Belly Up to the Bar

Author: Shanna

Parts: 11-20

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~Part: 11~

Angel placed his mug in the microwave and set the timer.  He leaned back against the counter, pondering the sense of humor that belonged to the Powers That Be.  They finally give him a way to make his soul permanent, to give him a chance to live his life unafraid that one day he would wake up and kill everyone he cared about.  And in what form do they send this wonderful gift to him?  His ex-girlfriend's best friend who also happens to be his grand-childe's brand spankin' new love of his unlife.

The vampire cocked his head and peered at the ceiling through squinted eyes.  "You guys have a sick sense of humor, you know that?"

"Talkin' to yourself Peaches?"

So lost was he in his own thoughts he had never even sensed Spike's presence until the blond walked into the kitchen.  Angel took in his appearance.  Bleached hair was tousled, black jeans were slung low on his hips, the zipper being only partially closed.  That was about it.  Muscles rippled over his bare chest while the younger vampire stretched his arms over his head and bare feet padded across the tiled floor as he made his way to inspect the contents of the fridge.  .

It was when his grand-childe bent over to look deeper into the back of the refrigerator that Angel noticed the scratches covering the blonde's back.  Most were simply raised welts, but there were others that had drawn blood.  The elder vampire inhaled, savoring the scent of Spike's blood, but at the same time feeling his worry grow for the person he knew had to be responsible for the marks.

"Where's Willow?"

"Red's in her room.  Oh, don't think I'll be needin' my own room anymore."  The blond smiled smugly at his grand-sire over his shoulder.  "Figure I'll just move in with the witch until we figure a way to get her back to normal."

"Spike, what did you. . ."

"Got any grape juice?" The younger vampire had already turned his attention back to food and drink available on the Hyperion Hotel's menu.

The question, so out of left field, made Angel stumble in his thoughts.  "What?"

"Grape juice.  Got any?"

"Grape juice?"

The confusion on the dark vampire's face left Spike chuckling.  "Yeah, grape juice.  Red's got a craving for some.  Got any?  Prefers the purple kind, she said"

"Uh, no. . .at least I don't think so.  Maybe if Cordy or Wesley brought it, but I don't. . . That's not the point here!"  Angel tried to take back control of the conversation.  "What did you do to Willow?"

The blond waggled his brows at his grand-sire. "Question is, what didn't I do to her, eh mate?"

Angel was halfway across the room but the smell of Willow and sex rolling off Spike hit him like a tidal wave.  "Did you hurt her?"

"Well, I did make her scream, but I didn't hear her complainin' a bit."  At the elder vamp's look of worry, the blond looked heavenward.  "Oh, come on! Bloody poof can't take a joke.  Of course I didn't hurt her.  Told ya I wouldn't, didn't I?"

"I'd feel better hearing it from Willow myself."

"You never did trust me, did ya?  Even as Angelus, never took my word for anything.  Always had to check things out yourself.  Never had a bit of faith in me, did ya Peaches?"  Spike frowned, gripping the refrigerator door tightly as he continued his rant. "Don't believe the witch is fine, you want to ask her yourself, fine!  Be my guest, but you'd better knock before you go in, 'cause when I left, my Red wasn't wearin' nothin' but a smile and my mark.  And I don't need you oglin' what's mine, got it?"

"Fine, and I think I will go check on Willow.  You may have forgotten you're a soulless demon, but I haven't."

"Oh, right.  We can't all be as perfect and soul-havin' as yourself, can we?"  Spike mockingly praised the man in front of him that had been more like his Sire than his actual Sire.  "'Cause you're per-fect Angel.  Everyone just looooves Angel."  The blonde's voice took on a faux falsetto as he did his best imitation of the blond Slayer.  "Angel has a soul, you're nothing more than an icky demon.  You're nothing.  If you didn't have that chip in your head I'd stake you faster than you could say neutered. You're worthless.  I don't know why we keep you around.  Can't I just stake him already, Giles?"

Spike's rambling came to a crashing halt when he realized how much he'd revealed to the dark vampire. He could see the surprise mixing with sadness in Angel's eyes as he gazed at the younger vamp.

"Don't look at me like that.  Don't need any of your damn pity."  Embarrassed, the blond buried his head in the refrigerator again in search of nourishment for his redhead.

"Is it really that bad for you there?"  Angel asked softly.

Spike found what was left of the bags of grapes and strawberries and the cheese Willow had been eating earlier and laid them on the counter, going in search of a plate in the cupboards.  He heaved a frustrated sigh.  "No, mate.  Not at all.  It's a bloody walk in the park."

"Why did you stay then?"

Spike was about to make another sarcastic remark when he saw the honest curiosity on his grand-sire's face. "At first, didn't have a choice.  Chained me in the Watcher's tub, they did."  Angel raised his eyebrows at that, but let it slide.  "After that, had me tied up in the moron's basement.  Didn't have any money. Couldn't bite.  Didn't even know at first I could kill demons.  Hung around at first because the Watcher would pay me for info on the latest evil to hit the Hellmouth, gave me enough for smokes and blood from Willy's.  Also thought while the bastards that did this to me were still around, always had a chance to get it reversed."

The blond shrugged, not meeting the older man's eyes, but instead concentrating on cutting slices of cheese and arranging them on the plate with the fruit. "Almost got them all killed.  Bargained with that bloke Adam, some demon/human hybrid the commandos were experimenting with, to get the chip out if I isolated the Slayer, if I got rid of the Scoobies and handed her to him on a silver platter.  But he backed out, bastard!"  Spike threw the knife he'd been using into the sink.

"Then, I don't know why I stayed after that."  He looked thoughtful as he took out some orange juice and poured a glass.  "Didn't have anywhere else to go. Wasn't the Big Bad anymore.  Can't even step on a bleedin' human's toe without this damn chip goin' off."

"And Willow?"

Spike paused in his action of putting the juice back, a small smile twitching at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, Red.  She always stuck up for me, ya know? Always told the Slayer she was bein' too hard on me. Told Chubs to lay off.  Even stopped me once from stakin' myself."  He laughed suddenly, surprising Angel with his mood swing.  "Shoulda seen the day Chubs was layin' into me.  Witch asked him how fast he could run, 'cause one day when my chip shorted out, 'as all electrical equipment is prone to do'," he quoted his redhead, "moron'd better hope he could outrun me, 'cause he'd probably be at the top of my hit list, treatin' me the way he was."

Angel chuckled, imagining the petite redhead defending the big evil master vampire's honor.  She was so shy and quiet in high school, but he knew she could be a little firebrand.  He remembered her laying into he and Giles about their treatment of Buffy that time she lied to go to a frat party with Delia.  He'd never forget her words.  'And *you*!  I mean, you're gonna live forever!  You don't have time for a cup of coffee?'  That was the first time he'd ever heard her raise her voice to anyone.  It didn't happen often, but when it did, well, he was just glad he was rarely in her line of fire.

"She's something all right.  It's still hard for me to imagine that shy, quiet Willow at seventeen had the strength and power to restore my soul."

"She's filled with power.  I can feel it.  Can you?"

Angel frowned as he nodded.  "I feel it.  It's mostly untapped, but it's there just the same.  She could become a formidable force with the correct training."

"Watcher's tried to teach her some control and how to know her limits, but my witch sucks up every detail she can in those spell books.  Always eager to try them out.  Got a friend of hers, Tara, who's a witch, too.  Spells go better when they work together, but alone, they never seem to go right."  Spike shivered with revulsion as he remembered the results of Red's will be done spell.  "Was really bad right after the wolf left her.  She was all emotional and what not. Couldn't concentrate enough on anything else but the pain."

"Giles mentioned Oz had left, but he didn't go into much detail.  I was surprised, to be honest.  They seemed so happy the last time I saw them. .  .except for the ascension of course."

"Wolf was a bigger moron than the moron.  Bastard slept with a bitch. . ."

"Spike, how do you know that she was a bitch?  She could have been . . ."

"Bitch was a bitch, literally.  She was a wolf too. He locked them in his cage during the full moon.  Red showed up the next day to let him out and found them naked and all scratched up from a rough night of doggie style.  'Bout broke her heart.  Then the bitch tried to kill her.  Changed into the wolf and attacked, but dogboy was there.  He turned all Fido and ripped the bitch's throat out, but then he went after Red.  If the Slayer hadn't shown up he probably would have shredded her into kibble.  Told her he needed to find the line between him and the wolf and just up and left her."

"Wow.  Poor Willow."  Angel couldn't imagine how hurt the fragile redhead must have been.  He remembered how much she had cared for the musician.  It was obvious with ever look she ever threw his way.  Buffy used to look at him like that.

Both vampires paused, sensing an approaching heartbeat.  Since all of the other humans were gone for the night, they assumed their coming visitor was Willow.  Her soft voice preceded her into the kitchen. "Spike, did you get lost?  I know it's been a long time since you've been human, but, hello, hungry here. My tummy's a rumblin'."

She entered the room wearing a calf-length pink chenille robe with white bunnies on the lapels.  Her hair was as tousled as Spike's and her lips looked bruised and swollen, the result of too much vampire smoochies.  Her face was flushed and her eyes bright as they focused on the blond standing there holding a plate of food and glass of juice for her.  Angel thought he'd never seen her look more beautiful.

"Willow, are you all right?"  He eyed the fresh bite visible on her neck.

The redhead jumped, spinning to see the dark vampire standing next to the microwave.  She held her hand to her pounding heart.  "Angel!  You about scared the pants off of me!"

"Not wearin' any pants, luv," Spike teased.

"Oh, . . .you!  Hush!"  The wiccan blushed brightly, knowing Angel could probably tell what had occurred between she and Spike.  If he hadn't heard her screams of pleasure, she knew with his super vamp sniffer he had to smell the sex.  Heck, she could almost smell it.  Her nose was still full of the aromas that were Spike.  Tobacco, leather and a hint of soap and sandalwood.

"Willow?"  Angel prodded, still waiting for his answer.

"What?  Oh, I'm fine.  Why?"

"I just wanted to make sure.  I mean it's Spike and. . ."

"And I've done nothing to harm her, have I luv?"

"He didn't hurt me, Angel.  Honest."

The elder vampire set the microwave to reheat his forgotten mug of blood.  "I just wanted to be sure. Spike, do you want something to eat?"  He waved his hand, indicating the warming blood.

The blond handed his witch her juice and wrapped his free arm around her, turning Willow to guide her out of the kitchen.  He gave his grand-sire a cocky grin over his shoulder.  "No, thanks mate.  I'm stuffed. Couldn't eat another bite."  He leaned over and nibbled on the redhead's pale neck, causing her to giggle.

"Spike!" She squealed happily.

Angel shook his head as the couple headed back to Willow's room.  He never thought he'd see the day. It's like Shakespeare, maybe some Greek tragedy or a bad B-movie.  Romeo and Juliet.   Zeus and Alcmene. The Hacker and the Vamp.  He hoped their story had a happier ending than the other two.

~Part: 12~

Spike and Willow made their way back to her room, the redhead drinking her juice and picking at the food on the plate, the vampire drinking in his witch's scent and nibbling on her neck.

Willow was quiet as they entered her room, Spike closing the door behind them.  "He knows, doesn't he," she asked softly.

"Who, Peaches?"  The blond put the food on the night stand on top of the other now empty plate.

"Uh-huh.  I mean you guys have that whole super sniffer thing goin', right?  He could smell. . .us?" Willow blushed slightly

"Yeah, but if he couldn't smell you on me, might have been these scratches on my back that gave it away." The vampire turned amused eyes on the redhead who was peering at the gouges she was just noticing.

"Oh, Goddess!  I did that?  I'm so sorry Spike."  She hurried over, gently touching the welts and cringing at the dried blood on some of the deeper scrapes.  "Do they hurt?"

The blond turned and took the witch in his arms. "Vampires like a little pain with their pleasure sometimes, pet.  It's the demon in us.  Craving the dark sides of things."

"The dark side?  So, the other times, when it wasn't so. . .ummm, painful, that wasn't as pleasurable for you?"  Willow looked almost scared of his answer. They had made love several times over the last few hours and she had enjoyed his gentle touches.  What if he didn't think she was doing it right.  She didn't have very much experience.  She'd only been with Oz. Did werewolves do it differently?

