~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: eleven~
Willow scanned the beach, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun. Or, she guessed it would be more appropriate to say suns. There were indeed three suns high above. Upon closer inspection, she had noticed that there were three different colors to each glowing ball. One was a yellow-orange, one was a light green and the other was bluish white. The yellow-orange sun was the brightest, but each ball glowed. She assumed the differences were what was preventing Spike and Angel from being dust. She glanced at the two vampires in question, having to smile as she saw them both staring at the bright sky and then at themselves. They had been acting like children, running around in the sun and laughing. She had never seen Angel act so silly before. It was rather refreshing.
They both seemed so happy to be in the sun and not be dust that they had forgotten the problem at hand. They were stranded somewhere that had three suns with no land anywhere in sight except the island they were now walking around. She sighed, deciding not to interrupt the boys' return to childhood just yet. She looked back around the island, having just recently set foot on it. The sand was white and smooth against her bare feet. She noticed seashells and small rocks mixed into the grainy texture but most of the sand was pure. She guessed that she could see probably twenty miles of beach in either direction, trees appearing maybe ten miles inland. The trees appeared normal. Big and green with large leaves. They were dense and she couldn't really see anything except more trees and greenery. She faced the coast, seeing the driftwood and frothy waves. Under different circumstances, she'd have thought it very beautiful. At the moment, however, it was an exotic prison of sorts.
She heard laughter, looking over and seeing Spike splashing in the shallow water. He had removed his shirt, leaving him bare chested and laughing. Her breath caught as she watched the water droplets slowly move down his muscular chest and disappear into the waistband of his jeans. She suddenly felt rather hot, the soft breeze not cooling her at all. She turned abruptly, knowing if she continued to leer she'd either be caught and humiliated or she'd go over and attack him. No attacking for this girl. Not when she had no idea where they were or how they were going to get home. She found Angel standing silently on the beach not far from her. She wasn't very surprised to see his attention focused on the same sight as her own, an unreadable statement on his face as his dark eyes looked at Spike with something very akin to hunger. With a soft groan, she walked away from temptation and headed towards the nearest tree.
~Part: twelve~
"You guys are so dead."
"Dead? Ha. I'd say torture first then death."
"Don't listen to them. They like to hear themselves talk."
"They know nothing. Immature little children."
"Child? Who you calling a child?"
"Need I say more?"
"I'm serious. Angel is going to kill you both," Wesley said, shaking his head as Gunn continued to glare about being called a child. He almost pointed out the behavior to support Lorne's statement but thought it unwise at the moment.
"He won't kill us," Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. "He'll be too happy to kill us."
"Willow will kick both your asses," Gunn said, smiling as he thought of the redhead. "And you know that's the truth!"
"She may try," Lorne said slowly, realizing that no matter how happy Willow might be, the girl would still be upset over the entire fiasco, "but I have hopes that good sense will outweigh negative thoughts."
"Spike will hold you down as she smacks you around," Gunn said, shaking his head. "I don't get why you are messing with all this stuff."
"I agree with Gunn," Wesley said, making a face as he realized he had agreed with the brash young man. "Do you have any idea what you are even doing?"
"I have my little vision thingy that turned out to be for the good, for once," Cordelia said patiently, wanting nothing more than to slap the smug, pompous look off Wesley's face, "When you wouldn't help me do anything about it, I went to Lorne who was only too happy to help."
"Brood boy needs some smiles," Lorne put in with a smile. "And I couldn't very well sit back and watch Willow leave all unhappy and unfulfilled, could I?"
"You're both meddling," Gunn said, laughing. "Just admit it. You can write it up as being some big vision from the powers that be, but I don't buy it. I don't really see them putting visions of Angel and Willow and Spike into vision form unless they're big pervs."
"Shh, they'll hear you," Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. "I tell you, I got a vision of them together. They have to get together or else I wouldn't have gotten the vision. Good grief, how many times do I have to explain it."
"Until it begins to make some sort of sense?" Wesley said dryly.
