By My Side

Author: Femailofthespecies

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

~Part: 11~

"Sweet Child O' Mine"

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that
special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry

Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine

She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me
of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by

Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine

Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Sweet child o' mine
 
 

Spike heard the water running in the shower before he slipped into Angel’s room. The scent of Mina mingling with his Sire was overwhelming, boosting his need in ways he never imagined. Slowly he made his way to the bathroom not sure of what he was feeling, certain he was scared, but knowing that he would not turn back. From the doorway he watched them.

Angelus was ravenous, devouring the vampire who haunted him for so long. She was heaven and hell in his arms, her skin heated by her magic and the steaming water cascading over them. His lips moved from hers to explore her neck, his mark, inspiring a throaty moan from Mina. His head tilted slightly as he caught the scent of his Childe, so aroused.

"Spike...get in here... now." He growled, his invitation a command and a plea. He needed them both. The blonde hesitated, but only for a few seconds, before joining the lust-crazed siblings. He discovered their desire was infectious, his cock becoming fully engorged at the sight of them. Angel was as beautiful as he remembered and Mina... breathtaking. Together ...amazing. He came up behind her, pressing his lips to her shoulder and then up her neck licking the soft flesh.

"Gods below, Mina...you taste so bloody wonderful." Spike whispered in her ear, driving his shaft inside her without warning. She cried out at the intrusion as Angel captured her scream in his mouth with practiced ease. The dark vampire release her lips to attend to her swollen nipples, lavishing one with his cool mouth, and pinching the other.

"Hold her Angelus." Spike demanded. Angel dropped to his knees and swung her legs over his shoulders, inhaling the heady aroma of his sister and his childe. She was dripping wet and not just from the shower, as Spike thrusts went deeper because of the new angle. He lapped at the juices she created, tasting his boy as well.

Mina made no pretense at control. She was nearly beyond thought She didn’t remember it being like this. Spike had so much power and right now if was all concentrated between his pale muscular legs and consequently, between hers. Her mind reeled as every part of her being was drawn to her core, electrical shocks jolting through her. She was so glad when Angelus took her off her feet, but found herself in more trouble as he delved into her center, licking and teasing her clit with his overly talented tongue. Her orgasm took her by surprise, slamming through her existence as Spike slammed deeper, hitting her cervix relentlessly and as Angel, now in game-face, nicked her with a sharp fang and sucked her fiery and spiced blood from her center. She bucked violently, cutting herself more and screamed from the wickedly wonderful pain.

"Gods William...what’re you doing to me? Ahhh, fuck, Angel!" She gasped, licking at blood dripping from her mouth. Spike flooded her with his release as her spasming walls milked him. She fell back onto the blonde vampire, limp.

They didn’t bother with towels as Angel lifted her and took her to his bed. Spike turned off the shower and joined them.

Mina was stretched out on the bed, a vision surrounded by deep blue satin sheets. Water drops beaded on her perfect body even as Angel licked them away. She gently scratched and tickled his chest as he climbed over her prone form. She spread her legs and he entered her leisurely, setting a torturously slow rhythm, pulling almost entire out from her only to encase himself fully in the heat of her completely. She growled with each thrust, becoming more animalistic in her need for him.

The dark vampire watched his childe approach and leaned over, engaging him in searing kiss that caused him to harden inside her even more.

"Ohhh...I’m..." She started, never finishing as she succumbed to another climax, thrashing beneath the dark vampire.

Angel flipped her over so that she straddled him, and Spike moved behind her, biting his wrist allowing his blood to drip onto her tight hole and his swollen member. His Sire stilled for him as he began to enter her ass.

"Fuck...too tight!" He grunted as he working himself into her, picking up his Angel’s rhythm soon, pulling out as Angel thrusted in. Mina moaned and keened, babbling incoherently. He bent over and captured his sire’s lips again, ripping into them and sucking his blood. Mina grabbed Spike’s bleeding wrist and began her own draining, the sensation shooting a blaze into his cock as he came.

"Oh...shit Mina!" The blonde roared, unloading into her near-virgin hole.

Angel vamped and renewed his claim on Mina as he exploded inside, her passage quivering with her own ecstasy. She fell over him, weakened from the spell and the blood lost. Spike pulled her off and pulled to lay against him. His sire turned to face him.

"Don’t think you’re getting out of this that easy, William. I’ll be taking care of you as soon as I recover from this ritual." His sleepy gaze was hungry and filled with promise.

"You’re just old." He replied, stifling a yawn. "Couldn’t handle me anyway, Peaches." The blonde snickered, panting, falling asleep as he complained.

~~~*~~~

Spike woke and extracted himself from Mina’s limbs to check on Willow. Opening the door to his room, he felt she was still in a deep sleep. He sat on the bed and gently brushed her hair back from her face and leaned over to kiss her forehead. He eyed the bruises on her pale skin, reminding him to punish his sire. He stood and dressed quickly, deciding to feed and return to his witch as soon as possible.

When descending the stairs the smell hit him. <Oh fuck!> He saw her where he left her. On the sofa near the back of the room. Cordelia. <A bloody good fuck she is. > The magic, sex magic. That must be what happened. He’d have to ask Mina about the spell later. She was half naked and Spike didn’t fancy his Sire coming down to find her like this.

"Cordelia...Wake up, luv." He ran a hand through his curly locks when she didn’t stir, pacing slightly. He did NOT want to scare the chit right now. Her screaming would rouse the poof for certain. Taking a chance he sat next to her pulling blanket from the back of the sofa over her.

"Hey, Cordelia." He shook her, gently then a bit more roughly, finally getting a reaction. "Hello, luv." He smiled at her as she opened her eyes slowly, focusing on him.

"Spike! What?" She sat up somewhat pulling the blanket closer.

"You need to get up from here and go to bed. Do you remember what happened?"

She nodded, frowning slightly. "The spell? Did it work?"

"Yea, it worked. Mina and Peaches are upstairs right now." His pants tightened as blood surged south.

"Well that’s good then. No more Angelus, right. That’s great! OH MY GOD! WHAT DID WE DO????"

Spike chuckled, eyebrow arched, her expression was priceless. "If you don’t know then I suppose we didn’t do it right, eh luv?"

"We...we.. .oh," her hand instinctively caressed his mark on her neck and she shivered. "what did you do?" She whispered.

"It was the magic, pet. Better get up and find a place to sleep ‘fore Angel comes down." He stared at her, his expression uncompromising. "Don’t leave the hotel. I’m going hunting."

She watched him, wide-eyed, as he stalked out the lobby door, the black duster billowing behind his graceful form.

~~~*~~~

The blonde vampire stormed the streets of Los Angeles. Already fed and sated, his was a mission for thought. He wanted Willow like nothing else and didn’t want her to take his marking the seer the wrong way. Humans just didn’t get it sometimes. And how was he gonna explain it to the Poof. He promised him that he wouldn’t turn the girl, which was a lie, but he wasn’t in the mood for waging a war over her right now. Angel wanted him there with him and he could wait for the seer. He would turn her and his sire would have to deal with it. But Willow...He had to explain to her what he wanted from the brunette, make his witch understand that she was the most important thing in his unlife.

~~~*~~~

Cordelia hurried up the stairs, the blanket wrapped around her, hiding her torn clothes and flesh. Clutched to her chest was the extra set of clothes she kept at the hotel. She crept into a spare room and checked her reflection in the mirror. There was blood on her neck and two deep holes that hurt like the dickens. She wanted to blame him, but found that she couldn’t. He was just as lost as she was. And she wanted it. At the time it seemed like a good idea, the only idea really. Spike seemed to think it had something to do with the spell.

"I’ll speak to Mina about it and then we never mention this again." She spoke sternly to herself in the mirror. A shower and more sleep was really beginning to sound great.

~~~*~~~

Mina woke looking for Spike. She sense he was not in the hotel or near at all. She wanted to hunt with him and he’d left without her. Sighing she shook Angel.

"Wake up. Come on! Wake up now!" She pushed him rudely.

"What?!" He grumbled from underneath a pillow.

"I’m hungry. My tummy is growling. Come with me." She got up and started for the shower. Noticing that her brother hadn’t moved, she kicked he bed hard sending the mattress siding off the other side with Angel on it.

"What do you want Mina?" He asked through clenched teeth, getting up. He’d forgotten how demanding she was. He had to forced himself not to smile.

"I said get up. I’m taking a quick shower and WE are going hunting." He opened his mouth to protest, righting the mattress. "Don’t. I’m hungry and if you don’t take me then I’ll stay here and fuck with you." She stopped, listening. "And your seer’s still here. I could have a little snack. Not enough to hurt her, but I’m not eating pigs blood and I am not starving either."

"You can drink from me..." Angel offered calmly.

"Right...And we’ll end up right back in that bed. Which I wouldn’t mind, but I WANNA HUNT!

WILLIAM LEFT ALREADY AND I WANNA HUNT NOW." She stalked him and he smirked at her outburst, understanding that he was going with her one way or another. "I want to hunt Angel, not just eat. Understand?"

He sighed. "Yes. I’m getting dressed already." He put an arm up to fend off her playful blows.

"So Cordelia is still here. That’s strange. I thought she would’ve gone home after the ritual." He mused.

"Well there was a lot of power magics so and I drew upon everyone in the room so she was probably drained. She and William created a lot of energy. It totally helped my spell." She grinned to herself as Angel finished dressing. "I’ll be ready in ten," she announced, walking into the bathroom.

"I’ll check on Cordy. See you downstairs."

~~~*~~~

He heard her heartbeat, she was upstairs.

"Hmmm. Strange," he mumbled, heading up the stairs.

Outside the door he knocked and upon hearing her muffled reply he opened the door slowly.

"Hey Cordy. Are you okay ..." He froze, his senses assaulted by the scent of his childe. Growling, he glared at his secretary.

"What. Happened?" He managed without yelling. She looked up at him with red eyes.

"Oh Angel! I don’t know. One minute we’re watching the ritual and the next minutes he was all over me and I was all over him and we couldn’t stop. We didn’t want to stop and he bit me, Angel. It hurts now. But it felt really good then. Was that supposed to happen?" When she mentioned bite Angel was at her side checking her neck and saw the mark.

"Damn it. He marked you."

"What? Marked? What does that mean Angel?" She was near crying again and bit it back, refusing to give in.

"We need to get Mina. Let’s go downstairs and we can figure this out together. And I can catch my childe as soon as he gets back so he can’t make anymore trouble." The brunette follow the souled vampire in search of his sister.

~~~*~~~

"YOU DID WHAT?"  She was just as menacing as that boy!

"Stop yelling at me Angelus. I’m not some kid."

He took a calming breath, as unneeded as it was. "Okay. Please continue." His smile sickeningly fake.

"Okay. The Gods and Goddess require a lot of energy to be maintained in this realm. I normally can produce it by myself through a little sex magic, but because I had to circle you both while chanting there was no way to fuck and walk in a circle. So I used William and Cordy.

"Why didn’t you ASK first, Mina?" Angel inquired, rubbing his large hand over his face.

"Because I was not about to wait another day while someone wrestled with their morals. Angel or Angelus. Doesn’t matter to me. I’m not afraid of the demon remember. So I did what I did to protect the rest of them who are afraid." Her eyes burned into Angel.

"Now Cordy, I had no idea he would mark you and it maybe just that he got carried away. The magic was powerful." She leaned close to her brother and whispered for his ears only, "I came fours times just being there." Angel cursed his cock as it filled.

"We’ll straighten this out Cordy. Are you going home or staying here tonight?" He asked.

