Part 1  Fencing and flirting

Willow looked somewhat offended at his reaction, although, to herself, she had to admit that her precise terminology was rather … fatuous. Slowly, she began to giggle herself, imagining the reaction of the Lord of Darkness to being called ‘naughty’.

What had started as yet another vamp-sitting and research exercise had evolved into a genuine conversation, and eventually to the sharing of
confidences. It was perhaps not surprising. After the time they had spent together the previous year, with Spike talking to Willow about Oz, and
Willow commiserating with Spike over the implanted chip, a certain bond had developed between the two. On this occasion, Willow had initially made a reference to Hansel and Gretel being a demon, and then had to explain it for Spike.

Spike eventually gained control of himself and looked at a still giggling Willow. “Well, Red,” he said teasingly, “when you call on the powers of darkness you don’t stop halfway do you? Not just evil, but naughty too!”

Willow looked slightly offended, gathered herself together and decided on some fun of her own as payback. “You’d probably be able to tell me this
Spike, being a fully fledged, card carrying member of the demon gang.”

“Tell you what Red? And what do you mean card carrying? It’s not like we’re a bloody Union.”

“Are all vampires programmed to lust after slayers, or is it just something about Buffy?” Willow smiled sweetly as she asked the question.

“Pet, that was pure bitch. Y’know, I think I rather like it when you do that.” The expression on his face seemed to indicate otherwise though.
Willow knew she’d scored heavily. “It’s really something I’d rather not talk about, and I’ve come to my senses now anyway.”

“Sure,” Willow replied, her tone carrying a heavy load of sarcasm.

Spike looked at her. Anger and indecision warring on his face. The indecision cleared, to be replaced by something else. If Willow didn’t know better, she would have thought she was seeing nervousness there. But what could make Spike nervous? Well, she thought, other than trying to bite someone.

“You don’t know much about Drusilla, do you. I mean, other than the fact that she was a few bricks shy of a full hod, and Angelus turned her after
making her a Bedlam regular.”

Willow looked rather confused at the non sequiteur, to say nothing of Spike’s British slang, but decided to go with the flow of the conversation and work out the meanings from what he’d said. “I suppose I don’t really. Although I could tell that before she was … changed, she would have been very beautiful. And that you loved her. I assume you still do.”

Spike smiled softly. “No, I don’t love her now, Red. I used to though. She was always an absolute stunner though, both before and after she was
turned. That’s not what I wanted to tell you though. Before she was driven bonkers by that poof, she was a genius. I mean precisely that, a genius. She was also shy, modest and selfless. I may be an evil bastard, but I’ve never been psychotic like my bloody grandsire.”

Willow was confused. “Spike,” she asked, “how can you possibly know what Drusilla was like before she was turned. She sired you.”

Spike smiled gently as he answered. “Do you remember how Dru got the Watcher to reveal to Peaches the correct way to summon Acathla?” Willow
nodded as Spike continued. “She can do other things with that power of hers to. She killed that slayer by hypnotising her into immobility as she
slashed her; she can also project her own memories into others. I saw and felt who she was, before Angelus saw her, she made me feel her descent into insanity and her being turned. I know Drusilla in a way no-one else ever could. I also know, intimately,  the monstrousness of what Angelus did to her. She told me that it was so I’d know who he really was, how it felt, who I could and couldn’t trust. It’s one of the reasons I hate him so
bloody much.” Spike paused reflectively, head bowed, then looked sadly back up at Willow. “That’s the woman I loved for over a hundred years, pet. Does she sound anything like your chum the slayer?”

Willow looked stunned. She’d just learned more about Drusilla in sixty seconds than the rest of the gang had in the last three years. “Err … no, now that you mention it, she doesn’t. I suppose you’d want a change after that long though. I mean, a century of her … ”

Spike grinned as he interrupted with another question, “Who does Drusilla sound most like in your little gang?”

Willow blinked. She was lost now, Dru was a vampire, and the only vampires she knew were Spike and Angel. Spike could see her confusion, so he pressed on, patiently making it clearer for her. “Drusilla, before she went mad, was a genius; shy, modest, selfless and innocent. She always thought of the welfare of others before her own. Now, think of  all the members of your little club. Which one of them is most like Dru?”

“Ummmmm … Giles, I suppose. He’s certainly the cleverest of us.”

Spike’s eyes rolled upwards <I know she’s intelligent. Why can’t she take the hint? I’ve just about clobbered her with a sledgehammer>. He gave up
and said directly, “It’s you luv. You’re the one who reminds me of Dru. Her better qualities at least”

Willow’s jaw dropped. She looked stunned, unable to say anything. A moment later, she managed to force out “Me?” in a high pitched squeak

Spike grinned at her, wolfishly. “Yes pet, you. You’re by far the most intelligent member of your little pack of fearless vampire killers. You’re also the most giving, the most compassionate, the most selfless. Look at it objectively. You’re the first one who released me from constantly being tied up  and that can get old very quickly, believe me. Every time someone else has been hurting, you’ve been there for them. But, both last year, when puppy boy left …” Willow shuddered “What’s wrong luv?” Spike asked, worried that he’d somehow hurt her, as the shudder was one of purest horror.

“It’s a long story, nothing to do with Oz, but please, please never ever refer to anyone I know as a puppy.”

Spike’s curiosity was piqued about that, but he decided to wait before following it up. <Later> he thought. He quickly gathered his thoughts and
continued. “All right then. Both last year, when your boyfriend left, and earlier this year when Tara went home to her family, the rest of your gang
have ignored you, told you to ‘get over it’, to ‘move on’. I know you spent months listening to Slutty wail on about losing Peaches, breaking up with
Action Man and the ongoing tragedy that is the slayer’s sex life, or her lack of one. Does she give you the same courtesy? No, she tells you to
‘deal’, ‘get over it’, to ‘move on.’ It’s selfishness luv, pure and simple.”

Willow was surprised, she thought that she had been the only one to notice that aspect of her friendship with Buffy. She’d been aware from the first few days after she’d met Buffy that she, not Buffy, would be doing most of the giving in this relationship. “Spike, she’s the slayer. She’s got more important things to worry about than the love lives of her friends.”

Spike fixed her with his gaze as he asked “Do you really believe that, or are you saying it to ease and hide the anger and pain that you’re feeling?”

Willow was again taken aback. She had never realised exactly how perceptive Spike was, until now. He saw the group dynamics very clearly, perhaps too clearly for her complete peace of mind. It certainly explained his survival when Buffy had killed so many other vampires. He’d been defeated but never destroyed. That said something as well.

