Belly Up to the Bar

Author: Shanna

Rating: R, possibly up to NC-17 in future parts

Spoilers: BtVS season 5, after "The Replacement", nothing really for Angel

Pairing: W/S, W/A, W/S/A

Disclaimer: I only wish I was talented enough to create characters as great as Joss Whedon's, but unfortunately I'm not, so I merely borrow them to play.

Summary: When Willow is attacked by a demon that's cousin to a vampire and long thought extinct, the results are some very odd side effects.

Author's Notes: Tara and Willow are just friends and Spike hasn't got a crush on Buffy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

~Part: 1~

Willow and Buffy strolled along among the headstones, gossiping about school, the gang and the Slayer's favorite ex-commando, Riley Finn.

"So, Buffy, inquiring minds want to know."

"Whose minds?"

"Well, ok, mine.  But I still want to know, . . .Riley. . . Boxers or briefs?"

"Willoooowwww!!"  Buffy squealed and playfully smacked her best friend.

The redheaded witch simply giggled and rubbed the spot on her arm that she was sure would be bruised tomorrow.  Then the blond looked at her friend through lowered lashes and leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially "Boxers.  Cotton boxers, one pair with smiley faces even."

Willow laughed.  "I knew it!  I knew he looked like a boxers kinda guy.  Ha!  I win ten bucks.  Yay me!" She cackled gleefully.

"Willow!"  Buffy tried to look offended, but was having a hard time holding in her laughter.  "Who are you betting on my boyfriends underwear with?"

"Who else?  Anya.  She said she was sure he was a briefs kinda guy."

"I can't believe you two!  You guys. . ."

Her teasing admonishment was interrupted by a band of creatures that jumped from a nearby cluster of trees to surround the two women.  There appeared to be about seven of them and as the Slayer looked closely, her brow furrowed in confusion.  Human looking bodies, yellow eyes, fangs. . . But no ridges.  And some weird symbol in the middle of all of their foreheads.  She mentally shrugged.  If it looks like a vamp and has attacks like a vamp. . . And yes, her Spidey sense was goin' into overdrive at the moment. . . Must be a vamp.

"What do we have here?"  One of the creatures swaggered forward to within a foot of the Slayer.

"Well," the blond replied, "obviously you guys got lost on the way to the dentist's office."  She shook her head in mock sympathy.  "Those overbites must be a bitch."  With that she leapt into the fray, thrusting her stake into the cocky vampire's heart, then backed off, waiting for the inevitable poof of dust.  But it never came.  The creature instead collapsed to the ground and began convulsing as it dissolved into a black slime.

"Eeeeewww!" Buffy watched with wide eyes, trying to comprehend what she was seeing.  Ok, not vamps.    She was startled back into action when one of the creatures grabbed her by the throat.  She brought an arm up and broke his hold, before ramming her stake deep into its chest, only to have a repeat performance in which the body convulsed and went all slime-like again.

The Slayer found herself surrounded by three others and went to work at disposing of them as quickly as possible.  They didn't seem quite as strong as regular vamps.  Their movements weren't as quick either.  Out of the corner of her eye Buffy saw Willow fighting off the remaining two pseudo-vamps and called out a warning.

"They're not regular vamps, Will, but you can still stake them through the heart."

"Good to know," the redheaded hacker yelled back, "because the only thing holy water's doing is giving them a nice refreshing little bath"  She threw her water gun aside and pulled a stake from her back pocket.  She was fending them off, but not really getting a chance to land any blows herself.  Four hands seemed to come at her from every direction, blocking her punches and possible stakings.

Buffy was struggling with her last demon when she hear Willow's crow of joy.  "Ha!  Gotcha!  I got one, I got one!"  She sing-songed.  The Slayer grinned when she heard her friend's joy at her slayage victory, then the smile disappeared as she heart a strangled cry.

The blond turned her head in time to see her best friend reaching over her shoulder to rake her nails down the face of the demon latched onto her neck.  The witch's eyes were wide with fright as they locked on the Slayer.  "Buffy!"  She managed to squeak out before starting to slowly lose consciousness.

Buffy spun and slammed her stake into the heart of her current nemesis and took off running toward the redhead without waiting for the demon to collapse. She ripped the monster off her best friend and twisted its head, hearing the neck break before it dropped to the dewy night grass.  The Slayer slide a stake from her sleeve and bent over the dropped form to drive it home through its heart before turning her attention to the silent redhead laying nearby.

"Wills!  Wills, can you hear me?"  She cradled the small form in her arms and examined the jagged bite mark on her neck that was quickly oozing more blood than was healthy.  Making quick work of Willow's skirt, Buffy tore off a couple of strips, folding one to use as a compress, the other she used to tie around her friend's pale neck and hold the wadded material in place.  "I'll buy you a new skirt.  I promise," she muttered under her breath as she lifted her friend into her arms and headed off toward the Magic Box. "And if you wake up and smile at me, I'll buy you two. . . and a mocha"

**************************************

Anya was happily counting the end of day proceeds when she heard a heavy pounding at the front door.

"We're closed!" She yelled, not bothering to look up from her pile of charge slips.

The booming sound came again, the noise luring Giles from the back training room.

"What was that?  Oh dear, Lord!"  The former Watcher saw his Slayer standing outside through the glass window of the door with an armful of something that looked suspiciously like Willow.  He dashed for the door and swung it open, moving aside to let the blond carry her friend to one of the tables before laying her down gently.  "Buffy, what happened?"

"We were patrolling and these . . . things came out of nowhere and surrounded us.  I think there were seven of them, but I got two pretty quickly before three more jumped me.  The other two went after Wills.  I was just finishing with my last one when she staked one of her own, but then the other demon grabbed and bit her.  I couldn't get to her in time Giles.  She's bleeding so badly!"  The Slayer's hand was shaking as she gently pushed a red curl out of the unconscious girl's closed eyes.

The man hurried to the back for the first aid kit and told Anya to lock the front door.  When he reentered the room, he was already pulling out gauze and alcohol swabs from the box.  "What kind of demons were they Buffy?  Had you ever seen them before?"

"That's the weird thing, Giles."  Buffy began to remove her makeshift bandage while her Watcher laid out the necessary items on the table next to her friend.  "They kinda looked like vamps.  Same eyes, fangs.  Even had the back of my neck tingling like regular vamps do, but they didn't have any ridges, ya know?  Oh, and Wills was trying to use her holy water gun, but she said it wasn't having any effect.  And when I staked them, they didn't go poof."

"Really?"  Giles was gently cleansing the area around the angry looking bite on Willow's neck, but his attention was captured by Buffy's description.  "What did they do?  Just die?"

"No.  They went all gooey."

"Gooey?"

"Yeah.  They kinda dissolved into this black goo. Very gross.  Very ewww."

"Yes, I see."

"Sounds like Vilnavons."

Both slayer and watcher glanced at the former demon who now stood on the other side of the table looking on as the witch was being patched up.

"Vilnavon?  What the hell is a vilnavon?"  Buffy was slowly losing a grip on her nerves.  Willow was still bleeding badly and remained unconscious.

"Cousins to vampires.  Thought they were all gone. Last group I heard of was about, oh, eight hundred years ago."  Anya reached for Willow's slack hand and rubbed it between her own when she felt the coolness of her flesh.

"Vilnavons.  Hmmm, I recall reading about them.  A weaker demon, a cousin to the vampire.  Not quite as ruthless or destructive.  But I believe Anya is right. They were thought to have died out long ago."

"Hello!"  Buffy waved to them both.  "Not all gone. Ran into seven of them in the cemetery."

"Yes, well, we don't know for sure if that's what we're dealing with.  Right now I'm more concerned with helping Willow."

"She should be awake by now Giles."  Buffy was worried.  She chewed her bottom lip in an unconscious imitation of her best friend.  It had been a good half hour since the attack and she hadn't stirred once. "Do you think the bite's poisonous?  Could that be why she's not waking up?"

The sound of the back door opening and closing interrupted Giles' response, followed by a clatter of metal.

"For Satan's sake, whelp.  Watch where you're going!"

"Listen up Fangless, I'm sorry I don't have your super vamp eyesight.  I couldn't see it, ok?"

"The lights are on you moron!  Don't need any super vision to see a sword lying in the middle of the floor.  Bloody pillock!"

Xander and Spike entered the room at the same time, but the vampire drew up immediately, smelling fresh blood.  He lightly sniffed the air before turning his gaze to the pale figure laying on the table.  "What happened to the witch?"

Xander followed the vampire's gaze.  "Willow?"  He hurried over to her side, taking in the wound Giles was trying to get to stop bleeding.  "What happened?"

"We were attacked in the cemetery."  Buffy's voice was soft and full of guilt as she held her best friend's free hand.  "Giles, shouldn't it be clotting by now? I mean, how much blood can she lose?"

"Vamps?"  Spike moved closer, eyes glazing over at the delicious smell of the witch's fresh, warm blood.

"Vilnavons."  Anya informed him plainly.

A frown marred the bleached blonde's forehead. "Vilnavons?  Don't think those exist anymore, luv."

"I'm just going by Buffy's description," the former vengeance demon grumbled.

"Damn!"

"Giles, what is it?"  Xander looked anxiously between the watcher and the growing pile of blood soaked gauze pads.

"I fear we may have to take her to the hospital.  I can't seem to stop the bleeding."

"Maybe I can help."

The group turned as one to give Spike an unbelieving look.

"What?  Unless you prefer the witch bleed to death."

"How?"  Giles looked doubtfully at the vampire.

"Vampire's saliva has a natural clotting agent to it or some such rot.  Angelus told me that once. Couldn't understand why he would torture his victims then lick their wounds as much as he did.  Sure the blood tasted great.  What with all that fear and pain mingling. . . Anyway, he said it clotted the blood so he could torture them longer without them bleeding to death so fast."

"Can I just say, NNNYYYUUUUUHHHH!"  Xander shuddered with distaste.

"So, you want to lick Willow?"  Anya asked.

Rolling his eyes, Spike looked at the others.  "Look, either, I lick the bite and try to get it to clot or you take Red here to the hospital and have to answer a lot of pesky questions.  What's it gonna be?"

"I don't like it. . ." Buffy began.

"Buffy, we have to try.  Besides, with the chip, he won't be able to hurt her.  You know that."  Giles stepped aside, letting Spike relieve him at his position closest to Willow.

The vamp leaned over and gently cupped the redhead's cheek, turning her face to give him better access to the bite.  Moving closer, he hovered inches from the bleeding wound and inhaled deeply, reveling in the smell of fresh human blood.  There was something else there as well, he wasn't sure what it was.  Maybe it was just Willow's own personal scent, but there was definitely something there.  Under the blood he could smell an aroma equally as intoxicating.

"Oh, would you stop getting a hardon for her blood and just lick her already!"  Anya rolled her eyes.

Buffy and Giles stood nervously to the side, watching intently as Spike closed his eyes and allowed his tongue to dart out, lapping up the spilt blood on the girl's collarbone before tracing its path back up to the bite.  He laved the area gently, sinking into an erotic vampiric haze.  He placed his open lips over the area, pressing wet kisses upon the skin after his tongue traced patterns on it.

Anya fanned herself with a hand, wondering if she'd ever seen anything so erotic and intimate before. Xander gulped audibly.  Giles cleared his throat and began cleaning his glasses.  Buffy continue to frown, clenching her hands into fists at her sides.

The blood continued to spill onto Spike's tongue and he drank the trickle eagerly.  What he wouldn't give to suction his lips around the wound and draw the warm nectar to the surface, to drink deeply from the witch beneath him.  Her blood was ambrosia.  Sweetness with a hint of innocence still.  And that wonderful spicy taste of magic and fire.  And something else. . . something indescribable, but addictive.  His fingers had unconsciously tangled in the red curls of the girl and his thumb stroked her cheek gently.  He lapped at the stream of blood like a kitten at a bowl of cream. He was drowning in her essence, her scent, her taste. He felt his jeans tighten and couldn't control the moan that was torn from his throat.  He was in ecstasy.

"That's it!  Enough!"  His erotic haze lifted abruptly as he was ripped away from the redhead by a very angry Slayer.  His eyes flashed golden at her as he licked his lips of the last traces of Willow's sweet blood.

"What?" He asked, angry at being interrupted.

"What?"  The blond looked at him incredulously. "You're standing there, pawing and licking my best friend.  And being much too happy about it," she gave a pointed look at the visible bulge in Spike's jeans, "and you ask 'What?'.  Give me a break!  Was this all just some kind of sick joke to get some fresh blood? You couldn't really help her, could you?  What were you thinking, belly up to the bar?  It was all just a bunch of lies so you could attach your lips to Willow's neck. . ."

"Buffy," Giles murmured.

"What?"  She turned, exasperated at having her tirade interrupted before she got to the part about staking him out to watch the sunrise.  It was always her favorite part of threatening him.

Giles gestured at the bite on Willow's neck.  It was still seeping blood slightly, but not nearly as badly as it had been.  It was obvious that it was finally beginning to clot.

"Oh." Was the Slayer's only response.

"It worked.  Well, good job."  Anya clapped her hand on Spike's shoulder in an exaggerated fashion.

Spike let his demon's face recede, his blue eyes once more staring down the Slayer.  "You were saying?"  He smirked arrogantly.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Hey!  I think she's waking up!  Wills?"  Xander leaned over his best friend, gently brushing her hair back from her face when they all heard a soft moan from the still figure on the table.

Grateful for the interruption, Buffy moved to stand near her friend's head, watching in relief as green eyes fluttered open.

Willows looked up at the concerned faces around her and gave a wobbly smile.  "Hey guys.  Whatcha doin'?"

"Getting over the heart attack you just gave me. Willow, Willow, Willow.  How many times have I told you not to let vamps bite you?" Xander teased.

The redhead became aware of a throbbing in her neck and reached a hand up to touch the wound, only to have Giles' gently pull it away.  "Let me clean it and bandage it for you.  Don't touch it.  We only now got it to stop bleeding so badly."

"We?"  Spike raised a scarred eyebrow at the Watcher.

"Yes, very well then, Spike got it to stop bleeding." Giles conceded.

The blond vamp smirked again, this time down at the witch watching him through confused eyes.  "How?" She managed to croak out through a dry throat.

"Vampire saliva, luv.  Tried and true congealant. Licked ya dry, I did."  He gave Willow a lascivious smile and wink.

The redhead lowered her eyes and blushed.  "Oh." Willow shivered as she imagined Spike's tongue running over her neck.  She raised her eyes to look at Xander and gave him a small smile.  "Kinda thirsty.  Can I have some water?"

"You got it bestest bud.  One glass of water coming up."

Giles taped a gauze patch over the bite mark and Xander was back with the water by the time he was done.  Buffy moved behind her, gently lifting her into a sitting position.

"Let me know if I'm moving you too fast or you get dizzy or something, k?"

"I feel fine, actually.  I mean besides being thirsty and my neck throbbing.  But I don't feel dizzy or weak at all.  It's kinda weird.  Did he take a lot of blood?"

Buffy frowned.  "He had a good hold on your neck for a while before I could get to you.  It took me a minute to get rid of the one I was fighting with and then by the time I reached you, you were already out cold and I had to pry him off your neck."

"Yes, and you were bleeding quite a bit after she brought you here as well.  This is quite odd.  You're sure you don't feel weak at all or dizzy?  Not in the slightest?"  Willow shook her head no and Giles looked puzzled at the latest development in their little mystery.

Xander handed Willow the water and watched her drink as he spoke.  "So, vamps that aren't vamps and a vamp attack victim that doesn't feel like a vamp attack victim?  I think the Hellmouth is making with the wackiness again."

"Not if they weren't vampires, but were vilnavons." Anya pointed out.

"Look demon-girl," Spike began, "from what I've been told there haven't been any vilnavon sightings in over nine hundred years."

"Eight hundred actually.  I saw a group of them myself.  I was in Cairo because this woman had caught her husband cheating with her sister.  She had me do this great curse.  Every time he had an erection. . ."

"Anya, please," Giles interrupted, blushing.  "Why don't we get a full description from Buffy and Willow now that Willow's feeling better?  Then we can research."

"Well, I told you everything I can remember."  Buffy's forehead furrowed as she went over the list of things she noticed about the demons.  "They had human bodies, human skin.  No scales or slime in sight.  They had fangs and yellow eyes like vamps, but not ridges.  And they didn't go poof when you staked them.  They went all black gooey like."

"Oh, oh, oh!"  Willow waved her hand as if she were in class waiting to be called upon.  "Holy water didn't effect them at all.  And there was that weird symbol on their foreheads."

Giles head shot up from where he had been replacing the items in the first aid kit.  "Symbol?  You didn't mention a symbol, Buffy."

The slayer grinned sheepishly.  "I forgot?"  She shrugged.  "Sorry."

"Can you draw the symbol for me Willow?"  Giles snapped his fingers and pointed.  Xander grabbed a pen and tablet from a nearby table and handed them to the redhead.

"Sure.  It was kind of a thin crescent."  She worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she drew the symbol as she remembered it.  "And then there were two circles, one to the left upper part of the crescent, then another to the right lower part of it."  She pulled the tablet back to admire her artistic skill, then handed it to Giles.  "Yup, that's it, right Buff?"

Buffy moved closer to get a better view of her friend's handiwork.  "Yep.  That looks about right. Good observational skills in a time of crisis, Wills."

"Yes.  Good job, Willow."  The witch just about fell off the table from the over exuberant pat on the back she received from Anya.

"Ahn, not so hard, k?"  Xander wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her away from his glaring best friend.

"But you told me people need to be rewarded with a pat on the back and a 'Good job' every now and then to make them feel worthwhile."

"A gentle pat on the back is preferable, Anya, although I do appreciate the sentiment."  Willow gingerly rubbed her shoulder.  Between Anya, Buffy and the pseudo-vamps, she knew she would be a big walking bruise in the morning.

Spike moved to the Watcher's other side to view Willow's drawing, before pulling it free from his hands.  "This what you saw when you ran into the vilnavons, luv?"  He held it up to show Anya.

