Willow stared out the window as a sliver of lightning broke loose from
the dark sky.

"Come back to bed, pet," Spike said.

"I'm not tired," she answered.

"I'm not either."

She grinned and turned around to him.

"Come back to bed," he repeated.

She walked to the bed, and Spike caught her around the waist as she
climbed over him. He pulled her down on top of him and ran his hand
down her back to her ass. Willow dropped a kiss onto his lips before
lowering her head to his chest.

"Baby, stop worrying about it," he whispered. "He'll turn up."

"Spike, it's been two days. Giles never just runs off without a word to
anyone."

"You'd be one of the last people he'd contact, pet. And Angel isn't too
far up on that list, either," he told her.

"I know," she sighed sadly. "But he didn't even tell Ceara. He wouldn't
go off and not tell his slayer."

"Okay, I'll go along with that," he agreed. "Maybe he's gone off for a
private shag with some woman."

"He hasn't been with anyone since Elizabeth. I never dreamed it would
take him so bloody long to get over her. It's been seven months,
Spike!"

"It'd take me a hell of a lot longer than that to get over you," he
replied. "Eternity wouldn't even begin to take care of it."

She smiled and reached for his hand, pulling it up to her lips.

"Spike, I know we said we'd keep our distance, but--"

"I'll tell the boys to keep their ears tuned," the vampire promised.

"Thank you," she smiled and raised her head to kiss him.

"You can do better than that," he grinned, rolling her under him.
***
"What are you doing here?" Ceara asked in surprise as she gaped across
the doorway at Willow and Spike.

"Is he back?" the redhead asked hopefully.

"No," the slayer answered. "Come on in. He won't know the difference."

"Hello, Angel," Willow smiled as they followed Ceara into the living
room.

He returned her smile as Ceara sat down next to him on the sofa.

"You haven't heard a word from him, either, have you?" Willow asked.

"Nothing," Angel answered. "Not that I'd expect to, but neither has
Ceara."

"Spike told the boys to dig up what they could," she told him.

"I'm surprised you'd care," Angel said to Spike.

"Willow cares," he stated, curling his arm around her shoulders and
brushing his fingers along her neck.

"Did they come up with anything?" the slayer asked.

Spike nodded, "The night he went missing, one of the boys was grabbing
something to eat outside the coffee shop. He saw your watcher inside,
talking to three men."

"Did he see Giles leave?" the slayer asked, completely ignoring what
the minion had been doing at the time.

"With the same men," Spike answered. "They got into a car and took
off."

"Does he know what kind of car?" Angel asked.

"Well, he was a little preoccupied at the time, but he said it was
long, dark, looked expensive."

"The council?" Willow asked.

"The council," Ceara nodded.

"But why would they take Giles off somewhere without contacting you?"
Angel questioned the slayer.

"Don't ask me," she shrugged. "Giles is the only one of their species I
even remotely understand, and sometimes even he's beyond me. I don't
like the sound of it, though."

"Can I use Giles' computer?" Willow asked.

"You think he might have something stashed away on it? Files or
something?" Ceara asked. "It's worth a try."
***
Spike leaned over Willow's shoulder and placed the coffee mug on the
desk before turning her mouth to his.

"You've been at this for hours, sweetheart," he told her.

"I know. I never thought Giles listened to anything I ever told him
about computers, but I'll be damned if I can get access to this file."

Spike pulled a chair up next to her and rested his hand on her leg.

"You hungry?" she asked, turning back to the monitor.

"Just ate," he told her.

She nodded silently and tapped away at the keyboard.

"Anyone I knew?" she asked casually after several minutes of silence.

"Don't think so. I try to avoid your acquaintances," he answered.

"I love you," she grinned. "Oh, wait! I've got it! I'm in!"

She turned and clamped her hands to Spike's face and kissed him, hard.

"Never had much use for these contraptions," he grinned. "Up until
now."

"Did I hear a squeal?" Ceara asked from the doorway.

"You did," Willow answered. "Look at this. It's a bunch of e-mails and
stuff from the council."

"I didn't know the council did 'stuff.'" the slayer replied from behind
as her eyes scanned the monitor.

"Oh, Goddess," Willow moaned. "This is all to do with Elizabeth."

"They didn't know about Giles and her," Ceara said and turned as Angel
came into the room.

"Oh, damn," Willow hissed. "Her brother wrote a letter and threatened
to send it to them if anything happened to him. The council got their
hands on it, somehow."

"What's this e-mail message?" Ceara asked, leaning over the redhead's
shoulder. "Some council guy--Warren Hall? He wants to know why Giles
didn't show up at a meeting he'd arranged a week ago."

"Meeting--where?" Angel asked.

"Graver's Corner? Ever hear of it?" she asked.

The vampire shook his head, "Shouldn't be too hard to find, though."

"We're going to have to find it tomorrow. We have an hour until
sunrise," Spike told them.

Willow pushed back her chair, and Spike took her hand and pulled her up
beside him.

She looked up at him, "Ceara and I could--"

"No, you couldn't," the blonde vampire said. "We'll find this place
tomorrow night."

Willow looked over at Angel's equally determined face.

"Okay," she gave in.

Angel arched an eyebrow, "That was quick."

"Makes you worry, doesn't it?" Spike grinned. "Come on, luv. Let's go
home."

"See you first thing at sunset," Ceara said as Spike pulled Willow out
of the room.
 
 

"Willow, you've got to clean out this car one day soon," Spike said as
he flung over his shoulder the myriad of items cluttering the back seat
and floor.

"Yeah, Willow," Angel agreed dryly as he tugged open the opposite door
and bent over to help.

Ceara stared in silent disbelief, and Willow laughed softly and shook
her head as the various objects where tossed to the ground--several
empty liquor bottles, dozens of empty cigarette packs, three crumpled
bags from the Bagel Bin, a fistful of ATM slips, a bent and broken
umbrella, and a set of wide, velvet-lined wrist cuffs with the words
"Bound for Pleasure" etched into the metal. These dangled from Angel's
fingers as he stood and stared down at the small redhead.

"_There_ they are," she said, quickly snatching them away from him.

"I don't even want to know," Ceara muttered, blushing hotly.

Spike held open the door as Willow scrambled in, and Ceara and Angel
slid into the back. The slayer yelped and grabbed hold of Angel's arm
as Spike stomped on the accelerator and took off in a squeal of tires.
***
"Leave it to the council to find a place in the middle of nowhere, yet
located only minutes outside beautiful, downtown Sunnydale," Willow
said as Spike pulled off to the side of the narrow, pot-holed lane.

