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)

Down below:

Galan paced before the altar. He stopped before it suddenly grasping the book that sat heavily on it. He opened it and reread the passage. He growled. He still didn't understand how he'd missed the truth, that damned blond Brit had been correct, the vampire was mated to the witch. He cringed as he remembered what else Spike had said, if that was her bond mate, it was very possible that it was also Angelus as Spike claimed. Galan had heard of Angelus. When the vampire had first been the Scourge of Europe and then he had disappeared, only to turn up again a little less then a year ago. Nasty as ever and tormenting the Slayer. He groaned to himself, if they where bonded he had a terrible feeling, that taking her and forcing her to perform her part would be so much the harder. Though if he managed to capture both of them he would at least have the control, they would each willingly do anything to protect the other.

A part of him was angry that he had missed the clear connection between Witch and vampire. He should have seen it when he had witnessed them clinging to each other in sleep at the witch's home. He growled low in his throat grabbing at the minion that had foolishly stood too close, he thrust the dagger he was carrying into the creature's chest and smiled, contented in the death of the minion. He knew that tomorrow night he would have the witch where he wanted her. He intended to have a little fun with her in the process if he could take what was the other vampires then it would be all the better and it would teach the little bitch to defy him.

He growled again seemingly not able to stop himself from expressing his discontent with the situation in this animalistic way. He heard the sound of Drucilla entering the room. The insane vampiress looked at him with bright eyes and a small knowing smile. "You're angry, the little witch outsmarted you again. The stars told me she would. The stars told me you would fail. So fail you must, for the stars are never wrong." Drucilla said before gliding back out of the room. He looked up when he heard her paramour enter shortly after she had left.

He looked over at the bleached blond vampire knowing that there was yet something that he was keeping from him. He turned and looking deeply into his eyes, he forced his way into the blonde's mind. Spike fought against the intrusion and groaned out in pain. His mind unlike Dru's had never been fractured and therefore, he had no defenses against the other vampire's intrusion.

He growled lowly as he encountered slight barriers, and forced past them. He forced his thoughts into the other vampire's mind. Who is the vampire that the witch calls mate? The question was met with first darkness then sudden and forceful bombardment of images that made no sense to the fae vampire. He tried to sift through them tried to make sense of what he saw. All images of this vampire varying from almost tender and passionate, to hateful and filled with pain. Images of him holding on to the insane vampiress, images of him and the dark haired vampire. His sire. That was what stopped Galan, that dark haired creature that was with the girl, was Angelus the Scourge of Europe. If Galan knew the story correctly, the vampire had once been given his soul, and now was without it, because of the Slayer. He grimaced slightly as he attempted to figure out which was truth and which was fiction in all of this.

"So," Galan said, drawing back from the blond vampire. He laughed as he saw the vampire's true face at the fore. A trickle of blood running from his nose. "That creature is the infamous Angelus, now ensouled. I would have worried had he been Angelus in truth, but this ensouled creature is of no consequence to me. I would like to know however exactly how eight of my minions met their deaths here this morning considering the only scent amiss is that of another vampire. Perhaps you could enlighten me Spike."

"Certainly that vampire is the most ferocious creature that has ever walked the earth they didn't call him the Scourge of Europe for nothing." Spike spat out.

"You expect me to believe that the ensouled vampire Angelus did this?" Galan sounded condescending and incredulous all at once.

"That is exactly what I expect you to believe." Spike said catching Galan's hand and wrenching it from where it had grabbed his throat. He wouldn't be manhandled by this bastard.

"As hard as it is for your mind to comprehend. He's far worse now then he ever was then. He has something worth fighting for. You may not think that he's a worthy adversary, I know he is." Spike couldn't believe he was talking up his sire but he would far rather do so, then deal with this foolish wanker.

"If you believe that you're a fool." Galan spat back.

"Get the hell out of my head." Spike growled balling up his fist and knocking it into the other vampire's face. The blow was enough to cause the other vampire to lose his hold on Spike's mind the blond vampire growled a warning as the fae vampire tried to recapture his eyes.

"I do not belong to you, nor does Dru. If you value your unlife you will do well to remember that." Spike growled before he left the room.

Willow's:

Angel opened the door slowly, his hand never leaving Willow's arm. He followed her across the threshold and into the small foyer, both stopped there shedding shoes and jackets. Willow handed Angel her jacket and the vampire hung both on the hooks. He ushered her into the living room, a smile playing across his lips. He had her alone again and though he knew it was childish and inappropriate he was positively gleeful to have her all to himself once more. Her annoying Watcher was on the Slayer's heels, a fact that hadn't been lost on either of them.

At first, Angel hadn't been sure but now he was, there was something about Buffy that drew the other than human creatures to her, and as Willow had pointed out Fae usually didn't go for human's. However they did go for the ones that glimmered, more then one fae man had seen a woman and taken her to the Underhill, and fairy maids had been known to do the same with musician and poets of the human race. It was simply that they found something that was like them but so different, it was irresistible.

The vampire drew his mate into his arms embracing her from behind holding her tightly against him, burying his nose in her long hair. He drew in her scent hungrily. A mixture of the sweet smelling shampoo she had used, and a hint of the soap from her shower that morning, as well as a hint of Willow's own musky scent. He held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her slender waist, wishing for a moment that they never had to move again. That if they stood there long enough the world would simply forget them and move on without them.