Spike stepped forward and took her hands in his. “Red,” Spike murmured, looking directly into her eyes, “you’re the only human who’s ever shown me
the slightest consideration, the only one who’s ever treated me as anything but a monster. Yes, I’m a demon. I know this. In fact I enjoy it, but
there’s more to me than that.” Spike stopped and took an unneeded breath. “You’re the only human who’s ever seen that. Many years ago, I thought Dru did as well, but she changed, she moved further into her madness and away from reality. It was like she was running from something intolerable.” <Marvellous, you great ponce!> Spike thought, <back to bloody awful poetry and purple prose. What’s even worse is that I don’t bloody care.>

Willow was at a loss once again. What was Spike saying, or insinuating? She couldn’t quite work it out.

“Spike, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. I don’t know if I’m having a dumb day or if Shaw was right.” Spike chuckled, appreciating the literary
allusion. “Damn it luv, it’s perfectly simple I’m saying that … ”

The door slammed open as the rest of the Scoobies returned from their patrol. “Nothing!” yelled Buffy to the unasked question that both Willow
and Spike had been about to pose. “It’s quieter out there than a … a … damn, I don’t have a clue what, but it’s very very quiet.”

Spike seethed, having come so close to expressing himself, the tension left was unbearable. He reacted. “So, it’s quieter than a slayer having a temper tantrum then?”

Willow giggled, then tried to look contritely at Buffy.

Buffy flared at the insult “Spike, I’ve seen you when you haven’t got into a fight, and don’t try to tell me I’m worse than you”

Spike grinned and looked back at Buffy.  “As you keep on reminding us all, I’m a demon. You’re the Slayer. Aren’t you meant to react differently than
your enemies?”

Buffy blinked, processing what Spike had just said, and Giles took the opportunity to interject. “Enough!” he snapped.

They all looked up, shocked at Giles assertiveness. “Good, now that I have your attention, I’ll explain what we’ll do. Buffy, take Willow home, the
rest of you, clear off. Now, Willow, if you can spare the time tomorrow, could you help research and keep Spike company during the day?”

“Sure,” Willow answered, her tummy fluttering.

*                       *                       *

Willow’s mind was whirling as she and Buffy walked to Willow’s parents’ house in companionable silence. Why had Spike asked those questions of her, what was he hinting at. She found the vampire strangely compelling; and was uncertain whether that was good or bad. She had to admit, that visually he was gorgeous, and did extremely bad things to her hormones, but it wasn’t that simple. The only thing keeping him from attacking them, possibly killing them, was the chip in his head. But he understood devotion, commitment, love in a way no-one else seemed to, he’d referred to Drusilla for the first time in over a year; and compared her to Drusilla; and only Drusilla’s good points at that. And she could look at him for hours. But why? That’s what she couldn’t understand. Unless … no, that was just too foolish to contemplate, she thought. He couldn’t. Oh! What she wouldn’t give to be able to … No girl, down! Stop thinking that, you’ll get all spaz! Spaz! Great! Now I’m back in a high school mindset! Damn! That’s
proof enough. I’ve got a crush on him. Can I pick ‘em or what?

“What are you thinking about Wills?” Buffy asked, she was used to her friend being quiet, but she also seemed somewhat preoccupied.

Willow blushed as she responded with a squeaky “Nothing.”

Buffy chuckled to herself  “Willow’s having bad girl thoughts about someone. Thing is, after Oz and Tara, it could be anyone.”
 
 

Part 2  Video replay

Willow walked towards Giles’ apartment, to carry out some more research into reasons for the apparently quiet period they were experiencing. She admitted to herself that she was probably looking forward more to talking to Spike than actually doing the research. {How can you research a negative?} she asked herself. As she neared the apartment, she realised that she didn’t know why Spike was staying there again. She made discovering that one of her priorities for the day.

Spike was waiting impatiently for Willow to arrive. Since Giles had left for the shop, he’d been pacing and smoking non-stop. He was hoping for a chance today to find out why the term ‘puppy’ so disturbed Willow. He knew he was guaranteed at least eight hours with her, uninterrupted. Although he would never admit it aloud, Spike had a real interest in minor mysteries, and Willow’s involvement in this little puzzle only made it more intriguing.

Willow opened the door, and strolled in. Spike was slouched on the lounge, flicking idly through television channels.

“Hi there, Spike!” Willow chirped as she entered.

“Spike looked up at her and asked “Why, with so many bloody channels, is there nothing but crap on?”

“Willow looked back and responded a touch acerbically “And a fine good morning to you as well.”

Spike turned the television off and smiled. “Hello, luv. Sleep well?” As he asked, he stood and walked towards the kitchen. “Coffee?” He called over his shoulder as he went.

“Please!”  She shouted back at him.

Some minutes later, Spike returned carrying two mugs. One of freshly made coffee, and the other with what Willow assumed was blood. He handed her the coffee, which Willow checked carefully, just in case he’d given her the wrong cup, either accidentally or as a ‘joke’.

Spike flashed a wicked smile at Willow as he started to think. “All right, pet, we’re alone now, and no-one’s returning in the foreseeable future, so why don’t you tell me about ‘puppy’?”

Willow instantly blushed again. “You remembered that?” Willow was initially surprised that Spike had done so, but quickly it dawned on her that he would be interested because of the extreme reaction she had shown the previous night. {What should I do? He’d have heard about the vampire me, so it won’t be a total surprise, but I don’t want to give him ideas either. I really don’t want to be like her, she was just so … eeeeew.} She drew a deep breath, looked back at Spike and asked “Why’re you so curious?”

Spike looked at Willow, intrigued now. She was evading the issue, so either it was embarrassing or risque. {Hopefully both,} he thought. He pressed on, seeing his advantage. “Look, ducks, if I get offended, I can’t do anything about it, other than try and be spiteful, but if I offended you in front of anyone else, you know that the bloody slayer’d have a stake in me so fast I wouldn’t notice ‘til I was dead.”

Willow realised the truth of what he said, and came to a decision. “All right, but when I’m done, I’ll want to ask you some questions too.

“Deal.” Spike responded instantly. {Hmmmmm,} he thought, {was I too quick there? Too eager?}

Willow smiled, and slowly drew a breath. “Some of this will be difficult for me Spike, so, please don’t laugh or tease or anything.” Willow shot Spike a pleading look as she asked the favour of him. He nodded in response. “Course, pet, I promise I’ll not tease, and do my best not to laugh.”

Willow smiled and nodded, strangely pleased that he had only said he would do his best not to laugh. It was a kind of honesty that she found all too rarely.

Taking another deep breath, she began “I assume you’ve heard about my vampire alter ego?”

“Your what?”

Willow giggled, she had never heard Spike squeak before.

“My vampiric alter ego, Spike. What happened to your super sensitive hearing?”

“How the hell did that happen? And sod me bloody ‘earing.”

Willow looked down before she answered “Well … Anya and I did a spell. It went sort of … wrong.” She looked up at Spike. “It wasn’t my fault that time!” Willow insisted. “It was Anya, she wanted to get her powers back, but we didn’t even know she was a demon then, and she and I started to do this spell and …”

“Calm down pet, you’ll only hyperventilate if you keep going at that rate. Is your dad a racecaller, by any chance?” Spike chuckled as Willow drew another deep breath. “We’ve got all day. Just tell it slowly, calmly, All right?”

