The vampire was just preparing to get some sleep when his door flew open, banging against the wall hard enough that it bounced back and almost closed itself. William managed not to jump at the clamor. He was expecting this as he had already heard his sire do the same to every other room in the house.

"Where is she, William?" Angelus snarled as he strode into his childe's room uninvited.

William the Bloody cocked his head to the side to look at his sire, wondering what could have upset the older vampire. "Darla? Haven't seen her, mate. Thought she went to Paris for a fortnight hoping to absorb a little culture...or was it drain a few artists? I can't remember which."

"What?" Angelus growled, only half paying attention to the other vampire as he peered suspiciously under the bed and in the wardrobe. Coming up empty, he turned his frustration to the younger demon. "No! Not Darla...Rose! Ya better be tellin' me what ya did to her, because I swear, William, I brought ya into this world, and I can take ya out of it!"

William the Bloody stood up and faced his sire. He was not one to cower down before his maker's wrath.. He didn't have it in him before he was changed, and he refused to become anyone's flunky simply because he owed him his new life. He did admire Angelus though, and was even grateful to him, but just because technically he was Angelus's childe in vampire terms, that didn't mean he would be treated like one. The English vampire preferred to think of it as more of a mentor-disciple type of relationship, but deep down inside, he knew he would do anything for the older vampire.

"Tsk...tsk...calm down, Angelus. I just don't have the slightest idea who you are talking about, do I?" William had never seen his sire so restless before, and he couldn't help being unnerved by it. "Who is Rose?"

"She's a woman, a livin' woman, that I found in the park. I brought her here, fed from her, and now she's gone," he replied distractedly, his dark eyes still flitting about the room for any sign of the missing redhead. Only when he was completely satisfied that she wasn't in the room did Angelus begin to pace the floor wildly.

"Is that all? Bloody hell, Angelus. There are thousands of women out there. So, one escaped...just go get another! Besides, that's what you get for playing with your food." William the Bloody was still new to 'unlife' and couldn't help making vampiric puns whenever he had the chance. They may have been used for centuries, but to him they were all new and rather funny.

"No!" Angelus growled, his face now that of the demon's. "There is no other woman like her, William. This is a woman from my past...the woman I was in love with when I was alive...and I found her alive in the park today!"

The fledgling vamp wrinkled his nose. "Blimey, mate...after 60 years she must be a shriveled husk of a woman by now. Forget about her. Find yourself something fresh and soft and young to sink your teeth into! Take me, for example, tonight I found this sweet little barmaid with the most beautiful, round bre--"

Angelus grabbed the younger vampire by the neck, slamming him against the wall. "She isn't some old hag, William. She hasn't changed a bit in the passin' years. She is still as beautiful and young and delicious as she was the day I was turned." He emphasized each word by slamming his childe against the wall, causing plaster to shower down on them until William's hair was almost white with it.

"Angelus?" he managed after the older vampire had quit using him as wrecking ball. "You mean this is the woman you told me about? Your maiden meal?" Angelus had told him all about his first during William's initial hunt. He had been trying very hard to get the newly made demon to wait for the perfect first kill, wanting his childe's to be as special as his. Unfortunately, William the Bloody hadn't been able to withstand the hunger and had drained and killed the first drunken sot that he had found. He barely remembered now what his victim had looked like.

Angelus stared at his pale and dusty childe for a moment as something nagged at his memory, before nodding and letting him go. "Yes, it's the same one."

"Come on, mate. How can that be? Are you sure it wasn't just another redhead that looked like her?" William asked skeptically, brushing the plaster from his hair and clothing.

Angelus pushed away the irritating feeling that something was not right and focused on the matter at hand. "It was her. She admitted as much, and I tasted her. It was Rose." The Irish vampire found himself staring at his hand and the silver band that he still wore. Certain memories came back to him of how he had once hoped Rose would wear his ring. "Now," he said sharply, snapping himself out of his sickening reverie, "where is she?"

"How the bloody hell would I know? Does it look like I have some mysterious women chained up in here anywhere? I heard you beating all the others to a pulp, so if they don't have her, and I don't have her, then she must have escaped."

"Impossible. I fed from her. I took as much as I could without killin' her. She should have been asleep fer hours...too weak to move fer days."

The blue-eyed vampire watched but didn't speak as the darker one strained to control his frustration. If there was one thing his sire new well, it was torture and how to prolong it. If Angelus said that he had drained enough of her life to keep her weak but alive for days, then that is exactly what he did. The Irishman had it down to a science, and William was an eager student.

Angelus stared down at the floor for a moment before looking at his apt pupil. "There were some things about her that I didn't feel ya needed to be knowin' before, but if we are goin' to find her, ya need to know everythin'."

William sat back down on his bed and waited for his sire to speak. He was smart enough to know that this was not the time to be making any more jokes. He looked up at his mentor and eagerly awaited an opportunity to please his sire.

"What I hadn't told ya about her was that this husband of hers turned out to be a vampire. I never caught a good look at his face, as he was obviously older and well experienced at keepin' to the shadows."

This brought up a while new brood of questions, but William remained silent, waiting until Angelus asked for his opinion.

"When Darla said that Rose would be me first, this odd-looking vampire interrupted, sayin' that she was his. So, instead of fightin' fer her, he bit her and gave her to me, sayin' somethin' 'bout not wantin' me to kill her. When I was done, he carried her away in a very protective manner." Angelus ran his hands down his face in frustration and confusion. "Yet, she was unspoiled then and is still so to this very day. There wasn't even a mark on her, save fer the one that we made that night."

Angelus looked at his childe now and waited for some response.

William was back on his feet. "Well, he sounds like a right poofter to me. How pitiful can a vampire be, living with some woman for that long and not even bedding her?" he scoffed. "It's a disgrace, if you ask me. That vampire should be lashed to a bloody pole and left to enjoy his last sunrise."

Angelus laughed at that and smiled at his childe. Despite William's unusual and sometimes irritating sense of humor, he was becoming a model vampire and a good right-hand man. He had an inborn love for the hunt and was a quick learner. It was true that he wasn't as subservient as most childer, but Angelus found that he actually didn't mind. He enjoyed having a companion that didn't cower at his feet or lick his boots whenever he had a chance, yet was still completely loyal. The Irish vampire was pleased with choice for a childe.

The blue-eyed demon turned serious. "It sounds like witchcraft to me. It's the only explanation-- a very powerful witch, as well, if she was able to control one of our kind for so long."

Angelus nodded his head in agreement at first but soon began shaking it in bewilderment as her behavior earlier that night still puzzled him. "What ya are sayin' makes sense, but still, she was very frightened and did nothin' in the way of sorcery to try and free herself from me. There is more here that we have yet to be understandin', William."

The younger vamp opened the door to the hallway. "Let's have another look around...she couldn't have gotten far without leaving a trace."

Together, they searched every room, every nick and cranny of the old house, for any trace of their missing witch. It wasn't until they looked closely at the front door that the vampires smelled a slight trace of blood. There, just below the door handle, was a small, bright red smear.

Angelus bent down and drew a finger tip through the smudge and brought it to his lips, darting a tongue out in anticipation. The moment it registered with his taste buds, he knew it was his Rose. "That's hers," he exclaimed, then sat back on his haunches thoughtfully. "It seems I underestimated my Little One. Somehow she managed to walk out on her own." It only took a moment for him to realize that she had used his own powerful emotions-- his lust, his passion, his temper-- against him in order to orchestrate an escape. A rueful smile crept on to his mouth as he headed back toward his own bedchamber, this latest development only making him desire her more.

So caught up in his own thoughts, Angelus didn't notice as his childe dipped his own fingers through the crimson smear that Willow had left behind and sucked every last bit from his fingers. he moaned to himself as he reveled in her heady essence. The mixture of the innocent blood and the danger from sampling his sire's possession sent a powerful surge of lust through his own body. 

***

Willow awoke hours later to the smell of something delicious. She had no idea how long she had been asleep, but it was obvious to her that it was now nighttime. A few of the lamps were dimly lit, and she was just able to make out a tray of steaming tea and scones on a small table in the corner. Her hand went hesitantly to her still-painful neck, only to find that it was now covered by a bandage. She looked around but found no sign of the blonde vampire. "Spike?"

Before his name had finished leaving her lips, his familiar dulcet tones wafted in through the open door. "Just sitting out on the steps having a smoke, love. Be right there."

"No hurry," she called back, not wanting to rely on him any more than she had to. "I just wondered if you were here."

There was silence for a minute or two and then she heard the vampire grumbling aloud. "Damn cigars just aren't the same...they just don't feel right in my bloody hand...suppose I could make my own, but still, it just wouldn't be the same..." Spike finished as he appeared in the doorway. "Although, I could invent them myself and become a bloody billionaire I suppose, but that seems like too much work," he said with a half smile as he approached her bedside. "...and as we both know, I am a very patient man." Looking down at her, the vampire was relieved that she seemed to have a little more color to her cheeks, but she still looked far from healthy...for someone who was living, that is. "How about you, Red. What would you invent first?"

Willow didn't even have to think about that question. "A decent flush toilet," she said in all sincerity.

Spike raised an eyebrow at her choice. "I expected you to say a computer or television...you surprised me yet again."

Willow rolled her eyes at his inability to understand her desire for modern plumbing, before struggling to sit up in the large bed. Her head and neck still throbbed and she felt more than a little woozy. Before the redhead knew it, Spike was helping her to sit up and arranging the pillows behind her. Willow batted his hands away. "Don't, Spike. I can do it. You aren't my nurse."

"I've had plenty of experience nursing sick women back to health, Willow."

"I know!" she blurted out rather harshly. "But I'm not Drusilla!"

"Thanks for clearing that up, Red," he mocked, but continued to try to help even as his patient resisted his efforts.

"Spike! I'm serious. Stop trying to baby me! I can take care of myself," she said firmly, then muttered under her breath, "unlike certain female vampires."

If Spike had heard her comment, he didn't let it show on his pale features. "Have it your way, love." The blonde vampire backed away with his hands in the air.

"Thank you," she said softly, then realized her stomach was growling in response to the smell of food. She eyed the tray of scones on the table and knew that the only way she would be able to reach them would be to get out of bed. she told herself. < I managed to make it here last night. I'm sure I can manage to walk ten feet to the table.> With a concerted effort, she was able to swing her feet around until they were on the floor. Unfortunately, it also caused her some pain and started the room spinning furiously. She sat still for a moment, gathering her strength before she tried to stand, all the time very aware of how she was amusing Spike. After another minute or two, she pulled herself to her feet with some help from the bedpost and steadied herself on the wall as she stumbled toward the table. 

Spike watched as she unsteadily made her way to the table, acutely aware once again that she was wearing his shirt. This time, though, he didn't force himself to look away. As she shuffled along, it revealed just enough of her smooth, alabaster thigh to make his pants seem a little too tight. He knew that back in the end of the 20th century she probably wore clothes that revealed much more, but in the early 1800s, a glimpse of calf, let alone bare knees and thighs, was enough to start a feeding frenzy even among living males.

Suddenly, Willow stumbled just a bit and that brought his mind away from the more intimate thoughts. He didn't know whether to throttle her for being so damn stubborn or double over laughing at the predicament she had gotten herself into. He thought perhaps he should just throw her on the bed again and treat her as if she were the child she was intent on acting like.

she wondered wearily as she now realized she would have to make it back to the bed with a tray laden with hot tea and biscuits. She held on to the table for a moment before trying to lift the tray with her free hand.

Spike leaned back against the wall and watched as she struggled with the tray, all the time wearing a smirk. "Need any help there, Willow? Oh, I'm sorry...help offends your independent nature, doesn't it? Maybe in about two hours, after you finally manage to pour yourself a cup of tea and if you haven't scalded yourself, you can go start the women's liberation movement. Up for a little corset burning and a few rousing choruses of "I am Women, Hear Me Nag?"

Willow did her best to stake him with her eyes, but when she moved her head a little too rapidly to deliver the deadly look, she became dizzy again. Quickly putting the tray back down, she grabbed on to the table with both hands.

Spike was there in two strides, holding her arm. "Asking for help doesn't make you weak, Willow." He waited until she looked at him before going on. All the humor in his face was now replaced with concern. "And it doesn't make you Dru, either, understand?"

Willow nodded silently as Spike guided her back to the bed. When she was settled, he fetched the tray and set it on the bed beside her.

"I was just worried that you..." Willow trailed off as she realized there was no tactful way of finishing that sentence. She didn't want to tell him her new theory-- that Spike was drawn to weak and needy women. "You don't need to go through that again, Spike. I don't want to...well, be indebted to you."

"Little late for that now, isn't it, Pet?" Spike said dryly and sat on the foot of the bed, leaning back against the post so that he was facing her.

Willow crinkled her forehead. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I have saved your life twice now, as I figure it."

She sat up straight in the bed, ignoring the sharp pain it sent through the upper half of her body. "What? I don't think so, Spike. I saved my own life last night, not you!"

The vampire raised an eyebrow. He had no idea that the thought of being saved by him would bother her so much. "You think? And what would have happened if I hadn't found you and stopped the blood flow?"

"I can't die anyway, remember?" she added snippily.

"Well, last night would have been a pretty good test of that little theory, now wouldn't it?"

"Fine!" Willow conceded, after losing a short staring contest. "But that is only once, and I have saved your bum several times myself!"

Spike was thoroughly enjoying himself now, and while he knew it probably wasn't good to get her upset, he couldn't help it. He always found Willow to be amazingly beautiful when she was mad, so he couldn't help goading her on a little bit more. "Listen, Red. We both know if I hadn't pulled that little stunt in the park a couple of weeks ago, you were as good as dead. Corpses had more life in them than you did, love."

