Part Six: Thursday

The next day Willow got the good news that the professor was ill so her evening class was cancelled.  Not good that the professor was ill, good that the class was cancelled.  She didn't think she'd remember anything from the class anyway.  All she could think about was Spike.  Naked Spike.  Sleeping with naked Spike.  Not getting any sleep at *all* with naked Spike.

She met Buffy for lunch and, when Willow told her that her evening class had been cancelled, Buffy suggested Bronzing it before patrol.  Willow agreed enthusiastically, "I have time before my next class to go to Spike's crypt and let him know."

At Buffy's look of surprise Willow said, "What?"

"You're bringing *Spike*?" Buffy asked, incredulous.

"Are Riley and Anya invited?"

"That's different."

"How?"

"I'm dating Riley, and Xander's dating Anya."

"So, I can't bring a friend?"

"Spike's not our *friend*!"

"He's *my* friend," sort of, she thought to herself, "and if I can't invite him, I'm not going either.  All I do is `table sit', anyway."

"*Fine*.  You can invite him," Buffy relented ungraciously.

"Thank you, Buffy!"

When Willow arrived at Spike's crypt it was empty and she wondered where he could be; not many places a vampire could go when it was still daylight out.  Since he wasn't there and didn't have a phone, Willow wrote a note telling Spike about the change in plans and asking him to meet her at The Bronze at eight o'clock.  She left the note on top of his blood cooler, then headed back to campus and her afternoon class.

***

Willow took extra care in dressing for the evening.  She wanted to look good *and* be prepared for patrol.  She wondered how Buffy did it.  She pulled out a pair of black jeans and paired them with a green halter top and black low heeled boots.

After dressing Willow applied mascara and lipstick, then pulled her hair up in a clip, baring her neck, because, for some reason, Spike seemed to like her neck.  She giggled to herself as she pulled a few strands free to brush her face and neck.  She examined the finished product in the mirror.  Oh, yeah, she looked good.  She just hoped Spike agreed.

At the knock on her door Willow tucked her license, some cash and her room key into her pocket, grabbed her jacket and opened the door to Buffy and Riley.  The three of them walked to the curb in front of Willow's dorm where Xander and Anya were waiting for them and climbed into the `Xander-mobile' for the drive to The Bronze.

They arrived a couple of minutes before eight o'clock and claimed their ususal table.  Riley bought the first round of drinks and Xander walked up to the bar with him to help carry them back to the table.  A fast song came on and the three girls headed for the dance floor.

After dancing to a couple of fast songs the girls returned to the table for their drinks.  They all talked for a while until a slow song came on, and Buffy, Riley, Xander and Anya headed for the dance floor.  Willow checked her watch, eight-thirty.

***

It was after nine-thirty when Spike rushed through the door to The Bronze to see Willow sitting alone at a table.  "Red," he pulled out a chair next to her, ready to apologize for being late.

"Oh, good, you're here," Willow's voice cracked with anger and hurt, "now *you* can watch the table," she stood up, grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and stalked out of The Bronze.

"Red!  Willow!" Spike called after her but she didn't acknowledge him.

Willow wiped tears off of her cheeks as she ran down the street.  She wondered if the mascara was waterproof.  Stupid vampire!  No, stupid Willow.  It was probably just a game to him. Buffy'd probably been right.  Oh, goddess, she would never live this one down.  It was worse even than the `my will' spell.  She had been so...so wanton! *Definitely* a big `ho.

"Willow!" Spike's voice finally penetrated her thoughts as he grabbed her around the waist and swung her around in his arms.

"Let go of me!" she slapped at him and tried to squirm out of his grasp.

"Willow, listen to me," he pinned her arms to her sides.  "I'm sorry I was late.  I came as soon as I got your note." Willow continued to struggle.

"I was out of town.  On business.  I didn't get your note until I got back."  Willow's struggles lessened as Spike's words got through the hurt that clouded her mind.

"I'm sorry, baby," he loosened his grip.  "I came as soon as I could."

Willow pulled free and  slapped his face.  "I thought you weren't *coming*!" she cried as fresh tears filled her eyes.

At the sting of Willow's slap Spike's eyes filled with lust and his nostrils flared.  He took a step toward Willow, who felt herself get wet, and then disappeared as he was tackled by a fledgling.  Willow looked around and realized that she'd run into a cemetery.  Good move, Rosenburg!

Spike threw the fledgling off of him and rose to his feet. The fledgling was too hungry to realize what it was doing.  It charged Spike, who made the mistake of looking at Willow to make sure she was alright, and shoved him up against a tombstone.

Willow pulled the water gun out of her jacket pocket and let the jacket drop to the ground as she ran over to the struggling vampires.

"Let...go...of...him!" Willow smacked the fledgling in the head with the handle of the water gun.  Her hair fell out of the clip and swung wildly around her face.

With a roar the fledgling turned toward Willow and she reflexively shot a stream of holy water in it's face.  It's scream of pain was cut off as Spike stuck a stake in it's heart.

As the dust settled, Willow noticed that Spike looked like he was in pain.  "Spike!" she moved toward him.  "Are you hurt?"

"Oh, it hurts," he purred as he stalked toward her and Willow instinctively took a step back, dropping the water gun, "but you'll make it all better, won't ya, baby?"

"Oh...goddess," Willow moaned as juices seeped from her core.  "Spike."

Spike placed his hand on Willow's belly and backed her up to a mausoleum.  He stood at her side, unbuttoned her jeans and slipped his hand beneath them.

"Spike," Willow gasped.  "What are you...oh, goddess," she moaned as his fingers tangled in her already damp curls, then dipped between her folds.  He was licking and sucking and nipping at her neck as his other hand kneaded her breast and pinched her nipple.  "Spi-ike," she whimpered as she grabbed his shoulder for support.

"Touch me, Willow," he moaned in her ear, "please...touch me."

Willow's hand pressed against the front of his jeans.  Her fingers wrapping around his erection, she squeezed gently.

"Harder!" he urged her, biting her neck with blunt teeth as he shoved a second finger in her slit, the heel of his hand rubbing against her clit.

"Spi-ike, Spike...," Willow moaned as he filled her.  She pressed her hand more firmly against his jeans, the heel and palm rubbing over his head.

"That's it, baby, that's it," he whispered, unnecessary breath tickling her ear as his fingers brought her to the edge.  "Cum for me, Willow."

Her body stiffening, her muscles clenching around his fingers, Willow came over his hand, keening his name.

The feel of her muscles clamping around his fingers, the warmth of her juices running over his hand, the sound of his name on her lips and the feel of her hand rubbing his erection were more than Spike could take.  He placed his hand over her smaller one and thrust into it until his own muscles clenched.  He came in his jeans as his fingers continued to pump into Willow,  prolonging her orgasm.

It took several minutes for Willow to recover.  When the haze of desire lifted she realized that they were still leaning against the mausoleum, Spike's hand down her jeans and his fingers buried inside her, her hand pressing against the front of his now damp jeans.

"Spike," she finally spoke, her voice raspy.

"Mmm?" he acknowledged as he kissed her neck.

"Wh-wha-what are you doing?" Willow shivered as his tongue pressed against her pulse point.

