Sign In Sign-Up

Welcome!

Close

Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...

Yes, Please make this my home page!

No Thanks

  Don't show this to me again.

Close

Entangling Alliances -- by Ruby and Avenzuli

Rating: NC-17

Description: Spike has a problem that forces him to seek out help from the Scooby Gang.

Note: The story starts after 'Lovers' Walk'; however, we've chosen to ignore the Willow/Xander kiss in 'Homecoming'. So, Cordelia and Xander are still together. This is eventually going to be a Willow/Spike/Angel romance. Avenzuli's email address is ayk@chickmail.com.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy, no copyright infringement intended.

The place was extremely clean despite the dust the ancient tomes gathered on its spines. There was a table in the center of the bottom floor that was littered with manuscripts thrown haphazardly across its top. The observer considered looking at its contents; however a shrill British voice from inside the office made him stop mid-step.

Spike thought the library was decidedly musty. It was amazing that the Slayer and her mortal companions had managed to keep their 'extra-curricular' activities secret inside a school library.

Ignoring the voices that had managed to reach a new pitch in the office, the blond vampire continued in his explorations of the library. After all, it wasn't often a vampire was invited to slayer headquarters by the woman herself and her soul-boy vampire. Though it was done under considerable reluctance.

Moving in front of a computer, Spike was amused to see that a small note was stuck on the side of the monitor. On it was flowery printing that reminded the writer to research a demon called Monistich.

Looking back, he remembered when he last saw that writing. It must have been half a year now. When he had kidnapped the fiery witch to make a love spell to win Dru back. It was a hopeless cause.

When he had returned to Brazil, Spike found Dru alone and so far off sanity, even he knew it was impossible to bring her back. Filled with concern, the blonde vampire lost his thoughts of torturing her and immediately took her in. He cared for her, nurtured her, and coddled her, all for nothing.

The moment Dru was physically well again, she went on about him growing soft again. When he tried to explain, the insane vampire told him the Spike and Angel she loved was gone. Not knowing what she was going to do, Spike was unable to move fast enough before she threw open the doors and stepped out into the effective rays of the sun.

Unfortunately, the sun was diminishing, so he couldn't follow her in the walk to the next world. By the time the sun had risen again, Spike had regained his will to live, or rather unlive, as the case should be.

'Damn that insane vampire!'

Spike himself was surprised by the vehemence he felt. Yet, it was quite understandable. Apparently, his damned princess decided to send him into a hell or insanity as far away as she was. Before she was burned into a pile of ashes, she cursed him. Not with a soul like Angel's, but with a demon from Hell that would either run him off towards insanity or kill him, not before having its fun, of course.

She obviously underestimated him. The demon had a pull centered on Spike that gave the vampire little walking room in the small radius the pull worked in. However, the demon also felt a need to feel closer to home, therefore, the impromptu visit back to the Hellmouth.

He knew enough of these beings to know that the only thing needed to send him back were some magic and poof. Gone. That was why he felt rather happy he was back in Sunnyhell. It would make it that much easier for the demon to be sucked back.

After arriving in Sunnydale, Spike spent a large amount of time hiding. Therefore, he didn't know of the havoc the monster had caused; though apparently, the Slayer did. When he caught up with her and soulboy outside the Bronze, they were more receptive to listening to him. Either because of curiosity or simple exhaustion, he didn't care. He was just glad the woman didn't kill him or let his sire do the job. Spending energy getting there was worse than he originally thought and he didn't want to get in a fight just then.

Maneuvering through the stacks of books in the back, Spike moved behind a stack in time to hear the loud clanging as the library doors flew open with a flourish. A dark-haired boy that the vampire had kidnapped awhile ago, started forward with his chin held high arrogantly.

"The Xand-man is he- Owww!"

The boy's remark was cut off as the door he so carelessly pushed, flew back at him, hitting him squarely in the jaw. Feminine giggles were heard as his girlfriend pushed the bloke out of the way to sit in a chair. She scolded him even as she checked her fingernails.

"Honestly, Xander. Dumb much? It is sooo embarrassing being seen with you."

"Yet, you're still with him. You're lucky Cordelia's so charitable, Xander."

Willow said this while walking in the room with Oz in tow. Even the studious redhead sighed at seeing the work ahead of them on the table. When Spike remembered the girl as the witch he took earlier this year, he took the moment to let the changes in her that had occurred over the past few months to quite frankly, overwhelm his senses as he was filled with her scent.

"Hmmm, weird." Oz said this as he moved over to sit at the table close to the computer.

"What is it?" Willow asked this with curiosity, Xander was still rubbing his jaw, while the May Queen had by that time taken out a small mirror to check her make-up.

"Well, didn't you put this note on the left side of the monitor?"

Spike scolded himself at letting his thoughts wonder so far as to move the note around so the little children would see it.

"Maybe Buffy came in and looked at it?"

Stepping out of the shadows, the blonde vampire decided to enlighten them all. As if a blanket shrouded them, all four teenagers stood ramrod straight. They each felt a shivering of what could only be called fear and anxiety, more from the bloke than the witch. Silence dominated the room while Spike gathered his voice.

"Actually luv, I did."

With that, the boy let out an unearthly scream that pierced the vampire's undead eardrums.

"YOU WHAT?"

"Keep it down Giles. I don't think they heard you back in England." Exasperation and sleep tinged at the edge of Buffy's voice as she admonished her Watcher. Luckily, Angel spoke up.

"We invited Spike here."

"So I did hear you correctly the first time." Anger and sarcasm laced every inch of his voice as Giles took off his glasses so as to calm himself. Angel seemed to back away from the presence of the Watcher. As Buffy saw this, she immediately stood to defend her boyfriend.

"He might be able to help us since he knows so much about this monster. After all, the first time he helped us, it was to save the world. This time it's his own skin on the line. Spike needs us in order to get rid of the demon. In return, he'll have to help us time to time. It's not like he doesn't know Angel and I can easily stake him whenever we want. Besides, running around chasing our tails looking for the monster is really wearing me out."

As if to showcase her statement Buffy, frustratedly blew at a single strand of hair that slipped out of her careful ponytail. Seeing her actions, Giles immediately calmed down in order to think the situation clearly. Taking off his glasses again, he wiped away vigorously at a spot on one of his lens that only he could see.

"Very well, but he might be more trouble than help."

"That's why I got these for." Buffy gestured cheerfully to the stake she held in her left hand. She started to move it around, showing off her skill at it. At her right, Angel stood rigidly, eyeing the wooden object nervously.

"Might as well get started researching now."

A strangled and rather high-pitched scream echoed throughout the library and was heard through the thin walls separating it from the office. The three occupants turned to look at each other after hearing it. As if on cue, each spoke dryly and without emotion.

"Xander."

"Calm down, Xander," Willow moaned as she rubbed her aching ear.

"Calm down? How can you tell me to calm down when the blood-sucking demon who's been haunting my dreams for months is standing right there?" Xander exclaimed.

"Take it easy," Buffy said as she came out of Giles' office. "Spike's with us."

"Why?" Willow asked. "Why is back here?"

"The demon we're researching, Spike's going to help," the slayer answered.

Green eyes turned to meet blue, and Spike grinned at the young witch's confusion.

"Monistich? What do you know about him?" she asked.

"I live with him, ducks, every bloody day and night of my unlife," he told her.

"It's a curse," Angel spoke. "Drucilla's parting present."

"Couldn't she have just sent roses?" Willow asked. "Do vampires like roses?"

"Willow," Giles gestured toward the computer. "Could we?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," she replied.

The next hour was spent in concentrated silence, and Spike felt himself growing steadily more impatient as the clock ticked off the minutes. He was about to throw it in and leave when Willow spoke from her post at the computer.

"Have you been having nightmares?" she asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "Why?"

"You become your victims in your dreams. You feel all their fear, all their dread and agony as they realize their life's blood is being drawn from their bodies," she said.

He moved over to her and bent down to peer at the monitor, "How do you know all that?"

"Monistich feeds off of despair," she told him, pointing to a reference on the screen. "He'll either drive you insane, or drive you to stop feeding to escape the nightmares."

"That also explains why he's been terrorizing Sunnydale," Buffy spoke.

"He gets his thrills out of inflicting agony on people. How do we stop him?"

Giles had been alternating between listening to Willow and reading from the heavy book that was open in front of him.

"She can do a spell, right?" Spike asked as he looked at Willow. "Make it go away?"

"It may not be that simple," the watcher answered. "I need to do a bit more research."

"How much more? I don't fancy bouncing around the Hellmouth like a raving lunatic," Spike said.

Giles nodded, "I should have your answers by tomorrow night. Willow, would you accompany Spike home?"

"You're sending Willow out for walkies with that monster?" Xander shouted. "I think the insanity is contagious."

"It's necessary," Giles told him. "He needs our help. He won't hurt Willow. I need the rest of you here, for the time being."

"It's okay. I don't mind," Willow spoke.

Spike didn't seem averse to the idea, either. It had slowly occurred to him that the dread that had been gnawing in his stomach over the past several days had notably diminshed in the presence of the small redhead. He didn't understand it, but the feeling of calm was not one he wanted to give up.

Angel was watching Spike closely as Spike watched Willow. Something about the blonde vampire's demeanor was unsettling.

"Meet us back here tomorrow night. I'll have the answers you need," Giles promised.

Spike nodded and put a hand on Willow's shoulder, "Walk me home, ducks?"

She smiled and followed him out of the library. Angel turned to the watcher as soon as Willow and Spike were out of the room.

"What the hell is going on?" the vampire asked.

Giles sighed and sat down, "Willow is the key to destroying the demon."

"So she can do a spell, then?" Oz asked.

"Monistich feeds off of despair. His greatest weakness is compassion, hope, and purity," Giles explained.

"Willow," Angel said.

The watcher nodded grimly, "To effectively destroy the demon, Willow is going to have to give those aspects of herself to Spike."

"Why can I not see Spike adopting Willow as his personal guru?" Buffy said.

"You're not saying what I think you're saying?" Oz asked.

"I am," Giles answered.

"What?" Xander demanded. "What are you saying?"

"As long as Spike is with Willow, the demon will be subdued," the librarian told him.

"But she can't be with him 24 hours a day," Cordelia spoke. "Can she?"

"No," Angel said. "But if he fed from her--"

"Wait a minute," Buffy put her hand on Angel's arm. "Spike has to drink Willow's blood? You can't be serious!"

"He could kill her, intentionally or otherwise," Oz stated.

"He won't," Giles assured him. "The danger is that the more he feeds from her, the more he'll crave her. The demon, Monistich, won't go easily. The more he fights Willow's influence, the more Spike will need her."

"What about Willow? What if she doesn't want to have her neck sucked on by that bastard?" Xander asked.

"There isn't much choice, I'm afraid, but someone should be with her. Someone to make sure Spike doesn't drain too much too often. Someone to help Willow deal with the demon's aversion," Giles replied.

"Me," Angel said.

"No," Buffy interjected.

"He's the logical choice," Giles told her. "He'll be the most effective at dealing with both the vampire and the demon aspects of this. And he cares about Willow and will ensure her safety. Monistich will undoubtedly take out his fury on Sunnydale. The rest of us will have to be available to fight him."

"Let me go and explain it to them," Angel requested.

"That's a good idea. You should be with her from the outset," Giles agreed. "Tell Willow I want to see her in the morning."

Angel nodded and left quickly.

Willow sat quietly and absorbed all that Angel told her, but her trembling hands belied her calm composure.

Angel took one of her hands in his, "I'll be here with you through the whole thing. I won't let anything harm you."

"Can you do this, pet?" Spike asked.

She looked from one vampire to the other, "Will I have to stay here?"

Angel nodded, "Spike will need you close by, but I'll be here, too."

Willow sighed nervously, "All right. When do we start?"

