This was Willow's early day of classes and she couldn't wait to get home to wake Spike up.  She had a busy afternoon of magic practice and training with Spike before research and patrol, but waking Spike was her very favorite part of every day.

She walked into the dark house, quietly shut the door and carried her book bag up the stairs to her bedroom.  Spike was sleeping on his stomach, his hands under the pillow, the sheet down around his waist.  She set her book bag on the desk and sat in the desk chair to watch her lover sleep.  She thought about how happy he made her and tears came to her eyes.

"What's wrong, Red?" Spike asked without moving.

Willow looked up, startled.  The big faker wasn't sleeping!

"Nothing," she wiped her eyes.  "I was just thinking about how happy I am."

"An' that made ya cry?" he turned his head and looked at her through slitted eyes.

"Tears of undeserved happiness," she looked down at her feet shyly.

"C'mere, Red," he stretched his arm out toward her and Willow stood up and took his hand.  He rolled over and pulled her down on the bed with him.  "None of us deserve it, baby, but some of us are blessed with it anyway," he kissed her softly.

She smiled at him and traced his cheekbones with her finger.  "I love you, Spike."

"I love you, too, Red," he pulled her under him and began to show her just how much he did love her.

***

Willow was tired after magic practice and training and thought about begging off of patrol, but this was the first night Spike was letting her carry the crossbow and she was dying to try it out.  Because there was no big evil to research and Xander and Anya were enjoying a night off, Giles joined Willow and Spike for patrol.

They got through the first five cemeteries only having to face a couple of fledglings.  The sixth cemetery was different.  They ran into Buffy and Riley at the entrance.

"What're you doing here?" Spike asked as he hefted his axe.

"We're done with our area," Riley said, "so we figured we'd meet up with you guys."

"Quiet?" Giles asked.

"Dead.  No pun intended," Buffy told him.

"Ours, too.  Maybe too quiet," Giles commented.  "I wonder what's going on?"

The five of them entered the cemetery and Spike stopped, cocking his head, "Vampires," he told them.

"Yeah, lots of them," Buffy added.

"Oh, boy," Willow saw a group of about fifteen vampires step out of the shadows.  She loaded the crossbow, waited until the vampires moved within her range and fired.  Her first bolt hit the vamp, but missed the heart.  She quickly reloaded and fired again. This time the vamp burst into a cloud of dust.  One down, fourteen to go!

Willow loaded the last bolt into the crossbow and examined the vampires closely, looking for the one who seemed to be in charge.  If she could get rid of the leader it might slow them down, or cause them to become disorganized or careless.

"What're ya doing?" Spike asked as he stood beside her with his axe at the ready.

"Looking for the soddin' leader!" she swore in Spike-ese.

"There," Spike pointed.  "The one in blue."

"Disco vamp?" Willow asked referring to the time period of his clothing.

"Yep," Spike agreed and Willow raised the crossbow and fired and then the rest of the vampires were upon them.

Spike stepped away from her so he had room to swing his axe and Willow dropped the crossbow and pulled out her stake and her water gun, hoping there'd be time to stun them with the holy water. They were vastly outnumbered, three vamps for each one of them.  And only two had super strength, the other three were puny humans.

The battle raged around Willow as she fought.  She saw Riley stake a vamp, saw Spike decapitate a vampire that was sneaking up behind Buffy, saw Giles slash at a vampire.  Suddenly the sounds of battle lessened and Willow looked around to see fewer vampires than Scooby's.  Thank the goddess, it was almost over.

Time stood still as she turned around and saw the vampire in blue heading toward her with a crossbow bolt in it's hand.  Shit, shoot, she'd missed it's heart!

"Spike!" she yelled, knowing she wouldn't be able to handle this one by herself.  Spike turned around in time to see the vampire raise the bolt and throw it at Willow.

Willow felt the bolt enter her flesh, looked down to see black-red blood running down her chest and knew that it hadn't missed.  She dropped to her knees as a trickle of blood ran out of her mouth.

