~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 21~
Matthias watched from the doorway as Lucinda finally relaxed the illusion that had almost become second nature to her. Her eyes became slightly larger, and a bit more green, as her feature became more refined... the skin paler, the nose a bit sharper, the chin a touch more pointed.
He sighed. (I still envy her that... to be able to change my appearance with a thought... gods, I wish I could.) He leaned into the door jamb, trying to phrase his question properly, when Lucinda became aware of his wistful expression.
"What is it, love?," she asked, hoping that he wasn't getting ready to go into one of his sulky phases. (Gods... the last time, he was almost unbearable for close to twenty years...) "What's wrong?," she said gently, rising from her chair and crossing to him. "You know that you can tell me anything...," she prompted, fitting her palm to the curve of his cheek, and looking deeply into his eyes.
"I..." he stopped, rethinking his words. "Do you still intend to stay here?" he blurted out, suddenly not caring how she'd respond. "You wanted to see him happy, and now you have! Can't we just *go*?" He knew that it had come out sounding accusatory, but at least he'd said it... said exactly what he was thinking... for *once*.
He was almost expecting it when she pulled her hand back and turned way.
"No." Lucinda said flatly. "We can't just go... it's not finished... not yet." She turned back to him, her eyes boring directly into his. "And you *know* it, Matthias... you *know* that it isn't over yet..." Her voice softened to almost a purr. "So, I'm wondering *why*, exactly, you'e in such a hurry, all of a sudden..." She looked searchingly at him, suddenly finding her answer in his expression. "Ah... I see..." She said, sounding amazed. "That last song... *that's* what brought this on... you're *angry* with me!"
He felt his poorly hidden fury lessening at the honest surprise in her voice. "Yes," he hissed, "I'm angry about that damned song... the Gaelic was bad enough, but I could at least see the point... but singing *that*... what in the *hell* were you thinking?" He glared, waiting for her answer.
Lucinda sighed deeply. " I don't know," she said, looking away from him. "I don't *know* what I was thinking... maybe I just thought... it's how I feel... *you* know it, *I* know it, so I guess that I figured... why hide it?" She glanced up at him from beneath her lashes. "I'm sorry, love... I just couldn't help myself... I... I just wanted him to know."
Matthias felt himself going from angry to concerned when he heard the uncertainty in her voice. (She's never anything *but* sure... all the time...,) he thought, worried. "But that's just it, Luce," he said gently, reaching out for her hand. "He *doesn't* know... he never *will*... not as long as the demon keeps the memories shut away... you *do* realze that,don't you?" He held her smaller hand gently, feeling wretched, and saw the first of the tears beginning to fall from her eyes as she despairingly bowed her head.
"Yes, love," she said, so softly that he almost didn't hear. "I know... but maybe, someday, he'll be *allowed* to remember... and if that happens, maybe he'll remember what I was saying... and understand..."
He sighed to himself as he pulled her towards him, hugging her tightly to comfort her. (Oh, gods... I guess we're *never* going home...,) he thought, as he heard the sounds of rain pounding furiously on the window panes.
* * * * * * * * * *
Giles was having a surprisingly good time chatting with Cordelia and Spike. After the three had finally stopped laughing, the conversation had ranged over a wide variety of topics, the most surprisng of which was the news that Willow was out on a *date*... with *Angel*, of all people. (Well,) he thought, (I suppose it makes a certain amount of sense... after all, she *did* grow up on the Hellmouth... who better to understand the perils and... pleasures?... involed in dating a vampire. And I suppose that I can see his side as well... she's certainly smart, which is a *radical* change from his *last* girlfriend...) Giles smirked, as he thought of the moronic blonde. (And she's certainly better looking... in a quiet sort of way... Yes,) he decided, (I can *definitely* see it..) He stood, continuing his conversation with Spike and Cordelia. "So, you're saying that this friend of yours, the one who died...," he immediately felt badly for stating it in just that way as he saw the shadows clouding the former cheerleader's lovely brown eyes. "I'm sorry, Cordelia... been dealing with Slutty too long..." He smiled slightly at Spike's hastily smothered laugh. "I didn't mean to sound... uncaring."
Cordelia smiled, hearing the sincerity in his voice. "It's OK, Giles... I know that you didn't mean anything by it, it's just that..." She was unable to continue as her words caught on an almost silent sob. She looked up at the sensation of a cool hand covering her own on the table.
"It's alright, pet," Spike said with gentle understanding, meeting her damp brown eyes with his own clear blue ones. "We understand... it still hurts... "
She smiled at him, a little wistfully. "Yeah... it does... but it'll get better... *I'll* get better."
"Yeah, you will, pet, and we'll help. *Right*,Rupert?" he said pointedly to the former watcher.
"What?... Yes, of course... We'll help... absolutely." (Did *Spike* just offer to help *Cordelia*? Oh, well, if Slut.. um, *Buffy* can be a nasty little bitch, then I suppose that Spike can be understanding and supportive...) "So, as I was saying, Cordelia, this dea... er, this friend of yours directed you to...?"
She looked over at him after getting herself back under control. "The oracles. They're sort of like the spokes-models for the Powers That Be... only without the keen fashion sense."
Giles smiled, seeing a similar grin on Spike's face, knowing that, at least for the moment, Cordela was alright. "And they said what?," he asked, not sure if he'd understood it properly the first time she'd told him.
Spike broke in, answeing for her."Well, basically, they said that the great bloody poof can have as much of Red as his nancy-boy heart desires, without losing his soul and gong all Angelus-y on us," he said, unaware of the bitterness in his voice.
Giles looked at Cordelia, the question clear in his eyes. He fought to keep his groan internal when she simply nodded in response. (Oh, hell... *now* what?)
The three new friends sat silently in the kitchen, lisening to the sounds of angry rain on the roof.
* * * * * * * * * *
Angel was *sure* that he'd never had an night go quite as perfectly as this one was going. (It must be my Willow,) he thought, in complete awe. (There's no other possible explaination... ) She had been the *perfect* date... (She's so... happy... always smiling, and joking... and never mean... even with everything that Buffy's done,) he nearly growled out loud just *thinking* about what Willow had told him of the past six weeks, (even with all that, she's still her friend...) He glanced at the lovely girl sitting across from him, completely thrown by what he saw in her eyes. (My god... she loves me... *me*... she knows what I am... what I've done... and she still *loves* me. I know that she *said* that she did, but...) He reached out and took her small hand in his. (She really *means* it... no question... no hesitation... oh, boy, Angel... you'd better not screw this up...) He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her palm, delighting in her barely perceptible gasp.
(Oh, gods... that feels so *good*... his hands are *amazing*...) Willow looked at him wide-eyed. "Angel?," she said softy, "Can we get out of here? Not that I don't like it... it's nice... really..." She looked around her at the coffee shop they had come to after the show, "But, I'd kind of like to spend some time alone... with just you, I mean..." She took a deep breath before rushing on. "So, could we maybe go back to your place?," she asked, feeling the embarrased blush spreading over her skin. (Please, please, say *yes*...) she thought, deliberately not thinking about exactly what it was that she wanted to be doing, alone with him at his apartment.
Angel had been ready to hear her say just about anything... that she was tired, or wanted to go back to Cordy's, or even that she wasn't feeling well... he'd thought that she'd be afraid of moving too fast. He had *not* thought that *she'd* be the one to move things along. He also hadn't thought that he'd be the one who was... scared. (Oh, god... I want her so badly... OK... the oracles said that this was safe... that I could love her and still keep my soul, so...) Angel stood, throwing a few crumpled bills on the table. He held his hand out to her, smiling down into her eyes. "Let's go...," he said, with just a tinge of wickedness coloring his voice. He almost laughed aloud at the speed with which she took his hand and rose from the table.
They made their way through the other tables to the front door of the coffee shop, reaching it just in time to see the pounding rain begin falling. They stared out at the rain, then looked at each other, and smiled. "So, we'll get wet..." they said in unison, laughing wildly at how much they thought alike, as they ran out together, hand in hand, into nature's latest tantrum.
~Part: 22~
By the time they reached his apartment, both Willw and Angel were soaked to the skin. It hadn't been *bad*... it was another of those warm, steamy LA summer nights, with a warm breeze flowing, even through the driving rain. They had reached an unspoken agreement to walk, even though it ws more than a mile from the coffee shop to his place. It had taken them quite a while to cover the distance, mostly because they kept taking turns pulling each other into doorways in order to kiss out of the rain. But now, they had *arrived*, and suddenly they both seemed a bit uncertain of how to proceed.
Angel watched, concerned, as his love roamed silently, and seemingly at random, through the living room of his new apartment. He saw her wandering, occassionally reaching out to fleetingly carress one of the many objects that he had sitting out, only to find himself worried as he saw her begin to shiver. "Willow..." he said gently, moving up behind her, "You're cold... We should get you out of those wet things..." He stifled a groan at the images his comment had caused to race through his mind. "I mean that you should put on some dry clothes," he said hastily, by way of explaination. (Oh, god, Angel... you're in trouble *now*,) he thought, trying to ignore the pulsing in his groin, (You've got her in your home, and now you don't know what to do...) He sighed, (You'd think that after two hundred and forty-six years, I'd know how to do this... but I've never *felt* this way... and this is *Willow*... *my* Willow... oh, god... what do I *do*... what do I *say*...)
(Did he just... offer to *undress* me?) Willow thought, hopefully. (Gods... I hope so...) Then the rest of his comment registered. (Oh... he's just worried that I might get sick...) She looked over at the handsome vampire, wishing that they were still out in the wetness of the storm. (It was so much easier *outside*... the both of us feeling the rain falling against us.. the wind touching our skin... but now, what do I do?) she thought, despairingly. (I've never had to *make* the first move...) She turned, intending to cross the room to his side, only to find herself nose- to- chest with him. (He moves so *quietly*,) she thought, in awe, (I didn't even know that he *had* moved... oh... he's right *here*...) She slowly allowed her eyes to trace a path up from the center of his chest, lingering for a moment on his hard pecs while noticing the hard points of his tight nipples beneath his thoroughy drenched silk shirt. "Angel..." she sighed, all of her earlier arrousal apparent in her voice, "*You're* just as soaked as *I* am..." She smiled up at him, shyly, her eyes finally meeting his. "Maybe we'd *both* better get out of these wet things..." (Oh, gods... did I just say that?) She was nothing but relieved when he smiled back at her. (He didn't change his mind...) she thought rapturously, (He didn't change his mind...)