"Actually," Lorne said thoughtfully, "it does make sense. Angel needs someone in his life. From what I have heard, this Spike fellow is a good fighter, even helping the slayer now. And we all know that Willow is special."
"I want to know how you're so certain that this Spike guy even showed up," Gunn said, looking at Cordelia. "What if you went to all this trouble and it wasn't even the right people?"
"He was here," Cordelia said, a look of doubt crossing her pretty face. "The vision had him in it."
"Regardless, we know that Willow and Angel are together. Maybe Spike joins them later. Either way, there is no going back. What's done is done," Lorne said.
"Yeah, maybe Spike just comes into the picture later," Cordelia said, sticking her tongue out at Gunn in triumph.
"Do you not remember the hatred Spike feels for Angel?" Wesley asked slowly. "If you're correct in assuming he showed up here and accompanied them on their little boat trip, he and Angel are probably at each other's throats by now."
Cordelia snorted, "Oh please. I read the watcher diaries with Willow and Buffy. I know just how much Spike hates Angel. What-ever. Those two want to shag something fierce but that damn soul gets in the way. Maybe it won't now."
"Shag?" Gunn repeated, smiling. "No more Austin Powers for Delia."
"Shut up," she said crossly, glaring at them both. "You're supposed to be glad that we may have saved someone else. I mean, hello! Vision. Angel needs Willow and Spike. We gave them to him. I'd say job well done."
"Cordelia, you played with magic and who knows what else to send them and their boat to another world!" Wesley said, his patience gone. "You couldn't wait and let them realize they were in love like normal people?"
"Actually, Parakallio is not exactly another world," Lorne said with a smile. "It is an uninhabited island paradise that is between universes. There is wildlife on the island, but no people. Besides, Wesley, they'll only be there for a week. After that, we'll bring them home."
"A week in paradise with two hunky vampires that she loves," Cordelia said, "and you say that Willow will kick my ass? Ha. She'll be thanking me."
"We'll see," Wesley said, making a face. Needless to say, it would be interesting to find out the results of Cordelia and Lorne's meddling when the week was up, though he'd never admit his own curiosity.
~Part: thirteen~
Willow changed her earlier evaluation. The trees began more than half the distance she had predicted from near the water. It wasn't even a mile from the trees to the water. She frowned as she looked at the bark, knowing that from the water's edge these trees had appeared at least ten miles away. Maybe the bump on her head had done more than she had originally thought. Or maybe the sight of Spike and Angel playing had made her a bit loopy. Either way, she was at the edge of the trees, looking into dense foliage and underbrush. It was darker in the forest, but she felt no unease. In fact, to the contrary, she felt rather peaceful and calm. She had since she had set foot on the island. She was still worried and concerned, but it wasn't as pressing an anxiety as it was before.
"I thought I warned you about that, pet," a voice said from behind her, causing her to turn quickly.
"Don't do that!" she said, holding her beating heart as she glared at Spike.
Spike smiled sheepishly as he saw her glare, "Sorry, luv. I turned around and you were gone. Scared me a bit, if you must know."
"Just don't scare me again," she said, her anger fading at his sincere words. She frowned as she asked, "What did you warn me about?"
"Not to leave me," he said simply, pulling his shirt over his head then looking at her. He smiled smugly when he saw her eyes on him, glimpsing arousal in their green depths.
"Angel," Willow reluctantly moved her eyes from Spike to look at the dark haired vampire that had joined them. "There is something weird about this place."
"You mean, besides the three suns and Soulboy and me still walking around?" Spike asked, laughing as she smacked him.
"When we were by the water," Willow continued, ignoring Spike except to hit him, not removing her hand from his chest as his hand closed over it, "these trees seemed much farther away."
Angel grew thoughtful, nodding slowly, "You're right. That's strange."
"And there we have it folks. Evidence as to why he is known as the smart one and I'm the good looking one," Spike said, rolling his eyes as his fingers moved in circles over Willow's hand.