Angel smiled gently, "Now."

Angel sat down on the sofa so that Willow was between him and Spike. He squeezed her hand as Spike turned her chin to look at him. "Will it hurt?" she whispered.

"A little," he said. "I'll be careful, luv."

She swallowed as he brushed a strand of her coppery hair from her neck. Angel turned and settled her against him, stroking her hair calmingly. Willow tensed as Spike nuzzled her throat.

"It's all right," Angel whispered. "I'm right here."

Spike placed his hands on Willow's waist as he slipped into game face. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he drew her slightly toward him and placed a soft kiss on her neck. Willow squeezed her eyes shut and cried out as Spike's fangs carefully pierced her flesh. She felt Angel's hands caressing her arms as he urged her to relax. Her head began to spin from the feel of Spike's cold lips against her throat and the pressure against her vein as he drew her blood into his mouth. He withdrew his fangs and licked at her wound.

"All right, pet?" he asked softly.

She nodded mutely as Angel released her into Spike's arms. He drew her against him and stroked her back as the whirling sensation in her brain began to subside.

"She needs rest," Angel said.

Spike nodded as Angel lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He watched from the doorway as the dark vampire laid her gently on the bed and brushed her hair away from her face. She took his hand and smiled up at him.

"I'll be okay," she said.

"I know," he replied and placed a kiss on her forehead.

She drifted quickly to sleep, and Angel and Spike retired to their own rooms. Spike fell asleep with the taste of Willow's sweet blood lingering on his lips and warming his cold body. It was to be the first sleep in days that wasn't haunted by agonizing nightmares.

Swirling clouds seemed to fill the room as Willow struggled to wake from the darkness that threatened to consume her. Sitting up in the soft bed, the redhead looked on in amazement as the irregular shapes surrounded her body.

In her sleep-addled mind, the clouds seemed to swirl together into different colors. The forms kept changing, leading them into looking like spikes on men's hair. One seemed the normal white, with hints of yellow while another was the exact opposite, completely dark.

Like the light and the darkness, each had its own characteristics and personalities. Willow wondered what would happen if she touched either of the two shapes. In an experiment, she moved her hand forward so that she was able to touch one with her fingertip. She was surprised and confused when she felt nothing but air in her little adventure. However, the little clouds seemed to shift, making the spikes look like arms that flung out at each other in a fight.

Shaking her head to bring order among the thoughts streaming through it, Willow pleasantly noted that the clouds in her mind had left her. Indeed, she could see the sunlight streaming through the window in her large bedroom; it was the only one in the house that was not boarded up or covered with dark blinds.

Hesitantly, she stepped out of her bed to search for Spike and Angel. Her stomach voiced its hunger in protest as it grumbled so loudly she was sure the vampires upstairs had heard her. Moving down the stairs, she headed towards the kitchen to see if there was any food for her to eat.

Willow had been surprised last night when Spike led her to this Victorian house instead of an abandoned warehouse and later momentarily mortified. When he assured her he bought this house long before, she had then been able to rest easily in his assurance that there were neither vampires nor blood shed in this house.

As she entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, Willow groaned inwardly as she saw that the refrigerator held no food. For mortal and vampire alike. Making a note to herself about going to the store to get food for her and blood bags for Angel, Willow noticed that she still wore yesterday's clothes and felt badly in need of a long shower. Unfortunately, she didn't have an extra set of clothes in the house and would need to bring some here if she was going to live with the two vampires sleeping upstairs.

Gathering her backpack and keys, she left the house to complete the day's errands.

When she finally arrived at her house, Willow quickly showered and gathered the clothes she would need for her long stay. Moving through the house in a snug bathrobe, she poured milk into the cereal she was going to use for her makeshift lunch. Carefully holding the cereal bowl, Willow paused to push the button on the answering machine.

There was one from her parents telling her that they had to prolong their stay at some convention or other. Two from Buffy, Willow was a little put off by those. Most of her long-winded messages asked if she could ask Angel if he might patrol with her, or whether he mentioned the Slayer at all.

Xander had an amazingly large amount of six messages, and during each, he would mutter that he would kill Spike if the vampire hurt her in anyway. It surprised Willow to see that even Cordelia was concerned enough to call once to see if Willow needed somebody to talk to.

What was most surprising out of all the messages was that Oz called, twice. The guitarist was always a caring person, but after he broke up with her two weeks ago, Oz had taken subtle pains not to talk to Willow any more than necessary, and then only to be courteous.

Looking back, Willow thought of what a pitiful sight she must have been. Buffy had called afterwards, but the hacker felt uncomfortable talking about such a personal issue with the Slayer and receiving her pity. After sobbing on her pillow for a few hours, it was soon dark, and Willow heard a knock on her balcony door. The redhead turned to see Angel outside with a rather sad look on his face.

Apparently, the souled vampire had gone through the tunnels to reach the school so as to speak more with Giles on the subject of Monistich. When he reached the library, Oz and Willow were the only occupants of the room, and Angel had been able to hear the guitarist breaking up with the hacker.

He helped her not by pitying her, but by sympathizing with her. Angel had held her when new sobs wracked her tiny frame and let her cry on his shoulder. Wanting to distract her, the vampire told Willow about his family and life in Ireland before he was turned. It touched the redhead to know that the vampire would be able to share such personal and sometimes painful information about him to help her. Together, they told stories about their childhood, and Angel hadn't left until the sun was close to rising.

Since then, the two had formed a special bond, telling each other things they couldn't tell others. Willow's musings were cut short as she heard the last message from Giles.

"Willow, I'm not sure if Angel told you, but I want to talk to you about the situation with Monistisch. I have a few things..."

Willow didn't hear the last of the message as she looked at the clock above and saw that it was past noon already. The redhead had thought of the possibility that she might have to fight, so she decided to wear a pair of cargo pants and a shirt instead of her regular sweater and skirt. Gathering the duffel bag in which she had stuffed similar clothes for the next few days, Willow headed out the door of her house and quickly locked it behind her.

With all her plans for the day, the young witch decided to use her parents' car. The owners' virtually never used the car since they left on numerous business trips during the year. Therefore, they left it for Willow's use while they were gone. The redhead enjoyed walking and since Sunnydale was such a small town, she never found a reason to use it until now.

Willow threw her bag onto the passenger seat and slid the key in the ignition. Sliding into the driver's seat, Willow thought of how she would be doing some unusual things for the next few days. Like living with two gorgeous, handsome, and dead vampires.

Though the hacker had worried about running into somebody, she didn't have any trouble sneaking in since the students had already had lunch and were in their next class. Willow felt somewhat proud that she was ditching class for once, though she didn't have a choice in the matter since she was unconscious for most of the morning, but she had done it.

Opening the doors to the library, Willow only saw Faith sitting on the checkout countertop. If it was possible, she could have sworn the place was in even more of a mess than last night. Books were thrown on the floor and strewn across the table. Though it was similar to the day before, at least then they had neatly stacked the valued books.

"Hey, Will! Giles should be back soon. He's in one of the classrooms explaining to the teacher why you're not in school. Were you like a perfect attendance or something? I mean, every one of your teachers must have been in here. Since you're always here, they must have thought Giles would know."

"Glad to know I was missed. I didn't think anyone would notice."

"Of course they noticed. You know, you shouldn't think so lowly of yourself." The slayer paused to jump off the countertop. Moving over to the table, she sat next to Willow on one of the vacant chairs next to the table. When she looked at Willow more closely, Faith actually had a wide-eyed look on her face.

"What's wrong?" Willow looked around the library to see if there was a demon nearby.

"You. Not wrong, but different. You're dressed differently." At this, Willow immediately became defensive.

"Well, I thought we might have to fight something so I decided to change into something less constricting." Seeing the look on the hacker's face, Faith tried to ease the hacker's discomfort.

"No, I don't mean that. You look really good; you ought to dress like this more. I always see you in those . . . furry sweaters with tights underneath a equally furry skirt. You should show off your figure more. By the way, Giles told me about the demon. If it helps any, I think it's really brave of you to do this. I don't think I'd be willing to, not that I'm a candidate since I'm not what you'd call . . . innocent."

There was a mischievous glint to her eyes, and Willow felt the blood rush to her face as she thought of what the slayer meant. Fortunately, the watcher took that moment to walk in the library.

"Ah, Willow! I'm glad you're here. Sit down and let me explain the situation more to you. Faith, would you mind fixing some tea for me in the office?" Faith went to do his bidding and left the watcher alone with Willow. The two occupants in the room sat down next to table while Giles thought of a way to start the conversation.

"I assume Spike fed from you. Are you okay, did Angel explain the situation?"

"Spike didn't hurt me Giles. I had passed out before he took too much blood from me. Angel was there and made sure nothing bad happened. He told me why they're going to be my shadows for a while. Or is it the other way around? I mean, Spike needs me, I don't need him, but you could say I need him to stop Monistich. Do you know which one it is?" The watcher just looked at her, unable to follow the witch through her jumping thoughts, "Anyway, I understand your concern, but I know I have to do this unless we want that monster to roam Sunnydale forever."

"That's something I need to talk to you about. Your presence next to Spike will only weaken the demon. Though Buffy and Faith could try to attack him in his weakened state, I don't want to underestimate him and say they'll be able to come out of the encounter unscathed. Monistich is a demon from the depths of hell. Drusilla knew what she was doing when she summoned him. However, I'm looking for a spell that could send him back from whence he came from. We would need you to work it of course, since you embody the exact opposite of what he stands for. The only present problem would be that you would have to be near Spike for a while in order to weaken his defenses enough for us to try the spell."

"Will I be alone?"

"No, of course not. We will take as many precautions as necessary. Including Angel occupying the position of being your guardian, or rather protector."

"What about Buffy? She needs his support through all this."

"Buffy understands the importance of the situation. She won't be so selfish as to call Angel away from his duties."

In his mind, Giles could just picture the fit his slayer would cause when she heard this news. He would need Faith's help, since it would require supernatural strength to 'calm' her down. At that moment, the brunette walked in holding a cup of tea.

"Are you going back to Spike's?"

"Yes, but first I'll need to buy some food for myself. I might go by Willy's Bar to get some blood for Angel."

"Do you think that's wise? Maybe Faith should go with you."

"Don't worry, the sun's up. Only vampires go to his bar."

"Very well, good luck then. I'll see you tonight?"

Willow nodded as she stood up. She left the library quietly and left for her car to drive to the supermarket. The place was crowded, and Willow found herself buying large amounts of food. After paying for the groceries, she drove towards Willy's to buy some blood for Angel.

Willow would have preferred going to Angel's apartment for the blood, but she didn't want to intrude on his personal space without an invitation, and she didn't have a key. It might have been easier if she let Angel get the blood himself when the sun set, but Willow guessed the vampire would be hungry by now, and she was sure there weren't any blood bags back in the house.

Angel had once told her that he got his blood from Willy "The Snitch", and Willow decided that she would merely go to the source. Apparently, Angel had already paid for the blood, and she was able to convince the sniveling bartender to let her deliver the bags to the vampire.

Walking towards the house, Willow had some trouble opening the door. She had a duffel bag on one shoulder, bags of food slung over the other while holding more plastic bags that cut into the palm of her hand. Her other hand was holding the cooler with the blood bags in them and overall, Willow felt as if she were holding Xander. The redhead just thanked the goddess that it was a short walk from the car.

When she finally opened the door, Willow stepped inside to be met with two pairs of flashing gold eyes.

"Where the hell have you been?" Spike barked the minute Willow walked across the threshold.

Willow looked from Spike to Angel and back to Spike, "I woke up. I was hungry, and there was nothing to eat. I haven't been gone that long, have I?"

Spike's anger dissipated as he looked into her wide, green eyes, "I'm sorry, luv. We went to check on you and found you gone. Here, let me help you with those."

