"It wasn't supposed to happen this way."

Darnell's eyes darted to Spike as the words drifted from the Master's
lips. The blonde vampire sat close to Willow on the bed, holding her
hand and periodically brushing away bloody tears from his pale cheeks.

Joseph had found the tiny redhead lying outside the front door. For her
to have made it that far from the park had been a feat of pure
strength, of that he had no doubt. The vampires who had attacked her
had most certainly left her for dead, never dreaming she had the
strength to drag herself home to her lover. The demons had not had the
effrontery to feed from the Master's lady or to violate her sexually,
but they had beaten her with a savagery the likes of which Darnell had
never seen before.

The pale woman's face was a mass of bruises and cuts. Her arm had been
fractured, and the bloody bruises on her side attested to the broken
ribs that lay underneath. She had laid struggling for breath in Spike's
arms for nearly an hour. It was not until her heartbeat had become so
faint that even his vampiric ears had difficulty hearing it, that he
had finally lowered his mouth to her throat.

"I love you, baby," he had whispered hoarsely before piercing her neck
with a gentleness Darnell would not have thought possible.

It had taken several moments of tension-filled effort before Spike
successfully coaxed her to suckle from his bleeding wrist. Even now, as
the two vampires kept vigil over the young woman, the less severe
bruises had begun to fade and heal.

"I never got to ask her," Spike's soft voice pierced the silence of the
room. "She never had the chance to consent."

"You know it's what she wanted, what you've both wanted," Darnell
assured him.

Spike nodded slightly, "Call the watcher. I need them here."

Joseph's eyes lingered on Willow for a moment before he turned to carry
out his Master's order.
***
Willow stirred slightly and moaned as pain rocketed through her body.

"Lie still, sweetheart," Spike said, clasping her hand gently.

"Spike," she murmured, trying to peer out through swollen, bruised
eyelids.

"Yes, baby," he whispered. "You're safe now."

"What's happened to me?" she asked.

"You were attacked, in the park. Vampires," he told her.

"I remember," she answered. "But I feel--different. I'm cold, Spike,
and hungry."

"Willow, I was going to lose you."

She lay silently for a minute before stating, "You turned me."

"I had to, baby. I'm sorry. I--"

"I'm glad. Thank you."

He smiled, feeling immense relief, and bent to kiss her lips softly.

"I love you," he told her.

"I love you, too," she whispered.

Spike laid down very close to her and placed his throat near her mouth.

"I want you to feed from me. My blood will help you heal and make you
strong again."

"How do I--" the question was halted by the sudden craving that swept
over the redhead as her sire's blood called to her.

"That's right, luv," Spike encourage her. "Drink from me."

Willow moaned softly as she nuzzled against his throat and bit into
him. Spike lay still beside her; only his hand moved as he caressed her
back lightly while she drank silently. When she drew away, he shifted
her back onto the pillows and gazed down into her eyes that had already
begun to brighten.

"Rest now," he said. "I'll send Darnell in to sit with you, but I won't
be more than a few feet away. I promise."

She nodded and smiled weakly, and Spike waited until her eyes closed
before slipping carefully off the bed.
***
"Is she all right?" Giles blurted out as Spike entered the room.

He shook his head, "She's dying."

"No!" Ceara cried out.

Giles put his hand on the vampire's shoulder.

"Turn her. Now," he demanded.

Spike looked at him, relief easing the tension in his body.

"I already have. She'll be all right in a few days. I had to know if I
was going to get a fight from you."

Giles shook his head, "No fight. I came to terms with it long ago.
Willow has planned on it for a long time now. You're sure she'll
recover?"

"Yes. I'll feed her at regular intervals. My blood is what she needs
now."

The watcher sat down on the sofa and reached for Christina's hand.

"Giles--"

The watcher stared at Spike in shock. It was the first time the vampire
had ever called him by name.

"You still have the spell--the restoration spell?" Spike asked.

"Yes," he answered.

"I want you to use it. I want you to restore Willow's soul."

Angel's mouth dropped open, and he and Ceara exchanged dazed looks.

A brief grin twitched at Spike's lips as he took in their reactions.

"I know," he said. "But it's one of the things I love about her. Her
soul makes her strong."

Giles sat in stunned silence, waiting for the Hellmouth to open and
swallow them up.

"Can you do it?" Spike asked him anxiously.

"Yes, yes, of course," the watcher replied. "We must wait until she's
stronger, though. Let's give her a few days to--to feed from you and
heal. And it might be best for the rest of us to keep our distance, for
the time being."

Spike nodded his agreement.

"Do you know who did this to her?" the slayer asked.

"I told you there was a small group of minions who had broken away from
the rest because of my association with you and the watcher," Spike
answered. "They attacked Willow in the park tonight. I don't know how
she--how she ever managed to get back here."

Red tears rimmed his eyes, and he looked away from them to the French
doors across the room.

"Determination," Christina suggested. "To get to the man who loves her,
who would help her."

He nodded and looked back at them.

"I want those bastards, and I want them fast," he said coldly.

"We'll get them," Ceara vowed. "You'll have your revenge."

"You should go back to her now," Giles spoke. "I'll get everything
ready for the restoration. We'll do it as soon as she's better."

"All right, but I'm going with you when you track down those bloody
sods."

"Stay with Willow. She needs you right now. Let us find out where
they're hiding. We'll phone you when we're ready to go after them,"
Ceara said.

"Thanks," Spike replied.

"If you need us--for anything--call," Angel told him.

He nodded and left them to go back upstairs. Ceara turned to Angel, and
he put his arms around her and hugged her close to him.

"I'll kill them," she murmured through her tears. "Oh, Willow--"

"It's all right," Angel said softly and kissed her head. "Spike will
take care of her. She'll be strong again soon. Let's go track down the
bastards that did this."
***
"But Spike, I don't want my soul back!" Willow insisted as he helped
her with the buttons on her shirt. "I want to be like you are!"

"Sweetheart, you're my childe. I'll always be a part of you," he
promised.

"Well, what do I want with a bloody soul, anyway? You don't have one.
Joseph doesn't have one."

"I love your soul, Willow," he told her.

"You don't love me without it?" she asked sadly.

He placed a finger under her chin and raised her eyes to his.

"You know better than that," he said and kissed her.

"Then why--"

"It's part of you, baby, part of what you are," he explained.

"Not anymore," she argued as he lifted her up in his arms to carry her
out the door and down the stairs.

"I told you I'd bring you downstairs if you'd behave," he reminded her.
"So, behave."

"I've always had a problem with behaving. You know that."