"Who's been filling your head with pretty lies, boy?" Angel asked, his dark eyes moving over Spike's handsome face almost lovingly.
The humor left blue eyes as memories clouded his mind. Spike stiffened, eyes narrowing as Angel looked at him in an all too familiar way. "I never believed that you were the smart one, Peaches. I know that I'm not only the good-looking one, but also the smart one. See, pet? We don't need Soulboy. We can just leave him here to brood."
Angel raised a brow, an amused smile crossing his face as he watched Spike try to ignore their past and the attraction that still existed between the two of them. "Have you forgotten my name, boy?"
"Would you like a list?" Spike asked, continuing to glare at Angel.
"Say my name, William," Angel dared, moving ever so closer. He had missed this so much. Playing with Spike. It had been so long. A lifetime ago. His demon resented his grandchilde's attitude, wanted to remind the brat just who the master was, and Angel was so tempted to give in for once.
"Angelus," Spike whispered softly, his cock hard and leaking from the desire he saw in the elder vampire's eyes.
"You do remember," Angel said with a pleased smile as his hand moved behind Spike's head, drawing his head back.
"I remember," Spike confirmed, wanting to resist but knowing that such notions were foolish. Angel, Angelus...they were the same man. One had a soul to be his conscience, the other was possessive and savage.
"Good," Angel said before claiming Spike's mouth in a punishing kiss. Tongues met as fangs broke skin. Blood flowed into his mouth causing an instant erection. He had missed tasting Spike. Hell, he had missed Spike period. Distantly, he heard a bird call and remembered where they were. He pulled back, his eyes wide and slightly confused as he looked at his blonde grandchilde. He felt guilty for giving in to his own desires without thinking. He glanced at Willow, seeing the spot where she had been vacant. He closed his eyes briefly, wondering if he had driven her away.
"Don't," Spike growled, seeing the guilt on the face in front of him. "You didn't do anything that I haven't wanted for years."
"Willow," Angel said, opening his eyes and looking at the blonde. "She's gone."
~Part: fourteen~
Willow made her way through the forest, the image of Spike and Angel kissing firmly in her mind. She had never seen anything so erotic in her entire life. Separately, they were both handsome and sexy. Together, well, they were magnificent. Dark and light. She hadn't want to move from her place so close to them both, but had finally left to give them privacy. With what she had read in the journals, she wasn't sure if they would stop with a kiss. Thoughts of that caused her to pause and lick her lips. She could just see Spike on his knees with Angel above him. She shook her head, knowing that she needed to stop thinking such things. It was bad for her heart.
She took a moment to look around, a smile crossing her pretty face. This island truly was beautiful. The trees were thick but not so thick that she couldn't make it through them. She had seen something that had looked like a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel climbing one of the trees already. She had to wonder what other animals lurked in the woods. Hopefully nothing dangerous. She hadn't even thought about that possibility. Of course, based on her readings and movie watching, the most dangerous thing you usually had to look for on an island was snakes. Her eyes went to the ground, looking at the leaves and dirt with suspicion. Maybe she should have stayed with the boys.
Oh well. Too late to change things now, she decided. She'd just be a bit more alert. She continued her walk, noticing different kinds of berry bushes and something that looked kind of like bananas. She heard her stomach growl as she looked at the fruit. It had been half a day since she had eaten, she realized. She chewed her lip, debating whether or not to try the foreign fruit. She didn't like the idea of dying on some island in some other universe at all, but she was hungry and the food she had brought was a couple miles behind her at the boat. She grabbed a handful of berries and popped one into her mouth. She chewed slowly, waiting after she had swallowed her first bite. She didn't feel anything weird so she took another bite. She grabbed another handful and continued walking.