"I’ll stay." She remembered the blonde’s last statement, deciding she didn’t want to know what he would do if she left. Angel didn’t seem to have too much control over his childe.

~~~*~~~

Before entering the lobby, Spike felt his sire, Mina and the cheerleader inside. He sauntered in as if nothing was wrong in the world.

"Poof. Mina. Seer." They all stared at him as he crossed the lobby to the kitchen. He came out with a beer and opened it looking at them all.

"What?" he asked.

"Spike...you marked her. I told you that you cannot turn her." Angel growled.

"Yeah, about that, Peaches." The blonde vampire smirked at his sire. "It was done in the heat of passion. The chit’s got a lot of fire and I don’t know what came over me. I expect Willow’s gonna be pissed" Turning to Cordelia, he added, "You are amazing, though, luv." He leered at her openely.

"Stop it Spike" Angel ordered. "Mina is what came over you. She worked a little sex magic on you to boost her spell."

"Hey, sex magic. That’s quite the high level thing to do. Good for you!" He quipped and at the glares from Angel and Cordy he sighed, "What? I’m just saying she’s really up there with the bad ass mojo to pull that off and I for one am proud of her. YOU should be too Poof, or your wanker would still be locked in a cage with Angelus."

This was working out better than he thought. He could blame the bite on the magic and his sire would be off his back about the girl. He would have to explain the truth to his Red. He wasn’t about to start out life with her by lying.

"At least now most demons won’t dare touch her since she has been marked by a Master. She can even still call me Spike." He conceded. Mina couldn’t hold it anymore and fell out laughing. Spike smiled as well, but didn’t bite (pardon the pun).

"Why don’t you get some sleep" He directed that to the ex-cheerleader. "I’m gonna check on Willow. Don’t wait up for me. G’night all." He was right proud of himself for turning everything around and even making Angel seem ungrateful.

"What the fuck just happened??" Angel asked, hands on hips.

~Part: 12~

The redhead stirred slightly as Spike undressed and slipped under the covers next to her. He pulled her close to him, wrapping his cool body around her heat, smiling slightly as she mumbled. As soon as she woke he would tell her about what happened tonight. Better his version than the warped picture his sire was sure to paint.

He wanted the cheerleader, but not in the same way. He envisioned her as an excellent killing machine. Her natural predatory instincts were already finely honed and she would make a most ruthless vampire. He wanted someone to teach and council. He also didn’t want to turn Willow for a few years. He’d give himself a few months to corrupt Angel, with Mina’s help, and then turning Cordelia will be possible. He just hoped that the little witch didn’t work a bad mojo on him for shagging the cheerleader. <It’s not like I meant for it to happen!>

~~~*~~~

It was just after dawn when a sleepy slayer leaned over and grabbed the cordless phone from it’s perch on her nightstand. She resisted the urge to hurl it across the room and answered the incessant ringing instead.

"Hello," she squawked.

"Hello Bunny. This is Sheila Rosenberg. I need to speak to Willow." Buffy sat up quickly trying to wake up.

"Uh...Hi, Mrs. Rosenberg. It’s Buffy. Willow isn’t here, though. She’s in Oakland at your sister’s. She left Thursday after her last test." Buffy offered, hoping to get rid of her soon. <How hard it is to remember my name?>

"No. My sister died yesterday in the hospital from complications after the surgery. Willow’s father and I have been there since Friday night. I called yesterday also, but no one answered. Don’t you girls have a answering machine?" She asked, truly puzzled.

"Oh. I’m sorry about your sister. I guess I got it wrong. As soon as I hear from her I’ll make sure she calls." The slayer frowned into the phone.

"Thank you, Bunny. Tell her to call my cell and that the funeral is Wednesday. G’bye." And Sheila Rosenberg hung up without another thought as to where in the hellmouth her only child might be.

~~~*~~~

"Giles..."

"Yes Buffy. What is it?" Glancing at his bedside clock his eyes widened. "It’s only 7am, Buffy! Why are you calling so early?" The watcher was annoyed at losing his Sunday Morning beauty sleep.

"Where did Willow say she was going?"

"To Oakland. Her Aunt’s. What’s this about?" He pulled himself into a sitting position, curiosity peaked.

"Have you heard from her at all since Thursday?" The slayer ignored his question.

"Well yesterday she called and said everything was fine. Buffy what is going on?!" He demanded.

"Willow’s is not in Oakland, Giles! Her mom just called for her FROM Oakland to tell her that her aunt died on Friday and about the funeral. So if she isn’t there...where is she!?"

~~~*~~~

The watcher’s apartment was once again crowded with youthful energy. Buffy called everyone asking them to meet at Giles’. Xander, Anya, Tara, and Riley were sitting around speculating on what could have happened to Willow given the facts. All heads turned to the door when it banged open.

"Hey guys...I checked a few places on campus where she hangs, but no luck." She flopped hard into a cushioned sofa.

"Where’s the fangless wonder? Maybe he can check out..." Xander started.

"I actually haven’t seen Spike since Wednesday night. He came by in a huff and asked to use the phone and left straight away." Giles commented.

"Yeah, well I went by his place and no Spike. He must be gone on one of his violence seeking missions. It’s been pretty demon-free around here and you know how he gets if he can’t kill something."

Xander interrupted. "As interesting as Spike’s psychopathic issues may be, I am here to find WILLOW, not Deadboy Jr." <Why didn’t I stop to get donuts?>

"Wait Xander...Giles, who did Spike call? I mean He never calls anyone, but us and I didn’t get a call. Any of you guys?" Everyone shook their heads indicating no call from the blonde vampire.

"Too bad caller id doesn’t work on call you make out. Hey..." Buffy walked over to Giles’ phone. She picked up the caller id box near the base of the phone. "What time did Willow call on Saturday?"

"It was in the afternoon, but I’m not really sure exactly when, Buffy. Maybe 2 or 3." He replied and she pressed the search button on the device.

"Hey Giles, Why didn’t you tell me that Angel called?" Buffy asked without looking up, still searching. Riley tensed slight when she mentioned her ex-boyfriend.

"Angel? He hasn’t called. Nor Wesley or Cordelia. Go back to that call Buffy." Giles removed his glasses and started to clean the lenses with a handkerchief. "What time was it?"

"It was...3:16pm on Saturday..." The slayer finally glanced up at the ex-watcher. "Giles, you don’t think...That’s when Willow called, isn’t it." It was a statement. She continued her search back into Saturday morning, but could not find a 510 area code call and dropped the box on the desk. Giles picked it up and when back to the call, and checked the call preceding it, signing.

"Yes, it must be Willow’s call. I received a call from an acquaintance and remember that as soon as I hung up with him the phone rang again and it was Willow. My friend’s call is just before the one from Angel’s phone."

"Why is Willow calling from Angel’s? And why would she lie about where she went?" Tara asked.

"She probably went to have sex with Angel and lied so Buffy wouldn’t find out." Anya offered cheerfully.

"Anya!" Xander exclaimed. Giles sat down hard in his chair at his desk, pinching his nose in a effort to fend off the oncoming headache.

"What?" The ex-demon asked innocently. "It’s perfectly natural for her to have sex with a vampire. I mean she is a witch. It’s been done for centuries. I once knew a witch who had..." She explained.

Looking over at Buffy’s shrinking form Xander took his girlfriend’s hand in his. "Anya, honey. You are not helping. We want to find a reason other that the obvious one for her being with at Angel’s and lying about it." Buffy whimpered silently and sunk into herself even more, trying to hide her distress from Riley.

"Well...maybe she went to see Oz. Aren’t the Dingoes playing in LA?" Riley offered

"Yes! That’s gotta be it." Buffy latched onto the idea as if it were a life preserver. She went to Giles’ computer and after a few minutes pulled up a site. "See...they are playing aaaaat.... "The DV8" this weekend. Tonight’s the last night and then they’re at "Plush" on Wednesday and play there until next Saturday. Oh no...that’s the day of the funeral. If I’m gonna tell her, I better go to the club tonight, otherwise she won’t even know about the funeral until Wednesday night and then it’ll be too late! Xander can you take me?" She was already heading for the door, everything settled in her mind.

"Wait Buffy...We don’t know for sure that she is even with Oz." Riley commented.

"And you cannot have my Xander. We have plans. Riley can take you." Anya added, eyeing the slayer warily.

"Of course she’s with Oz. Nothing else makes sense." She smiled patiently at her friends who were not seeing the obvious. "Riley aren’t you on duty tonight?" She knew she might have to go to the see the souled vampire if she didn’t find Willow at the club and bringing someone from The Initiative to Angel’s was not of the good.

"Yeah. But I can ask Forest to cover for me if ...", the commander suggested.

"No! No... Xander AND Anya will take me. Right Xander?" She glared at her best friend.

"Yes. We leave when??? Ouch!" He fended off a second blow to his head from his irate girlfriend.

"About 6 tonight. Meet me at my house, okay?" She smiled the mega-watt Summers smile and pivoted to bounce out the door.

"Xander!!!" Anya stomped out behind the blonde.

~~~*~~~

"Oh Goddess Spike. It’s soooooo good." She moaned, licking her lips.

"I thought you like it, luv." The blonde smirked.

"Hmmm I love it. Oh...." The redhead, exclaimed between slurps.

"That’s right take it all, baby." He coached, caressing her cheek softly.

"Mmmm. I want more now, Spike!" She garbled, her mouth full already.

"Don’t be a greedy little witch." He scolded.

"Put it in my mouth now!" She grabbed at the cold, hard spoon of ice cream, but Spike was too fast for her and she fell over into his lap, laughing quietly. "Don’t tease me. You know I need it, baby." Whispering she added, "Is she still out there?" The blonde vampire nodded.

"Not teasing, pet, but you know the cheerleader will want some more. It’s not like she got a lot of it yesterday." He barely managed before collapsing into a silent laughing fit.

At that moment the kitchen door exploded inward, revealing a very pissed Cordy.

"I so don’t want anything from you Blonde! Last night was a fluke, a magical travesty, a disaster and nothing could make me want to..." She faded as she noticed the totally clothed couple sitting at the table eating Lady Godiva ice cream. "HEY don’t eat all that! That’s my favorite! Hand it over Bleach boy!"

"Now Cordelia. If you want some, I’d be more than pleased to serve you. Just consider it a benefit of belonging to the Big Bad." Willow giggled some more and pulled the tub from Spike’s grip, popping him on the arm.

"Here Cordy. He’s just teasing with you. It is kinda funny that you had ...sex.. with Spike. And hot monkey sex at that. I mean.... the irony is priceless." Willow could not contain herself, but she wasn’t trying too hard either.

"Wills this is so not funny. I swear if you ever mention the to anyone I’ll...I’ll... ohhhh. I’ll tell Buffy you had sex with Angel. Very hot, veeery sweaty, monkey sex, for very a long time." She quipped, arms crossed.

"Okay truce! I won’t say a word. Buffy would be... I don’t know why she expects Angel to pine for her when she is dating. But it would still hurt her a lot to know it how we anchored his soul. I wonder if Angel has told her yet?" She was so happy the two now had a chance at being a real couple.

"Ah Red, let Angel handle that." Spike wanted to nip that in the bud. No more slayers for his sire. The blonde didn’t think his demon could stomach Buffy now that it was free. It was one thing to tolerate her when he was not able to kill her in order to survive. But to be around her voluntarily and not kill her was a torture that would rival Angelus.

~~~*~~~

Spike came up behind Mina as she sat reading, startling her.

"Hello Auntie. Got a minute?" He grinned wickedly at the few seconds of fear he was able to produce in the older vampire. It smelled fabulous coming from her.

"William! I’m supposed to be the one scaring people. Don’t sneak up on me like that again." She whined, hitting him playfully and then softening, once again struck by his unparalleled beauty. "What’s up?"

"We can’t let Peaches get back with Slutty. ‘Cause I’ll kill her. I want to now and the bitch is 100 miles away. I can’t take her smell on him. No bloody way!" He sat next to her and lit a cigarette, clenching his jaw in anger.

"Relax William. Angelus’ demon is too close to the surface for the soul to block him out. He won’t be able to tolerate the slayer as well as before. The soul still has feelings, but there’s just to much conflict for him to actually love her now. Don’t worry...he won’t leave us for her." She patted his leg.