"Yes.  That's it exactly.  And they didn't have any ridges, like Buffy and Willow's demons.  They're not as strong as vampires, but were mistaken for them quite often.  Probably why most of them died out. Their only saving grace is that they didn't have to feed as much as vampires do, but I don't know why. So, less hunting, less chances of getting caught." She shrugged her shoulders and snuggled close to Xander's chest.

"Why wouldn't they have to feed as often? Fascinating."  Giles was already in high research mode as he shuffled through a pile of books before handing them out to all individuals present.  "Look up vampires as well as vilnavons.  There might be some information on them in a subheading since they're somehow related."

Spike looked at the book shoved into his hands.  "Hey Watcher, I have a bloody unlife you know. Something better to do with my time than hang out with you soddin' losers."

"Spike," Buffy smiled sweetly at him before she pushed him down into a chair and got in his face.  "Willow just provided you with your first real taste of fresh human blood in months.  The least you can do for her is look up what bit her and what side effects it may have on her. . . And on anyone who might have drank her blood."

"Fine."  He opened the book and began flipping through the pages, mumbling to himself.  "But there's nothing wrong with her blood.  Tasted amazin', it did. Nothing wrong with it at all."

Buffy glared at his ramblings, but made no comment.

***************************************

Four hours later they were no closer than they had been.  Buffy threw down a demonology text in frustration, causing Giles to wince as the six hundred year old book slid across the table into Xander's can of soda which tilted, but did not fall over.

"Nothing!  I've been through at least twenty books and nothing on vilnavons."

"Same here."  Willow sighed.  Her head hurt.  Her stomach was upset.  She felt a little dizzy and her heart was racing.  Something wasn't right and she knew it had to do with the earlier attack.

Spike watched as the redhead laid her book down and began to lightly rub her temples, eyes closed.

"You all right, Red?"

Giles looked up from the thick volume in his hand. "Willow, are you not feeling well?"

"Not really feelin' great Giles." Her voice was soft and it sounded so far away to her own ears.

Spike leaned forward and narrowed his eyes.  "Her heart's doin' double time, mate.  Racin' it is."

"Willow, tell me what you're feeling."

She looked up with glassy eyes.  Everything seemed blurry.  Like it was all airbrushed around the edges. Voices were coming through a soft misty fog.  She could hear the sound of her heart pounding and her blood rushing through her veins.  "Dizzy.  Head hurts. Stomach's upset.  Can't slow down my heart."  With that she slid off the chair and onto the floor, unconscious.

Buffy was at her best friend's side in an instant. "Wills?  Willow?  Wakey, wakey Wills.  Come on."  She lifted her onto the table and felt her neck for a pulse.  She raised worried eyes to her Watcher. "Giles, Spike's right.  Her heart's ready to pound out of her chest.  What do we do?"

"I really don't know, Buffy.  We haven't found anything and I fear we don't have the time to look any further.  Our best bet is to get her to the hospital, I think.  I'm not sure what we're dealing with here."

"Neither will the bloody pillocks in the ER, and you know it Watcher.  They'll think she's hopped up on some drug or some such."

"Well, do you have a better idea,  Einstein?" Xander asked.

Spike paused for a moment and looked around the room, his gaze lingering on Buffy before returning to Giles. "Could always call the Poof.  See if he or his Watcher know of something off the tops of their heads."  He mumbled begrudgingly.

He hated his fuckin' grand-sire, but he didn't want to see anything happen to the little witch.  She was the only one halfway decent to him.  Still treated him with some respect, which was pretty hard to come by for the chipped vamp nowadays.  Not to mention her blood tasted like heaven.  Not quite ready to lose that yet.  After what he tasted earlier, he couldn't wait for the day the blasted chip in his head quit working so he could sink his fangs in Willow's soft flesh and slowly savor her as he drained her. O'course he would turn her when he was done.  But the thought of keeping her alive for a while, all warm and soft and sweet and delicious, now that was fantasy worthy.  He could keep her alive and healthy and drink from her until he grew tired of her flavor.  Something told him it might take a very long time for that to happen though.

During his fantasizing he didn't notice the Watcher had moved to the phone.  When the blond vamp zoned back to present time, he heard Giles on the phone with who he assumed to be Angel.

"Yes, yes, I understand.  Quite extraordinary, really. So do you think we should take her to the hospital? . . . Well of course they wouldn't.  Can't quite explain that can we? . . . Well, she was bleeding quite heavily from the wound earlier, but we, uh, finally got it to stop bleeding and clot. . . How do you propose we do that?  Syringe? . . . Well, yes, but I don't think. . .  Angel, I'm not sure that's such a good idea, and there's always the fact that he can't. . . Well, yes, we could try.  Are you sure you're up to this?  That this is the best solution? . . . Of course.  It will give us all time to research and find a solution. . . . All right, we'll do what we can here, then I'll have them on the road to arrive there before dawn. . . Yes, I'll let them know.  Thank you Angel. . . . What's that? . . . Yes, I'll tell him. Thank you again.  Good-bye."

Three faces looked anxiously at the watcher and a fourth looked merely curious.  "What did Peaches have to say?  And why do I get the feeling Red's going to be making a trip to the City of Angelus?"

"Well, it's not so much that vilnavons don't have to feed as often as vampires.  It's simply that when they bite their victims, an element in their saliva tricks the body into thinking it needs to make extra blood. Therefore, the heart pumps faster, more blood is made and the vilnavons can feed from that person for quite some time before they're finally drained."

"So, basically, being bitten by a vilnavon gives you high blood pressure and them a long term meal?"  Buffy looked at Giles in disbelief.

"Well, yes, quite simply put.  However, it's much more dangerous than that.  The body will create blood at an alarming rate.  It can lead to a heart attack in a matter of hours if the person is not relieved of the excess."

"Relieved?"  Xander replayed Giles' end of the conversation with Angel in his mind.  "Wait a minute!" He jumped up from his seat to stand protectively over Willow's prone body.  "You're sending her to Deadboy to drain her of this 'excess' blood, aren't you?  He's going to snack on her?  Is that it?!"

"Only until we can find a solution.  Wesley has a contact that he feels should have the information needed rather quickly.  It should be for no more than a few days, but in the meantime, . . " Giles voice trailed off into a sigh and his gaze turned to the vampire, "In the meantime you are to try to feed from Willow, simply to tide her over until we can get her safely to Angel."

"Over my dead body!"  The Slayer and Xander yelled simultaneously.

Giles lost his temper at that point and whipped off his glasses to glare at the two people hovering about the redhead like a pair of overprotective parents. "This would not be my first choice either, but if we don't do something quickly, Willow is going to have a heart attack.  She needs some of her blood drained and she needs it done quickly.  And since it is for her own good, and he wouldn't really be harming her, but helping, Spike may just be able to work around the chip this time."

Spike grinned to himself.  This was bloody marvelous. He thought he was going to have to wait for months, possibly years before he could taste her again.

Catching the vampire's self-satisfied smirk, Ripper turned on the blond.  "And YOU!  If you harm one hair on her head, you will be dust before the sunrise."

"That a little warning from Peaches?  He used to be much more creative with his torture.  Appears to be slipping in his old age."

"Actually, Spike," Giles walked closer and glared at the blond, "that was my threat.  Angel's threat was if you harmed one hair on Willow's head he would boil you in holy water, shove a cross up your arse and stake you to a crucifix in his courtyard to watch the next sunrise."

"Oh."  His grin faded.  "That sounds a little more like the Angelus I used to know."

Xander snickered and was shot a death glare from the platinum blond.

"Fine.  The witch needs bled.  Let's get on with it, shall we?"  He walked over to the table and peeled back the bandage, revealing the jagged bite again. Spike was nervous.  He hoped to hell that the chip would let him do this.  He morphed and moved to lift her into his arms, turning her face to the side and aiming his fangs for the marks on her neck.  Just as his canines sank into the flesh, a pain shot through his head.  His demon receded and he burrowed his face against her chest as he moaned in agony.  "Bloody hell!"

"That worked out well."  Buffy muttered sarcastically from the other end of the table.

"I can't reopen the wound to get the blood flowing again.  The soddin' chip won't let me!  Bugger all!" The cranky vamp ranted.

Giles thought for a moment before retrieving the first aid kit once again. He withdrew a syringe and murmured for Spike to hold the girl steady.  The vampire watched in shock as the Watcher prodded the injured areas with the end of a sterile needle, reopening the wound and suctioning slightly to get the blood flowing to the surface again.  He then nodded at the blond. "Try it now."

Spike morphed once again and lowered his face cautiously, letting his fangs once again sink into the tender flesh, and once again pain accompanied his actions.  He gripped his head and cursed in several different languages that only Giles understood.  The watcher regarded the pained vampire with a raised eyebrow as he continued to curse a blue streak.

"Perhaps, simply try to, uh, drink without biting her?" The watcher suggested.  Spike gave the other Brit a dirty look before rubbing his head once more. He lowered his mouth for the third time, but simply suctioned his lips around the reopened wound and began drawing upon the pale flesh, his mouth flooding with the witch's warm, addictive blood.  His grip on her tightened.  He pulled her closer and buried his face in her neck as he proceeded to drink eagerly.

His eyes glowed amber, his tongue lapping at the soft skin surrounding the bite.  Closing his eyes, he lost himself in her taste once again.  His demon was clamoring for him to drink her dry, but this was something Spike wanted to savor.  He was taking shallow draws on her neck, her blood exploding on his taste buds.

The first thing Willow noticed as she began to regain consciousness was the erotic sensations emanating from her neck.  She had always loved when Oz would nibble or tease the column of her throat, neck and collarbone with his tongue.  But that was nothing compared to the sensations the redhead was experiencing now.  She felt strong arms around her, holding her close to a tightly muscled body.  Willow felt a tongue teasing her sensitized flesh and a rush of heat at the point just above it.  Giving into the sensations, and thanking her goddess for such a pleasurable dream, the redhead wrapped her arms around her dream lover and arched into his caresses.  There was no mistaking the soft shuddering moan of pleasure that escaped her parted lips.  She tangled the fingers of one hand into the hair of the man doing such erotic things to her and held him closer.

After several minutes of sensual gasps of delight from Willow and groans and growls from Spike, the others in the room had had enough.

Anya grabbed Xander's hand and began leading him to the door.  "Xander.  Home now.  I need orgasms."

The boy protested as he was dragged out the door by his girlfriend, the sounds of Willow's whimpers and moans of pleasure still ringing in his ears.

"Spike, I think that's enough."  Giles laid his hand on the blonde's shoulder, only to have him shrug it off.  He moved to grip his shoulder tighter and tugged.  "I said, ENOUGH!"

The demon's face turned on the Watcher, blood staining its teeth and lips.  Spike growled deeply at the man and held his prize even closer as she whimpered in protest at the cessation of the erotic sensations.

Finally Willow's eyes fluttered open, to see Spike above her, in gameface, mouth dripping blood.  Feeling the throbbing in her neck and the wetness surrounding the wound, she realized it was her blood.  Her eyes widened in shock when she realized that her wonderful dream was nothing more than a master vampire, with a now obviously defunct chip in his head, feeding from her.

"Ohmygod!"  Willow scrambled out of the blonde's tight embrace only to slip off the edge of the table and land on her posterior with a thud.

Buffy, Giles and Spike looked on in surprise to where Willow had been sitting only seconds before.  She wasn't visible on the other side of the table.  A muffled "Owie!" floated up from the floor.

"Wills, you ok?"  The Slayer moved around the table to check on the witch.  What she found was the redhead crouching in fear under the table.  "Wills, ya wanna come out?"  She bent down to confront her hiding friend.  "So you fell off a table.  No big.  Nothing to be so embarrassed about that you should hide under the table."

"It's broke!" Willow hissed to Buffy.

"Huh?"

"It's broke!"  She looked at her friend like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What are you talking about?  Hey, did you hit your head on your way down to the floor by any chance?"

"Buffyyyy!!  The chip!  It's broke.  Spike was feeding from me.  He was all fangy and grr!"

"Oh, that.  Well, we told him to."

"You what?!"

"Look, come out and let us explain.  It's ok.  Spike's chip still works.  If it makes you feel any better, he couldn't bite you.  Giles had to reopen your bite so he could drain you some."

Willow jumped to her feet and turned accusing eyes on the Watcher as she held a hand to her still bleeding neck.  "You fed me to him?!  What?  Did I not research something quickly enough for you?  Did I forget to ask permission before I borrowed a book. . . Or, or or, maybe, ok, so I took a little morgad root, but I was going to pay for it as soon as I got to a MAC machine. Honest!"

"Willow!"  Giles interrupted her semi-hysterical ramble.  "Please, sit so we can explain.  This has to do with the vilnavon attack and its results on you physically.  We don't have much time."

****************************************

Willow sat in shock staring at the watcher.  "So, let me get this straight.  I need to have my blood drained pretty often otherwise I'll probably have a heart attack or something equally as bad?"

"Exactly."  Giles smiled at the redhead, glad she understood.

"So, in order to keep my blood drained to a safe level until we find a cure, you're sending me to Angel so I can become a regular snack?!"  The older gentleman cringed as the witch's voice rose to a shriek.

"Willow, please understand, this isn't something we can take to the hospital or to a doctor.  It's the best way, I believe.  Angel will treat you with caution.  He's quite concerned with your welfare and I trust him to take the utmost care with you."

"Why is Spike going?"  She turned her gaze to the platinum blond who was eyeing the blood still trickling from her wound.

"He's backup.  I believe Angel will have to feed every several hours.  He can't be around constantly, especially if he's working on a case.  Not to mention if you run into any problems on the way to LA, which, by the way, you two really need to get moving if you're going to arrive by dawn."

"So, he's Angel's backup, stand-in, my second string feeder?"  The witch looked at Giles as if he had lost his mind.

"Hey now!"  The vampire objected.  "I'm no one's stand-in.  I'll have you know I'm first rate!  Second string my arse!  Come on Red.  Let's go pack you a bag and be off to Peaches'."

Willow looked at Spike as if he had a frog growing out of his forehead.  "You want to go see Angel?  YOU? You hate him.  This is just so you can get some more of my blood, isn't it?"

The vampire leaned close, noses almost touching, then he moved to whisper sensually in her ear.  "I'd give my fangs to taste you again, Red.  You're delicious and I could drown right happily in your blood.  Wonder if you taste as good all over."

Willow blushed to match her hair, pushing the vampire slightly away, she whispered furiously.  "I told you once before.  There will be no having.  There will also be no tasting. . . I don't want you anywhere near my neck, mister!"

Spike smirked down at the redhead.  "Seemed to like my being attached to your neck just fine a little while ago, if I remember right.  Uhhhh.  Mmmmmm, Don't stop!"  He imitated her in a high pitched falsetto.

The witch glared at the blond trying to use her anger to overcome her complete embarrassment.  She remembered her words, her moans as he had suckled at her neck.  Even now, the thought of those sensations was enough to make her press her legs tightly together.  The vampire sniffed the air slightly and gave Willow a cocky grin.  He could smell her arousal? How much more humiliation was she supposed to take?

"Buffy," she said through gritted teeth, "give me a stake now!"  She held out her hand to the slayer who let Mr. Pointy drop into her hand from some concealed spot in her jacket.

"Girls, enough!"  Giles removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.  He tried to remember if he had gotten as many headaches before he came to the Hellmouth.  He didn't think so.  And if he recalled correctly they all began the day he met his slayer.  "Willow, go with Spike.  Do not stake him. Pack a bag with enough clothes for several days.  You need to leave for LA immediately if you're to get there before dawn."

"No biggie if we get there a little after sunrise, is it Giles?" Willow smiled sweetly at the blond vamp next to her.

"Willow!"  Giles shot the girl a look before turning his attention back toward Spike.  "And you!  Just remember both my threat and Angels.  Not one hair on her head!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah or I'll be kissin' the sunrise. Gotcha watcher.  Let's go, luv.  Time's a-wastin'." He grabbed the redhead's hand and began dragging her out of the Magic Box and into the night.

"Wills, call me when you get there so I know you're ok, k?" Buffy called after her friend.  As soon as Willow and Spike were out of sight, she turned on her watcher.  "I think this has to be the dumbest idea ever!  And if something happens to her. . ." The slayer turned at the door to glare at Giles.  "If something happens to my best friend, there will be hell to pay Giles, and you'd better bring the broom and dustpan 'cause there's gonna be some serious vamp dust in LA that will need cleaning up."  And with that she slammed the door behind her to head out into the night, causing the older man to flinch.

He once again pinched the bridge of his nose before walking over to the front door and locking it.  "Now, where did I put that bottle of scotch?  Ah, yes. Behind the shrunken heads in the storage closet.  I believe tonight calls for a double."

*****************************************

By the time Willow and Spike got on the road it was only a couple of hours before dawn.  Spike continued to shoot the little witch dirty looks.

"What?!" She demanded.

"You really are trying to get me fried to a crisp aren't you, Red?"

"What are you talking about?" Willow sighed in exasperation.  She sat, arms crossed over her chest and turned in her seat to look over at the vamp.

"You bloody well took your time tossin' a bag together.  We're only going to be there a few days. What the hell did you pack?"

The witch glared at him.  "I wanted to be careful what I packed considering I'm going to have someone sucking on my neck constantly!  Can't wear anything that's gonna go and show all the blood stains, can I?" She asked sarcastically

"I dunno, luv, it could be the next big fashion trend. Blood Stains By Spike!  I can see it now.  I'd make a fortune!"

"Except you can't make anyone bleed, without someone cutting up your meal for you first" she taunted in a sappy voice.

"That's it little girl!" Spike glared at Willow.

"Oh, what?  You're gonna bite me?  Go ahead, try!  I dare you!  Oh, that's right, you already did.  And you CAN'T!"

"Bloody fuckin' hell you're enough to drive a man to drink!"

"Thought that's what you were doing earlier, when Giles decided to feed me to you."

"Idiot was trying to save your life Witch!  Although why is completely beyond me!"