She was hoping to find some sort of lake or river in which to bathe. She had blood matted against her head where she had hit it during the storm. She was also getting rather sweaty and dirty from walking through the trees. A bath would be heavenly. The ocean was pretty and all, but the current was a bit too strong for a thorough cleaning. She suddenly wished she had brought shampoo or something. As it was, she didn't even have anything else to wear. Her entire wardrobe consisted of her T-shirt and shorts and a jacket on the boat. She hoped it didn't get cold here at night. She'd freeze to death. And there was that word again, she realized. Laughing softly, she dusted her hands together after she had eaten the last berry.
She climbed over a log that was in the path, taking a moment to rest as she looked around. The path she was following was man made. She didn't know if that was scary or not. It appeared to be deserted island, but someone had walked this way enough to cause a path. Maybe it was a resort island or something like that, she wondered. No, she hadn't seen any signs of habitation except for the path. Someone else might have been stranded here during a storm. Of course, it was some weird universe with three suns so who knew what the heck they'd discover. She stood up and continued walking, enjoying the ability to explore. She glanced up when she heard a bird singing, crying out in pain as she tripped over a tree root.
She fell forward, her hands moving to brace her fall. She turned to sit, looking down at her foot. Her ankle was caught in between two roots, the bark rubbing her sock. She tried to pull her foot free, tears in her eyes as a pain shot through her leg. "Damn, damn, damn," she cursed, gritting her teeth as she tried to move into a better position to free herself. She didn't know how she had stepped right into the opening or how her foot was now twisted in such a position that she couldn't free it, but she knew this had to be a nightmare. How was she going to get herself free? The tree wasn't moving and neither was her foot. She felt tears of frustration on her face as she again pulled, crying out again at the pain.
"Damn it, Red. I told you not to do that anymore!" Spike growled as he came upon her. Without thinking, he leaned over and caught her mouth in a bruising kiss, pulling back and saying, "Never leave me like that. Promise me!"
Willow looked at him in shock, her lips still tingling from the intensity of the close mouthed kiss. She managed to whisper, "I promise," before she was reminded of her foot as another wave of pain shot through her leg.
"You're hurt," he said softly, seeing the pain in her eyes. He looked down, seeing her foot trapped. He could make out a ribbon of blood where the bark was breaking through her skin. He leaned down, pulling on the tree to no avail. He looked up as Angel crouched down to join him. They each took one root and pulled, cracking the tree enough for her foot to be removed but not breaking it. He gently moved her foot, standing and taking her into his arms. "You can't walk back. It might be sprained."
"Hurts," she mumbled before resting her head against his shoulder, her eyes closing as she lay in the comfort of his arms. He smiled softly before moving to follow Angel back to the boat.
~Part: fifteen~
The pain in her ankle was practically forgotten when Spike swung her into his arms. Willow was still reeling from the rough kiss, arousal having shot through her at the brief contact. Now, the feel of his hands, slightly warmed from the sun above, on her flesh was sending her heart racing. She couldn't contain the soft sigh of contentment from escaping her lips as her head rested on his shoulder. How she wished he hadn't bothered putting on his shirt. Her green eyes closed as she imagined several different scenarios, each ending with her clothes scattered and the three of them caught up in some erotic fantasy. Her eyes flew open as she remembered Angel. She turned her head slightly, her eyes tracing over the dark haired vampire's back, resting on the swell of his ass before moving back up to his hair. She pushed the forbidden thoughts about Spike from her mind, knowing in her heart that it was pointless to dwell on what would never be. The kiss, no matter how passionate, had not been born from lust. He had kissed her in anger at her having left him. He didn't want her.
Wasn't it just her luck to end up falling in love with two men that were just her good friends? In fact, two men that seemed to want to reopen a past relationship between themselves. Where did that leave her? The awkward third wheel. The friend that got to watch the lovey dovey romance bloom while longing to participate. Of course, she might be jumping to conclusions. There was a very big past between Angel and Spike. A lot of details that she wasn't even aware of. While she had sensed their mutual attraction from the beginning, she had also seen Spike fight said feelings and Angel ignore them. Even Angelus seemed almost frightened to revisit that past, instead focusing on destroying Buffy. She smiled slightly as she realized that everyone she knew had very complicated love lives. Nothing had been simple since Buffy had arrived in Sunnydale all those years before. Hell, when Xander and Cordelia's relationship was the most normal, something was very wrong indeed. She sighed as Spike's hand moved on her back, his fingers brushing against her bare flesh where her shirt had risen. She glanced down and blushed, seeing her nipples pushing against the thin fabric of T-shirt. One brief kiss and casual touch and she was more aroused than she had been in years. The heat had to be getting to her.
