Author: Jinni (druscilla@cox.net)
Rated: PG13
Pairing: W/A/S
Distribution: A Witch’s Love (my site). All others who have some of my fics are welcome to this one as well. If you don’t have my stuff and want it – please ask first.
Summary: Sequel to “Fever” which can be found at my website: http://www.geocities.com/dru1980 . Now
that the bonding spell has been completed, Willow and the boys must find a way to co-exist with each other.
Author’s Note: I’m really very bad at saying which seasons there are spoilers for in my fanfics. Just assume that anything up to and including Season 5 of BtVS and Season 2 of AtS is fair game. I don't really like Buffy and tend to badmouth her in just about all of my fics. If this type of thing doesn't appeal to you, please don't read :P This isn't Beta'd because one of my Betas is really busy - so I'm giving them both a break. They (Susan and Reatha) are still the best Betas ever, though!!!
Feedback: I like feedback. I write for the enjoyment of others, after
all. J
~*~ Part One~*~
Willow looked over her room, her eyes misting over despite her best attempts to keep them from doing just that. Her pictures were gone from the walls, packed safely in boxes that would already have reached their destination by this time. The furniture she had decided to keep was already at her new home, mingling amongst the newer items she had purchased with the help of one of Angel’s credit cards. Clothes and other smaller items had been last to go – but even those were gone now. All that was left was the bed she was sitting on now, tears streaming down her face, and a small box of personal items.
There was no good reason for her to be sad other than the fact that she was embarking on a new part of her life. Well, that and the fact that Buffy wasn’t speaking to her at the moment. The blonde haired Slayer hadn’t taken it well to find out that Willow was bonded to both Angel and Spike. She still considered Angel to be *her* vampire and someone that none of her friends should have much of anything to do with.
‘It didn’t even matter that it was done to save my life…’ Willow thought sadly. Buffy had found out about the spell hours after it had been finished. There had been no way to reverse it, even if anyone involved wanted to. Even Giles had tried to make the Slayer see reason – without the spell Willow would have died. Buffy wouldn’t hear any of it though. She was dead set in her reasoning that somehow this was all a plot to take Angel away from her.
‘Even though her and Angel haven’t been together for a long time *and* she is dating Riley.’ The red head shook her head, the motion full of sadness and disbelief at her best friend’s actions. A part of her couldn’t believe that Buffy was acting that way – while the rest of her conceded that the blonde had never acted rationally when it came to Angel. On a deeper level the red head couldn’t help but feel happy to have survived the entire mess. The consequence of being bonded to Spike and Angel would be hard to deal with at times, she was sure. But it was better than being dead. ‘Buffy will get over it eventually, I’m sure.’
The lack of friendship with the blonde saddened her especially at this time. The house she sat in was her own – paid for completely and given to her as a present by her parents at the time of her graduation. Willow didn’t need it anymore – not with an entire hotel at her disposal in Los Angeles. It would have given her no greater joy than to allow Buffy to stay there for however long the blonde wanted. But that wasn’t going to happen. Buffy wouldn’t even speak to her and, instead, Xander and Anya had moved in. They had taken the master bedroom, the room Willow’s own parents had used on the rare occasion they were at home. It was the perfect place for them to practice playing house together, in anticipation for the wedding Willow knew Anya was hoping to have within the next year. The red head had made it clear to the pair that her own room was reserved especially for Buffy should the Slayer ever choose to see reason.
If that day ever came.
She brushed the tears from her face and forced herself to let go of that for the moment. If Buffy ever decided to see logic Willow would welcome her back with open arms. That was just the way things went in their relationship. Buffy bitched and Willow forgave. She wondered half-heartedly what the blonde would do if their roles were reversed. Could Buffy forgive her for the same things the Slayer herself did?
Standing, Willow grabbed her purse from the bed and lifted the small box of personal items she had left for last. Her car keys jingled in her hand as she gave the room one last glance, eyes dry and clear. Trying hard not to think of any more sad things, she turned off the light and left the room. Xander and Anya were still at his place, packing their things. Her goodbyes had already been said to the two of them. Giles had been waiting for her when she first arrived and they had said their goodbyes at that time. She had tried hard to make her friends realize that this wasn’t the end – it was just a different type of beginning.
“A beginning where I move to another city to play house with two vampires.” She snorted, locking the door to the house behind her. Not looking back, she made her way to the tasteful black Civic Angel had given her to drive around in. It was perfect for her – not too flashy and not too old-fashioned. Something she would possibly have purchased for herself had she ever saved up enough money to do so.
Playing house with two vampires had seemed like fun and games the night she woke up after the bonding spell. They had flirted and she had said things that made her cheeks burn with embarrassment the next day, once the high of the spell had ended. In the cold light of day she found herself wondering how things would work out between the three of them now that they had to live together. Spike and Angel could hardly be in the room with each other for an entire minute without one of them doing something to annoy the other one.
‘And they’re both treating me like over-protective big brothers.’ The sigh that escaped her lips was one half annoyance and the other half frustration. How could she have been so silly as to believe that living with the two of them would lead to any type of romantic involvement? Despite the way the three of them had acted towards each other the night of the spell there was no other indication that they cared for her in the way she really hoped they would. ‘Though Angel did tell Buffy that she was a self-centered airhead.’ A corner of the witch’s mouth turned up in a rueful smile. ‘I guess that’s something.’
Flipping on the radio, Willow entered the highway that would take her back to LA. She cleared her mind of the thoughts that had been plaguing her, allowing the music to give her release from her sadness.
It was time to go home.
~*~Part Two~*~
“She should have been back by now.”
Angel looked up, arching an eyebrow at his Childe. “Just barely, Spike. She had to get the last of her things from her house and then drive all the way back to LA. Besides, we would know if something had happened to her.” He knew that Willow would take a little longer than planned simply because of how emotional the entire situation made her. If she hadn’t insisted on going back to the house during the day he would have accompanied her. But she *had* insisted and so he sat here, alone with Spike, waiting for her return.
Spike nodded once, knowing that what his Sire said was the truth but not wanting to admit it out loud. It was one thing to know the Poof was right, but saying it out loud was another thing entirely. That involved telling him he was right, something Spike was pretty sure he would never do. ‘Not even if my un-life depended on it.’ He smirked to himself, lighting a cigarette.
“Argh!” Angel growled, turning to glare at the blond. “Could you not smoke in the house? It makes everything…stink. You know Willow hates it”
“Ponce.” Spike snickered, leaving the room anyway. He walked down the hall and into his room, ignoring Angel’s protests to wait until nightfall and then smoke *outside*. “He can piss off, for all I care.” The blond vampire grumbled, taking a long drag off of the cigarette. “It’s my house, too, and I’m not going to wait until its bloody night to smoke!”
Sitting on the bed, the blond finished the cigarette, extinguishing the last embers in the ashtray he kept on his nightstand. He didn’t know what had possessed him to believe, the night of the bonding, that everything would work out fine between the three of them. ‘The Poof is still a Poof, Red is still a human…and I’m still the ex-Big Bad.’ His thoughts were bitter. ‘Red hasn’t acknowledged what Peaches or I feels for her since that night. ‘S’not like I’m going to make it known again, either. I’m not gonna be a nancy-boy heart struck whiner like m’Sire.’