"Do you need some comfort or is Willow around?" She asked as she rose to change clothes. It was almost dark and she want to take a stroll.

"She went with the seer to rent movies. Besides I owe him for roughing up my mate during the ritual. Think I’ll go see what he’s doing." The blonde mused, dragging deeply on his smoke.

"He’s down in the basement training. Let me know if you need some help?" She was down for playing.

"Trust me luv, Peaches will be the one bloody well needing help."

~Part: 13~

"She’s evil Cordelia. You have to see that." Wesley tried to persuade the brunette to leave with him and not go to the movies with Angel’s morally challenged sister.

"Look ,Wesley. I trust Angel. Mina might be a little... mischievous, but she doesn’t plan to do anything to any of us. I can accept her at her word. Why can’t you? Plus YOU could learn a lot from her. She knows a BUNCH of stuff about Angel and Spike that I bet she’s just dying to tell. Well not dying, but you know what I mean." She was tired of his attempts to convince her otherwise. "I mean you can take the Watcher off the payroll and put him in the unemployment line, but you can’t take the Watcher out of the...Watcher? Hmm." She faded, realizing that didn’t go like she planned.

"Hey Cordelia! Are you gonna be ready soon. We have to go by your place first so you can change and the movies starts in a little over an hour. I hate coming in late." Mina asked from the stairs while walking down.

"I’m just shutting down now. Be done in two minutes and I’ll be quick at home, but I have to warn you about Dennis."

The redhead called from to staircase, "Hey guys. Anybody seen Spike?" She had been looking for him for a while and hoped he didn’t leave without telling her.

"Oh! Down...in the basement. Him and Angelus. Maybe you better check on them." Mina suggested. Turning to face Cordelia and Wesley, "Come on you two. Wesley, we’ll walk you to your car." They all headed out, Wesley painfully trapped between the two women.

~~~*~~~

If anyone had been in the lobby all they would have seen was a flash of naked flesh moving from the basement and up the stairs, the only sounds were a fading giggle and growls.

The trio fell into Angel’s room, Willow laughing as Spike tossed her on the bed and bounced next to her. They both fell silent and turned, taking in the site of the blonde’s sire. He was bloody and bruised, marks of Spike’s revenge. He watched the pair cautiously, licking his bottom lip.

"Pet...do you think Angel has suffered enough? I mean you were awfully sore and so very bruised..." Spike asked the redhead, nipping at her neck and kissing her dizzy.

She felt the wetness gather between her legs. <Goddess...I’m going to do this.>

"Yes," she agreed breathlessly, "he’s suffered enough and now he can have a reward." Spike moved his mouth over hers, exploring her with is tongue. In a swift move he turned her and pulled Willow against his chest, his legs on either side of her. He gazed at his sire over her shoulder, spreading Willows naked legs before the dark vampire.

"Daddy wants to play, Red." Willow lifted her head from her mates shoulder and stared into Angel’s dark eyes. He stalked toward the couple writhing on his bed, snaking his way between the witch’s pale legs. Her scent filled his head as he continued, kissing a path along her belly, her breast, then to her shoulder only to end by devouring his childe in a searing oral embrace.

Willow angled her head, watching the two vampires battle for dominance. She was more aroused by this than she had been in the basement spying while her mate whipped Angel for what he considered her abuse.

It was obvious to her that both vampires enjoyed it. What she didn’t know was they had both sensed her presence and knew she was enjoying it as well.

Angel pulled back from his childe, settling over Willow again. His mouth found her in an equally passionate, but much gentler kiss. She could taste their blood on his lips and felt her stomach tighten as a wave of pleasure passed through her. The dark vampire moved to her center, licking her lips as he parted her amber curls. She arched up for more contact. He slipped his tongue inside her, his nose rubbing against her clit, as Spike sank his fangs into her shoulder. She cried out as she came, wondering at how easily they brought her to orgasm. For a moment she thought about what she was doing. Angel was Buffy’s. This was not for a ritual. She wanted this. <I can never tell her. She’ll hate me for this, but Goddess help me, I can’t stop.>

Angel continued to lick and nibble at her core. Spike wrenched her head to gain access to her mouth, kissing her wildly as she came again, screaming into the blonde’s mouth and bucking violently on Angel’s.

The elder vampire drank her juices greedily and caught his childe’s glazed eyes. "Two down... eight to go," he smirked, diving back between the redhead legs to finish ‘making it up to her’.

~~~*~~~

Buffy, Xander and Anya were back stage at the "DV8". The Dingoes performance was even better than remembered. They were really on the rise and in demand. The crowd of fans wanting autographs and promotional CDs had detained the band and the slayer decided it was a bit to loud for her taste so she asked that they be let into the dressing room to wait.

"It was a really great show. I wish they’d play like that at the Bronze." Anya commented. "One day we’ll see them on MTV and then they’ll get lots and lots of sex. Willow had better get back with Oz so she can cash in on the money he’ll make." The ex-demon smiled innocently, hands in her back pockets.

Xander groaned silently, knowing that it could have been much worse.

"Where is Wills? I though she may be back here but..." The slayer shrugged as Oz came rushing in.

"Hey guys." He gave a slight nod as a universal greeting. "How was the show?" He noticed Willow was not with them.

"Hey Oz. You guys were great!"

"Yeah. Loved that thing you did with the violin bow," Xander added.

"Thanks. Did Willow come?"

The others looked at each other uneasily. "Uh... we were kinda hoping that Willow was here." Buffy replied. She went on to explain about Willow leaving and her aunt, the call from LA, and their coming him.

"I guess that just leaves one more place to check," Buffy sighed. "Let’s head over to Angel’s. Thanks Oz. I really enjoyed your performance. It’s cool how you keep us all on your guest-list. We’ll have to come more often."

"Wait...If Willow is missing, I want to come to. We were supposed to meet up next week to try to work out some...stuff... you know...maybe start over. I need to know what’s happened to her."

"Well ...then of course you should come." She smiled sadly at the werewolf and turned to the others. "Let’s go."

~~~*~~~

"I loved it. Brad Pitt was absolutely yummy!" Mina exclaimed as she and Cordelia walked out of the theatre, towards a nearby coffee shop. The seer was starving.

"Yeah, Brad is always yummy. Hey did you like him as a vampire in that movie?"

"He was beautiful, but didn’t have the right sire. There is no way that a real vampire would have turned a kid. But then Hollywood is so full of crap about us." She spat out.

Changing the subject, "Well here’s the cafe." Mina stopped outside, took the seer’s hand in hers and looked around thoughtfully.

"You go in and order and get me a strawberry shake. I’m hungry too and unless you wanna donate, I’ll be back in 10." She smiled warmly at Cordy, squeezing her hand gently as her eyes flashed red before returning to green.

"No, that’s a very sweet thought, but I’ll pass," she laughed as Mina let her go inside.

~~~*~~~

"Slayer," Spike growled, waking up quickly and disengaging his limbs from Willows. He nudged Angel’s shoulder, speaking quietly. "Wake up Angel. Your fucking beloved is here." When he only groaned and fell silent again, Spike cursed his sire and began looking for his clothes, cursing again when he remembered the basement. He could feel that she was either right outside or in the lobby and he heard three other heartbeats besides hers. <Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.>

He speed to Angels side of the bed and pulled his head up by his thick brown hair. "Get up Angelus. The bloody slayer is here." Angel struggled to get loose from his childe and crawled out of the bed.

"Here? Now?" He whispered roughly, knowing Buffy could hear better than a normal human and sense him and Spike in the hotel. Spike only nodded.

"I’ll go down. You get Willow up and dressed, quietly, and have her stay put, then come down. She already knows your here. And behave Spike! Let them think you’re still chipped."

He nodded again and began following his sire’s instructions without question as Angel dressed quickly and left.

~Part: 14~

The gang drifted aimlessly around the lobby, not sure whether anyone ought to go upstairs and search for Angel. It was almost three in the morning and the vampire could be sleeping by now.

"She’s been in here. Recently." Oz declared, indicating the lobby, nose in the air. "I can smell her everywhere."

Anya and Xander shared a glance and looked to Buffy as Angel appeared at the stairs, staring down at them stoic as ever.

"Buffy, Hello. Xander, Anya, Oz...What brings you here? At this hour?" The dark vampire noticed the increased heart rates in all, especially Oz. This was not good.

"Angel." The blonde took a few steps toward her former lover, stopping when she observed Spike coming tothe top of the stairs, dragging deeply on a cigarette, a definite sign of restlessness in the younger vampire. "Uh...We... we are looking for Willow." She stammered.

"Don’t know how to use a phone, Slayer?" Spike quipped, glaring at the intruders, cursing mentally when he saw the wolf. He’d smell his witch and his claim so there was no hiding the fact that she was there.

Ignoring him for the moment she focused on Angel, who seemed preoccupied this his childe. "Angel, Willow called Giles from here Saturday. She told him that she was in Oakland, but her Mom called from Oakland. Seems they are there and Willow is not. So we were hoping you could tell us where she might be." She watched him carefully, knowing that Willow was somewhere in the hotel.

"Yes. Willow is upstairs sleeping. I’m not sure what she told Giles. She’s been here for a few days now."

"What’s she doing here, Deadboy?" Xander demanded. Anya pulled on him as he tried to approach the souled vampire.

"You’ll have to ask Willow, but as I said, she’s asleep. I think you might want to come back in the morning or call her." He and Buffy were engaged in a staring match, the slayer not understanding the lack of emotion in his eyes. It reminded her of Angelus, which would explain Spike.

"I think I’ll wait here if you dont mind." She retorted. "And why is he here?" She moved closer to the stairs peering up at her blonde nemesis as he smirked down at her. She was not happy about his advantage over her, but the chip helped her relax some. Even though she would never admit it to anyone, ever, Spike still scared her. Not shitless like before, but she was well aware of his desire to kill her slowly and painfully and banked on him following through whenever he got the chip out. He kept his promises.

"He came to see me. We had some... unfinished family business." He knew his answer frustrated the slayer, but he wasn’t willing to offer anymore.

Oz took in everything in silence. Willow was there. Something was bothering him, but he could not pinpoint the problem. He eyed Xander who was watching Spike nervously. He turned his attention to Spike as well as trying to figure out what it was that disturbed Xander and Buffy. Spike suddenly looked at the lobby door, paling if possible.

Seconds later Cordelia and Mina came traipsing in, arm-in-arm and laughing. The pair froze when they noticed they had an audience. Mina fought the urge to attack the one she knew to be the slayer, releasing her hold on the seer instead and sauntering over to her brother. She wasn’t sure what as going on, but she knew it wasn’t tea and cakes.

"Vampire...", Buffy nearly whispered. Her spider senses were going off the Richter. <Who the hell is this?>

"Angelus...who are your friends?" Mina asked, playfully running her hands under Angel’s shirt, caressing his chest. She smiled sweetly at Buffy.

"Hey Xander! Buffy." Cordy called from the entrance, having not moved an inch into the fray.

"Mina... these are our friends from Sunnydale." Angel replied to his sister.

"Cordy! You look great." Xander replied. Anya yanked angrily on his hand. "Well not great...but good. Good?" He looked to the ex-demon for approval, nodding.

Oz looked at Cordelia. She smelled the same but different as well. <Maybe its just time and distance.>

"Angelus?" Buffy was confused. Spike considered that her normal state of mind.

"Still souled, Buffy." Angel chuckled softly.

"Then who is this, Angel?" Buffy was barely able to contain her disdain for the unknown vampire.

"Look, can we all just sit down?" Angel knew his childe and wanted to diffuse the situation. Spike had come down the stairs and begun circling the group, unnoticed, while all attention was on Mina. He was ready, willing, and wanting to strike if anyone threatened his aunt.

"Mind your manners, ANGEL." The vampiress stressed his name for Buffy’s benefit. "I am Eremina, Childe of Darla, Elder to Angelus." She curtsied, stifling a giggle.