She grimaced as her foot shifted, reminding her suddenly of the pain she should be feeling, pushing away the attraction for the moment. She couldn't believe she had been stupid enough to fall. While it didn't feel sprained, it hurt like hell. Especially where the tree had rubbed against her skin. She could see the blood covering her sock, the rips in the white material from her struggle to free herself. She'd be tossing that pair of socks in the trash when they made it home. She looked up, a nagging in her mind. If they made it home. Good grief, what if they were stuck here? She had no change of clothes, no shampoo, nothing. There didn't seem to be an abundance of food around, mostly berries and green leaves. She hadn't even seen any wildlife, not that she could really imagine killing an animal to eat, but she didn't know how hungry she might eventually get and wouldn't have minded some sort of option. Angel and Spike only had a limited supply of blood. Would she become their meals on wheels when they ran out? She trusted them both with her life, but the fear of them losing control was always there, lurking under the surface. If she were honest, that danger was one of their many attractions.
She glanced around, a frown crossing her face as she asked softly, "Shouldn't we be at the water by now? I didn't think I'd walked this far."
Angel stopped, not turning around for fear that Willow would see his arousal. Her soft scent of need had been following him for ten minutes, teasing and tempting his demon as they walked. He heard Spike's soft growl and knew somehow that Willow must have shifted again. His childe was stronger than he, having walked that far with her in his arms and not having kissed her senseless and more. He doubted he could have been that controlled, and he had the damn soul. He looked around them, "This is the way we came. I remember the path."
"So do I, but something's different," Willow said thoughtfully. "I don't remember the trees being this close together until close to where I fell. I don't hear the water either. For the first part of my walk, the ocean followed me. We should be close enough to hear it by now."
"Red's right," Spike said, moving his hand along her back, trying to touch more skin. He was in agony, a hell of his own making, sweet torture. Having her so close, yet not being able to touch, to let her know she belonged to him. He was fully aware of her hurt ankle, the soft scent of her blood mixing with her arousal, creating an intoxicating perfume that did little for his good intentions. He counted to ten silently, willing his erection down as he continued, "are you sure we came this way?"
Angel turned around, eyes flashing in annoyance, "Yes, I'm sure. I turned around and came the exact same way. If you'd rather lead, I can carry Willow and you can find the ocean, Robinson Crusoe."
"Someone's cranky," Spike muttered, recognizing all too well the sight of an aroused Angelus, his demon rising a bit at the challenge and need he saw in his grandsire's eyes.
"It's not that we don't believe you, Angel," Willow said, oblivious to both men's state of arousal, "I know I came this way, it's just different. I have no idea where we are, my foot is throbbing like hell, I smell horrible and I really wish I was laying in a warm bath! I'm tired and hungry and really wish we'd stop walking soon."
"It's all right pet," Spike said softly, his voice husky as he hadn't really moved past her bath comment. "Peaches will get us back to the boat soon enough. Then, we can have a look at that foot. I'm sure there must be some food left on the boat, so you can eat."
"I can warm some water for you to bathe," Angel said, his own mind still caught on that same statement. "Spike and I can give you some privacy to get cleaned up."
"I know," she smiled wryly, "I just wish we were home."
"Let's keep moving," Spike said, not agreeing with her comment. If they were home, he'd not be this close to her. He'd be stuck being her friend, not having a chance to explore his feelings for her or for Angel. He'd rather be stuck on this island with the two people he cared for most in the world than back in Sunnydale alone.
