Chapter 1

Spike smiled softly as the redhead in his arms began to stir against him. He'd been watching her sleep for hours, and he was almost entirely sure that he had just discovered his new hobby... after all, he didn't need to sleep as much as she did, and regardless of how stupid it sounded even to him, he couldn't imagine a better way to spend his time than watching her... unless, he smiled to himself, she was awake, in which case, there were a *lot* of things he'd rather be doing...

Willow smiled and stretched slightly as she opened her eyes. "Morning," she murmured, placing a light kiss just above the spot where his heart had once beat.

"Evening, love," he replied, his arms tightening about her. "Willow?" he said softly, staring at the ceiling, "I need to ask you something..." He took a deep breath, finding the unnecessary action comforting, as he felt her head nod against his chest. "What did you mean this morning... when you told Darla and Xander 'Welcome home'?" He tore his gaze from the white paint above them for just a moment, and glanced into her suddenly wide-awake eyes before returning his own eyes to the ceiling again. "It's not that I don't trust you, I *do*, pet... but I want to know what's going on!" he continued. "It's... I feel like you've got some big, dark secret, and..."

Willow sighed to herself as his voice faded. "And you don't like it," she finished for him, "Especially after the secret Faith was keeping from your Sire... I understand, Spike, really, I *do*!" She sighed again, pulling herself from his arms and sitting up beside him in the bed. "I... I *have* been keeping something from you, Spike, but... it's nothing *bad*... or at least, I don't *think* it is."

"Then... why can't you tell me, pet? Is it... are you married or something? Because, if you *are*," he growled, his face slipping a bit towards true, "I'll *kill* the bloody wanker and wear his testi..." He stopped, hearing the unmistakable sound of his girl trying to hold her laughter in... he could actually *hear* the giggles bouncing around in her chest!

Willow barely kept herself from chuckling out loud. "No, Spike," she said, when she finally was able to control the impulse, "I said it wasn't bad, didn't I? And believe me, me married would be very, *very* bad... for the poor guy I was hitched to, anyway..." She giggled out loud this time, at the very thought of it.

The blond grinned slightly, not sure of why his Willow thought that being married to her would be bad... but it didn't really matter right then, and he'd ask her later about her reasoning... preferably after getting her very very drunk. "Well, what then? What are you hiding? Why did you welcome the boy and my Grand Sire home... Damn it, Willow!" He jumped up from the bed and began pacing angrily, ignoring the fact that he was still naked. "I'm starting to feel like I'm losing you, and I bloody well just *found* you! I mean, I know you're gonna leave me one day, but I never thought it'd be this soon! It's like... I'm willing to tell you *anything*, but the minute *I* want to know something, you just don't want to talk about it!" He was almost seething with pain and anger, and that was probably why he didn't hear the little redhead fly off of the bed in turn. It was probably *also* the reason that he didn't even know he was in trouble until he turned and caught the full force of her small clenched fist right on the point of his chin. It was mostly surprise that sent him stumbling back until he fell on the bed and lay there, staring at the girl he now knew owned his heart.

"You... you *bastard*!" Willow hissed, stalking the short distance to where he now lay, in her anger forgetting all about the previous day's vision. "You're willing to tell me anything? *Ha*! You haven't told me anything at all, Spike! Hell, you didn't even tell me your *name*! The only things that you've told me," she continued, forcing the words out between clenched teeth, "Are that you *want* me, and you think I'm keeping secrets! And since I *admit* that I haven't told you everything, that's really not a whole lot, is it?" She shook her head furiously as her eyes began to glow, and the few items on the bureau began to shake slightly. "Damn it! I *knew* this would happen! I just *knew* it! And it's all my *fault*, too!" She shook her head again as the anger faded a bit, now mixed with despair. "I wanted to tell her... I wanted to say 'Dru, I can't go... if I go to this thing, it will turn out badly.'... but there was no other way! We *need* the information if we're going to stop it! But do I come here and go about my business? Noooo, of *course* not! *I* walk into this damned hotel, and go falling for the first... well, second, vampire I see! I forget all *about* the thrice-damned *prophecy*, forget about making contacts, forget everything except how much I love you! Hell, I forgot everything so *completely* that I was looking forward to seeing Dru so that she could take her bloody *mark* away! I mean, *Gods*! I totally pushed everything else from my mind! I wasn't thinking about the world maybe ending, or the total destruction of the human *race*! Oh, no, all *I* was thinking about was being free for *you* to claim!" She suddenly stopped, turning even paler than usual, and sank into the nearby chair, eyes wide, her hand over her mouth. (Oh...*shit*!)

Spike lay there, just staring at his... witch, apparently, and rubbing his chin. His emotions were riding some sort of roller-coaster; he felt... anger at first that she'd hit him... sorrow when he realized that she was right, he *hadn't* even told her his name... guilt when she took the blame on herself... despair that she hadn't wanted to be there... trepidation at the little she said about whatever prophecy had really brought her there... joy that she'd actually said it... she loved him!... and finally, ecstasy of a sort he'd never known before in all of his long existence. {She wants me to *claim* her?!} He was up off the bed again, and crouched at her feet before he even knew that he was thinking of moving. He watched as his hand reached out, apparently on its own, and pulled hers from its place over her mouth. "Say it again, love..." he begged softly, staring deep into her emerald eyes.

Faith grinned down at the sleeping vampire in bed with her. At least, he was *pretending* to be asleep... she wasn't sure of exactly how she knew that he wasn't, but she was absolutely *sure* that he was faking it! She leaned forward, allowing her long dark hair to trail softly across his nipples, holding in a chuckle when she noticed the slight jump of his abdominal muscles, and the equally slight curling of his fingers. ::Oh, *good*! Angel wants to *play*!:: She smiled even wider as she repeated the action, her eyes narrowing a bit wickedly as she saw the rapid growth beneath the sheets. :: This could be *fun*! And I do so enjoy a bit of fun first thing in the morning... well, OK, evening... :: she thought, glancing quickly at the clock.

Angel bit back a groan as his girl slowly tickled her hair across his chest, feeling his nipples becoming hard little peaks. He'd started this game just to see just how far she'd take things while he was asleep, but he was rapidly discovering that he didn't care! It was taking almost every drop of his self-control to just lay there passively, instead of pressing her hard against the mattress and burying himself so deep inside her tight, hot core that she could feel him in the back of her throat... He knew that he was almost as hard as he'd ever been... harder even, as her mouth finally descended to his tight nipples. He held in the moan he wanted to let loose... there was no *way* that he was going to let a twenty-three year old girl get the better of him!

Faith smiled slightly against his cool, hard chest as she licked at one nipple, softly biting it before moving to the other... she could *feel* the growl building in his chest, almost like a low rumbling, heard from a distance. Well, *he* might be able to handle this kind of torture, but Faith knew that if she didn't feel him inside her soon, she was going to end up screaming, and not in a good way! Finally, she sat up fully, and began to slowly pull the white sheet down his hard body. She hadn't really had the opportunity to study his naked form before, and as his pale flesh was revealed, she finally looked her fill. Beautifully developed pecs... flat, toned upper torso... rippled, even in repose, stomach... slightly jutting hip bones... She deliberately skipped past his groin, taking in the sight if his muscular, defined thighs, perfectly tapering calves, and manly ankles and feet, before slowly allowing her eyes to travel to his hands... his strong, large hands, with their perfect manicure... his corded forearms... and his lovely, well-developed, but not bulge-y upper arms... He was perfect, in every respect... Her eyes finally made their way back down his chest, drawn irresistibly to his thick, proud cock. She couldn't resist it, even if she wanted to.

It took every single bit of willpower he possessed, but he somehow managed not to move as he felt the sheet sliding from his body, and her hot eyes roaming over him curiously... he had been looked at in that way before, of course, but not in a very long time... and not by *Faith*! He swore he could feel her every glance as if it were a touch, a pressure on his skin... but he refused to lose this game! He could smell her becoming hotter and wilder for his touch, hear her heartbeat increasing moment by moment... but he *would* *not* lose! He could finally feel her eyes on his rampant hardness, and thanked God that he didn't have to breathe, because that would have given his deception away in an instant... He almost gave himself away, anyway, when he felt her hot little tongue sweep lingeringly across the weeping head, licking away the drops of pre-cum that had formed during her oh-so-leisurely visual exploration. He fought the urge to thrust his head back into the pillow as she enveloped the head of his cock in her warm, wet mouth... and fought it again when she slid him deep into her throat... whatever happened now, he knew that it was going to be one *hell* of a game...

Faith groaned to herself, loving the way he felt in her mouth. He was long, and thick, and most of all, *cool*... there was none of that anxious heat she'd always so hated in the past... Not that he didn't get anxious... or *hot*... it was just that *his* heat had nothing to do with body temperature, and everything to do with... passion. ::I was *born* for him,:: she decided, sliding her lips to the thick base of his cock, ::I don't care what he was... what he *is*... he's mine now, and... :: She stopped thinking as she felt herself growing even wetter, even more ready for him. She wasn't sure of what kind of game he was playing, exactly, but she'd be damned if she was gonna let him win! She let his hard shaft slide from her mouth, and began trailing her lips up and over his tight stomach, past the slightly concave area just below his sternum, and up to the dip between his pectoral muscles. She settled her mouth there, sucking lightly at the pale skin as she shifted one leg, straddling him, and impaled herself on his proudly jutting member. "Ahhh..." she sighed, her hands on his chest as she sat upright, forcing herself farther down on him... he was so big, she felt as though she might cleave in two... it was different when he was on top of her... less immediate... she understood, then, that he'd been careful with her, not wanting to hurt her. Then again, she hadn't gotten around to telling him that she enjoyed a little pain. She raised herself up, almost completely off of him, before slamming back down, *hard* onto him. Her eyes flew wide, a surprised gasp coming from her throat... ::This is what I've been waiting for! And I never knew it... ::

She could feel herself tearing slightly from the violence she was taking him with, and sped up her thrusts down onto him. She'd never felt anything like this before, and she'd be damned if she'd let a little pain stop her... besides, it felt kind of... good... well, great, actually... Until his eyes suddenly opened, boring into hers, his hands forcing her to still herself upon him.