"You didn't think we were done, did ya?" his husky voice in her ear made Willow's knees weak.  Then he began to move his fingers again, slowly pumping in and out, pressing against her wall as his thumb rubbed over her clit.

"Oh, goddess!  Spike!" Willow's legs trembled.

"Unzip your jeans for me, Willow," he released the hand he was holding to the front of his jeans and moved his own to her hip, then slid it under her shirt and up to cup her breast.

"N-no, we can't," she moaned even as her hands moved to the zipper.  She couldn't think straight.  His fingers and his tongue were driving her to a frenzy.

"Yes," he sucked the skin over her pulse point into his mouth and bit on it gently, "we can.  I'm gonna lick you clean, then make you cum again," he flicked his tongue into her ear, his thumb grazing her nipple through her bra.

With one motion Willow unzipped her pants and slid them down over her hips.  Without withdrawing his fingers Spike knelt before her and helped her slide them down her legs.  He unzipped her boot and she kicked it off, then Spike pulled her jeans off of that leg.

His fingers still pumping in and out of her, Spike licked her juices off of the inside of her thigh, moving closer and closer to her center until Willow grabbed the back of his head with both hands and tried to direct him there.  Spike laughed at her urgency, unnecessary breath tickling her, and flicked his tongue over her clit.

"Spike...please," she begged as she buried her fingers in his hair.

As his fingers drove into her, he used the thumb of his other hand to lift her hood and sucked her clit into his mouth, rubbing his tongue and teeth over it.

"Oh, goddess, Spike!" Willow screamed as he stimulated her already sensitive flesh and she came again.  Spike buried his face between her thighs, lapping up her juices as they spilled over his hand and face.

Before she had completely recovered Spike laid her down on the ground and knelt between her legs.  Unbuttoning and unzipping his own jeans he shoved them down his legs and then rubbed the tip of his erection along her slit and over her clit.

Willow's eyes rolled back in her head and she moaned at the contact.  Spike positioned his head against her and pushed it between her folds, leaning over her with his elbows on the ground.

"Oh, goddess, I don't think you're going to *fit*!" Willow cried as he continued to slide into her.

"Don't worry, baby, it'll be a perfect fit."  When he was completely sheathed within her heat he held still, allowing her to adjust to him.  "You okay?" he bent his head and nipped her bottom lip.

"Mmm," Willow answered as her hands roamed over his back and her lips tried to capture his.

"Ready for more?" Spike asked as he pulled out and slid back in slowly.

"Oh, goddess, yes!" Willow cried as his pelvic bone rubbed her clit and Spike began to pump into her, slowly, then faster and faster.  Willow bent her knees, placed her feet flat on the ground and pressed against him, instinctively trying to increase the friction against her clit.

Willow felt the now familiar tensing of her body and cried out, "Spike, I think I'm...again...oh, Spi-i-ike!"  Willow came and Spike, face morphing, followed almost immediately as her grasping muscles milked his release.

"Willow!" Spike buried his demon visage in her neck and cried out her name.

Willow felt his ridges rubbing against her neck and his fangs grazing her flesh as he spurt his dead seed inside her; she arched her back and came again.

Spike fell on her and moaned, "Bloody hell, Willow, what was that?"

When Willow was finally able to move she raised her fingers to brush them over his now smooth brow, "I don't know...I felt your...ridges...and your fangs...Did you bite me?" she tilted her neck.

"No," Spike examined her neck.  "Broke the skin though, when you nearly squeezed my dick off," he leaned down and licked the drops of blood off of her neck and Willow giggled.  The taste of her blood was intoxicating and Spike sucked on the cuts, trying to get all of the blood he could.  Willow moaned, pressing his face into her neck.

Spike lifted his mouth from her neck and rolled off of her, "We should get dressed and go home."

"Oh, yeah, right, of course," she babbled as she tried to crawl away from him, suddenly mortified.  She had been content to lie there in his arms and was embarrassed that he was calling an end to their...their...evening.

Spike smelled her sudden embarrassment and unshed tears.  He grabbed her leg and pulled her back beneath him.  "I meant, go home *together*," he whispered as his hands ran over her body, "`cause it's too dangerous to stay here...and we're still not done."  He crushed his lips to hers, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth.

"Oh!" Willow said when she was finally able to speak.  "We, um, we're not done?"

Spike shook his head and kissed her again.

"Oh!" she squeaked.  "Where, um, where home?"

"You pick," he kissed her.  "I'm gonna shag you `til ya can't walk," kiss.  "You want it to be on a tomb, or in a nice, soft bed?" kiss.

"Oh, goddess," Willow's voice was breathy, "well, when you put it like that, I'd have to say, my place.  Besides, I have a shower."

"Mmm, you want to do it in the shower?" Spike waggled his eyebrows at her.

"No!  I meant we could take a...You can do it in the shower?"

***

They got dressed, retrieved Willow's discarded jacket and walked to her parents' house, where they'd have more privacy than at the dorm.  Willow let them in with the spare key and locked the door behind them.  Spike picked her up and threw her over his shoulder and, to the sound of Willow's giggles, carried her upstairs where she directed him to her bedroom.

He loved her again, slow and gentle.  He carefully removed her clothes and lay her on the bed, then stripped and joined her.  He licked and sucked every spot on her body until Willow was ready to scream.  With his lips on her belly he finally slipped his fingers between her swollen folds.  Willow began to thrash as her release neared and the scent of her made Spike's demon come forth.

Willow felt his ridges on her stomach and pressed her hand against the back of his head, "Please, Spike, please," she whimpered.

He looked up at her with amber eyes, "What do you want, baby?"

"Bite me, Spike," she begged, "please...bite me."

"Willow...," he was shaking his head.

"Oh, goddess, please!" she screamed as his fingers brought her to the edge.  Then the sensation of his fangs entering her flesh and his lips sucking her blood out pushed her over.

When Willow recovered from her orgasm induced blackout Spike was licking the puncture wounds.  She gripped his hair with her fingers and lifted his face so she could look at the demon.

"Be inside me," she whispered and Spike crawled between her legs.  He entered her slowly and Willow wrapped her legs around his waist.

She pulled his face down to hers, kissing his lips, his cheeks, his jaw, the ridges on his forehead as he drove into her. Willow felt Spike's body tensing in preparation for his release and placed his mouth at her breast.

"Again," she pleaded and Spike's fangs sunk into the fleshy mound.  "Spi-ike!" she cried as she came with Spike right behind her.

When Willow woke up she was in Spike's arms and he was gently rubbing her back.  "What happened?" she asked.

"You're gonna scare me, you keep losing consciousness like that," Spike told her.

"Your fault," Willow mumbled, exhausted from her crying and their exertions.  "Oh!" she looked at the moonlight shining through the balcony doors.  "Are you, um, staying?" she asked shyly.

"Why?" he asked.

"Window...blanket," she tried to lift her arm to point.

"I'll get it," he told her as he climbed out of bed.  "Uh, where is it?"

"Hall closet...bottom shelf."  Spike walked naked to the door and Willow watched in appreciation as his muscles bunched.

"I feel that!" he told her and she giggled sleepily.

