"You're quiet, baby," Spike said as he pulled Willow up out of the
chair and resettled her on his lap.

"Sorry," she smiled.

"I hate that bastard. He always does this to you," he snarled.

"It isn't just Angel. It's this other part of me. It's always there,"
she replied.

"That may be, but it never goes on the rampage until he's been with
you," Spike stated.

"I know. I can ignore it the rest of the time."

"I couldn't stand to see you like him, Willow. Sitting around crying
bloody tears over something you can't change, shouldn't even want to
change. You're happy with me, aren't you?" he asked.

She kissed him softly, "You know I am. I don't ever regret being with
you."

"Then tell soulboy to sod off," he suggested.

"You really think that'll work?" she asked.

"No," he admitted. "But I'd like to hear you say it anyway."

Willow giggled, "I don't have the right accent."

"Luv, you have the right everything," he smiled. "Do you need me,
baby?"

She looked at him, "Angel says drinking from you feeds the demon."

"Angel's right," he stated. "Besides the fact that it makes me horny as
hell, it binds you to me. It makes you strong."

"I love you," she whispered.

He pulled her against him and kissed her hard, "Drink from me, pet. You
don't need Angel or any human remnant chattering over your shoulder.
You just need me."

"I do need you," she nodded as her eyes gleamed amber.

Spike nestled her head against his neck and smiled as she nuzzled
against him before piercing his throat and drinking from him.
***
Angel moved restlessly about the small, dark flat. His thoughts bounced
between counting the hours Spike had Willow to himself and trying to
devise a way to get her out from under his watchful eye. He was
immensely disturbed by the knowledge that Spike was coaxing Willow to
feed from him. Her sire's blood would be what the childe craved most,
and his offer would be exceedingly difficult for her to refuse.

Most sires wouldn't even consider making such an offer over such a
lengthy period of time. The resulting bond would be too strong. With
every drop of blood given, the sire would implant a bit of himself--his
passions, his bloodlust--into his childe. The arrangement was perfect
for Spike. His desire for Willow would drive his need to have her
firmly bound to him. He probably would have compelled her to feed from
him even if she hadn't possessed a human remnant. The longer he gave
himself to her, the more difficult it would be for Angel to encourage
Willow's frail humanity to assert itself. Yet another reason for Spike
to encourage her to drink from him.

"Damn that bastard," Angel murmured aloud.

His thoughts drifted to their midnight meeting. The feel of Willow's
small body against his, the taste of her mouth. He wanted more, so much
more. He wanted to drive out all thoughts of her sire and replace them
with desire for him. Willow was small and sweet and strong, and she
could understand him far better than anyone else ever could. If only he
could draw it out of her. He was going to have to get past Spike to
make that happen.
***
"Spike," Angel spoke from the mews leading into the courtyard.

The blonde vampire approached Angel, "She's inside, where you aren't."

"We need to talk about her," Angel said.

"Aside from you sticking your tongue down her throat last night, we
have nothing to talk about," Spike snarled.

"She told you?" Angel asked.

"She told me," Spike nodded. "I hope you enjoyed getting a little
taste, because it's all you're going to get."

"I'm sorry," Angel said. "I didn't have the right to do that."

Spike was taken aback by the apology, "No, you didn't."

"I'm not trying to take her away from you," Angel told him.

Spike laughed, "How stupid do you think I am? You've been obsessed with
her since I made her!"

"I cared about Willow long before you even knew her," Angel pointed
out.

"You should have made your move then, mate. She's mine now."

"You've got her feeding from you, after all this time. Why?" Angel
asked.

"You bloody well know why. She needs me, especially after you've been
with her. You dredge up all this human remnant crap. It makes her feel
weak," Spike answered.

"It isn't a weakness," Angel said.

"Her demon sees it as one! Look, I fell in love with Willow when she
was still human. You think I don't know how uncommon that is? Hell,
I'll bet the council has been scrambling for years to find that one in
the books. It doesn't happen."

Angel couldn't help smiling, "Giles is still looking for an answer."

"I don't know what it was myself," Spike shrugged. "She was so
vulnerable and so strong at the same time. She touched something inside
me I thought I'd lost centuries ago."

"Then why are you so determined to drive it away?" Angel asked.

"She's one hell of a vampire. Even you must admit that. She's clever,
and she's strong, stronger than she knows. When you go prodding about
in all that humanity rubbish, it makes her feel weak. She doubts
herself. I don't want her to become what you are."

Angel ignored the insult, "I don't want Willow to hurt, either, but
she's got to deal with this. She's got to learn how to give the remnant
a voice."

"Why? So she'll stop hunting? Stop killing? What's the point? She isn't
what you are, Angel. She doesn't have a soul. She craves the hunt. Have
you ever watched her? She's mesmerizing when she's going after a kill."

Angel looked away, unwilling to imagine Willow in that way.

"You can't think about it, can you?" Spike sneered. "You do want her to
be what you are. It won't happen. I won't allow it."

"Allow it?" Angel hissed and grabbed Spike's arm.

Spike pushed his hand away, "You want her to be what she used to be.
That's impossible. You're looking for the old Willow, and she's been
dead for years."

"Not entirely," Angel argued.

"Near enough. You want her the way she was. I want her as she is. Your
Willow is gone. Leave mine alone."

"Doesn't she have any say in this?" Angel asked.

"She's told you how she feels."

"She doesn't know how she feels! She's confused. I think she wants to
listen to me, but you keep tugging her away. Stop letting her drink
from you," Angel demanded.

"Go to hell! If I want my blood in her veins, she'll have it," Spike
snarled. "She'll do what I tell her to."

"To a point," Angel nodded. "She's still her own person. At least let
her in on the decision."

"What decision is that?" Willow asked from the doorway.

Both vampires turned as she stepped across the courtyard to join them.

"The decision to let me help you," Angel answered. "Willow, you don't
know what you could be if you'd let yourself. Wouldn't you like to find
out?"

She looked up at Spike, and he took her hand.

"Go on," he said softly.

"I don't know," she told Angel. "I don't know what I want. Does it
matter? I'm more demon than human, anyway. I don't even know if there's
enough in me to make a difference."

"I think there is," Angel replied. "I've seen it. At least give it a
chance."

"And then what happens to me?" she asked. "I'll lose the desire to
kill. I couldn't go back to Sunnydale. What would I have left?"

"You'd have me," Angel said softly.

"Ah," Spike replied. "Now we're getting down to it. You make Willow in
your image. Make her feel regret. Make her feel alone. There'll only be
on place left for her to turn--to you."

"That isn't what this is about," Angel insisted.

"Isn't it? You've forgotten how well I know you," Spike let go of
Willow and took a step toward Angel. "You're in love with her. Why else
would you leave your blonde slut back in the States and come running
over here? You're deluding yourself, Angel. You'll never have her;
she's mine."

"Then what are you so afraid of?" Angel asked. "You're afraid if her
humanity asserts itself, she'll leave you."

"Willow is my childe! You can't touch her without my consent, and
there's no way in hell you're going to get it!"

"Even if it's what she wants?" Angel shouted. "At least love her enough
to give her time to decide! Willow--"

Angel stopped and glanced over Spike's shoulder. Spike noticed his
confused expression and wheeled around. Willow was gone.

End.

next