Angel could feel himself becoming harder still as he heard his Wilow's response. (She really *is* a witch...,) he thought. (I'm totally *enchanted*...) He looked deeply into her eyes, allowing all of his pent up passion and desire to be seen. "Yes, my dear Willow... maybe we should...," he said softly, as he leaned down and claimed her lips with his, finding himself delighted when her tongue crept out, of it's own accord, to deepen the kiss. (Oh, god,) he thought, eyes closing as he met her movements with his own, (I don't think that I could stop now, even if I *wanted* to!... She feels so *good*!) His eyes flew open, and his conscious mind shut down, as he felt her pull away for a moment. He completely stopped thinking rationally as he felt first her lips, and then her tongue moving slowly down his neck. (Oh, god, Will... don't *stop*... don't ever *stop*...)
* * * * * * * * * *
Rocko was quickly becoming incredibly irritated. He had found them all this *wonderful* opportuniy for revenge, and yet, his stupid brethren were getting all worried. "Look. If I've told you once, I've told you a dozen times... *She doesn't remember*!!! She somehow managed to get whacked on the head, and she doesn't *remember*! She thinks that her name is Sunshine, and that *we're* her boyfriends!" He looked at the pathetic creatures surrounding him. (Damn... these guys are pitiful... Ishould just stake them myself...) He sighed, knowing that he'd have to explain it to them in detail. "She doesn't remember about being the slayer... she thinks that *we* are all her *boyfriends*... what does that tell you?" he asked, desperately searching for *some* sign of intelligence amongst his minions. He smiled when he saw a hand go up. (Hell, they're making me feel like a first grade teacher...) "Yas, Martin... what does all of this tell you?"
Martin looked at his master, somehow knowing that what he'd been about to say (We run like hell?) wasn't going to cut it. After a moment, he spoke up, as a new thought occured to him. "We... *act* like we're her boyfriends?" he said questioningly.
"Martin! I'm impressed!" Rocko smiled again. (A least *one* of them gets it!) he thought gleefully. "And what do we do next?," Rocko asked the wayward vampire.
"Umm... we..." Martin trailed off, not knowing how to answer. Suddenly an idea occurred to him... he tried to treat it gently, as it was in a strange place. "We *treat* her like she's our girlfriend," he said, all of a sudden completely confident. "We bring her little gifts, and tell her we love her, and make her feel special!"
Rocko looked at the young man affectionately. "And?" he said, making it clear that he wanted to hear more.
"And..." said Martin, "And... we make love to her... constantly... until she can't think, or speak, or hardly even *move*...," he thought for a moment before looking back at his master. "Is that why she's chained to the bed?"
Rocko laughed again, longer and harder than he had before. "Exactly, Martin... exactly!"
* * * * * * * * * *
Willow couldn't believe the things that she was feeling. The sensations evoked by him... his touch. (Oh, *gods*,) she thought, (If *this* is what it's like, no *wonder* I didn't get it before...) She sighed, deep in her chest, as she felt his hands (*Angel's* hands!) pulling at the zipper of her dress. (This is just *so* not fair,) she thought irreverently, as her own hands went to the buttons of his still damp shirt. She gazed wantonly at the ever increasing triangle of pale flesh that was revealed as one button after another was released. (I want him,) she thought, worshiping him with her eyes. (I *want* him... more than I ever thought that I could want *anyone*...) She almost moaned as she slipped her hands inside his shirt to caress his pale chest. (Ohhh... he's so...) She searched her mind for the proper word befors settling on one. (Perfect... he's *perfect*... oh, gods, Willow, don't screw this up...)
Angel almost jumped out of his skin when he felt her small, warm hands touching his chest. (Oh, god... *yes*...) He felt his entire body leaning into her touch. (Uhhh... does she have *any* idea of what she's doing to me?) He honestly thought that she would have changed her mind; pulled away, when he started unzipping her dress... he was prepared for that... but *this*... (My god... ) he thought, (I just don't believe that this is *Willow*... that she could...) He completely lost his train of thought as he felt her small, hot tongue tentatively lick at his nipple. He tried desperately to hold it in, but he knew, when he felt her lips smiling against his chest, that he had actually moaned out loud. (Oh, *god*, love... don't stop... don't *ever* stop...) he thought, well aware that the phrase was becoming something of a litany for him... at least where one particular redheaded witch was involved. He groaned again, as he realized that his slow but steady attention to the zipper of her dress had finally paid off. His hands rose, seemingly of their own accord, to slide the soggy velvet from her gently curved shoulders. (Oh, Willow...) he thought desperately. (Never stop loving me... never stop... never stop... never...) He could hear that one thought running repeatedly through his mind, and tried, with every fibre of his being, to communicate it to her as he swiftly tilted her head up and met her lips in a fiery kiss.
~Part: 23~
Spike and Cordelia continued to talk quietly in the kitchen, even after Giles had gone to sleep on the living room couch, the two of them consuming large quantities of strong black coffee. He had been telling her all about Willow. (As if I'd never met the girl before in my life!) Cordelia thought, amused. (Although, I've got to admit that I'm surprisedat how much he remembers *exactly*... boy,I'll bet that if Will were here, she'd be blushing pure *red* at the things he remembers...) She smiled inwardly. (I never knew that Spike payed so much attention to fashion... or at least what passes for it in Sunnydale...) She looked back at the vampire, forcing an attentive expression on to her face as he told her, yet *again*, about how the purple of Willow's sweater had brought out the green of her eyes one night, six months earlier, when he had seen her at the Bronze.
Spike knew that he was being a twit. (A boring, repetitive twit, at that...) But he couldn't seem to stop talking about her. (Or thinking about her, either...) He wanted her to be happy, but a part of him wished that he'd never decided to help his sire... (Great bloody sensitive *poof*,) he thought, angrily, (He's got women throwing themselves at him constantly, and he has to go falling for my Red... and she loves him back... it's just not bloody right...) He looked at the clock, for probably the tenth time in the last three minutes. (And where *is* she, anyway? It's two bloody thirty in the morning...) He cut off his own train of thought, having a very good idea of where the redheaded witch was. (Damn Peaches, anyway...)
Cordelia couldn't believe how badly she felt for Spike... her former enemy... the vampire who had tried to kill the whole little gang, and more than once. (But he's changed,) she thought, (I don't know if it's from having that chip in his head, or the fact that he went and fell in love with Willow... but... he's *changed*.) She had seen his many covert glances at the clock, and much as she hated to do it, she just had to share her suspicions with him. "Uh, Spike?" she said, timidly, "I uh... I don't think that she's coming back here tonight..." She cringed slightly, waiting for him to explode and finding herself relieved when he only sighed and nodded.
"I know," he said quietly, "I knew *that* when they first left..." He looked at her despairingly. "I'm not daft, Cordelia... I knew where this was going from the second I saw how they felt about each other..." He sighed again, more deeply this time. "It's not something that I can change, no matter how much I want to. Red loves the *poof*... not me... I'm just trusty old Spike... friend, sure... confidant, yeah... but lover?... *never*." (Hell, I should just go stake myself for being such a bloody nancy-boy... my damned sire's been rubbing off on me... falling in love... and with a mortal no less... I am *so* pathetic...)
Cordelia reached out and covered Spike's cool hand with her own. "I know... it sucks to love someone who loves someone else... I'm sorry Spike..."
"Yeah, well, I can just imagine what they're up to right now," Spike said, with both disgust and envy apparent in his voice.
Cordelia just nodded comiseratingly, and patted his hand.
* * * * * * * * * *
Willow was burning up. She literally felt like she was on fire. She could feel the flames licking along her skin, following the path of his lips, his hands. The fact that the fire was purely emotional didn't detract at all from the feeling. (Oh, gods... I *must* be dying... *nothing* should feel this *good*...) She and Angel were standing in his living room, although standing didn't really seem like the right word, since her knees had pretty much given out, what felt like hours earlier. The only thing keeping her upright was him. (His arms...) she thought, wonderingly. (His hands...) She gasped as his lips found the tender spot directly above her left collarbone. (Gods,) she thought, as she felt his chuckle against her skin, (How could he know about *that*?... *Oz* never even figured that one out...) She felt her mind going completely blank as his mouth slipped lower, claiming her painfully tight nipple. Angel had always known that she would be amazingly passionate with the right partner... he'd just never thought that that partner would be him. (God... why did we wait so *long*...) he thought, his mind clouded with need. He could feel her small body straining against his as he first licked, and then gently nibbled, at her small, erect pink nipple.
He slowly disengaged his mouth, and looked up into her passion glazed green eyes. "God, Willow... you taste so *good*..." he allowed his gaze to roam over her body for a moment before staring deeply into her emerald eyes once more. "Like apples and honeysuckle..." His voice faded out as his mouth reclaimed her hungry breast. (Oh, god... if I don't have her soon, I just may die... already dead or not, I just may die...) He reluctantly pulled his mouth away as her hands tangled into his hair and drew his mouth up to hers, and into a searing kiss.
Willow threw herself into the kiss with everyting that she had in her. She loved the feel of his tongue melding with hers, exploring every part of her mouth that could be reached. (He is absolutely the best kisser ever...,) she thought, wits dulled by love and lust. (Oh, gods... I can't do this anymore...)
Angel almost growled when he felt her pull away, but managed to restrain the impulse when she didn't go far... not even out of his arms. (Oh,) he thought, (Oxygen... yeah... she *breathes*.) His eyes opened as he felt the weight of her gaze on him. "Willow?... What's wrong?" (Was that my voice?... I sound so...)
Willow felt her breath catch in her throat at the naked desire that she could hear in his voice. (Gods... how can he want me that badly... and still be in the living room?...) "Angel..." she paused, hearing a matching passion in her own tone. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Angel, I... I can't do this..." She hurried on as she saw his face fall. "No, I mean, I can't do *this*!" She sighed at the expression on his face, knowing that she wasn't explaining herself properly. She reached out and drew him more tightly to her, pressing herself tightly to his hard, cool form. "What I mean is that I can't do this here... in your living room... when there's a pefectly good bed just a few feet away..." She looked up into his eyes at the sound of his breathless laughter. (Oh, *good*... here I am, trying to proposition him, and I have to go and make a funny...) "What?... What's so funny?" she asked, not sure of whether she should be offended or not.
"Oh, god, Will..." he said into her hair softly, as he let his hands begin roaming her body once more, "I thought you were going to tell me to stop..." He nuzzled her hair aside and smiled against her neck, raising his head slightly to whisper seductively into her ear, "And I honestly don't think that I could..." His entire body tightened as he felt her shiver of anticipation.
"Good," she said, so softly that he could barely hear her. "Because I don't *want* you to stop..."
"What *do* you want, dear Willow?" he asked, moving his hands and mouth back down to her breasts, almost unable to believe his ears when she told him.