Spike saw the worry on her expressive face and bent forward to kiss her soft and leisurely.  He finally released her lips, moving to press a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose.  "I like this just as much as the pain.  But it's like anything, Red.  Too much of one thing and you get bored.  Change it up a little and it keeps it fresh.  'Sides, I like takin' my time and 'splorin' your body," he teased her, swooping in to press a quick kiss to her lips again.

"Now, I believe you were just complainin' about bein' hungry.  Why don't you just lay back and relax."  He helped the redhead lean back against the headboard, stretched out on her bed.  Spike knelt next to her, leaned across and picked up the plate from the night stand.  "We've got grapes, strawberries and cheese. Poof ran out of crackers."

Willow giggled.  "I kinda finished them off earlier." She leant back, watching as the vampire picked up a slice of cheese and pressed it against her mouth.  She opened her lips, letting him slip it in.  Their eyes locked.  She'd never had anyone feed her before, well, except when she was sick.  Her mom had actually fed her chicken soup once or twice when she was little. Hard to believe Sheila Rosenburg had once acted domesticated.  But being fed by Spike was nothing like being fed by her mother.  He traced her lips with the pads of his fingers as she chewed the cheese.  She swallowed the food audibly as he reached for a strawberry.

Her vampire ran the chilled fruit over her lips, teasing her with it.  Each time she tried to take a bite, he pulled it away from her until she was leaning forward close enough for him to duck his head and brush his lips against hers.  As Willow attempted to deepen the kiss, the blond pulled away and slid the tip of the strawberry between her wet lips.  She bit into the large berry, chewing as she leaned back again, licking the juice from her mouth.  Her eyes were a smoldering jade green as Spike smirked at her.

He could smell her arousal clearly, and it only increased as he reached for the belt of her robe, giving it a tug and releasing the tie.  He parted the pink chenille, baring his naked witch to blue eyes flecked with gold.  Her pale flesh marred only by the bites on her neck and the twin puncture wounds on her right breast just above the pink of the aureole.

Spike bent forward, nuzzling his nose through the ringlets at the apex of her thighs.  He inhaled deeply, growling at the heady scent of his witch.  The vampire placed a smattering of soft kisses against the curls before glancing up to see the redhead's dilated eyes.  He slipped his cool hand between her heated thighs and urged them apart before moving to kneel within their cradle.

The Brit felt himself hardening as he looked at his Red sprawled before him, leaning against the pillows and headboard, robe parted to reveal her soft flushed body.  The marks showed his claim on the young woman before him and left his demon gleeful in its possessiveness.  "Mine," he whispered, eyes shining gold.

Willow felt a shiver of pleasure and fear run through her as he flashed her some fang.  She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but after fighting demons for so long with the Slayer, you see fang, you think 'uh-oh'.  She reached a hand out, running it over his bare chest down to where his zipper was half open, her fingers finding a narrow trail of light brown hair leading into his jeans.  The witch felt the bleached vampire's stomach quiver at her touch.  "Mine," she replied solemnly.

Spike arched his brows in surprise at the redhead's declaration, then moaned softly, leaning closer to hover over her.  He raised the almost forgotten berry and rubbed it over Willow's lips, then trailed the juicy fruit over her chin, down her arched throat, down further between her breasts.  The vampire grinned mischievously, hearing his witch's breath catch as he teased her nipples with the cool sticky fruit, leaving them stained darker with its juice.  He circled each aureole, lightly brushing until the tips of her breasts were swollen and taut, begging for his touch. Then Spike gently slid fangs into the twin holes in her breast, sucking gently, just enough to get blood flowing back to the surface again.

One hand squeezed the soft mound he was suckling on, tongue flicking the nipple until the witch was moaning and writhing beneath him, her fingers tangled in his hair, urging him on.  The other hand kept equally as busy feeding Willow the remains of the strawberry. With each squeeze of his hand, Spike felt his Red's sweet blood pumped into his hungry mouth.  He hadn't lied to Angel.  He was full and didn't need to drink of her at this point, but he did need so badly to taste her again.

Willow watched the blond head at her breast, feeling the suction tugging on her nipple.  She nibbled at the berry before pulling the stem from his fingers and placing it on the plate, pulling his fingers to her mouth before he could slide it away from her.  Feeling her lust grow with each touch, each sigh and moan, Willow began sucking each finger clean, tongue lapping at the sticky tips.

Spike's eyes narrowed as his witch took his index finger into her warm wet mouth, suckling, letting her lips glide up and down the digit.  He began moving his finger on his own, sliding it in and out from between her lips imagining those soft lips wrapped around his now throbbing cock.  He ground himself against her wet sex, moaning against her pale skin.

He withdrew his fangs reluctantly, massaging her breast one last time, watching the blood pool at the surface and slide in a trail over her nipple and onto her flat stomach.  Spike lapped up the spilt blood and a rumble of pleasure sounded in his chest when the redhead's hands slid under the waistband of his jeans to squeeze the pale globes of his ass, pulling his straining erection tightly against her hot center.

The blond moved closer, running his tongue over the path the strawberry had just taken, feeling his cock jump as he sensed Willow's heart rate increase and heard the soft gasp of pleasure escaping her sticky lips.  Spike licked his way back up to her mouth, his tongue flattened against the redhead's warm flesh, cleaning her of the sweet juices left behind.  Cool lips crashed over hot and the witch pulled the hard body above her down to lay across her, chest to chest and wrapped her legs about his waist, grinding up against him.

He kissed her breathless, nipping at her lower lip then sucking it as she gasped for air.  Spike felt Willow's fingers slide around to the front of his jeans, between their aroused bodies, and tug at his zipper, pulling it down.  She slipped her hands beneath the waistband again at his hips, pushing the denim down, releasing his swollen member.  "Take them off," the aroused witch begged.

Spike raised himself, letting her push them down further.  The redhead using her foot to tangle in the material and push it down his legs until he could kick himself free of the restraining clothing.  The vampire moved to position himself at his witch's wet opening, but she shook her head and instead tugged at his arm. "Come here," she whispered almost shyly.

Willow urged him to straddle her upper body, pulling him closer.  He knelt with his legs on either side of her, his pale erection brushing against her lips.  Her tongue darted out, flicking over the head and felt his eyes boring into her.  One hand slipped up to cup and tug on the vampire's sac as she nibbled her way along his length.

Spike gripped the top of the headboard and threw his head back, fighting his demon's urge to shove his length down her throat and fuck her mouth silly. Instead he allowed his Red her time to play, feeling her talented tongue rubbing along his underside. Openmouthed kisses teased his hard shaft with their heat on cool flesh, seeming to scorch him to his very center.

Just as the blond thought he would lose all control, warm lips wrapped about the head of his cock, sucking softly as Willow's tongue explored the tip with her tongue.  The redhead smiled about the erection in her mouth.  Goddess he tasted good.  She might not be very experienced, but this. . .this lesson she had learned well, Oz had made sure of that.

Pushing thoughts of her ex-boyfriend from her mind, she went to work using the lessons he had taught her in an attempt to turn her lover into a snarling, moaning, growling mass of vampire flesh.  She wanted to make him beg as he had made her earlier.  She ringed her fingers about the base of his shaft, stroking slowly in time with her mouth.

Willow took more and more of him, her lips gliding along, tongue exploring every ridge.  She let her teeth lightly scrape along his length and heard the vampire suck in an unneeded breath.  The redhead increased the pressure of her mouth, moving back and forth a bit faster, taking Spike deeper still until she released her fingers from his cock and relaxed her throat, letting him slide fully in.

"Fuck, Red!"  Spike's eyes sprung open and he looked down to watch his witch take every bit of his hard shaft into her steaming hot mouth.  The vampire's hips thrust forward instinctively and he groaned with the effort it took to still his body once again.  But Willow wasn't having any of that.  Spike's witch gripped his hips and urged them into a rocking motion, letting him thrust into her greedy mouth.  Once she set the rhythm for him, one hand glided back to tug and massage the heavy balls slapping her chin continually and the other slid around, fingers exploring the crack of the vampire's pale ass.

The blonde's hips moved deeply, fucking his witch's mouth and he grunted when he felt her fingers teasing his bottom, felt them slide down to circle his puckered anus.  Willow's green eyes locked on her vampire and she knew he was having a hard time holding the demon back.  His face was morphing back and forth constantly and she could feel the difference in the thrusts of his cock.  Spike was thrusting with tight control, but when the demon came out to play, it was a harsher grinding of his member in her mouth and throat.

She wanted to make him lose control.  She wanted to make him forget she was a fragile human.  He liked the darker side sometimes?  Well, then, she was willing to let a little of her Evil Vamp self out to play too.

Green eyes locked on gold as she pressed her index finger into the blonde's tight ass.  "Bloody hell, Willow!"  Spike snarled at the feel of her finger probing his tight passage.  "Willow, luv, don't.  I can't. . .I don't want to hurt you, pet," he ground out between clenched teeth, his fangs cutting his lip with the effort it took to restrain himself.

Ignoring his warning, the redhead slid a second finger into the vampire, thrusting them roughly in his clenched ass.  The suction she applied around his cock increased and she bobbed her head quickly on his pumping length.  Willow pressed her thighs together tightly.  His reaction to her had her so hot.  She, who had always thought love was soft kisses and touches and gentle lovemaking, found herself aroused by the roughness of the vampire above her.

The witch decided to add a little more spice to the mix and raked her nails along his sac, her tongue swirling around his hard cock, and she began to twist her fingers with every thrust into his ass.  Then she was being dragged up and away from him, feeling his length sliding from her lips.  Breathing harshly, Willow as aware of a loud roar and then Spike's throbbing length was slammed into her wet grasping center.  Her strangled cry was muffled by the mouth slammed down upon hers.  She felt her lips and tongue tear on sharp fangs.

Spike had yanked his witch from his cock and pulled her up against the headboard before burying himself in her tight passage.  She was slick with passion as he battered her body, fucking into her animalistically. He ground their upper bodies together, feeling her soft breasts against his chest, her taut nipples pressing into him.  His demon roared, feeling the restraints lifted from it, feeling their Red's acceptance.

She returned his kiss with equal fervor.  Wrapping pale thighs around Spike's waist and bucking to meet his brutal thrusts, Willow was ground back against the headboard, causing it to crash again and again into the wall behind it.  Both were spiraling out of control, the vampire growling and snarling against battered lips, the witch reveling in the blonde's passionate attack on her body.

Willow was the first to pull back, eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling, screaming her release, then lowering her head she clamped her teeth onto his collarbone.  "Fuck!"  Spike roared his approval and sank his fangs harshly into his witch's shoulder, thrusting hard and holding himself deep within her convulsing heat, his cock erupted, spewing his dead seed into her depths.  Spike and Willow shuddered together, their bodies trembling from the violent orgasms raging through them.

Still connected, they slid boneless down onto the bed. The redhead's harsh breathing was the only sound in the room's stillness.  Her shaking hands rubbed her vampire's back soothingly, legs sliding limply from his waist to the mattress.  Spike lay dazed, his head resting in the crook of Willow's neck, listening to her pounding pulse begin to slow.  He could still feel the fluttering of her muscles around his cock as she experienced the aftershocks of her climax.

"Bloody hell, Red," he moaned, "where did you learn that?"

When she didn't respond, the blond looked down at her, worried.  "Willow?"

"Uh, . . ." *gasp* ". . .yeah."  *pant*  "I'm here. Just. . .wow!"

Spike chuckled, "Well put, pet."  He then frowned when he noticed how jagged his last bite was on her shoulder.  The vampire traced it gently with a fingertip.  "I didn't hurt ya, did I Red?"

"Hurt?. . . No. . .No hurt. . .Good. . .Hot. . .Wow!" Willow's brain wasn't exactly up to stringing together words to form sentences at the moment.  She wondered in fragments if this was how Buffy's thought process had worked when she'd turned all Cave-Slayer.

"What you did to me. . .you were amazing, sweets." Spike brushed a kiss against the corner of her mouth.

The redhead giggled and arched a questioning brow at him.  "Sweets?  I go all naughty and you call me sweets?"

"Sweet music to my demon," he grinned.  "Bloody amazin', pet."

"Mmm-hmmm.  Amazing."  Willow yawned widely.  "Pooped now.  Sleep?"