"Willow!" Spike dropped the vampire he'd been fighting and ran toward her, catching her before her body fell over onto the ground.

"Willow!  Willow, baby," he dropped the axe and brushed her hair out of her face, wiping the blood off of her chin.

She looked up into his pain-filled eyes with eyes that were already dead, "Love you, Spike," she got out before her heart stopped.

"Willow!  Willow!" Spike screamed her name as he shook her.  "*Willow*!"

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Buffy's tear-filled eyes.  She dropped to her knees next to him and reached out to shut Willow's eyes.

"She's not *dead*!" he insisted.  "She *can't* be dead.  I *need* her!" blood red tears ran down his cheeks.

Buffy pulled a sobbing Spike into her arms and rocked as she cried with him.  Giles fell to his knees at Willow's head and ran his hand over her hair.  Riley touched Buffy's shoulder in sympathy to let her know he was there, then turned to stand guard over the mourners.

Spike pulled away from Buffy and laid Willow's body on the ground after placing one last kiss on her lips.  Pressing his hand against her chest he grabbed the shaft of the bolt.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked softly, placing her hand over his on the bolt.

"I need this," he told her.  "I'm gonna kill that bastard with it.  I won't hurt her," he promised.

"Let me go with you?" Buffy asked and at his nod withdrew her hand.

Spike pulled the bolt out of Willow's heart and stared at her blood on the tip of it.  Yeah, he was gonna dust that soddin' vampire, right after he soaked it in holy water and cut off all of it's limbs.  Then he was going to go after that bleeding love demon who had made him think for one second that his wish might have come true.

Spike felt Willow's heart beat under his hand and shook his head.  She was going to be like the limb they amputated and you felt for the rest of your life.  Cor, he missed her already.

Her heart beat again, then she gasped and her chest rose as air filled her lungs.

"Willow?" he asked uncertainly.

She opened her eyes and took another breath.  "Spike?"

"Willow?" his voice was filled with wonder as tears again filled his eyes.

"Goddess, that hurt," she whispered.  She looked at the tear- stained faces of her friends above her.  "What's wrong?"

"You were...you were dead," Giles finally managed to say.

Spike looked at the blood on her shirt, there was so soddin' much of it.  He dropped the bolt and grabbed her shirt with both hands, tearing it open.  He ran his hand over her chest.  There was no hole, just drying blood.

"Spike?" Buffy asked.

"There's no wound," he answered her unasked question.  "My wish...," he faltered.

"Spike?" Willow asked, worried.

He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into his arms and held her as if he'd never let go.  And now he wouldn't have to.  "My wish...was to be with you forever," he whispered.

Spike stood, lifting Willow into his arms, "Let's get out of here."  After a few steps he turned back around to see the discarded bolt lying on the ground.  "Will you get that?" he asked Buffy.  He was still going to find that thrice damned vampire.

***

The five of them returned to Willow's parent's house.  Spike helped Willow shower to wash the blood off and she dressed in a pair of old sweats and a tank to sleep in.  When they got back downstairs, not only were Buffy, Riley and Giles still there, but they'd been joined by Xander and Anya, who both enveloped her in a big hug.

Willow didn't think they were going to let go and just as she felt the need to breathe becoming all important Spike growled behind her and they quickly let her go.

"Don't you *ever* do that again!" Xander shook his finger at her playfully.

"I'll try not to, Xan," Willow grabbed his finger.

"Thank you, Amore," Willow heard Anya whisper behind her and she turned around.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"You said `Amore'."

"Oh, that, yes.  The love demon.  Buffy told us all about Spike's wish."

"I never mentioned it's name."

"Oh, well, I knew it's name.  I'm familiar with the love demon, you see."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You didn't mention that before," Willow pushed.  Anya just shrugged her shoulders.

"Anya, did you call the love demon?" Willow took the ex- demon's hands in hers.

"Does it matter?" she asked.