He had somehow managed not to respond when she had her mouth around his throbbing cock... he hadn't made a sound, or even began a movement when she licked her way up his body... he hadn't released the whimper or the moan he'd felt when she first slid her tight, wet heat down, enveloping the coolness of his aching shaft. And then she'd began to... *move*... he could feel each inch of him sliding deep inside her, hear her groans as she forced more and more of him inside her, feel the rhythmic grasping of her strong inner muscles as she rode him for all he was worth... and he *still* did nothing, although he was beginning to wonder if there *could* be a loser in this game he'd started. He remained still, regretting his competitive nature, as she increased her thrusts, in both speed and strength... he'd never felt anything like it... if this was the response he'd get from her every time, he thought that he might have to play this game more often. That was only until he smelled the blood, though. Suddenly, it was there... the scent of her, of her innermost being... He knew that she knew it, too... he could hear the slight undertones of pain in her still ecstatic cries. He couldn't allow this... wouldn't allow her to hurt herself for his pleasure. [Forget the game!] he told himself, and his demon, angrily, [Don't let her do this anymore... stop her!] His eyes flew open, hands grasping her hips and halting her next downward rush. "Faith..." he said shakily, voice full of passion and need, "Don't do this, love... you're hurting yourself."

She wanted to scream when his hands stopped her movements... she had been so close! So very close to feeling something... perfect! God knew, she'd had orgasms before, most of them in this very room, but *this*... this had been so far beyond anything she'd ever even dreamed of experiencing... "Damn it!" she cried angrily, "What's wrong with you?" She grabbed his hands, using all of her strength, and pinned them to the mattress beside his head. She stared deep into his lovely, concerned brown eyes, and began forcing herself up and down his still hard shaft even more violently than she'd been doing moments earlier. "Angel," she gasped, her eyes still locked with his, "I... I don't know why, but... I *want* this! And God, yeah, it hurts, but... it feels so *good*..." She moaned, her eyes snapping shut, as she concentrated her entire being on taking him into her, fully, and harshly, and as quickly as she could, gasping in both pleasure and pain.

He saw the truth in her eyes, felt the sheer perfection of her... He wanted this, too... needed it, if he was going to be honest with himself, and finally, finally, he let himself go... let her take what she wanted, knowing that he was getting exactly what he needed from this moment... this desperate kiss of bodies. He growled deeply, breaking free of her hands as he sat up beneath her, his hands clutching bruisingly at her back, her ass, tangling in her hair, pulling her lips to his as the face of his demon emerged.

She'd heard his growl, and when he pulled at her hands to free himself, she let him go. His hands were everywhere, touching her, grasping at her... she knew that she'd be bruised all over when this was done, but she couldn't bring herself to mind... it was the nature of this coupling... She loved it when he was all slow and sweet, and when he wasn't either of those things, but this... it was almost elemental... a force, if not of nature itself, then of their own natures... She stared directly into his now-golden eyes, slipping her tongue between his lips to caress his jagged teeth passionately, and smiled slightly when he growled again... her tongue traced a path up the side of his face, finding, once again, the brow ridges that fascinated her so... she could feel herself tightening around him as he groaned into her neck, and she pulled back, staring at him one more time before pulling his face hard against her neck. "Angel.." she gasped, "Angel, please!" She cried out, in both agony and ecstasy, as she felt his sharp teeth pierce her skin for the first time, and as she had been doing for the last little while, followed her instincts and took the skin of his own neck between her teeth, biting down hard and holding him tightly to her as she did what no Slayer had ever, in all of recorded history, done... She drank of her vampire lover... and was re-born in an orgasm of fire and blood and life freely given. Of course, then she passed out.

Angel knew for a fact that he'd never cum so hard in his life... Of course, he wasn't really surprised, what with Faith riding him long and hard, almost ordering him to bite her, and then biting him back, all the while clenching so hard around him that he should, by rights, be cross-eyed... He'd never felt anything like it. He looked wonderingly at the unconscious girl draped across his chest as he slowly raised his hand to his neck... he wasn't even a little bit surprised when it came back covered in blood. He sighed to himself, licking his hand clean as he felt himself beginning to grow hard again, still inside his Slayer... He rolled them over on the bed, and nuzzled at the still-seeping wound on her neck, purring contentedly as she began to stir, and he began to move inside her... He was fairly sure that she didn't know what she'd just done, but... he'd have plenty of time to explain it to her... Her warm breath on his neck pulled him from his thoughts, as he focused himself only on loving her.

Drusilla smiled wearily at the cab driver who had gotten out of his warm front seat, opening the door for the lovely fare he'd picked up at the airport after pulling her suitcase from the trunk. "Thank you, John... Now, go home to that lovely wife of yours, and tell your children that you love them," she said sternly, gazing deeply into his eyes as she picked up her bag. "Trust me, John... your family needs *you* more than they need the few extra dollars you'd bring home by staying out tonight..."

"Yes, Miss..." John said dazedly, accepting the folded bill from the young lady. He stood there for a moment after she'd disappeared inside before shaking his head as though just coming to his senses. "What the hell?" he muttered, looking around him, "How'd I get *here*? I thought I was at the airport..." He glanced down at the fifty dollar bill in his hand. Apparently, he'd taken someone to this hotel... and they'd tipped very well! He sighed softly and got back in his cab. Suddenly he laughed at himself. He must have been tired, because he remembered, now that he thought about it, that he'd decided against trying to catch a fare all the way out at the damned airport, and then he'd run into that new guy from work, who'd owed him the fifty... besides, he hadn't been spending enough time with Hannah and the kids lately... He began whistling a jaunty tune as he started up the cab and headed for home, completely unaware of the dark eyes that watched him from the hotel lobby.

Drusilla smiled, letting go of the man's mind. He really was a good chap, he'd just lost his way a bit... and if she had helped him to find it again, she was more than satisfied. She'd done it for the children, really... after all, she knew how it felt to be abandoned by one's father... or Sire in her case. She sighed slightly, turning around to find the front desk. Of course, she'd have to make her way through the swarm of vampires between her and it first! She grinned to herself, realizing that, for the first time in five years, she was regretting not being 'Crazy Dru'... after all, Crazy Dru could have cleared herself a path with just a few poorly chosen words... She giggled a bit, and decided to give it a try, just for old time's sake.

She approached the nearest vampire, lugging her suitcase along with her. Tapping him on the shoulder, she widened her eyes and forced a wild look into them as he turned around. "Ice cream has no bones, you know... and it's usually purple, like my Daddy... but not like Mummy, oh, no... Mummy was *sweet*, and *pink*, and full of *fluff*... Are the stars screaming because they can not see me, or am I?... Oh!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands delightedly, "Is this where they have the blueberry tarts? I don't like them... they're all tart... and sticky... cling to my legs, and fill me with sorrow... Why?" She almost spoiled it all by laughing aloud at the look on the strange vampire's face, but managed to shift the impulse into a batty smile, saying, "I'm Drusilla... do you know where my Daddy is? He's been very naughty, and shall have no tea, no cakes, no boneless ice cream today... I had a canoe, once... but I fell, and loosed the string, and it just flew away... it's singing to the stars now, but it will come back when I make the woodshed ready..."

The vampire had been almost ready to hurt the strange, though beautiful woman... at least, he had until he heard her name! Drusilla, as every vampire at this particular event knew, was a childe of Angelus... grand childe of the City's Master... and, he further realized, as he listened to her strange words, she was looking for her 'Daddy'... Angelus was *here*! He filed away that little bit of knowledge, and took the girl's bag from her trembling hand. "Don't worry, Miss," he said respectfully, "I'll take you to the front desk... if anyone knows where your, uh... *Daddy* is, they will.." He led her on, replying politely to every odd bit of conversation that popped out of her mouth. After all, he figured, it couldn't hurt to be nice to the insane vampire... she might remember it later...

She waved wildly at her new 'friend' as he left her in the capable hands of the smarmy little hotel manager. "All right," she said, completely herself again as she turned to the little man, "I'm looking for my Servant. She's in a suite with my Sire and his other childe. The room is under Rosenberg/Aurelius."

The manager tried, unsuccessfully, to wipe the confusion from his expression as the lovely woman before him suddenly did what appeared to be a mental 'about-face'. "Uh.. uh, yes, Miss..." He hesitated, waiting for a name to be provided.

"'Miss' will do nicely. Now, if you have a problem with giving me a key to Willow's room, I suggest that you call up to her, although she might find that to be reason enough to speak with my Grand Sire about your attitude..."