A handful of old, abandoned houses in varying states of collapse and a
squat cement marker, inexplicably standing in the middle of an
otherwise empty field and with the words "Graver's Corners" chiseled
into it, were the only indications they'd reached their destination.

"Strange place for a meeting," Angel noted.

"You think Giles is in one of those?" Ceara asked, looking at the
houses scattered around them.

"Let's find out," the vampire suggested.
***
The first two houses gave no sign of having recently been occupied, but
the driveway leading to the third was clearly rutted by recent tire
tracks. Several windows on the house had new board nailed over them,
and a shiny padlock hung from its hasp on the front door.

Ceara raised a booted foot and kicked the door open, and the others
followed her inside. They stood in the inky blackness just beyond the
threshold. Angel's head turned suddenly to Spike.

"Did you hear that?" he muttered.

"There," the blonde vampire nodded, stabbing his thumb toward a door to
their left.

Angel's heavy hand folded over Ceara's shoulder, and Spike found
Willow's hand and griped it firmly in his. They moved to the door, and
Angel tried the knob. Finding it locked, he pressed his shoulder to the
door and pushed hard. The casing gave way in crackling splinters as the
door yielded under the vampire's strength. He pushed it open and
stepped in ahead of the slayer.

A low moan drifted across the room from the far corner. Giles' battered
and bloody form was slumped against the wall, his wrists and ankles
bound tightly with impossibly knotted ropes.

Spike stopped the small hand that was sneaking into the pocket of his
duster. He reached inside and drew out his thin-bladed knife and handed
it to Willow. She knelt beside Giles and cut the ropes with swift
efficiency, then moved back as Angel bent, bracing the watcher with his
strong arm and pulling him slowly onto his feet. The others stepped
aside and followed as the dark vampire pulled the semi-conscious man
across the room and out the door.

"Company," Spike hissed suddenly as they exited the front door.

Seconds later, a pair of headlights swung around the curving driveway.

"That way," Willow muttered, gesturing toward the open field.

Angel hoisted Giles over his shoulder and took off as the sound of
slamming car doors echoed behind them. Two men started across the field
after them, quickly closing in on them as Angel labored under the
weight of the man over his shoulder and the tall weeds tangling about
his feet.

"Get Giles to the car," Willow barked at Ceara as she whirled at
Spike's side to face their pursuers.

Spike slammed his fist into the jaw of the man in the lead, sending him
backwards to land with a thud on the ground. Willow pivoted and kicked
out at the second man. The force behind her leg and the momentum of her
oncoming assailant drove the man to his knees with a loud, anguished
groan.

Spike placed the arch of his boot under the chin of the man as he
struggled to rise. The vampire shoved him violently back and found the
redhead's hand with practiced ease. He pulled her away and turned to
catch up with Angel and Ceara.

They reached the car as Angel was pushing Giles across the back seat.
He climbed in beside the watcher and dragged Ceara in after him,
reaching across her to slam the door shut. Spike flung open his door
and shoved Willow in and jumped in next to her. The engine roared to
life, and he slammed the car into gear and sped away.
***
Giles moaned, and his eyes blinked open. He looked down at the arm
supporting him and then up at the house. He yanked himself free and
glared around at the four rescuers.

"What the hell have you done?" he growled.

"Giles," Ceara spoke hesitantly. "Those men carted you off. We tracked
you down and--"

"I didn't ask for your bloody interference!"

"You didn't ask for anything! You just disappeared!" she protested.

"Damn you," he hissed, turning his angry eyes on Angel, Spike, and
Willow. "I should have known an act so incredibly assinine would have
involved the three of you."

"Giles--" Willow said.

"I demand you take me back there, immediately," the watcher snarled.

"Are you crazy?" Ceara asked. "We can't take you back there! We barely
got you away from those cretins as it is. We can't go back and--"

His eyes snapped to hers, "They saw you?"

"They chased us," she answered.

"Bloody fucking hell," he mumbled.

Willow's mouth dropped open at the watcher's uncharacteristic
coarseness.

"You," he barked at his slayer. "Get inside. Now."

He turned back to the other three, "And you, get the hell off my
property."

"Giles--" Willow whispered, reaching for his arm.

His hands caught her arms first, and he shook her painfully.

"What the hell business was it of yours?" he shouted.

A low growl of warning rolled from Spike's chest, and his hand clamped
down on the watcher's shoulder and hurled him forcefully away from
Willow. Spike put his hands on Willow's arms and rubbed them
protectively where Giles had clutched them.

"What's wrong with him?" she murmured, her eyes filling with tears.

"I don't really give a damn," he said angrily.

"Ceara, inside!" Giles repeated as she bent to help him up off the
ground.

The slayer looked over at Angel in hurt bewilderment. He stepped close
to her and took her hand in a reassuring squeeze.

"We'll talk to you later," he said softly.

"I'll come over as soon as I can," she nodded.

His eyes held hers in a silent declaration of alliance, and he nodded
once and stepped away.

Giles shoved Ceara toward the house and followed closely behind her as
the others got back in the car and pulled away.
***
Ceara poured the scotch into a glass and walked to the sofa, offering
it to him with a trembling hand.

"What did we do wrong?" she asked, her voice small and frightened.

The watcher took a sip of the drink and set it down on the table in
front of him.

"I'm sorry, Ceara," he said quietly. "You have no idea how much danger
you've placed yourselves in. You should not have come after me."

She sighed and dropped down onto the chair across from him.

"Giles, you disappeared without a word. You've been missing for three
days. We were wrong to track you down?"

He smiled softly, "I understand your motives, and I appreciate them. I
just wish you hadn't. The council has been digging around for months
trying to ascertain what exactly happened when Liza was here. I made
every attempt to put them off, but they are convinced that Angel was
involved and that he drew Spike--and Willow--into it. That's why I
broke contact with them."

"Oh," she uttered. "I thought you were angry over--what happened."

"I was, at first," he admitted. "I did love her, Ceara, but I came to
realize she left all of you very little choice. I don't think she would
ever have left Willow alone. Then, the council caught wind of her
brother's letter, which contained just enough information to make them
suspicious. I told them I no longer kept any association with Angel or
Spike, and that I couldn't use our former--partnership--to find out
whether they were involved in Liza's situation."

"You lied for them?" she asked, surprised.