Willow felt her ire building as the arrogant vampire made it sound like she couldn't live without him. Since she was in no condition to slap him again, she took her frustrations out on her lower lip and the sheets, twisting them savagely even in her weakened state. The worst part was that deep down inside, she knew he was right. "All right...all right! You win! We're even, okay?"

Spike smiled broadly at his small victory but also regretted that their little battle of words was over, for the time being, anyway.

Willow leaned back against the pillows, trying to figure out how he always managed to get under her skin. "Anyway," she said after failing to come up with an answer, "I don't want to be any more bother, so maybe you can help me get back to my room tonight? I'll manage just fine at the pub."

He shook his head quickly. "No can do, Pet. You aren't going anywhere for a couple of days. I dropped by the pub, told them you were a bit under the weather and that I was going to take care of you for a few days. They loaded me up with tea and food and various medicines and things that I have no bloody idea what to do with. I was given strict instructions not to allow my wife out of my sight until she is feeling fit again." He grinned impishly. "And you know what a stickler I am for following instructions."

"Oh, " she said softly, realizing that she would have a lot more explaining to do when she got back to the pub.

Spike gestured to a bag in the corner. "The lady there picked out some of your clothes as well as some other essentials, just in case you get tired of sleeping in my shirt." 

"Thanks again," she said rather reluctantly. 

Her stomach rumbled again, reminding the redhead that she had gone a long while without food. Willow tried to ignore the fact that he was still staring at her and reached a shaky hand for the tea. When Spike made a move to help, she glared at him until he leaned back against the post.

"You really are an independent little creature, aren't you?"

"I have only had myself for quite a while now, Spike." Her voice wasn't cold or bitter; she was just stating a fact. Willow finally managed to pour the hot tea carefully. "What about you?" she queried casually. "Have you spent all this time alone, or did you, um, make friends with all the other vampires?"

As he formulated an answer to her rather personal question, Spike watched as Willow tried to pretend that she was fine, but she was barely strong enough to lift the teacup. He fought down the instinct to just take over for her, baby her like he did Dru, but she wasn't his Dark Princess. She was stronger, and this whole experience just seemed to make her even more so, despite her occasional lapses in judgment. 

He shrugged. "Most of the time I was alone. A couple of times I left London or Dublin and went where I knew I wouldn't run into Darla or her little playmate. I met a few others that I hung around with for a few months here or there, just for conversation really. But most of the time I was on my own, watching after Angelus or looking for you." He paused for a moment, trying to decide how much to tell her. "I even sired a couple of vampires at one point or another, but my heart wasn't in it. They never lasted long...both got themselves killed sooner or later. Funny thing is, I didn't really mind....I prefer being on my own."

"Riigght," Willow said with a chuckle as she carefully tested her tea. "You are such the loner that we are spending more than a century trying to get Drusilla back for you."

His eyes narrowed. "Touché, Red. But, that's different. Drusilla isn't just anybody. She is..." The vampire's voice trailed off, and to Willow, he looked almost reverent as he closed his eyes and thought about his dead lover. "She is what I was made for. I'm nothing without her...I don't want to be anything without her," he finally finished and opened his eyes to find Willow looking thoughtfully at her cup.

The frail redhead just shook her head sadly as she blew into her tea.

Spike clenched his jaw. He wasn't sure, but the strange expression on her face almost seemed to be one of disappointment...or pity. "What?" he growled.

"Nothing." She did not feel like having this conversation again.

"Come on, love. I can practically hear the wheels in that brainbox of yours turning, so just spit it out already."

She took a gulp of the warm brew and looked at Spike over the rim of the cup. "It's just that you have survived this long without her. I figured by now you would have realized the truth."

Spike moved forward, his eyes glimmering with danger as he watched her intently. When Willow tried to take another sip, he stopped her with a hand on her wrist. "What truth is that, my wife?"

She put the cup down and looked him square in the face. He had asked, so she was going to tell him what she really thought. "You're too good for her, Spike. You deserve better, in my humble opinion anyway." Willow stopped herself before she said any more, but she couldn't help thinking it.Her thoughts came to a grinding halt. 

He sat perfectly still for a moment, his emotions twisting back and forth between anger, confusion, and intrigue so swiftly that his face just appeared blank. Finally, he gathered his thoughts and leaned in even closer. "And just who is good enough for me then?"

Willow opened her mouth to speak, then she noticed his lips curling into a sly smile. "Hey, wait a minute! That is not what I meant!"

"Really? What did you mean then, love?" he insinuated in a deep voice.

she questioned herself. She answered quickly. "I meant that there are a lot of beautiful, intelligent, dead women out there that would probably love to, um, torture you on a nightly basis, I'm sure," she stuttered, embarrassed at how easily she fell back into babbling whenever Spike was concerned. "Ones that you wouldn't have to worry about wanting someone else. In fact, if I weren't so against killing, I would tell you to find someone and make yourself the perfect mate, but I am..." realizing how he might misinterpret that, she quickly added, "against killing, that is." She fought the urge to just bang her head back against the wall. 

Spike moved to sit next to her at the head of the bed, staring at her just long enough to make her even more nervous. Eventually, he tore his eyes away from her flustered face to slather some butter and jam on a scone. "We already had this discussion, Red. I'm not looking to meet anyone new. Now eat," he commanded and promptly shoved the scone in to her mouth when she prepared to protest.

She glared at him while quickly chewing and swallowing the tasty morsel. "You can't shut me up that easily, Spike."

"Obviously," he groaned, getting to his feet. "Don't make me wish that I had brought Xapper instead!"

She pretended not to notice his obvious attempt to distract her by mentioning Xander. "Spike, look. I know you 'love' Drusilla, but we have been alone for decades. I am sure she would understand if you..." When Spike gave her a sardonic smile, she stopped with a sigh. "I just figured that one of us ought to be having some fun, and since you made damn sure that it wasn't going to be me, it will have to be you." Willow groaned inwardly at her stupidity and felt her cheeks begin to flush. "So, you had some children, huh? Tell me about them...what were there names and what all kind of evil nastiness did you get up to together?" she chattered skittishly. It was now her turn to try and change the subject.

Spike just looked at her vacantly, not having the slightest idea what she was talking about. "You better get some more sleep...you aren't making any bloody sense."

Willow brightened, realizing that the vampire didn't catch on to her little complaint. She faked a huge yawn and stretched, her arms wide over her head. "Yes, sleep...is a great idea. Thank you *so* much for such a wonderful idea, Spike!" she said a little more enthusiastically than she had meant to.

Spike just walked toward the door, shaking his head the whole time. "I'm going to go grab a quick bite while you rest, eat, and change. When I come back, you can tell me all about your little adventure through the looking glass last night."

Willow nodded her head as she tried to swallow the large morsel of scone that she had just shoved into her mouth.

"Well, Willow," she said to herself when she was sure that he was gone. "I don't think he is going to forget about Drusilla, and if he hasn't done it by now, he isn't going to. I guess you better start making plans for the next half a century."

****

When Spike came back a couple of hours later, he found Willow sitting in bed, brushing her hair. She had changed into something familiar to him. "Willow? Isn't that frock about ready to fall apart by now? "I remember the day you bought that virginal gown...our first day in Galway."

"This is about the 30th of these that I have owned," Willow told him, indicating the simple, white cotton and lace nightgown. It was the type that could be worn either on or off the shoulders, but for now she was wearing it on so that it revealed less bare skin. "I am determined when we go back that I am taking it with me."

Spike took his place at the foot of the bed again and grinned lewdly. "Don't feel like you have to get all dressed up for me, love. If you feel more comfortable sleeping naked, I'll somehow manage to survive."

She kicked him under the sheets. "When will you grow up?" Willow had tried to sound irritated, but she actually preferred this Spike to the broody nursemaid that had been hovering around her earlier.

The blonde vampire became serious and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you ready to tell me what happened?"

The smile left her face, and her hands began fiddling with the sheets. "To be honest, there isn't much to tell." She paused to gather her thoughts with a deep breath. "After you left, I started home, but I was kind of preoccupied so I didn't really think before I went through the park."

"Preoccupied?"

She met his eyes momentarily and gave a slight shrug. "I was thinking about you, wondering why you stormed off like that..."

He nodded his head as she confirmed his suspicions but pushed the guilt that was tickling at him away. She didn't need that now. "Go on."

"By the time I realized I was being followed and that I had left my cross here, it was too late." She nodded to the silver crucifix that still lay on the table. "It was a male vampire, and let me tell you, he was ugly! Anyway, somehow I managed to get away, but he had a friend."

"Angel..." Spike said with contempt, nodding his head.

"No, actually it was a female vampire. They had me and were just about to have a little snack when...um...he showed up. He saved me from them, actually, saying something about how no one was allowed to have the redheads but himself."

Spike became deadly serious, hanging on her every word. He knew that her encounter may have changed the course of the future, and he didn't want to miss anything that might point to the different paths that now lay before them. "Did he recognize you?"

"Not right away. I was on the ground but when he forced me to look at him, he said my name instantly."

Spike just nodded his head and waited for her to continue, not at all surprised that his sire would remember her.

Willow began to tell him the story, only giving him the basics of what happened, too embarrassed to go into details.

Spike knew that she was holding back. The encounter may have been very personal to her, but it was still of vital importance to their future. He tried to remain casual as he dug for more details. "So, did he try to convince you that he was still good?"

"Yes." Willow closed her eyes against the memories. Hearing Angelus tell her that he loved for the first time when she knew he was lying had been more tortuous than she was willing to admit aloud.

Spike pressed on. "Did the ass try to convince you that he was still in love with you...that there was the heart of a man deep inside of him still, or some other romantic tripe?"

She just nodded her head.

The blonde vampire knew that the meeting must have been difficult for her. As much as he hated to admit it to himself, she had loved the human version of Angel. It was obvious that even after all this time, her feelings for the dead Irishman were still alive. Spike would have told her how pathetic is was for her to still harbor feelings for someone after all these years, but he was the last one that could say that. "But you didn't fall for it, did you, Red? You're too smart for that."

Willow shook her head again, unable to look at him because she was afraid to see how disappointed Spike would be in her. "No, I didn't believe it, but I don't know how smart I am. I *wanted* to believe him, Spike. God help me...I really wanted to."

Willow had had some time to think about her whole encounter with Angelus when Spike had left her alone to rest. She realized now how easy it would have been to just delude herself for a while and take the part that the handsome, dark vampire had given her in his twisted little play. She could have held Angelus in her arms, felt his lips on her flesh, and listened to him tell her how much he cared about her, if even for only a few minutes. The petite redhead was disgusted with herself for almost wishing that she had given in to her desires for at least a short time.

Spike watched as she went through some sort of internal struggle, and he remembered how much Angelus 'loved' women. His sire had never had any trouble getting anything he wanted from the fairer sex...whether his hunger that night be for blood or something more physical. In the years that they had spent together, Angelus never had to physically force himself on a woman when he was in the mood for a more intimate type of playing. He could have easily raped the women, but that was precisely why the dark vampire never did. It was too easy. It was much more of a challenge to make the woman want him too. The satisfaction Angelus felt when they submitted to and even begged for his touch was more than any mere physical overpowering could provide. Spike supposed now that this personality trait of the dark vampire was one that he and Willow should be grateful for.

Snapping out of his own thoughts, he continued. "What did you say to him?"

The tired woman just shrugged her shoulders a little, embarrassed about the childish name-calling she had resort to in order to escape his sire. "I insulted his mustache."

Spike looked at her for a moment, before falling sideways on the bed, laughing. "Oh, bloody hell, Red! I wish I could have seen his face. He was always so proud of the damned ugly thing! I always thought it make him look like a bit of a fairy, myself."

She quickly told him everything she had said to him and even allowed herself a little smile when the blonde vampire seemed impressed with her performance under pressure.

When he finished snickering, Spike sat back up. He still had one more question. "So, tell me about your great escape."

She shook her heading, trying to jog her memory because that part was still a little foggy. She explained how she had decided to make him mad, hoping that he would feed from her and leave her alone instead of torturing her that night.

"Pissing off a vampire is not normally a good tactic, Willow. He could have really hurt you."

"I know, but I couldn't think of anything else. I just hoped he would bite me then leave me alone for a while, which is exactly what he did."

"By the look of your neck, Red, you really made him angry. It's a nasty, vicious bite, and somehow I don't think the old man did that to you just because you insulted his looks. I mean sure, he has an ego the size of hell itself, but he usually is able to control himself better than that."

Willow fidgeted. She wasn't quite ready to tell the blonde demon how she had lied to Angelus, saying that she had never loved him and was only using the Irishman because she was bored. "Let's just say I got a little more personal and leave it at that, okay?"

Spike softened his voice, trying to make her less self-conscious. He needed to know...he wanted to know how she managed to get to his sire. "Look, Willow, you have to tell me everything. We need to see if you...if *we* have caused any lasting damage."

Willow sighed and nodded her head. "I told him that I never loved him and had been just using him because I was bored. I told him he was too stupid for me...things like that..."

While the blonde demon let that news settle in, he had to suppress a smile. < I would have given anything to see the look on the ass's face when she said that!>

"After he fed from me, I remember waking up and feeling horrible. I managed to crawl out of his bed..." Willow was so intent on recalling the events that she didn't notice the blonde vampire grimace at her use of the words 'his bed.' She went on unaware. "I was so relieved that he hadn't locked the door...the cocky son-of-a bitch never expected I would wake up so soon..."

Raising an eyebrow at her unusual choice of words, Spike teased, "Seems to be a common mistake with the vampires in your life, love."