He took the bags from her as Angel relieved her of the cooler. "You went to Willy's?" Angel asked.

"I thought you might be hungry," Willow answered as she followed the vampires into the kitchen.

Angel smiled at her, "I am. Thank you."

"How are you feeling, ducks?" Spike asked.

"I'm okay. I stopped by the library to see Giles while I was out," Willow said.

Angel took one of the bags from the cooler and placed it in the microwave, "What did he have to say?"

"He's concerned about Monistich. He wants me to work a spell to send him back," Willow explained.

"While Spike is feeding from you?" Angel asked. "Is that wise?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "I trust Giles. He wouldn't ask me to do this if he thought I couldn't handle it."

Spike was watching Angel hungrily as the dark vampire opened the warmed bag of blood. In consideration to Willow, he emptied its content into a heavy mug instead of gulping it straight from the bag.

Spike reached for Willow and pulled her in front of him. He put his hands on her waist and turned her so she was between himself and the kitchen counter. Willow looked up at him, recognizing the need behind his icy stare.

Angel took a step closer, but made no move to stop Spike as he lowered his head to Willow's warm throat and ran his tongue along the soft flesh. Willow stood rigid and still, her hands clutching at the edge of the counter behind her. Spike's hands covered hers and moved them to his waist. Every fiber in his body was screaming for the red elixir that coursed through her body, but his emotions were uncharacteristically touched by Willow's nervous tension. He stroked her hair with his right hand as his left arm curled around her waist and pulled her against his body. Only after he felt her relax did he allow his game face to emerge. He brought his mouth to the tiny wounds on her neck and bit into them as carefully as he could.

Angel heard Willow's soft moan echo Spike's as her blood flowed into his eager mouth. Her knees began to buckle as the demon that had been goading Spike for the past several hours was forced into submission.

"Spike," Angel said softly.

The word of caution brought Spike to his senses, and he withdrew his fangs and gently lapped the last traces of blood from Willow's neck. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the living room. Settling her on the sofa, he drew her against him as Angel sat down beside Willow and took her hand. He rubbed it gently as she pushed away the fog that had clouded her mind. She stirred against Spike.

"Does it help?" she asked softly.

"More than you'll ever know, pet," the vampire whispered.

A loud knock brought Angel up off the sofa. He opened the door, casting a look over his shoulder at Willow. At some point in the past, Spike had erected a low overhang across the porch that cast a great shadow over the entrance of the house and shielded it from the sun's rays. Buffy was standing in the shadows, her arms laden with thick books.

"Giles was going to drop these off," the slayer said as she stepped inside. "But I offered to do it for him."

Willow pulled away from Spike and attempted to stand. Instantly, Angel was beside her, pushing her back down with a firm hand.

"What are they?" Willow asked, surrendering to Angel's silent insistence.

"There's a spell book and a couple of books with information about the demon. Giles has marked the pages for you," Buffy explained.

Angel took the books from her and set them on the table beside the sofa.

"They should be helpful," Willow said. "I'll need to know as much as I can about Monistich before I do the spell."

"Anyway, I'll be patrolling in a couple of hours," Buffy looked at Angel. "I'd love some help. This demon of Spike's seems to think Sunnydale is his personal amusement park."

Angel shook his head, "I can't, Buffy. Willow needs me here."

"It would only be for a few hours. I talked to Oz this morning, and he wants to stop by and see how Willow is. I know he'll be glad to keep an eye on her while you're gone."

"Oz is coming here?" Willow asked. "Why?"

"He's worried about you," Buffy shrugged. "He wants to see you. What do you say, Angel? Come with me."

"I'm not leaving Willow alone here with Spike and Oz," he said a little too forcefully. "I'm not leaving her alone, period."

Anger flashed in the slayer's eyes, "You must be eating this up, Willow."

"What?" the redhead asked in utter confusion.

"Oh, come on. Mousy little Willow who could never get a date even if she offered to pay now has two vampires glued to her side and an ex-boyfriend who's half crazy with jealousy. That's got to beat any fantasy you've ever had."

Spike rose from Willow's side and stepped toward the slayer. "How would you like a set of fangs glued to your jugular?" he threatened.

"I can promise you I won't lie back and let you have your way with me," Buffy shot back. "You'd better stick with Willow. She's undoubtedly much more submissive."

"If you mean less of a bitch, I'd have to agree," the angry vampire spat.

"That's enough," Angel snarled. "What the hell do you imagine is going on here, Buffy? Do you really think any of us are enjoying this? Do you think Willow likes having her blood sucked out of her at regular intervals or that I get my kicks out of watching and worrying that Spike may lose control and take too much?"

"Of course not," Buffy snapped. "It's just--"

"Just what? We're supposed to be fighting together to destroy this demon. Stop acting like a petulant adolescent and start acting like the slayer."

"Fine. You want the slayer? You've got her," Buffy turned to Willow.

"Giles will stop by tonight to see how you are. I hope the books are useful. If you need me for anything, let him know. He'll relay your messages."

"Buffy," Willow moaned as the slayer went to the door. "Don't go."

"I have training to do before I go out tonight," the slayer spoke with her back to Willow. "I won't intrude on you again."

The redhead looked at Angel as Buffy slammed the door behind her, "Go after her. Please."

"No," Angel refused. "If her ego is wounded, she'll have to find her own band-aids. I'm not leaving you."

Tears welled up in Willow's eyes as she pushed herself up off the sofa. "This is too hard," she murmured and fled to her room.

"Willow," Angel spoke as he opened the bedroom door.

She was lying on the bed, but she turned away from him as he entered the room.

"Willow, don't cry," he whispered.

He sat down on the bed and pulled her up onto his lap. She sniffled against his shoulder as he rocked her comfortingly.

"I hate this so much," she said through her tears. "You're stuck here with me, and Buffy's so angry, and every time Spike looks at me, I know what he's thinking, and part of me is scared of it, and another part kind of isn't, and then I get even more scared that part of me isn't scared, and now Oz is suddenly all concerned, and Xander's just plain mad and keeps threatening to hurt you, and if he managed to actually do that in some inept way, I couldn't bear it, and I just want this to be over."

Angel couldn't help grinning at the weeping woman's rambling discourse. He kissed the top of her head and rested his chin on it.

"Everything's going to work out," he promised. "Buffy will get over her little snit, and the only way Xander might possibly hurt me would be to accidentally trip over me and break my leg. As for Spike, he's being surprisingly careful. He knows what you're sacrificing for his sake. And you know I'd never let him hurt you."

"I know," she sniffled as her tears began to dry. "I'm glad you're here."

He smiled and cupped her chin in his hand to place a light kiss on her tear-stained cheek.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," he told her.

Oz stopped the van in front of the big Victorian house and sat nervously behind the steering wheel. Breaking up with Willow had been a painful experience, but one that was necessary, or so he had told himself. He'd begun to feel uncomfortable with the intensity of her feelings for him. They were too young. They needed time apart, time to meet other people. It was a mistake to tie themselves exclusively to each other.

The realization that pushing her out of his life had been the real mistake had begun to dawn on him over the past several days. He'd berated himself for severing their relationship. Willow was warm and sweet and the most caring person he'd ever known. He'd been a fool to walk away from everything she so willingly offered him. Now all he wanted was to have her back.

Her present situation and the all too real possibility of danger that it posed, had been like a bucket of cold water splashed over his emotions. He knew without a doubt that Willow was, always would be, everything he needed. He resolved to prove it to her, to win back her trust and loyalty and love.

The red-rimmed eyes that looked back at him from the doorway sent a jolt of panic through the young man.

"Willow, what's happened? Are you all right?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded, "I've been having a good cry. All better now." He followed her into the living room where Angel and Spike were hovering a bit too conspicuously for comfort.

"They haven't hurt you, have they?" Oz asked.

"No, they've been wonderfully understanding," she assured him. His eyes wandered to the small punctures on her neck, and Willow unconsciously brushed her fingers across them.

"It's necessary," she answered his unspoken question.

"I know. It doesn't help much, though," he admitted. "Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?"

"No, thank you," her easy tone lessened the formality of her words.

"Can we talk somewhere, alone?" he asked. "The stars are beautiful tonight. We could go for a walk."

A faint rumbling from Spike's throat drew Oz's gaze to the vampire. Willow seemed not to have noticed the implied warning, "I can't. I'm needed here."

Oz took a breath and reached for her hand, "How would you feel if I told you I need you, too?"

She cocked her head as she considered his question, "I don't know. A week ago, I would have flung my arms around your neck and begged you to take me back. A week seems a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"

"Maybe I should be the one begging," he suggested.

"I wouldn't want that," she shook her head. "I did something wrong; I don't know what it was, but I pushed you away from me. Maybe I needed too much."

Oz groaned softly, "No, Willow. It wasn't your fault. It was me, just me. I'll never forget your reaction when you found out I'm a werewolf. You were so--accepting. You were always understanding, always there for me, no matter what I needed. I was the one who pushed you away. I couldn't see what was right in front of me, and I hurt you."

"It doesn't matter anymore," she said.

"It does to me. I want you back, Willow. I want to make up for hurting you. Give me that chance," he pleaded.

"Oz, I'm dealing with so much right now. I can't deal with this, too," she explained. "Please try to understand."

"I do. I just want you to know how I feel. I'll do everything I can to earn back your trust, and I'll help you through this any way I can," Oz vowed as he leaned toward her.

"Willow," Spike's voice drifted menacingly across the room. Angel nearly laughed out loud as Spike stepped forward, looking for all the world like a jealous lover.

Willow turned her emerald eyes on the towering vampire, "Yes, dear?" Angel snorted as Spike gaped at the little witch's sarcastic reply.

"Time for your guest to leave," he declared firmly.

"I think I'm needed," Willow said with a grin that sent a wave of jealousy rippling through Oz.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" he asked.

"I don't know. It's going to be difficult trying to get up in time for school after Spike has fed from me the night before. I'm going to ask Giles to help me get approval to do independent study here. The school year's almost over anyway, and his recommendation ought to carry enough weight to get the request granted. I'm going to have to be here pretty much all the time as Spike starts to need me more frequently."

Oz was both hurt and horrified by Willow's casual acceptance at being virtually locked away with the two vampires. He avoided her gaze and started toward the door.

"I'll stop by, then," he said softly. "If that's okay."

"Of course it's okay," Willow smiled. "We'll always be friends, and I'd miss you if you didn't come to see me."

Oz resisted the urge to put his arms around her and never let go. "I meant what I said before," he told her. "I won't push it now, but I really do want you back."

Willow opened the door with one hand and rested the other on his arm,

"Good night, Oz. I'm glad you came to see me."

She closed the door as Angel came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

Ashes fell around her in what seemed to be a dust storm. The slayer moved without consciousness; the only thing in her mind was to distract herself. Her movements were mechanical as she set to what had become a routine in the last few moments: block, sweep, stake, block, sweep, and stake.

Five vampires fell, until she was left alone with one cowering male vampire. Flashing the demon a deceptively sweet smile, Buffy flicked her wrist to end with a sharp wooden stake in her delicate hands. As the fiend realized her intentions, he glanced towards what he hoped was a good cover in the bushes.

"Now, now. I don't plan on staking you, yet. Let's have some fun, shall we?" The blonde's smile turned from sweet into a sadistic version of what her watcher and slayerettes saw as her slayer face. In a short moment, the frightened demon ran towards cover; the slayer followed with a dangerous aura around her. Jumping in momentum, Buffy fell on top of the vampire. Unfortunately, both fell on a broken branch on the park ground. The blonde saw the fiend's unfortunate demise as preventing her from letting loose the pain and jealousy she had bottled up inside. With a wail of rage, Buffy continued on her path of destruction and revenge.