The blonde flopped onto the bed, careful not to let the ashes from his cigarette dirty the fresh sheets he had put on the bed earlier that day. They were satin – red satin, and he had thought of Willow the entire time he had been making the bed. In his mind’s eye he could see her pale body, lying uninhibited on the deep red of the smooth material, her hair fanned out around her and green eyes sparkling with desire. It was all in his head, though. She would never be in his bed. She was too pure, too innocent. She was everything he had always fought to destroy and now…
‘Now she’s all I can think about.’ He sighed, snuffing out his cigarette in the bedside ashtray. Placing a pillow over his eyes, the vampire forced himself to relax. Nightfall would come soon enough and he could get out of this house and get some time to himself.
~*~
Willow eased open the door of the hotel, looking around for any sign of who was there and who wasn’t. It didn’t take long for Cordelia’s head to pop up from behind the front desk, a smile on her face. “Willow! You’re back. Good – now maybe the King of Brood will quit…brooding.” The smile on the receptionist’s face faltered ever so slightly. It had been hard for the entire staff to adjust to the addition of not just Willow, but Spike as well, to their lives. Not to mention the ‘til-death-do-us-part’ bond between the three of them. ‘Mix all that together and what do you get?’ The former cheerleader thought cynically. ‘Tension so thick it hurts.’
“Hey Cordy.” Willow gave the young woman a smile. “Brooding, huh? I would have thought you were used to that by now, since you’ve worked for him for so long.”
“Believe it or not,” Cordelia whispered loudly, as though telling a secret she wanted the world to hear. “He actually doesn’t brood all of the time. Normally.” ‘In fact he was practically happy until he brought you and the bleached wonder home with him.’ She knew she was being unfair to Willow and Spike – it probably was only partly their fault that her boss had suddenly rediscovered his penchant for brooding.
The red head laughed, shifting the box of her belongings under her arm. “I’m going to go upstairs and start unpacking – feel free to visit if you get a chance.” She gave the brunette another smile before making her way up the steps. The hotel was fabulous – somewhere she could imagine spending lots of time exploring.
She passed by the common room on their floor of the hotel, noting that the smell of smoke still hung in the air. She sighed. ‘I wish Spike would just do that one little thing for me. I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes. If he really cared about me, like he said he did that night, he would do that, wouldn’t he?’ Her red hair swayed from side to side as she shook her head in consternation. There was no sound in the suite of rooms to indicate whether either of the boys was home. She somehow doubted it with sunset having occurred nearly an hour before. Spike had managed to disappear each night as soon as it was safe ever since they had begun living together. In her heart she knew things were probably just as difficult for him as they were for her, but there was no way to make things better if he decided to run away every time he had a chance.
The door to her room closed with a soft click behind her and she felt the weight of the situation on her shoulders. Perhaps if she made the first move towards the two of them things would be easier. Maybe then they would find a way to get along with each other – to make the best of the life they had been given. It certainly couldn’t hurt to try to become better friends with the two of them seeing as how they all had to be together for a very long time.
Sighing, the red head laid down on her bed, the idea of unpacking uninteresting at the moment. Maybe after a little nap things wouldn’t seem to depressing.
~*~Part Three~*~
The lobby of the Hyperion was unusually quiet when Willow descended from her room at last, ready to make herself useful in the offices of Angel Investigations after a short nap. She sighed, glancing around. Wesley's office was empty, Cordelia's chair looked to be long vacant, and Angel... Well she hadn't seen him since before she left for Sunnydale earlier that day.
A pad of paper on the counter caught her eye and she walked closer, examining the writing.
'Wills -
Had vision. Gone downtown to slay demon. Angel thought you were sleeping. Didn't want to wake you. Be back later.
Cordelia
PS - Buffy called for you.'
The last line made the red head's heart skip a beat. Buffy had called? She reached for the phone, refusing to get her hopes up that the blonde had called to apologize. She felt detached as she dialed the numbers one by one, the movement slow. If Buffy had called just to yell at her some more she didn't think she could take it.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Summers?" Willow asked hesitantly. "It's Willow. Is Buffy around?"
"Why yes, Willow, she is. How are you doing, though, sweetie?" Her voice expressed genuine concern, the kind of thing she would expect from the older woman.
"Still trying to adjust to it all... Its hard."
She could almost hear the woman nod across the miles. "Of course it is. Things will get better, I promise. I'll get Buffy." Willow heard the phone settle on the table, Mrs. Summers yelling for her daughter to pick it up in her room.
"Mom...You can hang it up now."
Willow waited to hear the click establishing that the other line had been disconnected before speaking. "Buffy?"
"Willow...You called back...good." Her voice sounded relieved and Willow smiled softly, feeling her own heart lift slightly. "Um...I have something to say..."
The red head waited patiently, giving the blonde the time she needed to say whatever she had on her mind. If this was truly going to be an apology she knew it would be difficult for her friend. Admitting she was wrong was never something Buffy had been good at.
“Wills…I’m happy you’re alive. No matter how I acted before, please
believe me. I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things. I was just
jealous. I was stupid. Of course you didn’t plan all of this. It was just
fate’s way of giving you what you deserve – two wonderful men for the rest
of your life…” Her voice faded to nothing, the sounds of crying echoing
through the phone line as her babbling ceased.
”Buff…” Willow sighed, wishing she were there for her friend, to comfort her and be comforted by her. “It’s okay. I forgive you. How could you think I wouldn’t? We’re best friends, right?” She felt tears sting her own eyes, a wet trickle making its way down her cheek before she could wipe it away.
“Y-You do?” Buffy asked quietly, unbelieving. It had taken a couple days of Giles ignoring her and Xander yelling at her each time he saw her to finally get it through her head that she should just be happy to still have Willow alive and healthy.
“Of course.” Willow whispered, trying her best not to break down into sobs of her own. It was too much – moving away, fighting and then making up with Buffy, and dealing with Angel and Spike’s impartiality to her. Losing her battle, the red head began to cry, leaning against the front desk for support when her knees got weak. She could hear Buffy asking what was wrong, could hear the blonde’s emphatic apologies proceed to begin again and yet she still couldn’t stop crying.
“Wills…what’s wrong. I’m sorry, really I am.” Buffy pleaded. The sound of her friend crying was tearing her up inside, breaking her heart. “C’mon, don’t cry anymore…”
“It’s not that…” Willow stammered, wiping her tears from her face with the palm of her hand. She looked around the desk, hoping that there would be some tissue. She grabbed a handful from the box Cordelia must have left, dabbing at her eyes. “Well…it’s partially that but it’s other things, too.” Hesitantly, as if expecting the blonde to go off on her at any moment, Willow explained about what she had felt from Spike and Angel the night of the bonding. “But, they haven’t shown any of those feelings towards me since then.” She concluded, her face finally dry of tears again. “It must have just been the spell…making us all happy. It certainly hasn’t been like that since then…”
Buffy sighed, trying desperately to put her own petty jealousies aside for once and just help her friend. She listened to what Willow was saying; understanding the sadness the red head must be feeling. Here she was – bound to two handsome men, and they treated her like their little sister instead of the goddess they had hinted at. “I don’t think it was all the spell, though. Why would Angel, or Spike for that matter, agree to bond themselves to you for the rest of their lives, knowing it could kill them if and when you die, if they didn’t care for you at all?”
