Title: The Heart Beats
Author: Kylia
Email: kylia_bug@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Nobody belongs to me, unfortunately. They belong to Joss & Mutant Enemy, and a few other people I don't know.
Rating: PG13 (although not really)
Spoilers: general fourth season. And some rumors I heard about “Doomed”
Category: Willow/Spike – Who else would I write about?
Summary: Some evil brewing in Sunnydale (What else is new) and some stuff with the progression of Spike & Willow’s relationship.
Distribution: ask, and you shall receive.
Feedback: Yes, please!! I need to know if I should quit while I am ahead.
Author's Notes: This is my first BtVS fic, so be easy on me. I have written other fic, but none Buffy-related. This takes place after Something Blue. And I am doing some assuming as to things that are supposed to happen after that. It has been several months since Spike joined the gang, and Oz has never returned.

Giles looked up toward the front door as Buffy entered. “Any news?” He asked, but judging from her expression he gathered she had no more luck than they had had.

“No. How about you?” She asked as she flopped down on the couch across from Xander. Giles shook his head. “I can’t find anything. Maybe we should call him” Xander looked up at Buffy. “If we must. But he gets entirely too happy when I have to ask him for help.” Buffy groaned.

Buffy headed towards the telephone, then paused and looked back at Giles and Xander, “Maybe Willow can talk to him?” She asked. Buffy knew that Willow got along with Spike better than anyone else did. She didn’t wait for a response. Instead she picked up the phone and dialed Willow’s number. After a couple of rings, she picked it up.

“Hello?” Willow answered as she tore herself away from her laptop. She had been trying to research the rumors that had been going around.

“Willow?” Buffy asked. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure. What is it? Homework?” Usually when Buffy asked her for a favor it revolved around homework.

“No. I need you to call Spike” Buffy said it so quietly Willow almost didn’t hear her.

“Excuse me?” She choked out. The thought of Spike made her heart skip a beat. She was glad they were on the phone so that Buffy wouldn't see her blush. “You want me to call Spike? Why?”

Well, we have gotten nowhere, and unless you have made some progress, we are running out of options. Spike may be able to get more information.” Buffy knew that Willow’s question was more about why she wanted Willow to call him instead of doing it herself, but she was hesitant to tell Willow the real reason she didn’t want to speak to the blond vampire.

“Oh. Ok. I’ll talk to him. And no, I haven’t found anything. Are you sure these aren’t just rumors, and nothing more?” Willow asked, oblivious to Buffy's relief at the change of subject.

“Yes, I’m sure. There is something going on, but I can’t figure out what. No one’s talking. Not even Willy.” She paused, “Well, when you’re done can you come by Giles place. Have Spike meet us there when the sun goes down.” Buffy hung up the phone. She didn’t wait for Willow to reply. She was afraid Willow might ask her why she wasn’t the one calling the vamp. She turned around to face Xander and Giles. “She’ll call him, and I told her to have him meet us here…” she paused to look out the window. The sun was still bright outside. “…Later” she finished. The nodded and returned to their books.

When Willow hung up the phone she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else Buffy wasn’t telling her. Why did Buffy want her to speak to Spike? Why not just call him herself? Willow knew that Buffy and Spike weren’t exactly friends. She couldn’t really say that any of the gang was really friends with the soulless vampire. Although she considered him her friend, she doubted that that feeling was reciprocated.

Since Spike had first returned to Sunnydale a few months ago, they had spent a lot of time together. She was the only one who had ever been to Spike’s house. Some nights, when there wasn’t some evil brewing she would go and see him. They would talk, or watch a movie, She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt that comfortable.

It had been several months since Oz had left, and for a long time she just wanted to die. Her friends didn’t understand. They couldn’t. They had never had their still beating heart ripped from their body. She had formed an easy friendship, of sorts, with the Vampire. He would listen to her. He didn’t groan at her. He didn’t want her homework, or her help with research. He didn’t admonish her for her study in witchcraft. He just accepted her the way she was. All of her, not just the parts that were acceptable to everyone else. Willow had realized that this demon probably knew her better than anyone else ever would.

Willow looked at the clock and realized it was still early. She decided to go and see Spike at his house instead of calling him. She knew it would probably have been easier to pick up the phone, but she wanted to see him, away from the others.

Spike awoke, and realized that it was early. He still had several hours before the sun went down. He knew that he should probably try and go back to sleep, but he wasn’t tired. He’d had the dream again. Although it wasn’t really a dream, but an image. Recently every time he slept, she came to him. With her fiery red locks and emerald eyes, she was all he could think of some days.

The knock at the door startled him out of his thoughts. *Bloody Hell! Who would come here at this hour? * Spike was fully prepared to bite the head off of whoever was behind the door. He opened it, safely staying in the shadows. However he was surprised to find Willow standing there with a smile on her face, and a small bag in her hand.

“Can I come in?” She asked, noticing Spike’s face soften a little after seeing who was behind the door.

“Sure, pet” He motioned for her to enter and he closed the door behind her.

“I brought you some coffee.” Willow said lifting the bag she held.

“Did I wake you?” She asked suddenly thinking that maybe she should have called.

“No, luv. I was awake. What’s up?” Spike asked as he grabbed the bag from her offering hands, “Thanks.”

