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Personal Demons -- by Ruby

Rating: R

Description: Willow discovers she's being watched.

Note: Dedication -- For Alicia, who requested a W/A fic and has been patiently waiting since somewhere close to forever. I hope a W/A/S fic is close enough, and that this one doesn't disappoint!:-)

Disclaimer: Joss owns all.

"I am. I promise!" Willow spoke into the telephone receiver as Buffy quietly invited herself into the redhead's dorm room.

Willow whirled around, her eyes wide in surprise, and breathed, "I've got to go. Bye!"

"Geez, Will. You didn't have to hang up on account of me. I suppose that was another guy chasing after you," Buffy grinned.

"Uh, no!" Willow answered and felt her cheeks warm with a blush. "Just a--a--friend."

"Okay, if you say so. I have to tell you, though, I don't know how you keep them all straight. College sure has done amazing things for your social life. No wonder Oz decided you both needed some space."

"That isn't why! It's different now that we're on our own, more or less. He just thought--"

"Willow, take it easy. I'm joking! I think it's great that you have a dozen guys pounding on your door," Buffy laughed.

"It isn't great. It's weird," Willow mumbled.

"Yeah, right, and you're hating every second of it," her friend teased.

"Okay, it's pretty cool," Willow admitted with a grin. "So, did you just drop by to give me a hard time?"

"No. Actually, I wanted to weasel out of our movie-fest tonight. Riley wants me to go with him to buy a new CD player, and you know how I hate to give up a chance to go shopping."

"And the fact that it's shopping with Riley has nothing to do with it," the redhead smiled.

"Of course not!" Buffy giggled. "He's pretty great, isn't he?"

"Anyone who makes you this happy it pretty great," Willow agreed.

"He does make me happy. I wasn't sure I ever would be again, but--" the slayer shrugged.

"I'm glad for you," Willow said sincerely. "You deserve a chance to get on with your life."

"And to have a normal relationship," Buffy added. "It is kind of nice. So, who was that? A hot date?"

"No! I told you; it was just a friend."

"Okay, be all mysterious, then. I've got to get going. I'm meeting Riley in less than an hour."

"See you later," Willow said as Buffy stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed.

Willow sighed and sank down onto her desk chair. The conversation she'd been having with Angel before Buffy broke in replayed itself in her mind. How--or why, for that matter--he had kept such close tabs on what she was doing was beyond her understanding. When he had first started phoning her at the beginning of the semester, Willow had thought it was just a round-about way to keep track of Buffy. But over the course of the last couple of months, the weekly calls had turned to daily calls. Angel rarely even mentioned Buffy's name, and Willow, fearful of

opening fresh wounds, never told Buffy that he was phoning her.

Angel did, however, question the redhead relentlessly about the guys Willow was seeing, and these interrogations had gotten worse after she'd let slip that she and Oz were no longer dating. The vampire had been particularly persistent about a couple of her dates, and had even referred to them by name. Willow had found this strangely disturbing, especially when he refused to explain how he knew who the men were.

This afternoon's phone call had really alarmed her. Angel had hounded her for twenty minutes about Aaron, the guy who had been pestering her to go out with him for the past three weeks. Angel had threatened to come back from L.A. if the guy refused to leave her alone, and Willow

had had to hang up on him before she had gotten a promise from him that he would stay where he was. She spent the rest of the afternoon trying to call him back, only to be told by Cordelia or Doyle-whichever happened to pick up--that Angel was unavailable.

Willow grabbed a bag of pretzels and a diet soda from the vending machines in the cafeteria lobby and went outside to sit down on a bench.

"That's your idea of dinner?" a male voice asked as a young man approached from the sidewalk.

"Hi, Aaron," she smiled, sliding over so he could sit. "I'm not very hungry tonight, and it's too stuffy indoors."

"It isn't much better out here."

"Not much," she agreed.

"So, how about taking a walk with me?" he suggested. "I'll buy you an ice cream, and we can walk through the park."

"Thanks, but it's getting dark, and I really want to study for--"

"You study too much. You know you're going to ace all your finals. Anyway, there's only two weeks left until break, and you still haven't agreed to go out with me," he persisted. "Why is that?"

"I invited you to eat with Buffy and me--any time," she reminded him.

"I don't want to see you in a crowded cafeteria with your friend. I want you to myself," he argued.

"Why is _that_?" she asked him.

"Why not? It isn't so strange for a guy to want to spend some time with a pretty girl."

"There are lots of pretty girls on this campus," she pointed out, crumpling the empty pretzel bag and tossing it and the can of soda into the trash bin beside the bench.

"They aren't you," he stated. "Come on. Let's go for a walk."

"I really can't," she refused.

"A short one--around campus," he insisted.

Willow pulled away as Aaron reached out and curled his fingers around her arm.

"The lady said no," a man spoke from behind him.

The young man stood and turned to look up at the dark face of a tall, obviously angry, man.

"Angel!" Willow squealed, rising to her feet.

"You--you know this guy?" Aaron asked, backing away from the vampire.

"Yes. What are you doing here?"

"Teaching this idiot the meaning of the word no, apparently," Angel answered and glared down at Aaron. "Have you got it, yet?"

"Yeah," Aaron's voice shook. "I've got it."

Willow's gaze followed him as he made a hasty retreat down the sidewalk.

"Do you make a habit of sitting alone, in the dark, on campus?" Angel questioned her, his irritation evident in his tone of voice.

She turned to face him, "What if I do? How is that your business?"

"Willow, you know how damned dangerous that is! I think this new-found popularity of yours has warped your good sense."

"I wasn't in any danger!" she told him.

"And you know this because--"

"Because--I just do!" she answered lamely. "What are you doing here, anyway? You're supposed to be in L.A."

"I left right after you hung up on me. There's a lot to be said for tinted windows," he answered.

"Well, you shouldn't have!" she glared up at him. "Look, Angel, I appreciate your concern, even if I don't understand where it's coming from. I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl."

Angel pulled himself up to his full height and looked pointedly down at her, "Not really."

"Very funny! You know what I mean!"

"Who is this Aaron character, anyway? Do you even know?" he resumed his former angry questioning.

"He's just some hormone-ridden guy who's been trying to get me to go out with him--which I have NOT! How do you know his name, anyway? Or Paul's name, or Stephen's? You're way off in the big city, so who's spying on me and reporting back to you?"

"That would be me, pet," Spike answered as he melted out of the shadows of the trees across the street.

"Spike!" Willow shouted as the blonde vampire crossed the street to stand beside her. "You've been spying on me--at Angel's request?"

"Why not? I have to do something for entertainment, and trust me pet, following you around is _very_ entertaining," he grinned.

She glared at Angel, "This makes no sense whatsoever. You do realize that, don't you? What business is it of yours who I go out with? And, anyway, you and Spike hate each other!"

"Spike and I have come to an...understanding," Angel replied, lowering his eyes as if he were suddenly captivated by the redhead's shoes.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Okay, so Spike has been helping us for the past few months, and I've figured out that he's actually pretty okay to spend time in the dark with...."

Spike threw an arm over her shoulder and lowered his mouth to her ear, "I'd be happy to show you just how much fun I can be in the--"

"Oh, shut up!" she snapped, wriggling out from under his arm. "That isn't what I meant! So, when did he go from being one of the gang to being my personal shadow on your behalf?"

"Actually, he's always been your personal shadow. Why do you think I told him to get his ass back here? I figured, as long as he was tailing you, it would be a lot easier if he was helping all of you."

"You're telling me the real reason you sent him here was to follow me around?" Willow asked, moving closer to Angel and turning her furious eyes upon him. "You better start explaining yourself, buster!"

"Bloody hell. She's hot when she's angry," Spike grinned in appreciation, his eyes riveted on her.

"Shut UP!" she shot back at him. "Angel, what the hell is going on with you? What is Buffy going to think when she finds out--"

"She isn't going to find out because you're not going to tell her," Angel answered calmly.

"Think so?" she hissed. "Don't bet on it."

"Look, Willow, just calm down for a minute. Let's go someplace and talk about this," he suggested.

She looked around at the deserted sidewalks, "What's wrong with here?"

"It's a little public, don't you think? Do you honestly think I'd ever do anything to hurt you?"

"Well, no," she admitted, a bit of her anger seeping out of her tense body.

"Then let's go someplace quiet, and I'll explain everything," he asked.

"All right, but this had better be good," she warned him.

Willow threw herself down on the sofa in Spike's expensively furnished apartment.

"You know, I'd always just figured you got all this stuff by turning some rich fool. Angel helped you get this, didn't he?" she asked Spike.

"Dear old Dad can be very generous when it's for a good cause," Spike answered.

"Since when have you ever thought of Spike as a good cause?" she asked Angel.

Angel groaned and sat down in an armchair, "Willow, _you're_ the good cause. I had to be sure you were safe, and Spike was the logical choice to help me do that."

"So, how does Drusilla fit into all this? Is she dancing around in the dark, following me, too?"

"It's just like I told you when I came back here. I left Dru in South America, happily screwing her latest demon lover," Spike told the redhead.

"Huh. What do you know? Not everything was a lie. Are you following Buffy around, too? Or Xander? Or Oz?"

"Hell, no. Just you, pet."

Willow fixed her green eyes on Angel and asked, "Why?"

"Because I needed to know you were safe. Willow, when I left for L.A., I closed the chapter on Buffy and me. I knew, given time, she'd move on with her life. Our feelings had slowly sunk from love to a kind of depressing obsession a long time ago. Letting go of each other was the

best thing for both of us," he explained.

She nodded her head slowly, "She said something like that not too long ago. It wasn't as easy for her, though. She hurt for a long time, Angel, after you left."

"It wasn't any easier for me, Willow. It's like a drug addict going cold turkey. That's what we'd become to each other--an addiction. We thought we had to be together in order to survive. But the reality was that we were hanging onto each other because neither one of us knew how to let go. So, I just--did. I think what we were suffering from was the pain of withdrawal, not broken hearts. Our hearts hadn't belonged to each other for a very long time, way before I left. Can you understand that?"

"I think so," she nodded. "But none of that explains why--"

"I'm getting there," he interrupted her. "When I got to L.A. and had a few weeks to kind of sort things out in my mind, I realized it wasn't Buffy my heart was aching for. It was you."

She looked over at him as if he had sprouted ringlets, "You were...your heart was...WHAT??"

Spike chuckled and sat down beside her. Noting the blonde vampire's sudden proximity to Willow, Angel removed himself from the armchair and plopped down on the other side of her.

"You heard what I said. And I said exactly what I meant," he told her. "I don't think I even realized where my pain was coming from, at first. Willow, you always put yourself out there as someone I could talk to, someone who would listen without judging or handing me answers I

couldn't or wouldn't accept. You liked me for me, and through you, I eventually learned to like myself. Do you know I haven't had a good, long brood in two months?"

She grinned and took the strong hand he opened up in invitation to her.

"You did that for me, Willow. But it took leaving you here to realize it. It took missing you for weeks before I realized just what it was I was missing. That's when I started phoning you. I just wanted to hear your voice again. Then, during one of those meandering conversations, you happened to mention you and Oz weren't seeing each other, anymore. I'd already sent Spike back to Sunnydale to watch over you, so I called him, and we talked--"

"About me," she said.

"Yeah. He's had a thing for you since before he kidnapped you and Xander."

"A thing?" she asked Spike.

"I wanted you to do that love spell because I thought having Dru back would make me forget about you," he answered. "Then, when that got sidetracked, I took off out of Sunnydale figuring distance would do just as well. But it didn't. I never even bothered trying to get Dru back after that. I just went back to South America and tried to drink you out of my system. Then, after Angel contacted me from L.A., I told Dru to fuck herself into oblivion, and I headed straight back here."