"Well, at least that hasn't changed," he grinned as he entered the
living room and lowered her onto the sofa.

"Joseph, tell Spike I don't need a soul," she said to the vampire who
was locking up the desk in the corner.

"I don't know," he turned to her. "Your soul is rather cute."

"Vampires aren't supposed to be cute!" she demanded.

He looked at Spike and grinned before answering her.

"Then you've got an uphill battle," he informed her.

"Great," she grumbled. "I want menacing, evil, dangerous, and what do I
get? Cute!"

Spike chuckled and kissed her, "Some things even immortality can't
alter, pet. Would it help if I told you you're also wickedly hot?"

"Yes," she grinned.

"Good. You are," he said.

He kissed her once more and stood up, glancing over at Darnell, who
nodded.

"Where are you going?" Willow asked.

"Out for a bit," he answered.

"You've already fed," she stated. "What's going on?"

"I won't be long."

"That isn't an answer. Where are you going?" she repeated.

He looked her in the eye and said, "After the assholes who attacked
you."

"You know where they are? I'm coming, too."

"No, you're not," he refused. "You're just back on your feet. You
aren't ready for a fight. Darnell will stay here with you. I'll be back
as soon as I can."

"But Spike--" the protest died on her lips as she recognized the fiery
stubbornness gleaming in his eyes. "Well, then, hurt them for me. Hurt
them a lot."

"Count on it, baby," he promised and bent to kiss her one more time
before he left.

"Is there anything you need?" Joseph asked as Spike left the room.

"Just my book, please," she answered.

He picked it up from the stand beside the armchair and handed it to
her.

"And--some coffee? Are vampires supposed to drink coffee?"

Darnell smiled fondly at her, "For you, Willow, anything. I have a
feeling you're going to turn vampire folklore on it's head, anyway."

"Oh, that sounds like fun," she decided.

"I'll be right back," he chuckled.

Willow waited until he disappeared around the corner. She dropped the
book on the sofa and walked to the desk. She tugged at the drawer she
had watched him close earlier. It was securely locked. She grabbed up a
letter opener and pried open the catch and slid the drawer open.
Reaching inside, she pulled out a piece of paper and several small
bags, which she recognized instantly.

"The restoration spell," she murmured to herself.

She gathered up the items and closed the drawer. A fire crackled in the
fireplace on the other end of the room, and she walked to it, staring
down at the items in her hands. She smiled to herself and tossed the
lot into the flames, then stepped back to watch as the fire devoured
them.

Willow nodded in satisfaction and returned to the sofa. Stretching out
across its length, she opened her book and began reading as Darnell
entered the room.

"Thanks," she smiled as he set a coffee mug down on the table.

"Anything else?" he offered.

"Nope. I'm happy now," she said with a smile.
 
 

"Spike?" Willow called out, as the front door closed.

"Hello, pet," he smiled as he entered the living room.

"Did you get them?" she asked.

"Every bloody one," he answered. "And I promise you, they were very
sorry before they were dusted."

"I wish I could have helped."

"I know, baby," he nodded. "Next time, when you're better. Willow?"

"Yes."

"Angel and the others will be here in a few minutes. Are you okay with
that?" he asked.

"I guess so," she shrugged. "Why are they coming here?"

"Because I asked them to. So they can help us," he answered.

"I didn't know we needed help."

"Willow, luv, you know I want the watcher to restore your soul."

"Can't you just love me like this?" she asked.

He moaned and sat down next to her, "Of course I can. I do. It's just,
Willow, you're so wonderful. You're everything I'm not. You're bright
and understanding and soft. You deserve to have a soul."

"Even if I don't want one?"

"I'm not trying to force this on you. I feel like I've lost a part of
you, and I want to get it back for you. Can you understand that?"

She looked over at him as he took her hand, "Maybe. I don't want to be
weak, though--"

"In all the time I've known you, you've never been weak. We've talked
about this before, remember? Memories without pain?"

"I remember," she nodded. "I really don't care if I have those
memories, now."

"I know you don't, but you did then. Let me do this for you, pet. Let
me give back what I was forced to take away," he asked.

Willow studied the empty coffee mug on the table in front of them as
she responded quietly, "You can't."

"Why not?"

Her eyes darted to the desk beyond him as she chewed on her lip.

He lowered his voice, "Willow, what have you done?"

"I don't want--"

"What have you done?" he repeated, jumping up off the sofa and going to
the desk. The broken drawer slid open easily, and he stared down at the
empty interior.

"Where is it?" he asked her.

"Gone."

He slammed the drawer shut and went back to her, pulling her up off the
sofa.

"Gone where?" he demanded.

"I burned it," she answered.

"Willow! How could you do something so damned stupid?"

He whirled around as Darnell appeared with Angel, Ceara, Giles, and
Christina.

"She burned it! All of it!" Spike shouted.

"What?" Ceara gasped.

"The bloody fucking spell! She destroyed it!"

"Why?" Christina asked.

"Because I don't want a soul!" Willow growled. "I'm not going to do an
Elizabeth on you! I'm not crazy! I just don't want a soul!"

Spike let go of her and walked toward the French doors.

"Where are you going?" she asked anxiously.

"Out to kill something," he snarled and stormed out of the house.

"Oh, hell," Willow murmured as Giles went after Spike.

Angel sat down and pulled her down beside him, taking her hands in his.

"That wasn't the smartest thing you've ever done," he observed.

"I had to! He wouldn't listen to me. He can't make me have a soul," she
argued.

"Actually, yes, he can. Trust me. I've been there."

Willow looked up at him, "I forced it on you, didn't I?"

He smile down at her, "It doesn't feel that way after your soul is
restored. You did what you had to do because you cared about me. You
wanted me back. I'm grateful to you for loving me enough to do that.
That's exactly the way Spike feels about you."

"But I'm not like Angelus was. I don't hate you guys. I don't want to
tear your throats out." She looked over at the slayer, "Okay, maybe I
do, a little, but that's only natural, right? If Spike can do this
without a soul, so can I. What's the difference?"

"Willow, neither Spike nor myself were very nice people even before we
were turned. It was only after my soul was restored and I had to face
my demon that I realized how wrong I had been. But you're different.
You're warm and caring and all of the things a soul thrives on. He
loves that about you. He wants to give that back to you."

She looked from him to Ceara, who smiled sadly at her.

"It doesn't really matter now, does it?" the slayer said. "No spell, no
restoration."
***
"Spike," Giles spoke as he approached the vampire.

"I should have put it where she wouldn't find it," Spike lamented. "I
should have been more careful."

"You had no way of knowing," the watcher told him.