Soft music filtered through the house as Oz carefully strummed his guitar. He wasn't paying attention to his movements, so he was started when an off-tune note was heard. If she were near, Willow would tell him that he was wonderful and would rise high in the world of music, that he shouldn't let a little mistake bother him. She would always say things like that to comfort him, because she loved him. Loved, as in past tense.

A frown formed itself on the guitarist's features, something that was unheard of normally. Lately, though, Oz would find himself with his brows furrowed together in sadness and longing. Longing for his Willow. It had all started out so simply, but things got so complicated. When Buffy had left the group, it was a difficult situation to adjust to.

All of them had to patrol the parks at night and occasionally dust a vampire. All of their relationships had changed that summer and during the subsequent weeks in the school year.

Willow became more outspoken and was a bit more daring and talkative. Though she still held tight to her shyness, the redhead was beginning to grow out of the small shell she had found herself in. Oz had congratulated himself in his bit to boost Willow's self esteem, but he was also somewhat unsure of himself.

Despite everything, Willow always stuck up for Oz. She would defend him against Xander's unfavorable remarks and never once complained of his werewolf status. The two could always be found together. However, recently he just felt somewhat conscious of the little differences that hd occurred in the past year. Changes that made her different from the

Willow he knew early on in their relationship. Oz needed time to look at everything from a different viewpoint. The guitarist wanted to understand this new Willow that he hadn't really understood. He thought that breaking up with her was a good idea, not knowing what he was losing. Now he did, though, and he hated himself for his idiocy.

He was in love with Willow and honestly believed that she was his soul mate. All he needed to do was prove it to her. With that thought in mind, the werewolf put down his guitar ungracefully and started to plot his scheme to show Willow that he was still in love with her.

"Willow," Giles smiled as she opened the door.

"Hi," she chirped and stood aside.

The watcher entered, followed by Faith.

"How's Buffy?" Willow asked as she gestured toward the sofa.

Faith sat down beside Giles and, to Willow's surprise, scooted closer to him.

"She's all right. I suggested she come with me," he answered.

"But she refused," Willow concluded.

"She just needs time. It's been difficult for her," the watcher said.

"I know," Willow nodded and dropped down onto the chair across from him.

Faith was surveying the small bruises on Willow's pale throat. "Spike must be feeding a lot," she commented.

Willow nodded, "More than ever."

"That's to be expected. Monistich is fighting the effects of your blood," Giles told them. "Have you been studying the spell?"

"Yes," she answered. "Will I be performing it soon?"

"The demon has been weakened considerably. I think we should be ready to try it by the end of the week," Giles said. "Willow, I must warn you; Monistich is going to fight this. Spike must not leave this house, and you must stay near him at all times. If you can hang on for a few more days, this will all be over."

"We hope," Willow added.

"Hello, Giles, Faith," Angel spoke from the end of the hallway.

"Willow, Spike needs you."

Willow nodded and walked over to him. He took her hand and turned to their guests. "We'll be right back," he said to them.

Faith watched as a flicker of apprehension moved across Giles' face. She reached for his hand.

"She'll be okay," the slayer assured him.

"I know," he smiled softly at the comforting warmth of her hand on his.

After a few minutes, Angel returned to the living room. "Where is she?" Giles asked.

"It takes a little while for her to get her feet under her. Spike is with her. They'll be right out," Angel explained.

"How is she holding up, really?" Giles asked.

Angel sat down in the chair that had been vacated by Willow. "Amazingly well. She's stronger than I ever would've believed. She worries about everyone else, never herself."

"Sounds like Willow," the watcher nodded.

"Have you spoken with Buffy?" Faith asked.

"Not since she threw a tantrum and stomped out of here a couple of weeks ago. It's probably just as well. This is hard enough without her upsetting Willow."

The redhead appeared in the entryway, holding a glass of orange juice and leaning heavily on Spike. Angel rose with alacrity as Spike guided her to the chair and sat down, settling her against him. Angel took the glass from her and rested his hand on her shoulder, massaging it gently.

Faith was taken aback by Willow's pale appearance, "Is she all right?"

"I'm fine," Willow smiled weakly.

"Willow says you want to try the spell in a few days," Angel said.

"Yes," Giles nodded, his eyes riveted to the small woman resting comfortably against Spike's shoulder. "Oz is getting the supplies--"

"Oz?" Angel barked. He shifted uncomfortably and lowered his voice.

"Why?"

"He insists on being there. I tried to dissuade him, but he's determined," Giles answered.

"Willow won't be in any danger, will she?" Spike asked. "The demon won't harm her, will he?"

Giles was grudgingly touched by the vampire's concern, "You'll be able to control him. Her blood in your veins and her proximity to you has subdued him."

Spike brushed a strand of hair away from the tiny wounds on Willow's throat, "She's been through enough. I'd rather suffer eternity with him than have her hurt."

Faith's mouth dropped open at the vampire's tender display, and she looked at Willow with dawning respect.

Giles cleared his throat and rose from the sofa. "We should be going," he said to Willow. "You need to rest. We'll meet in the library on Saturday to perform the spell."

Willow smiled and nodded, "I'll be ready."

The watcher and the slayer turned as Angel lifted Willow from Spike's lap and carried her towards her bedroom, with Spike followingly closely behind.

"I can die now," Faith whispered. "I've seen everything."

Giles grinned and put his hand on her arm, ushering her out the front door.

Oz sat slumped in a chair as Giles checked over the items needed for the spell. "Where's Buffy?" Faith asked, pulling a chair up next to the watcher.

"She'll be here," Giles answered. "Check over these one more time, would you?"

"Giles! It's all here, everything. Would you just relax?" she said.

"I'll relax when this is all over," he told her.

"I'll second that," Oz mumbled. "It's about time Willow had her life back."

"Her life, as in you?" Cordelia asked as she entered the room, towing Xander behind her. "Who would ever have imagined that sweet little Willow would have two vampires and a werewolf all fighting over her?"

Oz shot her a venomous look, "The only thing they're after is her neck. She can't be rid of them soon enough."

"In your opinion," Faith couldn't help adding.

Giles stood as Willow entered, flanked by Angel and Spike, who were obviously apprehensive.

"Everything ready?" Willow asked with a bright smile.

Giles nodded and pulled out a chair, and the two vampires guided her over to it and sat down on either side of her.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Angel asked as he placed a hand on Willow's arm.

"I'm sure," the watcher nodded. "Spike's fed?"

"Before we came," Willow nodded.

"We seem to have everything, except Buffy," he stated.

"I'm here," the slayer's unenthused voice spoke from the doorway.

Buffy took a chair as far away from Willow and her companions as possible.

"We'll see to the ingredients. You concentrate on the incantation," Giles suggested as he placed an open spellbook on the table in front of the redhead.

She nodded and felt Spike's cold hand slip into hers and squeeze it. Willow took a breath and began a soft intonation of the Latin text as Giles handled the ingredients in sequence.

Willow felt Spike tense beside her, his hand gripping hers as the demon resisted. The young witch's eyes closed as her voice lowered. Spike snarled, and she dropped her free hand to Spike's arm and clenched it. The vampire's eyes burned amber and his game face emerged as the demon was wrenched from him. The gnarled form of the ancient demon appeared before them briefly, and Monistich growled in fury as a flash of blinding light encompassed him. The light vanished as quickly as it appeared, taking the demon with it.

Willow turned anxiously toward Spike and put her hand against his cold cheek.

"Spike," she whispered. "Are you okay?"

His human visage returned and he looked deeply into the witch's eyes as his hands cupped her face, and he pulled her out of the chair and into a long, hard kiss.

For a stunned moment, all stood still in silence, their minds processing the view before them. When conscious thought pushed through, however, the remaining males in the room moved forward.

Xander was closest to Spike's back, so he wound his arm around the blonde's neck. Though the vampire didn't need oxygen, the contact from the young man dented the glorious moment, forcing Spike to remove his lips from Willow's. The young redhead was dazed and her eyes a bit glazed when he stepped away from her.

There was only a moment for Spike to feel smug though. As he moved to remove the Xander's arm from around his neck, he was suddenly hit in the jaw by an enraged vampire. The dark-haired boy was hit in the head when Spike's head jerked backwards and fell down by the force of it. An equally enraged Oz took his place, holding Spike's arms tight as Angel continued to rain down blows.

Angel didn't bother to see if Xander was alright, the souled vampire was looking through a veil of red, as he struck Spike viciously. Speaking only in between the strikes he wrought in a huff of anger.

"How . . . dare . . . you . . . You fucking . . . bastard . . . I'll . . . kill . . . you."

When Xander got up, there was no room for him to hit Spike amidst the flying fists. He stood by, careful not to be hit again; actually cheering on the vampire he had hated and helped send to Hell.

Though Giles had at first moved to intercept the two, he could only watch in amazement at the three men working together in front of him. Their relationship towards each other was shaky at best, but a word best used to describe the three was hostile. However, here they were, literally different as night and day, the sun and the moon. Yet, they were fighting together against a man who had dared to kiss Willow.

The others stared wide-eyed at the fight that was taking place in the center of the library. When Willow finally snapped out of her dazed state, she noticed the three men surrounding a battered Spike. The redhead felt bubbling anger looking at the treatment the vampire was receiving; the blonde would be tired after the spell and unable to fight back.

In her anger, she forgot for the moment why the fight had started. Her whistle could be heard clearly above the sounds of the fight, making everybody stop to look at her. When Angel and Oz saw her, they immediately stopped their movements in order to step towards her.

"Stop right there! I can't believe you guys, fighting Spike like this. Can't you see how tired he is?"

The vampire mentioned was shakily standing on unsteady legs. Seeing this, Willow ran to his side, letting him slide his arm around her shoulders and leaning against her side. The men opened their mouths as if to warn her. However, she was too preoccupied to take into mind their concern. Turning to Angel because he had done most of the damage, Willow questioned him slowly; unable to believe the sweet tempered Angel she had known and lived with for weeks to do this. Buffy was quick to interrogate also.

"Yeah, why did you fight for Willow huh? Why do you care so much?"

The Slayer's eyes stared into Angel's as he pondered the question. She was Willow. He had felt such hatred bubble inside of him when he saw Spike kiss her, he couldn't really explain it. Instead of answering, he turned his anger at the woman that had made his time here an undead hell.

"Why shouldn't I care? She's your friend for God's sake, or are you so slow that you haven't understood yet that Spike kissed her. What's that saying? Oh yes, you're just one card short of a full deck."

Xander looked at Angel with appreciation at his use of the joke. Willow, seeing the Slayer's eyes smoke up, decided to stop the argument before it got too far.

"Let's just get back home and rest shall we? Everybody needs time to cool down."

The young hacker moved towards the library doors, however, Spike didn't move an inch. Willow looked at him in concern when she saw that his eyes were a bit glazed.

"Are you all right? Can't you move?"

It wasn't because of the pain that Spike hadn't moved, though there was a great deal of that. It had been when Willow referred to 'home'. She didn't know how telling that word was. For her to start thinking of the house the three had been living in for weeks now in those terms meant that she liked living with him. Spike's undead heart swelled, not bothering to note that Angel had also been living with them. The dark-haired vampire was also shocked to hear Willow refer to the house as home.

With a slight nod of his head, the blonde started to move along with Willow. However, she stopped just short of the library doors, looking back with an uncertain gaze.

"Are you coming with us Angel?"

The souled vampire didn't think he had ever moved so fast before. He was next to her side before she had even finished speaking. Pushing open the doors, they stepped out into the hallway, leaving the stunned group in the library.

"Always."

Spike lowered himself onto the sofa and leaned back, closing his eyes. Willow dropped down beside him, eyeing the cuts and bruises on his handsome face.

"Are you all right?" she asked softly, laying a hand on his arm.