"DARLA?" Buffy screamed, a stake sliding down her sleeve. Spike expected this, having fought by her side for months, and grabbed her arm as she was gripping the stake. Laughing, he pulled it from her easily and back away from her swing with preternatural speed.

"Now, now, Slayer. It’s a ‘No Staking’ zone here in the Hyperion, luv." He struggled to keep from slapping her. <Bloody bitch!>

"Spike, Mina...Please stop. Buffy, do NOT pull out another stake in my home. You came here uninvited in the middle of the night. That’s bad enough. I won’t allow you to attack my family."

Buffy was stunned into momentary silence. Angel never really spoke of Spike as family. She couldn’t grasp what was happening and it unnerved the blonde.

Oz spoke up. "Look, Angel...we just wanted to find Willow. She’s here and I’m sure she wont mind you waking her up to see her friends. Buffy needs to tell her about her aunt dying Friday." He had his hands out in front of him palms out.

"Her mom expects her at the funeral on Wednesday," the slayer added quickly, changing tactics along with Oz.

"We ain’t waking her, so you can bloody well leave. And take the moron and the pup with you." Spike was growing impatient and wanted nothing more than to climb back into bed with his mate and Sire. And now that Mina was back...

"I’m not leaving until I see Willow." Buffy sat on a sofa and stared defiantly at the dark vampire.

After a minute of silence, punctuation only by periodic growls from his childe, Angel spoke.

"Spike... go get Willow."

"But Angelus..."

"Just... do it, William." Spike glared at his sire and nodded, knowing that Angelus was in the drivers seat for now. As he passed him, Angel whispered so low that only Spike heard, "take your time."

"Xander, Anya, Oz... if you will wait outside for Buffy. I would appreciated it."

They all started yelling at once. Cordelia tried to calm everyone down, but wasn’t having any luck. Growing tired and bored, Mina utter a few words in Latin, causing all of the visitors to fall silent.

"My brother has asked that you step out side and wait for the slayer. She will be safe...Angel will see to that. BUT since you weren’t invited then, get ta stepping!" With a flick of her wrist she sent the trio sailing toward and crashing through the lobby door, glass shattering everywhere. "I suggest you wait in the car or something." She called out, laughing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 

Willow was pacing in her room. <What the fuck is going on down there?> It had been at least fifteen minutes and no one had come to get her. Suddenly the door opened and in a blurred Spike was in front of her.

"The wolf is here, Red. If you get close to him he will smell my claim. I dont give a rats arse, but Peaches is trying to keep them from knowing. I can play along for a while. But Slutty is insisting in seeing you. So lets’s go down and get it over with.

"Wait Spike. I need to put on a different shirt. The mark shows." He waited while she changed, lighting a cigarette.

"The poof said for you to take your time so when I done with this," he held up his smoke, "we can go down."

"Sure. What do you think they are doing down there? She whispered as he pulled her to him.
 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 

"Mina!" Angel was beyond appalled.

"What??? They’re now outside like you wanted. Mission accomplished!"

When she saw the dark vampire’s scowl she added, "Stop being such an old fuddy duddy. They’re fine, Angelus. I broke the glass before send them through it. It was kinda neat though. Don’t ya think? She turned to Buffy, still smiling. "And you better behave yourself missy!"

"Mina. Look at the door! How are we gonna get that fixed at this hour?" Angel was fuming.

"Angelus, you’re whining." She commented.

"I don’t whine," he growled.

"What are we gonna fixed the door??" She mocked.

"Yes, how?" He ignored her attempt to bait him.

Buffy watched all this and was reminded of herself and Dawn.

"She is really your sister. Why didn’t you tell me you had a sister?" She was staring at the vampire, but this time in awe. She was truly beautiful. <What is it with this family? Was everyone a supermodel before turning?> "You’re a witch?"

"And here I thought Red was the smart one." Spike remarked. He and Willow walked slowly down the stairs.

"Wills! What are you doing here? Why did you lie to Giles? We were so worried." Buffy ran to her best friend and hugged her. Willow hugged her back, hating that she caused so much trouble.

"Oh, Buffy. It’s a really long story and I don’t want to talk about it right now.

"Where are the other slayerettes?" Spike asked. He was ready for a confrontation, anxious to use his new freedom.

"I sent them away." She walked over to Cordelia, eyeing Spike’s mark and whispering to the girl to cover it up.

Spike spotted the empty doorway. "You?" He inquired, nodding toward that which was the lobby door.

She smiled beautifully and nodded. "You’re Daddy is a bit miffed at me about it, but I’ll kick his ass if he gets too bossy."

"Please do!" Spike and Mina collapsed onto each other laughing while Angel glared at them.

"Willow, the aunt that you were supposed to visit... she...uh...your mother called." The blonde stumbled over her words.

"What is it?" The redhead’s forehead was creased with concern.

"She died Willow. You aunt died Friday morning. Your parents are there." She went on to explain how they came to find her at Angel’s. "So why are you here, Wills? In LA? With Angel?"

~Part: 15~

"That was different." Oz stated flatly.

"An, honey, are you okay?" Xander helped her up, checking for cuts and finding none.

Oz new something was wrong within those walls. "They don’t want me in there. I think it’s because I can smell her."

Xander looked puzzled, but Anya was catching on quickly, nodding.

"You think Willow and Angel are having sex?" She asked the werewolf, looking toward the hotel doors from the edge of the courtyard. She really didn’t care who Willow slept with, but everyone else seemed intrigued with this little mystery so she went along for the hell of it. Also if Buffy was devastated over Willow and Angel she might try to turn to her Xander for comfort so she needed to be aware of what was happening.

"What? Can I just say...Ewww?" The brunette shuddered at the thought of his best friend and the undead.

Oz wasn’t so sure. He wanted to go back in there and get closer to her, but needed a way around that witch of a vampire.

"Guys? We have to get back in there. I need to. Willow smelled different and so did Cordelia. I wasn’t really concentrating on it then." Oz headed toward the entrance, stopping short of actually going in and letting the air inside drift out over him as he inhaled deeply.

~~~*~~~

"Buffy...I can’t...I can’t talk about it right now. I...what happened to her, Buffy? Did she tell you?" Her bottom lip trembled as she thought of her aunt...gone. Forever. And she lied about going to her. What if she could have helped her if she’d really been there?

"I think she was sick and had a surgery. She never recovered from the surgery. Your mom was with her, Willow. So she wasn’t alone." She knew what the redhead was thinking, knew she would find a way to blame herself and even though her anger at Willow was growing she didn’t want this...whatever this was... clouded by unneeded guilt. The blonde had a sinking feeling that her best friend had a score of other things she was guilty of.

"Goddess, Buffy...why did this happen now. I have to call my mother." She walked to the phone, Spike following her closely. This did not go unnoticed by the slayer.

"Willow, it’s the middle of the night, luv. You should wait until morning to call." He circled her waist, encouraging her to lean on him as he led her to a chair. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, whispering words of comfort to her.

Buffy turned to Angel, glaring at him, defying him not to answer. "What the hell is going on here, Angel?"

~~~*~~~

Cordelia, having seen and heard enough to know that this was going to end badly, decided to make her way back to her apartment while everyone else was occupied. She called a cab right after Mina threw out her friends, literally, and was not headed out to wait for it. The seer walked right into Oz and stumbled against his as he grabbed her to prevent her from falling.

"Oh, God Oz! I thought you guys... well you know... Mina...door... Soar..." Her smile was wide and so obviously false. "Well...so how are things in good old Sunnydale? Xander?"

"You smell like him." The werewolf’s voice was almost a whisper, but his eyes were feral as he realized that same smell was on Willow. His Willow.

"Like who?" She asked defensively, backing up into the hotel instinctively.

"So does Willow!" He growled taking a step toward the frightened brunette.

"Whoa, Oz...Buddy...What are you doing?" Xander moved between his ex-girlfriend and the guitarist, who was now scaring her.

"He marked them." Inhaling deeply he growled lowly again. "He’s fucked her. Probably fucked Willow too." He closed his eyes forcing the wolf down. There was no way he could take on three master vampires. He just had to be sure this was her choice. That she was not being forced.

"Angel?" Anya and Xander exclaimed in disbelief.

The wolf turned slowly, penetrating Cordelia with his stare, "No," he spat, "Spike!"

"Look here, Wolfy, I don’t know who you think you are coming here saying I smell. I don’t smell. I never smell. Not even in gym class or cheerleading. I have never SMELLED!" She screamed angrily, eyes blazing. She screamed again as Oz growled and reached for her, pulling her close in a surprising strong hold.

"I smell THIS!" He yanked the collar of her shirt down and to the side exposing a deep bite mark. She pulled away from him violently covering it up with her hand and running back inside.

"Stay away from me!" She cried as she crossed the threshold into the hotel. Willow, Spike, Mina, Angel and Buffy looked at her trembling form. Mina approached the shaking form girl. The others didn’t dare cross over into the hotel, afraid of what Angel’s sister might do.

"Cordy, Come on. Let’s go upstairs." She pulled at the seer gently, eyeing Spike. This was his responsibility and he would not get out of it. He just needed to deal with his mate first.

"They know," The girl whispered. "He smelled him on me. They know."

"Shhhh, it’s okay." She led the girl upstairs to lie down.

Spike picked up on what she said and glanced at Angel. His look told the blonde that he’d heard as well. Buffy seemed oblivious, as there was no change in her heart rate. Just anxiety over what could be wrong with Willow and now the seer.

"Spike? I want to go lay down. I’m tired." Willow touched his cheek, smiling softly into his blue eyes.

"Sure, pet." He picked her up and cradled her in his arms, walking toward the stairs.

"Hey!" Buffy stopped him. He rolled his eyes, before settling them on the tiny blonde. "I want to know what’s going on in here and she’s coming back with me." She proclaimed, pointing at her best friend.

"Sod off Slayer! It’s not your business. Willow will decide if or when she goes back. So why don’t you take your bony uninvited arse back to Sunnydale. It’s bad enough you burst into my crypt at will, but you do it here too. You’re a piece of work, you know that, Slutty?" He turned with Willow and continued up the stairs.

Angel knew it was all out of control. As soon as she went outside the others would tell her what they knew. He wasn’t sure what that was, but it was enough to upset Cordy who was normally pretty sturdy. He considered telling her himself, to spare the small hacker from performing this unpleasant task, but how much to tell?

"Buffy...Buffy? It’s late or early, however you look at it, this is not the time. Why don’t you come back in the morning or wait for Willow to go to Sunnydale? Her explanation will be the same, I’m sure. You wanted to know that she was safe and you’ve seen that." Angel’s face gave away nothing of what he felt. His demon was screaming at him to snap her neck. But the soul would not allow it. Not at this time.

"Why are you doing this Angel? What is going on?" Her mouth trembled and her voice broke. She was trying to be strong, but the idea of her friend and her lover – together! It was overwhelming her, emotionally.

"I’m not doing anything Buffy. Just go. It’s not going to go well tonight. Just go and call her in tomorrow. She needs to worry about her mother and aunt right now. Give her a little time to deal with that." The slayer nodded and let a tear roll down her cheek as she stared up at her dark vampire. He gently wiped it away.

"Tell her I said goodbye and I’ll call her tomorrow?" She asked, but wasn’t sure if she was asking him to tell her or if she could call. He only nodded as he watched the slayer turn and leave through the destroyed doorway. Which reminded him....