When he walked back into the room with the blanket Willow pointed toward the desk, "Tacks..top drawer."

Again she watched in appreciation as Spike stretched to tack the blanket over the glass doors.  He was so damned, darned, sexy. She just wished she had enough energy to do something about it.

When he got back to the bed Spike lifted Willow and pulled the covers down.  He lay her down, crawled in beside her and pulled the blankets over them.  Willow curled up in his arms and fell asleep.

Part Seven: Friday

Willow woke the next morning to dim sunlight peeking around the blanket Spike had hung.  She arched her back and stretched, then gasped as her muscles protested the abuse they'd taken the night before.  With a big smile she leaned against the cool body at her back, then frowned as she realized that it must be after eight o'clock.

"Shoot!" she rolled over and looked at the clock to see that it was already after nine o'clock and she was missing her first class.  Throwing the blankets back she jumped out of bed and raced, alright, sort of hobbled, for the shower.  She turned the shower on and while the water was warming, relieved herself and brushed her teeth.  She paused to examine the bite mark on her breast in the mirror and smiled.  He'd marked her!  Twice.

She climbed in the shower and wet her hair, then lathered it up with her favorite shampoo.  She had just finished rinsing the conditioner out when she felt cool hands on her hips.  She opened her eyes and yelped, "Spike!"

"Mornin'...Red," he glanced at the curls between her thighs and she slapped him, blushing.

"You're supposed to still be sleeping!" she accused.

"How could I sleep, knowing you're in here all wet and naked," he bent over and sucked her breast into his mouth.

"Oh, goddess, Spike!" Willow got wet, and it wasn't from the shower.  He lifted his lips and licked the bite she'd been admiring earlier and Willow felt liquid heat pool at her center.

Spike looked up at her with amber eyes and Willow moaned, "You're doing that on purpose!"

He pressed her back against the wall, placed his hands under her bum and lifted her, lowering her onto his erection.

"Oh, goddess," Willow moaned as she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders.

"Red...oh, Willow, baby...so hot...so bloody *tight*," Spike groaned against her neck as he pumped into her.

***

Willow woke up in her bed for the second time that day and stretched again, this time smiling as her muscles protested.  She traced the bite on her breast as she remembered.  Spike had bitten her there again in the shower.  She'd screamed and cum so hard it was a good thing Spike was holding her or she'd have fallen. *And* a good thing they weren't in the dorm, her screams of ecstasy would have brought the police!

Spike had cum with her name on his lips.  The tenderness of the bite under her fingers and the memory of Spike crying her name made Willow wet again.  Spike stirred behind her.

"I'm not gonna get any sleep you keep doin' that," he purred.

"Doing what?" Willow asked breathlessly as he pressed his body against her back and lifted her top leg over his.

Instead of answering her, he asked another question, "What were you thinking about?"

"Yo-ou!" she moaned as Spike slid his length inside her and began to move.  Willow put her foot on the bed and pushed back against him.

Spike's hand was cupping her breast, his fingers tweaking her nipple; the fingers of his other hand stroked her clit while he licked and sucked her neck.  When he felt Willow nearing her release, Spike increased the tempo of his fingers on her clit and rubbed his ridges against her neck, not understanding it, but realizing that the sight and feel of his demon turned her on.

"Spi-ike!" Willow cried and he slid his fangs into her back by her shoulder blade, low enough that she could still cover it with a shirt.  Her muscles stiffened as she climaxed.  The feel of her muscles clenching around him and the taste of her blood brought Spike's release, his body tensed and he shot his seed inside her.

Spike continued to lick the puncture wounds until they fell asleep.  He was still buried inside Willow, his arms around her, one hand on her breast, the other resting on her belly.

***

The shrill ringing of the telephone woke Willow for the third time that day.  She reached out for it blindly before realizing that she was on the wrong side of the bed.  Pulling out of Spike's arms, and off of him, Willow blushed, she climbed over his prone body to pick up the portable phone.

"Hello?" her voice was still full of sleep.

"Willow?"

"Buffy?!"

"Are you alright?"

"Of course I'm alright. Why?"

"You missed your classes today.  I wanted to make sure you were alright, what with Spike not showing up last night," Buffy sounded worried in an `it's-for-the-best' kind of way.

"Oh!  Well, actually, Spike did show up last night.  He was just...late," Willow glanced over at Spike, who had rolled onto his back, to see...little spike...tenting the sheet.  She shot a quick look at his face to make sure his eyes were closed, then reached out and closed her hand around his shaft.  Spike's eyes shot open.

"Then why did you miss class?"

"Oh, yeah, well, Spike apologized, *profusely*, for being late," she stroked him and Spike fisted his hands into the sheets, "and then we, um, talked, most of the night," she looked up at Spike who was staring at her through slitted eyes as she pumped her hand up and down him.

"Let me get this straight, you stayed up all night talking with Spike and missed your classes?"

"Mmm hmm," Willow agreed as she stuck the phone under her chin and pulled the sheet down.

"I *knew* he was a bad influence on you!" Buffy's verdict was triumphant.

"Right, *very* bad influence," Willow lowered her head and licked the pre-cum off of the tip of Spike's...little spike, she smiled at the nickname, and it twiched at her touch.

"I've got to go, Buffy," Willow told her friend.  "I'll see you at the Magic Box after sundown."

"Okay.  Wait, why after sundown?"

"Hmm?  Oh, I told Spike I'd meet him and we'd walk over together.  See ya later," she pushed the `off' button and disconnected.

"Afternoon, Spike," Willow purred as she dropped the phone on the floor and lowered her mouth over him.

"Bloody hell!" Spike groaned as her hot, wet mouth covered him.  Her head moved up and down as she sucked him, her tongue swirling into his hole.  One hand continued to pump him as the other hand stroked and squeezed his balls, then massaged the sensitive area behind them.

"Red!  Willow, I'm cuming," he warned her so she could stop, but she kept sucking, in fact, sucked harder, and with several spurts, he shot his cum into her mouth.  Willow did her best to swallow it, but there was so much and it came so fast, that some spilled out of her lips and down her chin.

Willow sucked and licked him clean, then lifted her head. Spike pulled her up and licked his seed off of her chin, then kissed her.  He pulled her into his arms and held her, burying his face in her hair.

"I've never done that before," Willow whispered against his chest.  "Did I do alright?"

"Never?" Spike asked and Willow shook her head.  "Baby, it was *way* better'n alright."

"Really?" Willow wrapped her arms around him and snuggled closer and Spike could have sworn he felt his heart beat.

***

Spike and Willow were running late, but neither one of them cared.  They'd cuddled until Willow decided to wash Spike's clothes and then cuddled some more. When it was almost sundown Willow finally pulled out of Spike's arms and they showered again, this time separately.  Willow was wearing a pair of old, faded blue jeans and a green t-shirt she'd left in her drawers at home and Spike was wearing his now-clean black jeans and t-shirt.

They were almost at the Magic Box when Spike stopped walking and cocked his head, almost as if he were listening for something.

"What's wrong?" Willow asked looking around, her grip on his hand tightening.

"Bloody poof's here," Spike said with a grimace.