"Sounds like a plan."  Spike rolled over to his side, pulling her against his body and wrapped pale arms around her.  Willow reached down and tugged the covers haphazardly over their spent forms and immediately drifted off into an exhausted slumber.

The blond lay there, letting his hands caress the woman in his embrace.  He savored her warmth, the softness of her pale skin.  So fragile looking, but so strong.  Then he cocked his head, turning narrowed eyes to the doorway and emitting a low warning growl.

Angel stood there in silence.  He had felt the tug of Spike's demon through their bond, had felt its craving for violence and worried about Willow, especially when he got outside the door and heard her whimpers and cries.  He had let himself into the unlocked room and had caught the tail end of the steamiest sex he'd seen since his days touring Europe with Darla and the others.

Willow's scream of pleasure as her orgasm slammed through her body had caused his cock to tighten painfully.  Then when he watched her latch onto his grand-childe with her teeth, he thought he'd cum right then and there.

He walked further into the room, cautiously approaching the demon in bed gripping its redhead possessively.  He didn't know why he was still here. Angel knew Willow was all right.  He'd heard her say as much.  The dark vampire was being drawn by something in the air.  Was it the smell of the sex, that of Spike, or Willow.  Maybe it was the blood. There was that whole bloodlust thing Cordy had brought up today.  His demon was raging within him and he wasn't exactly sure why.  It wasn't that Angelus wanted him to have sex with Willow.  Definitely not now that he knew she would secure his soul.

He moved mindlessly to the bed and stood there, his eyes locked with Spike's.  "Mine," the blond whispered harshly.

Angel knelt on the bed and leaned over the younger vampire.  He ground his lips against the blonde's. "Mine," he whispered.  Then he moved to softly kiss the hair at Willow's temple.  "Yours *and* mine. Ours."

The older vampire pulled off his robe and tossed it to the floor, leaving him in only his boxers.  He slipped beneath the covers and pulled a sleeping witch and a wary vampire into his strong embrace.  Mine, he thought, his eyes flashing gold at his grand-childe.

"The Blood Oath," Spike hissed.

"You said after it was done, no reminders.  It hasn't been done yet, so for now, you're both mine.  I claim Right of the Sire."  Even as the words left his mouth, he couldn't explain it.  He just needed this, needed them right now.  Wanting to reassure the younger vamp, Angel leaned over the sleeping witch and kissed  him slowly, holding his head in place when Spike tried to pull away.  "Ye were always me favorite, even if ye weren't me own childe," he whispered, a hint of his lost Irish brogue brought out by the depth of emotion he was experiencing.

Despite his best efforts, the blond couldn't help but feel his demon puff up with pride at his grand-sire's words.  The hostility faded from his face to be replaced by sadness.  "I love her, Sire" he whispered.

"I know you do.  I'm just asking you to let me love you both, even if it's just for a little while." Angel could no longer hide the loneliness in his eyes.

Spike cursed his soft heart as he heard himself reply, "Maybe just for a little while."

Hope filled the dark vampire's unbeating heart at the blonde's words.

"Now, go the hell to sleep.  Witch damn near killed me and I need my rest."  The younger vampire grumbled before snuggling close to Willow, draping a leg over her hip, letting his foot rest against his grand-sire's muscular thigh and wrapped an arm about them both.

Angel settled down, burying his nose in the redhead's tousled hair and slid his own arm around to embrace the couple, pressing one thigh between the witch's soft legs.  He thought to himself just before drifting off into a dreamless sleep, "I don't know how, but maybe things will work out after all."

~Part: 13~

Willow was dreaming.  She was floating along on a big pile of oversized pillows.  Her body was so relaxed as the fluffiness beneath her dipped and rocked gently almost as if she was at sea.  Opening her eyes, the redhead found herself and the pillows to be floating on a brown fluid in the middle of some sort of big ceramic looking pool.  Confusion flitted across her pretty face and she reached over, trailing a finger in the liquid and pulled it back quickly to blow on it.

"Oh!  OW!  OW!  Hot!  Owie!"  She sucked her finger into her mouth, trying to soothe the burned flesh. Willow's eyes widened in surprise.  She paused, then darted her tongue out to lick her finger again, verifying her original findings.  "Hot chocolate?"

She looked at the pillow she was laying upon and reached down, pinching it, tugging a piece away.  She raised it to her nose and sniffed before nibbling at the sticky whiteness.  "Marshmallow?"

The witch took in her surroundings once again.  When she looked up, the biggest damn vampire she'd ever seen was peering down at her with amused blue eyes.

"Spike?"  Willow stood on the rocking sweetness and waved up to him.  "Spike, why are you so big?  And, hey, why am I so small?  Spike?"

The blond smirked into the mug.  "Mmmm, hot chocolate with those little marshmallows I like so much.  Good thing I'm thirsty."

Willow tumbled back onto the cushy goodness as her vampire tipped the mug to his lips and she, the marshmallows and the hot chocolate raced toward his mouth.  Toward those lips.  'Mmm, those lips,' she thought.

"Wait!  Wait!  You can't drink *all* of me!! Spike, wait!  Stop!"

Willow's body jerked and she awoke with a start, heart pounding.  Her eyes remained closed as she tried to remember the details of her dream.  'Huh, how's that for symbolism?'

The redhead slowly became aware of a weight draped over her waist.  She reached down, fingers finding a strong arm wrapped about her.  Smiling, the witch trailed her fingers lightly over the cool flesh. Spike.  His hand began moving in slow circles on her bare stomach, grazing the underside of her breasts.

A cool mouth pressed kisses to one of the newer bites he'd created during their first round of lovemaking, his tongue darting out and licking the mark.  Willow shuddered, feeling her response building between her tender thighs.  A strong masculine leg slipped between hers, nudging her center, causing the redhead to catch her breath.

Eyes still closed, she allowed her body to be lulled and stimulated at the same time by the touch of her vampire.  Her hand reached back, finding his neck and urging his head forward.  Willow turned, parting her lips as she pulled him in for a good morning kiss. His soft moan filled her mouth as he deepened the kiss, taking her lips so tenderly.  She ground her bottom back against him, feeling his growing erection encased in a silky material.  He grunted against her lips and he pressed tighter to her bare bottom, where. . .

'Wait a minute!  Hold the phones.  Silky material? Spike doesn't wear underwear. . .at least he wasn't when they went to sleep, and even before that he didn't. . .'

Surprised green eyes popped open to meet aroused brown ones.  It was like a freeze frame from a movie.  They both stayed frozen in position, afraid to move, afraid to speak.  Lips still pressed together, Angel could feel her soft breath filling his mouth.  His hand was splayed across her flat stomach, thumb nudging the underside of her right breast.  A muscular leg was tight against her tingling center and Willow could still clearly feel, gulp, *that* pressing against her naked bottom through his boxers.

Her fingers tightened convulsively on the nape of his neck, feeling soft brown hair at her fingertips. "Ohmygod!"  She released Angel like he was a hot potato and scrambled to her knees on the other side of the bed.  Looking down, Willow realized she was giving him quite a show.  "Eeep!"  The redhead desperately grabbed for the covers, tugging them up to clutch the sheets against her chest.  The only problem with that was it left Angel's body exposed and his response to her was clearly tented in his silk boxers.

The witch's wide gaze slipped from the vampire's sheepish face, down to his, erhmm, morning visitor, back to his face, then she squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

"It's just a dream.  It's just a dream. It's just a dream.  Not real.  No Angel in my bed.  No vampires with a happy in my bed. . ."  Willow's eyes sprung open once again, this time darting around the room in search of the vampire that *should* be in her bed with a happy.  The dark vampire was pinned in place by her suspicious gaze.

"Where's Spike?"

Angel looked around the room, conducting his own visual search for the blonde.  "I don't know."  He extended his senses to the bathroom, but his grand-childe's presence wasn't there either.

"You. . .you didn't. . ."  The redhead gripped the covers tighter, searching the sheets with one hand for any signs of dust.

Angel's eyes widened at he realized what she was doing.  "Willow, no!  I wouldn't. . ."

"I told you last night I was fine.  That he didn't hurt me."  The redhead's voice began to take on a hint of hysteria.  "Spike?"  She tugged the comforter from the bed and wrapped it around herself, heading over to check out the bathroom.  "Spike?!"  She was in full panic mode now.

The door burst open and the blond entered quickly, face in full vamp mode.  He saw his witch standing in the middle of the room wrapped in bedding.  Her panicked eyes were swimming with tears as she turned to him.

"Spike!"  She was across the room and in his arms before he could say a word.  Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as she buried her face in his chest, babbling incoherently about hot chocolate, marshmallows, good morning kisses, vampires with happies and dusted lovers.  Spike tried to piece it all together while making a futile grab for the falling comforter.  Shrugging he held his naked Red and rubbed soothing circles on her back, pressing soft kisses to the top of her head.

He looked up to see his grand-sire rising from the bed, walking uncomfortably toward he and Willow. Spike arched an eyebrow at the elder vampire, eyeing his fading erection with amusement.

"Willow, I'm so sorry," Angel said sincerely.  He had been awakened when the redhead had started from her sleep, and it had been so long since he found himself in bed with a warm naked woman in his arms.  When she'd started wiggling against him, then that kiss. . .

"I didn't mean to . . .,' his voice trailed off.  He didn't mean to what?  Touch her like that?  Kiss her? Be aroused by her?  What could he even say?  "I'm sorry, Willow, really.  I never should have tried to. . ."  The vampire looked down in shame, only to raise eyes quickly to the ceiling after staring at her naked body pressed against Spike.

"What did you do to her Peaches?"  Spike asked quietly.  He tried to get his grand-sire to look at him, but the other vamp seemed to suddenly find something very interesting in the overhead light fixture.

"Umm, maybe it would be best if, uh, Willow put her robe on before we discuss this?" Angel suggested.

With a blush to rival her hair, the redhead quickly dropped down to pick the comforter off the floor and wrap it around herself again.  She moved quickly to the bed and found her robe laying on the floor next to it where Spike had thrown it earlier.  Looking over her shoulder to make sure Angel was still investigating the ceiling, she dropped the blanket, quickly slid into the chenille and tied it closed.

She felt Spike wrap around her from behind and lightly kiss her neck.  "You all right, luv?"

His witch turned in his arms, running a small hand over his face lightly, reassuring herself he was here and all right.  "Where were you?  I was so worried."

"Went up to the roof to think.  Why were you worried Red?"

"I woke up and you weren't here and Angel was and I thought he was you and we started to. . .we kissed and we were getting kinda. . .but it wasn't you I knew because he had on boxers and you don't wear underwear and then I saw it was him and remembered last night when he asked if I was ok, thinking you might have hurt me, but you didn't.  You were wonderful, but anyway, when you weren't here and Angel was I thought maybe he didn't believe me that you hadn't hurt me and maybe he'd hurt you.  I tried looking for dust in the bed, but I didn't see any then I looked in the bathroom and you weren't there either and I called out for you and you came and I'm so glad you're ok and not a big pile of dust!"  She ended her semi-hysterical babble breathless and pulled him down for a desperate kiss.

The blond held her tightly, kissing her, trying to reassure her with his closeness.  He finally broke the kiss, leaning his head against hers.  "I'm right here, pet.  Not goin' anywhere, 'sides Poof couldn't hurt me if he tried.  Hasn't got the stones for it.  Just needed to do a little thinkin', is all.  Went to the roof.  Not gonna leave ya, Red.  I promise."

He turned his attention to the guilty looking vampire standing in the middle of the room in his silk boxers. "Might want to put your robe on for this conversation, too, Peaches."

Spike led Willow back to the bed, sitting down and pulling her onto his lap as he leaned back against the headboard.  Angel tied his robe and sat down, making sure to give the other two space.  He was an idiot. What was he thinking?  He never should have touched Willow like that without her permission.  She doesn't know about my message from the Powers.  Why did he do it in the first place?  Why did Willow suddenly hold such an attraction for him?  Not that he didn't think she was lovely, because she was, both in body and spirit.  But why now?

"Willow," Spike began softly, "Peaches and I have something to discuss with you."

"You called me Willow again.  This is a big thing, right?"

"Yes, it is."  The blond pressed a kiss to her temple. "But first, I need you to know . . .how I feel.  Know I told you I need you, but it's not just that.  I love you, Red."  Spike looked at his redhead, trying to gauge her reaction.

