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To Be With Him

Season 4.

*~*

"The fight shouldn't last too long. I mean, a few demons shouldn't be anything to overly worry about. Spike, Riley, Angel, me, and Willow-witch powers should be enough." Buffy nodded confidently at the end of her speech as she added a crossbow to her pile of weapons.

After the fight with Adam, there had not been as many demons to worry about in Sunnydale. Yet, recently more powerful creatures had faced Buffy and there was talk of a 'final showdown' expected between the slayer and a new group of demons. 'Chrisnera' demons, Giles had informed them, came together only for battles. They were slimy, smelly, and decidedly un-pretty. However, they had great stamina as well as strength, their only weakness being several blows inflicted to a small, skin/bone-free area below their head. This caused paralysis and gave enough time to decapitate the demons.

In L.A., Cordelia had had a vision of the battle and a disturbing image of one of the demons attacking Willow (Giles had said that the demons were attracted by magic, though they enjoyed killing overall), so she and Angel came to offer their help as well.

"Red's not fighting any bloody demons, Slayer," growled Spike.

He was seated on the couch, an arm protectively around Willow's shoulders and a cigarette in hand. As soon as Angel had arrived, he had self-appointed himself as Willow's guard-dog and refused to leave her side for extended periods of time. The image of the demons attacking Red had him worried, though it was only Cordelia who saw the extent of that worry. Angel was pacing behind Spike and started to agree with the blonde when Willow's soft voice stated, "I have to help. I can weaken them a bit with my magic and that'll provide a distraction for them while everyone else goes and kills 'em."

"Why can't we send Burger-boy out as a distraction. Have him run in circles for a bit, and then we'll take 'em down, one by one." Spike smiled at his suggestion but groaned when Willow's elbow connected with his stomach.

"Xander's sick and couldn't help us with anything if he wanted to," Anya said pointedly. Though the image of her boyfriend running around in his 'Mr. Burger' suit was hilarious, even to her, the idea
of him being lunch meat for the demons didn't please her a bit.

Cordelia stood up and walked to the door. "Willow and I are gonna go for a walk, get some fresh air, catch up on Sunnydale stuff. We'll be back in a bit." Willow bounced up from her seat and moved to go with her when Spike grabbed her arm. Pulling her down close to him, he whispered in her ear, "Be careful, pet. No getting bitten... that's a treat only for me." He smiled as a blush crept up her neck but released her arm and let her walk, shakily, over to Cordelia.

"Bye!" yelled Cordelia as she pulled Willow outside.

*-*-*-*

"So, you got a thing for Spike?" asked Cordelia the moment they reached the sidewalk.

Linking arms with the brunette, Willow laughed and replied, "Who wouldn't? I mean, look at him. He's lickable. But why would he go for me, is the question. So I sit and let him play with my head. I wait."

Cordelia raised a delicately shaped eyebrow but didn't question her statements. Spike was extremely lickable, she agreed. But watching the two for the week she had been in Sunnydale, she seriously questioned if he'd allow anyone else to... lick. Smiling sadly, she glanced over at the redhead who was deep in her thoughts.

After Oz had left her, no one had really paid a whole deal of attention to her, all busy in their own affairs. Except for Spike. He'd been rude, bossy, and mean- just the thing to get her looking at the world again with fire and spark. After she returned to the world of the living, he had spent time with her, entertained her, and had been her friend. Cordelia almost laughed out loud at the remembrance of Willow's emails to her about Spike and how he was treating her. She almost cried when she recalled how Willow had written about Buffy and Xander and their almost-desertion of her at the time when she was weakest.

"So how about you and Angel? Any sparks?" Willow questioned softly. She had caught Cordelia's gazes at her employer, and Angel's looks at Cordelia. She was almost positive something was there and she was determined to push it until it was a full blown flame. Cordelia blushed and looked away.

"No sparks. Not really. I'd like sparkage, truly I would. But it's rather nonexsistant. Sadly enough, no sparks."

Willow smiled and patted her friend's arm. Then she thought about that thought- her friend. Yes, she admitted, Cordelia had become one of her closest friends in the past few months, the only person she had talked to, besides Spike, when she was in post-Oz stage. And Cordelia had been there for her, always.

Cordelia suddenly stopped, midstride, and began to fall to the ground. "It's too soon for another freakin'-"

Willow caught her and moved her over to the grass. Cordelia began to grow tenser and her mouth opened to scream but no sound emerged. Her head in her hands, Cordelia fell fully onto the ground, escaping Willow's arms for the moment.

There was so much sadness. And she could feel the demon hungering for Willow. The Chrisnera demons hadn't returned for just a fight. They needed the magic and they needed Willow, dead or alive didn't matter. Fire, lots of fire. Then pain. Always there was pain.

Cordelia's eyes opened slowly and she stood up with Willow's help. "We need to get back, now. Rethink plans of attack." The two hurried as quickly as they could without hurting Cordelia too much. Reaching the steps to Giles's home, Angel opened the door and gasped when he saw Cordelia, leaves in hair, mud and grass stains in her clothes.

"Be a helpful little lad and get me some asprin, Angel. Now," growled Cordelia. Turning towards the quiet group, she muttered, "New plan. No Willow in plan. Demons want Willow. Willow stays home."

Spike smiled happily, feeling much better about going off to fight if Willow was safe. Willow opened her mouth to protest, but Buffy's voice and decision reached the gang first.

"Fine, no Willow. Then we need something else. Anya and Cordelia, you guys stand off to the side in case we need extra back up. Riley will get you some fun little guns. Willow stays here. New attack plan needs to be discussed."

No one noticed Willow's indignant eyes or the tears that started to fall before she snuck upstairs, except for Angel. He handed Cordelia the asprin and blended in with the shadows as he slowly went up the stairs, his vampiric hearing picking up Willow's muffled sobs and angry cursings. Raising his eyebrows, he opened the door and walked into the room Willow had stationed herself in.

She was sitting on the bed, facing a window that looked out onto the cool, night landscape. Angel awkwardly moved over to sit next to Willow and spoke softly.

"You know we all need to you be safe, Will. You're part of the thing that holds the group together. If you got hurt, everyone would be broken apart."

She muttered something in reply, but the pillow she was clutching to her face did not allow Angel to hear what she said.

"What?"