Willow nodded, giggling slightly at the image of her father trying to call a horserace. Spike had interrupted her far more quickly than her other friends ever did. She was oddly touched by the fact that he was helping her avoid embarrassment.

Willow began again, this time slowly, and she explained fully to Spike about the spell which she and Anya had cast, ending with “… and that’s how my double arrived here.”

She could see that Spike was clearly fascinated, and she was astonished as he started to dissect the story. “So,” he began, “the Master rose here in this … what did you call it? Alternate Reality? That must have been a barrel of laughs, he was always a right arrogant prick. Meanwhile, Slutty goes off to Cleveland instead of coming here. Doesn’t she know the difference between a Hellmouth and a Hellhole?”

Willow giggled. She had always liked wordplay, and Spike was surprisingly good at it.

“Now I know how your double got here, but I still know nothing about her,” complained Spike.

“There’s plenty of time Spike. How about now you fill me in a bit on some things I’m curious about”

Spike looked at her, he could see no deception, and he decided to go with the flow “Okay, Red, let’s just get some more coffee first.”

A few minutes later they had settled back down, and Willow wondered how to start asking what she wanted to know. “Easy question first. Why are you here again, at Giles’?”

Spike just grinned. “It’s so boring you’ll kick yourself luv. I decided to buy a flat.”

“A flat what?” Willow looked baffled.

Spike sighed. “Sorry pet, I mean an apartment. They’re called flats across the pond. I decided that crypts are definitely out for me. No power, no creature comforts. I want to at least be comfortable if I have to live like  … this.” Spike gestured to his head as he spoke. “Ripper said I could crash here ‘til I find somewhere.”

Willow looked at him from her seat, and wondered once again how or even if Spike could adjust to his new limitations. She began to drift, just thinking of the ramifications, and didn’t even hear Spike until he shook her.

“Red,” Spike said, “Red, are you actually there?”

Willow blinked and looked somewhat puzzled. “Sorry Spike, I was just thinking of everything that your … problem could entail.”

“Well, I’m pleased to see somebody is,” Spike responded, sarcasm oozing from each word. “Bloody Slutty and the rest of  ‘em all seem to think there isn’t a problem at all. You and the Watcher are the only ones who seem to give a shit.”

Willow was appalled at the bitterness in his voice, but realised that he had a legitimate grievance. He’d been helping them all now for well over a year, but no-one other than she and Giles acknowledged him as a part of the group. Aware that she could do nothing in the short term, she nodded her appreciation of his situation. Also realising that she needed to move the conversation and Spike’s thoughts away from their present turn, she followed up with another question that had been lurking.

“Okay Spike, here’s one you won’t find so easy to answer. Why are you so pragmatic, you’re a demon, after all? Compared to some of the others I’ve met though, you’re different. You don’t want to end the world, or heap misery on all us poor, defenceless humans the way, say … Angelus did. What’s the difference”

Spike began to instantly bridle at the mention of his grandsire, but saw very quickly what Willow was asking. “Well, Red, you do ask some bloody complicated questions, don’t you?”  Spike thought a moment, took out a cigarette, and holding it unlit he began to answer. “It’s not really easy to explain pet. Each demon is different; some demons are obsessed by their hatred or fear of humanity and respond immediately and violently. Some are subtle planners and manipulators whose eventual long term goals are perhaps far more terrifying than anyone could imagine. Some are like me. We like the world we live in, and we’ll fight to keep it that way. I don’t know that pragmatic is the right term though. Enlightened self interest is probably more accurate.” Spike paused and thought again. “That’s a terrible oversimplification, but it’s a fairly good rule of thumb.” He smiled gently at Willow as he lit his cigarette.

“Okay, one last question, and then it’s your turn,” she chirped. Spike could see her enthusiasm growing. “Why do you speak so differently to me. Not only your demeanour changes, but also your vocabulary?”

Spike chuckled. “Red, when I’m with you, I don’t have to act like Mr Evil Vampire. You actually credit me with a brain and the ability to reason. None of the others do that. I simply behave in the way they expect. The old let your enemies underestimate you ploy. Also, I like you, I can relax and let out a side of me that’s there but usually hidden”

Willow looked at Spike yet again, with growing respect. {Attractive, hell no, gorgeous, and brains too. I just wish he wasn’t so GRRR, even if he can’t bite.}

Spike looked back at Willow, and said “My turn I believe. So, Red, tell me about this evil twin. All the little hints have got me burning with … curiosity.”

Willow instantly blushed from the roots of her hair to her neck at his tone of voice. Spike grinned, walked over and whispered into her ear, “I call you Red as a nickname, not an instruction pet.” Willow looked momentarily affronted, and then giggled.

When she had gathered herself together, Willow asked “How do I know you won’t tell anyone? If I’m going to tell you, you’ll have to guarantee to keep it all secret.”

“Simple pet, I promise.”

“Yeah, promise. That’s a good one. You may be defanged but you can still talk. You’ll be telling all your undead and demony friends about just how skanky I am as a vampire.

“Lor’ pet, have I ever lied to you?” Spike grinned openly. “I’ve bent the truth, twisted it, tied it in knots, but I’ve never told an outright lie. I even kept my word to that dopey prat who tried to hand the slayer over to me all those years ago! Well, sort of, I got a minion to sire him.”

Willow nodded, but still looked worried. “Red, think about it, if I’m the only one you tell, and you hear about it from any other source, all you need to do is to tell the slayer. She’d top me so fast that I’d be dust before you could blush.”

Willow nodded, acknowledging the truth of what Spike had said. Also, she thought it might be interesting to get a vampire’s opinion of her evil twin. She nodded, drew a breath and said, “Spike …” Willow blushed, beet red.

“It’s all right Red, just take your time, and at your own pace, okay?”

“Well … ummmm … I have footage of her on videotape.” The last sentence emerged with a rush and Willow blushed once again, and also took a remarkable interest in her shoes.

Spike looked flabbergasted. “You never cease to amaze me ducks. Just how on earth did you manage that?”

“Well, she spent a lot of time in The Bronze, and they have security cameras there. I was so embarrassed by her that during all the confusion I … Oh Goddess, I … stole the tapes Spike! I snuck into the manager’s office and stole them!” Willow looked shocked at her own behaviour.

Spike laughed openly. “And you say you’re a chicken? Where are the tapes now Red?”

Willow shuffled her feet, still avoiding Spike’s gaze. “They’re … at home, my parents’ house. I watch them occasionally.”  Willow couldn’t understand her need to tell Spike all of this. That she had kept the tapes and looked at her double’s poise, elegance and style so enviously that it was her most closely guarded secret.

Spike looked at Willow. {She may appear nervous, shy and frightened, but underneath she’s got more bottle than the rest of them put together.} “I’m impressed, pet. That was very smart thinking. So, when do I get to see ‘em?”