She allowed herself a weak smile. "At least the spell occasionally helps." She closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillows again, emotionally and physically exhausted but wanting to finish the story. "I tried to make my way home, but I was dizzy and weak. At some point, I realized that here was closer than the pub, so I changed direction. I don't remember much else until I woke up and you were playing Florence Nightingale."

Spike nodded his head yet again and covered his face with his hands as he thought about everything she said.

Willow's eyes remained shut. One thing she hadn't told her traveling companion was that it was during her flight for safety that she realized why Spike had practically run away from her that fateful night. It had slowly sunk in through her state of shock just how much sadistic pleasure Angelus had actually received from trying to hurt her both physically and mentally. It hadn't taken long for her imagination to make the next logical step-- that he and vampires as a whole were sexually aroused by being hurt in return. That step lead to a few others and then finally it occurred to her that her removal of the stake from Spike's back and the method in which she did it, was like foreplay to Spike. She didn't want to talk about it though...they both knew, and that was enough. < It's like I tried to seduce him twice in one night...he must think I am really going off the deep end.>

The room was quiet as they each tried to absorb what had happened. Willow was the first to speak, breaking the silence in more ways than one.

"Why can't he be more like you?" she asked softly but firmly, her eyes still closed.
 

~Chapter Twenty-two~

Spike had been busy calculating the possible costs of Angelus and Willow's meeting when he heard her speak. He couldn't believe his ears, so he feigned not understanding. "What was that, Red?"

She opened her eyes to find him looking at her through puzzled blue ones. "Why can't Angelus be more like you?" she repeated firmly.

The blonde vampire found himself dumbfounded for a moment, so he resorted to jokes to try and fumble his way through the emotional turmoil her simple question had stirred in him. "Um...in which way? My devastatingly handsome good looks? My charm? My infectious wit? I could go on and on..."

Willow gave him a ghost of a smile. "I am sure you could. No, I mean, how come you can control yourself around me? After all, here I am, practically a vampire cocktail, throwing myself at you, and still you don't bite me or hurt me. Why is Angelus so...so...evil?" she finally finished with a sigh, already realizing how stupid her question sounded.

Spike's forced teasing grin melted into a dark grimace. He wasn't sure what he had hoped Willow would say, but that certainly wasn't it. He had been compared to Angel too many times in the past by a disappointed Drusilla, and too often reminded how he paled in comparison to his sire.

She watched his face fall. She hurried on, hoping to repair his bruised psyche. "Not that you aren't evil, Spike...because you are! You're the most evil vampire I know--"

"Give me some credit, love," Spike interrupted rudely. He couldn't believe that she was trying to boost his darker self-image. "My ego isn't that bloody fragile. I know what you meant."

"Well, I just...I thought that--"

Spike interrupted her with an icy look that was matched by an equally cold tone. "You think too much, my wife."

Still not realizing the real reason the blonde vampire was upset by her question, she became somewhat defensive. "Sorry, but when you kidnapped me you also kidnapped my mind. If you wanted a more uncomplicated companion, then you really should've brought Xander instead!"

Spike gave her a look of warning, but Willow kept going. "Although, I doubt he would have sucked the stake out of your back the way I did because he is way too squeamish, and we both know how much you enjoyed that!" A very mischievous glint came to her eyes as she waited for Spike's comeback.

It never came. Spike just stared at her, his mouth opening and closing to speak but not uttering a sound. Eventually the words came, but he ignored her invitation to a verbal battle, letting his bitterness speak for him instead. "Feeling better, I see," he commented harshly.

Not noticing his change in mood, Willow nodded her head happily and hugged her knees to her chest. To Spike, it made her look like a little girl, and the fact that such an innocent-looking woman could continuously turn his life upside down, only served to increase his ire. "Look, do you want an answer to your childish question or do you want to sit around and play 'what if' all night, my little virgin?" he demanded impatiently.

The child-like glee drained from her face just as Spike had intended. "Answer, please," she responded coolly.

He stood up and started walking casually about his home, his eyes continually going from one object to another with fake interest, just so he wouldn't have to look at Willow. "You seem to be forgetting something, Pet." Spike sounded bored and used the endearment 'Pet' because he knew she despised it. "If I didn't need you in one breathing piece to get Drusilla back, then--"

"I know, I know...I'd be dead," Willow interjected firmly. "The only reason you put up with me is for Dru...you hate every second you have to spend with me...I know the drill, Spike." Willow tried to keep the emotion out of her voice as she spoke, but it wasn't easy, and she found that she could only say it if she didn't look at him. The redhead was a little angry for allowing herself to think that they had become friends again. "But that doesn't answer my question, does it?"

Spike turned at the tone in her voice. The teasing manner was gone, as was the child-like amusement. She was completely serious and business like, even though they were talking about her own death. For some reason, that made him even angrier. "What makes you think I am any different from him? He is my sire. He was my teacher, my mentor, and probably the best damn mate I had ever had. For decades, we were inseparable. I would have done anything for that bloke, and I think he would have done the same for me, if push had come to shove. That is until Dru came along. Then everything changed..." Spike was suddenly hit with a strong wave of despair again over Drusilla, making him momentarily forget about his bitterness at Willow.

Willow knew she should remain silent for a few minutes so that Spike could mourn for Dru, but at the moment she didn't care about his feelings. Spike still hadn't answered her question. The redhead pushed on. "But...but you *love* Drusilla. You are capable of loving another, even when you are a demon. Why can you do that and why can't Angelus?"

The blonde vamp let his pain turn to anger, releasing it on his travel companion once again. "What makes you think he can't?" the vamp spit out sharply. "Because he didn't turn into your beloved, sickeningly-sweet Angel the moment he saw you in the park, you think he isn't capable of love? Maybe you just aren't the right woman. Maybe you never meant that much to him."

~~~

Willow felt as if she had been slapped in the face. Her wide eyes jumped up from her hands to Spike, but he was busy staring at something interesting on the other side of the room. "That isn't what I am talking about and you know it!"

"Do I?" he asked sardonically.

"What I meant was, if the situations were reversed, I don't think Angelus could do...well, this..." she said, indicating herself and the room. "I don't think he could control himself, no matter what the reason. You seem to have more control, more willpower than he does. You love Dru so much that you even put up with me, while Angelus wouldn't...he couldn't..." Suddenly, Willow felt foolish so she stopped herself from saying anymore.

Spike still hadn't looked at her. He told himself that the last thing he wanted was to see her sniveling over Angelus...again, but part of the real reason was also that the last thing he wanted was to see how he had hurt her...again. The vampire shook his head and chuckled cruelly, running a casual finger over a chair back, supposedly looking for dust. "You're asking all the wrong questions, love. What you should be asking is why is it that Angelus can't love when most other vampires can? The answer is simple. He isn't capable of it. He never was, even when he was alive. *That* is the only bloody difference between Angelus and me, Willow!" The angry vampire finally spun around. He wanted to make sure that every word he was saying got through to her. "That damned Irishman only ever thought of women as being good for one thing, Willow. Well, two things if you include dinner. And from what I saw of his behavior in Galway when you weren't around, I am sure that attitude didn't just come with demon."

The blonde vampire walked toward her, watching as she struggled to keep her own emotional distress from showing on her delicate features. "Why would you think that spending a few weeks in the company of you would make him think of women any differently? Trust me, if we had stayed there another fortnight, he would have grown bored with you and moved on to someone more experienced. Someone who could give him the only thing he really wanted in the first place."

Willow felt sick to her stomach. With every word that came out of Spike's mouth, she felt her insides clench. She didn't want to believe him, but she knew first hand that Angelus had been with a lot of women. He had told her as much himself, as had Angelus's mother. But that was the past and people change. "You're wrong, Spike. He may have been that way once. It may have even been that way with me, but he loved Buffy very much. she reminded herself, ignoring the jealousy and guilt that the thought raised in her. "You could see it on his face every time he looked at her. You are dead wrong, Spike."

When Willow didn't deny Angelus's scandalous days in Galway, it caught Spike by surprise and soothed some of his pain and anger. "You call that love?" he snickered. "Ha! And you accuse me of not knowing what real love is! If you ask me--"

"Which I don't think I did...," Willow muttered.

Ignoring her, he continued, "--that was just some twisted type of penance that his guilt-ridden soul came up with to make sure he was a miserable sod for the rest of eternity."

The redhead studied his face for a moment, trying to decide if he actually believed what he said or if he was just venting his frustrations about Angel again. She was surprised to find that he looked sincere, but even if Spike believed that Angel never truly loved Buffy, Willow knew that he had.

"You know what?" she said finally, exhausted by the conversation. "Forget I even asked. You wouldn't give me a straight answer anyway. You are so blinded by your jealousy that you don't even know what the truth is any more."

Spike looked shocked momentarily. "Jealousy? What the bloody hell are you talking about?"

Willow took a deep breath and released it slowly. Sometimes she felt like she was the more mature one in the room. "Drusilla and Angel! Who else would I be talking about?"

Spike stood up straighter and turned around for a moment so he could let the relief show on his face without her seeing. Composing himself, he faced her once more. "Willow, I told you all of this for your own good, you know! Weren't you just telling me that Dru wasn't good enough for me? Well, I am just telling you the same thing. He wasn't good enough for you when he was alive, and as he is now, you two certainly wouldn't win the grand prize on the newlywed game. Even if he did have his soul, Willow, he is still a bloody wanker...always brooding and whinging, all the personality of a bowl of porridge."

"So," Willow said in all seriousness, "the reason you are saying all of these horrible things to me is because you are concerned about my love life?"

A teasing smirk settled easily back into place now that most of the tension had dissipated. Spike began patting his pockets once again, looking for his last cigar. "Yeah, well, you know what they say, Red. You got to be cruel to be kind."

"Well then, as I tried to tell you before, you are the *kindest* vamp I know."

His eyes lit up, shining brighter than the fat cigar he has just set aflame. "Flattery will get you everywhere, love." And with a wink, he was gone before she could come up with an appropriate response.

~~~

< I am really getting sick of him just leaving all the time. When do I get to make a dramatic exit?> She sat and tried to figure out what had happened. Why did the mood change so quickly in the room? She looked at it from every angle and came to realize that her question about Angelus had triggered Spike's mood. She smacked herself on the forehead with her hand. "Smooth, Willow. Even after 70 years you still have all the social graces and tact of...of...Cordelia!" She continued her pondering silently. 

Willow turned her head and focused on the wall opposite the door. As strong as she tried to be, sometimes she just wanted this over. Every morning she hoped when she woke up that it was just a bad dream, all the while knowing that it wasn't. Strange as it was, it was all real. Sometimes, especially when she was with Spike and he was in high spirits, she could easily forget just how messed up her life had become...how it wasn't an everyday occurrence to be whisked back in time and have to stay there for who knows how long. When she was alone, however, or when Spike's face darkened with grief over Drusilla and hatred for his sire, as it just had, it would again seem like too much for her to handle. Willow hated feeling weak and out of control, so as she lay there, she begin to make plans once again...plans on how to keep her sanity as well as how to fix everything that they had managed to mess up.

When he came back in an hour or so later, he found her once again sitting in bed, but her face was turned away from him. He restrained himself from making his presence clearly known and from trying to say something to ease her suffering. What he had told her may not have been kind, and he may not have handled it the best way, but for the most part, it was the truth. The living Angelus was a drunk, a womanizer, and a lay-about, and while those qualities made for a fun mate to go carousing with until the wee small hours, they did not add up to the kind of man that could keep a woman like Willow happy. Surprisingly enough, the soulless Angelus was a sober, forward-thinking vampire, and while he was still not a one-woman vamp, he at least had a level head on his demonic shoulders. And the resouled Angel? He was so excruciatingly dull and depressing that Spike began to think that Willow would be better off with Xapper or the wolf-boy. 

Willow didn't hear the vampire come in the room. She was too deep in thought over everything that had happened and had been said, as well as her plans for the future. It wasn't until she rolled over that she saw him leaning against a far wall, simply watching her. They exchanged stares for a moment, each trying to figure out what the other was thinking, and each being totally off base.

Spike was the first to move. "Better change that bandage," he stated plainly, grabbing some supplies from the cupboard.

Willow sat up, exposing her neck to him without the slightest hesitation. He changed the dressing in silence, noting that it looked like it was healing well and very rapidly, considering it had been less than 24 hours since he had found her. "You'll be right as rain in another day or so," he told her as he finished his ministrations to her slender throat.

When she turned her green eyes to him to offer her thanks, she put her delicate hand out to cover his, pausing briefly to notice how it seemed to warm beneath her touch. "Spike, can we just go home now? Please?" she pleaded softly.

His jaw tightened as he glared at her for a moment. He was suddenly barraged by thoughts that she had orchestrated all of her recent emotional outbursts just to play on his emotions. "No!" Spike pulled his hand away from hers and leapt off the bed as if she were made of Holy Water. "There is no room for discussion, Pet," he spat out. "We are in this until the end...and all your tears, and batting those...those...long eyelashes of yours and looking at me like some lost kitten isn't going to make any difference. I eat kittens you know!"

Willow's face registered shock for only a moment before it changed to a look of haughty indignation. She had no expectations that he would agree to end the spell and take them home, but she had to ask anyway. < I don't bat my eyelashes! He thinks I'm flirting with him!> Willow shook her head as she came to this realization. "Calm down, Spike. You know I had to ask! Besides, this is all fun and games to you, but it hasn't actually been fun for me, now has it?"