Content for the moment to stand in the vampire's arms and lose herself in his closeness, her hands slid to cover his. Their fingers twined with easy familiarity. She leaned back into his frame allowing him to support her. After a few moments of standing like that unmoving in his arms, only her fingers occasionally playing with his, she pulled out of his arms. The silence in the room starting to unnerve her, even Angel's thoughts were quiet and soft, blending into her own, completely involved in their mutual discovery of each other.

He watched her as she moved about the room, following her over to the stereo that was in the entertainment center along the far wall. He glanced at the CD's and choosing one of romantic melodies. He held it up to the hacker, she grinned sheepishly. Yeah it's mine, so what? He smiled warmly at her and pressed the power button on the CD player. He slipped the CD into the player and closed the compartment. Slowly he pressed the continuous play button. Willow looked up at him questioningly. "I thought maybe you'd like to just dance." Angel said suddenly worried he had been mistaken. He just wanted to hold her in his arms and never let go, and dancing seemed like the perfect excuse. The sounds of Beethoven filled the room, the first strains of 'The Moonlight Sonata' filled the air around them. Angel drew her gently into his arms, and Willow sighed happily. She rested her head easily against his chest. Her arms sliding around his neck for a moment.

After a few bars she drew back to look up at him. His eyes were trained on her face, his lips curved in a small, warm smile.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked softly. He stared down at her for a long moment.

"How I never actually thought I would have the right to do this." He admitted leaning down and capturing her lips tenderly. When he lifted his head she was wearing her own small smile.

"I think, I'm still in shock." Willow admitted. "I mean I went to sleep every night and strange dreams would whisper through me and I never realized it was you. I mean I looked for this, what I feel for you and never found it."

Angel smiled down at her. "So did I, Only when I found it, I foolishly ran away from it." She stopped their slight swaying suddenly.

"It was you at the masque?" Willow demanded. Angel nodded not meeting her gaze. "When you left, I thought I had done something wrong." Willow confessed.

"Not you mo cridhe, me, I did something wrong. I touched you." He grimaced slightly. "I got close to you and all I wanted to do was get closer, and it scared me. You were so young. So beautiful and innocent like a rose just beginning to flower." She stared up at him speechless, she had thought it was him, hadn't really gone past that to why he might have really left.

"I never knew." She said at last. Starting to sway once more to the sweet music that played. They had talked a lot before, but this was the first time they had really had a chance to talk about them, really talk and Willow liked it. She liked the feel of his strong form pressed as close to her as dancing would allow and the slight sway of their movement, coupled with the sweet strains of the CD.

"I went and sort of punished myself." he said laughing softly. "That's how Whistler found me, I was being heavy into the whole penance issue for the sin of wanting you." He laughed again, a little more harshly this time.

"What do you mean?" Willow asked curious, to know what her beloved had done.

"Let's see," Angel said in a matter-of-fact tone. "I basically lived on the streets, using rats and what not for sustenance." He chuckled at the distasteful look that crossed her face. "It's true they are worse than blood bags. To a vampire anyway. Whistler found me, and I think maybe I thought that if I had something to fight for something else to keep my mind on, that I could somehow purge myself of this desire I felt. I'll never be able to really explain what it was that made me feel so unworthy to want you or so guilty for having touched you."

Willow looked deeply into his eyes for a long moment her heart aching for his past pain. "Maybe it wasn't either of those things, maybe it was because for a moment you thought you might be able to have everything you wanted. Someone to love and accept you, no matter what you were. You felt right when you touched me. So right," she said, "when you were with me, that you got scared of what that could mean." She offered understandingly. He wasn't sure if that was the only thing but it was a start. He'd told Katia a lot of the same things, but this was Willow and she deserved to understand what had happened.

"Anyway," Willow said smiling. "look at me. I mean I was in love with Xander for like forever, and then Oz. I mean I saw you I knew you were beautiful, most likely the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I knew you followed me, but I didn't have the guts to ask you why."

"I'm not sure I would have or could have told you." Angel answered cryptically. She grinned and leaning up kissed his smiling mouth.

Their lips brushed and parted before brushing again. There tongues slowly coming into play, his darting out to run gently along the seam of her lips. She parted her lips shyly and his tongue sought entrance to her mouth. They brushed, touched, and explored for a full minute before she pulled back to smile at him.

"Then there was the night when you came to me about Ford."

"That wasn't the real reason I came to you." Angel admitted now. "I came because I had to see you without the others, I missed being close to you. So for a few moments I basked in your fire again." He smiled "and I got burnt, and it was the sweetest pain I'd ever felt. There were other times in the last two years when I've allowed myself to touch you." Angel added, " whether you were aware of it or not."

She nodded her head understandingly. They had stopped moving really he held her pressed tightly against him one hand low on her back the other wrapped around her shoulders, his hand in the long hair that flowed over it.