Angel felt Willow's small hand tremble slightly in his, and he squeezed it reassuringly.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm confused," she admitted. "I mean, I realized Spike was kind of different towards me when he came back, but I thought maybe we were just becoming friends."

"I haven't had a friend in two centuries, until you," Spike told her. "And now soulboy, here."

She looked at him, her eyes wide in astonishment, and he laughed and took her other hand.

"He isn't nearly the wanker he used to be, since he stopped pining over the blonde bitch."

"Do you mind? That 'blonde bitch' is _my_ friend!" she reprimanded him.

"Everyone has a character flaw," he shrugged. "Fortunately, yours tends to fade into nonexistence whenever I look at you."

"This just couldn't possibly get any weirder," she mumbled. "So, what about the guys I've been dating? Have you been chasing them off? And how did you find out some of their names?"

"Through Spike," Angel answered. "And he only chased off the ones who made me worry."

"Worry about what? That I might actually start liking one of them?" she asked, slightly perturbed.

Angel cast a cryptic look at Spike, and the blonde vampire returned his stare and said, "You're going to have to tell her."

Angel hesitated under Willow's questioning gaze.

"Just tell her! We're here to protect her!" Spike prodded.

The dark vampire nodded and moved a little closer to Willow, "Someone is after you. We just don't know who, yet."

"After me? Why?" she asked.

Spike ran his eyes over the length of her body, "You really never look in a mirror, do you, luv?"

Willow blushed crimson and refused to meet his eyes, "Oh, come on! I'm not exactly the type to stir unbridled lust in men!"

Spike snorted, and even Angel struggled to control his laughter. Willow looked from one to the other, baffled by their amusement.

"Pet, why do you think all those boys have been lining up on your doorstep? Bloody hell, you really don't get it!"

"Maybe she needs to be shown," Angel suggested, his eyes flashing playfully.

Willow gasped as she felt Angel's hand drop to her knee and begin to slowly travel up her thigh as Spike's arm wound around her waist. A soft squeal escaped from her lips as Angel squeezed her upper thigh, his knuckles brushing lightly over her sex. Spike cupped his hand under her chin and turned her face to his. He lowered his head to capture her lips, his tongue brushing lazily over them, seeking entrance to her mouth. Angel turned slightly on the sofa, raising his other hand to her breast, running his thumb over the soft nipple, teasing it until it

hardened under his touch.

Willow moaned, and Spike took advantage and slid his tongue between her parted lips. Angel unbuttoned the top four buttons on her blouse and lowered his mouth to the soft curve of flesh that peeked up over her lacy bra. Nuzzling the silky material away with his nose, he captured

the hardened nipple and suckled gently. Both vampires caught the scent of her arousal as her juices seeped from her core to moisten her panties. Spike coaxed her tongue into his mouth as Angel pulled the hem of her shirt out of her jeans and ran his hand up under the fabric to

gently rub the flat plane of her tummy.

Spike broke the kiss long enough to allow her to swallow several rapid breaths before descending to recapture her lips, nipping and sucking at them. Angel unfastened her jeans, sliding his hand down beneath the waistband of her panties to rub his fingers over her moistened folds. Spike's hand found her other breast and kneaded it gently, and Willow arched into him and ran her hand over his hard chest. Angel caught her free hand in his and cupped it over the hardening bulge beneath his pants. Willow left Spike's mouth to look around in wonder at the dark vampire, and his mouth took her reddened lips as Spike trailed soft

kisses from her throat to the valley of her breasts.

Willow whimpered softly as their persistent ministrations overwhelmed her senses and sent reality fleeing. Her left hand gripped Angel's painfully hardened cock as her right snaked under Spike's t-shirt and pressed against his cool flesh. Angel undid the rest of her buttons, and Spike helped him pull the garment from her shoulders. The blonde vampire nipped the soft flesh of her creamy shoulders, and his hand burrowed under the denim of her jeans to find the soft folds that Angel's hand had recently vacated. Angel paused his assault on her mouth to allow her to breathe, then reclaimed it in a deep kiss. She responded hungrily as Spike's thumb began a merciless rhythm against her clit.

Willow's cry was swallowed by Angel's kiss as Spike worked her to orgasm. Angel left her mouth to stare down into her glazed eyes. He stroked the lush red tresses of her hair as she panted softly between the two vampires. Spike and his sire exchanged a look, and Angel nodded as Spike stood and scooped the redhead off the sofa. Angel followed, his hand on Willow's arm, as they headed for the bedroom down the hallway. Willow jumped slightly in Spike's arms as the doorbell rang behind them.

"Spike!" Buffy's voice shouted from the other side of the door. "Spike! Is Willow with you? I need to talk to you guys for a sec!"

Willow pushed herself frantically out of Spike's arms, her eyes wild with panic. He kept one arm encircled around her waist, and Angel bent to give her a quick kiss before disappearing down the hallway and into the bedroom. Spike grabbed up Willow's shirt from the sofa and tossed it to her. She dragged it over her shoulders and quickly buttoned it with trembling fingers as the slayer continued to knock on the locked door.

"Hold on a fucking minute, will you!" Spike shouted at her.

He grinned down at the redhead who was jamming her shirttail inside her jeans. She looked up at him, too afraid to return the smile, and he put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her softly.

Buffy's fist was raised in mid-knock when Spike abruptly flung the door open.

"Bloody hell, why don't you just pound the damned thing off its hinges!" he grumbled as he stared down at her.

"Is Willow here?" she repeated, stepping over the doorstep and around him. "I tried her dorm, but she had gone out, and I figured she might--oh, there you are."

Willow gave her a weak grin and waggled her fingers at her. Buffy's eyes took in her unkempt red hair, her disheveled shirt and the pink flush of her cheeks.

"Are you okay?" the slayer asked. "You look like you've been attacked!"

"No! No, really. I'm fine!" Willow answered quickly. "Spike and I were just...uh..."

"Practicing some moves," Spike said, sending the flustered redhead a knowing grin.

Buffy took the explanation at face value and sat down in the chair that Angel had occupied a short while ago, "Oh. Well, I need to talk to you guys. It's pretty important. Giles called me while I was out with Riley, and I phoned him back when I got in. Willow, we've got trouble."

"We do?" she responded.

"Yeah. Apparently, Giles thinks you're in some kind of danger," Buffy nodded soberly. "Someone is trying to get to you. He's pretty sure it's a guy--a regular, mortal kind of guy, I mean. But whoever he is may be working for someone less human."

"Like who?" Spike asked, suddenly very serious.

"He isn't sure, yet, but he's pretty concerned because it could be anyone, including any of the guys on campus," she continued. "Will, you have to be careful."

"I will be," she answered softly.

"No, I mean really careful. Giles wants you to move out of the dorm," Buffy explained.

"And go where?" Willow asked in surprise. "I can't go home! Even if I wanted to, which I don't, my parents are overseas traveling for another two months, and they didn't leave me a key."

"She can stay here," Spike jumped in.

Buffy turned and looked at him with raised eyebrows, "Stay here?"

"Why not? I think I've proven by now--even to you--that I wouldn't hurt her," he answered.

"I--I guess so," she replied.

"And who better to keep her safe from evil demons but another evil demon," he grinned.

"You've got a point, there," the slayer answered dryly. "What do you think, Will? If Giles thinks it's a good idea, would you move in here?"

Willow chewed on her bottom lip, nearly sending Spike through the ceiling, and swallowed a giggle, "Um, yeah. I guess that would be okay."

"Great! I know I'd feel better, even though we're talking about Spike, here."

"Hey!" he protested.

"Oh, calm down. I know you wouldn't hurt her. For some strange reason, you seem to have taken a liking to her. Besides, I'd stake your dead ass if you even thought about nibbling on her."

Spike chuckled at Willow's embarrassed reaction to Buffy's statement and turned to the door, swinging it open for the slayer. Buffy smiled at Willow and went to the door.

"I'll let Giles know you're okay. Maybe you should stay here tonight, and I'll help you gather your things together and bring them over here tomorrow," she suggested.

"Okay," Willow agreed. "Thanks, Buffy, for the warning."

"No problem. I just want to be sure you're safe. See you tomorrow."

Spike closed the door behind the slayer and walked over to Willow as Angel appeared at the end of the hallway. The redhead swallowed nervously and looked from one vampire to the other.

"Is this what you were talking about, before we--"

"Got distracted?" Angel smiled and took her hand. "Yes. I don't know who the guy is, either, which is why I tracked down the names of the ones who seemed to pose the greatest threat. None of them panned out, though, including that Aaron bastard."

"This could really freak a person out," she confessed.

"Hey," Spike whispered and turned her face to his. "Neither one of us is going to let anyone hurt you. You're safe here, pet."

"And between the two of us and Giles, and Cordy and Doyle back in L.A., we'll find out what's going on," Angel promised.

"Cordy and Doyle know about this, too?" she asked.

"Yeah. You should have seen Cordelia's reaction when I told her the problem. She's like a bloodhound determined to track down her quarry," Angel smiled.

"Really? Cordelia?" Willow said in amazement.

"She's had a lot of time to think about things, too," Angel nodded. "Anyway, try not to worry too much, baby. We'll nail this guy, eventually. And in the meantime, no one can get to you here."

"Okay," she said softly.

Spike's firm hands kneaded the tense muscles in her shoulders, and he leaned down and spoke into her ear, "I think Angel and I could find some way to make you feel better."

"I think we were about to," Angel agreed. "Before Buffy started beating on the door. Let's see, if I recall, we were just about--here."

Willow squealed as he swept her up off the floor and into his arms, and Spike followed as he carried her, successfully this time, to the bedroom.

Willow awoke to find herself lying between two cold, hard bodies. Spike's solid chest was pressed against her naked back, one arm curled snugly around her stomach. Angel's hand lay on her thigh, and Willow's head rested comfortably against the dark vampire's chest.

She lay very still, hardly daring to breathe, and wondered if vampires were grumpy--or hungry--when they first woke up. Carefully, she lifted her head to find herself staring into Angel's deep brown eyes. He smiled and drew his hand up to caress her soft cheek.

"Are you all right?" he asked quietly.

"I--I don't know," she confessed. "Is all of this--what we did--okay?"

He kissed her forehead and brushed his lips down the length of her nose until they settled on her mouth. Her lips parted, and his tongue moved inside to play lazily with hers for a long moment.

"What do you think?" he finally asked.

"It--it feels okay," she answered, then blushed a deep red as she realized how that must have sounded.

Angel grinned and cupped one warm, round breast in his hand, tracing the hardening nipple with his thumb. A soft moan drifted from her lips as his mouth took hers again. Spike suddenly shifted behind her as he lowered his hand to part the thick folds of her sex. Willow pulled away

from the kiss with a quiet gasp. Angel's mouth followed hers, and his tongue traced her lips while Spike rubbed her sleepy clit with his thumb and inserted a finger into her hot channel. The blonde vampire's lips fluttered cool kisses along her throat and shoulder.

Angel gently pushed her onto her back, and Spike spread her legs and inserted a second digit into her slippery core. Her walls clamped around his fingers, and she cried out against Angel's mouth as a delicious, tingling sensation began to burn in her womb. She whimpered in protest as Spike's fingers withdrew, and Angel lowered himself over her and entered her with one quick thrust. Willow arched into him, driving her pelvis against his as he pumped in and out of her. Spike turned her head toward him and captured her lips, his tongue delving inside, stroking hers in a rhythm that perfectly matched the darker vampire's deep thrusts.