"MINA!!!!"

~~~*~~~

The gang watched Buffy emerge from the hotel, defeated.

"She wouldn’t come with me or talk to me. She just..." Her eyes watered, dropped falling as she shook her head to rid herself of the images haunting her.

Anya realized what tormented the slayer. "She’s not sleeping with Angel, Buffy. It’s Spike. Cordelia is too."

"Spike? No... He’s...evil and tried to kill her and me and all of us. She wouldn’t...would she?" It was almost no less a betrayal than had it been Angel. "Why???"

"Are you blind? Look at him! He is very handsome and extremely sexy. I bet with all those years experience that he is very good at giving lots and lots orgasms. I have my Xander so I don’t need him for that." She stopped, smiling and nodding.

"Buffy, Cordelia... He marked her. She smells like him and I can smell him on Willow too. I’m pretty sure he’s...," the now green-haired guitarist turned away from them steeling himself to the reality of his next words. "Willow is sleeping with him. Spike’s scent is too strong on her. I smelled her on him as well. I just had it confused with her smell that was all over the hotel at first.

"Hey, did you get a strange vibe from Spike? It was weird. I mean...he felt like the old Spike." Xander inquired. "Like he wasn’t insulting us ‘cause he didn’t have to, you know? Gave me the creeps."

Buffy thought about how we looked at her, with more than hate and contempt, but conscious restraint. It was how he looked at her when he conspired with her against Angelus. He wanted to tear her apart, but it just didn’t fit into his plans at the time, hence the restraint. Major creepage!

"Oh my God! Do you think the chip stopped working?" Her eyes flitted desperately from Xander to Oz to Anya and back to Xander.

"God Buffy. I hope not. Hey, when he took the stake from you did it hurt?" He lit up.

"I...I can’t remember feeling any pain. Oh, I don’t know!" She was frustrated and emotionally drained.

"We need to know, before the bleached wonder comes prancing back to make good on his promises. I’m second only to you, Buff, on his, oh so long, must-kill-when-the-chip-comes-out list." He eyed the blonde warily.

Buffy thought of all the times they spared. He watched her closely, observing her technique, offering advise on improvement. He knew everything about her style of fighting, while she knew almost nothing of his. The chip make it impossible for him to go all out when sparing with her.

"We have to go back in there and get her. He tried to turn her before he got the chip. What’s to stop him now?" Oz was worried that soon it would be too late.

"Angel. He won’t let Spike turn Wills." Buffy offered.

"Angel? He can’t even keep Junior from sticking hot pokers through him. He’s not the picture of parental control!" Xander was almost yelling and Anya, tried to calm him. She believed the chip was broken and didn’t want to challenge Spike for Willow. Let him have her.

"Don’t know you anything about claims?" The ex-demon asked them, exasperated. They looked blankly at her, which was her answer, she supposed. "If Willow and Spike smell like each other, they have claimed each other. Smelling sex on them is one thing but to actually smell like the other, there had to be blood sharing on both sides. She did this willingly so we can go now, okay?"

"What do you mean blood sharing?"

"They drank from each other to form a bond. She belongs to him now, Buffy. And he will kill ANYTHING that tries to come between them, She is his mate. I mean it. He’ll never let her go and yes eventually he will turn her. Do you think your strong enough to stop him, slayer? Really?"

Buffy’s eyes were wide with doubt, something Xander had not seen in them before. "I have to try." She said stiffly.

"You do that then, but I can’t help you and, Xander, you can’t either. I won’t have you getting killed by Spike or that witch in there. Can anyone feel her power? It’s immense and dark. The place vibrates constantly with her presence. She’s older than Angel, you know, but that’s not it. It’s her magic. Old stuff. She must have been very powerful before Darla turned her. She must have wanted it too. I can’t imagine Darla getting one up on a witch that strong. I’m out of it." Anya was tugging on her boyfriend leading him back to the car.

"Oz? What do we do?" She felt lost for the first time in a long time.

"We wait. Tomorrow maybe you can lure her outside to talk in the sun where they can’t follow."

~~~*~~~

Mina waited in the hallway, listening while Spike consoled Willow. Once the young witch was asleep, he came into the hallway and lit a smoke, eyeing his aunt.

"What is it, Auntie? You’re thinking too loud. Gonna wake up my Red." He wasn’t in the mood right now, but if Mina wanted to talk, there would be talking.

"What are you doing, William? With Cordy? Angelus told you that you cannot have her." She knew this boy was as defiant as they came. She liked the seer and would love to have her as a member of the family, but it had to be done the right way. She wanted her to choose them.

"Nothing. I won’t turn the chit. I promise." He gave his best wide-eyed puppy look.

"You lie," She laughed and he grinned back knowing she was not fooled. "Why would you risk his wrath for her when you have Willow? Turn her."

"I want the demon that Cordelia will be. Should be bloody fantastic. I want Red to keep her soul. She’s my soul. Mina. She’s the only reason I didn’t break that bitch’s neck down there." He explained.

"He is going to give you a beating within an inch of your unlife if you do it. I can’t protect you."

"Yeah, I know, but she’ll be mine already. And a beating won’t change it. Plus you can put a little mojo on me so I don’t feel it right?" She shook her head holding her palms up and out to him.

"Oh no. That’s cheating, William. You have to pay the cost of you plan to do this?"

"Now, now Mina," He growled. "I CAN make it worth your while to intervene on my behalf. Just...this...once." He was upon her, once again startling her with his speed and grace. He was too young to be this powerful and yet he was. Before she had even completed these thoughts, he’d hiked up her skirt, unbuttoned his jeans, ripped his panties off and thrust enter her completely, causing her to gasp in surprised pain and pleasure. Her head bang against the wall with each deliciously violent thrust. The blonde swallowed her moans with his mouth, his tongue and teeth claiming her.

She tore away from his lips and sunk her fangs into him, swallowing mouths full of him as he frantically hammered her, rhythm lost in animalistic grunts and screams as they both came, collapsing to the floor as they both lost control of their quivering muscles.

"Goddess William, what are you doing to me?" She breathed heavily in his ear.

"Nothing that you don’t want done, Mina." His voice was raspy.

She giggled at that, knowing he was so right.

"So you’ll help me, Auntie? When the time comes?" He asked, eyebrow raised as he caressed her cheek.

"I don’t know." She appeared to be seriously in thought which had Spike...well...pissed. There was no way he intended to let the poof chain him up without some protection. The wanker was going to royally pissed if he turned his seer and demon or not, Spike didn’t look forward to Angelus coming out to play.

"Tell you what... I‘ll make a deal with you. You get the witch and the seer in bed the all of us, willingly, for a little depravity, and not only will I help you, I’ll stop him from punishing you at all. Deal?"

He gazed at her, surprise passing quickly across his eyes. Slowly it turned to a evilly feral grin. "How depraved, luv?"

~~~*~~~

Angel was sweeping up glass in the courtyard and caught the end of the conversation outside. The night was quiet and he could hear them clearly even though they were across the street. He had to warn Willow. It was her decision whether to go with them tomorrow or not, but he wanted her to know that they would take her by force if they got the chance. "Damn!" He cursed under his breath. <I can’t believe those two are upstairs fucking. Without me! And she hasn’t even fixed the door!>

Not too much later the pair came running down the stairs like children. There was maybe two hours before sunrise and both were hungry. Spike had gone in and spoken to Cordelia, tried to calm her, but she wasn’t having any of it, which amused the blonde vampire more.

"We are going out, Peaches. Mina is starved and so am I."

"Come Angelus. Join us, please." He wanted to but couldn’t throw his redemption away for one of Spike’s happy meals on legs.

"No thanks. You go. Have...fun. The sun’ll be up soon. But we need to talk when you get back, about Willow. They’ll be back for her. It’s gonna get ugly, Spike."

Walking out the door, arm in arm with his aunt, the blonde stopped and said without looking back, " ’S already ugly, Sire."

Angel contemplated his childe’s words, agreeing wholeheartedly, when suddenly he remembered, calling after them.

"MINA!!! FIX THIS DOOR!!!"

~Part: 16~

"SPIKE! Don’t touch me! Move!" Mina screeched as her errant nephew reached for her again. They stepped on the broken glass that was the lobby door, laughing. "You’re gonna ruin my shirt. I just bought it and blood will not come out. So STOOOOP!" She screamed running through the lobby from him. Spotting Angel she grabbed him and hid behind the larger vampire. "Protect me, Angelus," She whispered, still giggling. "Don’t let him put his bloody paws on my new shirt, please!"

Angel watched it all, amused, until Spike stalked up to him and grabbed him by both shoulders, effectively staining his clothes. "Hello, Peaches." He planted a hard, wet kiss on his sire’s lips. "Hand over the girl and I’ll let you live." He stated evenly, blue eyes penetrating brown.

"Spike, would you two stop playing? Mina, the door, please." Angel was tired and wanted to go to bed, but had stayed up until Mina came back and fixed the door. He sat on the sofa.

"Not playing Poof. She’s a menace, is what she is." This sparked his curiosity – what could Mina have possibly done that Spike considered HER a menace?

"What?" She smiled innocently.

"You bloody well know what!" He yelled. Suddenly he whipped around, duster billowing, facing Angel "I was feeding, right? Tasty little chit, reminded me of the slayer. I’d just sunk my fangs in her....Angel! Are you listening to me???!" Spike yelled when his sire’s eyes rolled and closed.

"Yes!! Yes, go on." He sat up straight, wanting to hear what happened.

"Right then. Oh, so I had about a pint. She was pretty sweet, and could she cry! Well, Mina did some loopy spell and made the girl go pop." He arched an eyebrow, waiting.

"Pop?" Angel was confused.

"You heard me! POP!" When Angel still looked confused he rolled his eyes and went on. "Like a soddin’ balloon. Blood everywhere, all over me. Then she takes off running and here we are." He turned to his still laughing aunt, who found it just as funny now listening to it as she did when it happened. "I’m still hungry, Mina. Come feed your boy, Auntie. You don’t want me going to bed without supper, do you?"

"Oh no. Angelus, feed your childe. I have to go shower." She hurried up the stairs before her brother could protest. He glanced to the right, where his childe stood licking his lips. "Go away Spike. There’s blood in the frig." He offered.

"I’m not eating that pigs crap." He pouted, ascending the stairs. "Think I’ll find the cheerleader." He muttered from the top, rounding a corner.

"Spike!" He was on his way to follow the blonde when he remembered the unprotected front door. "Shit...MINAAAA!"

~~~*~~~

Finally, after lots of threats and a little violence, Spike was fed and the door was repaired. Angel had both Spike and Mina, his vampiric family, sitting in his room waiting for him to tell them what was on his mind.

"Buffy is coming here today. I don’t know when but it will be with the sun is high. They plan to get Willow to come outside and then take her away by force, knowing we can’t help her."

Spike shot up out of his seat. "If that slutty bitch tries it, I will break-her-neck." The blonde was furious, jaw clenching The slayer had wanted to stake him off the top after the chip. He hated her and tolerated her yesterday for Willow’s sake, but if she thinks he will allow to come between him and his chosen mate..."The bitch dies today, Sire."

Angel started to speak but Spike raised his hand for him to stop. " I’ve played nice in Sunnydale and she treated me like shit. I save her worthless life and she still treated me like shit. So fuck her!" His blue eyes flashed gold as his demon delighted in thoughts of torturing Buffy.

Mina raised her hand.

"Can I just say that I agree with William? Fuck her and let’s kill her." She stated her opinion eloquently as usual.

"Look," Angel sighed. "They don’t even know we know. We...just won’t let Willow go out... But I guess we can’t keep her locked up forever." He ran his hand through his hair.

"I bloody well can!" The blonde retorted.

"Mina... Do you know a spell that will allow us to be in the sunlight safely just in case?" Angel asked, eyes hopeful.

"Yeah, I do." She looked down at her hands. "It requires a HUGE amount of power since it is rebuilding the destroyed tissues at a rate that is just barely faster than the sun can destroy it. It only lasts for a few minutes...ten tops. It’s too much energy for the product and I would be wiped out for a while. Maybe as along as an hour. So I REALLY don’t wanna do it."

"Okay, so that’s out..." Angel was contemplating his options. He could let Buffy take the witch, but his childe would be out of this hotel at sundown if not sooner. And he has invitations to all of their homes. He would slaughter the slayer as she slept and not bat an eyelash. And that’s only of she was lucky. He could continue to keep Buffy away, incurring her wrath eventually. Or he could give his childe what he came for so many months ago.

"Spike...I...I have to tell you something." Angel looked constipated so pained was he.