He opened his eyes and put his hand over hers, "I'll be fine, ducks. I guess I picked the wrong way to thank you. I wasn't thinking. I was just so relieved to have that damned demon gone, and so grateful to you for--everything. I shouldn't have..."

"You're not the one who should be apologizing," she interrupted. "It just happened. I didn't mind."

Spike's eyes opened wider at her innocent statement, but Willow was oblivious to the rush of joy that surged through the vampire. "What I can't understand is what came over Angel! I've never seen him so angry. Did he think you would harm me? Why was he so enraged?"

Spike grinned at the realization the little witch honestly had no idea. "What?" she asked. "What did I miss?"

Spike's eyes moved away from her as Angel entered the room. "You want to explain it to her?" the blonde vampire asked.

Angel shifted uncomfortably as Willow turned to look at him. "I just--overreacted," he mumbled. "I thought he was hurting you."

"Yeah, he thought I was performing an involuntary tonsillectomy with my tongue," Spike smirked.

Willow blushed crimson, and Angel looked as though he'd like to drop through the floorboards.

"And Xander and Oz, what was that all about? Angel," she stood and walked over to him. "Answer me, damn it!"

"I think they were fighting their own demons, pet," Spike offered. "You know, the green-eyed variety."

"Jealousy? Don't be ridiculous! Why would they be jealous? I'm not the jealousy-inducing type," she protested.

"It is a baser quality of the souled among us," Spike replied.

"Oh, really?" Angel snapped. "And I suppose you would have reacted differently?"

"Damn right," Spike answered. "I wouldn't lower myself--"

"You can't get any lower," Angel shot back. "Let's just find out, shall we?"

Before she knew what was happening, Angel had pulled Willow against him and fastened his lips to hers, plundering her mouth with his tongue. Spike growled and flew off the sofa, tearing Willow out of Angel's arms and tackling the dark vampire to the floor.

"Stop it!" Willow shouted. "Damn it, stop it right now, or I'm walking out that door!"

Angel pushed the furious blonde off of him and scrambled to his feet. "What the hell is wrong with you two?" she demanded. "Come on, I want an explanation, and I want it now!"

Both vampires looked down at the fuming beauty as their voices spoke in unison, "I love you."

They turned and scowled at each other as Willow stared at them in open-mouthed shock. The thick tension was interrupted by a sharp rap on the door. Willow turned in stunned silence and opened it to find Oz on the doorstep.

"I've come to take you home," the werewolf said as he stepped inside.

"You've--what?" she stammered, still reeling from the vampires' declarations.

"There's no need for you to stay here now," he told her. "The demon is gone, and you're not needed here any longer. I think you should go home."

"And who put you in charge of that decision?" she asked. "I'll leave when I'm ready."

"Willow, I'm worried about you, especially after tonight. You shouldn't be here with them. I'll drive you home and stay with you. I'll keep you safe."

"I'm safe here, Oz!" she cried out in frustration. "I don't need a protector."

"You don't belong here. You belong with me. I love you, Willow," he said.

The redhead sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I can't take this. Oz, go home, now."

"I'm not going anywhere," he refused.

"Then I am," she snapped. "Good night."

Angel reached for her as she brushed past him.

"Don't, Angel," she said. "I'm tired. We're all tired. I'm going to bed."

Willow awoke and got up and showered and dressed. She grabbed her suitcase from under the bed and moved over to the bureau. A soft knock sounded at her door, and Angel opened it and stepped inside.

"Willow, what are you doing?" he asked as his gaze followed her from the bureau to the bed.

"Packing," she answered.

"You're going home?"

"I don't know where I'm going," she admitted. "Away--somewhere." Angel's stomach lurched, and his voice filled with sadness, "Because of me?"

She turned and looked at him with soft eyes, "Because of everything. You, Spike, Oz, Xander, Buffy--I can't deal with it anymore."

"What's going on?" Spike asked as he appeared in the doorway.

"She's leaving," Angel said softly.

Willow looked at the two vampires with whom she had shared the past several weeks of her life.

"I have to," she told them. "I can't watch you two fighting with each other. I care about both of you too much. I can't deal with Oz and his crusade to get me back, and I can't deal with Buffy's anger."

"Pet," Spike stepped closer to her. "You don't have to do this. Neither of us wants you to."

"Chasing you away is the last thing we wanted," Angel agreed.

"I know, and you're not. Not really," she smiled. "I have to do this for myself. I gave up my home and the last weeks of my senior year and my graduation to be here with you, and I'm not sorry about it. I'd do it all over again. But I need some time for me, now. I can't stay here and deal with this right now."

"Where will you go? For how long?" Spike asked.

"I don't know where, and I don't want you looking for me," she closed the suitcase and latched it. "I've got some savings, and I can find a job somewhere. I'll be all right."

Spike was staring at her in profound sadness, and Willow smiled softly and stepped into him. Angel's heart sank as her hands cupped Spike's cheeks.

"I love you," she whispered and drew his mouth to hers in a soft, lingering kiss.

She stepped away from him and drew the suitcase off the bed. She moved to Angel and set the case down. Spike's heart sank as her hands cupped Angel's cheeks.

"I love you, too," she whispered and graced him with the same soft, lingering kiss.

"If you can't take care of each other, take care of yourselves. And please, don't kill each other," she said as she grabbed up her suitcase. "Say goodbye to the others for me. I really do love you, both of you. Always."

Angel and Spike stood frozen in grief as she turned and left them.

Keys fell unceremoniously on the table by the door as Willow stepped inside the room. The apartment was sparsely decorated, Willow finding no need to make a place that she didn't plan to live in that long homely. It would have only made it harder to pick up her possessions and move again when she found a new mystical artifact to wrest from the evils of darkness.

For the past few years, the hacker had traveled around the world and somewhat borrowed objects in which she had no intent of ever returning. Just now, Willow had recently taken a object prized by the local master vampire in Rome. It was a dangerous business, but one Willow found worth in. She would often bring back things that the council had deemed lost to the depths of hell, only to be retrieved from a mysterious person that never stayed in one place long enough for them to research into her background.

Having to wrest magical objects from demons and other evil had made her adept at taking care of herself and honing skills she never knew she had. Willow had developed the confidence she had previously lacked and felt more secure about herself, being able to fight many supernatural beings physically and not just behind the Slayer's short skirts as she had when she was younger. It was the only thing she could think of doing, however, after leaving Sunnydale behind.

Willow had still wanted to help the Slayer and Watcher Council slay evil, but had thought of no way of doing so other than moving back to the Hellmouth. However, if she did that, it would only force her to make the decision she had run away from. To face the dilemma set before her by two handsome and undead men. That was something she had yet to work the courage up for.

Instead, she traveled the world helping the people she longed to see by taking magical objects that she believed would help them in the fight. Through a maze of contacts and alias, the hacker would send them to the Council. They had been so appreciative of her work though, that they made her an 'Honorary Watcher' without having seen her once or knowing of a single thing about her.

By this way, Willow could hear of what her friends were doing without having to contact or confront them. It was doing this that kept her fighting against the evil that threatened to destroy her during her travels. She felt close to them this way.

Most of the group was still helping the fight against evil. Angel and Cordelia had moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduation, Cordelia moving back later after college to help Buffy once again. While Angel was still in LA, Spike had vanished. Though, from the reports from Giles, Cordelia had hinted that they had help while she had fought alongside the dark vampire.

As Willow thought of what she had endured during this past year alone, she checked her laptop for any messages. Through clever coding and such, she would be able to receive the latest news from the council without revealing her position or identity.

A beep from the laptop let her know that there was a new message. It was written in an ancient code that the watchers' had developed in order to make sure nobody but watchers would ever understand the messages. Unbeknownst to Giles, Willow had studied and memorized it long before ever leaving Sunnydale. It was something that helped her in these instances.

Reading the message quickly once, Willow immediately went back to slowly read it once more, wanting to be sure that it wasn't just her imagination. It wasn't.

A new prophecy had just developed; it would need everybody in order to vanquish the foe. That meant a certain hacker had to appear at the Hellmouth. Along with two vampires and the rest of the Scooby Gang. If even one person were to be absent from this fight, they would lose.

Without hesitation, Willow called to reserve a seat on the earliest flight back to Sunnydale. Back to face her past.

Willow steadied herself and pushed open the doors to the library. The small group seated around the table turned their eyes to her. Mouths dropped open and eyes widened, and the redhead found herself torn between the desire to fly across the room and embrace her friends and the urge to turn and flee from everything she had so desperately been avoiding for these five long years.

The decision was wrenched from her when Xander shouted her name and barreled across the room to clasp her in a breath-defying hug.

"Willow, Willow, Willow," he babbled against her ear. "I can't believe it! Is it really you?"

"It won't be for long if you don't stop strangling the life out of her," Cordelia spoke.

Xander released the woman and stepped back, a wide grin plastered across his face. Cordelia surveyed her, nodding approvingly. The awkward, self-conscious girl of the past had grown into a woman of graceful poise and delicate beauty. Her green eyes sparkled as brightly as ever, but the innocence that had once gleamed within them had been replaced by traces of sad experience.

"She's gorgeous," Cordelia thought, with not an ounce of envy.

"You look wonderful," Giles' words mirrored Cordelia's thoughts. "I can't tell you how glad we are to see you."

Willow wondered at the accuracy of the watcher's statement as her eyes settled on Buffy. The slayer's face reflected a mixture of relief, curiosity, and reservation.

"It's good to see you, too," Willow smiled back at Giles.

"We've been trying to track you down," Faith spoke from the watcher's side. "Without much luck, I might add. Giles received word from the Council yesterday about--"

"The prophecy, I know," Willow nodded.

Giles stepped around the table, "How?"

"It's a long story. I'll explain it all later. We have more important things to discuss," she answered.

"So we have," he agreed. "I assume you know we'll all have to work together if we're going to be successful. Angel's on his way. He managed to find Spike and fill him in on what we're facing. I believe he's arriving with Angel."

Willow broke eye contact with him briefly as the urge to run washed over her once again. Buffy's eyes took in the redhead's reaction. She turned away and pretended to study the open book laying on the library table. Her pretense was interrupted as the doors swung open again and Angel entered the room.

His gaze went immediately to Willow, and he froze where he stood. He longed to take the vision before him into his arms and hold her, but the unease in her eyes kept him riveted to the spot.

Spike strode in behind Angel. The annoyed scowl on his face vanished as his eyes met Willow's. He brushed past Angel and grabbed onto her, dragging her against him and closing his arms around her. A thousand memories raced through his mind as he felt her small hands on his shoulders. He pulled back, and his icy blue eyes captured the emerald of hers. Willow couldn't help the grin that formed on her lips as his eyes danced with delight.

"You haven't aged a day," she teased.

"Bloody hell, you're beautiful," he answered with a chuckle. The firm kiss the blonde vampire planted on the redhead's lips broke Angel from his stupor, and he grabbed Spike's arm and pulled him away.

"Don't be so damned selfish," he growled as he stepped in front of Spike and hugged Willow against him.

Faith looked up at Giles with a mischievous grin, "This could get interesting."

Willow's account of the past five years had been punctuated by inane comments from Xander, a million questions from Giles, and a grudging admiration from Buffy. Afterward, the gang had departed the library with the promise to return the following evening to set about tackling the prophecy.

Willow was the first to leave, followed closely by Spike and Angel. Buffy ran to catch up with the dark vampire, and he looked over at her as she fell into step beside him.

"How have you been?" she asked after a moment's hesitation.

"I've been keeping busy," he answered. "Like everyone else." His eyes followed the redhead who was moving away from them.

"I still can't believe she's back," he uttered. "I can't believe where she's been and what she's been doing."

"She's the real reason you came back, isn't she?" the slayer asked without anger. "You knew the prophecy required her presence, and you hoped she'd show up."

"Partly," he admitted. "I'm here to help, too, though."

"She's changed, a lot," Buffy stated. "I hardly know her."