Spike rolled his eyes in an obvious display of frustration and impatience at her attitude. "Red, I've about had it with you moping about all the time. Hell, I made you Immortal, even if only for a while. I gave you something that most people want...time! Time to do anything you want with your life...time to see everything and do everything you could ever imagine! This is a marvelous adventure, and you should be bloody thankful and kissing my cold, dead feet for taking you away from that dreadful town and your boring, pitiful excuse for a life! "

She shot up straight in bed, her hands going to her hips. "What? You think I should be thankful? It will be a cold day in hell before I thank you for ruining my life, you arrogant, selfish, rude, bast--"

"Get over it, Willow. We aren't going back to Sunnyhell until I bloody well say so, and all your tears, and all your little attempts to seduce me, aren't going to make me change my mind, understand? So, instead of brooding over all of your lost loves, try to make the best of it! Have some fun, if you even know what that is!" All the while Spike was yelling he was looking about his place for something to smash, just to relieve some tension since he was out of cigars. 

Willow felt her blood begin to boil. "Well, that's easy for you to say! You-you can, well, *do* things that I can't!"

Spike quieted down and ceased his pacing. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at her with a puzzled tilt to his head, surprised that the ethereal redhead seemed to have missed a prime opportunity to throw his moping over Dru back in his face. "Can't say I'm following you, ducks."

Willow wasn't listening. She continued her little rant, grumbling more to herself than her companion, but Spike was able to understand the general idea. "Typical man. Sure, you can do anything you want, have the time of your unlife, while I can't *do* anything, can I? You made sure of that! It was bad enough when I was 17...now I'm 74..."

Comprehension finally dawned on the clueless vamp, and a tiny smirk began to form at the corner of his lips. "Oh bloody hell...is this whole thing about shagging?"

~~~~

Willow's cheeks reddened and she looked anywhere but at Spike.

"Willow?"

"Yes, it's about sex!" she finally admitted, and very loudly at that. "Why did you have to use a spell that requires me to, well, 'sleep' alone? You obviously haven't been lacking for company, and it's not fair!" She crossed her arms over her chest, hoping it would keep her from fidgeting out of embarrassment.

"Getting a tad bit twitchy, love?" Spike was trying not to laugh, but this whole turn in the conversation was one that he couldn't have imagined if he lived to be a million years old.

She sent him her most murderous glare, but than only seemed to make him smile more. "I am glad you think it's funny!" Out of frustration, Willow picked up a cold scone and pelted it at the amused vampire. The biscuit bounced harmlessly off of his nose and fell to the floor.

Spike watched as the scone rolled halfway across the room before picking it up and tossing it away. He turned back to glowering redhead. "Such childish behavior...," he clucked, the impish twinkle once again ablaze in his blue eyes. "I don't think you are mature enough to handle sex anyway...maybe another 50 years and you might be more of an adult and capable of--"."

"Spike...go away or I swear I will stake you with this bread knife!" Willow interrupted angrily, holding up a dull but sticky piece of cutlery.

He held up his hands and approached the bed gingerly. "Truce, love?" When after a brief pause she nodded and sheathed her makeshift stake, Spike took his place at the foot of the bed. Only when he could do so with a straight face and almost no humor in his voice, did he proceed. "Seriously, I realize that you have to stay nice and intact for the spell, but you can't tell me that you haven't been touched or pleased by a man this whole time..." Suddenly it wasn't quite as humorous to Spike any longer as images of Willow and faceless men in compromising positions popped into his mind unwelcome.

Willow's eyes couldn't meet his, and she let her gaze once again fall to her hands as they began twisting at the bed sheets. "I am *not* going to talk about this with you."

The blonde vamp leaned forward and used a long finger under her chin to make her look at him. "Bloody hell, Red. Don't tell me you haven't even necked a little bit?"

She weakly kicked him under the sheets again, wishing nothing more than to melt into the mattress. Finally she realized how childish she was acting, and she looked him straight in the eyes. "No, Spike. I haven't kissed a man, nor has one kissed me, let alone all of those other things you are probably wondering. Unless, of course, you count Angelus the other night..." she hastily added.

Spike was surprised, to say the least. It had never occurred to him that she would take the virginity stipulation so seriously. During their years apart, he had often worried that she would fine some man and settle down, thereby ruining their chances of going home. As soon as he saw her again in the park a few weeks ago, he knew that she had kept that end of the bargain, but he had no idea that she would deny herself intimate companionship of any kind for so long. 

He gathered his thoughts, trying to be something he wasn't very good at...tactful. "Surely you realize that there are a lot of things that you can still do..."

she told herself. She took a deep breath and let it out. "Yes, I am aware that I can still, um, *do* certain things without destroying the spell. It's just that I never trusted that any man would be able to control himself, or that I could for that matter. I was terrified that we wouldn't be able to stop before the spell was ruined." 

Spike shook his head and adopted a very paternal manner. "Well, I guess it is time that Daddy told his little sweet pea a few things about the facts of life." He patted his lap and winked at her.

The redhead's mouth fell open in embarrassed horror. "Spike! Cut it out! This isn't funny!"

Spike ignored her protests and began his speech, fighting the urge to gather her up on his lap against her wishes. "You see, Princess, there are things that a woman can do not only with a *friend* but also by *herself* ..." Seeing the shocked look on her eternally-young face, he stopped. No longer trying to hide the fact that he was enjoying this enormously, he went on. "Am I going to fast for you? Okay...I'll start at the beginning...feel free to ask questions, and if necessary, I am sure I could manage a sketch or two..."

"Spike!" Willow groaned, her eyes narrowing. "One of these days I am *so* going to make you pay for this!" she warned, but soon found that even she couldn't keep a smile from her own face. It was kind of funny to think that Spike was giving her 'The Sex Talk'. Of course, her parents had sat her down long ago and told her the facts of life, but their lecture had never touched upon the subjects of druid spells and time traveling.

Spike just smirked at her threat. "Just trying to help, Red. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance," he teased with a lift of his brows. "Just remember, the bloody key is *No Penetration*, got it, Red?"

"Are you sure? I mean, how do you know that I can, well, do other things?" Willow managed with only a slight squeak to her voice.

"Vampires know virgins and vampires know exactly how much they can do with one before that scrumptious virgin blood becomes just another pint of O-positive," he stated plainly.

Willow nodded her head. "That makes sense."

Spike was suddenly very hungry and let out a soft growl when he realized it was the middle of the day and he would have to wait before he could feed again. "Why don't we both get some sleep?" As the vampire stood up and started walking to dim the lights, he had to ask one more question. "Willow? You haven't gone this damn long without...well, *any* sort of release have you?" When Willow's face reddened again, he actually became a little flustered and found himself starting to babble. "Because it isn't true what they say, you know. You won't go blind, or crazy if you--"

"Spike," Willow interrupted quickly, wanting to end both their embarrassment. "I'm 74 years old...what do you think?"

Spike quickly dimmed the lights so that Willow couldn't see the pleased yet curious look on his face.

"So, are you done with today's sex education class?" Willow inquired, a smile warming her face.

"Yes...unless you want to see those sketches...I am sure I can dig up a bit of paper and some ink around here somewhere..." he said with mock seriousness as he started going through some drawers in the cupboard. "I may need you to pose though..."

Willow sighed and moved down into the bed, making herself more comfortable. "Go to sleep, Spike" she said firmly, rolling toward the wall.

The lithe vampire chuckled softly to himself and started preparing for bed. But as he lay down on the sofa on the other side of the room, he couldn't resist one last comment. "Willow!" he admonished jokingly. "I realize that it has been a long time for you and you are all excited about your new sexual freedom, but could you either wait until I am asleep or at least keep it down over there?"

Spike never saw it coming, but somehow even in the dark, Willow was able to hit the cocky vampire directly on the nose with yet another biscuit.
 

~Chapter Twenty-three~

Willow woke up, her eyes suddenly popping open. The first thing she saw was Spike asleep on the couch with his feet up on the arm rest and his hands behind his head. She didn't move, not even to stretch a leg, as she took this rare opportunity to study the vampire that had become such an important part of her life. Even though he was on the other side of the dusky room, she could still make out his prone form. While the rest of his body was covered by one simple, white sheet, she now took the time to admire his face. She took note of the scar that she had left along the line of his jaw. The cross made of raised, milky flesh seemed to reflect what little light was in the room, and although she knew she should feel guilty about disfiguring him permanently, she didn't. Not only did she think it gave him a little more character, but she was pleased that no matter what the outcome of this whole experience, it looked as if he would have a permanent reminder of their little trek. Willow knew she would never forget it, and she doubted now that Spike would either.

She surveyed him some more and had to will herself not to sigh or move. Willow didn't want him to awaken just yet; she just wanted to look at him for a little while longer. There was no denying it. Her reluctant roommate was a handsome man. she kicked herself mentally. Her world had once revolved around computers, books, and the Scooby Gang, but now it orbited dizzily around the actions of two sexy bloodsuckers...Angelus and Spike. 

Willow tightened her jaw when she thought of Angelus. She had been trying not to think about him at all, but it was useless. The ever-present feelings were too confusing--love, hate, fear, lust, guilt--they all nagged at her anytime she let her guard down, threatening to draw her down into a pit of depression again. she decided with a stalwart set to her chin.

Then she almost giggled at herself, her thoughts turning back to the sleeping vampire. Willow had witnessed Spike's own angular jaw being clenched so many times that she was amazed he had any teeth left at all. Every time he clenched his jaw, or better yet, pursed his lips, it only accentuated his cheeks. 

"Take a picture, love...it'll last longer," Spike said as if reading her thoughts. His eyes opened, but he simply studied the ceiling. "Although, in my case, we both know it wouldn't."

The recuperating redhead allowed a faint smile but didn't move or talk. She watched and waited.

"Red? I know you're awake. Your heart rate increased, as did your breathing."

She outright grinned this time, but still she waited. 

"Um, Willow? *Pet*? Are you going to tell me why I am getting the silent treatment here?" he asked, shifting uncomfortably under the weight of her gaze.

And then, it happened. He clenched his jaw *and* pursed his lips.

Willow's face practically glowed from the even-broader grin that now enveloped it. She was still smiling at her private joke as she slowly pulled herself into a sitting position. "No silent treatment. I was just thinking."

Spike rolled over so he was on his side, facing her, his head now propped up on an elbow. His movement caused the sheet to slide down his well-defined chest, but Willow kept her eyes glued firmly to his face. She had enough problems without increasing any possible sexual tension between them, especially after last night's conversation.

"It didn't feel like you were thinking...it felt like you were undressing me with your eyes. I feel so violated!" he wailed over dramatically and clutched the bed linen, pulling it up to his chin.

The redhead was relieved that he seemed to be back to his usual self, but she wondered how long that would last after she asked another question that had been on her mind. "Spike, what does it feel like to be with me? I mean, what is it like for you to be in the same room as me, to be close to me, and not treat me like an, um, all-you-can-eat buffet?"

Spike's eyebrows knitted together momentarily. He was perplexed at the question. "You're just full of bloody questions lately, aren't you? I am starting to think that you only want me for my mind and not my body!" the blonde vampire admonished. He got to his feet, keeping the sheet loosely draped about his waist.

Willow looked casually away as he reached for a pair of trousers. "You know...I am sure they make pajamas or something else suitable for you to sleep in, in the 19th century."

"Actually...they don't..." he supplied as he pulled his pants on. Trust me on that one." When his lower half was covered, he sauntered over to his bed and gestured to an empty spot next to her. "May I, my wife?" he asked with Victorian politeness but a devilish smile.

Willow responded in kind. "Of course, my husband."

He sat down directly across from her on the bed and collected his thoughts, which wasn't an easy thing to do considering the topic and that she was on his bed, looking very warm and attractively sleep-tousled. "You want to know what it is like for me to be with you and not 'have' you...for dinner, that is?"

She nodded her head while at the same time rolling her eyes at his bad pun.

Spike thought for a moment longer, trying to figure out how to explain something that was so basic to him, yet in a way that she could relate to. "If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?" he began.

"That's easy...chocolate."

Spike shook his head, not at all surprised. "Of course. Now, imagine that in my veins flows chocolate, and with every resounding beat of my heart, if the bloody thing was still working, that you can hear that rich chocolate coursing through my body. When you look at me, you can see and smell the chocolate as it sustains my life. Remember, Red, that you want no other food. Hell, sure you could eat it, but it tastes like cardboard and does nothing for you. You need chocolate to survive...you know it, your body knows it, and your body demands it."

Willow twisted her face in mild revulsion. "That isn't quite what I meant--"

"You asked, Willow," Spike reminded her as he raised a hand to silence her protest. "You said you want to understand, so close your eyes and picture what I am saying."

Seeing the determination in his eyes, she closed hers and tried to somehow picture Spike as being made of chocolate. Unfortunately, all she could come up with was a hollow, chocolate Easter Bunny-- the ones with the seams running down the sides that some children would receive in their Easter baskets. Xander had always given her one every Easter, knowing how much she loved chocolate and that the Easter Bunny didn't stop at the Rosenburg household. Sometimes she would have to keep it at school until after Passover, but it only made it that much more delicious when she was finally able to consume it in one sitting. She remembered now how she used to like to bite the ears off first, then....

Spike watched as she closed her eyes, but soon he could tell that she was trying hard not to giggle, so he spoke more forcibly. "Willow, come on, love...concentrate!"

She opened one eye to sneak a peek at the vampire, but quickly squeezed it back shut when an image of him with giant rabbit ears came to mind. "Sorry," she somehow managed without laughing.

He forced a sigh in exasperation. "Do you really want to understand, or do you just want to giggle like a schoolgirl?"

"I'll be good, Spike. I promise," she mumbled, then took a deep breath and let it out. She really did want to understand.

Spike gave her a moment to collect herself and used the opportunity to shift a little nearer to her on the bed. He leaned forward, so that he could whisper directly into her ear.

Willow screwed her eyes closed even more tightly when she felt him move closer, but she remained calm. After all, she had asked.

"So, here you are...," he began huskily, watching the tiny flutter in her neck increase as her heart raced at his nearness, "...hungry for only one thing, and here I am, right in front of you. You know that all you have to do is make one little nip..." Spike reached for her hand, bringing it to his own neck and placing her fingers on his jugular. "...right about here, right where you can practically see my life pumping through me, and your mouth will be full of that rich flavor, that exotic sweetness, that your body desires," he purred.

Willow swallowed hard and tried to pull her hand away from his rapidly warming neck. She had never really touched him in such an intimate way before, and it was causing odd sensations throughout her entire body, but Spike held her hand firmly to his throat. Somehow she managed to keep her eyes shut. No longer was she plagued by pictures of large, chocolate Peter Cottontails. All of those images were now replaced by something far more real...someone far more enticing...

Spike chose his words carefully, trying to sound more like a well-spoken man than a half-starved animal. He wanted her to understand how he felt around her...what is was like for a vampire to be in such close proximity to her on a regular basis. He wanted it probably more than she did.

As he gently held her hand in place, he persisted. "You could just nibble, teasing yourself with only a hint of its richness...biting just hard enough so that a few drops rise to the surface. You savor each drop on the tip of your tongue like it may be your last, and then you lick it hungrily, yearning for more. Before the taste is gone, while just a trace of it remains in your mouth, you can already feel it strengthening you."

The redhead was becoming mesmerized by his voice, allowing it to relax her as it soothed her ragged nerves. With a soft release of breath through slightly parted lips, she sank further into the pillows. Waiting and wanting him to continue.