"You know what, Spike!  I've had enough of you, too. The only reason you want to come to LA is because you know you're gonna get some free snacks out of it. Angel can't be hungry all the time, so that means Spikey gets to eat the leftovers."

The vampire growled and turned flashing yellow eyes on the girl.  "I take no man's leftovers!"

"Oh, really, well what would you call Dr. . ." Before she could even get the name out, a hand was clamped over her mouth, the car swerved to the side of the road before jerking to a halt.  "Don't say something you'll regret when I get my chip out, Red."  His voice was low, the tone full of deadly threats of violence should she utter that one name.

Willow finally looked past her anger enough to peer into the vamp's eyes.  They were full of pain and rage.  She immediately felt awash with guilt and cautiously pulled away from the hand covering her mouth.  "I'm sorry Spike.  I don't know why I said those things.  That was horrible of me and I'm so sorry.  I think I'm just scared, and for some reason decided to take it out on you, and that's not right. I'm just not myself.  I'm tired, my head hurts, I'm tired, my neck's sore, I'm tired, and I'm getting dizzy again.  Did I mention I'm tired?"

Spike felt the tension drain away from his body at her earnest apology.  "It's all right Red.  Know you've had a rough night.  Why don't you lay down and rest. I'll let you know when we get to Peaches'."

The redhead let out a wide yawn.  "That actually sounds like a good idea."  She shifted in the seat, trying to lay back against it on her side, but in the de Soto, there were no reclining bucket seats.  She then leaned her head against the door, but with Spike's erratic driving, her head kept bouncing off the glass.  When she moved to try to find a more comfortable position, she heard the vampire heave an unneeded sigh just before she felt an arm around her shoulder, pulling her down until her head rested on his thigh.

"Sleep." Was his simple but quiet command.

"Spike?" She whispered tiredly.

"Yes, pet?"

"I really am sorry."

"I know, luv." But when he looked down she was already fast asleep.

~Part: 2~

The pink rays of dawn were just beginning to spread over the city as Spike pulled the DeSoto up to Angel's building.  Looking nervously toward the skyline, he reached down to shake the sleeping witch's shoulder.

"Red, we're here.  Sun's almost up.  Have to hurry, luv."

When she didn't respond, he tried again, shaking her a bit harder.  "Witch!  Get up.  We have to get inside."

When he once again got no response, he focused his senses and caught the pounding of her heart, an abnormal racing rhythm.  She was flushed and her forehead was damp, her breathing slightly labored. "Bloody hell!"

The vamp threw open his door and dragged the redhead out and up into his arms before kicking the door shut, leaving their bags in the back seat.  He hurried up to the front door and kicked it with his booted foot, waiting for someone to answer it.  He threw another nervous look over his shoulder at the lightening sky.

The door was yanked open by Angel, who stood there in black dress pants and an open gray silk shirt.  "It's about time you got here."  He grumbled and yanked Spike through the door.

"And hello to you too Angelus," Spike said sarcastically.  "Did you order takeout?  One redheaded witch, O neg, to go, I believe.  And don't forget it's customary to tip 15%."  The blond made his way further into the lobby before turning to look at the dark vampire, becoming serious.

"She was sleeping on the way, but I can't get her to wake up.  I think she needs drained again."

"How long's it been since you've fed from her?" Angel questioned as he motioned for Spike to follow him with the witch.  He led them to up to his room and indicated Willow be laid upon the bed.

"'Bout three and a half, four hours.  Didn't take all that much though.  Watcher decided I'd had enough." He deposited the flushed girl on the black satin comforter.  "Probably best if you use the same wound she's been bleeding from.  It's here."  He stepped closer and tugged the elastic neckline of her peasant blouse down to reveal the gauze bandage to his grand-sire.

"Right."  Angel looked down at the redhead anxiously. He was nervous. He hadn't had human blood since. . .well, he didn't want to think about that.  He prided himself on being able to survive on animal blood. Would this set him back?  Would he start craving humans again?  Would he be able to stop or would he end up killing Willow?

"Peaches!"  The blonde's sharp tone caught Angel's attention.  "You need to feed from her *now*!  If you can't, open her up and I'll do it again."

Angel looked as if he were considering Spike's offer until he heard his next muttered comments.  "Wouldn't mind tasting her again at all.  Feelin' her blood fillin' my mouth. . ."

"No!"  He moved around the bed and pushed the blond away from the witch.  "I'll do it.  I don't trust you, chip or no chip."

"Nice to know you think so highly of me Sire." The blond grumbled.

"And I should trust you not to suck the slayer's best friend dry why?" Angel questioned as he gently removed the bandage from Willow's neck.  He looked down at the girl, worried, but for a different reason this time. He could sense what Spike had while in the car.  Her heartbeat was very irregular and rapid.

"Red's the best of that lousy bunch.  She at least treats me with respect.  Doesn't talk down to me like the others.  'Sides," his trademark smirk firmly back in place, "she tastes too good to waste all in one sitting.  You'll see what I mean."

The dark vampire glared at the blond before turning his attention back to the unconscious witch.  Taking an unneeded breath to brace himself, he lifted the girl into his arms and let his face morph.  He leaned closer and as gently as possible slid his fangs into the twin holes left by the vilavons' attack.  Angel closed his eyes as the first rush of Willow's blood filled his mouth.  He had to push down the groan that rose to his lips as the warmth slid down his throat and his demon rattled its cage in delight.  Spike had been right.  Her blood was sweeter than the finest wine.  There was something about it, something he couldn't place, but it had an addictive quality to it. He was going to have to be very careful not to take too much.

He instead focused his attention on her heartbeat, her breathing and tried to listen and find a point where he felt it would be safe for him to stop.  His hand gently held the back of her head, his face buried in her neck.  He inhaled and caught the faint scent of raspberries and vanilla.  He had always associated those with Willow since his time in Sunnydale.  It wasn't a perfume, but most likely a body wash or lotion.  His senses were becoming overloaded between her smell and her taste.  He pulled the witch closer and drank deeply, savoring the feeling of her warm blood coating his tongue.

A muffled moan finally slipped from his lips.  Angel was in heaven, but at the same time he felt a mountain of self-disgust overcome him for feeling those very emotions.  This was Willow.  Sweet, innocent Willow and here he was getting aroused from feeding from her, Buffy's best friend.

So lost in thought was he that Angel never noticed when the witch regained consciousness.  He never noticed the change in her breathing, but Spike did. Even though her eyes were still closed, she was lost in that limbo between sleep and awareness, the blond knew the instant she became aware of the sensations caused by his grand-sire drinking from her.  A tongue darted out to lick her lips and she arched up into the embrace, turning her head slightly to give the vamp better access to her neck.  Her arms slid up to embrace the dark vampire, holding him close to her. Spike clenched his fists, remembering when she had held him so just hours ago.  The feeling of her fingers twisted in his hair, holding him to her, the soft moans she emitted as he suckled her life's essence from her.  And now she was wrapping herself around his grand-sire.  A growl began deep in his throat. It should be him holding her, drinking from her.  He had tasted her first.

At the sound of Spike's low growl, Willow's eyes popped open and she found herself meeting blue eyes ringed with gold as he watched from several feet away, his face set in anger.  Her attention was drawn away from the chipped vamp by a deep pulling sensation on her neck which sent a bolt of desire running through her body.  She let out a soft gasp that grew into a ragged moan, her fingers moving up to massage the neck of the person bent over her.  She pressed herself closer to the cool body wrapped around her, feeling her breasts crushed against a hard chest.

Angel finally became aware of Willow's wakefulness when he felt her fingers gently rub his neck and the nails of her other hand dig into his back through his shirt.  Her soft moan of pleasure was a surprise and it shocked him back to reality.  He once again concentrated on the vital signs he could sense and drank just a minute or so more before feeling he should stop.

Willow's eyes were glazed with desire as they flickered open and once more green eyes locked with angry blue.  The blond vamp moved closer and gripped the end of the bed, watching his grand-sire drinking from his witch.  His witch?  Blue eyes widened at the thought.  When had that happened.  Oh, bullocks!  He was jealous of his bloody grand-sire again.  Every single fuckin' time!

Angel felt the redhead pressing up against his body and smelled her arousal.  His demon was screaming at him. 'Take her!  She wants us!  Look at her, pushing herself against us, smell her!  Take her!  She's *ours*!'  He slid his fangs from her with great effort and gently laved at the bite until he felt it begin to clot.  He pulled back slowly, his body tense with desire, and saw the same emotion reflected in dazed green eyes.  This was going to be a rough few days.

"Willow," he questioned softly, "are you ok?  Can you tell if I took enough?  Did I take too much?"

The haze began to lift and the redhead realized she was still clutching at Angel, her fingers were tangled in his soft hair.  Green eyes widened in embarrassment and with a startled "Eeep!" she backed up and away from the vampire until she ran into the headboard. "Owww!"

Rubbing her head, she babbled, "Angel?  Oh, goddess. I'm so. . .I mean I didn't mean to. . .uh, that is I feel fine, thank you."  The blush flooding her cheeks was monumental and she was too embarrassed to meet the dark vampire's gaze.  Instead she turned her attention to Spike, who was glaring stakes at Angel's back.

"Spike?" Blue eyes swung to meet green, softening slightly.

"Yes, Red?"

"When did we get here?  Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Tried.  You were out cold again.  Got here just before dawn and had Peaches here drink ya down ASAP."

"Oh."  The redhead finally turned her gaze to the dark vampire who was still sitting on the edge of his bed as she rested against the headboard.  "Um, thanks Angel.  I appreciate your, um, ya know." She murmured with a wave of her hand, indicating her neck.  "I don't mean to be such a pain."

Angel sighed in relief.  This was the old Willow he knew.  Shy, slightly awkward, this Willow he could handle.  Moaning, writhing aroused Willow was another story.  Maybe she had just been dreaming before she woke up and it carried over.

"It's no problem Willow.  Don't worry about it."

"Oh, right, cause you have fangs and can bite and drink and. . .ummm, this isn't coming out very well. But anyway, thanks again.  So, has Wesley heard anything from his contact yet, cause no offense, but I'd rather not be a walking blood bank for the rest of my life, ya know?"

"I wouldn't mind in the least, luv.  Be more than happy to make as many withdrawals as you need." Spike waggled his brows at her.

Willow rolled her eyes.  "We've been over this Spike. You tried to bite me and you can't."

Angel turned brown eyes on his grand-childe.  "You tried?  The chip wouldn't let you, even though she needed relieved of the excess?"

A sullen look came over the blonde's face as he moved to sit on the bed next to the redhead, crossing his booted feet on the satin comforter before Angel knocked them off.  "Boots off, William."

"Always were a neat freak, Angelus.  And yes, I tried to bite her.  Well, into the bite mark there."  His finger lightly brushed against the tender pink flesh still exposed and only slightly oozing, causing Willow to shudder.  He raised the bloody digit to his lips and licked it, eyes closed as he savored the flavor before he dropped his hand back to his lap.  "It had closed over, but I couldn't even bite once the Watcher reopened it.  Bloody chip!"  He threw the unlit cigarette across the room in anger.

Turning away from his grand-childe, Angel moved his attention back to the redhead.  "We should set up a schedule so that we can get into a pattern.  We don't want you passing out again and I think the best way to do that is to figure out how long you can go between, uh, feedings, before you begin feeling sick.  So we'll start from here.  I took quite a bit, now are you sure I didn't take too much?  Are you feeling dizzy or lightheaded at all?"

"No, I feel fine Angel.  Better than I was when I went to sleep in the car.  I was feeling dizzy then."

"Ok, what I need you to do is stay awake for a while. >From what Spike told me it had been three or four hours from the last time he had fed from you.  So, we'll base it off of that.  But I need you to pay close attention to your body.  What symptoms did you have when you passed out at the Magic Box?"

"Witch said she was dizzy, head hurt, stomach ached and her heart was racing.  Then she slid off her chair onto the floor before we could get more out of her."

"Anything else Willow?"

The redhead glared at the vamp for relaying her earlier embarrassing moment.  "Well, everything sounded really far away, you know, kind of muffled."

"All right, when you start feeling any of those things, I want you to come and get me, ok?  Wake me up and we'll wait a little while until we see how things progress, then I'll drain some more.  I'm going to be right here.  I'm goint to get some sleep, but don't hesitate to wake me.  Does that work for you?"

"Ok," she said shyly.  She didn't want to think about having to come into Angel's bedroom to wake him up. She wondered if he slept in the nude.  She knew Spike did.  Found that out real fast when she went to ask him to go to Giles' apartment one day.  She walked into the crypt, figuring he was asleep, which he was. Laying there like a marble statue, all muscles and sinew.  Pale as pale can be and naked as the day he was born.  Willow felt herself blushing again at her wayward thoughts.  'Bad Willow!  Concentrate.  Angel's talking to you.'

". . .if that's ok with you, I'll show you both where you can stay.  Did you bring anything with you?"

"Left the bags in the car.  Wanted to get the witch inside before I turned to ash and kinda had my hands full at the time anyway."

"Not a problem.  I'll leave a note downstairs for Delia or Wesley to bring them in when they get here."

"I can go get them.  I'm going to be staying up anyhow.  It will give me something to do for, oh, about two minutes."

Angel chuckled.  "All right.  Go ahead and get your bags and I'll show Spike his room.  I have a library downstairs that you're more than welcome to use while you're here Willow.  Maybe you could find something down there to read until Delia or Wes get in."

The redhead grinned at the dark vampire.  "Sounds like a plan."  She moved to scoot off the bed, only to be stopped by a hand on her arm.  She looked over at Spike curiously.  "What?"

"You've got something right . . .here. . .luv." He leaned over and swirled his tongue along the last traces of blood on her neck before pulling back, smacking his lips.  "Good to the last drop."  He winked at her, ignoring his grand-sire's dark look.

Willow blushed and bit her lip to stifle a soft sigh at the feel of his cool tongue on her skin again. "Uh, thanks," the witch mumbled as she finally scooted to the edge of the bed, then took off down the steps and out into the sunlight to retrieve their bags.

"What the hell was that, Spike?" Angel demanded.

"Don't know what you mean, Poof," the blond said with false innocence as he examined his chipped nail polish.

The dark haired vamp frowned at his mischievous grand-childe.  "Willow's a sweet girl.  Stay away from her.  The last thing she needs is you playing mind games with her."

"So says the man that killed her fishies and left them strung up like Christmas lights."

Guilt filled Angel's eyes.  "That wasn't me.  I wasn't myself then," he said softly.

"You're right.  It wasn't Angel.  It was Angelus." Spike turned to look his grand-sire in the eyes.  "And Angelus was here this morning, wasn't he Peaches?  He was in your head, talking to you, egging you on when you had your fangs sunk in that deliciously soft skin, wasn't he?  What did he want you to do?  Drain her? Take her?  Turn her?"

Angel looked away guiltily.  "All of it."

"Well, that's another reason I'm here.  I'm not going to let *you* hurt her, Sire.  You're not part of her world anymore.  You left them and yeah, I didn't plan on helping the Slayer, not in a million years, but I'm stuck.  And the chit's been decent to me.  Keep everything but your fangs off of her, got it?  Now show me where my damn room is!"  The blond moved off the bed and stalked out into the hall.

Angel watched his grand-childe stride out the door in disbelief, then a smile slowly brightened his features.  "Someone's got a crush," he said to himself before getting up and following after the blond. "This is definitely going to be a very interesting few days to say the least."

~Part: 3~

Once Willow retrieved her bags from the car and Angel showed her the room she would be staying in, the witch decided a shower was in order, quite possibly a cold one.  She didn't know what was wrong with her.  Her body still felt flushed and aroused from her session with the dark vampire.  This can't be normal, getting all tingly from having someone suck her blood.  She got queasy when she gave at blood drives for gosh sake!  Of course the Red Cross didn't offer tongues licking at and soft, moist lips drawing upon her tender flesh either.  Somehow orange juice and cookies just don't measure up to that.

As she undressed, her clothes sliding off her body, she noticed her skin felt sensitized.  She looked in the mirror at her pale body, trying to be objective. She always saw the shy mousy hacker Cordelia and the Cordettes had made fun of from grade school on up through high school.  Today she decided to reevaluate her self-image.

She wasn't short, but her slender build made her look taller than she was.  Her skin was pale and smooth. She could never tan.  Burn, yes, tan, no.  She knew the women in Victorian England would have died for her skin, except for the few freckles on her right shoulder blade.  She wondered if Spike had liked the pale flesh of the ladies back then, well, before he started admiring them simply for their necks.  Her hair was a brilliant red in soft ringlets around her face and it complimented her misty green eyes that were large in her heart shaped face.  Her mouth wasn't too big, not too small and her lips were a deep pink.

Looking at her breasts, she frowned a bit and cupped them gently, lightly grazing the nipples, watching them darken to a deeper shade of pink and pebble.  She always thought they were kinda on the small side, but Oz had told her how perfectly they filled his hand. She closed her eyes briefly and thrummed her nipples, remembering how his tongue had felt on her sensitive skin.  She could let him do that for hours and he had seemed content to do so on several occasions.  She had once teased him that he had a breast fetish.  He had looked up at her from his position, head resting between her well tended breasts, and with his patented stoicism had replied,  "You're not wrong."  She pinched her nipples and moaned softly.  It had been too long.

Her eyes popped open as she remembered where she was and she blushed.  Angel's.  Angel's hotel.  He was just across the hall in his suite of rooms.  With his super vamp hearing.  Goddess, she hoped he hadn't heard her moan.  How embarrassing that would be.  As if she hadn't had enough humiliation for one night. She rolled her eyes at the thought.

She moved to turn on the water, testing for temperature and before pulling towels and a washcloth off the shelf.  The first thing she noticed as she stepped under the spray was the instant tingling on her neck as the warm water hit her bite mark.  She shivered in response and bit her lip to suppress a moan.  She didn't know what was wrong with her.  Bad Willow!  There had to be something wrong with her to get all wobbly kneed over water hitting her sore flesh.