Angel growled as Willow's muscled walls constricted around his swollen cock. She tore her lips away from Spike's and screamed out Angel's name as her orgasm ripped through her. Angel's mouth dropped to her throat, and he nipped and kissed it, careful not to puncture the flesh. He groaned out her name as he flooded her womb with his cold seed. Pulling out of her, he collapsed on the bed and pulled her over onto him to kiss her deeply.

Angel placed soft kisses along her jawline as her heartbeat slowly returned its normal pace. He smiled as her eyes began to flutter closed, and he kissed her forehead before slipping quietly out of the bed.

"I need to eat," he said to Spike, his voice hushed so as not to disturb Willow. "Can I bring you--"

"I'll get my own, later," the blonde vampire answered.

Angel nodded and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Spike watched Willow as she gave herself over to sleep, and he dropped a kiss on her shoulder, then pulled her close to him, stroking her back as she snuggled against him.

The redhead awoke a second time to find herself alone in the bed. She quickly got up and pulled Angel's shirt over her shoulders and buttoned it as she walked out to the living room. Angel was seated in an armchair, reading a book.

"Hey," he smiled as she sat down on the sofa.

"Are you--okay?" she asked, her eyes searching his.

He nodded, "You? I realize that everything--I mean, you and Spike and me--has happened pretty quickly."

"I'm all right with it," she assured him, but blushed all the same. "I was just afraid that, maybe, you might be--"

"What?" he asked, leaning slightly forward, trying to decipher the question in her gaze. "Are you afraid that I'm sorry about what happened? I've wanted you for a long time, Willow. I'd only be sorry if you were"

"No," she answered, her voice softly confident. "I'm not sorry."

"Good," he smiled. "Spike's gone out to get you something to eat. Oh, and Buffy called while you were asleep. Giles knows where you are. He agrees this is probably the safest place for you."

"Okay," she nodded.

"The sun will be up in a little while, so Spike will be back any time, now. Why don't you wait for him while I grab a shower?" he suggested.

She smiled and nodded again. Angel studied her for a moment, slightly concerned that there really was something more bothering her. When she picked up the newspaper that lay folded on a cushion of the sofa, he shrugged and stood up. He looked back at her once more before

disappearing down the hallway.

"No Angelus," she whispered to herself after she heard the shower come on. "Not that I wanted Angelus, but--"

She threw down the paper and scowled at her thoughts.

"Great, Willow," she berated herself quietly. "You're sitting here moping because you obviously aren't the woman who can give Angel a big enough happy to make his soul go 'poof.'"

Just the thought of waking up next to Angelus sent shivers of terror down her spine, but still, the thought that she clearly wasn't the one to effect the happiness clause in Angel's curse left her feeling more empty than she could comfortably admit.

"I'm so hopeless," she groaned, dropping her face into her hands. "I'm more shook up over the fact that Angel is still Angel than I am over the fact that I just climbed out of bed with him and Spike. Goddess, get a grip, you idiot!"

"Hey," Spike's voice spoke as he came through the front door. "Who are you calling an idiot?"

She grinned in spite of her embarrassment over having been caught talking to herself, "Me. I'm the idiot."

He dropped the bag of groceries he was carrying onto the coffee table and pulled her onto her feet. He wrapped one arm around her and tilted her face to look up at him.

"Why? For waking up between two vampires?" he asked.

"For thinking I belonged here in the first place," she answered.

"You do belong here, pet. This is where Angel and I both want you."

"I'm not so sure."

"I am," he told her. "And so is Angel."

He looked into her eyes, but the doubt he saw there did not diminish. He bent and kissed her, softly at first, then firmer, more insistently, as one hand nudged its way under the hem of Willow's borrowed shirt to cup her firm, rounded buttock. He pulled her close to him and tucked her head under his chin. Willow relaxed against him, until the shower suddenly shut off, and Spike felt her body tense in his arms.

It took less than two hours after her morning class to pack Willow's few belongings and move them from the dorm to the apartment. Angel carted the last of the boxes down the hallway as Buffy went to the door.

"You don't have to leave already," Willow told her.

"Actually, I do," she smiled. "You may be done with finals, but I have one more in an hour. I can stop by tonight, though, after patrol."

"I thought you and Riley were going out to celebrate the end of the semester," Willow replied.

"He won't mind. We can--"

"No, I'd feel better if you did. There's no sense in turning everyone's lives upside-down just because some creep is after me."

"Will, I think that rates more than a 'just because.' But if you're sure you don't mind--" the slayer looked at her friend hopefully.

Willow grinned, "I want you to go out and have a good time. Angel and Spike won't let me so much as step out the door tonight without one of them with me."

"Good," Buffy said. "We just want you safe."

"I know. I am," she nodded. "So, go have fun."

"Okay," Buffy agreed. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, then."

"Right," Willow said as she opened the door and watched Buffy walk away.

She went back to the sofa and sat down to find Angel staring at her from the end of the hall.

"Willow," he spoke softly. "Are you all right?"

"Sure," she shrugged.

He walked over to her and sat down beside her, and her hand tensed as he took it in his.

"No, you're not," he argued.

She sighed and nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I'm just adjusting; that's all."

Angel didn't accept that explanation for a second, but he let the comment slide. Spike entered the room, his hair still damp from a shower, clad only in a pair of black jeans. He sat down on the other side of the redhead, and Angel noticed the look of relief that passed over her face. He glanced at the blonde vampire, and Spike shrugged silently and let his arm drift around Willow's shoulders.

"You should eat," Angel suddenly decided. "I'll see what we've got."

He left them to go into the kitchen in the hope that Spike would have better luck at persuading Willow to talk about whatever was bothering her. Not that finding herself sleeping with two vampires wasn't enough to unsettle the young woman, but the dark vampire knew her uneasiness went beyond that, somehow.

Willow sat and silently stared down at her hands until Spike took one of them in his own.

"Pet, over the past few months, I've seen you happy, sad, excited, afraid, angry, and confused. But I've never seen you this quiet. What's wrong?"

She giggled softly, "You really have been watching, haven't you?"

"Don't change the subject," he insisted gently.

"Sorry. I really don't want to talk about it," she told him. "I just have to work through it--"

She jumped as Angel returned from the kitchen, and Spike felt her fingers digging into his hand.

"Willow--" Angel whispered.

"Would you guys mind if I went out for awhile? Just to take a walk? I'll be back before dark," she promised, scrambling up off the sofa.

"Luv, you can't go out alone. Dark has nothing to do with it. The bastard who's after you is human. Daylight won't put him off," Spike reminded her.

"Oh, yeah," she looked down at her feet. "I won't go far--"

"Spike is right, Willow," Angel told her. "You're not safe alone. We have no idea who this guy is. There's a pan of soup on the stove. You can heat it up whenever you want it. I'm going to call Giles and see if he's found out anything. I'll use the phone in the other room."

The redhead realized he was trying to offer her as much space as he could, and she felt incredibly guilty for making him feel so uncomfortable. She kicked herself once again, but couldn't bring herself to look at him. She knew it shouldn't matter that she wasn't the woman who could send Angel's soul on a permanent field trip. She would never want that to happen again, anyway. But it did matter, and though she angrily reminded herself she was just being ridiculous, her disappointment still ran bitter in her heart.

Willow felt her cheeks grow hot under the blush that spread over them as Angel's eyes continued to study her. He looked at Spike and shook his head sadly before walking off down the hallway. Spike stood and went to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. The tears in her eyes when she looked up at him brought an involuntary gasp from his dead lungs.

"Baby, what is it?" he asked softly. "Has Angel done something, said something?"

"No," she whispered. "It isn't Angel. It's me."

The last word tumbled past her lips on a sob, and he pulled her into his arms. Spike held her tight as she cried hot tears against his chest. Finally, she pulled away a little to look up at him. He cupped her face in his hands and brushed his fingers over her tear-stained cheeks. His mouth lowered to hers, and Willow parted her lips, her tongue delving inside his mouth to seek desperately for his. Spike returned the kiss with equal passion as the little redhead clung to him. He broke the kiss, and she took in a ragged breath and lowered her head to his chest.

"I'm such a fool," her voice was the softest of whispers. "Goddess, this shouldn't matter."

He crushed her to him and nuzzled his cheek against her hair.

"What shouldn't, baby?"

"You won't tell him?" she asked. "Not a word--not ever?"

"Not if you don't want me to," he promised.

She debated for a moment, then nodded against him, and he pulled her back over to the sofa and settled her on his lap.

Willow took a breath and forced her eyes to meet his, "This morning, when I woke up, and both of you were gone--"

She paused, and Spike waited patiently for her to find the words she needed to say.

"This is so stupid," she sighed.

He kissed her softly and placed his mouth against her ear, "Just say it, sweetheart."

"I haven't had much experience with--you know," she began again.

He nodded, and her body relaxed a little as he grinned at her.

"I mean, other than Oz--and that was months ago--I haven't--" she blushed, and Spike chuckled softly.

"Go on," he urged her, rubbing her arm comfortingly.

"So, anyway, I know I don't have a lot to compare it with, but last night, with you and Angel, was--wow," she confessed.

He laughed out loud this time, "I think so, too, luv."

"Then, why doesn't Angel think so?" she asked. "I know I really shouldn't even expect that he would. But I do, and you do, and I thought, maybe, he would, too--"

Spike was genuinely surprised by her words, "He does."

"Well, than, why--" she paused, then sighed softly and plowed ahead. "I guess I knew that it would take more than--wow--but I thought Angel cared about me."

"Pet, I don't understand what you're trying to say. Angel is crazy about you. We both are," he assured her.

She shook her head, "He can't be."

"Why not? Willow, what the hell is going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

"If he cared...if he really...you know...loved me," she swallowed.

"He does!" Spike insisted. "As much as I do!"

"You--do?"

"Why else would Angel phone me and insist that I keep an eye on you? Why else would I flatten anything that even threatened to get in your path just to keep you safe? Nobody means more to us than you do. We want you here, with us, because neither of us could stand for you to be anywhere else."

"Then why is Angel--Angel? I mean, why isn't he Angelus?"

"Angelus!" Spike's eyebrows shot up. "What the bloody hell does he have to do with this?"

"After last night, if Angel really loves me, shouldn't he be Angelus, now?" she asked as her eyes filled with fresh tears.

Spike stared at her for a moment.

"Well, shouldn't he?" she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Is _that_ what all of this is about? You think Angel doesn't love you because his soul didn't--"

"Go 'poof,'" she nodded.

Her brow wrinkled as Spike burst into laughter.

"Oh, pet, you should have said something hours ago!" he told her, still laughing.

"I couldn't. I was too--" she stopped and glared at him. "You think this is funny!"

"Angel!" Spike barked. "Get your souled ass out here!"

Angel immediately appeared from the other room and looked at Spike's wide grin as if the blonde vampire had lost his mind. Willow was staring at Spike in complete confusion.

"Angel," Spike began, barely controlling his amusement. "Willow thinks you don't love her."

"Spike! You promised!" she shouted angrily, her cheeks burning bright red.

"What?" Angel asked and strode over to her, pulling her up out of Spike's lap. "Willow, I do love you. That's why I came back here. That's why I want you here with us. I'd do anything to keep you safe. Why would you think I don't--"

"Because you didn't do an Angelus after last night," Spike explained.

An overwhelming sense of relief washed over the dark vampire, and he hauled Willow into his arms.

"That's all? That's what's been bothering you?" he asked.

Willow's soft voice was muffled further by his hard chest, "I don't want you to be Angelus. Really, I don't. But I don't understand. If you love me--"

"Willow," he drew away and turned her face to his. "My soul is anchored, now. It's permanent."

Her green eyes flew open, "What?!? When?"