The young witch tilted her head to the side, trying to ignore the headache that was beginning from all of her crying. “Because Cordelia said I will be needed for something special in the future…”
“And there was no other way than this?” The Slayer asked, raising an eyebrow even though there was no one around to see it. “There had to be another way. But they chose this. They chose to be with you for the rest of their lives, Wills. Why do you doubt that they care? Do you not want them to?”
Willow bit her lip, thinking about what Buffy was saying. The blonde made a good point. But… “Why haven’t they said or done anything since then? I’m supposed to be able to feel what they feel…but all I get from either of them is a void of emotion. Its like they don’t feel anything when it comes to me.”
“I think the problem is they feel too much.”
“Huh?” Willow shook her head. “Run that by me again. I’m not feeling to great.”
“They care about you so much they are afraid to make any moves. You’re sweet little Willow, after all. Living in sin with two vampires isn’t something any of us ever pictured for you. How do they know that you meant what you said on the night of the bonding? Maybe they are assuming you were just influenced by the happy side effects? Plus there’s the whole fact that Angel and Spike never got along in the first place…”
The more Buffy talked, the more sense she made to the red head. Finally Willow had to admit, “It certainly sounds like a possibility… But, if you’re right… How do I make them see that we can all be happy together?”
“That’s not going to be easy.” Buffy grinned, “Tell you what. I could use a vacation and you need a friend. How about I come visit? See the new place? We can plan and scheme our way to your happiness.”
“Going to bring Riley with you?” Willow asked, the possibility of her friend coming to visit a light on an otherwise dark day.
“Nah.” Buffy grinned, already pulling out her suitcase. “He’s busy this week with school stuff. ‘Sides, I hear there are some great clubs in LA.”
~*~Part Four~*~
“Arrrrgggghhh!” Cordelia groaned, looking down at her clothing in distaste. It was bad enough that the demon had been big and ugly – why did it have to spit foul-smelling slime as well. She sighed. “These clothes are ruined.”
Angel smirked, looking down at his own clothes. There were a few wrinkles from the scuffle with the demon, but other than that…nothing. He wondered how it was that Cordelia almost always ended up ruining her clothes on their cases. ‘Probably just her subconscious’s way of telling her she needs to go shopping. “It could have been worse, Cordy.”
She arched an eyebrow at the vampire, stopping in midstride to turn and face him. “And how is that, Oh Clean One?”
“It could have spit in your hair.”
Maybe it was his straight face. Maybe it was the level way he said it, as though he wasn’t telling a joke but saying something utterly serious. It even could have been the fact that they she was exhausted and stressed out. Whatever it was, Cordelia began to laugh and laugh…and laugh.
“Um…Cordy?” Angel stepped closer to her, worried for her sanity. Maybe the joke about her hair hadn’t been a good idea, after all.
“It’s okay, Angel. I’m just happy to hear you make a joke…and I’m a little tired.” She shrugged, the laughter fading away to a snicker before dying out completely.
“Happy to hear me make a joke?” He asked, confused. Why would she be happy to hear him joking?
Cordelia frowned. “Well let’s face it Angel, ever since you got all bonded-family like with the bleached wonder and Willow you’ve…” She sought for the best words, trying to stay tactful. “Well, lets just that the King of the Brood reclaimed his throne.”
The vampire was shocked. Had he really been so bad that Cordelia had resorted to calling him by that unflattering title again? “I’ve been that bad?” His voice was quiet, introspective.
“Well…yeah.” She was forced to admit. She laid a hand on his arm. “Look – I understand. It’s a big adjustment for all of you. But – make the most of it. The three of you are stuck this way for a long time and, don’t forget, Willow is going to be needed for that nebulous prophecy the PTBs warned me about. So,” She concluded. “With all things considered, why are the three of you barely on speaking terms?”
“It’s not that easy…”
“What’s not that easy? Getting along with Willow? Or is Spike the problem?” She shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter. You’re tearing yourself apart with this – and Willow too. She’s not nearly the bubbly happy person I remember. I could care less if Spike is happy. But you and Willow…” She let the comment hang in the air.
“And what would you have me do?” Angel asked, frustrated. “Willow avoids me whenever she can and Spike…well you know what Spike is like…”
“You must have been able to get along with him at one time…otherwise he’d be a dead human and not an undead pain in the ass.” She grinned, beginning to walk again. “I don’t know what to tell you. For once I have no advice on relationships. But, trust me. You need to at least try at least with Willow. Spike will feel left out if he sees you two getting close and he’ll come around or spend the rest of his life being unhappy.”
It seemed like the easiest thing in the world, as they walked back to his car through the dark streets. Just spend time with Willow, become a better friend for her. Though he wanted more than friendship with the red head, he supposed it was just as well that he start out being her friend. The ride back to the hotel was made in near silence, Cordelia choosing to listen to the radio instead of make further conversation. He parked the car in silence, smiling discreetly when Cordelia jumped out, no doubt heading to the showers and set of spare clothes she kept in the office.
As he approached the building Angel could sense someone besides Willow and Cordelia. Someone who had never seemed to visit except to cause trouble. Someone who had made Willow cry. He walked up the stairs, towards the inhabited rooms of the building, stopping outside of Willow’s door. There was no doubt about it. Buffy was in there. He could sense her in the way that vampires could sense the Slayer – not to mention that her voice carried well through the door. ‘She must have come to see Willow…maybe to apologize?’ He listened to the laugher coming through the door and nodded at his own assessment of the situation. He could only guess that Buffy had left Sunnydale shortly after he and Cordelia had left he offices in order to have made it there before they got back. For one moment he hesitated knocking on the door, saying hello to both of them.
Then he stopped.
Willow probably had a lot to discuss with Buffy and they didn’t need him interrupting them. He would have a word with her tomorrow when Buffy was gone. Start trying to get to know her better, be a better friend, and maybe work towards becoming something else.
~*~Part Five~*~
“He gone?” Willow asked, looking at the door meaningfully. She grinned when Buffy nodded. “Wonder why he didn’t knock or come in?”
The blonde haired Slayer shrugged. “Maybe me being here is uncomfortable for him?” She smiled wickedly. “I hope it is anyway. Serves him right for the two of them putting you through Hell.” Her last words were soft and she forced them out of her mouth with effort. It was still hard to think about Willow being bonded to Angel. Her best friend and her former boyfriend had attained that level of closeness she had only dreamed of having with him. - though they hadn’t managed to find that level of emotional support and togetherness.
And that, despite what her heart felt, was what she was here to help with.
“Buffy…” Willow began, reaching out to pat her friend’s hand reassuringly. “You don’t have to be here. I know it must be hard on you…”
“No.” Buffy chirped, smiling resolutely. “I need to do this. It will help me deal with it all.” She sighed. “Besides, you deserve to be happy. I’m going to depend on you for all of my vicarious-type details.”
