Buffy The Vampire Slayer Fan Fiction ❯ Her New Family ❯ Fall From Grace ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: It's painful but true. I don't own Angelus or Spike (sniffles). Oh, ya. Don't own the rest of Buffy The Vampire Slayer either (As If I Care About The Rest).

A/N: This chapter is a turning point and a major part of the plot of the story. Don't hate me, it had to be done…and everything will become clear in the end…

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Something was wrong.

As she went from class to class the next day, Willow tried to convince herself that it was her guilt that was giving her that horrible nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. She hated lying to her friends, especially to Xander, but she knew that they'd never understand her or what she was doing, and would either hate her and never speak to her again, or would be sure that she was under a spell and would go to kill the three vampires she'd come to care for.

On the plus side, Buffy seemed happier than she had been the last time Willow'd seen her. The blonde was nearly jumping with happiness, and even though she'd been quite cryptic when Willow asked her what was so wonderful in her life to have her acting like a two-year-old on sugar-high, the redhead decided to be glad. If it was a guy, then that meant that she shouldn't feel guilty for being with Angelus.

Speaking about Angelus, she could feel his rage and annoyance right now, and she knew that it was directed against her.

Sighing, Willow zoned out in math as she remembered that morning. The night before Angelus had made his will known. She wasn't to return to school, or to see her friends again. She was his and that was that.

But for Willow that wasn't that, so she'd waited for him to fall asleep the moment the sun came up and when she was sure that he was out cold and dead to the world (she snickered at the puns) she'd gotten dressed and snuck her way out of the mansion. A quick detour to her house meant a bath, a change of clothes, and her school books, with a Pop Tart for breakfast before she headed to school.

Her friends were glad to have her back, and although Oz gave her a weird look when he'd passed her in the hall, he'd smiled at her, even if it was wary.

Willow's eyes widened. If Spike was to be trusted, Oz was a werewolf—which meant that he was like a dog—good sense of smell…did that mean he could smell she'd been with vampires?

Fear ripped at her soul.

What if Oz went and told everyone what she'd been doing—or better yet—who she'd been doing?

But she calmed suddenly. If anyone would have looked at her at that very moment they would have shivered at the near evil smile on her face.

Oz wouldn't tell them anything. He'd have to reveal the fact that he was a werewolf to be able to explain how he knew she'd been sleeping with a vampire when he hadn't actually seen it, and Oz was cute but not stupid. He wouldn't reveal himself to the bloody Slayer, no matter what.

Relieved, the redhead was glad when the bell rung. She had art next, and while she'd never been good at it, it was a good class to relax in, something she needed. Plus, none of her other friends were in that class, so she had time to get lost in her own thoughts.

Getting up she felt the rage build in that little place in her stomach. She looked up at the clock on her way out and felt it grow when she saw that it was only one.

She couldn't help but feel anxious. It would seem that Angelus was eagerly awaiting sunset so he could come and find her. The word `punishment' rang throughout her head, and she winced, having read in the Watcher's Journals about what Angelus was known to do while punishing people or vampires. It wasn't pretty.

Why did I risk his fury again? Oh. Yeah. School.

Right about now a proper education didn't seem as important as it had that morning when she'd snuck out.

Entering the art hall with the rest of her class, Willow paused. Since when was Oz in her art class? She'd had somewhat of a crush on him before so she knew that she would have noticed him being in that class if he had. But, if he didn't have art with her, what was he doing there standing next to Ms. Chaplin?

They both looked up when she came in.

“Ah, Willow.” Ms. Chaplin spoke. “Oz will take you to see the Principle now.”

Wondering what she'd done to get called into the principle's office, and why Oz of all people was sent to get her, Willow nodded and followed Oz out. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't realize that they were going in the opposite direction to the principle's office, and gave a yelp when Oz grabbed her and threw her in the janitor's closet.

Closing the door behind him, Oz narrowed his eyes at her, leaving them in the suffocating darkness. “What are you?”

“Huh?” Through her frightened haze, she felt him take a menacing step towards her, and she stepped back, backing into the wall, whimpering in fear. What was Oz doing?

There was the sound of sniffing. “What. Are. You?”