~Part: sixteen~
"We must have made a wrong turn," Willow said thoughtfully. "I don't know where, but it's been over half an hour. I didn't walk that far."
"We never turned," Angel said, shaking his head. "I don't know what happened. I followed the same path."
"Maybe it twisted and we never noticed," Spike suggested, shifting Willow. She hardly weighed more than a feather, but with his constant arousal around her, carrying her was proving to be difficult. They had to have walked more than a mile and seemed deeper in the trees than before.
"I would have noticed," Angel said, sighing. "I don't know what to do. We're getting deeper into the trees it would appear. I can't even smell the scent of water, and we should be close."
"I'm sorry. This is all my fault," Willow said softly, seeing their annoyance. "I should have never wandered off alone. I just thought you two wanted some privacy."
"Not your fault, pet," Spike said, glancing at her in surprise. "You're always welcome where ever I am. Nothing could change that."
"It's more my fault than anyone else," Angel said, disgusted with himself, "I didn't mark our path when we went looking for you. I was too worried...I knew better."
"Good grief. What is it with you two? Always wanting to take the blame for things that are beyond your control," Spike cursed, rolling his eyes. "This isn't some contest to see who can brood the most, damn it!"
"What is that?" Willow asked, her amusement at Spike's outburst fading as she heard something in the distance. "It's water, isn't it?"
"It sounds like it," Angel said, listening closely. "It's not the ocean, though. I don't smell salt."
"Why don't we go see what it is instead of standing here discussing it?" Spike suggested with an impatient glare.
"I can walk," Willow offered, knowing she must be getting heavy. He'd carried her more than a mile at least and hadn't complained once. "My foot still hurts a little, but I should be OK."
"No," he said sharply, "I can carry you."
"Spike, you must be tired," she said, stopping when he growled at her. "Then, again, you should know your own strength. Let's go."
They walked a bit farther, Willow gasping as they entered a clearing. "Oh my..." she drifted off as she looked around with wide eyes.
~Part: seventeen~
Willow heard Angel and Spike both curse softly as they stopped walking. She didn't look at them to see their reaction, too caught up in her own to care. It was like something out of a dream, or a fantasy. A beautiful waterfall, a sleepy lagoon, green grass covered with flowers, shade trees protecting parts of the water from the sun, and what looked like a natural whirlpool surrounded by rocks. She'd never seen anything like it except maybe as she slept.
"Is it real?" she heard herself asking softly.
"It would appear so," Angel said, looking around carefully. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of a brown wicker basket beside a rock near a scattering of flowers. "Someone's been here."
"What?" Spike glanced and saw the basket, blue eyes cautiously looking around them. "I don't feel anyone."
"What is it?" Willow asked, wishing again that she hadn't been silly enough to injure her foot.
Spike carried her to the grass, gently laying her down. He kneeled near the basket, eyeing it suspiciously.
"It's not going to bite," Willow said, making Angel laugh and earning a glare from Spike.
"Fine, let's see what it is," Spike said in annoyance. He opened the basket, cursing as he removed the contents. "Was this some sort of joke?"
"What is it?" Angel asked, moving to sit behind Willow. He leaned forward, his arm brushing against hers. "Blood?"
"About a dozen bags, to be exact," Spike said, "plus a couple bottles of water, a bottle of wine, crackers, sandwiches, chips and cookies. There might be more, but I don't want to unload it all."
"A picnic," Willow said, shaking her head. "With blood. On a deserted island. Why does this not sit well?"
"It gets better, pet," Spike said, holding up one of the plastic bags with a sandwich. "Peanut butter and apple jelly with no crusts."
"This is scary," Willow said as he named her one guilty pleasure. "Only a handful of people know about that."
"About what?" Angel asked, confused.
"It's Red's favorite after school snack," Spike said, pleased that he knew something private that Angel didn't. "She loves the bloody things."
"Let's think about this logically. We get caught in a storm and end up in some alternate universe on a seemingly deserted island that is pretty close to perfect, including our favorite foods in ready supply," Willow chewed on her lip for a minute before she said, "we were set up."