Willow looked up, fire burning in her eyes. "Without me, they are all going to get hurt. They need a distraction that can take care of herself. I'm not a child in need of a babysitter, Angel. But, now, I've got you, Cordelia, Giles, Buffy, Spike, Riley, and if he were here, Xander. Anya probably doesn't care either way, but she would at least let me try to help. I'm not a piece of crystal that needs to be kept polished and on a high shelf. I'm not that fragile. I can take care of myself." With that, she stormed up and out of the room, heading into the bathroom where she locked the door.

Angel stood up slowly, shook his head, and went to contribute to the plans of attack downstairs. Willow, with her ear to the vent in the bathroom, heard every word.

*-*-*-*

Giles locked the door and placed an extra lock on it from the outside. Satisfied that Willow would not be able to get out, he ran to join the others walking down the street.

*-*-*-*

Buffy sent a flying blow to the Chrisnera demon's head, sending him falling to the ground. Angel and Spike were fighting three together and Riley and Giles were occupying another. Anya and Cordelia had distracted one of them and was in the process of removing it's head. Suddenly, Buffy was thrown through the air by her demon and Riley was kicked in the stomach by his. The fight was beginning to shift and the Scoobies didn't like the way it was shifting.

Everyone, except for Angel, seemed to be slowing down and getting tired. Anya and Cordelia had found another demon hiding in the trees and had attacked it with great strenth at first. Now they were alternatingly throwing and being thrown.

*-*-*-*

Willow opened the window and slid out, her arms firmly holding her to the window sill. There was still eight feet between her and the ground: gritting her teeth and closing her eyes, she let go and fell with a loud thud in the bushes below. She ignored the little stabs of pain from the branches and ran around the building and onto the sidewalk. Then she ran to where Buffy and the gang were fighting. They needed her help, she could feel it.

*-*-*-*

When Willow arrived, there were four demons on the ground, but four humans alongside, bruised and wounded. Giles and Riley had killed theirs and assissted Anya and Cordelia in fighting theirs, but the four had gotten many scars for their trophies. Angel and Spike had dispatched one of their demons and now was fighting one on one. Buffy was kicking her demon and cutting him with sword when he grabbed her sword and flung it aside. Baring his teeth, he ran for her and Buffy fell to the ground, unconscious. Before the demon could finish his kill, he was stung with a flash of light and, disoriented, fell on the ground. Cordelia and Giles had gotten up and now began dismembering his head. Willow leaned against one of the trees as Angel fought his demon and Spike battled with his. Muttering a spell, she weakened Angel's a bit but was shaken when Spike went flying in front of her. Dropping down beside him, she yelled, "Spike! Get up!" Spike opened his eyes and squinted.

"Willow, you're not supposed to be here! What are you bloody doing here!" he yelled back.

"Saving you're sorry British-arse!" she growled.

Stepping aside from him, she started chanting an incantation to stop Spike's demon from approaching them. As Angel finished killing his, he looked over to Spike and Willow and saw something Willow didn't understand. The cloak the remaining Chrisnera demon wore was a protecter from various spells and incantations. It was not stopping him from nearing Willow and as she began walking back, Angel began running towards the demon. The demon seemed to be weakening and he didn't expect the next actions.

The demon jumped into the air and landed inches away from Willow's running body. Reaching out, the Chrisnera demon grabbed ahold of her and got ready to tear her apart, grabbing both of her arms and pulling in opposite directions. Then the demon was knocked aside by a slightly-recovered Spike and the two began battling until Spike threw it against a tree. Bouncing against the tree, the demon fell back into Spike and turning him around reached into his back, pulling out bits of something Willow didn't recognize. That was when Angel attacked the demon with a revived Buffy.


Willow ran to Spike's fallen body and turned him so she could see his face. It had gone back to human form and was, strangely, peaceful.

"Spike? Are you okay? What happened! Spike... I swear, if you don't say something..."

A hand reached up and caressed the side of Willow's face. "Pet, I don't really think this is a great time for threats. And I don't think I'll be fine." Willow caught the hand and held it.

"What do you mean? You haven't gone all dust-y yet. You have to be fine. You need blood, that's it! Blood, we'll get blood and you'll be fine," Willow began to babble as she recognized the extent of the damage before her.

Beneath Spike, a pool of blood was quickly spreading. His skin, paler than it had ever been before, was ice cold and it hurt Willow to hold his hand. His eyes were losing their light, all mischieviousness gone, weariness and pain replacing the fun and life. Willow began to lose control of the tears and they fell from her eyes, down her cheek and onto his cold hand.

"Oh, come on, pet. It won't be so bad. Oh, love. Don't cry. Come on, now." Spike tried to sit up, but the pain was too great. He knew that there wouldn't be too much time before he turned to dust. When the demon had reached into him, it had taken most of his heart, as well as any bones and muscles behind it. Even a vampire wouldn't last too long with those injuries. And there was Willow, kneeling next to him, her red hair covering his hand and part of her face. He could feel her tears on his hand, though most other feeling was disappearing.

"You can't die, Spike. You weren't staked. You can't leave me. I won't make it without you, Spike. You need blood. That's all. Then you'll be-"

"Willow, I want you to know something."

"Here, drink my blood," she offered, holding her other wrist to him. Spike couldn't help but smile, though it hurt him to do so.

"Couldn't if I wanted to, pet. But I need to tell you-"

Willow bit into her wrist, breaking the skin and watching as the blood seeped out. She laid her head against his chest and put her wrist above his mouth. The blood dripped out and along her hand and fell in rose-red drops against his lips. "See, you'll be fine. You have to be."

Spike's eyes were wide in shock at what she had just done. The blood dripped in his mouth and he tasted it, exhaulted in it, but it wasn't enough.

"Pet, I lo-"

Then Willow screamed, all her sadness pouring out. All heads looked up: Buffy and Angel finally done klling the last demon, unaware of everything that had gone on just a few yards from them; Riley and Anya from a dark sleep that had tried to claim them, and Giles and Cordelia, from their spot where Spike and Willow had been hidden from their view. All looked and saw the red haired witch, writhed and sobbing, her wrist open and bleeding onto a pile of dark-gray ash. All saw. There was to be no celebration after the battle. There couldn't be, not after seeing the pain in the emerald green eyes.

*-*-*-*

Willow sat in Spike's crypt, sitting on the cold dirt floor, leaning against the concrete he called a bed. There were dozens of books around her and as her bandaged wrist flipped through the pages, her eyes scanned and took in all they could. Finally, the wrist stopped and the lips smiled, though the smile never reached her eyes. She took the book and stood up, walked out of the crypt, and to Giles's house.