"We talked about turning her so many times. I never thought losing her
soul would make a difference to me," he admitted. "I love her anyway,
but when I watched that part of her slip away, I knew I'd lost
something I'd never find in anyone else. But it's really gone, now,
isn't it? I've lost that forever."

"No, you haven't," Giles answered. "I can get the spell from another
source."

Spike turned and stared at him for a moment, wordlessly hopeful.

"That spell was far too important to have entrusted to a single copy.
One of the first things I did when I took over the council was to have
it archived in London. It will take a few days to have it encrypted and
sent by courier," he explained.

"I'm about to take back every bloody insult I've ever hurled at you,"
Spike told him.

Giles grinned, "Let's not do anything rash."
***
"He hasn't spoken to me in three days. He's really angry, isn't he?"
Willow asked Darnell.

"Disappointed, I'd say," he answered. "He misses his Willow."

"But I'm right here!"

"Almost," the vampire smiled. "Weren't you happy with him before?"

"Of course I was!"

"Well, then, you can't blame him for wanting you back, can you?" he
asked.

"I just wish he could love me like this," she murmured.

"Oh, Willow," Joseph chuckled. "Stop that. You're the only woman I know
who can turn a Master vampire to jelly. You know he loves you."

Her eyes twinkled wickedly, "But isn't it fun being just plain evil?"

"It's a hell of a lot more fun with you around," he grinned. "But who's
going to drive him crazy by kicking his dead conscience? You were good
for him. You gave him something he doesn't have without you--all of
you."

"I thought this is what he wanted, the two of us being soulless," she
said.

"He thought so, too. Until he lost the other half of you."

"Do you think he'll ever forgive me?" she wondered.

"I think it's more a matter of acceptance than forgiveness. Give him
some time to mourn what he's lost," Joseph suggested gently.

"Do you forgive me?" she asked.

"For what? Sending me out to get coffee so you could assault the desk
with the letter opener?"

Willow looked away from him, "I guess I'll be making my own coffee from
now on, huh?"

"Willow, the last time you were in the kitchen, I had to replace three
pans, five dishes, and a wine glass, remember?" he asked as a grin
tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh, right," she nodded. "That was the night Spike insisted we keep a
fire extinguisher in there."

"Exactly. You stick to breaking and entering, and I'll take care of the
coffee."

"Thanks, Joseph," she smiled softly.

"You're welcome," he answered easily and turned to leave her. "I'm
getting decaf, though, those hard little pellets in a plastic jar--just
add boiling water, and you have instant--brown water, and that nasty
powdered creamer, and sugar with lots of lumps in it."

He grinned as Willow's giggle followed him out of the room.
***
"Can I go hunting with you tonight?" Willow asked as Spike pulled on
his duster.

"You don't need to hunt. You're still feeding from me," he answered.

"Oh," she said softly.

He looked over at her as she quickly wiped away a tear and turned away
from him. He went to her and put his arms around her.

"Please, don't hate me," she begged.

"I'll never hate you," he promised.

"But you don't like me, either."

"I love you, pet. I know this isn't easy for you, either. We just have
to get used to each other again--the way we are now," he told her.

"It was so easy before."

"I know," he agreed, tucking her head under his chin. "I never imagined
it would be this different. I loved your soul, baby."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry I destroyed the spell. I'm sorry
I didn't give you the chance to get my soul back."

"No, it's my fault. I should have talked to you, told you how I felt. I
shouldn't have kept it a secret," he pulled away and looked down at
her. "We should have decided together."

"And now it's too late."

"Look at me," he said and waited until her eyes met his. "I love you,
Willow. I'll always love you. I know I've been leaving you alone a lot,
but we have to find new ways to reach each other, now. I can't reach
your soul anymore. I can't touch that part of you, but it isn't the
only thing I loved about you. We'll figure this out, luv. I promise.
It's just going to take some time."

"Okay," she nodded.

He kissed her softly and stepped away as she reached out to him. She
let her arm fall limply to her side as she watched him leave her, once
again.
***
"I still don't understand why we're going to the watcher's house,"
Willow confessed as Darnell walked beside her.

"All I know is that the Master told me to bring you to him there."

"Why? None of them have come within a mile of me in almost a week," she
pointed out.

"I think they're a bit intimidated by you."

She arched her eyebrows, "You think so? Me? Intimidating?"

"Well, maybe overwhelming would be more accurate," he grinned. "I don't
think they quite know what to make of the soulless Willow. You haven't
been missing your old friends, have you?"

"No," she answered honestly. "That's bad, isn't it?"

"Not bad. It's just who you are now."

"Sometimes, I don't like myself very much," she confided.

He slung an arm over her shoulder, "You're not supposed to. You're
evil."

"Evil doesn't feel evil when you're evil," she responded.

He glanced at her sideways and chuckled, "I'm writing down all these
Willowisms, you know. I'm going to have them published and sell them on
the vampire black market."

"What's it going to be called?" she grinned.

"It's going to be entitled, 'Huh?'" he answered.

She looked up at the smirk on his face and laughed softly.

"Yeah, but you understand me, admit it," she told him.

"That thought has kept me awake many a day, believe me," he teased.

Willow suddenly stopped walking, and Darnell tightened his arm around
her shoulder as she cried out.

"Willow?" he spoke as a spark of light glowed in her eyes.

He scooped her up as her knees gave out and ran the short distance to
the watcher's door. Giles swung open the door before the vampire could
pound on it. He stepped aside and allowed Darnell to carry the redhead
inside.

"Master?" he asked, his voice saturated with concern, as Spike raced
into the entryway.

"She'll be all right," Spike assured him as he took Willow out of
Joseph's arms and carried her in to the sofa.

"Willow," he murmured as he sat down and placed her across his lap.

She leaned against his chest, and he felt her cold tears on his skin.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Darnell asked Angel, who had come into the
room ahead of Ceara and Christina.

"The restoration spell," he answered.

Joseph's eyes flew back to the woman cradled against his Master.

"She's back?" he whispered.

Angel smiled and nodded, "She's back. She has her soul."

Angel felt Ceara's hand slip into his, and he looked down at her
tear-filled eyes before drawing her against him.

Spike, completely oblivious to the others in the room, lifted Willow's
face and brushed her hair away from her wet cheeks and kissed her
softly.

"Spike," she murmured, and put her arms around him, hugging herself
tightly to him as she buried her face in his neck.

"It'll all right, baby," he spoke in her ear. "Everything's all right
now."

She placed a kiss against the wounds from which she had been feeding,
and he moaned and pulled her mouth back to his in a passionate kiss.