"You, Angel..." she breathed wantonly, "I want you... I want you on me, and in me... moving inside me...." She almost laughed aloud at the speed with which he pulled himself up to his full height, and she *did* laugh when he swept her up into his arms and started towards the bedroom.
"Oh, I think that I can *guarantee* you that, my love..." he said, his tone of voice perfectly matching the wicked grin playing about his lips. "I can *definitely* guarantee you that..." He purred, deep in his chest, entering the bedroom and kicking the door shut with one sweep of his foot.
~Part: 24~
Giles knew that Spike and Cordelia thought that he was sleeping. He should have felt guilty for eavesdropping on their conversation, but somehow he didn't as he continued to listen, their softly spoken words confirming the suspicion that had come to his mind earlier. (So, Spike is in *love*...) he thought, somewhat perplexed. (I wonder how *that* happened... although, I suppose it's understandable... she's a wonderful girl...) He rubbed at his eyes for a moment, wondering why it was that with all that Willow had to offer, the only ones who had been able to see her for the gem that she surely was were two vampires and a werewolf. (The boys in that town were seriously deranged... that's the only possible answer...) He shook his head, getting back to the matter at hand. (So Spike loves Willow... and he helped *Angel* to get her?... What was that boy thinking?...,) he asked himself, suddenly struck by the absurdity of his last thought. (Good Lord... he's three times my age, and I'm callng him a boy... I *must* be insane...) He lay back on the couch, smiling slightly. (But if being insane means being out of Sunnyhell, and not dealing with that twit of a slayer, not to mention finding new friends in Spike and Cordelia, then I suppose that insanity is vastly under-rated...) he thought, a look of satisfaction on his face as he let himself get comfortable, and continued to listen in on the conversation.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Angel was glad that he didn't have to breathe. He was pretty sure that he couldn't have. (God... ) he thought, shakily. (The things she *does* to me...) He had carried the slight girl into the bedroom, planning to slowly seduce her. He hadn't counted on Willow having her own ideas about the seduction. As soon as he'd set her down, she had turned and pressed her half naked body closely to him, her hands going aroud his back under the unbuttoned shirt still hanging from his shoulders, and fastening her lips to his chest. Now, she was roaming his body with those same small, warm hands, while her tongue... (Oh, god...,) he moaned... her tongue was tracing small wet circles across the broad expanse of his chest. (She's killing me...,) he thought, the pleasure buzzing in his head, groaning loudly and thrusting his hips into her warm belly as he felt her hands slip down to the firm cheeks of his ass. "Willow..." he began, shakily, barely stifling a moan of disappointment as she raised her head from his chest and looked into his eyes.
Willow looked deeply into his passion glazed eyes as she raised one hand from behind him and getly placed one finger in the center of his lips. "Shhh...," she said softly, "Let me do this... please..." She smiled a little wickedly at him when he swallowed, hard, and nodded his head, eyes still locked on hers, then gasped aloud as his lips opened, tongue reaching out and drawing her finger deep into his cool, wet mouth. (Gods...) she thought rapturously, enjoying the sensation. (I wonder what else he can do with that mouth...) She felt herself blushing red at the thought, and had to laugh, a bit breathlessly, at herself. (Here I am, in Angel's bedroom, half naked, and I'm *blushing* because I'm thinking about his mouth... How silly am *I*?...) She reclaimed her finger, and began to continue her leisurely exploration of his perfectly chiseled form. (OK,) she said to herself, her hands sliding up his chest to his shoulders, (this shirt has *got* to go...)
He couldn't believe that he was becoming even more arroused, just from the feeling of her small hands pushing the still slightly damp shirt off of his shoulders and down his arms. (I didn't think that I *could* be any more excited,) he thought, as the silk pooled onto the floor. He felt a bit nervous as she pulled back slightly, just looking at him for a moment. "Do... um, do you... *like* what you see?" he asked, for a moment afraid that she'd say 'no', She allowed her eyes to meet his, the desire that he saw there reassuring him. He pulled her hard against him, wanting nothing more than to hold this fiery redhead tightly to him for eternity, to love her forever.
Willow moaned softly as she felt his pulsating erection pressing into her stomach through the heavy fabric of his pants, and pressed herself even closer to him, grinning against his chest at his answering groan. She boldly began to lick at his tight male nipple, as her hands dropped to the waist of his pants. Pulling her mouth away from his chest, she looked up into his hot brown eyes. "Off," she said comandingly, tugging at the offending material. "Now."
He laughed a bit breathlessly. "Yes, ma'am..." His hands shakily met hers, as they began to peel the tight, damp fabric from his aching body. (The rain must have shrunk them...) he thought irrelevently, then had to lagh at himself. (The rain... *yeah*... *that's* why they're so much tighter now... couldn't have anything to do with the redheaded witch who's been driving me *crazy* all night...)
Willow took a step back when Angel's pants had finally joined his shirt on the bedroom floor, wanting the opportunity to just look at him. (Gods... he's...) "Beautiful..." she murmured, feeling herself becoming even more ready than she already was. "You're *beautiful*," she said again, moving back into his arms, wating to feel him naked against her. (Gods, he's *huge*... not that I have much of a basis for comparison... well, Oz, but... and Tara? No penis...) She lot her train of thought as he lowered his lips to her neck, nibbing his way down one side, and then up the other, before slowing his tender assault by her ear.
"No," he breathed seductively, voice barely above a whisper, "*You're* beautiful, my Willow... I'm just lucky to have you..." He returned his mouth to the side of her neck, grinning wickedly against her skin as he felt her beginning to shiver with desire. "Are you cold, my Willow?" he asked teasingly, "You're shaking..."
"No... not cold..." she began, smiling when she heard the words that he cut her off with.
"Beacause if you're cold, then I'm thinking you might be warmer if we got in bed..."
She wiped the smile from her face and said, in as serious of a tone as she could muster, "Oh... *cold*... I *am*... freezing in fact..." Her attempt at deadpan failed completely as he scooped her up and carried her, laughing delightedly, over to the bed.
~Part: 25~
He laid the young redhead gently down against the dark burgundy sheets and pulled back for a moment, just to look at her. (Oh, god, Angel,) he told himself, (You're in trouble now...) The sight of her, (*My* Willow,) her almost too pale skin, (Beautiful...) crimson hair spread across his pillow, those emerald eyes blazing passion at him, well, it was almost too much for him to bear. (What I wouldn't give for canvas and paint...) he thought, distractedly. (But no... I couldn't keep my hands off of her for long enough to *paint* her...) he smiled wickedly into her hot eyes, (Maybe in a year... or ten...) He growled slghtly as he leaned over her, pressing his cool mouth to her hot lips, a small moan escaping him as her tongue emerged to tease him. (Oh, god... the things she does to me...) he thought, his mnd reeling with the heat of her, as he allowed his lips to open, and met her probing tongue with his own.
Willow knew that she had ever felt this way before... *never*. Just the feel of his cool, hard body pressing her into the mattress was a kind of bliss that she had only heard about. She had never really believed that it could be like this. That she could feel consumed by just a kiss. (Well, OK, Will... an almost *naked* kiss, but still...) She couldn't hold back the moans as she felt his mouth, (that *wonderful* mouth...,) trailing soft, slow wet kisses down the column of her neck, or the slight whimper in her throat when he found that special spot over her collarbone. (Oh, *gods*...) she thought, as she felt him chuckle against her skin, (Why didn't we do this *sooner*...) All thought fled her mind as his mouth continued it's winding path down her body, and a sharp, almost frightened gasp escaped her throat.
Angel heard the sound through a fog of desire, the likes of which he had never felt in all his two hundred and forty some-odd years. He had *never* wanted *anyone* this badly. (But, that sound...) he forced himself away from the suddenly tense body laying beneath him, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. (Maybe I'm moving too fast for her... God... I don't want to scare her...) He looked down at this woman whom he wanted more than anything else in the world, and knew that he had to give her an out.
(He's *stopping*?) Willow thought incredulously, not able to meet his eyes. (He's actually stopping... oh, gods... he's changed his mind... he *doesn't* want me...) She turned her head away, rolling onto her side and drawing up her knees. She could feel the hot tears beginning to seep from her wet eyes. (I should have known... why *would* he want me... I'm not pretty... not even good for much... except research, and net stuff... Oh, gods,) she thought despairingly, (He must think I'm *such* a loser...) Her internal dialogue ran down, as she realized that Angel was saying something... *had* been saying something for a little while, now. "What?" she said, still not looking at him, hoping that he wouldn't hear the tears in her voice. As she listened to his next words, she found her tears drying up, only to be replaced by an anger that was starling to her in its intensity.
"I said, 'I'm sorry'," he replied. "I shouldn't have pushed you... It's just that I want you so *much*... but I didn't mean to move so fast..." his voice trailed off as she finally unclenched her body and turned to face him. (Tears?) he thought, seeing the subtle stains on her skin. (I made her *cry*?) He was horrified... until he met her eyes. (Uh, oh...) he said to himself, (She's angry...,) he looked once more into her blazing green orbs. (No... she's *furious*!... does she know how beautiful she is when she's angry?) he wondered, as he felt himself growing even harder at the sight. (Oh, yeah,) he thought, with anticipation, (I'm in *real* trouble now...)
She couldn't believe what she had just heard. (*He's* pushing *me*?... Aaaarrgh!!) She knew that she looked just as mad as she was, but somehow she just couldn't bring herself to care. "You're sorry.." she hissed between her teet, rising to her knees in front of him. "Sorry for *pushing* me..." She spoke harshly, poking his chest with her finger for emphasis. "Well, I've got news for you, mister... I'm not here because the big, bad vampire somehow managed to seduce the innocent young girl..." she said, reaching down to run a hand lightly over his rock hard shaft before grasping it gently but firmly in her small, warm hand. She allowed her voice to soften a bit, smiling at the deep moan that emerged from his lips at her actions. "I'm here because I *want* to be here... it was *my* idea to come here tonight, and *my* plan was for us to do exactly what we *have* been doing..." She grinned wickedly, moving her hand lightly against him. Her eyes widened slightly at the heat she saw gleaming in his eyes. "Well, what we've been doing, and *more*" she said, her voice going a little breathless at the very thought. "So, no more of this 'I'm seducing the innocent' stuff, OK, Angel? I just... I don't think that I could take it..."
"All right, Willow... *my* Willow... no more second thoughts... no more brooding..." he smiled his mysterous, sexy little smile, "And no going back..." He said, suddenly serious. "This is gong to change everything... you *do* know that, don't you?" He spoke directly into her questioning gaze. "Nothing will ever be the same..."