"Oh, no, no, Miss... No problem... just trying to protect the young lady is all.. can't go giving keys to just *anyone*, you know... but with Misters Angelus and Spike up there, I don't suppose she's in any danger from yo... uh, *anyone*..." He continued spouting nonsense as he hurriedly made a key for her. "Here... here you are, Miss... it's suite 2727, Miss... and please don't hesitate to call down if..." His voice trailed off as he realized that he was speaking to her swiftly retreating back. He shivered slightly, hoping that she wouldn't mention his behaviour to her Grand Sire... that Darla was *scary*...

At that moment, however, Darla, the Master of Seattle, was anything *but* scary... she was actually kind of *sad*. She had been sitting in the bar since just before sunrise, and it was already almost an hour and a half past sun*set*... Xander sighed, looking at his watch. He'd left the apparently happy mix of vampires and humans in their suite that morning, and when he'd reached the bar, he'd found that Darla was just a bit... drunk. Of course, being the Master, no one had had the nerve to stop her from drinking as much as she'd wanted, and if he'd been one to judge, he'd have said that by the number of empty glasses on her table, she was going for the world record in power-guzzling. He had sat down, and ordered their corner kept clear. Once there was no one nearby any longer, he had, very calmly and softly, informed his Great Grand Sire that she was making an *ass* of herself, and that he wasn't going to let her drink any more. *She*, of course, had threatened to stake him... just before she started mumbling softly to him about Angelus and that Slayer... not to mention Spike and Willow, who Darla referred to as 'the crazy witch-bitch'... finally, he'd gotten enough coffee into her for her to make sense, and when she was fully recovered from her little escapade into the drunken side of life... or un-life, as the case may be... she had actually thanked him for stopping her when he did! Of course, that didn't make it any easier for him to get her back up to the suite. He sighed again. "Darla... you *know* we have to go back up there... or, at least *I* do... My Sire's coming!"

Darla sighed herself, almost afraid to tell him what was really bothering her, but she was the Master of the City, after all, and she couldn't let a little thing like *fear* stand in her way. "All right, dear boy, you want to see your Sire... I can understand that... But what happens *then*? You're going to leave with her, aren't you? Her and the little witch about whom you *still* care so very much!"

Xander stared at her, stunned. The idea had never even occurred to him! He'd thought that they'd go upstairs, he'd see Dru, let her see that he was doing well, and then maybe... they'd stay in touch... maybe even visit on the holidays... "Are... are you *serious*? Because, I gotta tell ya, I am just *so* not seeing the funny!" He sighed, seeing the look in her eyes. "Look... Darla... She may be my Sire, but *you're* the one who taught me everything I know! I mean, I *told* you what Willow said... She's not even a proper vampire anymore! Why would I want to go back to Sunnydale? There's the *name*, for one... *Sunny*dale... Not the place for a vampire, now is it? Don't get me wrong," he said swiftly, "I'm not criticizing Drusilla, it's just... That's not the place for me... My place is *here*, with *you*... under your thumb... at all times..." He lowered his eyes, the way he *only* did for her.

The pretty little blonde smiled for the first time since sunrise, and patted his head as she stood. She took his offered arm as he stood as well, and walked with him out of the bar and into the lobby. "As long as you remember that, dear boy, we'll be just fine..." she said softly as they moved towards the elevators.

Angel crept quietly from the bedroom, not wanting to wake the exhausted Slayer. He listened for a moment, hearing the steady thumping of the redhead's sleeping heart, and went directly to the balcony, where he saw his childe leaning against the railing, completely relaxed. "Well," he said against the wind, stepping through the door and closing it behind him, "You look happy..."

Spike grinned, still looking out into the night as he exhaled a huge cloud of smoke. "Could be because I am... She wants me to claim her, Angel... The most perfect woman I've ever seen, and she wants *me* to claim her!" He sighed happily, taking in another lungful of smoke. "I don't know why, I don't know how, but for some reason... she *loves* me!" He frowned slightly into the dark. "Do you think there's something wrong here? I mean, I've known her for less than two days, and... I'd walk into the sun if she asked me to, mate..."

"I know what you mean, Spike... I'd do the same for Faith, and she's a *Slayer*! But... I think maybe this was just meant to be... I mean, why else would we all have ended up here, together, if it wasn't destiny?"

The blond sighed, not wanting to explain and ruin his Sire's 'destiny' theory. "Willow... isn't here by accident."

Angel laughed, "Well, of *course* she isn't, Spikey! She's here to represent Dru! She's her *servant*, after all!"

Spike shook his head slowly. "No, Peaches... she's here because her friends back in... what was it?... oh, yeah, Sunnyhell... need information on a prophecy they're trying to stop... Meeting *us* was just... an accident."

The dark haired vampire frowned for a moment before brightening suddenly. "Well, that just *proves* it, my boy! An accident... fate... whatever! I'll tell you the truth, Spike..." he said intently, "I don't care *why* they're here... I'm just so glad they *are*!"

Spike finally smiled. "Yeah... me, too, mate... *What* *the* *hell*?!" he shouted, finally having turned to look at his Sire, seeing there on the side of the older vampire's neck, a still bleeding bite mark, made by *human* teeth! "You... you... you *mated* her! Angel! What the hell were you *thinking*? She's a *Slayer*, for Christ's sake!"

Angel felt his eyes going wide... his childe had to be *really* upset for him to be flinging around the C-word... "I... it's not exactly like you think, Spike..." he said hesitantly.

"Oh, so you weren't shagging like a couple of... bunnies... and you didn't bite her..."

"Damn it, Spike, it's not that simple, and you know it!" He sighed, running his fingers absently over the mark on his neck. "It wasn't something we *planned*, you know! It doesn't work that way... We were... playing... and, well, it just... *happened*! She was... well, you don't need to know about that part... but, well, *she* did it... I didn't tell her to, I didn't even *think* about it until later..." He sighed again, still caressing the tender, yet almost healed, spot on his neck. "But I'm not going to say that I'm sorry, Spike.. I'm not! I wasn't looking for a mate, I didn't even think I wanted one... but now..."

The blond sighed, letting his anger slip away as he saw the contented look in his Sire's eyes. "But now," he finished for the no longer broody vamp, "You wonder how you got along all this time without one... yeah..."

Angel found himself once again surprised by his childe. "Willow?" he said softly, clasping the younger man's shoulder.

Spike closed his eyes and nodded slowly. "The claiming is only the first step, Sire... I know I don't ever want to be without her, and I know that I don't want to turn her, so..."

The dark haired vampire nodded his understanding. "Mating. Just do yourself, and her, one favor, Spike... No matter how intense things are getting, make sure that she knows what she's doing! Because I can tell you right now, trying to think of the best way to tell your sleeping lover that after less than forty-eight hours together, she's tied herself to you for all eternity is really not as much fun as you might think..."

Spike laughed, despite the worry he was feeling for Angel's situation. I'm sure you'll find a way, Peaches... after all, you're the diplomatic one, here..." He tossed his cigarette butt over the balcony railing and opened the door to the inside. He hadn't realized how cold it was outside, and hoped he'd have enough time to warm up a bit before his girl woke up. He knew his Sire was following him in, and heard the glass door slide shut. "So, Peaches," he began, only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. He crossed the living room, and flung it open to find... "Darla."

The small blonde woman glanced at the tall blond vamp for a moment before her gaze was drawn to her childe. "Oh, Angelus," she almost moaned, recognizing a slight difference in his scent... he smelled like.. "Oh." she said, suddenly calm, "You've mated the girl... *good*!" She sailed into the room and settled on the nearest couch, pulling Xander down beside her.

Angel could feel his head spinning. He'd mated a Slayer, and his Sire said good? He gathered all his intellect to respond, completely shocked when only a muffled "Huh?" emerged from his lips. He collapsed into a chair, staring fixedly at Darla.

"I'm sorry, my boy," she said, speaking soothingly, "I just couldn't accept that *my* childe had gone and gotten all... *involved* with a *Slayer*, but since you've *mated* her, that's not really a problem anymore, is it?" She pursed her lips, thinking for a moment. "And, you know, I really had nothing against the girl, other than her profession, so... I approve, my dear. Bring her by the meeting tomorrow, I'll give you my blessing."

Strangely, it was Spike who asked the question that Angel was thinking, but couldn't seem to get past his lips. "What do you mean, Darla? What does the Poof mating Faith have to do with her Slayer-ness?"

Darla opened her mouth, about to respond, when they all heard a noise at the door. "Well," Darla began, heedless of the interruption, "When we choose..." Her voice stopped in mid sentence as the door swung open, and Drusilla stepped inside.

Xander, who had been uncharacteristically silent since reaching the suite, flew from the couch, and startled everyone in the room by throwing himself at the woman, shouting "Sire!", as the slightly red-tinted tears poured from his eyes.

"There, there, dearest," Drusilla mumbled, patting his back... She had no idea of what to say to him!

Chapter 2

Willow woke slowly, a slight smile still playing about her lips. She had fought with Spike, sure... but the making up had more than... made up for it! She grinned a little more broadly, her hand reaching out for his cool body, only to open her eyes, frowning, when she couldn't find him. "Spike?" she said softly, almost afraid that she'd dreamt their reconciliation, "Spike?" a bit louder, before she heard the voices through the bedroom door. (Oh... he's probably talking to Angel...) She smiled again, the mystery of his absence explained, if only in her own mind. She rolled to the edge of the bed, sitting there as she pulled her robe over her still pleasantly aching body. He had been... incredible...