"By who?" Spike asked, "Who would want to send us here? Why? What purpose would it possibly serve?"
"I don't know," Willow said, shrugging. "Who would have the power or knowledge to do it?"
"If it was deliberate, I don't think it was malicious," Angel said after a moment of thoughtful silence. "We've been given food and drink, enough to last several days."
"No one knew about the boat," Willow said, sighing, "It was a surprise. The only people that knew besides me were...." She sat up, groaning, "what have they done?"
"Who, pet?" Spike asked, glancing at Angel and seeing confusion on the dark haired vampire's face.
Willow rolled her eyes, "Lorne and Cordelia. They're the only ones that knew where we were going to be."
~Part: eighteen~
"Lorne and Cordelia?" Angel repeated, doubt in his voice. "I can't see them doing something like this. Why would they?"
"Lorne is the one that found me the boat," Willow said, not wanting to state her reason why she thought her meddling friends might have done this. "Cordelia knows about my eating habits. She also knew about the planned boat trip. They're the only ones that I told."
"Maybe it was someone else," Angel said. "I can't see either of them taking such a drastic risk with your safety."
"I doubt they would have known about the intensity of the storm," Willow said with a thoughtful look. "And Lorne knows a lot about alternate realities. He'd know about this place easy. He also has the contacts to make it happen."
"Pet, why would your two little friends send you to a deserted island?" Spike asked, not liking the idea of anyone having set all this up.
"I wonder how they knew you'd be here too," Willow said softly as she looked into the picnic basket. She pulled out a carton of Marlboros, showing Spike. "Neither Angel or I smoke. They knew you'd be here."
"I can't see why Cordy or Lorne would do all this," Angel said in confusion. "It just doesn't make sense."
"I'm sorry," Willow whispered as a blush crossed her cheeks. "This is my fault."
"Not it isn't, luv," Spike assured her. "It was those two idiot friends of yours, maybe, but not your fault."
"I'm going to kill them when we get back," Angel decided as he saw the tense way Willow was sitting. "Thankfully, if it was them, it means we *will* be getting back."
"You can't kill them. They were just trying to help," Willow said with a frown. "Interfering and meddling where they don't belong, but trying to help. Okay, maybe a spot of torture for putting us through all this, but no death."
"Help what, Red?" Spike asked, laying on the ground and resting against a rock. It was a pretty place. The sound of water was peaceful and relaxing. Plus, he had the two people he cared most about in the world. It could be far worse. Imagining being stuck here with the slayer or the moron made him cringe and again thank the powers that be for giving him Angel and Willow instead.
"Me," she whispered as she looked at them, a blush crossing her face. "They know how much I love you both and were just trying to play matchmaker."
~Part: nineteen~
"You love us?" Spike repeated slowly, his eyes watching her face turn a lovely shade of pink.
"So, you can't really blame them," Willow continued hoping they'd forget her admission and spare her a bit of embarrassment, "they were just trying to be good friends."
"Willow," Angel started, seeing how uncomfortable the redhead was and knowing she had been forced into making her confession, "I could never blame you for loving."
Willow laughed, wondering if she would ever get over this mortification. Forget it, she'd kill Lorne and Cordelia herself. She ran a hand over her face, looking down as Spike still gaped at her, confusion in his blue eyes. "Can we just forget that part and enjoy the island?"
"No, we bloody well cannot," Spike said sharply, glaring at her for even suggesting that he forget she loved him. A smile spread over his face as he repeated her words, no longer as a question, "You really love us."
She had looked up at his sharp tone, watching in surprise as he smiled and looked at her in amazement. She nodded slowly, shrugging, "I'm sorry. I never meant for it to happen. I mean, I've kind of loved you for months. And Angel, well, I had a crush years ago that I thought had faded and then I came here and he was so different but still the same and I couldn't help falling a little bit in love with him each day. And I was stupid enough to tell Cordelia about the conflict and now she and Lorne have stranded us here and we're stuck for who knows how long. And it's all my fault for confessing how stupid I was to her in the first place. And on top of all that, you're both my best friends and I'll probably lose you both now."
