Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here in. They belong to BVTS and it's creators Joss and WB. Don't hurt me for borrowing them. They needed to come out and play....
(thoughts in Italics)

Xander trembled, he couldn't stop, he had no idea where he was, but he did know who the dark haired vampiress was, his nightmares had surrounded her for some time. Ever since the night Amy had done the love spell for him, and Drucilla had offered to make him immortal. Although none of his nightmares had ever involved being fretted over like a lost child, by a doting grandmother. He wasn't sure what was worse the fact that she was trying so hard not to frighten him or the fact that something in him saw glints of sanity in her fathomless brown eyes.

Dru hummed softly to herself as she handed the shaking boy the plate of food she'd prepared. He took it rather unsteadily from the vampiress, rattling the silverware that sat on the plate. She made a soft shushing sound and ruffled his hair soothingly.

"Oh I am having a major spaz here." he said aloud. Startled, Dru looked at him questioningly, and turned at the sound of someone whistling, 'God Save the Queen' slightly off key. "'ow is the bloke holding up?" Spike asked as he came into view. Dru clapped her hands together happily and went into Spike's arms.

" 'e's alright Spikie, but he's not eating the dinner I made for him. I think I made it right. I'm not sure it's been so long since I made any human food, but they must have changed the names of some of the food, I did'n' know they called fish and chips, major spaz, did you my Spike?" Dru said breathlessly as she cuddled against her lover affectionately.

The platinum blond vampire chuckled as he heard the dark-haired teen give a most unmanly squeak at his Dark Goddess' revelation. Looking over at where the boy sat in the chair studiously avoiding looking at the two British vampires. Spike gave his paramour a dark grin and said, "Major spaz means that the little human is very confused and a little worried that we're going to have him for a midday snack or something."

Dru looked very shocked and then offended as she said in an appalled whisper, "But Spike, we would never do that. It would hurt the Little Tree's feelings, not to mention making the kitten angry." the dark haired vampiress said shaking her head as she continued absently, "Kitten's fur gets all ruffled when they get angry, and they get all hissy and spitty..."

"Yes Pet," Spike said, trying to draw his lover back from her ramblings with his gentle tone, "Which is why we're not going to make the kitten and her friend angry.

Smiling dreamily up at her love, Dru whispered, "Good cause I like the kitten, she has sharp claws and teeth...just like us."

Spike returned her smile and replied, "Yes Pet, just like us." Patting the hand she had looped through his arm, he removed her hand and indicated she should watch the door as he walked over to where Xander sat studying the cooling plate of food. "Don't worry mate we won't bite at least not this time, the witch wouldn't like that much I'm afraid." Spike said. "Listen Xander...what kind of name is Xander anyway?"

"It's short for Alexander." mahogany eyes lifted to face slate gray, and then Xander thought, Oh yeah, antagonize the vampire, really smart Harris. But Spike was nodding his head at the teen and replied, "Mind if I call you Alex then?"

Xander was struck dumb by the normality of the conversation he was having with a blood-sucking fiend and could only nod his head mutely to the older man. "Good then here's the deal Alex, that poof Galan thinks that you're the Western King....you know who that is, don't you?" Xander's mouth had fallen open but he managed to nod again at the bleached blond vampire indicating for him to continue. "Yeah well, let's just say that our fearless leader ain't exactly playing with a full deck, in case you haven't noticed. Anyway Dru and me we're on your side but then you already knew that, sorry 'bout the bump on your head by the way, figured you'd be safer having us come after you than having Galan send one of those fae vampires after you. Now listen up, Dru and I probably won't be able to watch you the whole time, but if any of the fledglings or others come in here and start threatening you, don't act scared, it'll only egg 'em on. Sides they know better than to hurt you too much, they know, Galan 'll have their skin if they harm you before this ritual thing. We'll see about getting you out of her before that ever happens though. Listen mate," he said capturing the younger man's chin to force him to meet the penetrating dark blue gaze. "we're on your side. Least for the time being, we'll make sure nothing happens to you. We do however have to tie you up." he said, his blue eyes flashing. Spike tied the teenager's hands loosely behind him and then his legs slightly tighter.

The pair of vampires floated out of the room, leaving Xander to his thoughts. He wasn't sure what was worse the fact that he was now alone or that he was alone and it was dark. He hated the feeling of helplessness he was feeling, not since the night that he had first learned that vampires were real and some monsters were really hiding in closets had he felt this helpless. Not even the night that Willow had lain in a coma, pale as death after attempting to resoul Angel, had he felt like this.

