It’s the Great Pumpkin Willow Rosenberg!

Author: TigerLily

E-mail: gorillamix@aol.com

Rating: NC-17

Spoilers: Season 4

Pairing: Willow/Spike, Giles/Cordelia

Disclaimer: Joss owns all; I own nothing, blah…blah…blah…

Summary: An answer to Hope & Ellie’s Hallowe’en Challenge

Archive: BMP, WLS, Soulmates, AWFA, BadGirls (if anyone else wants it, please ask)

Feedback: Do I really have to ask?

Authors note: The requirement that this be set at Hallowe’en has created some logistical challenges, so I plead for some flexibility. This is set primarily in season 4, Spike has been chipped, but it happened during the summer between season 3 & 4. Buffy has not hooked up with Riley and Oz and Willow never made up after ‘Lover’s Walk’.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"Xander, will you kindly stop getting sunflower seed shells on my carpet?" asked Giles, annoyed.

The young man looked down and saw the growing pile between his feet. "Sorry G-man, but this book is just too much, I keep missing the trash."

"Watcha reading?" asked Willow, curious about a book that would keep Xander’s interest longer than a Playboy.

"It’s called ‘The Hobbit’ by this guy Tolkien" he said showing her the cover. "I’m really getting into it."

"A classic, who’d a thunk it?" said Buffy

"A classic?" said Xander alarmed "I’m reading a classic? Ew!"

"Don’t panic Xan, we won’t tell" smirked Buffy.

"Hey!" came a shout from the bathroom "Hey! I’m hungry in here, who’s a vampire got to shag to get something to eat around here?"

The three younger people looked at each other, none willing to volunteer to take the chipped vampire his lunch. "Okay, rock-paper-scissors?" asked Xander.

"Okay" agreed Buffy and Willow, putting their hands behind their backs.

"One, two, three" said Xander, throwing his hand out.

The two women followed suit, "Darn" pouted Willow "I always lose."

"That’s because you always throw paper Will" answered Buffy with a smile. "It must be some literary thing."

"Fine, I’ll feed the big bad." Willow sighed, getting up and going into the kitchen. She picked a mug out of the drainer and smiled at the ‘Kiss the Librarian’ sentiment emblazoned on the side, remembering when Cordelia gave it to Giles as a gag gift for Valentine’s Day. She poured the refrigerated blood into the bright yellow cup and popped it into the microwave for the prerequisite time. When the machine dinged Willow dropped a meat thermometer into the thick liquid. It measured a perfect 99.8, by the time she got it to Spike in the bathroom it should be exactly body temperature.

She grabbed a straw and carefully carried the blood to the bathroom down the hall from the kitchen.

"Spike?" she said, knocking gently on the door as she pushed it open. "I’ve got your blood."

"Well don’t just stand there gawking," said the shackled vampire "I’m hungry."

Willow set the mug down on the edge of the sink and pushed shut the door behind her, turning the lock.

"Hungry for what Spike?" she asked saucily.

A sly smirk crossed his face. "Whaddaya got?"

In reply, Willow crossed the few steps from the door to the tub and without preamble, kissed him. Their tongues immediately sought each other out and dueled for dominance. Spike’s nostrils flared with the scent of her and he licked his lips in anticipation.

"Unlock me babe," he rasped, his voice thick with desire "I need to touch you."

She reached in her pocket and pulled out the key she had had copied last time Giles had left her alone to Spike-sit and dangled it in front of him.

The two had secretly been lovers for a while now, their affair had begun shortly after Spike tried to dust himself out of despair, and Willow had stopped him. Somehow that spark of compassion that she had shown him had changed things profoundly between them. What had started with comfort and friendship had quickly grown to a genuine affection and perhaps even love. They now grabbed what small moments they could and made the best of them.

"I don’t know, I kind of like you chained up."

"Pet…" he said, with a touch of annoyance.

With a grin, Willow leaned over the bathtub and quickly released his wrists, then turned slightly and unlocked his ankle shackles. Spike’s freed hands immediately slipped under her flowy skirt and sought out the pert bottom pointed at him, he found her panties and quickly divested her of them, tossing them aside. Willow squeaked with the sudden contact against her skin, and then moaned as his hands proceeded to caress her soft globes. Her back arched when his seeking fingers dipped into her damp slit and began to caress her sensitive folds. In response, the redhead boldly popped open the buttons of Spike’s already straining fly and released him into her warm hands. It was the blonde’s turn to moan when Willow leaned forward and took him into her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the head and wrapped her fingers around his long shaft.

Spike withdrew his fingers from Willow’s wet cleft and gently pushed on her hip, encouraging her to turn and face him.