"Yes.  Not because of the wish, although, pretty happy about the wish, actually.  But because you thought we deserved it," tears filled Willow's eyes as she hugged the other girl.  "Thank you for being such a good friend."

"Yes, well," Anya sniffed, "we're just lucky Spike had such a good wish!"

When Willow finally let Anya go Spike asked her, "You're the reason I got Red back?"

"Well, I just...eep,"

Spike grabbed her up in a big hug and planted a kiss on her lips.  "Thank you," he said as he let her go.

"No *problem*," Anya said breathlessly as she staggered then caught herself.  "Xander..,"

"No way!  You are washing with soap and water before we do anything!"

Part Twelve: Sunday, Two Days Later

Willow, who tried to tell her friends that she was fine, had been kept in bed all day Saturday by them.  They were all afraid to leave her side, afraid that when they turned around, she'd really be gone.  Her bedroom was like Grand Central Station and Spike, who sat on the bed and held her while her friends wandered in and out, didn't complain once.  Well, until it looked like they were all going to spend the night again Saturday like they had on Friday!

They'd brought her breakfast and lunch in bed, but she insisted on eating dinner downstairs.  They'd played strip poker and Xander had lost, automatically removing Anya from the game.  Then they played monopoly, `cause it's more fun with a bunch of people, and Spike won, to everyone's chagrin.

"What?  I'm a very good strategist."

"Uh, St. Vigeous?" Willow reminded him.

"I just don't usually have the patience to stick to the plan," he told them haughtily.

After everyone had finally left on Saturday night, after being kicked out by Spike, he sat on the couch with Willow in his lap and held her until almost sunrise.  He stroked his hand over her hair, kissed her jaw, traced the freckles on her arm, needing to reassure himself that she was really there.

Willow woke up full of energy the next day.  Since Spike was still sleeping she baked cookies and cleaned the kitchen.  Then she vacuumed and dusted the downstairs.  She went upstairs and took a shower, then woke Spike up.  She lay on the bed tracing patterns on his back.  "Spi-ike," she called.  "Spi-ike."

"Mmm," he growled.

"Can we go to the Magic Box and train?"

"You think you're up to it?" he stared at her through slitted eyes.

"We don't have to do anything too strenuous if you don't think I should, but maybe some practice with the crossbow would be in order," she smiled at him.

"I'll be up in a minute," he promised.

"Liar," she pulled the sheet off of him and slapped his butt.  "Hop to it, vampire!"

"You know this is completely unnatural," he grumbled as he got out of bed, "getting up while the sun is still shining."

***

Willow spent an hour practicing with the crossbow until she could hit the center circle with her eyes closed.  Every time she aimed, she pictured the vampire in blue as her target.  She finally lowered her arms, crossbow at her side, and turned to look at Spike.

Her chest was heaving and her arm muscles were flexed, there was a sheen of sweat on her face and arms and her hair made her look like a fire goddess.  Cor, she was beautiful.  It had been over 48 hours since he'd touched her, tasted her and he felt his body respond to her.

Willow saw Spike's eyes darken with desire as he stared at her.  She walked past him and hung the crossbow up, then kicked her sneakers off and stalked toward him.  She kicked her leg out at him and he blocked it.  She swung an arm and he caught it, pulling her toward him.  She dropped her weight and fell backward, pulling Spike down with her, and using their shared momentum, tossed him over her head.  He landed on his back and she kept rolling, in a backward somersault, to straddle his chest.

Willow slid down Spike's body and tore his t-shirt out of his pants, pushing it up.  She bent down and licked and sucked his nipples, then traced a path with her tongue down to his belly button.  She moved back up to straddle his erection and pulled his upper body off the mat so she could remove his t-shirt.  She threw the t-shirt aside and kissed him, drawing his tongue into her mouth.