He leaned back against the chair and closed his eyes.

Willow's:

"Willow?" his voice was whisper soft as it caressed her senses, She looked up at him, she hadn't spoken since they had left the library and the entire horrible scene.

"Yeah," she whispered, he reached forward pulling her into his arms. She turned in his offered embrace, burrowing her face into the smooth skin of his chest.

"It's okay little one, we'll get him back, I know how much he means to you." Angel said. Something in his voice made the hacker look up. The lack of the endearments she had grown used to in exchange for the more formal, less intimate one, worried her.

"Angel what's wrong?" she demanded, hoping against hope, that seeing Buffy hadn't changed his mind. He didn't kiss me like he changed his mind.

"I thought...well you appeared to be so upset about Xander and you used to lov...." his sentence was cut off by her lips. She kissed him hard on the mouth and when she drew back he was watching her uncertainly.

"You worry too much, Angelus. I loved Xander, I did. I love Xander the way someone loves a familiar thing, a security blanket. The one thing I could always count on was Xander, even when he was being completely clueless, he was still there. Always." She looked down at their entwined fingers before continuing. "But the thing I never knew was that you where there too. Always. Only you hid from me, living just on the edge of my sight, until Buffy. Now when I look at you, I see my friend, my lover, my mate. My choice." She said at last.

"And when this ends, and the danger is gone, and you are just Willow again what then?' He demanded. She could hear the catch in his voice as though he dreaded her answer. Part of him did dread her answer, just as part of him knew that regardless he would never let her go. She was his, just as he was hers. Mate, lover, friend.

"I don't know what the future holds Angel. No one does. As for the danger, we live on the Hellmouth, I don't think we'll ever not be in danger, and I don't think I'll ever be 'just Willow' again either, but I do know that I will always be your Willow. I know that I won't let you go. So if that's what you're asking, no I won't let go." she said firmly.

"They won't like this." he said at last. He didn't really want to have this conversation now, with Xander hanging in the balance, but at the same time he needed to know for his own peace of mind what she thought, and felt on all of the factors.

"Let them, it isn't about them, If you wanted to be free I would do everything in my power to convince you to stay." Willow answered confidently as she gazed seriously into his dark eyes.

"Mine?" he questioned, reaching for her again. The redhead went willingly into his arms, a small smile playing over her lips.

"Yes always." she whispered as he lowered his head to claim her lips in a fierce kiss. She opened her mouth as their lips met, his tongue thrust forward claiming the interior of her mouth.

"I like the sound of that." Angel offered, as his lips claimed hers. He lifted her up in his arms suddenly. She squealed delightedly as he lifted her up and began to climb the stairs. He set her down in the doorway to her room before impatiently pushing the door closed. His hands were everywhere touching, caressing, arousing to a startling fever pitch.

"Angel," she moaned out between panting breaths, as his talented mouth went about creating a matching black and blue mark on the other side of her neck. He drew back to look in her eyes curious to find out what she was thinking, not wanting to push her if she wasn't sure she wanted to take this further.

Her hand slid back up into his hair and she twined her fingers within the silky strands and pulled his mouth back down to her. They kissed deeply as he pushed her back against the door trapping her against it. Willow shivered in response to the feel of the cool wood of her bedroom door pressed against her back.

The ingenue heard the sound of the fabric at the front of her dress give as Angel's desire out weighed his patience. She gasped softly as his cool wet lips clamped onto the exposed swell of her breast. He kissed around the full crest, teasing the nipple through the fabric of her bra. The Summoner pulled her lover closer, her hand going to work on the shirt he wore. Managing to push the shirt to the side, Willow nipped at the smooth yet firm flesh of Angel's neck, even as he drew back, intent on tearing the only remaining barrier between them away.

Angel marveled as they moved in perfect synch, she arched, matching him, her hands wondering wildly over his naked flesh. His mate then pulled back from him, pushing him away long enough to shed what was left of the dress and pantyhose she wore. Willow whimpered when cool arms once more surrounded her, pulling her against his naked form. Fiery heat washed over her as he cupped her breast in the palm of one hand, catching the taut peak between thumb and forefinger, he rolled and squeezed the hardening nub. She moaned and arched back against him, rubbing her hips against his.