"What? You’re not my real Daddy? What?" Mina knew it was a serious time for all good vampires, but she snickered nonetheless.

"IhavetheringofAmara." He blurted, looking sheepish.

"Do what?" Spike turned, looking over his shoulder, a frown marring his near perfect features.

"I...I tried to destroy it...but couldn’t." He admitted.

"Ohhh oh! The Almighty Poof gave into a little temptation, eh?" the younger vampire, pulled deeply on a cigarette, glaring at his sire.

"Nooooo... I tried to destroy it with a stone and it didn’t even crack. Then a hammer. Then fire. And nothing. So I told everyone I did and hid it. You can have it, Spike. You may need it. I trust you not to go using it for fun or feeding during the day, okay?"

Spike swallowed hard, locking eyes with this demon that he’d loved for so long and had, until recently, hated just as much. The soul trusted his demon? Amazing!

"Yeah, mate. I won’t abuse it." Was his only reply.

~~~*~~~

Willow and Cordelia were having a late breakfast in the kitchen. No one else was up yet and they enjoyed this moment of private, human, time.

"What are you gonna do? Oz knows Willow. He’s told them by now." Cordelia wasn’t worried about herself. She didn’t care what Bitchy Summers and crew thought of her, but Willow had to go back there eventually and it could be none too pleasant.

"I can’t tell Buffy about Angel. I’ll have to come up with some kind of reason why I would smell like him and Spike."

"Wait. Oz only said you smell like Spike. And since Angel didn’t claim you shouldn’t smell like him, just like sex with him maybe, but that was the day before and many showers ago, right?" Cordelia, waited for the confirming right and got nothing. "Right?" She grabbed Willow’s hands, shaking them roughly. "RIGHT?" Willow just lowered her head, looking at the linoleum below her feet. "It was Spike’s idea." She confessed.

"Oh my GOD! You did it. And I mean did it with Angel?" The witch nodded.

"And Spike?" The witch nodded.

"After the ritual?" The witch nodded.

"For fun?" The witch nodded.

"It was fun, wasn’t it?" The witch nodded.

"Buffy is so gonna kill you!" The witch nodded

"So..." The seer leaned forward, grinning. "Tell me...What’s it like having all that salty goodness at once?"

~Part: 17~

Willow undressed and crawled back into bed with her vampire who was sleeping peacefully. It amazed her innocent and boyish he appeared at this time. She definitely knew why Angelus fell in love with him, needed to possess him. Sighing, she snuggled behind him, thinking of her morning.

Cordelia was relentless in her interrogation at breakfast. In the end Willow discovered that the once popular May Queen was feeling like an ordinary girl trying to be a star in a sea full of the same. She hadn’t had a part in a while and it had been even longer since she had a date. She did confess that a guy she met at the park by her apartment asked her out last week wanting to take her to dinner and a movie. When Willow asked her if she was going, the brunette only shrugged her shoulders and attempted a subject change. After some encouragement and giving up some intimate details of the witches adventures with the vampires as a trade, Cordy agreed to accept the offer and go out with the guy. Willow thought it would boost her ego. <’Cause a deflated Cordelia is just... wrong... on so many levels.>

Once they finished breakfast, the seer headed home, promising to be back well before dark. Willow took this time to call her mother and get the details for her aunt’s funeral. Not once did Sheila ask Willow where she’d been or how she was. It was always this way and the hacker should have been used to it, but somehow it still hurt. It always hurt.

"Stop thinking so loud." Spike mumbled into a pillow. Willow smiled and pulled him around to face her.

"Good Morning."

"It’s still morning!?" The sleepy blonde grumbled. He didn’t get to bed until way past dawn.

After Angel gave him the ring he tested it. The brief time he had the ring last year didn’t compare to what he felt this time. He was a calmer demon with less to prove. He was not at odds with his sire and he could actually enjoy the freedom the ring would afford him without wasting time plotting revenge and such. Mina had even cast a spell securing the ring to his flesh and only she could break it.

"Yes, barely." She sat up, gazing at him.

"What, pet?" She knew she wanted to ask him something. The bond was itching like crazy in his head.

"I...My aunt’s funeral is Wednesday, morning in San Leandro. I was hoping that you would go with me. We can leave tomorrow at sunset and be there by 2 am. The funeral is at 11. Will you?" He looked into her green eyes and knew that he would deny her nothing.

"Cor, luv. You never have to ask me. I’ll go where you go always. Understand?" She nodded, blinking back tears. "Red?...Are those tears? Oh, sod it all. Why are you crying? I said I’ll go. I want to go. I want be anywhere you are." <What is WRONG with woman?!>

"Oh Spike!" She lunged at him hugging him tightly. "I’m just happy. No one has ever loved me like this. Without judging me. I love you William the Bloody!" She pulled back from the embrace and kissed him feverishly, attempting to express all that she felt in that one act.

Spike, flipped her to her back and sunk into her hot channel. She was almost always ready for him and he was fascinated that she could love him. He didn’t deserve her, but wasn’t going to ever let her go.

They spent the better part of the afternoon proving their love to each other.

~~~*~~~

Several hours later, outside the bedroom door, was Cordelia. She lifted her hand to knock, intending to tell Willow that she had accepted the invite and was going out with Gary, but stopped upon hearing her friend cry out to her goddess. The seer swallowed hard, closing her eyes. The sounds emanating from those walls, the memory of the blonde inside her, the stories she extracted from the redhead, all served to fuel the heat building within her. She listened for a moment longer before going back down the stairs to find Wesley. Her thinking? A good dose of stodgy Brit should cool her flaming loins.

~~~*~~~

When Spike and Willow awoke they immediately sought out Angel. So far, Buffy hadn’t made an appearance. All vampires had slumbered in the relative safety of the wards the Mina threw up around the walls that formed the Hyperion, effectively keeping Buffy and crew from entering again without an invitation.

After some discussion, Willow was determined to tell Buffy everything and get it over with. Even the parts involving Angel if it came up.

An ear-piercing scream from the offices brought Angel and Spike running to find the seer writhing in pain on the floor.

"What the hell is wrong with her, Angelus?" Spike growled, irritated by the concern he felt for the brunette on the cold floor.

"Vision. Wesley, get some water and the pills!" The dark vampire shouted to his employee.

"What was that?" Mina came from upstairs where she was resting. Spotting the seer on the floor she rushed to her side, brushing her hair away from her face as the girls eyes rolled up into her head. "Help her, Angelus." She looked from her brother to Spike for either to do something.

"She’s having a vision. It’ll be over any second and we can give her the prescription she has for the pain." He saw Cordy open her eyes and wince painfully as she tried to sit up. "Hey Cordy...take these..." He indicated the pills and water from Wesley.

"Cordy, let me try." Mina placed her hands on the girls head and uttered a few words in Latin that Willow recognized.

The ex-cheerleader felt a great warmth encompass her head. Just when it was so warm as to begin to burn she felt a tremendous pulling, a snap and then nothing. No heat, no pulling, and blessedly, no pain.

"Oh.. I... It’s gone! Mina...thank you!" Cordelia flung herself around the vampiress, gripping her a bear hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. As soon as it’s dark I am so taking you shopping. I feel GREAT! ... Angel, the card?" It really wasn’t a question, but the dark vampire liked to pretend. Rolling his eyes, a bad habit he picked up from William long ago, he pulled a platinum Visa out and handed it to the seer. When she reached for it, he pulled it back quickly.

"Hey!" Cordy protested.

"Vision please? Enlighten those of us who ARE here to fight the dark forces of evil." He requested, sarcastically.

"Oh, right... Vision-girl. That’s me... " She grinned sheepishly. Willow laughed

"Cordy..." Angel warned.

"Okay Brood boy. Although, you know, you haven’t really been all that broody for the last few days. Was all the sulking about repressed sexual tension? Cause if so, I’m really happy that Mina came and gave you a happy of your own. I really like you better.."

"Cordy!"

"Sorry! There is a demon. Four horns, kinda bumpy and crusty all over with nasty green pus-like stuff oozing. And big. There’s white tile everywhere. It’s a bathroom. Some girls come in with popcorn. Movies! It’s a movie theatre. He’s gonna eat them! EWW!" She grimaced.

"Great. Only 100 theatres in LA..." Wesley was not looking forward to a fruitless search.

"Wait." She concentrated, eyes closed, attempting to recreate the entire vision. "It’s on Vine and will be playing a foreign language film tonight." She smiled, satisfied that she told them all she could remember. "Card, Angel." She reminded him, devoid of emotion. Sighing he placed it in her waiting palm.

"But, Mina can’t go shopping until we find this demon. Spike, you stay here in case Buffy shows up. Wesley and Mina and I will track this down and kill it. Willow, can you check the demon database with Cordy – find out how to kill it?" The redhead nodded and bounced to the computer, happy to have something to do." Angel was in dictator mode, one of his favorites.

"Why do I have to help you, Angelus? I told you not to try to rope me into your redemption and I won’t seduce you back into darkness." Mina was complaining, a pout on the verge of forming on her pretty lips.

"Because, YOU took out GUNN. Now you will take his place whenever I need him until he is healed." Angel explained.

"Ooooh! I’ll help you tonight, but you get his ass in here tomorrow. I’ll fix him right up so he can do his J-O-B!" She had no intention of killing demons that weren’t trying to kill her or hers for more than this one night. "I mean it. Tomorrow!" She stormed off past him, a flurry of wind in her wake, tossing all loose papers into the air momentarily before settling back in their proper places.

Willow’s gaze followed the other witch, the awe evident in her eyes. "Wow! She certainly knows how to make an exit. Gotta like her style..." her voice trailed off upon noticing the impatient glare of her mate’s sire.

~~~*~~~

"Are you sure this’ll work?" Oz asked for the forth time.

"No...I am sure that Angel expects us to come in the day. He had to hear us. Vampiric hearing doesn’t miss much. So, instead, we go in tonight. Angel will relax some at night when he’s less vulnerable. Maybe that other one...his sister...will be out." The slayer and Oz were leaving the motel room they were staying in. Buffy spoke to Giles who told him that Willow may be there freely. The blonde did not want to hear that. Willow HAD to be in some sort of trouble.

"Let’s go eat then head over." Oz offered. He was a bit nervous to go up against the vampires and hoped it didn’t turn ugly.