“Walk me home after everyone gets here. I’ll show them to you then, all right?” Willow was astonished at her audacity.

Spike beamed as he grinned, “It’s a date, pet. Should I bring popcorn?”

“A date?” the nervousness and anticipation were both obvious in her voice

*                               *                               *

That evening, Spike walked with Willow to her parents’ house. As usual, her parents were away, lecturing.  For Willow, their absences tended to blur one into another. As they reached the door, Willow paused. She looked awkwardly around before saying, “Come in, Spike. I think I’d like you to see these tapes.” She opened the door and led Spike into the house.

“Lead on, Red,” Spike murmured into Willow’s ear as he stealthily moved right behind her.

Willow jumped. “You’re all like this aren’t you, Mr Stealth. Damn vampires” It was not a question, but rather a muttered complaint.

“Sorry pet, I just can’t help myself at times. And, if you think about it, the ‘Mr Stealth’ thing is fairly important. It’s fairly hard to stalk prey if you’re as quiet as a herd of drunken elephants.”

“Oh, that makes sense, although I didn’t really need to know it. Anyway, come in and sit down, please.” Willow asked as she ushered him into the living room.  As Spike sat, a little awkwardly in one of the armchairs, Willow asked “would you like ummm … anything to drink?”

Spike chuckled. {That’s an unusual sound to hear from him,} Willow thought as Spike answered “Unless you have my favourite, luv, I think it’ll be just coffee for me.” He grinned as he continued “and what about that popcorn?”

Willow blushed again, and giggled. “Why don’t I just make coffee and then you can see these videos.”

“Okay sweetie.”

Willow loaded the first tape and turned on the television and VCR before going to make the coffee. When she returned, Spike was rewinding the tape. “I’m just going to run it again, Red, okay?”

Willow nodded and sat on the chair opposite his as Spike restarted the tape.

The first footage showed Willow’s doppleganger walking into the Bronze. Willow sat, feeling strangely uncomfortable; it was the first time anyone else had ever seen the tapes. She glanced over at Spike. He was sitting forward in the chair, leaning close to the screen. He looked at the footage, and then at Willow. His eyes darted continually from one to the other. The tape ended. “Any more, Red?” Willow nodded and slipped the next cassette in. Again, he became totally absorbed.

“Red, tell me what you thought of your double. I mean what you really thought, not the superficial nonsense you would have told your friends.”

Once again, Willow was surprised by his words, and her face clearly showed it. “What do you expect, pet. In over 120 years I’m going to pick up a trick or two. There’s more to me than just biting people. Anyway, while you’re thinking about your answer, I’ll run the other two tapes.”

When all four tapes had been viewed, Spike looked at Willow. “Okay cutie, talk to me now.”

Willow looked awkward once again, and took a deep breath. “I hope you realise that this isn’t easy for me. And I’m not cute”

He nodded. “Go on, pet. Take your time.”

“Well, she’s a lot of things I want to be. Confident, assertive, beautiful …”

“Pull the other one luv. You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”

Willow looked at him, stunned. With one simple sentence, her world had been turned completely upside down. {A man, well a vampire, who’s been alive, well sort of alive, since Queen Victoria has just said … Oh Goddess! What do I say now, what do I do?}

Seeing her confusion, he asked “Pet, can you play the third tape again?” Willow functioned on autopilot, reloading the requested tape. Spike went to the television and turned the image down to nothing and sat, eyes closed, listening next to the speaker. Willow watched incuriously, still utterly overwhelmed by what he had said earlier. As the tape ended, Spike said “again, luv.” Once more, Willow rewound the tape. This time,  he brought he image up, but dropped the sound to nothing. He watched intently until the tape finished, then he turned off the television and looked at Willow.

“All right luv, talk to me.”

“About what?”

“About what it is that really bothers you about her. You know as well as I that the leather, the attitude, the sexualitythat’s surface only. It provides a nice cover to put your mates off the scent. I’m not so easy to con though.”

Willow’s jaw dropped. No one had seen her motivations so clearly before. It was like he could enter her mind. She began to fumble towards an answer. “I really don’t quite know. She made me very nervous, scared me, but not in that vampire ‘GRRRR’ way.”

Spike nodded slowly. “It’s something more than you told your friends though, isn’t it” Willow nodded her affirmation as she continued to think.

Spike began to speak, obviously choosing his words carefully. “I’ll tell you what I think, Red. That counterpart of yours reminds me a lot of Drusilla, too much so for my liking. Now, we know that Dru was completely barking before Peaches turned her, and that he was the one who made her that way. I also know you well enough now to be able to hazard a guess. As you are now, your vampiric self would be very unlike what we’ve seen. So … I think that, whoever it was who turned her …”

Willow interrupted. “It was the Master, Spike. She told me that.”

“Okay … that makes sense. He was the kind of geezer who loved to torture his victims, especially those he intended to turn. I’d say that he made your doppleganger insane before he turned her.”

Willow looked at him, the curiosity burning in her green eyes. “What would I be like as a vampire then?”

Spike smiled as he looked at Willow, “Well, luv, what’s the most significant characteristic of vampiric personalities?”

“They’re evil.”

He sighed. “Okay-y,” he stretched out the word, “I didn’t really mean like that. What I’m asking is, putting the evil to one side, what is the most noticeable characteristic? You can see it in all vampires, souled or not, chipped or not.”

“I’m lost again, Spike. How do you do that. Even though you make it clear you don’t think I’m stupid, I end up feeling as if I was.”

Spike grinned again. {He’s doing a lot of that lately.} Willow thought. “Oh pet, you’re anything but stupid. That’s why I don’t bother to spell everything out for you. One of the few worthwhile things Peaches taught me was that if you work something out for yourself, it stays in the memory. {He’s a teacher, she thought, and a damn good one. No wonder he was always able to recruit so many allies.}

As far as vampiric characteristics go, we all tend to extremes. Even the poof with his soul. As Angelus he wanted to destroy the slayer and everyone she cared about. When that failed he thought ‘Sod it, destroy the world. That’ll teach the bitch’ Now that he can’t have fun anymore, he’s back doing the brood thing, the tortured soul routine. Do you think anyone could really be that tortured? Darla lived for the hunt, well, that and finding new and interesting ways to kill people. The Master, now he just wanted to own the world. And so it goes. In other words, obsessive behaviour is the norm, rather than the exception.

From what I’ve seen of you, your sexuality would remain unaltered, but you wouldn’t have your counterpart’s sadism. I don’t know you well enough to tell if you’d be as exhibitionistic. You certainly wouldn’t be wandering around, announcing aimlessly that you were bored. In fact, you’d be rather like Dalton. Studious, careful, methodical, creative, imaginative. I rather liked him, until Dru gave him to the Judge as a party favour. In other words, you’d be not unlike you are now, but you would have differing priorities.”