"Without batting an eye," he grinned. "But they didn't believe me. When
they dragged me off the other night, they tried to force an admission
from me. When that failed, they hoped--and I feared--that you'd come
after me, with Angel and Spike.

Ceara eyed the purple bruise on the watcher's face.

"I never knew the council included thugs," she said bitterly.

"They'll do just about anything, if it suits their purpose," he
replied. "Anyway, you effectively undermined my attempt to draw their
suspicions away from Angel and Spike."

"What will they do now, the council, I mean?" she asked.

"They'll go after them, next. With a vengeance," he answered soberly.

"Oh, hell," she whispered.

"Exactly," he nodded.

"We have to tell them," she said. "They have to know the council is
after them."

"I agree," he nodded. "Think you can get them back here?"

"I know I can," she smiled and walked to the phone.
 
 

Giles looked over at Spike, who was leaning against the doorpost of the
entryway into the living room. Every nuance of his demeanor gave silent
evidence that the watcher had come dangerously close to pushing things
too far during his earlier, violent eruption.

The blonde vampire had pulled the little redhead back against him as
she tried to step into the room. He had drawn Willow back against him
until she was as close as physically possible. His right arm curled
around her waist so tightly, it all but disappeared behind her back.
His left arm was draped over Willow's left shoulder and across her
breasts to her right arm, which he clutched firmly enough to keep her
immovably against him.

The hold was clearly angrily protective, but it also struck the watcher
as darkly erotic in its possessiveness. Giles found himself consciously
struggling to keep his gaze from wandering back to them as he explained
the situation that had brought them all to this point.

"No wonder you were so upset," Willow said quietly.

"I'm truly sorry for the way I reacted, but I was trying desperately to
keep everyone else out of it," he nodded.

"Well, now that we've managed to drag ourselves into it, what do we
do?" the slayer asked.

"I have one contact left who I'm reasonably sure will help us. Her rank
in the council isn't exceptionally high, but she should be able to keep
us informed of their intentions," Giles said.

"I'm not sure you're safe here," Angel spoke. "I'd like to stay, if
you'll let me."

Giles hesitated, and Ceara looked over at him hopefully, "That's a good
idea. We could use the extra body."

"I'm sure she could," Spike said softly against Willow's ear.

Willow chuckled and brought her right hand up to rest on his arm.

"All right," Giles agreed, grinning at the delighted smile Ceara
flashed at Angel. "I'll get on to my contact and let her know what we
need. Perhaps she'll have some information for us by tomorrow night."
***
"Has it ever occurred to you, pet, that your friends create more
trouble for us than all the demons in hell ever have?" Spike asked,
watching appreciatively as Willow slid her jeans up over her shapely
rear end.

"Yup," she grinned. "Kind of makes you wish you'd thrown me to a few of
those demons before Sunnydale burned to a cinder, doesn't it?"

"No," he chuckled and pulled her into his arms. "I'd rather burn with
you than without you."
***
"The council has recalled the men who hauled me off. They've dispatched
six others to take their place," Giles informed them. "And they've made
arrangements for four others to be ready to step in and help."

"Ten council members, all for us?" Ceara asked. "Gee, I feel special."

"I don't know any of them," the watcher continued. "But my contact has
faxed me their photographs and what little information she could scrape
together on each of them."

"Computers? Fax machines? Next thing we know, you'll be trading in your
rabbit ears for a satellite dish," Willow grinned. "So who's first on
the goons' hit list?"

Giles looked at her apprehensively, "You are."

"What?" Spike growled.

"From what my contact could gather, the council figures Willow is their
best target. If they can get to her, they can use her to get to the
rest of us."

"Listen," Spike hissed. "I'll set the boys on this town, and what
happened the last time will look like a theme park ride compared to
what they'll do if your bastards come after Willow."

"I have no doubt of that," Giles replied grimly.

"So, what are we supposed to do?" Ceara asked. "Play hide and seek with
them until they give up and go home?"

"We try to hold our own, for the time being," Giles answered. "There's
a group of members who are more understanding of our situation. They've
been very outspoken in their condemnation of the council's actions.
It's a small group, but strong, and they're beginning to sway a few of
the others. If we can hold out, they may be able to topple the old
order."

"That could take months," Angel said.

"It's our best hope, for now," the watcher told them.

"I say we kill them," Spike spoke.

"They'll only send more. Unless you want an all-out war with the
council, this is the best way. I can keep track of their movements, and
we can stay ahead of them. The first six are due to arrive here
tomorrow evening. It'll be important to keep Willow protected at all
times after they've arrived. Even the council isn't stupid enough to
try to get past a couple dozen vampires to get to her."

"All right," Spike conceded. "But I meant what I said. If they come
after her, this town will suffer for it, and I won't give a damn if it
destroys the Hellmouth for good."
***
Willow clipped the last of the brown, drooping roses from the bush and
stood up. She looked around the vast lawns, raising her hand to her
brow and squinting against the sunlight. Spike had a hell of an eye,
she had to admit, and the estate was beginning to resemble that of an
old country manor house.

She sighed, realizing that, as of this evening, she would get little
opportunity to enjoy her gardens. The mansion was about to be overrun
by minions, and Spike had angrily informed her she would be allowed to
go nowhere without him and at least a half dozen of his boys. She had
recognized his anger as an outlet for fear, and had agreed to his
dictate without argument.

Willow turned to go back to the house, when a movement passed by the
corner of her eye. She turned toward it and gasped as four men moved
over the crest of the hill. She turned back and fled toward the safety
of the house. Her pursuers fanned out around her as two more came
around each side of the mansion and headed toward the veranda, blocking
her path to the door.

The redhead stopped and looked wildly around her. A narrow gap between
the two men on her left was her only means of escape. She headed in
that direction and felt a strong arm grab her as the two men closed the
gap. Willow twisted in his grasp and cried out as she felt a brief,
searing jolt of pain race through her body. The man scooped her up and
flung her unconscious form over his shoulder in one swift motion.

The two men on the veranda began to step away to join the others as the
door behind them opened quietly. From inside the house, Darnell steeled
himself and snaked his arm out into the deadly rays of the sun. He
grimaced in pain as his hand clamped down on the arm of the trespasser
and quickly hauled him inside, dropping the heavy drape back over the
door. The stranger struggled out of the vampire's hold.

Darnell, furious at the man who had endangered his master's lady,
grabbed up the first object to hand. He swung the heavy crystal vase
into the man's jaw. The intruder collapsed to the floor as, outside,
the remaining five stuffed the small woman into a car and drove off.
***
Spike was pacing in smoldering rage as Giles, Angel, and Ceara entered
the room shortly after sunset.