"Let me inside you baby." He growled.

Willow shoved his pants down a little farther, fully exposing him and swung her leg over his trim hips. He gathered her skirt up and out of the way and guided her down onto him, sighing with the exquisite sensation she took him deep into her and began riding him. Spike worked his long fingers between their writhing bodies and found her swollen pearl; with great skill he manipulated that sensitive bundle of nerves and sent his lover into paroxysms of delight. She buried her face in his neck in an effort to muffle her cries so as not to alert the rest of the Scoobies, then with one final spasm, she peaked. As waves of pleasure crashed through her, Willow sank her teeth into Spike’s shoulder. Her hips thrust against him uncontrollably and her interior muscles clenched and rippled against him. The combination of her teeth in his shoulder and her writhing body sent Spike over the edge and with a deep grunt he emptied himself inside her.

Willow slowly collapsed against Spike and he wrapped her in his strong arms, softly kissing her sweaty face. She turned her face to look at him and noticed the red mark she had left on his shoulder.

"I bit you again." She said, pulling at the collar of his shirt, trying to conceal the hickey.

"When was the last time you bit me?" Spike asked, trying to remember.

"Last year," she said "when you kidnapped Xander and me remember? When you were trying to put me in your car I bit you."

"I don’t remember a lot from that night, I was pretty much off my face."

"Off your face?"

"Drunk, poodle. I was drunk." Just then a rumbling growl came from the vicinity of Spike’s stomach. "Right now though, I’m hungry."

"Hungry, right" said Willow sliding off of Spike and clambering out of the tub. She picked up the still warm mug of blood and handed it to the vampire. While he was eating, she turned her back, tidied herself up with a bit of tissue and splashed cool water on her face, trying to cool her orgasm flushed skin. Spike watched her over the edge of his cup and smiled at her little ritual. The little witch had been his only source of joy since he had been captured by The Initiative and he was grateful for her.
 
 

"Willow"

She turned, a little surprised at his use of her proper name.

"I…um…I…" he stammered, trying to put into words how he felt about her.

"Yes Spike?" she said questioningly.

"I’m done," he said, giving up. "I suppose you should chain me up again."

"Oh, okay" replied Willow, a little disappointed. She had been certain he was going to say something entirely different. She took the mug from Spike and found the key again while he refastened his pants. Once he was put back together, she moved to his feet and clasped the shackles around his ankles, then turned to do his hands. Before she could get the cuffs around his wrists, he grabbed her face and pulled her to him for one last kiss.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"Just ‘cause" he answered.

"Well, thank you then." She said smiling down at him as she turned the key in the lock. "I’ll check on you later." With that she picked up the empty mug and left.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 

Willow and Buffy stood in the costume shop, flipping through the racks.

"I don’t know why we’re doing this." Complained Buffy "The last time we got dressed up for Hallowe’en we got turned into our costumes."

"We are doing this because the guys at Alpha Delta have asked us to their party," Replied Willow. "And they throw great parties and so therefore we want to go."

Buffy grunted, still kind of unhappy about the idea but willing to make her best friend happy. As she pawed through the costumes, her hand fell on something fuzzy and she pulled it out. "What the heck is this?" she asked.

Willow burst out laughing. "Oh my Goddess, I don’t believe it! It’s a flying monkey costume!"

Buffy looked confused for a second then burst out laughing herself. "Can’t you imagine Xander in something like this?"

"Yeah" snorted Willow between guffaws, "Remember the time we were watching TV and you flipped the channel to TNT and The Wizard of Oz was on, and it was the scene with the flying monkeys and Xander had to leave the room?

Buffy collapsed into giggles at the memory of a stuttering Xander making a half-dozen lame excuses all the while backing out of her living room. "Poor Xander we gave him hell for that for days."

"We were awfully mean."

"You know," said Buffy, changing the subject. "There really isn’t anything here I like. It’s getting late, and I promised we’d check in with Giles before I went on patrol."

A naughty naked Spike thought zipped through Willow’s head and she quickly hung the costume she was holding back on the rack. "Okay" she agreed, and led the way out of the shop.

###

"Now if you promise to be good, I’ll let you out." Giles said to the bound vampire.

Spike looked at the Watcher and scowled. "Whatever" he grumbled.

Giles leaned down and finished unlocking the shackles, gathering them up, he tossed them into the cabinet under the sink. "Buffy and the others will be over soon," he said "I have to make a phone call, Passions is on if you want to watch television."

Spike lifted himself out of the deep bathtub with surprising grace, shook his limbs to get the circulation going again and followed the other man into the living room. The vampire immediately went to the refrigerator to get himself something to eat then settled himself on the sofa, feet on the coffee table and turned on the TV.