Spike slid his hands under her t-shirt and cupped her breasts.  Willow moaned and lifted her arms for Spike to pull the t- shirt over her head.  He removed her bra and bent his head to suckle her breasts.  Willow raised up on her knees so he could reach her better and he slipped a hand between her legs.

"Oh, goddess, Spike!" Willow rubbed herself urgently against his hand.

Spike shoved her on her back and pulled her sweats off, then buried his head between her legs.  Willow grabbed him by the hair and held him as she ground herself against his face, moaning his name. Willow came and Spike drank her juices, licking and sucking until she came again, screaming her release.

Spike climbed between her legs and unzipped his jeans, shoving them down his legs.  He positioned his head at her slit and with one thrust, drove into her, slamming his pelvic bone against her clit.  Willow cried out and Spike claimed her lips as he thrust into her.

Through the haze of lust driving him Spike heard the door open and sensed the Slayer, the door closed and they were alone again.  Spike licked and sucked Willow's neck, then morphed and rubbed his forehead against her neck in a move he knew would bring her release.

She screamed his name and he sank his fangs into her neck, the first time he'd ever bitten her where it would show.  He bit deep enough to mark her as his forever and sucked her sweet blood out of the twin puncture holes as Willow continued to thrash beneath him. He withdrew his fangs and licked the wounds.

Willow leaned up and licked his neck, sucking his skin into her mouth and biting down sharply with her blunt teeth, drawing blood which she licked up.  At the feel of Willow's teeth breaking his skin Spike lost control and came, screaming her name.

They lay on the mat, breathing heavily.  Spike kissed her neck, her collarbone, ran his fingers down her arm.

Willow wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him close.  "I love you, Spike," she whispered in his ear.  "I'll love you forever."

He buried his face in her neck and held her tightly.  He'd never have to let her go.

***

After they had cleaned up at the sink in the corner and dressed Spike told Willow that the Slayer was there.  "She, uh, came in while we were shaggin'; she's waiting in the shop.  You go talk to her, I'll just go have a smoke."

"Okay," Willow agreed, "let me just make sure there's shade out there," Willow walked over and opened the back door.  "Oh, sun's down!" she told Spike with a smile as she raised up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

He slipped out the door after patting her butt and she squared her shoulders in anticipation of her confrontation with Buffy.  She opened the door and walked out into the training room and saw Buffy sitting at the research table, a roll of paper towels in front of her.

"Buffy?" Willow called and Buffy turned her tear-stained face toward her best friend.

"Buffy!  What's the matter?" Willow ran to her side and hugged her.

"I'm so sorry," Buffy said, her voice cracking.  "I realized two things when you died.  I don't know what I'd do without you.  And I have Spike to thank for you still being here.  That's hard to admit!" she tried to laugh through her tears.

"Oh, Buffy, I *love* you!"

"I love you, too, Wills."  She spoke again, "I also realized something else.  Well, I didn't so much *realize* it as finally admit it to myself.  I was jealous of what you and Spike have.  I've never seen you so happy and I tried to remember if I'd ever been that happy.  And I don't think I have.  Not even with Angel."

Willow sat down in the chair next to Buffy and watched her shred the paper towel in her hand.  "I also didn't want to believe that Spike could love you without a soul, because it made me wonder why Angel couldn't love me without a soul."  She shook her head, "I've been so selfish."

"He's with Cordy, now, isn't he?" Buffy finally asked the question that had been on her mind since their visit weeks ago.

"Yes," Willow reached out and took her friend's hand.

"Now he doesn't even love me with the soul.  God, how pathetic am I?" she snorted and blew her nose.

"I know that you loved Angel beyond anything, Buffy.  I know he loved you, too.  But maybe it didn't work because you're the Slayer and he's a vampire, and as much as you love him, your whole being is urging you to kill him.  To be with him you had to fight who you are, and it made you miserable."

"I know.  But it still hurts."

"I know."

***

Spike leaned on the wall outside the back door and, with his vampiric hearing, listened to everything Buffy and Willow said.  When Buffy finally stopped crying and went into the bathroom to wash her face Spike walked back into the training room and closed the back door.  He turned around and Willow was standing in the shop doorway watching him.