~~~~

The vampire noted with no small amount of pleasure the change in her disposition, and he hurried on before she had the chance to find reality again. "Bite a little harder into the tender, salty flesh, and the chocolate will flow even faster, filling your mouth with that delectable flavor your body is screaming for. You can barely swallow fast enough, and as it runs down your throat, you feel its energy released within you..."

Willow was lost, totally unprepared for the onslaught of emotions and desires that one little metaphor could unleash in her. As his dark words and even darker voice reverberated through her entire being, she could almost taste the chocolate as it passed over her lips. She felt its nutty sweetness dance across her tongue, warming and melting until it just slipped down her throat. She sighed or moaned, she didn't know which, nor did she care. She could feel that power that he spoke of now as her insides were set aflame. But she wanted to know more; she had to know it all. Before she could form the words that would beg him not to stop, he was already obliging her.

"Or, you can sink your teeth in deeper...harder...with all your power, feeling how it gushes down your throat, spilling out of your mouth, until it is all over your face, dripping down your chin...warm and sticky...until we are both covered in it." Spike found that he had closed his own eyes and leaned back into the pillows while he was weaving his intimate answer to her simple question. His hand still rested on hers, but it was no longer keeping her delicate fingers on his neck; they were there of their own accord now, softly kneading his flesh.

Spike was the first to discern what was happening. He opened his eyes, ready for the accusatory glare that was sure to come from Willow, but he found her still lying there, her lids shut, her moist lips barely parted. It was his time to study her like she had done to him only minutes earlier, and he quickly memorized every curve of her face, the sweet smell of her breath, the musky fragrance of her ivory skin.... That was when he realized that what he smelled was her arousal...her wanting...mixed with his own. he debated with himself silently. 

As he forced himself to take a calming breath of his own, like he had seen her do a thousands times before, the vampire tried to figure out how to stop this without angering or embarrassing her. Coming up empty, he just opened his mouth and spoke. "Willow?"

"Hmmmmmm?" she asked dreamily.

"Willow...," he said again, more sternly this time.

The change in his voice snapped Willow back to reality. Her eyes fluttered wide, only to find herself looking into Spike's pale face...his very near and very handsome face.

When Willow's tongue snaked out to unconsciously flick at her lips, the blonde vampire knew that he had gotten through to her.

"Oh," she whispered as she couldn't take her eyes off of his mouth, and when she finally was able to, they rested on his neck. "Oh my, I am so sorry!" Willow pulled her hand away in shame, realizing that she was practically drooling. She pulled the bed clothes over her head as she felt the heat that was in her belly rise to her cheeks.

"Spike, you did this on purpose!" Her chastising was only slightly muffled by the layers of cotton and down. "You know how, well, deprived I have been, and you go and do this!"

Spike pulled the duvet from her face. "Don't you mean *depraved,* Willow?" he provoked.

"Arse!" she fumed, grabbing a pillow and throwing at him. "You were trying to seduce me!"

"What?" the vampire scoffed as he sat up, easily avoiding the feather-stuffed projectile. "That's a bloody laugh, pet. Trust me, if I were trying to seduce you, you would be well and truly seduced right now! Besides, as I recall, you have tried to tempt me twice in the past 48 hours. Unsuccessfully, I might add!"

"Are you gong to bring that up every day we are together for the next 50 years?" Willow whined, shifting uncomfortable under the sheets, suddenly feeling very tense again.

"Every day? No. Every *night*, maybe."

Willow started tracing patterns on the duvet with her forefinger, trying not to think about how her body had reacted just reacted. "Thank you for answering my question. I understand a little better what it must be like to be in your shoes, I think...."

Spike shook his head and leaned against the mahogany post at the foot of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees. "Red, that is only half of it. There is more," he intoned seriously.

Willow's finger stopped its intricate movements. "More? I don't think I can take anymore, Spike. I'm going on a diet...no more chocolate...ever. You know, I think you ruined Easter for me forever! Not that it was ever a big thing in the Rosenburg residence anyway, but still...." she babbled on self-consciously.

He brushed aside her nervous chatter. "Now imagine, Willow, that the chocolate in my veins isn't just plain chocolate, it is the best chocolate in the world. No other person walking this earth can compare."

She cocked her head sideways at him, not quite understanding.

"It's simple, love. Most people are, let's say, M&Ms...they taste great...can't ever have too many, not too filling, melt in your mouth, not in your hands, you get the idea."

He waited for Willow to roll her eyes at his quirky remark, before continuing. "Of course, then there is the occasional piece of Hershey Bar...plain, flat, nothing much to it. You will eat it when there is nothing else around. Those are usually your old men, cab drivers, civil servants...pillocks like that. Of course, you get the occasional Snickers bar, or if you are really lucky a, a, uhm..." He looked at Willow. "What are those little, flat, round ones with the orangey goo inside?"

"Reese's Peanut Butter cups?" Willow offered, a little surprised that she still remember after all of this time.

His face lit up. "Yep...those are the ones. Your basic beautiful woman...all dolled up and smelling sweet...now, she is a Reese's Peanut Butter cup!"

Willow sat up a little straighter as his comparison's continued to peak her interest. "So, you are saying that I am a peanut butter cup?"

He shook his head and looked deeply into her eyes. "No, Willow. You're no peanut butter cup."

Willow felt hurt for some reason. She didn't want to be an M&M. 

"You, Willow," he said huskily, a wanton smile on his face. "You are Godiva to me. You are a little piece of chocolate perfection, all wrapped up nicely in gold foil, just waiting to be popped in my mouth."

Willow couldn't breathe. He was too close. Nevertheless, she found herself devouring him with her eyes, taking in every inch of him...his mouth...his neck...his chest...even his hands. She was in sensory overload as everything he had said and all the images and feelings that he had stirred in her petite frame threatened to suffocate her.

"I don't...don't understand..." she stuttered, again berating her damned hormones.

"Quit being modest...you are beautiful, strong willed, and intelligent. That alone raises you to the ranks of a Toblerone." Spike reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ears, as he had seen her do countless times before. "Add to that the fact that you are a virgin, and you are a Godiva Chocolate, love."

Willow was speechless. She had never been compared to a piece of chocolate before, but that wasn't why she was speechless. Spike was looking at her and behaving in a way that left no question that he was hungry for more than chocolate. "I guess I should be happy you didn't say I was a chocolate-covered cherry!" she blurt out, trying to break the sexual tension in the room once again.

Her gambit worked and Spike started chuckling, quickly regaining his forbearance. "How about me, Red? If I were a piece of chocolate, what would I be?" he queried in tone that made him sound like a bad game show host.

"Hmmm..." Willow thought for a moment before coming up with what she thought was the perfect answer. "Ooh! Did you ever see those commercials at Easter with the clucking rabbits that lay eggs?"

The vampire shook his head with a bemused look on his face. "Can't say that I have, love."

"That's a shame because the rabbits are really cute. Anyway, you are one of them. You are a Cadbury Egg," she announced, very pleased with herself.

Spike in turn just cocked his head to the side. "Let me get this straight, love. While I compared thee to an expensive piece of hand-made Godiva chocolate, to you I am clucking bloody bunny...a little chocolate egg? I'm not sure love, but I think you managed to hurt my feelings."

"Well, Spike," she giggled. "What did you expect? You aren't exactly unspoiled. Besides, I think it is perfectly fitting. Cadbury Eggs are only sold for Easter...you can only get them for a few weeks a year. <...and they're full of creamy goodness...> she reminded herself."

"So?"

"So...it makes you want them all the more." It took her a moment to fully come to terms with what she had just said, and while inwardly she was kicking herself, she didn't let it show on the outside. 

Spike sat in a kind of stupefied daze. 

Their eyes met and locked.

"I'm hungry," Willow croaked nervously. "For food...hungry for food," she hastily added. "Are you...hungry?"

There was a pause. "Famished," Spike finally supplied in an almost-growl, yet he didn't make a move to leave or even get up from the bed.

The redhead's eyes opened even wider at the blatant need in his voice. "Uhm, why don't you go...do your thing...have dinner, breakfast, whatever you call it. I need to clean myself up a little bit anyway, and I think I need some time alone. I think we both do." Willow waited for his reaction, sensing that he was struggling with what was growing between them as much as she was.

"Bloody good plan, Willow." Spike was on his feet and out the door in a flash, leaving an anxious Willow to collapse back on to the bed again.

"Oh no...he wants me...he *really* wants me..." she told herself in an awed whisper.

Spike couldn't get out of there fast enough, and as he hurried down the road to one of his favorite feeding spots, he muttered to himself in amazement. "Oh bloody hell....she wants me...she really wants me..."
 

~Chapter Twenty-four~

Spike sat in a far corner of a crowded pub, facing the door.  It was a habit that all good soldiers learned one way or another, and one that he'd never lost: Always keep an eye on the nearest available escape route.  Unfortunately, he was so caught up in trying not to think about Willow and Drusilla, that all he could think about was Willow and Drusilla.  He quickly forgot about his surroundings and the basic rules of survival that he'd learned many, many years ago.

The blonde vampire shook his head and drained the dark, warm draft with one smooth lift of his wrist, then signaled for another from one the barmaids.  His 'sweet' little talk with Willow earlier had only served to make matters worse.  <Way to go, mate,> he scolded himself silently.  <When she asked you what it was like to be around her, all you had to say was 'nearly bloody impossible, Pet' or 'excruciating'...either would be the truth!  But no....you had to get all poetic...try and impress her.  All you did was make everything more damned difficult!>  As much as he berated himself for his more human behavior and faults that she seemed to draw out of him, the vampire knew that wasn't the main thing bothering about what had happened earlier.

When Willow had suggested in her own flustered way that Spike looked hungry and needed to go get something to eat, he'd hesitated for a moment.  His demon reminded him that all he needed to satisfy *all* of his various cravings was right before him.  It was screaming for him to take her and mark her as his, again.  Spike, in that brief moment's pause, had to admit to himself that she would make a brilliant vampire.  Bereft of her insecurities and most of her human compassion, the baser instincts would be allowed to flourish.  Her intelligence, passion and tenacity would make her a vampire of some importance he'd decided.  It was a conclusion that the more demonic parts of Spike had come to some time ago.  It was only now that the more 'human' side of the vampire came to see her potential as well.

It was then that Spike realized what he had been contemplating.  Even if only for a moment, Spike had considered turning Willow when this was all over, making her a true childe.  This awareness had made the peroxide-blonde hurry from the room and out into the night where he couldn't seem to get far enough away, fast enough.  He didn't want to think about it at that point.  Spike had enough to worry about in the present, and he didn't need to be looking that far into the future where Willow was concerned.  The future was for Drusilla...everything he had done was for Drusilla.  So, Spike had stormed off into the streets of London once again.  There had been no art to his feeding, eating only to satiate the hunger.  When his bloody path had ended at a door of a pub, the vampire hoped that maybe if he couldn't walk away his thoughts, he could drink them away instead.

Now, as he sat and argued silently with himself, he didn't notice as the pub became busier.  He didn't notice that there were so many people that his exit was basically cut off, unless he wanted to draw attention to himself.  By the time he did become aware of the changes in his surroundings, it was too late.

Spike spied them over the rim of his third pint when they walked in.  <Oh, bloody hell...Fate is just mocking me now.  This is bloody ridiculous!> the blonde vampire muttered despairingly into his glass while he watched their movements.  Only now did he notice the large mass of people in the small tavern and that the bar sat between him and the exit.  If he tried to leave now, it would be risky.  Instead of taking the chance of being seen, Spike grabbed a forgotten newspaper that someone had left behind and pretended to read it.  The last thing he wanted was for Angelus to discover him, and he was not yet ready to reveal himself to William.  It was too soon.  While the other two vamps busied themselves talking with the barmaid, Spike quickly made a small hole in the paper.  He felt a little silly, like a two-bit private eye out of some bad B movie, but it did allow him the opportunity to study the other two without attracting much attention.