"In L.A--Doyle discovered the way to anchor my soul. I never told anyone here in Sunnydale other than Spike because--well--I never saw any reason to. I'm sorry, Willow. I should have thought. I should have told you before we--"

"You can't lose your soul?" the hope in her voice lit up her face as she looked up at him. "Not ever?"

He smiled and placed a cold hand on her cheek, "Not ever. No matter how much I love you."

The tears that spilled down her cheeks were tears of happiness, this time, and she hugged Angel tight to her.

"Oh, Angel! That's wonderful! You must be so--"

His lips stopped her words as they captured hers in a deep, hungry kiss. He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"I love you, Willow," he told her, kissing her wet cheeks.

A smile of delighted relief graced her face as he carried her toward the hallway.

Angel stopped and spoke over his shoulder to Spike, "We're going to celebrate. Get your dead ass over here and help."

Spike chuckled and leapt off the sofa to follow them down the hall.

"Willow, where are you going?" Angel's soft, firm voice asked from behind her.

Her hand immediately dropped from the doorknob, and she spun around, looking for all the world like a child who'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Um...nowhere?" she squeaked.

The dark vampire fought the grin that threatened to curl his lips, "You were just testing the door for termites, I suppose?"

"Well, I--" she jumped away from the door as it suddenly swung open, and Spike strode inside.

"Going somewhere, pet?" he asked, looking from the blushing redhead to Angel.

She sighed and let the keys hidden in her hand drop onto the table beside the door, "Obviously not."

"You can't go out there--"

"I know," she nodded, throwing Angel a look of pure exasperation. "Everyone keeps telling me that. But Angel, if I have to spend one more day locked up in this apartment, not that it isn't a nice apartment, Spike, because it is, and not because I don't like being here with you guys, because I do...."

"Willow," Spike murmured.

"Yeah?"

"You're babbling," he grinned.

"Oh," she sighed. "Sorry. I just need to get out of here before I lose my mind. Please?"

She turned large, pleading eyes on the blonde vampire, silently hoping to urge him to her side. He chuckled and drew her into his arms.

"I could be persuaded," he told her, brushing his lips over hers.

"Spike--" Angel's voice lowered in warning.

"On the condition that we go with you," he added, ignoring the other vampire.

"Would you?" she asked him and turned her head to look over at Angel. "Please, Angel?"

Realizing there was no way he was going to win the battle against that hopeful plea, he grabbed his jacket from the coatrack beside the door and shrugged it on. Willow rewarded him with a dazzling smile, and he bent to give her a quick kiss.

"So, what do you think, luv? Has Sunnyhell changed much in a week?" Spike teased as he laced his fingers through hers.

"Oh, shut up," Willow giggled and stuck her other arm through Angel's. "A person can only stare at the same four walls for so long before she slowly loses her grip on sanity."

"Those four walls are keeping you safe, Willow," Angel reminded her. "And you have exactly one hour before you're staring at them again."

"Or the ceiling, with any luck," Spike grinned.

He squeezed her hand playfully as her face turned red, and Angel laughed softly and raised her other hand to his lips.

"Maybe we could rent a couple of movies," she suggested in an effort to change the subject. "If we cut through the park, we could be there and back in less than hour."

"All right," Angel agreed, steering her across the street.

"Where's Willow?" Angel asked as he came around a display of videos at the front of the store.

"I thought she was with you," Spike answered, his eyes scanning the store for the redhead.

Angel turned to the young woman behind the cash register, "Have you seen the woman who came in here with us?"

"Yeah, I think so," she nodded, looking the dark vampire over with obvious interest. "She left--just a couple of minutes ago."

"What!" Angel barked.

The girl stepped back a pace from the counter and trembled under Angel's heavy stare, "Some guy was waving at her from outside."

"Bloody hell," Spike muttered, pushing open the door and racing outside.

The two vampires stood still for a moment, trying to hear or see or sense Willow's presence. A muffled cry came from the street around the corner, and they took off around the building to find Willow struggling against a strong arm wrapped firmly around her waist. The tall man who had grabbed her had clamped his hand over her mouth and was attempting to drag the squirming woman across the street. A low growl of warning rumbled up from Spike's chest as the vampire morphed into game face.

The sight of angry amber eyes stilled the man for a moment, and Willow took advantage of his frightened inaction to bring her foot down on top of his. He howled and loosened his grip on her waist. Angel's hand curled around the attacker's wrist and twisted it, hard. Spike grabbed hold of Willow, pulling her free from the man, and shoved her behind him. Angel's fist connected with the man's jaw, sending him sailing backward across the street. He clawed his way to his feet and took off in the opposite direction.

"Spike, get Willow home!" Angel shouted as he bolted after the assailant.

The blonde vampire virtually dragged Willow all the way back to the apartment. The door was closed and securely locked behind them before he finally spoke to her.

"What the hell possessed you to leave that--" he stopped his angry tirade as Willow sank onto the sofa and gingerly brushed her hair away from a bloody wound just above her left ear.

"Shit," he hissed softly, dropping to his knees in front of her. "You're hurt, pet."

Willow flinched as his cold fingers gently probed the tender skin around the gash. He kissed her forehead and rose to get a wet cloth from the bathroom. He returned and sat down beside her to gently dab at the blood trickling down from the wound.

"What happened back there, baby?" he asked softly as she tightened her fingers around his arm to stop herself from crying out. "Why did you go outside alone?"

"It was--Aaron," she answered.

"The sod Angel found you with on campus a few nights ago?"

"Yeah. He was outside, motioning to me like he needed help. Angel said he'd checked Aaron out and that he wasn't a threat. I only stepped outside the door. And then that guy grabbed me."

"What happened to this Aaron bastard?" Spike asked, pressing the cloth carefully against the gash.

"I--ow!" she gasped and tried to pull her head away.

Spike pressed his hand to her cheek, holding her still, as he continued to clean away the blood.

"I don't know," she continued. "I was trying to get away from that guy, and he shoved my head against the side of the building and dragged me around the corner. I didn't see Aaron after that."

Willow's eyes darted nervously to the door as the lock clicked free. She breathed a relieved sigh as Angel entered and relocked the door.

"It was Aaron, Angel," Willow told him. "He was outside the store. I thought you said he wasn't the one after me."

"He wasn't," Angel answered, going to the sofa and eyeing her wound with concerned eyes.

"I'll be okay," she assured him. "He was the one who motioned for me to go outside. How can you say he isn't--"

"Because he isn't the one who grabbed you."

"But he must have been helping that guy," Willow argued.

"If he was, he didn't know it. Or he didn't have a choice," Angel told her.

"How do you know that?" she persisted.

"Because I found him in an alley down the street from the video store. He's dead, Willow."

She stared at him in silent disbelief, and he took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"How?" she whispered.

"Someone broke his neck."

Willow stood in front of the window, staring out through the rain-streaked glass, as a flash of lightning illuminated the late night sky. Awakened by the absence of her warm body, Spike had slipped out of bed to watch her from the hallway.

Lost in thoughts as dreary as the night, she was unaware of the vampire until she felt his strong arms encircle her waist from behind her. Spike lowered his mouth to her ear and hushed her as she stiffened in surprise at his cold touch. She immediately relaxed as he pressed his body close to hers.

"Giles says there are more than one," she said softly. "The guy who grabbed me couldn't have been the one who killed Aaron since he ran the other way when Angel went after him."

He turned her in his arms and looked down at her, "You're safe here, Willow. Neither one of us are going to let you get hurt."

She nodded, "I know. This is the only place I _do_ feel safe anymore. All this time, I thought it was vampires I was supposed to be afraid of. Pretty ironic."

"We don't know why they're after you," he reminded her. "They may be working for someone a lot less human than they are."

"If that's possible," she smiled weakly. "I can't understand why they'd want me, though."

Spike's blue eyes pierced the emerald of hers, and his mouth descended to taste the warmth of her lips. They parted, silently inviting his tongue to delve into the sweet cavern of her mouth. He untied the sash of her robe and slid if off her shoulders. Willow's arms slipped around his neck as he lifted her to carry her to the bedroom. Spike lowered her onto the bed, and Angel's arm curled around her, turning her to rest against his hard chest. Spike slid in beside her and placed soft kisses along her neck as Angel drew her leg over his and captured her clit between his

fingers. She shivered between the two vampires as her juices seeped from her core, readying her as Angel slid his cold shaft between her thick folds and inside her soft, wet channel.

Willow moaned, arching into Spike's hand as his fingers gently pinched her nipple, rolling it until it hardened. He braced her against him as Angel began a slow rhythm inside her. Spike's hand replaced Angel's on Willow's slippery clit, and she whimpered and thrust her hips against Angel, driving him harder inside her. The dark vampire nipped and suckled each of her breasts in turn, and Spike swept her fiery hair away from her face to press his lips against her cheek.

Willow closed her eyes as her walls clutched at Angel's shaft. He growled as she milked his seed from him. His fangs pierced her right breast just above the nipple, and she screamed out his name as she succumbed to her orgasm. Angel lapped at the small dots of blood oozing from her wounds and withdrew from her.

Willow's head dropped to the pillow between her two lovers, and Angel kissed her softly, gliding his tongue against hers. He drew her body up to rest against his shoulder and turned her toward Spike. The blonde vampire kissed her forehead, her heavy eyelids, her lips, and he folded an arm around her. He lay close to her, her breasts pressing against his cool, smooth chest, and her back pressed close against Angel. Spike's mouth played over her lips, kissing her gently. He stroked her hair comfortingly until he heard her breath take on the rhythmic pattern of sleep.

Giles removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose as Willow, flanked by Angel and Spike, entered his library. Xander and Buffy shared a quick glance as the two vampires drew chairs up close to the one in which Willow sat down. The watcher, fully absorbed in the problem at hand, took no notice of Angel's hand curled around Willow's smaller one, or of Spike's hand resting on the redhead's knee.

"So, what have we got?" Willow asked after a brief silence.

"I think we can safely assume this young man--Aaron--wasn't knowingly involved in the effort to abduct you. Buffy checked out his dorm room and spoke with some of his friends."

"He was chasing after three or four different women on campus," Buffy explained. "So I think he wasn't obsessed with you or anything like that. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Unless the guy that grabbed you knew Aaron had the hots for you," Xander spoke.

"Which is probably the case," Giles nodded. "They knew he could lure you out of that store. You didn't get a good look at the man, did you?"

"No," Willow shook her head. "He came up behind me. He was wearing a baseball cap, and he had his collar pulled up around his neck. I couldn't see much of his face."

The watcher sighed heavily, "What concerns me is that there is obviously more than one person involved."

"Well, if you've ever seen how many guys knock on her door, you wouldn't think that was so strange," Buffy told him.

Spike tensed, and his fingers gripped Willow's leg.

"Have you dated many of them?" Giles asked Willow.

"No--ow! Spike!" she gasped, placing her hand over his and prying his fingers away from her thigh.

"Sorry, luv," he mumbled, lacing his fingers through hers.

Willow consciously ignored the grin on the slayer's face and continued, "I'd only gone out with a couple of them, and we always went some place public, but I hadn't even come close to a serious relationship with any of them."

"I don't think we're looking for an obsessed stalker," Giles told them. "I haven't found anything concrete in my research, yet, but I think these people are after Willow for a different reason. That man outside the store could have hurt you far worse then he did. He hit your head hard enough to stun you, but he wasn't trying to kill you; he was trying to take you some place."

"Or to someone?" Buffy asked.

"It's very possible," Giles nodded.

"So, where do we start researching?" Willow asked eagerly.

"You don't. We do," Buffy answered.

"But--"

"Will, no one wants you buried under a mountain of moldy old books until dawn," Xander told her.

"But I'm safe here!"

"Yeah, and then what happens when you have to leave in the wee hours of the morning?" he asked.