All eyes were on her when she walked in. It had been a week since Spike's death and she had not uttered a word to anyone since. They had been discussing a way to get through to Willow, to try to bring her out of Spike's crypt for more than just a shower and a written request for more spell books. But now, Willow was here, clean and looking refreshed except for the light dust on her skirt from where she had been sitting.

"Wills! You're back! Done moping?" Xander said cheerfully.

Everyone shot him a look and Cordelia stood up. "That's not what he-"

"Come with me, Cordelia?" Her voice was soft, clear, and with no malice. Somehow, Cordelia got the feeling Willow did not mean just out to the mall or park, but nodding, she stood up and followed Willow out the door. Angel jumped to his feet.

"You guys keep thinking of stuff. I'm going to follow them."

Nodding, everyone went back to talking and Angel stepped out into the night air. Spotting Cordelia and Willow, he ran up silently and kept near the bushes and trees. He stayed close enough so he could hear what she said, but remained far enough back so that they would not notice his presence.

*-*-*-*

"Spike told me that for a good ten years or so, during the twenties, Dru left him to go to Prague and somewhere in Italy. While she was there, he was here, drifting around and getting into lots of trouble. He enjoyed himself here during that time."

Cordelia looked at Willow, concern etching her face. "Willow, we can't bring him back. I know it'll take awhile, but you have to move on."

Willow wiped her eyes quickly and replied, "I can't. I need him, Delia. He cared for me and he tried to tell me. And I know we can't bring him back. But we can go back and find him."

Cordelia immediately had a thousand protests in her mind, but looking into Willow's desperate eyes, she knew she couldn't refuse without Willow dying inside. "But how, Willow?"

Willow held out the book she was holding and showed the page she had marked. "It's a spell that will bring us to whatever time and place we want. Buffy's old roommate left the spellbook under my bed and I found it, covered in an inch or two of dust. But it's the spell."

"What if it doesn't work out? I mean, back then he was all grrrrr, and he didn't even know you. Hell, you weren't even born!"

Willow stopped suddenly and tears ran down her face. Grabbing Cordelia's hands, she whispered, "Delia, I'm begging you. I need him. I'll die without him. I am, inside. Everything's just stopping and withering. Today's the first time I've talked to you guys, but I've been talking to his crypt! Everything, inside, hoping that maybe I'll sense him, feel him in there. But there's nothing. I can't live like this."

Cordelia nodded, then brightened as a new thought came to mind. "We'll need clothes, and money. Lots of money. And clothes." Willow giggled for the first time in the week and couldn't help feeling a little excited.

*-*-*-*

Angel had frozen next to the tree and couldn't believe what was going to happen. But he had heard the desperation in Willow's voice. Worriedly, he believed that she might try to kill herself if she kept slipping into the world she was sliding into. But going back to the twenties? Neither of them had any idea what they were doing, what they should do. So he took a breath, stepped out from behind the tree and cleared his throat.

Willow froze and gaped. He had eavesdropped! Growling softly, she asked, "What are you doing, Angel?"

"Offering my help. Neither of you will know what to do. I was there. I know where Spike would stay, how to fight him, how to keep him from killing either of you. Neither of you know. Plus, I had an account back then. Saved from my Angelus days. That would provide money. I also had a home, though I believe at the time I was wandering through Mexico, wallowing in self-pity."

"You'll help me?" asked Willow softly.

"I know you'd do this with or without my help. You'll be safer with." Angel took a deep breath, thought, then said, "Meet in Spike's crypt tomorrow night. Find two outfits each for the both of you before then. Bring the spell and anything else you'll need." Glancing at Cordelia, the two exchanged some kind of understanding. They were there for Willow and they would help her find Spike. Then they would leave. Simple as that.

*-*-*-*

Willow squealed over the dress Cordelia had gotten for her. The three friends were in the crypt, dressed in their time-period clothes and ready to go. It was designed with silk material in a marigold color. One shoulder would be left bare while the other arm was fully covered. On the sleeve of the left arm was an attached color of red with an Asian gold mark near the bottom. The dress created the feeling of being wrapped around Willow and being held there by nothing more than pure luck. Near the bottom of the dress was the same red color and Asian mark. They had cut Willow's hair so it curled neatly around her head and, Angel admitted, the dress did look lovely on her.

Cordelia was wearing an emerald green dress in the same one-shoulder style, though hers was without an asian feel. More mediterranean, Angel decided. There were buttons holding the one sleeve together and a purple and gold belt also held the dress together. Both looked amazing and Angel was unsure of how he was going to last. He had dressed himself simply in a black suit with white silk shirt. All three were ready.

Willow began the spell.

Angel said the few words in Latin he needed to say.

Cordelia grabbed Angel's hand in fright as blue light swirled around them.

Angel discovered he rather enjoyed the feeling of Cordelia close next to him and pulled her slightly closer.

Willow suddenly wondered if going back in time would affect Angel. In that time, there was already one Angel with a soul... was it possible for there to be two? Realizing some clauses in the spell, she opened her mouth to say something to Cordelia and Angel.

Then all went black.

*-*-*-*

Willow woke up in a comfortable arm chair. She let her surroundings sink in before she opened her eyes. Ahead of her to the right, she could feel the heat from a flickering flame. Across from her, she heard breathing, though it sounded unnecessary, forced. By her feet was another person, a head resting against her knees. Cordelia, she decided, was the one at her feet and Angel was across from her.

"Willow, I know you are no longer sleeping. Open your eyes, pretty one." The voice was taunting and deliberate, the sound familiar from a time she wished to forget.

Willow opened her emerald green eyes slowly and focused them on the man before her. Cordelia opened her mouth to say something but Willow deftly put a hand on Cordelia's head, calming and shushing her. "Angelus. It's so awfully nice to meet you again."

Angelus laughed mockingly, but then stood up and walked over to the fire place. His hand rested on the mantle and looking into the flames, he spoke to Willow. "It is nice to see you face to face again. I want to thank you for bringing me here. Some sort of gratitude is owed to both you and Cordelia."

Willow squinted her brows. There was something different about Angelus. His posture and tone... at first it had been similar to when he had returned to the highschool as Angelus as opposed to Angel, but now he was civil, respectful. "What's the game you're playing, Angelus?"