"Stop. Take a breath," Angel said softly, a small smile on his handsome face as he watched her. "I'm not going anywhere, Willow."
"You're not?" she asked, eyes widening as she looked into his dark eyes. She gulped at the emotions she saw there, wondering if they were real or all part of this fantasy.
"Never," he promised with a slight smile as his eyes moved over her face, allowing his feelings their freedom finally.
"Oh," she whispered, wondering when it had become so warm. She glanced at Spike, smiling shyly as looked at him.
"Talk, talk, talk," he said with a wicked smile as he moved forward, his eyes pinning her, "I don't talk a lot, pet," he whispered before he caught her lips in a kiss that put their earlier one to shame, giving her no doubts as to his reaction to her news.
~Part: twenty~
Spike was kissing her. Really and truly kissing her. His lips on hers. It wasn't another dream. It took Willow just a few seconds to come out of her shock and kiss him back. She felt rather brazen, kissing him like this for the first time. She opened her mouth, allowing him to take possession as his hand moved behind her back. She gasped as her body was pulled into his, evidence of his arousal pressing against her stomach. It took another few seconds to comprehend that Spike wanted her. If she hadn't felt the dull pain of her ankle, she'd have thought she must be dreaming.
She tasted so good, so sweet. Spike could feel her against him, cursing the material that kept their flesh from touching. He wanted to touch her, to be inside her, to never leave her. He felt her hand on the back of his head, her grasp tentative and shy. Fingers moved through his hair as he kissed her, stroking the short blond strands. His hand moved lower on her back, cupping her ass as he moved her closer still. He took advantage of her gasp by deepening the kiss even more. Her fingers tightened in his hair as she pulled his head towards her, her body moving against his ever so slightly. He'd been imagining this for so long, needing to kiss her, to taste her, to make her his. Now that he finally had her, he wasn't letting go.
Angel watched them kiss, struck by how beautiful they were together. So passionate. For a moment, he wished he had his sketch book. He wanted to capture every detail of their embrace, knowing that he could spend hours drawing them together. The sweet scent of Willow's arousal was thick in the air, mixing with the aroma of the flowers to create an intoxicating perfume. He wanted them both, he realized. Not only wanted them, but needed them. William had always been a weakness. Even now, Angel would find himself consumed with desire for the obnoxious blond. It had been that way from the start, a confusing emotion that Angelus had loathed and that Angel denied. There would be no more denying. He had wasted so many years, too many years. He needed Spike and he wanted Willow. Now, it would appear that he had a chance to have them both. He was going to keep them.
Angel stepped forward slowly, drawn to the two people he loved. Spike was still kissing Willow, their bodies rubbing together as a soft breeze blew through the trees. Angel heard Spike growl as he touched his shoulder, blue eyes flashing yellow as the younger vampire stopped kissing long enough to glare at him. Angel smiled, his own eyes flashing as he reminded, "She needs to breathe."
Spike regarded Angel warily, glancing at Willow and smiling when he saw her red lips and dazed eyes. She was breathing hard, her breasts pushing against her shirt as she tried to collect herself. He looked back at Angel, raising a brow as he said, "She wasn't complaining, Peaches."
"Just remember, she's a human," Angel said softly, warning. He looked at Willow, hardening as he saw the desire in her green eyes. Confusion had faded, replaced by acceptance, love, and need. He had not done anything to deserve having a wonderful girl like Willow love him. He'd just gotten lucky. Willow reached her right hand up, moving her warm fingers over his cheek and smiling an invitation that he couldn't refuse. With a low moan, he leaned forward, claiming her lips in a soft, exploring kiss, his hand moving to gently stroke her face and hair as the other moved to her back. Spike smiled as he moved to stand behind Willow, pulling her to lean against him for support as Angel kissed her.