She looked at him, startled.  "You love me," she asked softly.  "Me?  Are you sure?  I mean, me?"

"I mean you, Willow.  You.  Love you."  He leaned his forehead against hers, staring intently into her doubtful eyes.

"I don't know what to say, Spike.  I mean, I've always kind of crushed on you.  Thought you were cute. . ."

"I'm a bloody demon, pet.  I'm not cute."  The blond rolled his eyes heavenward.

Willow smiled shyly.  "Well, you're cute in a demony kinda way, then.  I do feel . . .something for you, I'm just not sure what it is yet.  I care about you. I wouldn't have. . .," she lowered her eyelashes demurely, "you know, if I didn't.  I'm just not ready to say those words.  I don't want to say them if I'm not sure I mean them."  Her eyes pleaded with the vampire to understand when she saw the crestfallen look on his face.  She leaned closer and whispered in his hear, "It doesn't mean that I won't with time. It's all just so new.  Everything's happening so fast."

Spike closed his eyes at her words.  He knew she was right.  Was it really just two nights ago that she had been attacked, sending them to his poofy grand-sire for help?  Opening his eyes again, the blond kissed her lips softly.  "I'm a vampire, pet.  I have all the time in the world to wait for you."

Angel sat there torn between brooding with guilt over his behavior with Willow and chuckling at his grand-childe who had the nerve to call *him* a poof. This petite redhead had his grand-childe wrapped around her little finger.  His internal debate came to a halt when he heard Spike's next words though.

"Pet, the thing Peaches and I want to talk to you about . . .well, that message the Powers sent him, it involved you, too."

"Spike," Angel interrupted, "we don't have to do this yet.  Not if you're not ready for this."

"Did some good thinkin' up on that roof of yours.  You may not be the Sire I knew a hundred years ago, but doesn't mean I want to see you sit on your arse and brood all day. . .and I think our talk about Angelus returnin' is a big part of this too."

"If you're sure," Angel nodded.

Willow looked between the two vampires.  "What does he mean Angel, the Powers told you about me?  Did they tell you something else besides what you told us?"

The two vampires made eye contact and Spike nodded his assent.  "You already know they told me you couldn't make me lose my soul because it was you that performed the curse."

"Right, which I guess kinda makes some sort of supernatural sense."

"But the other part of the message is that you can also secure my soul for me, basically erase the happiness clause."  Angel watched her face for a reaction and he wasn't disappointed.

Shock was the first expression that flitted across her features, then happiness as she jumped off Spike's lap to hug the dark vampire, her earlier embarrassment completely forgotten.  "Angel, that's great!  What do I have to do?  Did they give you a spell?  Some incantation?  Oh, oh, do I need to get an Orb of Thesula, 'cause I've got a couple at home I keep on hand at all times. . .just in case of an emergency, you understand."

Angel hugged the witch back, afraid this may be the last time she felt this open with him once she heard the rest.  He closed his eyes and braced himself for what he had to do.  "Willow, you're my friend first and foremost.  I want you to understand that and if you don't want to do this, it won't change how I feel about you, I promise."

The redhead pulled back in the embrace to look at him like he was insane.  "Angel, why wouldn't I want to do it?  It would give you your soul permanently.  No more Angelus.  I can't think of a thing they could make me do that wouldn't be worth it."

"Ya have to shag the Poof, pet."  Spike decided to interrupt the love fest between his witch and grand-sire.  Oh, yeah, that got her attention.

"What?!"  Shock filled wide green eyes as she looked at the blond, then turned to the brunette for confirmation.  "We have to. . .?"

"Doyle said you could secure my soul permanently if we. . .made love.  Given from you to me willingly."

"Oh, well, uh. . ."  Willow tried to gracefully untangle herself from Angel.  "That's, uh, really interesting.  Me . . .and you. . .naked and stuff."

"Willow I told you, if you don't want to, if it makes you too uncomfortable, I completely understand."

She looked at Angel like he'd grown a second head. "Angel, it's not that.  How could I say no?  After all the times you saved my life and everything you've done to help us in Sunnydale?  I couldn't say no.  Of course I'll help you.  It's just. . .Goddess, Buffy's gonna kill me!"

~Part: 14~

Spike felt his dead heart sink.  Willow's words hit him like a slap in the face.  She was willing to shag his grand-sire.  No ands, ifs or buts about it.  Only thing she was worried about was the stupid Slayer's feelings.

Angel saw the look on his grand-childe's face and knew he was hurt.  He didn't want this.  He didn't want to hurt Spike.  It was obvious he cared for Willow a great deal.  He was about to offer again that they not do this when the witch turned to her vampire, worry on her face.

"Spike, you and Angel have discussed this?  You're ok with it?  I mean, we haven't . . .for very long.  And if you don't want me to, I won't, because you mean a lot to me and I don't want to if you don't want me to, but I'd like to help Angel.  But if you don't want me to. . .with him. . ." Willow's voice trailed off and she was blushing brightly by the end of her ramble.

She walked across the bed to the blond on her knees, grabbing his hand when he wouldn't look at her. "Spike?"

"He's not very happy about it, Willow," Angel told her quietly.

"Spike, if you don't want me to. . ."

"Can't have Angelus come back, pet."  He looked up at her with pained eyes.  "Would be a bad thing for all involved, especially you."

The redhead stared at the blond for a moment in silence before asking quietly, "Angel, can you give us a few minutes?"

"Of course.  Take as much time as you need.  I'm going to get a shower, then I'll be downstairs in the library."

Willow nodded her acknowledgment, but kept her attention focused on Spike as the elder vampire left the room, the door clicking quietly shut after him.

"Spike, we need to talk about this."

"Nothin' to talk about, pet."  The vampire rose from the bed, pacing the confines of the room like a caged animal.  "Poof explained some things to me.  It has to be done.  You'd be in danger if Angelus came back." Spike stopped and looked at his witch, beautiful, vulnerable kneeling there on the bed in her little pink robe.  She'd be a quick snack for the bastard if he ever got a hold of her, if she was lucky.  If not, . . .well, he remembered how sadistic the Angelus had been the last time he made an appearance.  He could draw out her torture for days, killing her slowly.

"I always figured he would.  After all, I'm the one who caged him up again.  Angel warned me before he left Sunnydale.  He told me to perform the uninvite spell and if he ever came back, not to let him in until I was sure it was him and not Angelus.  When he showed up at Thanksgiving, I thought he was evil and when he pulled me into the coffee shop. . .well, let's just say I thought I wasn't going to get the chance to perform the soul restoration curse on him again."

"Angel's my friend and I want to help him, Spike, but not if it's going to make you so unhappy.  What we have is so new and I don't want to do anything to mess this up."

He walked back over to the bed to stand in front of her.  "The thought of him with you, shagging you, makes my gut twist, pet.  I'm not goin' to lie.  The thought of anyone touching you but me makes me want to rip their throat out.  The thought of anyone seeing you. . ."  He reached forward and untied the robe, pushing the material back to reveal her porcelain skin to his gaze.  "Anyone seeing you like this besides me makes me want to kill them."

"Then I won't do it," Willow said softly.

"Don't want you to," he heaved a sigh, "but if eventually you decide you want to be with me for as long as I want to be with you, then there's goin' to be a bigger chance the poof will turn back.  I don't want Angelus coming after you pet and I don't want us to be lookin' over our shoulders for centuries."

"Are you saying you think I should. . .umm, secure his soul?"  Willow blushed, not wanting to say the words. 'Have sex with Angel' isn't something she thought the blond wanted to hear just now.

Spike ran his hands over her shoulders, pushing the robe off, watching as it slid down her arms.  "You'll still be mine."  It was a question in the form of a statement as he looked at his witch.

Willow took his hand and kissed the palm.  "Yours," she whispered.

"Just, not today.  Not yet," the blond whispered, pushing her gently back onto the bed, hovering over her.  "I want you all to myself, just for a little while longer."

He lowered his head, kissing her possessively and the redhead submitted to the desperation she sensed in the kiss.  She wrapped her arms around him, holding the vampire close, draping a leg over one of his hips. Spike's hands roamed her body, squeezing, caressing, reassuring himself she was here with him.

Willow slid her hands up under his T-shirt, caressing his back, feeling the already healing welts there from last night.  She felt his face change against her neck, felt his fangs drag over her skin and shivered. His tongue laved the bite mark there, his claim. Spike sucked the flesh between his lips and felt the redhead turn her head to give him better access and cup the back of his head.  "Make me yours again," she whispered to him.

With a groan, he slid his fangs deep in his witch, feeling her tense as he renewed his claim, digging deep into her neck and suckling her sweet blood.  The blond ground his erection between her parted thighs, feeling his Red arching up to meet the pressure.

He reached between them and struggled to remove his jeans.  Willow's foot helped him push them down around his knees.  Spike sank into her, moaning against her neck as he felt her warmth envelop him.  He thrust slowly, savoring the feel of the redhead taking him into her tight center. The demon within his body demanded he make his witch remember who she belonged to so he increased his rhythm.  Hands slid over her breasts, squeezing the firm mounds and teasing the nipples taut.

Beneath him, Willow moaned her pleasure, her body moving in tune with Spike's.  Her fingers dug into the pale globes of his bottom, feeling the muscles tense with each deep penetrating stroke of his cock.  She shivered when fingers reached between them, rubbing her clit quickly.  Heat rocketed through her veins and breath caught in her throat.  The redhead's body tensed and began squirming wildly against the vampire quickly bringing her to a shattering climax.

Willow's scream of pleasure rent the air and Spike growled against her neck, feeling her muscles clamp about him as he continued pumping his hard shaft within her wet center.  Her limp form lay beneath him, green eyes glazed over with lust and satisfaction combined.  The vampire released her neck and ground his mouth against hers in a brutal animalistic kiss, pulling away to observe with satisfaction the swollen flesh stained slightly with his Red's blood.  Spike licked her lips gently, continuing to rock within his witch, still hard and wanting.

He withdrew briefly and gently turned the limp body of his lover onto her stomach.  Reaching down, Spike raised her hips to him, slipping easily back into her wet heat.  The vampire pulled Willow's trembling form up against his chest, holding her to him as he thrust in and out slowly once more.  It was oddly erotic to the woman as her eyes fluttered open again.  She could see herself in the mirror on the dresser, watched her body move in time with Spike's smooth measured strokes, rising and falling on his shaft.  She looked down and watched his hands manipulate her breasts, then gazed in the mirror, watching as her flesh moved, lifted, nipples extended as he tugged on them.  It was really quite odd. . .and very arousing.

Willow turned her face to meet that of her lover, his eyes glowing golden, fangs extended and ridges evident.  She raised a gentle hand, brushing over his rough forehead and bent her head closer, licking at his fangs.  The demon purred at its witch's acceptance, her touch, its possession of her.  He moved faster, the sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room along with Willow's sighs and gasps of pleasure.

Lips met, tongues dueled and hands groped desperately. The heat between the two rose to a frenzied level until Spike's witch trembled in his tight grasp, groaning against his plundering mouth.  Feeling Willow's body convulsing about his thrusting length, the vampire grunted, slamming faster, harder into the warm body in his arms.  Gritting his teeth, head thrown back, Spike let loose a snarl, jerking as he filled his Red with cool release.

The two collapsed on the bed, the vampire laying atop his witch, body still aquiver and thrusting gentle and slow into her milking passage.  His tongue swirled about his fresh claim, lapping at the trickles of blood leaking from it.  "Mine," Spike whispered in her ear.

"Yours," she replied, reaching back and running her fingers through his hair.

"When. . .when will you tell the Poof," he asked, afraid to shatter their post sex bliss.

"Whenever you decide to let me out of bed," the redhead grinned against the sheets.

Spike chuckled. "Peaches may be waiting a long time, then."

~Part: 15~

It was several hours later when Willow finally made her way downstairs to the library.  She had showered and was now dressed in a comfortable long flowing purple skirt and a lilac T that proclaimed her to be a member of the Wiccan Union, Group 333.  Knocking lightly on the door frame, the witch popped her head in to smile shyly at the tense vampire sitting at one of the research tables.

"Hey, Angel."

"Willow, hi.  So, did you and Spike get things sorted out?"  He gripped the book he was holding tightly.  He had told the redhead that whatever her decision was, he would abide by it, and he meant that, but he closed his eyes and said a quick prayer to the Powers that she would agree to secure his soul.