“Huh?” Willow had lost her train of thought. Spike was wearing nothing but a pair of black silk boxers. She had forgotten why she had come here. She started to blush as she looked at his chest and imagined what it would be like to touch it. *What the hell are you thinking? This is Spike! Bad, bad Willow! * She silently admonished herself.

“What’s up,” Spike repeated, noticing the blush that was working it’s way up her face as she stared at him. “Unless, you came her to ogle me” He grinned cockily.

Willow tore her eyes away from him and went to sit down on the couch. “No. Of course not!” She dared another glance at him and discovered he was watching her with an expression she could quite read. *Oh God! He probably thinks I want him. And he’d be right. Stop this!! Put him out of your thoughts! * She took a deep breath. “There are some rumors circulating. Some sort of evil brewing, but we can’t find out anything, so Buffy was wondering if… if you would…”

“Ask around?” Spike finished. He was amused that she was nervous about asking him. Of all of the Slayerettes, as Xander liked to call them, Willow was the one who knew him best. He felt comfortable around her.

“Anything for you, ducks” Spike answered as he walked into the kitchen, coffee in hand. He wasn’t sure why but he had grown to like some human food. He had almost gotten used to feeding out of a bag. Almost.

“Why didn’t the slayer just call me?” Spike asked as he came back into the living room and sat in the chair opposite the couch. Willow looked up at him, her color had returned to normal. “I don’t know. Maybe she thought you would be more eager to help if the request came from me. She wants us to meet her at Giles’ place after the sun sets.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Willow asked, confused. “I guess so we can see what new information we have, if any.”

“No, luv. Why would she think I would be more willing to help you than her?” He was curious. It was true that he wasn’t exactly friends with Buffy, but they had gotten past their desire to kill each other at every opportunity.

“Uh, I, uh. I don’t know exactly. Does it matter?” Willow answered. Now that she thought about it, she was also curious to why Buffy wouldn’t have spoken to him herself.

“No, I guess not.” Spike headed back into his bedroom to change, although he was enjoying the blush that spread across her cream complexion every time she looked at him.

Xander slammed his book closed. “This sucks!” After both Buffy and Giles had looked up from their own reading he continued, “I have been looking at these same books for two hours, and it still doesn’t make any sense!” He sighed. Giles was about to respond when the phone rang. Giles got up to answer it, glad for the chance to stretch his legs.

“Hello?”

“Giles? It’s Willow”

“Oh, hello Willow. Did you speak to Spike?”

“Yes. He says that he will make a few phone calls, and we will be at your house in about an hour.”

“Ok. See you then. Be careful” As he hung up the phone he turned around to find Buffy and Xander staring at him expectantly.

“That was Willow. She said that Spike would make some phone calls. They’ll be here in an hour.”

“They?” Xander asked, “They’re coming together?” He wasn’t sure why but the idea of Willow spending time alone with Spike bothered him. He knew that he wasn’t going to kill her, he couldn’t.

“I guess so. I didn’t ask. She’ll be fine. It’s not like he’s going to eat her for dinner.” Giles answered. He understood Xander’s concern. In the beginning he had been wary of any time alone Willow spent with the blond vampire. But as the weeks had past he came to discover that not only didn’t Spike want to kill Willow, but that Spike had developed an affection for the computer hacker. He would often walk her home to make sure she made it there safely, and he had also heard that they had spent many nights together, when there wasn’t a dire emergency. He had no doubt that it was Spike who had finally helped willow get over losing Oz.

Buffy was also disappointed that Willow and Spike would be coming together. But she wasn’t afraid for her friend. Instead she was jealous of her.

When Willow and Spike arrived at Giles’ house three expectant faces greeted them. They wanted to know what, if anything, Spike had found out.

“Well?” Buffy asked impatiently. “Did you find out any information? Are they just rumors? Are we worrying over nothing?”

“Calm down, Buff. Give deadboy Jr a chance to speak.” Xander said.

Spike growled at Xander’s nickname for him. Willow gently put a hand on his back as she glared fiercely at Xander.

“What did you find out?” Giles asked hoping he could defuse the situation before it got out of control. He didn’t understand why Xander always insisted on irritating Spike. *Is that boy Daft? * The former watcher thought to himself.

Spike took a needless breath and sat in the only available chair.

“It’s no rumor. We have a visitor.” Everyone in the room sighed heavily, save two.

“Who, or what?” Giles asked.

“ A demon. He goes by the name of Veintalle’.” Spike stopped for a second still thinking about what he had learned, and what he was going to do about it.

“Well, that’s ok!” Xander exclaimed while he jumped up and turned to Buffy, “We’ll find, you’ll slay, and we’ll party!”

“Sit down” Willow Commanded. Her voice wasn’t harsh but it was serious. When Xander didn’t move, she continued, “I said Sit down. There’s more.” Willow and Spike exchanged glances, and Spike continued, “It seems Veintalle’ has come to SunnyHell with a purpose. He needs a sorceress.” Spike let his words sink in.

“I don’t get it. What’s the big?” Xander asked, not understanding the implications.

“Why?” Buffy asked.

“Well, apparently, He lives off of their magical energy.” Willow explained, as she started to walk circles around the room. “He has been questioning the resident undead population.” She smiled at Spike, “But they have told him that there is no magic here. Aside from the general hum of the Hellmouth.”