Strengthening herself mentally, she turned to the task at hand and began soaping the washcloth.  She was not about to turn into some vamp groupie!  Nope, not little Willow Rosenburg.  Nuh-uh.  No way.  No how. Not gonna happen.

Her washcloth brushed over her breasts and she suddenly remembered how they had felt pressed against Angel's cool bare chest.  Her eyes drifted shut as she soaped her flesh in slow circles before snapping out of her stupor and reaching down to slap her own hand.

"None of that!  Bad hand!  Bad body!  Bad Willow!" She ended her self flagellation on a frustrated groan. She hurriedly finished her shower and dressed, toweling her hair as dry as she could.  Looking under the sink, she found a bin full of hair care products which she assumed belonged to Cordy.  The witch whooped in triumph as she found what she had been searching for.  She held the hairdryer above her head like a trophy before turning to plug it in.

Once she was dry and dressed, Willow made her way down to the library Angel had offered for her reading enjoyment.  Once she stepped inside and began to view the titles shelved there, the redhead decided she would die of dehydration because she was going to drool to death.  Occult texts dating back hundreds of years, some over a century old with their yellowed and fragile pages.  Willow ran her fingers over the delicate spines and felt giddy with excitement.

She stopped and thought about it.  How sad was it that she could get this excited over a few old musty books? Willow knew that was what Buffy would say.  She shrugged.  What the heck.  She was research girl, hear her roar!  The redhead began pulling an assortment of books off the shelf and made her way over to the table that she assumed was used for the AI team's research sessions.

So lost was the witch in a tome about ancient wiccan rituals that when she felt a hand on her shoulder she let out a shriek, the book flew up in the air and Willow jumped from her chair.  Turning to face her attacker in her version of a battle mode, hands raised in fists, the self proclaimed research girl let out a sigh of relief.

"Wesley, you about scared me to death!"

"Yes, well, terribly sorry about that Miss Rosenburg. Didn't mean to startle you."

"That's ok," Willow perched on the edge of the table and smiled up at the former British watcher.  "How have you been?"

Wesley smiled at the young woman, glad she seemed willing to give him another chance.  He knew that he hadn't been well liked during his time in Sunnydale. His by the book attitude at the time put off the two slayers that had been anything but conventional in their methods.  If he'd had any possible allies left amongst the others, he ruined that when the mayor had kidnapped the redhead in front of him. . .and Wesley had wanted to leave her to her own devices instead of trading the Box of Gavrock for her life.  After that it was, as the Americans say,  'all downhill'.

"Fine.  Just fine.  Thank you for asking.  But how are *you*?  Are you coping with the, uh, side effects well enough?"  He gestured to the visible mark on her neck revealed by her scoop necked blouse.

Willow's fingers rose to lightly touch the twin puncture marks.  "Ok, I guess.  I was unconscious by the time we got here and Spike had Angel hurry up and take some blood as soon as we got in the door."

"Have you discussed your plans with he and Spike yet?"

"Well, we decided to try to see how long it will be before I start feelin' kinda sick again.  Then Angel said we'd set up some sort of schedule.  But Spike can't bite me.  I would have to reopen it," her hand fluttered toward her neck, "so he could, you know, suck some out."

"Yes, well, that must be terribly inconvenient." The former watcher winced at the thought.

"Giles did it last time with a syringe.  I think that made it easier.  Do you have any around here,  you know, just in case?"

"I do believe we have a several in the first aid kit." He thought the redhead was handling this remarkably well.  The thought of having to regularly submit to a feeding by a vampire, Angel or not, was enough to make him shudder.

Willow nodded her head.  "Good to know we're prepared in case you guys have to go out on a case or something.  So, have you had any word from your contact?  Giles said it might be several days before we can find out how to cure my new case of high blood pressure."

"High blood press. . . Oh, yes.  Well, I placed the call last night, but I haven't heard back from him yet.  I will try several others today, just in case I can't get in touch with him."

"Thank you Wesley.  I really appreciate it."

"It's my pleasure Miss Rosenburg."

"Oh for Pete's sake, just call her Willow already!" Came a voice from just outside the room.

A wry smile developed on the witch.  "Hey Cordy."

The former May Queen breezed into the library past Wesley.  "Hi Willow.  How are you?  Ewwwww, that looks painful." She made a face as she motioned to the set of puncture marks on the girl's neck.

"It's not so bad now.  Just a little tender."

"Did Angel. . .well, that is did he have to. . ."

The witch smiled at her old nemesis.  "Yes, Cordy.  He had me for an early morning snack."

"Oh, well, was it too bad?"

The redhead's eyes clouded over at the memory, the sensual draw on her skin, the dark vampire's tongue caressing the flesh around the bite mark.  His soft lips pressed tightly to her neck.  Feeling his broad muscled chest pressed to hers, his arms around her. "Not too bad," she whispered in response.

"Oh, that's good.  I'll be right back.  I have to start the coffee."

"NO!"  Both girls turned to look at the young Brit. "I mean, you two have so much to catch up on, why don't I make the coffee and bring you each a cup when it's ready?"

"That would be nice Wesley.  Thank you," the witch smiled.

"Oh, no!  No coffee for Willow unless it's decaf, and you know I need my caffeine Wesley.  A caffeinated Willow is a spastic Willow.  Not of the good."

"I'm not as bad as I used to be Cordy, honest. Besides I have to stay awake and let Angel know when I don't feel well and I'm really kinda beat right now. I could use a little boost."

The ex-cheerleader looked at the redhead dubiously. "Well. . .ok, but if you start blabbering a mile a minute, I'm so locking you in your room until you come down from your coffee trip."

With that, the rogue demon hunter escaped joyously to make a pot of coffee that did not resemble sludge.

*****************************************

It was about an hour and a half later when Willow first felt the symptoms she was beginning to associate with her new condition.  Her head began to pound, her hands shook and she began to feel nauseous.  Or it could have just be Cordelia's half hour long lecture on how to find designer labels for 75% off at some of the most exclusive shops in LA.

The witch nodded and smiled weakly as she let the words go in one ear and out the other.  She didn't want to do it, but felt she couldn't put it off any longer.

"Cordy," she interrupted gently, "I'm really starting to not feel well.  I think I need to go get Angel." She looked at her watch.  Five hours.  It was a little before 11 AM.  She had lasted a whole five hours before she felt like she'd been hit by a sledgehammer.

Cordy frowned in concern.  "Ok.  Do you remember where his suite is?  Do you want me to help you up there?"

"No, I'll be fine.  And I do remember where he's sleeping.  It's right across the hall from me, but thanks anyway."

"Ok," the brunette said cheerfully.  "When you're done getting all sucked down, come back down and I'll tell you how to outsmart the salesclerks at Armondo's on Melrose."

"Thanks, but I'm kinda tired.  I might just lay down for a while afterwards, but maybe later this afternoon."

"Oh, sure.  No prob.  I'll talk to you later Wills."

With that the redhead made her way up the steps and down the hall that would lead to a sleeping vampire. She stood outside the door for a minute, working up her courage to enter.  Finally she straightened her shoulders and quietly opened the door, moving into the room.  Retracing her steps from earlier, Willow found herself standing next to Angel's bed.

He looked so pale, a sheet pulled halfway up his bare chest.  He looked so. . .dead!  The whole not breathing thing might have something to do with it, she thought.

Moving closer still, Willow sat on the edge of the bed and rested a hand on the cool shoulder nearest her. "Angel?" She called softly

When she got no response, she tried a bit louder. "Angel?"

Still, not a single flickering eyelash from the vamp lying next to her.  Tightening her grip slightly, Willow began to lightly shake the broody one's shoulder as she called his name louder.  "Angel!"

The next thing the hacker knew she was lying on her back with a vamped out demon sitting astride her in black silk boxers with its hand around her neck.

'Note to self,' she thought inwardly.  'Never startle a sleeping vampire.'

As Angel's mind cleared and he awakened further, he became aware of the warm soft body beneath him. "Willow?" His gameface receded until once again coffee brown eyes were looking down at the girl.

The swift shift in position had not only startled Willow, but made her head pound even more and her queasy stomach lurch.  "It's time Angel," she whispered softly.  "I need you."  With those words, she arched her neck and turned her head to the side, offering her blood to the demon, to the man above her.

~Part: 4~

Angel, still not completely awake, looked down at the young woman lying beneath him, giving herself over to him.  Her face was turned and her back and neck arched, revealing the pale smooth column marred only by the vilnavon's bite.  He leaned forward, slipping an arm beneath Willow's back then sliding it up to rest between her shoulder blades, his other hand moving up to softly stroke her hair back from her face and neck.  Moving closer still, he opened his mouth and used his tongue to search for the twin puncture wounds.

It was with a muffled moan that she felt his canines gently seek the openings in her pale flesh and slowly sink into her.  Wrapping her arms around Angel, Willow let herself float off into a sea of sensation.  The sounds of his suckling and growls and her whimpers and gasps seemed loud in the dark room.

Angel was drowning again.  The warm elixir that was Willow slid down his throat arousing his demon to no end.  It crowed in delight, urging him on.  The vampire felt himself hardening, felt the young witch's hands sliding up over his back, lightly touching bare skin, occasionally raking her nails along his flesh, pressing herself to him in his loose embrace.

He felt her hands slide down and lightly trace along the edge of his boxers' waistband and heard her soft mewl of pleasure.  The redhead's arousal filled the air around him and he inhaled deeply of it.  With a rumbling growl that built in his chest before finding its way to his lips, Angel pulled Willow up into a sitting position, pressing her tightly to him and burying his fangs deeper in her willing flesh.

The redhead gasped in surprise and pain as she felt his razor sharp teeth tearing through more muscle, driving deeper into her tender neck.  She also became aware of the dark vampire moving against her.  Willow felt Angel's hard arousal, his hips thrusting against hers in a slow sensual rhythm.  His one hand found its way beneath her top and was tracing patterns along the skin of her warm lower back

The witch felt his chest vibrating against hers and tried to place the sound coming out against her neck. Was that purring?  Did vampires purr?  Wouldn't it be more of a happy growl?  Could there be such a thing as a happy growl?  Hmm, wouldn't that be kind of an oxymoron?  Willow was distracted from her thoughts by his wandering hand as it slide up her waist, lightly brushing the side of her breast.  Purr, growl, what did it matter.  Too many thoughts.  Ohhhh, that was nice.  Feeling good, thinking bad.

Then he was gone.

Willow's eyes popped open more from the loss of the vamp latched onto her neck than the sounds of crashing furniture.  What she saw began to draw her out of the daze she was in.  Spike stood next to the bed, fists clenched and in gameface as he glared down at his grand-sire who was sprawled on the floor against his dresser.  Willow's blood stained his lips and elongated fangs and the dark vampire's state of arousal was clearly evident against the silk boxers he still wore.

"You bastard!" Spike ground out.  "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

Angel growled at his insolent grand-childe, his demon still very much to the forefront at this point in time.  "Someone needs a lesson in manners.  Didn't anyone ever tell you to knock before entering a man's bedroom, boy?"

"It's a good thing I didn't or we would've had Angelus running around LA, happily drinking down half of the Screen Actor's Guild!"  Spike took a whiff and smelled a new scent, one he hadn't known in decade.  With a low growl he charged Angel, pulling him to his feet and slamming him against the wall, pressing his face close until they were nose to nose.

"Spike!"  Willow's cry of alarm finally made its way past her shock.  She was embarrassed that her body had once again betrayed her, but right now she was more concerned about the scene unfolding before her. "Spike, don't!  Let him go."

Two sets of golden eyes turned on her and she squirmed uncomfortably.  "Don't hurt him," she whispered softly, unable to meet the dark vampire's gaze.  "It wasn't all his fault."

The blond turned back to his grand-sire.  "She doesn't know does she?  She has no idea what you've done to her!  I should stake your arse right now," he raged.

"Spike, what are you talking about?"  The witch was confused.  What had Angel done?  He'd drained some blood.  Well, ok, so his hands had slipped a little. And, um, ok, so his hips had been slipping a *lot* in a very pleasant way against her.  What did he mean 'done to her'?

"He's claimed you, Red!"  Spike spat out the words like a curse.  "Bloody poof sank his fangs into your neck and claimed you for his.  I warned you Angelus. What was one of the last things I said to you?"

Angel's demon receded as the vampire's words penetrated.  He'd claimed Willow?  "Oh, God," he whispered.  His eyes darted to the frowning witch kneeling on his bed.  He could see the instant clarity set in.  She hadn't been sneaking peeks at the Watcher's diaries for four years for nothing.  He knew she understood what happened with a vampire claimed someone.

"Oh, Goddess!"  Her eyes widened and she reached up to cover the still leaking wound on her neck.  She felt it throb deep where Angel had driven his fangs, thus claiming her.  "Why?" she asked softly.

The dark vamp looked guilt ridden as his coffee colored eyes raised from her neck to meet her penetrating gaze.  "I'm so sorry, Willow.  I don't know why.  No, that's not true.  I do know why.  I lost control, Angelus took over and he wants you.  I never meant for this to happen.  I would never intentionally hurt you."

"I know that Angel."

"Oh puh-leeeze!"  Spike gazed between the two of them in disbelief and rolled his eyes.  "Luv, don't let his act fool you.  Bastard knew exactly what he was doing. You can't just *not realize* you're claiming someone."  He squeezed Angel's throat and slammed his head against the wall.  "I told you to leave her alone!  She's mine!"

His demon realizing a challenge to his claim, Angelus pushed his gameface forward again.  "Too late boy. She's mine now.  Can't claim her if you don't have your bite, now can you?"  The demon chuckled at the rage clouding the blonde's face.

Willow looked on in shock, forgotten by the two dueling vamps.  Spike wanted her?  Angelus wanted her? What about Angel?  Oh, this could be bad. Angelus-on-a-rampage-in-Disneyland bad.  The two were in each other's faces by now arguing over who she belonged to.  She felt an anger build up from the pit of her stomach.  Putting her fingers to her lips, she let loose a shrill whistle.

Both men turned to look at her in surprise, having forgotten her presence completely.  Each gulped as they saw the anger radiating from the witch and felt her power vibrating through the air.

"I belong to *no one*!" she gritted out through clenched teeth.  "You can both just go. . .go. . .go claim yourselves and get back to me when you decide to act like two grown vampires.  Then maybe we can discuss this like rational human be. . .well, like adults.  Until then, I'm leaving!"

With that the witch stalked out of the room.

"Well, now you did it!  Pissed off Red but good."

"Me?  You're the one coming in, throwing me around. . ."

"Like you didn't deserve it!"

"Mind your manners, boy!"

"Or what?"

Willow rolled her eyes and moved across the hall, slamming her door behind her.  How the hell was she going to get through the next few days with those two? And what the hell was she going to do about Angel's claim?  Why couldn't she have just been bitten by a nice normal vampire?

~Part: 5~

Willow threw herself onto her bed.  She was exhausted. It had been a very long twenty-four hours.  Actually the first twelve hadn't been that bad, the last twelve, well they were a royal pain in the you know what.

The redhead reached over to the night stand for some tissues.  The bite was still bleeding and she didn't really feel like getting blood all over the pillow and sheets.  The events of the night played over in her head.

How did she get herself into these situations?  After all she's just a nice normal formerly Jewish wiccan who happens to be best friends with the Slayer on the Hellmouth. . .oh, right.  That's how.  She frowned up at the ceiling, imagining that was the way toward the Powers That Be.  "What did I ever do to you?  Haven't I helped fight evil?  Haven't I helped prevent apocalypses, or would that be apocalypi?" She wondered.  "I've fought alongside the Slayer and, yeah, ok, not the best at hand to hand, but with the research!  I'm all about the research and that helps Buffy a lot, ya know?  Know what it is and how to kill it.  Finding out the what and the how is my job.  I've been kidnapped. . .four times!  By Malcolm, the Master's goons, Spike and Faith.  Almost five times if Riley's team would've had any say in the matter last semester.  I helped defeat Adam, ooohhh, and the mayor.  I gave Angel back his soul, so I use my powers for good.  Ok, so that Will Be Done spell kinda not so good, but it wasn't intentional.  And I turned down D'Hoffryn, so see, not a demon, even though I've had offers.  Well, two actually.  Spike was the other, but well, he tried but couldn't, ya know, because of the whole chip thing.  So I guess you were  looking out for me that night.  So why not last night?  Was it the morgad root thing, 'cause honest, I *was* going to pay for it as soon as I got to the ATM. . ."

Her personal tirade against the Powers were interrupted by a light knocking on her door.  Sighing her frustration, she slid off her bed and swung the door open to see Spike standing there looking sheepish.  "I'm in the middle of a private conversation here, Spike.  What do you want?"

The blond vamp frowned and looked past her into the room.  Who was she talking to?  He had just left Peaches or else he would have thought his grand-sire had snuck off to finish what that bastard Angelus had started.

"Uh, pet, there's no one in there with you.  Can't sense a heartbeat at all 'sides yours."

"They don't have to be here.  They're listening.  They know I'm mad at them."

"Uh, right."  Spike looked at his witch like the last scene between the three of them might have pushed her over some unseen edge.  His eyes caught sight of her hand pressing a bloody tissue to her neck.  "Having problems getting it to stop?" He motioned with his head to her neck.

"What? Oh!  I forgot about it, actually."  She pulled the tissue away and walked back to look in the dresser mirror.  Sure enough, a small trickle was still leaking forth.  "Yea, I guess it is."

She turned to speak to Spike again only to run right into his chest.  Willow hadn't realized he was standing so close.  Not that he had a reflection to give him away in the mirror or anything.  Looking up, her gaze locked with vibrant blue eyes inches away from her own.

"Take care of that for ya, luv?" He murmured seductively.

A shiver ran down her spine at the sound of his voice, the deep timbre doing things to her that it shouldn't. Oh, Goddess, she was going to burn in hell.  She was sure of it.