"You said tonight, damn it!" the vampire snarled and grabbed hold of
the watcher's lapels. "She wasn't 50 yards from the house! Broad
daylight--I couldn't even get to her!"

"Spike," Giles voice trembled, close to tears. "I know. I'm sorry. Even
my contact didn't know they'd been sent early. We'll find her. I
promise you. We'll find her."

He let go of Giles and turned away, "If they've hurt her--"

His voice stilled as his mind fought the shock of loss that threatened
to overwhelm him.

"Listen to me," Angel spoke softly. "You have to keep it together, for
Willow. We'll find her. Giles' contact is on her way here to help. She
left this morning right after he spoke to her. She knows how they
think, and what they're doing. We'll track her down."

"What about that guy Darnell grabbed?" the slayer asked.

"He's still out," Spike mumbled. "Darnell hit him pretty hard. That
bastard will wish he'd been killed before I'm through with him."

"Send your boys out," Angel suggested. "The contact will be at Giles'
place in an hour."

Spike nodded mutely and left the room.
***
Willow awoke and blinked her eyes. Her entire body felt unnaturally
limp, and her vision was frustratingly blurred. She tried to sit up,
only to discover she hadn't the strength. She also realized her ankles
were bound, and she was lying with her hands tied behind her back.

"Hello, Willow," a soft, masculine voice spoke from somewhere near her.

"Where--" the word was barely more than a whisper, and she licked her
dry lips and tried again. "Where--"

"Never mind," the voice said as a slender, dark-haired man sat down on
the edge of the narrow cot. "You don't know me, but you will. Very
well."

Willow's eyes darted to him, realizing this was one of the council's
men.

"Spike," she whispered.

"He's looking for you. I hope," the man grinned coldly. "Don't worry;
we'll make sure he finds you."

Her eyes closed as the affect of the shock she'd been given overtook
her again.

"That's right. You get some sleep," he nodded and lifted his hand to
caress her thigh. "We'll get better acquainted later.
***
"I'm so sorry, Giles," the woman said. "If I had known they had moved
up the arrival, I'd have warned you straightaway."

"It isn't your fault," he told her. "No one blames you, Christina."

Ceara observed the glance that passed between her watcher and Christina
Mitchell. The woman was striking, the slayer decided. Her pale,
delicate features were framed by the ebony hair that fell in thick,
straight tresses about her shoulders and fringed her porcelain brow.
Her eyes, a most unusual shade of steel gray flecked with silver,
peered out from long, graceful lashes.

"The thing now is to find her," Christina was saying as she looked over
at Spike who was leaning silently on the fireplace mantle.

"Any ideas?" Ceara spoke.

"You know about the shelters the council had built?" she asked.

"We know, and the council knows that we know," Ceara answered.

"Which makes them the logical choice," Christina nodded. "After all,
they want Angel and Spike to come after her. It would hardly do to put
her somewhere completely unfamiliar to them. And they still have the
advantage of a couple dozen shelters to chose from, so they'll be able
to keep a keen eye on the vampires while they're searching for your
friend."

Spike moved restlessly away from the fireplace as Willow's last
experience in one of these shelters tumbled through his mind.

"You must have enough--associates--to cover 28 shelters," Christina
said to him.

The slayer moved to the edge of the sofa, "I'm surprised you'd consider
letting them--"

The woman dismissed the notion with a sweep of her hand, "I've known
far worse demons than vampires--most of them warm and breathing. I've
kept up with what's been going on here. In my opinion, the council is
so outraged because the five of you work so effectively together.
Imagine it! Three mortals and two vampires--one of them a master, no
less--keeping a Hellmouth from another implosion. That's got to cause
more than a little heartburn as they nibble on caviar and sip champaign
at their stuffy old conventions. If they were any more antiquated,
their bones would creak."

Giles laughed softly and leaned against the chair on which Christina
was sitting.

"Anyway," she continued. "It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours
to find her."

"Let's get to it," Ceara nodded, tugging Angel up off the sofa.
***
Willow pushed herself up and swung her legs over the edge of the cot.
The debilitating weakness had finally gone, and she looked around her
and recognized the familiar layout of a shelter very similar to the one
she'd been in before.

She tested the ropes at her ankles and wrists. Whoever had tied them
had made a good job of it. Her heart lurched, and she caught her breath
as the door to the room was unlocked and pulled open. The same man
entered and walked over to her. He smiled down at Willow, and she
looked hatefully back at him.

Sitting down beside her, he ran his fingers through her soft hair and
smiled at her.

"Does he tell you how beautiful you are?" he asked softly.

"Sod off," she sneered, pulling her head away from him.

He grinned and grabbed her chin in his hand.

"Did he teach you that, sweetheart?" he asked, running the tip of his
index finger along her lips.

Willow parted her lips, and his finger slipped inside. She clamped down
on it and bit savagely into his flesh. The man howled and drew his hand
away as blood dripped from his finger.

"He taught me that, too," she smirked.

"I was going to be nice to you, but if you'd rather play rough--" the
man snarled and leaned over her.

"It'll have to wait. You've got company," she said, looking over his
shoulder, a warm smile gracing her face. "Hi, Joseph."

"Hello, Willow," Darnell replied casually.

Willow's captor whirled around to face the vampire.

"Look," Willow chirped happily, looking down at the man's bloody
finger. "I got him started for you."

"Very thoughtful," Joseph nodded and slipped into game face as he
advanced on the man.

The captor's panicked scream was reduced to a strangled whimper as the
vampire's hand curled around the man's neck.

"This place could use curtain," Willow mused, looking around the room
as Darnell sunk his fangs into his victim and drained him.
***
"The Master has been in a hell of a state all day," Darnell said as he
walked with Willow to find the others.

"How did you find me?" she asked him.

"I managed to grab one of your attackers," he answered.

"In daylight?" she squealed.

Darnell smiled and raised his arm, "He got too close to the door,
stupid sod. I must say, his throat in my hand was worth a little
discomfort."

Ah, Joseph, you're a wonder. So did you hurt him--a lot?" she asked
hopefully, linking her arm through his.

"I think I may have cracked the crystal vase you like so well. It
didn't survive the impact to his skull," he apologized.

"That's all right," she grinned. "The woman at the shop said it was an
antique, but I've never been convinced."

"Willow," Joseph spoke and directed her gaze to the group down the
sidewalk.

"Spike," she murmured and let go of his arm.