Giles grabbed his cordless phone and went out the back door to the alley behind his apartment. He leaned against the brick wall and pressed speed-dial. In a moment a voice on the other end came on.

"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless."

"Hello Cordelia, it’s me" said Giles

"Oh hi!"

"Cordelia, the last time Angel was here I loaned him my copy of The Annotated Thyrilar, could you please see if you could find it and overnight ship it to me?

"The Annotated Thyrilar, got it. What’s going on?"

"I’m not one-hundred percent sure, but I think we may be in for a visit from a Linusis demon this Hallowe’en."

"I thought demons took Hallowe’en off."

"Not this one, he can only rise on All Hallow’s Eve, and there are many portents that point to him appearing this year. The Thyrilar text should clarify things greatly.

"I’ll ship it off first thing tomorrow; you should get it in a couple of days."

"Thank you Cordelia, I appreciate that."

"So, Rupert," she said, her voice dropping huskily, "What are you wearing?"

Giles smiled, her voice affected him deeply, causing his member to immediately harden. "I’m in that loose blue sweater you like, and my dark gray linen slacks. What are you wearing?"

"I’m in a black leather mini-skirt and red sleeveless top, you know the one."

"Yes indeed I do." He replied, his voice now taking on a raspy tone. "Are you wearing stockings?"

"Uh huh, silk ones, white panties…and the garter belt you bought me."

Giles groaned at the mental picture of Cordelia sitting at her desk, her skirt hiked up just enough for him to see the pale triangle of her knickers between her legs.

"Are you alone?" he asked.

"I am," she said, putting the phone on speaker "everybody else is out hunting some slimy demon; they won’t be back for ages."

He reached inside his waistband and adjusted his rapidly growing erection. "Pull up your skirt Love, are your panties wet?"

Cordelia scootched down and put her high-heeled foot up on an open drawer and flung her other knee over the arm of the chair. Her skirt bunched up around her waist and she ran her fingers across the silk of her undies. "Soaked through, should I take them off?"

"Mmm hmm" he sighed into the phone.

The pretty brunette lifted her hips and slid the scrap of fabric off. "Ohh" she sighed as she lightly ran her fingertips across her swelling vulva. "I’m so wet for you, are you hard for me?"

"Oh yes" he moaned, undoing his pants and rubbing himself through the soft cotton of his boxers. "Very hard."

"I can feel your tongue on me, licking my wet slit." She sighed, stroking harder, spreading her juices over her hardening button. "It feels so good."

"You taste so sweet my love. Can you feel my fingers sliding into you?"

"Unh hunh" she groaned, pushing her fingers deep inside her.

Cordelia’s moan encouraged her lover and he finally released his trapped member, he spread the moisture weeping from the tip across the sensitive head, enjoying the intense sensation. He grasped his swollen shaft firmly and began stroking it in a familiar rhythm.

"So good." Cordelia whimpered, the fingers of one hand busy inside her slick channel and the other working her swollen pearl. Her whimpers quickly progressed into fast panting moans as her passion built.

Giles’ hand moved more rapidly, driven on by Cordelia’s lusty noises coming to him across the phone line. He cradled the receiver against his shoulder and quickly fumbled in his pocket, searching for his handkerchief.

"Oh, oh, oh, unghhgh" grunted Cordelia inarticulately as her climax struck. Her legs trembled and shook as she bounced in her leather chair.

Giles imagined the feel of his hardness sliding into her clenching passage and with a grunt of his own, shot his seed into his waiting handkerchief. He slumped bonelessly against the rough wall, panting hard from his release.

Cordelia found a tissue, wiped off her fingers and picked the handset back up. "Rupert?" she asked.

"Cordelia, my love" he sighed. "I wish you were here."

"So do I darling, so do I."

Just then Buffy’s voice carried to Giles through the back door. "Cordelia, I have to go" he said as he tucked himself back inside his pants. "Can I call you tonight?"

"Um" she replied as she looked in her planner. "Tonight’s no good, tomorrow, but early though, I have an appointment."

"Tomorrow it is then" he said. "Good-bye love, I love you."

"I love you too. Talk to you tomorrow." Said Cordelia and hung up the phone.

Giles sighed and pressed the off button on his phone. He took one last minute to make sure he was presentable and joined the group gathered in his living room.

###

"I got a rock" said Charlie Brown from Giles’ television.

"Poor Charlie Brown" said Willow, shaking her head. "I never thought it was right that he only got rocks when everyone else got treats."

"It is just a cartoon Will." Said Xander

"I know, but it’s so sad."