"That's what I was trying to tell you, Will. He's changed and he refused to let me know what was different until you woke up. I was up for hours, just sitting here. He put you in the chair and me in one too, but said I could move around as I liked. And he's not getting all fangy, so I'm freaked." Cordelia blurted, then pleased with saying her piece, went back to resting her head on Willow's lap. Willow raised her eyes to Angelus's and watched him with a cautious curiosity as he went back to the wing chair he had been sitting in before.

"I want to explain something to you, Willow and Cordelia. There are, essentially, three of me within me. There's Angel, the souled one. There's the Angelus you've both been acquainted with, the demon one. And then there's me, the one who has a non-overbearing conscience."

Willow opened her mouth to speak but Angelus raised a hand and went on. "I'll answer questions later, Willow. The curse the gypsy put on me, that was giving me the soul of almost a saint, something I never was, human or not. The clause caused me to revert fully to my demon, something that happened when I was first turned. But both demon and saint were a part of me. Think of it as almost a Freudian Id, Ego, and superego. Though a bit more extreme and meshed into one. As a person, I wasn't the nicest one to roam the streets. I had killed a few men before I became a vampire. I didn't feel too much regret because of the circumstances, but if I had killed, say my mother, at that point in my life, I probably would have killed myself the next day.

"When we're turned, we don't lose our souls at all. We don't really gain demons, either. They are both part of the mortal before, just as a vampire they are emphasized. And as with humans, we have a choice in which side we delve into more often. Most go for the emphasized demon. Those who go for the saint often stake themselves or are staked by those disgusted. The curse forced me to go towards the saint. The clause forced me to go towards the demon." Angelus took an unneeded breath and stared questioningly at Willow. "Somehow, dear red-head, you placed me in a wonderful median."

Cordelia stood up and walked behind Willow. "Does this mean you're not going to bite us, Angel?"

"I prefer Angelus, Cordelia. And yes, I won't bite you. I've got no great desire to, besides hunger." Angelus glanced at the windows covered by heavy drapes. "Be a dear and check if the sun's out, Cordelia."

Willow waited until Cordelia had walked out of hearing distance before she asked, "You're not like before... either of the befores. More like post-Darla. Because you gained sort of a median after the demon-stage. You kill because you like it. You play with other because you like it. But you won't kill us because you like us."

Angelus grinned, a touch of evil tinting his face. "Exactly, Willow. Stay on my good side. I'll help you get what you want." Then, offering a box next to him, he asked innocently, "A cigar, Willow dearest?"

*-*-*-*

Cordelia sat cross-legged on Willow's queen-sized bed. It had been a few hours since the conversation downstairs, after which Willow had silently searched the mansion, Cordelia following behind. She had been thinking of questions, of things to say, but whenever her mouth opened, it was often silence that emerged. Willow was currently digging through one of two wardrobes in her room when she squealed and popped out. In her hands were handfuls of clothes: dresses, skirts, and the needed nightgown. Tossing one of the nightgowns to Cordelia.

"Thanks, Will."

"Yeah."

Willow sat down next to Cordelia, and the two looked at each other for a few seconds. Then, as Cordelia's lower lip began to quiver, she asked, "Angel's never going to come back, is he. Not here at least. I lost him." Willow opened her arms and Cordelia leaned over, allowing herself to be held and comforted. Out of everyone in both Sunnydale and Los Angeles, only Willow knew how much she had felt for Angel. Now, only Willow understood how pained she was at the loss.

"Come on, Delia. You need your sleep. We're taking vampire hours now, remember?" Willow smiled sadly and released Cordelia. Then, glancing around at the room cautiously, she added, "If you want, you can spend the night in here. I don't really feel safe by myself with Angelus."

Cordelia smiled and nodded. "I'd feel better, too. Where's he gonna take us out tomorrow? Was he even planning to? 'Cause I'm not going to spend my first day in the twenties stuck in some mansion." Willow laughed in response and shrugged. Getting underneath the covers, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

*-*-*-*

"So, how do I look?"

Cordelia stepped in front of Willow and twirled around. Willow clapped at the sight- Cordelia did look wonderful. She had let her hair down in waves and had chosen to wear a slinky, silver colored dress that clung to all her moves. It had a low scoop, but was small enough to keep a person guessing and she had worn two strings of pearls as adornment. "You look marvelous, Cor. Absolutely marvelous." Smiling, Cordelia picked up a dress that had been hidden behind her on a chair. "This is for you, Will. It'd look great on you."

The dress was a black silk material that went down to her ankles. There were small straps, no sleeves, and the scoop went inches further than Willow would have ever dared. Yet, it was the kind of dress Willow, with her red hair and green eyes, would be noticed in, and that was exactly what she wanted. Willow nodded, went and changed into the dress and emerged, sleek and stylish.

The two women, arm in arm, went down the stairs and into the parlor. Angelus had already changed into a pin-striped suit and was drinking some blood from a wine glass. He looked up when he saw the two and was instantly pleased. They looked as if they wanted to go out on the town, which was exactly what he was going to make them do anyway, whether they wanted to or not. And they did look amazing.

He stood up and held his hands out to them."What a sight you two are. Fabulous, my darlings."

Willow accepted his hand but glared. "If you do anything to us that involves us being bit, or hurting, or any loss of blood, I will stake you in a second. And if you get us in any situation that might get us hurt, I'll tell about what's going to happen if they don't stake you... about when you get friendly with the slayer."

Angelus nodded, amused, and looked at Cordelia looking at his proffered hand. "I don't trust you," she said simply, but then she took his hand and both allowed him to lead them out the door and into a waiting car.

*-*-*-*

"This is so nice! The car, Willow-stylish, Angel out of his drab wear! And we're going clubbing!" Cordelia chattered incessantly in her seat next to the window until Angelus reached over and prodded her shoulder lightly.

"Angelus, Cordelia. I want you to call me Angelus. I'm not soul-boy anymore, and glad of it. And think of tonight as a big movie production. If you want to get the check, you have to act your role as a wealthy young woman from the twenties. Both of you do. Remember that, or you won't survive."

Cordelia raised an eyebrow at his little speech, but remained silent the rest of the way to the club.

Angelus got out of his car and walked to the other side and let the two women out. With a glance they knew he wanted them to hold his arms, so they did. Willow was beginning to feel excited and was not minding Angelus's company. In the car, she had asked if he knew where Spike was and he had told her about how he always felt Spike's
existence, and the closer they got, the more he felt Spike. He had taken them to this club because he was positive that was where Spike was, and finding Spike was what Willow wanted.