Annoyance was gaining ground on her fear. “What do you mean what am I?”

“You're alive.”

She snorted. “Of course I'm alive!”

“But you smell like a vampire.”

She paused. “Of which vampire?” She wondered if he could smell all of the vampires she'd been around or only Angelus. If the latter she knew she could come up with something convincing.

“No. Not of another vampire. You smell like a vampire.” He sounded just as confused as she felt hearing those words. There was a pause. “Aren't you going to ask me why I can smell vampires?”

“Nah. I know you're a werewolf.” She said in disinterest, more interested in the fact that she smelt like a vampire. What the hell did that mean? “So you say I smell like a vampire?”

He made a choked sound. “You knew I was a werewolf?”

“Ya, yah, now, getting back to the subject--.”

“How did you know?” It would seem that Oz had a one-track mind.

“Spike—a vampire—told me.” Waving that off as unimportant, she reached blindly for a cord and pulled it, the light turning on over them, showing a very confused Oz. “What do you mean I smell like a vampire? How is that possible? My heart still beats, I can go out in the sunlight, I love garlic--.”

He blinked, scratching behind his head, completely relaxed now that not only she knew he was a werewolf, but he knew she wasn't a vampire. “I don't know. To be honest though, you smell better than a vampire. Anyone would mistake you for a vampire at first, but now that I'm closer to you I realize that you aren't a vampire, or a mere mortal. I—I wonder what you are.”

“Okay, Okay. What does that mean?” Tapping a finger against her chin, she ignored the cute guy with her for a moment. “And I can't tell Giles or Buffy. Great. How do I get a hand on the Watcher's Diaries without them knowing?”

At the confused look that deepened on his face, Willow did something impulsive, she told Oz all about Buffy. Surprisingly enough was that although he'd faced the Slayer while in wolf form, he hadn't retained a clear memory of her, so he hadn't realized that Buffy was the one who'd tried to kill him.

A growl escaped his lips.

She was surprised at how nonchalantly she took his hatred for Buffy. It horrified her. Here was a vicious demon that now wanted to kill Buffy, and what was she doing? She was rubbing his hair…what?

Pulling her hand away from him when he made a sound of contentment, Willow shook her head. Oz was not a dog to be petted.

Leaning forwards, Oz sniffed and sighed, pulling at the neck of her turtle-necked shirt, seeing the claiming mark. “I'm late I see.”

Blushing, she swatted at his hand. “Look, I don't know how long you've been a werewolf--.”

“Not that long actually.”

“—But I know that if you want to survive Buffy you're going to have to smarten up.” And here she was, insulting a werewolf in a confined space. What the world was going on with her? “One thing. If you're not going to retain yourself during your transformation—go outside of Sunnydale when the full moon is close. If you stay here and change Buffy will find you and will kill you.”

He growled at her apparent lack of faith in him.

“Oh please.” Willow waved him off as if a kitten was the one growling viciously at her. “It's the truth. Not only are you newly changed, but you don't understand the full capacity of your strengths. Until you do, I think you should leave Sunnydale. Maybe go on a music tour through Europe. France. Go to France.”

He looked at her in surprise. “Why France?”

“That's where the largest community of werewolves are, and plus, according to most that is where the first werewolf originated, so you should find your kind there and train, better understand yourself, the changes in your body, and how to strengthen yourself.”

Oz thought it for a moment, and then sighed. “You might be right.”

“Damn well I am.” She paused. Had she just cursed? Out loud?!? “I really need to snatch those books pronto.”

He sighed, looking at her sad and longingly. “So, you're mate. He's a vampire?”

“Mate? Oh!” She blushed, looking away nodding. “His name is Angelus, he's a Master Vampire, and about the most vicious vampire ever recorded in history.” And dammit if she didn't sound proud when she said that!

He sighed again, but managed to smile genuinely at her. “Know of any places in France in particular?” Opening the door, he turned off the light and they left the closet, him beginning to walk her back to her class.

“Not off the tip of my tongue, but we could look it up in the school library's computer.” She paused. “But that's where Buffy and the others have their meetings.” Hearing him growl when Buffy was mentioned, she turned to him. “See? How do you think to pull off anonymity if you growl every time I mention her? It's a big giveaway!”