The redhead turned and lifted her parted lips for Angel's kiss. Their mouths mated deeply even as his hands moved lower, seeking out the hot wetness that waited within her depths. He groaned into her mouth when he dipped his fingers into her scalding core, already anticipating that heat surrounding him.

His mouth left hers, traveling down the ivory column of her neck, his lips pausing over the marks he'd made there earlier. Wrapping her arms tightly around him, pressing closer, Willow gasped as Angel's hands traveled down her back, pausing briefly to cup and squeeze her buttocks, grinding his pelvis against hers, before moving lower, to the back of her knees.

Willow felt Angel slowly moving them into the room but it was still a shock when her bedroom wall met her back. The hands behind her knees clinched lifting her legs to settle them around his waist. The wiccan gave a hoarse scream as he lifted her effortlessly and unerringly impaled her on his throbbing arousal.

Their lips met again as he continued to move within her drawing the ever-tightening spiral of tension in her abdomen unbearably tighter. As they rocked almost harshly together, moving to a primitive rhythm that they alone could hear. Angel's mouth moved from hers allowing the tiny airy moans she made to escape.

Willow gasped inwardly as Angel's mouth slid low over her breast capturing the nipple and drawing on it with a surprising intensity it felt as though tiny little pinpricks of fire where shooting from there to the other place their bodies were joined. His thrusts were harsh and less controlled than they had been the other times they had made love, but she still wanted more. Wanted him to give in completely to the desire he was feeling, to let go completely of his monumental control and just feel. Leaning her head back against the wall, she moved to meet each of her lover's thrust with her own. Willow heard Angel moan deeply, almost gutturally, as he continued to suckle on her nipple, she cried out when his fangs suddenly pierced the flesh. The sweet pain spiraled her over the edge and the taste of her blood on his tongue sent the vampire spiraling over as well, screaming as he came within her depths. Willow continued drawing great droughts of air into her lungs as she hung limply in the vampire's embrace.

Angel continued to nurse at her breast like a babe, gently stroking at the bite mark there with his tongue, to stimulate more blood to rise to the surface, rather than actively sucking. His knees were braced against the wall of the bedroom, clasping Willow's buttocks in his hands, he stood unsteadily and walked to the bed. With one hand he flicked the covers back and then sat on the side of the bed, toeing off the boots he's been wearing, and shoving his pants the rest of the way off. When that was done, he lay back on the bed, still deeply imbedded within Willow, drawing her down with him.

Angel covered himself and his already sleeping mate with the blankets. He stroked her hair soothingly as he formulated the plan for freeing Xander. The sooner he got her friend back, the sooner he'd be able to have a serious talk with Willow about their future.

The vampire was sure it would take some time before he could fall asleep as well. The soft, soothing warmth, of his lover in his arms however was like a balm to his soul and he too was soon fast asleep.

Spike walked out of the chamber that the teen-ager was being held in, his hand over his mouth to cover the barely contained mirth. As soon as he pulled the wooden door closed behind him, he let loose with a roar of laughter that echoed down the stone hallways. The bleached blond vampire leaned against the uneven wall of the tunnel trying to catch breath he didn't need. Wiping blood tears from his eyes, he finally continued down the hall to Galan's chambers. He knew that by this time the older vampire had probably realized that the little tree had returned home and was seriously pissed about her friend being taken.

The vampire paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and begin to put shields around those thoughts. Galan had been trying harder and harder to get into both his and Dru's minds. As his lovely little plum had predicted however, Galan had taken one look into her mind and had actually blanched an even paler shade of pale. Unfortunately that left Spike to bear the brunt of his attempted invasions, and lately he had even more to hide from the fae vampire.

In the wee hours of the morning after taking the boy, he had headed for the little blond witch's house. He was surprised to see the lights still on in her house, and when he knocked on the door, a slight fusion of fear had traveled down his spine when the door was opened immediately, to show a still fully clothed Amy. When she had stepped

aside without saying a word to allow the vampire entrance. The slight feeling turned into full-blown nervousness for the British vampire, when he walked in to find a veritable arsenal of weaponry against the undead sitting on her coffee table. Amy's altar was also full of spell components and she looked as though she had been performing several spells.