"I'll be with these guys!" she argued, gesturing at the two vampires.

"You were with us when that bastard grabbed you," Angel pointed out.

"But--"

"You're safer at home," Spike told her.

"Then we're all in agreement," Giles said, trying not to grin at Willow's disgruntled expression.

"No, we're not!" she protested. "I want to--"

"Great," the slayer smiled as if Willow hadn't spoken. "I'll stop by the apartment tomorrow and fill you in."

"But--hey!" she squealed as Spike and Angel each latched onto an arm and pulled her up out of the chair.

"Night-night," Buffy giggled and waggled her fingers as the vampires literally carried the squirming redhead out of the room.

Willow was still sputtering the next morning about being unceremoniously dragged out of Giles' library by her two lovers.

"Here," Spike grinned, ignoring her latest tirade, and pressed a cup of coffee into her hands.

She glowered up at him, and he chuckled and bent to place a long hard kiss on her lips.

"You could at least fight fair," she grumbled breathlessly when he at last pulled away.

"I'd rather fight to win," he replied, trapping her in his arms and ravishing her mouth once again.

The cup of coffee still clutched in her hand was quickly forgotten as her lips responded with an

equally intense assault on Spike's mouth. Angel drifted out of the hallway and observed the heated kiss for a long moment.

"You trying to suck that coffee straight out of the cup, up through her arm, and out her mouth?" he finally asked Spike.

"What coffee?" Willow's dazed voice murmured, her reddened lips still brushing against Spike's.

Angel laughed and shook his head before leaving them to go take a shower.

"Still angry, pet?" Spike asked, staring into her eyes.

"I'm getting over it," she grinned.

"Good," he nodded and pressed his lips to hers.

He backed up her until her knees hit the sofa. Taking the cup from her hand, he set it on the table beside the sofa and ran his hands up under her skirt. She moaned against his mouth as he hooked his thumbs around the waistband of her panties and dragged them off of her. Her skirt soon met the same fate, and Spike's hand cupped her sex as he thrust a finger inside her dripping channel. His cock swelled painfully at the scent of her arousal. Her trembling hands fumbled at his zipper, and he gently pushed them away.

Spike tugged her sweater over her head and stepped back to discard his own clothes. He pushed her down onto the sofa and ripped open the clasp on her bra. His mouth nibbled hungrily at her breasts as he lowered himself down on her, and Willow wrapped her legs around him. He positioned himself at her entrance and brushed his cock along the length of her slit.

She whimpered impatiently under him, and he sucked at her lip, grazing it gently with his teeth as he plunged into her. Their mouths and hands traveled over each other as their bodies moved together in a frenzied rhythm. Spike brought Willow to the edge and kept her there until she cried out in frustration. Spike's fingers found her clit and pinched it, and she screamed as he shot his seed deep within her. He rolled over, pulling her with him, and held her trembling body tight to him until she slowly relaxed in his arms.

"Still angry?" he whispered, nipping at her earlobe.

"About what?" she murmured.

He laughed softly and cradled her head in his hand, and she kissed his chest before snuggling down against him.

"Giles has sent Xander to London," Willow repeated the words Buffy had just spoken. "Okay, what's the punch line?"

"There isn't one!" the slayer laughed. "It has something to do with whoever is after you."

"Sending Xander to London? How?" Angel asked.

"I can't go into the details just yet," Giles answered as he entered the room, carrying a cup of tea. "All I can tell you is that I was contacted by the council early this morning."

"I thought they gave you the boot," Spike said.

"They did, but it seems a--situation--has arisen which may be directly related to Willow's problem. I'd have gone myself, but my presence would have been generally unwelcome, and I need to be here to keep an eye on things."

"So you sent Xander to play mercenary," Willow stated.

"The council has been known to work with intermediaries from time to time, and Xander knows the situation here," Giles nodded.

"Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said this couldn't get any weirder?" Willow asked Angel and Spike. "Well, scratch that."

"I have to admit I can't picture Xander cavorting with a bunch of stuffy old council members," Buffy agreed.

Giles shot her a pained look, "They're not all stuffy and old. And Xander can be a very resourceful young man. He'll do fine."

"When can we expect some answers?" the slayer asked.

"Unfortunately, it could take awhile. I know I'm not giving you much information, but I think it's best if I wait until I know exactly what the situation there is. If it's what it appears to be, Willow is in mortal danger."

Angel's eyes darkened, "I thought you said they weren't out to kill her."

"She'll be safe enough, for now, as long as you keep her out of public reach. Xander and I will be in regular contact. As soon as I know what's going on, I'll tell you. I promise."

"Is she all right?" Buffy asked Angel quietly as she watched Willow from across Spike's living room.

The redhead was sitting in an armchair, her feet tucked under her, staring with unseeing eyes out the window. Two weeks had passed since Xander's departure, and the only news from Giles had been that the young man had been involved in some sort of fight and come out of it with a mild concussion, two broken fingers, and the council's grudging admiration. Whatever else had transpired, Giles was being maddeningly silent about it.

Spike had returned to the apartment one night nearly a week ago and informed them that someone was watching the apartment. He had sensed the stalker's presence, but when the vampire had gone to investigate, whoever it was had quickly vanished into the darkness. After a brief phone conversation with Giles, Angel and Spike had refused to let Willow out of the relative safety of the apartment at all.

"Angel?" Buffy asked, placing a hand on his arm.

He shook himself from his thoughts and said, "I really don't know how she is. She's been like this all day. I don't think she's spoken three complete sentences in 24 hours."

The slayer stepped around him and went to Willow, and the redhead's dull green eyes looked up at her friend.

"We'll get whoever this is," the slayer vowed. "Don't let it get to you, Will."

Willow shook her head slightly, and her gaze lowered to her hands. Buffy looked over at Angel. The vampire dragged a hand through his hair and knelt in front of Willow. He brushed her hair away from her face and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"She'll be okay. It's just frustrating. Isn't it, baby?" he asked softly.

Buffy squeezed Willow's shoulder as the vampire stood up.

"Cordelia telephoned this morning. She's coming back here to help," he told the slayer.

"What does she think she can do that the rest of us can't?" Buffy's voice was mildly defensive.

"She's changed, just like the rest of us, Buffy. Between Doyle and her, I think they could track down just about anyone. You have to admit, with Xander away and Giles in mute mode, we could use the extra help."

"I suppose," she conceded. "As long as she doesn't break a nail or put a run in her nylons, she should be okay."

Angel grinned and let the jab slide.

"I'd better get back to patrolling. See you guys later," Buffy cast a concerned, lingering glance at Willow before letting herself out of the apartment.

Angel pulled the redhead up out of the chair and held her close to him. He ran his hand over her hair as her arms slid around him, and he lowered his head to brush his lips over hers. He captured one lip between his teeth and nipped gently, sliding his tongue between her teeth as her lips opened up to him. The tension in her small body slowly abated, and her arms twined

around his neck as she responded to the feel of his cold tongue exploring the warmth of her mouth.

Angel stepped back and slowly unclothed her before lifting her up and carrying her to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, he undressed and pulled Willow with him under the warm spray. His lips captured hers, and this time it was her tongue that sought his as she clung tightly to him.

Turning her and placing her back against his chest, he grabbed up the shower gel and lathered her body. His hands traveled down her arms and up her waist to cup her firm breasts. He massaged them, and a soft moan issued from Willow's throat as he rolled the pink buds of her nipples between his fingers. One hand slid down to the folds of her sex, and he parted them and rubbed his finger along her opening. Willow trembled, and he held her firmly against him as he slipped one finger then another, into her channel. She thrust into his hand as his thumb teased her clit. She turned and put her arms around his neck, taking his lips in a deep kiss as his fingers continued to dance inside her.

"I love you, Willow," he murmured against her mouth. "I promise everything will be okay."

She nodded and smiled softly before her mouth covered his once again as her hands traveled over his muscled back. One hand moulded around his buttock as the other encircled his shaft. She rang her fingers from its base to its tip, stroking him as he hardened under her persistent ministration.

Angel lifted her up and pressed her back against the wall, and her legs wrapped around him as he slid into her heat. He remained still, allowing her to adjust to him as the kiss increased in urgency. Willow moved her hips against his, and Angel began to thrust into her. His hand dipped to their joined sexes, and he rubbed her clit, plunging harder into her as she moaned and her walls tightened around him.

"Please, Angel," she whimpered as his mouth left hers to travel along her jaw and down to her throat.

He nuzzled against her warm, wet flesh and slammed into her as his fangs carefully sunk into her skin. Willow's fingers clutched his hair as he shot his seed into her. He withdrew his fangs and crushed his mouth to hers as his fingers pinched her clit. Her scream was muffled by his lips, and she bucked wildly into him as she flew over the precipice of her climax.

Angel's strong arms held her upright as her legs slid down him to return to the floor of the tub. He turned off the water and lifted her out, wrapping a thick towel around her, and carried her down the hallway and into the bedroom. Willow's eyelids fluttered wearily as he gently toweled her off. He backed her up until her knees hit the edge of the bed. Gently lowering her down, he slid onto the bed and folded his arms around her as she drifted to sleep against his chest.

Spike returned to the apartment to find his sire and his lover still entwined in sleep. He grinned and quietly left them to take his own shower before returning to the bedroom and laying down at Willow's other side. She stirred as his arm moved over her waist, and he smiled as she turned to look at him.

"Was everything okay out there tonight?" she asked softly.

"I didn't find anyone lurking about outside, if that's what you mean," he answered.

"I'm trying not to let this get to me. I really am," she said. "But, I can't help it. Spike, I'm scared."

He brushed her hair away from her cheek and cupped it in his hand, "Who could blame you? Even I'm beginning to see shadows where there aren't any. But I swear to you, baby, no one will touch you. I'll rip out the heart of anyone who so much as tries."

"Mostly, I just kind of want to stay locked up in here forever. I don't understand what's going on, and apparently, nobody else does, either. I'm thinking of becoming a professional recluse."

Spike chuckled and brushed his lips over hers, "That's going to be a bit difficult with the two of us here."

"Okay, I'll be a semi-recluse," she grinned.

He drew her body closer to his and nibbled her earlobe, "I've never shagged a semi-recluse before."

Willow nuzzled against him as his lips brushed along her neck, stopping to place a kiss at the hollow of her throat before moving down to suckle one soft, perfect nipple. Angel awoke beside them as the scent of Willow's arousal broke through his sleep. He turned and ran his hand down her body, pulling her onto her back and capturing her lips as Spike moved over her. The blonde vampire placed a knee between her legs, spreading them open to run his tongue over her soft, sleepy clit. She gasped as he grasped it between his lips and gently rolled it between his teeth.

Her need to cry out was stifled by Angel's demanding mouth, and her hands buried themselves in Spike's hair, holding her to him as he lapped at the juices that spilled from her core. His tongue plunged into her opening, and she writhed underneath him. He gripped her arms and pinned her down as he continued to work her into frenzied incoherence. She whimpered in protest as his mouth left her sex, and Angel's hand delved to her moist opening as Spike raised himself up and buried his shaft to the hilt in her willing channel. She moaned as he withdrew fully from her, brushing the tip of his cock along her slit before slamming into her again.

Ripping her mouth away from Angel's, she cried out and bucked up to meet Spike's thrust. She dragged his mouth down to hers as their bodies danced together, and Angel massaged her swollen nub. Willow gripped Spike's ass, driving him deeper inside her, and the vampire growled and dropped his mouth to her breast. His fangs pierced the skin above her nipple as his body became rigid, and he filled her womb with his cold seed. His mouth suckling at her breast, his still-rigid shaft filling her, Angel's persistent fingers, sent her over the edge, and she babbled Spike's name repeatedly as brightly colored lights burst behind her closed eyelids.