He blushed, lowering his gaze and mumbling: “I guess I'll have to work on that.”

“Look, start in Paris.” Willow went back to their last subject. “You should find some leads there. Mostly you're looking for small rural towns. Remember that werewolves live in packs, so they might very well be communities of pure werewolves and no mortals.”

He smiled. “I like that thought.”

She back smiled at him. “Good luck.” Before entering into the class, she turned at the door and asked in a soft voice only for him to hear. “This smell I have…is it…nice?”

Oz gulped, blushing deeply and looking away. “Better than anything else I've ever smelt.”

Her smile was blinding as she left him there and went to her desk.

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Angelus was once again, in an uproar. While Spike had always been a pain in the ass he'd never managed to enrage him as quickly and as easily as Willow. The dark vampire growled as he paced his prison. The sun wasn't going to set for a couple of hours, and he was stuck in the mansion until then.

Not only was he furious that Willow had gone against his explicit orders, but he was worried. He'd sensed Willow's moment of complete terror, and hadn't sensed her since. What had happened? Had someone hurt his woman?

He was murderous.

If someone had hurt that woman before he could put her over his knee and spank some sense into her—well—his legendary murders would seem like play when he was finished with the bastard!

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Dru frowned. Something was in the air. Something was going to happen, but neither the stars nor her dolls would tell her anything. Out of pure frustration she tore out some of Miss Edith's hair, yet the doll remained stubbornly silent.

“What is happening?” She whispered to herself as the sun began to fall.

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As soon as the sun was set enough for him to venture, Angelus had left the house. Spike sat on the roof, looking at the already dark sky, smoking. It was a good thing he was already dead, or his addiction to cigarettes would have killed him by now.

He smirked when he remembered Willow taunting him with that yesterday. But that frown disappeared when he remembered Angelus' fury. If that sodding ponce did something to hurt the redhead he'd get back at him, and he was sure that Dru would help him too.

Just the thought of Dru ganging up with him on Angelus was enough to make him smile, despite the nagging feeling warning him that something just wasn't right.

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Oz growled. He'd been kept back at school due to detention in science for getting late to class once more, and all he wanted to do was go to the school library and check the computers about werewolf sightings in France. Willow had said some very true things to him today, and while he still resented the fact that she wasn't meant to be his mate, he was glad to have her on his side. She mightn't know it, but he could feel it. Or better yet, his demon felt it, felt the strength, the dark promise in her.

In a couple of years Willow Rosenberg would be a name demons worldwide knew of and feared. Of that Oz was certain.

“Are you sure this will work?”

Stopping at the entrance of the library, Oz hid in the shadows. He kept back a growl at the sound of the slayer's voice. Willow was right, he had a `tell' that he'd have to get rid of.

“Yes.” Their computers teacher, Jenny Calendar, was heard saying. “This is the Orb of Thesulah. With the orb and with the blessing we'll be able to get Angelus' soul back permanently.”

Oz paused, back flat against the wall, eyes narrowed. Angelus? Where had he heard that name before?

“I can't wait to have Angel back—permanently.” Buffy said in a breathy voice. “I know it's wrong for the Slayer to love a vampire, and a Master Vampire at that, but Angel is my one true love, and I am his.”

Oz snorted in disgust, but thankfully he wasn't heard by the blonde slayer.

“I still think we should have at least told Willow the great news.” Buffy whined.

Rupert Giles, the librarian, sighed. “I don't know Buffy. Willow seemed a little out of it today. Didn't you not sense it?”

“Huh?” It would seem that she hadn't. “Nah.”

“Let's start the ritual.” Ms. Calendar announced in a businesslike tone. “After tonight Angelus will be gone forever.”

Suddenly it hit Oz like a ton of bricks and he backed into the shadows, eyes wide. Angelus…Master Vampire…Willow. They were going to do something to Willow's mate!

Quietly disappearing into the shadows of the hallway, Oz pulled out his cellular and tried calling Willow to warn her, but it rang out. He cursed, wondering where she was.

Getting into his van he put it into gear and sped out of the parking lot.