"They're good changes, mostly," he replied. "She's a remarkable woman."

Willow was lost in thought, unaware of the footsteps that followed behind her. The reunion with her old friends had been easier in some ways than she had anticipated, harder in others. Buffy had barely spoken to her, keeping her thoughts and feelings shielded behind a cool reserve. Willow was mildly surprised to find that, while the slayer's reaction saddened her, it hadn't been terribly painful. The redhead had shed the need for Buffy's approval and acceptance years ago.

She smiled to herself as the reactions of Angel and Spike replayed themselves in her mind. Long suppressed emotions flooded her as she stared at the fact that the decision she had spent years running from could no longer be avoided. She doubted either of them would allow her to escape so easily this time, but perhaps with the prophecy and all that it set before them, she could put off the inevitable for a while longer.

Willow stopped as she came to the driveway that led to what she once considered her home. She had broken contact with her parents a few months after leaving Sunnydale. She had driven her rental car here earlier, only to discover the house empty and securely locked up. A neighbor had explained that her parents were out of town for a month.

She looked down at her watch and murmured, "Where the hell am I going to find a hotel at 3:00 in the morning?"

"You're not," the answer came from behind her.

She turned to Spike and arched an eyebrow, "You've been trailing me since I left the library?"

He nodded, "And you've been completely oblivious."

"I was thinking."

"I noticed," he said. "I still have the house, if you need a place to stay."

"I don't think I should," she told him.

"Why not? Your room is still there, and I promise you won't wake up with my fangs in your neck."

Willow's fingers moved to the tiny scars that were a permanent reminder of their time together. "So much for the good old days, huh?" she said softly.

"Oh, I don't know. They weren't all bad, were they, pet?"

"No," she admitted. "They weren't."

Unwanted feelings danced along her nerves as Spike raised a hand to caress her cheek. "You need someplace to stay," he told her.

"Maybe Faith has room," she replied.

"You don't know?" he asked. "Oh, no, I suppose you wouldn't."

"Know what?" she asked.

He grinned at the familiar curiosity that lit her eyes. She hadn't changed completely. "She's living with the watcher, has been for a couple of years."

"You're kidding!" she squealed. "Oh, Goddess! That's--that's--actually, that's wonderful!"

"You could always ask slayer number one to put you up," he suggested.

"No, I couldn't. Not now," she shook her head.

"Then you're stuck with me, again," he smiled.

"You're loving every second of this, aren't you?" she accused.

"Willow," he said seriously. "You know I'd never hurt you. You sacrificed a lot to help me. I haven't forgotten any of it. You need a place to stay, and I need to know you're safe. I've thought about you and wondered if you were okay every day for the past five years. What we're going up against here isn't going to be easy, and I want you in a safe place."

"I'm used to fending for myself," she told him.

"Not this time, luv. Not while I'm here. You've nowhere else to go."

"All right," she conceded with a sigh.

"Besides," he added as he followed her to the car. "Unless I'm reading you wrong, you've got some issues to work out."

"Thanks for reminding me," she said dryly.

"You don't need reminding," he answered. "And you're not running from them this time."

"I'm tired," she said, avoiding the subject and tossing the car keys to him. "You drive."

Willow entered the living room, and the suitcase slipped from her hand and banged onto the floor as Angel rose from the sofa. She turned to look at Spike.

"Oh, did I forget to mention he's staying here?" the vampire asked innocently.

"He suggested a park bench," Angel told her.

Willow chuckled, "He would."

"I'm glad you're here, Willow," Angel smiled.

She looked at him uneasily, "It's been a long night. I think I'll just go to bed."

"That's a good idea," he agreed. "We can talk in the morning."

She recovered her suitcase, and Angel and Spike watched her as she retreated to the corridor.

"I thought you were going to bed," Spike said.

"I am," he answered coldly. "Aren't you?"

"After you," the blonde answered.

"All right, we'll go to bed together," Angel grumbled.

"Sorry, I'm spoken for," Spike smirked.

"You wish!" Angel sneered. "That's not what I meant."

"Bloody hell, just drag your carcass to bed," Spike snapped back.

He followed Angel down the hallway, and they stopped as their eyes came to rest on the door to Willow's bedroom. They exchanged glares, and Spike moved past him. They watched each other with cold eyes as each pushed open his door and stepped out of the hallway.

Dishes clanked against each other as Willow finished washing those she used in the meal she just ate. The sun was setting, and it would only be a few minutes wait for the redhead and two vampires to set off for the library. Though she had gotten used to sleeping from dawn to sunset and prowling around during the night, Willow had awakened earlier to go out and buy some mortal food for herself.

Heavy footsteps were heard in the next room. Finishing her work, Willow gracefully made her way to the living room where the sounds came from.

"Hey guys, what's wrong?" The redhead asked this question when she saw the unguarded worry in both vampires' faces.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong," Angel successfully hid his relief at finding the young hacker still in the house with a smile he found easy to display in the redhead's presence.

"The bloke and I were just talking about the prophecy," Spike supplied.

"That reminds me of a question I have wanted to ask you. How did Angel find you?"

"Well, I periodically came by Los Angeles in my travels and helped the wanker."

"Helped him?"

"He has been of help to me," this statement was made with a bit of reluctance, Angel unwilling to give his competitor for Willow's affections a compliment that would help Spike in his own endeavors.

"You don't have to help us you know."

"Actually luv, I do. The watcher here said that the prophecy said something about my presence here. Didn't you know that?"

"No. I had only received a small notification of a new prophecy that needed me here."

"Well pet, we might as well start towards the library. They might have some information about this prophecy and you can add what you know of it," though Spike was loath to share her with anybody else, he felt that he needed to display a serious side of himself in Willow's presence.

The three headed towards the library with a single redhead hand-in-hand between two master vampires that had left a bloodbath behind them in Europe. Each cheerfully unaware of the danger they were in.

The others were already there, and sifting through ancient books when the three entered the room. A silence seemed to fall in the room as everyone quietly took note of their embraced hands. As Willow noticed the directions of the Scooby Gang's eyes, she quickly slipped out of the vampires' hands and walked towards Giles.

"Can you explain the prophecy a bit more for me?"

"Why, of course. I suppose last night . . ." His voice trailed off as he remembered how she had changed over the few years.

"Yes Giles'?"

"Umm, yes. Well, it's quite simple really. During your years of high school, Buffy had slain a minor demon. So minor, in fact, that it was quite a simple task and one that you wouldn't remember. However, apparently a brother of his has taken into his mind the idea of vengeance. Unfortunately, this monster is a much larger threat and one that required a prophecy to make sure we would all be aware of his presence."

"Doesn't this just suck? I mean, we toil away for years to kill off what the Hellmouth throws at us; then, just because we kill this dude's brother he has to come back for us five years after the act of death." The whole gang easily ignored Xander's interruption as Cordelia smacked the back of his head.

"I don't understand why this demon would want Spike here though. Since he didn't help us kill his brother, why would he want vengeance against him? I assume that's the reason Spike was mentioned in the prophecy."

"Umm . . . well, the prophecy mentioned Spike indirectly," when he saw Willow open her mouth in a question, the librarian quickly diverted the gang's attention, "The important thing to remember is that though this new demon will be familiar to his sibling, he has quite a lot more experience in . . ."

"Destruction? Death? Total annihilation of everything, as we know it? Hell? Eternities in servitude to a monstrous beast with horrible wrinkles and slime . . ."

"Shut up Xander!" Oz screamed in the interrupter's ear.

However, most ignored the temporarily deaf teenager on the floor as they stared unbelievably at the werewolf. It was times like this that showed how the fighting the group had done together in the past few years took their toll in time. Silence struck the group, each in varying degrees of bafflement. Giles was the one whose voice was finally heard.

"Yes, well," The watcher was secretly glad that someone had finally managed to shut the idiot up.

"As I was saying, we'll need a special weapon to use against this demon. The Cataleze. A magical instrument made by a Watcher who had dabbled in magic. It's a rather ancient artifact . . . one that I'm afraid had been stolen a century ago from the Watcher Compound."

"I can get it," Everyone's eyes had turned to Willow's in silent questioning. "I know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody . . . well, you get the point. I'm sure he has the Cataleze."

"That'll be wonderful. Oh, thank goodness we're saved!" An unusual enthusiasm from Giles that Willow could be sure he didn't suddenly develop during her time away.

"Since that unfortunate subject is over with, everyone should go home and rest. Heaven knows we all deserve it. Faith, Buffy, it's about time for patrol; don't you think?"

Groans were heard as the young women went to the weapon cage to retrieve their occupational tools. As they carefully made their way to the door, everyone calmly got up to leave themselves. Everyone left separately after the Watcher and his two Slayers. Except for two vampires with a young redhead stuck quite neatly between them.

Spike watched from the doorway as Willow, her back turned toward him, reached up to fish a mug from the cupboard. She shoved a long, fiery auburn lock of hair over her shoulder before reaching for the coffee pot. His eyes traveled along her slender back to her trim waist and down to the jeans that curved enticingly around her rear end.

He shifted his gaze as she turned around, mug in hand, to find him staring intently at her. She smiled a warm, easy smile as he crossed the room to stand in front of her.

"Five years, pet," he said softly, running a hand through her soft hair. "It's still hard to believe you're back."

His fingers came to rest along the faint scars on her neck, and her emerald eyes looked up at him in a mixture of reminiscence and understanding. She raised her hand and placed it gently over his.

"Five years isn't so long," she commented.

"Sometimes, it's forever," he replied. "Would you have come back if it hadn't been for the prophecy?"

"Maybe, eventually. I don't know," she admitted. "I'm here now."

"Yes, you are," he whispered, taking the mug from her hand and setting it on the counter behind her.

He cupped her face in his hands and caressed its pale softness with his thumbs as he stepped slightly closer and raised her face to his. He kissed her, softly at first, as Willow remained perfectly still, her heartbeat steady and even. His arms moved to encircle her waist as he deepened the kiss in a silent affirmation of how much he had missed her, how empty this house, his existence, had been without her presence.

Willow placed one arm on his shoulder, the other through his hair, as his tongue explored her mouth slowly, savoring the warmth of her breath and the sweet realization that she was here again. The past five years spiraled into this one single moment, and time stopped. The ache, the worry, the constant wondering, stopped.

He drew his mouth away from hers and slid his hand up to her shoulder and eased her body against his.

"I'm glad you're back," he said, resting his chin on her head. "But I hate this prophecy. You could get hurt."

She smiled against his chest, "We've faced prophecy before, remember? I know you're not crazy about the three of us together, but we did okay the last time."

"I'd put up with all the Angels the Hellmouth could throw at me if it meant having you here," he confessed.

She chuckled and drew away to look up at him. "Okay, nice impersonation. Now, tell me what you've done with Spike."

The blonde vampire grinned, "It's easier to keep an eye on him when the wanker's nearby."

Willow sighed in feigned relief, "Ah, that's better. You had me worried."

She turned in his arms and took up the coffee mug in one hand and Spike's hand in the other.

"Come sit with me," she asked as she tugged him toward the living room. Angel scowled as the redhead came into the room clasping Spike's hand. He brightened considerably when she released that hand, placed the mug on the coffee table, and plopped down close to him on the sofa.

"You know, I've been thinking," she said as she linked her arm through his.

"You usually are," he grinned, lacing his fingers through hers.

It was Spike's turn to scowl as he lowered his hard frame into a chair across from them, his eyes riveted on their intertwined fingers. "Well, anyway, do you realize Giles told us next to nothing about this prophecy? I mean, apart from a demon seeking revenge and needing the Cataleze--"

"What the hell is a Cataleze?" Spike asked her. "And how do you happen to know where it is?"

"I have my sources," she grinned. "I have no idea what it's used for, though. I've never laid eyes on it. And I still don't understand what you have to do with any of this."