'Say it again, love,' he said to her. She was still feeling like a butt-head for just blurting it out like that... 'I want to be free for you to claim me'... She'd been sure that he'd think she was a fool, but... there he was, crouched before her, holding her hand gently in his. She glanced quickly into his eyes, and found herself completely unable to pull her gaze away.

"I... I..." She swallowed hard, almost afraid to say it again.

"Please, love... Willow..." he said, his tone turning her name into a caress, "I... let me hear it one more time?"

Willow smiled, seeing the entire world in his eyes... or *her* entire world, at any rate. "I... I'm yours, Spike, and I want everyone to know it... I want to be free from *this*," she said softly, raising the hand he wasn't holding to Drusilla's mark on her neck, "So that *you* can mark me... *claim* me..." She inhaled sharply as his eyes became even brighter, and placed her hand against his chest, holding him back when he would have kissed her. She saw the confusion in his eyes, and hurried to explain her action.

"But you were right, my dearest... I *have* been keeping something from you... And I think I need to tell you everything... before this goes any farther than it already has..." She sighed, standing and pulling him up from the floor before she led him back to the bed, where they sat uncomfortably next to each other as she began to explain.

She told him all about her life in Sunnydale... her, Xander and Jesse... the beginning of her 'career' fighting evil... Oz and Percy... Jesse leaving... All the things that had made her who she was... Xander's disappearance... her discovery of a slowly going sane Drusilla... becoming friends with the formerly crazed vampire, and then *best* friends... the Slayer, Buffy, coming to town... her decision to let the blonde girl and her watcher join her group of 'warriors'... her father finally dying from the cancer, after so long that his passing was a relief to him... the prophecy that had brought her to the Gathering... and finally, she told him about what she had seen when she'd passed out the day before. She told him *everything*, and in return for her trust, her absolute love, he returned the favor.

Willow listened as Spike told her about *his* life... *all* of it! She felt so badly for him while he was explaining how his father had never thought of the young William as 'good enough', and smiled slightly when he told her what a bad poet he'd been... She almost growled herself when she heard about that bitch Cecily who'd done her damnedest to break his heart, and smiled again, unwillingly, when he told her how he'd finally ripped the slut's heart out, in the literal sense, after he'd run across a tall, handsome bloke, and a rather crazed brunette girl, in a dark alley that same night! She felt the tears gathering in her eyes when he spoke of his feelings of abandonment when his Sire, that same tall and handsome bloke from the alley, left one night with his own small, blonde Sire, and never came back. She turned to him at that point, and wrapped her strong, slender arms around him. She felt him shudder slightly, and pressed herself closer to him, relieved when the shaking stopped.

He glossed over the next six or seven decades, saying that nothing of any great moment had happened, except for Drusilla leaving him, and then he finally, finally, got to the part that she was actually very curious about... not that she hadn't been fascinated by the tale of his early years as a demon, but she wanted to know just how his Sire had come back into his life. She could feel herself becoming almost unnaturally still as he spoke on. (A *soul*!) she thought to herself, wonderingly, (Angelus... Angel! Has a *soul*!) She smiled to herself, wondering why she was surprised... after all, it wasn't as if Spike *didn't*... his just wasn't as in control as his Sire's... She gazed lovingly into his beautiful blue eyes, seeing the slight fear of rejection there, and swiftly pulled his cool, soft lips to her own warmer ones. "I love you, Spike," she said softly, but earnestly, pulling away from him for a moment, "Nothing is going to change that, and... I'm yours... just as much as you're mine..." She kissed him again, glad to find that this time his tongue crept out to meet hers. "Spike..." she moaned.

Her breath came in short gasps as his teeth slid softly down over her chin, and down her throat, to rest against the throbbing pulse in her neck. "Spike," she moaned again, more demanding this time, "Please..." She sighed happily as he began to lick at her hot skin, his inherent coolness making her hotter than she'd ever dreamed possible. It was like she was on fire! But then again, every time he touched her, or even looked at her, she felt like she was burning! "Spike..." she moaned, delighting in the sensation of his hard, cool body sliding slowly down hers, "Spike, it's..." Her breath caught in a hiss as she felt his talented mouth latch on to her navel, torturing her tender flesh before moving downward. "Spike!" she cried out, almost yelping, when she felt first his fingers, then his tongue, moving over the hot, wet core of her, "Spike... *please*!" Her needy whimpers and moans only seemed to drive him further, though. His tongue was suddenly buried deep inside her, gathering as much of her essence as possible, while his pale, elegant fingers were slowly and gently tweaking at the hard, swollen nub of her clit. She almost thought that she would die from the sensations alone, but then again, she'd thought that the first time he'd touched her like this, too. Her breathing became even more laboured when his fingers and tongue suddenly traded positions... now, those long, beautiful fingers were plunging in... and out... of her wetness, whilst his tongue danced across her throbbing nub. "Spike!" she ground out, her orgasm catching her unawares, "Spike... I *need* you!"

She almost screamed as he ever-so-slowly licked his way up her body, but held it in, knowing there'd be other opportunities... and soon, unless she missed her guess... Holding back became a moot point, however, as he finally, *finally*, drew her lips into a soul-searing kiss and thrust himself fully inside her! She shrieked into his cool mouth at the sensation, loving the way he felt in her as he began to move, her legs wrapped firmly around his waist.

At first his thrusts were slow and sensual, but as she began to respond in kind, they became harder... deeper... she could feel herself losing all control, and knew that he must be feeling the same. "Spike," she whimpered, her body still rising almost automatically to meet his deep thrusts, "Cum for me, Spike... cum for me..." She stared blissfully into his at first blue, then golden eyes as his true face overtook his human one, then pulled his head down to her breast. "Please." she said, pressing his mouth hard to her.

She screamed again, lower this time, when she felt his jagged teeth break her skin for the first time, and pressed his head back to her when he pulled away, the fear that he'd hurt her plain in his eye. "Spike!" she moaned, the very sensation of him buried deeper inside her than anyone else had ever been, and his fangs piercing her skin as he tasted her, pushing her firmly into another orgasm. She gasped a bit in delight as she felt his cool, dead seed fill her achingly hot, tight channel. "Spike..." she murmured again, holding him tightly to her when he would have pulled out, "Stay..." And he did...

Willow grinned as she stood and tied the sash of her robe, knowing full well that the memory alone had aroused her... she only hoped that her love wasn't too busy with his Sire to drop everything so that they could repeat the experience... She didn't know what was happening, but somehow, with Spike, she seemed to have become something of a sex fiend... (No,) she reminded herself amusedly, (It's that I *love* him... That's why I can't get enough of him... Well, that and the fact that he is one *damned* sexy man...) She walked to the bedroom door, refusing to wonder, or even *think*, about how they'd manage when she was fifty, and he was... the same age he'd been for over a hundred years. She opened the door, stepping in to the living room area of the suite, and stopped, slack-jawed. *Darla* was there! And... Xander was hugging the obviously just-arrived Drusilla, who looked confused while her childe held her and cried bloody tears.

Drusilla continued to pat the boy's back, her eyes flying imploringly around the room. She had missed him, of course; he *was*, after all, her childe, but... She hadn't seen him in years, and although she'd been changing when she'd sent him away, she hadn't been quite the vampire that she'd finally become... what if he decided that he hated her? Or worse yet, he *didn't* hate her, and wanted to go back home with her? She sighed softly. The Slayer might be willing to let *her* live, but there was just no *way* that the nasty little blonde would let her *childe* be... especially not if he was hunting on what the trampy, whiney bitch considered to be 'her turf'. She sighed again, pulling away from the boy until her eyes met his. "Hello, Xander..." she finally managed to say around the sudden lump in her throat.

Darla had watched, seething, when her her great grand childe flung himself into the arms of the formerly looney vampire. She was losing him, and there was nothing she could do about it! Regardless of what the boy had said earlier, she could see that he wanted nothing more than to stay right where he was, wrapped in the gentle embrace of his Sire, and somehow, looking at the two of them standing there, silently holding each other, she couldn't really blame him. She glanced quickly at her own childe, her Angelus, and knew, sadly, that although the bond they'd shared had been equally intense, if not more so... that time had long ago passed into memory... and mostly due to the way she'd reacted to his soul. She had felt, when the insane Dru sent Xander to her, almost like she was being given a second chance... the opportunity to correct her one real regret, and she'd taken it! She hadn't planned on coming to... *need* the boy, but... from the moment he'd arrived, he'd lightened the darkness she lived in, first with his bizarre sense of humour, and later with his surprisingly agile mind... She shifted her gaze back to the now slightly separated pair by the door, her eyes hardening. No, she decided angrily, Drusilla had given Xander to her, and she'd be damned yet again if she'd give him back without a fight. "Dear boy," she said, standing, her soft words belied by her tone, "Come here."

Xander turned his head slightly, tearing his gaze from his Sire's, and stared for a moment at the woman who had spoken. He saw her outstretched hand, and the anger racing through her slight form, and realized that his reaction to his Sire's presence had somehow... *hurt* her. "Sorry, Dru," he said, pulling fully away from the tall, thin vamp, "But..." He shrugged slightly and turned, rejoining his Master.

Drusilla smiled, glad that her childe had found a place where he belonged, and stepped back, letting him go, as her eyes were drawn, almost unwillingly, to the tall, dark vampire standing silently next to his white-blond childe. "Sire..." she hissed, her true face emerging. She was unable to help the angry reaction to the man who'd abandoned her so long ago.