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Willow was waiting for Angelus when he stormed into her room as soon as it was dark enough for him to leave the mansion. He was furious, gameface in full-force, yet he hesitated when he noticed her sitting tranquilly on her bed. That in itself wasn't what surprised him, it was the packed suitcases and the fishbowl filled with her prized fishes that did.

“I was wondering when you'd arrive.” She told him with a tentative smile. “I couldn't take all of these things back to the mansion by myself, now, could I?”

Confused, his gameface slipped, and his human disguise frowned at her, wondering what games she was playing. He should be starting the torture—but no—here he was looking at her in reluctant curiosity. “What's all of this?”

Her smile grew more genuine. “Well you couldn't expect me to continue borrowing Dru's clothes, could you?” She asked, going to her closet and opening it, showing it bare. “So after school I came here and began packing what I needed, so I don't have to come here every morning so early, you know?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“That way I get to stay home with you longer and only leave to go to school and go back there straight afterwards.” She hurried on, trying to keep from smiling as he smirked when she called the mansion `home'. She'd known that he'd like that. “And I can't have Buffy continuing to `baby-sit' my fish, because if she did she'd snoop and realize that my stuff aren't here—anyway, why would I need to her fish-sit if I'm supposed to be sleeping here every night?”

“She's not that much of an idiot.” Angelus consented, reluctant in his smirk. He hated it that she could do this to him. He'd planned an elaborate torturing session, but now here he was smirking and wanting to throw her on the bed and make love to her.

“Plus, Dru's been talking about `colored fishes', says she sees them flying around her head sometimes, so I thought that maybe she'd like the real fishes—but I have to let her know that she can't eat them.” Willow hurried on, realizing that Angelus was relaxing, leaning on the wall, watching her with a lecherous expression. “And I miss my fishies, you know? So I was thinking that—eep!”

That'd been muttered when her vampire used his strength and speeded towards her, knocking her onto the bed, falling on top of her with a seductive purr.

“If I'm not going to punish you by torture,” Angelus straddled her and tore her shirt off. “then I'm going to have to relieve my frustration some other way.”

She smiled. “Hmmm…I wonder what I could do to help you with your frustration.”

Suddenly Angelus' eyes flashed amber and he grabbed her hair, jerking it viciously. “Why is the scent of the pup all over you?” He snarled, gameface returned as he snapped his fangs at her.

Willow's eyes widened as she looked up into the eyes of the killer that was her mate. “It's not what it smells like!” She then frowned. “What does it smell like?”

He paused. She wasn't acting guilty, just insanely curious. “You smell like you were very close to him.” He accused.

“Well, it is what it smells like then.” Willow told him truthfully. “We were talking in the janitor's closet. You know what? He smelt me in the hall and thought I was a vampire, but the fact that I was alive sorta freaked him out and he wanted to know what I was, and after this long and very confusing conversation we spoke about his wolf heritage and how he had to stop growling when someone said Buffy's name or they'd find out he was a werewolf and then he must have smelt my mark because he knew I had a mate and wanted to know if he was a vampire and I said--.”

Once again, the demon's mind had been distracted from torture and pain. He was amused, straddling her, watching Willow as she rambled on and on without an apparent end to her thoughts.

“—that my mate was Angelus, a Master Vampire and the most vicious vampire to be recorded in history and--.”

He smirked proudly. His chest inflated at the praise.

“—then I came here to get my things together so I can move in with you in the mansion. I know you don't want me sleeping here and I know I don't want to wear more of Dru's clothes--.”

Why had he wanted to torture her again?

“—so here we are.” She finished.

He wondered if he'd missed much of her babbling, because she was looking up at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to answer a question.

She suddenly giggled and pushed upwards, pressing her groin against the hard-on he hadn't realized he had. “There must be something wrong with me.” She whispered, blushing and looking away.

“Why do you say that?” Angelus purred as he tore off her bra, lowering his head so he could suckle a hard, pink nipple.

She cried out as his fang brush against the sensitive nub. “Because you still have on your gameface and I want you more now than I ever have.”

Releasing the nipple, Angelus sat back up and forced her to look him in the eyes, surprised at the truth her green orbs revealed. He was shocked. No one had ever wanted him for him completely. Each partner in his life had lusted after either the demon half or the human half, never truly accepting him completely. Buffy the Vampire Fucker hadn't even accepted the `whole' of Angel, never accepting his demon side.