Spike gathered her into his arms, rolling her over on top of him, and whispered soothingly into her ear as her walls twitched around him, and her breathing came in soft pants. Angel stroked her back and placed soft kisses along her throat and shoulder as their redhead gradually relaxed between her two lovers. She nuzzled closer to Spike, mildly surprised at the comfort of

having him still inside her, and Angel's arm traveled around her waist to encircle both his redhead and his childe. Spike raised her head to place a slow, soft kiss on her lips before settling her back against him, and she drifted to sleep between her two vampires.

Angel's hand came down over Willow's as she reached for the doorknob.

"Someone knocked--"

"I know," he nodded. "And you're not answering."

Gently nudging her out of the way, he waited until Spike had clamped onto her arm before pulling the door open.

"Took you long enough," Cordelia teased as she brushed past him and stepped inside. "Two vampires here, and neither one heard me knocking?"

"We heard you," Angel smiled. "We just weren't sure we wanted to invite you in."

"Very funny," she replied with a little grin. "So, Willow, you're looking--"

Her eyes widened as she looked at the redhead tucked under Spike's arm. She had thrown on one of Spike's trademark red shirts when they had awakened earlier in the evening and left it untucked over her jeans. The shirt set off the fire of her hair and curved gently around her slender hips. It was unbuttoned just enough to give a brief glimpse of cleavage, and combined with her barefoot appearance, the young woman looked soft and utterly feminine. Willow looked self-consciously from Spike to the brunette who was staring at her.

"Actually, you're looking pretty great!" Cordelia declared and eyed the arm wrapped around Willow's waist. "Although you could do with different accessories."

"I'm permanent," Spike told her.

Willow nodded, "He's had himself surgically attached."

"So I've heard," Cordy grinned and shot her a look that brought a soft blush to the redhead's cheeks.

"Where's Doyle?" Angel asked.

"I sent him to find a hotel, and I told him not to come back until he finds something luxurious," she answered.

"Angel laughed out loud, "I'll bet you did. Poor Doyle."

Willow hesitated, reluctant to break the light mood, before asking the question at the forefront of her mind, "Have you found out anything?"

"Not yet," Cordy answered, her expression turning serious. "But we will. Angel sent us the names of everyone on campus you associated with, but nothing turned up. I think, whoever this is, it's someone you don't know."

"I don't know how to thank you for--"

Cordelia brushed aside the statement with a wave of her hand, "Don't be ridiculous. We've known each other too long to let a stupid mistake get in the way of your safety. Besides, I've met enough people in L.A. who have _real_ problems to know ours was actually pretty small. Stuff happens. You get over it, and go on."

"Wow," Willow breathed with a dazed expression.

"Scary, huh?" Angel grinned.

"We were getting ready to head over to Giles' place. Want to ride along?" Willow offered.

"In that death trap of his?" Cordy asked, gesturing at Spike. "I'll call Doyle and tell him to pick me up."

She dug around in the cavernous bag slung over her shoulder and fished out a cell phone.

"I thought he worked for you," Spike commented, looking at Angel.

"I just like to pretend he does," Angel chuckled. "He'd listen to her over me any day. I think it's the legs."

"You're looking good, Cordelia. L.A. must agree with you," Buffy stated as they sat around Giles' living room.

"Or the people in L.A. agree with her," Doyle spoke and dropped his hand onto Cordy's shoulder.

She lifted his hand by its index finger and removed it from her person as she grinned, "In your dreams, half-breed. I guess it took getting out of Sunnydale to help me understand there are things more important than trivial grudges and material possessions."

Buffy eyed the expensive designer dress draped sensuously over the tall brunette's form.

Cordelia grinned brightly, her eyes following Buffy's gaze, "On the other hand, no one says you have to look like a bargain basement bimbo while you're helping the poor, huddled masses."

Giles laughed softly and brought the conversation back to its original purpose, "Xander will be back at the end of the week."

"Then he's gotten some answers?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, with Wesley's help, believe it or not," he nodded.

"Which explains why it took almost a month," the slayer smiled.

"As a matter of fact, the council offered Xander Wesley's position," Giles said, chuckling to himself.

"You're kidding! Xander?" Cordelia's eyebrows shot up.

"He turned it down, but they are going to keep him on retainer," the watcher answered. "Anyway, he's bringing the information back with him. Neither of us felt comfortable discussing it over the phone. Until then, Willow must be watched carefully. The people behind this know what Xander has found out. They also know they're in serious danger of being discovered. Take her home, and keep her there. Don't bring her here or anywhere else. When Xander gets back, we'll meet with you at the apartment."

Angel grabbed Willow and shoved her behind him as someone banged impatiently on the front door. He nodded at Spike, and the blonde vampire flung open the door and planted himself, in full vamp mode, in the doorway.

Cordelia's eyes met and held the amber orbs of the vampire, and she reached up and playfully patted his cheek.

"Very impressive," she assured him as she stepped around him with Doyle at her heels.

Spike closed and locked the door as he resumed his human form.

"Is Willow okay?" she asked Angel, her voice carrying a note of urgent concern.

"She's right here," Angel nodded, stepping aside to reveal the redhead. "Why? What's happened?"

"We were driving over here and discovered some guy lurking around at the end of the street," she explained. "We found this in his pocket."

She extended her hand. A small locket dangled from a broken chain between her fingers. Willow took it from her and clicked it open to reveal a picture of herself and her parents.

"I lost it the night I was attacked outside the video store," she said.

"Where is this guy now?" Spike asked, walking over to stand beside Willow.

"I got out of the car and called out to him, but he took off," Doyle answered. "I went after him, and he ran out into the street and was hit by a car. He's dead."

"Oh," Willow whispered, and Angel slipped his hand in hers and squeezed it.

"I checked the guy's pockets while the driver went to call for help. He wasn't carrying any ID, but he was carrying the locket and this--"

Doyle pulled a thin object from his back pocket and flicked it open to reveal a sharp, slender blade.

"The ambulance came and took him to the morgue," he continued. "We'll hack into their computer and see if they've identified him, but I wouldn't count on it. He looked like he spent most of his time on the street."

"Let Willow and me do computer duty," Cordelia told him. "That guy came from somewhere. There must be other characters as greasy as he was walking around. Considering what he looked like, I'd suggest checking out the bars--the sleazier the better."

"Yes, Sarge," Doyle clicked his heels and gave her a mock salute.

"Well," she barked after he stood grinning at her a moment. "Don't just stand there looking useless. Go mix with the riff raff!"

"She likes me," he winked at Willow. "She really likes me."

He backed away from Cordy's oncoming swat and headed out the door.

Spike walked up behind Willow and kissed her neck as she turned on the burner under the tea kettle.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Fifteen minutes later than the last time you asked," he smiled close to her ear.

"I'm sorry," she grinned and turned to look up at him. "I just want this to be over."

"I know," he nodded, playing with a lock of her hair. "Just don't get your hopes up, sweetheart. The watcher may be bringing your friend from the airport, but that doesn't mean he'll have all the answers we need."

"But it'll be a start, which is more than we've had up to this point," she replied. "Xander's been gone for almost a month. He must have something useful."

"I'm sure he will," Spike agreed.

"But things may get worse before they get better," she said, lowering her eyes to his chest.

He cradled her head against him and rested his cheek on her hair as they held one another. Angel appeared in the entryway, and Spike pulled away and turned to look at his sire.

"Giles' car just pulled up," Angel told them.

Spike placed his hand on the small of Willow's back, and Angel reached for her hand and gave it a light kiss before leading her into the living room.

Cordelia opened the door on the first knock and stared out at Xander. A wide grin crept across the young man's face as she gaped at him.

"Hey, Cordy," he smiled as he led Giles inside the apartment. "Giles said you'd be here."

She whisked back a handful of long hair from her face as her warm eyes took in the young man's well-toned physique," Geez, Xander, if I'd have known you were actually going to grow up after graduation, I'd have stuck around."

He grinned and reached out to take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, "You look pretty great, too."

Her gaze followed him as he walked over to give Buffy a hug. Then, realizing she was staring at him, she pulled herself together and sat down on the sofa, crossing one shapely leg over the other.

"What happened to the geek clothes?" she asked as her eyes traveled over the perfectly tailored shirt and khakis he was wearing.

"Ah, Cordy, don't ever change," he chuckled and bent to place a soft kiss on her forehead.

She scooted over a bit, and Willow and Buffy shared an amused glance as the young man plopped down next to her.

"Well, you look like you're all in one piece, Xander," Buffy spoke. "You must have recovered from your stay in the hospital."

"Hospital? You were in the hosptial? Why?" Cordelia asked.

"I ended up on the wrong side of a fist," Xander answered and turned to look over at the redhead, "Will, maybe you'd better sit down."

She nodded and sat down in an armchair across from him. Angel perched on one arm of her chair and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"The men who are after you are all working for this guy," he began, reaching for a file folder he had given to Giles.

He opened it and pulled out a photograph. Angel took it and looked at the man before passing it over to Buffy.

"Is he a demon, or what?" Willow asked. "Can you photograph demons?"

"He's human, pretty much," Xander told her. "Those other men answer to him, and he answers to a demon. I landed in the hospital the first time I got too close to three of his goons."

"Well, if they're all after Willow, what are they doing in London?" Buffy asked him.

"Just because the council tossed Giles out on his British rear end doesn't mean they haven't kept an eye on him," Xander answered.

"They've kept tabs on what we've been doing since Wesley returned to London, through various sources," Giles explained.

"Some of those sources have been of the unhuman variety," Xander added.

"Wait a minute. You're saying the council has been working with demons to find out what we've been doing here?" Willow asked.

Giles nodded, "It wouldn't be the first time. I've been known to work with demons before."

"Anyway, the council's alliance with this particular demon is how this whole problem got started," Xander said.

He paused for a moment and studied Willow, unsure of how to explain it to her.

"Just say it, Xander," Willow smiled softly. "This demon the council has been working with is after me? Why?"

"They thought they could trust him. Then again, this is the same group of people who thought Wesley ought to be a watcher. The demon came to Sunnydale and followed us around until he decided he wanted you for himself."

"So, why hasn't he come after her instead of sending a bunch of his flunkies?" Cordy asked him.

"Because he didn't want to risk being found out, especially by Buffy. Willow, he's put a price on your head. He's recruited humans because he was afraid another demon--or vampires, for that matter-would kill you. He's offered immortality to whoever brings you to him."

"That's one hell of a bounty," Doyle whispered. "No wonder they've been so obsessed with getting to her."

"Bloody sod," Spike snarled. "When do we kill him?"

"You can't just go after him," Giles warned him. "He's got too many people working for him. And you can't place Willow in such a vulnerable position. She needs you here, with her."

"Then, what the hell do you suggest we do?" the blonde vampire hissed. "Wait until they've dragged her off before we go after him?"

"Giles, what exactly is he planning to do with me once he gets me?" Willow interrupted Spike's frustrated tirade. "I mean, if he's just going to kill me, anyway--"

"Willow," Angel spoke and gripped her hand in his. "We're not going to let that happen--"

"He doesn't want you dead," Xander said to the redhead.

She waited for him to continue, but he fell silent, refusing even to make eye contact with her. Willow dragged her hand out of Angel's and stood up. Spike reached for her arm, and she shrugged him off with an angry sigh.

"Would someone just tell me what the hell he wants with me?" she demanded.

Xander rose from Cordy's side and took her hand, "Will, he wants you alive, for now, anyway."

Her confused green eyes stared steadily up at his, "Why?"

He looked over his shoulder at Giles, silently pleading for help. The watcher looked reluctantly at Willow.