Willow smiled, as she understood what he was saying. "Yes, Angel," she said, a teasing bit of false demureness in her voice. "Things won't be the same..." She looked deep into his eyes as she continued. "Neither one of us will ever have to be alone again..." She sighed happily at the thought.
"No, my Willow... never alone... never again..." he said breathily, as he pulled her closer to his still aching body.
~Part: 26~
Just the feel of her hot skin against him was almost enough for him... touching her, feeling her lips exploring his cool body, her warm little hands caressing his face, his neck, his back... that was almost *too* much. He knew now, as he'd never known before, that the demon had been right. From the very beginning, the demon, who he had fought with everything witin him,with everything that he was and had ever hoped to be... the demon had been right. *This* was the one for them... not the Slayer. The witch... *she* was the one... she knew about everything that they had collectively done, and still, she was *here*... with *them*. Sure, she didn't really know just how close to the surface Angelus had always been, but Angel knew that his demon would never hurt her... she was their solace... their sanctuary... (And besides,) Angel thought, (the oracles... they said that this was right... that loving her in all ways is not a danger. And the oracles work for the Powers... they *must* know what they're talking about...) He gasped as he felt her hot tongue probing again at his hard male nipple, and turned his mind fully back to the girl before him.
Willow moaned softly as she felt his large cool hands roaming down her back from her shoulders. It felt as though he was molding her, like some sort of primordial clay, to fit the contours of his hard body. She stiffened slightly as his hands stopped just at the waistbad of her blue silk panties. (Oh, gods... I'm gonna be naked...) she thought wonderingly, (*totally* naked... with Angel...) She stopped thinking completely as she felt those same hands slowly lowering the interfering garment, slipping it down to her knees. She looked questioningly at him for a moment before settling back on the bed to allow him to slip them off of her completely. (He's staring...) she thought, suddenly feeling shy.
Angel looked in awe at the beautiful girl laying on his bed. "Willow..." he breathed, "You're magnificent..." He smiled gently at her, seeing her eyes light up at the compliment, and gently lowered his own naked body over hers, claimimg her lips in a kiss that started out gentle, but quickly became fierce. His eyes closed tightly, his every muscle tensing, as the young witch pressed herself fully against him, his throbbing shaft impressing upon her tight stomach. (Oh,god...) he thought, (I don't know if I can take much more of this... I feel like I'm going to burst any *second*...) He pulled away from her, ignoring her pouting look, and began, slowly but surely, to kiss his way down her tight, hot little body, licking and nipping at every sensitive spot he found.
Willow had thought that she was going to scream when he pulled awy from her... she *knew* that she was going to scream... sooner or later... when she felt his cool, wet mouth begin to slowly explore her fevered form. His lips, his tongue, his *teeth* even, were driving her to a frenzied place that she had never even imagined existed. (This is *it*,) she thought, completely amazed at the way that his mouth was playing her like a grand instrument, drinking her in like a fine wine... (This is what I've been waiting my whole life to feel...) She nearly flew off of the bed as she felt his cool lips on her upper thigh, his hands gently parting her shaking legs.
He looked at her for a moment, this girl, this *woman*, this miracle... and knew that, no matter what he had done in the past, no matter the regrets, the guilt, the nightmares... that it had all been worth it, in a strange sort of way... that he would deliberately choose to do it all again, knowing that it would bring him here... to this moment, to this night. He smiled wickedly as he broke off his reflecting, turning his mind, indeed his entire being, back to the happy taskof pleasing this beautiful woman. He smiled again, as he slowly lowered is mouth to the sweet juncture between her legs, tongue slipping out to caress her wet folds. (God... she tastes so *good*...) he thought momentarily, before the sensation of her hands gripping his hair wiped all further thought from his mind.
Willow was in heaven. His mouth on her most tender of places was like nothing she'd ever felt before... She shivered with delight as his tongue began a teasing rhythm, sliding deep inside her aching core. (Oh, Gods!!!) she begged, throwing the thought out to whatever diety happened to be listening, (Please... please...) She arched completely off of the bed as his tongue returned to her throbbing nub, and was replaced by first one large finger, and then a second. She thought that she was going to die when he began slowly slipping them in and out of her wetness, hearing a variety of moans and cries that she was astonished to realize were coming from *her*.
Angel was thrilled with the noises his Willow was making, and with the obvious pleasure she was deriving from his actions. (God... she's so wet...) he thought wonderingly, loosing a moan of his own as he felt her muscles clenching around his thrusting fingers. (And so *tight*... god, I want her so *badly*...) He grinned against her swollen clit as he felt the first tremors of her impending orgasm seep through her body, and redoubled his efforts, nipping gently at the throbbing nub. He barely kept himself from coming with her as the orgasm screamed through her body and he heard her crying out his name over and over again. He crawled back up her body and took her into his strong arms, holding her tightly to him until her trembling had passed.
Willow lay still for a moment, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her. She felt safe in his arms, and that was almost as amazing a sensation as what he had just given her was. She could feel his hard cool sheft pressing into her hip, and wanted more than anything to return the favor. "Angel?" she said softly, not meeting his eyes. "That was... incredible..." She let his hand raise her head until their eyes met. "I... I... I want to... taste you." She could feel the blush spreading across her cheeks and down her chest, as she waited for his reaction.
"You... you want to..." Angel said, not quite sure of how to respond. (God... I want her to... but there's no way I won't come... No... I want her too much...) He looked deeply into her beautiful green eyes, hoping that she wouldn't take his next words in the wrong way. "No, Willow..." he said gently, not letting go of her eyes, "We have plenty of time for that later..." He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers briefly, before continuing, still holding her eyes with his own, trying to let her see the sincerity in them. "Right now... I really want to make love to you..." He reached out a hand, caressing her cheek, "Is that OK?" he asked silkily, leaning in for another kiss at her wide-eyed nod.
Willow was loving every moment of everything that was happening. She wanted this night never to end. She sighed deeply as she felt Angel's wonderful tongue on the side of her neck, turning her head to lay a kiss on his temple as he moved over her, his knee lightly forcing her legs slightly apart. She opened them even further, wanting to feel him... to feel him deep inside her, moving in her... touching her in ways that no one had ever managed. She groaned aloud as she felt him position himself at her aching threshold, and waited, breathlessly, for his entry.
He couldn't believe that this was actually happening... that after all the thoughts, the dreams, he was actually about to make love to this woman... this witch... *his* witch. (I'll make her happy... I swear it...) he promised himself, gazing raptly into her eyes as he slowly pressed his aching shaft forward, feeling her tight, wet channel slowly stretch to accomodate him. He waited a moment, watching her face, before he continued his gentle invasion. When he was at last fully sheathed within her wet heat, he smiled, feeling her legs wrapping around him, her ankles locking behind the small of his back. He gazed , entranced, into her eyes, and slowly began to move within her, delighting at the feeling of her hips arching into him, meeting each of his thrusts wth one of her own. He could feel the demonfighting to break free as she increased the speed of her thrusts below him, and tried, with everything he had in him, to keep it from emerging. (No... no... not now... it's our first time...) he thought futilely, feelng first his eyes, then his teeth going vamp, soon followed by his face. He tried desperately to pull away, surprised when Willow wouldn't let him. "Please, Willow... let me go..." He groaned into the pillow beside her head. "You shouldn't have to touch me when I'm like this..."
Willow had felt it when he began to change. It had almost frightened her for a moment, but she knew that he'd never hurt her... that he would walk into the sun first. So when he tried to pull away from her, in the middle of the most intense exprience of her life, she decided that she wasn't having it, and set out to prove it to him, as well. "Angel..." she said, not releasing her legs from where they held him, "Angel..." softly, "it's all right... I've seen you all vampy before, you know... it's not exactly a surprise..." She could feel the tension in his clenched body, and knew that he didn't believe her. "Angel," she tried again, "Angel, *look* at me..." She turned her head to him, seeing him glancing at her from the corner of his eye... his yellow-gold eye. She smiled, encouragingly, the smile growing wider when he lifted his face from where it ws almost buried in the pillow. She reached up a hand to his face, lightly smoothing her fingers across the ridges of his forehead, staring deeply into his eyes, and reached up to take his lips with her own. She slowly slipped her tongue between his fangs, lightly caressing them as proof that she didn't fear him, wasn't disgusted by what he was. She grinned outright at the small mon he made as she slowly began to thrust herself up onto his still hard cock, the grin fading as he picked up the rhyhm and increased upon it, driving himself into her at a pace that she could only call frenetic.
Angel didn't know how he had gotten so lucky, but he'd be damned if he ever let her get away now... she had not only seen the demon, but she had accepted it, as part of him, and he was never going to et her get away. He could hear her moans of pleasure in his ear as he pounded into her, thrusting as deeply into her as he could, wanting nothing more than to melt into her, to be a part of her forever, to always feel this complete... He gasped loudly, and then growled as he felt her muscles tightening around him as wave after wave of pure unadulterated pleasure coursed through his body. He heard her voice, screaming his name, and felt her short nails digging bloody furrows in his back as her second orgasm gripped her tightly, and he heard his own voice crying "Willow!!!" repeatedly, as he was gripped by an orgasm of his own, flinging his head back and thrusting himself even deeper inside her as he spilled his cold, dead seed within her willing warmth.
Willow lay there, completely exhausted, but in the best possible way, reveling in the sensation of his firm body pressing her into the bed. She let out a small whimper, and pouted a bit, as he withdrew slowly from her ad laid himself down beside her. She smiled into his chest as he pulled her close against his side, wrapping both his arms tightly around her. "That was... *wow*..." she said, her tiredness apparent in her voice. She could hear his chuckle, deep in his chest.
"Wow doesn't even begin to cover it..." Angel replied tenderly, still unable to believe what he had just experienced. There was only one thing inthe world that could make him happier than he already was. "Go to sleep, love..." he said, knowing that, for now, she was completely worn out. And that was when she said it. All night, they had been saying how much they wanted each other, how they needed to be together... and then she said it... the one thing that would make him truly happy.
Willow curled herself against him, swiftly slipping into an exhausted sleep. "G'night, Angel," she mumbled, mind already drifting away, "I love you...."
~Part: 27~
Cordelia awoke suddenly to the sound of whimpering coming from her closet. (Spike.) she thought. (What in the hell is he doing in there?) She slowly got up, pushing the covers to the end of the bed, and crossed the room. Looking to the window to make sure that it was fully covered, she opened the closet door a crack and peeked in. What she saw caused her heart to beat just a little bit faster. (Oh, my... he's gorgeous.. no wonder Willow's got the hots for him, too...) She just looked at him, laying there on the floor, blanket tangled around his waist, his bare chest almost glowing in the dim light. (No, Cordelia! He's a vampire... you so don't need to go there...) She heard again the sound that had woken her from her sleep, and noticed that he was suddenly writhing on the floor. (Ah... that explains the blanket...) He sounded like he was in pain. She kneeled down beside him, reaching out her hand and shaking his shoulder lightly. "Spike." she said, "Spike!" She shook him harder, surprised at her own relief when his eyes flew open and he grabbed her hand.