He turned to face the witch and recoiled with a hiss as she held a cross in front of his face and tossed a wreath of garlic around his shoulders. Spike screamed in pain as he fell to his knees, with a solid kick to his chest, Amy sent the vampire sprawling to the floor. Tossing the crucifix onto the table, she retrieved a stake and straddled his abdomen. Holding the circle of garlic in place with one hand and pressing the stake firmly against his chest, just above his unbeating heart, the witch gave a growl of her own to the writhing vampire beneath her.

"You must really think I'm an idiot, Spike. Did you really think I wouldn't know that it was you who took Xander or did you just think I wouldn't find out this fast?" Amy hissed at the vampire her usually pretty face pulled into an ugly snarl as she leaned over the vampire.

"Pet, please the garlic." the bleached blond vampire moaned in a weak tone.

"Yes. Charming isn't it? I made it myself, from an old wise tale book. Funny isn't it, those old mother's were a lot smarter than people gave them credit for, about a lot of things. Don't trust strange men, don't walk around after dark, don't let stranger's into your house, and don't trust pretty men...they lie." the blond said angrily, not budging an inch. The look of pain on Spike's face gave the softhearted young woman only a momentary twinge, before she remembered Xander and hardened her heart again.

Gasping for breath while trying to avoid the noxious fumes from the garlic was impossible the British vampire discovered, as he continued to try and squirm away from the witch and the garlic. Unfortunately the fumes from the garlic, were weakening and the added pressure the tall witch was applying to the stake every time he moved was reminding him in. No uncertain terms that he was at her mercy, and if she already knew that he had been involved in kidnaping her friend then he really couldn't expect any.

Releasing the garlic and grasping the front of his shirt, pulled him up and then let his head drop back to the floor with a sharp crack, "Pay attention," she said sharply, "I'm only going to say this once. Where have you taken Xander? He'd better still be alive or so help me Spike, like you or not, I'll ram this stake through you so hard I'll nail you to the floor. Now where is he?"

Weakly his hand came up to cover hers over the rope of garlic and he whispered,

"Amy...please?"

Looking down at his game face, the witch seriously considered just staking him...for all of five seconds. Looking away from those pained gold eyes she threw the stake to the side where it skidded under the couch. Lifting his head with her free hand, she pulled the necklace of garlic from around his neck and standing carried it over to her altar. Dropping it onto the polished wooden surface, the young witch hunched her shoulders as the tears slowly slid down her cheeks. Amy heard the vampire move behind her, but she didn't look up, only studying the picture she had placed on the altar to help her focus.

Spike had slowly risen from the floor, still weakened by the smell of the garlic. He could feel a wet substance on the back of his shirt and, could tell that where the spots of crushed garlic juice had been pressed against him, deep burns now marred the skin of his back. Carefully removing the shirt he threw it to the floor, for a moment he considered leaving the witch and returning to the lair, but for some reason he couldn't.

Her friendship had become very important to him, he knew that doing this task for Galan tonight would put that friendship in danger and that was originally why he had come here this evening to explain to her. Spike studied the young blonde's back while he composed himself, trying to think of a way to explain everything. "Amy.." he started.

Stiffening, the witch said in an angry whisper, "I think you should leave, but I am coming to get him back. So you and Dru had better stay out of my way." then in a much quieter tone he heard her add under her breath, "I won't lose him too." Hearing the deadly intent in the young witch's voice, Spike realized that the young woman had every intention of going to the lair either tonight or in the daylight to retrieve her friend. No matter how suicidal that venture might be.

Trying hard not to wretch at the foul stench from the garlic, the vampire moved toward the witch and her altar. Carefully, almost timidly he placed his hands on her shoulders and said softly, "Listen to me kitten. Your friend is alive and well. I had to take him myself, if Galan had sent any of his minions after the boy, it probably would have gone very badly for him. Besides if I had said no, it would have made that pansy-assed poof even more suspicious of me than he already is." When she hadn't moved or tried to stake him, Spike took it as a fairly good sign she wasn't really planning to end his unlife anytime soon, and carefully turned her to face him. The tears affected him almost as much as Dru's did, he looked away from her dejected face to the picture on the altar, it was a picture from a few years back, but he recognized Amy, Alex and the little tree as well as another boy. Longish dark hair, slender build, and a goofy grin to match Alex's. Curious he asked, "Who's the other kid?"