The little redhead watched the uncomfortable scene unfolding before her, and almost smiled. Soon, she knew, everything would be settled, and they could all go on to do what they had to do... She was certain, deep inside herself, that there was a *reason* they'd all been called together at that particular point in time, and once they figured out just what that reason was, they would be unstoppable! She watched, becoming nervous, as her best friend stalked angrily towards her Sire and 'brother'... Dru didn't look very happy to be seeing them, and Willow wondered just *how* she was going to stop her if she got it into her mind to kill Angel... and that was when she realized that for all of Drusilla's visions and abilities, the girl had no *idea* that Angel... had a *soul*! She looked around, almost desperately, for the only person who'd be able to help her if things turned ugly. (Where *is* Faith, anyway?) she wondered, her eyes widening as the door to the girl's bedroom flew open and the almost naked brunette bowled over a very surprised Angel.

She had woken up sore and tired. Of course, she realized, grinning to herself as she remembered her earlier... activities, she had every reason to be! She rolled over, groaning slightly at the ache between her legs... she didn't know what had possessed her to take Angel that way, but... damn, it had been good! She could feel herself becoming aroused from just the memory, and forced her mind away from thinking about it. After all, Angel was out in the living room with not just their friends, but Darla, that guy Xander, and some girl *she* didn't know, but might be Willow's friend Dru. She sat up quickly, her eyes wide, one hand over her mouth. ::How in the hell do I know *that*? Damn it!:: Her heartbeat sped up as she felt wave after wave of sorrow and regret flow through her, only they weren't *her* emotions, and she *knew* it! They were *Angel's*... and they were directed towards... the woman she didn't know! ::What the *hell*?:: she thought again, as she grabbed Angel's big silk shirt, and threw it over herself before racing to the door and flinging it open. Her eyes darted quickly about the room, taking in the odd tableau, before finally coming to rest on the tall vampire she loved, and she threw herself hard at him, knocking him, in his surprise, to the floor. She straddled his stomach and glared harshly into his soft, gentle eyes. "What in the hell did you do to me?" she demanded, her fingernails digging deep into his shoulders. "Well?" she said fiercely when he winced slightly, but didn't answer.

Angela glared again at the barkeep before glancing at the clock one more time. She had been waiting for her new friend Xander in the hotel bar for almost half an hour, and she was starting to get... pissed. She'd really thought that he liked her, and he *had* made her promise to meet him that night, so... So, now here she was, surrounded by vampires, and none of them was the one vampire she was looking for! She decided to give him five more minutes before she left, herself. As the minutes slowly ticked by, she began to wonder why none of the other patrons had approached her. She knew that she was looking good in her leather and lace, with her hair swept up into a soft bun, but still, no one had even come near her! Maybe she was giving off some sort of an 'unapproachable' vibe... She sighed finally, and stood. He wasn't coming. Ah, well, she decided as she left the bar, maybe she'd go see what Faith was up to... She giggled softly to herself, remembering the fiery chemistry between her Slayer friend and the tall, dark vampire she'd met the day before. If she knew Faith, and she *did*, Angel was completely off the market by now. Still... she frowned slightly, as she waited for the elevator... why hadn't anyone in the bar even *talked* to her? She'd seen a few other humans walk in while she'd been waiting, and *they'd* been virtually *covered* in vampires, almost immediately. She sighed again as she stepped in to the elevator, completely unaware, as she pushed the button for the twenty-seventh floor, that word had circulated through the Gathering before she'd even gone up to bed the night before... the lovely auburn haired girl belonged to the Master of the City's favourite, and no one there would even *think* of touching her without his permission. Of course, with a girl like *that*, such permission would be a long time in the coming... if ever!

She stepped out into the corridor, her long dark blue coat trailing behind her, and made her way to her friend's suite, surprised to see the door wide open. Her eyes flew about the room, widening in surprise as she softly closed the door behind her. "Uh... Faith," she said, in an effort to dispel the tension permeating the air, "Is it really necessary to *sit* on him? I mean, I don't think he's gonna try to run *away*..." She swallowed hard as every eye in the room settled on her. "Or maybe I'm wrong..." she added, suddenly uncomfortable... at least, until she felt a pair of strong, cool arms wrapping around her waist from behind.

"Hey, Ang..." Xander murmured softly into her ear, pulling her against him, her back to his chest. "Sorry I didn't meet you downstairs, but... things got kind of..."

"Tense?" Angela muttered back, finishing his sentence. "Well, OK... *this* time..." She let Xander lead her to one of the couches, and proceeded to deliberately ignore everything else that was happening in the room.

Willow almost laughed aloud at Xander's friend Angela's comment. She wasn't sure of exactly what the girl was doing there, but she was glad she'd shown up! Things had been getting rapidly out of control. "Spike," she said softly, leaning back into his arms as she watched a still angry Faith push herself off of Angel, "What the hell is going on here?"

Spike chuckled, low and for her ears alone. "Well, pet," he said, the amusement clear in his voice, "It seems that the great Poof's gone and *mated* the girl." He smiled a bit more broadly when his redheaded witch just shook her head in confusion. ""It's like this, love," he began, as he watched the Slayer... or former Slayer, he wasn't too sure about that... offer her hand to Angel, and help him up from the floor. "Vampires can, on occasion, take a mate. It's not done very often, mostly because mateds have no secrets from each other... they *can't*, you see... they become... a part of each other, know each others thoughts and feelings without even trying! And when it's done with a *human*... well, it basically makes the human immortal. Plus, it... *binds* them, for all eternity, to the vampire they've been mated by."

Willow could feel her lips forming a round O of astonishment. "So then why... why is Faith so upset?"

Spike grinned again. "Well, apparently no one bothered to tell *Faith* that she'd mated herself to Angel, so I'm guessing that when she woke up, and *felt* him..."

"Wait." Willow said, shocked, as she turned in his arms and fastened her eyes on his. "Are you saying that... Angel did that mating thing, and didn't tell her about it first? I mean, isn't that a little bit, umm... stupid?"

"Yeah," Spike said, pulling his eyes from hers to look across the room to where his Sire was standing, holding the girl he'd be spending the rest of eternity with. "Yeah, it *is* stupid, but according to Angel, it just sort of... *happened*... a heat of the moment kind of thing... And he *does* love her, you know, so..." He gazed back into her green, green eyes, smiling softly. "I think they'll be alright. Or at least they will if Dru doesn't *kill* him first..."

The redhead smiled slightly at him before turning away. "Dru!" she called brightly, crossing the room to hug her best friend, "Hi! How was your trip?" She looked at her friend, still smiling as she released her. "And you can put the grrr-face away, honey. There will be *no* staking of my soul-having vampire friend, and I *mean* it, little miss!"

Drusilla tried to snarl at the girl, she really *did*, but... Willow had always had a way about her, and she smiled instead, letting her human features re-emerge. "Oh, *fine*, Will, take all the *fun* out of things! It's not like I was going to actually *kill* him, just... *hurt* him a lot... I mean, he was in my vision, after all..." She stopped, mentally replaying what her friend had just said. "Uh, Will? What do you mean by 'soul-having'?"

Willow sighed and led the girl to the couch across from Angela and Xander. She motioned Spike over, grinning at the teary reunion he and Drusilla indulged in. She almost hated to do it, but there would be time for the vampires to catch up later... Right now, though... "Spike..." she broke in, her hand on his chest stopping his words, "I think you need to tell Dru about Angel's soul..." She sighed as he nodded, and leaned against him... It was going to be a looong night...

Angel held tightly to the girl in his arms, waiting anxiously for her reaction to finding out that he had somehow, without really meaning to, made her his for all eternity... of course, since *she'd* started the whole thing, it was entirely possible that she'd made him hers, instead... He shook his head slightly, disregarding the thoughts. It was irrelevant, anyway... Whoever had started it, however it had ended up happening, they were *bound*, now... and he couldn't possibly be any happier with the way things had turned out! He only hoped that his Faith would be able to accept the change in their relationship, because, like it or not, she was stuck with him now... forever! He gazed down into her curious brown eyes as she pulled slightly away from him.

Faith had been thinking quietly about what her lover... *mated* had just told her, and after a little while, she was sure of only two things, but she was more sure of those two things than she'd ever been of anything else in her life. The first was that she did indeed love him enough to spend eternity with him. The second was that if he didn't feel the same way, she would have to leave. She couldn't, *wouldn't* stay with him if he had even the slightest doubt about them... it would be a long and lonely eternity, but better to be alone than to watch as love became tolerance, then passed into resentment. She knew that he'd *said* he loved her, but loving a human, who would die someday, especially a *Slayer* who probably had a life-span of less than five years left, and having to love that same human forever, because she suddenly became immortal... well, those were two very different things. She stared into his beautiful coffee-coloured eyes, taking a deep breath. "Angel," she finally said, "Are... are you *sure* that you want this... me, I mean... 'Cause forever's a really long time, and..." Her words were silenced by his cool lips as he took her in a soft, sensual kiss.

He pulled back slowly, once again meeting her eyes. "I want this, Faith," he said intently. "I... I wasn't really planning on being mated, but..." He smiled softly, one hand on the back of her neck, "I'm not sorry. How could I be? I get to spend eternity with *you*, laughing, and loving, and touching..." He pulled her more firmly against him, rocking his swiftly hardening cock against her warm belly. "I can think of worse fates, my love," he whispered softly into her hair, "Than making love to you for all time..."