They just stood there looking at each other, then Willow smiled and ran to him, jumping into his arms.  Spike squeezed her and then put her down.  They walked back out into the shop to wait for Buffy.  Willow reclaimed the chair she had been sitting in and Spike jumped up on the counter.

"Slayer," Spike said when Buffy came out of the bathroom.

"Spike," Buffy said.

"Soldier boy meeting ya for patrol?"

"Yeah, but not until ten," she looked at the clock above Spike's head.  It was only eight.

"Maybe we'll go with you guys tonight.  Wanna get something to eat with me an' Red before patrol?" he asked.

"Where ya going?"

"Haven't decided.  I wanted Italian, Red was bucking for Chinese.  You can be the tie breaker," Spike lied through his teeth, he and Willow not having made any dinner plans.

"I've been dying to try that Greek place that just opened up," Buffy said.

"I don't think you understand the concept of `tie breaker'," Spike said and Willow laughed.

"I'll switch from Chinese to Greek," she said.

"Fine!" Spike groused.  "Greek it is.  Let's get our jackets, Red," Spike hopped off of the counter.  "We're coming back here for the weapons, right?" he asked Buffy.

"Yes, except for these," she pulled a stake out of her waistband.  "Never leave home without it."

"I'll get our jackets," Willow disappeared into the training room.

"Why are you being nice to me, Spike?" Buffy asked.

"`Cause you love Willow, and she loves you, and I'd do anything for her, even be nice to you, Slayer," Spike told her with a friendly grimace.

Willow came back with the jackets and they walked out of the Magic Box.  Spike put his arms around the shoulders of the two women as they walked down the sidewalk.  "Listen, Slayer, maybe you can do me a favor.  Red here needs some more help in hand-to-hand, you know, practice against different types of fighting, for the experience. Could you spend some time with her tomorrow?"

"Sure," Buffy said and smiled across him at Willow.

"An' while you're at it, teach her how to duck.  Ow!"

Part Thirteen: Wednesday, Three Days Later

On Monday Buffy met Willow and Spike at the Magic Box at six o'clock.  She sparred with Willow while Spike watched and critiqued Willow's moves.  Then they switched and while Willow sparred with Spike Buffy called out suggestions to improve her technique.

Later that evening, while Buffy trained with Giles and Anya counted the day's receipts, Willow and Spike ate the supper Willow had packed for them over unopened demonology texts.  Xander showed up at seven and the four, then six of them, sat around the research table in an easy camaraderie that was absent just three days ago.

When Riley showed up after nine o'clock for patrol, the seven of them all went out together, still feeling the effects of Willow's death and subsequent resurrection, not wanting to let each other out of their sight.

Tuesday night was almost an exact repeat of Monday night, except they were able to get some information about the vampire in blue out of a couple of minions before staking them.  They checked out the information to make sure it was accurate and then Spike and Buffy decided to take the vamp and it's nest out the next night.

On Wednesday Willow didn't train with Giles or Spike and she couldn't concentrate on homework or research.  Finally the sun set and Spike, Buffy and Riley gathered weapons to take out `disco vamp' as Willow had been calling it in her mind.  Willow followed them into the training room and grabbed a crossbow off of the wall.

"What do you think you're doing?" Spike asked.

"Going with you," Willow told him as she grabbed extra bolts.

"No," he said, her brush with death still to close for comfort.

"Yes," Willow turned around and gave him her resolve face.

"Don't give me that look," he pointed at her face.  "You're not going, and that's final!"

Willow narrowed her eyes and straightened her shoulders.

"Great job, fangless," Buffy muttered.  "Now we'll never get her to stay behind."

"I'm going, too," Xander stepped into the room and walked over to the locker, looking over his choice of weapons.

"Me, too," Anya said, taking the baseball bat Xander handed her.