Following his gaze she whispered painfully, "His name was Jessie, the four of us were the Four Musketeers, then he died. He was caught and vamped and the night of the Harvest, Xander had to kill him. Now Willow's going to face Galan and she may die to, all of us may, but I can't let...I won't let Xander die too. No matter what."

For some reason pulling the girl closer into a hug seemed the most natural thing in the world to do. "I'm sorry Amy if there had been time, I would have warned you." he said, soothingly, "Dru and I care about you, we wouldn't let anything happen to you if we could avoid it. You...you're the first friend we've had in nearly a century...human or otherwise."

Pulling back slightly, he lifted her chin with his fingertips and whispered, "I'll swear on my unlife, I won't let anything happen to your friend, but you have to swear not to do something foolish...like come to the lair after him." When she nodded her head, he kissed her on the forehead and whispered, "Good girl."

Then came her soft voice in a slightly embarrassed tone Amy asked, "Spike why aren't you wearing your shirt?"

Spike chuckled once more as he continued on to the fae vampire's chambers. I wonder what the kitten would think if she could see her little friend now. I do wonder where Dru gets these ideas sometimes.

Before he even got within thirty yards of Galan's chambers, he could hear loud crashes, soft, thuds and whimpers coming from the chamber and resounding down the tunnels. Without knocking Spike entered the older vampire's chambers, the room was wrecked, and so was the tiny figure on the floor. It was the young female vampire who had pleased Galan just the other day, enough to be invited to share his bed. Now she cowered in the corner, naked and beaten, her body covered in blood and bruises.

As the bleached blond vampire watched, Galan stalked over to where she knelt and hauled her up by her hair, despite her whimpered protests of, "Please Master, no more, whatever I did I'm sorry, I won't do it again." Ignoring her pleas he dragged her over to the only undamaged area of the room, his worktable. There was brazier sitting on the table burning brightly, knowing what was about to happen made the vampire's stomach roil with disgust. There was a difference between the rough play and BDSM that vampires occasionally indulged in and the abuse this creature was inflicting. Spike knew he shouldn't care what happened to the vampiress. After all she wasn't one of his minions, he hadn't made her, she wasn't his responsibility, but that didn't stop him from flinching at the sounds of her screams of pain or the smell of her burning flesh.

Seeing a crystal ball on the floor that looked surprisingly like an Orb of Thessulah, the vampire kicked it hard sending it flying into the bedpost of Galan's bed with a resounding crash as the delicate crystal shattered into a million shards on the floor. Shocked by the sound, Galan released the girl and whirled to face the intruder. Realizing this may be her only chance at escape, the tiny vampiress, skidded across the floor, to Spike, holding her injured arm gingerly to her breast. With a callus, "Get out, your Master and I have things to discuss." Spike gave the girl the escape she desperately craved, and she ran out the door of Galan's chambers without a backward glance.

"I wasn't finished with her." Galan hissed angrily at the British vampire as he stalked towards him.

With a calm yet deadly tone, Spike replied, "Well if you're thinking of finishing what you started with her with me. Don't." Moving further into the room and surveying the damage, said snidely, "If you wanted to redecorate, you should have told me, we could have turned someone."

Remembering his original anger, Galan roared and threw one of the chairs in the room against a nearby wall. Then he turned to face the younger vampire and shouted angrily,

"That stupid bitch has already chosen her mate and it's not the one you took!"

"He's the one you sent me after mate." Spike reminded the fae vampire, knowing that reminder would only irritate him further.

With another roar of anger, Galan sent a trunk into the wall with a ferocious kick. "He should have been the one, the only other human male she knows is the Watcher, and he's too old." With another roar of frustration, the fae vampire flipped a table over sending several books and papers falling to the floor as he began speaking in a language that Spike had never heard before. Which considering the fact that the vampire had learned nearly thirty different languages in his travels with Angelus and Dru was rather remarkable to the younger vampire. Leaning against the wall as Galan continued his destructive rant around the room. Until he came back to his worktable and picked up a ceremonial looking dagger.

An evil gleam came to his eye that matched the gleam from the obsidian blade, and made Spike very nervous. "She cares about the one we have, he may not be her mate, but he is definitely something special to her."

Not liking where this was going the bleached blond vampire never the less decided to play along and said, "Yeah, so?"

"So," Galan said as though speaking to an imbecile, "losing him will hurt her, having him end up dead because of her will devastate her." Then more to himself, he whispered, "I'll teach the bitch to try and destroy everything I've worked for." With that he started to the door.