"I just spoke to Cordelia" said Giles as he came into the room. "She’ll be sending the text we need first thing tomorrow. Meanwhile, Buffy I think you should patrol, I suspect there will be a slight rise in vampire activity in the days before the holiday."

Giles’ eyes flicked to the television screen where he saw Linus sitting forlornly in a pumpkin patch.

"Well isn’t that peculiar." The Watcher mused.

"What is?" asked Willow

"That cartoon, what is that little boy doing sitting in a pumpkin patch?"

"That cartoon as you call it" said Xander snarkily "Is the holiday classic ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown’ and the little boy is the famous security-blanket toting Linus and he is waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise and bring joy to all the boys and girls of the world."

"It’s peculiar because that is exactly what we will be doing on Hallowe’en."

"What sitting in a pumpkin patch?" asked Buffy.

"Yes," answered Giles "the Linusis Demon is of the Obsonium variety. It will actually build its corporeal body from vines and its head will be made from a pumpkin or large gourd."

"But what about the Alpha Delta party?" whined Buffy.

"I’m afraid you may have to miss it Buffy, I’m sorry."

"If you think I am spending the night sitting in a sodding pumpkin patch you must be out of your mind." Sniped Spike.

"You can either come along and help us dispose of this demon" said Giles "or you can stay here and pass out candy to children."

"The only time Spike ever handed out candy to kids was when he was luring them to their gruesome deaths" said Xander.

"Xander!" yelped Willow

Spike smiled at Willow’s inadvertent defense of him. "It’s all right pet, he’s right. I’ll come on your demon hunt Watcher, do me some good to do some violence."

"Very good" replied Giles. "The text that Cordelia is sending should help us deduce where it is most likely to rise and the best way to destroy it."

"I’m thinking weed-eater" smirked Buffy.

"Or maybe some Round-up" said Xander.

"Round-up?" asked Giles.

"Yeah, heavy duty weed killer, I used it all the time one summer when I worked for a landscaping company."

"Xander, that just might be the ticket."

"Really" said Xander, proud. "I have the ticket? Cool."

"Naturally we have a lot more research to do, but the weed killer might just give us the edge we need."

"I’ll go to the hardware store in the morning and pick up supplies" volunteered Xander.

"Very good" said Giles. "We’ll gather again when I get the text from Los Angeles, meanwhile, we will keep up standard patrols."

"So if we get rid of it early, can we still go to the party?" asked Willow.

"I suppose so" said Giles, but I wouldn’t count on it."

Willow didn’t notice the hard look on Spike’s face when she mentioned going to the Alpha Delta party, nor did she notice the relief that took its place when Giles all but squashed her hope.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It was just past noon when a knock sounded at Rupert Giles’ front door. The Watcher put down his grilled cheese sandwich and went to open it. Standing on his doorstep, holding a large, leather-bound book was a pretty brunette, smiling brightly.

"Hi!" she chirped, holding out the tome. "I figured this was too important to leave to Fed-ex."

Giles took the book from her and throwing it on the bench next to the door, swept the woman into his arms and kissed her soundly.

"Cordelia" he breathed when they finally broke the kiss. "You’re here."

"Wow, I should show up here unexpectedly more often." Cordelia gasped. "Can I come in?"

"Oh, of course" said Giles, slipping an arm around her waist. He closed the door and led her into the apartment. "Not that I mind that you are here, but I thought you had plans for tonight"

"I did" she said. "But I missed you too much after yesterday. I rescheduled my appointment. It wasn’t too important anyway."

"Well I’m glad you’ve come" he said, pulling her hair back and eyeing her long neck. "I’ve missed you."

Cordelia recognized the look on her lover’s face and slid a hand along his shoulder. It lit on the back of his neck and slid into the soft hair at the base of his skull. She smiled and pulled him close, pressing her full lips against his. They explored each other’s mouths for a moment then pulled away. Giles leaned his forehead against Cordelia’s and looked deep into her brown eyes.

"Let’s go upstairs" she whispered.

"But, Spike…" The Watcher protested.

"He’s not invited" said Cordelia, pulling him up the steps.

Overcome by lust, Giles put the thought of the vampire tied up in his downstairs bathroom out of his mind and followed.
 
 

By the time they reached the bedroom, both were itching with anticipation. They slammed into each other, kissing and touching, stripping each other of clothing. Giles lay Cordelia down across his bed and stood away from her for a moment, appreciating the beautiful sight before him. Her coffee colored hair spread out around her in a silken halo, framing her striking face and setting off her shining smile. Her lithe arms stretched out towards him and invited him into the bed.