Willow looked stunned, partly at the sheer length of Spike’s speech. She thought a moment and then ventured, “so, Spike, what you’re saying is that the most visible characteristics dominate the more subtle ones?”

“It’s somewhat more complex than that, Red, but you’re certainly on the right track.”

“Doesn’t that make vampires a little two dimensional?” {I can’t believe I just said that! I’m a drooling idiot. Why did I just insult him and his whole species?}

“Not really,” Willow was surprised at the ease with which Spike dealt with her question. “We’re all the sum of our parts, human or demon. To use a somewhat warped metaphor, the numbers change but the total remains the same.”

Willow laughed and batted her eyelids melodramatically. “You sir, are playing with fire! Talking to a computer geek like me about math? You’re trying to seduce me!”

Spike laughed again. “Red, you’re a wicked woman! But you are very desirable.”  {And I know what I’m desiring right now!} He thought. Acting upon the thought, he moved across the room with almost preternatural speed and kissed Willow, very softly, on the lips. It was just the merest sensual brush of lip against lip, but Willow felt her heart stall. Spike drew an unneeded but shaky breath.

Both Willow and Spike looked astonished at what had just happened, still in one another’s arms. They leaned into a second kiss, another light contact. Willow pulled back, looking up at Spike. “We can’t! Think of how sad Buffy and Angel were!” Despite her protestations, she felt herself move back into Spike’s welcoming embrace and reached up, to brush his lips with hers, to return the kisses given.

Willow pulled back again, this time looking stunned. She’d never felt like this before, at least, not from a simple kiss. {How can something so simple feel so profound?} She asked herself. She eventually summoned the courage to step backwards and look up at him, questioningly.

“Well, luv?” Spike sounded questioning, non-committal.

“Can you explain what happened just now?”

Spike chuckled. “Mutual attraction? Mutual desire?”

“No, it was far more than that, for both of us, and you know it as well as I do.”

Spike sighed “Shit!” He took a breath and continued. “Of course it is Red. I’m just not sure that either of us are ready for what this could unlock. I know you’ve seen how possessive, how utterly absorbed I am, with a lover, and your reactions to both Wolf-boy and Tara tell me that you’re no different. When you or I give our heart, we give totally, without reservation.” Spike seemed to take a deep breath before continuing. “Our being together would become very intense. To say nothing of the reactions of the others.”

Willow nodded, thinking, before she slowly said, “You’ve been the one person who really supported me after Oz left. And, again, after Tara went home to her family, you took the time to listen, support, to care about me rather than just hoping that I’d shut up and go away. Is it really any wonder that I’m drawn to you? You’re patient, tolerant and compassionate. You’re intelligent and drop-dead gorgeous.”  With that, Willow reached up, entwining her arms around Spike’s neck, pulling him down into a passionate and searching kiss. She pressed her lips against his, cautiously probing with her tongue, seeking access, she felt his lips part almost instantly to allow her to taste him. {I like the taste of tobacco, how bizarre!}

Willow pulled away again. “I don’t know what I want, Spike. I’m scared of what could happen, but I’m just as scared of stopping.”

“It’s okay pet.” Spike pulled her to him. Holding her close, he let her slowly relax. “I’m not going to push you into anything. But I’m not going to push you away, either. After all. I’ve leaned the value of patience over the last century.”  Spike smiled lopsidedly at his last comment. Easing himself away from Willow, he led her to the couch and sat, drawing her down next to him, one arm snaking around her waist as he did so. He looked at her, and began to speak “Willow, I love you. I love you in, I think, the same way I loved Drusilla. If you feel the same way…”

Willow had no idea what to do or say. To hear the desires, which she had kept hidden in the darkest recesses of her soul, from the object of that desire, left her unable to think, let alone speak.
 
 

Part 3  Of puppies and pets

Willow looked at him, mentally reviewing their conversation, and realised that she had still not mentioned that particular subject. She smiled, and
looked Spike squarely in the eye. “You have to promise not to laugh, at least not until I finish the story, okay?”

“I’ll do my best pet. I can’t say more than that. Sometimes things just make me laugh. ‘The Goon Show’ was like that. I could not remain quiet when
I listened to it.”

“Goon Show? Never mind, tell me later or we’ll be here ‘til the turn of the next millenium.” Willow observed. “Okay, puppy. Well … Oh god, this is so
embarrassing.”

“C’mere pet.” Spike pulled Willow to him again, holding her close. He looked into her eyes as he asked “Are you sure you want to tell me?”

“Sure? Yes. Comfortable? No.” Willow gave him a wobbly little smile as she said so. “I’m going to be brave now. Puppy … my double told me a lot of
things about her world while we were waiting for Giles to find the right ritual to send her back. It’s a real scary place. One thing I remember she
said was ‘In my world, we have people in chains, and we can ride them like ponies’ She said that to Anya too.” Willow shuddered at the thought. “Puppy is even scarier. Puppy belonged to my double. He was a vampire she liked to keep locked up and … torture, in a y’know, naughty way.” Willow blushed then.

“Naughty torture? … Oh!” Spike laughed openly. “You mean she sexually tortured him?”

Willow could only nod and look down as she went a beet red again.

“That’s not the worst of it, Spike. Puppy was … was … Angel.” The name of Spike’s grandsire came out in a high pitched squeak.

Spike looked at her incredulously. Then he began to snigger. The sniggering developed into fully fledged laughter until he was crying tear of blood. He fell from the chair and lay helpless on the floor, continuing to laugh hysterically. He couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh God! Why aren’t there pictures?!”  Spike slowly hauled himself up, still doubled over by his uncontrollable laughter.

Spike looked at Willow. “I’m sorry pet, I know I promised to try not to laugh, but the image of him all tied up …”

“Caged and chained.” Willow informed him quietly.

“This just gets better and better. I am sorry luv, truly, and I’m not laughing at you, I’ve just got …” Spike dissolved again.

Spike began to recover once more and looked back up at Willow, who was looking down at him with an unreadable expression. “Sorry pet, it’s just
the idea … Peaches, like that, with anyone. He’s a control freak, with or without his soul. The next time you see your double, ask her for some
piccies. Please.” Spike grinned evilly at that thought.

Willow smiled gently and said “You recovered faster than Xander did, at least. He eavesdropped on the actual conversation, until he started to
laugh. He was laughing for days, at both Angel and I. At least I know you’re not laughing at me. And no, no pictures, not even if she offered.”

Spike calmed himself and moved over to the little redhead, embracing her in a way that was neither brotherly or as a lover, but somewhere in between and also profoundly more intimate than either. “Pet, I’d willingly tear the world itself apart before I’d knowingly hurt you. But you must tell me if I ever do anything to hurt you accidentally. Will you promise me that? If I do hurt you, and I can put it right, I give you my word that I will.”

Willow was left speechless again. He promised to never hurt her? “Even if your chip gets taken out? You still wouldn’t hurt me?” She asked, “Damn
Spike! You change subjects so quickly I can’t keep up!”