Spike instantly saw in his mind eye the accusatory look in Amy's eye from the night before and said, "Well, yeah,... you could do that....if you were stupid." he continued, "I don't suppose it's occurred to you that the only reason that the Slayer and her chums haven't dropped a few incendiary grenades down here and been done with the lot of us, is that they want to keep their chum alive?"

Galan was now looking at the blond vampire with avid interest and a slightly mad gleam in his eye. Running the blade of the dagger along his narrow cheek, Galan said calmly,

"She wouldn't do something like that, it's not in the Handbook."

Spike laughed, concealing his agitation well, as he replied, "Don't tell me what she won't do. I've seen the little chit, use a rocket launcher on the Judge. Wouldn't put anything past her, which is part of the reason I'm still alive and Angelus isn't."

Giving a non-committal grunt, the fae vampire released Spike and walked to the center of the room thoughtfully. Finally with a frustrated sigh, he tossed the delicate looking blade onto his worktable. Looking over at the younger vampire, with a hard glittering gaze that chilled Spike to the bone. Galan gave Spike a condescending smile and said in a deceptively gentle tone, "You know, you shouldn't have interrupted my fun, I really wasn't finished with her."

Not moving from where he leaned against the wall near the doorway, Spike felt his muscles coil like springs instinctively as the fae vampire advanced on him. "Now I'll have to find my entertainment elsewhere...perhaps your crazy little whore will suit my needs. I didn't realize 'til the other evening what a sweet little treat she was."

Spike knew that the older vampire was trying to bait him, but he wasn't sure what Galan hoped to prove. When Spike didn't rise to the bait the dark haired vampire seemed to grow more irritated and moved into the bleached blond vampire's space in a deliberately provoking manner, before saying, "You know it's customary to share with your Master?"

Turning at last to face the other vampire fully, Spike didn't care that his hatred and disgust for the dark haired former fae showed quite plainly on his face. "I don't share with anyone, and you are 'not' my Master." Walking past the fae vampire, Spike made his way back to the room where Alex was being held. Before he got there though, he stopped again to compose himself. No use alarming his Dark Goddess, if he could avoid it. The only thing that had stopped him from snapping Galan's scrawny neck like a twig. Was the fact that with the fae vampires, minions, and the magically reanimated vampires that the fae vampire had created, now outnumbered his own loyal minions.

After heaving a heavy sigh of relief, the British vampire smiled mischievously as he thought that Dru and Amy would both be pleased with him. He had managed to keep Alex alive, even though Galan now realized the boy wasn't the little tree's Western King. Dru would be proud of him for protecting her new playmate, so would Amy once she got past the part about Dru playing with the kid. Poor bloke, the bleached blond vampire thought, who knew he could actually fit one of Dru's old dresses.

Deep in the night the two lovers awoke to find they'd been making love in their sleep. They coupled with the slow, sensual intensity of long time lovers, something stronger and sweeter than passion, bodies and souls merging without boundaries. Their sounds and movements lush and heated. They moved as one, not rushing to find their completion, only enjoying the long path to get there. So immersed in each other they never realized what was going on right outside of Willow's home.

Buffy paused outside the Rosenberg house wanting to talk to Willow, really talk to her and Angel, the blond teenager wasn't sure really what she was going to say. Xander had been captured and they had gone off to do whatever they were doing rather than going to help Xander, he could be killed and they didn't seem to see the urgency in going after him.

She was angry, hurt beyond anything she could recall. Angel had just swept Willow up and left the library without so much as a by your leave. She knew Angel was worried about Willow, but even when they had been together they hadn't been like that. Maybe that was the difference Angel apparently loved Willow far more then he had the slayer. Yet they had been lovers and he remained Angel. It made little sense. If he loved the hacker so much, how could he have remained Angel?

The blond Slayer moved toward the back of the Rosenberg house already knowing she shouldn't, but she couldn't help wondering if the united front the pair had put up at the library was real. Slipping over the balcony rail with ease, she froze as she saw them through the slightly parted curtains of the French doors. They were twined together on the white sheets of Willow's bed. Buffy watched with strange fascination as they made love.

It wasn't like she could really see anything, and she thanked the gods for that small favor. Although she wasn't sure why her mind felt the need to remind her of what it had been like with Angel.