The blonde vampire turned at the familiar sound of her quick footsteps.
He gathered her into his arms and held her tightly.

"Are you all right, baby?" he asked, his voice coated with relief.

"Yes," she whispered into his ear.

He brought her mouth to his in a long, hungry kiss that drove reality
away and brought a blushing grin from Giles, a delighted giggle from
Ceara, a relieved smile from Angel, and a wide-eyed stare from
Christina.

Spike pulled away slightly and looked down into her eyes, "How did
you--"

"Joseph found me," she answered and looked around at the vampire who
had walked slowly up to join them.

Spike turned Willow and tucked her under a firm arm and looked at
Darnell.

"Name it, it's yours," his master offered.

"Thank you," Joseph nodded. "I'd really like to go finish beating the
hell out of our visitor. I hadn't quite gotten there before he told me
where to find your lady."

"Visitor?" Christina asked Giles.

"One of the men the council sent. I don't know what we're going to do
with him now," Giles explained.

"I do," Spike stated.

"You're going to kill him?" Christina asked.

"No, he is," Spike gestured toward Darnell.

"We should hang onto him for awhile. He may have information that could
be helpful. With a little persuasion, I bet he'd be willing to share.
Let's see what he can tell us before you off him."

The watcher's mouth dropped open in astonishment, and she looked up at
him.

"Oh, come on, Giles," she laughed. "We both know these close-minded
gits aren't good for much, really. After what he's put these two
through, he owes them a meal."

The watcher shook his head in a strange mixture of shock and
admiration.

"Giles," the slayer spoke. "There are still five of those closed-minded
gits running around Sunnydale."

He nodded, "I think they'll decide they've had enough for one night
once they've found their comrade's body. We'll regroup tomorrow
evening. Willow, in the meantime, stay inside."

"I'm not going anywhere," she stated, wrapping her arm around Spike.

The vampire nuzzled her cheek and took her hand to lead her away, with
Darnell following closely behind them.
 
 
 

"If the council had any idea why you came here, they never would have
agreed to it," Giles told Christina.

"If the council had known I was coming here at all, they never would
have agreed to it," she grinned.

"They don't know you're here?" he asked, his brows arching in surprise.

"Well, I expect they do by now," she answered.

"Christina, you must realize the position you've placed yourself in.
They could have you summarily dismissed."

She rolled her eyes, "As if that would break my heart. Anyway, I may
not be very high up in their little club, but they know I can be
resourceful. I don't think they'd want me running around London,
knowing what I do, without being dutifully tied to them. As long as I'm
a part of them, they can continue to gently persuade me to see
'reason.'"

Ceara wandered into the library, followed closely by Angel. She stopped
and looked at the couple sitting beside each other at the table.

"I like her," Ceara spoke softly to Angel.

"So does he," the vampire smiled.

"There you two are," Giles said as he turned to them. "I was beginning
to think we were going to have to send Darnell after you."

Ceara smiled, "I wonder if he's managed to beat the hell out of that
guy yet."

"Let's hope, if he has, that some information comes tumbling out with
it," Christina replied.

"Shouldn't they be here by now?" the slayer asked.

"The sun only set a half hour ago. They'll be here," Giles answered.

"Still, they've had more than enough time," she worried. "Maybe we
should--"

She stopped as the sound of the doorbell came from the entryway
downstairs.

"--go answer the door," she continued.
***
"They're the good guys, right?" the slayer asked Spike as she looked
past him at the twelve minions hanging about in the background.

"Don't tell them that," he advised, stepping inside after Willow and
following the two women up the stairs.

"Did you find out anything?" Angel asked the second they entered the
library.

"It's good to see you, too," Willow grinned.

Spike settled into the nearest chair and pulled Willow down onto his
leg, pulling her against him until her back rested against his chest,
and encircling both arms around her.

"The sod had a hard time speaking clearly after Darnell shoved three of
his teeth down his throat," Spike began.

"He offered to make me a necklace of them," Willow said brightly.
"Naturally, I refused."

"Naturally," Giles nodded.

"He did manage to splutter out that they're prepared to go as far as
taking out the slayer, if it comes to that," Spike continued.

Angel's dark eyes grew darker still, and Ceara felt his tensed arm slip
around her waist.

"Take out the slayer and replace her with another they can brainwash
against us. Sounds typical," Christina nodded, then looked guiltily
around at the stares fixed upon her. "Sorry, that sounded much less
emotional than it should have."

"He also said they'd been given orders to torch as many lairs as they
can find," Spike went on.

"Why?" Ceara asked. "It's you two they're after."

"Because it would undermine Spike's position as Master," Christina
answered. "They can destroy as many of his minions as they can find and
turn the others against him in the process."

"And send them promptly off on another rampage," Giles added grimly.

"When are they going to put their plan into action?" Christina asked.

"Tomorrow morning, right after sunrise," Spike answered. "They're
starting along the river front. I've sent orders for those lairs to
clear out. So, the only things burning will be the buildings."

"Well, that thwarts the immediate threat and strengthens your
position," the watcher said.

"Giles," Willow spoke. "Spike's boys aren't going to sit back and let
the council destroy them, and they're not going to run in the opposite
direction. They're going to retaliate. You may not want a war with the
council, but that's what they seem to be pushing for. If we don't stop
these four bastards, they're going to be the catalyst for the deaths of
a whole lot of people."

Giles stared back at the redhead, soberly recognizing the inevitability
of her prediction.

"Kill them," Christina suggested. "All four of them. Tonight."

"Christina!" the watcher started.

"No, listen to me. It's them or a repeat of what happened here before.
The council may very well send replacements if we kill them, but if we
do take them out, it'll buy us some time."

"You're talking about murder," he told her.

"Rupert, I'm talking about self-defense. I'm talking about fighting
back against a group of self-righteous, blue-blooded pricks who are
going to end up killing hundreds of people--including us--if we don't
stop them. They're the ones who laid down the conventions of this
battle, let's fight by them. I'm going to phone a few of my allies back
in London. When I left, we were very close to pulling to our side a
couple of members at the top of the order. We may have enough damning
evidence now to finally bring them over. If we take out the last four
that are here now, the other four who are waiting to help them won't
dare come without additional support. It'll take a good week for the
council to find anyone stupid enough to come over here. It'll take
another week to debrief them and bring them up to speed. If my friends
back home push hard, they may be able to overturn everything in that
amount of time."

"You're really that close?" Giles asked, clearly awed by the woman's
fervor.

