a mug.

"Scared the hell out of her, didn't I?" the redhead asked.

"Who? Em?" he responded, placing the mug in the microwave.

"She been avoiding me like sunlight," Willow nodded.

"She asked for it," Joseph shrugged.

"But it wasn't my place."

"Yes, it was," he told her. "She was way out of line, Willow. I'm her sire, but you're the Master's lady. She'd better get used to the fact that she answers to you, too. She has to know her place. You did what you should have done."

"So, you're not angry with me?"

He smiled and set the warmed blood in front of her, "When have I ever been angry with you?"

Her response was immediate, "The time you caught me giving Trouble a bath in the tub."

Darnell chuckled, "As I remember it, Trouble was giving you the bath."

"Oh, yeah," she nodded.

"Drink," he shoved the mug toward her. "How's the shoulder?"

"Better. Spike's been fussing."

"I thought I heard him holding you down," he teased.

Willow laughed softly, "And he calls me stubborn. Joseph, what do you think is going on over there--at the house? Have you ever encountered anything like that before?"

"No," he shook his head. "And seeing you hurled through the air from the top of a ladder is not an experience I wish to unlive through again."

"I've been through worse," she shrugged.

"Maybe, but you've always been able to see your opponents before," he replied.

"True," she agreed. "It's frustrating as hell. How do you fight something you can't even see?"

Willow suddenly arose from her chair at the familiar tingling sensation she had come to think of as an internal doorbell.

"Ceara," she said to Joseph and headed for the living room.

Spike had already entered the room by the time his childe joined them. She took his hand and looked down to see Trouble nudging his way between the slayer's and Angel's legs. Ceara absent-mindedly lowered her hand to give the dog a quick pat, and he sprawled out beside her foot and helped himself to one of her shoelaces.

"Giles called," Angel spoke. "Christina thinks she's found something. Are William and Will here?"

"Upstairs," Spike answered.

"Better get Joseph, too," Willow suggested as her sire turned to collect their twins.

He nodded his agreement and left the room as Ceara's eyes traveled over the redhead.

"How are you feeling?" the slayer asked.

"I'm fine," Willow answered. "Nothing broken, just a few bruises. They're almost gone, now. Did Giles say what it was that Christina found out?"

Angel shook his head, "Just that it sounds like a pretty good lead and that we should be at their place as soon as possible."

"Maybe we'll be back in our own house by the end of the night," Will said as she came through the entryway, having heard Angel's comment.

"Maybe," Ceara nodded. "Just don't get your hopes up. Whatever this is, it seems pretty determined."

The slayer took Angel's hand and turned to lead the way out, then gasped as she suddenly tripped over her shoelace and found herself nose-down on the carpet.
Trouble leapt to his feet and let go of the lace he had stealthily untied. Ceara growled softly, and Angel reached down to help her up.

"Bad dog," Willow giggled as Trouble raced toward the French doors.

"Very effective," Ceara scowled at the redhead's barely contained laughter.

She bit her lip and looked apologetically at the slayer. Ceara shook her head and laughed softly as Angel pulled her toward the door. Trouble slipped out behind Spike and Willow and proceeded to follow them across the lawn.

"Where the hell does he think he's going?" the blonde vampire asked.

"Oh, let him come with us," Willow replied.

"You do remember what he did to Giles' living room the last time he was there," Angel said.

"I'll make him behave," she promised.

Darnell snorted from behind her.

"He might be useful!" she persisted. "You know, dogs sometimes have a sixth-sense kind of thing going."

"And if that isn't working, he ought to create a big enough nuisance to put the fear of hell into our ghost," Will added.

"Poor Trouble," the redheaded vampire said. "Everyone thinks you're a bother."

"He is!" six voices chorused.
***
Giles jumped up off the sofa at the sound of a soft thud on the patio door. He turned to see a large black nose pressed up against the glass and quickly stepped outside, barring the dog's entrance to his living room.

"What is that creature doing here? He isn't coming in," the watcher stated firmly.

"He's going to help us," Willow sighed.

"I thought you liked that house," Giles quirked an eyebrow at the mortal redhead.