Giles accepted her embrace and sunk down onto the soft linens next to her. Kissing her neck, he slid his broad hand across her chest and cupped her breast. She moaned when his fingers trapped her caramel colored nipple and rolled it firmly. His mouth followed the trail his hand had blazed, savoring the salty flavor of her tanned skin. He bypassed her breasts, with only a brief pause to lick her erect nubbins and slid down her firm belly. He stopped at the only blemish on her otherwise perfect skin, a dime-sized scar just to the right of her belly button. He reverently kissed the puckered bit of skin, saddened that she had been hurt so, yet grateful because if it weren’t for that wound they would have never come together.
 
 

It was when she was in the hospital from that wound that the first bonds of true friendship had begun to form. The young woman had been heartbroken by Xander’s betrayal of her and turned to Giles for comfort. It was finally at the Prom that love had fully bloomed. When she entered that gymnasium, confident and beautiful in a shimmery silver dress, he fell. When he asked her to dance, and afterwards, took her behind the gym and kissed for the first time, it was her turn to fall.

Cordelia’s decision to leave Sunnydale for Los Angeles after graduation was a serious blow to their blossoming relationship, but they had managed to keep their love alive through phone calls, e-mails and the all too infrequent visit.

Giles blinked, clearing his head of memories and refocused on the task at hand. He looked up at Cordelia’s face and saw that she was enjoying his touches immensely. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was open, releasing sweet little yummy noises. The Watcher smiled and dropped his mouth back down onto the point of her hip; he paused again and shifted down between her spread thighs. He slid his hands under her and raised her legs up, bending her knees and revealing her delicious sex.

He trailed his fingers lightly along her swelling lips and dipped them into the moisture gathered there. He slid his moistened thumbs up from the base of her and spread her open like a flower. Giles leaned forward, and ever so carefully licked her velvety folds, working his way from her warm opening to her now fully aroused pearl. When his tongue contacted her engorged nub, Cordelia shouted with the intense sensation and her hips flung up off the bed. Pleased by her reaction, Giles proceeded to drive her insane with desire. She writhed and moaned under his ministrations and finally with a hoarse cry, came hard.

Still panting, she reached between her legs and grabbed her lover’s head, urging him back up her body.

"please…oh please…" she whimpered, kissing her juices off his mouth and chin. "I need you inside me."

In answer, Giles positioned himself carefully and slid into her warmth. Cordelia immediately wrapped her long legs up and around him, locked her ankles at the small of his back and pulled him even deeper into her. Their passion built with every stroke until finally with a final explosion, they both tumbled over the edge into delicious orgasm.

Shuddering from his release, Giles lowered himself onto Cordelia’s sweaty body and pulled her over against his chest. He ran his fingers through her damp hair and kissed her forehead reverently.

"My Cordelia, I love you so." He murmured.

She kissed his furry chest and snuggled deeper into his hold. "I love you too Rupert."

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"I don’t believe I’m actually sitting in a pumpkin patch, on Hallowe’en, waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise."

"Xander" said Giles, "We are not waiting for the Great Pumpkin, we are waiting for a very dangerous demon so we can vanquish it before it does serious damage."

"Yeah Xander" smirked Buffy "so shut up and eat your candy bar"

Xander thought about firing back a witty retort, but took a bite of his Fudgy bar instead. "Hmph" he grunted around the mouthful of chocolate.

Willow sat a little bit away from the squabbling threesome, thumbing through the Annotated Thyrilar, trying to glean any last bit of information about the Linusis demon out of it. Spike sat a few feet away, watching her.

"If she doesn’t get her finger out of her mouth I’m going to lose it" he thought to himself.

She pushed her hair back from her face and behind her ear, baring her neck to his scrutiny. Spike looked at the others, and seeing that their attentions were elsewhere, snuck stealthily to Willow’s side.

"Hullo petal" he whispered into her now revealed ear.

"Eeep!" squeaked Willow, startled out of her concentration. She smacked the vampire on the shoulder. "Don’t do that!" she whispered fiercely.

"Do what?" he asked innocently.

"Sneak up on me, that’s not nice."

"You like it when I’m not nice." He purred, leaning closer and taking the lobe of her ear in his mouth.

"Stop it!" she said pushing him away.

Spike opened his mouth to say something when a bolt of lightning struck the pumpkin next to him. A mystical glow engulfed both the pumpkin and the vampire and knocked Spike onto his back several feet away.

"Spike!" cried Willow, racing to his side and dropping down beside his unconscious form.

Several other lightning bolts struck throughout the patch, causing the Scoobies all to scatter and run for cover. In seconds, an eerie green light covered the field and the vines began writhing and rearing up, assembling themselves into a mockery of a human shape.