"Buffy found the proof of that. I shared an obsession with Angelus. The need to draw that which would not leave our minds. I drew you. Page after page of you; sleeping, awake, happy, sad. every way I found you. It was never enough. Even when I was with her, some part of my mind was with you. I tried so hard not to love her, not to feel anything for her, but I had convinced myself so completely that you would never accept me as more then a friend and she wanted me for her own reasons. I just never thought." He trailed off, his eyes darkening. "I never thought you could be mine. It seems so wrong that for our happiness, such a price must be paid. That I have to almost lose you to see that you were meant for me." Angel said.

She smiled. "I love you." she whispered. "I never knew why it hurt so much when you changed. I never understood the tears or the horror I felt when you were in hell. Not until a man who could become a cat at will, filled in all the missing pieces and told me that like Buffy I had a destiny, and unlike Buffy I had a choice. I could choose to fight and risk losing or I could not fight and risk never knowing if I could win." She smiled "I chose you."

"Willow." He husked. Drawing her up for another thorough kiss.

"I didn't know at the time that we would be lovers. I only knew that I loved you too much to leave you where you were."

"I love you," he husked softly against her parted lips. He lifted her gently in his arms, Reaching over his shoulder she turned off the stereo, the music that had filled the room ending, leaving them in silence.

She rested her head against his shoulder as he carried her up the stairs to her their room. He settled her on her feet without parting from her and slowly stripped off her clothing. Then his own. Pulling back her comforter he settled her onto the cool white sheets. He crawled in behind her, gathering her into his arms, he pillowed her head on his chest and pressed soft kiss to her forehead. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Sleep little one, sleep."

The Park:

"Shouldn't you be doing something Watcherish?" Buffy demanded as she glanced at the tall fae from beneath her lashes. He smiled gamely at her, "I am, I am watching you are I not?" He demanded softly.

"I guess." Buffy said as they started through the park for the second time that night. Not a creature appeared to be stirring and Buffy was glad on one side and worried sick on another.

"You need not worry. Her plan is foolproof. Only if one of you are harmed will it fail and considering that Galan is unaware of what our girl did this eve, I would hazard that we are in the clear."

Buffy stopped walking and turned to look at him. "So that's it? After tomorrow everything goes back to normal." Buffy asked. She wanted the old Willow back dearly. She didn't know how to relate to the newer, stronger Willow.

"Not normal as you know it no. Normal as was meant to be. She won't ever be that person you knew again. Anymore than he will be the same as he once was. They both have been tested by fire and passed. They can't be the same." Tristan said. He reached up, knowing he was being foolish. The life span of a human in general was short, a slayer even shorter, but he couldn't seem to help it. She was so incredibly strong, yet weak. It drew him. He caressed her cheek.

"Mayhap I am being a bit foolish, for all my years, women still confuse me, but perhaps you will not mind so much now." Tristan said softly. The soft blush that crept up the Slayer's cheeks gratified the fae as much as words would have.

"Perhaps not." she whispered nervously. He reached forward and slipped an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't fret, I know you're fragile." he said looking into her blue eyes. She smiled softly at him, surprised by how good those words made her feel. She stared up into his silver gaze, surprised how normal they seemed to her now. Running his fingers lightly from the Slayer's cheek down her jaw to cup her chin in his hand. He lifted gently, forcing her eyes to lock with his own.

"What do you say, Buffy Summers? Would you care to join me in this game?" he asked his voice dark and husky sounding to her ears.

She licked her lips slightly, intending to speak, "I..I don't know...I don't know what game...the rules, what are the rules?" Buffy demanded a little breathlessly. She drew back slight from this strange man, putting space between them. She started walking again. Slowly so that he wouldn't think she was running from him. She just wasn't sure what she should be feeling. This was so...well...different. This wasn't a teenage boy and this wasn't Angel. He wasn't playing cryptic, he wasn't pretending to be interested, he really was interested.

The troubled teen turned suddenly. "Are you just being nice to me, so that I'll leave Willow and Angel alone?" She asked bluntly, the young blonde didn't feel like getting her feelings stepped on just because they needed to be a united group.

"Buffy, I would never do what you're implying, not to you and not to them. If I pursue you it's because I wish to do so." Tristan said in all seriousness. Buffy looked down again, she was embarrassed and nervous and more then a little giddy. This man was beautiful, and as far as she knew, he wasn't her enemy at heart.

She tried so hard not to look at him with suspicion but it was hard. She had so many questions about him, about what he was, and how he did things. What his relationship with Willow was like?

"Whatever you're wondering ask me. I'll tell you the truth, as far as I know it." Tristan said reaching out and placing hand on the young woman's shoulder. She turned and looked at him.

"What are you....I mean what do you... What do you want from me?" She asked. He looked into her eyes, his gaze steady and devoid of shadows. So different from anyone she'd ever met. Maybe it was because he was not human, or because as Willow had said, the first creatures the gods ever made were the fae, and perhaps the Divine spark made him seem so real, yet more than real.

"I want to learn you. To know what makes you smile and laugh, to know your stories. To hear the ones that Willow told from your own lips. To see if there is not something worth exploring here." he said. As he spoke he'd leaned slowly closer to her, Buffy's breath caught, her heart beating double time. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea, if it was even something she should be doing, but the moment his warm, soft lips brushed against hers, all thought fled on the heels of fiery sensations.