Spike chuckled as his childe dejectedly flopped down on the patio floor. The dog did his best to perch in her lap, though the better part of him lopped over her legs, and nuzzled his cold nose against her neck. She smiled, and he stilled as she scratched his ears.

Giles turned as Christina appeared, caught sight of Trouble, and carefully slunk out through the door, closing it firmly behind her. Ceara and Angel shared an amused grin.

"So, what have you got?" Will asked. "Something good, I hope?"

"Something bad, actually," Christina answered. "But useful, I think."

Giles gestured to the gang, and Spike sat down beside Willow and put an arm over her shoulders. The others took seats in the patio chairs as Christina began to explain.
 
 
 

"I did some digging into Richard Sayre's background," Christina said.

"Richard Sayre?" Ceara asked.

"The guy who owned the house," she nodded. "It seems he's to blame for Will and William's problem."

"He can't be. He's dead," Will spoke. "Are you saying he's a demon or something?"

"No, he was completely human. Sayre was a greedy little toad. He was virtually penniless when he moved to Sunnydale two years ago. He wasn't content to make his own fortune. Too impatient or too stupid, maybe. He may not have made a deal with the devil to get his
hands on that business, but he wasn't averse to dealing with a demon or two."

"I don't understand what this has to do with our house," Will told her. "I mean, if he's dead now--"

"Demons have been known to develop an affinity for humans," Giles spoke. "Especially for humans who stroke their dark egos. I went back and reread the report of the attack that night at the warehouse, and Christina and I did some checking in town. Sayre was alive and well right up until then. He was seen in town by several people that afternoon."

"I thought he was one of Tobias' victims. We found his body. He'd been drained," Angel said.

Giles shook his head, "We found his body behind the warehouse, not locked up like all of the other victims. He was walking around of his own free will. I believe he was aware of what Tobias was doing and didn't give a damn. The vampires who were in league with the demon lost their leader when Willow pulled the trigger on her crossbow. With their human blood
bank shut down, Sayre became just another neck."

"Okay," Will nodded. "But even if all this is true, it still doesn't explain what's going on now."

"I think one of those demon--not Tobias, but one of the others he consorted with--may be trying to avenge Sayre's death, either as part of a pact or simply because the demon took a liking to the bastard," Christina told her.

Ceara looked from Christina to Giles, "Avenge his death? By going after Will? She wasn't responsible--"

"Yes, she was, in a way. She distracted Tobias long enough for Willow to get a clear shot," Darnell said.

"But the rest of us were involved, including William. So why would this demon be singling out Will?" Angel asked.

"Because she's human," Willow guessed.

"Exactly," Giles nodded. "However, after that last episode at the house, he may have broadened his target."

"The attic," Ceara said. "What is it, a portal?"

"Something like that," Christina answered. "Unfortunately, I don't have the names of the demons Sayre invited to tea. But there are several who only need a center of power from which to act."

"Which would explain why we've never seen him," William concluded.

"So, what's the plan?" the slayer asked.

Christina hesitated, and Trouble scrambled off Willow's lap as she rose to her feet.

"Simple," the redhead answered. "We go back to the house, tear the panel off the attic, and kill the bastard."

"Willow," Spike's voice held a note of warning as he pushed himself up and took her hand. "We don't know what we're dealing with, luv."

"Who cares? He'll either disintegrate or turn to goo. Either way, he's dead."

"You have to know how to make the goo, first," Christina interrupted the burgeoning argument. "Which we don't, since we have no idea who the demon is."

"And since Sayre didn't leave a demonic address book, you may never find out," Will lamented.

"Tell you what. I'll just shove a dagger up his ass. That usually works," Willow snarled, her patience giving way at the look of defeat on her twin's face.

"You can't just go charging back into that house with no idea of what you're facing," Ceara objected.

"When the hell did you get so cautious?" the red haired vampire snapped. "You guys can sit here and thumb through books till you go blind. I'm going to get me a demon."

"Willow!" her sire barked as she stormed off the patio.

She whirled around and spat angrily, "What?"

He grinned at the familiar fire in her eyes, "Want some company?"

Her scowl instantly melted, and she flashed him a wide smile, "Oh."

He chuckled and moved to her side as she turned to walk off. Darnell took off after them, and Trouble followed his lead.