“Well, then, if there aren’t any Sorceress’, this Venetian guy will just go, right?” When no one responded, Xander asked again, “Right?”

“Not exactly.” Everyone turned to see Anya standing in the doorway. She walked up and sat down next to Xander. “Veintalle’ has been around for a millenium, maybe longer. He can feel the power of a sorceress. She calls to him, begging him to take her power.”

“Like Hell!” Willow had not stopped pacing and every fiber of her being was trembling in fear.

Giles, Xander, and Buffy stared incredulously at Willow, not understanding her outburst. After a moment, they turned back to Anya. “Go on,” Giles prompted.

“He knows that she is here. And given enough time, he will find her.” Anya looked from Xander’s confused face to Willow’s scared expression.

“Well then, what are we waiting around here for? We will just make sure the bloody Wanker doesn’t find her!” Spike stood up and headed for the door, but was stopped by Buffy’s voice, “What exactly do you plan on doing? How are we supposed to find this Sorceress, whoever she is?” Spike stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Buffy as if she had grown another head. He was going to reply when he looked up and saw Willow pleading him with her eyes, so he remained silent.

“Anya,” Giles started, “Do you know where we could find this sorceress? Where would one even begin to look?” Giles was confused. He knew that Anya knew a thing or two about demons, having spent eleven hundred years as one herself. He knew that if what Anya said was true, the sorceress must be very powerful. And someone that powerful could probably keep herself hidden.

Anya looked up at Giles, and was about to answer his question when Willow spoke, “I have to... Uh... I have to go!” She ran outside and kept on running until she reached the cemetery. She knew it wasn’t safe, but she just had to get away. In moments her secret would be out.

Anya watched Willow run out of Giles’ house. She wasn’t surprised. She could tell from the confused looks that Giles was unaware of the power Willow possessed.

“Bloody Hell!! She isn’t safe out there!!” Spike growled as he ran out the door after her.

“I’m sorry, did I just miss something?” Buffy asked, looking from Anya to Giles to Xander and then back to Anya again. “What’s with Spike? Why is he so upset over this news? It isn’t like we haven’t fought demons before” Buffy continued, still baffled.

“You don’t know?” Anya asked. When everyone looked at her with a blank expression on her face, she continued, “He’s a demon.” She said it as if those three words should have made everything clear.

“Honey, we know that Spike is a vampire. He has been as long as we’ve known him” Xander told his girlfriend. Anya shook her head. * Was it possible that they didn’t know? * She wondered.

“Yes, he’s a vampire, a demon. Do you know what that means?” She asked, hoping they did.

”Sunbathing is out?” Buffy quipped. Anya sighed, “No. It means that someone is trying to take what’s his, right out from under him. Someone wants what he loves. Wants to feed off it, until there is nothing left but an empty shell.” She paused, hoping they were understanding her. “How is this demon different from him in that way?" Giles asked. He didn’t understand what Anya was trying to tell them. “It’s not” Anya replied, “Except that he will not allow Veintalle’ to possess what is his.”

“Ok, I get the whole vampire possession, I’m a demon hear me roar thing, but what does that have to do with Willow? Why would she run out of here, and why would he care if she was upset by… whatever it was that upset her?” Buffy asked, still not comprehending.

*Could she possibly be that dense? * Anya asked herself, “You don’t know?” She asked as she looked from Giles to Buffy. “Know what?” Xander asked.

“He’s in love with her.” She said simply.

“Huh?” Buffy asked, “In love with who? The Sorceress?” A thought struck her, “Willow?” She asked. Anya nodded, “yes, and yes.”

“I don’t get it. He’s in love with the sorceress, and with Willow? Our Willow?”

“No. I think what Anya is saying is that Willow is the sorceress. Am I right?” Giles asked. But he knew that he was.

Willow sat in front of the tombstone. She was just staring at it. Not sure whether she should say something, or remain silent. She decided to speak. She always felt better when she did.

“What Have I gotten myself into? She asked the headstone. “Now not only is my secret out of the bag, but now some demon wants to have me for dinner. I’m sure I’ll make a tasty treat!” She snapped.

“That you would luv” Spike came up behind her, “But I’m not gonna let any big bad uglies devour you. Willow tried to smile, but was unsuccessful.

“Why don’t I take you home. It isn’t safe out here.”

Willow stood up and turned to the blond Vampire, “I don’t want to go home. What if he knows where I live?” She asked, her voice shaking.

Spike grinned at her, “Well then, pet, you can come home with me. My beds big enough for the both of us.” He smirked.

Willow laughed, “You wish!”

She didn’t decline his offer. He was the only person, living or not, whom she wanted to be with.

Willow was sitting in Spike’s living room. She was just sitting there, thinking. When Spike had told her about the demon, and why he was here, she knew that she was the one he was after. She couldn’t explain how she knew; only that she did. She didn’t know when her life had gotten so out of control. Things had changed. She’d changed.