"I missed you, sweetheart," he said as his mouth traveled over her
tear-stained cheeks.

"But I burned it," she whispered. "I destroyed the spell. Oh, Goddess,
I'm sorry. How did you--"

He smiled at her, "You didn't think I'd let a little fire keep you from
me, did you?"

"I don't deserve you," she told him as her hand caressed his cheek.

"I know, but I'm afraid you're stuck with me, pet. You'll just have to
learn to suffer with it."

"That isn't what I meant," she protested with a soft laugh. "I love
you, Spike."

"I think perhaps we should give them some time alone," Giles suggested
softly.

Ceara arched a brow and looked over at him in shock, "You're going to
let them--do it--on your sofa?"

The watcher blushed to his roots and ushered them out of the room.

"We'll close the doors and go out on the terrace in the back yard,"
Christina announced as she slid the louvered doors from their hiding
place in the wall. "We won't even know they're here."

"Don't count on it," Darnell warned them with the trace of a grin.
 

"I thought you said you'd gotten them all," Willow said as she perched
on the arm of Spike's chair.

"We did, all of the ones who attacked you, anyway," he answered.

"But there are more of them," she guessed.

"Only a few," he nodded. "They weren't involved in the attack, but they
helped plan it."

"They've been lying low since we dusted the others, but it's only a
matter of time before they take another shot at you--or Spike," Ceara
said.

"So, let's go after them first," Willow suggested.

Her words were met with stony silence, and she looked at each of them
as she stood up beside the chair.

"What?" she asked impatiently.

"Willow," Angel spoke. "This may not be the best time for you to--"

"Oh, no you don't!" she interrupted. "I couldn't go the last time
because of what they did to me. I'm healed now, and I am _not_ sitting
this one out."

"No one wants you to," Spike told her. "But it's only been two weeks,
and you're still learning how to deal with having a demon and a soul at
the same time."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she demanded. "First, I'm
screwed up because I don't have a soul. Now, I'm screwed up because I
_do_ have a soul. Make up your damned mind."

Spike stood and looked down at his childe, his eyes flashing a warning,
"Don't get mouthy, pet."

"I'll say whatever I bloody well please," she snarled, her eyes glaring
back at him. "Unless you plan on smacking me into submission."

"Willow, when's the last time I smacked you for anything?" he asked
sternly.

"Well--never," she answered, trying to maintain some sense of
indignation. "But--don't sires do that sometimes?"

Angel burst out laughing, and Willow looked at him in confusion.

"You've got your hands full, Spike. I almost envy you," the vampire
said as he shook his head.

Willow looked back at Spike, "What's he talking about?"

A smile played along her sire's lips as he placed his hand on the small
of her back and lowered his mouth to her ear.

"Sire's don't always use force, unless they're punishing a childe. I
would never hurt you, and there are other methods of persuasion, luv,"
he said and nibbled her ear.

"Oh," she murmured. "Well, that could be fun."

She pulled back and looked up at him, "But I'm still fighting those
bastards when you go after them."

He looked at her appraisingly, "You'll listen to me, if I agree?"

"Of course!" she smiled, ignoring the slayer's soft snort. "I'm your
childe, aren't I?"

"That's what has me worried," he nodded knowingly.
***
"Spike, he was there--the one in the middle! He was one of them,"
Willow whispered as they watched the group of vampires at the end of
the alley.

"He was in the park that night?" Spike asked.

"Yeah. He's mine," she snarled and began to rise from beside the
dumpster by which they were crouching.

He grabbed her and yanked her back down.

"We go together, ducks," he reminded her.

"Now?" she asked impatiently.

"Now," he nodded with a grin.

He took her hand as Ceara and Angel stood up beside them. The vampires
at the end of the alley suddenly turned towards them, and Willow's eyes
fixed on the one who had attacked her.

"I thought you were dead, bitch," the vampire sneered.

"Define dead, wanker," she growled as she advanced on him, shifting
into game face.

She dodged his fist and lashed out to curl her hand around his neck
while, beside her, the slayer quickly staked one of the others. Ceara
looked over from the pile of ashes as Angel slammed another onto the
pavement, pinning him there with a knee. Ceara tossed him her stake,
which he caught in one hand and shoved it into the vampire's chest.

Spike grabbed the next demon, who was moving up behind Willow, and
flung him into one of the brick walls that flanked the alley. Dragging
him to his knees, the blonde vampire reached for his neck and snapped
it with practiced ease. He turned at the strangled snarl coming from
the assailant whom Willow had pinned against the wall. Her nails were
digging into his flesh as she squeezed his throat.

The slayer had dusted the only other vampire and was clutching Angel's
arm as Willow brought her other hand to her attacker's head. She
grabbed hold of his hair, released his neck, and sank her fangs into
his throat. Blood coursed down his shirt as she tore at his flesh with
unbridled hatred. Willow withdrew her fangs and glared coldly at the
vampire. He stared back at her, the terror of his imminent destruction
clearly etched on his face.

"Finish it, Willow," Angel spoke.

Still holding him up by the hair on his head, she drew her free arm
across her bloody mouth.

"Hurts like hell, doesn't it?" she snarled at her weakening victim.

Willow raked her nails across the wide open gash on his neck, and a
smile of cruel pleasure spread across her demonic face as he cried out
in pain. Ceara shot a concerned look at Spike.

"Willow, finish him, now," Spike ordered.

She shook her head at the vampire in front of her and said, "Sometimes
he's just no fun at all."

Her victim's knees began to buckle, and she tightened her grip on his
hair and jerked his head backwards, allowing the blood to spill out
more copiously.

"Willow!" her sire barked and put his hand on her shoulder. "End it,
_now_."

She breathed a forced sighed and reached around to grab the stake from
Ceara's hand and thrust it into the vampire's heart.

"What the hell was that?" Angel asked as she turned away from the wall.

"Revenge," she answered simply. "I earned it."

She looked at Spike as he took her hand.

"Didn't I?" she asked, as though daring him to deny it.

"Yes, baby," he said softly.
***
Spike pulled back on Willow's hand as Angel and Ceara entered the
mansion ahead of Willow. She turned around to face him.

"Willow, what happened back there?" he asked.

"I can't believe everyone is upset about this!" she snapped.

He stared at her in silence for a minute, and the flicker of anger in
her eyes cooled and dissipated.

"I'm sorry. I just don't get it. That bastard had it coming," she said.

"Luv, that wasn't about retribution. That was about rage," he told her.

A note of defiance crept back into her voice, "And that's wrong? How
was I supposed to feel?"