Ceara sighed heavily and looked up at Angel, "Looks like we're about to go charging in there with no idea of what we're facing."

Angel laughed and bent to give her a quick kiss, "Looks like it."

Will grinned and grabbed William's hand as they, too, ran to catch up with the others.

"Will! You can't--" Giles stopped as the gang vanished around the corner, and he looked up at Christina as she moved to stand beside his chair. "They aren't listening. Why don't they listen?"

"I don't know," she smiled softly and squeezed his shoulder. "But it's usually what keeps Sunnydale standing."
 
 
 

The lights in the living room suddenly flicked on as Willow lead the way up the front porch steps. She felt Trouble's solid body pressing against her leg and looked down as the dog snarled deep in his throat. The vampire looked back at Ceara, and the slayer nodded and moved up behind her. From William's side, Will gasped in surprise as the door was suddenly tugged open from the inside with such force, it slammed into the interior wall.

"Cocky bastard, isn't he?" Spike said as he followed the slayer and his childe through the doorway.

"Attic?" Willow asked Ceara.

"Attic," she nodded.

"How?" Will asked. "That panel is the only way up there, and you know what happened the last time."

The red haired vampire grinned over at her twin, snatched up the heavy coatrack that sat near the wall beside the door, and headed for the stairs with Trouble at her side. The others quickly followed after her, stopping at the top of the stairs, quietly testing their surroundings.

Willow took a step toward the far end of the corridor, and the dog moved in front of her, firmly planting himself in her path, and refused to budge.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly.

Trouble growled, and the hair along his back stood on end. He suddenly lunged at the little vampire, knocking her flat on her ass, a split second before a large picture on the wall beside her flung itself in her direction.

Spike shoved Ceara out of the way and reached down for Willow, "You okay, luv?"

She snarled and looked up at him, game face in place, amber eyes flashing, as she shot up off the floor. She grabbed up the coatrack from where it had fallen and stormed off down the hallway. Spike took off after her with Darnell and Trouble right behind him.

Ceara came to a dead halt beside Angel, and Will stared after her twin as she stopped below the attic panel and tightened her grip on the coatrack. It was easily tall enough to reach to the ceiling, and Willow held one end of it and rammed the other end repeatedly against the panel. It broke into pieces, sending bits of plaster and wood raining down on the floor.

A faint glow of electric blue light could be seen coming from the opening the vampire had created overhead. In an instant, it increased in intensity, spinning itself into a blinding white light that shot down toward the redhead. Ceara shoved the vampire out of the way. The bolt of light struck the slayer, dead on, lifting her body off of the floor and flinging her into the wall.

"Bloody hell, that wasn't supposed to happen," Willow snarled as Angel quickly bent to help the slayer to her feet. "Sorry, Ceara."

The slayer shook her head, fighting the wave of nausea that swept over her, "I'm okay. Get up there before it hits again. Go!"

"Leg up," Willow ordered Darnell.

Joseph looked at her uneasily, "Willow--"

"Now, damn it!" she barked.

He stooped, placing his weight on his legs as she stepped into his cupped hands, and lifted her with enough momentum to allow her to grab hold of the edge of the opening. She hauled herself up and looked back down from the gaping hole as the blue light began to glow above her, outlining her small frame.

"Willow!" Spike shouted.

She rolled out of the way as the bolt hit again, striking the floor of the attic where she had been
lying and widening the opening by several feet. Her face reappeared over the hole, and she reached down her hand to her sire. He jumped, and felt her wrist curl around his forearm. He brought his other hand up to grab hold of her arm as Willow scooted herself backward until his fingers found the outline of the opening.

"Will, find something to stand on--a chair--anything," Ceara said as Spike pulled himself up through the hole in the ceiling.

The redheaded mortal nodded and ran into the nearest bedroom. Wood scraped against wood as she hauled a heavy, flat-lidded chest across the floor, and Darnell met her at the doorway and helped her shove it out into the corridor. William and Angel stood it on end, and Joseph steadied it as, one by one, the others climbed on it and disappeared through the hole overhead.

Trouble stuck his nose in the air and howled his displeasure at being left alone as Darnell scrambled onto the chest and up into the attic.
 