Spike shot out of the nightmare, surprised to see the cheerleader crouched beside him. Surprised but glad. He hadn't been enjoying himself at all. (It was just a dream, Spike old boy...) he told himself, hoping that it was true. (Just a dream...) He looked over at Cordelia, seeing the question in her eyes. "Bad dream, Cord... just a bad dream..."
Cordelia looked at him curiously for a moment. "Spike... I didn't think that vampires had dreams..." She frowned slightly at his nod of agreement. "Then why would you be dreaming now?" She asked, sighing frustratedly at his seemingly disinterested shrug. "OK, Spike... what did you dream?" She shook his shoulder again when he only looked down and shook his head. "Spike!" She said, sternly, "Tell me!"
He sighed, still looking down at his jeans covered leg. "Angelus..." he said, softly. "I saw Angelus." He looked up, knowing what she was about to say. "And no, I don't mean the great bloody poof... I do know the difference... I'm not completely stupid, y'know." He looked away again. "It was Angelus... and he was with Red." He almost felt hopeful at her next words.
"But it was just a dream, right... I mean, Angelus couldn't be back... not because of last night..." She looked at the blond vampire imploringly. "The oracles said so... that he'd be safe with Willow... they're the oracles... they wouldn't lie... would they?" She knew that she sounded uncertain. She couldn't help it. Vampires didn't dream... but Spike had... She suddenly felt a little better as she realized. (But no vision... that's gotta be good... doesn't it?) She made a decision, rising to her feet and pulling the blond up with her. "Right."she said, commandingly. "We'll just go wake up Giles... he'll know what it means..." She left the closet, Spike following, hoping that she was right... that Giles would have some idea of what was going on.
* * * * * * * * *
Lucinda had been acting jumpy all night. She had been twitchy, starting at the slightest noise, almost as if she were nervous.
(Although I don't know what she has to be nervous about,) Matthias thought, watching concerned as she made yet another circuit of the room. (But it's like she just can't sit still... not even for a moment...) He saw her sit down, and jump back up again before she had even settled. "Luce... Luce, what is it? You're acting like a caged tiger... what's wrong?"
She looked over at him, confusion plainly visible in her big green eyes. "I don't know, love... I just feel... edgy... like something's going to happen... something's coming..." She sighed, still stalking about the room. "I don't know..." she cried, hating the feeling. "I just don't know..." She strode over to him, crouching down beside him. "What is it, Matthias? What is it that's making me feel this way? What's about to happen? Tell me..." She sounded pitiful, she knew, but she just couldn't stand this feeling. For only the third time in her very long life, she felt like she had no control... and she didn't know how to fix it.
She looked up into his eyes, hoping that he might have an answer for her.
Matthias saw the questions in her eyes, and wished that there were more that he could say. "I don't know either, Luce... but it seems to only be affecting you..." He thought for a moment before continuing. "Maybe... do you think that it may have something to do with him? The Warrior?... Your connection is stronger than mine... could that be it?" He heard the sharp sound of her swiftly indrawn breath.
"Yesss..." she said slowly, wondering why she hadn't been able to see it herself. "Yes... that must be it..." She stood, reaching out her hand to him. "You know what this means, don't you love?"
Matthias stood, sighing. "Yeah... another visit to the cousins... oh, joy." He began to mumble under his breath, as they went through their rooms, looking for a suitable gift.
* * * * * * * * *
< meanwhile, back in Sunnydale >
Riley was getting worried. First Willow had disappeared, then Buffy. And Giles was missing, too. It almost seemed as if someone or some thing was out to get the whole little Scooby Gang... (At least Xander and Anya are safe,) he told himself, (wherever they are...) He had been looking for the hacker, the watcher, and his girlfriend for at least twelve hours now, but hadn't found any sign of them at all. (What could have happened?) he wondered, roaming through the streets of Sunnydale. (And Spike... I mean, Hostile 17... he's missing, too...) He stopped in his tracks as he realized. (Two guys... two girls... why does that seem kind of... convenient... No... Buffy would never...) he shook his head, looking for all the world like one of those plastic dogs with the spring in its neck. (Well, OK, Giles would never do that...) He sighed and began walking again, continuing his search. (I'd better find Buffy soon,) he thought intently, (I'm getting kind of horny...) He picked up his pace at that thought, deciding that he would find the blond that very day, or else he'd know the reason why.
* * * * * * * *
< L.A. >
He woke feeling better than he had in a long time... years, in fact. It had been that long since he had been free, able to do as he would. Able to maim, and feed, and torture on a whim... (Hell, it feels good to be me...) he thought, pleased. (And Soulboy's gone... won't be coming back if I can help it...) He grinned wickedly, turning over in the bed to gaze posessively at the redhead sleeping beside him. (And she's mine now... not his... mine...) He was a little surprised at how good the very thought made him feel. He loved her... and the last time he'd been free, he'd wanted to kill the bitch Slayer for that very reason... she'd made him feel alive... made him feel love... (But this is different... Willow's different... she loves me... not just the soul... but me, the demon...) He smiled tenderly at the young witch, seeing her lips twitch in her sleep. (And I love her... things will be different this time,) he promised himself, grinning as he felt the soul within him fighting to break free. (But I can't let her know what's happened... not yet... I don't want to scare her...) The fear always made things sweeter, he knew, but not hers... never hers. He would treat her like a delicate crystal figurine, making sure that she was always cherished and protected, and slowly but surely he would reveal himself to her, let her see that the demon was far superior to the damned soul... and then... and then, she would be his, heart, body, and mind... she'd forget all about Soulboy, and love only him... only Angelus. He smiled widely, fully satisfied with his plan of action. It wouldn't be long, he knew, before she was ready for the truth. He reached out, enfolding the sweet young witch in his arms, and pulled her gently against him, reaching for her lips with his. He felt his eyes widen, and then change, the fury exploding within him, as he heard her sweet voice mumbling, from within a deep sleep. (Oh, no... this will not do...) he growled, half to himself, and half out loud, as he heard her words again.
"Spike... oh, Spike..."
~Part: 28~
Spike and Cordelia watched nervously as Giles paced about the living room. He had been doing so for at least five minutes, obviously thinking very hard about what Spike had told him about the dream. (Angelus...) the watcher thought. (Why would Spike suddenly begin dreaming... about Angelus... and Willow?) Giles had a very good idea of why the blond vampire would dream about Willow, if vampires dreamed, that was. But Willow and his sire? It just made no sense to the watcher. (It must be some kind of a message,) he thought, the sleep befuddled gears of his mind slowly beginning to come up to speed. He saw the former cheerleader go into the kitchen, and looked gratefully at her when she returned bearing a large mug of coffee, and pressed the handle into his hand. "Thank you, Cordelia," he said, taking a large sip of the hot black liquid. He knew that his two friends were waiting for an answer to what the dream had meant, but felt like he was shooting in the dark... he had no resourses in LA, no one to call for help, and the one person who might have helped him find the answer was still not back from her date. "All right," he said, hoping that he sounded more confident than he felt, "Has anyone tried calling Angel?" He looked at the two seated on the couch before continuing. "I'd think that he'd know what vampire dreams are about better than I ever could..." He suddenly stopped talking as the caffiene kicked in and he realized just how rediculous he'd sounded. He was about to apologize and start again when Spike suddenly began laughing.
"Oh, yeah, Rupert... that was funny!!! Thanks... I needed a good laugh..." Spike really appreciated the watcher's attempt to lighten the mood. He hadn't thought the man had had it in him. "But we still don't know why I was dreaming, and somehow I don't think that it's a good thing..." He looked at Giles and Cordelia, appreciating their nods of agreement. "So, the question is..."
"What in the hell is going on!" Cordelia broke in. "Why the dream, what's it mean, and if it's something bad, and has to do with Angel, why didn't I get one of those awful visions? I mean, if Angelus is going to play a return engagement, wouldn't the PTBs say something? And another thing... what could make Angel lose his soul again? I mean, we know that it can't be Willow... the oracles said so... So what in the hell is going on?" She was panting by this point, and slightly out of breath, as she looked at her friends, wondering whether what she'd just said had made any sense at all. She was pleasantly surprised when they simply exchanged a glance and nodded.
"Right," said Giles, "The oracles... they must know about vampire dreams..." He spoke quietly but intently to Cordelia. "You have been to see them, do you remember the incantation that you and Willow used?" At her nod, he continued. "All right, Cordelia, you and I will go to see these oracles... Spike, you'll stay here." He cut off the blond's protest. "Someone needs to be here when Willow returns home, to explain what is happening, and as Cordelia is the seer, and I can cast the spell for her to gain admittance, that leaves only you..." Giles relaxed as he saw the look of acceptance in the vampire's eyes, and turned again to Cordelia. "Right... so what do we need?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Angelus was truly angry, for the first time in a long time. He was furiously stalking through Soulboy's new apartment, trying to decide on an appropriate punishment for the witch still asleep in his bed. (How dare she?) He growled softly, not wanting to wake her until he had it all clear in his mind. ( How dare she be in my bed, my arms, my heart... and be dreaming about Spike, of all people... I will not allow this to slide... she's mine... mine... not Soulboy's, not the damned wolf's, and certainly not Spike's!) He fought the increasingly desperate need to smash something... to break something, anything, into a million pieces and stomp om the shards... (She must be punished... she must... she has to know that I won't take that kind of treatment from anyone... not even her... ) He stopped his internal ranting as he passed by the door to the bedroom. Looking in, he saw that the witch had turned in her sleep, the sheets a tangled mass down around her waist. (Hell... she's beautiful...) he thought, his eyes eagerly drinking in the sight of her as he felt his large cock suddenly roaring to life. He grinned evilly as he remembered a moment from the night before. (Well,) he thought, the evil grin becoming even wider as he entered the bedroom and shrugged off his robe, (She did say she wanted to taste me...) He chuckled to himself, stroking himself until he was fully engorged. (But somehow I don't think that this is going to be what she expected...) He slowly slid back into the bed, trying not to disturb her. It wouldn't do for her to wake up before her 'punishment' was in place. He almost laughed out loud as he felt her smooth arms reach out and grasp him around the waist, her head coming to rest on his stomach as she snuggled against him.(Oh, she is just making this too easy...) He smiled again as he felt his rock hard shaft twitching in time to the quick, hot breaths she was releasing against his cold, dead skin. (Yes, ) he said to himself, moving his hand to the back of her head and tangling his fingers in her fiery red hair, (It's time to teach my little love a lesson...)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
< meanwhile, back in Sunnydale>
Riley Finn ducked back into the alley when he saw the group of Hostiles approaching. There must have been at least seven or eight of them. He really hated hiding, but, well, eight of them, one of him... it didn't take a genius to figure out that the odds weren't quite in his favor. He couldn't stand the way the hostiles had gotten so uppity in the last day or so. It was almost like they knew that the Slayer wasn't around, and with the Initiative being pretty much a smoking hole in the ground, they for damned sure weren't worried about Special Agent Lilac or the man who he was now... He tucked himself behind a large steel dumpster as the group of assorted demons made their way past him, laughing about someone named Rocko making a pet out of someone named Sunshine. (Sunshine?) Riley thought contemptuously, (What kind of a name is Sunshine?) He snorted softly to himself, wondering just what the poor girl's parents had been thinking. (OK, gotta keep looking for Buffy... ) He waited until the demons had left the mouth of the alley, and walked away in the opposite direction, glad that he'd decided to only patrol in the daytime. If there had been any vampires with the group, he was sure that they would have heard his heart beating, and probably would have smelled his urine when he had wet himself at being that close to that many Hostiles. He tried to keep to the shadows as he slowly made his way home to shower and change his clothes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cordelia sighed. This was getting annoying. She looked around her at the endless white marble expanse, calling out for the third time to those damned oracles. "Hello! I know you're here! And I'm not going away until I get some answers, so you might as well just come on out, because all that you're doing by ignoring me is pissing me off!" She sighed again, not seeing or hearing anyone. "OK... you have until I count to ten, and then you're gonna find out what a truly pissed-off Seer can do... One... Two... Oh, Hi!" She chirped brightly, as the swirling mist coalessed into the two oracles she had been looking for. "Took you long enough," she grumbled, mostly for show. (Can't let them think they can keep me waiting... I'm the Seer, after all...)