The kiss was so soft and tentative, neither demanding nor deepening, it merely hovered between chaste and passionate. She felt a current of energy shoot up her spine causing her lips to part on an unsure gasp. She felt the fae's own lips part above hers, was surprised when his tongue swept out to brush ever so gently against her lips, not dipping between merely tracing the edges of hers.

When he lifted his head from hers, his eyes, had darkened slightly, and his breath was a little less steady. His hand slid to her cheek to trace it lightly. Buffy tried to catch her breath, surprise, desire, and warm heat washed over her in waves. She met his eyes a slight blush heating her cheeks.

"I think you're right." She managed huskily. "I don't mind any more." She turned slightly, "We should...we should finish the patrol." As she moved, his hand slid down her arm, and her fingers locked around his when they touched.

Sunnydale: The next Morning.

She was waiting, Angel could feel it, she was waiting. He knew. She hadn't told him everything. He'd known it since they had parted company that morning. She was going to the bastard, he knew that too. He tried to remain calm, to remind himself that it was Willow. Willow who though she looked fragile, was made of steel. Willow who wouldn't willingly leave him, but it didn't stop the horror in his soul of that thing having her, touching her, harming her.

He paced around the library waiting for her Watcher to get there. Waiting for the fae to confirm, what his senses had already whispered to him earlier that morning. That Willow had gone to the lair. She had gone because she had to. Angel's fists clinched unconsciously when he thought about the danger he knew she had walked into. Last night he should have known she was up to something. They had made love; slow, tender, sweet love, and now that he looked back on it, it had been as though she had been committing every nuance and movement to memory. Every noise she had elicited from him, every glide of his hand over her soft skin, every arch and gasp she had made.

He prayed that she was mistaken, that it would not be the last time he made love to her, the last time he heard her cry out his name in the throes of release. He didn't want to have to ever sleep without her wrapped around him again. Didn't ever want to wake up as he had this morning alone, the bed beside him smelling of her skin and still feeling faintly of her warmth. He was still shaken from the understanding that she had gone there. TO THEM.

He looked up as the fae and the Slayer walked into the room. "Do you know where your charge is?" Angel demanded angrily. Tristan looked unimpressed by Angel's outburst as though it was expected. Which made Buffy curious as to what exactly had happened. She'd spent most of the last evening after Willow's rather yucky ritual in the company of the fae Watcher, wondering at her seeming pattern of falling for "much" older men. Not that she had fallen for the fae, but something in his manner, in his flirtatious nature made Buffy fear that it was exactly what he wanted her to do and more worrisome perhaps was the eager way her heart skipped a beat when he looked into her eyes. The man beside her was so different from Angel and yet the same. Angel had always sort of exuded a kind of dark, mysterious, magnetism. Whereas the Fae was sexy, flirtatious, and gorgeous, and it wasn't just that he could do the dark broody thing too. He wasn't forbidden to her either. Of course she could be reading too much into everything, but she wasn't sure.

"I, if I'm not mistaken was not the last one to have seen the Summoner. She is your mate vampire, you should know where she is at all times." Tristan said without any real emotion.

"Oh, I know where she is, "Angel said and Buffy discerned the fine tremor hidden in his voice, "What I want to know is why?...we agreed..."

"NO vampire, you agreed. She never said yea or nay. She kept her pretty mouth shut and let you believe that you had control. It was never up to you, just as it has never been up to you. It's the existence of two realms that are on her shoulders and countless lives, she understands that, and she will do what she must to protect those she loves best." the fae said, stepping fully into the library. Giles looked up with some interest. He had wanted to talk to the fae, but most of the previous day had been spent in preparation of this night.

"Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain to us why she went through all the trouble of that vampiric ritual last evening if she had no intention of us helping her?" Giles demanded, he was still sickened by the fact that Willow had willingly ingested the vampire's blood as well as small amounts of each of theirs.

"She needed something that was uniquely each of yours and she needed to take it into herself and short of having sex with each of you, that was the easiest and quickest way to achieve her goal." The Fae said simply, certain that the Watcher was familiar with some of the older rites of blood and black magic. She had needed to claim them as her seconds and that had been the easiest way.

"What?" Giles demanded, still having trouble with this concept, even as he blushed at the intimation of an orgy between the members of their little group.

"Willow needs each of us at our post." Angel said, finally getting it. "She needs us to be ready to take our places and ready to play our parts without being in physical contact with her. She's made it so that we don't have to get close enough to get hurt, only close enough to stop this from happening." Angel said his voice despondent as he realized the truth of what Tristan had said, about Willow only letting him think that she had agreed, to keep them all, including him, out of danger.

"Very good vampire, perhaps she choose well with you after all." Tristan said, Angel looked at the other man surprised. He smiled inwardly. He knew that was as close to an approval as anything he would get from the Fae. He glanced at his watch. In three hours he would be able to go to Willow. In three hours he would have to depend on his childer to help him reach his mate, and then hope that they were truly on their side. In three hours.

He gasped suddenly as his face became ashen and he fell to his knees. Buffy looked at him in concern. "Oh gods, he's hurting her!" Angel gasped once before crashing to the floor unconscious.