"I'm going as well," Giles took a second crossbow off of the wall.

Xander stood up with a short sword, a pike and several stakes.  He handed the short sword to Giles who belted it over his chest and passed out the stakes to Giles, Anya and Willow.  Willow turned to walk out of the room and looked over her shoulder at Spike, Buffy and Riley.

"Coming?" she asked.

"Argh," Spike growled as he clenched his fingers around the axe handle and followed her.  With twitching lips Buffy looked at Riley, shrugged and followed the rest of the gang.

Spike caught up to Willow outside the Magic Box.  "You stay with me," he ordered.

"Of course," she said meekly.  "Whatever you say," she reached out and slipped her fingers around his.

Spike growled again as he tightened his fingers around Willow's tiny hand.

***

"So, what's the plan?" Willow asked Buffy as they neared the vampire nest.

"Plan?" Buffy said.  "We go in and kill them."

"Gotta love the simplicity of it," Xander said.

"Bloody right," Spike said.

"Works for me," Willow nodded her head.

Giles and Riley exchanged looks and shook their heads.

"I hope this doesn't take too long," Anya said, "Xander's promised me many orgasms when this is all over."

When they reached the lair Spike and Buffy took the lead, since they could sense any minions standing guard outside.  They easily overpowered and dusted the five vamps stationed around the lair, then entered through the front door.

"Hey, mate," Spike stepped into the main room where the head vampire, still in his blue suit, seemed to be holding court, "remember us?"

The vampire looked up in surprise.  "Slayer," it hissed.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Spike asked.

"And the little redhead," the vamp smirked.  "Thought I killed you."

"You did," Willow smiled.  "I came back.  And now I'm gonna return the favor," she lifted the crossbow, aimed and fired.  The bolt hit the vamp in the thigh.

"Missed.  Again," it taunted her.

"I know," Willow said as she reloaded the crossbow.  "Does it hurt?" she asked as she fired again, hitting the vamp in the stomach.

"Get them!" the vamp yelled as it pulled the bolts out of it's body.  Willow heard sounds of fighting around her as the minions attacked, but she didn't hurry.  She reloaded and aimed, this time shooting the vamp in the neck.

"Ow, you bitch!" the vamp tugged the bolt out of it's neck and blood spurted out.

"Ooh, bet that one hurt!" Willow said as she reloaded once again.  She lifted the crossbow slowly and took careful aim as the vampire lunged across the room toward her.  She fired and this time the bolt flew true, burying itself in the vamps unbeating heart.  It only had a moment to look at her in surprise before it exploded into dust.

Willow just stood there in the middle of the ongoing battle, breathing hard.

"Wills, you alright?" Buffy hit her arm before turning back to the vamp she was fending off.  Willow shook her head to clear it and looked around the room, seeing the fighting that was going on around her for the first time.

"I'm fine, Buffy," she said as she reloaded the crossbow and aimed at a vamp across the room that was fighting with Anya.

"Anya, down!" Willow called out.  Anya looked up in surprise, then ducked and Willow shot the vamp through the heart.  Cordy was right, she smiled, these things *were* great.

***

Once their leader was dead many of the minions gave up the fight and ran.  The few that remained were easily dusted.  After the battle was over, the gang returned to the Magic Box to clean and store the weapons.  Willow and Spike were the first ones to leave. He grabbed Willow's hand as soon as she had hung up the crossbow and he had wiped down the axe.

"Uh, bye!" Willow called to her friends as Spike dragged her out of the training room.  "Spike!" she tugged at his hand, trying to slow him down.  Spike didn't answer, just pulled her along after him as he left the Magic Box and headed down the sidewalk.

Two blocks down Spike turned into an alley and shoved Willow up against the brick wall.  He raised his fist and hit the wall next to her head, cracking the brick and breaking his knuckles open.

"You *ever* bloody do that again...," he began.

"You'll what?" Willow asked as her breathing sped up and moisture seeped from her core.  She reached out and cupped him through his jeans.