“Sorry pet, and yes even without the chip.” Spike made the statement simply, quietly. It had all the more impact because of it.

“But … but … but …” babbled Willow. “I don’t understand.”

“Because I love you. It’s that simple. I may not love easily, and I may not understand the finer points of modern romantic etiquette, but I know when I love someone. You’re the only third in about 145 years.”

Spike smiled gently. “I think it’s time that I told you the whole truth about my background, pet.” So saying, Spike began to detail his childhood,
and then his adulthood as a human. He left nothing out.

“That explains a couple of things that were confusing me,” Willow said, as she thought about his story. “Your facility with language and wordplay, for example. That would have been developed while you were writing poetry.”

“Red, I was a bloody awful poet. I wasn’t able to tell that then, but now, with distance, I can see that I would’ve given MacGonagal a good run for
his money.”

Willow laughed. “That’s the other thing that I’m seeing. You have the soul of a poet. That fundamental, almost brutal honesty; and when you let
someone see that, you make yourself vulnerable to them. When you give, you give your whole self, without reservation. Did you ever write prose?”

Spike blinked, thought a moment and then observed “I don’t have a soul, pet And no, I never tried to write anything else.” <Perceptive lass, though. I have to give her that. She’s the first person to see through me completely, down to the real man underneath the demon. Not even Dru and Peaches were able to do that.>

Willow looked up at Spike, lost in thought. “I’m not so sure about that Spike. I’m beginning to get some rather … radical ideas. Are you willing to
help me with an experiment? You get to hit a variety of people and things,” she added, hoping to sweeten the pot.

Spike looked at the redhead, confused. “Luv, you aren’t the only one here who gets confused by rapid changes in the topic of conversation.”

Willow grinned happily. “Sorry, I can’t help it, I’m always thinking. Research girl, remember?” She tapped her forehead before continuing. “ I’ve
just worked out how to tell what the chip in your head is. Listen carefully. We’ll need a selection of volunteers for you to hit.” She grinned at the smile Spike flashed. “Now, we’ll need the following test subjects. Buffy, because she’s sort of superhuman, Riley, as he’s a human, a vampire without a soul, Angel and two demons, one nice, the other nasty. We’ll tie them all to chairs and give them padding. Then you have to hit them as hard as you can, twice. Once in game face, once while ‘normal’. We know that you hurt when you’ve tried hitting Buffy and Riley in the past, but we would need the experiment to be done under controlled conditions.”

“Other than giving me a major migraine, what’ll that prove?”

Willow was growing excited at her idea. “Well, lets say you only get a headache when you hit Buffy and Riley. That would show that the chip is a
demon detector. If it hurts you to hit Angel as well, then it’s a soul detector. If it hurts when you hit those three and the nice demon, it’s an evil detector.”

Spike began turning the idea over in his mind. It would help the gang if they knew what the chip was. Even if they couldn’t remove it. He’d thoroughly enjoy seeing Slutty, Cornboy and Peaches all tied up and helpless while he hit them. The down side was that Willow would have no chance of ever arranging it. Also catching the other vampire and the two demons would take some doing. Spike began to run the ramifications of her experiment over in his mind. He could think of some rather useful potential benefits, such as restraints with chips wired into them, so that they were fundamentally impermanent. An understanding of what the Initiative had been working towards, because he was utterly certain that they hadn’t shut down, just relocated and continued. A precise idea of what his limits were would also help, because he knew he’d protect Willow at any cost. <Shit, I’ve just fallen over the soddin’ line.>

“All right pet, I’m game for this. I’ll make you an offer as well. After the experiment, we’ll teach each other something. What do you say to that?”

“Deal.” Willow rapped out the response so quickly that it appeared as if she was scared of it being withdrawn. “What do you want to learn?”

“How to use a computer properly. How to be as good a hacker as you. All I can do is to surf the net, and slowly at that.” Spike responded. “And you, what do you want to learn luv?”

“How to fight. How to fight well. I’m fed up with being the weakling. Spells are good, <when I get them right> but they can take too long to
cast. I need to be able to defend myself, make a proper contribution.”

“Done then.” Spike proffered his hand. She took it and shook firmly. Both secretly thrilling at the touch of the other.

*                       *                       *                       *

It dawned on Spike that he had been led off the path of what he had been saying earlier. “Willow …” Her head shot up, looking at him. <He used my
real name, What does that mean?> “I really do love you. The time we’ve spent together over the last two days has cleared my eyes, confirmed to me what I already thought. I’m not talking about infatuation or convenience. That dopey bugger Harmony was a way to pass the time while I grieved over losing Drusilla, and Buffydon’t look so surprised pet, I do actually know her namewas a response that I think was due to my seeking someone totally opposite to Dru. But she isn’t the one. I think I assumed that her being a goody meant she was the opposite; in fact, what I was looking for was you. You’re the genuine article. The emotional opposite of Drusilla, strong, caring, giving, compassionate. Also, you’re several hundred times brighter than the slayer.” Spike grinned as he finished.

Willow drew a breath, preparing to speak, but he held his hand up. “I haven’t quite finished pet. You know more about me now than any person
living.  There is one other thing I have to say, so that all of my cards are laid out before you.

“If you love me as well, it’ll be for eternity. I won’t be able to watch you grow old and die. At some point, you’ll have to agree to be turned.”

Willow looked shocked and surprised. “Spike, I love you, with all my heart I love only you. I have done for months. But can I have some time to think about that last part. It surprised me, and I don’t know what to say.”

“Take all the time you need pet. You know how patient I am.”
 
 

Part 4  The inner silence of the soul

Goddess, A man who’s seen the Indian Mutiny, the Civil War and everything since, loves me? How can he? I don’t understand what makes me so special. Why would he want me? I’m not complaining. I’m so not complaining. I just don’t understand.

Eternity? Never aging. Seeing everything change. Never having to worry about not knowing what will happen. I know one thing. I’m pleased I’m not
an historian. That would be just too great a temptation. To watch history occur, and have a long enough time base to make intelligent conclusions,
based on first hand experience. I don’t think a real historian would hesitate a moment.

He loves me! How, why? What’s so special about me? I’m just the boring nerd.

He wants me forever! How can I deal with that? Why me?

What would Buffy say, about me with Spike? About me eventually becoming a vampire? I can’t believe this, I’m seriously considering becoming a
soul-less creature of the night. And it’s intriguing! Not frightening, but intriguing!

He’s clever and funny and caring and he can’t bite me and … what on earth am I thinking? I want him, so damn much.

Every time I think of him I get chills. He’s so handsome, his voice, it’s like … like scotch and cigars. Why does that effect me so much? Sometimes,
if I look at him, and no-one can see me, I can feel myself getting wet, wanting him, needing him. He gets into every thought, every part of my
brain. There are flashes of him, at Giles apartment, in the ruins of the factory, in the school that first time we saw him.