Only this Angel was different. With her he had been cautious and careful. His touch tentative and tender. The man in that room, wasn't being careful, he didn't even appear to notice that he was in game face and even more shocking was Willow's apparent acceptance of the vampire's true face.

Buffy watched with unsavory fascination as the sounds that each of them made began to intensify, becoming more desperate and heightening in pitch. Had she ever sounded like that. The tiny voyeur didn't remember ever making such passion-filled noises. Angel's mouth clamped down on Willow's neck and to Buffy's shock she realized he'd just bitten the hacker. She watched as Willow screamed out in what she could only assume was pleasure, dragging Angel closer.

The slayer understood now, she thought, averting her eyes, cheeks burning, that was the difference. Angel had been right she could never have given him that. Just seeing him bite into Willow's neck had made her slayer sense go all hey-wire. Even knowing that it was apparently what the hacker wanted, it took all of her control for Buffy not to want to push through those doors and tear them away from each other.

Apparently the fates had chosen well if loving Angel truly was part of this game it appeared that Willow was the only one that could go about doing that. Buffy's best friend didn't appear to need any help, she appeared to be more then capable of handling it all on her own.

"I didn't take you for one into voyeurism. Little Slayer." She gasped at the sound of the voice from behind her. She spun with one hand raised in a fist, a stake sliding into the palm of the other ready to fight if need be.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she whispered, demanding an answer. The fae smiled softly his eyes were filled with mischievous light.

"I was going to talk to my charge, but apparently she's rather occupied at the moment. " Tristan said chuckling. He smiled at the angry yet embarrassed look on the slayer's face.

"Your Willow's Watcher?" Buffy demanded.

"But of course." Tristan said, " She did a rather impressive job of hiding me from all of you. Of course, I demanded it of her."

Buffy looked back at the strange yet gorgeous man before her, "Then you're not human?" she asked.

Tristan studied the young woman for a moment, and then glanced toward the French doors, with an unfathomable look, before lowering his voice and extending his elbow to the young slayer, "I would be more than happy to discuss my lineage with you, perhaps some place a little more private?"

Seeing the glance and curious about the look, Buffy nodded her head slightly, before taking the fae's arm. Tristan led her to the edge of the balcony and after releasing her arm reluctantly leapt over the railing and to the ground below with the grace of his feline form. Buffy watched his movements with avid interest, no matter whether he was human or not he was a gorgeous man. She followed him over the railing and was shocked when instead of landing on the ground he caught her easily, not letting her feet touch the ground.

The redhead fae gave the blond teenager a blinding smile before saying in a somewhat suggestive manner. "Falling for me already Ms. Summers, I am flattered but I really think we should get to know each other better before we rush into anything." His brogue becoming more apparent as he looked down at the tiny woman in his arms.

The tiny blondes pale cheeks flushed bright pink as she struggled out of the fae's arms angrily. Tristan let her go easily, but smiled. He had a feeling this one would be almost as much fun as his charge to embarrass. Clasping one of her hands in his much larger one, he urged her toward the park, aware that it probably wasn't the safest place to meet, but he wanted to get this discussion out of the way as soon as possible.

Scanning their surroundings, Tristan was not too surprised to note that they had the park to themselves. The vampires were probably all involved in carrying out Galan's plans for the ritual, and humans while dense were hopefully not so completely oblivious as to walk in the park at this time of the night.

Carefully guiding the tiny creature to a bench nearby, Tristan urged her to sit down. Composing his thoughts the fae joined her on the bench and after a moment's hesitation spoke, "I'm a fae, has your Watcher told you about us?"

A crease formed in the petite young woman's brow as she concentrated on the conversations she'd had with her Watcher over the past fortnight. "You're the ones on the other side of the gate or doorway, unlike the Gatekeeper or whatever he is. You're the good guys, but you don't like us very much for some reason...humans that is. Anyway you're supposed to be very strong magic users, and if tall, dark and ugly gets the opportunity he's going to open the Gate between the worlds and that will probably destroy both our worlds. Which is why you're here, you may not care if our world is destroyed but this could mean both of them are and you or your people don't want to see that happen. Somewhere in there is where Willow comes in, and it has something to do with her not really being completely human anymore, or if she ever was. How's that so far?"

Tristan was shaking his head in amusement, before he asked, "Do all teenage females talk like that? All run together and in one breath?" The Slayer blushed in embarrassment again and looked away from those knowing silver eyes, without answering his question.