"Fighting make you horny, Spike?" she smirked as she rubbed him.  She pulled his fist away from the wall with her other hand and brought his bleeding knuckles to her mouth.  With her eyes on his she licked the blood off of them.

"Made me horny," she admitted as she licked smeared blood off of her lips.

"Witch," Spike hissed.

"Spike," Willow continued to rub him.  "I need you..."

He pressed his body against hers and captured her lips in a kiss that was angry, needy, desperate, hungry.  His hands roamed over her body, kneading her breasts, rolling and pinching her nipples, cupping her ass.

Willow kissed him back, her tongue battling his, her hands slipping beneath his t-shirt to run over his stomach, chest, back, then slipping inside his jeans to grip his butt, squeezing.  He moved his lips down her neck and Willow sucked air into her burning lungs.

"Spike!" she pleaded.  "Spike, please."  And then his hand was unbuttoning her jeans, pulling the zipper down and slipping inside.  His fingers moved through her damp curls to the swollen flesh beneath and slid between her slick folds.

"Ye-es," she hissed as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back against the brick wall.  Spike pumped his fingers in and out of her as he stroked her clit.  He felt her nearing her release and pulled his fingers out of her.

"Spi-ike," she moaned in protest.  Spike grabbed her opened jeans and ripped, tearing them down the middle.

"Spike!" she cried in surprise.  He undid his own jeans and pushed them down his hips, then pushed the tattered pieces of her own out of the way, lifted her and slid into her hot, tight passage.

"Oh, goddess, Spike," she moaned as he filled her.  "Spike," she leaned forward and sucked the soft skin of his neck into her mouth as he pounded her against the wall.  Willow bit down, breaking the skin.  She licked the blood off of his neck, then sucked on the wound.  Spike groaned against her neck as his body tensed.

"Spike," Willow begged as she felt his body readying itself for release.  Spike licked the healing bite mark on her neck, then morphed and sank his fangs into her.  He drank her lust-charged blood and Willow cried out as she found her release, her muscles clamping around Spike and leading him to his.

Spike pulled out of her and she sagged against the wall.  He fastened his jeans, then took his duster off and wrapped it around Willow, picked her up and carried her home.

Part Fourteen: Friday, Two Days Later

It was `finally Friday' as the song said and they were Bronzing it before patrol.  It was a celebration of life, love and friendship, old and new.

Spike and Willow had trained for an hour that afternoon as usual and were now getting ready for The Bronze.  Spike had changed into a new pair of blue jeans and a navy blue pullover with long sleeves that hugged his chest just right.  Stop it, Willow yelled at herself, you'll never finish getting ready.

She was wearing a new green cotton tank dress that fit her body snugly.  She had tried it on with bra and panties and without, and was going without.  She felt sexy, and a little nervous.  She had put on mascara and lipstick and pulled her hair up in a clip.  She tilted her head and rubbed her fingers over the bite that marked her as Spike's.

"What ya doing, Red?" Spike asked as he lounged in the doorway.  Willow looked up at him and smiled.  Just looking at him made her nipples pebble and her juices flow.

"Bloody hell, Red, they'll be here any minute!" Spike walked over to her and cupped her breasts.

"I know," she moaned as she pressed herself into his hands.

"You aren't wearing a bra," Spike accused.

"No, you can see the lines," Willow said walking away from him when she heard the doorbell ring, announcing Buffy and Riley who'd come to pick them up.  As she walked she ran her hands down her hips and over her butt, emphasizing the fact that there were no lines there, either.

"Bloody hell," Spike groaned as he realized she wasn't wearing any knickers.

***

When they got to The Bronze Xander and Anya were already at their table with drinks in front of them.  Buffy and Willow walked over to the table to join them while Spike and Riley went to the bar to order drinks.  They sat around the table talking for almost an hour before a slow song came on and Buffy pulled Riley onto the dance floor with Anya and Xander following close behind.