There was a 'bouncer' at the door who was calling out names of people on a list he had. When Angelus walked up, the bouncer asked sharply, "Name?"

"Angelus. It's been a while, Marty."

Marty looked up with pleasure as soon as Angelus had spoken his name. "Angelus! It's been so long! We heard that you had gone over to New York for business for a couple months. William's already inside, do you want me to let him know you're here?"

Angelus shook his head and smiled at Marty. Letting Cordelia's arm go, he reached into his suit pocket, then shook Marty's hand. Marty smiled knowingly and patted Angelus's shoulder. "When you get to the bar, tell 'em it's on me." Marty winked at Cordelia and Willow, then went back to his list.

Willow gripped Angelus's arm tighter as the three walked into the room. Angelus looked down and almost laughed. Willow was growing paler by the second, her fright clearly evident. Though he enjoyed the scent, he knew it wasn't because of him. Since that took away some of the fun, he whispered into Willow's ear, "Just relax, Willow. Smile, walk, and remember to breathe. You're doing fine."

Green eyes stared thankfully into brown ones.

"Can I go over there, Angel?us? To the bar. Get something to drink. Get noticed."

Cordelia started to move away before Angelus brought her closer to him and told her softly, "Remember, you're here
with me. Both of you are. We leave when I say. Don't make a fool of yourself. Be careful of what you say and how you say it. And don't get drunk." Then, he released Cordelia's arm. Blowing a mock kiss at him, she sauntered over to the bar, ordered a drink, and waited a few minutes before some men came over to her and began to talk with her.

"I wish I was like her. Able to draw all of that attention," spoke Willow softly.

Angelus squeezed her arm gently and replied, "If I left you alone, men would be fighting to get to you. Do you want to dance?"

Willow glanced over at the band, playing an upbeat, jovial tune. "I don't think I could dance to that, Angelus."

He walked her over to a post, released her arm, and started walking away. "Stay right there, Red, I'll be right back."

Willow leaned against the post and looked at the array of people before her. Men and women in groups, chattering and laughing. She missed her friends right then, who would laugh and keep her entertained in a situation like this. Then, she turned her head and looked at a table where a woman was sitting on a man's lap, on the table. The man, he looked so familiar. But wavy brown hair? Who did she know with...

He turned his head towards her and ice-blue eyes met emerald green. He held her gaze for a while, before he turned back to the conversation at hand. She was still staring at him, he could feel it. A penetrating stare, as if she knew him. Spike turned back to the woman and looked at her again. She was a pretty thing, beautiful figure and hair, but her eyes were astounding. Suddenly her head turned as a man walked up to her. Spike felt a small surge of jealousy, then inwardly laughed. Why should he feel jealous of a man with a woman he didn't even know.

He listened half-heartedly at his conversationalists, but then turned back to the woman and man. As the man turned his head, William gasped in astonishment.

"Will, darling, what is it?" The brunette on his lap asked.

"Angelus, Claudia. It's Angelus." Spike picked Claudia off his lap and sat her down on the table. Saying brief apologies to the group, he walked up and to the post as Angelus was whisking away the woman. Leaning against the post, he pasted a smile on his face and nodded when Angelus caught his gaze. Inwardly, he was seething. He wanted to dance with that woman, and he wanted to speak to his sire who had deserted him months before.

"What are you doing, Angelus?" whispered Willow in Angelus's ear. The music had changed to a slower song, and as Willow looked at the people around her, she realized that with the slow songs, the dances had not changed tremendously. Wrapping her arms around Angelus's neck, she rested her head against his chest and swayed with
the beat.

"I saw him, Angelus. I saw him and I know he saw me. I thought he'd get up and walk towards me, but he didn't."

"He's watching you now at that post I left you at earlier." Angelus wondered if he'd really let Spike have Willow. He'd grown to like the young woman and felt that, perhaps, he could do much better than Spike could for her. Smiling mischievously, knowing Spike was watching them and that Willow's senses were extremely sensitive at the moment, he lowered his head to her neck and let his teeth extract enough that the were protruding, but not so much that his face would change.

Willow moved her head up, wondering what Angelus was doing, then gasped. He was running his teeth up and down her neck, causing all the hairs on her body to go up.

"Angelus!" she whispered, then, she clung to his neck.

Her knees grew weak as he pierced her skin, just enough for a few droplets of blood to emerge. Licking them, he replied, "Yes, darling?"

Spike had had enough. Just watching Angelus do whatever he was doing behind all that red hair was torture. He wanted the girl more and more as the seconds passed. Walking briskly, he tapped Angelus on the shoulder and asked in a smooth, respectful voice, "If I may?"

Angelus opened his mouth the say, 'no', but Willow spoke first. "Of course." She moved to leave Angelus's grasp, then growled softly when he wouldn't let go of her. "Angelus, I think some of those men by Cordy wish to convince her in taking her somewhere else," she gritted out.

Angelus dropped his hands quickly and, growling, walked over to where Cordelia was, surrounded by five or ten men. Smiling, Willow wrapped her arms around Spike's neck and rested her head on him.

"That was incredibly wrong of you, pet, to say such a thing to Angelus," Spike whispered, amused.

Willow, eyes closed, muttered softly, "God, I've missed you, Spike."

Spike stepped back from her a bit and growled. "What did you call me, pet?"

Willow looked up, tears in her eyes. "I called you Spike. That's the name you were going by decades ago. Why, do you prefer William?"

"Decades ago? What do you mean, pet? I've been in Chicago all my life, the good twenty-two years of it, at least." Spike's mind was whirring in activity. It seemed that this chit knew who he was, what he was, and that was definitely not good. Unless Angelus had chosen her for himself, telling her all the she needed to know, which was still rather bad.

"Liar," Willow whispered softly. Resting her head back on Spike, she added, "I know. And I know you know. Angelus knows I know. Cordelia knows. We've been looking for you."

"But you're human, pet. I hear the heart beat, I smell the... blood? Are you hurt, luv?" Spike had not registered the slight smell on her until just that moment. Reaching up with an arm, he brushed back some of her hair and growled at the two pin prick-size holes in her neck. "Was that what he was doing, pet? Are you his?"

Willow laughed outright at this, bringing a small amount of attention to herself and Spike. "I'm his the day hell freezes over, Spike. And I didn't know exactly what he was doing until he was done. I think he was teasing. But why would he want me. Now, he and Cordelia might be a possibility, but that's a maybe."