At the same time in the vampire's lair:

Willow screamed, the cry echoing strangely in the small airless chamber. The fae vampire laughed darkly, leaning over her form, "I could have made you scream for another reason little witch." He said huskily. Willow cringed inwardly, not so much from the pain, but from how aroused she knew the inflicting of it was making the vampire. She was terrified. She watched in some shock as he took a few steps back and smiled even more darkly at her.

"I could be anything you desire." He body began to blur. Willow eyes widened as she saw what looked like Angel standing before her. "Be anyone." He husked out. He stepped closer to her, one hand clasping her bound ones in a mockery of tenderness, he slid his other hand down her clothed front brushing along the white edges of the gown she had been forced to don. His fingers moved slowly and were almost gentle in their caress. Everything in her the young redhead grasped onto the image of Angel that stood before her, looking to him to take away her fear and pain. He was her rock in the storm. She moaned softly as his fingers stroked and then captured the soft bud of one breast making her gasp and her supple, dress-clad form arch.

Her eyes flew closed, letting herself fall into the fantasy completely. She moaned softly as pleasure began to whisper through her system. He leaned down and placed his lips over her tightly budded nipple. She moaned softly, her lips falling open as he continued to suckle on her breast. She moaned helplessly as his hands slid lower on her form. She arched her hips seeking his touch in the aching apex of her thighs. The young witch writhed hungrily against his touch as it moved over her thighs lower grasping at the edge of the white linen that fell toward her feet She felt his hand slowly climbing up her calf drawing the material along with it as he leaned up toward her lips. Willow could feel his breath on her face as he leaned in to capture her lips. Her eyes flew open, she wanted to stare into his gaze when he touched her, she liked watching his eyes when he did. She loved the way his gaze would darken fractionally when she cried out. Her eyes sought his and her breath caught in horror as she recognized this was not Angel. Oh Goddess. She closed her eyes, her head falling back against the hard wood beneath her, the fantasy broken.

Galan stepped back, watching in shock, something had broken his hold on her mind, but what. He leaned over to look at her, intending to reconnect his mind to the witches. The fae reached for her, his hands nearly touching the damp flesh near her temples when he felt it. The fae vampire had only seconds to be aware of it, before a spike of brilliant blue energy, hit him hard in the solar plexus, causing him to be thrown heavily across the room. He hit the floor with a loud thud and looked back toward the still bound figure of the girl. Galan could make out, with his rapidly waning sight, the blue outline of a man's form. He heard in his ears a hollow, raspy voice. "She's mine, and only I may touch her." He was only vaguely aware of someone entering the room, as he slid into unconsciousness.

Spike stopped dead in his tracks when he entered the room, when he caught sight of the strange haze of blue energy that hung in the air, surrounding Willow's form. He stepped into the room, surprised and a little frightened when the blue misting seemed to come at him, but then relent. As though it had decided he was friend rather then foe. He stared at the hacker. The bastard fae had been careful and cruel with her small form. Lines of cuts barely deep enough to draw blood, marred her flesh. Though the vampire had a feeling that in the hours before, they had been much deeper. Ignoring the fae vampire on the floor of the chamber, he reached up and slowly untied her wrists. The moment the ropes were released, he was shocked to see blue energy, a shade darker then that which had hovered over her before, come from all over her body. It seemed to pause over each cut, wound, and bruise. When it left the place it had been, her pale flesh was perfectly reknit, as though nothing had ever torn into it. Spike watched as the blue energy moved from head to toe healing every ailment and ache the bastard had created on the young redhead's body. Her eyes fluttered open weakly and her hands slid uncertainly around the vampire's neck.

"How is she?" asked a gentle voice from behind Spike, he turned and smiled at Drucilla, as he slowly walked out of the room, his beloved princess following close behind. He turned into the rooms that belonged to them and settling Willow carefully on the large bed, Spike left Drucilla to clean and tend the hacker. Knowing that Dru would be better suited for the task, the bleached blond vampire stood over in the corner watching. Wondering what his sire would think about the free show he was getting. The witch certainly hid a beautiful figure beneath her shapeless clothing. He smiled softly as Dru trailed her fingers over the witch's eyes.

"Wake up little tree." She whispered in a singsong tone. Willow's green gaze opened after a moment. The little witch pulled back from Dru, sliding up to lean against the headboard and then looked around the room. "Where's Angel?" She asked softly, Dru smiled kindly at her.

"He's right where he's always been silly." Dru admonished smilingly. She tapped Willow's head gently, then getting up from the bed she urged the hacker to lay down. "You sleep here. The bad vampire won't come in here cause it's our space."

"If you need us pet we'll be in the other room." Spike said taking Dru by the arm and leading her out of the room. Willow leaned back against the fluffy pillows beneath her head and closed her eyes...she was so tired.

Library:

Buffy watched Angel with no small amount of interest as the sun began to set. Angel had come to moments before swearing and growling. His game face was showing and he was now standing toe to toe....well actually knee to toe with the fae Watcher, growling angrily up at him.

"You sorry excuse for a creature. You knew, you knew what he would do to her and you didn't see it as something I needed to know?" Angel demanded holding the fae up by his collar.