"You two are worse than Angel!" Cordelia snapped. "Just tell her, already!"

Giles nodded, "The council discovered--long after they'd asked for his help--that he has the ability to breed with a human female."

Angel raised himself from the arm of the chair, his eyes boring into the watcher's, "Breed?"

"For lack of a better word," Giles nodded. "Though not in the same sense that humans procreate. The demon's offspring is actually carried to full-term within the demon, but he requires a human host to birth it. He takes possession of the human--they actually become

one being for a brief period of time--allowing the offspring to be transferred to her body. The demon then leaves the human host. Willow, are you sure you want to--"

"I have to know, Giles," she nodded, though her voice shook slightly.

"The offspring claws its way out, through the host's body," he spoke softly, his eyes holding hers.

"Oh, Goddess," she whispered, prickles of terror running down her spine.

Cordelia rose from the sofa to stand beside Xander and looked around at each of them, "Is anyone else finding this too gross to even think about?"

"Absolutely," Buffy nodded. "But we have to. Willow, I swear to you; this is _not_ going to happen."

Angel saw the shudder that shook the redhead's body, and he moved behind her and gripped her shoulders.

"How do we stop him?" the slayer asked Giles.

"The council has no idea, and I haven't had a chance to research it myself," he answered.

"Then you'd better get started," Spike's suggestion carried with it an unspoken threat.

Over the course of the last thirty minutes, Willow had made two trips to the kitchen; picked up the newspaper and pretended to scan it before dropping it again; wandered to the bookshelves; fired up the computer and shut it down moments later; and returned to the living

room to stare at the flames in the fireplace. She turned to make her third pass toward the kitchen when Angel rose from the armchair to block her path.

"Would you sit down? You're making me tired," he grinned.

"I don't want to sit down. I want to know what they're doing," she scowled.

"You know what they're doing. They're pouring over Giles' books, looking for a way to stop all of this. Now, sit down."

He took her arm and hauled her over to the chair to settle her on his lap.

"I should be helping them," she grumbled.

"You should be here where you're safe," he argued patiently.

"Angel, I want to _do_ something! I can't stand sitting around waiting for this demon to come after me."

"Yes, you can, and you will," he said firmly. "He's not going to get to you. You know we won't let that happen."

"I'm sorry. I know I'm being a major pain in the ass," she sighed and tried to wriggle off of his lap.

Angel's arms tightened around her, and he placed a kiss on her temple, "I understand this is hard for you, love. Giles will come up with the answers we need, and then we'll take care of the bastard who's after you."

"Where's Spike?" she asked.

"He went out," Angel's gaze darted to the mantle clock. "Over an hour ago."

"An hour? Shouldn't he be back by now? Do you think something's happened?"

"I don't know. Let's give him a few more minutes before we panic, okay?" he suggested.

She looked at him uneasily, but nodded and settled back against him, resting her head on his shoulder and placing a kiss on his neck. Angel ran his fingers through her hair, toying with it mindlessly, as his eyes returned to the clock across the room.

Fifteen minutes of silence passed before they were jolted from their quiet worry by a soft thud from outside the front door. Willow jumped to her feet, and Angel stepped in front of her. Curling his hand around the doorknob, he threw open the deadbolt and glanced back at his redhead before jerking the door open.

Spike, who had been leaning against the door, nearly fell over the threshold. Angel slammed the door shut and reached out to steady him. Willow gasped at the bloody bruise on the blonde vampire's face and ran to him. He hissed as her hand wrapped around his wrist, and she quickly released it. Spike groaned and stumbled over to the sofa, dropping down onto it as

Angel checked the lock on the door.

"Oh, Goddess, Spike! What happened?" Willow asked as she sat down next to him and eyed his injured arm.

The flesh on his forearm was blistered and burned, exposing part of the muscle underneath.

"Holy water, damn bastards," he groaned through clenched teeth. "There must have been a dozen of them. Fewer before they finally gave up and took off."

Angel sat down and took hold of Spike's wrist. His blue eyes gleamed amber, and his fangs descended as a bolt of pain raced up his arm.

"It's bad," Angel told Willow, ignoring his childe's low growl.

Spike was in full vamp mode as Angel tore open his own shirt and tugged it away from his neck. He curled his hand around Spike's head and drew his mouth down. Spike, completely surprised by the offer of his sire's blood, hesitated.

Angel lowered his voice and snarled the command, "Drink."

The dark vampire flinched as he felt Spike's fangs sink into his flesh, and Willow watched in silent fascination as Angel cradled his childe's head in one hand and gripped his shoulder with the other.

"Get two bags of blood from the fridge and some bandages," he said softly to Willow.

The redhead nodded and quickly vanished into the kitchen. Angel closed his eyes and allowed the long-forgotten sensation of his childe suckling his blood to reawaken within him. He groaned softly as Spike's uninjured hand moved to cup his sire's growing erection. His frenzied feeding had slowed, and he laved his tongue over Angel's cold throat while his fingers stroked his sire's twitching member. He unbuckled Angel's belt and freed his cock from its confinement. Angel's fingers curled through his childe's hair as Spike pumped him until his shaft was hard and fully erect.

Willow reappeared from the kitchen as Spike withdrew his fangs, and Angel lowered his mouth to run his tongue over his childe's bloody lips. Spike's lips parted, and Angel pushed his tongue inside as his childe continued to work his aching penis. A warm tingle suffused Willow's body, and she leaned against the entryway as her body responded to the erotic encounter unfolding before her.

Angel growled softly as Spike's tongue thrust against his, mimicking the motion of his hand on his sire's cock. Angel crushed Spike's lips to his and grunted as he came, and Willow moaned as Spike drew away and raised his hand to his mouth to taste his sire's essence.

Angel looked over at her flushed face and smiled softly, "Go get those bandages, and then we'll see about your turn."

She laughed softly and headed for the bathroom as Angel fastened his pants and examined Spike's arm once again.

"Thank you," the blonde vampire spoke softly.

Angel brushed his lips over Spike's, "I've missed you."

"Like a bloody toothache," Spike chuckled.

"Like my childe," he replied.

Willow returned with the bandages and sat down beside Spike.

"Someone else could do with a bit of attention," he told Angel as he caught the scent of her arousal.

Willow blushed to her roots and kept her eyes on his arm, "Let's tend to this first."

He laughed and lifted her chin with his finger to place a kiss on her lips. She placed her hand on his chest and pushed herself away.

"Arm. Bandages. Now," she ordered.

Gingerly, she lifted his hand in hers, and her eyes grew wide as she looked at the burns, "It's already healing!"

"Sire's blood," he grinned. "It's better than liquor."

"Thanks," Angel laughed. "I think."

Angel stared down at Willow's pale, still body and bit back tears. They wouldn't help now. He wondered if anything would. His brow furrowed at the dark thought, and he shook it away. She looked so very small and frail enveloped in the crisp, white sheets of the hospital bed. His eyes fixed on the dark bruise on her cheek as he strained to hear her faint heartbeat.

He looked up as the door quietly swished open, and Spike limped into the room. His ghostly pallor mirrored the redhead's, and Angel shuddered at the realization he had nearly lost both his childe and his lover, might very well still lose her, in fact.

"We failed her," the words rasped from Spike's lips as he stood beside his sire and took Willow's limp hand in his own.

"We didn't know. We weren't ready." Angel's words did nothing to assuage either Spike's guilt or his own.

Giles had found the way to destroy the demon who had been stalking Willow. They had met in the cemetery five hours ago--just after sunset. Neither vampire had wanted Willow to be there, but Buffy insisted it was necessary if they were to lure the demon out of hiding.

The demon had, indeed, appeared, but not alone. While Spike had no aversion to killing the mortals who had aided the demon's assault, Buffy was reluctant, and it had taken too much time and too much attention to fight them all off. Willow's frightened cry had signaled the demon's physical hold on her, and his human conspirators quickly fled the scene. Willow had

struggled against his unnatural strength, and the demon had slammed her slight frame to the ground and enveloped her with his own.

Spike had lunged at him, only to be flung against a tall monument several feet away. The distraction had been enough, however, for Buffy to level her sword and sever the demon's head from his shoulders. The demon's dead body collapsed on top of Willow, but he had already managed to leave a part of himself within her. Fortunately, he had not had time to transfer his offspring to Willow, and Angel had scooped up her battered and bloody body and fled to the hospital, with Spike and the slayer fast on his heels.

Giles had returned to his home and had, with Xander's help, rid the redhead of the demon's presence. But he'd tempered this bit of good news with the warning that he didn't know how much damage the demon may have done to her mind or her body. Now, the vampires keeping vigil at her bedside could only hope she would awaken and give them the opportunity to love her back to health.

Buffy entered the room as Angel smoothed the hair away from Willow's face and bent to kiss her forehead. He straightened as she approached the foot of the hospital bed.

"I love her," the firm declaration was softened by the worried guilt in his eyes.

"You think I haven't figured that out?" she smiled softly. "It's okay, Angel. You and I have moved on. A slayer and a vampire--even a souled one--is just too painful a combination. If I have to watch you give those feelings to someone else, I'd want it to be Willow. She's the only person I know who deserves to be loved the way you love."

He returned the smile and reached out to squeeze her hand, "Thank you."

"Besides," she grinned. "If the poor woman has to suffer being chased around by Spike, she's going to need you to help keep her sanity."

Spike glared across the bed at her, "Willow doesn't seem to mind being 'chased around' by --"

"Relax, Fangboy. I'm joking," she said. "I know Angel won't let you hurt her."

"As if I would," he murmured as his gaze rested sadly on the little redhead in the bed, and he drew a gentle hand across her cheek.

Angel and Buffy exchanged a teary glance at the sorrow in the blonde vampire's voice. The door swung open once more, and Xander came in with Cordelia and Doyle. Buffy's blood froze at the grim expression on his face.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Giles finished researching the demon and what's happened to Will," he answered. "Buffy, she isn't--"

"Isn't what?" Angel demanded as the young man hesitated.

"When the demon entered her, he took a piece of her mortality. When he died, that died with him," Doyle explained. "She isn't going to make it."

"Like hell she isn't," Spike snarled and took a step toward him.

Angel's firm hand stopped him.

"She's dying?" Buffy whispered. "There's nothing we can do?"

"Oh, yes there is," Spike stated, turning to look at his lover.

"Spike," Buffy's voice lowered in warning. "I won't let you do that."

"Would you rather have her dead?" he growled.

"Than a vampire? Hell, yes, I would!" she shouted back.

"Well, Angel isn't so bad, if you ignore the blood bags in the fridge and the occasional grrrr," Cordelia reasoned calmly. "I mean, I agree we wouldn't want the leather-encased psycho-bitch that was running around Sunnydale, but couldn't you give her a soul?"

"Have you lost your mind?" Xander stared down at her.

She shrugged, "I've gotten used to living with demons. Believe me, humans can be a whole lot worse. She could come back to L.A. with us. I could use another female around when the testosterone level starts choking the life out of me."

"Would we have time to get all the ingredients?" Buffy asked, seriously considering the idea.

Angel gaped at her in shock.

"You don't need them," Doyle told her. "I can do it, and make it permanent."

"Buffy," Angel spoke. "You can't really be thinking--"

"I don't want her to die," she said softly. "And neither do you. You love her."

Angel looked back at Doyle, "You're sure you can restore her soul?"

"No problem," he nodded. "And we won't have to watch her sit around moping in the dark. No guilty past to brood over."

The dark vampire remained quiet, wanting desperately to keep his redhead beside him, but reluctant to submit her to an eternity of darkness.

"Angel," Spike spoke from behind him.