"Angel's here?" Willow asked surprised.  "Ha!  Buffy probably called him to come take care of his `misbehavin' childe' `cause he's a *bad* influence on Willow," she leaned over and kissed his cheek.  "But if anybody's going to punish you, baby, it's gonna be me," Willow promised in a sultry tone as she rubbed her body against his.

"Really?" Spike asked, aroused by the prospect of Willow punishing him.  "You're not just saying that?"

"Maybe I should make that clear to everyone by marking *you*," Willow mused with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"How?" Spike asked, intrigued with his redheaded witch.

"I could bite you," she said thoughtfully as she took a step closer to him, "but then Buffy might figure out that you've bitten me and, well, I don't want Spike-in-an-urn, so maybe I'll just do it the human way."

"What's that?" Spike asked.

"Hickey," Willow whispered against his neck just before she sucked his skin between her lips.

***

"Hi, guys," Willow said as she walked through the front door of the Magic Box and down the stairs to the back of the shop.  There was a series of muted `hi's' back.

"And Angel," Willow said before she even looked into the corner where the dark vampire was sitting.

"Hello, Willow," he responded warily, knowing Spike must have sensed his presence and warned her.  He had sensed Spike before Willow came in the magic shop, so he knew he was near, but now he could swear he smelled his errant childe,

"Cordy, hi!" Willow gave a little wave when she saw the brunette.  "You look great; it's good to see you again."

Angel sniffed the air and realized that it wasn't Spike himself he smelled.  It was Spike's scent, all over Willow.

"You, too!" Cordy looked Willow up and down, "Spike must agree with you."

Buffy had called him that afternoon, frantic.  She'd been practically incoherent and all Angel had gotten out of the conversation was, `Get up here, Spike's done something to Willow.' And it seemed that Buffy was right, Spike *had* done something to Willow, and by the smell of it, more than once.

"He does," Willow admitted with a big smile.  "I just wanted to let you know that we're here; Spike's just outside finishing his cigarette, so we'll be in in a minute," she looked around the table at her friends who were having a hard time looking her in the eye.

"Why don't you stay in here and I'll go outside and talk with Spike," Angel wondered what Spike was up to now as he started to stand.

"Yeah," Willow furrowed her brow as if she were considering it, then shook her head, "I don't think so."  She turned away from the dark vampire and looked at the ex-demon, "Anya," she tilted her head toward the door indicating that Anya should come with her.

"Oh, thank the gods!" Anya cried as she stood up and practically ran around the table.  "If I had to sit there and watch Buffy bat her eyelashes at Angel any longer I was going to puke!"

"Anya!" almost everyone at the table yelled simultaneously and Willow laughed.  She glanced at Angel who looked completely uncomfortable and wondered if vampires could blush.

Cordy reached her hand out under the table and patted Angel's leg in compassionate sympathy.  He grabbed her hand and held onto it as if it were a lifeline.

Anya followed Willow out of the Magic Box and they joined Spike as he leaned against the brick wall smoking.  Willow leaned her back against Spike's chest and asked Anya, "So, what's going on in there?"  Spike wrapped his free arm around Willow's middle and held her close.

"Buffy went running to Angel all `Willow's acting weird, Spike must have brainwashed her'.  How can someone who's supposed to save the world be so dense?" Anya asked.  "When women like her asked me for vengeance against a man, I almost felt bad doing it," she shook her head at the memories of her life as a vengeance demon.

Spike finished his cigarette, pinched it out and tossed it in the gutter.

"Ready to go face the music, baby?" Willow asked him.

"No," Spike pouted.

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun!"

"Yeah, right."

"Really, just follow my lead.  Besides, they can't see your hickey if we don't go in," Willow reminded him.

"Oh, yeah," he grinned.

"What hickey?" Anya asked.

"This one," Willow tilted Spike's head so Anya could see the hickey she'd just given him.  "Listen, if no one mentions the hickey, you will, won't you?" Willow asked Anya.

"Oh, yeah!  I can just see the look on Buffy's face now.  `I knew he brainwashed her, Willow would never do that, she's too pure and good'," Anya mimicked the other girl.

The three of them walked into the magic shop laughing at Anya's imitation of Buffy.

"Gang...poof...cheerleader," Spike greeted the assembled group.

"Spike," Angel replied.

"Spike," Cordy said softly as she hid behind Angel.  She didn't like Spike because he had hurt Angel, but she knew from Willow's e-mails that he made her happy.

"Junior," Xander muttered.

"Hello, Spike," Giles greeted him.

Buffy remained silent and Riley followed her lead.

Spike took off his duster and tossed it over the counter before jumping up and sitting next to it.  Willow leaned on the counter between Spike's legs, with Spike's hands on her shoulders and Anya leaned on the counter beside them.  It was kind of like the OK Corral, Willow thought to herself, and the lines had been drawn. Buffy, Xander and Riley on one side, Willow, Spike and Anya on the other, with Angel, Cordy and Giles caught in the crossfire.

The silence dragged on until Willow said, "Well, Angel, why don't you tell us what brought you to Sunnydale.  It must be really important to make you leave L.A. before sundown."

"No," she held up her hand, "better yet, let me guess.  Buffy called you all in a tizzy, `Oh, Angel'," Willow mocked, waving her hands about, "`Willow's hanging around Spike and acting strange. It's almost as if she's, oh, I don't know, *happy*!  You have to make Spike stay away from her!'  Am I close?" she asked as she looped her arms under Spike's calves and rubbed his legs.

"Uh, yeah, pretty much," Angel admitted, wondering what he had gotten himself into.

"Well, don't bother.  I'm fine."

"Spike's got a hickey!" Xander yelped and Willow smiled to herself. *Finally*, someone noticed.

"What?" she turned around to examine Spike's neck.  "*Who* gave you that?"

"You did," Spike reminded her.

"Oh, yeah, I did, didn't I?" she smiled and raised her eyebrows at him.  Willow turned back to Angel, ignoring the rest of the group, "He makes me *very* happy, Angel."

"As long as he doesn't *give* you a happy," Xander muttered and Willow ignored him.

"I make you happy, too, right, baby?" she tipped her head back and asked Spike.  "*Right*?"

"I'm thinkin'," he said and Willow elbowed him in the leg.

"Watch it, there, Red," Spike tickled her ribs.

"Stop *it*," Willow was laughing and slapping at his hands. She had to slip to the floor to escape his grasp and as she did her t- shirt rode up, exposing the bite mark on her belly.

"What in hell is that?" Buffy yelled as she stood up and pointed at Willow.

"What's what?" Willow asked after she stood back up and caught her breath.

"He bit you!" Buffy accused.

"Spike," Willow said in a scolding tone of voice as she turned to the blond vampire with her hands on her hips, "did you bite me?"

Spike had never seen this side of Willow, but he liked it. She was confident, playful and bloody sexy all at the same time.  He was getting turned on but he wasn't sure if it was because she was smiling and touching him, because she wanted her friends know about them, or because her telling everyone would annoy them, especially the Slayer and the bloody poof, which always made his day.  So he was more than willing to play along with her, at least, until later, when he could just play *with* her.

"Yeah," Spike admitted in a fake whimper, "but, you *begged* me to, baby."

"Oh, yeah," Willow grinned again, "I did, didn't I?"