"Uh-huh.  We, uh, talked things out."  The redhead blushed, remembering that there had been very little talking involved in her time spent with the blond vampire.  She pictured him as she had left him.  Hair was tousled, a sheet pulled over his middle, muscled chest and legs bare to her gaze.  Those full lips were parted slightly in sleep.  Mmm, those wonderful talented lips.

Angel raised an eyebrow at the redhead.  Her eyes had glazed over and he could scent her arousal mixing with the smell of Spike that was ingrained on her skin. "Talked, huh?"

Willow shook herself out of her naughty wandering thoughts at Angels teasing words and blushed quite prettily, lowering her eyes to the table.  "Um, yeah. He's ok with it, sort of.  He just wants a little more time before we, uh. . ."  The witch's eyes looked everywhere but at the vampire sitting before her. "Well, before we secure your soul."

The vampire frowned, noticing how uncomfortable she was with the subject, not that he could blame her. "Willow, I know this will be awkward, with the past we've shared, the connection we have with others, but I just want you to know how much this means to me.  I never thought I'd ever have a friend who would be willing to do something like this for me."

The redhead's lips twitched at his words.  She tried to keep it in, she really did, but the mental pictures she was getting forced her giggles to escape.  Angel looked at her in surprise.  He was being very serious, trying to thank her for helping him on such a serious matter and here she was, laughing at him.  He bristled a little under her amused gaze.

Seeing the offended look on his face, Willow tried to control her laughter long enough to explain.  "I'm. . .I'm sorry, Angel.  It's just. . .well, it's not like you're unattractive.  I'm sure you would have no problem finding, ehrm, 'friends' who would be willing to help you out like this."

A smile teased the edges of the vampire's own mouth at her words.  "But none of them could help me the way you can.  And I just want you to know how much I appreciate it.  I mean it Willow.  I know this can't be easy for you.  I mean, you're Buffy's best friend. You and Spike are just starting something new, and can I just say I'm still a little unsure about that whole thing.  My grand-childe can be a little. . .unrestrained.  I never pictured you with that type before."  He looked at her, curious now.  "Are you sure about this?  We haven't really had a chance to speak about what's been going on since you got here."

Willow sat down in the chair facing the vampire and traced the grain of the wood with a fingertip, avoiding his gaze while she composed her thoughts. She wanted to get this right, make sure there were no misunderstandings.  Finally she took a deep breath then hesitantly made the plunge.

"Angel, did you know what happened with Oz?  Why he left Sunnydale?  Why he left me?"  Green eyes raised to meet brown.

The brunette reached across the table, covering her small hand gently.  "Spike gave me the Cliffs notes version."

Willow nodded, turning her hand to grip his fingers lightly, her eyes locked on their joined hands.  "When Oz left, when I caught him with that other wolf, it felt as though my world shattered.  All the self-confidence I'd built up in my time with him, poof!  Gone.  I wasn't enough for him.  I had a million things running through my head, none of them good.  Why wasn't I enough for him?  Wasn't I a good girlfriend?  Didn't I support him enough?  Had I smothered him?  Hadn't I paid him enough attention? Was I not good enough in bed?  Was the sex not animalistic enough for his wolf?  And I know, my brain knows, that it was the wolf attracted to its own species, but in my heart, I questioned everything I was."

The witch looked over at the vampire with sad eyes. "I sunk into this big old black hole of self-pity.  I moped and moaned and sighed and cried.  I felt like a big blob of ickiness wrapped around a fat ball of despair.  Buffy and the others, they tried at first to understand.  But she was just getting involved with Riley, Xander had Anya demanding orgasms 24/7 and Giles was seeing someone of his own.  I was the only one not getting spanked."

She giggled as coffee brown eyes about popped out of his head at her last words.  "You know what I mean.  I was the single one in a group of couples, kinda the seventh wheel.  Buffy kept trying to get Riley to set me up with friends of his, but I wasn't ready for that.  She was only trying to help get my mind off of Oz, I know, but it wasn't helping.  It just made me feel like a desperate loser.  They all either tiptoed around the fact that he had left me or tried to push me back into the dating scene and encourage me to be happy dating Willow again.  Spike was the only one that didn't treat me differently."

A soft smile curved her lips as her mind drifted back to the memories.  "You're right about him.  He can be rude, crude, abrupt, obnoxious, snippy, sarcastic and mean.  But he also held me when I cried one night while I was vamp sitting.  He did this awkward patting my shoulder thing and told me everything would be all right and that I was wrong thinking I didn't deserve Oz, that it was he who didn't deserve me.  He said I had too big a heart to waste it on some fur ball musician who wasn't willing to hang around and fight for what was his."  She giggled at the memory.

"I think that was the night I started thinking of him as more than just a vampire that would try to kill me if he didn't have the chip in his head.  That's the night I started thinking of him as a person, as a potential friend."

"As a potential lover?" Angel asked quietly.

Willow bit her lower lip and looked at the vampire sheepishly.  "Maybe.  You have to admit, Angel, Spike's not hard on the eyes at all.  And those tight jeans and T-shirt he wears, oh and the duster!  Makes him very dark and sexy, mysterious even."

"Cordy called him tall, blond and homicidal yesterday," the brunette laughed softly.

"Well, he can be that too.  I'm not living in Denial Land here, Angel.  I know what he is.  I don't have any romantic idealism where Spike's concerned.  He's a demon, I'm aware of that.  But you have to admit, he's not like others.  He has the capacity for love.  Look at how he was head over heels for Dru for over a century, for the Goddess' sake."

Angel nodded thoughtfully.  He knew Spike had it in him to love.  Willow was right.  He had doted and pampered his Princess for decades.  He'd taken care of her after he was souled and abandoned them.

"The last couple of days he's made me feel wanted again.  Pretty, even."  The redhead blushed at her confession.  "He's made me feel desirable and I haven't felt that in a very long time."

Angel squeezed her hand, drawing her attention to him. "You are desirable, Willow.  You've grown into a beautiful young woman.  You've come quite a way from the shy young girl I first met in Sunnydale.  And Spike was right.  You have the biggest heart of anyone I know, a beauty that glows from the inside out.  You, Willow Rosenburg, are one of the brightest souls I've ever known and I'm proud to call you my friend."

The young witch smiled brightly at his sincere compliments.  She hopped up and hurried around the table to engulf the surprised vampire in a warm hug. "I'm proud you're my friend too, Angel."

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass, followed by Cordelia's loud "Oh, damn!", then there was a thump, like something falling to the floor.

Angel was out of the library and had his shaking seer in his arms by the time Willow made her way to the lobby.  "Is she ok?"  The redhead looked on at the convulsing brunette, worry in her eyes.

"She's having a vision," the vampire explained.

Finally the former cheerleader's eyes stopped fluttering and they opened slowly, the girl moaning in pain.  "Willow, there's some bottled water in the mini-fridge in my office and a bottle of aspirin in the top right drawer.  Could you get them for her?"

"Sure, Angel."  The witch hurried off to help in whatever small way she could.  Cordy looked like hell and if she felt half as bad as she looked, many aspirin would be required.  Maybe she could try to look up a healing spell for her old nemesis.

"Delia, what did you see," Angel asked the girl quietly, aware of the migraine pulsing through her head.

"Lots of little yellow demons, about munchkin size, a white horn in the middle of their foreheads, scaly legs and arms, uh, anatomically correct naked little yellow demons.  Warehouse down on the pier.  Pier 12, building number 603.  Tonight.  They're trying to raise something, some bigger demon, but I don't know what."

Willow knelt down and offered Cordy the water and aspirin, which the girl took gratefully.  She had caught the tail end of the seer's description of things to come.  "Research mode?"

Angel nodded, lifting the weakened woman into his arms, carrying her to one of the couches.  "I'll call Wesley.  Care to try your hand at the computer?"

"Sure.  It'll be just like old times at the library, only no Giles and Buffy.  Oh, and no Xander to bring the donuts."

"Wesley brings the donuts now," Cordelia whispered weakly from her position on the couch, arm flung over her eyes to shield them from the damn sunlight trying to crack through her skull.

"I hope he brings jellies.  I could really go for a jelly," the Wiccan murmured as she booted up the computer.

~Part: 16~

Three hours and four jelly donuts later Willow still sat at the computer surfing the net in search of the yellow munchkin demons.  Spike had awoken about an hour earlier and now sat leafing through a demonology text, his chair situated close to hers.  Cool fingers gently rubbed the back of her neck as she clicked away with the mouse, and he occasionally leaned over to nuzzle said neck.

Cordelia sat at one of the tables, her eyes darting back and forth between the book she was researching and the open display of affection taking place at the computer.  Finally, she'd had enough.  "I could go for some refreshing beverages.  Anyone else?"

Willow looked up from the demonsrus.com web site and smiled.  "Thanks, Cordy.  A water would be great."

"Yes, thank you Cordelia.  I'll have a tea, please." Wesley didn't bother to look up from his reading on the evisceration of a Klagnop demon.

"Great!"  The former cheerleader enthused just a bit too cheerfully.  "Angel, give me a hand, why don't you?"

"Delia, I don't think you really need me to. . ." Before he could finish, his secretary had him by the back of his shirt, pulling him out of his chair and towards the kitchen.

Once they were in the kitchen and out of earshot of the others, Cordelia turned on her boss.  "What the hell is that out there?"

"What are you talking about?"  The vampire tried to smooth out the wrinkled collar of his shirt as he looked at his seer, confused.

"Hell-ooo!  Willow getting a neck rub from the Sex Pistols reject in there?!  You can't tell me you missed it!  He's been touching her constantly since he came downstairs!"

"Oh, that."

"Yes, *that*!  Angel, aren't you in the least bit concerned?  I mean after what Spike did to you last year, with the spikes and the torture.  Any of this ringing a bell?"

"He won't hurt her."

Cordelia sputtered and for once in her life, even if it was only briefly, Queen C was speechless.  "He. . .she. . .you. . .but. . .Now hold on one second here! Are you out of your mind?  Are you telling me you approve of this. . .this, whatever it is that's going on between them?  Because I have a feeling a certain blond slayer is going to go through the roof when she finds out about the little touchy-feely fest going on out there."

Angel cringed at the shrill sounds emitting from Cordy's mouth and wondered if she'd been a dolphin in a past life.  "He loves her."

"And you believe him?  Angel, what is going on? You've been acting really weird since they've gotten here."

"Do you remember that dream I had?  The one with Doyle?"

"The one where he told you Willow couldn't cause you to lose your soul, right?  Because due to some weird freaky twisted logic, the Powers find this to make sense, that your ex-girlfriend's best friend is the only one you can have sex with and not. . .Oh my God! Are you having sex with Willow?

Out in the lobby, Wesley dropped the book he was reading.  Willow looked toward the sound of the seer's screeching voice and Spike glared.  "Wondered how long it would take the Poof to tell the cheerleader."

Willow smacked his arm, blushing as she watched Wesley through lowered lashes.  Hmm, she wondered if it was a British trait to clean one's glasses whenever they were embarrassed or nervous or if it was a Watcher's thing.

"I, uh, I believe another refreshment run is in order. Could you let Cordelia and Angel know where I've gone?"

Wesley was out of the door before either Willow or Spike could reply.

"Well, that was a fast getaway," Willow muttered.

"Would you look here," Spike began, scooting his chair closer until he was practically on top of her.  "Seems like it's just you and me, pet."

"Cordy and Angel will be right back, and she doesn't sound very happy as it is."  The redhead looked past the vampire sitting so close to her, listening for approaching footsteps.

"I'll hear them in plenty of time before they get here, Red.  Come on, give us a little kiss."

Willow looked at Spike and gave him a shy grin as he waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.  She leaned forward, planning on giving him a quick little kiss, but her vampire had other plans.  Strong hands wrapped around her waist and dragged her onto his lap, causing the redhead to squeal against his lips.  Her arms wrapped around his neck, holding him close as the kiss deepened to a bruising intensity.

She felt a hand slide up under her T-shirt to cup her breast, squeeze the warm flesh gently, and brush a thumb back and forth across the tip until her nipple pebbled against the satin of her bra.  "Want you," the blond growled against her neck, teasing pale skin with razor sharp fangs, tracing her bite mark with the tip of his tongue.