"Ok," she whispered, her eyes never wavering from his hypnotic baby blues.  Her inner voice was screaming at her 'Ok?  Ok!?  Are you insane?  Ok, Spike,' it mimicked.  'Sure.  Go ahead and suck some blood.  Help yourself.  Belly up to the bar, drinks are on me.  Oh, that's right drinks *are* me!'

She squealed slightly as she felt strong hands on her waist lifting her up to sit on the edge of the dresser.  Those same hands slide down over her hips and onto her thighs, thumbs slipping between to pull her legs apart.

"Spike, what. . .?"

"Just relax, Red.  Let the Big Bad fix you up right."

Oh, there was that voice again.  He was a very, very bad Big Bad to talk to her like that.  She watched through hazy green eyes as he move to stand between her legs, one hand sliding up, retracing its path to her waist and around to her lower back, then she was being pulled forward against him.

"Spike,. . ."

"Shhhh, luv."  He lowered his mouth and began licking up the trickle of blood from her warm skin.  "Don't think Angelus got to finish what he started.  Mind if I take a little more?  You can let me know if I start to take too much, course the bloody chip will probably let me know before you could."

"Umm," her eyes fluttered closed as she felt the vibrations from his words teasing her collarbone, "ok. Sure.  Go ahead, but not too much."

"Course not, luv.  Just enough."  He kissed the mark on her neck, resisting the urge to cringe at the smell of Angel's claim.  He could put up with it if it meant tasting his witch again.  He held the back of her head and tilted it, sliding soft cool lips over her flesh, tongue laving the area around the bite.

At the first tug against her neck, the redhead moaned. His lips suctioned tightly around the punctures and a hand ran up and down her back, occasionally whispering soft indistinguishable words of comfort.

The witch's hands slid beneath his black T-shirt, caressing, tracing circles all along the length of his back, pulling him tighter to her.  Willow felt the heat building in her center again.  Felt herself trembling at Spike's touches, his caresses.  She let out a deep moan as Spike ground his denim clad erection against her.

The blond vampire was happily suckling away when he felt the redhead's hands slide out from under his shirt to move down and cup his arse, pulling him tightly to her.  Her head fell back against his hand, cool fingers tangling in her red tresses.  "Spiiiike." His name, nothing more than a breathy whisper in his ear, but it had the power to make the vampire shudder with desire.

"Red." He growled, morphing into his demon.  The pressure against her neck grew, his gentle sucking changing to deep draining pulls against her flesh.  He reached down and grasped the round globes of her ass and lifted her from the dresser, the witch's legs instinctively wrapping around his waist to balance herself, her arms draping about his shoulders.

Spike carried Willow to her bed and laid her back against the pillows, moving down on top of her, not once breaking their embrace.  He shuddered with the urge to sink his fangs into her flesh, to claim her as his own and obliterate his grand-sire's earlier marking.  Her fingers were tangled in his hair again, holding his mouth to her bite, her back slightly arched as she pressed up against him.

The blonde's hand slid up to gently cup one soft breast, thumb brushing across the cloth covered nipple and feeling her instant response to his touch.  He rocked against her, pressing his arousal into the damp denim of her jeans.  "Willoooowwww," he moaned.

The redhead's hand had since moved back down to squeeze the firm cheek of his ass, arching up against him as they ground together sensually.  Her head was spinning.  What was he doing to her?  What was happening?  She felt his fingers lightly pinching her taut nipple through her top and groaned.

Leaning her head down she nibbled at the vamp's neck softly before biting down on a small section just behind his ear, not enough to break skin, but enough to leave a small bruise.  Spike growled and couldn't resist the urge any longer.  He dragged his sharp teeth along her skin and found the entrance wounds. Moaning, he sunk his fangs into Willow, desperate to claim her for his own.  The pain hit as his chip went off, but the demon drove on.

Spike saw bright lights behind his closed eyes as the pain exploded in his skull and he whimpered in agony. With one last burst of determination he pushed deeper into fresh muscle, obscuring Angel's mark and making her his own.

Willow gasped, realizing what he was doing when she felt him dig deeper into the wound.  She looked down at the form that had collapsed on top of her and was drawing in deep unneeded breaths to steady itself as he lapped at the trickling wound.

"Spike?  Are you ok?"  She lightly brushed his bleached hair with her fingertips.  "What were you thinking?" She asked softly.  "You know you can't bite me.  How bad is it?"

Spots danced in front of his witch's face as he tried to focus.  "Couldn't let the poof have you," he mumbled, disoriented.  "You belong with me.  You're my witch, my Red.  Mine!"

He snuggled close, cushioning his head on her soft breasts, body pinning her to the mattress as he lay between her spread thighs. . . and proceeded to passed out.

"Spike?" Willow asked softly.

"Spike?"  The witch looked down at the blond vamp with worry plain on her face.  "I hope you're ok," she whispered.  "But you're not dust, so I guess you'll survive."

Taking a deep breath of her own, Willow wrapped her arms around the unconscious blond and gazed up at the ceiling and the Powers again.  "You'd better believe that our little conversation is not over by a long shot, buccos!  You have some serious explaining to do, but I'm just too tired to deal with you right now." Closing her eyes, she drifted into an exhausted slumber, cursing the Powers That Be in her dreams.

~Part: 6~

Later that afternoon, Angel made his way down to the lobby, finding Cordelia sitting at the front desk reading the latest Variety.  He looked around the lobby for a certain bleached blond grand-childe of his, but Spike was nowhere in sight.

"Delia, have you seen Spike today?"

Without looking up from the latest gossip on Ben Affleck, the seer shrugged.  "I haven't seen tall blond and homicidal at all since he got here.  I did see Willow this morning, but then she had to go up and get you to do your impersonation of the Red Cross." She finally put the star-studded rag down and looked at her boss.  "How did that go?  Is it painful for her Angel?"  The brunette actually looked worried for the petite redhead.

"Uh,. . ." If the vampire could have blushed he would have.  He didn't think that Cordy and Wes needed to know exactly what had transpired this morning.  *He* wasn't even sure what happened between himself and Willow this morning.  "I don't think it hurts too much."

"You are being careful with her, right?  Being gentle? Because the last thing we need around here is a pissed off slayer barging through our newly repaired front doors when her best friend calls to tell her you chomped down on her neck and gnawed on her."

"I didn't chomp and I don't gnaw."  Angel rolled his eyes at the former cheerleader.  "And yes, I'm trying to be gentle.  I don't want to hurt Willow.  Why would I want to?"

"I'm not saying you want to, but it has been a long time since you've fed from a human.  I just thought maybe you might get all bloodlusty or something and if you got a little rough. . ."

"Bloodlust!"  Angel's eyes lit up at the word.  Could that be an explanation for his behavior?  The bloodlust got the better of him maybe?

"Yeeeaaahhh, ooooookay."  Cordy looked at the vamp like he was a few cards short of a full deck. "Bloodlust is a bad thing, Angel, remember?" she explained in a patronizing voice.  "Bloodlust bad. Valuable employees and friends good.  Taking bloodlust out on valuable employees and friends very, very bad."

"What?" Angel's attention was drawn back to the girl at the counter.  "Right.  Bloodlust bad.  I, uh, think I need to find Willow.  See how she's feeling." Looking at his watch, Angel realized the redhead would probably be due for another 'session' shortly, as he had started calling the drainings internally.

He started up the steps toward Willow's room.  He wondered where Spike was.  He had already checked the room he showed the blond this morning, but he wasn't there.  Cordy had apparently been sitting downstairs most of the morning and afternoon and Angel hadn't heard any screaming or yelling, so his grand-childe's wave of annoyance hadn't trickled downstairs yet.

He stopped outside Willow's door and heaved a sigh. What was he supposed to say to the girl?  'Gosh, Willow, I'm really sorry I claimed you.  Don't worry about it.  It just means you're my property and forms a bond between us that will last all of eternity or until one of us dies.  On the plus side, no vamp with half a brain will try to snack on you again once they smell my claim, because they'll know you belong to a master vampire, especially if I keep the mark fresh.'

He winced to himself.  No, that probably wasn't a good way to word it.  He'd probably be better off just to wing it.  Willow was an easygoing girl.  If she can forgive him for trying to kill her and all the scoobies, what's one little claiming amongst friends, right?  Hmm, he didn't think that logic would work either.  She'd been pretty angry this morning.  Angel hoped she'd had enough time to cool down.

He knocked on the door, waiting for a response.  He could sense her heartbeat in the room.  He finally realized that he also felt another presence.

"Spike!"  He growled and used his skeleton key to open the door, making his way in.  Angel viewed the scene in front of him.

Willow and Spike, both fully clothed, thank God, lay on her bed.  Willow laid on her back, arms wrapped around the blond as he lay snuggled upon her breasts, one hand cupping one of the soft mounds, the other resting on the witch's hip.  They appeared to be sleeping, quite comfortably, with each other.

Angel took a breath to speak, to wake them up and check on Willow when he noticed it.  He didn't know how.  He didn't know why, but he knew the what, the who and the when.  Sometime after the big blowup in his bedroom this morning, Spike had claimed Willow, overriding his own marking of the witch.

The dark vampire reached down and grabbed his impudent grand-childe by the neck and dragged him away from the still sleeping woman.  Spike awoke with a pounding headache, eyes flashing golden at being torn away from the warm embrace of his Red.  He looked up into the angry face of Angelus.

Willow murmured in her sleep as the weight holding her to the bed was pulled away and she rolled over onto her side.

"What? . . .How? . . .You. . .Chip. . .Bit!"

"Showing off your new vocabulary skills, Peaches?  Not too impressive, if you don't mind my sayin'."

"You claimed her!" He hissed angrily, trying not to disturb the sleeping redhead.

Spike looked at Angel blankly for a minute, then the memories came flooding back.  His Red, writhing underneath him, biting him.  Then his fangs slid into her, the pain, and driving his canines deeper into the bite to obliterate his grand-sire's claim.  Next came the explosion in his head and Willow caressing his hair so softly, gently, soothing him.

He grinned from ear to ear, pleased with himself.  "I guess I did at that!"  His chest puffed out like a strutting peacock as he smirked at Angel.

"How?  Your chip?  My claim?"

"Bloody chip still works just fine, ya big Poof.  No need to worry about that.  Think my head about exploded when I bit into her.  And as for your claim. Gone.  She's mine now!"

"How did you . . .?"

"It's all about who's got the bigger set of fangs, mate.  You know that.  I just happened to bite deeper than you did.  And don't think about tryin' to take her away from me either.  I won't stand for it Peaches.  I mean it!"  He frowned at the brunette and reached into his pocked for a smoke, only to find them all crushed.  He threw the pack onto the night stand in frustration.

"Why did you claim her Spike?"

"I told you already," the blond said through gritted teeth.  "She's mine!"

"Why?  Her power?  Is that it?  Or did you just do it to tick off Buffy and Giles?  Because you know that's exactly what will happen once they find out."

"Oh, like your claiming your true love's best friend would go over like gangbusters?"  Spike made air quotes when he said 'true love's'.  "Gimme a break, mate.  You can lie to all your little human friends, but you can't lie to me.  Angelus claimed her because he was always a sucker for the innocents.  Look at what he did to Dru.  I'm not gonna let you do that to Red."

Angel looked closely at the blond.  "Do you love her?" He asked softly.

The questions sent a shock wave through his undead body.  Love?  *Did* he love the witch?  She was nice to him, a bleedin' demon.  Witch had the biggest heart and biggest green eyes he'd ever seen.  A bloke could get lost in them if he stared long enough.  He loved to tease her just to see that blush spread across her cheeks and down her throat.  He always wondered how far down the blush went.  But love?  "Sod off!  What I feel for the chit is none of your business!"  He glowered at Angel.

"I'm making it my business," the brunette hissed at the blond.

A sleepy voice from the bed interrupted their argument.  "Isn't this where the two of you left off this morning?  Didn't I tell you both to just grow up already," the witch grumbled as she moved to sit up in bed.  Spike sat down next to her, helping her up against the headboard.

"How are you feelin', luv?  Didn't take too much earlier, did I?"

"Wait, you said it hurt like hell when you bit her. You fed from her too?"

Spike looked up at Angel.  "Sucked, literally.  No fangs involved."

Willow smiled up at the blond.  "I'm ok.  I've got a headache, but it looks like it might be time again soon."  She frowned as she looked at her watch, mentally calculating the time since her last feeding. She should have about a half hour until she began feeling like complete and total crap again.

Spike looked up at Angel.  "I *will* be there when you feed from her.  I'm not leaving her alone with you again."

Angel didn't know whether to be angry at the blonde's arrogance or relieved that there would be someone there to monitor his session with the redhead, so he just decided to go the neutral path.  "I have no problem with that.  Willow?  Is that ok with you?"

"What?  Yeah, sure."  She looked between the two vamps, noting the tension in the room.

Angel looked back at his grand-childe.  "Does she know?"

"That I claimed her?  I think she has a pretty good idea, don't you luv?"

Willow looked peeved.  "Yes, Spike.  I kinda figured it out.  Sort of easy to recognize after you've been claimed once.  But you guys have to stop with the claiming already."  Now she was looking back and forth between the two men in the room.  "This is insane.  I don't know why either of you would want to claim me. I'm just Willow."

Spike frowned at her self-derision.  "You're not *just* anything, luv.  You're Willow.  And that's more than enough reason."

The redhead blushed at the rare compliment from the chipped vamp.  "Uh, thanks Spike, I think.  Ummm, there's something else I wanted to talk to you two about."  This time the witch's blush burned so brightly it looked like sunburn.  She refused to meet either of their eyes.

"What is it Willow?" Angel asked gently, sensing her embarrassment.

"I just want you both to know that, well, since the whole feeding and sucking thing started, I haven't exactly been myself.  And I don't know why it happens, and I can't explain it.  But I know I've been acting rather, um, un-Willowy with you both.  I don't understand, but when I feel the blood being sucked from my neck, and I know it doesn't sound very erotic put in those terms, but it is. . .erotic that is.  And I just want to apologize, because I really try to behave, but I just can't control it, and I'm so sorry. There must be something wrong with me."

By the time she finished her patented Willow-babble, and found the courage to look up at Angel and Spike, she had tears in her eyes.  She felt humiliated but had felt the need to be as up front with them about this situation as possible.

Angel felt a pang in his undead heart for the girl and moved to sit on the bed at her feet.  "Willow, we're all dealing with an unknown situation here.  Just because you find it, uh. . ."

"Exciting?" Spike supplied.

". . .when you're being fed upon doesn't mean there's something wrong with you.  For a vampire, feeding is almost as . . .ummm. . ."

"Arousing?" Spike once again offered.

". . .as actual sex.  It's a very, er. . ."

"Sensual" Spike rolled his eyes at his poofy grand-sire's fear of plain speaking.

". . .experience.  Sometimes for the victim as well as the vampire."

"Really?"  Willow looked hopefully between the two. It would make her feel so much better if she wasn't the only one in history turned on by a vampire's bite.

"Poof and I are trying to be gentle with you too, pet. We don't want to hurt you, so we're trying to make it as easy as possible for you."  Spike reached out and softly stroked her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

While the redhead felt relief at their words, she was also feeling her body reacting to the excess blood buildup.  She heaved a sigh, knowing it was time again.  She looked at Angel with trepidation on her face.  "Well, are you hungry?  Ready for your late afternoon snack?"

"If you think you're ready?"  Angel moved to the other side of the bed and slipped into gameface.

Willow took a deep steadying breath, then felt Spike's arm wrap around her shoulders as he leaned in close to whisper in her ear.  "Just like they used to tell all the young chits in my day, Red.  Just lay back and think of England."

So, as Angel's teeth once again slipped into her bite, Willow gripped the comforter tightly and thought to herself.  "England, England, England. . ."

~Part: 7~

Willow sat there, thinking very unsexy thoughts about England. 'England, right.  Cricket. . . St. Paul's Cathedral. . . Queen Elizabeth, oh good one!  Prince Charles, hey even better.  Big Ben, oh no, bad. Phallic symbol.  Ummm, hurry, think, oh those funny guards with the big furry hats. . .'

Angel was trying to maintain his own detachment from the situation. One hand held the witch's hair away from her neck, the other rested on the mattress on her other side.  As he suckled at the wound, his thoughts were more along the line of 'Chaos demon, dripping slime from its antlers. . . Delia's coffee. . . Wesley in a speedo. . . Xander in a speedo, ok maybe that one went a little too far.  My stomach's a little on the queasy side now. . . A Grekinar demon covered in its own yellow mucus.  Ahhh, much better. . .'

Spike for his part, held Willow's head to his shoulder, one hand reaching down to tear hers away from the sheets and hold it gently, rubbing circles on the back of it.  He kept a close eye on his grand-sire.  So far the Poof was controlling himself remarkably well.  The blond could appreciate the effort it took.  He knew what Willow's blood tasted like.  On a scale of 1 to 10, her life's essence was an 11.  Her hand clenched at his like a lifeline. Trying to hold on to some semblance of sanity as Angel's cool lips pressed against her skin.

It was interesting actually, how she could feel his fangs sliding in and out of her neck with each draw of his mouth, allowing the blood to flow more freely. Hmmm, it was almost an imitation of. . . Oh no!  Not going there.  Not again.  Not this witch.  Oh pooh! Too late.  Her breathing had increased and she felt her body tingle below her waist and her nipples pebble as she focused now on the sounds of Angel feeding from her, the wet suckling noise he made as he drew the blood from her body.

Spike sensed the change.  Hell, he could smell her. He tilted her head up to look at him, urging her to open her eyes.  "How're you doin', pet?"

Glazed over green eyes opened slowly to find herself being pinned in place by Spike's intense gaze.  "I'm fine, thanks. . .I think. . . I mean, . . .ohhhhh Goddess!" she moaned in a combination of frustration and desire.

Both men felt themselves harden at her words, at the tone of her voice.  Angel let forth a growl that he'd been holding in as he drank eagerly from the redhead, leaning in closer to her body.  Spike lightly touched his lips to those of his witch, meant merely to be a reassuring peck, but changed as Willow's lips parted and pressed tightly up to his.  Her warm mouth opened like a flower to him, so the blond tangled his fingers in her red locks and began an earnest assault on the young woman.  His tongue slid in, plundering her mouth, tasting her, tangling with her own.