Xander was the first to recover from the shock and quickly raised his Super-Soaker squirt gun, spraying the assembling demon with a strong dose of herbicide. A shriek of pain split the night and the demon lunged forward towards the source of that pain. Xander’s eyes got very large, but bravely, he did not stop his assault. Buffy was next to react, raising her axe and attacking the demon fiercely from behind. Her first strike knocked the creature to its leafy knees. Giles began chanting loudly in Latin and almost as quickly as it had come, the Linusis demon was obliterated in a messy explosion.

"Ugh, pumpkin guts" winced Buffy, brushing seeds and pulp from her blond hair.

"Well, that was…" said Giles, polishing his sticky glasses.

"Disgusting" supplied Xander.

"Yes, disgusting." The Watcher agreed.

"Remind me not to wear leather next time I slay a pumpkin demon." Buffy said, picking a slimy bit of goo from her new blue snakeskin pants.

###

Meanwhile, Willow cradled her lover’s head in her lap, gently stroking his face. "Spike, baby, please wake up" she said on the verge of tears.

"Will?" came a voice from above her.

"Buffy, you have to help, Spike’s hurt." She said, her tears finally overflowing and coursing down her cheeks.

Buffy looked at Willow, confused by the obvious affection she was showing for the vampire. "What’s going on here?"

"Please Buffy, help him. He was hit by one of the lightning bolts, and I can’t wake him up."

Suddenly, Spike jerked in a violent seizure, and a cry of agony flew from his mouth. His eyes flew open and his head flung painfully back and forth, his face flashing from human to demon. Then abruptly, he scrambled to his feet and ran off into the night.

"Spike!" shouted Willow, jumping to her feet and starting after him.

"Will, stop!" said Buffy calling after her "he might be dangerous." But her words fell on deaf ears; Willow was already hot on Spike’s trail. Buffy just shook her head and took off after them both.

It didn’t take her long to catch up to the two. Spike was leaning heavily against a tree, fully vamped out and cradling his head. Willow was a few feet in front of him, approaching carefully, as one would approach a wounded dog.

"Spike, love? It’s me, Willow. Do you understand me?

The vampire raised his head and growled at the young witch, then without warning launched himself at her. Willow was so surprised by the move, all she could do was cringe, waiting for the attack.

Buffy didn’t wait, she immediately moved to intercept the vampire, and with a strong right cross knocked him to the ground. With a snarl, Spike lit into Buffy with a flurry of punches and kicks. The Slayer was surprised at his ability to hit her without the chip going off, but that didn’t stop her from defending herself very effectively.

"Stop! Stop it!" cried Willow, appalled at the sight of her lover and her best friend beating the hell out of each other. She stepped in to separate them when a stray left hook from Buffy clocked her in the jaw. Willow stood stunned for a second then slumped to the ground unconscious.

"Willow!" said Buffy dropping to her side.

Spike stood above the women, confused and sore, his head ached, but the madness seemed to be subsiding. When his vision cleared, he saw his beloved lying on the damp ground. A cold terror gripped his heart at the sight.

"No! Willow!" he cried, bending down and reaching for her.

"You get away from her." growled Buffy, shoving at his shoulder.

"Sod off Slayer, I’m not going anywhere." He asserted, returning her push.

"What is it with you two anyway?" Asked Buffy, jumping to her feet. "Since when did you become so buddy-buddy?"

"That’s none of your business." He snarled back at her, standing toe to toe.

"Well I think it is my business. Willow is my best friend!"

"Well I think whatever Willow does behind closed doors is not your affair."

"Behind closed doors? What are you talking about?"

"What I am talking about is, who that woman chooses to love," Spike said pointing at Willow, his voice rising to a shout "and who loves her is none of your bloody concern!"

"You love me?" said a small voice from their feet.

Spike was instantly on his knees beside Willow, gently gathering her into his arms. "I do petal," he whispered into her soft hair "I love you."

"I love you too. My chin hurts."

"Because Buffy slugged you pet, knocked you out."

"Why would she do that?"

"She was trying to protect you from me, and your face got in the way of her fist."

"Protect me? You wouldn’t hurt me."

"I hate to say it, but she did right. That lightning bolt did something to my chip. Made me insane for a bit." He looked away, refusing to meet her eyes.

"Oh"

"Is that what happened? You got struck by lightning, your chip went pfzt, you went nuts and that’s why you could hit me?" asked Buffy, still stunned by the sight of her best friend in her worst enemies embrace.

"Yeah, I guess I owe you a thanks Slayer. You saved my Willow."

"Uh yeah, no problem. Hey! Hold it a minute!" said Buffy, "What do you mean you love her?"

"He loves me" said Willow simply, pulling the vampire’s gaze back to hers. "and I love him."