How could the soul have found pure happiness with that bitch?

Angelus was glad that he didn't have a happiness clause, because he knew that if he had, at that very moment he would have gained his soul. Never had he been so happy. Never.

“I'm going to make such slow love to you tonight that you're going to be begging me to let you cum for hours.” He promised her, slipping his face back to its human façade.

“Don't.” Willow whispered, cupping his face with her hands gently. “I've made love to the man. Now, I want to make love to the demon.”

Without hesitation his gameface returned and he smashed his mouth against hers.

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Buffy sat, watching as Jenny went through the ritual. Her heart was bursting with excitement. It was almost over. Angelus would be gone forever and Angel would be with her again. They'd be happy and together, and this time no one and nothing would be able to tear them apart.

They were each other's true love.

She couldn't wait to be in his strong arms again.

The blonde smiled.

Willow would be so happy when she told her what they'd done.

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“No!”

Hearing Dru's horrified scream, Spike let his gameface slip on as he hurried into the mansion, finding his sire crumpled on the ground, bashing Miss Edith, her prized possession, against the floor. “Dru? Baby? What's going on?”

“I hate you I hate you—you naughty girl!” Dru continued to bash the doll. “You should have warned me! You should have told me!”

Spike was terrified. Dru adored Miss Edith, so something horrible must have happened for her to treat her that way. “What is it Dru?”

“They're taking daddy away from us again.” Dru broke down crying tears of blood. “That stinky icky blonde and her horrible gypsy and smelly watcher—they're bringing him back.”

If Spike's well-debated heart had still been beating, it would have stopped right then.

Recuperating quickly he snarled. “We'll stop them!”

“It's too late.” Dru whimpered. “Miss Edith says that it has to happened, that it's happening now as we speak. We can't stop it. It's too late.”

Spike crumpled in the chair, hiding his face in his hands, shoulders sagging in defeat. “Bloody hell.”

“Mummy.”

That one word brought Spike's head up viciously. “What the hell did those bleedin' ponces do to Red?” He snarled, shooting up from the chair. “If they've laid their soddin' hands on her I swear--.”

“No. Spike.” Dru whispered. “Mummy needs us now that daddy's gone.”

“Is he—is he gone now, Dru?” It was so hard to ask that question.

Tears stained her cheeks as she raised her gaze to meet his. “No, but he will be when you get there.”

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“Oh God!” Willow screamed as his thrusts grew urgently inside of her. They hadn't gotten as far as to be naked. Angelus had pulled out his dick and torn off her underwear, but she still wore her skirt and he his clothes.

“Oh baby…” Angelus moaned as he felt his balls tighten in the telltales of his nearing climax. “I love you.” He whispered the words he'd never said as a human or as a demon.

“I love you too Angelus!” Hot fire erupted through her as she came. “An-ge-LUS!” Biting down hard on his shoulder, Willow drew blood, savoring its heavenly taste. She drank from him, no longer caring that normal people didn't do that, and that she considered herself normal, despite the circumstances.

“Fuck!” He'd been trying to keep back but the feeling of her fangs in him were too much, and Angelus bit down on her as well, pumping her violently as he came inside of her, filling her warm channel with his cold sperm.

Angelus opened his eyes and smiled at her, about to tell her once more that he loved her, when a head-splitting pain caused him to choke on his words.

Getting off of her, he crumpled onto the floor, screaming in agony.

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He had to warn her. He had to warn them.

Van screeching to a stop outside of the Rosenberg's house, Oz gave a sigh of relief when he saw a light on inside. If it wasn't Willow then it was someone who could tell him where to find her—or another number he could call--.

Hearing the screams from inside, Oz's hand froze as it was about to knock on the front door.

Cursing under his breath he knocked down the door, allowing his wolf strength to help him, as he hurried up the stairs and followed the agonized sound to a bedroom.

Throwing the door open, he stopped in the doorway when he found a dark haired man withering on the floor, with a half-dressed Willow hovering over him, face terrified, trying to help him yet not understanding what was going on.

“Angelus!” She screamed. “What's wrong?”