Willow knew that there were parts of her that she kept hidden from her friends. Except Spike. There wasn’t anything he didn’t know. She had been studying Wicca and all of its practices seriously for awhile now. Giles knew that she ‘dabbled’. However, he didn’t know the extent that she was involved. Willow knew that he would disapprove. Telling her that she wasn’t ready, it was dangerous, and he would give her a million other reasons why she shouldn’t practice. But it was in her blood. She could no more stop practicing, than Giles could stop breathing. So she kept her activities to herself. She would secretly throw a spell in here, or there, whenever it was necessary. Spike was the only one who knew, and she knew he would never tell, not unless she wanted him to. He was her closest friend, her best friend. She had admitted that to herself a long time ago. At first she felt guilty, that she considered Spike her best friend and not Buffy. But Buffy was also her best friend. But she was the best friend to the other Willow. The one that everyone saw. The dependable Willow. The Willow whom they could depend on, and help with their research and their homework, and whatever else, she would be there. Willow was still all of those things, she hadn’t really changed. But she was also more than that. She was a witch, and a powerful one at that.

Willow had discovered that when her spells didn’t work, it wasn’t because she didn’t have any power, or wasn’t very good at it, it was because she had enormous power, and needed to learn to control it.

“What you thinking about, pet?” Spike brought her out of her thoughts. She looked up and found him sitting only a few feet away. She smiled, “I was just thinking how terribly complicated my life has gotten” She told him honestly.

“How so?” He asked, and chuckled at the exasperated look that crossed her beautiful features.

“Excuse me?” Willow asked. “Well let’s see, first, there’s some nameless demon running around, second it turns out that said demon, what’s to use me as an appetizer, and third, because of both of those things, my friends are going to hate me!” She exclaimed.

“Hate you? Why would they hate you, luv?” He asked her as he moved from where he was sitting across from her to the empty spot on the couch next to her. When Willow didn’t answer he her turned her to look at him. What he saw in her eyes made hid dead heart weep. She was crying. As a few tears trickled down her cheek, Spike bent his face to her, and kiss them away.

Willow pushed him away, gently; “I’m alright.” She said as she stood up. She felt horrible. She was crying, in front of Spike. Part of her wanted him to comfort her, but another part of her knew that it was only pity. He didn’t have any real desire to hold her. She knew that people didn’t find her desirable in that way. It was a miracle that Oz had stayed with her as long as he did. She looked up at Spike and saw something in his eyes, she didn’t recognize. Willow realized he was still waiting for answer to his earlier question.

“Well, I’ve lied to them. I’m a horrible person” She told him, afraid to look at him.

“Nonsense, luv.” He told her, “You didn’t lie, you just omitted some things you knew they wouldn’t understand.” Willow seemed to relax at his understanding words. “Why don’t you get some sleep. It has been a long day” He told her as he stood up and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” She asked him.

“There’s something I need to attend to. I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry”

After Spike left, Willow lay down on the couch, and fell into a restless sleep.

“Ok, can we go over this again?” Buffy asked for the third time. “Are you trying to tell me that Willow… Our Willow, is some sort of sorceress? I just don’t buy it. Her spells never work out as planned.” Anya sighed. “Yes, and no.” Anya said. She supposed that if she was going to tell them she should tell them everything. “Willow is a witch. A real witch. Her power is strong. It reverberates off of her body. I am surprised you can’t feel it. Her spells work, you just don’t always know when she’s cast one.” She paused, knowing what was coming.

“Are you trying to tell us that she has cast spells recently? And we didn’t know? Alright Will!” Xander’s laughter was halted by the glare’s he was receiving from Buffy and Giles.

Giles cleared his throat. “I don’t think any of this is really helping. We need to find this demon.”

“And kill it. Don’t forget that part.” Buffy added.

“Yes, of course” Giles amended.

“I’m afraid it’s not that easy.” Anya told them.

“Explain”

“We can’t kill it. No one living can. Its power is too strong.” She told them, as they heard a knock at the door.

I don’t know why I bothering to knock. I should just go in there and tell them what I think of their bloody ignorance. Upsetting Willow like that! * Spike could feel his demon growing impatient. Finally Xander opened the door. “Oh, it’s you.” Xander looked like he was going to say something, but thought better of it after seeing the coldness in the vampire’s icy blue eyes. Spike brushed right past him into Gile’s living room.

“Where’s Willow?” Buffy asked. She had assumed that Spike had gone after her.

“She’s safe. For now. But we need to find this demon before he finds her.” Spike voice was tight, controlled, if only barely.

“Wait a minute. You knew the demon was after her? And you didn’t tell us?” Buffy yelled.

Well, slayer, I would have, if you had given me a chance!” He growled.

“Calm down, Buffy. He’s right. We didn’t give him much of a chance.” Giles looked up at Spike, and saw a wealth of emotions in his hard expression. He was angry, and worried, and another emotion he could place. “Do you know where this demon is?” He asked the blond vampire. Spike shook his head. “No, but I have an idea of someone who might.”

“Good. You find him, and I’ll kill him” Buffy said matter-of-factly. Spike rolled his eyes.

“I told you. You can’t kill him. No one living can.” Anya was getting frustrated. She liked Buffy, as well as Xander’s other friends, but sometimes, they seemed to not understand things. Maybe it was her misinterpretation, because she was still fairly new at being mortal, she couldn’t be sure.

“Well where can we find a Zombie?” Xander asked.

“No one living? But what about someone not living?” Giles asked looking at Spike. As the realization of what Giles was suggesting, they all turned to look at the blond vampire.