Willow gave the blonde a small smile. “So…how am I going to get us all together as one big happy family? I can’t take much more of this, Buff. Starting to wish they had just let me die.”
Her friend sounded so sad Buffy just wanted to hold her and let her cry her eyes out. But that wouldn’t make anything better – and making things better was definitely what she was there for. “Seduction. You need to seduce them until they don’t know which ways up and then give them so much pleasure that they never even think about making you miserable again.”
The young witch gave her friend a small smile, realizing how difficult is must have been for her to even suggest that tactic. She knew that the entire situation had to be difficult for the blonde to deal with. In her place, Willow didn’t know if she would be able to have handled it. She certainly wouldn’t have driven hours to help come up with a plan to win Angel’s affections. She yawned, suddenly tired. Her eyes swept to the small bedside clock.
”It’s late.” Buffy offered, giving Willow a sympathetic smile. “We should sleep. Tomorrow we can work on our plan some more and then, tomorrow night…” She wriggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“You want me to seduce them tomorrow night?” Willow squeaked, giving the blonde a look that clearly said she thought the Slayer had lost her mind. “That’s jumping the gun a little, Buff.”
“No…no….no.” Buffy shook her head, feeling a little tired herself. “Tomorrow night we make them jealous – we go clubbing.”
~*~*~
“You sure you don’t want to go, Cordy?” Willow asked, glancing towards the staircase. How long could it possibly take Buffy to get ready?
“Positive.” Cordelia said firmly, wrinkling her nose. She had been quite upset that morning to realize Buffy was not only in the building, but staying for the weekend as well. As if Angel needed anyone around to make him even *more* broody than he already was. “I have stuff to do here – for clients.”
The young witch nodded, taking the excuse for what it was – an excuse. She knew that Cordelia wasn’t thrilled to have Buffy staying over. There just wasn’t much she could do about it. Buffy was trying hard to be her friend, even if it did make the situation in the hotel more strained than it already was. She had heard Spike when he came home – had heard him stand outside of her door and mumble something to the effect of ‘bloody Slayer’ before stomping off to his own room. She had been surprised when the sound of his door slamming hadn’t woken Buffy up.
Steps on the stairs brought her attention back to the present. She looked over at them, sighing when she saw it was only Angel. Smoothing out the silky-smooth metallic shirt she was wearing, she could feel her heart begin to race and then cursed herself for it. He could hear her heartbeat, of course, if he was paying any attention to her. If he had tried he could have even felt her tension through the bond they shared. ‘If he even remembers that we *are* bonded,’ she thought sadly. Her eyes stalked him as he crossed the lobby, trying not to make it too obvious that she was watching him.
“Going somewhere?”
His voice snapped her out of her Angel-induced daze and she jumped ever so slightly when his hand came to rest on her bare shoulder. Could he feel it? The attraction that the bond made almost unbearable? Or was it just her? Was she the only one who felt like she was being torn apart inside every day she wasn’t with them in the most intimate sense. “To a club. To dance.” She cursed herself and her own inability to be confident.
“To dance?” Angel’s eyes darkened for a moment. He looked over the clothes she was wearing, wondering if this was an outfit the red head actually owned or if it was something she had borrowed from Buffy. The flimsy gold top looked to be as soft as silk and hung in draping folds across her chest. The back of the shirt was made of an elaborate set of crossing strings, tied in the center in a bow. Her pants were of some sort of glossy black material that was just shiny enough to call attention to her curves without being overly obnoxious. Visions of men dancing with her ran through his mind and he turned his head quickly, before she could see his eyes turn gold in jealousy. “H-Have fun.” He stammered, moving away from the desk and into his office so that he didn’t give away any of his feelings.
“I … will… “ Willow muttered, feeling her heart drop. He hadn’t even seemed interested in her. What was she thinking trying to make him jealous? It was a lost cause to be sure. He didn’t seem to even care that she was going out to a club. She might as well have said she was going for a stroll in the park with her grandma.
Cordelia looked at the red head, her eyes widening as the pieces fell together in her head. She hadn’t missed the looks her boss had given Willow. Nor had she missed the way the witch had so obviously wanted him to care or the way she had wilted when he had left the room. ‘They’ve got a thing for each other.’ Suddenly it was all too obvious – the way Angel had gotten moody ever since Willow had come to live with him. The way Willow would clam up whenever Angel came in the room. The tension that practically jumped off of the two of them in sparks. Just knowing what was eating at her boss, and seeing the answer so clearly within reach, she felt immensely better. Perhaps Angel would go back to being non-broody guy soon. She chuckled softly.
“What’s so funny.”
The receptionist’s head shot up, eyes widening. She hadn’t meant to laugh out loud. “Um…”
“Wills! You ready?” Buffy’s voice penetrated their conversation.
‘Saved by the Slayer.’ Cordelia thought, turning back to the same piece of paperwork she had been staring at for twenty minutes. It was too perfect – her boss and Willow. She heard the door of the hotel swing open and then shut as Buffy and Willow left and she let out a laugh.
“Willow…”
“She already left, Angel.” Cordelia grinned, her eyes locked on her desk. She couldn’t meet his eyes, knowing what she did. Whatever happened between him and Willow was between them – they didn’t need her putting her nose in the middle of it.
“Oh.” Angel frowned. He grabbed his coat from the rack on the wall, slipping it on. “I’m going out for a while.”
That was too much for Cordelia. Holding in her merriment until the door slammed close behind the dark haired vampire, she finally allowed herself to laugh outright, the sound echoing through the lobby. Poor Willow. Poor Angel. Both victims of lust. Both totally oblivious. And Angel out to follow Willow to the club. And he didn’t even know where he was going. Willow had never mentioned which club they were going to in front of him. Cordelia smirked. She knew which club it was. How long would it take Angel to figure that out? She glanced at the phone on the desk, counting down from ten, slowly.
At two it rang.
“Angel Investigations…. Oh – Angel. Do I know where Willow was going? Why? You’re worried about her… She’s a big girl, you know. Fine. Fine. Club 99 on First Street. You’re welc---“ She stared at the received in her hand, fresh laughter breaking forth from her lips. There was no doubt in her mind that Angel was going to the club out of pure jealousy. His excuse of following them to keep them out of trouble was thin and badly disguised. What kind of trouble could Buffy and Willow get into that Buffy wasn’t capable of getting them right back out of?
“Where’s everyone at, pet?”
As it usually did, Spike’s voice brought the former cheerleader down from her high. Here was the real crux of Willow and Angel’s problem, whether they knew it yet or not. Spike was the third member of their bond. He wouldn’t possibly react well if Willow and Angel ever got around to hooking up. She shrugged, trying to feign innocence. “Dunno.”
“Don’t give me that, chit.” The blond vampire growled, stepping up to the desk and leaning down to look at her. He could tell she was lying – probably was doing it just to spite him. There had to be a reason why not only his Sire was gone, but Red and the Slayer as well. ‘Probably all out for a night on the bloody town together. Livin’ it up with out poor old Spike.’