Spike smirked and grabbed her by the upper arms, lifted her off the floor and kissed her.  Willow braced her hands on Spike's thighs and kissed him back.  When Spike pulled away and set her back on her feet Willow was breathless and dizzy.

"Wow!" Anya said from next to them.  "You guys should feel the heat they just generated.  I think I'm starting to sweat!"

"Anya!" Xander was mortified.

"What?  You watch porno, and this is *way* better than porno!" Anya insisted as she fanned herself with her hands.  Willow didn't even blush as she stared into Spike's blue eyes.

Angel closed his eyes in embarrassment.  Not at Anya's comment, but because he could smell Willow's desire for Spike.

"Stop *doing* that!" Buffy yelled.

"Stop doing what?" Willow asked, her mind still on Spike kissage.

"Kissing Spike!"

"I just can't get enough," Willow admitted breathlessly.  At Buffy's disgusted snort she turned to her friend and said, "Oh, come on Buffy, you know what it's like to kiss Spike, who *could* get enough?"

"You've kissed Spike?" Riley and Angel asked as the same time.

"Oops," Willow covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide.

"Oh, yeah," Anya answered them, "it was disgusting to watch."

"Anya!" Xander yelped again.

"Oh, shut up, Xander!" Anya told him.

"Are you having *sex* with him?" Buffy asked.

"Not that it's any of your business, Buffy, but, *yes*, Spike and I are having sex," Willow said in an exasperated tone.

"Oh, god," Xander moaned, "he *is* giving you a happy!"

"Is it good?" Anya asked and this time Xander didn't even bother to say anything, just hid his face.

"*Is* it good, baby?" Willow asked as she turned back to the vampire and rubbed her hands up his thighs.

"No," he grabbed her hands to stop them from roaming any higher, "it's bloody fantastic."

"Willow, what's *happened* to you?" a horrified Buffy asked.

"What do you mean?" Willow asked over her shoulder.

"*This* isn't you."

"Oh, Buffy, you are *so* wrong," Willow turned again to face her friend.  "It's not the me you knew in high school, it's not the me you knew after Oz left, but it's still me.  It's happy me.  You wouldn't think it was strange if it were anybody else but Spike making me happy.  But he does, Buffy, he *really* does.  He wants to spend time with me and he makes me feel special...,"

"Is this our fault for ignoring you?" Buffy asked sadly.

"No!  I mean, yes, your ignoring me gave us a chance to get to know each other, but how we feel about each other has nothing to do with you, with *any* of you," she included the rest of the group.

"How *do* you feel about each other?" Buffy had to know.

Willow froze, like a deer caught in the headlight and both Angel and Spike could smell her fear and embarrassment.

"I love him," she finally told Buffy, her voice a mixture of confidence and uncertainty, tears of mortification filling her eyes.  "And this really isn't the way I wanted to tell him, little miss nosy pants!" Willow tried to laugh through her tears.

Spike, moved beyond belief, picked her up by her upper arms and pulled her into his lap, holding her close and rubbing her back.  "Willow, baby...," he spoke softly, for her ears only.

"Don't say anything, Spike," Willow whispered in his ear as she put her fingers over his lips.  "I didn't mean to say it like this, and I didn't say it so you'd say it back.  I just..."

"Willow," he groaned as he kissed her desperately.  "I do love you, baby," he whispered back as he rested his forehead against hers.  "Just can't believe you'd fall for a demon like me."

"Why?  I mean, why can't you believe...," her voice trailed off.

"`Cause you're the good witch of Sunnydale," he told her.

"No, I'm just me," she cupped his face in her hand.  "So, really?" she asked with a little smile, a trace of uncertainty in her voice.

"Really," a blood red tear ran down his check as he gently kissed her lips.

"Aww," Anya's face scrunched up like she might cry and she threw her arms around Spike and Willow, which made Willow look down in surprise and giggle at the girl wrapped around their waists.  "That was just...beautiful."

"Anya," Willow put an arm around the ex-demon's shoulders.

"Me, too!" Cordy got up from the table, gave Angel's hand one last squeeze and joined the group hug, wrapping her arms around Willow and Anya.

"So, you birds interested in a foursome?" Spike drawled a couple of minutes later as he placed tiny kisses along Willow's jaw.

"Ew!" Cordy wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something bad and pulled away.

"If she doesn't want to join us, maybe we can ask Xander," Anya said and Willow laughed at Spike's expression of horror.

Angel ducked his head and smiled.

Willow looked over at her friend who was still standing at the table.  Kissing Spike she slid off of his lap to the floor and walked over to Buffy.  "I love you, Buffy, and I don't want to lose your friendship.  Can we just agree to disagree on this one?"

Tears filled Buffy's eyes as she let Willow pull her into a hug.  "I'll try," she whispered to the redhead.  "It's going to be really hard, though, `cause it's, you know, *Spike*, so now you owe *me*.  Can I, um, get my kids back?"

Willow laughed at Buffy's attempt to smooth things over, "They're yours."

***

That night they divided patrol among the four couples.  Angel and Cordy went with Spike and Willow, while Xander and Anya went with Buffy and Riley.

They walked in silence through the first cemetery.  Spike held Willow's hand tightly in his, still angry that his sire was in town, despite the fun he and Willow had had at the others' expense back at the magic shop.  Willow had glanced back at Cordy and Angel once to see that they were also holding hands and she smiled to herself.

Spike tilted his head as he sensed a fledgling about to rise and led the group to the new grave.  The fledgling was just getting to it's feet when they arrived and Spike, letting go of Willow's hand, walked up to it and landed several punches and one good kick before it even knew what had hit it.  Spike imagined that the fledgling was Angel as he pummeled it.

"Spike, honey, we don't have all night," Willow purred and, when Spike looked at her over his shoulder, she winked.  Spike staked the vampire, slid the stake back in his pocket and stalked over to Willow.

"Spike!" she cried as he threw her over his shoulder and walked on through the cemetery.  "Put me down!" she flailed her little fists on his back.

Cordy smiled and looked at Angel.  His expression was blank and she couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"Spi-ike," Willow called in a warning voice.  When he didn't respond she slipped her hands under his duster and started to slide them down the back of his jeans.

"Bloody hell!" he tilted her back up and dropped her on her feet where she wobbled as Spike held her shoulders.  "That wasn't nice," he whispered huskily as he kissed her, then grabbed her hand and kept walking.

In the next cemetery they came across a group of three vampires.  Spike and Angel, pushing the two girls behind them, took them on.  Willow and Cordy made themselves comfortable, or as comfortable as they could, on a tomb and watched their men, er, vamps.

"So," Willow leaned over, "you and Angel?"

Cordy blushed and nodded.

"You didn't *tell* me!" Willow cried, jabbing the other girl in the ribs with her elbow.  "I told *you*!"

Angel and Spike had each dusted a vamp and were now double- teaming the third.

"Has he bitten you, yet?" Willow whispered.

Angel punched the vampire and it flew back onto Spike's waiting stake.

"Oh, yeah!" Cordy drawled and both girls giggled.

Spike and Angel looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

The rest of their patrol was quiet, until they got to the park where a group of six vampires had surrounded a couple of teenagers they'd caught necking.