Suddenly, Spike spun Willow until she was facing him, straddling his lap.  The redhead gasped, feeling the evidence of the vampire's desire pressing against her. Gently she rocked against him, feeling one of his hands slide up under her skirt to cup her bottom, fingers teasing the edges of her panties.

He looked up at her, his demon receding, golden eyes changing back to deep blue.  His witch lowered her mouth and this kiss was very unlike the last.  It was soft and slow, sweet and long.  Lips gently brushing over lips, tongues teasing.

"Eeeewwwwww!!!"

Willow pulled back quickly, and in a split second, she saw Cordy, eeww face in full force, standing in front of an flustered Angel, and the redhead flapped her arms like some demented bird, trying to regain her balance.  Spike moved to grasp her waist, but even with his vampiric speed, he was too late and she fell back on the floor in an undignified heap.  "Ooofff!"

Spike leaned over and gently tugged her skirt down to a more decent level.  "Red, sweets, you've got to stop doing this.  You're going to hurt yourself one of these days."  He then offered her a hand up and tugged her back onto his lap.

"I explained everything to her," Angel offered, moving closer to stand next to the redhead and the blond. "Uh, where's Wesley?"

"Oh, he kinda heard Cordy's comment about us having sex and took off on another donut run.  I think he's a little flustered."

"So, let me get this straight."  Cordelia turned her attention to the younger vampire in the room.  "You and Willow are having sex and you love her."

"Right on the mark.  Give the cheerleader a prize," Spike sneered.

The seer turned her gaze on the redhead squirming uncomfortably on her vampire's lap.  "And you're *going* to have sex with Angel to secure his soul once Spike's a little more secure in your new relationship?"

"Well, pretty much," the girl blushed under Cordy's intense scrutiny.

The former May Queen turned her attention to her boss. "And when you and Willow have sex, it can't just be sex, it has to be making love."

"Well, we have to have a love for each other in order for it to work, not necessarily. . ."

"Yeah, yeah, I got that part.  It can be the love of friendship.  Right."  She looked between all the active participants of this little love triangle that were totally oblivious to what was exactly going on here.  "Oh, puh-leeze!  Ok, Spike, you admit you love Willow.  At least someone involved in this is being honest about their feelings."

"Cordy, what are you talking about?"  Willow didn't quite know where the other woman was going with this.

The brunette sighed and rolled her eyes at the redhead's complete and total oblivion.  "Willow, we might not have been the best of friends, but I knew you well enough to realize you wouldn't have sex with someone if you didn't love them.  So, you love Spike."

"Well, I haven't exactly. . ."

"No, I'm not asking.  I'm telling you.  You. Love. Spike.  Now, you've agreed to secure Angel's soul.  To do that you have to make love.  To make love, you have to love the person you're having sex with. . ."

"And I do love Angel, as a very good friend," the witch nodded.

"Quit with the interruptions already, please.  I'm trying to make a point here.  Why do you love Angel?"

"Well, because he's always been nice to me.  He's saved me tons of times.  He always made Buffy, well, Buffy loved him, and even though it didn't work out, I know how much he meant to her.  He's smart and handsome, he's seen so much and been so many places and is so interesting to talk to and . . .oh!"  Willow slapped her hand over her mouth and her eyes widened. She felt Spike tense under her.

"Uh-huh.  And Angel, you have to love Willow for this to work.  Why do you love Willow?"

By now the tension in the lobby was so think, it felt heavy in the air.  Angel could feel Spike's eyes boring into him after the witch's little mini-confession.  "Well, she's always been there for Buffy.  She's sweet, kind and giving.  She's intelligent and shy, fiercely loyal, brave and beautiful. . ."

"What was the first thought you had when you found out Willow could secure your soul permanently?"  Cordy arched her perfectly shaped brow at her boss.

"That I could be free to enjoy life again.  That I wouldn't have to push potential happiness away."

"Did Buffy cross your mind?"

"Well, not specifically. . ."

"Face it.  You both love Willow, and Willow, you love both of these lunkheads."

Three voices began shouting denials at her, but Cordelia simply held her hand out and shook her head. "Deny it all you want, but I'm never wrong about things like these.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I never did get that drink I wanted."

She turned and walked back toward the kitchen, leaving three stunned individuals watching her departing back, mouths open in mid-denial.

Willow looked up at Angel.  "But I don't. . ."

"Of course.  And I don't either,"  the dark vampire replied.

The redhead gripped Spike's shoulders as he stood, standing Willow on her own feet.  "Spike," she asked quietly.

"Goin' out for some smokes.  Need time to think.  I'll be back before we have to leave to go to the docks."

Without a look at either of the other two people in the lobby, the blond vampire made his way out into the early evening shadows.

~Part: 17~

"Spike," Willow called softly after the departing vampire. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Angel watching the door swing closed behind the blond as well.

"Give him time. The best thing to do when he's in one of these moods is just leave him alone to work it out for himself."

"But Angel, I can't. . .I don't want him thinking that I don't. . .that you and I. . ." Tears trickled down her cheeks, remembering the pain she saw in his eyes when he stood her on the floor, unable to meet her gaze. She felt guilt, her subconscious whispering that maybe Cordelia's words hit a little too close to home for her own comfort.

Angel reached over and brushed the wet tracks on her cheeks gently, then reached for her hand. "Maybe we should have another talk." Willow allowed her friend to lead her upstairs to his suite, closing the door behind him and indicating she have a seat on the couch.

They both sat in silence for several minutes, neither looking at one another.

"She's right, you know," the young woman finally whispered. "I wouldn't make love to someone unless I did love them."

A wry smile twisted the vampire's lips. "So you admit you love Spike?"

"Yeah, I guess I do." Willow tossed Angel a guilty grin. "Buffy's gonna have a cow and threaten to staked him. Oh, and Xander's going to go into epileptic shock. Giles will polish his glasses, pinch his nose a lot and say 'Oh dear!'. Anya will just ask me if he gives good orgasms."

Angel raised his eyebrow. "Anya sounds like an interesting young woman."

"In her defense, she *was* a demon for over a thousand years. She's still learning the art of subtlety and the differences between public and private conversations and appropriate subject matter. Some days. . .well, most days she doesn't distinguish between them very well."

"She was right about something else, too, Willow." The redhead felt pinned in place by the intensity of his gaze. "I do love you. Of course I value our friendship more than anything. You gave me my soul back. I could never repay you enough for that. And you were the first one to truly accept me back into the fold when I returned from hell. You don't know how much that meant to me. I felt like such an outcast after everything I did, and then you're showing up on my doorstep just to talk and make me feel more comfortable. Those talks were everything back then. I was so close to leaving town, maybe even walking out into the sun some days, especially after what I'd done to Giles with Jenny, all the hurtful things I'd done and said to Buffy and I could have killed you that night in the school hallway."

"Don't forget my fish," she laughed, trying to break the mounting tension in the room.

"What?" Angel stopped in his self-flagellation, edging on pre-brooding.

"My fish. Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Velma, Daphne, Scrappy Doo and Scooby Dum, you know, the ones you left in an envelope for me?"

The vampire's mouth twitched. "Your fish were named after the characters from the Scooby Doo cartoon?"

"Well, originally, they were Aristotle, Plato, Einstein, Madam Curie, Susan B, Beethoven and Mozart, but after I met Buffy and we all became the Scoobies, I just thought maybe those were a little to pretentious and changed them."

"Just like you're trying to change the subject now," Angel asked quietly.

"Um, well, things were getting a little too intense."

"Willow, do you remember the night before graduation, when you and Oz were watching me while I was sick?"

"Sure, how could I forget. I was never so scared for you. You looked so horrible laying there, in so much pain and shaking with fever. . ."

"Do you remember what I said to you?"

"You mean when you thought I was Buffy?"

"Willow, I never thought you were Buffy. I knew it was you."

"But you said, . . .oh!" She replayed their conversation in her mind.

"You're awake."

Angel had taken her hand. "You've been watching over me?" She had nodded in response. Then it got freaky when he had started kissing her hand.

"Well, we've been taking turns."

"I thought. . .I thought I'd never see you again. I can't leave you. I was wrong. I need you."

Shocked green eyes flew to his face. Angel knew she was finally grasping what he was trying to make her understand.

"But you were leaving because of Buffy."

"Willow, a part of me will always love Buffy. She's beautiful, brave and strong, but it was never the same between us after I came back from hell. No matter how hard we both tried, that always hung between us. I was falling in love with you, but you had Oz. I knew I couldn't stay, couldn't be around you and not want you. And with the curse. . .," he trailed off.

"You left Buffy because of me?" Tears started to form as guilt slammed her. She had been the cause of her best friend's pain.

"Willow, I didn't leave Buffy because of you. I left Sunnydale because I couldn't trust myself to be around you. Buffy doesn't even factor into the equation."

"But, but she loved you so much," the redhead whispered.

"Is she still unhappy, because the last time I was in town, she seemed pretty happy with that Riley guy."

"He does make her happy, but he's not you Angel."

"Of course he's not me. I realize now, since we've put some distance between ourselves, that it would never have worked out. The Slayer and a vampire? I told you, I'll always have a place in my heart for her, but I'm not in love with her any more. I love. . ."

"Don't! Please don't say it."

"Fine, then can you tell me at least how you feel about me? Is it really just friendship? Is that all you feel between us? Is that all you've ever felt for me?"

"You were always Buffy's cryptic guy. The tall dark mysterious one that disappeared into the shadows. The first time I saw you, I remember thinking how lucky she was. You may not have been able to look in a mirror for the last two hundred some years, but you're not an unattractive man, Angel. Cordy once called you a hunk of salty goodness," she smiled slightly at the memory.

"I had a little bit of a schoolgirl crush on you, but that's all I would ever let it be because you were Buffy's. Then we became better friends and in case you haven't noticed, not an abundance of those hanging around. It can be a little on the dangerous side to be friends with the Slayer and her band of merry men, er people."

Angel moved closer to her on the couch, taking her hands in his. "I'm not Buffy's now."

"No," she sighed, "but I'm Spike's now."

"I've already claimed Right of the Sire to him. You're both mine, but only if you want to be."

His words were hypnotic, tempting. A shiver ran through her body at the naughty mental images racing through her head. She and Spike. . .and Angel, together.

"How can I love you both? Isn't that just. . .wrong?" She watched their locked hands, felt the tingles where he was rubbing circles on her warm flesh with his thumbs.

One of those hands slipped under her chin to raise her face to his gaze. "Willow, loving someone as much as you do can never be wrong."

"But two someones? That's not exactly normal, Angel."

"You've lived on the Hellmouth your whole life, dated a werewolf, your best friend's a slayer and your normal Friday night activities probably involve patrolling for fledglings in the cemeteries. What's normal, Willow?"

"I. . .this is something I need to think about."

"Fine, but can you do me just one favor?"

"Of course. What did you need?"

"This." Angel moved closer, his hand caressing hers slid up her arm, grasping Willow's shoulder to pull her closer. He lowered parted lips to her warm mouth, placing a slow sweet kiss there, a promise of things to come if she would allow it.

The redhead in his arms moaned softly against his lips, feeling her body betray her mind, which was yelling at her to stop, back up a few paces and just *think*. Instead Willow wrapped her arms around the vampire teasing her tongue with his and allowed him to deepen the kiss.

His fingers slid through her silken hair, feeling it tickle over his palm as it fell back to the nape of her neck. He pulled back reluctantly, looking down into heated green eyes. Angel brushed his lips across her again softly, then leaned closer to her ear, his unneeded breath tickling it as the vampire whispered, "Just a little something to think about if you'll let me love you."

"You are a very, very bad vampire," she whispered. "Tempting me like that is just so not right."

"All's fair in love and war," he murmured, pressing another kiss to her cheek before pulling her to her feet with him. "Come on, we've still got a demon to find."

~Part: 18~

Another hour had passed and although they had found the demon they were searching for, a Tildrib demon that served as a minion for several different type of stronger and more dangerous demons, Spike had yet to return.

Willow had retired to her room, laid on the bed and tried to sort out her world that had suddenly been thrown into a serious tailspin as the result of a little bite by some supposedly extinct demon.  "Stupid demon!"