"I got the feeling Giles wasn't too eager to discuss it in front of the others," Angel told her. "I don't think any of them are too comfortable about working with Spike."

"Well, I am," she stated confidently, and Spike looked at her and grinned. "And this prophecy requires all of us, so the others had better get over it. I've contacted my source, and the Cataleze will be delivered to the library tomorrow by courier. I'm going to call Giles and tell him to get his ass over here and explain what exactly is going on."

"I already have," Angel told her. ""He'll be here in fifteen minutes."

"You're a mind reader!" Willow beamed and squeezed his hand.

"Your gears have been spinning ever since we left the library, hon," he informed her. "It doesn't take a clairvoyant to figure out when you're itching for answers. I decided if I didn't get him over here, we'd have to listen to you ask unanswerable questions all night."

"Hey! I ask good questions!" she protested.

"Yes, you do," he agreed, putting his arm around her shoulders and kissing her head.

Spike rolled his eyes and snarled softly as he pulled himself up out of the chair.

"You hungry?" Willow asked innocently.

"Ravenous," he muttered. "I'll be back in ten minutes."

Angel smiled happily as Spike walked out the door.

"Well, now that he's gone, you can tell me. Did you miss me while you were away?"

"Every day," she answered honestly.

"You, too, huh?" he asked, tracing her jawline with his finger.

"But you were busy in L.A., right?"

He nodded, "It was easier that way."

"Temporary distractions, I know," she replied softly. "You and Spike seem to have found some common ground, though."

"I can put up with him if it means being with you," he told her.

She grinned at the sentiment which mirrored that of Spike's earlier comment. "And Buffy? Have you two made it up?" she asked.

"We've kept our distance," he answered. "It's better that way. I know she was very concerned when you left, though."

"That's my Angel," she said softly, and the phrase sent a wave of delight through the vampire. "Infinitely understanding."

He leaned forward and kissed her softly, his lips lingering tenderly on hers. He pulled away reluctantly as a knock sounded at the door. "That's Giles," Willow spoke.

Angel nodded and kissed her once more before rising to open the door.

By the time Willow had handed the watcher a cup of tea, Spike had returned. Giles looked on with interest as Spike sat down, putting Willow between himself and Angel, and casually rested his hand on her leg.

"What exactly are we facing?" she asked Giles abruptly. "I know the prophecy requires that all of us be here, but that's just about all I know."

"The demon is focusing his revenge on Buffy. She was primarily responsible for destroying his brother, and he wants her to suffer a similar loss. He intends to kill each of the people who mean the most to her before killing her. The Cataleze is the only weapon capable of destroying him."

"I've contacted my source, and it's on its way here," Willow informed him. "How does it work?"

"It will destroy the demon by destroying his energy. As I said earlier, it's a magical weapon, and one that's difficult to employ. The watcher who created it was facing a situation much like ours. The Cataleze requires an unbroken circle of friends in order to evoke its power."

"And some of our friendships are already strained," Willow added. "But we can overcome that. We all care about each other."

"Our lives may depend on it," Giles told her.

"So, how did Spike get mixed up in all this? He wasn't here then, and I doubt any of the others would call him a friend."

The watcher shifted uncomfortably and looked at Angel. "Could you let me talk to Willow and--and Spike, alone for a moment?"

Angel looked at him uncertainly, "Why?"

"This concerns the two of them. It should be up to them to decide how much or how little they want others to know," the watcher insisted. Angel nodded, though his eyes reflected obvious displeasure, and left the room. Giles hesitated, and the blonde vampire and the redhead beside him waited for him to explain.

"Come on, Giles, just say it. How is Spike involved in this?" Willow asked.

"He's part of the circle," Giles answered. "Because of your feelings for him."

Spike looked from the watcher to Willow. "Feelings?" he echoed.

"When you agreed to help Spike, all those years ago, it may initially have been out of a sense of duty, but it didn't end that way," the watcher said to Willow. "You didn't leave Sunnydale for five years to escape duty--or even friendship. You can be sure all the demons in hell know what you did and why you did it."

"Why did you do it?" Spike asked, attempting to catch Willow's evasive eyes.

Giles waited for a moment before supplying the answer, "Because she loves you."

"As a friend," Spike added.

"More," Giles insisted, his eyes resting on Willow. "And the bond the three of you share--you, Willow, and Angel--is undoubtedly the strongest and most valuable in destroying this demon."

Spike had stopped listening after the word "more." He was gazing wonderingly at Willow. Giles rose from his chair and went to the door, turning back to them as he opened it.

"I have no intention of discussing this with anyone else. How you choose to handle it should be left up to you," he stated before leaving.

"Willow," Spike said as she moved off the sofa.

"I'm--I'm going to bed," she murmured.

"Oh, no," he refused, scrambling to his feet and taking her arm. "No more running, pet."

"Next time I start asking questions, shut me up--fast," she requested.

"Gladly," he agreed as he lowered his mouth to hers.

The coffee stirred in Willow's stomach somewhat wildly, testament to her growing unease. After Giles left and the redhead spoke to Spike, Willow was able to convince the blond vampire to leave her a few moments of peace to think before speaking with his sire, Angel. It was a bit of a frightening idea for her.

As a person that had been left on her own to fend for herself for many years, she was unused to speaking of her emotions verbally. While alone to her thoughts, Willow had been able to rationalize that she was utterly and truly in love with two master vampires that had thrived on leaving blood baths in Europe for centuries together. It was an unnerving realization, but she had accepted it after a while with some heart-felt truth seeking.

Willow didn't know how Angel would react to her confession of love to him. It wasn't everyday that a mortal spoke of undying love to ensouled vampire; though Buffy might have done so. Now that was a bad thought. The Slayer was a real wild card. She could support the redhead's relationship with the two vampires and rebuild their friendship together, or she could condemn Willow without a thought to the future or happiness.

Though Willow had outgrown her need for compliments from her acquaintances, rejection still affected her as it did so long ago. Her few friends had done so years ago when they couldn't understand her easy acceptance of the two vampires. The way she viewed it, Xander, Oz, and Buffy had each rejected her in some way because of their views on her actions. Willow would never understand why they couldn't accept it, as others in their group seemed able to do.

However much they hurt her five years ago, she had outgrown the hurt, anger, and confusion. Simply to be swallowed up in her love of two vampires.

The elder of which was just that moment standing in the doorway of her room.

Looking in his face, she could only see the usual brooding Angel seemed to have perfected during his years with a soul. However, there was a glint of worry in his eyes. As if there were a chance that she might have disappeared if she wasn't in his sight.

Swallowing her unease, Willow gestured with her hands for him to come in. He walked in slowly, sitting on top of her bed lightly. While the redhead waited patiently for him to begin speaking, thoughts ran through her head as to how to broach the subject of her love for him. She was surprised to hear that the worry she sensed in his face was present in his softly spoken voice as well.

"What did you and Spike talk about?"

Willow reddened slightly at the reminder of her conversation, quickly replaced with mortification at the realization that she still blushed so easily. She had thought she had outgrown her childhood innocence. Obviously a miscalculation on her part.

"You might want to sit down for this one, Angel. Oh, wait a minute. You're already sitting. Of course you're sitting. It's not like you should be standing or anything. Um, never mind," great, now she was babbling again. Amazing what returning to the Hellmouth had done to her hard work while away, "well, um . . . you know Giles came by right?" As Angel nodded his head slightly, Willow continued her explanation.

"Well, he he, you see . . . um. Apparently," Willow drew the word out, looking at his face to be able to see his reaction clearly, "a basic object we need to have to beat this monster is stabilization and establishment of our friendships here. Now, the three of us obviously still need work in that department with the rest of the Scooby Gang, but we're connected together in other ways. Angel, I've already told Spike I love him."

The souled vampire hung his head in defeat, anger, and disappointment. He didn't want Willow to see the blood tears glistening in his eyes that were threatening to let loose. As the hacker let out an exasperated breath in frustration, she roughly grabbed his chin in her hands to bring his eyes up to meet hers. Her next words were spoken softly and her voice was full of emotion.

"I've loved you both since before I left Sunnydale."

Her words took awhile to let in and finally digested by the vampire, but once it did so he didn't waste any time before covering Willow's mouth with his own. In between his kisses that conveyed so much of his emotions, he was only able to say:

"I love you."

It was enough for Willow though. After awhile, they were both content to merely hold tight to each other. Trying to show the other how much they meant to each other.

That was the scene Spike walked in on. A showing of the love between a vampire and a mortal similar to the one he experienced earlier in the day. Though both heard his entrance, neither moved from their positions. The blond vampire quietly sat behind his mortal love and held on to her tightly.

The two vampires looked at the other over Willow's head. Their love for the mortal was in their eyes. Both agreed to a silent truce, unable to bear being away from the redhead. At that moment, all three forgot the threats of the day and simply basked in their love for each other.

"Are you tired, pet?" Spike asked as Willow stirred in his arms.

"A little," she admitted.

"We should let you get some sleep," Angel said, moving off the bed as he glanced at Spike.

"Don't--" Willow stopped, groaning inwardly as she felt the irritatingly familiar flush that graced her cheeks.

Angel smiled and squeezed her hand, completely charmed that a creature so beautiful could have remained so wonderfully unpretentious. Willow took a breath and reminded herself once again that she was no longer that innocent schoolgirl who had left five years ago. She had traveled to locations and met people that few mortals even knew existed. She returned the dark vampire's smile as the girl she had once been bowed to the woman she had become.

"Stay," she whispered, her gaze holding Angel's for a moment before turning to Spike.

Angel traced the outline of her jaw with a gentle finger before pulling her up to stand before him. Spike moved off the bed to take his place behind her. The vampires exchanged a glance of mutual understanding, and Spike slipped his arms around Willow's waist as Angel bent to capture her lips. His fingers moved down her blouse, opening the buttons and pushing the garment off her shoulders. His mouth moved to the mounds of her satin-covered breasts, and Willow sighed softly as he placed kisses along each one in turn.

The world stopped its frantic spinning and paused in relaxed tranquility as the vampires undressed her with extraordinary tenderness. Willow's mouth sought out Angel's, and he drew her close to him, enraptured by the feeling of her warm body in his arms. Spike took the smallest of steps away from the redhead, and Angel's hand gently clasped his wrist. He shook his head, a silent plea for the blonde vampire to stay. Spike looked from Willow to Angel. She turned slightly and looked up at Spike.

"Please?" she murmured. "Don't go."

He nodded and stepped aside as Angel drew back the sheets and lowered Willow onto the bed.

"Are you sure, luv?" Spike asked while Angel quietly began to undress and slip into the bed beside her.

"I love you," she answered. "Both of you."

She moaned softly as Angel's mouth traveled down the soft curve of her shoulder. She placed her hand around his neck and drew his mouth to hers, smiling against his lips as she felt the second cold body moving into the bed on the other side and pressing close against her. Spike's hands moved between Willow's body and Angel's. He gently kneaded her breasts before gliding his hand down the warm flesh of her stomach. Willow gasped sharply, and Angel took her mouth as Spike's experienced fingers parted her soft feminine folds and moved gently against the nub of her clitoris. He felt the warmth of her wetness as her hips thrust against his hand, and she moaned as she felt Angel's hard erection against her thigh.

Instinctively, her legs parted, and Angel lowered his head to suckle one of her perfect, pink nipples as he entered her slowly. His cold mouth on her breasts, his hands moving along her body, his hard shaft stretching her, filling her, mingled with the sensation of Spike's lips as they traveled over her and the gently persistent fingers that coaxed mind-numbing sparks to shoot through her body. She felt the rise of her oncoming orgasm, and Angel thrust into her, hard and deep, pushing her back against Spike's equally hard body. He forced back the wave of ecstasy that begged to claim his senses until he heard the first cry that signaled Willow's release.