"Hey boys," Spike walked up to the group, "is this a private party or can anyone join?"

The ugliest vamp Willow'd ever seen turned to Spike and said, "Get lost, these're ours," just before he exploded in a cloud of dust.

"Ya don't say?" Spike mocked, then looked at the rest of the group, now that he had their attention.  "That was rude.  Wasn't that rude, Angelus?" Spike asked over his shoulder.

"Very rude," Angel agreed.

"It's only polite to share," Spike morphed and kicked out at the vampire nearest him.  As it went down the remaining four vamps charged Spike and Angel.

Willow ran over to the two teenagers and pulled them away from the fight.  "Get out of here!"

She returned to Cordy's side.  "Arm yourself," she told the brunette as she pulled out a stake and her water gun.  "I'll distract them with the holy water, you get behind and stake `em, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan," Cordy agreed.  "Let me just get rid of that one," she lifted the crossbow she was carrying, aimed and fired.  The bolt slammed into the heart of the vamp Spike had kicked and it exploded into a pile of dust.  "God, I love these things!" Cordy kissed the wood of the crossbow before laying it on the ground and pulling out her own stake and water gun.

"Wow!  Spike has *got* to teach me to use one of those!" Willow said as she and Cordy entered the fray.  Spike was fighting one vampire while the other three had ganged up on Angel.  Willow and Cordy went to Angel's aid.

Willow kicked one vamp in the back to get it's attention and stepped back so she was out of reach.  The vampire turned and looked at her, realized she could be dinner and started toward her.  Instead of running, as the vampire thought she would, Willow raised her arm and fired a burning stream of holy water in it's face.  The vamp raised it's hands to it's face and screamed, then burst into dust as Cordy staked it.

The two girls looked back at the fighting just in time to see Spike stake his vamp.  He watched Angel fighting the other two vamps and pulled out his cigarettes, palmed one, placed it between his lips and lit it.  He took a long drag as the two girls stared at him in disbelief, then asked Angel, "Need any help, poof?"

Spike's voice sounded funny around his fangs and Willow almost laughed.  She could tell he was having fun needling Angel.

"Yeah, take this one," Angel shoved one of the vamps toward Spike.  Spike stepped to the side and tripped the vamp from behind, then threw his stake into it.  He watched it explode into dust, then retrieved the stake, turning around to see Angel shaking dust off of his jacket.

***

They walked back to the Magic Box where Angel had left his car.  "Are you sure you won't stay the night?" Willow asked as Spike growled.

"No," Angel assured her, "I want to get back to L.A. before sunrise in case we're needed for anything tomorrow."

"Alright," Willow said as she hugged the dark vampire goodbye.  "Angel," she whispered, "I'm glad you've started living again.  Cordy'll be good for you.  Don't let Buffy keep dragging you back," she hugged him tighter as she babbled.  "I don't mean, back here, because we all love to see you.  Well, maybe not Spike...or Xander...or Giles, never mind, that wasn't my point.  What was my point?  Oh, yeah.  Don't let Buffy drag you back to a time when you couldn't be happy," she hugged him until Spike growled again.

Willow stepped away from Angel and over to Cordy.  The two girls hugged and Willow whispered, "Write me, and I want *details*!"

Angel walked over to Spike.  "Don't hurt her," he said low enough for Spike to hear.

"Do I get details?" Cordy asked.

"I'm not gonna hurt her, ya bloody poof!" Spike replied as he watched his woman.

"I think I gave everyone in the Magic Box quite enough details for one day!" Willow replied and the two girls laughed.

Willow stepped back and Spike wrapped his arms around her as they watched the other two climb into the car and drive away.

"Spike," Willow whispered.

"Yes, luv?"

"Will you spend the night with me again?"

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck, "I'd spend every night with you, Willow."

Part Eight: Wednesday, One Week, Five Days Later

Spike spent the weekend with Willow and on Sunday night she remembered to set the alarm so, despite his attempts to derail her, she smiled to herself at her little pun, she had made it to class on time.  Okay, she did let him hold her up a *little* bit and she had to drive her parent's car to the campus to get there before class started, but, still, all things considered, that was pretty good.

After her last class that day Willow drove over to Willy's and bought some blood to restock the refrigerator at home, then raced back to her house where she knew Spike would be waiting for her.  He was waiting, and he'd been *very* happy to see her.

Since then, Spike and Willow had spent every night together in her parent's house and Willow had gotten in the habit of setting her alarm an hour early and driving to the campus.  They managed to create a routine that included classes, studying, training with Giles in magic, training with Spike in self-defense, patrolling and loving...lots and lots of loving.

Spike would get up in the morning when Willow did, see her off, watch his soap on the `telly' as Willow had started calling it and then go back to bed until Willow got home.

Today was one of Willow's late afternoons, her last class getting out at four-thirty, and her professor had kept the class late for the second time in three weeks.  Goddess, that woman loved to hear herself talk!  It was almost time for Spike to get up and Willow liked to be there when he did.

He looked so...dead...when he slept, no heartbeat, no breathing, no movement at all.  But when he started to wake he always took a breath.  Especially that time she'd been sitting on him, Willow remembered, squeezing his erection with her vaginal muscles. She felt heat between her thighs at the memory.  Then he'd begin to stir, until finally he would open his eyes and smile at her.  She always loved that part.  His blue eyes looking at her and his beautiful smile, just for her.

Willow walked into the house and closed the door quietly, then turned around and jumped as she saw Spike standing in the living room in just his jeans.

"Red," he growled as he walked toward her, "what you been thinking about, baby?"

"You," Willow shivered in anticipation as she dropped her book bag on the floor.

Spike pushed her back against the door and kissed her, then lifted her, grinding his erection into her already swollen sex.

"Spike!" she lifted herself up and reached between them to unzip his pants, wrapping her fingers around him.

He lifted her skirt and ripped her panties off, then slid into her hot, tight hole.  "Missed you, Spike," Willow moaned as he pounded into her.

***

After they had cleaned up and Willow had changed into her `sparring' clothes, she made sandwiches for her and Spike and they drove over to the Magic Box, a blanket over Spike.  They spent an hour training then did research, and ate their sandwiches, while Buffy trained with Giles.

Xander and Anya came in while Buffy was still training and the four of them talked over their open books.  Anya was the only one who was completely comfortable around Willow and Spike, but Willow had noticed that Xander was nicer to Spike now and Spike kept his sarcastic comments to a minimum, at least, when Buffy wasn't around.

When Buffy was done training, she and Giles joined them at the table and the friendly conversation ended as they all concentrated on their books.  Riley showed up at nine o'clock and they all went on patrol, Buffy having given up her arguments against Willow going on patrol with Spike when she had been overruled by Giles and completely ignored by Willow.

Giles had insisted that at least one or two nights a week, he, Xander and Anya join the other four on patrol so that they stayed sharp in case they had to take patrol one day.  This was one of those nights and so Giles went with Buffy and Riley, Xander and Anya with Willow and Spike.