Buffy looked uncertainly between the two men, her heart didn't know what to do. She felt for Angel, because she now knew he had been privy to everything that had happened to the hacker at the Fae vampire's hands or the fae who was merely doing his duty. A feeling she knew all too well.

"Angel, calm down, your not solving anything. Willow needs us to be calm. When we get there you'll find her, make sure she's okay, and then we'll move as planned." Buffy said, taking charge suddenly. As her Watcher was presently preoccupied with something in his office. He had conveniently found something interesting to do in there when the vampire had started to rouse form his stupor.

When the vampire didn't immediately respond to her rationale. The Slayer gave a growl of her own and commanded, "Angel, drop him....now!"

The vampire growled back at the tiny blond but obeyed and literally dropped the fae unceremoniously on his butt. Giving another growl the Slayer moved forward and helped the fae to his feet as she spoke to the vampire, "Funny, very funny." She said and then she turned to the vampire and said, "Is this what you think Willow would want?"

The vampire looked at her still game faced, his eyes glowing yellow, as he whispered, "No and she wouldn't want me to do what I'm about to....take care of the others Buffy." With that the vampire turned and grabbing his duster from the table he stalked out of the library.

Sunnydale: Galan's Lair

She lay in the shadows, her long red hair mussed and misplaced. Someone had changed her clothes he noticed. She was wearing one of Dru's dresses, it was a long, flowing white gown. It only made her look more alluring and virginal to the vampire. She looked peaceful and he couldn't bring himself to wake her. She stirred as if she heard his unspoken plea. Green eyes fluttered open. She studied him in obvious confusion.

"Angel?" Soft and distressed, the voice sounded nothing like the one he had come to know and love. She looked at him, his dark form silhouetted against the room.

"Yes," He whispered in response a soft look playing across his features. She reached for him instinctively seeking the only familiar thing in this suddenly terrifying place.

"Why are you here?" Her tone betrayed the inner fears she had been trying in vain to keep at bay.

The hurt look that crossed his face made Willow immediately feel guilty.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, the words weren't enough to express what she was feeling. She hadn't wanted him to come. She had hoped that he would stay with the others as she had asked, stay where he belonged. It appeared that he had chosen to follow her. Surprisingly, it hurt. The fact that he was here now risking his life, when he didn't have to. She felt a strange stinging guilt that mixed with a new sensation... euphoria. Angel was with her.

"You didn't think I'd come?" He asked, she recognized the hurt that showed there. That she believed he'd leave her to face this alone, was a scratch on his honor.

"I hoped," she confessed. I hoped you wouldn't. I dreamed you would.

"Willow." Just her name nothing more she knew though how much lay behind that single word. She smiled sadly to herself. Oh gods, I love him.

"It would have been better that way. It would hurt less," she said pressing her face into his chest avoiding his eyes, and drinking in his scent.

"I never meant to hurt you." He said softly, fearing she would doubt his words. She knew that, knew it in the very depths of her soul. Angel never meant to hurt her, it just ended up this way.

"It's OK everyone gets broken sometimes. You just have to keep the super glue handy," she offered her own brand of understanding. Quirky and unique like the woman herself. Super Glue. Somehow he thought it would take more then that to fix the damage done.

"Willow humor I need it." He said. It sounded like a confession, as though he wasn't allowed to tell her that. She laughed under her breath. Need.

"Why did you come after me?" She demanded. They had made a deal and he had broken it, he was here alone, she knew he was alone, she could feel it.

"I had to." He said. "I couldn't deal with it. I could feel it all." He said his eyes locked on hers. He couldn't believe that after everything they had been through, she actually believed he would be able to let her do this on her own.

"You have to leave it they find you..." She trailed off.

"Willow I can't leave you and you know it. Even if I could, I won't. I'm not sure I could get out of here again, if I wanted to anyhow." Angel said.

"But, Spike or Dru could..." She trailed off. Knowing that Angel would never go for it. She'd never be able to get him to leave. It wasn't in his nature.

"Willow I am staying. I might stay in the shadows, but I'm not leaving you alone with that bastard." Angel all but growled.

"We're not lost, it's not over yet." she persevered, recognizing the finality in his tone.

"Isn't it?" he said, resignation in his voice.

"No." she said firmly.

"How can you be so sure?" he asked his lack of belief clear. How had he lived so long on so little?

"Faith." she said softly.

"Such a small word." He observed faintly.

"It's all I have, you gave me that." She said. Her voice holding her pain for the first time. They had been so close over the past few weeks. She was terrified that what was happening was because of the link. In spite of what he said, she couldn't believe that he wanted her. That he really cared for her. He'd tried not to feel this way about her. He had always loved her. Always needed her in a way that he had never needed Buffy. Willow was his moon goddess, his beautiful, sweet, tender, fiery, and passionate match. He knew that now, accepted it with the same intensity and understanding, with which he had once fought so hard to deny it.

"Willow," soft, anguished, filled with pain, longing. He had sensed her thoughts and feelings through the link and pulled her into his arms to crush her against him.

"I never meant for it to happen like this I ....I.....loved you." she confessed against the side of his neck, afraid to look into his eyes and see his reaction. He looked down at her. Awe and love coloring his gaze.