Watching William, Spike couldn't help being thankful for one aspect of the strange spell he'd used.  Sure, it had its downside, the main one being the need for Willow's virginity, but some of the other effects were less difficult to handle.  Their hair didn't grow, for one thing, and their memories of the past never faded.  He and Willow had discussed the oddities of time travel quite a bit recently and had decided that it was almost as if they were separate from time itself or in their own little time bubble.  It wouldn't be until the spell was completed, thereby sending them to their own time and place that the bubble would burst, so to speak.  Only then would they know what damage they may have caused.  That was the main thing Spike was thankful for--that whatever changes his and Willow's presence may be causing, these alterations hadn't affected either of them yet.  As a result, Spike didn't carry these confusing 'new' memories of William the Bloody's.  Even now as he watched himself in this very pub when he was William, the blonde vampire had no recollection of the event.  In Spike's past, it'd never happened; therefore had no memories of it.  It was as if the William before him were a separate person from himself.  <Bloody hell I need a stronger drink...> he groaned.  Between the complexities of time travel and the rest of his problems, he was getting one hell of a headache.  Nevertheless, as he saw his former self create a new past, Spike watched very carefully.  In fact, he had trouble tearing his eyes away.

*****

Angelus and William had entered the pub together, their eyes making only a cursory glance around before they headed directly to the bar.  Even in the packed room, they had no trouble wading through the crowd.  The throng of people seemed to open in front of them, like Moses parting the Red Sea.  It wasn't because the patrons were particularly afraid of the two men, or that they were aware of what they were, but they did get a strong urge just to leave them alone.  William followed his sire and stood just to his left when they stopped at the serving counter.  Immediately, two seats at the bar became available as the former occupants suddenly felt a compelling need for some fresh air.

"What'll it be, gentlemen?" the buxom barmaid queried the two handsome newcomers.  She eyed them both appreciatively yet wondered why they had ventured to this part of town.  The broader one was obviously a man of means, his well-tailored clothes and clean fingernails were proof that he was not a common laborer, as most of the others in the large pub were.  The more slender one wore the uniform of His Majesty's Army, and although it may not have the colors or ribbons of an officer's uniform, this was still not a pub that soldiers frequented very often when they were on leave.  The Harper's Arms was a working-class pub, and while it did see its occasional man of business, they rarely stayed long.  Still, the barmaid batted her eyelids and leaned forward as much as possible while wiping down the counter, making sure that her ample bosom, of which she was quite proud, was plainly visible.  Strangers tended to be looking for something, or someone, and were often willing to pay handsomely for it.  Belinda was not above making a few extra shillings whenever she had the opportunity.

Angelus and William exchanged quiet glances before the older vampire took the lead.  "We're lookin' for a young lady, and I'm hopin' ya may be of assistance, um...?"  Angelus paused, knowing that the brunette was already salivating at the thought of their loose purses, and she would be especially helpful.

"Belinda.  Me name's Belinda, boys," she told them with a cheeky grin, gratified that she'd guessed right about the two strangers.  Before the night was over, she hoped her purse would be much heavier and perhaps her bed not so empty.  "And what kind of a girl are you looking for...brunette, I hope?" she said with flirtatious toss of her head, causing some strands of dirty sorrel hair to fall out of the unkempt pile upon her head.

The vampires' grins broadened, and William leaned a little closer to the girl.  "Now, how did you know that brunettes are my favorite flavor?" he whispered seductively in her ear while glancing at his sire.

With a slight nod of his head that would have been imperceptible to anyone else, Angelus gave William the Bloody the permission that he'd sought, then leaned back and watched his childe play with his food.  This was the eighth pub that Angelus and William had been in that night, and each time it was the same.  No one knew anything about a redheaded woman named Rose Smith.  By now, the older vampire was getting frustrated from all of the dead ends they'd encountered, and he was no longer finding any joy in toying with the squalid populace that they met during their search.  So for now, Angelus was willing to sit back, have a pint, and try to relax.

He watched William as he charmed the not-particularly-appealing young lady, and in order to cheer himself up a little after his error with Rose, Angelus allowed himself to be proud of the one thing that he had done right recently...William.

William was Angelus's first true childe...the first person that he'd chosen to turn that showed even the slightest bit of promise in being a truly nefarious vampire.  The sire's eyes fell to his own bite marks on William's neck, and he found himself shaking his head a bit.  His childe was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  Every so often he would forget to show Angelus the proper respect, especially in front of the others...the minions...the ones that Angelus had turned and then had basically forgotten.  That kind of error required swift punishment in their world.  A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he thought about the times that he'd had to discipline his childe.  He actually didn't mind William's occasional lapses in judgment.  It only made William more of a challenge and more worthy of his attention.  Besides, sycophants rarely made particularly ingenious vampires.  William's dark laughter brought Angelus's attention back to the matter at hand.

"Well, while I try to convince you that you don't need any other woman, can I get you something to whet your appetite?" Belinda giggled coquettishly.

William chuckled again, his blue eyes darting to meet Angelus's.  <Sometimes it is almost too bloody easy!> they both thought.  The vampires ordered a couple of glasses of bitter and took the opportunity while she was pouring the dark liquids to confer.  William saw a dark shadow fall over his master's face, wiping the grin from his own.

"What's wrong, Angelus?  If you want her, she's yours.  I was just having a spot of fun with the tart."

The brown-eyed demon shook his head.  He was no longer in the mood to even attempt to seduce anyone for information, blood, or any other reason, for that matter.  If he needed to feed later, he'd just grab someone on the way home.  Tonight he didn't have the patience for games when there was so much at stake.

"No, she's all yers.  Although, ya really need to think about improvin' yer taste in women, William.  Ya could do much better than this."

William picked up the glass that had just been set before him and waited for barmaid to step out of earshot before commenting to his sire.  "It doesn't matter how you dress them up, Angelus.  Rich or poor, they all taste the same."

He eyed his childe for a moment and had to remind himself that the blue-eyed vampire was still a neophyte who was feeding just to quench the demon's hunger.  Due to this, William had yet to notice some of the subtler differences in blood...like the differences between white wine and champagne.  There was still so much to teach him...so much to look forward to.

He leaned in, speaking low near his ear, "William, one day ya will learn to appreciate the differences.  But, fer now, could ya at least try and pick a woman who bathes more than once a fortnight?" he asked in mild disgust.

"You're just spoiled, Angelus.  That Rose ruined you for all others," William scoffed, recalling the tiny taste of her drying blood that he'd stolen from the door handle earlier.  He could now perhaps see how a large quantity of blood such as that might make a vampire a little more discerning in his choice of meals.

Before Angelus could decide how to respond to the younger vampire's accusation, Belinda was back.  He quickly forgot his slight ire at his childe's insolence.  It was time to get down to business.

"I'm lookin' fer a particular woman...a dear old friend from me childhood that I've heard lives around this area.  Her name is Rose...Rose Smith.  Perhaps ya have seen the lass?" he questioned the woman, his voice dripping with sickeningly sweet charm.  "She has hair the color of wildfire, eyes like the fields of Eire themselves, and she is just a wee little thing, about so tall," he demonstrated with a steady hand.  "She's from America, so she talks a bit strangely.  Have ya seen her or heard of her?  If ya have," Angelus continued, trying not to let his frustration show in his handsome mask of concern for his long-lost friend, "I promise to make it very worth yer while.  She's very important ta me and my family, and I'll never forget anyone that can lead me to her."

The female cast a distrusting eye between the two men.  "You two are family?  You don't look a thing like each other!"

William flashed her a dashing smile.  "He's like a father to me," he said with a nod at his sire.  "He's given me a whole new life."  At that point, neither Angelus nor William could keep from chuckling at the play on words, which instantly irritated the woman since she was left out of their little inside joke.  A slight chill went down her spine at the sound of their laughter and she found she was almost relieved that she didn't know the woman they were looking for.

"Sorry, but there's no one around here like that.  Now, can I get you gents anything else?"

The smile drained from the older vampire's face and was replaced by disappointment, again.  "No," he told her brusquely, tossing a generous amount of money on the bar and then downing his pint quickly.  If Angelus had thought she was lying to him, he'd not hesitate to use more physical means to extract the information from her in private, but she appeared to be telling the truth.

William produced an apologetic smile as he rose to stand.  "Maybe some other time, love," he offered as she took the money with a smile and a shrug.  By the time he caught up with Angelus, who'd paused to question a few of the patrons on his way out with no luck, William had already forgotten about the barmaid.

"Let's try another pub or two on this street, then see if any of the lads have had some luck," he said grimly to William as they finally headed for the door.

*****

Spike watched them go with no small measure of relief.  He wasn't able to pick up everything that they'd said, but he got the general idea.  They were scouring the area for Willow, and it was only a matter of time before someone recognized her description.  Luckily, they weren't very close to the pub she worked in, so there wasn't much chance of Willow being found out this night.  It wouldn't be long though.

"Can I get you another?" Belinda asked the blonde stranger in the corner as she pushed her way around the pub, picking up empty glasses.

Spike barely looked up at her; he just shook his head.  Another drink wasn't going to help the situation now.

"Say, don't I know you?  You look familiar..." the woman said saucily while she studied the pale man's face.

Spike heard himself sigh.  He'd watched as his younger self had trifled with the disgusting woman before him.  It was harmless fun, at least harmless in the sense that the most William would do was bed her then, drain her, leaving her lifeless body for someone else to find.  It was too early for Angelus's brand of torment to have rubbed off on him yet.  Furthermore, it would be many years before Spike would fully perfect the torturing skills that had earned him his current name, let alone develop a taste for the even finer challenges of mental and emotional torment.  Even then, he was never a match for his sire's cruelty in that particular area.

<Those were the good times,> he'd thought to himself while he watched William and his sire together.  <I still thought that Angelus was a bloody god, worthy of my respect and devotion.  We were inseparable those early years.>

"Enjoy yourself now, Will-my-lad," Spike had mumbled under his breath, "because soon things will change.  Soon you'll see the true Angelus."

Spike snapped back to the present when he realized the woman was still there.  "No.  You don't know me," he informed her, never even bothering to look at her face.

Belinda looked at him a bit longer.  She'd hoped that perhaps he was also searching for someone.  He did look lonely and acted as if he were drinking to forget a woman.  It wouldn't be the first time Belinda helped a man forget about his problems, if just for one night.

"No," she finally sighed in resignation when it was obvious that he wasn't interested.  "I guess I don't know you.  With hair like that, you wouldn't soon be forgotten, would ya?  What happened?  Your girlfriend use you for sheep-shearing practice?"

Spike found this amusing and finally let the irony of the whole night wash over him.  "Something like that, Pet...something like that," he managed when he could quit laughing.

All these years he had told anyone who had dared to comment about his short hair and lived that either he had just gotten out of prison or back from a long sea voyage.  Either way, people believed that it was just an easy way to keep himself free of head lice.  In previous times, though, when he'd needed to go unnoticed, Spike donned one of the wigs that were fashionable for true gentlemen of the era.  He hated them though, always thinking they made him look foolish and a bit like a fairy, so he only wore them when absolutely necessary to look the part or to blend into a crowd.  Luckily, as time went on, he knew that fashions would change and hair would get shorter.  Soon he wouldn't be so noticeable, at least not for the length.  For now, though, Spike had little choice but to get accustomed to both the odd looks from strangers and the itchy hairpieces.  Tonight, however, he was au naturale.

Belinda watched the odd man snigger to himself, then she remembered the other gentlemen whose laughter also gave her chills earlier this evening.  <Must be a full moon,> she thought. <It always brings out the nutters.>  Deciding that perhaps he wasn't the kind of company she was after anyway, she turned to leave.

"Wait a minute, ducks," Spike said, suddenly remembering Willow.  "Bring me something to eat.  Bread, cheese, fruit...whatever you have.  I'll take it with me."

She nodded curtly and hurried to the kitchen, leaving the vampire alone to figure out how to keep Angelus and Willow apart.
 
 

~Chapter Twenty-five~

When Spike came strolling through his door, he found Willow awake, dressed, and sitting at his table.

"Spike, um, hi", she stuttered as he continued into the room.  He looked like he was in a foul mood, and she knew he wouldn't like it, but they had to talk.  "Spike, we ne--"

"We need to talk.  Right, Pet?"  The obviously distracted vampire finished her sentence before practically throwing a platter of food down in front of her.  "First, you need to eat."

Willow pushed the plate aside to look quizzically at the vampire as he paced the floor in front of her.  <Well, at least he seems to be back to himself and forgot about our little chocolate discussion!  But this won't go well if he's grumpy either,> she reminded herself.  That's when it occurred to her to try and lighten his mood a little.

"What?  No, 'That's the problem with this relationship, Pet...too much bloody talking, not enough shagging'?"  Willow quipped happily, doing a fairly good imitation of Spike's accent and suggestive leer.

Spike turned to watch her little display, but his face remained expressionless despite her attempts to goad him.  He wasn't in the mood to play, but he could prove that he had been paying attention too.

"My turn."  Spike's face suddenly softened and he looked at his hands and began twisting his fingers.  "'Spike,'" he said, in a flustered high-pitched squeak, "'er, I've been thinking, *again*, and this whole, um, thing between us is confusing and as much as I would love, to, um, explore the boundaries of our relationship a little further, because you are the sexiest demon I know, and everything, I think we should just be friends...'"

Willow watched, slack jawed, as Spike mimicked her voice and her mannerisms, right down to pretending to tuck a piece of hair behind his ears.

"I don't really look and sound like that, do I?" she squeaked defensively, then felt her cheeks begin to burn as she realized just how good his imitation truly was.

Although the vampire was pleased with his performance, he knew they didn't have much time.  He had to tell her what had happened, as well as what he'd decided--she needed to leave town as soon as bloody possible.