She knew that her breath was coming in short pants, that her heart was beating even faster than it usually did around him, even that he could smell and feel how excited he made her, and she wanted nothing more than to drag him off to their room and repeat each and every action that had brought them to this moment. Of course, his long-lost childe was there, not to mention Xander, and Angela... and Angel's Sire Darla, as well, so... she pulled back from him, and asked him the last question she wanted to ask. "It... it's not going to bother you? Me slaying for all time, I mean? 'Cause I *am* still a Slayer, y'know..." She spun around in his arms, eyes wide in shock, as Darla jumped in to what Faith had thought was a private conversation.

"Actually, my dear, you're *not*... A Slayer, I mean... or not any more, anyway." Darla smiled slightly, suddenly the center of attention as all other conversations in the room stopped, and everyone's eyes fell upon her. "And I suppose I should explain..." She relished the feel of all their attention centered solely on her, and waved her childe and his... mated... towards the couches where everyone else was sitting. She followed them, seating herself quite prettily in one of the chairs nearby, and spent a moment ordering her thoughts before finally beginning to speak. "It's the nature of Slayer-hood, Faith," she said softly, glancing down at the girl's white-knuckled grasp on Angel's hand. "You're meant to be... expendable. What *is* that the watchers say..." She pursed her lips, pretending to have to think about it. "Oh, yes, one Slayer dies, another is called. Slayers *can't* live forever! It would mean too much power bound up in one individual, and that's why the council... *kills* any Slayer who isn't taken out by the vampires and demons she fights. Granted, that doesn't happen very often... it's a dangerous profession you had thrust upon you, but it *has* happened, a time or two, and always before the ten year mark..."

"And what does that have to do with Faith not being a Slayer anymore? And for that matter, how do you *know* she's not?" Angel couldn't help asking... he had to know!

Darla sighed, leaning back in the chair. "I know that she's no longer a Slayer, dear boy, because I can *feel* it! I could tell the minute I walked in the door tonight. I should have been able to sense her, even before I got off the elevator, but I couldn't... then I saw your neck, childe, and I... *knew*!"

"But..." Willow said hesitantly, trying to understand, "I thought the only way to stop being a Slayer was to..."

"Die." Darla finished. "It is. Of course, no one's ever mated a Slayer before, so this is just speculation, but... I *think* that when Faith and Angelus completed the mating, she *did* die... or at least, the change from mortal to immortal was perceived as being the same as death. And in a way, it is, you know..."

The redhead nodded, rolling the logic around in her head. "So what you're saying is that because her old life ended as they became mated, she lost her Slayer-ness..." Her eyes flew to Faith as the dark haired girl jumped up from the couch and ran to the balcony doors. "Faith?" she said, surprised. She would have gotten up and gone to the girl, but Angel beat her to it.

"Love?" he said softly, resting his hands on her shoulders and turning her towards him, "Love, what is it? What's wrong?" His arms slipped around her back as she buried her face in his cool, broad chest.

Faith sighed sadly, not really sure of exactly *what* her problem was. She had never *wanted* to be a Slayer, had, in fact, wished almost every day for some sort of a miracle to occur... hoped that one day she'd wake up and be just... *Faith* again. But now that it had apparently happened, she felt... "I... What am I now, Angel? I mean," she continued, pulling back slightly, and focusing on the white undershirt covering his lovely skin, "I'm not a Slayer anymore, I don't have a calling, so... what does that make me now?" She sniffed slightly, amazed that she was getting all teary over the loss of something she'd hated.

Angel sighed, tipping her chin up with one hand. "You're Faith," he said softly, staring deep into her eyes, "And even more importantly, you're *my* Faith... my *mated* one... and believe me, sweet, that makes you *much* more special than being a *Slayer* ever could..." He grinned down at her, seeing her eyes light up, and kissed her hard before taking her hand and leading her back to the others. "Crisis over," he announced as he sat back down on the couch, this time pulling his girl onto his lap. "Now... where were we?" he said, not really paying much attention as his lips moved slowly over his mated one's neck, pausing longingly at the bite mark he'd left on her neck.

Spike laughed, realizing that his Sire and Faith were off in their own little world. He stood, pulling his redhead with him. "All right, you lot," he said, his gaze skimming over those of them *without* mated ones, "Willow and I are going to put some clothes on... well, *she* is, and I'm going to change mine, and then we are all going to go somewhere... *else*." He grinned at the looks of surprise he was receiving. "Unless you want to stay here and watch while the mated ones, uh... *mate*?" He turned and pulled his unresisting witch into their bedroom.

Angela stared after them for a moment before turning her eyes to the blonde woman in the chair. "What was *that* all about?"

Darla just smiled wickedly at the girl who was obviously very interested in her great grand childe, and finally answered when the girl didn't lower her eyes or even blink. "Angelus and Faith are freshly mated." She smirked slightly. "They'll be all *over* each other for the next little while, as the bond demands reinforcement." She stood, glad to see that Xander was paying attention. "Spike was right," she said, nodding at the fully dressed couple emerging from the bedroom, "In about a minute, they won't care if they're in a room full of people or not..." She watched, smiling, as Drusilla moved from the couch to join her 'brother' and her best friend, then gestured to Xander and Angela to precede her. "And that's something that I'd really rather not watch..." she murmured softly to herself as she closed the suite's door behind her.

Chapter 3

Angel smiled down at the brunette girl in his arms, almost unable to believe that they'd gone at it right here, on the carpeted floor of the living room. Of course, it was the mating bond that drove them to it, otherwise... His smile grew a bit wider and softer as she turned against him, her warm hands roaming freely across his broad back. Otherwise, he'd have taken the girl in a proper bed! Fortunately, his childe had had the sense to get everyone else out before they ended up catching a free show, courtesy of the mated ones. "Faith..." he murmured, taking the girl with him as he sat up, "Sweet, if you're going to keep touching me like that... then I think we'd better at least *try* to make it to the bedroom this time..." He groaned as he felt her hot little tongue flicker out to caress his nipple. The girl seemed to be very attached to those sensitive little nubs of flesh. He wasn't sure, but he thought it was because of the variety of sounds she pulled from him every time she...

Faith smiled against his cool chest and wrapped her legs around his waist, knowing exactly what he was thinking. It was kind of strange to her, being... inside someone like this... feeling their emotions and knowing their thoughts, and if it had been anybody but Angel, she would probably have killed them by now, just from knowing that they were inside her in the same way. But Angel... her *mated* *one*, she reminded herself... Angel had seen even more darkness than she had... and he accepted her, *all* of her... and that wasn't something she'd ever had before. She took one more swipe at his cool, hard nipple with her soft, wet tongue, before pulling back slightly. "Yeah, Fang, I guess you're right..." She squeaked softly, delighted, as he stood, still holding her in his arms... She loved it that he was so strong. "After all, who *knows* when the 'kids' will be back?"

The tall vampire laughed, carrying his love into the bedroom. "So are you going to mind?" he asked amusedly, almost entirely sure of her answer, "When Spike and Dru start calling you 'Mum', I mean."

She laughed, laying back against the rumpled sheets, one knee bent, as she watched him close and lock their door. "Nah," she said, watching him approach her with hungry eyes, "I figure they'll stop after the first few times I ground them, and make it stick!" Her laughter faded, her breaths becoming soft gasps, as she watched him crawl slowly across the bed towards her.

Angel smirked slightly at the sound of her hitched breathing. "And *how*, exactly," he murmured, as he covered her body with his own, "Are you going to 'make it stick'?" He almost laughed at her response, but was too busy tasting the slightly seeping re-opened wound on her neck.

"Oh..." Faith breathed softly, trying to ignore the impulse to taste the mark *she'd* left on *him*, "You're their Sire, and you're *my* mated... I think I'll be able to work something out with them... Plus," she finished in a rush, "I still seem to have all my Slayer strength, so I don't see a problem..." Her eyes rolled back in her head as she felt his fangs slip out and delve gently into the bite he'd given her earlier. ::Fuck it!:: she thought, giving in to her impulses as her mouth found its way back to her mark. She bared her teeth and bit down hard, breaking through the already healed skin. She knew it had to hurt him, but he seemed to enjoy it every time... and it was a good thing, too, as she had no intention of stopping any time soon... somehow, he just tasted too *good*... his cool, dead blood was better than any alcohol she'd ever had, and was so much more... intoxicating...

"So..." Spike said as he sat beside Willow in the conference room Darla had found for them to use, "What now?" He ignored the surprised looks from the entire group, focusing solely on Darla, who oddly enough didn't look surprised at all.

"What ever do you mean, William?" the small blonde asked sweetly, trying to look innocent. She knew she'd failed in the attempt, though, as everyone, including her great grand childe's new human friend... the one who'd just *met* her, looked at her warningly. "Oh, all *right*!" She sighed softly. "What do you want to know?"

It was Willow who spoke up first. "Well, *I*, for one, want to know why you're taking all of this so well... I mean, your childe shows up here, after you two parted-- from what I understand-- on less than pleasant terms. Not only does he show up, but he's with a Slayer, who he then ... mates?" she said querulously, looking to her lover for the correct term. "Yes, *mates*. And for some reason, you don't seem bothered at all. In fact, you seem downright *happy* about it!"