"I know," he smiled, "I think I always knew. I just thought you loved her more." He answered in return truth for truth he thought. " I would have walked through hell for you. I know that now. I wish I had known it then, I might have fought harder." He confessed softly. He had always believed she was the Slayer's friend first, the Slayer's Slayerette. Not 'his Willow' no matter how often he looked at her that way.

"When will they come?" he asked dreading the answer. but at the same time needing to know.

"In the dark of the moon, soon." She felt his arms tighten around her, in response to her words. They stayed like that, wrapped in each other, hoping to keep the world at bay while resting in each others arms. He placed absent little kisses on her long red-hair.

"Willow," He whispered, a breath against her neck, a kiss placed on a pulse point. She shuddered in remembered pleasure. Angel.

His name being whispered through the link was his undoing. With barely suppressed savagery he hauled her up higher on his chest. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her against him. He looked up into her face, now positioned slightly above his own, and if he could breathe he would have gasped. Her eyes, eyes that could not lie it seemed, held such emotion, those green orbs glowed with love, acceptance, understanding, and...desire. The desire that threw his already precarious restraint to the wind. The demon that lay deep within him, different from the one of so long ago. It raged against its restraints craving her as he did. Hunger and desire seeped through him, shocking him with its intensity.

He closed his eyes for a moment trying to regain control of the beast within.

Angel felt a soft hand caress his jaw with a gentle touch. He opened his eyes to gaze directly into Willows eyes, now glowing with power. Angel felt something come through the link, take hold of the demon with tender care and throw it back into the restraints that Angel had mentally created for the monster that had lived within him for so long.

As soon as Angel once more trusted himself, he looked up at Willow and smiled. Her hand still tenderly caressed his jaw, she smiled softly at him, her mind whispering to his. He stared at her mouth, yearning to taste her lips. She lowered her face to his, seeming to hear his unspoken desire. Her mouth touched his lightly. Barely a kiss, but more then enough to turn the spark in Angel to a blaze. She pressed her mouth to his timidly, not the woman who'd pushed him all but out of his mind, for the past several days, Gods, had it really only been days. No, this was Willow, quiet, shy, soft, and passionate. He opened his mouth, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. She made a soft contented sound, responding to Angel's kiss. Her hair sliding forward to form a silken curtain around them. His tongue traced her lips, slipping past as she opened her mouth on an airless gasp. His tongue traced her teeth, nipping at her lips before suckling them tenderly. Then he slipped past her teeth to coax her tongue into play. Their tongues dueled for several moments, before Willow pulled away to catch her breath.

She didn't remain parted from him for long however, quickly lowering her head farther, she latched on to the side of his neck. She began pressing nips and kisses to the side of his neck, he moaned out loud. His arousal pressed against his slacks, begging for release. He felt her lips curve at the juncture of his neck and shoulder and then she bit down on his jugular hard. He yelped and felt his painfully full manhood jump against its confinement.

His demon demanded release and he wanted so badly to take Willow, but she was the aggressor here. He would let her set the pace and the rules. Then he thought, Willow the aggressor. Shivers. Once again he felt her smile against his neck. She moved back up his neck to his jaw and then his mouth. Again she explored and plundered his mouth.

Then he felt her stiffen in his arms, as the link slammed open between them. He knew she hadn't done it deliberately, but he could see she was having another vision. The images he saw there were like a shot of ice water to his desire. Quickly he let her slide down his body, supporting her when her legs would have collapsed. The images continued to flood both of their minds as they stood there in each other's arms. When the images finally stopped, Willow wobbled away from Angel a short distance, to catch her breath. When she had regained her composure she turned back to gaze at Angel.

Scarlet tears blinded his eyes. She walked back over to him, whispering soothingly to the vampire.

"There is nothing to be done...OK." He stared down at her, his heart breaking, it was clear on his face. The pain reached out from him to her.

"Willow I can't...don't make me do this. Don't ask me to do this. I can't stand by and watch this happen. There must be another way."

"There really isn't much choice Angel."

"Willow!!!" She smiled sadly at Angel. She wrapped her arms about the vampire holding his shaking form to her.

"I know, I wish it were different." He lifted her face to his own, his mouth drifting closer to her. Nearly grazing, she jerked back as though burnt, her eyes staring into his, as she recognized part of the previous vision. His eyes studied Willow just as intently as she was studying him. He then grasped her about the back of the neck pulling her closer. His mouth grazed hers tenderly, he held her, half-afraid that she would pull away. He kissed her carefully, drawing out the strangely exquisite agony of touching her. She let out a small sound of surrender, her mouth opening under his insistent nudging. His fingers slid into her hair, holding her to him, preventing her escape. Escape she no longer desired....

She clung to the vampire for a moment, only to jerk away at the sound of the door opening. They turned and...

Angel pushed Willow behind him as he faced his childe. Spike smiled softly at his sire, seeing the unmistakable way that Angel touched the girl. Yes, he definitely would defend her. Something else occurred to Spike as she gently quieted the other vampire. He wondered fleetingly just what would happen. He knew she had a plan, even if Amy and his Dru hadn't told him, he had sensed it when she had entered the cell. He could still hear Galan cursing.

