The demon, enraged by the ember of humanity that had been stirred up by
Angel's gentle prodding, had decided to get its own back. Spike had
watched in admiration as his childe played with her food. Willow had
tangled her fingers through the girl's hair and pulled her head back
until the weak, young blonde had screamed in pain. The victim's agony
had ended when the vampire ripped into her throat and drank from her
with brutal fury.

"Feeling better, pet?" Spike asked as they walked through the park.

"I'm sorry," she told him. "I'm sorry I let him get to me like that.
I'm sorry I disappointed you."

He put his arm around her waist, "You're never a disappointment to me,
luv. Angel knows how to play up all that warm, human crap. Hell, he's
been doing it for years. And he's right, in one sense."

She looked at him in surprise, "He is?"

"You do have to deal with that part of yourself. It isn't strong, but
it is persistent. You can't pretend it isn't there, or someday it may
sneak up behind you and kick you in your cute little ass."

"I try to push it down," Willow explained, "But he--"

"Drags it back to the surface. I know, pet," Spike nodded.

"So, what do I do?" she asked.

"Look it in the eye, and tell it to shut the hell up," he answered.

"That easy, huh?" she said.

"No, it won't be easy," he admitted. "But the other part of you is much
stronger, much more focused. You don't really want to spend your idle
hours sitting about and pining."

"No," she shuddered. "There's one thing I don't understand."

"What's that, baby?"

"Why do you want me like this?" she asked.

Spike was stunned by the question, "I want you anyway I can have you.
I'm not Angel, Willow. I'm not looking for an isolated part of you. I
want the whole, gorgeous, irresistible package."

His declaration was rewarded with a beaming smile.

"And you're a hell of a lay, too," he grinned wickedly.

She laughed and caught him around the neck, pulling him down for a hard
kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her up off the
sidewalk until she was at eye-level with him. She put her arms around
his shoulders and kissed him again.

"We haven't entertained our guest all evening," she said. "Let's go tie
him to a hook and see if we can reel in a watcher."

Spike chuckled at her evil smile, "That's my girl."
***
Xander looked very uneasy as Willow paced casually around the chair in
the attic.

"I guess I should apologize for neglecting you so rudely," she spoke.
"No TV, no music, nothing to think about, since your mind doesn't do
that sort of thing."

Xander clenched his jaw and stared straight ahead.

She leaned over his shoulder and spoke into his ear, "How's the watcher
been keeping? Same old proper Giles, I'll bet. You know, I always
rather suspected that what he really wanted to do was throw his little
slayer right on top of the library table and screw her brains out.
Might not be such a bad idea, considering Angel isn't allowed between
her legs, and you're just not 'up' to the task. Poor Kirsten. I wonder
if she realizes she's doomed to fantasies and vibrators for the
duration of her marriage."

"Couldn't be worse than fucking a demon," Xander hissed as his temper
got the better of him.

Willow giggled and strolled around to face him, "Like you'd know
anything at all about fucking. I could ask Spike to get the boys up
here. They could give you a lesson or two."

Xander's eyes darted to the blonde vampire who was leaning against the
door, arms crossed, watching his redheaded beauty with amusement.

"No?" Willow asked. "Hmmm. I know! We could have Giles rummage around
in his moldy old books and conjure up a demon to suck some life into
you. Of course, that means issuing an invitation. He doesn't look the
dinner party type. Let's see, then. How about a cryptic puzzle? He
likes cryptic puzzles, especially if there's a hint of trouble
involved."

Xander looked at her anxiously. She reached around him and placed her
hand over his back pocket. He jumped and slid forward as she patted his
ass. Her fingers fastened around his wallet and drew it out of his
pocket. She stood and began to rifle through its contents.

"Thirty dollars? Big spender," she smirked. "Credit card, I'll bet
that's been rejected more times than you have. Oh, look, a little
snapshot of the brunette princess and her hubby-to-be, how sweet. We
should do one of these, lover."

Spike snorted from his post at the door.

"Oh, right, waste of film. Ah! A driver's license; this should do
nicely. Now, all we need is a mysterious note from its owner. You can
write, can't you?" Willow said.

"Go to hell," Xander snapped. "No way will I agree to help you hurt
anyone else."

Willow shook her head, "That's no way to talk, old friend."

Xander's anger at his helplessness bubbled over, "My old friend died
the first time she screwed that bastard. You're not Willow. You're a
black-hearted bitch."

Spike reached the chair in two strides and backhanded Xander across the
face. His head flew back against the chair and the taste of blood
filled his mouth. He coughed as a tooth slid down his throat. A tear
trickled down his face, and he closed his eyes. Spike grabbed his jaw
and squeezed until the man yelped in pain.

"What did you say?" Spike asked.

Xander stared at Spike's murderous expression for a moment before
lowering his eyes in defeat.

"I'll write the note," he whispered.

End.

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