Willow pulled her hand from Spike's grasp and used it to pull him closer as their kiss escalated in passion. Angel opened golden eyes to see his grand-childe and the redhead involved in a heated embrace and groaned against her soft skin as he smelled the arousal of all three of them filling the air in the room.  The dark vampire's hand resting on the bed slid up to rest on Willow's upper thigh, lightly squeezing and massaging the tense muscles there.  He could smell and taste Spike's claim on the girl, but unlike the blond, Angel found it to be intoxicating.

Spike's hand slid down from his witch's face to lightly tease over her collarbone, tracing patterns only known to him.  Then he reached for the first button on her blouse.  He opened the first several until he parted the thin dark green cotton blouse, allowing his fingers to slip in and squeeze her breast.  He growled lightly as he encountered her bra, but moved to slip his cool digits beneath the satin of it until he found her warm taut nipple.  He proceeded to lightly pinch, tug and tease the sensitive nubbin until the redhead was writhing on the bed and arching into his touch.

Angel growled, feeling Willow moving beneath his lips, her fingers playing with the nape of his neck.  He crawled up further onto the bed, moving to straddle her thigh, grinding his erection mindlessly against it.  His free hand slipped between her thighs to cup the redhead's soft mound through her jeans.  He caressed and massaged her, rubbing the seam of her pants against her clit, feeling the warm aromatic dampness seep through the heavy material.  The witch ground up against his hand, soft gasps of pleasure escaping her mouth only to be captured by Spike's lips.

The chipped vamp was eager to feel Willow's touch and gently removed her fingers from his bleached locks, urging her hand lower down his body, guiding her to his swollen member pressing against his jeans.  Her fingers felt him through the black denim, tentatively sliding up and down, measuring his length, causing Spike to groan in ecstasy.

Three bodies writhed against each other on Willow's bed, shuddering at each touch and caress provided by the other.  The two vampires smelled her blood and lust, listened to the redhead's harsh breathing and racing heart, sensing she was close to exploding. Fiery green eyes opened, pinning Spike with their heat.  "Drink me," she commanded breathlessly against his mouth.

The blond moaned in frustration.  "Luv, you know I can't, unless Peaches moves his arse and let's me suck some of your lovely blood down."

Angel growled his disapproval of the suggestion, buried his face further into Willow's fragrant neck and gyrated his hips harder, rubbing his throbbing length against her knee.

"I invite you to drink me Spike," she said very clearly, emphatically.  "Please, try!" She cried softly as her throbbing center began to clench at Angel's insistent torturous touches.

An invite.  He was being invited to drink of his witch.  Blue eyes turned golden and smooth forehead became ridged.  Fangs protracted and he drew back, ripping her blouse from her shoulder, then sinking into the softest, palest skin he'd ever had the privilege of violating.  And then. . .no pain.  Spike groaned when he realized Willow's invitation, her need to feel him drinking from her, overrode the chip's programming.  He drew deeply of her blood, rocking his hips, reaching down and pressing her fingers to his pulsing member, grunting against her warm flesh as he came.  His body trembled from bleached hair to booted feet with pleasure as he spilled his cool seed within his jeans.

As Spike's fangs entered her shoulder and she felt the draw of two mouths upon her willing flesh, the redhead shuddered.  Her body contracted its own release against Angel's probing fingers.  She cried out her delight, her body bucking on the bed, clutching and squeezing at Spike's spasming shaft.  The movement caused her leg to rub tightly against Angel's straining member and the dark vampire roared his release against her neck as he ground harshly against her knee and thigh.

The three collapsed together on the bed.  Willow looked down to find herself the center of a vamp sandwich, one on each side laving at their bite marks, sipping at the trickling blood quite contentedly.  She was floating on a sea of pleasurable sensations.  Her mind was detached from her body and all she could do at that moment was feel.  She pulled them both close, snuggling between them, feeling heavy arms wrap about her waist and legs drape over hers as they sank into a sexually induced slumber, bodies sated, minds not ready to face the consequences of their actions just yet.

*****************************************

Downstairs Cordelia laid down her Cosmo to answer the ringing phone.

"Angel Investigations.  We help the. . .Oh, it's you. Hey, Buffy.  What's going on? . . . She didn't? . . . And she was supposed to call you when? . . . Well, I'm sure she just forgot. . . In case you didn't notice, the girl's kind of got other things on her mind right now, like the fact that my boss has started looking at her like an all you can eat vampire buffet. . . Of course I'm joking.  He's really worried about her, but he promised me just a little while ago that he's trying to be extra gentle when he munches on her. . .No, of course not *literal* munching. . . Look, why don't I just take the phone up to her and if she's not sleeping you can talk to her.  If she is, I'll have her call you back when she wakes up, ok?"

The seer was already halfway down the hall to Willow's room and rolling her eyes at the Slayer's mother hen attitude.  "Buffy, don't worry about it.  Wesley's got calls in all over the world looking for the cure for this thing.  We'll have Willow back on the Hellmouth, all nice and excess blood free in no time flat.  Trust me, there are no problems here."

Cordelia saw the half opened door of Willow's room and peeked her head in.  Her eyes widened at the sight of the two vamps wrapped around the witch, obvious wet stains on the fronts of their pants, two bite marks now marring the redhead's neck and shoulders and contented smiles on each of their faces as they slept.

"Buffy, I've got to go. . . No, she's sleeping. She'll call you back later.  Bye."  Without giving the slayer time to protest, the ex-cheerleader hung up and took off like a bat out of hell for downstairs and skidded to a halt in the former watcher's office.

"Wesley, we've got a problem!"

~Part: 8~

Angel was dreaming, which was unusual in and of itself.  Vampires don't usually dream, unless it's to occasionally relive torturing, maiming, raping or draining of a particularly satisfying kill.  But this was a vampire's version of a nightmare.  He dreamt of running through the woods, hearing voices in his head, screams of damnation surrounded him.  The vampire broke through into a clearing and dropped to his knees as the powerful voice of an old woman shattered the night.  "Acum!  Acum!  Acum!!"  Then a pain was ripping though his undead body, something was being driven into his mind and body, and his demon hissed and snarled, backing away in anger and with no small amount of fear.

The scene changed suddenly and he was at the old factory, battling Buffy, taunting her.  Swords clashed and he began to get the upper hand.  Then suddenly he was on his knees when that same pain slammed into his very core, only this time it was a young voice he heard cursing him.  Willow's voice as she roared the same words the gypsy had so many years ago.  He could see the frail redhead, sitting in a hospital bed, Cordy waving smoking sage as she walked about the room, Oz holding a bowl, both looking at the redhead in confusion as she collapsed back against the bed, pale and trembling.

His dream shifted again, viewing his last encounter with Spike and Willow as if from above, watching the three of them move together with a frenzied passion, almost as if he were a spectator.  He could taste her blood flooding his mouth again, feel her warm pounding pulse beneath his lips.  Angel felt her fingers sliding along his neck, urging him on, holding him close.  He could feel his fingers manipulating her wet core, bringing her to a quivering release.  The scent of their arousal and Willow's blood overloading his senses as he watched his body grind itself against the redhead's thigh, felt his orgasm shatter throughout his body once more, then he was floating higher, out of the hotel and rocketing toward the stars.

His dreamscape became bright, full of light and warmth.  Angel hadn't felt this warm and comforted since he had been human.  He looked around, then up, eyes widening as he felt the warmth of the sun shining down upon him.  The vampire had the sudden urge to seek cover before he self-combusted, but he felt no pain.  His skin didn't burn, instead he tilted his head back, basking in the warm glowing light.

The voice from behind him startled Angel.  "Hey, Boss. How goes it on the lower plane?"

Spinning, he found himself face to face with his former employee.  "Doyle?"

Smiling Irish eyes peered back at the vampire.  "You were expecting Saint Peter maybe?"

Angel, confused, asked "I'm dead?"

"Nah!  Just messin' wi' ya."

"Where are we?"

"Higher plane, like I said."

"Yea, ok."  Angel looked around him in awe.  "Why am I here?  Why didn't I get fried to a crisp?"

"Mortal. . .and immortal restrictions have no place here.  As for why you're here, thought you might need a little assistance."

The dark vampire frowned at the half demon, taking in his white pants, shoes, shirt and leather coat.  White on white.  He cringed.  "Well, at least you're dressing a little better up here."

Doyle rolled his eyes.  "Not here to help you with fashion tips.  I'm here to help you with the redhead."

"Willow?  You can tell us how to cure her?"

Doyle snickered at the confused man before him.  "No, mate.  I'm here to help you with the redhead. . .and your soul.  You know?  That fickle little thing that only hangs around as long as you're miserable and brooding."

His words brought reality crashing down around Angel's head.  "Oh, God, did I lose my soul again?  Is that why I'm here?  I have to get back and warn them. Angelus will kill them all!  You have to send me back Doyle.  There has to be a way."  He grabbed the man by the lapels of his jacket and shook him, his brown eyes desperate.

"Watch the leather, boss!  And no, you haven't lost your soul.  The big wigs up here just thought you might want a little heads up, you know, considering you just got extremely cozy with the witch, thought you might be a little confused when you woke up and were still Angel and not Angelus."  He gently pried the fingers gripping his coat free and stepped back slightly.

Angel thought about it.  He *had* been happy, completely content, after the threesome he, Spike and Willow had engaged in.  Well, he didn't know if it could be considered a threesome since none of them even lost one article of clothing, but he had cum and cum hard.  When the redhead had wrapped her arm around him and pulled him close after they had all collapsed, he had curled himself around her, burying his face in her neck to lick at the trickle of blood still escaping from the bite.  He had actually felt himself purring as he drifted off to sleep.

"What does it mean?  Why didn't I lose my soul?"

"She's the one who gave it to ya."

Angel looked at Doyle impatiently.  "And? . . ."

"So she's the one who can break the curse, well, not the curse, curse, but the clause that goes along with the curse."

"So, you're saying there's some way for Willow to eliminate the happiness clause?  Does she have to do the incantation again without the clause?"

"Nope."

"Is there some sort of ritual we have to do?  I've had to feed from her because of the vilnavons' attack.  Is there some blood ritual involved?"

"Uh-uh."

"Is there some charm or ring that will prevent me from losing my soul?  Does she have to cast a binding spell on it maybe?"

"Strike three, mate.  You're out."

"Just spit it out, Doyle!"  The vampire rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh of exasperation.

"She has to give you happiness of her own free will, in pure love or friendship."

"Happiness?  But we just did. . ."

"Oh, please, boss!  Steamy as that little scene might have been, it wasn't about love and friendship.  It was about blood and lust.  Feisty little spitfire, she is, too."  He wiggled his eyebrows at the vampire and nudged him in the ribs with an elbow.

"Show some respect," he growled, pushing the half-demon's elbow away.

"Just messin' wit' ya mate, honest.  But do you get the picture yet?"

"You're saying that one way for my soul to become permanent is for Willow and I to. . .," the brunette waved his hands, trying to find the right words, "we have to make love?"

"Not happily ever after love, Angel."  Doyle looked at his former boss seriously for the first time.  "Just in love, freely given.  Whether that love is true and passionate, or the deep and loyal love of friendship, as long as the emotion is there, the little redhead can secure your soul."

The dark vampire stared at his friend in disbelief. "So, what?  I'm supposed to just say, 'Hey, Willow.  I have it on good authority that if you have sex with me in a purely friendly way, I won't have to worry about losing my soul again.'  That sounds like the worst pickup line ever!"

"Yeah, but the little cutie has a soft spot for you, I can tell.  Only problem you might run into is that blond.  Don't think he'll be likin' it much.  Time to head back boss.  Oh, and give the Princess my love and tell her I said sorry about the headaches, would ya?"

With those final words, Angel was sent hurtling through space back to earth.  He could see the lights of LA as he fell rapidly toward the Hyperion. Suddenly he was back in his body and the vampire began to awaken.

The first thing he noticed were muffled voices and soft sobs.  The second thing he noticed was that he couldn't move.  Angel tugged, trying to lower his arms from their raised position, but only felt the cold metal of shackles around his wrists.  His eyes popped open to take in his surroundings.  He still lay in Willow's bed, but he was chained to it now, spread eagle on the mattress.

Lifting his head, he could see four figures standing near the door.  Cordy's voice was shrill, even in whisper as she berated the sobbing redhead.  "What the hell did you think you were doing, Willow?  Hel-looo! Don't you remember, junior year, Angelus, uninvite spells - which reminds me, you do still remember those, right, because we are *so* going to my apartment next!"

"I'm so sorry.  I don't know what happened," Willow sniffled before hiccuping on another soft sob.  Oh, Goddess, had she really caused Angel to lose his soul again?  She would have to call Giles and get him to send the disc overnight or have someone bring it. Then he would want to know *why* the souled vampire was once again soulless.  Oh, no.  That just wasn't a question she was prepared to answer.  Maybe Spike could sneak back into Sunnydale and steal it from Giles' hiding place, in his sock drawer.

"Gee, I don't know what happened either," the seer replied sarcastically.  "I walk in to find you in the middle of a vamp sandwich and you're telling me you don't know what happened?  I know you're not super jaded, but come on Wills, I know you've heard of a menage trois.  And from the looks of things you were the one being menaged."  Cordy motioned to the two sets of bite marks on the redhead.

"Sod off, cheerleader!  Leave Red alone," Spike growled.  He put a comforting arm around his witch and pulled her close, gently rubbing calming circles on her back as the girl continued to cry.

"And *you*!"  The former May Queen turned her wrath on the bleached blond.  "Did you really want Angelus back so badly?  If I recall you're the one who helped send him to hell.  I don't think Angelus would be too happy with you if he got loose again."

"Don't want the bastard back anymore than you do. Bloody idiot wants to claim my witch and I'll let that happen over my undead body."

"That's all you care about?  That he wants to *claim* Willow.  I've got new for you Blondie, I've got my own neck to worry about here!"

The room erupted into a shouting contest between Spike and Cordelia, with Willow attempting to apologize over and over.  Wesley was the only one not involved in the arguing, which is probably why he was the only one that noticed the now awake vampire watching them with a great deal of amusement.

"Uh, everyone. . .," he tried to interrupt.

". . .don't know why my Sire'd want to drain you anyway.  Your blood probably tastes like some poofy drink with one of those little umbrellas in it."

"Hey, my blood would taste damn good, and don't you forget it!"

"Children!" The former watcher raised his voice and waved a hand between Spike and Cordelia before they came to blows.

"What!"  Both said simultaneously and glared at the man.

"He's awake."

Three new sets of eyes flew to the restrained vampire who wiggled his fingers at them.  "Hey guys.  Uh, want to let me go?"

"Ohhhhh, no!  No way, mister.  You're not fooling me with that little act."  Cordy moved cautiously toward her strung up boss.

"Delia, it's me, soul and all, I promise."

Willow shuffled forward, just as wary as the seer. "How do we know you're not lying, acting like Angel so we'll let you go, then you'll get all grr and go ahead and kill us all."

Spike snorted and walked nonchalantly over to the vampire, sitting down next to him on the mattress and pulling out a cigarette.  He looked the chained man up and down.  "Haven't seen you in this position in a good century.  Ahhh, those were the days.  Darla did love to play with her boy, didn't she?"

"Shut up Spike.  You can tell.  Look at me.  Tell them I'm me, I'm Angel."

The blond looked closely at the coffee brown eyes. Yep, there was Angelus. . .and Angel.  "He's still the Poof.  You can let him go Watcher."

"How can you be sure?"  Willow stepped closer, darting nervous and embarrassed glances at the dark vampire. Spike pulled her down on his lap and she landed with a little 'Eeep!'

"Can see the demon *and* the soul in his eyes. They're both there."

The redhead looked at the vampire curiously now.  "So, why didn't you lose your soul, Angel?  Oh, is it because we didn't, well, you know. . ." A blush stained her cheeks and she lowered her eyes shyly.

"No, Willow.  You made me very happy, but while I was sleeping, the Powers took me to a different plane and explained it all.  But I really don't think now's a good time to go into detail."  He looked pointedly at the others in the room.

"Oh, I see.  I'm not worthy enough to find out your little secret from the powers?  What am I, chopped liver?  I *am* the seer for the stupid Powers," she grumbled.

Angel's eyes softened as he looked at the girl. "Doyle sends his love, Delia, and says he's sorry about the headaches."

The brunette's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, then tears filled her eyes.  "Doyle? You saw him?"

"He was my messenger.  If it makes you feel any better, he's at least matching clothes now.  The Powers are dressing him better, even if it is all in white."

Wesley released the last manacle and Angel rubbed his wrists lightly.  They were all staring at him.  He knew they wanted answers, but he wasn't ready.  The vampire really wanted to process this information before approaching Willow and letting her know what the Powers had told him.

"Well?" Spike frowned at his grand-sire.

"All I can say right now is Willow can't cause me to lose my soul."

"Why is that, exactly?" Wesley asked.

"Because she's the one who gave it to me."

Spike's grip tightened on the redhead sitting on his lap.  He didn't like what Angel was implying.  He could shag Willow all he wanted and would remain all poofy.  His eyes turned golden as he looked down at the still sprawled vampire.  He rested his head on the witch's shoulder and glared at the dark vampire. "Mine!"

Angel rolled his eyes.  Doyle had been right.  This was going to be harder than he thought.

~Part: 9~

Willow glared at the blond.  "Spike, would you stop with the 'Mine!' stuff already?"

"Willow," the blond frowned at her, "whether you want to admit it or not, you *are* mine now."

Fire flashed in the redhead's eyes.  "And I told you before.  I belong to no one."

"I bloody well claimed you, Red!"

"Claimed?" Came Wesley's strangled cry.  "I thought he couldn't bite any longer."

"Can't.  But made an exception for the Witch."

"Don't worry, Wesley.  His head about ruptured in two when he did it," Willow reassured the former watcher.