"What did you do, to Galan pet?" He asked addressing Willow instead of Angel.

"Exactly what he deserved. Nobody touches me without my permission."

"Then Angelus here, has that privilege I take it." The bleached blond vampire said, after taking in their somewhat disheveled appearance.

"Yes," Willow replied simply, giving the dark haired vampire standing between her and Spike an adoring gaze

"Lucky man, mate." Angel was looking from Spike to Willow seeing something he wasn't sure he believed. Spike's on your side remember. "You need to get out of here, before Galan senses you. Willow will be safe, Galan needs her alive. He's not sure if you're the Western King or not, and he doesn't know that he's already here. How did you find her?"

"I could find her if I were blind, deaf, and mute." Angel said simply, it was the truth. He touched Willow gently, his fingers traveling over her cheek.

"Well, since both of you are here I have this question. It's been in my head since I heard that cursed prophecy. How can you be one and yet be..." he trailed off knowing that she understood the question because of her heightened color. "Oh I'm not a virgin. I mean, not in the physical sense and I don't have to be." Willow said looking at Spike.

"But Galan said you had to be, in order for it to work."

"Virgin...virginity...it's an interesting word. It means different things in different cultures, but in this case he was referring to what we can call a transference. Part of my power belongs to my chosen consort. In this case Angel."

Spike looked rather shocked. He wasn't sure what shocked him more, the calm way she was talking about it, or the fact that she was one step ahead of Galan.

"I've merely made his job harder. In order for this to work he has to kill my chosen and have possession of me, and as you saw I am not easily subdued."

"But you're the Summoner..." the bleached blond vampire said doubtfully.

"Aye, but what is a lock without its key?" Then all the vagueness suddenly made sense. He understood. Virgin as she was implying need not refer to the physical at all. Willow still considered her self-possession a fact. Even though she called Angelus mate, she didn't belong to the vampire against her will.

"Okay so let me get this straight. You got my sire's sorry arse out of hell, then you bonded with him, you shagged him, and some where in all of this you also clearly bound his soul to him, because if you didn't he'd be Angelus again." Spike rambled on as he watched the pair before him.

"Well not exactly. He is Angelus." Willow said watching the look on Spike's face. She smiled, at the British vampire, making a spurt of jealousy run through Angel. "or should I say he's what Angelus and Angel have become. He had a soul but it doesn't mean he won't rip someone to shreds." She continued, as Angel pulled her into his embrace once more, trying to ignore the little twist of jealousy that ran through him, realizing that this must be what Spike had felt when Angelus had returned and had basically taken Dru's affections from the younger vampire.

"Oh, so you've not been fixed then...eh mate." Spike said smiling, "Still enjoy a good spot of violence?" He chuckled softly as Angel looked down.

"Of course he does Spike. So do I." Willow said as she smiled at Spike. "So do you like the new and improved Drucilla?" Willow asked sweetly. Angel saw the way Spike stiffened.

"Don't try to use Dru against me Pet. You won't like how I react." Spike warned. He didn't really care when people threatened him, he did however have issues with what had happened to Dru.

"Don't you like her this way Spike?" Willow asked seriously. She hadn't thought that he would mind a sane Drucilla. "I know she's not as nasty as she once was, but I would have thought...." She trailed off. She looked over at Angel and slowly spoke. "I managed to piece back the pre-Vampire Drucilla's psyche. It has made her sane, no more mad ranting. However, she still has visions and she is not as vicious as she once was, because in the piecing back together she no longer recalls what transpired when she was made. She remembers Spike, and you but not as she did." Willow turned and looked at Spike who had been watching her speak to Angel. He looked for all the world like a child too frightened to ask her something. "What Spike?" Willow asked. The blond vampire looked down at the floor, studying Willow's bare feet. "What is going to happen when this is over? Are you going to put Dru back the way you found her. Show me what she is like, and then return her to being the broken toy you found her to be?"

Willow gasped softly, that was what was bothering the blond vampire. He wasn't beginning to doubt her, he was worried about Dru. "She will be as I have made her for always, unless she asks it otherwise." Willow stated clearly.

"I don't want to go back." Said a soft childlike voice from the doorway. Spike turned and waited breathlessly as Drucilla saw her Sire for the first time since Willow had rearranged her mind. She smiled a little uncertainly at her creator. "Sire?" she asked, "Angel."

The dark haired vampire nodded his head, "Drucilla." He spoke the name without the pain he normally felt when he looked at her. His eyes straying back to Willow. Drucilla looked at the witch, a small smile playing on her face. "You look good, dressed in my clothes." She pointed out, "I wasn't sure if you would, but it works." She studied Willow, her mind tuning out the men in the room. Willow was so pale and yet blushed with a sweet edge of pink, like strawberries and cream. Dru decided, that the witch was much too beautiful ever to be made a vampire. She simply looked too incredible in full living color.

"Daddy," She said, making Angel stiffen a little, "You've been very good, the little tree made you a good daddy, but you can't ever, ever make the little tree one of us. She's too pretty the way she is to ever look well in the color of death." Dru added, she smiled, graced Angel with a slight curtsy and slowly minced out of the room in much the same way she came.

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