"Now that we've gotten our dose of teenage angst out of the way, I have some news, and--"

"No," she interrupted, getting to her feet.  "In fact, that wasn't quite what I was going to say."

"Really?"  Spike was intrigued now and took a seat across from her at the table.  All things considered, he figured that another couple of minutes of Willow banter couldn't hurt anything.  "Oh, by all means, then.  Do tell," he said sardonically.

Willow fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him and instead took a long, deep breath before beginning.  "What I was going to say was that I need to go.  I need to leave London...immediately.  Tonight even."  Not waiting for the surprised vampire to interrupt, she plowed on.  "Angelus will be looking for me, and, well..."  Willow had been trying her best not to behave exactly like his previous caricature of her, but she gave in.  "Spike, this relationship of ours is confusing, and if we stay together, like this, we are just asking for trouble.  I mean, here I am, a virgin, living right under your nose.  Obviously you haven't exactly gone on a killing-free diet, but you *have* cut down which makes me too big of a temptation for you."  Seeing that Spike was about to interrupt, she blurted the rest out.  "And look at me!  I'm a 74-year-old virgin, and, let's face it, you aren't exactly chopped liver.  How am I supposed to be with you and not want to *be* with you?  I'm only human after all.  We both want something that only the other can give right now...something that we can't have.  So, for the good of both of us, I need to leave for a while.  At least until we know that Angelus has forgotten about me again and then maybe a little time will help get us over this little hump in our friendship."

When she finished, she flopped down on the coach, exhausted, and already inwardly kicking herself.  <Oh, no! Why did I have to use the word 'hump'?>  When she looked at Spike, she held her breath, waiting for his reaction.  He stood up and slowly stalked towards her.

"Let me see if I have this straight," Spike started, obviously still a little surprised by her speech. "You're leaving because you're afraid *you* might take advantage of *me*?" he asked incredulously as he came to a halt in front of her.

Willow nodded her head and looked up to hold his gaze with her own.  She continued to hold it even as he leaned down to place his hands on the sofa on either side of her head.

She swallowed hard as he drew himself closer.  "It's for your own good," she told him breathlessly.

The vampire stopped to hover mere inches from Willow's blushing face.  His eyes focused squarely on her quivering lips.  "Don't you trust me?" he insinuated, surprising himself by the huskiness of his own voice.

Willow watched Spike's eyes sparkle dangerously as he waited for her answer.  "Um, well, it's not so much that I don't trust you as that I don't trust myself, Spike," she stammered.  "I'm afraid that one of these days, maybe even the next time you do this..."  She tried to indicate the space between them with her hands,"...invade my space like you love to do, I may not pull away like the good girl that I am.  I mean, I know that this is all just a game to you...make the virgin blush, let's see her get all worked up, but one of these times I will call your bluff, Spike.  What would we do then?"  Willow noticed that the small gap between their lips was even smaller now.  While speaking, she had moved closer to him, and her eyes were now firmly fixed on his tightly clenched mouth.

"I'm sure if we put our heads together, Willow, we would come up with something to do."

Willow waited for the telltale smirk to show that he was joking, but it never came.  Instead, they both seemed frozen with indecision.  She was about to fall back on babbling her way out of the situation.  Somehow, she wanted to find a way to tell Spike that she couldn't bear to lose him because he was all that she had in this world.  Furthermore, that however pitiful and silly it might sound, he was her only connection to her real life.  Yes, she wanted to tell him all those things, or she could put her mouth to use in a different way and kiss the vampire within an inch of his unlife.  However, before she could put her feelings into words or her lips on his, Spike suddenly rose and put some much-needed distance between them

"You shouldn't trust me, Willow.  I saw the other me tonight, and I realized just what a lecherous sod I really was, er, am.  But it doesn't matter," Spike told her resignedly.  "I also saw that pillock of a sire of mine in a pub tonight, asking about you.  He's already got half the vampire population of this bloody town searching for Rose."

The sexual-tension-filled moment was quickly forgotten.  Willow's heart sank when she realized just how right she was about Angelus looking for her.

"I'll leave tonight...hopefully there's a stagecoach to Dover so I can catch the next ferry over," she mumbled, staring at her trembling hands.

Spike watched his companion.  She had a far away look in her eyes, and he knew that she was contemplating the long years ahead of her.  He squatted on the floor in front of her so that they were eye-to-eye but kept a respectable, safe distance.  "I have to stay here," he informed her plainly, but his eyes showed that he wasn't particularly happy abut it.  "If we changed things...changed this past...I have no bloody way of knowing what he's going to do next.  And you know we did...we really mucked things up this time!  If I lose track of him now, Angelus may bugger off somewhere and we may never find them again."

Willow was touched by his reluctance to leave her alone again, but she had also come to the same conclusion about Spike not being able to accompany her.

"I understand, Spike."

"Not that I am particularly chuffed with the thought of you being on your own again, Willow.  You didn't do too brilliantly last time, did you?"

Willow looked down at her hands again and fiddled with her fingers.  She wanted to tell him how she felt about him...how in spite of his deceit in the past, she now thought of him as a true friend.  She had tempted him so many times but he had always done the right thing.  He had taken care of her when she needed help despite her attempts to shove him away, and had done his best to make her see the truth about herself and Angelus.  Maybe the friendship wasn't the same as the one she had once had with Xander, and it probably never could be, but she thought it was pretty good considering the circumstances.  One thing was for certain, though.  She was going to miss his company.

"That was different," she explained, speaking about the years following her abrupt departure from Galway.  "I felt betrayed, then, and never so alone.  But it's different now...."  She looked at the vampire and smiled, hoping that somehow it would convey everything that she couldn't put into words.

When Willow smiled at him, Spike felt a stirring deep within.  While he wouldn't allow himself to think about what that feeling meant, he did answer in kind.

She went on.  "I'll be okay," she assured him.  "Although," she added with a sigh, "I can't say I'm really looking forward to it.  I mean, I don't know how you long-life demon types do this!  So much time, but you can't really settle anywhere because people will notice that you aren't aging.  Makes it a little hard to develop any relationships."

Spike chuckled as he got back onto his feet.  "What you need is a hobby."

"You mean, besides finding some guy to neck with?" she teased.

The vampire lifted an eyebrow.  "Are you planning on finding some strapping young lad who can't get it up to meet your needs?"

"Maybe," she answered noncommittally.

Spike once again began pacing the floor nervously.  "You should go to France then...bloody Frenchmen are all talk anyway."

Willow wrinkled her nose.  "I was thinking of going Italian...or Spanish..."

Spike stopped in front of her, turning a serious face to hers.  "Wait another few years until you go to Spain, love.  The Peninsular War is still going on...not a nice place to be for a bit longer."

"Italian it is, then!"  Willow announced to the vampire who had returned to wearing a path on the floor.  "Besides, all the history there should keep me entertained for a while."

"Sounds like a plan, love," he answered absent-mindedly.

"It's a start anyway," Willow said with a shrug, keeping her other plans to herself for now.

Willow's gaze traveled about the room, studying it for the last time.

"Um, do you think you can stay away from my pub, The King's Cross?" Willow asked him after several minutes, breaking the silence.  "I was thinking of telling them that you and I were going to give it another go as man and wife, but in another town somewhere.  You know, fresh start and all."

The vampire finally stopped pacing.  "I think I can force myself to stay away, but whatever you do, don't bloody well tell them where you're going...don't even make up a specific lie.  If Angelus tracks them down, and they mention that you're on your way to America, it's possible Angelus would follow.  Last thing we need is Angelus getting to the States a century too soon."

Nodding in agreement, Willow closed her eyes and let her head rest again the couch.  There was so much to consider.  "Fine..." she told him wearily, not bothering to open her eyes.  "I'll just say we're going to travel around Britain for a while...that should be vague enough."

"Good."  Spike walked over to the doorway and leaned in the door jam, staring into the practically empty warehouse.  He couldn't say that he was looking forward to the next few decades himself.  Following Angelus around and trying not to be seen got pretty old, fast.  <Not much longer though.  Another 50 or so years, and you can see Drusilla again, and this will all be over.>  "Well, it looks like we have everything figured out.  Now we just have to wait for the sun to rise in a few hours.  In the meantime, eat something," the vampire dictated without bothering to turn around.

Willow opened her eyes and focused hungrily on the plate piled high with cheese, bread, cold meats and veggies that still sat untouched on the table.  With a sigh, she left the soft comfort of the sofa to sit at the table.  She had long ago given up trying to stay strictly kosher.  Not because it was impossible since there were plenty of Jews in London and therefore plenty of places to shop and eat without breaking any dietary laws.  But, this whole experience, as well as those from her days living on a Hellmouth, had dampened her beliefs.  Besides, it wasn't like she started celebrating Christmas or anything.  She just didn't allow herself to feel guilt over her religious lapses.  She had enough to worry about, and when this was all over, she was going to have a long talk with her Rabbi.  She did, however, pass on the ham, preferring to tuck into the other items voraciously.

Spike did not move from the doorway the entire time she ate, instead staring past the damp floors of the warehouse below.  Finally, sensing that she had stopped eating, he turned to find her just pushing the food around on her plate.  As there were still a few hours until sunrise, Spike retrieved a deck of cards and tossed them on the table before taking the seat across from her.

Willow's demeanor relaxed as she busied herself shuffling and dealing the cards, then she finally broke the silence.  "Spike, you know all that time I was alone, I never saw anyone play poker.  When I tried to find a game to watch or just sit in on so I wouldn't forget how to play, no one had even heard of it.  They play something called Bragg instead."

Spike rearranged the cards in his hand.  "That's because it hasn't been invented yet," he informed her plainly, not bothering to look up from his hand.

The redhead stared at the cards she held like they were a demonic force in their own right, then let them fall from her hands.  "What?"

Setting his cards neatly down on the table, the vampire got comfortable in his seat, knowing that she wouldn't let the subject go easily.  "Look, love, it's simple, really.  Poker wasn't invented until the 1830's in America...New Orleans, I think.  Then it takes a few years before it catches on here, and--"

"But...but..." she interrupted, feeling incredibly stupid that none of this had even occurred to her before.  "If...it hasn't been invented yet, where did the cards come from?" she asked incredulously.

"I brought an antique pack with me, although I didn't really need to.  The Bragg deck is very similar," he replied smugly.  "Oh, come on, love!  You think I'd pass up an opportunity to be one of the first, and therefore the best, players in all of Great Britain?  Not bloody likely."

"But you said you played in Galway!"

Spike rolled his eyes.  "I did.  I taught a few of the blokes in town how to play and took all of their money.  You didn't expect me to get a real job, did you?"

"No...I guess not.  It's just that, well...oh, never mind," she said sheepishly.

"What?"  When Willow couldn't look at him and started biting on her lower lip, Spike turned serious.  It almost looked as if she was about to burst into tears.  "Willow...spit it out already," he growled softly.

The pained expression on Willow's face was actually due to her trying to restrain her laughter, not her tears.  "Let me see if I got this straight..."she started.  With more than a hint of flippancy in her tone, she began ticking items off on her fingers. "You threatened me, kidnapped me, forced me to dress like something out of a Dickens' novel, cast a spell that hurled us back through time breaking every law of physics and nature known to man...all of this *without* actually having any idea how you were going to bring about this new 'perfect world order' you had envisioned, yet you remembered to bring along a deck of cards?"  Willow couldn't help it.  She started laughing and was unable to stop even as tears started streaming down her face.

Spike's jaw tightened.  "I had a bloody plan, Red.  A brilliant, bloody plan if I do say so myself!" he growled loudly this time, her laughter annoying him more and more with each passing second.  "But someone had to play the good fairy, didn't she?  Some little witch decided to take us back 100 years too far!"  Spike continued to grumble a while longer, most of it under his breath and none of it very complimentary.

Willow covered her face with her hands.  The redhead was trying to gain a handle on her amusement, which wasn't easy when it just made Spike even angrier.  That, in turn, only made her laugh harder, of course

"Look, are we going to play cards or not?" he asked sharply, smacking his hand on the table.

"I guess we better," Willow said with tear-brightened eyes when she could finally manage to stop giggling.  "After all, I would hate to ruin your 'bloody, brilliant plan' to change the world with a deck of cards!"  Willow didn't laugh this time, but she did grin broadly and even winked at him.  Once again, she was reminded that she didn't have to take this whole time-travel thing so seriously.

Spike shook his head in exasperation, but even he couldn't stop a smile from sneaking onto his face.  "Then ante up, my little virgin."

***

Willow looked up from what she figured was going to be her fifteenth losing hand of the night to find Spike smirking at her once again.  She sighed and put her chin on a hand.  "I'm doing it again, aren't I?  You can still read my poker face that easily?"

"Like a comic book, Red!"  Spike announced, collecting the cards that she threw down on the table to admit her defeat.  The vampire felt a little redeemed.  If he had actually lost a hand of poker tonight, he would have had to stake himself or live with her rubbing it in his face for decades to come.

Willow shook her head in dismay.  One day she would beat the vampiric card shark at his own game, but not today.  The room grew quiet as they both noticed the lightening of the sky through the small attic window.

"When can I come back?"  Willow asked tentatively, as the time of her leaving drew nearer.

Spike's face darkened.  "I can't be sure.  Who knows what that wanker is going to do now?  But, if my brain hasn't turned to complete mush, Darla should still be in Paris for another month or two and--"

"Giving the newlyweds some privacy, is she?"  Willow cut in, playing a hunch about his relationship with Angelus in the early days.  She had been thinking about this for a long time but never had the tenacity to bring it up.  Tonight had seemed like as good a night as any.

She caught Spike off guard, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.  Seeing the suggestive hint of a smile on her face, the vampire simply shrugged and nodded.  "Comes with the fangs, love," he informed her.  "Besides, Darla never could stay in one place for more than a couple of months at a time."