Anya nodded. “Yes, but I am unsure as to the specifics.” Xander groaned, “I guess that means its back to the books.”

Spike headed towards the door, he stopped just before he reached it, “Call me if you find anything” And then he left.

“She is near. I can feel her.” Veintalle’ Spoke to his servant.

“Yes, master. Her power is strong. She will sustain you.” The demon chuckled, “For an eternity.”

When Spike returned, he found Willow sleeping on his couch. But it was not a restful sleep. She was shaking. She was obviously having a nightmare. He decided to move her to his bedroom. She could sleep more comfortably there. When he lifted her up, she latched onto his neck, as if it was a life preserver. He could feel her trembling, even though she was still asleep, albeit barely.

Spike gently set Willow down on the bed, and attempted to pull away from her, but she only held on tighter. She was whimpering in her sleep, her whole body shaking in fear. He was furious at whatever, or whoever was causing her so much fear.

“Shh, pet. It’s ok.” He tried to comfort her.

“Spike?” She asked softly, now fully awake.

“Yes, luv?”

“Hold me?” She asked.

Spike climbed into the bed and she lay against his chest, and sighed. Soon she drifted off to sleep.

Giles closed his book with a thud. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. They had been researching for several hours and were still no closer than they had been before. He looked across his living room. Xander and Anya had fallen asleep on the couch. Buffy was asleep in the chair in the living room. He hoped that Spike’s contact could provide him with more information.

Giles was startled out of his thought by a knock at the door. He turned to look at the clock and noticed it was six-thirty in the morning and wondered who would be here at that hour. He slowly rose to answer the door.

“Good morning Giles!” Cordelia was standing on the opposite side of the door, with a man Giles didn’t recognize.

“Cordelia. What are you doing here?” He asked.

“Angel sent us. We’re here to help.” She told him as she brushed past Giles.

“Yes, of course. Please come in.” He said, moving aside so that her companion could come in.

“Is he here?” Giles asked, “Angel, I mean?”

“Yes. He had to go though. Angel plus the sun equals a big mess.” Cordelia told him. Giles nodded. Cordelia’s companion reached out a hand for Giles to shake, “I’m Doyle” He told him with a smile. Giles noted he had an Irish accent and assumed that he was the half-human, half-demon who worked with Angel.

“Nice to meet you” Giles said with a smile.

Xander was surprised to awaken and find Cordelia standing in Giles living room. “Cordy!” He exclaimed.

“Xander” She said with a smile as she went over to give him a hug. “You look… Well, the same. I see you’re still a demon magnet.” Cordelia’s eyes drifted to Anya’s sleeping form, and then back to Doyle, “But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” She smiled at Doyle, and he winked at her.

Xander, not understanding what his ex-girlfriend was talking about, was confused, but decided to let it drop. “Why are you here? If your here does that mean that deadboy is too?” He asked, inwardly groaning. “‘Cause one deadboy is enough!”

Doyle looked at Cordelia questioningly, as she whispered to him; “I’ll tell you later” Doyle nodded.

“So, Cordy, whose the new honey?” Xander asked while appraising Doyle. “He doesn’t seem like your type.” Cordelia just sighed, “Well, Giles, I just wanted to stop by and let you know we were here. Will come by tonight.” Doyle and Cordelia left, leaving Xander’s questions unanswered.

“So, that was Xander?” Doyle asked as they walked back to the hotel they would be staying at. Cordelia nodded.

“So what does he have against Angel?” He asked. He was curious about Cordelia’s ex-boyfriend.

“Well, they have a history.” She stopped and turned to Doyle.

“Is Willow in a lot of trouble?” When Doyle didn’t answer she continued, “Doyle? Is she?”

“It doesn’t look good, princess. That vamp that’s protecting her, what’s he like?”

“Spike? Well, He likes to kill people, and he has this really crazy girlfriend. They have both tried to kill us several times. One time they sent these assassins after us. This one was all wormy and ugh!” Cordelia shivered.

“Really? He doesn’t sound too safe to be around.” Doyle commented as they headed into the hotel.

“Well, that was awhile back. He can’t hurt anybody now, and I don’t think he would hurt Willow, even if he could.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, Willow talks about him as if he’s the Second Coming. I think she likes him.” Cordelia smiled at the thought of Willow and Spike. It was unreal.

“Really?” Doyle asked. He was a little surprised. He’s heard a lot about Willow. Angel frequently talked about her.

“Not that I can blame her, he is yummy!” Cordelia turned to see a slight look of disappointment on Doyle face. “But to worry, One demon is enough for me.” She grinned as she dragged Doyle into the elevator.

Doyle and Cordelia rode the elevator up in silence. They had just entered the room when Doyle doubled over, clutching his head.

“Oh, god. Not again!” Cordelia cried as she ran to get Doyle a glass of water. By the time she returned, he was sitting on the floor, gasping for air.

“Well? What did you see?” Cordy asked, concern etched in her face.

Doyle looked up at Cordelia; “We’ve got trouble.”

Angel got off of his bed in his hotel room and paced around the room for a few seconds, and then sat back on the bed. He couldn’t sleep. It was early still, not even noon. But every time he tried to close his eyes, his mind would wander back to his conversation with his childe the previous night.