"We're really that close," she asserted and placed her hand over his,
squeezing it in an uncontrollable need to give her anticipation
physical release.

Giles nodded and looked over at Spike, "All right. Do what you have
to."

The blonde vampire slid Willow off his knee and took her hand as he
stood beside her. He looked briefly at the slayer and Angel, and the
four of them turned to leave together.

Giles heard Spike's voice drifting back from the hallway.

"I don't suppose you'd consider going home?" he was asking.

"Hell no," came the redhead's enthusiastic reply. "I'm fighting. Let's
go kick some British ass."

"Careful, pet, my ass is British, too," he reminded her.

"It's a hell of a lot sexier, though," she told him. "Not any easier to
handle, mind you, but still--"

"Willow," Spike's voice barked a warning.

"Okay," she relented. "But can I handle your ass later?"

Giles shook his head in feigned consternation as Christina laughed
softly beside him.
***
"They're in there, and we're out here," Willow said as they stood in
the hotel parking lot. "So far, this isn't working."

"I can fix that," Spike told her.

He turned to speak with the minions behind them, and four of them broke
away from the group and headed around to the service entrance at the
side of the hotel. Spike took Willow's hand and started across the
parking lot, followed by Angel, Ceara, and four more minions.

"You don't really think they're coming out here after dark?" Ceara
asked as they stood in the shadow of several cars.

"They will if they want to eat," Spike nodded.

"They'll just order room service," she told him.

"The kitchen isn't open tonight."

The slayer stared up at him, "Why not?"

"Because I said so," he answered.

The slayer looked back at Angel questioningly, and he squeezed her arm
and nodded toward the hotel. She turned to see the four council members
step out of the door.

"Don't tell me a vampire owns this place, too," she muttered.

"Nope. He works the night shift in the kitchen," Spike said.

"What the hell for?" she asked.

"He likes room service, too," the vampire grinned. "Lazy bugger."

Willow took a step away from Spike, and he quickly pulled her back to
him.

"Wait for it, ducks," he said, his mouth close to her ear.

The men had turned in the opposite direction to get into the car. Spike
flashed a look at his minions, and they slunk off into the darkness to
approach the vehicle from the other side.

"Now," Spike spoke softly.

The council men turned as the minions advanced on them from the other
side of the car. The driver tugged open the door, and one of the
vampires grabbed hold of it and slammed it shut, catching the man's
hand inside it. His cry of pain quieted quickly as the minion latched
onto his throat and plunged his fangs into it.

From around the car, Willow barreled into a council member who was
trying the flee. He landed on his ass, and Spike dragged him up and
shoved him against the trunk of the car. The vampire spun him around
and grabbed him by the hair with one hand while the other braced itself
around the man's chin. Spike snapped the man's neck with one violent
twist.

Ceara, in the meantime, had brought her foot into the third man's
chest, slamming him into the side of the car. She dodged his oncoming
fist, and Angel's hand clamped around his wrist. He squeezed hard, and
the man groaned and staggered to keep his legs under him. Angel forced
him to the ground and brought his knee into the man's face. He sprawled
onto the pavement, and Angel knelt and broke his neck as effortlessly
as Spike had done.

The last of the four men had pulled a cross from his pocket and was
waving it at the two minions, keeping them at bay. Willow's eyes
followed the man's hand, and she bolted around the back of the car and
snatched it away from him to fling it across the lot. The minions
lunged at the man and attached themselves to either side of his neck,
draining him swiftly.

"What are we going to do with them?" Ceara asked as they looked down at
the lifeless bodies.

"Leave them," Spike shrugged.

Willow looked up at him and put her hands on her hips.

"What?" he sighed.

"Someone could drive in here and end up in an accident while trying to
avoid them," she explained impatiently.

He stared down at his redhead and shook his head as he motioned for his
boys to step around from the car.

"There's a bus shelter over on the sidewalk, near the entrance. Stuff
them in it," he ordered, all the while staring down at Willow.

A wide smile spread across her face, and she put her hands on his
crossed arms.

"I love you," she told him.

His pretense of annoyance melted away as he gazed down into her
sparkling green eyes. He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her
into a kiss.

"Oh, no," Ceara moaned at Angel's side. "There they go again."

"I don't know," Angel responded. "Looks like fun to me."

Her eyes flew to his, and he chuckled and turned to drop a soft kiss on
her lips.
 
 

Willow stared out the window, a cup of coffee rapidly cooling in her
hands. Spike entered and looked at her, lost in thoughts of his own,
until her shuddering sigh broke the silence. He went to her. Turning
her to face him, he took the cup from her and placed it on the table
beside the window. He stared down at her for a moment before drawing
her close to him.

"Luv, you've been like this for a week. If you don't get it out, it's
going to drive us both crazy. What's wrong?" he asked.

"Giles phoned," she answered.

He paused a moment, confused by the seemingly irrelevant comment. He
waited for her to continue, but she had drifted into her thoughts once
again.

"And?" he finally prompted.

"The council has dismissed Christina. Giles spoke to one of her friends
early this morning, and from what he could gather, she'll face severe
disciplinary action if she goes back to London. I'm beginning to think
we should never have gotten involved in this war."

"Oh, come on," he spoke, drawing slightly away to look down at her.
"We've faced worse than this. Christina will be all right."

"Will she?" Willow asked softly. "Spike, we went out last week and
killed four people. Not demons, not creepy crawlies from the
Hellmouth--humans."

He took her hand and led her over to the sofa to sit down beside her.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with pain, regret, and
heart-wrenching exhaustion.

"Listen to me," he said. "You know what would have happened if we
hadn't gone after them. Are you trying to tell me it would be better to
watch the Hellmouth burn again?"

"No," she shook her head. "I know we were pushed into it. I know the
council isn't going to back down, but Spike, they were humans. I don't
know how to deal with this. Every time we've fought before this, it's
been against demons, beings that needed to be sent back to hell where
they belong."

"I'm one of those demons," he reminded her tensely.

She looked up at him, tears beginning to form in her eyes, "I didn't
mean--that. You know that I love you. Goddess, you've been the center
of everything I am for so long, I wouldn't know how to exist without
you."

"Is that a bad thing?" he asked seriously.

"No, it's the best thing that ever happened to me," she smiled softly.
"We both know I tend to turn a blind eye to your--feeding habits. But
I've got blood on my hands now, too. I can't pretend anymore."