Spike smiled, relief washing over his face. "We'll talk some more later, pet. For now, let's finish the dance."

*-*-*-*

"Now move your feet like that, yes, and then over there."

"I'm going to break something!"

"No, no you won't. Now, move over slightly and..."

"Ooooo!!!"

Spike smiled at the red-haired beauty in his arms. She had finally gotten down the basics of the fast-paced dance he had convinced her to participate in. Just as Spike began to swing her out again, Angelus whispered in his ear, "Car. Outside. Now. Bring Red."

Growling, Spike swung Willow back into his arms and began leading her away from the crowds of people in the club.

"Gotta go to the car, pet. Peaches calls."

Willow laughed and leaned against Spike, then lifted her head, eyes questioning.

"Pet?" prodded Spike.

"Spike, how were you expecting me to believe you'd been in Chicago all your life if you have an English accent? Hmmm?" Willow smiled as Spike laughed and fumbled in trying to explain. It all ended in more laughter until Willow and Spike got into the car.

"Awfully nice of you two to join us," growled Angelus.

Cordelia turned around in her seat and stuck out her hand. "Cordelia. It's nice to see you again, Spike. Though you've never met me. But... oh... damn."

Spike took the nervous girl's hand and kissed the back softly, saying smoothly, "It's lovely to meet you, Cordelia." Cordelia smiled, then turned back to look out the window.

*-*-*-*

Willow was bristling with anger. Angelus was acting rude, inconsiderate, and fairly immature from the moment she left his arms and began dancing with Spike. Now, they all sat around a large dining room table, Angelus and Spike sitting opposite each other, Willow and Cordelia sitting together at one end of the table.

Spike leaned back in his chair and pulled out a cigarrette from his coat pocket. "So, lovelies, I don't suppose one of you will tell me all this about you knowing me from the future?"

Cordelia opened her mouth to begin telling of the love that had gone unsaid between Willow and himself when Willow spoke first. "You came into Sunnydale, got into trouble, and my friends, including the Slayer, helped you out. You and I became really close friends and then there was a big battle and Angel and Cordelia came to help
fight." She glanced at the dark wood as she said the next part. "Therewerelotsofdemonsandyoudied." She felt Cordelia's hand over her own and she squeezed the offered hand gratefully. Tears threatened to overflow, but they were blinked back quickly.

Spike raised his eyebrow at Angelus, feeling that something must have been missing from the story for the red-head to get so upset, but all Angelus did was shrug.

Standing up, Angelus nodded towards the windows and said, "I'm going to retire to my chambers. Spike,
you can take the room opposite mine. You and I need to talk about why I left you and Dru years ago."

Spike's face went grim and he nodded, kissing both women's heads as he left. "Good night, you two." He smiled as Cordelia nodded to him, but frowned when Willow wouldn't meet his eyes.

*-*-*-*

Willow and Cordelia laughed heartily as they walked into the mansion. Cordelia quickly shouted to the man in the cab behind them, asking him to bring their packages into the foyer area. She took out a few bills and left them on the foyer-table before opening another set of doors and entering the parlor. Angelus was sitting in a chair facing the fireplace, though the fire was not going. As Willow and Cordelia cautiously made their way towards the kitchen, he turned, his face in full game mode. "Where the hell do you two think you were?"

Willow growled softly at him and replied, "Cordelia, go upstairs."

"But, Will-"

"Go upstairs, now!"

Cordelia lifted her skirts and ran up the stairs, locking and bolting her door.

*-*-*-*

"We were getting clothes and some food, Angelus." Willow stood up straight, her green eyes flashing. How dare he question all of their activities, watching every movement, she thought.

"You are not permitted to leave the house unless I say so! Is that understood!" Angelus began pacing, his face still distorted from anger.

"What the hell do you expect us to do? Sit around the house all day, locked up in our rooms, wondering, 'hmmm, what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we wear'? We don't drink blood, Angel-sweets. Need food. And clothes, unless you want us to cause a scandal."

Angelus growled softly, his face going back to its human visage but his eyes flashing gold. "You will treat me as the master I am. If I say jump, you jump. If I choose to make your meals consist of blood, that is completely within my power."

Willow laughed mockingly, questioning, "And when did we become your slaves, Angel-sweets? Do we have this big 'ol sign above our heads that says we won't stake your sorry ass any bloody time we feel like we should? Because if we do, remind me to repaint it. If you even dare to hurt us or treat us like your minions," she spat, "I will dance over your dusty remains." Willow began moving upstairs towards her room, furious, when a hand grabbed her arm and threw her against the wall.

"I will treat you as I so please." Angelus growled, then looked around him, saw the door to the library, and began dragging Willow there. Once inside, he shut and locked the door, opened a drawer and pulled out a leather belt. Willow's eyes grew wide, her hands raised to defend herself. A few moments of silence passed before screaming and sobs could alternately be heard outside the room.

*-*-*-*

Two hours later, Angelus stalked out of the room, his posture tenser and more stressed than before. The belt in his hand was bloody and there were scratches on his arms and neck.

Spike stretched and walked down the stairs, his attire consisting only of a long, black, silk robe tied loosely at the waste. He had just woken up and felt he needed to get up- it was just too quiet now in the house. His eyes fell on Angelus and the belt, pacing in the parlor.

"What the bloody hell did you do, Peaches?" Spike gasped as he heard the sound of muffled sobs in the library. Giving Angelus another glance, her ran from the stairs and into the library, and stopped, momentarily stunned at the sight.

Books were torn and had fallen from their shelves, shelves which were covered in blood. There was a desk, but it had been pushed to the wall and its contents were on the floor. Two chairs were broken, and on the wall furthest away from the door was a previously white couch, where red hair and blood now were intertwined. Spike shook himself out of his daze and ran to where Willow, her dress in shreds and her back, arms, and legs all bloody. Defeated green eyes looked at soft blue ones and Willow reached out with her hand to Spike.

Spike knelt, cradled her form, and left out of the library and back into his bedroom. On the stairs, he spat at Angelus, "Bastard." before heading to his room.

Inside Spike's bedroom, he walked into an ajoining washroom, started the warm water with one hand, and gently lowered himself and Willow to the floor. Here, he took another, closer look at the red head.

There was a bruise beginning to form on her cheek; both were stained with tears. There weren't any bite marks on her neck or shoulders, but as his gaze traveled down, he saw bruises on her torso, whip marks on her arms and stomach, cuts on her legs, and deep welts on her back.

"Oh, pet." he muttered softly.