Cordelia sighed. “Club 99. But I really don’t think…”
“That’s great, ducks. You just keep doing that – not thinking.” He rolled his eyes, striding towards the door and out into the streets. So Peaches and Red had slipped away for a little quality time together? Well – he would just have to spoil their little fun. If he wasn’t happy, no one else could be.
Cordelia watched the growly vampire go, shaking her head. Her smile had crept back to her lips despite the bad attitude of the creature that had just left. She wondered what would happen when Angel caught up to Willow and Buffy – and then when Spike caught up with all of them. One thing was for sure, though.
Things were about to get really interesting.
~*~Part Six~*~
Willow wrinkled her nose, trying to ignore the stale smell of cigarettes and beer in the air. How had she ever allowed Buffy to talk her into this? Certainly it was a way to make the boys jealous, but at what cost? She hadn't been approached a single time since she had entered the club - thought part of that might have been due to the fact that she was trying to look as unapproachable as possible.
"C'mon, Wills." Buffy sighed, making her way back to the table the red head had staked out for them upon entering the club. "How are you going to make the guys jealous if you don't even try to have fun?" The blonde arched an eyebrow at her friend.
"Let's face it, Buff. Angel and Spike won't know one way or the other if I get out there and make a fool of myself. I might as well just sit here and work on a suitable story to tell them when I get home. Something where men just couldn't keep their hands off of me and all that."
Buffy shook her head. "'Fraid that's not going to work."
"Why's that?" Willow asked, curiousity peaked. Did Buffy plan on ratting her out of she lied? Somehow she doubted that her friend would stoop that low.
"Because Angel is here. Up there on the balcony. No - don't look!" Buffy cried just in time to stop the movement of Willow's head. "I'm sure he doesn't want you to know he's here. But he is. So he will know if you don't dance with anyone."
"Promise he's here and this isn't just some lame way of making me dance?" Willow asked, trying to glance up into the balcony section with what she hoped was a suitable display of casualness.
"Promise." Buffy grinned. "He's been here since about five minutes after we got here."
Willow thought out what her friend was saying, realizing that Angel must have left to follow them almost immediately. It seemed like her plan was working already. "Ok. I guess I can dance a little."
The blonde smiled, her white teeth flashing brightly in the darkness of the club. She grabbed hold of Willow's arm, dragging her out onto the dance floor. Within moments Willow had abandoned herself to the music, trying to mimic Buffy's movements in such a way that she wouldn't completely embarrass herself. It didn't take long for a couple single guys to join them, the sight of two pretty women dancing together being too much for them to stand.
As the music pounded on, Willow had to admit she was having fun. The man she was dancing with was no where close to being as handsome as either of the vampires in her bond, but he was passably attractive and he danced well, making up for her own lack of skill. She was dimly aware of the feeling of being watched and chalked it up to Angel, allowing herself to dance even more uninhibitedly in those moments, praying that she was accomplishing the fine art of inciting jealousy.
~*~
"She's been dancing with him for almost an hour." Spike growled, gripping the railing of the balcony hard enough to leave finger marks in the heavy metal. From this vantage he had a perfect view of the dance floor, and the little red haired witch upon it. She was marvelously beautiful, writhing and moving to the music, more than enough of her lithe body showing to spark any man's imagination. The only problem was that she was dancing with some human bloke and not *him*.
"Don't remind me." Angel sighed, tearing his eyes from the dance floor long enough to glare at the blond. He wished darkly that Spike would just leave and go back to whatever hell he had been in before he had showed up here, not even ten minutes after Angel had entered the club. He had asked his Childe what he was doing there and had only gotten the response of 'looking after Red'. Well, damnit, *he* was here to look after Willow. How many protectors did she need?
'More like jealous would-be-boyfriends.' He chided himself. Sighing, the dark haired vampire turned away from the railing, heading back down towards the door of the club. The fact that Spike wasn't following him didn't bother Angel in the least - he wasn't in the mood to be around anyone anyway. It had been hard for him to stand there and watch Willow dance with that scrawny human - harder still because he knew it was partially his fault that he was forced to endure it. If he had just come to her and explained how he felt maybe she would be dancing with him at that moment. There was always the chance that she didn't feel that way about him, of course. But at least if he had tried he would know one way or the other.
'Nothing is set in stone.' He reminded himself. 'She'll come home tonight and you'll still have your chance. Don't screw up again.'
With his own thoughts echoing in his mind, Angel made his way back to the hotel, determined not to let his opportunity slip by again.
~*~
Spike slammed back another shot of tequila, motioning to the bartender to give him another. Behind him nearly a hundred humans wriggled their little bodies on the dance floor, among them his Red. He knew he ran the risk of being seen by sitting here, but didn't care. He needed something to dull the pain before he ended up trying to kill the human she was dancing with. It would be worth the headache to strangle the life out of the git, he assumed.
But then Willow would get angry or, worse, cry.
And he just couldn't deal with that.
'Stupid girl - got my heart all tied in bloody knots.' He thought, laying the bills on the counter to pay for his drinks before dropping back the last shot. He stood, wobbling on his feet before he found his balance, and made his way out of the building. 'Best get away before I lose control, grab her right there in the club and let her know who she belongs to.' He stopped, a few feet from the door, contemplating doing just that, before proceeding on out into the cold air. He couldn't just claim Willow like that. He knew for a fact she wouldn't like it very much and it could very well make his Sire stake him once and for all.
'Can't claim her. Can't torture her like I would have done with Dru.' His thoughts were an alcoholic jumble of confusion, centering mainly on the fact that he hadn't the slightest idea of how to make a human girl happy. He wanted her to want to be with him, to not want to dance with strangers ever again. He'd even share her with Broodboy if it would make her just smile at him again.
"I know what I'll do." He grinned, speaking aloud and drawing the stares of those he passed on the street. "I'll ask that stupid chit m'Sire has workin' for him. She knows all about that mushy human romance stuff." The blond laughed aloud, heading back towards the hotel with a lighter step, sure that Cordelia was the perfect person to help him get Willow into his arms.
~*~Part Seven~*~ ‘Wooing Willow, take one.’ Angel grinned, gathering up the tray on the counter of the small kitchen he shared with the others in the hotel and balancing it on one hand as he pulled some silverware from a drawer. Scrambled eggs with just a hint of cheddar cheese, two slices of white toast, and some freshly cut fruit were laid out perfectly on a plate, surrounded by a glass of orange juice and a small vase with a single flower in it. He had opted for a daisy, something friendly but not pressuring, over the rose he had seen in the flower shop the night before. He looked over the tray one last time, making sure everything looked like something from a picture, before carrying it through the common room and to her door.
Easing open the door, the vampire blinked, adjusting quickly to the darkness of her room. The light sound of her breathing filled the room and he smiled, taking a moment to just look at her. Even in sleep she was beautiful. She didn’t know that, though, and even if he told her she wouldn’t believe him. It would take a lifetime of love and praise to convince her of what everyone else around her could already see – that she was spectacular. Not in a Buffy way. Or a Cordelia way. But completely and without a doubt in a very ‘Willow’ way. He pushed the door open the rest of the way with his foot, settling the tray on her desk and flipping on the small light. “Willow…wake up…” He sing-songed softly, reaching out and gently shaking her by her shoulder.