Oz suddenly understood, and his head lowered in defeat. “I'm too late.”

Willow looked up at him for the first time since his entry. “What do you mean? What's happening?”

“I was in detention, afterwards I wanted to see if I could use the computer in the library to look up what we were talking about.” Oz hurried to explain, voice dark with anger. “I overheard them. The Slayer, the computer teacher and the librarian. They were using this Orb thingy, said that they were going to give Angelus his soul back permanently. I—I tried to get here on time to warn you but--.”

“No.” Willow whispered, falling to her knees.

“I'm sorry.” Oz whispered, feeling as guilty as if he'd been the one to give Angelus back his soul.

Neither noticed that the vampire in their midst had stopped screaming until his choked voice asked: “Willow?”

Looking up into his eyes, Willow knew she looked a mess. Her shirt was torn (she was keeping it closed with her fist), her hair was messed up, her neck sported a sore looking bite mark, and her eyes were filled with tears, making it hard for her to make anyone out.

“Angelus?” She hated herself for sounding so weak, so desperate for him to reassure her that it truly was her Angelus and not Buffy's Angel.

Seeing him wince when she said the name, Willow broke down and cried.

“Willow?” Angel sounded worried. “Willow, what happened? What am I doing here?” He awkwardly tried to comfort her, but his brother-like pat on the back only made her feel worse. “The last thing I remember was Buffy and I--.” He paused, blushing.

Jerking away from his touch as if she'd been burnt, Willow stood, turning her back on him. “Get out of my house.” She ordered, her voice cold and low.

“Willow?” Hurt that she'd treat him that way, Angel stood, although shakily. “Willow, what's wrong? Why are you like that?” He paused, suddenly noticing he torn bra flung on the floor. “Willow? Did someone hurt you?” His voice barely contained his rage at the thought of someone hurting the quiet and nice girl who was, if truth be told, the only one of Buffy's friends whom he truly liked and not just mildly tolerated.

He suddenly remembered the bite mark.

Dear God—had a vampire attacked her?

“Wil--.”

“Get out!” She screamed, twirling around to face him, hatred burning in her eyes. “Get out and stay out Angel!”

He looked at the young man in the doorway and then at Willow before he hurriedly did as told. The vampire didn't know what was going on, but he knew that the person who could tell him was probably Giles. He needed to find the Watcher and figure out what had happened.

When Angel was gone, Willow collapsed on the floor, crying out her broken heart.

Oz slowly went and held her, allowing her to wet his shirt with her tears. He didn't know how long they'd stay like that, both kneeling on the ground, holding each other, but the next thing he knew he heard a vicious growl from the balcony.

“Get your bleedin' hands off of her you mutt!” A man with a British accent demanded, fury in his eyes, which flickered from blue to gold. “Red! Invite me in!”

She jerked her gaze up at him and gave a cry of pure pain. “Spike!” Leaving Oz she went to the balcony doors and flung them open, throwing herself into his arms.

The Master Vampire seemed surprised, because he'd been sure that the mutt had done something, but it would seem that he was trying to calm Red, so he just held her near. “Shh…Red. I know.” He whispered as she began to tell him what had happened. “Dru had a vision. Angelus gained his soul again.” He looked around the room. “And apparently the ponce ran, again.”

Oz stood, wondering who this vampire was.

“I—I told him to leave.” Willow wiped at her tears, voice husky from her cries. “He wasn't my Angelus, he-he didn't even remember what had happened! He didn't remember me! All he remembered was fucking that whore!”

Both Oz and Spike were taken back by the hatred and vehemence in her usually sweet voice when she referred to Buffy.

She softened, turning to Oz. “Oz overheard the Slayer, Ms. Calendar and Giles talking in the library, they were the ones who gave Angelus his soul.” Her voice choked. “Oz came to warn me—but he was too late.”

Spike looked suspiciously in the werewolf's direction. “And why would you do that?”

“Willow and I are friends.” Oz dared him to question that. “She was helping me, I wanted to help her. I haven't found my mate yet—but I understand that the pain of losing one's mate is crushing. I didn't want Willow to have to go through that. Especially if it's that slayer's fault.”

The blonde vampire frowned. “But I thought you were all chummy with Slutty.”