"Then why did you do it?"  This was really quite fascinating, he thought to himself.  Why risk all that pain to claim the girl?

"Because she's mine and I wasn't lettin' Peaches over here claim her for himself."

"But Angel wouldn't. . ." Wesley began.

"He *did*!" Spike growled at the man.

Angel looked at the others, guilt written plainly on his face.  "I, uh, got a little carried away this morning during one of my sessions with Willow."

"Oh, dear," murmured the proper Brit.

"Claimed?!" Cordelia's screech made the vampires cringe as the noise echoed through their sensitive ears.  "Claimed, like for a mate?"

"No!"  Angel and Spike both yelled emphatically, but for different reasons, while Willow looked between the two of them, a little hurt.  What was wrong with having her as a mate?  Was she really that bad?

"Taking a mate involves an exchange of blood and some ritualistic vows.  I just claimed Willow, uh, as my property."  The dark vampire looked sheepishly about the room.

Cordelia turned her gaze to the blond still holding her former classmate on his lap.  "Then you claimed her?"

"Right."  Spike nodded his head in agreement.

"So who does she belong to?"

"Me!" "No one!" Spike and Willow's words clashed as did their heated gazes.

Then a soft voice broke the silence.  "Actually, she could belong to me, having the Right of the Sire."

Spike's gaze turned angrily to Angel. "You are *not* my true Sire, and you know it."

"As your Sire's Sire, I could and *you* know it, William," came the calm reply.

The blond vampire's grip tightened around Willow, as if afraid Angel would take her from him at any given moment.  Then the redhead was slapping at his arms, gasping for breath.  "Spike!  Air!  Breathe!"

He relaxed his grip and looked down at his witch. Yes, *his* witch.  "Sorry, luv."  He placed a soft kiss on her temple, shocking her into silence with his sudden display of tenderness.

Angel observed his grand-childe's behavior toward the petite redhead with a smirk on his face.  Oh, yes. Someone had it bad.  He had worried for Willow when he first suspected Spike's crush, but now, he thought it might not be a bad idea.  Spike wasn't like other vampires, never had been.  The way he'd looked after and pampered his princess, Dru, for decades was proof of that.  He himself had only let her turn the vampire in front of him because he was getting tired of dealing with the rantings about stars, dollies and tea parties.  He figured if he let her take a childe, someone else could take care of her, and Spike had done an admirable job of that.

The blond vamp stared his grand-sire straight in the eye.  Angel was dissecting him, picking him apart mentally, he could see it.  His softly spoken words were meant for Spike's ears only, being too low for the others to hear.  "Take good care of her."

The blond merely nodded, tucking the witch's head beneath his chin and making an equally soft vow to his grand-sire.  "I'll do nothing to hurt her."

Angel nodded his acceptance before turning his attention back to the others in the room.  "Wesley, have you heard any word from your contacts regarding the vilnavons?"

"Yes, well, there is a chap I know in Turkey who thought he remembered seeing something in a book of his, but he couldn't remember the details.  He was going to look and call me back, but other than that, nothing.  Most of what the others have heard or read is the same information we already have."

"Delia, any new cases come in today?"

"What? Uh, no."  The seer was still trying to mentally process everything she had seen and been told since she walked in on the two vampires and the witch earlier.  "Oh!  Willow, Buffy called.  She wants you to call her back.  Something about you were supposed to call her when you got here."

"Oh, no!  I completely forgot.  She must be worried sick.  I'd better go call her now."  The redhead tried to get up from the blonde's lap, but he held her in place.

Willow looked at Spike curiously.  "Hurry back, luv. I think we need to talk ourselves."

"I agree," she murmured.  She tried to stand up once again, only to be dragged back into the vampire's embrace for a soul searing kiss.  The redhead's eyes widened in surprise, then slowly fluttered closed, giving into the temptation to return his ardor, opening her lips to his probing tongue.

Wesley cleared his throat and began examining the paint job on the ceiling.  Cordy wrinkled her nose and let loose an "Eeeewwww!", and Angel merely chuckled at his grand-childe's possessive behavior.

When Spike finally released the witch's mouth, he took in her appearance.  Flushed face, breathing heavily, lips swollen and red, her hair mussed.  Yes, she looked right well kissed.  With another soft brush of his lips, the vampire stood her on shaking legs and gave her behind a pat.  "Better go call the Slayer before she steals the keys to the Watcher-mobile to speed up the highway.  Don't want her to come here and start staking me and Peaches for keeping you from her."

Willow giggled, trying to picture Buffy driving Giles' car, pedal to the metal, hell bent on making her way to LA.  "I think the top speed for Giles' car is 35 miles per hour.  I don't think she'd be getting here any time soon."

"He's still driving that old hunk of junk?" the seer's voice floated back into the room as the two girls made their way downstairs to the phone.

"Angel, I think we should discuss. . ."

"Not right now Wesley.  I need to talk to Spike, alone, if you don't mind."

"Right, well, uh, very well.  But I would like a word with you later concerning Miss Rosenburg."

"I'll catch up with you tomorrow, Wes."

"Fine.  I'll be in early.  We can speak then.  Well, I suppose I'll be leaving for the evening.  Goodnight."

"'Night Wes."  Angel watched the former watcher go, closing the door behind him.

"Bloody git's a bigger poof than you are."

"I don't want to talk about Wesley, Spike.  We need to discuss Willow."

A wary look crept back into the eyes of the blond. "Told ya I'd take care of her.  Look after her.  I don't mean the witch any harm."

"I asked you once, and I'm asking you again.  Do you love her?"

Spike's hard gaze wavered under the intense scrutiny of his grand-sire.  "I don't know.  I care for her. Didn't really think about it too much until we got here.  And when I smelled your claim on her. . .," the blond turned accusing eyes on the dark vampire.

"You got jealous?"

"You always get them all first, don't you Peaches?"

"What are you talking about, Spike?" Angel was genuinely confused.

"Dru.  Had her first.  You're her bloody Sire.  It was always 'Daddy this' and 'Daddy that'.  And then there was that little blond in Madrid in '92.  Remember her? The one with the eyes that were almost violet?  You *knew* I wanted her, but you took her and drained her anyway.  Then there was that pretty little brunette barmaid in '02 in Dublin.  The one with the smoky voice and the big blue eyes.  Turned her into a minion, you did before I could get to her.  Then you staked her a week later when she accidentally sat on one of your charcoals.  Said she smudged the bloody drawin' beyond repair.  And then you went and claimed Red!  She deserves better than you.  Hell, she deserves better than me, but this time I'm *not* going to let you get away with it.  I'm no young vamp anymore Angelus, I'm a fuckin' master vampire myself now and the witch is *mine*!"

By the time Spike had ended his tirade his eyes were glowing and his demon was pushed to the forefront as he glared at Angel.  The elder vampire calmly looked at the raging demon and asked softly once again.  "Do you love her?"

"Yes!  Is that what you wanted to hear?  Yes, I love the chit!  I love how she smiles, how her eyes light up when she laughs.  I love that she still treats me like a big bad even when I feel like less than one with this bloody chip in my head.  I love her for standing up for me to the Slayer and the Watcher.  I love how her blood tastes and how she moves against me when I drink from her.  I love the way she smells, the way she looked after I kissed her silly.  Yes, I love her. Are you happy now?"

Angel merely smiled at the blond and nodded.  "Happy that you want Willow?  No.  Satisfied that you'll take care of her?  Yes.  And you're right, neither of us deserve her, so just make sure you remember that."

Spike blinked in stunned confusion.  Did Peaches really just give him the go ahead to be with his witch?  "Right.  Will do."

The blond sat down on the bed again next to his grand-sire and pulled out a cigarette as he leaned against the headboard.  "So, what exactly did the Powers tell you when you went on your little dream trip, eh?"

Angel looked nervously at Spike.  "That was another thing I wanted to talk to you about, but I also need to speak to Willow."

"I'm here.  Red's not.  Spill your guts, mate."

"Well, it's like this. . ."

Willow's head jerked up to look toward the stairs when she heard Spike's usual curse of "BLOODY HELL!!!" ring through the hotel.

"I'm sorry Giles, what was that?  I, uh, didn't catch that last part."

"I asked how things were going there.  Has Angel been. . .careful with you?"

Willow blushed, glad her friends and Giles couldn't see it, because she knew it would give her away and then she'd be subjected to all kinds of questions, making the Spanish Inquisition look like a walk through the park and. . .oh, right.  He's waiting for an answer.  "Angel's been great, Giles.  Honest.  He's being really careful and it doesn't hurt that much at all."

The redhead glared at Cordelia as she let loose a snort of disbelief from her position next to Willow on a stool.  The seer didn't need to look up from her Cosmo to feel the witch's eyes burning into her, but she couldn't resist.

"Yes, well I'm glad to hear that.  Has Wesley been able to find out anything further on the vilnavons?"

"He just told us he had a possible lead in Turkey. Someone he knows is going to look it up in his books and let him know what he finds."

"Excellent.  Hopefully they'll find a solution and everything can go back to normal."

Willow didn't comment on that.  She didn't know if she could go back to being 'normal' Willow ever again. Had it really only been less than 24 hours since she was attacked?  It seemed like eons ago, so much had happened.

"Yeah, well, so, is Buffy there?  Because I tried the dorm, but she wasn't answering, so I thought maybe she was there with you."

"Actually, I sent her on an early patrol.  She was very worried, since we hadn't heard from you yet." Willow felt guilt at the slight accusation in the older man's voice.  "Her incessant pacing and grumbling to herself was starting to scare away the customers, so I thought it best if she took out her excess energy on the demon population."

"Oh, well, that's probably a good idea.  I'm sorry I didn't call sooner Giles, but I've been really tired."

"Angel hasn't taken too much blood, has he?" Giles asked worried.

"No, nothing like that.  I just mean, um, I had been up for over 24 hours straight and I can only sleep in 4 or 5 hour intervals before I have to get my neck sucked on again.  I'm developing one heck of a vamp hickey here."

On the other end of the line the Watcher blushed and stammered.  "Right. W-w-well right.  Of course you would with all of the, uh, draining that you've been undergoing.  Are there any other side effects that you've encountered so far?"

Willow thought about the recent actions of herself and the two vampires upstairs.  Was the lust a side effect?  Or was it normal with all vampires to react to feedings like that?  Spike and Angel had both said feeding was a very sensual act for their kind.  Maybe they reacted that way every time they drank the blood of a human for all she knew.

"Willow?"  Giles voice in her ear brought her out of her musings.

"Huh?  Oh, right.  No, none that I can think of right now.  Look Giles, I'm still kind of beat, so I think I'm going to grab something to eat really fast and then head upstairs for some more sleepy time before I have to, you know, go get drunk again."

"Of course.  I'll tell Buffy you called and all's well.  Give us a call tomorrow if you can.  I'm sure she and the others would like to speak with you themselves.  We have a research session planned for sevenish."

Ok, will do.  Give everyone my love and I'll talk to you again around seven tomorrow then."

"Right.  Well, goodnight Willow."

"Night Giles."

Willow hung up the phone and just stared at it.

"You didn't tell him."

The redhead turned green eyes on the seer who was sitting there watching her, the magazine forgotten on the counter now.  "What am I supposed to say Cordy? I've been claimed by two master vampires in the last twelve hours and I gave Angel a happy, but he's not gonna lose his soul because I'm the one that cursed him with it?"

"Guess that wouldn't go over very well, would it? Especially with Buffy."

"Buffy?"

"Yeah, remember?  Buffy. . .and Angel. . . True tortured love for all eternity.  You, making with the happies with her own personal vamp.  Any of this ringing a bell?  Making sense?  You used to be really good at being the first on the uptake."

The redhead groaned and dropped her head to the wooden countertop, then proceeded to bounce her head off it several times.  How could she have forgotten Buffy in all of this mess?  Angel had, and she had. . .his fingers had. . .and then she had.  Oh, Goddess!  What has she gotten herself into?

~Part: 10~

"No fuckin' way!"  Spike was pacing in Willow's bedroom casting venomous glances at Angel, who was sitting on the edge of the bed watching him.

"No way in hell am I letting you shag my witch!"

"I think that's up to Willow, don't you?"

"No!  She's *mine*!  Keep your souled hands off, got it?  We don't even need you to drain her anymore.  Now that she gave me the invite, I can take care of her."

"Look Spike, this is a very awkward situation.  It's Willow, Buffy's best friend.  It would be uncomfortable for a number of reasons, but this is the only thing I've found that would give me a chance to make my soul permanent.  I don't want to turn back into Angelus.  You don't want me to turn back into Angelus.  And Willow certainly doesn't want him back either."

"Damn straight.  Don't need that bastard claiming her again."

"That's not what I meant," Angel whispered quietly.

Spike stopped his pacing to look at the other vampire. "What *exactly* did you mean?"

"Think about it Spike.  Why do you think Angelus was urging me on to drink from Willow that first time, to take her?"

"Because he wanted to corrupt an innocent.  Always was his favorite game."  The blond shrugged his shoulders dismissively.

"No, that wasn't it."

"Then what?"

"If I took Willow and she gave me complete happiness it could have released my soul, freed Angelus."

"But the Powers said she can't. . ."

"We didn't know that at the time.  And if Angelus was free, who do you think would be the first person he would try to destroy?"

"The Slayer?  The one that made you feel all loved and human."

"How about the one that cursed me with a soul again?"

Blue eyes widened when he realized the truth of Angel's words.  "He wanted you to take her so the soul would take a hike and he'd be left with the witch who caged him up again right at hand, like a prezzie all wrapped up in a nice neat little bow!"

"I can't take that chance, Spike."  Angel raised pleading eyes to his grand-childe.  "I love Willow, but not the way you do.  I care about her as a friend. I don't know what's been happening since you've gotten here, but I just lose control when I'm drinking from her.  I don't want to interfere in what you might have with her, but I need to at least ask her if she would be willing to help me.  Do you understand what it's like to wake up every day, afraid to enjoy life because if I enjoy it too much, I might lose it all?"

The blond stared at the dark vampire, trying to measure his sincerity.  "If I consent, there will be a few conditions."

"What conditions?"

"First, I don't want you sayin' anythin' to Red just yet.  Give me a couple days to get her used to the idea of being mine.  Give me time to talk to her and try to make her understand what it all means, how I feel about her."

Angel nodded his acceptance.  "Done."

"Second, if she says no, you drop it and that's the end of it.  No begging, no guilt trips, no prodding, nothin'."

"Agreed.  I would never try to make Willow do anything she didn't want to."

"That bein' said, since we both know what type of person she is, there's no doubt in my mind she *would* agree to help you, so the second condition is pretty much just for appearances.  My third condition is that there is to be no sappy stuff, no tellin' her how much you love her, how much you need her, none of that bullshit.  No pretty words to make it seem more than it is."

"You have my word."

"Last condition, when it's over and done with and you're all permanent soul havin', it's forgotten and never mentioned again.  She *is* mine.  And I won't have any reminders that she was with you.  Can you agree to these conditions?"

"I can."

"Blood oath."

Angel's eyes widened in surprise.  Spike wanted a blood oath between them?  "I have no problem with that.  Are you sure you want this?"

The blond scowled at his grand-sire.  "It's the most revered oath amongst the vampire community.  No one dares to break it."

"This means that much to you?"

"Red means that much to me."  Spike met Angel's eyes, his gaze intense and sincere at the same time, trying to make the dark vampire understand how important the conditions he set forth were to him.

"I can accept that and respect it."

"Fine.  Let's get this over with."  Spike pulled his t-shirt over his head, leaving him bare-chested as Angel began to unbutton his shirt and shrug it off.

The two vampires sat facing each other on the bed. Spike raised his eyes solemnly to those of his grand-sire.  "I agree to allow you to take what is mine, but only with the conditions I have provided.  I agree to this and seal it in our blood.  Blood to blood.  Truth to truth."  Leaning forward, the blond sank his fangs into Angel's throat and drank deeply from him.

"I accept your gift and agree to the conditions you have set forth.  I agree to this and seal it in our blood.  Blood to blood.  Truth to truth."  The dark vampire slid his canines into the pale flesh of his grand-childe's throat and tasted blood that was so much more powerful than the last time he had drank of him decades ago.

As they withdrew their fangs from each other, golden eyes stared into golden eyes, then mouths were clashing, exchanging shared blood, razor sharp teeth cutting flesh in a heated kiss.  Angel held the back of Spike's head tightly, his fingers massaging the scalp beneath the bleached hair.  The younger vampire gripped the elder's neck, slicing his tongue on Angel's fang and letting his blood fill their mouths.

The dark vampire moaned as the taste of his grand-childe.  It was almost as sweet to him as Willow.  He suckled the tongue, feeling the thick tangy fluid slide down his throat.  Spike pulled back, panting for breath he didn't need.  Angel moaned in protest.

"Uh-uh, mate.  You're gettin' no bloody happiness from me!  Not lookin' to see Angelus and neither are you."

Angel clamped down on his desires.  He didn't know what was wrong with him.  Ever since Spike and Willow had shown up he'd had such a hard time controlling himself, controlling the demon.  He hoped his grand-childe would let him speak with the redhead soon, because he didn't know how much more he could take.

"You're right, of course.  I don't know why it's been so hard to control my demon."

"The blood.  How long's it been since you've had human blood or that of a childe?"

Angel smirked at the blond.  "Apparently too long."

Someone cleared their throat and the vampires' attention was turned to the doorway where Willow stood.

"Um, am I interrupting anything?"  She looked at the two shirtless men, admiring their bodies and pressing her legs together trying to curb her naughty thoughts.

"Not at all, luv.  Peaches and I just had to come to an understanding.  So, how's the Slayer?"  He pat the mattress next to him, indicating she should take a seat.

The redhead hesitated a moment, then walked over and sat between the two vamps.  "She wasn't there.  I talked to Giles.  He said she's been pretty worried about me, but I told him I'd call back tomorrow night when they're researching so I could talk to everyone."