Darla smiled, her eyes crinkling slightly. "Yes, well... honestly, I wasn't terribly pleased when he was just sleeping with the girl. How could I be? The 'Master of the City's only childe, shacked up with a Slayer, and not planning on killing her? I would have been the laughing-stock of the Underworld if *that* had gotten out! I mean, it was hard enough keeping the demon community from finding out about his *soul*! I can't even *imagine* how hard *this* would have been to keep secret!" She shook her head slightly, sighing at the very thought. "Fortunately, he *did* mate the girl, so her former-Slayer status is actually something of a feather in his proverbial cap now! After all," she said, grinning more brightly as her eyes swept over them all, before finally settling on the little redhead again, "Plenty of vampires can claim to have killed a Slayer... but how many of them can say that they've mated one?" Her gaze moved to Spike's, and she nodded, seeing the comprehension in his eyes. "That's right, Spike... and he's *my* childe!"

Spike closed his eyes for a moment before opening them to look resignedly at his Grand Sire. "I see. And you think that he'll what?... Support you in whatever it is you've got planned here?" He chuckled, seeing her eyes widen. "Don't look so surprised, Darla, after all, I've known you for... almost a hundred and fifty years now?" He shook his head, smirking wickedly. "Now, I'm not saying that you didn't *miss* the poof, but... you wouldn't *be* here, even if you *are* hosting this thing, unless you had some sort of an agenda... and you wouldn't have sought out Angelus if you didn't think that you could... *use* him somehow." He leaned back in his chair, his fingers entwined with those of his witch, as he watch the blonde woman trying to order her thoughts.

"Spike?" Willow murmured softly, leaning closer to him, "What the hell is going on?"

The bleached blond vampire smiled at his beautiful lover. "Well, pet," he said softly, "My Grand Sire just figured out that I'm not as stupid as she'd been led to believe..."

"Led?" the redhead said, sounding amused, "Now who would ever lead Darla to under-estimate your intelligence?"

"Hmmm..." Spike rolled his eyes to the ceiling, afraid to keep looking at Willow for fear of laughing out loud. "Well, that would've been *me*, luv... Figured if I played 'idiot', she wouldn't see me as a threat, and since I prefer being me to being a big pile of dust, well..."

Drusilla laughed, having overheard their little conversation. "Yeah, but Spikey," she said, the affectionate teasing apparent in her tone, "You have to admit that acting like you were in love with me helped her to draw the 'stupidity' conclusion! I mean, really! What *smart* vampire would have attached himself to someone as... *loopy* as I was then?"

"Hey!" Xander jumped in, turning away from Angela for a moment, "I resent that, Sire! *I* attached myself to you, and I'm *not* stupid!"

"No, lovey, of course you're not," Dru said placatingly, "But seeing as I sired you, it's more like *I* attached you to me. Besides, I was talking about vampires who had a choice!" She shook her head, smiling sadly at her only childe. "And I never *gave* you one..."

"Sire..." Xander moaned, by way of apology and protest, "Maybe you didn't give me a choice, but do you honestly think that I'd rather be *human*? I mean, the internal workings *alone*..." He shuddered exaggeratedly. "*No*, thanks! I like my life just *fine* the way it is!" He turned back to Angela for a moment, pulling her chair closer to his. "I mean, *look* at me! The Master of Seattle is my Great Grand Sire, I've *finally* been able to see the girl who was my best friend for my whole *life*, until you sent me to Darla, anyway, I've gotten to meet William the Bloody *and* Angelus, and I get to spend time with *Angela*!" He stared into the girl's hazel-brown eyes. "What could be better?" he asked softly, rubbing his thumb gently over her cheekbone.

"Well," Darla broke in, "Much as I hate to interrupt this... touching scene, I have a few questions of my own. Like..." She pulled her eyes from Xander and his girl, focusing on Spike once again. "What are you doing here... Why are you with...*her*..." she gestured at the redhead by his side. "And *why*," she asked, shifting her gaze to the just mentioned witch, "Why is it that I feel like I *know* you, when I've never met you before this Gathering? And don't tell me it's because Xander talks about you so much, because I *know* that's not it!"

Spike gazed questioningly into Willow's eyes, and seeing that she was planning on telling Darla the whole story, decided that he should go first... after all, *his* answers were going to take a lot less time. "Fine, Darla. I'm here because it's 2003, and Paris was boring. And I'm with *Willow*" he stressed her name, "Because I'm in *love* with her... planning on claiming her, if you must know..." His eyes shifted to his 'sister'. "That's if you don't mind releasing her, Dru..." He turned his attention back to the blonde without waiting for Drusilla's reaction. "And yeah, someday, I'd like to mate her, if she'll have me." He narrowed his eyes, glaring at his Grand Sire. "Anything else you want to know? No? *Good*!" He leaned back in his chair again, still holding the redhead's suddenly rather limp hand.

Willow's mind was whirring. She'd known about the claiming; after all, she'd been the one to bring it up! But he wanted to *mate* her? She really wasn't too sure about *that*! She loved him, there was no doubt in her mind on *that* score, but still... she'd never really thought about anything like being *mated* to him! From what he'd told her, it sounded like a rather uncomfortable thing... always knowing what your mated one was thinking... feeling... thinking of feeling. She suppressed a shudder. No, it just didn't sound like a whole lot of fun to *her*... she almost thought that she'd rather just be turned... at least then, she'd be able to keep her thoughts and emotions to herself! No, she decided, claiming was fine, but being mated? Never... it just wasn't for her. She shook herself out of her thoughts as she realized that Spike had been saying her name for at least a minute. "I... I'm sorry... what?" she said, sounding dazed.

"Where were you, luv?" Spike asked, concerned. He knew that the girl had been thinking, but nothing in her expression had given any indication as to what, exactly, she'd been thinking about. He smiled when she just shook her head, knowing he'd get it out of her sooner or later. "Darla's waiting, luv..."

Willow nodded slowly, turning her eyes to meet the blonde woman's. "OK, you want to know why you feel like you know me?" She smiled slightly as Darla nodded. "Well, I hope you're comfortable, because it's a long story. It all started almost a thousand years ago..."

Xander felt his eyes going rounder and rounder as his redheaded friend spoke on and on... If she wasn't making it all up, and he didn't think she *was*, it would certainly explain a *lot*! It was almost a shame, he thought, that Angelus wasn't there to hear all of it... he'd have loved to hear what his Grand Sire thought of it all.

Faith stared down into the dark eyes of the vampire she was straddling. "I think that was the best one yet, Baby," she said contentedly as she draped her torso over his, her lips coming to rest just inches from the still open wound in his throat. She grinned, licking lightly at it as he groaned.

"Oh... god, sweetness, don't..." his voice hitched slightly as she threaded her fingers through his hair. "You *can't* still be feeling the bond calling..." he moaned, loving the feel of her against him. Damn, but she was a wild one! He could feel his body calling to him to just shut up and take what she was offering, but... he didn't want to hurt her, and he knew for damned sure that she was going to be sorer than she ever knew existed, come sun-up! He groaned again, feeling her rocking gently against him. "Faith..." he moaned, "Please... let's just take a little break, OK? Before the mated bond's urges kill us both?"

Faith grinned, raising her head from his neck to look him in the eye, his blood still staining her lips. "The bond's urges? Ohhh... you mean those things I stopped feeling over an hour ago... right..." Her mouth returned to its tasting of him. "Sorry, lover, but this is all me..." she said between soft sucks and licks at the seeping wound. "You're just... irresistible..."

Angel growled slightly, his arousal taking over as he rolled them both, and stared down into her surprised eyes. "Fine, *lover*," he said dangerously, as he thrust himself fully into her wet heat, "But don't blame *me* if you can't *walk* in the morning..."

The former Slayer smiled lustfully up into his now golden eyes as he began to move within her. "I never was much of a morning person..." she sighed out, as he took her hard and fast... God, she *loved* this man!

Willow walked slowly into their suite, wondering what she was going to do. She loved Spike more than anything, but... to be *mated* to him? She'd been rolling the idea around in her mind, and she just wasn't sure of how she felt about it... Finally, she'd decided to talk to the only people who might be able to help her... the only mateds she knew. That was why she'd left Spike with the others, talking about what she'd told them. He hadn't seemed like he'd wanted to let her go, but finally he had, apparently realizing that whatever was bothering her was something that she had to resolve for herself. She approached Angel and Faith's door, stopping for a moment to listen closely... after all, she didn't want to interrupt them if they were in the middle of... something. Hearing nothing, she timidly knocked on the door.

Angel quickly pulled the sheet off the floor and tucked it around the two of them when he heard the gentle knock on the bedroom door. Not that he would have minded Willow seeing them naked, but... all in good time... "Come in, Willow," he called softly, smiling as she pushed the door open a bit and peered tentatively around it.

"Yeah, Will, c'mon in," Faith added, grinning at the redhead's wide-eyed expression. "What? You were hoping to catch us in the act?" She chuckled quietly as the girl turned bright red.

"N...No... I was just... I... and then you... or, well, *he*... and I..."

Angel grinned widely. The girl was even cuter when she was nervous! "Ignore her, Willow," he said soothingly, shooting a slight glare at his mated, "She's just a little bit *sore* at the moment."

Faith laughed, swatting his arm as she clasped the sheets to her breasts. "And whose fault is *that*, Mister 'Vampiric-stamina'!?"

"Yours," Angel purred, wrapping his arm around her, his large hand coming to rest on her sheet-covered breast. "I *warned* you, but would you listen? Nooo, of *course* not!"