He turned and looked at his childe. Spike's eyes held his, and a dozen images of the past weeks together raced through the older vampire's mind.

"Don't give this up," Spike asked.

He nodded, and Cordelia smiled and tucked her hand in Xander's to pull him toward the door. Buffy's gaze lingered on Willow as she followed them out of the room. Angel turned and looked at Doyle.

"Ready whenever you are," Doyle said brightly.

Spike stepped back to give Angel free passage to Willow's side.

"No," Angel told him. "You do it."

He stared at his sire in utter astonishement. Angel smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I have a childe. I have no desire to create another. I just want to be with her--with both of you. You'll bring her to L.A.?"

"We'll go when you do. That's a promise," he nodded.

Doyle moved to the other side of the bed as Spike sat down and took Willow in his arms. He kissed her softly and held her for a minute before pushing her hair away from her neck. Angel placed his hand on Spike's head as the blonde vampire kissed the pulse beating weakly under the flesh of her throat. He carefully pierced her skin and drank until her heartbeat slowed to the

faintest of whispers. Withdrawing his fangs, he dragged a nail across his own throat and drew Willow's mouth to the wound. Doyle began to chant softly as Spike's blood trickled past Willow's lips.

Laying her carefully back against the pillows, he stood and turned to look at Angel as Doyle finished the incantation. Angel put his arm around his childe and kissed him slowly, drinking the last vestige of Willow's mortality from Spike's lips. Their tongues met and gently slid over one another's until Angel broke the kiss to look down at the redhead.

"I'll tell the others it's done," Doyle said and went to the door. "We'll have to get her out of here before the doctors come along and wonder why she's awakened with no heartbeat."

"How are we going to get her past them?" Angel asked.

"We'll just trot Miss Legs past them," he grinned. "With that skirt she's wearing, they'll be too busy trying to get a look at her bum to notice you ferreting away the undead."

Angel had been trying for the better part of an hour to get Willow to eat. Spike watched as she once again pushed the mug away, and he dropped down beside her on the sofa and pulled her onto his lap. Gently cradling her head in his hand, he pulled her mouth toward his throat. Her body went rigid as she tried to fight the unrelenting desire in her belly, and he stroked her back with his free hand, drawing her ever closer. The part of her that was still the same old Willow--her mind and her soul--was repulsed by the burning hunger building inside her. The demon, however, was drawn inexorably to the blood singing in her sire's veins.

"Drink from me, sweetheart," Spike's deep voice murmured low in her ear.

His soft words, the slow caress of his hand on her back, the scent of his blood was intoxicatingly hypnotic, and Angel held an unneeded breath as he witnessed, for the first time, the amber gleam in her eyes. Willow snarled quietly as the demon broke through, and she sank her fangs into Spike's neck. He groaned and wrapped his arm tightly around her, stilling her body as the nectar flowing from his wounds seeped past her lips and flooded her senses.

The demon sated, she withdrew her fangs and lapped at the punctures with her cold tongue. Spike ran his fingers through her silky hair and looked over at Angel as she rested quietly against him . The dark vampire smiled in relief, and Willow pulled away from Spike and looked at her lovers.

"I'm sorry I'm being so...difficult," she said softly.

Angel took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly, "This is more difficult for you than it is for us, love. You were brought over with your soul intact. That's never been done before, as far as I know. Maybe inflicting this on you was selfish of us, but neither one of us knew how to give you up."

She graced him with a shaky smile, and he leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. He pulled away as the doorbell rang and rose from the sofa. Buffy and Xander entered, and the slayer looked up at him with anxious eyes.

"How is she?"

"See for yourself," Angel smiled and nodded toward the sofa.

The redhead pushed herself off her sire's lap and stood up. Buffy took a hesitant step toward her until their eyes met. Then, with a wide grin, the slayer threw her arms around Willow and hugged her fiercly.

"You can stand me like this?" Willow asked as Buffy stepped back a pace.

"I couldn't stand to watch you die. You're here, and you're Willow."

"Only a little different, or a big different, maybe," she nodded.

Willow felt a strong hand curling over her shoulder, and a low growl rumbled in her throat, startling both herself and Xander, who quickly jumped back.

Willow's fingers flew to her lips, "Geez, did I do that? Was that me?"

Spike laughed at her surprised expression, "That was you, baby."

"I'm sorry, Xander! I didn't mean to go all grrr on you! I didn't even know I _could_ go all grrr. I'd never--"

He grinned, but waited until her hand reached for his before moving closer to her.

"I'm sorry," she repeated.

"It's okay," he answered. "I'll just remember not to grab hold of you so suddenly again."

Her eyes clouded with sorrow, and Xander pulled her into a hug, "Don't be sad, Will. We'll get used to it. It'll just take a little time. We still love you."

He squeezed her tight to him, and Spike reached out and took her arm and pulled her out of the embrace, placing her between himself and Angel.

"Okay, maybe a lot of time," Xander continued as Angel's arm moved around the redhead's waist.

Willow growled, amber eyes burning angrily, as the vampire swung the heavy tree branch into Angel's shoulder. Buffy raced to help him, and Willow shoved her out of the way and threw herself at the attacking vampire, knocking him backwards onto the ground. He placed his hands on her shoulders to push her away, and Willow slammed her knee into his chest, grabbed a fistful of his hair, and ripped his throat out with her fangs. She watched for a moment as the blood poured out of his body, a cold smirk curling her lips, before plunging a stake into his heart.

"Willow," Angel spoke softly and reached down to pull her up off the ground. "Honey, I'm okay."

Her fingers were clenched around the stake so tightly, the dark vampire had to pry it out of her hand. He pulled her close to him and felt her tiny body trembling in his arms as the fury inside her burned itself out.

"Angel," she whispered.

"It's all right," he said, gently stroking her hair.

"How could I--I never felt so--"

He pushed her slightly away to look down into her green eyes, "Baby, it's all right. The demon reacted to--"

"I don't want a demon!" she cried out. "Make it stop. Make it go away."

"I can't do that. It's part of you. You'll learn to cope with it," he promised her.

"I was afraid of this," Buffy said quietly and smiled at her friend as she turned to her. "I shouldn't have agreed to let you patrol with us. You aren't ready for this. It's too soon."

"I wanted to come along," Willow reminded her.

"Will, you're asking too much of yourself. You haven't even had time to figure out what you are, yet."

"I know what I am!" the redhead hissed. "Every time I look in a mirror, every time the sun rises, every time I smell blood, I remember what I am!"

"Willow," Buffy murmured sadly.

A red tear spilled from Willow's eye at the misery stamped on her best friend's face. She shoved Angel away and took off running through the trees that bordered the cemetery.

"No," Spike barked as the slayer moved to follow her.

Buffy felt Angel's hand on her shoulder, and she turned to him and buried her face in his chest as the blonde vampire went after his childe.

Spike caught up to Willow as she wandered aimlessly through the park. He walked silently beside her until she finally turned her face to look up at him.

"Sometimes, I wish you had just let me die," she told him, bitterness edging the sadness in her voice.

"Sometimes, I wish we had left you soulless. This would have been much easier for you."

"Angel never would have agreed to that," she said.

He looked down at her, surprised that she wasn't angered by his words.

"I don't know how he does it," she continued softly.

"He's got a few years on you, sweetheart. He's learned how to deal with it." Spike pointed out. "From what I've heard, he had a pretty rough time all over again after you resouled him, and he returned from hell."

"That's true," she conceded.

He felt her hand slide into his, and he smiled, his worry somewhat abated, and raised it to his lips.

"I scare myself, though," she told him. "You never scare yourself."

"No, I scare everybody else," he grinned.

She giggled and squeezed his hand, "I love you."

"I love you, too, baby. You make me proud."

"Proud? After the way I acted back there?"

"Hey, you know I love Angel, but I'm no soulboy. I love your demon just as much as I love your soul," he said. "Besides, it was the bad guy you went after back there."

"But what if I get angry someday and go after someone I care about?" she asked.

"You couldn't do that anymore than Angel could," he assured her.

"Buffy thinks I was a liability tonight. I let her down."

Spike stopped walking and turned her to face him, "You didn't let anybody down. You just shocked the hell out her. Personally, I think you ought to make that a daily ritual. She's the slayer; who gives a bloody damn what she thinks?"

Willow laughed and put her arms around him, "I do love you. Thank you for being so patient with me."

He brushed his fingertips over her cheek, "With you, pet, it's easy. Let's get you home."

"Okay. I want to see Angel, and I'm so hungry. All that blood back there--" she stopped with a shudder, suddenly disgusted by her thoughts.

"It's a natural reaction," he said, kissing away the scowl that had formed on her brow. "It just means I get to have those lips attached to my neck, and Angel has to sit there and wallow in horniness. You won't hear me complaining."

She grinned and tilted her head to brush her lips over his, "What would I ever do without the two of you?"

"You'll never know, sweetheart," he promised.

"Angel?" Willow spoke from the open bedroom door. "What are you doing?"

He tucked the last of his belongings into the large duffle bag on the bed and zipped it shut.

"I have to go back to L.A.," he told her.

"Why? When?" her puzzled eyes stared over at him.

"Tonight," he answered. "I got a phone call from Doyle. He's had another one of his visions. He and Cordelia have already started back. I'm needed there."

"You can't!" she protested, going to him and taking his hand. "What about Spike and me? We need you, too!"

He smiled softly down at her, "And I need you, Willow, but Spike is your sire. You'll be fine--"

"We won't be fine!" she said angrily. "We love you! We belong together! Don't we get any say in this at all?"

"What's going on?" Spike asked from the doorway, having been drawn to the room by his childe's desperate voice.

"He's leaving! He's going back to L.A.!"

"I have to," Angel told him. "I wasn't going to go without telling you, first. I just got the call from

Doyle a half an hour ago, while you two were out."

"I should have seen this coming," Spike snapped. "I should have known you'd run out on us as soon as--"

"I'm not running out on you," the dark vampire insisted. "My work is there, now. People need me, and I need to be there for them."

"You can't just leave us! We need you more than they do!" Willow knew the argument was selfish, but she was beyond caring.

"Look, it won't be forever. It won't even be for very long. I'll come back as soon as I can."

"Then we'll go with you," the redhead decided brightly.

Angel shook his head, "Willow, I can't ask you to do that--either one of you. You belong here, with Spike."

She put her hands on her hips, "We belong with YOU, you bloody wanker!"

Spike snorted as Angel's jaw dropped open.

"See, it works like this," she explained patiently. "You're his sire; he belongs with you. He's my sire; I belong with him. We love each other; we belong together. Simple enough, Gramps?"

He chuckled and looked over at the blonde vampire, "She's becoming a mouthy little thing."

"Takes after her old man," Spike shrugged. "Mouthy, but smart. She's right, you know."

"Besides," Willow added, stepping closer to Angel and running her hand over his chest. "You don't want to ride all the way back to L.A. alone. We'll make Spike drive, and you and I can pass the time in the back seat."

"Hey!" her sire shouted.

She giggled as Angel shook his head, a slow smile forming on his lips as his eyes met Spike's, "Or we could take turns driving and--riding."

Willow's arms snaked up to encircle his neck, and she reached up to kiss him, "Then we're going with you, right?"

"I suppose I really can't leave you here with him. He's a terrible influence," Angel answered.

She kissed him once more and stepped back, "I'll call Buffy and let her know--"

"We're leaving tonight, Willow. Make it fast," he warned her.

"Yes, sir," she saluted and turned on her heel, giving Spike's ass a quick goose as she brushed past him.

"See what you've created?" Angel grinned at his childe.

"Yeah," he nodded and turned to follow their redhead as she disappeared down the hall. "Bloody brilliant, isn't she?"

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