"Willow," he took her hands. "I'm not Angel. I'm never going to be
Angel. I've never pretended to be anything other than exactly what I
am. If it's a soul you're looking for, I haven't got one. I can give
you everything else but that. I used to despise Angel for having a
soul. I thought it made him soft, weak."

"And now?" she asked.

"Now, I don't know, maybe I'm jealous. Jealous that he has something I
don't. Something you want that I can't offer you."

"No," she moaned, placing her hand to his cheek. "I love you, Spike.
We're good together. We're good for each other. You make me feel safe.
Even when those bastards grabbed me and hauled me off, I knew you'd
find me. In all the time we've been together, you've never let me down,
not once."

He took her hand and brought it to his lips, "I'd do anything for you.
You know that. But I can't--"

"I know," she smiled. "The part of me that's repulsed by what happened
last week doesn't exist in you. You can be infinitely compassionate and
understanding and loving. I think sometimes I mistake that for a soul.
I don't want you to change for me. You wouldn't be what I fell in love
with if you did. You wouldn't be the man who taught me that sometimes
you just have to fight, with everything you've got, because it's the
only thing left other than giving up your own existence. It's just that
I've never had to face that before when mortals were standing on the
other side of the battlefield. And I have all these conflicting
emotions running around inside me, and I don't know what to do with
them."

He was staring at her intently, waiting for her to continue.

"What?" she asked. "Did that sound incredibly weak?"

"No, pet," he said, a grin tugging at his lips. "It's just ludicrous to
hear you talk about yourself that way--weak, I mean. You're the
strongest woman I know."

"Besides Ceara--"

"Including the slayer," he argued. "You've been on the front lines a
hell of a lot longer than she has, and without the abilities that come
with being what she is. I've never seen you back down from a fight,
even when I'd like to wring your gorgeous neck for it. Given the choice
of fighting beside you and my boys, I'd pick you everytime, luv."

Her eyes sparkled and she laughed softly, "I'm going to go tell them
you said that."

"You think they don't already know?" he asked, his voice serious
despite his grin. "Ask Darnell. Any one of them would stand behind you
in a fight. They admire you, almost as much as I do--"

"Because you're their Master," she interjected.

"Because you're incredible," he corrected. "They'd never admit to it.
It goes against the ancient vampire regulation of "Thou shalt not
admire humans," but they do. Well, Darnell would admit it. He likes
breaking regulations, anyway."

Willow laughed and scooted onto his lap, "You're really serious, aren't
you?"

"I am," he nodded. "Someday, you're going to make a legendary vampire,
after you're finished making the same reputation as a mortal."

"I think you got a hold of some bad blood," she teased.

"No, I didn't. Perfect eyesight, remember?" he said. "I know what I see
when I look at you."

She brought her mouth to his and kissed him softly.

"So, what are we going to do about this?" he asked. "What is it you
want, luv? Do you want me to start making regular trips to the blood
bank, like Angel?"

She shook her head, "It wouldn't be fair of me to ask that of you, and
you couldn't do it even if I did. You're right. You're not Angel. If it
were Angel I wanted, it's Angel I'd go after."

"And he wouldn't stand a chance," he grinned.

"Oh, I don't know. I think I'd have a hell of a time getting around
Ceara," she replied. "I don't want him. I don't want you to be like
him. I love you, just you. I'll find my way through this, just don't
let go of my hand."

"Never," he promised.

Spike brought his hands to her face and kissed her, drawing her tongue
into his mouth and tasting her gently."

Willow moved her head to his throat and placed soft kisses on it before
nuzzling against his neck. The telephone rang, a noisily jarring sound
in the perfect silence of the room. She slipped off his lap and went to
answer it. Spike watched her as she talked quietly for several minutes
before hanging up and looking back at him.

"That was Giles. He needs to see us at his place," she told him.

He nodded and stood up. Willow held out her hand to him, and he took it
in his and followed her out of the room.
***
Christina looked from the slayer's pale face to the even more pale face
of the redhead who was standing beside Spike in the entryway. She
exchanged a concerned glance with Giles and dropped down next to Ceara
on the sofa.

"You two are having a hard time with this, aren't you? she spoke
softly.

Ceara looked at her for a long moment, "I wasn't chosen to slay
people."

"I know," she nodded. "But your actions last week helped ensure this
town's safety."

"For how long?" Willow spoke. "Until the council sends more? Do we kill
them, too? Do we keep on killing until--"

Spike placed his hand on her shoulder, calming the rise of anger that
had begun to creep into her voice.

Christina smiled gently at her, "If it helps at all, we've been
exonerated."

"By whom?" Ceara asked.

"By the council."

Angel moved away from the chair he'd been leaning against and went to
sit down on the other side of Ceara.

"I thought you'd been dismissed," he said.

"I was. I've been reinstated," she answered. "I just got the news a
little while ago."

"What made them change their minds?" Angel asked.

"They didn't change them. They stepped down. Remember I told you there
were a couple of them who were beginning to see things from our
perspective? Well, my associates sat down with them, presented all the
evidence--again--that proved how effective you've been at controlling
the Hellmouth, and then told them just how far the pricks at the top
were willing to take this confrontation between us and them," Christina
explained.

"And they listened?" the slayer asked.

Christina nodded, "It was enough. They sided with us and threatened to
call a formal hearing. The old administration has been dismantled. A
formal statement has been drafted dictating that Sunnydale continues to
be watched over just as it has been since it was rebuilt. They've also
convened a committee to recommend a new leader."

"That's quick," Giles stated in surprise.

"Not really," she told him. "We've had our eye on someone for quite
some time, but we figured it would be years before we ever had the
opportunity to recommend him. The old leaders cut their own throats
when they endangered the town they were supposed to be protecting."

"So who is this chap? Anyone I know?" the watcher asked.

"Oh, yes," she nodded. "The committee is even going to recommend he be
allowed to perform his duties from here rather than London."

Giles stared at her in utter bewilderment.

Christina laughed and stood to walk over to him.

"It's you, you idiot!" she grinned.

The watcher's bewildered stare turned to shocked surprise.

"You're the perfect choice," she told him. "And I know a brilliant and
dedicated woman who would love to assist you, if you'd like her to."

"I--I," Giles let out the breath he'd been holding.

"Oh," she said, lowering her eyes in mock disappointment. "Okay, well,
if you feel that way, I'll just head back to Lon--"

"Like hell you will," he said as he found his voice.

He put his arms around her and hugged her close to him.

"Now, it isn't a done deal, yet," she warned him as she grabbed his
hand and turned it to look at his watch. "It'll be another 20 minutes
before everything is official. Unless you call them before then and
decline the position."