He’s a hottie, as Buffy would put it. I remember the one time I saw him without a shirt. Goddess, he looked stunning. I remember staying as far
away as possible, so that he wouldn’t be able to smell my arousal. And he wants me!

I just don’t understand. I’m not complaining, but I really don’t understand.

Goddess, I love everything about him, what should I do?

I don’t know. I’m so scared, so apprehensive of what I could become. I know there’s only the curse that was used on Angel, so if I wanted to become a vampire with a soul, I’d lose Spike.

What do I do?

What would Buffy say? What would she do? And Xander? Giles? Giles will have a pink fit! Still, the only real physical danger to my Spike is from Buffy.

He said he’d turn me later, like around 20 years time. We should be able to find a permanent version of the curse in that time.

The idea of seeing changes happen in society, that’s nice. Even if I would technically be an outsider.

Do I want to be outside society? Well, I am already, to all intents and purposes.

OH! The thought of him naked, caressing me, teasing me.

What do I want?

That’s simple, I want Spike. For ever.

That’s not the problem. It’s how I get to forever that’s the problem.

Would the others allow it? Should they be able to make that decision? Is it really mine alone to make? I’m so confused. All I really know is I want
him. Every fibre of my being aches for him.

How would the others react to me being with him? Would they even allow it? Would they try to hurt him, to kill him? What about my parents? They’d
never believe me if I told them the truth. So how can I explain that my lover never goes out in the daylight?

There’s a disease. What’s it called? Where people can’t go out because exposure to the sun cracks their skin open. What’s it called? Doesn’t
matter, I can look it up later.

It’s my decision. Mine alone. I know I can’t get anyone else to help me.

Let’s try and look at this logically. If I say yes to Spike, the others either will or won’t accept it. If they do, there’s no problem, if they don’t then Spike and I will leave.

If I say no, then I’ll never see Spike again.

Can I live without him? Yes, but it would be an existence, not a life.

What if I was to transfer to Oxford, or Harvard, they both wanted me? No, it wouldn’t make any difference. If I just ran away, they’d all chase me
down. It’s good to have friends like that, but just occasionally, it can be annoying as well.

I saw how he was with Drusilla, and he was … amazing. Even though she preferred Angel, he stayed by her, cared for her, worshipped her. I can’t
believe he wants to do that for me. Why do I deserve such treatment?

The one thing I do know, is that Spike loves me. The me that I am now. So he loves my soul as well. Twenty years should be long enough to find a
permanent anchor for my soul.

Goddess! I decided!
 
 

Part 5  Rumours, Bargains and Lies

Willow emerged from the depths of her thoughts, to realise that she had been sitting and thinking for hours. It was daylight, and Spike had fallen
asleep on the chair. She got up and closed the curtains, to keep the sun away from him.

She walked to the kitchen, needing coffee. As she prepared it, she continued to think, aware that now she had made her decision, all she felt
was a great calmness. She poured the coffee and walked back to the living room and sat, looking at Spike. Her mind drifted, seeing images of them
together. Erotically, romantically, simply as friends. The images began to blur, one into the next. She got out of the chair and went to sit next to
her sleeping lover. <How strange that I think of him as my  lover when all we’ve done is kiss.>

Willow realised that the hardest part was still to come. She had to explain it all to the rest of the gang. The Goddess alone knew how Buffy would
react, but she had an idea to thwart her most likely immediate reaction. Xander would just wig out totally. Angel, well, she just didn’t want to
think about his reaction at all. Cordelia and Anya though, how would they react? And Giles, given his reaction to Buffy and Angel, what would he do? Would Spike want them to know?

The ‘phone rang, startling her and also jolting Spike into wakefulness. Willow answered it. “Hello?”

“That you Wills?” Buffy asked.

“No, This is the Scott Antarctic Base.” Willow responded, grinning widely as she did so.

“Har Har Har Willow. Why’re you at home?”

“I’m entertaining a gentleman friend, Buffy. So I won’t be able to talk too long.” Willow could hear Spike sniggering in the background.

“Sure Will.” Willow could hear the sarcasm and disbelief, so she beckoned Spike over. “Can you hold on a moment Buffy?”

Willow whispered to Spike “Can you do accents?”

“What?” he looked confused.

“Accents, can you make your voice sound different?”

Spike nodded, grinning as he deduced the redhead’s plan.

Slipping into a perfect Mississippi accent, he walked up to Willow, wrapped one arm around her and leant forward so the mouthpiece would catch his
words. “Y’all gonna tawk fu’evah? Daddy wants to play.”

Willow could hear Buffy’s shocked gasp. “I’ll see you later Buffy, bye!” She hung up.

They looked at one another and laughed. “Oh, that was fun Spike. You should have heard her.”

Spike grinned wickedly. “Pet, at times you amaze me. You’re not the little innocent you pretend. In fact, after that little performance, I’d add one
more characteristic to your vampiric self  game player.”

“Do you want anything Spike? Like coffee, or … y’know.”

“Coffee luv, please.”

Willow went back into the kitchen to pour him coffee.

On her return, Willow sat opposite him, and looked down. “Spike, I’ve decided. I want you. Now, forever, for eternity. But … I also want to ask
something of you.”

“What pet?” Spike’s eyes hooded slightly.

“Well, I want to keep trying to find a permanent version of the soul spell. I couldn’t be with you and have the current version. It would drive us both
mad. Is that a problem?”

“No Red. I love you. Your soul is part of who you are. Part of what I love. If we can’t find a permanent spell, I’ll teach you to control your demon
the way I do. Deal?”

Willow’s eyes lit up, her joy evident. She walked to Spike and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you” she simply said.

She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, this time taking the dominant role. Her tongue flickered out, and began to explore his lips. She felt him
respond, mouth opening to allow her access. She was surprised at the coolness she encountered, but its very difference only enhanced the
sensations she was feeling. She began to explore him, feeling the contours of his teeth and palate. He tasted of tobacco and coffee. She began to hear the very quiet murmurs they made as they continued the kiss. She felt her senses focus onto what she was doing, sensing only Spike.

Spike felt the passion that he had always known existed inside Willow begin to surface. She tasted sweet, almost like cinnamon. The heat she generated astonished him. On the few occasions that he’d previously kissed humans, he had not noticed it as much, somehow, this was different; she was different, special.

Willow pulled away gently, breaking the kiss. “Oxygen’s a good thing.” She giggled.

“We do need to talk about some other things though, Spike. What do we tell everyone?”

“We’ve got a saying back in the old country pet. ‘Tell the truth and shame the devil’. I love you, I’m proud of the fact that I love you, and no-one
will keep us apart.”

“So, what do we do if Buffy goes berserk?”

“Simple pet, before we tell her anything you make it quite clear that if she misbehaves, you turn her into a cockroach.” Spike’s grin was not pure
evil, but a strange mix of that and mischieviousness. “I’ll bet that, slayer though she is, when she sees a ‘roach, she shrieks.”