After seeing Cordelia in action, Willow had begged Spike to teach her how to shoot the crossbow.  He told her he would when she could take a vamp, even if it was just a fledgling, in hand-to-hand. She wouldn't always have the weapon available, or be far enough away to use it, and he wanted her to be able to protect herself.  So every night when they patrolled Willow took on a fledgling.  So far she'd held her own, but been unable to finish it off.  Tonight she was determined to stake her vamp.

"He's mine," Willow claimed as soon as Spike announced that he sensed a fledgling rising.  They reached the grave just as it was pulling itself out of the ground and Willow waited for it to stand. She wasn't going to cheat, this was important to her.

The fledgling stood up straight and stared at Willow, it's nostrils flaring as it scented her blood.  "Welcome back," Willow said as she kicked it in the stomach, sending it back a few steps. Darn, not as effective as she'd hoped.  She remembered Daryl Epps from high school and was glad that this one hadn't been a football player.

The fledgling charged Willow.  She grabbed it's arm and, using it's own momentum against it, threw it to the ground.  The hungry fledgling was back on it's feet before Willow could even draw her stake.  It swung at her and Willow blocked the punch, then ducked as it swung with it's other arm.

Losing her balance Willow tumbled to the ground and the fledgling dove at her.  She rolled out of the way and used the momentum to get back on her feet.  The fledgling was there, too.  It grabbed her around the throat and began to squeeze.  Willow kicked out with the new boots Spike had insisted she buy for patrol, heard Xander's sympathetic "Ow," behind her, and the fledgling dropped to it's knees, rocking as it's hands protectively covered it's smashed `bits' as Spike called them.

Willow slipped around behind it and stuck her stake in it's heart, stepping back to escape the cloud of dust.  She bent over with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.  Anya cheered and slapped her on the back, almost knocking her over.

Willow looked up at Spike.  "Crossbow?" she asked breathlessly.

"Crossbow," he agreed and Willow could see the lust in his eyes.  He always got horny when he fought, he got even hornier when he watched her fight.  It was only fair, she thought as she gave him a big smile, she got horny watching him fight, too.  He smirked at her as if he could read her thoughts.  Darn vampire probably could!

Part Nine: Saturday, Three Days Later

It was five o'clock in the afternoon, Willow checked her watch after ringing up the last customer in the shop, one hour until she could close up and go home and see Spike.  Willow had agreed to watch the magic shop for Giles so he could drive down to L.A. and pick Olivia up at the airport.  Anya had the day off because she and Xander had gone to the amusement park with several of Xander's buddies from work and their s.o.'s.

Willow pulled nervously at her collar.  She was wearing a black leather skirt and a white cotton top that had off-the-shoulder sleeves, leaving her neck and upper chest bare.  She turned the page in her Sociology textbook and leaned her elbows on the counter to finish reading the chapter.  Suddenly she felt cool fingers trail a path up the back of her thigh.

"Spike!" she jumped and tried to turn around, but his hand in the small of her back stopped her.  She gasped as Spike's fingers slipped between her thighs from the back and rubbed her through her panties.  His finger slipped beneath her panties and delved between her folds.

"Spike," Willow protested breathlessly even as she spread her thighs to give him better access, "the shop's still open!"

"Good," he whispered in her ear as he shoved a second finger inside her, "`cause I'm planning on getting me something."  Spike nibbled on her neck and Willow gripped the counter to keep from falling.

Willow moaned as Spike pulled out of her and groaned in anticipation when he ripped her panties off of her.  Stuffing them in his pocket, Spike removed his duster and tossed it on the floor.  He sat on the floor between Willow's legs, his back leaning against the counter, his head under her skirt.

"Spike, what are you...oh, goddess!" she cried as his mouth closed over her swollen nub.  Willow bent her knees and ground herself against his face as Spike kneaded her ass.  With her head thrown back Willow screamed her release as Spike drank her juices.

Spike slid out from beneath her, still licking his lips, and stood.  He unzipped his jeans and lowered them, then lifted her skirt, baring her ass.

"Spike! Somebody might come...aaahh!" he slid into her wet heat from behind.

"I bloody well *hope* so," he groaned against her neck as he pumped into her, his fingers rubbing her clit.  Willow pushed back against him, taking him deep, her head thrown back against his chest.  Spike felt himself going and twisted Willow's clit to take her with him.  He sucked the skin of her neck into his mouth and they both crashed over the edge.

When Willow had recovered from her orgasm she felt Spike licking her neck.  "You didn't bite me," she said.

"Didn't have to," he whispered back as he kissed her neck.

***

Willow closed the shop up at six o'clock and she and Spike drove back to her parent's house.  They made it just inside the front door before Spike tossed his duster on the floor and tore Willow's shirt over her head.  He had her pressed back against the living room door jam, kissing her and kneading her breasts when they heard voices and keys in the front door.

"Holy goddess," Willow cried, "my parents!"  She looked around frantically for her shirt.  Spike found it and handed it to her and then grabbed his duster.  No need for the `rents, as Willow called them, to know how much he wanted to shag their daughter.  He turned back to Willow and saw the tag peeking out of the front of her top.

"Tag!" he motioned and Willow looked down in disbelieving horror.

"Shit!  I mean, shoot!" she said as she pulled her arms out of the top and turned it around, slipping her arms back through the sleeves just as the door opened.

"Mom!  Dad!" she greeted them.  "Welcome home.  Will you be staying long?" she started to babble.  Luckily for her, her parents usually ignored her babbling, and today was no exception.

"Willow!  What a surprise to see you here.  How are you?" her mother asked and then continued without waiting for an answer.  "We'll only be here for the night, we just needed to stop by and pick up some of your father's books and notes.  They've asked him to speak at a conference in Nepal!"

"That's wonderful.  Congratulations!  Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but we're, um, going to a movie and we've got to, uh, get going," Willow picked her purse up off of the couch where she'd tossed it as Spike was pulling her shirt off, grabbed Spike's hand and started toward the door.

"Is this your date?" her mother asked.  "He's not in a band, is he?"

"Um, no!  I mean, we're going to the movies together, but we're just friends.  And no, he's not in a band.  Mom, Dad, this is, uh, William, and I met him, at, uh, school!" Willow dragged Spike out of the house and down the sidewalk.

"*Not* yer date?" he asked angrily.

"Hey!  You want to be the one to explain to my parents that my boyfriend isn't Jewish and why they never see him when the sun's up?"

"Uh, no, right then, just friends," he slipped his hand around her back and squeezed her bum.  "So, you let all your friends rip your clothes off?"

"No," she smiled as she slipped her arm around his waist, "only the really good ones."

***

Because they had no other plans, Willow and Spike went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and ended up at the movies.  There were two new releases and a French film with subtitles playing.  Spike bought tickets to the French film and led Willow into a nearly empty theater.

"Why did you want to see this movie?" Willow asked.  "I didn't think you'd like it."

"Oh," Spike squeezed her hand, "you'd be surprised how exciting a movie like this can be."

He led her to seats in the back corner of the theater and removed his duster.  They made small talk and Spike rubbed his thumb over the back of Willow's hand until the lights went down.  Spike immediately threw his duster into Willow's lap with a, "Hold this for me, will ya, luv?" as he dropped to his knees in front of her.

Grabbing her legs he pulled her forward in the seat, pushed her skirt back and dipped his head.