"Twenty minutes?" he exclaimed.

"Well, I told them it would only take me ten to persuade you, but they
decided to err on the side of caution," she giggled.

"Oh, they did, did they?" he laughed. "Pretty sure of yourself, aren't
you?"

"Very, very sure," she nodded, staring up into his eyes.

"Wait a minute," Ceara spoke. "Does this mean I have to have a new
watcher?"

"Not unless I recommend it," Giles answered. "So you'd better behave
yourself."

"Hey! I always behave myself!" she protested.

Angel snorted and dropped his hand to her knee.

"Watch it, buster," she warned him with a grin. "I can take you, you
know."

"I'll take you up on that--later," he promised.

Spike looked down at Willow and squeezed her hand. She looked from the
woman in Giles' arms to the woman seated beside Angel and then up at
Spike.

"Let's go home," she said softly.

He nodded and they turned and walked out of the entryway, their
departure unnoticed by the others in the room.
***
"Willow?" Spike said, his voice laced with concern, after they had
walked several minutes in silence.

She took her hand from his and slid her arm around his waist.

"Tell me you love me," she asked.

"I love you," he answered, trying to read the emotion behind her
request.

"I love you, too," she said.

A faint note, something in the tone of her voice, spoke to him of an
ache, a longing emptiness, the death of--something.

"What was that, baby?" he asked softly. "What just flickered and went
out?"

"The past," she whispered.

He held her a little closer and placed a gentle kiss on her head as the
lights of the mansion came into view.
 

Things had calmed considerably over the past two weeks as Giles took
over his new position and the Hellmouth returned to its normal, dark
balance. The only thing left to calm was the redhead sitting across the
room. She had ricocheted from restlessness to prolonged stretches of
silent sadness since the night they had learned about Giles' new
duties.

Spike had tried to get her to talk though whatever it was that was
bothering her, but she had been unable or unwilling to verbalize her
troubled thoughts. And so he had resolved himself to wait with patient
worry, knowing that if he held her long enough and close enough, she
would eventually find her way out of her twisting emotions and back
into the security of him.

He looked across at her as she sat curled up in an armchair, holding an
open book in her lap and gazing above and beyond it, looking out into
nothing, looking into herself.

She stirred as Darnell entered the room, and she closed her book and
looked up at him.

"Joseph," she spoke. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course," he nodded.

"Do you ever think about your life before?"

Spike's eyes fixed on her curiously as he waited to see where her
thoughts were leading.

"Before I was turned?" Darnell asked, and she nodded. "Not really. Not
often."

"You don't miss it?" she asked.

"It isn't within me to miss it. That was a different existence,
separate from what I am now."

"But it wasn't so long ago that you were like me," she pointed out.
"Don't you ever miss the people and places that were important to you?"

"There's no sense of loss, if that's what you mean. When I do think
about my past, it's like watching someone else's life. It isn't me. I'm
detached from it."

Willow nodded and considered for several minutes what he had said
before turning her eyes to Spike's interested gaze.

"I'm ready," she said to him.

"Ready?" he asked.

"For you to turn me. I want to be like you are."

"Sweetheart, you're _not_ ready," he told her.

She moved from the chair to the sofa and looked up at him with earnest,
green eyes.

"Yes, I am. I want to be like you. I want a past that doesn't sting and
memories that don't smolder with the embers of Sunnydale," she
insisted.

He took her hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb, and smiled
softly at her.

"Is that what this is all about? Old agonies? Why has all of that been
stirred up inside you again?" he questioned.

"It was killing those men. I mean, I know we had no choice. It was them
or us, and I've dealt with all that, I think. It's just--"

Spike waited as she gathered the scattered thoughts in her mind.

"Dealing with that, and then later back at Giles', I looked around that
room, and do you know what I saw?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"Changes. Everything has changed. We fought for Sunnydale once before,
and we lost everything. The town, all the people I loved. We fought so
hard, for so long, Spike, and all we ended up with was loss. I failed
them, all the people I cared for. I failed them."

"Willow," Spike's voice was strained with agonized sadness that she
could possibly blame herself, then or now, for their deaths.

Willow continued, "But this time, we won. The town is safe; everyone I
care for is safe. But all I can think is, why this time, but not
before? I looked around Giles' living room that night, and I thought,
'No Xander, no Oz, no Buffy.' They didn't get to live. They didn't get
to be here with us."

"Oh, pet," he murmured and pulled her close to him. "It still hurts
that deeply? After all this time?"

"Sometimes," she answered. "If you turned me, it wouldn't. I'd have the
memories without the pain."

"The memories wouldn't be the same, luv. They'd be emotionless, dull.
The bad memories wouldn't be painful, but the good ones wouldn't be
happy, either."

"But we have happy memories--you and I, together," she pointed out.
"They are happy for you, aren't they?"

"Yes, but that's because I love you."

"And I love all of them," she argued. "So, I'd still have good memories
of them."

"I can't make you understand it," he told her. "It's like Darnell said.
It's like looking at old photographs in a stranger's scrapbook."

"Okay," she conceded. "But that's going to happen someday, anyway,
because I'm never leaving you. Never."

He smiled down at her, "I know, and someday it will happen, and those
memories will fade, and you'll have these--us together, now--and the
ones we'll make then."

"So why not--"

"Because it isn't time, yet. You aren't really ready to give up your
mortality. And I won't take it from you until you are."

"I am, Spike," she said with conviction. "I really am."

"You're sure of that?" he asked. "You're sure you're ready to give up
everything you are now? Because once it's done, it can't be undone. You
can't get back your humanity."

"I don't want it back. I want it gone," she answered.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she nodded.

He kissed her and looked over at Darnell before his demonic features
replaced those of the human. He lowered his mouth to the pulse point
throbbing rapidly below her ear and grazed it with his fangs. He felt
Willow tense violently against him as a small cry of abject fear
escaped from her lips. Her closed eyes flew open as his cold lips
kissed her neck, and he drew back to look at her, his human visage in
place.

"You're not ready, baby," he smiled at her.

"I--" she lowered her eyes. "I thought I was. I wanted to be."

"When it's really right for you, you will be ready. And when you are,
ask me again, and eternity is yours," he promised softly.

"I love you," she whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He hugged her close and looked over at Darnell. The two vampires shared
a brief smile, relieved that this last, sweet jewel of precious
humanity had not slipped through their fingers far too soon.

End

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