Spike smiled and dropped a small kiss on her upturned lips. Buffy opened her mouth to begin asking all the questions swirling through her head when Spike pulled Willow closer to him and stood up, cradling her in his arms. He saw the questions formulating, and gave the blonde a stern look.

"Look, Slayer…Buffy, Willow’s had a bit of a shake up, and I still have a pounding headache. What I’m going to do now, is carry her back home and see that she’s comfortable. Tomorrow night, we can meet and sort all this out." Without waiting for an answer, Spike turned on his heel and carried Willow out of the clearing and towards her parents’ home, leaving Buffy gaping like a beached halibut.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Willow was nearly asleep when Spike got her to her front door. He nuzzled his nose against her warm cheek, rousing her a little.

"Are your folks home baby?" he asked.

"Nuh uh" the sleepy witch mumbled. "Newark, psych conference."

"I need your keys then,"

"Mmmkay, lemme down."

Spike gently set Willow on her feet; she scrabbled in the pocket of her jeans and produced a set of house keys. Selecting the correct one, she turned and unlocked the door. She stepped inside and looked at the vampire, who still stood on the doorstep.

"Uh, pet?" he said, hand touching the invisible barrier that was keeping him outside.

"Mmhum? Oh, sure. Come in Spike."

The vampire paused, then stepped over the jamb. Willow smiled tiredly and held out her hand to him. "C’mon" she said, leading him through the living room and down the hall. When they came to her bedroom, she paused and looked up at him.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked shyly.

He smiled at her and brushed a stray lock of hair from her eyes. "Always babe, always."

###

It was late afternoon when a voice intruded into Spike’s unconscious mind and woke him up.

"Did the lizard cast the spell? He needs a new pair of galoshes or it won’t work."

The vampire raised himself up on his elbow and looked at the red-head curled next to him.

"No! Give me the blender."

Spike shook his head; he had no idea that his love was so talkative in her sleep.

"Mmmm Spike,"

His eyebrows quirked up as she said his name in a clearly sensual manner, inspired, he dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder. A sigh escaped her and she rolled over onto her back, exposing her pert breasts to his gaze. He raised his hand to her chest and ever so delicately tickled his way across her silky skin to the point of her breast, and ever so gently tweaked her coral nipple.

"Ahhmm" she moaned, arching her back into his touch. His fingers continued to caress her hard nub while he shifted closer to her and began nibbling at the curve of her neck.

Still asleep, Willow’s body responded to his touch. Her skin warmed and a pretty pink flush began to creep across her features. The scent of her arousal wafted from under the covers, inviting Spike to seek lower treasures. He moved his hand from her breast and slid it down her supple tummy, pushing the blanket down as he went. When his fingers found the crinkle of hair at the juncture of her thighs, Willow sighed again and spread her legs for him.

"Willow" he whispered into her ear, quietly so as not to wake her. "What do you want?"

"Want Spike" she answered almost incoherently.

"What do you want me to do poodle?" he said, sliding his fingers down, lightly across her swelling lips.

"Uhmm more" she hummed under his ministration. "Feels good"

A devilish smirk played across the vampire’s features as he delved deeper into her core. He explored her dampening folds, carefully avoiding her most sensitive spot. He wanted to pleasure her, but not to wake her up. At least not yet.

He resumed his nibbling on her, enjoying the flavor of her neck and the feel of her blood thrumming under her skin. Willow’s breathing became heavier as Spike stimulated her, and her hips began to move under his arm. He increased his pace, the movement of his fingers eased by her now flowing juices.

"Mmmm please" she moaned, tension straining her voice.

Spike knew what she was asking for and decided that it was time. He dipped a bit deeper into her and gathered a little extra moisture onto his cool fingertip, he slid his slick finger up through her lips and finally with calculated deliberation, attacked her erect pearl.

Willow shrieked and arched upwards with the sudden sensation. Her eyes flew open and the room became filled with her lusty moans and cries. She writhed against his hand and with a final shout, fell into her orgasm.

She slowly came down from her peak, her breathing finally returning to normal. She turned to Spike and kissed him soundly. "What a wonderful way to wake up" she said.

"Only the best for my lamb" he answered.

Her hand strayed to his solid erection, parked snugly against her thigh. "This is indeed the best" she said smiling. Spike returned her smile and with a lightning quick move, threw her over onto her stomach. Willow squeaked in surprise, then shifted into a throaty purr as his skilled hands began caressing her flawless back and buttocks. She slid up onto her knees, opening herself to him in invitation. He positioned himself behind her and with the head of his hard staff, parted her petals. She moaned in anticipation and gasped when he finally plunged into her.