“Hmm?”
Angel chuckled, the groggy expression on her face as she blinked her eyes, trying to clear them of sleep, just too amusing. “It’s almost Noon, dear heart. Time to get up.” He pulled the still half-asleep witch to a sitting position, her body light and unresisting.
“Almost Noon?” Willow asked, covering a yawn with her hand. “But it’s Sunday, Angel. We’re not open. Did Cordy have a vision?” Then she saw the tray in his hands and her mouth dropped open in surprise. Beneath the blankets, where he couldn’t see, she pinched her leg in an attempt to determine whether or not she was dreaming. ‘Yup. This is real.’ She looked over the breakfast, now settled neatly in her lap, and smiled at the vampire. “Angel…this is wonderful. Thank you.”
”Try it.” He gestured towards the omelet. “It’s been a while since I cooked for anyone so I hope it’s up to par.”
“Mmmm” Willow moaned, closing her eyes in ecstasy. She hastily swallowed the bite in her mouth and gave him another grin. “Very good.”
“Glad you like it.” He shifted, unsure what to do next. “Well – I guess I’ll go find something to do and leave you to eat.”
“No, no.” The red head exclaimed emphatically, shaking her head. “Don’t. Stay – keep me company.”
The vampire nodded, allowing himself a small smile and an inward cheer of accomplishment. She actually wanted him around – that was a big change over the days she had been so sad she hardly wanted to look at him. He found, once he had gotten comfortable, that talking to her was easier than he had imagined. And so they talked, and kindled their friendship into a warm blaze that would hopefully, he prayed, one day become a roaring fire.
~*~*~
“You want me to *what*?”
Spike winced, the sound of Cordelia’s voice too much for him so early in the afternoon. He looked around, anxious to make sure that there wasn’t anyone else that could have heard her outburst. “Listen here you stupid bint, you heard me just fine the first time.”
Cordelia smirked, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “I don’t know how you creatures of the night do things, but here in the human world we are actually nice to people when we want them to help us with something.” She turned back to the magazine she had been looking at before the bleached vampire had began to annoy her, effectively ignoring him.
“Well?” Spike said at last, leaning on the counter to get even closer to her.
”Well what?”
The vampire growled, clenching his hands into fists with such force that he could feel the skin break and blood begin to flow. “Will you *please* help me win Red?”
The brunette didn’t look up immediately, debating internally whether or not she should help Spike. Angel liked Willow, after all, and the last thing she needed was to see Angel brood even more. There just wasn’t any good reason that she could see to help Spike out.
But when had she ever needed a reason to go shopping – even if it –was- for someone else?
“Fine. Meet me outside when I leave at seven. Bring your credit cards.”
Spike nodded once, stalking away from the desk without another word to the woman he had just *nicely* asked help from. What was the world coming to when a Master vampire had to ask for help from a human? ‘Just gotta get through this and then I’ll have Red and everything will be just ducky again.’ He reached the top of the stairs in time to see his Sire coming out of Willow’s bedroom, an empty tray in hand and a smile on his face. So the Ponce had already begun his little campaign to win Red’s heart? Just bloody marvelous. Didn’t matter, though. He’d be the one on the outside looking in soon enough. Willow wasn’t another Drusilla, she wasn’t about to be won over by pretty boy looks and gifts.
So why had he just agreed to go shopping with Cordelia?
“Great,” he muttered, making a beeline for his own bedroom as he realized the one thing even human children found themselves thinking eventually when faced with the fact that they acted more like their parents each and every day. “I’m turning into a pansy like my Sire.”
~*~Part Eight~*~
It was difficult sneaking into a hotel, Spike discovered. It was even more difficult to do so with an armful of bags and boxes. He cursed as one of the parcels dropped, breaking the silence of the lobby. Of course, bending down to pick it up wasn’t the smartest thing, either, he soon found out – as the rest of his packages made their way to the floor to joint the first. “Bloody hell.”
“Spike? Is that you?”
The blond haired vampire blinked as a light came on across the lobby, his sire standing in the glow, arms crossed. “No – its friggin Santa Claus. Who do you think it is, you ponce?”
Angel arched an eyebrow, tempted to take his Childe to task for the way he was speaking to him. But that would just breed hard feelings and discontent – something he was trying damn hard to avoid. “Well Santa Claus *was* my first guess, but then you spoke and I knew right away that Saint Nick didn’t have an English accent.”
“Har, bloody har.” Spike growled, hastily trying to pick up the parcels he had dropped. Maybe he still had a chance to get them all to his room before his Sire realized where he had been and what he had bought. That hope was dashed a moment later.
“Here, let me help you before you end up waking Willow.” Angel leaned over, grabbing for the nearest bag. He looked at the store name, written so clearly on the plastic bundle, and then glanced at Spike in question. “Victoria’s Secret? Never really pictured that as your type of place.” He opened the bag, peering inside. “Lotions, bubble bath – a robe?” The bag was snatched out of his hand before he could look any further and he, again, turned confused eyes to his Childe. “Is there something I need to know about, Spike?”
“They’re not for me, you twit.” The blonde sighed, exasperated. “Believe it or not, mate, not every male in this universe enjoys prancing about like a nancyboy.”
“Oh. Then who are they for?”
There it was. The Question. The one that Spike had not wanted to hear. The last thing he had wanted was to let his Sire in on what he was personally doing to try to gain Willow’s affections. Who was to say the Ponce wouldn’t steal his ideas and use them all on her himself? “No one.”
“No one? Somehow I don’t believe that.”
“Like I care what you believe.”
Angel shrugged, turning his back on the blond. Then it hit him, like a piano falling from a tenth story window. “You got that stuff for Willow, didn’t you?”
“Why would I do a thing like that? Chit doesn’t even want to talk to me lately. Why would I buy her anything?”
The dark haired vampire didn’t miss the emotion in his Childe’s voice and it tore at his heart. Here he had been trying so hard to win Willow for himself that he hadn’t stopped to think that it was leaving Spike on the outside. Willow had, after all, been pretty fed up with both of them lately. “Spike… Maybe…. “ He passed, sighing. He ran a hand back through his hair in a nervous gesture. “Maybe we’re going about this all the wrong way. We’re competing against each other but for the same thing. And that’s not going to work. The *three* of us are bonded to each other. Maybe we need to go back to thinking of it from that angle. Like we did the night of the bonding ceremony.” He frowned. “Everything seemed so simple that night… We were going to be one big, happy family.”
Spike snorted. “Stupid spell did that to us. Gave us all those grand notions. But our little Red isn’t one to just jump in bed with two vampires. No – she had to have morals and sensibilities and all that.”
“You think that’s what it was?” Angel asked, shaking his head. “No. She’s shy. And we didn’t exactly throw her into our beds to prove what we wanted, did we? We ran off to our separate corners and acted like we hated each other.”
“Don’t we?” The blond looked at his Sire, eyes narrowed. “Haven’t we tried everything possible to make each other’s lives miserable?”