 
 

"This Sayre guy wasn't just playing around, was he?" Ceara commented as her eyes scanned the rough pine planks that had been nailed along the walls to form bookshelves.

Angel moved up beside her, his gaze traveling over the countless dusty books lined neatly on the shelves. He spun around as Will gasped from the far corner.

"Here he comes again," the redhead said.

The wall across from her rippled like water into which a pebble had been dropped. The familiar blue light swirled out from its center, and William threw himself at Will, shoving her into the adjacent wall as the bolt of bright light struck the floor where she had been standing.

An angry growl emanated from within the light as it shimmered and formed itself into a vaporous image. Angry eyes glared out at the humans and vampires. Willow watched, dumbstruck, as a vein of electric blue light snaked down what was, apparently, the demon's
arm. He lifted his stump-like hand and pointed at the little vampire with one tendril of white light.

Spike snarled and shoved Willow aside as the light crackled and struck him just below his left shoulder. The blonde vampire was hurled violently backward, and Willow cried out as he disappeared through the hole in the floor. Darnell grabbed her arm as she attempted to jump down after him, and she shook him off, her eyes burning wickedly, as she dropped herself to the corridor below the attic.

The demon laughed cruelly and disappeared as the others followed after Willow. Spike's eyelids flickered as Trouble stood over him and lowered his head to lash his wet tongue over the blonde vampire's cheek.

"Spike," Willow whispered, red tears spilling from her eyes.

"Willow--" Spike lifted his hands, and his eyes snapped open as his fingers curled around a very furry face.

Trouble wagged his tail and slopped another wet kiss over the vampire's face.

"Bloody hell," he sputtered, shoving himself up into a sitting position.

"Spike," Willow repeated around a teary giggle.

He looked at her and reached out to brush away a tear. She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly, then reached down to give Trouble, who was trying to insert himself between their bodies, a soft pat.

"Oh, hell," William's soft snarl broke the silent moment, and Will felt his hand grabbing hold of her arm.

Willow pulled away and looked around as the blue demon's form began to take shape at the end of the hallway.

"How do we kill it?" Will's frantic question was directed at the slayer.

"How the hell should I--"

"Joseph!" Willow called out as she scrambled to her feet.

Instantly, he was at her side, and she grabbed his hand and looked over at Ceara, "Hold the bastard off for a minute!"

"Easy for you to say!" Ceara shouted back as the demon flung a bolt of light down the length of the hallway.

Angel pulled her up against the wall, and Spike kicked William's feet out from under him, sending his twin and Will crashing to the floor as the flash of light flew past them.

"What the hell are they doing?" Angel muttered as the sound of loud crashing came from the nearest bedroom.

"Draw him," they heard Willow's voice as she spoke to Darnell.

Joseph stepped into the hallway and took a step toward the demon. Trouble snarled as the demon howled and raised his arm.

"Willow!" Darnell called out. "Get the hell out here!"

"I'm here, you big coward," she spoke calmly as she walked out behind him, her eyes glued to the demon.

"I'm not a coward. I just prefer not to be toast," he argued, his gaze fixed on the same point. "Especially if you're doing the toasting. We both know what you did to the toaster the last time you--"

"Now!" Willow barked as the demon released another bolt of white light.

Joseph dropped to the floor, and Willow raised up a large mirror, shielding herself from the oncoming ray. The light bounced off the silvered surface and shot back at the demon, blasting a hole through his miasmic torso. His scream reverberated off the walls as he vanished, leaving behind only a nebulous blue haze.

"That was bloody brilliant, pet," William spoke, pulling the mirror out of her hands and letting it
slide to the floor before planting a hard, lingering kiss on her lips.

"Do you mind?" Spike's disgruntled voice asked as he tapped his double on the shoulder.

William shrugged and stepped back, waving his twin forward to take his place. Spike grinned and hauled Willow into his arms.

"My mirror," Will said, bending down to pick up its charred remains. "You ripped my antique mirror off the wall! And then you FRIED it!"

"I needed it," Willow told her.

"You needed a mirror," the redheaded mortal corrected her.

"Well, that's what it is," Willow replied.

Will sighed, "There's a mirror sitting on the dresser, right under where this USED to hang!"

"Oh," Willow gave her a sheepish grin. "Sorry."
 