"Fine. Angel may be gone too if we’re lucky. And Spike is such a non-issue." She spoke confidently.

~~~*~~~

"Aren’t you surprised Buffy hasn’t come for you yet? She was so ‘Gung Ho-Gotta save my best friend’ last night that I expected her to burst in here at sunrise." Cordelia painted a perfect picture of the petite blonde’s actions. They were comparing three demons that matched Cordy’s description, looking for a common kill method.

"No...she probably said she was gonna ‘break me out’ during the day to throw us off. Knowing her, she’s planning a covert night-time attack. She knows Angel goes on patrol or missions for the Powers at night. She figures that Mina will go hunt and she thinks that Spike can’t touch her so she can waltz in and drag me out. At least that the plan." Willow informed Cordelia in her wide-eyed, wondrous fashion.

"How can you be so sure? I mean that would require a lot of thinking for Bitchy." The seer quipped.

"Hey...All three demons can be killed by removing all the horns at the base." She sighed, relieved that they could give the Fang Gang something to work with. "And Buffy is a pretty good strategist. Plus she has me to work out the kinks in her more faulted plans. But this one is pretty simple. She knows the vampires can hear a heartbeat a block away. Even if that wasn’t her plan in the beginning she knows we know and won’t come during the day since we know she’s coming. So she’ll come at night when she knows Angel is out and she knows we think she isn’t coming because she knows we know about the day-time ambush. AAAND she doesn’t think we know she’ll come tonight. But I know..." Willow smiled happily, tapping her temple, while Cordelia shook her head trying to follow what was said.

At that moment, Wesley peeked in, asking in his gentle tone, "Have you been able to find anything useful?"

"Yes. We found three demons all fitting the profile: A Mangladeshe, a Turpiqua and a Flurnan. They have various kill methods, but the only common one is to remove ALL the horns from the head at the base." She grabbed a paper from the printer. "Here.... the weaknesses for each and the ways to kill. In case you determine the type while fighting it. May give you more options. Oh!...And we checked the theaters on Vine. And that’s the address to the only one showing a foreign language film tonight. It’s a festival and it starts at 8, so you guys better hurry if you wanna catch the evil undead before he eats his tasty intermission treat." Willow was practically bouncing on her feet.

The former watcher looked at the redhead, surprised at how confident she’d become since he knew her in Sunnydale. "Well...yes... thank you. I’ll just go find Angel and we can head out." He left, giving the duo a salute.

~Part: 18~

Nine o’clock rolled around to find the trio lounging in Angels sitting room, watching a DVD of "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off". Spike was laying on the settee, his head hanging off the end watching the movie upside down. He claimed that it was much more interesting that way. Willow and Cordy were either side of him on the floor.

"Why does the Poof have a nancyboy movie about some high school prankster?" He asked, sitting up quickly to avoid choking on a errant piece of popcorn that he carelessly tossed in his mouth while talking.

Cordelia spat out her drink (her third), a brandy and coke (at Spike’s insistence), laughing. "He...he said that Ferris reminds him of....YOU!" She tipped over holding her sides, vaguely realizing she was a lot more tipsy than she thought it safe to be in the blonde vampire’s presence. But at the moment her attention was focused on how cute he looked with his forehead all scrunched up when he was perplexed. She especially appreciated the tilt of his head, like a puppy.

"Willow look! He looks like a puppy!" She was still giggling, gasping for air.

"A puppy!" He yelled. "I’m not a bleeding puppy!" He snatched Cordy’s drink from her, deciding that she’d had enough. Meanwhile Willow, nodding enthusiastically, joined her friend in a fit of giggles, having consumed no less alcohol than the brunette. "Are you both daft?" Spike inquired.

"Not like Skanky Willow’s puppy!" Cordy cried.

"No...No, not like him." Willow agreed.

"What the fuck are you two gabbing about?" He was beginning to regret giving them anything stronger than a cooler.

"We can take him for a walk tomorrow in the day!!!" Willow suggested bouncing on her knees with glee. "Spike let’s play with the ring. We can go into churches tomorrow and you can drink the holy water. It’ll be sooo much fun." She said, tipping over in a new fit of giggles. Spike rolled his eyes.

"Awe, the puppy’s all upset." Cordy pouted and got up on all fours, crawling over to the blonde. "Can I make it better?" She glanced up at him through long lashes and long brunette hair, biting her bottom lip.

"I..uh..." Spike never got to finish his statement. The term saved by the bell was coined for situations such as this. Downstairs the front door, which was locked, was being pounded upon, frustration clearly expressed in each thud. "I better go get that." He said, quickly exiting.

The girls followed him, albeit a lot slower, and waited on the last landing, listening as he greeted their visitors.

"What do you want, Slayer?" He just smirk at the werewolf, knowing the boy could smell his witch on him.

"We came to see Willow. Where is she, Spike?" Buffy moved to walk past him, however the invisible barrier hit her hard in the face, causing her to fall back into Oz. "What was that?"

"Oh, I forgot...YOU need an invite to come in here. Some of us don’t fancy worrying over whether you might come in her unannounced and dust our arses in our sleep. Now have you consider the irony?" The blonde was just short of successfully containing his laughter. "But to answer your question: Willow is upstairs. I thought you were coming by in the morning, Slutty. It’s a bit late to come calling and all. Improper breeding, that is." Spike was in his element.

"Get her down here or I swear I’ll stake you as soon as I get inside there. You can’t hide behind your skanky vampire aunt forever, fangless." Buffy wanted to taunt the blonde into coming out or letting her in. If Spike was still chipped, her words may have affected the younger vampire, but now they just made her appear petty.

He leaned close to the barrier, locking eyes with his nemesis, a growl deep in his chest. "Tell you what, Buffy." He spat her name as if it were holy water on his tongue. "You leave all your...weapons and Jo-Jo the dog-faced boy outside, and I’ll think about issuing that invite." He could smell the stench that was her and her alone. For too long he’d learned to ignore that smell, ignore that tingling along his spine, signally her presence. Now he just wanted to kill her. But it would upset Willow and his Sire, so he refrained and play his part in the game as rehearsed. He was hoping for a little adlib here and there. <Just have to see how things go...>

Buffy, for her part, figured it safe to go into the lion’s den. They figured that there was no way Spike could be unchipped and not have flaunted it the night before. He loved to gloat too much. She dropped three stakes, two vial of holy water and a dagger onto the ground. Spike looked at the mini arsenal and shook his head.

"Don’t try me, Slayer...Where’s Mr. Pointy, luv?" His eyes twinkled with delight as she realized just how much the blonde vampire knew about her. About them all. She shook Mr. Pointy from her sleeve, letting him fall to the ground with the others.

"Willow, come down to greet your guests, luv." He stated, looking up at her from his spot by the door. He turned back to Buffy. "SHE will decide if you are allowed in so I’d play nice if I were you." He back away and motioned for Cordelia to come down. They sat on the couch together to watch the show, the irony of which couch lost on them both for the moment.

"Uh, Hi Buffy. Hi Oz." The hacker said with feigned cheerfulness.

"Wills, what’s going on? I’m just gonna ask it. Are you having sex with Spike?"

The redhead lowered her head, embarrassed to be asked this kind of question, especially in front of a previous lover. But she wasn’t ashamed of her vampire so she lifted her head slowly and met her friends gaze. "Yes, I am sleeping with Spike."

"Wills let me in there and I’ll stake him where he stands and you can come home. He won’t hurt you anymore." Oz groaned, knowing Willow was not being forced and thinking it was really time for them to leave.

"He’s not hurting me Buffy. I don’t really know how it all happened, but it did and I’m glad and ..and...we love each other. So there’ll be no stakage." She hoped she was convincingly firm.

"Love! Be serious! He can’t love. He’s a demon. Wills...," the blonde protested, reaching for her friend, frowning again when stopped by the barrier.

"He does love. He loves more than you can understand and it’s overwhelming. I’m surrounded by it always and feel content with him. I’ve ignored how I felt about him, not wanting to go against what was acceptable. What you thought was okay. But to be honest, Buffy, I wanted him the first time I saw him behind the Bronze."

"He did something to you. That witch...It’s a spell. Let me in Willow." She demanded, through clenched teeth while pressing against the invisible wall.

"Why? So you can attack my lover? No. You have your explanation." She WAS firm this time.

"What about us Willow? I thought we were going to try again." She didn’t anticipate Oz.

"Oh Oz...I never meant to hurt you. Buffy dragged you into this. Our time is over. Spike and I are together now." She hoped that he was able to accept this.

Willow’s words, her conviction, warmed Spike’s undead heart. He was a little past dangerously annoyed at the slayer.

"Eww. Wills, I know you’re... I won’t say desperate, although I know you’ve been pining over Oz....But Spike?!"

The blonde vampire jumped up, arriving at his witches side at preternatural speed. His sudden presence, startled Buffy into stepping backwards, before regaining her composure.

"Look Slutty...I really give a rats arse what you say about me. But Willow is not gonna be your verbal punching bag. She’s here with me. She will come back to Sunnydale when she’s ready. She can leave anytime she wants. No one is forcing her to stay. I’ll follow her wherever she goes." He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

"So what are you know, her puppy?" Buffy asked.

"What is it with you chits and puppies?" The younger vampire was getting a complex and was desperate to see his image again.

"Buffy. I love him. Look...I’ll be back to school next Monday. If you need me before then just call." She was tired and hurt. Her friend thought her desperate for being with Spike. She didn’t understand what it was like to bathe in his love. She was amazed herself that she overlooked him and ignored him for as long as she did. "I’m going to the funeral Wednesday. I’ll call you when I get back. Maybe we can talk then." She moved to close the door and added. "I really hoped you could be a little happy for me."

"How can I be happy when you sleeping with the undead?" She quipped.

"You slept with the undead and no one was all judgy or Bad Buffy. And you let Angelus out. Talk about awful times!"

"It’s not the same and you know it. Angel has a soul! Spike’s nothing. A soulless demon!" Buffy was screaming, red-faced.

"He is still undead, Buffy. But would that make a difference? Would it? Would you FEEL better if it were Angel? Cause I fucked him too!" The redhead gasped and clasped a hand over her lips, shocked that words had escaped her mouth, seemingly of their own free will. She stared wide-eyed at the slayer, gauging her reaction.

"You what?" Her voice was thick and throaty, lips quivering.

"Buffy...I... It was a ritual... I’m sorry. I...oh Goddess." Willow didn’t know how to fix this. She watch helplessly as Buffy turned and walked away from her. "You know what, Willow Rosenberg? You and Spike. You’re made for each other. You both have no soul." With that she left as the hacker closed the door.

"That went well!" Spike commented, happy to have his nemesis out of his bleached blonde hair.

~Part: 19~

Willow cried a river, or so it appear to Spike’s shirt. She was appalled at how she let her big mouth spill the beans about Angel. Once her tears were all dry, the blonde vampire pulled the hacker’s mouth to his, crushing her lips in a brutal kiss. As he pulled back to allow her to breathe he caught the scent of the seer in the air. <Interesting...>

"Let’s get back to the movie, Red. You must be tired." He gave Willow an affectionate pat on the butt as she drifted up and turned to the brunette still sitting on the sofa. "Come along, luv. Wouldn’t want you to feel left out." He held his hand out and waited for her to take it, which she did not.

"Fine Blondie, but no more brandy. I’m starting to get a headache. And that whole Bitchy thing? Totally draining to my psyche." She complained as they ascended the stairs.

"Cordelia," He called, stopping her at the top of the stairs. He leaned in almost touching her nose. "The Big Bad can cure that headache for you, pet. All you have to do is..." He then leaned to her ear and whispered , "let me." She felt her heart speed up and heat wash over her and damned her body’s response to him. <This is Spike here. Poster childe for Death and Dismemberment Weekly!>

"Stop it, Spike! Let’s get this straight right now. You may have put your...your...mark on me or whatever, but that in no way makes ME your property. So back off!" She pushed him away and stomped off towards Angel’s rooms, proud of herself for standing up to the evil, murderous, sociopathic vampire, who just happened to be recently UNCHIPPED. As she thought the last word she was hurled against the wall, one of Spike’s hands caressing her throat the other pinned her hands above her head.

"You are so perfectly obstinate. I do so enjoy your... Mmmmmm... protests," he inhaled deeply, savoring her fear and arousal. "I promised Angel not to turn you, but you’re making it so bloody hard..." he pressed his growing erection into her, smirking as she bucked against him to get free. "... with all that passion and defiance." He kissed her neck gently, smiling into her as a small moan escaped her while he licked his mark.

"Don’t do this." She panted, terrified that he was making good on his promise even as the wetness pool between her legs. "Angel will never forgive you."

He chuckled. "That’s where your wrong. Angel will forgive me for anything, eventually." He growled.

Slipping into gameface, he sank his fangs into her soft flesh. She gasped in surprise and pain initially, but that rapidly turned to whimpers of pleasure at the slow pulling sensations he gave her, the ripples of ecstasy that she knew he alone created. He pulled away from her before his demon got carried away and smiled a real smile, his treacherous gaze somehow calming her. She regain her senses and looked to him expectantly, arching a brow.

"Cor luv, you will be a fabulous childe." She shook her head, laughing, relieved it was just a mind game, as they walked to Angel’s room. "Oh yeah, luv...Is the headache gone?"

~~~*~~~

Willow pressed the rewind button on the remote and flopped back onto the floor in her back, knees up and looking at her friend at her side.

"I wanna watch MTV. ‘Real World’ repeats are on." Cordelia lunged for the remote before the blonde had a chance to grab and find some soccer match to scream at.