Her mind was going in fifty million different directions, trying to determine if she loved just Spike or did she love Angel as well?  And could she love Spike and Angel at the same time?  She had always thought women that were seeing more than one guy at a time were a little on the sleazy side, but now that she was in this position, she silently apologized for every negative little thought she'd ever had towards those women.  What was that old song?  Torn between two lovers?

'Goddess above, help me figure this out.  I don't want to hurt anyone.'

Willow rubbed her temples, feeling a serious headache coming on.  Her stomach was in knots and she was pretty sure those jelly donuts were dancing a jig in her belly.  That's when it hit her.  How long had it been since she and Spike had. . .since he had drank from her?  She tried to calculate in her mind and it was a little over five hours.  Would he really just leave her when she needed him.  Well, true, Angel was here, but Spike had been all, 'Mine!" and 'Keep your fangs to yourself, mate' lately.  Maybe he just lost track of time.  Oh!  Oh!  Or maybe he was hurt. Laying in a ditch somewhere. . .did they have ditches in LA?  Oh, Goddess, what if he was in trouble?

She tried to focus on their link, but didn't feel anything strange.  She also couldn't sense his presence, so he wasn't in or near the hotel.  She stood, only to fall back when the room began to spin around her.  Her stomach lurched and Willow knew she needed to find Angel for a little evening snack.  She hoped he was hungry.

The redhead stood, moving slowly this time, and stumbled for the door.  This time focusing on her link with Angel, she made her way downstairs to the library.  By the time she reached the door her world had turned into a giant spinning blur.  Lurching into the room, she stumbled to her knees, breathing heavy and trying to find which direction was up in this crazy place.

Angel looked up from the book he was reading to see Willow collapse onto the library floor.  He was at her side in a second, focusing his senses to hone in on her body's distress.  "How long's it been," he asked quietly, picking her up and laying her on a table.

"Over five hours.  I hadn't realized. . . He's not back yet, Angel."  A tear ran down her cheek, she was emotionally and physically drained.

"Shhh, it's ok Willow.  Let me help you."  The vampire tried to tug the neckline of her T-shirt low enough to feed from one of the marks comfortably, but it was too tight.  He raised her unresisting arms and tugged the thin cotton over her head before gathering her close. "It's ok.  I'm here.  Everything's going to be all right."

The witch watched through half closed eyes as the handsome man above her morphed into a demon that at one time had haunted her nightmares.  Now, instead of fear, the sight only brought her a measure of relief. She sensed more than felt his fangs slip into her flesh and then there was the suction and she felt the blood leaving her body.

Willow sighed, relaxing her body and tilting her head, nestling Angel's face deeper into her neck.  He had been drinking for under a minute when the library door slammed back on its hinges and a low growl filled the room.

Willow's eyes fluttered open again and she smiled, seeing Spike standing there, glowering at Angel, who had just withdrawn his canines from her skin.  "About time you showed up," he scolded his wayward grand-childe.

The blond stalked into the room, looking down at the flushed face of his witch.  He had been  wandering aimlessly when he had a sudden sense of fear hit him. And he just knew something was wrong with Willow.  He had lost track of time and now here she was, having to go to the Poof to be drained again.

"I'm sorry, Red.  I didn't realize how close it was to the time where you'd need bled."  He slid the backs of his cool fingers against her overly warm cheek, smiling slightly as she leaned into his touch.

"Spike, I was worried about you," she whispered weakly.

"Sorry, pet.  Had some thinkin' to do.  Move over Peaches.  I'll finish up here."

Angel didn't move, but stared down the younger demon before him.  "Ours," he reminded the cocky blond.

This was one of the things Spike had been thinking about.  Could he share his witch with the Poof?  Did he really have any choice in the matter?  He'd claimed Right of the Sire, the bloody bastard!  But if Willow loved him as well, would he lose her if she were made to choose?

With an almost imperceptible nod Spike moved to the other side of the redhead.  "Ours," he murmured softly, just loud enough for his grand-sire to hear his consent.

Willow gasped when she felt two sets of razor sharp fangs slide into her marks as both men began to work together to get her blood level back to normal.  She held both tightly to her, drowning in the sensations assaulting her senses.  Her low moans caused each vampire to growl in turn.  Cool hands caressed her overheated skin, teasing both her and themselves.

When her heartbeat slowed to a more moderate pace and her shaking ceased, both dark and light vampires tenderly mouthed her wounds as the trickles of blood slowed.  When her whispered "I love you" broke the silence, neither asked who it was meant for, both murmuring a similar response against her soft skin.

~Part: 19~

Soon thereafter Willow waved goodbye to Spike, Angel and Wesley as they left to take out the munchkin demons, and she headed for the phone.  She was running late for her call to Sunnydale, but not too late. Buffy and Riley shouldn't have left for patrol yet. Maybe they'd had better luck finding some information on the vilnavons than Wesley's contacts had.

"Magic Box, how can I help you spend you money today?"

Willow rolled her eyes.  "Hi Anya, is Giles there?"

"Oh, Willow, it's you.  I was trying out different ways to answer the phone to increase our sales.  Do you think it will work?"

"Ummm, maybe keep trying and possibly getting Giles' approval before actually using one."

"That's what Xander said too. . . Ok, ok, hold on! Xander wants to speak with you, but don't keep him too long.  We have much research to do and it's preventing me from getting my. . ."

"Wills?  Hey, how goes the bloodletting in LA?"

"Hey Xand, it's, uh, it's going all right.  And by the way, thanks for taking the phone off Anya.  I really don't need to hear all the gory details of your sex life."

"What's the matter, jealous," he teased.

"Oh, right!  So jealous of your many orgasms," she giggled.  Willow could hear him sputtering on the other end of the line and could just imagine the blush staining his cheeks.

"Right, well, uh, how's Deadboy treating you, and is Deadboy Jr. behaving?"

"They're both fine.  Out hunting little yellow demons right now.  Xand, do you think I could talk to Giles for a minute?"

"Sure thing.  Hold on.  Hey, G-man!  Wills is on the phone for you.  I'll talk to you once you're done with Giles, ok Wills?"

"Ok.  Thanks, Xand."

"Willow, yes.  How are you feeling?  Is everything going well there?"

"Um, things are, uhhh, ok, I guess."

"Willow, what's wrong?  Anything?  Is Spike causing problems?  You can send him back to Sunnydale.  I'm sure Angel will be glad to drive you back once we get this situation rectified."

"Oh, it's not that.  Spike's been super sweet.  I was just wondering, have you heard of any other side effects to the bite?"

"Well, sweet is one word I never thought I'd hear used in conjunction with Spike."

"He can be," the redhead whispered into the phone, remembering how he held her so tenderly when they slept.  "Giles, I need to talk to you, but I don't want you to tell the others yet what I'm going to tell you when I tell to you, ok?"

"Uh, I believe I understand what you just said.  Just one moment, Willow."

The redhead sat in Angel's chair, twirling a strand of hair around her finger as she nervously waited.  On the other end of the phone, she heard, "I'll be in the office if you need me.  I want to take some notes on that infernal contraption that Willow uses."

She heard a door close, then a rustling, which she knew meant he had lowered the shade on the window in the door.  "Willow, *is* everything all right there?"

"Giles, some things have happened since I've gotten here.  And I don't know if it's real or a side effect from the bite."  The witch nervously chewed her lower lip, the same lip Spike had sucked on gently just before leaving to slay the sunny munchkins.

"What sort of things?"  Giles removed his glasses in his office, pinching the bridge of his nose.  'Dear Lord, what could have possibly happened in two days?'

"Well, now, don't get mad.  I'm fine, ok?"

"Willow, what on earth is happening there?"  Now the watcher was really worried.  When Willow asked him not to get angry, he knew it meant nothing but trouble.

"Um, ok, here it is in a nutshell.  Something happens to me when Spike and Angel feed from me. . ."

"Spike's feeding from you?  How?  I thought with the chip. . ."

"I kinda invited him to and it worked."

Giles dropped the teacup he had just picked up, shattering it into tiny shards.  "You. . .you invited him?  But why?  Was Angel unable to handle the task on his own?"

"Because I wanted him to. . .to feed from me.  I can't explain it, Giles.  It's like I *need* them to feed from me, and not just because of the whole too much blood thingy, either."

"Is it somewhat of a compulsive urge?"

"I guess so.  Well, I guess you could say that.  It's umm, well, it can be very, uhhh, itcanbeverysexualanditseemstomakebothofthemfeelverysexualtoo." In LA Willow was blushing wildly, unable to lift her eyes from the floor as she cringed and waited for a response from the man she thought of as a father.  She also knew that he was one of the only people who could possibly give her answers to the questions plaguing her mind.

"Excuse me, but I though you said. . .no, you wouldn't. . .could you repeat yourself please, and just a little more slowly this time."  Giles sank down into his chair, bracing himself for what the young redhead was going to say.

"I can't explain it, Giles, but when they bite me, it kinda turns into a sexual thing, for both parties involved."

"Dear Lord, that's what I thought you said."  The watcher removed his glasses and pinched his nose, squeezing his eyes tightly shut.  They suddenly they flew open.  "Sexual?  Willow, Angel, he hasn't. . ."

"That's another thing.  Angel got a message from the Powers That Be.  Please don't say anything to Buffy. I think it would really upset her, but it appears I can't make him lose his soul since I'm the one that cursed him with it in the first place."

"Well, that's a good thing to know, I suppose."

"That's not all of it."

Giles reached into the bottom drawer of his desk, where he'd placed the bottle of scotch after the night Willow was bitten.  Easier access and all that. Pouring himself a glassful, he took a deep breath, "What else is there Willow?"

"It seems that I can also secure Angel's soul. . .permanently.  No more Angelus ever."

Giles stopped, the glass midway to his mouth at this information.  "That's wonderful.  Did these Powers give Angel the method with which you could do this?" His mind was spinning at the thought.  A way to secure a cursed soul.  Now that's something the Council would be crawling all over themselves to find out.

"Well, sort of.  You see, to do it, we kinda have to, ummm, well, do it."

"Pardon?"

"We have to make love," the redhead rolled her eyes and played with the phone cord.

There was dead silence on the Sunnydale end of the line.  Willow could feel the heat in her face and neck.  She thought if she blushed any harder she might just self-combust.  "Giles?"  Her voice sounded tiny and nervous on the other end of the phone.  The watcher shook himself out of his state of shock.

"Yes, well, that's very, uh, very interesting.  And you're sure this message was from the Powers?"

"Uh-huh.  Angel got it in a dream after we had, uh, after he had fed from me once."

"Just fed from you?"  Giles had a sinking feeling the young witch wasn't telling all.

"Well, uh, I told you it's a very sexual thing, right?"

"Yes.  Yes, you did," came his strangled reply.

"Well, Angel, Spike and I. . ."

"Oh, dear Lord!"  Giles sat the glass down and poured himself a double, quickly downing it.

"We, uh, oh, no!  We haven't. . .well, Angel and I haven't. . .but Spike and I have.  And I can't believe I'm telling you this.  It's so embarrassing.  I mean you're like a father and here I am telling you I'm having sex with one vampire and will probably have sex with another, even thought it's only to secure his soul.  I mean he says he loves me.  They both do, but I don't know if it's me or the blood, you know?  I mean Giles, come on.  It's just me.  Why would two hottie vamps be interested in little ol' me if not for the blood, although Spike does say. . .well, you don't need to know what he says about us in bed. . ."

Giles quickly poured himself another double as his young charge babbled on about sex with Spike and about spit out the fiery liquid when he heard three very important words. '. . .Spike claimed me. . .'

"WHAT?!  Willow, just stop right where you are young lady.  What do you mean Spike claimed you?"

The witch cringed again as she continued playing with the cord.  "Well, he kinda sank his fangs in really deep and claimed me, oh, but don't worry.  It really hurt him a lot. . .the first time anyway."

Giles looked at the half empty bottle of scotch and wondered if it was going to make it through the entire phone conversation or if he would need to open a second.  "The first time," he asked weakly.

"Uh-huh.  The second time didn't hurt him, but that was after I invited him and I also kinda asked him to do it."

The bottle shook as the former librarian poured his third drink.  "*Why* did Spike claim you?  Was it done in the heat of . . .of passion?"  The last word was choked from his throat.

"Well, sort of.  He got angry when Angel claimed me and went all possessive and 'Mine!' this and 'Mine!' that. . ."