Willow pursed her lips as more thoughts popped into her mind.  Even though she was pretty well read on the ways of demons, none of the Watchers' records about them could help her to really understand the bond between a childe and his sire.  Vampire relationships seemed to be even more complicated than human ones, and she never felt that she was very good at those, either.

Spike stood to put the cards away in a drawer behind him.  "I suppose you find that disgusting?" he challenged, misinterpreting her silence.

"No."  In fact, Willow found herself blushing as images of Spike and Angelus together crept into her mind's eye, and she decided she needed to change the subject...fast.  "But, as fascinating as this conversation is, Spike, can we get back to the subject?"

Spike turned back around just in time to see her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink.  "I thought your naughty little mind was the subject."

"No, although it appears to be your favorite topic of discussion lately."  She squirmed a little in her seat and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ears.  "We were talking about when I can come back...to England or London."

Spike walked around the room to grab a left-over apple from her dinner and tossed it at her over his shoulder.  "Eat.  You still look pale, and you'll need your energy if you're leaving today."

Willow caught the apple in mid-air, then replied.  "Yes, Daddy."  She had meant it purely as a sarcastic comment for his caring behavior and had not even thought about Drusilla, but as soon as it left her mouth, she realized what she'd said.  She bit her lip as she awaited his reaction, but there wasn't one.  If Spike had even realized what she'd said, he didn't let it show.

Spike felt a twinge of regret mixed with guilt at Willow's casual comment, but like all of the other twinges, stabs and pains he felt whenever he was with her, he shoved it harshly to the back of his mind to be dealt with later.

"I'll let you know when it is safe to come back.  If you'll still want to come back that is."

As Willow nibbled at the apple, she doubted that anything would make her not want to come back to England.  It was home to her now, having lived in it longer than she'd lived in the United States, but she was at a loss as to how he would let her know.

"Um, how?  How will I know when it's safe?"

Spike smirked at her question.  "I'll guess we'll have to keep in touch, won't we?  I've never had a pen pal before.  Blimey, even the words 'pen pal' give me the willies, but I'll give it a shot."

"Pen pal?  You...you can...?"  Willow didn't finish her sentence as she saw the scowl cross Spike's face.

"Of course I can read and write, Willow!  Just because I never went to some fancy school doesn't mean I'm a complete bloody idiot."

"Sorry, it's just that I never saw you read a book...or a newspaper...or ...or anything, actually," she stammered as she let her gaze fall back to the table in embarrassment.  "I just assumed..."  Willow felt horrible.  All this time she'd been wrong about something so basic.

The silence was thick for a few moments, but eventually Spike started searching his room and even the warehouse for a bit of paper, a quill and some ink. Finally finding everything he was looking for, Spike hastily scribbled on the scrap before shoving it at Willow.

"Write to William Smith at this address and let me know where you are.  The postal service isn't very good yet, not that it ever is, but what can you expect from civil servants?  Anyway, there are routine deliveries between here and the rest of Europe.  I'll get it...eventually.  Just let me know where you are, and then when it's safe to show your face around here, I'll let you know," he told her coolly, now taking great interest in the cracks in the walls on the other side of the room.

Willow glanced at the paper, noting the surprisingly readable handwriting before shoving it in her pocket.  She stood up slowly and smoothed out her dress with clammy palms.  It was time to go.

"Okay, well, I better get going.  I have a lot of lies to tell before catching a stagecoach to the port."  Willow's voice wavered just a bit.

"Right.  You need to be out of London before nightfall.

They looked at each other from across the room for a while, each one waiting for the other to make a move, but eventually Willow tired of the awkwardness.  <Geez, I think it was easier when I just stormed out...didn't have to say any good-byes.>  "Yeah...well...thanks for taking care of me, Spike.  Take care of yourself, and I'll see you in a few decades, okay?" she said indifferently, grabbing what few things were hers before heading for the door.  She kept waiting for him to say something, or more importantly do something, but he stood still as stone, his face as cold as one.

Spike watched her head for the door with so many mixed feelings that it left him void of any expression at all.  He wanted her to go so she would be safe and so that he could get on with the business of being a vampire without her big eyes always questioning him.  He also wanted her to go because his future was with Drusilla.  No matter what he may be able to have with Willow at this moment, it was only temporary.  They were only stand-ins, trying to fill the void in each other's life that the spell had cost them...friends, confidants, lovers...?  Yet, on the other hand, he wanted her to stay, because frankly she was bloody good company, and he was as tired of being alone as she was.  Was there more to it?  Probably, but that was just one more thing shoved into storage in the back of his mind.

Willow didn't allow herself to look back as she walked out.  It wasn't like they weren't going to see each other again.  It would just be a while.  "See you later, Spike," she said softly over her shoulder without actually looking at him.  She paused briefly on the landing, long enough for Spike to say something, anything, but he didn't utter a word.

She shut the door gently behind her, then leapt down the stairs and out of the warehouse as fast as her tired legs could take her.  It wasn't until she was outside and the early morning air hit her that she allowed a few tears to fall.  Willow couldn't even decide what it was that she was crying about--the fact that she had to start all over somewhere else, that she was going to be alone again, or that Spike hadn't even bothered to say good-bye.

Spike, for his part, stared at the doorway that she'd been standing in only moments before and kicked himself for not saying good-bye, then kicked himself again for caring whether or not he said good-bye, and then kicked himself one final time just for good measure.  Suddenly remembering something, Spike began to savagely rip up a few floorboards in the corner. Grabbing a pouch out of the now-uncovered hiding place, the vampire ran down the stairs at supernatural speed.

<Damn!> he muttered as he ran through the barren warehouse, realizing that she was already gone from the building and probably gone for good.  He got to the door and threw it open to the morning sun, not caring whether or not he would get singed.  Luckily for him, the sun rose on the other side of the building.

"Willow!" he yelled down the street.  Spike took a few steps into the shaded street, ignoring the odd looks he got from the few people out and about at such an early hour.  He peered down the lane in the direction that he knew she would take but couldn't spot her.  "WILLOW!" he yelled even louder in desperation.

"Keep your trousers on, my husband," Willow's voice came from behind.

Spike quickly spun around and was relieved to find a red-eyed Willow, leaning against the wall of the building.

"What's wrong?" she asked cautiously.  "Did you forget something?"  <Like saying good-bye...you...you big blonde demonic dummy?!>

Spike didn't try to hide his relief in finding her and quickly grabbed Willow by the hand.  Instead of pulling her into an embrace, however, he dragged her back into the privacy of the dim building.

"Good bloody thing I caught you.  I wanted to give you something," he muttered hurriedly, holding out the bag.

Willow couldn't hide her disappointment.  Her romantic mind wanted him to hold her and tell her that he would miss her, while her naughtier thoughts contemplated other ways of saying good-bye.  Instead, he was merely trying to give her something.  <Well, a present is better than nothing!>  She took the rather large leather bag and immediately noticed how heavy it was.  She peered inside to find money...lots of it...more than she'd seen in all of her days working in taverns.

She looked from the money to Spike.  "You're giving me all of this?"

Spike nodded and stepped back.  "I don't want you working in dirty pubs having filthy old men slobber all over you any more.  You're a lady, and I want you to act like one...dress like one...live like one.  If you're smart, that will last you for quite a while."

Willow thrust the bag back into his hands.  "I don't want your money," she said sharply and turned for the door, but a confused Spike quickly stepped in front of her.

"What's your bloody problem, Pet?" he said irately.  He couldn't understand why she wasn't falling over herself to thank him for making the coming years easier on her.  Then something occurred to him and he thought he understood.

"It isn't what you think, you know.  I didn't rob the dead for this money, just the stupid.  These are my gambling winnings from the past couple of decades."

Willow stopped her attempt to leave but didn't look at the vampire.  She stared at the floor, making sure that he couldn't see her face.  "Oh," was all she could say.

Spike felt his ire build.  He never thought she could be so ungrateful.

"'Oh'!  Is that all you have to say?  Not, 'Thank you, Spike,' or 'You shouldn't have, Spike'?" he demanded, once again imitating the woman before him.  "You're going to take this money if I have to--"

"If you have to what?" she fumed, sticking her chin up bravely to match the vampire's glare with one of her own.  "I am not going to take your money!"

Confused, Spike stalked closer, his face growing tighter and angrier with each step.  Willow tried to hold her ground, but before she knew it, the redhead found herself backing away.  All too soon, she ran out of room and found herself between one very cold brick wall and one very cold, pissed-off vampire.

Spike pinned her against the wall, not with his body, but with his eyes.  Standing close enough that she could actually feel the coolness radiating from him, Willow could do nothing but watch as Spike clenched his jaw in frustration.  One more time the vampire thrust the money at her, and once again she refused to take it.

"Why are you being so bloody stubborn?  Take it, or I will shove every piece down your corset then kick you out of here on your stubborn, ungrateful little ass!"

"You wouldn't dare!" she huffed.

An evil grin appeared on the vampire's face, and he reached in the bag for a coin before closing it and dropping the leather sack on the floor.  He took the solitary gold coin and held it up between two fingers for Willow to see, then he pressed it gently against the hollow of her throat.  With the other hand, he tucked one finger under the neckline of her gown and drew it away from her pounding chest.

Willow's eyes shot daggers at the vampire before her, but she refused to give in first.  He simply wouldn't dare.  "Spike, if you--"

Before she could finish the sentence, Spike released his hold on the coin.  Its rolling path took it down her chest and between her breasts to stop somewhere deep in her bodice.

"You were saying, my wife?" he grinned at her as he released the neckline of the dress with a sharp snap.

"I--I can't believe you did that!" Willow stammered, more shocked and embarrassed than angry.

Spike laughed and took a small step back.  "I only wish the coin were colder.  Now, are you going to be a good little girl and swallow your ahead-of-its-time feminist pride and take the damn money, or will you be jingling through the streets of London with a very impressive--if not a tad bit more lumpy than I usually prefer--bosom?"

"No!" she replied, ignoring the rest of his overly descriptive question.  At the same time, Willow found herself dancing around in an attempt to get the coin to drop out of its hiding place so that she wouldn't have to go fishing for it.

"I'd be happy to get that out for you," the vampire chuckled eagerly.  "Of course, it might take me awhile to find it."

Willow couldn't help herself and started grinning.  "You're evil."

"I'd like to say that it all came with the fangs, love, but I think there was always a little devil in me."

When the coin finally found the floor, Spike scooped it up and clutched the warm sphere tightly in his hand.  "I'll think I'll just hang on to this lucky little bugger as a memento, Pet.  It'll be my new good luck piece," he said in all seriousness.

Willow sighed as she studied his familiar face once again.  "I'm going to miss you.  I mean, I'm going to miss the arguments," she stammered, her cheeks reddening.  <Quit fighting it, Willow!>  She scolded herself into action.  "Oh, bloody hell, Spike.  I'm going to miss *you*!" Willow announced and launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and back in a tight hug.

Completely taken by surprise, Spike was a little slow to return the embrace.  However, as soon as he felt Willow tense as if ready to end the hug because of his awkwardness, he quickly let his arms move about her and pull her back to him.

"I'll miss you too, Red," he murmured into her hair.

"You will?" she asked against his shoulder.

"Like I told you before, Willow.  I'm a bloody masochist."

Neither laughed at the comment.  They both knew there was more than a little truth to the fact that they seemed to only cause each other grief when they were together.  The couple stayed that way for a brief moment longer, not talking, not arguing, just holding on to each other...holding on to all they had of their real life.

Willow finally pulled back.  "I should go...there really is a lot to do...and thank you, for the money.  I will take it after all, and just consider it a loan or maybe payment for my expert stake removal, or something like that...."

Spike picked up the sack and handed it to her.  "We can come up with some sort of appropriate repayment schedule when we get back, love."

Willow smirked her thanks.  "And if I know you, I'm sure you already have a few ideas in mind, Spike."  Shaking her head at the lewd smile on his face, she picked up her other things, tightened her grip on her new fortune, and headed toward the door again.  For the last time, Willow stopped and turned, only to find the vampire was directly behind her, following her to the door.

"Be careful, Willow," he said gravely.

"I will.  You be careful, too, and try to be good.  Well, okay, not good, but try not to hurt anyone more than absolutely necessary, okay?" she paused for a moment as a wicked thought came to her.  "Oh, and one more thing...."

Willow's sweet smile change into something that could only be described as sexy, and Spike was startled when she quickly leaned into him with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.  For a moment he thought she was going to kiss him.  Not that kissing Willow would be a bad thing, but as she'd said before, it would lead to bad things...wonderfully warm, bad things.  However, her mouth didn't close over his in an inviting kiss; instead it moved to the side of his face.  <What the bloody hell is she doing?>  He only had a moment to wonder before he felt the incredible sensation of her teeth sinking into the fleshy part of his earlobe.  The bite wasn't painful, only surprising, and before he could enjoy it, she'd released him.

"I forgot to tell you...I always eat their ears first," she whispered.

<What?>  Spike's mind was reeling, and he once again found himself at a rare loss for words in Willow's presence.  <Oh right, the bloody bunny rabbit...chocolate...ears...>

Willow backed away with a pleased smile on her face and licked her lips.  "White chocolate...my favorite."  Then with one last devilish smile, Willow was gone.

It was several minutes before Spike moved from that spot.  The demon in him was crowing 'I told you so,' and Spike found himself unable to remove the awe-struck grin from his face.  As he climbed the stairs to get some sleep, the vampire gingerly touched his ear before shaking his head ruefully.

"Bloody hell...what's she going to be like after another 50 years of chastity?"

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