"That isn't the point. You were out of control. That was cat and mouse
back there."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this--from you, of all people," she shot
back.

"Look, pet, I don't give a damn about that sod. You could have bled him
a single drop at a time, and I wouldn't have cared. This is about you.
Controlled anger is a useful weapon; uncontrolled anger can get you
staked."

"But you were right there! You wouldn't have let that happen," she
argued.

"No, I wouldn't," he agreed. "But what happens when I'm not there? You
have to learn how to focus that anger or it'll be your destruction."

"But I did okay back there," she stated.

"You were wonderful," he smiled. "I'm just saying you have things to
learn. You have power you never had before, but you also have new
dangers."

"Like crosses, holy water, stakes--"

"You stopped thinking back there. That's understandable, pet, but it's
dangerous. You have a hell of a brain in that gorgeous head of yours.
You put that together with the strength of your demon, and you'll be
unstoppable. I just want you to let me show you how to do that."

"Okay," she yielded. "I hear what you're saying."

"Good," he smiled and bent to kiss her. "I love you."

She stepped back and looked down at the blood that had dried on her
clothing.

"Why don't you go take a shower? I want to talk to Angel for a minute,"
he suggested.

"About me?"

"About you," he grinned. "Go on. I'll come up and dry you off in a few
minutes."

A smile spread across her face as she looked up at him and nodded.
***
"Could you hear what they were saying?"

Darnell smiled and shook his head, stopping outside her door as she
called out to him. He turned and leaned against the doorpost as she sat
on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a bathrobe and brushing her hair.

"I wasn't listening," he told her. "Ears are only useful when they're
attached to your head."

"Good point," she grinned. "I got a little carried away tonight."

"You?" he asked in mock disbelief.

"I tore out the throat of one of my attackers. I think I would have
watched him bleed to death if Spike hadn't stopped me."

"Good for you," Darnell said sincerely.

Willow shook her head and fidgeted with the hairbrush, "Now that I
think about it, it was pretty gruesome. I've never felt so angry,
Joseph."

"And now the Master and Angel are having a go at childe psychology," he
surmised.

"Yeah," she murmured.

"Hmmm...I guess I should have been eavesdropping. Listening in on that
conversation might be worth having Spike hand me my ears in a jar."

"You think I'm a lost cause?" she asked.

"No, just new at this, and with a soul to contend with on top of
everything else. You'll figure it out," he assured her.

"Was it this hard for you after you were turned?"

"Well, no, but I knew whose side I was going to be on from the minute
you gave that slayer a flying lesson from that window," he admitted.

She glanced over at the long-since repaired window through which their
former nemesis had fallen.

"The little bird didn't do very well, did she? She made a hell of a
mess on the slate, as I recall," Joseph added.

"That seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?" Willow said.

"For you, it was. Just be patient with yourself, Willow. You're a
vampire worthy of a Master such as Spike."

Her emerald eyes met the midnight blue of his, "You think so?"

"I know so. Whatever else he may be, he isn't a fool. He knows what you
are," Darnell assured her.

"A headache," she nodded. "I did much better as a human than I am as a
vampire."

He shook his head, "You're a beautiful, dark diamond. You just give him
time to work on the facets and get you polished up, and you'll be as
brilliant a vampire as you were a mortal."

"I hope so."

"You will," he stated. "Just trust him, and listen to him. He puts you
above everything else."

"Okay," she nodded. "Thanks for letting me mope all over you."

"You're welcome. You know I'll help you any way I can. And you are
truly the lady of the house now, you know," he smiled.

"I hadn't thought of that. I've never been a lady before."

"Willow, you were born a lady," he replied with a wink before
continuing on down the hall.
 
 
 

"Where's the Master?"

Willow turned toward the unfamiliar voice and eyed the equally
unfamiliar vampire suspiciously.

"He's inside," she answered.

"He left you out here--alone?"

"Well, yeah. The door is right over there, and I'm fairly good at using
it," she replied coolly.

"I've never seen a souled vampire before. Well, aside from a quick
glance at Angel, who really isn't all that impressive."

"I'll tell him you said so," she offered sweetly.

"You, on the other hand, could definitely leave an impression," he
leered.

Willow rolled her eyes, "Was there something you wanted, or did you
just wander over here to have your lungs ripped out?"

"I can't quite understand what you see in Spike, either, other than the
fact he's your sire. I'm not so sure he lives up to his ruthless
reputation."

"You're new, aren't you?" she asked. "Either that, or whoever turned
you missed your jugular and settled for your brain."

"Let's just say you don't know me," he replied, and reached out for her
arm. "Why don't we fix that?"

"Yeah, why the hell not," she agreed as her hand clamped down on his
arm and tightened painfully around it.

The vampire snarled, and Willow twisted his arm and rammed her shoulder
into his chest. The demon sailed backwards, crashing into a heavy urn
at the edge of the veranda. He shook himself and tried to drag himself
to his feet as Willow's fangs glistened in the moonlight, and her eyes
burned amber. She lifted the wrought iron chair sitting behind her and
turned, swinging it down over his shoulders. He landed face-down as she
flung the chair aside.

From inside the mansion, Spike raced into the living room and nearly
collided with Darnell, who had come from the opposite direction.

"What the bloody hell--"

"Willow's outside," Darnell said.

Spike ran to the doors and threw them open. Willow looked up at him
from where she was kneeling over the vampire.

"He wanted a taste," Willow explained simply.

Spike snarled, and the vampire stared up at him as Willow's elbow
crooked tightly around his neck. She looked back up at her sire.

Spike nodded, "Just like I taught you, pet."

She grabbed the vampire's hair and snapped his neck with one violent
twist. She dropped him to the ground and stood up with a small smile.

"Did he hurt you, luv?" Spike asked.

"No," she answered, walking into his arms. "Spike, I got it right this
time. He was an absolute prick, but I never lost it. Controlled anger,
just like you said."

"Baby?" he smiled down at her.

"Yeah," she answered.

"Your face is still on," he chuckled, running his finger along her
cheek.

"Oops," she replied as she resumed her human features. "That ought to
come with automatic shut-off. Did I do good?"

"You did great," he grinned and brought his lips to hers.
***
Ceara jumped down off the front porch as Willow appeared at the end of
the driveway.

"Sorry I'm late," Willow smiled. "I waited until Spike left to hunt."

The slayer's brow wrinkled with worry, "You didn't tell him, did you?"

"I just told him we were going for a walk," she promised. "So, what's
this big secret all about?"

They turned together to walk toward town, and Ceara jammed her fists
into her jacket pockets and stared straight ahead.