He stroked the unmarred cheek and felt his heart die as Willow whispered, with great pain, "Help me, William. Please."

Spike nodded and began removing the tattered remains of her clothes. Once she was fully undressed, he picked her up and gently lowered her into the warm water, shushing her every time her mouth opened to express pain. Taking a sponge from nearby, he washed her, gently going over the cuts and bruises, trying to avoid the welts completely. When she was clean, he lifted her again and dried her off with a towel. Wrapping another towel around her, he picked her up and carried her to his large bed. Pushing the covers aside, he set her down gently and then sat beside her.

"What happened, pet?" he gritted out between clenched teeth.

Willow saw his anger, smiled sadly, and reached up with her hand, stroking her cheek bone, tracing his jaw. Sighing sadly, she turned away and hid her face in the pillow, finding a suitable way to express her pain and muffle her tears without Spike hearing.

Spike stood up and made way to leave the room when he heard Willow cry out. Turning, he saw her emerald eyes and her hand, both soundlessly asking him to stay. Spike nodded, walked over, and gingerly lay down next to Willow, wrapping her still bleeding body in his arms. Arms, Willow knew, that would never lash out at her as Angelus's had.

*-*-*-*

The door opened slowly and Spike turned, his game face on. He was ready to jump up and tackle the visitor when he saw a swish of dark brown hair come inside. The woman closed the door, bolted it, then ran over to where Willow lay.

"What happened to her?" Cordelia pleaded to Spike.

Spike moved over, making room for Cordelia to lie down next to him. "Angelus happened, luv. It seems she was a bit disrespectful, or some piece of garbage like that."

Cordelia's eyes filled with tears when she realized that Willow had been beaten because of their outing. "It's my fault, Spike. I said that we should go out and get some food and clothes and look around town. Willow just agreed to come with me."

Spike reached over and wrapped the brunnette in his free arm. "Not your fault, pet. Peaches' fault. Neither of you should be blamed for a thing. Understand?"

Cordelia nodded, tired, and lay her head on Spike's firm chest. Wrapping an arm around, she held Willow's hand and quickly fell asleep.

*-*-*-*

Willow awoke to the feeling of someone putting on a lotion-of-sorts onto her back. She turned her head and smiled at the wavy-haired man that was kneeling beside her.

"So how'd you sleep, Spike?" she asked innocently. Willow had felt Cordelia climb into the bed earlier in the night and wondered how Spike had managed the two women.

Spike caught her smile and flashed her a smile in return before going back to spreading the ointment. He spread it over one of the welts and Willow cried out in pain, then buried her head into the pillow.

"Sorry, pet. But we're all done now."

Willow raised tear-filled eyes to icy-blue ones and asked quietly, "Why help?"

Spike laughed softly, noticing Willow's delight in the sound.

"Because you asked me, pet. Because you needed me."

Willow glanced around the room, then noticed the closed bathroom door. "Cordelia?"

"Yeah. She's been in there for the past hour. I'd have burst in, except she was in the bath and I didn't think she'd be too happy with me interrupting that." Willow had an idea that he wouldn't have minded seeing Cordelia in the tub and would have risked it, if she wasn't in need of his help. Jealousy flared, then she blushed.

Spike was not the Spike from Sunnydale. If he wanted to like Cordelia, that was his choice.

Spike watched as the wheels turned in Willow's head. He smiled when she blushed, then glanced to the door and wondered if she was jealous because of what he said. Choosing not to play a verbal game with her, he openly said, "I can see why I liked you so much, or will like you so much. You're an amazing woman, Willow, to have lasted all of last night. And the beauty, and intelligence. You're practically perfect." Kneeling and holding Willow's chin with his fingers, he said huskily, "You will be perfect as soon as you're healed, pet."

He kissed her softly, then jumped up as the bathroom door began to open. Cordelia popped her head out, saw everyone was still decent, then ran to the bedroom door in a large towel. "I'm gonna go to my room now. Don't get too noisy!" Smiling mischievously, she stuck her head out of the door, checked the halls for Angelus, then ran to her room.

"Angelus... will he... what will..." Willow raised helpless eyes for an answer to her unspoken question.

Spike turned around and looked out of the window, his eyes not focusing on the people walking in the night air. "He'd probably try to claim you, knowing Angelus from before. He's probably try to claim Cordelia as well once he was done with you."

"How?"

"Drink from you. Not a lot. Just enough. Then he'd try to take you." Spike's words were emotionless. But if Willow had seen his eyes, she would have been overwhelmed by the anger, loyalty, lust, and possible love that filled them. Instead, she got the impression that Spike didn't care either way whether Angel took her or not.

"I guess I can't really stop that...unless I keep a circle of crosses around me at all times, huh."

Spike turned, smiling a smile that did not reach his eyes. "But, luv, that'd mean that I could never get close to you."

Willow blushed and turned away from him, then muttered something.

"What, pet?"

"Whatifyoudrankfromme."

"Then you'd be mine. But Angelus still could technically have you, though he probably wouldn't like having seconds."

Willow turned back around to Spike and brushed the hair off her neck, exposing the pale white beauty. Spike swallowed, then said quietly, "Are you sure pet?"

"Only if you want me, Spike."

Spike's eyes filled with lust and he walked over, then bent over Willow. "I'll just drink a little, pet. Anything else, well, you're just not in any shape to handle anything else."

Willow smiled nervously, then relaxed as Spike kissed her. He continued the kiss as he moved himself closer, bringing himself as flush with her as possible. He continued to kiss her softly, then moved to her jaw, then her neck. Willow gasped as she felt the fangs pierce the skin, then sighed as she fell into a deep euphoria of feelings she had never felt before. When he had taken enough, Spike withdrew, but still held Willow to him.

"Willow, luv..."

Smiling, Willow lifted her head, then bit Spike's shoulder hard enough to break the skin and draw a bit of blood. As the red liquid dripped out, she attached herself and drank the few drops before the bite healed.

"Mine," she growled possessively to Spike. Spike laughed, then dipped his head for a kiss.

"Yours," he agreed.

*-*-*-*

Angelus was pacing in the kitchen as he had been for the past five hours. It had not gone beyond his notice that their were two heart-beats in Spike's room last night, nor had he ignored the fact that if he had ever wanted Willow to come to him willingly, he had lost his chance from the moment she walked into the house yesterday.