"Oh goodie! I like that show, and how they all talk behind each others backs. It’s so... mean." Willow clapped happily.

Spike had pulled off his boots and climbed on Angels bed, stretching like a lazy cat. "Come up here. Get comfy." When only the witch moved, the blonde vampire added. "Uh, Cordelia, luv, there is enough room for all. And I promise not to bite...again." He smirked.

The seer sighed and joined them, laying across the foot of the bed on her stomach.

"Spike! You bit her again?" Willow slapped his arm. "Cordy, are you okay?" She hit him again when he tried to snuggled.

"Duh, I’m fine. It was just his twisted idea of a joke. HA HA!" She rolled her eyes, turning back to the TV.

The hacker popped him in the head hard. He pulled back from her protesting his innocence . The witch grabbed a pillow and swatted him in the face with it.

"Hey!" He said laughingly. "I’m only doing what I have a right to do. The girl is mine now and I can..." Another pillow attacked from the side, this time Cordy was the culprit.

"I told you, I don’t belong to you. I didn’t mean to.. to .. Uhg.. have SEX with you. It was an accident! IT-WAS-THE-SPELL! Get that through your bleached skull." Cordy was red-faced and truly pissed. She belonged to no one, but the Queen C.

"Wasn’t no spell earlier, pet. I could smell from across the room. Who got you all bothered? If it wasn’t me, was it Willow?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, further infuriating the ex-cheerleader.

"Oh my God! You are crazy! So fucking crazy!" She began hitting him with the pillow repeatedly as he blocked and chuckled.

Willow decided to take pity on her friend and cast a little spell. Suddenly all the pillows were attacking the bleached vampire. An army of different shapes and sizes fluffy familiars were blind-siding him at a speed to rival his own. He laughed at the challenge, batting many away until the girls dove on his unsuspecting form in unison, tickling the blonde.

"Haaaa... stop, stop!" He twisted and turned trying to get away from the suspiciously strong humans <magic I’ll wager>, but remained within their wicked clutches. "Help! Okay...Okay. I quit! I’ll behave!!!" He panted for unneeded air as his demon screamed at him for giving in to the mortals. <oh shut up!>

"Witch..." He gulped a huge amounts of air before realizing it was old habit. "Casting is not playing fair."

"Well, you don’t play fair either, Vampire. I just evened it up a bit." Her green eyes were brilliant with mischief. She glanced at Cordy who was looking the other way. The redhead and blonde followed the seers gazed, simultaneously gasping.

"Uh oh!"

"Bloody hell!"

"He is so gonna kill us."

Angel’s room was a veritable war zone. Most of the pillows had burst, either from hitting the vampire or the vampire hitting them, thus creating a blanket of various pillow-stuffings over nearly every surface. Those pillows that didn’t burst on impact were amazingly successful in knocking over and or breaking almost every object in the room that wasn’t nailed down.

"I can cast a spell..." The witch began.

"NO!" Was the group response.

Spiked pulled both Willow and Cordy down onto the bed, on which they were kneeling. "Look...Forget it for now. We’ll clean it up after ‘Real World’ goes off. This show’s pretty evil and we’ve already missed enough." He glared at them to make his point. "’Sides. I can feel Peaches and Mina, long before they get close. We’ll have plenty of time." He confirmed.

Not wanting to miss more of the show, Cordy grabbed the remote and laid down next to Willow, who was next to Spike.

~~~*~~~

And that is exactly how Angel found them all asleep in a tangled heap in his bed, looking innocent of all wrong-doing. Somehow Spike was now in the middle spooning Willow, one hand craddling a breast, with Cordelia cuddled up behind him, her face in his neck and her arm embracing him, one hand clutching the remote loosely. Mina came up behind the growling vampire as he saw the fresh bite on his seer.

"Ahh, a vampire sandwich. Aren’t they cute, Angelus?"

"Cute?! Do you see this room? What were they doing in here? They’re worse that kids! And look....he bit her again." He was irritated, but kept his voice low, not wanting to wake the treacherous three just yet.

"She doesn’t look too upset about it and they ARE kids. William’s just a 200 year old kid who happens to be a master so go figure." She retorted.

"They have to clean this up. I can’t sleep in this!" He grumbled, pointing in every direction

"You’re whining."

"I don’t whine!"

"Okaaaay... Anyway... someone was hitting the ward around the building, but since the KIDS are fine, I’ll ask them about it after I get and bath and some sleep." She pulled her brother behind her. "Come... wash my back?" She begged.

He pulled her back forcefully, causing her to collide with his hard body. His lips found her as he gripped her mound, nearly lifting her off the floor. He tore away from her mouth and bit into her neck deeply, surprising the older vampire as he swallowed her essence greedily.

"Well... maybe I can find another use for my back right now..."

~Part: 20~

Cordelia’s first instinct was to panic, however the presence of her clothes negated that thought temporarily. <Movies, Buffy, Spike, Real World.> She could safely assume that no major eeewage occurred last night. She unwrapped herself from the admittedly handsome and extremely well built and not to mention great smelling childe of her boss. It was late in the morning and there was work to be done at Team Angel. Spike moved closer to Willow, seeking her warmth in Cordy’s absence and The seer watched the couple for a moment before tiptoeing out over feathers and foam from the pillow fight.

She nearly shrieked in the hall as Mina came up behind her tapping her shoulder.

"Oh, God Mina!" She said as she tried to keep her heart inside her chest. "Don’t do that! You’re just as bad as Angel and Spike."

"Sorry Cordy." Mina smiled sweetly, but didn’t appear sorry at all. "Look. Just thought I’d warn you. Angel is still sleeping, but he’s really pissed off about his room. I...distracted him when we got home, but you guys should fix it before he gets up."

"Pu-lease. Spike can clean it up. It’s his fault anyway." The seer was still pissed about the possession thing.

"Uh huh...I see he reclaimed you. What happened?" Mina asked curiosity clearly visible.

"Nothing...Nothing happened." She replied all to quickly before changing the subject. "So...are we shopping later?" She asked, relieved when she saw the spark in Mina’s eyes.

"Oh yeah. When? I’ve gotta get some more sleep, but if we take my truck, we can go before sundown. Is there a mall with underground parking and access?" Her truck was equipped with tinted windows that filtered out the harmful rays of the sun. She didn’t use it often and never at midday when the sun was strongest.

"Yep. I know the perfect place."

"Uh, did we have any visitors last night? The ward was tampered with," she inquired.

"Oooh, it was terrible. Buffy and Oz came and Spike wouldn’t let them in and Buffy couldn’t come in because of you so them Buffy says some stuff and Spike says some stuff and then Willow says some stuff and boy did she say some STUFF! So now Buffy is on a slayer rampage because her friend is screwing her ex."

"The slayer knows about Angelus and Willow? Does she know his soul is anchored?" Mina growled. She tolerated the blonde’s existence only for the young witch and her brother, but would kill her in a heartbeat if she tried to interfere with them. <Angelus belongs to me!>

"No...Mina no. Willow didn’t get a chance to explain. The girl left crying. Which made my day... or night...whatever!" Cordy quipped. "He doesn’t want her anymore, you know."

"I know...I just won’t tolerate anyone going after what’s mine and she will try if she knows there is no danger of Angelus being unleashed. She still loves him completely. She may even try to hurt Willow. Of course it’ll appear unintentional. I need to talk to that little witch later...so we shop?!"

"Duh!" The seer mocked rolled her eyes, obviously happy to get back to serious matters.

"Cool. Wake me up around 4." Mina started towards her room and Angel.

"Okay. This way I’ll have more time to shop for my date Thursday." Cordy was looking forward to spending time out with a guy. It had been too long and she needed to make a great impression for her own ego’s sake.

"A date?" The vampiress turned slowly, mild trepidation clawing at the corners of her mind.

"Oh yea. This guy, Gary, that lives in my neighborhood. He asked me out a while back and Willow convinced to accept. I’m soooo looking forward to some male attention." The seer smiled brightly, reminiscent, of a Queen C power-smile, but lacking the insincerity.

"Do you think he’ll let you go on a date?" Mina asked the girl incredulously.

"What? He who?" Her bright smile was fading.

"Cordy? Are you insane? He will kill the guy." The vampire stalked toward her, perplexed.

"What are you talking about?" Fear, impatience and confusing setting in.

Mina grabbed her friend’s arm and pulling her along, shushing her objections. Once they were in a remote corner of the once grand hotel she motioned for her to sit and joined the seer on floor.

"What is wrong with you Mina? You’re scaring me." Cordelia admitted.

"He’ll do more than scare you!...Listen and don’t interrupt. William...he bit you again...last night." It was a statement. "The first time it was okay. Well not okay to you, but with the spell and all.. . it was excusable. But he renewed it. Last night. No spell. On purpose. That means to him you are his....HOLD IT...hold it...I know the score. ‘I belong to no one.’ Blah, blah, blah. But it doesn’t matter what you think because you’re not the big bad master vampire."

"Are you trying to tell me that SPIKE is not going to (air quote) let me go out on a date?" Cordy felt like she stepped onto the set of Jerry Springer, episode 21 ‘My boyfriend is a Male Chauvinist Vampire with Three testicles and he controls my life’.

"That’s exactly what I’m saying." She got up and paced as she spoke, her nervous energy unconsciously pulling magic from the air. "I know he loves Willow, and he is going to he pissed at me for telling you this so keep you mouth shut about it, okay?" Cordy nodded. "He is not joking when he says he going to make you his childe." She glared at the girl, awaiting the reaction. 3...2...1

"WHAT? Angel told him he couldn’t and he promised him! I don’t want to be all GRR, no offense, but I need sunlight and tanning and beaches and ....I ...ahhhh!" Her stress level shot up and Cordy knew that her masseuse was in for a session.

"Oh William has always done as he wished and taken his punishment. This will be no exception. He is truly Angelus’ favorite, most loved of his childer. And the soul loves him too. That’s why he stayed away from William because he is certainly able to give my brother perfect happiness. But back to your little...dilemma. You are on his radar and he is nothing if not determined. I think you will be a splendid demon. And I can give you a soul if you like and if he’ll allow it." She said, satisfied with her solution.

"Whoa whoa whoa. Mina...You’re talking like it’s done. I am not letting him turn me."

"Sweetheart, as much as I would like to appease you, I can’t. You are as good as turned. You can’t hide from him. Anywhere. He’ll hunt you down, probably make me help him. Nah, YOU have to convince him that it’s better for him to keep you human. The value of you warm and breathing is your best bet. But back to that date of yours. My William will follow you and kill the boy if he knows. I won’t say a word. But if you go, please be careful. A vampire’s senses are so much keener than you can imagine. He can smell another man on you whether you were intimate or not. That scent will be filed away and if he ever smells it again, he will remember. May take a minute, but he’ll remember.... Gods Cordy! I don’t care if he kills the guy. I really don’t, but I like you and I know you won’t go unpunished."

"Unpunished? That peroxide wonder better stay away from me! I am not afraid of him and don’t care about his master vampire status or how fucking spoiled he is or if Angel IS a wimp when it comes to him. I am not backing down so he better get used to NOT having his way." Cordelia was up on her feet, flapping her arms and wagging a finger, anger and tension fueling her rampage. So she was a little miffed when her newest friend began cackling at what she considered a darned good ‘I am woman-hear me bitch’ speech.

Seeing how her laughter disturbed the brunette, Mina attempted explaining.

"Ohhh... and you wonder...wonder why he wants to turn you? Don’t you see? The more you resist him the more you attract him. You are all fight and fire and his demon loves that and needs to bend you to his will. Break you , only to rebuild you again in darkness." She pulled close the seer and whispered, "Personally, I like the rebuilding part best. William is very good at what he does. It can be so...yummy." She nuzzled Cordy’s neck briefly, long enough to catch a hint of her arousal and pulled away.

"It’s up to you if you mention this date to him. But be careful." She warned backing away from her and into her room.

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