"Is it Angel?" Willow asked.

"Yes."

The vampire looked over at her friend, "Did you guys have a fight?"

"No," Ceara answered.

"How many guesses do I get?" the redhead grinned.

"Sorry." The slayer shrugged and sighed softly, "It's a little hard
to--Willow, you've known Angel a long time, haven't you?"

"I almost can't remember _not_ knowing him."

"What was he like before everything happened, to Sunnydale and all
that, I mean?" Ceara asked.

"Well, except for one huge hiccup, he was pretty much the same then as
he is now," the redhead answered.

"Don't you think it's a little weird--a slayer and a vampire?"

Willow smiled softly, "Not as weird as you'd think. It's happened
before, you know."

"Buffy," she nodded.

"Does he talk to you about her?" Willow asked.

"Never. Do you think I'm a replacement for her?"

"No, you're nothing like she was, really. Besides, if all he wanted was
a replacement, he could have found one of those a long time ago," the
vampire said.

"That's true," Ceara agreed. "What's it like, you know, being with a
vampire?"

Willow looked over at her, "Are you two thinking about--"

"No!" she denied and blushed at Willow's grin. "Well, maybe. I don't
know. Yes."

"He can't lose his soul, you know. It's as permanent as mine is."

"That isn't what scares me. I think I'm falling in love with him,
Willow."

"I think you plunged over that precipice several months ago," Willow
laughed. "Your mind is just a few steps behind your heart, that's all."

"You know we'll only end up losing each other. I won't live forever."

"That argument is bloody nonsense," Willow stated. "Mortal couples
don't live forever. Eventually, one looses the other, but they love
each other for as long as they're together. It isn't really so
different."

"But I'll grow old--with any luck--and he won't."

"Okay, so you love each other for as long as it lasts. Even if you're
afraid he won't want you later, you've got years before you hit old
maidhood."

"That's easy for you to say. You have eternity with Spike," the slayer
said.

"So, ask Angel to turn you," the redhead suggested.

"Willow!" Ceara shouted.

"I'm sorry," the words bubbled out through Willow's laughter. "I
couldn't pass that one up."

The slayer shook her head, "You have a very strange sense of humor."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," she smiled. "Seriously, though, you do love
him."

"I--don't know."

"Yes, you do. You love him," Willow nodded. "What about Angel? Does
he--"

"Willow!" a voice barked from across the street.

Slayer and vampire turned as Darnell ran to them.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked.

He looked at Ceara, "Your watcher phoned. He wants both of you back at
his place, immediately."

"Why?" she asked.

"He wouldn't take the time to explain. He said to find both of you as
quickly as I could."

"Where's Spike?" Willow asked.

"Not back from hunting yet. I've told one of the boys to track him
down."

"We'd better haul ass," Ceara suggested.

Darnell snarled and turned away from them.

"What is it?" the slayer asked him.

"Company," Willow answered, picking up the sound of footsteps that had
caught Joseph's attention.

"Oh, damn," Ceara hissed as a formidable group of vampires came at them
from down the sidewalk. "Are they Spike's?"

"No," Willow and Darnell said in unison.

The slayer drew a stake from her pocket, and her heart sank as another,
equally as large group, appeared from the opposite direction. She
managed to stake the first two that came at her before two more grabbed
her by the arms and hurled her into the wall of the shop behind her.
The back of her head slammed into the bricks, and she collapsed in a
still heap on the sidewalk.

Willow, in the meantime, had thrown three of the attackers into the
street and had grabbed a fourth by the chest and slammed him onto a car
parked by the curb. She turned toward the next one and saw the heavy
club whirling toward her only a fraction of a second before it made
contact with her head. Her assailant growled and picked her up, tossing
her body next to Ceara's.

Darnell landed a blow to the vampire in front of him, sending the demon
tumbling backwards and into four of his partners. He took a step
forward and felt a solid hand curl around his neck from behind him. One
more came toward him and shoved him back against the vampire who was
holding him. The hand wrenched Joseph's head back as the vampire in
front of him sank his fangs into his throat and drank until Darnell
blacked out.
***
"Darnell was supposed to find them or phone me in an hour. That was 45
minutes ago," Giles said.

"You think they got all three of them?" Christina asked.

"Darnell or Willow would have gotten to us if they could have," Spike
said impatiently.

"Or Ceara," the watcher added, slightly annoyed. "The note said a small
army. Not very good odds."

"I don't understand it. I thought those five you took out in the alley
were the last of the defectors," Christina said.

"Obviously not," Angel replied. "I wonder if the bastard that was
bothering Willow a couple of nights ago was working with them."

"There couldn't have been that many, though. One of us would have heard
about it," Giles told them. "And Willow said neither she nor Spike
recognized that vampire. They must have gotten outside help."

"Do you have any idea where they could have taken them?" Christina
asked Spike.

"If I did, do you think I'd be standing her fucking around?" he
snapped.

"Spike," Angel spoke and put his hand on the vampire's arm.

Spike turned on him and growled, baring his fangs.

"Spike!" Angel shouted angrily and gripped his arm.

The blonde vampire scowled at him, but reigned in his temper.

Giles inhaled a shaky breath, "We'll look for them until sunrise, and
then Christina and I will keep searching, but my guess is they won't be
in town."

"And they've got at least a two hour jump on us," Angel added grimly as
they headed for the door.

"We'll start on opposite ends of town and meet in the park," Giles
stated as he followed Christina and the vampire outside.
***
"Are you okay?" Ceara asked as she dragged herself up off the floor.

"Aside from one hell of a headache, yes," Willow answered as she knelt
down beside Darnell. "You?"

"I'm okay," the slayer nodded and ran her fingers through her hair.

She winced and brought her hand back down to stare at her bloody
fingers.

"What about him?" she asked.

Willow had lifted a bottle sitting on the floor next to Darnell and
uncorked it. She sniffed at its contents.

"Well, at least they don't mean for us to starve," she said as she put
her arm around Joseph's shoulders and shifted him back against the
wall.

"Wine?" Ceara asked.

Willow brought the bottle to Joseph's lips and answered, "Blood."

As the first trickle of the red liquid hit Darnell's tongue, he brought
his hand up to curl around the neck of the bottle.

"I think yours is over there," Willow said as she glanced over Ceara's
shoulder.

The slayer turned to see a small tray of sandwiches laying atop a torn
and dirty cot. Her stomach did a little flip flop, and she curled her
nose and looked back at Willow.

"I don't think so," she decided.

Darnell's slightly glazed eyes opened, and he looked at Willow.

"Your turn," he mumbled, pushing the bottle at her.