Oz winced. “That was before I found out she was the one who tried to kill me.”

“While in werewolf form?” Seeing the younger man nod, Spike sighed. “Bitchy is a bloody hypocrite. Thinks she's the only one allowed to kill in this town. My motto? Kill and let kill.”

The werewolf thought that one over. “It's acceptable.”

Deciding he liked the pup, Spike turned his attention to Willow, who'd stopped crying, but was still hiding her face in his shirt, and had pulled his duster around her while he'd been busy screening the mutt.

He smiled, liking the feel of her.

But then his smile disappeared as he remembered the situation at hand. “C'mon Red. We're leaving for Europe, pack your---.” He paused, seeing her things packed. “Well that's bloody convenient.” He turned to the wolf. “The van out front. It yours?”

Oz nodded warily, still not trusting the vampire.

“Good. You help me load Red's things up and you can take us to where my pilot has agreed to land the jet.”

The younger man paused. “Did you say you were going to Europe?”

“What of it?” Spike asked, already calm around the youth. He picked up Willow, and when she whispered an invitation for him to come in, he entered her house for the first time and laid her on the bed. “Rest luv, the pup and I are going to get your things in his van. Soon we'll be in Europe and you'll forget all that that bleedin' idiot put you through.” He turned to Oz. “Let's go.”

“You wouldn't happen to be flying close to France, would you?” Oz's voice was heard asking as they each picked up two suitcases and headed downstairs towards his van.

Willow cried, and cried and cried and cried.

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Angel had tried at Giles' house, and since the Watcher wasn't there, he decided that he was either at the Summer's residence or at the Library. And since Joyce Summers had no idea what her daughter did late into the night, the vampire decided that the school library was the best bet.

As he made his way down the darkened street he couldn't help but wonder what in the world had happened. All he remembered was making love with Buffy—pain—more pain—and then opening his eyes and seeing Willow in front of him looking as if she'd been attacked by a vampire.

He froze.

She'd called him Angelus.

Bile rose in his throat. He'd lost his soul and he'd raped Willow. No wonder she'd wanted nothing to do with him! It explained everything! It explained the anger and hurt in her voice and eyes, the way she'd screamed for him to leave.

He'd raped Willow.

Dear sweet Willow.

The only one who'd ever accepted him for who he was—human and demon. Vampire. Evil yet accepted. She'd never made him feel as if he really needed to redeem Angelus' acts. After his love for Buffy, his friendship with Willow was what he cherished the most.

And what had he done the moment he'd lost his soul?

He'd raped her.

And he'd bitten her.

Hells Bells. He'd bitten Willow. He'd claimed her—or, at least Angelus had.

He wondered if the rest of the Scooby Gang knew about this.

“Angel?”

He looked up, surprised to see that he'd already made it to the school. “Hey Buffy.”

“Angel!” the blonde cried out in happiness as she threw herself at him. “Oh Angel! I thought I'd lost you forever!” Her lips connected with his as Buffy kissed him.

And Angel felt…nothing.

Disturbed more than he could ever understand, Angel pulled away softly. “Uh—Buffy? What happened? Last I remember is--.”

She blushed. “I know. We made love, and you experienced a moment of `true happiness' which broke the curse and you returned to Angelus and killed a lot of people.” She paused, looking up at him with open adoration. “Ms. Calendar is actually a gypsy appointed to look after you and she is the one who helped find the blessing that we performed tonight. It gave you back your soul permanently. Isn't that great?”

“Yes, it is.” So why did he feel so cheated?

“I can't wait till we tell Willow!” Buffy announced cheerfully. “She's going to be so happy for us!”

Angel allowed her to lead him into the school to the library, where Giles and Jenny were still talking. All the while his thoughts were not on the blonde chatting his ears off, but on a beautiful redhead looking at him with tears in her eyes.

Angelus? She'd asked, with a voice that sounded suspiciously like hope.

But why would she hope that he was his evil demon?

And why couldn't he feel the love he'd always felt for Buffy?

Why did he want to tear his hand from hers and go back to Willow's house to hold her close, comfort her, and demand an explanation as to who the other guy in the room had been?

Willow.

Why did his demon howl in pain at the mere mention of her name?