The male took one look at the brunette girl and tried to disappear, only to be stopped by his companion. "Brother..." she said warningly. He sighed, and allowed himself to remain visible.
"Seer..." said the female. "What have you brought me?" She floated the object to her hand. "A... bunny..." She looked questioningly at Cordelia, one eyebrow raised.
"Yeah... a bunny... I didn't have time to shop, OK? Besides, my father gave me that bunny... it's porcelain... from Denmark..." Cordelia knew that she was babbling, but she had to convince this female oracle that her gift was worthy... she needed answers. She looked the strange blue and gold woman in the eyes. "It's one of the only things that he gave me that wasn't taken away by the IRS... it's pretty much all I have left of my old life..." She smiled as inspiration struck her. "You guys gave me the visions, and that really cut the ties between who I am now, and the shallow, selfish girl I was then, so really, it's a symbol, to show what a wonderful effect you guys can have... even on someone as self-absorbed as I used to be..." She kept her eyes locked on the female's, hoping to see some sign that the woman was buying her line of crap. She sighed in relief as the woman slowly nodded. (Thank god! I was running out of ideas...)
"So, Seer... why have you come here?"
Cordelia was once again on familiar ground, as she told the oracle about Spike's dream. "So, what I need to know is why Spike is having dreams about Angelus... I mean, it's not as if Angel's gonna lose his soul, at least not from being with Willow... you said yourselves that she was safe for him, that he could love her... so what does it mean?" She was on such a roll with her questions that she completely failed to notice the confused look passing between brother and sister. "I mean, is someone gonna slip him more drugs, like that Rebecca chick did? And if there's really a danger here, why didn't I get one of those stupid visions that you two seem to enjoy tormenting me with?" She finally noticed the silent conversation passing between the siblings. "What?" she demanded, wondering why she all of a sudden had a bad feeling about this. She quickly began to lose what little patience she had at the lack of response from the two oracles. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asked harshly, not entirely sure that she really wanted to know.
The female looked Cordelia in the eye, the sorrow and pain readily apparent to the brunette girl. "We were mistaken..." she said softly. "We did not mean the witch... Willow..." She looked down at the marble floor, unable to face the betrayal in the Seer's eyes. "We were referring to a different redhead all together... With her, he would have been safe... But with the witch..." The oracle sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Seer... the warrior is no longer a force for good... He is, once again, what he was... a demon..."
Cordelia couldn't believe what she had just heard. (He's Angelus again? Because of Willow?... No.) She could feel her expression hardening, her eyes becoming like chips of ice. (No... not because of Willow... because of them... the oracles...) She crossed to the woman before her, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her to look into her eyes. "Do you know what you've done?" She hissed, allowing all of her fury to be read in her eyes. "You're the oracles, for Pete's sake... you're supposed to know everything... I trusted you... No, we trusted you... and now I find out that we shouldn't have..." She released her hold on the female's face, turning her furious attention to the male. "And don't think that I've forgotten about you... You were so caught up in your whole 'Oh, I'm the mysterious, all-knowing oracle' thing, that you couldn't even be bothered to listen to me... If you hadn't been so uptight about listening to the 'lower being', none of this would have happened... I would have asked you if you were sure about Angel and Willow, and none of this would have happened... I hope you're proud of yourself... You lost Angel his soul, and unleashed the worst vampire the world has ever seen, all because you were too full of yourself to listen to a lowly mortal..." Cordelia suddenly stopped her tirade and turned away, tears of anger and loss burning in her eyes, as a truly horrible thought occurred to her. "Oh, god..." she said softly, "Willow... he's probably killed Willow by now..." She began to slowly approach the spot where she had entered, the tears now spilling unchecked from her eyes. "Let me out..." she said flatly. "Now." She waited a moment, not turning around, until she saw the white light beginning to form. Just as she stepped forward into the portal, she heard the female's voice behind her.
"Seer..." the oracle said quietly, "There is still a chance... all may not be lost as yet... I will try..."
Cordelia paused, one foot about to cross the threshold back into the tunnels where Giles awaited her return. "Don't you think you've done enough?" she asked bitterly as she stepped forward.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Willow had been having a wonderful dream... in it, she had been having a picnic in the park at midnight... there had been apples and raspberries and bananas and whipped cream... and, oh, yeah, Spike had been the picnic blanket... he had looked so good, laying there on the ground before her, completely naked except for the fruit and whipped cream. He would raise his hand and pick a piece of fruit from his so pale skin, dip it into the whipped cream around his navel, and slowly feed it to her, a wicked little smile playing at the corners of his mouth whenever her tongue flicked out to lick the cream from his fingers. First, a raspberry, then a piece of apple, it was so... enticing... In the dream, this scenario had been going on for what felt like hours, so when he slowly sat up, and tangled his hand in her hair, she decided to just go with it. He leaned gently against her, brushing a fleeting kiss across her warm red lips, and pulled back. She smiled delightedly at him as he lifted the ripe, beautiful banana and peeled it, teasing her mouth with it for a moment. She saw his eyes widen when her tongue slipped out and gently licked the very tip of it... And then, eveything went horribly wrong. Spike laughed in an evil sort of way, and forced the big, long fruit deep into her throat, using his hand in her hair to keep her from pulling away as her slid the fruit harshly in and out of her hot wet mouth. She wanted to scream, but she couldn't, she was choking... She could feel the banana sinking deep into her mouth, slamming into the back of her throat before being pulled back to do it again, and again. She wanted desperately to wake up, and fought against sleep with every ounce of strength she had in her small body. She completely ignored the frantic voice in the back of her head that was telling her to stay right where she was, that reality wouldn't be any better than the dream. She fought, tooth and nail, to raise her mind up from this hell that it had created, relieved as she felt herself awakening. As she finally ascended to full wakefulness, the relief fled, only to be replaced by horror. She really was choking... Her eyes flew open as she heard the growls, and felt the hand tugging at her hair. "Do you like that, little one?" She heard, through the muffled sounds of her own attempts to breathe, the well-loved voice that she had last heard the night before. Only then it had been murmuring endearments. She caught the edge of sadistic pleasure in his tone as he said "Maybe this will teach you that you belong to me... no one else... me." She knew that she had heard that tone before, but it took her a long moment to place it, feeling him rape her mouth the entire time. (Oh, gods!) She thought, as the relization overtook her. ( Angelus!)
~Part: 29~
Giles reached out and caught Cordelia as she re-emerged from the portal, into the tunnel under the old post office. "What happened?" He asked, looking at his watch. He frowned... she had only been gone for a minute or two. "Did you see them? What did they say?" He was troubled by her lack of response, and looked more closely at her, seeing tears running freely down her lovely face. "What is it, Cordelia?" he said gently. "What's wrong?" He was stunned when the young girl threw herself into his arms, sobbing as if she'd never stop, and hugged her tightly in an effort to comfort her. He could feel her shaking as she struggled to get herself under control. "Shhh... shhh... whatever it is that's wrong... we'll fix it... I promise..." He felt himself go utterly still when he heard the words she mumbled against his shirt. "What do you mean Willow's dead?"
Cordelia pulled herself away from the comfort of his hug, feeling the tears continue to roll down her cheeks. "The oracles... they were wrong, and Angel's Angelus again, and Willow's with him, so I think she's dead..." The words came out in a rush, and she looked at the watcher, hoping that he'd gotten it all. At his nod, she continued, telling him about everything that had passed between her and the two oracles in the time she'd been gone. She could see his eyes hardening more and more as she related the story, and found herself glad that she wasn't the one that that look was intended for... she shivered at the very thought. (Boy... someone's in trouble...) When she had finished talking, she looked at him, waiting for some kind of a response, when it suddenly occurred to her. "Oh, god, Giles... Spike!!! We have to call Spike... he needs to know about this!"
Giles thought about that for a moment. "No." he said, in a strained voice. "We'll tell him when we see him..." At her suddenly stubborn look, he explained. "Spike loves Willow... if we call him and tell him that we think Angelus killed her, he'll just run off to find him, probably getting himself very, very dead in the process... so no... we don't call Spike..." He sighed in relief at her thoughtful nod. "And we don't go home... not until we know for sure that she's dead..."