Spike reveled in her wet heat, pushing into her with barely restrained abandon. Willow bucked wantonly, backing to meet each thrust. Spike slid his hand around her hip and reached beneath her, he found her throbbing jewel and proceeded to send her into another screaming orgasm, the feel of her muscles clenching around him and the sounds of her ecstasy sent him reeling into his own climax, with a hard grunt and one final powerful slam of hips he flooded her with his seed.

The two slid forward, pushing blankets and pillows ahead of them, knocking them off the bed. Willow jumped a little when her pillow swept all the stuff off the top of her nightstand.

"Oops" she sighed, hanging her head over the edge of the mattress to assess the damage. Nothing seemed broken, but her favorite cinnamon scented candle had rolled under the bed.

"We’ll clean it up later" murmured Spike into her hair, rolling them both onto their sides, spooning up behind her.

"Hokay" she said, snuggling deeper into his arms. Just then, the Grandfather clock in the living room struck five. "We have to get up soon; they’re expecting us at Giles’"

"Let ‘em wait."

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"We should get up soon," said Giles "They will be here any time."

"Let them wait" Cordelia replied sleepily from his arms.

"We can’t, I don’t think I locked the door."

Cordelia groaned and leaned up to face him. "That’s an awfully bad habit."

Giles smiled and kissed her full lips. "I know, I’m sorry, how can I make it up to you?"

"Jewelry would be nice." She said, a teasing tone in her voice.

"Hmmm" he said, rolling over and reaching into the nightstand. "Will this do?"

Cordelia looked wide eyed at the black velvet box Giles held out to her, then looked back at him. She silently took the box from him and opened it, nestled inside was a necklace, a perfect pearl hung from the finely wrought gold chain. It was beautiful in its simplicity.

"Oh Rupert!" she said awed. "It’s amazing."

"It was my grandmothers." he replied. "She told me to give it to the woman I would marry."

"Oh," she said, then realizing what he’d said "Oh!"

"Will you marry me Cordelia?"

"Yes yes yes!" she replied throwing herself back into his arms and kissing him soundly. "Can we go shopping for rings tomorrow?"

"Absolutely darling"

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming open, and the voices of Xander and Buffy floating up to the couple.

"…Anya, you remember her. I took her to the prom? She was with this blonde girl, they were both kind of dressed kind of hippy-like and they were kissing!"

"Well, waddaya know?" said Buffy. "To each his own I guess."

"I do hope you keep that in mind when Spike and Willow arrive." said Giles as he walked down the stairs.

"That’s different" snapped Buffy.

"How exactly?"

"Spike’s well…evil y’know and it’s Willow!"

"You got over me dating Cordelia" reminded Xander.

"Cordelia wasn’t evil" Buffy asserted.

"Thank you, I think" the brunette said, coming down the stairs.

"You must admit, Spike has changed quite a bit since The Initiative got ahold of him." Said Giles, on his way to the kitchen. "would anyone like a cup of tea?"

"And why is it special when it’s Willow?" asked Cordelia, joining her fiancé in the kitchen. "I mean, you dated a vampire too."

"Angel had a soul, he’s not…soulless"

"Except when he was" interjected Xander

"I didn’t date him then"

"No, but you still loved him."

"Yeah" the blonde admitted.

"And he not only was soulless, he was flat evil. Spike at least has managed to keep his evilness under control."

"Xander, I would have never anticipated you defending this relationship." Said Giles, leaning against the counter with his cup of tea.

"Listen, Willow is my oldest and best friend, she hasn’t been happy since she and Oz broke up, and if Spike makes her happy, then I say woo hoo."

"That is the nicest thing you’ve ever said." said Willow from the doorway. She ran at Xander and gave him a huge hug. "Thank you."

The young man hugged her back "I just want the best for you Will. Besides, Buffy said it herself. Thanks to the Hellmouth, none of us are ever going to have a normal relationship. We’re just doomed."

"Yeah but ain’t it fun?" quipped Spike, taking Willow from Xander.

"You realize of course that if you hurt her I’ll have to kill you." Said Xander, half kiddingly.

"You’ll have to stand in line" said Buffy in a much more serious tone.

"Thank you all for your concern, but I know Spike loves me and would never intentionally hurt me, or those I love" she said looking pointedly at the vampire.

"That’s right pet." He replied

"And he knows if he did, I’d stake him myself."

"That’s right…huh?" said Spike, doing a double take.

"You heard me"

Spike looked at his love and saw the truth in her emerald eyes. He smiled at her determination and leaned in to kiss her. "Every day you surprise me and every day I love you a little more."

"Good" she said, returning the kiss. "I love you too. C’mon, we have demons to research."

End

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