Angel had heard about what had happened to Spike. About how some secretive commando group had implanted him with some device that prevented him from hurting anyone. Although the man in him was pleased that his childe could no long hurt the innocent, the demon in him railed at the violation. It had been several months since then, and Spike had agreed, albeit reluctantly to help Buffy, and her friends to keep Sunnydale safe. Angel couldn’t believe that Spike would agree to such an arrangement. His childe had told him it was only temporary, until they could undo what was done to him. But, there was something about his situation that Spike didn’t mention. Not that Spike told him much of anything voluntarily. Their relationship was strained. Not that he could blame him. Things had been bad, before, when he had left Drucilla and Spike, and then worse when Spike had come to Sunnydale to cure Drucilla. But things had gotten down right vicious when he had lost his soul, again. The things he had done were beyond comprehension. It was difficult enough to deal with what he had done to Buffy. But how he had treated his own childe, was unforgivable.

Yet, Spike had called him for help. For him to have done that, it had to be urgent.

That’s what made this situation so confusing. What would make William the Bloody call his hated sire for help? For answers? As far as he understood things, Spike was in no danger. Although, to be perfectly honest, Spike hadn’t really explained much of anything. He was supposed to speak with him tonight. Maybe then everything would make sense.

Angel’s thoughts were interrupted as Cordelia and Doyle burst into his hotel room. Doyle was holding his head, which told Angel he had had another vision.

“Doyle? Are you alright?” He asked as he approached him.

“Vision” Cordelia informed him, as she guided Doyle to one of the chairs near the bed. After Doyle sat down he looked up at Angel, concern evident on his face.

“What is it? What did you see?” Angel asked.

“We’ve got trouble”

“We covered that already” Cordelia sighed. Doyle had refused to tell her what he saw until they went to see Angel.

“Well, it was kind of fuzzy. I couldn’t make out everything. What I could, didn’t make any sense.” Doyle started, “I saw a girl. I didn’t recognize her. She was in a cave. A demon was draining the life out of her. And there was someone else there. But I don’t know who. There is something else, but I don’t know if it was real or not.”

“What do you mean?” Cordy asked. “

This demon, I didn’t recognize him, but yet I did. He was draining the girl, but her power was strong. She was resisting him. And I think she had been there for awhile.” Doyle leaned back against the chair, resting his head against the cushiony back.

“What makes you say that?”

“I don’t know exactly. It’s just a feeling I have. But if it’s true, and she had been there for awhile, she must have incredible power. Also, we may be too late.” Doyle whispered the last part.

Willow awoke with a start. She had been dreaming, but she couldn’t remember what about. She sat up, and took in her surroundings. At first, she was disoriented, and didn’t know where she was. But after a few moments she realized she was in Spike’s house, in his bedroom, in his bed. But Spike was nowhere to be seen. She climbed out of his bed, and discovered she was wearing one of his shirts. For a moment she wondered how she had gotten here, and where her clothes were. Then she remembered Spike had found her in the cemetery, and offered to take her to his house. That explained what she was doing here, but didn’t explain why she was wearing his clothes.

Willow walked quietly out into the hall, wondering what time it was. The house was dark, but that didn’t mean anything, considering the windows were covered with heavy drapes. When she walked out into the living room, she noticed that it was just before noon. When she turned around, she found Spike, asleep. She felt bad for sleeping in his bed, while he slept on the couch. Although she found it rather chivalrous that he chose to sleep there, especially since his bed was rather large, and he had hinted as much the previous evening.

Not wanting to wake him, she went into the kitchen to make some coffee. She had spent many days, and evenings in Spike’s company, giving her a familiarity with his kitchen. After she had made the coffee she sat down at the table and tried to piece together the events of the previous day. The day had been long, which was not unusual, but exhausting nonetheless. The news that the demon was after her frightened her. But even more than her fear of the demon was the fear that her friends would now find out about her secret. It was silly, she knew that she was more worried about her friends than a demon looking to drain her life. She knew that they would stop this demon, he was no different than the others. But would her friends still look at her the same? Would they see her differently? Giles would be angry, this she knew. Willow had known that she couldn’t go on forever hiding her practices, her abilities. But she hoped she could put it off until it was absolutely necessary.

“ ‘Morning, Pet” Willow had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t heard the vampire enter the kitchen. He walked over to the fridge and pulled out at bag of blood and emptied it into a coffee mug, and then put it in the microwave, to warm it up. He turned back to Willow. She looked tired, but still beautiful.

“How did you sleep?” He asked as he sat down across from her. She shrugged. “Okay.” She tried to lie but when she looked into his blue eyes, she realized lying wasn’t really an option. “Okay, maybe not so great.”

“Nightmares?” He asked, remembering her trembling from the night before. Willow nodded, “I think. But I don’t remember them.” She stood up, and walked over to the coffeepot. After pouring herself a cup, and retrieving Spikes warmed blood she sat back down. “Spike?” She asked while looking at the table.

“Yes, luv?”

“Would you go with me?” She looked up, as her green eyes met his blue ones. “I don’t want to face them alone.” Her voice was soft, almost frightened.

“Don’t worry, Luv, you’re not alone. Until this is over, consider me your personal bodyguard. Although you shouldn’t be worried about your friends. They’ll understand.” She smiled at the thought of Spike being her bodyguard, and then looked back down at the table, “Will they? Understand, I mean?” Spike stood up and walked over to the other side of the table. He kneeled down so that she was at eye level. He cupped her face in his hands, so that she was looking at him.“Yes, if they are true friends, they’ll understand, and if not…” He left the end of his statement unsaid.