"Oh, goddess!" Willow covered her lap with his duster and moaned as he sucked on her clit.

Spike lifted her legs over the armrests, spreading them wide, and buried his face in her warmth, sucking her until she shoved his jacket into her mouth and bit down to muffle her scream as she came. Spike lapped at her spilt juices then placed her feet on the seats behind him and reached down to unzip his jeans.

"Spike, what...,"

In one smooth motion he rose up and entered her and she convulsively gripped his arms as he brought her second release riding hard on the heels of the first.  Kissing her, he shot his own release deep into her womb.

After Willow had recovered, Spike wrapped her in his duster and carried her back to his crypt.  The next night they returned to Willow's parent's house.

Part Ten: Tuesday, Three Days Later

As was becoming their routine, Willow and Spike had arrived at the Magic Box at six o'clock for an hour of training to be followed by research and patrol.  Everyone was gathered about the research table when there was a bright flash of light and Willow was suddenly standing in the middle of the room surrounded by swirling energy.

"Red!" Spike yelled.

"Willow!"

"Wills!"

Willow didn't respond, didn't even react to their presence. It was as if she didn't even know they were there.

Spike tried to reach through the energy to grab her, but was thrown back.  Buffy looked at him on the floor and then tried to stick her hand into the swirling energy.  She was thrown back, also.

"What in bloody hell is going on!" Spike yelled as he rose to his feet.

"She doesn't seem to be in any pain," Anya commented reassuringly.

***

Willow had suddenly found herself in a world of white.  She felt as if she were floating on a cloud.  "Welcome," a voice said and Willow turned her head to see a being that looked completely human, except for the blue skin and bright yellow hair.

"Where am I?"

"In limbo," the being answered.

"That's really a *place*?" Willow asked, surprised.

The being laughed, "No.  I pulled you part way out of your world so we could speak.  Limbo."

"Oh.  Why?"

"To grant you a wish."

"Again, with the `why'."

"I am Amore, a love demon.  I grant wishes wished in the spirit of true love," the demon explained.

"A wish demon, like Anyanka?"

"Ah, Anyanka!  Now there was a demon who truly loved her work."

"Yeah, so we've heard," Willow responded dryly.  "So, why me?"

"Someone thought you were worthy."

"Who?"

"That doesn't matter.  You may have a wish for the one you love.  What would you like?"

"I get to make a wish for Spike?" Willow thought about the chip that Spike wanted so desperately removed.

"Ah, yes, the chip," the demon nodded.

"You can read my thoughts?"

"Only when I need to," the demon replied.

"Which is when, exactly?" Willow muttered.

The demon didn't answer her, but instead said, "What if I told you that Spike's greatest wish is no longer to have the chip removed?"

"How do you know?" Willow asked.  The demon just tilted it's head and Willow said, "Oh, yeah."

"So, now you must decide.  Your wish for Spike, or his."

What to do, what to do!  As she thought back, Willow realized that it had been awhile, since before she and Spike started...dating, that she heard him complain about the chip.  Well, except for that one time a couple of frat boys were hitting on her at The Bronze. But, if Spike still *did* want the chip removed, his wish and Willow's would be the same, so that was her safest bet.

"Spike's wish," she finally said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Granted!" the demon raised it's arms and Willow was surrounded by swirling lights.  A voice sounded inside her head just before the lights were replaced by the familiar sight of the Magic Box and all her friends, "Because I like you, I'll grant your wish, too.  The knowledge is there, now you must unlock it."

***

"Willow?" Spike yelled and grabbed her into an embrace as soon as the energy field dissipated.  "Are you alright?" he held her out at arms length and studied her.

"I'm fine," she assured them as Spike sat her in a chair and pulled his up next to her, holding tightly to her hand.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Giles asked.

"Well, I was pulled into limbo, which I guess was this place between dimensions, or something, by a love demon who grants wishes `wished in the spirit of true love'.  She said I could make a wish for Spike," she looked at the vampire holding her hand.

"For Spike?" Buffy and Xander yelped simultaneously.

"Yes."

"May we ask what you wished for?" Giles asked.

"I don't know what the wish was."  At their confused expressions she continued, "I figured his greatest wish was to have the chip removed...,"

"Oh, god, tell me you didn't!" Buffy said dreadfully.

"I didn't," Willow said.  "I was going to, but the wish demon said Spike had a new greatest wish, so I wished for that.  But she wouldn't tell me what it was, so Spike's the only one who knows what it is and if it came true," she looked at him.

Spike furrowed his brow in concentration.  His greatest wish was to be with Willow forever, but he wasn't gonna tell the bloody Scooby's that, plus he wouldn't know if it came true for a very long time.  "I don't know if it's come true, yet," he said.

"What is it?" Buffy asked.

"None o' yer beeswax, Slayer!" Spike told her.  "I'm taking Willow home," he stood and picked her up, "you gits can patrol tonight."

As Spike carried Willow out the front door of the shop Anya whispered, "Thank you, Amore."

"You're welcome, Anyanka," the love demon replied.

***

Spike carried Willow to the car and drove her home.  Despite her protests, he insisted on carrying her to the house and straight up the stairs to her bedroom.  He dropped her on the bed and began pulling off her clothes.

"Spike!" Willow objected, trying to slap his hands away.

"Don't argue," Spike grabbed her shoulders and shook her. Willow, who had intended to continue her protest, snapped her mouth shut.  Spike continued to undress her in silence, then dressed her in her pajamas.  He walked away from her and stood facing the door, one hand on his hip, the other pulling at his hair.

"Ya scared me," he turned to face her.  "I couldn't get to you."

"I'm sorry, baby," Willow said as she climbed off of the bed and walked over to him.  Taking his arm she pulled him closer to the bed and slipped his duster off of his shoulders and tossed it on the desk chair.

She finished undressing him and pulled the blankets back. Climbing into the bed, Willow pulled Spike in after her.  She pulled the blankets over them and snuggled into his arms.  Spike wrapped his arms around Willow and held her tightly while Willow soothingly rubbed his chest with her hand.

After several minutes of silence Spike spoke.  "You'd really have done that for me?"

"What?"

"Wished the chip gone."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I love you, and I want you to be happy.  And I want you to be able to defend yourself, even against humans, if need be," Willow told him as she continued to rub his chest.

"Yer not afraid of me being able ta kill again?"

"No," Willow answered immediately.  "I mean, I don't think the chip is like a soul.  I know you only stopped killing because you had no choice.  But I think it gave you an opportunity to get to know some of us humans as more than dinner.  I believe that, even without the chip, you wouldn't go all evil on us."

"But, if I did?" Spike pushed.

"Then I'd miss you," Willow said softly.

"Whadda ya mean?"

"I love you, Spike, but I love the you that likes me, that loves me.  That even kind of likes Giles, and Anya, and maybe Xander, even if you don't like Buffy or Riley all that much.  If you started killing again, that wouldn't be the you I fell in love with.  We couldn't be together.  And I'd miss you.  Terribly," tears fell from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

Spike buried a hand in Willow's hair and tilted her head back.  "We'll always be together," he said just before he claimed her lips, and hoped with all that he was that it was true.

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