And why did his soul do the same?

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Hours after they'd boarded Spike's private jet (he'd been insulted when he realized that Willow had supposed only Angelus had one), the vampire's gaze went to the couch for the hundredth time since take-off. Willow laid with her head on Dru's lap. She'd fallen asleep that way, after having cried herself into exhaustion.

The dark haired vampiress shared worried glances with Spike, before looking out of the window and continuing to stroke Willow's hair soothingly.

“But won't her being apart from Angelus—Angel—hurt her?” Oz asked from where he sat opposite Spike.

The two males had given Dru and Willow time alone, and Spike had filled Oz in on the details. He was strong, a Master Vampire in his own right, but he knew that he'd need help with this one, and Oz seemed more than willing to give it.

They'd decided to go and live in Spike's chateau in France. Not even Angelus knew about it because Spike had bought it after his sire'd been `poofed' the first time and hadn't gotten around to telling Angelus about it after he'd lost the `burden'. Now, Spike was glad he hadn't told his sire about his chateau. That way they could be away from Sunnydale and Angelus, and the pup could dig around and find out ways to strengthen himself both in his human form and in his wolf form.

He had to admit it. For a werewolf, Oz was okay.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked, tearing his gaze from Willow.

“You said that they were blood-bonded.” Oz reminded him, leaning back against his seat, face darkened with worry. “That she would get sick, go mad, and eventually die without Angelus.”

“No. I said she would get sick, go mad, and eventually die without a constant supply of blood from her bonder.”

“Which would be Angelus.”

“For now.”

The werewolf raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”

Spike sighed. He'd gone over this with Dru, and both had agreed that this was the only way. “I'm going replace Angelus as her bonder.” Seeing the confusion in the pup's eyes, he explained. “I'm going to forge a blood-bond between us. She might resist the idea at first, but when the blood in her veins is boiling because of the lack of Angelus' blood she'll agree to it. It won't get rid of Angelus' claim, his bond will be there, but after the first month or so mine will replace his in priority. Her body will grow accustomed to mine, and Angelus will be the secondary bond.”

“So, in a sense, she'll belong to both of you.” The blonde male asked, trying to get accustomed to vampire logic. If he was going to live with them he would have to do so.

“Yes. She'll always belong to Angelus because not only did he start the bond first, but he was her first man, if you understand what I mean.” Seeing the youth blush, the vampire rolled his eyes. “But I'll be her primary mate. My claim will be fresher, and it'll be my blood she drinks. So she'll be mine more than she is his.”

Hating the blush on his face, Oz cleared his throat. “What about Drusilla? I mean, I thought you two were--.”

“We are. But we're vampires for bloody sakes.” Spike told him. “We share, especially with family. And anyway, Dru adores Red. She'd do anything for her.”

If he could have blushed more, Oz would have been half tomato instead of wolf. “Why do I feel that it's going to be harder to get this than I thought it would?”

Spike snorted. “And this is only the beginning pup. Once you meet your long lost relatives you'll have to learn their customs as well.”

Oz groaned, raking his fingers through his hair. “Great. Just great.”

Spike chuckled, but he sobered quickly when he heard Willow whimpering in her sleep. His blue eyes rested on her in worry.

“Don't cry mummy.” Dru tried to comfort the sleeping woman. “Spikey and Dru will take good care of you, and you'll become the dark flame that Miss Edith said you'd be. You'll cast dark shadows even on the brightest days, and they will cry for what they did to the bright flame, cry that they made the angel fall, cry for you to kill them, cry that they lived at all.”

Oz watched on, a confused expression marring his face. Yet, even though he was obviously confused, he seemed to get the gist of what Drusilla was saying, because he gave Spike a discreet nod.

Spike returned the gesture.

According to Dru, the stars and a very penitent Miss Edith had told her that Angelus' fall from grace couldn't be helped. It was necessary for the rise of The Dark Flame (or the 'Black Rose', which was another name Miss Edith and the stars had given her) and that he, Spike, played a big role in the formation of she whom Red would become.

He thought about Sunnydale and the Slayer who had once again taken his grandsire and friend away from them.

Oh, he'd be honored to be Red's guide and mentor.

Bloody honored.

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