Willow felt a heat go through her body at his cold touch. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to kiss him. But almost as soon as thought it, she pushed the thoughts back to the depths of her mind, knowing that that would never happen. People like Spike would never be interested in boring old Willow, even undead ones, especially undead ones.

The phone rang bringing Willow out of her thoughts. Spike picked it up and after speaking for a moment, turned around to Willow. “It’s for you.” At Willow’s confusion, he elaborated. “It’s that bloody cheerleader.” Willow giggled at Spikes exasperation, as she took the phone from him.

“Cordy?” She asked.

“Willow! Are you okay?” Cordelia sounded concerned. Since her move to L.A., she had frequently called Willow. She was the only member of the group she kept in touch with regularly. And as odd as it was, Cordelia was the only person Willow had told about her feelings for the blond vampire. It wasn’t really something she could discuss with Xander or Buffy, and she wasn’t comfortable enough with Anya. So, Cordelia became her unlikely confidant.

“I’m fine, peachy.” Willow told her friend, trying to sound like she meant it.

“Will, I heard about the demon. Doyle had a vision”

Willow gulped. Cordy had told her about Doyle, and his visions. * This can’t be good! * She thought to herself. “And?” She asked.

“Well, it doesn’t really tell us much, as usual. But don’t worry. We’ll figure this out!” She told her friend confidently.

A thought suddenly dawned on Willow, “Cordy, where are you?” Willow eyed Spike suspiciously as she waited for Cordelia to answer her.

“In Sunnydale. We’re staying at that hotel just inside of town. We’re supposed to meet at Giles’ after the sun goes down.”

“After Sunset?” Willow asked, “I take it that means Angel is with you?” At the mention of his Sire, Spikes eyes darkened, just for a moment.

“Yeah. He wants to talk to you.” There was a pause while Cordelia handed the phone to Angel. “Willow?”

“Yes, I’m here, and I’m fine. You didn’t need to come” She told him, never taking her eyes off of Spike.

“Yes, I did. Look, We’ll talk about this later. I need to talk to Spike. Is he there?”

“Yeah, hold on.” Willow handed the phone to Spike.

After he retrieved the phone he turned around, if only to avoid Willow’s never wavering stare.

“What?” He asked, slightly annoyed.

“How is she, really?” Angel asked, concerned.

“She’s fine, Peaches. Don’t you worry; I’ll get her there in one piece. You just worry about tracking down this demon.” Spike didn’t wait a response; instead he hung up the phone and turned around to see Willow still staring at him. “What?” He asked.

“You called him didn’t you?” It was more of a statement than a question. She walked over to him, and put a hand on his shoulder, “Why?” Spike didn’t know what to tell her, and having her hand on him was making him lose his train of thought, so he moved away from her. “I don’t know. I just thought he could help. He’s your friend, isn’t he?” He didn’t think she would want to know his reasons for calling him. If had, he could have thought up a good lie.

The Vampire entered his master’s chambers. “What news do you bring? Have you found the witch?” Veintalle’ asked gruffly.

“No sir, but she is near” the servant replied.

“I know that!” Veintalle’ snapped. “You must find her! Her protection is growing. The longer we wait, the stronger she gets. And now, she will be harder to take.”

“Master?”

“He has called in reinforcements. We must be careful. But we can no longer wait. You must find her tonight, and then she will be mine!”

“Luv? Are you ready?” Spike asked as he walked into his bedroom, where Willow had just finished getting dressed.

“Is it time to go?” Willow asked looking up.

“No. We’re holding the meeting here.” He told her. He had thought it was the safest plan.

“Why here?”

“It’s safer, and there’s more room. With The bloody poof here, we’ll need it.” Spike was irritated with himself for having to call his sire for help in protecting Willow. But he couldn’t take any chances.

“He’ll be here with that friend of yours soon. I need to go out for a bit. Will you be okay with him?”

Willow smiled. “Spike, I’ll be fine. Angel will be here, and I could use the time to talk to Cordy.” Spike nodded just as the doorbell rang.

I guess I’d better let them in.” He groaned as he left her to answer the door.

Willow walked into the living room hoping she looked better than she felt. The tension in the room was palpable. Spike looked like he wanted to tear Angel’s head off. Angel looked like he wanted to let him.

“Boys, no rough housing in the house” She chided them, hoping to get them to relax. Spike took a step away from his sire, and growled.

“Spike” Willow’s voice was a warning, and Spike was reminded yet again how perfect she was.

“Well! That was fun!” Cordelia tried to shift the attention. “Willow, how are you feeling?”

Willow smiled at the concerned expression on her friends’ face; “I’m fine, really. Spike’s been taking good care of me.” She smiled at Spike and then turned her gaze to the other man in the room, the one she didn’t recognize. “You must be Doyle.” Willow walked over to Doyle and gave him a big hug, eliciting a soft growl from Spike, which only Angel could hear.

“That I am. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Doyle smiled easily at the redhead. Willow turned around and sat down on the couch. “So, what brings you to Sunnydale?” Willow asked with mock cheerfulness. Cordelia had the good sense to smile but Angel and Doyle suddenly found the carpet of great interest.