"Can you believe Giles had the gall to call us lucky?" Willow said. "Lucky! Ha! I knew exactly what I was doing."

"Well, ducks, I kind of know what he means. I pretty much think the same thing every time I look at you," Spike told her.

She smiled brightly at him, "How are you feeling?"

"Dunno," he answered with a lascivious grin. "Why don't you come over here and find out for yourself?"

She chuckled and took a step toward the sofa, "You sure you're up to it, old man?"

"Old--" he growled and grabbed hold of her wrist, yanking her over to him.

Willow squealed as he dragged her onto the sofa, pushed her forcefully down, and trapped her body under his. His mouth captured hers, and she moaned as his tongue darted inside. Her hands traveled over his back and down to his ass. Spike broke the kiss and arched an eyebrow at her as her hands cupped his firm buttocks and squeezed.

"Feels pretty damned good to me," she murmured, raising one hand to his head to pull his mouth back to hers.

Spike raised himself up and quickly tugged off his jeans. He lifted her skirt, the fabric bunching in soft folds around her waist, and groaned when he discovered she wasn't wearing any panties. Willow gasped and bucked into him as his tongue swept over her slit, and she draped one leg over the edge of the sofa, opening herself to him. Spike's tongue swirled over her swelling clit, and he drew it between his lips, working her into a trembling frenzy.

He moved up and took her lips as he entered her in one strong thrust, filling her completely as her inner walls adjusted to his hard shaft. She matched his rhythm, raising her hips to meet his long, deep strokes. Spike snarled softly as he felt her tightening around him, and he bit into the soft flesh of her neck as she screamed out her release.

His mouth returned to hers, and she kissed the blood from his lips as her channel continued to pulse around his cock. He offered his neck to her, cradling her head as her fangs pierced his skin and her lips suckled her sire's blood. She licked clean the last drops and looked up into his intense blue eyes.

"I love you," he murmured softly and dropped a tender kiss on her lips.

"I love you, too," she purred happily as he shifted his body off of her and pulled her close to him, resting one hand on her ass and caressing the rounded flesh with his palm.

Emily came from the kitchen and stopped in the entryway at the sight of their tangled, partially
naked bodies. She turned on her heel and beat a hasty path up the stairs. Willow nestled closer to her lover and laughed softly, having sensed the fledgling's quick appearance and even quicker retreat.
**
"Giles has declared the house demon-free," Will said as William took a seat on the terrace and drew her down onto his lap.

Ceara nodded, "You should have seen him in the attic. He carted off those books like a pauper who had discovered a buried treasure."

"So everything on your side of town is back to normal," Willow replied.

"Aside from the gaping hole in the ceiling, the charred corridor walls, and the tear in the wallpaper where SOMEONE ripped my mirror off of the wall," Will gave her twin an impish grin.

"I'll send Marcus over," Spike told her.

"Marcus?" she asked.

"He was one of the original contractors when Sunnydale was rebuilt. He can take a few of the boys with him. They'll have your house fixed up in no time," Willow explained.

"You turned one of the carpenters?" Angel asked Spike. "When did that happen?"

The blonde vampire shrugged, "Not long after we got here. It was dinner time. I was hungry."

Angel shook his head, and Ceara studied her shoes and pretended not to hear. Darnell's appearance at the door broke the awkward silence, and he stepped outside, carrying a silver tray laden with wine glasses. Spike, Willow, and William helped themselves to the glasses containing bloodwine.

"I've been wondering," Ceara said as Joseph moved over to her and handed her one of the goblets that held regular wine. "Just what did Willow do to the toaster?"

"Torched it," Darnell answered.

Willow looked around at the gaping expressions that were directed at her, "Well! How was I supposed to know you shouldn't use it to reheat a slice of pizza? Anyway, it was only a toaster."

"Willow, you nearly caught the cupboards on fire," Joseph reminded her with a slow grin.

"Oh, yeah," she admitted. "I forgot about that."

"No wonder you decided to turn a carpenter," Will said to Spike. "Maybe you ought to consider a fireman or two, next."

"Will!" Angel admonished her, his eyebrows climbing his forehead as William chuckled and pulled her mouth into a delighted kiss.

End 10/10

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