Cordelia nodded again, finding herself in complete agreement with the watcher. She only had one question for him. "Ummm... Giles? How do we find out if Willow's alive?... without getting very dead ourselves? I mean, this is Angelus we're talking about... Remember?" Her eyes widened at his response. (Of course... I forgot that 'Ripper' knew all about spells.) She slowly followed him as he made his way back up to the street, wondering just where they were going to do this, if they didn't want Spike to know that something was up.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Angelus lay back against the sheets, a satisfied smile playing at his lips as he listened to the sounds his retching witch made in the bathroom. She had certainly learned her lesson. His smile grew broader at the memories of the previous hour. Her mouth had been so good... he had almost come at least a dozen times, but had forced himself not to... after all, he reasoned, she wouldn't learn from her punishment if it were over too soon. He could feel his cock twitching from just the recollection. (Down, boy.) he thought, looking at the clock. There'd be time to play more with Willow later. He sighed happily as he rose from the bed and began to dress. He walked over and tapped softly at the bathroom door, grinning at the sudden silence on the other side. Yes, she had definitely learned... "Honey," he said, just loudly enough for her to hear him, "I've got to go out, but I'll be back in a few hours... I'll see you then." His grin became wicked as he heard her mumbled 'Yes, Angelus.', and he turned and quickly left the apartment, closing and locking the tunnel entry behind him. He had places to go... people to kill...
Willow slowly stopped shaking when she heard him leave, finding that the fear that she'd been feeling was being quickly replaced by anger. (How dare he?) she fumed to herself. (How dare he treat me that way... like a common whore? And then expect me to sit around here waiting for him to come back and treat me like shit again?) She stood up, flushing the remains of what had been in her stomach, and rinsed her mouth a few times, all the while wondering if the lingering taste of his dead seed was purely in her mind, and wishing desperately for a mirror. (If he really thinks that I'm going to stay here and wait for his 'tender' attentions, well, he's got another think coming...) She went through the bedroom and into the living room, searching in vain for the dress she had worn the night before. (Well, shit...) she thought, biting at her bottom lip, (What do I do now...) She looked down and almost smiled at the sight of the red silk shirt that Angel had been wearing. She slowly bent and picked it up, bringing it to her face and smelling the familiar cloves and cinnamon scent of the souled vampire. (Angelus smells... different somehow...) she thought, surprised. (Not like this... more like... I don't know... burnt sugar, maybe?) She inhaled the enticing aroma again, and felt the tears finally beginning to fall from her suddenly hot eyes. (This shouldn't have happened,) she thought despairingly. (He shouldn't have lost his soul... not because of me... I should never have come here...) She sat down on the couch, crying into her lost love's wadded up shirt. (But, it was supposed to have been safe... the oracles said so... Oh, gods... what have I done? And why hasn't he killed me yet?) She frowned through her tears, almost wishing that he had. She cried for a while longer, thinking of what she had lost, the pain more intense because of what she had had, and when she was finally all cried out, she rose from the couch, drawing her lover's shirt on to cover her nakedness. She rummaged through the drawers in the bedroom bureau, and pulled on a pair of much too large sweat pants. She returned to the living room and found her shoes, not caring that they'd look rediculous with her outfit. She didn't care that Angelus would probably kill her when he returned to find her gone. She didn't care that he'd know where she had gone, didn't care that she was writing her own death warrant... all that mattered to her, at that particular moment, was getting out... getting away from this place... the place where she had been thrilled like never before... and used in ways that she'd never forget. She slowly climbed the stairs, crossed the main room of the office and stepped into the hallway of the building, feeling her mood lighten, just a little, as she stepped out of the front door and into the bright LA sunshine.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
< meanwhile, back in Sunnydale...>
Rocko looked on, amazed, as his little Sunshine took Martin's enormous cock deep into her throat. He had never seen anything like it. And she was such a small girl, too... He felt his own hard shaft beginning to throb at that thought. He never would have thought that the Slayer would have such a passionate side to her, but the little minx was damned near insatiable... He watched his pet take on his second in command's hard on, growling slightly as he saw Martin's thrusts picking up speed. It wouldn't be long, now, he knew. And he was glad... just watching her was doing things to him that made him ache to be next... and since he was the boss, he would be... He smiled widely as he heard Martin groan, and knew that the young vampire had just shot his entire load deep into the blonde's willing throat. He laughed a little wickedly as he watched his Sunshine frantically swallowing, as if afraid that she'd miss even one drop. As Martin pulled his now flacid dick from the girl's mouth and zipped his pants after tucking himself away, Sunshine's eyes met Rocko's. She smiled, licking at her lips for anything she might have missed, and dropped her eyes to the obvious bulge of his arrousal. She slowly lay back against the come and blood encrusted sheets, begging him for his loving attention with her hungry eyes. She knew just what he wanted, and her expression said, more loudly than words ever could, that she wanted the very same thing. Her smile grew wider, and her eyes assumed a lazy, sensual look, as Rocko slowly unzipped his pants, freeing his straining erection. (Oh...) he thought, (this is gonna be fun!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike was going slowly mad. It had been well over an hour since the cheerleader and the watcher had left to see the oracles, and so far, no word. (You'd think that one of them would at least have the decency to call!) he thought, aimlessly changing the channels on the telly. (But, nooo...) He sighed, running a hand angrily through his hair. (They know how I feel about Red... they know that that's why the damned dream bothers me so much... when my kind dream, it usually means that something bad's about to happen... so they go to the bloody oracles, they must have found something out by now, but does either of them think of calling Spike?... Of course not!) He pushed himself up from the couch, pacing the room in agitation. (I've got half a mind to go over to the bloody poof's just to find out what's going on!... But Red wouldn't like it... she wouldn't thank me for interupting her time with nancy-boy...) He sighed again, going into the kitchen and grabbing a bag of blood from the 'fridge. He opened it, pouring it into a mug and popping it into the microwave. "Not now, Dennis..." he said to the deck of cards floating towards him. "I'm not in the mood to play... I'm worried about my Red." He pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat, elbows on the table, his head in his hands. He heard the microwave ding, and looked up to see his mug floating over to him. "Thanks, Dennis," he said, as it came to rest beside him. "You're a good bloke, for a dead guy..." Spike picked up the mug, and drained it in one long draught. He stood and crossed to the sink, running some water into the now empty mug. "All right... maybe some music will help, seeing as there's nothing on the telly..." He smiled as he heard the stereo click on. He had always loved the Chili Peppers. He went back into the living room, stopping suddenly as he saw who was there. "Red..." was all that he had time to say, before the small redhead flew across the room, and into his arms. (Things must have gone wrong with the poof, so she comes to her 'pal' Spike for comfort,) he thought bitterly. (Not that I mind having her in my arms, but...) He tightened his arms around the young witch, almost gasping aloud when she ground her hips against him aggresively. "Uh, Red..." he said confusedly, as he tried to pull away. "What do you think..." He did gasp then, his mind going blank, as he felt her surprisingly strong little hands grab his ass.
Willow put all of her strength into keeping Spike from pulling away from her. She felt herself rubbing her pelvis against him, and decided that she liked it. She would have him... she would. She raised her eyes to meet his, letting him see her desire. He wouldn't turn evil on her... he already was... that's what she loved about Spike... no surprises. She saw the disbelief in his eyes. She knew that he couldn't believe what she was doing, but she'd be damned if she let that stop her. He wanted her... she could tell. She could feel his cock growing harder by the second as she began grinding against him to the beat of the song on the radio. She turned her head slightly, enjoying his growl when she licked slowly up the side of his neck. "Spike..." she said, hoarsely. "Make me forget..." She sighed deep in her chest as she finally felt him relax against her, and released a growl of her own as she felt his cool, wet tongue flick gently against her closed mouth. (No,) she thought, (I really don't want gentle...) She swiftly moved one hand up to the back of his head and forced her tongue deep inside of his cold, cold mouth. She felt his surprise at her assertiveness, and was glad that he decided to just go with it. She pushed him back onto the couch, stradling his lap and pressing herself tightly to him. "Spike..." she sighed as she felt his lips begin to travel down her neck. (Oh, good...) she thought wickedly, (he's gonna play...)
~Part: 30~
Matthias cringed at the sound Lucinda's head made slamming against the wall on the far side of the room. (They must have been really angry,) he thought, running to her and crouching down beside her. (They've never thrown her out like that before...) "Lucinda..." he said softly, gently resting his hand against the curve of her cheek, "Luce... Luce???" He could hear his own voice becoming more and more frantic as the moments passed. "Luce!" He said again, lightly slapping her cheek with his open palm. He sighed in relief as he saw her eyelids begin to flutter. "I knew that I shouldn't have let you go alone..." He let a stern expression slip onto his face. "It won't ever happen again." He relaxed almost completely at her careful nod of agreement, and stood, extending a hand to help her to her feet. When she was at last standing, he lifted her up in his arms, carrying her to her favourite chair, and hugging her tightly before setting her down in it. "I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you," he almost whispered, the sincerity apparent in both eyes and voice. "You're all I have..." He stopped, trying to swallow the sudden lump in his throat.
Lucinda saw his valiant effort to hold back his tears. She felt terrible. Not from hitting the wall, although that hadn't really been high on her 'to do' list, but because he was right. (I shouldn't have gone alone,) she thought tiredly, (I should have let him come with me like he wanted to... I should have let him do his job...) She reached out and laid her hand atop his head, smiling slightly at him when his eyes met hers. "You were right, love... I was wrong..." She laughed gently at the disbelief in his eyes. "What? It's not like I've never said that before... Well, OK, so it's been sixty years, but still!" She smiled more broadly as he began to softly laugh. (Oh, thank gods... he's going to be OK...) "Don't worry, love... I have no intention of going anywhere without you again... Believe me when I say that that was not fun..." She knew that he could see the truth of that statement in her eyes, and waited for the question that she knew was inevitable.
"So, what happened, Luce? Why did they throw you out like that? I mean, if you were human, it would have killed you... So, what happened?" At first, Matthias wasn't really sure that he wanted to know the answer. As he listened to Lucinda begin explaining, he became quite sure that this was, indeed, something he didn't want to know about. (oh, gods,) he thought, as she continued to speak, (This is going to kill her...)
Lucinda did everything she could to keep the emotions out of her voice as she told Matthias what the cousins had had to say. She could see that he didn't really understand just how they could have messed things up so badly. First, they had given the Seer the wrong information, and they hadn't even bothered to check up on it... After all, it wasn't as if there was only one redhead in the world... And then, or so they had said, the Seer had shown up again, angry at them for what had happened to the Warrior. The cousins didn't understand it. Lucinda did. (The Seer... she trusted them... believed them... and why wouldn't she? They are the oracles, after all... they send her the visions, and they've always been right before, so why would she doubt them? And then they can only say 'Sorry... Ooops... our bad.' Of course Cordelia was angry... they're lucky she didn't curse them right then and there...) The cousins really hadn't appreciated it when Lucinda had told them that the Seer was right to be angry. She had even gone so far as to say to their faces that they were hide-bound... that they'd been in their little pocket dimension too long... that they'd lost touch with the battle, and with those fighting it. That was why they'd thrown her out so forcefully. Lucinda sighed, reaching the end of her tale. "So, that's what happened, love..." She looked down into Matthias' deep brown eyes. "They messed up. Badly. They have caused more harm to our side of the fight through arrogance, than our opponents have through hatred. The Warrior is lost to us." She couldn't quite hold back the sob that tore through her. "And to me, Matthias... He's lost to me..." She buried her head in the crook of his neck as he rose to his knees and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "It's over, Matthias," she cried against his skin, feeling for all the world as though her heart had been smashed to a pulp. "It's... over..."