Spike came to sit in front of her. “Pet, I have to go out for a bit. Will you be okay with Peaches?” His voice was so low that Willow was the only one who could hear him. Willow felt a sudden rush of fear go through her. She knew she would be safe with Angel, but a part of her wanted to be tucked safely in Spike’s arms. She smiled weakly. “I’ll be fine. You go do… whatever it is you have to do.” She gently pushed Spike away, hoping he couldn’t sense her fear.

Spike grabbed his duster and headed towards the door. He stopped in front of Angel and glared. “If anything happens to her…” he let the threat hang and walked out the door.

Veintalle’ paced his lair trying to sense where his witch was hiding. He could feel her. Her power was great, and she was afraid. It was time.

“Joseph!” He yelled for his vampire servant.

“Yes sire” The vampire entered the chambers.

“Get the others. It’s time to take her.”

“Do you know where she is?” The vampire nodded hoping that they had indeed found the sorceress. His boys had scoured the city and had come up with nothing. This town was dangerous for his kind. This was the Slayer’s territory. And even the local vampires wouldn’t speak to him, for fear of the repercussions. He had heard that William the Bloody lived in Sunnydale. He wasn’t sure how accurate that was because he hadn’t seen or heard from him since they had come to town, not even on the hunt.

“Yes, Joseph. And her protector has left her. She is afraid. If we are to take her, we must do it now!” Joseph nodded and left his master to find the girl.

After Spike had left his house, he made his way to Giles’. He didn’t bother knocking. When he entered the room, he found Giles cursing over Willow’s computer. Xander and Anya were buried in a couple of books.

“Where’s the slayer?” He snapped.

“Patrol” Giles answered, noticing Spike for the first time. “Where’s Willow? You didn’t leave her alone did you?”

Spike growled, “No! Of course not! Peaches is with her!” Giles seemed to be relieved.

“Have you found anything out?” Spike asked impatiently.

“Yes,” Anya stood and walked over to where Spike was standing. “And no” When Spike looked at her quizzically, she continued, “we have found out that only someone not living can kill the demon, if he never finds her. However, if he does somehow manage to get a hold of her, something more is required. But we haven’t figured out what.”

“It doesn’t matter. I have Willow, and Veintalle isn’t going to find her!” Spike snarled.

“Spike.” Xander halted Spike before he could reach the door. “Keep her safe.” The request was a simple one, but one that Spike would die to honor.

After several minutes of silence, Willow couldn’t stand it any more. “Angel, will you please quit looking at me like that. I’m fine, really. I am in the best possible hands.” She tried to convince him.

“Why don’t you tell us about the demon?” Doyle suggested. He didn’t know the exact history between Angel and Spike, but he was sure it wasn’t a fairy tale.

Willow nodded and proceeded to tell them everything she knew. She left out the part about why she was the target. She didn’t want to get into a discussion with Angel about the dangers of Magic.

Angel was listen so intently to what Willow was telling him, he didn’t even hear it until it was too late.

There was a loud crash as a group of vampires descended on the small group in Spike’s living room. Cordelia tried to fend one of them off, but was knocked unconscious before she could do any damage. Doyle found himself fending off two vampires. He had been doing okay until a third vampire came at him from behind and seemingly snapped his neck. Doyle fell lifelessly to the floor.

Angel was left to fight them off alone. He had staked five of them before he noticed that three of them had surrounded Willow. Before he could reach her, she was dragged away, kicking and screaming into the night.

He ran out after them. He had seen a small group of vamps running in one direction, and followed them. However when he was close enough to stake them, he discovered Willow wasn’t with them.

He growled and ran back to Spikes house to check on Cordelia and Doyle.

Spike walked briskly through the park. He wanted to get back home and check on Willow. He didn’t trust his sire. He knew that Angel cared for Willow and would protect her, however he didn’t like him spending too much time with Willow. He could still remember how Angelus had obsessed over her.

As Spike turned onto the street his house was on, a strange feeling came over him. It was like a chill that ran through his entire body, except that his body was always cold. He picked up the pace. He had a bad feeling that something had happened.

His suspicions were confirmed when he walked into his house to find Angel pacing around the living room.

Darkness. That’s all there was. Sudden Darkness. She felt cold, incredibly cold. She tried to open her eyes. It didn’t help. She still couldn’t see anything. She tried to sit up, but she wasn’t really sure if she was actually lying down. She moved her hands out in front of her, hoping to be able to see them in the darkness.

She realized she was in a dank, cold room. It smelled, she wasn’t exactly sure of what. She realized she was sitting on a mattress. A cold, hard mattress, that must have been set directly onto the floor because her legs were touching the ground. It was cold, ice cold. She felt like she had been stuck in a meat locker. She wrapped her arms around her body, in an effort to keep herself warm. It was then that she noticed she was naked.

She let her hands roam her body in an effort to determine if she was completely naked, or just partially. She sighed. She wasn’t wearing anything. She tried to remember what had happened, but could only draw blank memories, and then the darkness.

Suddenly she became aware of another presence. She wasn’t sure what exactly had alerted her. If it was a sound she had unconsciously heard, or a something moving in the darkness. But she knew that she was not alone.