Angel gave himself over to the exquisite redhead as her walls convulsed around him, and she keened softly, his name escaping with each breath from her lips. He growled and returned his mouth to hers as he emptied his cold seed deep inside her. Willow sighed, a perfect soft exclamation of complete satisfaction, as he slipped out of her passage, his lips still against hers, his tongue drinking from the sweet warmth of her mouth.

Spike's hands resumed their gentle caressing along her hips and thighs, and her body relaxed under his careful ministrations. She shifted into his arms and kissed him deeply, her tongue moving with his as Angel snuggled against her from behind.

The blonde vampire gazed down into her tired, green eyes, and he smiled.

"Sleep, pet," he whispered.

She raised her hand to caress his cheek and answered softly, "I love you, too. Just as much."

"I know. It's all--"

Willow's soft lips hushed his words, and Spike moaned as her hand moved down to encircle his painfully swollen shaft. She stroked it gently, and Spike growled softly and deepened the kiss, wanting her desperately, but fearful of asking too much.

As if sensing his apprehension, Willow shifted slightly and drew his body down against hers, guiding him into her slick core. The vampire hissed as her warmth enveloped him, and Angel cupped her chin in his hand and brought her mouth to his as his other hand found the same sensitive nub that Spike had so lovingly teased. He continued the tender assault on her lips, and Willow cupped her hands around the firm, rounded flesh of Spike's buttocks, urging him deeper inside her. Spike snarled as her muscles milked him, driving him over the edge of his climax. He sank his fangs into the wounds he had inflicted so long ago and drank from her rich red nectar, made even sweeter by the passing of time and the longing of anguished loss.

Willow's fingers curled through his blonde hair, and her lips left Angel's as she cried out Spike's name. He lapped at her wounds and placed soothing kisses along her throat as she drifted back to reality. Angel's arms encircled her waist as he curved his body around hers, and she, in turn, drew Spike close against her. The years of hatred between the two vampires evaporated under the warmth and love of the tiny redhead. There was no more raging jealousy, no more cold animosity, only the intense need to be near this woman who completed them, to keep her safe and happy. Angel placed a soft kiss on her shoulder as she snuggled close between them and drifted into contented sleep.

Willow woke from her deep sleep in a very cozy position. Settled neatly between the two vampires that she loved the most. She had thought it would be uncomfortable: The morning after. It wasn't that way though.

It was really rather . . . warm.

A tingly feeling that let Willow know that she was loved and going to be cared for. Whether she wanted the care or not. At least she knew there would be definite cuddling in the future. Yes, indeedy. Very sweet, warm, and tender cuddling. The kind that starts outs innocently and ends up as love making.

Nope, Willow was not going to mind at all. Indeed, she planned on receiving her care with a sweet smile on her face and arms held out in welcome for her two favorite vampires. Willow's mind replayed the events of last night to herself once more.

Unconsciously, the redhead had on a smile that put the sun to shame in reference to radiance.

The young woman would have stayed like that if she weren't uncomfortably reminded of a need to go to the restroom to relieve herself. Willow carefully got up from between Spike and Angel. She was confident in her abilities to slip away unnoticed. After all, she had spent the last five years honing such skills. Indeed, the hacker was already in a sitting position.

Two arms from each side of her quickly stopped her progress as they settled upon her abdomen. The force involved in the action and the surprise in which it was received had Willow's back upon the mattress again with a soft 'whoosh'.

Willow laid still, staring at the ceiling as she tried to process what had just happened. It was, she thought, impossible. She was only trying to get up quietly and had been stopped. The great "Honorary Watcher" that could quickly and effectively sneak into the highest level of supernatural and non-supernatural security to reach an equally impressionable object, had just been stopped.

Unthinkable.

And yet it had just happened.

The redhead turned her head to the right to be met with slightly golden eyes that were more than a little amused at her predicament. Blinking a few times, she carefully turned the other way. Only to be met with the same case, only with a different set of eyes.

Her hands inched down her body to encounter the two arms still strung across her stomach. Carefully, Willow removed them, still contemplating what had just happened. As it all rushed back to her, the hacker quickly sat up and turned around.

"What the hell just happened?"

Spike answered her cheerfully, with only a hint of a growl in his voice, "You were trying to sneak out of bed."

"I was not!"

Two pairs of perfectly arched eyebrows rose in reply. Even through her anger, Willow noted the sexy appearance of the two vampires after lovemaking. However, her anger took precedent. Neither of the two deemed to respond verbally.

"Sneaking," she amended, "I was not sneaking. I had merely wanted to go to the restroom," Willow added a glare to both vampires as she continued, "until I was stopped!"

"Well, in that case, you can go ahead then," Angel said with nonchalance.

Willow stared at them, unable to believe they could act like that after stopping her. Other vampires and demons would have bragged to their community at having even a glance at her while she had done her job. With good cause too.

The hacker could be heard muttering to herself as she left the room.

"Give me permission, huh? As if I needed it. Crush my pride why don't you? Oh, I'm sorry, you already did. In the past five years, not one, not one single being, living or otherwise, ever stopped me. But nooo, not Mr. We're the two most feared vampires in all of Europe. Uh uh. Can't get past you. Well, we"ll see about that . . ."

The previously mentioned two vampires' grins grew even wider. Both too distracted by the sight of a nude Willow to take much notice of her words.

When the redhead returned after a long shower, it was to see two very nude vampires lounging against the headboard of the bed. Willow stood in shock, still too unused to seeing them without their clothes on.

"Giles called," Angel called out.

Willow shook herself out of her stupor long enough to reply with an "Oh."

"A meeting's scheduled for night after sunset to talk strategy." Angel received a sound that could be taken as agreement. He looked towards Spike for help in getting the hacker to participate in the conversation.

"It's a long while 'til sunset, luv. I can think of lots of ways to pass the time."

Willow only had time to moan at the thought before it came into fruition.

The three stood outside the school. Not exactly welcoming the thought of meeting the group inside. Willow least of all.

As Angel and Spike stood contemplating it, Willow turned towards them with a determined look.

"I don't think we should tell them about what happened between us."

"What!?" Two identically outraged voices reached her.

"To defeat this demon, we need to have stability in the group. I seriously doubt this new revelation about our relationship will be welcomed."

"They'll have to deal with it sometime."

"I know, that's why we'll tell them after we defeat this demon. But for now, pretend as if we're just friends. Is that agreed?" Willow added her 'Resolve Face' to show that she was serious. The two nodded gravely.

They entered the library quietly. The only snag in their entrance was when Oz moved as if to meet her. Spike quickly brought his arm around her shoulders and shepherded her to a chair where he and Angel would be able to sit next to her.

Willow began to lecture the blonde vamp in her mind. Glad to know that at least one of the two was behaving as she asked.

And then she felt Angel's hand on her thigh. It was going to be a long day.

Faith grinned as she came out of Giles' office to find Spike's arm draped over Willow's shoulders and Angel's hand resting on her thigh. Buffy, in marked contrast to the brunette slayer, was scowling unhappily as she forced her gaze away from the redhead and the vampires who sat on either side of her.

Giles cleared his throat uncomfortably, and all eyes turned to him. "As I explained to each of you earlier," the watcher began. "The only means of destroying this demon is by the use of the Cataleze, which we now have."

On cue, Faith produced the weapon from where she had been clutching it behind her back. She sat it down on the table in front of them. "It's a stick," Xander said, obviously unimpressed.

"It's a stick with a blob on it," Oz corrected him.

"It isn't a 'blob,'" Giles commented with a sigh. "It's an orb. I have the incantation which will activate it's power, and I've already performed it."

"So, it's loaded?" Cordelia asked.

"Something like that," he nodded. "However, its power can only be utilized in combat with the demon and only through an unbroken circle of friends."

"Which means everybody has to be present when we destroy the demon," Faith added.

"More than that, some of you have some--issues--to overcome before the orb can be effectively used," Giles said.

"Some of you, meaning me," Buffy spoke. "You know, I don't even know how Spike landed in the middle of all of this. I'd hardly classify him as friend material."

"I would," Willow told her. "It's my fault he got dragged into this."

"Not fault, pet," the vampire disagreed. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be."

Buffy rolled her eyes in disgust, "Isn't that sweet? Gee, Will, you seem to be surrounded by black knights."

Willow's eyes flashed angrily, "I can take care of myself. Or is that the bug that's crawled up your ass? I don't need you to fight my battles for me. I've been in situations that would give you nightmares if you could even begin to imagine them. Do you remember, three years ago, when Giles received word that a weapon had been developed that would paralyze a slayer's abilities and speed up her aging process at the same time? Did he tell you if anyone managed to use it on you, your death would come in less than 48 hours? Did you ever wonder how that weapon mysteriously disappeared, only to turn up in the Council's hands?"

Buffy's mouth dropped open, and her eyes darted from Giles to Willow. "I'd tell you the hell I went through to get my hands on it, but believe me, you don't want to know. I didn't sleep for a month afterwards," the redhead continued.

"Willow, that was you?" Giles asked in astonishment.

"It was after that incident I was named an Honorary Watcher," she nodded. "I didn't have to put my ass on the line for you, Buffy. I knew neither the Council nor you would know who had tracked it down and taken it. For all I knew, you still detested me for what I had done before I left Sunnydale. But none of that mattered. You mattered. Your life mattered. I went after it to keep you safe because I knew I had no other choice."

Buffy's eyes lowered to the object still laying on the table as she whispered, "I didn't know."

"It doesn't matter," she insisted. "I did it because I cared about you. I still do."

"I never detested you," Buffy told her. "I just--couldn't understand. The things that had happened back then, and then the way you suddenly left--it hurt."

"I didn't do those things to cause you pain. I was doing what I had to do. You don't have to be a slayer to have obligations, especially to the people you care most about."

"But you're living with them, again," the slayer pointed out.

"She's safe with us," Angel told her, squeezing Willow's thigh ever so gently. "She's been alone for five years, Buffy. That's long enough--too long."

"But the three of you, in that house, alone. What is that all about?"

"We're having daily orgies," Spike answered with a sarcastic smirk. Willow fought back the urge to smack the blonde vampire, and she held her breath, waiting for Buffy's reaction.

A grin tugged at the blonde woman's lips, "Right. That sounds so not like Willow. Why can I not picture her crawling into bed with the two of you?"

The redhead's hand snuck under the table and gave Spike's knee a warning squeeze as her other hand landed on top of Angel's and clutched it frantically.

"Actually, that's too gross to even think about," Cordelia decided.

"Oh, I don't know," Faith argued. "I can just see her, lying back, with their heads stuck between her--"

"Faith!" Willow squealed, grateful for once for the scarlet blush that stole across her face.

"Okay," Buffy laughed. "I'm sorry I've been so unfair to you, Willow. You've been my best friend for so long. You deserve better from me."

Angel and Spike reluctantly released her as Willow clambered out of the chair to walk around the table and hug the slayer in a tight embrace.

"Oz?" she asked, looking over her friend's shoulder at the werewolf.

He sighed and took her hand. Although his keen senses told him she was not telling the entire truth, he could give her up--to them--if it meant keeping her alive. The irony of the thought, however, did not escape him.

"I'm in," he said with a nod.

"All right," Giles sighed in relief. "I've done my bit--the incantation. The rest is up to the eight of you."

"Let's go suck the life out of a demon," Faith suggested, grabbing up the Cataleze. Angel and Spike returned to Willow's side as the three followed the others out of the building.

"So, luv, what do you think the slayer's reaction is going to be when this is all over and she finds out Angel and I really have had our heads--"

"Spike!" Willow hissed.

"Just curious," he chuckled.

"That's easy," Angel shrugged. "She'll kill us."

Tell the author what you think:

| Return to Fiction Index | Return to Main |