Angel shrugged. “I never hated you Spike. I just don’t relate to you very well. I can’t understand you half the time.”
“Didn’t need to understand me very much back when you turned me, did you?” Spike leered, leaning back against one of the lobby’s couches. “You just wanted me for my body. Not that I blame you – sexy thing that I am.”
Angel had to laugh at that, the sound echoing through the lobby in great ringing peals. He shushed immediately, afraid to wake Willow. She didn’t need to be a part of this conversation – not when the entire thing was about her to begin with. “A little too cocky for your own good, I think.”
“So says Mister Look-At-Me-With-My-Poofy-Clothes-And-Poncey-Hair. You have to be the most conceited vampire in all of history, mate. I’m betting you even have a comb and bottle of hair gel in your car – ‘just for emergencies’.”
That caught Angel off-guard. He looked away from Spike, careful to keep his expression neutral. How did Spike know about his emergency stash? Had he been going through the convertible’s glove box? But of course Spike saw right through his cool look and the blond snorted in amazement.
“Just lovely. You really carry a hair gel in your little mid-life-crisis mobile?”
“Its for emergencies.” Angel insisted, glaring at the blond. “Anyway.” He said, quickly changing topic. “This wasn’t about me. It was about Willow. How about you and I team up to sweep her off her feet? That way neither one of us ends up left on the outside of everything. We’re going to be with her for a very long time. No sense in not making it pleasant for all of us.”
Spike shrugged, shoving one of the bags in his arms at his Sire. “Fine. But remember, if this all blows up in our faces, that this was your idea. I still don’t think Red is the type to jump in bed with two men.”
“Dunno, Spike. She seemed pretty interested that first night. And I doubt it was all because of the spell.”
“Whatever you say, mate.” The blond smirked, heading up the stairs. “Come help me put these in my room before Red wakes up and gets an eyeful. I didn’t just spend the last three hours at the mall with that stupid bint of a receptionist to have my surprise ruined.”
“You went shopping with Cordelia?” Angel asked in surprise. He shook his head, laughing softly as they made their way up the stairs. “You really were desperate, huh?”
~*~Part Nine~*~ “This will never work.” Spike grumbled, glaring at his Sire with thinly disguised disgust. In the light of day, figuratively speaking of course, it was hard to understand how he had ended up agreeing to join forces with the ponce to win Willow’s love. ‘You did it because you want to have the slightest chance in Hell with the little witch.’ He reminded himself. His eyes flickered around the room, over the table Angel had set up in the far corner of the lobby, the candles, the flowers. Three chairs. The food itself had been catered and was warming in its little containers in Angel’s office, ready to be eaten as soon as Willow got back from her trip out with Cordelia.
The trip, had of course, been completely the receptionist’s idea. She had proven to be a wonderful conspirator in their efforts to win Willow’s love and affection.
“Shhhh…” Angel hissed, his eyes on the door. “I think I here Cordelia…” He stopped, mouth snapping shut as the door of the hotel swung open, the two women entering. Even from that far away he could see the delicate highlights that now colored Willow’s hair, the strawberry blonde pieces glimmering in the dim lobby lights. If possible, she looked even more magnificent than she had when she had left.
“Welp – no messages for me.” Cordelia said, glancing only cursorily at her desk, aware of the presence of the two vampires in the corner even though Willow seemed to have not noticed. “I guess I’ll be going home. Talk to you later, Wills.” She gave the red head a wave and exited the building, praying for the best. If those two didn’t manage to win her heart tonight they didn’t deserve it at all. Especially since she had gotten the red head to readily admit that she had a thing for not just one, but both of the undead hunks.
Willow sighed, turning away from the door. Great. With Cordelia gone she had no one to talk to for the rest of the night. Spike and Angel had mentioned before she left earlier that they had ‘some things’ to do. ‘Another boring night at home for me. Maybe there’ll be a good movie on the television.’
“Willow….” Angel called out softly, grinning when she almost fell over her feet trying to turn around. Her eyes fell on them after a moment of looking and her forehead wrinkled in confusion.
“Angel? Spike?” She took a step forward, noticing the table. ‘Huh?’ Her brain murmured in delicious confusion, feeling like she had somehow been tricked, trapped. “What’s all this?” She gestured to the elaborately decorated table, breathing in the sweet aroma of the flowers.
“Just a little something to make you smile, pet.” Spike murmured, pulling out a chair for her and gesturing for her to take a seat. He slid the chair under the table the moment she had sat down, nodding to Angel.
Willow watched the dark haired vampire walk away, to his office, still very much in a state of confusion. When he emerged, a few boxes in hand, she smiled ever so slightly. They had set all this up, just for her? A dinner by candlelight and flowers. It was romantic. Maybe there was still hope for the two of them. Just maybe they’d be able to get along together and the three of them could make a nice, happy life together. He placed the boxes on the table in front of her.
“I wasn’t really sure what your favorite foods are… so we got something from all major categories.” One by one he opened them, revealing a dish of roast and potatoes, one of chicken and rice pilaf, and one of fish and broiled baby vegetables. If nothing else she’d have leftovers for the next day definitely.
”Um. Fish, please.” She smiled at Angel and then Spike, reaching out to grab the blonde’s hand. It didn’t take a genius to see that he wasn’t comfortable with this whole situation. She had no doubt that this wasn’t his idea of romance. Whips and chains – yes. Dinner and candlelight – no. Spike was so hard and tough, whereas Angel was more fluffy and soft. She watched as Angel deftly lifted the fish from the box with a spatula, placing it on the plate in front of her. The vegetables followed and, within moments, she was ready to eat.
“Try it, luv.”
The red head smiled at Spike, picking up her fork and breaking off a small piece of the fish. The second the bite touched her mouth she smiled in pleasure. This was heaven. Whatever restaurant Angel had gone to had to be five star quality. “Delicious.” She grinned, noting for the first time that there was a glass of ice water on the table for her too. Angel and Spike had joined her at the table, one on either side of her, each staring at her like they were afraid that something would go wrong at any moment.
She was able to take it for all of three minutes before it drove her nuts. “Guys… What’s going on? Why’d you do this for me really?”
“Because we want to make you happy, Wills.” Angel admitted finally. “Your happiness matters to us. When you’re not happy, neither are we. When you’re sad – we’re sad.” He smiled sadly. “We just want you to be happy with us.”
Spike shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah – what Peaches said. We care about you, Red. Otherwise we wouldn’t be all bound up with that spell and playing house.”
“Funny.” Willow grinned, taking another bite of the fish. She swallowed and then continued. “When I thought of ‘playing house’ I usually pictured something much different.” It took a minute, and another bite of food, for the red head to realize exactly what she had just said. She raised her eyes first to Angel, then to Spike, blushing when she saw they were staring at her. “Um…forget that…”
“Forget what, pet?” Spike smirked, leaning in closer to the table. He propped his elbows on the edge of the table, cradling his head in his hands. “I’d like to know what you meant by that statement, personally – what about you?” He glanced at Angel.
“Uh huh.” Angel purred, scooting his chair closer to the red head. He could see her hand trembling, her eyes fixed firmly on the plate in front of her as she slowly placed bites of food in her mouth. “What did you mean by that, Willow?”