She shook her head, "There's another bottle here. Finish this. You need
it."

He nodded gratefully and took another long swallow.

"Any idea where we are or who they were?" Ceara asked, rising to walk
unsteadily to the door.

"None," Willow answered. "I know they don't work for Spike."

"Which means he'll be turning hell inside out to find you," the slayer
grinned and kicked at the bolted door.

"And Angel for you," her friend added.

Ceara's smile faded, and she looked away, blinking back tears.

Joseph looked from Ceara to Willow and grumbled, "I've got to myself
get a dog."
 

"They're not in Sunnydale," Angel said as he and Spike caught up with
Giles and Christina.

"How can you be sure?" the watcher asked.

"We ran into one of them on the other side of town. He said they'd been
taken to a house outside of town, up near the old farmhouse we stayed
in," Angel explained.

"But how do you know he was telling the truth?" Christina asked.

"Because I promised not to kill him if he helped us," Spike answered.

Her eyebrows arched in surprise, "You let him go?"

He shook his head, "I lied."

"We'll take my car," Giles said.
***
Darnell stood beside Willow as the bolt on the door slid back. He
picked up the empty bottles from the floor and handed one of them to
her.

"They won't stop vampires," Ceara said.

"No, but they'll get us out the door," he replied.

Ceara nodded and moved to the side of the door as it swung open. As the
first vampire stepped through, she reached over and grabbed his arm. He
turned toward her, and the slayer swung at him. Willow stepped aside as
he landed at her feet. She smashed the bottle against the wall and drew
the jagged piece in her hand down the demon's face before hauling him
up off the floor to sink her fangs into his neck.

As the second vampire entered, Ceara brought her foot into his chest,
and Darnell caught him as he hurtled backwards, dropped the bottle, and
snapped the vampire's neck.

"Revenge really does taste best served cold," Willow said as she licked
the last traces of blood from her lips.

"Let's get out of here," Ceara suggested with a shake of her head.

They made it down what they discovered to be the attic staircase and to
the ground floor before running into five of their abductors. Joseph
took advantage of their surprised reaction by tearing out the throat of
the first vampire Ceara grabbed hold of two of the stairway balusters
and ripped them out, tossing one of them to Willow. The two women
quickly staked two more vampires. Darnell grabbed the next, who was
approaching Willow, and held him by the neck as Willow dusted him, and
the slayer slammed the last of the five into the wall and plunged the
make-shift stake into its chest.

Joseph turned and flung the front door open, grabbed Willow by the
wrist, and raced outside. Ceara ran out after them, and they tore down
the driveway as headlights appeared in the distance.

"Friend or foe?" Ceara asked.

"Beats the hell out of me, but I'm not too proud to run," Willow
answered and all but dragged Darnell out of the driveway.

They took off across the overgrown lawn, only to find themselves facing
an oncoming, and far too large, group of vampires coming directly
toward them.

"Oh, hell," Ceara hissed.

Angry shouts drifted across the night air as the vampires inside the
house ran out onto the porch.

"We're screwed," the slayer moaned.

"They're Spike's," Darnell grinned as the vampires coming across the
lawn broke into an all-out run.

The first to reach them stopped only long enough to ask Willow if she
were alright. She nodded as the others headed for the vampires who had
spilled off the porch and onto the lawn.

The car lurched to a halt, the doors flew open, and Joseph released
Willow's hand as a voice called out to her.

"Spike!" Willow shouted and took off in his direction.

The blonde vampire grabbed her up and held her close to him as their
lips met.

"Spike, behind you!" Angel's voice barked a warning.

Willow pushed out of his arms as a vampire appeared behind Spike's
shoulder. He growled and spun around and slammed his fist into the
demon's face. The vampire landed on his ass, and Spike reached down and
grabbed his hand, squeezing until the bones rubbed together and
snapped. The vampire's cry of pain ended in ashy silence as Willow
speared his heart with the baluster.

Spike's arms found Willow's waist once again, and he hugged her tight
to him. Angel stepped around the car as Ceara walked toward him. He
reached out for her, and she took his hand as his other arm folded
around her, and he bent to kiss her.

"Should we be doing anything?" Christina asked from the front seat of
the car.

Giles looked at her in surprise until he realized she was staring at
the vampires who were battling it out in front of the house.

He shook his head, "I'd like to say the good guys have it under
control, but that doesn't sound quite right, somehow."
***
"There you are," Willow smiled as she peered around the living room
entryway.

Joseph looked at her quizzically as he realized she was speaking to him
rather than to Spike.

"I brought you a present," she told him, then looked over at Spike. "Is
that okay?"

"As if it would make any difference," he replied with a grin.

Willow stepped around the doorpost, followed by a small, gray puppy.

"You said you wanted one," she smiled.

Darnell's eyes widened in speechless shock as Spike stood up from the
sofa.

"Willow, luv, that creature is _not_ staying in this house," he
informed her.

"He isn't a 'creature!' He's a wolf hybrid--is that perfect, or
what?--and he's cute, and Joseph deserves him!" she argued.

"Willow--"

"Come on, Spike. He'll make a good guard dog," she pleaded.

"I don't really need a dog," Joseph told her.

"Yes, you do!" she insisted. "What are you going to name him?"

Joseph chuckled softly and shook his head, "Trouble. That way, when I
see the two of you heading my way, I can say, 'Here comes Trouble,' and
mean it."

He crouched down as the little dog scurried over to him, and Willow
flopped down on the sofa and pulled Spike down beside her.

"Cute, huh?" she asked him.

He looked down at her and smiled, "Adorable."

"I meant the dog," she giggled.

"I didn't," Spike replied as he brought his lips to hers.

Their kiss was interrupted by a flash of gray fur as the dog landed
squarely in Willow's lap. She smiled softly and reached down to scratch
his ears.

"I always did have a soft spot for wolves," she whispered to the dog.
"He can stay, can't he, Spike?"

Spike put his arm around her and kissed her head, "He can stay, luv."
 

"Angel, I promise; I'm okay," Ceara sighed as the vampire brushed the
hair away from her neck to look for wounds once more.

"Do you know how lucky you were to get out of there unhurt?" he asked
her.

"Luck had nothing to do with it! We were damn good," she corrected him.

"Yeah, I'll bet you fought like hell after you were slammed into that
building," he said.

"Oh, well, yeah, there was that little glitch," she grinned, raising
her hand to touch the dressing over the gash on her head.

He took her hand and pulled it to his lips as he murmured, "You had me
worried, Ceara."

"Sorry," she said.

A glimmer of laughter sparkled in his dark eyes, "That didn't sound
very sincere."