"You wanna dance, Red?" Spike asked.

"Not right now," she said as she slipped off of her chair and onto his lap.  "I thought they were never going to leave!" she leaned down and kissed him.

"Get a room!" Anya announced the groups return and Willow turned to smile at them as she snuggled into Spike's arms until she had to go to the bathroom.  Anya and Buffy went with her and on the way back they stopped by the DJ table so Willow could requested a song.

When they returned to the table Riley was sitting alone while Spike and Xander were racking up the balls on the pool table.  "Hey," Willow slapped Riley on the back, "how's it feel to be table sitting?"

"Lonely," Riley admitted.

"Tell me about it," Willow nodded in understanding.

"Sorry," Riley said and Willow squeezed his shoulder.

"No big.  I'm gonna go see if I can help Xander win by distracting my vamp," Willow told the others and headed toward the pool table.

They guys had just finished their pool game, Xander winning by a breath, Willow's breath against Spike's neck, that is, and returned to the table when the slow song Willow had requested started to play.

Willow took Spike's hand and pulled him out of the chair and onto the dance floor as the first words of the song played.  `Let me be your hero' the singer whispered and Willow slipped into Spike's arms.

"I  love you, Spike," she cupped his face with her hand as she looked up into deep blue eyes.  "You *are* my hero, baby," she rose to her toes and pressed her lips against his.

Would you dance if I asked you to dance? Or would you run and never look back?

Spike wrapped his arms around Willow and held her tight as they moved slowly to the music, his hands gently rubbing over her back.  Willow rested her head on Spike's chest, her hands tucked into his back pockets.

Would you cry if you saw me cryin'? And would you save my soul tonight?

He remembered what Buffy had said about him being able to love Willow without a soul, but what she didn't know was that Willow *was* his soul.

Would you tremble if I touched your lips? Or would you laugh?  Oh, please tell me this,

Spike brushed his thumb over her lips.  She parted them and flicked her tongue over his thumb as her fingers tightened over his ass.  He could smell her desire for him.

Now would you die for the one you love? Oh hold me in your arms tonight.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," he whispered into her hair, "I couldn't take it."  Willow tilted her head back and looked at him with eyes that shone with love.

Well, I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away.

She had taken away his pain, his fear of loneliness, and now she *would* be with him forever. She was kind and beautiful and full of fire and the thought that she loved him took his nonexistent breath away.  He gently kissed her lips.

Would you swear that you'll always be mine? Or would you lie?  Would you run and hide? Oh, am I in too deep?  Have I lost my mind? I don't care...you're here tonight.

Memories swirled through Spike's mind.  He remembered her caffeine high the first time they patrolled together; her face the first time he'd kissed her, the first time he'd made her cum; her passion the night she stood up to Buffy and Angelus and told him, and everyone else, that she loved him; the night she'd died and come back to him, and right now, when she was looking at him as if he really *was* her hero.

I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away.

"Spike," Willow whispered.

"Mmm?" he responded absently as he breathed in her scent.

Oh, I just want to hold you. I just want to hold you, oh yeah. Am I in too deep?  Have I lost my mind? Well, I don't care...you're here tonight.

"I, um, I remembered something," she said.  "Something the love demon told me."

"What's that, luv?" he asked.

I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain, oh yeah. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away.

"She, um, she said she gave me the knowledge to get your chip removed.  I just have to unlock it somehow.  I don't know how," she continued to babble, "but I wanted you to know that I'm going to try.  It's just, I don't know how long it'll take."

And I can be your hero. I can kiss away the pain. And I will stand by you forever.

"Doesn't matter, luv," Spike said, running his fingers into her hair and tilting her head back.  "As long as you're here, nothing else matters," he kissed her.

You can take my breath away. You can take my breath away.

"I still don't know if I can be your hero, baby," he whispered against her lips, "but you make me feel as if I can, and you sure as bloody hell `re mine," he kissed her again.

I can be your hero.

THE END

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