"What are they researching?  Do they need help?" Angel looked concerned for the people he had left behind.

"Oh, no.  Nothing like that.  Giles has them trying to find anything new on the vilnavons.  Lots of books to go through.  He brought in his personal collection to the Magic Box and if you've ever seen Giles' occult library, well, let's just say they'll be there a while."

The redhead paused and looked between the two vampires, eyeing the fresh bite marks marring their pale skin.  "So, you guys want to tell me why you bit each other or is it some deep dark vampire secret?"

"Just made a little pact with the Poof, is all, Red." Spike shrugged off her question, reaching for his t-shirt and tugging it over his head.

Willow watched his muscles ripple with each movement, hypnotized by his masculine beauty.  "Oh."

Spike turned his attention to his grand-sire who was also admiring the display.  "Peaches, you mind givin' me and Red a few.  We have some things we need to talk over."

"Sure."  Angel rose gracefully to his feet, tugging on his shirt as he went.  "If either of you need anything, just let me know.  I'll be downstairs."

"Thanks, Angel," the redhead called after their host.

Spike noticed for the first time his witch was carrying a plate filled with cheese, crackers, grapes and strawberries.  "Hungry, pet?"

"Mmmmm, starved."  Willow talked around the cheese she had just stuffed in her mouth.  She finished chewing and swallowed before she continued.  "Haven't eaten since dinner last night."

The blond frowned.  "Forgot about that, you bein' human and all."  Then his face lightened into a self-satisfied smirk.  "I've been eatin' pretty good lately."

"Well, don't get used to it.  This won't last forever, you know.  I wonder if I'll have to perform an uninvite spell on myself so you can't drain me when this is all over."  Willow tilted her head as she contemplated the thought.

"I won't drain you witch.  You have my word."  The vampire's eyes were focused on her pink lips as they wrapped around a plump red grape.  Shaking himself from his lustful thoughts involving those lips wrapped around something else, Spike became serious.  "We need to talk Willow."

The witch stopped with a cracker halfway to her mouth and turned surprised eyes on the blond.

"What?" He asked.

"You called me Willow!"  Green eyes were wide with surprise and a hint of suspicion.

"What about it?  It is your name."

"I didn't know if you knew it or not.  You usually call me Red or Witch."

"Well, this is a serious conversation.  Figured I needed to be serious."

She sighed and sat the plate on the night stand before turning to face the vampire next to her.  "Are we going to talk about the claim?"

"Yeah, thought it might be a good idea."

"We've been through this Spike.  I don't belong to you.  I don't belong to anyone but myself."

"You have to understand, Red, there's side effects to these things, like there's side effects to the vilnavon's bite."

"What kind of side effects," the redhead asked worriedly.

"A bond is formed, between the vampire and the mortal he claims."

"You mean like the one I have with Angel?"

Spike sat up straighter.  "What bond do you have with the Poof," he demanded.

"Well, it's nothing major.  Giles and Angel know about it, but Buffy and the others don't.  I thought it might be sort of hard for her, knowing I have a bond with the man, er, vamp she loves.  It was formed when I gave him his soul back.  I just kind of know when he's near and I can sense when he's in a lot of pain or trouble.  It doesn't hurt me, but I feel kind of . . .distressed and know it's because of him."

"So, when I came here last year to torture him for the Gem of Amarra. . ."

"Major wiggins!  Everyone thought I had drank like five mochas that day.  I kept trying to reach someone, but nobody was answering the phones.  Then later I found out what happened."

"Well, yeah.  That's pretty much the bond we will have now," he muttered.  She even has a bond with the bleedin' poof before she has one with me!  "But there can be more to it."

"What do you mean?"

"Everything we feel together can be. . .intensified." He slid closer to the redhead, trailing cool fingers along her bare arm, causing the girl to shiver.

"You mean, like when we're fighting over something, we can feel angrier?" She asked breathlessly.

"Fighting, worrying, crying, making love. . ." Spike leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her parted lips.

Willow felt herself begin to give in, then she pulled back abruptly, causing the vampire to lose his balance and fall face-first into her lap.  She smacked him on the back of the head.  "Hey!  Get out of there!"

"Bloody hell, Red!  What was that for?"  Spike grumbled as he tried to duck her blows.

"You think just because I need a little blood letting you can swoop in here and make yourself my permanent personal vamp!  Well I've got news for you, buddy! Just 'cause I get a little. . .ummm, flustered when I'm being fed on doesn't mean I'm going to hop into bed with the first vamp who wants to syphon off my blood!"

"Dammit, witch!  That's not what this is about.  You bloody women all jump to the same conclusion.  It's not all about the blood with vampires, ya know?"

"Oh, really?  Then explain to me what it's about." Willow sat on the bed, arms crossed, watching as the incensed blond stomped back and forth before her.

"You really don't get it do you?"

"Apparently not!"  The redhead sighed in exasperation. "Just spill it Spike!"

"Why do you think I went through so much pain to claim you and erase Peaches' mark on you?   Why do you think I got so pissed when I found that he *had* claimed you?"

"Because you knew Buffy would kick your ass for letting something happen to me?"

"Bloody hell!" He roared.  "Are you fuckin' dense?  I did it because you belong to me!"

The furious witch flew to her feet and stood nose to chest with the raging demon before her.  "And once again, we get to the part where I tell you I belong to no one!"

"You belong to me.  You were meant for me!  You are mine and I am yours!"  Spike pulled the witch into a tight embrace and crushed her lips beneath his as he put all the passion and desire he felt for her into this one kiss.  When he felt the redhead slapping at his chest, he released her mouth, but continued to hold her close.

Willow gasped for air as she looked up into blue eyes filled with want and need.  "Why?" She asked softly.

"Why what?"

"Why do you want me?  Is it the blood?  Is it something to use against my friends?"

Spike lowered his head until their foreheads were touching and he told her gently, "Because you're you. I want you because you're Willow.  You treat me like a man, not half a demon.  You stand up for me when I can't stand up for myself.  You take care of me when I'm hurt.  You don't have to do any of it, but you do anyway, because that's just how you are.  I want you, luv.  I need you, and when the idiot poof tried to take you away from me, I thought I'd go insane.  It took that for me to realize how much I need you."

Willow gazed up at him, seeing the vulnerability there.  He was opening himself to her, putting his heart on the line and praying to a God he had forsaken long ago that she not throw it back in his face. Spike wanted her.  Her.  Willow Anne Rosenburg. Resident hacker, research girl and witch.  And he didn't need her to be any of those things in order for him to want her.  She just had to be Willow.

Spike watched thoughts flit across her mind, emotions reflected in green eyes.  He had bared his unsouled heart to her.  What if she didn't feel the same?  What if she didn't want him at all?  Would she laugh at him?  Would she tell him he was beneath her as Cicely had done?  The longer she held her silence, the more worried the vampire grew.

Then he felt her warm hand caressing the side of his face.  His eyes fluttered closed and he leaned into her touch.  She watched him closely, her thumb brushing lightly over his full lower lip.  Her other hand coming up to trace his cheekbone and the scar on his eyebrow.  He was beautiful.  She had always thought so, always harbored a secret crush on the abrasive blond.  He was the typical bad boy.  Did she want him though. . .for a long term relationship?  And it could be long term.  He was immortal after all. But she would grow old.  Would he stay with her when she was old,  wrinkled, wearing muumuu's and walking with a cane?

"I'm a mortal," she whispered softly.

His eyes fluttered open and he turned his head to kiss her palm.  "I know that."

"I don't want to be a vampire."

"I know that too."

"I'd grow old and you wouldn't."

"There are. . .ways around it, if you were willing." His eyes brightened with hope.

"What ways?"

"A ceremony.  An immortal mating ceremony.  You remain mortal, but you don't age.  But when one of us dies, the other dies as well."

"So if you were to piss off Buffy and she staked you, I would die too?"

"Right."

She quirked a brow at him.  "Is this just an excuse to get the Slayer off your back," she teased.

"You think this will get her off my back?  More like put me in the line of fire since I've claimed her best friend."

"Hmm, true, true.  But I don't think I'm ready to make that big of a decision yet."  She smiled gently up at Spike.

Cor, she was beautiful when she smiled, he thought. "Does this mean you'll at least think about it, Red?"

"No."  She watched his face fall and couldn't help but giggle.  She looked up at him shyly and whispered, "But I think you might be able to convince me to if you try hard enough."

The vampire's confident smirk reappeared at her words. He watched her blush at what she considered to be her forward actions.  "I'll just have to see what I can do about that, pet."

Spike lowered his lips to hers once again, but this time the kiss was gentle, cool lips brushing softly against hers.  He caught her lower lip between blunt teeth and nibbled lightly.  His hands kneaded up and down her back, pulling her tight against him.

Willow's arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down to deepen the kiss.  One hand tangled in his bleached locks and the other slipped over his shoulder, down his chest and massaged the muscles there.

He let his hand slip under her blouse, feeling the smooth warm skin of her back.  The vampire's mouth slid down to her neck, licking and suckling at her pulse point.  He felt her warm lips kissing his own neck, her teeth nibbling his earlobe.  Willow traced looping patterns against his skin with the tip of her tongue.

Spike's hand slid down from beneath her blouse, down to her rounded bottom.  He squeezed a the soft flesh and pulled her hips tight against him, letting her feel what she was doing to him.  "I want you Willow," he moaned against her ear.

The witch shivered at his words.  He wanted her. Spike wanted her, Willow.  And his lips and hands were doing wonderfully erotic things to her senses.  "I want you too," she whispered back.

Her world was suddenly tilted as the blond vampire swung her up into his arms, pressing cool kisses over her face as he carried her to the bed.  He laid her back against the pillows and stood  admiring her.  She lay there, lips swollen from his kisses, flushed, eyes dark with desire.

"You're beautiful, pet.  Truly you are.  I'm not one much for flowery words anymore, but you are a fire goddess."

Willow giggled and smiled up at him.  "I've never had anyone call me a goddess."

"Then they were a bunch of bleedin' morons who didn't deserve you."  Spike sat on the edge of the bed, gently running fingertips up her arm, along her collarbone, over the skin revealed by the top few buttons unbuttoned on her blouse.  He leaned forward and place a tender kiss against her heated flesh there at the opening of her shirt.

Willow's fingers cupped the nape of his neck and urged him up to meet her lips again.  Her tongue hesitantly entered his mouth, tasting him, touching the roof of his mouth, the insides of his cheeks, the bluntness of his teeth and finally entwining with his own.  He lay down next to the redhead, facing each other on their sides.  A black denim clad thigh pressed between Willow's legs, rubbing against her center lightly.

The redhead gasped in delight, her fingers tightening her grip on the back of his black T-shirt.  She began to raise it up and Spike lifted his arms to aid her in removing the annoying garment.  Willow tossed it aside and ran her fingertips over his muscled torso, letting her nails lightly graze his nipples before lowering her mouth to nibble them lightly and lave at the erect nubs.

"Cor, luv, what are you doing to me?" the vampire groaned.

"'Splorin'," she giggled in response.

Then suddenly she was on her back and Spike was hovering over her.  "I think it's time I do a little 'splorin' myself, pet," he teased with a waggle of his eyebrows.

"'Splore away."  Willow licked her lips as she felt his fingers move to the buttons of her blouse.  He began to slowly slip each from its hole, kissing every inch of skin he bared.  By the time he got to the last one, Spike's witch was a mass of quivering flesh and he had found out how far down her blush really went. He peeled the green cotton away to reveal a white lacy bra.

"Lift up for me, Red," he whispered softly, pulling her up slightly so he could slip the blouse from her shoulders and arms.  He laid her back and slid his hands over the covered mounds of her breasts.  Gently he caressed her, massaging her sensitized flesh, feeling her nipples pressing against the lace. "Beautiful," he murmured to himself.

Cool lips lowered to Willow's nipples, suckling them gently through the thin material, Spike flicking each in turn with his tongue.  Hands gently massaged her breasts, feeling them swell in his grasp, smiling against the lace as he heard his redhead's soft moans of pleasure.  He reached up, fingers hooking under the thin straps, and began tugging them down as his mouth continued its torment.

Spike brought his body up higher, resting his hardening denim covered member against Willow's center and began to rock gently, savoring the scent of her arousal wafting through the air.  One small hand cupped the back of the blonde's head, holding him to her breasts and the other reached down and pulled him tightly against her.  Willow draped one leg around Spike's waist and rocked her hips up to meet him.

The redhead moaned and arched upward against his mouth as cool lips finally surrounded her bare flesh.  The vampire nibbled at the swollen pink nipple in his mouth, palming her other breast and rubbing over her sensitive skin in slow circles.

"Oh, Goddess, Spike!"

"You like that, pet?"

"Yessss," Willow hissed in response.

"It's only the beginning, Red."  Spike gave her breasts one last kiss each before lifting himself from her and reaching for the fastening on her jeans.  He slid them from her legs, leaving her in white cotton bikini panties.  He watches his Red blush at his intense scrutiny, pulling her hands away from her breasts as she made a move to cover them.  "No need to be shy, luv.  Already made their acquaintance."  Spike leaned forward and lightly suckled each pink nipple before sitting back again, his fingers hooking in the waistband of her panties.

"Shall we get rid of these?"

Willow's only response was to lift her hips from the bed, allowing him to slide them down over her legs easier.  He tossed the damp cotton aside and slid down the bed, laying between her sprawled thighs.  Spike slid his hands under her bottom to cup and lift her to his mouth.  He ran his tongue along the outside edges of her wet slit, nudging the cinnamon curls he found there with his nose.

The witch propped herself up on her elbows and watched, eyes locked with her vampire, as he slid his tongue in to tease her clit, gently flicking it, then rubbing it softly with the flat of his tongue. "Mmmmm.  Spiiiiike!"

The blond slid his tongue down to her wet center and entered her warm tight heat.  Willow's head fell back as whimpers of pleasure escaped her lips.  Spike used his thumb to circle her clit gently, teasing her to the edge, only to hold her off, gentle her back down until he left her panting and begging for more.  His tongue thrusting in and out, tasted her need for him.

After the fourth time of allowing his witch to teeter on the brink, he allowed her to fall over, closing his lips around her clit and sucking hard as he pumped 2 fingers within her center, rubbing inside her gently, bringing her to a crashing orgasm.

Willow bucked her hips wildly, holding his head to her body, rubbing her release over his lips, cheeks and chin.  Spike continued to suck her clit and pump his fingers deep within her, letting his Red ride out or orgasm.  He always knew she had a fire burning within her, but he never guessed her for a screamer.

The redhead lay back panting, her body tingling from head to toe.  She felt like she was floating, her body light as a feather, floating away on a warm soothing breeze.  Then she felt a weight settle between her thighs and felt her legs lifted high in the air. Dazed green eyes fluttered open to find herself staring at Spike, her legs draped over his shoulders as he positioned himself at her entrance.  At some point he had shucked his jeans, leaving him as naked as she.

Willow looked down and her eyes widened.  He was rubbing his pale, hard cock along her still trembling slit, wetting the head, before easing into her slowly. She gasped.  It had been so long and Oz was nowhere near the size of the vampire sliding into her body now.  Biting her lower lip, the redhead moaned in a combination of pleasure and pain.  Spike was being exceedingly gentle, she knew, taking the time to push in ever so slightly, then withdraw and repeat over and over, easing in a half inch or inch at a time until he found himself fully sheathed in her tight wet channel.

Spike's eyes were practically rolling in the back of his head.  "Cor, luv, you feel so good."  She was so hot around him and so tight.  He leaned in and kissed her passionately, lips and tongues clashing as he began to move his hips in gentle circles.

Willow ground up to accept his deep thrusts, whimpering with each stroke of his cock.

"Am I hurting you, Red?"

His witch opened her eyes and shook her head wildly. "Don't stop.  Please, Spike.  Just don't stop."

"No worries, pet.  Don't plan on stoppin' anytime soon.  We've got all night."  The blond vampire increased his pace, using long smooth strokes to pump himself in and out of his witch.  One hand braced himself on the mattress next to him, his thumb sliding up to flick against Willow's nipple.

Spike ground against her clit over and over until she was trembling with need in every fiber of her being. His rhythm increased, the sound of their flesh slapping together filled the room along with their sighs and moans.  Soft words of encouragement from each urged the other on.  New lovers letting each other know what they liked, sighs of approval when a special spot was brushed against or stroked.

The blond knew he was reaching his limit and he could feel the woman beneath him tensing as well.  He reached between them and rubbed her clit quickly, feeling her wet tunnel quiver around him.  Spike heard Willow's low groan grow into a shattering cry of culmination.  Her body arched up against his and the vampire could feel her muscles contracting around his slick sliding member.  She wiggled beneath him wildly, pulling him deep within her spasming center, begging him to follow her over the edge into oblivion.

When he felt her finger brush over his puckered anus, Spike drew back with a roar then lunged forward to sink his fangs into her breast.  Willow felt the pinch his teeth piercing her skin and arched up into his bite, holding him close.  She trembled as she felt his cock within her explode with his orgasm.  His release was cool and thick.  The witch continued moving beneath him, shuddering once again in pleasure as she felt the pull of his mouth on her breast.

Their bodies slowed until they lay locked together in peace.  The only sound in the room besides Willow's heavy breathing was that of Spike's suckling of the bite he made.  Willow looked down through half closed eyes and gently rubbed his back, feeling a heat building again within her.  His cool lips around her sensitive flesh and his fangs sliding in and out of her breast left her rocking her hips against him again gently.

Golden eyes of his demon looked up at her as he slid his fangs from her.  "Don't start something you can't finish, Red."  Even as a demon he smirked!

"Who says I can't finish?"  Willow raised her eyebrows at her vampire and pulled his mouth back to her leaking breast.  "And who told you to stop that, too?"

Spike chuckled and slid his canines back into her breast and drank once again, his hips thrusting down against her, hard once again.

Willow had a feeling this was going to be a very long night and that Spike was going to be the death of her. She smiled to herself, wrapping her legs about his waist and taking him deep within her center.  But, oh, what a way to go!

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