Willow giggled and nodded. “She’s terrible. It’s the one time I have to protect her. It’s ‘Willow! Kill it! Kill it! Kill it now!’ She is such a tosser.”

Spike looked at her, astonished. “What did you call her?”

“A tosser”

“And where precisely did you pick up language like that?”

“Online. I asked some friends recently about British slang. What to use and what the words mean.”

Spike looked at her blankly.

“Well, I thought that it’d be nice if I knew what half the words you use meant. The proper meanings, not the words themselves. Is Angel really gay?”

Spike laughed. “Pet, most vampires are … experimental when it comes to sex. Back when he was Angelus, before the curse, he just wasn’t fussy. That’s not why I call him a poof though. The word also carries connotations of effeminate. In his case, in the soul having wanting to defend the weak way. From a demonic viewpoint, that’s effeminacy.”

Willow nodded as he continued. “Pet, to change the subject,” Spike grinned “You haven’t told me what you think about us … coming out of the closet.” He grinned at the look on Willow’s face. “What, I can’t use extended metaphor?” She giggled and pecked him on the cheek.

“I can do without having to sneak around and hide things. I’ve been thinking about it. As best I can guess, Buffy, Xander and Angel will all go
ballistic, Anya and Cordy will be supportive. Giles, I don’t know about Giles. I think he’ll be upset, but not angry.”

Spike chuckled. “Well, pet, there is one thing we’ll need to do before we tell all. That’s your experiment. I think you’ve got a slim chance at best,
but if we try to do it after we tell people about … us, you’ll have no soddin’ chance at all.”

Willow looked at him. “True,” she said, obviously thinking. I’ll start to make some calls. You’ll have to go and catch us a vampire and a wimpy bad
demon.” Spike looked surprised at the crispness with which Willow started giving orders. He looked at her, slightly bemused. “Well, Spike, hurry up,
we don’t have all night.” His jaw dropped. “Who’s the scientist here anyway? Now go and catch me some feeble baddies.”

Spike felt overwhelmed by Willow’s sudden assertiveness. He half expected her to clap her hands at him. Pulling himself together somewhat, he asked, “Why do we need feeble baddies?”

Willow looked at him, shaking her head. “Spike, we’re going to have to keep them here until the experiment. I do not want to have to explain the
extensive damage to my parents, should one escape!”

Spike looked at her again, understanding dawning. “Okay pet, you obviously know what you’re doing. I’ll head off and get some baddies.” So saying,
Spike dragged his duster on and left.

*                       *                       *                       *

Willow went to the phone. The first person she called was Giles. She thought what she was going to say as the phone rang.

“Hello?” a mellifluous Oxford accent answered.

“Giles, it’s me, Willow. Listen, I’ve just had an idea. I think that we can work out what Spike’s chip, what it does.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“There is one problem though. I need people for Spike to hit, or to try to.”

“Pardon?” The tone is Giles’ voice spoke volumes, he was beyond confusion after hearing the redhead’s little bombshell.

“We know that Spike’s chip goes off whenever he tries to attack a human, right?” She began to lead Giles through her thought process.

“Er, yes, that’s true.”

“We also know that when he attacks the soul-less, Vampires and demons, it doesn’t. Right?”

“Y-yes”

“So, what we need to do is to carry out tests using the following subjects. A slayer, a human, a vampire with a soul, a vampire without a soul, a
benevolent demon, and a malevolent demon.”

“Er, that would seem logical, but … but how will we … can we?” Giles began to blather as he tried to absorb all the implications.

“Giles, if we could find out precisely how Spike’s chip works, then we would be in a great position to use that knowledge more humanely. What the
initiative did was simply wrong. You can’t just place chips into reasoning beings’ heads, to modify their behaviour, whatever their personal morality,
or amorality.” Willow was beginning to get enthused now. “Well, not without giving them help, like food and money and stuff...”

“Willow,” Giles interrupted, “These aren’t people. They’re demons. Creatures without pity.”

“Giles, if we do things like they did to Spike, and then leave them to starve, are we any better?”

“Willow, it’s questions like that that drive me, and the Watcher’s Council, insane.”

“Sorry Giles. Anyway, I’ve sent Spike off to catch a fledgling and a feeble bad demon. What I want you to do is to convince Buffy and Xander to do
their part.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard. What is it that they have to do?”

“Literally? Sit in a chair. And not move.”

“Even Xander should be able to manage that.”

“Okay, look Giles, please get them involved. I need to ring Angel. He’s the only vampire with a soul that I know.”

“Ah. A-alright then. I’ll speak with you later Willow.”

*                       *                       *                       *

“Hello, Cordy? Is that you?”

“Hiya Willow. What’s new?”

“Sorry Cordy, I don’t really have time to speak now. We’ll catch up later. Promise. Is Angel there?”

“Yeah, hang on Wills. Brood Boy’s in.” Cordelia transferred the call, surprised, even startled by this new take-charge Willow.

“Yes?”

“Angel, this is Willow. I need a favour. Do you still see Whistler?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I need your help. Both of you.”

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing. It’s more an experimental thing. I think I know how to work out what Spike’s chip does. Can you come down? I need a vampire with a soul.”

“Why should I care about Spike.”

“Angel, don’t be mean. It’s been very hard for him. He’s still a demon, remember.”

“I really don’t see why I should bother, Willow. He’s Spike.”

“Angel, stop being a pain.”

“Willow, why should I do this?”

“Because I asked. I did give you your soul back. You owe me. And if I have to, I can always uncurse you!”

“Willow!”

“Angel, it’s important. I need you here and Whistler as well if you can possibly swing it.”

“All right, all right.” Angel sounded resigned, almost defeated. Willow had hated to have to threaten his soul, but the experiment was important, too
important, to jeopardise because he threw a tantrum.

*                       *                       *                       *

Spike returned with an unconscious vampire thrown over one shoulder. “Okay Red, Where should I bung ‘im?”

She looked blankly at Spike, then thought. “In the cellar, it’s windowless and only has one door. There’s nothing he can damage or use down there,
it’s empty. Will you have time to get the other?”

“He’s outside pet, trussed up and ready to be brought in.”

“All right, you better get him then. Angel is collecting Whistler and coming down immediately.”

“Peaches agreed? How the hell d’ya do that luv?”

“I threatened to take his soul away.”

Spike gawped. “Bloody hell luv, remind me to never annoy you. You play dirty. You’d give me a soul if I did the wrong thing.”

Willow giggled and grinned. “Perhaps. Go and get the demon please … pet.” She asked, sweetly.

Spike looked at her, once more dumbfounded. “Where did all this come from? The orders and threats I mean.”

“That? Oh, once I get set into a project, I have no time for people who obstruct me.” Willow smiled apologetically.

“Oh.” Spike said, totally inadequately, turning to collect the demon.

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