"Angel claimed you?!"  Giles slammed the glass down, the scotch sloshing over the edge.  When he spoke again, Willow shivered.  There was a hint of Ripper in the voice on the phone as the normally gentle man gritted his teeth.  "I sent you to him thinking you would be safe and he *claims* you?  What in God's name was he thinking?"

"I told you Giles, it's the bitey thing.  We all three just kinda have horomones gone wild when they feed from me.  We can't help it."

"But you said Angel and you haven't. . ."

"I said we didn't make love.  We've done. . .other things.  No clothing was lost but we both, uh, enjoyed ourselves.  Well, there was that one time where there wasn't clothing, but I thought he was Spike, 'cause I just woke up and, well that's another long and embarrassing story.  So anyway, have you heard of any other side effects from the bite or am I just suddenly the next greatest thing to vampires since sliced bread?  Although I suppose vampires wouldn't really have a use for sliced bread, seeing as how they don't eat it."

"Willow, please."  Giles couldn't decide whether to rub his eyes, as he felt a headache coming on, or to drink another double of scotch.  He compromised, drinking the alcohol first, then rubbing his eyes and forehead.  "Unfortunately, we haven't found anything else on the vilnavons.  Has Wesley's contact had any better luck?"

"Not yet."  The redhead sunk back in the chair, disappointed.  The idea had been flitting around in the back of her mind.  Why all of a sudden did Spike and Angel want her?  Neither of them said anything before.  Why now?  Was it the blood?  Did they really care for her?  "Giles, what am I going to do," the witch wailed.

"Well, I dare say the faster we find a solution to your problem the better.  I still have several calls out to my contacts overseas.  Perhaps one of them can shed some light on your situation.  In the meantime, I suggest you try to separate yourself from the experience.  Try to think of something else."

"I already tried that.  Thinking of England doesn't work very well," Willow muttered.

"Try multiplication tables."

"Excuse me?"  That was a new one to the redhead.

"Multiplication tables.  Try them.  It will keep your mind off of what's occurring."

"That's your advice?  Try thinking of multiplication tables?  Giles I have two master vampires telling me they love me, sucking on my neck,  wanting to make love to me.  Spike wants to keep me as his mate forever, Angel's trying to tempt me away from Spike, and you're telling me to try thinking of multiplication tables?  That's the best you've got?!"

"Well, I didn't say it was the perfect solution, but without any further information on the vilnavons, it is the best I can think of at this point in time." Giles tipped the bottle again to pour another drink. 'Hmm, I might just have to open that second bottle. This one won't last too much longer.'

The watcher froze amid his inner commentary, set the scotch bottle down gently, tried to gather his suddenly fuzzy thoughts and spoke quite deliberately, if not slightly slurred, into the phone.  "Willow, you're saying that both Spike and Angel are telling you they are in love with you?"

"Helll-ooo!  Where have you been this entire conversation.  Yes.  That's why I'm asking you if there are any other side effects.  Spike wants me to become his mate for all of eternity, Angel told me he was falling in love with me and left Sunnydale because he couldn't be around me with the curse and didn't want to see me with Oz.  I've, uhh, kinda started having feeling for Spike and I've always had a little crush on Angel."

"What kind of feelings are you experiencing for Spike?"  Giles downed another double and reached in his desk drawer for the second bottle.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Willow gathered her courage and simply blurted, "I think I love him, Giles.  I mean, yeah, I've always thought he was cute for a vampire, you know?  Those blue eyes, the cheekbones, that duster, his accent. . ."

"I have the same accent, Willow.  You can't use that as an. . ."

"Which is one of the reasons I had a crush on you in high school.  Oooh!"  The witch slapped a hand over her mouth, her green eyes wide.  "Did I say that out loud," she asked weakly.

"Yes, you did.  And while I'm flattered, we need to get back to the subject. . ."

There was a pounding on the door and Buffy poked her head in, not bothering to wait for her watcher to invite her.  "Giles, you're hogging my best friend, and Riley and I have to leave for patrol soon.  Do you think I could talk to her?  And why are you drinking?"

The blond walked further into the room, frowning in disapproval at her slightly sloshed watcher. "Willow's trying to, uh, explain that blasted machine to me.  I just don't see why we can't simply rely on books.  They've been around for centuries and . . ."

Before he could finish his usual tirade on the modern era computerization of the world, the slayer relieved him of the phone, shaking a finger in his face. "You're being cut off, mister.  We already had Cave Slayer.  We definitely don't need Cave Watcher too."

Buffy cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear as she screwed the lid back on the bottle of scotch. "Wills, how are you?  Is everything all right there? Do you need me to come to LA and do a little slayage? If they hurt you, I will you know, ex-boyfriend or not."

Willow gulped and felt guilt fill her entire being. Images of herself and Angel flashes through her mind, embracing, caressing, touching, kissing, orgasming. . ."H. . .h. . .hey Buff."

~Part: 20~

"Wills, are you all right?  You sound kinda weird? *Do* you need me to come to LA?"  Buffy frowned as she heard the nervous tension in her best friend's voice.

"No, no, no.  Nothing weird here.  Nope.  Not a thing. Having a blast, except for the whole blood sucking thing.  No fun in that at all.  Uh-uh.  No way.  No how.  How's life with Riley?"

"Riley's fine, and don't try to change the subject. How are you doing?  Really?"

Willow sighed and tried to relax.  "I'm ok.  It's a . . .stressful situation, but Angel's been sweet and so has Spike."

The slayer snorted her disbelief.  "Spike sweet? Lightheaded from blood loss Wills?"

"Buffy, he's really not so bad once you get to know him."

"Willow, this is the same Spike that kidnapped you and threatened to kill both you and Xander.  Remember, the same Spike that came to the dorms and was going to turn you?  The one who turned us against each other and almost got us all killed by Adam?  Sound familiar?"

"He's changed, Buffy.  He's not the Spike he was then."

"He hasn't changed, Wills, he's chipped. . .Oh. My. God!  You have a thing for Spike!"

The blond sat down heavily on Giles' desk, her face pale.  How did she miss this?  Had she really been so wrapped up in her own little world of slayage that she'd missed something this big in her best friend's life?  "How long?"

"What?"  Willow was unsure of the question and didn't want to answer and give away information she may not have to yet.

"How long have you had a thing for Spike?"  Buffy slapped at her watcher's hands as he reached for the bottle of scotch on the desk next to her.

"Thing?  What thing?"  The redhead's voice came out as I high squeak.

"Either you're sucking helium or you're trying to avoid the question.  Willow, talk to me."  Buffy reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, freezing in mid-pinch when she realized she was picking up her watcher's habit.  Instead she ran her fingers through her long hair and gripped a handful of it tightly at the nape of her neck.

Willow knew she couldn't lie her way out of a paper bag, even over the phone, and especially to Buffy. The slayer knew her too well and would see right through any half baked lie her panicked brain could come up with at this point, so she decided to stick with half truths.

"I don't know when it happened.  I mean, I always thought he was cute you know, for a demon.  And he's been very . . .helpful and sweet since we've gotten here.  He held me while Angel fed from me and told me everything would be all right.  I can't explain it, Buffy.  He's just . . .Spike!  And I think I could really, really like him."  'Not to mention that you think you're already in love with him.'

"Oh, Wills.  Please think about this.  I mean *really* think about this.  I know he's chipped and can't bite right now."  Willow cringed on the other end of the line, but did nothing to correct her friend. "Remember, though, this is Spike.  Yeah, he may be witty and have the whole bad boy image going for him, and I admit, although don't you dare tell him I said so, he's very attractive. . .for being one of the walking dead.  What happens when the chip stops working, when he goes back to killing?  How many times has he threatened us, 'As soon as I get this bloody chip out of my head I'll kill you all!'?  He's a soulless demon, Wills, and I couldn't bear to find you drained by him one day when his chip goes bzzzt and shorts out."

"Buffy, I understand you're worried about me.  I honestly do, but even if you don't trust him, can you at least trust me and my instincts on this one?"

"I don't think I can do that Wills.  Not when it might mean your life's at stake.  Oh, wow.  Really bad pun. Sorry."

"S'alright, but at least use this time while we're here in LA to get used to the idea so you don't stake him on sight when we get home, ok?  Please."

Buffy eyed up the bottle of scotch Giles had slipped past her guard, then watched him down another double. When she frowned, her watcher gave her a drunken sheepish grin, making a move to twist the cap back on the bottle.  Instead the blond motioned for him to pour another, then promptly slipped it out of his reach and guzzled the fiery liquid, gasping as it burnt down her throat.  The bespectacled man blinked owlishly at the young woman and raised the bottle, offering seconds, which she readily agreed to.

"Willow. . ."

"Please, Buffy," the witch pleaded.  "For me.  For your best friend.  Pretty, pretty please with sugar and cream and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and hot fudge syrup on top."

The blond shuddered as the second glass of scotch made its way down into her stomach.  "I'll take a couple days and think about it, but Willow, I can't promise anything.  And if he does anything to hurt you, I'll shove Mr. Pointy so far up his ass, he'll be coughing up splinters."

"Thanks for the visual, Buff."  Willow cringed at the prospect.

Riley poked his head in the door and smiled at his girlfriend.  "How's Willow," he whispered.

The slayer rolled her eyes, catching Giles out of the corner of them downing another double.  She mouthed to her former commando, "I'll tell you on patrol."

"Look, I've got to go.  Riley's waiting for me to go patrolling and he has a paper to write tonight so we want to get back early.  Willow, if you need anything. . .I'm talking an ear to bend, a shoulder to cry on, a vamp staked, heck, even your favorite sweater or your homework assignments, just call me and I'll be in LA so fast it will make your head spin."

The redhead smiled at her friend's honest concern.  "I appreciate that Buffy, but I'm doing fine.  Tell Riley I said hi, would ya?"

"Ok," the blond heaved a defeated sigh, realizing she wasn't going to get through to her friend tonight. "I've got to go, but you take care of yourself, and if you need *anything*. . ."

"I know.  Give you a call and you'll be here as fast as your slayer speed can bring you."

"No, I'll be there as fast as Giles' care can bring me."

"Not bloody likely.  I just had it repaired," the Brit mumbled indignantly.

Buffy rolled her eyes.  "Here's Giles, Will.  And maybe you should lay off the computer tutorial by phone.  You drove him to drink."

The redhead blushed.  "Actually, I told him about Spike, too.  Is he really drinking?"

"He's working on his second bottle as we speak. Willow, please be careful, and I'll talk to you in a day or two, k?"

"I will, Buffy.  I promise.  You be careful on patrol, too."

"We will.  Bye Wills."

Giles took the phone from his slayer and waved brightly to she and her boyfriend as they made their way out of his office.  "Hello?"

"Giles?"  Willow listened to the slur in his voice and realized she really had driven the man to drink. "Giles, are you ok?"

"Willow?  Yes," he said a bit too brightly.  "How are you, dear?  Enjoying LA?"

There was no talking to the man now.  He was obviously three sheets to the wind and aiming for four.  "I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking.  Do you think I could talk to Xander for a little while?  I'll call back tomorrow. . .late tomorrow to finish our conversation."

"Righto.  Late tomorrow.  I'll look forward to discussing your trip with you.  Where is that boy? Xander?"  The older man staggered to the door of his office and leaned heavily against the door frame. "Xander Harris!"

Willow gently beat her head off Angel's desk as she listened to Giles singsong Xander's voice.  "Giles, remember, the conversation we had is to be kept *secret* from the others.  Can you remember that for me?"  It was like talking to a five year old. . .or a forty-something drunken watcher.

"I won't say a word," he stage-whispered loudly. "Strictly confidential, I assure you."

"G-man, smelling like a brewery."

Willow shook her head, hearing her bestest friend taking the phone from the former librarian.

"Willster, what the heck were you and Giles talking about that landed him swimming in a bottle of scotch?"

"I was trying to teach him how to do searches on the demonology web sites I have listed in my favorites," the witch mumbled, saying the first thing that came to mind.

In the background she heard a drunken Giles doing his best to play along with their cover story.  "Blasted infernal contraptions!"

She sat back to catch up with Xander, breathing a sigh of relief that he'd bought the lie.  'How do I get myself into these situations,' she asked herself for not the first time since this all began.

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