He couldn't think of anything to do but just be there for her. He knew that she had gotten her hopes up, what with seeing him again, and all, and he also knew, from the very beginning, that things were going to go badly... they always did when that... that... Warrior was involved... Matthias hadn't been there the last time, but he had certainly heard about it, and OK, so the Warrior wasn't the Warrior then, but being tapped by the Powers only changed a person so much... He smiled slightly, thinking about the looks the cousins must have had on their faces when the Seer told them off... he would willingly have paid to see it... "Ummm... Luce?" he said gently, as a thought suddenly occurred to him, "Did you... that is..." He wasn't sure of exactly how to phrase it, but rushed ahead anyway, hoping that she'd understand his meaning. "The Seer... can't you talk to her? I mean, maybe if she knows the history, she can help figure out a way to fix things... She must want him back, too, so maybe..." He trailed off, not knowing if he was making any sense, then figured that he must have been, if the slowing of her sobs was any indication.
Lucinda slowly pulled back, feeling the hot tears slackening. She felt herself beginning to hope again, and tried desperately not to. (I don't think that I could handle the disappointment...) she thought sadly, (but maybe he has a point...) She tried to smile, knowing that Matthias would appreciate the effort. "All right, love," she said, barely containing the despairing sigh that threatened to escape her, "I'll talk to Cordelia..."
Matthias sighed, pulling her close again. Maybe all wasn't lost quite yet... maybe Cordelia and Luce, together, could figure out a way to fix things... He didn't really think so, but it was better than doing nothing... He buried his face in her long red hair, hoping against hope that things would work out for her... For his Luce, who he loved so much.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cordelia wasn't quite sure of what was going on. She had followed Giles out of the tunnels and to the magic shop about an hour earlier, and so far, all he had done was talk with the proprietor about mystical hoo-has and enchanted doo-dads... He hadn't even gone to the apartment for a spellbook, so she didn't see how they were going to be able to find out what was happening at Angel's... (Angelus') she corrected herself sternly. (Angel is gone... he's Angelus now... oh, god... poor Will...) She remembered how badly she'd felt when Doyle had died... how badly she still felt that he was gone. (If Willow's not dead already, this has got to be killing her... I mean, I told her that it was safe to be with Angel, because of what the damned oracles said; so she goes to him, they're finally together, and WHAM!!! True happiness!!! And Angelus!!! Oh, GOD!!! She must hate me!!! At least when Doyle died, he was dead... not roaming around all evil and Grrr... And he didn't kill me... not that I know if Angelus killed Will... but I wouldn't doubt it... The oracles... I never should have listened to them... they live in misty-white-marble-land for Pete's sake.... what was I thinking?) She bit her lip, eyes wandering back to Giles, who was still talking about magical froo-fraws with no semblance of haste. She sighed. (I guess I wasn't thinking... or at least, not rationally... I was just so happy for them both, that I guess I was just too gullible... And what did they mean that they were talking about a different redhead? Angel doesn't even know any other redheads!) She could swear that her heart skipped a beat as she suddenly realized. ( Luce... they were talking about Luce... but why would she be safe for him if Willow wasn't? And does she know?) Cordelia found herself remembering the way the red haired singer had looked at Angel. She hadn't really thought anything of it at the time, as she'd been so busy trying not to stare at Lucinda's brother, but... (She was looking at Angel the same way Angel was looking at her...) Her brow furrowed in concentration, as she tried to recall every word, every nuance, of a conversation that she hadn't really been listening to. (There's something there... I know it... I just don't know what... but I'll bet anything that Lucinda does...) She glanced again at Giles. He had finally gotten around to discussing the supplies they needed with the shop's proprietor, although how he knew what they needed when they didn't even have a spell to work with... well... (Right. So we finish up here, we go do this spell- whatever it is-, and I go to see Lucinda and find out what in the hell is going on...) She nodded in satisfaction. She had a plan now, and she'd be damned if she didn't follow it through. Willow was counting on her, whether the girl was dead or alive, and Cordelia wasn't going to let her down... Not this time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike felt like he was dreaming... not one of those damned 'vampire dreams', but a dream like he remembered having when he was mortal... where everything that you had ever wanted was there before you, and it was yours... He couldn't quite believe that this was actually happening. Red... his Red, had him pinned to the couch, her tight, hot little body pressed firmly to him, her hands roving his hard, cool flesh, her lips... hell, her lips were attached sensually to the side of his neck; he could feel her wet little tongue flicking against his skin, and the feeling of her hot breath against the damp spots her tongue left behind was almost more than he could bear. It took eveything he had not to throw her down right there on the floor and... (No, Spike...) he growled to himself, (keep thinking like that and this'll be over before it's really begun...) He gasped, and then growled, as he felt her blunt, human teeth closing tightly on the skin at the base of his neck. (Oh, bloody hell... does she know what that's doing to me?) he thought, thrusting his jeans-encased hips up, grinding himself against her. (Yeah,) he thought wonderingly, as he heard her hoarse chuckle against him, (I guess she does... Can't let her have all the fun, though...) Spike slid his hands down from her waist, cupping her ass lightly before pulling her harshly against him, thrusting her down against the hard bulge in his jeans. He let his lips travel down her neck, not stopping as he reached the shirt she wore. He could feel the hard nubs of her nipples through the silk, and almost groaned aloud as her took one of them, silk and all, into his mouth, lightly nipping at it and rolling it with his tongue. He was surprised to feel her hands on the back of his head, pulling his mouth hard against her, and even more surprised when he heard her raspy voice moaning 'Harder, Spike, harder...' Surprised, but still happy to oblige. (Guess my Red's had enough of gentle,) he thought, thoroughly arroused by the very thought of all the not-gentle things he hoped to soon be doing with her. He knew he should be concerned about what had happened with her and the poof, but somehow, with the object of his affections squirming in his lap, urging him to do things that he'd never thought he would be allowed to do with her, he just couldn't bring himself to care. (Later,) he thought, distractedly, (She'll tell me later...) He growled loudly at her as her felt her pulling her hot breast from his mouth, afraid for a moment that she would leave him, only to find himself delighted when she reached to the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, throwing it to the floor. "Oh, Red," he moaned, looking at her perfect form. "You're perfect, luv..." He smiled widely as he felt her hands on the back of his head again, pulling his cool mouth back to her aching breasts. (I've gotta remember to thank the poof for whatever he did...) he thought, before all other thought was wiped away by the feeling of her hot little hands traveling down his back and pulling his t-shirt up his smooth, cool skin. He pulled back from her a little, just enough for her to get it over his head, and groaned in disappointment when she pushed him against the back of the couch, the groan quickly replaced by a deep growl as he felt her warm lips, which had last been on his neck, begin exploring his hard chest. The growl repeated itself, over and over, as she found her way to his tight male nipples, molesting each, in turn, with the hot, wet cavern of her mouth, while she continued to roam the rest of his chest with her hands, and ground her hot, sweat pants-covered core against the rock hard bulge in his pants. He groaned when he felt her moving back, towards his knees. He wanted her so badly... he knew it was just a matter of time... Just because she'd gone this far, well, that didn't mean that she wanted to..." Red!" he almost screamed, feeling her hands drop to the buttons of his pants. He really couldn't believe that this was happening... that Willow... his Willow... was doing this... not that he was complaining... He felt himself going on auto-pilot as he felt the buttons give, one by one, her hands tugging at the black jeans, finally moving them far enough down his pale thighs for his throbbing cock to stand out, proud and strong. He smiled a little at her muttered 'Oh, my...', the smile becoming something else entirely as he felt one small hand closing around his aching shaft, her other hand working hard to remove the too large sweat pants from her suddenly too hot body. He could see it in her eyes, she didn't want his help... and that was OK... he leaned back against the couch, watching intently as she stood, finally removed her pants, and bent to pull his completely off... It was her show... he'd do whatever she wanted. An unnecessary breath caught in his throat when she finally stood back up. (Hell... she's beautiful...) His mind went blank as she once again gripped his rock hard shaft and straddled his lap, guiding him to her hot, wet entrance before suddenly, and with no warning, impaling herself completely on the length of him. He felt himself beginning to shudder, and clamped down on the impulse to come right then. He had waited too long for this, he wouldn't let it be over... not so soon, anyway... He had had no idea that she would feel this good... she was so wet... and tight... he didn't know how she could take all of him into her like that. He was just so glad that she could. He growled deep in his chest as she began a driving rhythm, slamming herself up and down on his pulsating cock. He had wanted it to be sweet and tender, but this worked for him, too... He could feel the hard little nub of her clit grinding against him, every time she came down on him, and heard the catch in her breath coming faster and faster. He knew that it wouldn't be long for either of them, now... it just felt too damned good... He felt himself starting to shake, the tremors coming faster and harder, in time with her motions, and felt the demon making itself known. He watched her eyes as she watched his true face emerge, noticing the look of awe and lust as she began to move herself even faster and harder upon him. He was so close... and so was she, he could tell. He could feel her muscles beginning to clench around him, and knew that the feeling was going to make him explode any second now. "Oh... Red..." he ground out, in what he supposed was an effort to warn her. He saw her eyes grow wide for a moment before meeting his. He watched as she slowly tilted her head to the side, moving her hand from his shoulder to the back of his head. "Red..." he growled out, low and dangerous, "Are you..." He stopped fighting it as she pulled his mouth hard against her neck. 'Please...' he heard her moan, and then he was tasting her...it was too much... he couldn't take any more... having his throbbing cock inside her hot core, his hard fangs in her neck, feeling her mucles clenching around him as she entered into an explosive orgasm, her hot, sweet blood cflooding his mouth, coursing through him... that was it... he pulled his mouth from her neck just long enough to cry out her name as he exploded deep inside her. His tongue lazily continued to lick at the slightly seeping wounds he'd made as he felt her body beginning to calm, his no longer so hard dick still firmly implanted within her hot, wet channel. "I love you, pet..." he said softly into her ear, completely confused when she burst into angry, desolate tears. (What the hell? I thought she'd be happy...)