'You lost your temper, you big idiot. Great person, brings you back to your old self, goes along with your ideas, provides companionship, and what do you do? Beat her senseless. Yeah, we're just begging for another Dru with something like that. And you don't want another Dru. One is enough. One is too many,' he thought angrily. The pacing continued until night fell. Then he ran out the door and into the street, looking for ways to rid his frustration.

*-*-*-*

Willow opened her eyes slowly and smiled at the sight that beheld her. Spike was on his side facing her, eyes closed, and an almost child-like look on his face. He only wore his robe, and that had parted to reveal an amazingly built chest and stomach. His skin had no markings on it except for one, a scar that ran from his fourth rib to his sixth. Willow ignored the pain and reached out with her hand, gingerly feeling the puckered up skin that was the scar.

"That was from the fight with Angelus, when he was trying to turn me."

Willow looked into Spike's eyes and questioned, "I thought Dru was your sire."

Spike moved himself closer to Willow and wrapped his arm around her gently. "Sort of, pet. Angelus was going to turn me first, and he tried incredibly hard. We had a scuffle and I did a rather good job of hurting him, though he was a vampire, and eventually with my remarks I pissed him off. He caught me, drank from me, and left me in an alley to die. Drusilla had been following behind him a ways, and after he disappeared, she ran over to me, slit her wrists, and made me drink. Angelus knew she was there, too. That's why I think he just left me; he could hold a small amount of dignity, but he would avoid losing me. After I was turned, it was Angelus who taught me how to survive as a vampire. But, it was Drusilla who taught me the true meaning of love. Until a few months ago, at least."

With Willow's prodding eyes, Spike sighed and continued, "Some Chaos demon. He's been bothering her a lot, and she finally agreed to go to some concert with him. They went, shagged, and I left."

Willow felt herself break as she saw the hurt in his eyes. Lifting her hand, she stroked his cheekbone. "She comes back to you, Spike. But she'll leave again, when the demon returns."

The two remained silent until Spike seemed to fall asleep again. Once he did, Willow shifted until she was out from under his arm and hobbled, in great pain, to the bathroom. Starting the water in the tub, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, then got into the now-full bath tub. The water stung her welts and scratches and tears immediately came to her eyes. Slowly, the slid down her face, one by one. Soon, rivulets turned to rivers, then waterfalls. The image of Spike mourning Dru combined with the pain her body felt as well as her fear of the house she lived in was too much for the redhead to handle. She slid further into the water until only her head was above. Covering her face with her hands, she allowed herself to cry, then sobbed when she realized that she couldn't stop the tears.

Cold hands lifted her, wrapped a towel around her, and carried her to the bed. Willow continued to cry until Spike held her close to him and began rocking her, stroking her hair. Once the tears subsided, Spike whispered into her hair, "What is it pet, that's made you flood the bathroom?"

Willow looked up with dull green eyes. "I'm not going to be able to keep you, Spike. Just now, when I've got you, I'll lose you again. I almost killed myself the last time that happened... what will I do this time?"

Shocked blue eyes registered her words, then filled with longing and love. "You won't lose me, pet. I won't even let you misplace me. Remember, you claimed me and I claimed you. Neither of those would I have allowed if I just considered you a snack or fling. Baby-doll, you won't ever lose me."

Willow smiled and relaxed against his chest as her mind began trying to find a solution to her next problem: Angelus.

*-*-*-*

Cordelia sat on Spike's bed, listening to Willow's plan. Willow had decided that it was no longer safe for Cordelia and Angelus to be in this time. She had kept her spells within the folds of her first dress, and she had the materials within her own room to return Angelus's soul and to send Cordelia and Angel back to the right time.

"But what about you? What are you going to do? I can't leave you here!!" Cordelia was incensed that Willow had decided what was going to happen and wasn't leaving room for negotiation. Willow stood, quiet and calm, her arm around Spike's waist and his arm around hers.

"I've claimed Spike, and vice versa. I'm safe here, happy here. When you go back, it will be as if you never left, the time will just begin again. You'll have to explain why I'm gone... tell the truth. I don't care. I'm going to take what... happened... out of Angel's mind, too. I can't have him remember that. But you will, Cordelia. In case something ever happens where you need to know, you will."

"How are we going to get Angelus oblivious enough to do the spell?"

"I was going to club him over the head."

Cordelia laughed at Willow, then asked, "No, really, how are we going to-"

Willow looked back at Cordelia, smiling a smile that did not reach her eyes. "I wasn't kidding, Delia."

*-*-*-*

Angelus returned from his night romp, feeling much more sated and sane, to say the least. He had fed a little from a dozen passer-byers. "My own walking buffet," he said softly as he entered his home. As he began to walk into the parlor, he saw a large shadow behind him. Spike swung the wood as hard as he could and laughed as Angelus fell in a heap. Willow pranced in, took the wood from Spike, and proceeded to hit Angelus's head, back, and legs. Then, she reached into a bag next to her and dropped crosses in a circle around Angelus.

Then she began the spell.

*-*-*-*

Angel was still out after Willow had completed the spell. Though tired, she felt she had enough energy to send Cordelia and Angel back to Sunnydale.

"I'll miss you, Willow. I love you, you know?" Cordelia's eyes were misty but unworried. She knew that Willow would be okay. She felt something inside of her reassure her of that.

Willow grabbed Cordelia and hugged her tightly. Before she released the brunette, she whispered, "Be good to Angel. And let him be good to you. That pesky soul of his? It's permanent. He's not going fangy anytime soon."

Then, Willow chanted in Latin, Cordelia filling in whenever needed, though with a little trouble.

A flash of blue light enveloped the room.

Willow and Spike were alone.

*-*-*-*

4 years later

Willow laughed as Spike fed her some more grapes. The two had left Chicago soon after the double spells, Willow having been exhausted both mentally and physically of the house. They ended up in Boston and had stayed their for four years, learning about each other, loving each other. Spike had set himself up as a Master Vampire, and his mistress was known to be powerful enough to make Spike's minions be wary.

Spike and Willow stayed as they were, though Willow did age a little. She learned through some historic books that for every two years that passed, she would age for one. Now they were engrossed in feeding each other a various assortment of fruit that had been laid out for them. As Willow fed Spike a slice of an apple, a loud knocking was heard at the door. Willow and Spike went down, arm in arm, to great or warn off their guest.

A minion named Harold opened the door and Willow almost fainted when she saw the vampire that stood in the doorway.

"Princess has returned. The stars are singing with joy."

*-*-*-*

To be continued...