"That still doesn't explain who you are or why you didn't want us to know about you, or anything else for that matter. Getting information about this prophecy and all it entails has been worse than the last time I went to the dentist." The young blond would have continued but remembered what had just been said, about her long-windedness, and clapped her mouth shut with a resounding click of her teeth slamming together.

Tristan smiled and said, "Fae are by nature a rather secretive people, my dear. We have very rarely made an extended friendship with humans They are such weak and fragile creatures...present company excluded of course. So easily killed or hurt, however before we moved to our own dimension, eons ago there were several of us who had relations with humans. We left behind the kin, the ones you call witches, etc. and we left her behind."

"Willow," Buffy provided quietly.

"The Summoner," Tristan corrected carefully. "The same spirit travels down through the generations, and in each generation it chooses a new receptacle among the kin. This time it has chosen Willow."

"You're afraid of her." The young woman said, more a statement than a question.

"Only a fool would incite her anger, and after over four hundred years, I am no ones fool." the fae said as he studied the young woman sitting beside him on the bench. "You are very lucky that she cares about you so much."

Buffy looked at the tall man beside her questioningly, and he continued, "If you were anyone but her friend I think you would not have survived that encounter in the library."

The blond looked at Tristan mouth agape and said, "How did you....you weren't there...how did you know that?"

"I was there m'dear, just not able to interfere." then he continued honestly, "Not sure I would have even if I could. No offense to you m'dear, but I have learned my lesson about interfering in Willow's business," he said rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully. "No matter how much I may object to her decisions." he concluded with a grimace.

Sudden insight flashed through the Slayer's mind as she recognized the look as one she had often seen flash across her own Watcher's face when the mention of the relationship between herself and Angel was brought up. "You don't approve of she and Angel."

The fae looked at her in startled surprise before schooling his face into a mask of indifference and saying, "I don't know what you mean."

"Yes you do, you don't like the fact that she is with him, and/or that he's a vampire. Deny it if you can?" the blond scrunched up her nose as she spoke with confidence.

Staring into those sparkling hazel eyes, Tristan found that his usual ease with the Blarney escaped him and he replied honestly, "I cannot change who the Western King is."

"No, but if you could, you would, wouldn't you?" Buffy challenged.

"I would wish it were someone who isn't a vampire, yes." the fae said quietly and seriously.

"Why? You must know he won't let anything happen to her, you must have seen how they are together. You should know he can protect her better than a human like Xander or something. So what is the real reason?" the Slayer said insightfully.

The fae stood and began to pace in front of the bench, this little creature was going to make him reveal all, and he found that he actually did want to tell someone the story of his lady love, this particular someone.

Sitting down beside her on the bench, Tristan spoke in a calm, steady voice that belied the turmoil of his inner feelings as he once more told the story of falling in love with someone he wasn't supposed to. Someone he was only supposed to protect, and ultimately his inability to protect her from the creature of the night that had taken her fragile life and innocence and destroyed them. He continued to the conclusion when he himself had been forced to end the existence of the demon that had once been his beloved Catrina. When he finally finished the story it took him several moments to return to the present, and when he did it was to find to his shock that the Slayer's tiny hand was clasped comfortingly around his own much larger one.

He looked up at her and was even more surprised to find tears trailing down her cheeks in two silver trails. Her husky whisper surprised him as well as she said softly, "I know what that feels like...to have to kill someone you love more than anything ...for the good of others."

Sparkling hazel eyes caught his silvery ones as she continued. "I had to send Angel to hell even though I knew he was Angel again and not Angelus. But I still had to do it to prevent hell from coming on earth and afterwards..." heaving a ragged sigh she continued, "...afterwards I still couldn't face it and ended up running away for a while. It's not better yet, but I'm hoping it will be soon. I guess since you more or less live for so long, it's harder for you. But a very wise person once told me that you had to let go of the bad things or they would just eat you up and turn you into a bitter old wom... oh man...ah fae?"

He gave her a wry smile and said, "Thank you milady." he said raising their clasped fingers and pressing a kiss to her knuckles, before pulling her to her feet. He looped her hand through his arm, "and now the least I can do is escort you home and reassure you that your friend will be returned to you on the morrow. If that vampire has anything to do with it at least. All things considered he's not such a bad chap I suppose...for a vampire." He added sarcastically, to her amused laughter, as he led her toward her home.

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