“Nothing.” She smiled thinly, raising her eyes to look at them. She could feel heat on her cheeks and knew she was still blushing. Trust her mouth to open up and say something stupid before she had a chance to fully think it out. She frowned, concentrating on the food on her plate, the exquisite flavors it contained. Was it possible they would just let this go?
Nope.
“I think she thought playing house was a little like playing doctor…” Spike grinned. He took his Sire’s cue and moved his chair closer to the flustered witch. His hand reached out, grabbing the hand she was using to feed herself with. “Here, pet, let me before you hurt yourself.” Strong fingers pried the fork from her hand, spearing a bite of food on the tines and lifting it to her mouth.
Willow opened her mouth, taking the bite of food. This was too much all at once, both of them concentrating too much attention on her. It seemed like her chest was too tight, like she’d quit breathing at any moment. And, to top it all off, she’d said something stupid, given them the perfect opportunity to tease her. Great. The two men in her life that she wanted more than anything were teasing her over a misspoken comment.
“Well – we have a hotel, not exactly a house, but still a good place to practice ‘playing house’ in.” Angel whispered, leaning in to kiss Willow on the cheek. She was upset, though he doubted it was with them. Maybe this hadn’t been the smartest idea. It was overwhelming, no doubt. “But maybe you’re not ready for that yet. Come on Spike, let’s go upstairs and let her be.”
Spike looked at his Sire in surprise, hoping to see that the dark haired vampire was just joking. How could he say for them to leave her alone when they had gotten her into such a wonderful position? She was flustered and defenseless – the perfect time to bring their seduction to a close. The look on the dark haired vampire’s face brooked no room for refusal, though, and there had to be a good reason for it. He sighed, placing the fork on the edge of Willow’s plate and kissed her cheek. “We’ll be upstairs, pet.”
Willow watched them go, her heart sinking. She hadn’t wanted them to leave. No matter how upsetting things were going for her – she hadn’t wanted them to leave. She watched their backs slowly move away from her, a sense of sadness filling her heart. It was then that she knew what she had to do. She couldn’t let them leave, not like this; couldn’t leave them or herself wondering any longer what was going to happen between them.
This was it.
She cleared her throat and called out their names, praying for strength to just tell them what she wanted.
~*~Part Ten~*~
“Angel…Spike…Don’t go….”
The two vampires turned at the sound of the witch’s voice, so sad and plaintive, calling them back to the table where they had left her. She was standing now, holding out her hands as though she wanted to grab them and pull them towards her. Tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
“Red? What’s wrong?” Spike asked, stepping close enough to grab one of her outstretched hands. He squeezed it gently, his cool flesh against her warm flesh, a delightful contrast.
“I—It’s just that.” She paused, her throat constricting with emotion. She sighed. “I care so much for both of you. It was just too much, too sudden. It’s not that I don’t *want* both of you to be all over me…believe me, I do.” She blushed, realizing she had once again said too much. “It’s just… I want this.” She said finally, sitting heavily into her chair. “I want to be happy again. I want the two of you to stop fighting all the time and I want to be loved.”
“Of course you’re loved, Willow.” Angel said quietly. “Why else would we ever have agreed to do this? It certainly wasn’t because the two of us wanted to spend more time with *each other*.”
Spike snorted. “You can say that again. We did it for *you*, Red, and only you. No one else could have made me and the Poof work together or agree to be bonded together for the rest of our unlife.”
Willow nodded. She knew, deep down in her heart, that that was the truth. Why else would the two of them have agreed to all of this, after all? They would never be able to be apart from each other, or from her, for the rest of their lives. If she didn’t choose to let them turn her at a later date, they would, in fact, die when she did one day of old age. In effect, the two vampire sitting with her now had given up their very freedom and ability to live just to keep her alive. Sure, at least part of Angel’s willingness had no doubt come from the fact that Cordelia had made it very clear that her vision said Willow had to live. But wasn’t there another way?
She gave them both hesitant smiles. “So… If you both did this for me… And everything seemed so grand that night. What happened?”
Both of the vampires looked at each other in confusion. What *had* happened? “Well…” Angel began. “I don’t think Spike or myself really thought that what you felt after the spell was over was true. I mean – it left all of us feeling pretty … giddy.”
“Giddy?” Spike snorted. “Don’t know about you, mate, but I felt down right…”
”That’s enough.” Willow blushed. She knew what they had all felt. It was, after all, one of the side effects of the spell. She had learned that only afterwards, upon reading up on the bonding they had done. By then it was too late, they had all experienced those feelings. But what she felt hadn’t been totally based on the aftereffects of the spell. A good portion of it had been feelings she had had before that. Who wouldn’t be totally attracted to Angel and Spike? They were very handsome. And hadn’t they always been good friends to her? Hadn’t she harbored crushes on both of them at one point or another during her adult years? She licked her lips, eyes downcast. “What I felt wasn’t completely because of the spell, guys… I have liked both of you for a while now… But you know, silly little Willow, I live in Buffy’s shadow – why would I ever make a move on either of you? How could I ever even dream of having my feelings returned?”
“Pet…” Spike began, taking her hand in his own and running his thumb over it in a caress. “How could you think that? The Slayer is lovely, true. But so are you.”
“Beautiful.” Angel agreed, his heart wrenching with the words she had spoken. He had been blind to what she was feeling. So caught up in the mess between himself and Spike, the dark haired vampire hadn’t even noticed that it was Willow that was hurting the most. He had assumed that she would be okay. Maybe he shouldn’t have made that assumption. She seemed fine on the surface, but her words were spoken with the edge of pain he knew only too well. “Wills. I love –“
“Shhh…” Willow whispered, placing a finger over Angel’s lips before he could complete a statement she didn’t want to hear. Not yet. “It’s too soon for you to say that… Too much, too soon. How about – you lust for me? Or – you care about me? Or – you want us to be really good friends that just so happen want to sleep together? But not love – not yet.”
The dark haired vampire stared at her for a long moment, wondering when she had gotten so wise. How could someone so young have managed to attain such insight into love and matters of the heart? She didn’t want to hear him say he loved her because this soon into things, who knew if it was true and not some lasting effect of everything they had been through. It was easier to admit they all wanted each other than to admit that they cared for each other. So be it. For now. “Fine. Really, really, good friends it is.” He smiled at her, leaning over and kissing her gently on the lips. Across the table Spike shifted uncomfortably and Angel smirked. “I think Spike wants to be really, really, good friends with you, too.”
Spike grinned, the expression turning into a leer at the thought of being Willow’s ‘good friend’. “Most definitely.”
“Horny to the last, huh, Spike?” Willow smirked. It was amazing how easy this was all coming to her now that she had started talking about it so openly. She moved close enough to kiss him, enjoying the taste of his lips.
“Well. Now that we got that straight… I’m going to sleep.” Willow smiled, standing up with a much lighter heart. She walked away from the table, towards the stairs, aware that the two vampires were just watching her walk away, like she had watched them not even a half hour before. She turned, giving them a wink and a smirk. “Coming?”
~*~The End~*~