The brunette girl chuckled again, meeting the staring redhead's eyes. "He's right, you know... I never *was* much good at ignoring my own desires... Oh, well... What's up, Will?"

Willow stared, amazed, at the mated ones in the bed. She'd been afraid that being mated was the kind of thing that would rob you of yourself... blend you with your partner until you didn't know what was you, and what wasn't... that the bonding was more of a... *blending*, but... from the looks of Angel and Faith, they were just as much themselves as they had ever been... still... "What... what does it... *feel* like?" she asked intently, sitting down on the edge of the bed nearest Faith. "I mean... are you... did it... *change* you?"

Angel sighed, pulling his girl up with him until they were leaning against the headboard of the large bed. Apparently, his foolish childe had let it slip that he wanted to mate the girl one day, and the little witch was having a bit of a problem with the idea. "Come here, dear girl," he said, extending the arm that wasn't around his mated. "Come on," he said coaxingly when she hesitated, "After all, if you can't go to your... father-in-law?... for comfort, where *can* you go?" He could see her mulling that over, and almost laughed when Faith cinched it for him.

"Yeah, Will... but if you start calling me Mom, all bets are off!"

Willow giggled and crawled over their legs, finally coming to rest against Angel's side, his arm around her waist. Well, *did* it? Change you, I mean?" She was looking at Faith, but it was Angel who answered her.

"Hmmm..." he said, contemplatively, "Did my entire world being turned upside down, my very focus in life being suddenly changed, my concept of who I was and what I wanted being overturned in less than a day... *change* me?" He laughed softly, staring deep into the redhead's eyes. "Of *course* it changed me, Willow! How could it not? There I was, going along, just following the path of least resistance, when all of a sudden, *wham*! I'm in love... and I'm *mated*!" He sighed wistfully as he remembered. "It usually doesn't happen the way it did for me and Faith, you know... usually, it'll happen when the two involved have been together for a very long time. It's pretty much the vampiric equivalent of a marriage, except there's no possibility of divorce... *ever*!" He grinned at the girl before turning his eyes to his mated. "I don't know why it happened this way for us, my love... maybe because I felt so drawn to you from the very beginning... maybe because you were a Slayer, but still chose to love me, I don't know... but I'm so very thankful for whatever it was that caused this..."

Faith smiled softly, pressing a gentle kiss on his strong jaw. "Me, too, Fang... me, too..."

Willow watched them, smiling to herself. They really were perfect together, but... "Is it... is it *hard*?" She blushed, rushing ahead at the look she saw in Faith's eyes. "Being inside each others heads, I mean... knowing what each other is feeling... thinking..." She couldn't help but shiver at the whole idea.

Faith exchanged a concerned glance with her lover, finally understanding what the girl was so worried about. "God, no!" she said strongly. "In fact, it's not really like that at all!" She sighed and reached out, taking her friend's hand across Angel's lap. "It's more like... if you try hard... you'll know, in a vague way, what's going on with your mated. Like, if I *think* about it, I know if Fang's happy, or sad, or worried, or angry... I can also tell *what* he's thinking about, if I really try, but..." She shrugged, only Angel's hand on her breast keeping the sheet up. "It's not like he's *there*, screaming in my ear all the time. It's... *nice*!" She grinned at the dark haired vampire who'd stolen her heart... and her mortality. "Plus," she finished, "It's a fair trade, I think... We get to sense each other's thoughts and feelings when we want to, and... I get to live forever... by his *side*, of course!"

Angel smiled back at his woman, nodding his agreement to everything she'd just said. "A very fair trade," he said softly, cupping her cheek in his hand, "Especially for me..."

Willow finally smiled, her mind set at ease... if Spike wanted them to someday have what his Sire and the ex-Slayer had, well... now that she'd gotten an insider's view, so to speak, she wasn't opposed. There was still something that she had to tell them, though... She just hoped it didn't spoil the mood. "Um, guys?" she said, a bit timidly, "About why this might have happened... and why you felt so *drawn* to each other... I might have an answer for you..." She swallowed hard as their eyes pinned her in place. "Um, well... it's like this..." She spoke slowly and softly, watching their eyes, as she began recounting to them what she'd just told the others a little while ago, and when she had finished, she waited for a response.

"Well," Faith said into the silence, "I guess this whole 'mating' thing wasn't as sudden as we thought..."

Angel's mind was reeling. He almost wanted to think that Willow was lying, but... it explained so *much*... about his life, and more. It was why he'd gone into that alley back in Galway, following the small blonde woman who had intrigued him so... the reason he'd pursued the slightly batty brunette girl, making her insane before making her his... the purpose in taking the then brown-haired William that night in London... and probably was also to root of why Darla had never made another childe after him. They all belonged together... they were parts of a whole, and the fact that their whole group hadn't been together in centuries would also account for his discontent as both human and vampire, Drusilla's inability to cope with her psychic gifts, William's anger at the world in general, and even Darla's need to surround herself with others, even those who hated her... It even explained Drusilla's urge, a few years earlier, to sire the boy... some part of her must have recognized him, causing her-- a vampire who had never, in almost two hundred years, made even a minion-- to make a childe. "No," he said softly, his arm pulling his mated closer to him, "Not sudden at all..."

Willow smiled fleetingly, glad that they had taken it so well, and pulled away from the comfort of Angel's arm. "Oh, Angel?" she said, standing and straightening her skirt, "Darla said to tell you there a meeting in the main ballroom tomorrow night..." she glanced at the clock by the bed, "Make that tonight. Eleven o'clock. And she expects us all to be there. Something about... the future... and introducing her new *daughter* to Vampire Society... She's sending minions to escort us at ten-thirty." She grinned at the shocked look in his eyes, and quickly left the room. Now that she had a better idea of what being mated was all about, she wanted to see Spike... and she was pretty sure she'd find him in the bar.

Spike sat, bleary eyed, at the table with Drusilla and his Grand Sire. Xander had run off with the cute little human almost an hour ago, and who knew when they'd be seeing either of *them* again! Not that Spike thought they were off somewhere shagging like crazed weasels, because that Angela didn't seem the type, considering she'd just met the lad the day before... of course, he could always be wrong. After all, he and his Sire had just met the witch and the Slayer two days earlier... but that was different, he told himself, and Angela really *was* a sweet girl... no, the kids were probably off somewhere having a good long chat... Which was what *he* should be doing with his redhead, but she'd run off as soon as she'd finished telling them her little story, and he hadn't seen her since! And because he'd already heard it once, *he* had been the one to answer the questions the others had.

When they'd finally exhausted their minds, and could think of nothing else to ask him, he'd announced that he was going to the bar, and Darla and Dru had decided to keep him company. It was shortly after they'd settled at a suddenly vacant table that Drusilla had told him what was bothering Willow. He'd almost asked her how she knew, since he hadn't seen the girl say anything to his 'sister', but the far away look in Drusilla's eyes answered the question before it was asked. She was using her gifts. He smiled slightly, remembering a time when she would have said that the stars told her... Much as he appreciated the new and improved, *sane* Drusilla, a part of him would always miss the crazed, batty Dru. He sighed, wishing that his girl had just *told* him what was wrong.

Drusilla looked sadly at her 'brother'... he was so dejected looking, and... *sad*! She didn't like to see her Spikey so sad. "Don't worry," she said softly, leaning across the table, "Angel and Faith have fixed it all up for you, Spike... Willow will be yours forever, now..." She grinned at the hope in his eyes.

"You saw that, Dru, luv? In a vision?" he said happily.

"No, William," Darla said, sounding somehow both bored and disgusted, "She saw it in the face of the redhead coming up behind you."

Drusilla looked sheepish. "Well, yeah... but I saw the part about Angel and Faith in a vision..." She grinned as Spike jumped up from his chair and pulled the redhead into a tight hug, and somehow managed to keep from laughing at Darla's expression when he returned to his chair and pulled the girl into his lap, his lips firmly attached to hers.

Darla stared at them for a few minutes before finally getting tired of waiting. *She* was the Master here! She didn't have to wait for anything! "So," she said loudly, hoping to interrupt them, "Did you tell him?"

Willow nodded slightly, her lips still completely engaged. Eventually, though, she pulled back slightly, her glazed eyes turning in the blonde woman's direction. "Oh... oh, yeah... they'll be there," she said, before her mouth was reclaimed by her lover's.

"Oh, get a room..." Darla muttered, tossing back a shot of the whiskey Spike had been drinking.

Drusilla laughed liltingly. "That's a good idea, Grandmother, but *first*..." She reached across the table, not surprised that the redhead didn't even notice her fingers on the mark she'd given the girl. She closed her eyes and concentrated, humming softly to herself as she felt the 'servant/Master' bond fall away. "Come now, Grandmother," she said, standing, I think it's time you showed me your lair." Dru grinned as the older vampire stood to join her, and reached over to shake Spike's shoulder. "Spike," she said, when his lust glazed eyes finally met hers, "Unless you want to put on a show, and then share your woman with the entire bar, I'd recommend going to your room now..." She grinned again as he stood, throwing the redhead over his shoulder. "It's a good thing he's finally found a woman who'll put up with his crap..." she murmured, before taking Darla's arm and leading her from the bar. "So..." Drusilla said curiously, "Have you got any good looking minions?" She giggled at the look in her Grand Sire's eyes. "Don't worry, Grandmother," she soothed, "I promise not to kill any of them... well, unless it's from exhaustion..." She giggled again as Darla finally laughed.

End.

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