She brought her mouth to his, close enough so that her lips brushed
against his with each word she whispered.

"I'm sorry I worried you, Angel."

She tangled her fingers through his hair as his mouth captured hers in
a lingering kiss.

"Stay with me tonight," Angel asked softly. "I want to hold you. I want
to see you're here and all right when I first wake up."

She smiled and nodded, "Okay."

He moaned as her lips returned to his, and he lifted her in his arms
and carried her to the bedroom.
***
"What the hell is that?" Spike asked as an unfamiliar wailing wafted
through the open terrace doors where Willow was standing.

"It's Trouble," she giggled. "He's got his nose stuck in the air, and
he's howling at the moon."

"That isn't a howl, ducks. It's a squeak," he told her.

"It's okay. Joseph has him now," she announced. "Well, sort of."

Spike arched an eyebrow as Darnell came through the doors, dragging the
dog along with him. The pup had its teeth firmly implanted in the
vampire's pant leg in a one-sided game of tug of war. Joseph looked at
Willow beseechingly as Trouble shifted his weight to his rear end and
tugged on the fabric.

Willow laughed and crouched down, "Trouble, don't live up to your
name."

At the sound of her voice, the dog released the pant leg and scampered
over to her. She scooped him up in her arms, attempting to dodge his
tongue as he licked at her cheek.

"You do have a way with animals, Willow," Joseph told her.

"I've had lots of practice," she replied, grinning at Spike.

"How would you like a little more?" he asked, advancing on her.

Trouble looked at Spike and growled. Spike stopped, stared at the pup,
and growled back at him. The pup whined uncertainly until the vampire
reached out and scratched its head.

Willow rolled her eyes and looked at Darnell, "Well, I guess we've
cleared up the alpha issue."

"You're going to have more trouble than what's in your arms if you
don't behave," Spike warned her.

"Promise?" she asked hopefully.

"Absolutely," he grinned.

Joseph took the pup from Willow and headed for the hallway.

"I think that's our cue, boy," he said. "Let's go find something to
chew on."

"So, how much trouble am I in?" Willow asked as she put her arms around
Spike's neck.

"How much would you like to be in?"

"A lot," she answered, pulling his mouth down to hers. "I love you."

"More than Trouble?" he asked, his eyes smiling down at her.

"You're the best trouble I've ever gotten myself into," she told him.

He kissed her deeply, his tongue parting her lips to meet with hers.
She turned to his side as he broke the kiss and put his arm around her
to guide her to the stairs.
***
"So you finally jumped her," Spike said as he pulled Willow down onto
his lap.

Angel and Ceara stared at him in silence for a moment.

"I don't think I'd put it like that, exactly," Angel finally answered.

"Whatever," he shrugged.

"What did Giles have to say? He must have known where you spent last
night," Willow said.

"Well, I don't think he's thrilled about it, but he seems willing to
accept it. He didn't say too much. He told me to ask you guys to stop
by tonight," Ceara answered.

"I'll be damned. The council has finally sanctioned slayer shagging,"
Spike said as he patted his pockets. "Willow, have you seen my bloody
lighter? I know I left it--"

"Lighter?" she asked a little too quickly. "Yeah, I know where it is.
Hang on."

The other three exchanged puzzled looks as Willow scooted off Spike's
lap and took off inside the house. She dashed into the hallway as
Darnell was coming down the stairs.

"The lighter--did you get it?" she asked him.

"Yes," he nodded as he fished the lighter out of his pocket. "What's
the big secret about getting--"

"Never mind. Just don't tell Spike, okay?"

"He's going to know that's a new lighter, Willow. Why don't you just
tell him you--"

"Trust me. I have my reasons," she replied and snatched the lighter out
of his hand.

He followed her back out to the terrace.

"Here it is," she smiled and held the lighter out to Spike.

He took it and light the cigarette that was dangling from his lips. He
shoved the lighter into his pocket and pulled her back down on his lap.

"So, where's _my_ lighter?" he asked her.

"Um...what?" she responded innocently as Angel choked back a laugh.

"This is a very nice, very new, lighter. Where's mine?" he asked again.

"It's--lost. Yeah, that's what it is. Lost," she told him.

"How did you know? I hadn't said anything about losing it," he said.

"Well, actually, I lost it," she answered.

"You lost it," he repeated slowly. "Been smoking cigars in the loo,
pet?"

"Um...well, no. I know where it is, in a general sort of way."

"Willow, where is my lighter?" he insisted.

She waved her hand toward the rose garden across the lawn, "Out there,
somewhere."

"You were smoking cigars in the rose bed," he tried again, fighting the
grin that tugged at his lips.

Willow couldn't help the giggle that spilled from her mouth, "Promise
you won't get mad."

"Why would I get mad over a lost lighter that's not lost? It's just out
there--somewhere," he asked.

"Because, it's--well, actually, it's buried in the rose bed, somewhere.
I just haven't figured out which spot, yet."

"As in Trouble," he nodded knowingly.

"It isn't his fault," she stated.

"No? Did you help him bury it, then?"

"I didn't realize what it was he had until, well, until I realized it
had gone missing from the arm of your chair. But there's at least two
dozen holes dug out there and--"

"Two dozen!" Spike echoed.

"Well, he's a dog! That's what dogs do! Someday you might want him to
bury something!" she argued. "Don't be mad, sweetie. He's just a
puppy!"

"He's the hound from hell," Spike replied.

"So, how did you get your hands on a new lighter tonight? You haven't
been in town," he asked her, turning an eye on Darnell.

Joseph avoided his Master's gaze and looked at Willow instead.

"I couldn't go," Willow explained. "I was busy--looking for your--"

"Lighter," he nodded. "I got that. So you made Darnell go."

"She threatened to take the dog for a walk into town if I didn't,"
Joseph said.

"I understand. Completely," Spike nodded.

"Hey!" Willow protested. "I'm perfectly capable of keeping Trouble
under--"

She jumped from Spike's lap at the loud crash that came from inside the
house.

"Uh, should I tell Giles you won't be coming by tonight?" Ceara asked
as she tugged Angel up from his chair. "I think you guys are kind of
busy here."

"Did he want anything important?" Willow asked anxiously as another
crash was heard.

"He just wants to make sure Spike's boys got all of those bastards that
came after us," she answered.

"They did," Spike told her. "Willow, what the hell is going on in
there? Where did you put that damned mutt?"

She cringed and looked up at Darnell, "In the kitchen."

"Oh, hell," Joseph muttered as he grabbed her hand and dragged her into
the house.

End

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